SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4480-1
Ternary organic solar cells (OSCs) incorporating a structurally compatible guest acceptor (C7-Cl) into the PM6:BTP-eC9 host system are demonstrated. The low Flory-Huggins interaction parameter between host and guest acceptors facilitates intimate mixing, optimizing molecular packing and energy-level alignment. High-sensitivity sEQE and EQEEL analyses reveal a reduced non-radiative energy loss (KE3) of 0.216 eV in the ternary device. Consequently, the optimized ternary OSC achieves a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.02% and an improved T80 operational lifetime of 1065 h. This work establishes a feasible strategy via structurally compatible guest doping to simultaneously optimize vertical phase separation and suppress non-radiative loss, providing a facile and effective route toward high-performance and stable OSCs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4261-2
Developing ion exchange membranes with both high proton conductivity and high selectivity is crucial for vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). Commercial Nafion membranes suffer from severe vanadium crossover, while conventional additives often aggregate, disrupting ion domains and significantly reducing proton conductivity. To overcome this conductivity–selectivity trade-off, we propose a modification strategy based on molecular-level functional strategy. Two complementary additives, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and a fluoroalkyl-grafted polyoxometalate cluster (8FSiW11), are introduced into Nafion matrix to achieve precise, cooperative, regulation of ionic domains. PVP fills ion domains via hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions, constructing an efficient barrier against vanadium ions. Simultaneously, 8FSiW11 anchors at the hydrophilic/hydrophobic interface, providing additional proton sources and hopping sites to compensate for proton neutralization by PVP. The resulting hybrid membrane exhibits a proton/vanadium selectivity of 1×10^6 S min cm^-3, 8.6 times higher than commercial Nafion 212 (NR212), and enables VRFB energy efficiencies (EE) of 88.9% at 100 mA cm^-2 and 83.2% at 200 mA cm^-2. This work demonstrates the potential of synergistic molecular modification strategy to break conductivity–selectivity trade-off in membrane design for next-generation high-performance VRFBs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4295-5
Carbon nanomaterials (CNMs), including carbon nanotubes, graphene, and fullerenes, exhibit exceptional promise in precision biomedicine due to their tunable biocompatibility, programmable surface chemistry, large specific surface area, and quantum confinement effects. However, their clinical translation is hindered by aggregation, poor physiological dispersibility, and limited targeting specificity. This review systematically elaborates on surface engineering strategies—covalent functionalization, non-covalent assembly, and heteroatom doping—to optimize the multifunctionality, biocompatibility, and targeting capabilities of CNMs at the nano-bio interface. We explore how engineered interfaces enable advanced applications in biosensing, stimuli-responsive drug delivery, multimodal bioimaging, antibacterial therapy, and regenerative tissue engineering. The review also addresses challenges such as scalability, long-term toxicity, and regulatory hurdles, and proposes future directions to expedite clinical adoption. By providing a comprehensive framework for rational surface design, this work aims to bridge the gap between fundamental materials science and clinical needs, offering a roadmap for developing next-generation carbon-based theranostics.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202506053
Red mud, a highly alkaline industrial solid waste from alumina production, poses severe environmental risks due to its high alkalinity, low organic matter content, and poor aggregation, which critically impede its soil reconstruction and ecological utilization. This study proposes a novel approach of low-temperature micro-oxidation to drive the synergistic soil reconstruction of red mud and coal. By constructing a low-temperature micro-oxidation atmosphere, the soil properties of the reaction products were investigated, the decomposition and reconstruction of alkaline minerals and alkali release were analyzed, and the oxidation of carbon-based minerals and organic matter transformation in coal were examined. The mechanism of the synergistic reaction between red mud and coal under