SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4371-6
The sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) necessitates platinum-based catalysts, but their high cost and scarcity drive the search for platinum-group metal-free (PGM-free) alternatives. Fe−N−C catalysts with atomically dispersed Fe−N4 sites are promising, yet their practical performance is limited by buried active sites and poor mass transport. Here, a crumpled, multi-scale porous Fe−N−C catalyst (Fe−N−PCG) is synthesized via spray pyrolysis coupled with high-temperature metal etching. The crumpled morphology, formed by capillary compression during rapid solvent evaporation, and in-plane mesopores from Fe nanoparticle etching, synergistically enhance site accessibility and mass transport. Fe−N−PCG achieves a site density (SD) of 2.74×10^19 sites g−1 and Fe utilization (UFe) of 51.7%. As a gas diffusion electrode, it delivers a mass transport overpotential (ηmt) of 67 mV at 800 mA cm−2. In zinc-air batteries, Fe−N−PCG exhibits a peak power density of 296.1 mW cm−2 at 500 mA cm−2, outperforming Pt/C (241 mW cm−2 at 438 mA cm−2). At 50 mA cm−2, it delivers a discharge voltage of 1.19 V and a specific capacity of 815 mAh g−1, surpassing Pt/C (1.13 V, 715 mAh g−1). These results demonstrate that morphology and porosity engineering can concurrently optimize intrinsic activity, site utilization, and mass transport, offering a rational design strategy for high-performance PGM-free catalysts.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4351-8
Breaking intrinsic structural symmetry is a fundamental prerequisite for pronounced nonlinear optical responses. Low-symmetry semiconductors with inherent anisotropy enable self-powered optoelectronic conversion and polarization-sensitive functionalities. This work reports the synthesis of low-dimensional van der Waals chain TeSe2 crystals with intrinsic inversion and C3 symmetry breaking. Angle-resolved polarized Raman spectroscopy and second-harmonic generation measurements confirm crystalline anisotropy and nonlinear optical performance. Electrical transport studies reveal p-type conduction with a room-temperature field-effect mobility of 122 cm2 V-1 s-1. The TeSe2 photodetector achieves self-powered detection and linearly polarized light detection across 405–1064 nm, with a photoresponsivity of 77.3 mA/W at 532 nm. The linear photogalvanic effect response is effectively modulated by gate voltage. Density functional theory calculations attribute p-type doping to Te and Se vacancies, while the nonlinear optical origin is linked to strong Berry curvature. Applications in polarization encoding communication and polarization imaging are demonstrated, indicating potential for low-energy-consuming, highly sensitive, on-chip integrated linear polarized photodetectors.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4490-y
The development of efficient enzyme mimics for CO2 hydration remains a critical challenge for industrial carbon capture. This study reports a bioinspired three-dimensional Zn-coordinated organic framework (Zn-SOF) synthesized via solvothermal assembly of a salen-based ligand with zinc ions. The resulting material exhibits a carbonic anhydrase-like active site with a Zn-N2O2 coordination environment, as confirmed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The Zn-SOF demonstrates a CO2 hydration rate of 3.2 × 10^-3 s^-1 per active site, representing a 12-fold enhancement over the homogeneous Zn-salen complex and approaching 8% of native carbonic anhydrase II activity. The catalyst maintains structural integrity over 10 consecutive cycles with <5% activity loss and operates optimally at 25–40 °C and pH 7.4–9.0. Kinetic analysis reveals a Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) of 28 mM for CO2 and a turnover number (kcat) of 4.1 s^-1, outperforming benchmark Zn-based mimics. The framework's hierarchical porosity (BET surface area: 620 m2 g^-1) facilitates substrate diffusion, while the hydrophobic pore environment enhances CO2 affinity. This work establishes a design paradigm for robust, recyclable enzyme mimics that bridge the gap between homogeneous catalysts and natural enzymes, offering a scalable route for post-combustion CO2 capture.
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/s40843-025-3803-8
The molecular copolymerization of donor-acceptor (D-A) interactions has been effectively utilized to modulate the charge transfer dynamics in polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) photocatalysts. Herein, a D-A configured photocatalyst (TPCN) was constructed by copolymerizing 4,4’,4’’-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl) trianiline (TAPT) as the electron donor with triazine units (electron acceptor). The unique propeller structure of TAPT, combined with the triazine framework, expanded the π-conjugated system and induced a strong built-in electric field (BIEF) across the D-A configuration. Theoretical calculations and transient absorption spectroscopy revealed that this synergistic effect facilitated intramolecular charge separation and widened the range of light absorption, indicating accelerated charge transfer and suppressed recombination in TPCN. The optimized TPCN3 sample exhibited dramatically enhanced photocatalytic H2O2 production (1.74 mmol g−1 h−1), representing a 13.4-fold increase over pristine PCN. Additionally, the TPCN3 sample also exhibited significantly faster degradation kinetics than PCN counterpart toward various emerging contaminants. This work demonstrates a promising strategy for designing efficient metal-free photocatalysts for sustainable H2O2 production and environmental remediation.
New Carbon Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61071-2
Aqueous zinc-ion capacitors (ZICs) are promising energy storage systems due to their high specific capacity and superior reliability. Heteroatom-doped carbon materials have been shown to substantially increase the capacitance of ZICs, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this work, coal-based activated carbon was functionalized with both boron (B) and nitrogen (N) to serve as the cathode material in ZICs. The optimized material, designated CAC-120, exhibits a high specific capacity of 371.4 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 and retains 74% of its initial capacity after 10,000 cycles. Electrochemical analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that pyridinic N plays a crucial role in enhancing Zn2+ storage, demonstrating superior electrochemical reversibility. Furthermore, an assembled aqueous ZIC using the CAC-120 cathode achieves a high reversible capacity of 90.8 mAh g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 and exceptional long-term stability over 17,000 cycles. This work provides valuable insight into the design of high-capacity and ultrafast pseudocapacitive carbon cathodes for ZICs, highlighting the synergistic effects of pore structure engineering and heteroatom doping.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202507038
To enhance the engineering practicality of pollutant pre-assessment, this study conducted environmental chamber tests for formaldehyde and TVOC emissions from 34 common decoration materials (25 solid and 9 liquid categories). Using the IndoorPACT software, variations in indoor pollutant concentrations under different material area loading rates and air change rates were simulated. Taking Harbin as a case study, concentration response ranges for various single materials under different area loading and ventilation conditions were simulated, leading to the construction of a simplified concentration prediction reference table. Results indicate that indoor pollutant concentrations from both solid and liquid materials peak on the second day after decoration, but decay rates differ significantly: liquid materials decrease by 70%–90% within about one week, and given their typically higher area loading rates in real projects, they exert a more significant impact on indoor air quality in the early post-decoration period. In contrast, solid materials decay more slowly and become the dominant long-term pollution source. The simplified estimation method based on these emission characteristics demonstrates good engineering applicability, providing effective reference for material selection, scheme comparison, and preliminary indoor air quality prediction and control in actual decoration projects.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025