low-temperature micro-oxidation was elucidated. Results showed that at 250 °C under micro-oxidation, the pH of the product decreased to 8.47, organic matter content increased to 12.98%, and the proportion of aggregates >0.250 mm increased. Alkaline minerals such as cancrinite and grossular in red mud underwent decomposition and reconstruction in the low-temperature hydrothermal environment, releasing substantial free alkali. The condensed aromatic rings of carbon-based minerals in coal were oxidized by free radicals, leading to ring-opening and bond cleavage, producing small-molecule organic acids and macromolecular humic acids. The continuous oxidation of carbon-based minerals in coal generated acids, which neutralized the alkali released from red mud, driving sustained dealkalization. The inorganic particles of red mud flocculated with macromolecular humic acids, forming micro-aggregates and significantly improving soil properties. This research provides technical support for the rapid ecological utilization of red mud at industrial scale.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025030302
A novel core-shell composite adsorbent, C18-SiO2@C, was synthesized for the determination of five phthalates in food samples. The adsorbent was prepared by assembling hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D3) into γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) cavities via saturated solution method, followed by hydrothermal oxidation to form SiO2@C, and subsequent C18 modification on the inner SiO2 core. The outer hydrophilic amorphous carbon shell enables effective extraction, while the inner C18 layer provides hydrophobic interactions. Using tip-based solid-phase microextraction (SPME), the adsorbent (10 mg) efficiently enriched phthalates from water, milk, and cola. Under optimized conditions (pH, eluent type/volume, sample volume, salt concentration), the method coupled with GC/MS exhibited linearity in the range of 0.5–10 ng·mL−1 (R² > 0.99), limits of detection (S/N ≥ 3) of 0.04–0.15 μg·L−1, and spiked recoveries of 74%–100% (RSD 1.32%–3.49%). For real samples, recoveries were 84.6%–102.3% for tap water, 80.7%–104.6% for cola, and 80.2%–101.4% for milk. The method offers simplicity, rapidity, low sample consumption, high enrichment efficiency, and strong matrix interference resistance, demonstrating significant potential for trace phthalate monitoring in foods.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025030404
The photoelectrocatalytic degradation of seven sulfonamide antibiotics—sulfathiazole (STZ), sulfadiazine (SDZ), sulfisoxazole (SIA), sulfamethoxazole (SMZ), sulfapyridine (SPD), sulfadimidine (SMT), and sulfaguanidine (SG)—was investigated using a bismuth vanadate-loaded titanium dioxide array (BiVO4/TiO2) as the anode under visible light irradiation. Systematic evaluation of BiVO4 loading, solution pH, current density, electrolyte type, and electrolyte concentration revealed optimal conditions of 50 mmol·L−1 Na2SO4, a current density of 1.67 mA·cm−2, and pH 2. Under these conditions, STZ removal and total organic carbon (TOC) removal reached 95.7% and 76.7%, respectively. Removal efficiencies for SDZ, SIA, SMZ, SPD, SMT, and SG were 94.9%, 80.9%, 79.1%, 57.7%, 52.3%, and 52.0%, with TOC removal ranging from 50% to 76.7%. Quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) identified hydroxyl radicals (·OH), singlet oxygen (1O2), and sulfate radicals (SO4−·) as dominant reactive species. The BiVO4/TiO2 composite exhibited a valence band edge at EVB = 2.775 V vs. RHE, enabling oxidation of H2O, OH−, and SO4^2− to generate these radicals. The heterostructure narrowed the bandgap to 2.12 eV and enhanced visible light response, facilitating efficient charge separation and transfer. Degradation pathways involved oxidation of aniline moieties to nitro groups, followed by hydroxylation and cleavage of S–N, N–C, or S–C bonds, ultimately mineralizing to CO2, H2O, SO4^2−, and NO3−. The system demonstrated high stability and catalytic efficiency across acidic and alkaline conditions, offering a promising approach for antibiotic removal from environmental waters.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025031302
Trifluoropropylmethylsiloxanes (D3F and D4F) are emerging contaminants whose environmental behavior remains poorly understood. This study investigated their occurrence, bioaccumulation, and elimination in sediments and mollusks collected from 60 sites across 12 coastal cities along Bohai Bay, China. Concentrations in sediments ranged from <LOD to 17.1 ng/g dry weight (dw) with a detection frequency of 30% and a mean of 5.6 ng/g dw. In mollusks, concentrations ranged from <LOD to 20.2 ng/g wet weight (ww) with a detection frequency of 21.7% and a mean of 4.1 ng/g ww. Compared with cyclic dimethylsiloxanes (D4, D5, D6), trifluoropropylmethylsiloxanes exhibited 1–2 orders of magnitude lower concentrations and 1.4–2.2 times lower biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAF: 0.67 for D3F, 0.61 for D4F). However, from 2017 to 2023, trifluoropropylmethylsiloxanes showed higher annual accumulation rates in sediments (21.5%) and mollusks (32.8%) than dimethylsiloxanes (10.2% and 6.7%, respectively). This discrepancy is attributed to their higher usage growth, stronger sorption (lg KOC: 6.77 for D3F, 8.81 for D4F vs. 4.22–5.99 for D4–D6), and slower elimination in mollusks (half-lives: 11.1 d for D3F, 20.1 d for trans-D4Fa vs. 5.4–8.6 d for D4–D6). The primary degradation product, methyl(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)silanediol, was detected in sediments (mean 15.7 ng/g dw, detection frequency 33.3%) and mollusks (mean 31.2 ng/g ww, detection frequency 33.3%). Its accumulation rate in mollusks was 1.4 times faster than in sediments, suggesting its potential as an exposure indicator. These findings highlight distinct environmental behaviors of trifluoropropylmethylsiloxanes, necessitating further monitoring and risk assessment.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025042101
Chloropyridine compounds, widely used as pesticide intermediates in China, pose significant risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health due to their high toxicity, persistence, and frequent detection in water bodies. This study addresses the removal of 3,4,5,6-tetrachloropyridine-2-carboxylic acid (TCPA), a representative chloropyridine contaminant, using a novel composite material. Biochar-supported zero-valent iron/iron carbide composites (SL-FeC2O4-800 °C) were synthesized via a high-temperature carbothermal process, employing activated sludge as the carbon source and ferrous oxalate (FeC2O4) as the iron precursor. The composite exhibited rapid and efficient TCPA degradation across a wide pH range (3–9), achieving 98% removal within 2 minutes. Mechanistic studies using scavenging experiments revealed that TCPA removal proceeds through synergistic pathways: adsorption onto biochar, direct reduction by zero-valent iron, and oxidation by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated via oxygen activation. Surface-bound iron species were identified as critical for ROS formation. The material demonstrated reusability over five cycles, with degradation efficiencies decreasing from 98.54% to 40.36%, indicating gradual deactivation due to iron consumption and surface passivation. This work not only provides an efficient and environmentally sustainable method for removing persistent and highly toxic pollutants like TCPA but also offers a novel strategy for sludge resource utilization. The low-cost raw materials, simple preparation, and high activity position this composite as a promising candidate for industrial wastewater treatment, particularly in pesticide manufacturing effluents.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3491-6
Binary alloys have garnered significant attention for sodium-ion battery anodes due to their ability to combine the advantages of single-phase alloys. However, these materials often demonstrate limited electrochemical performance, and the relationship between their crystallization states and sodium storage properties remains poorly understood. Here, Bi-Sn binary alloys with various compositions were synthesized via phase-separation metallurgy to explore the sodium storage properties of different crystalline structures. The results indicate that hypo- and hyper-eutectic Bi-Sn alloys readily form a dendritic primary phase at the non-eutectic interface, which aggravates structural degradation and increases internal resistance. In contrast, Bi-Sn alloys with optimized eutectic interfaces effectively control dendritic growth and reduce defects, resulting in enhanced microstructural stability and superior electrochemical performance. The eutectic p-Bi57Sn43@C anode achieves a record-high specific capacity of 470.3 mAh g−1 at 1 C and exhibits remarkable long-term cycling stability, retaining 95.2% of its capacity after 1000 cycles at 20 C. The defect-free eutectic concept presented here establishes a valuable foundation for future studies of binary and polycrystalline eutectic alloys in electrochemical applications.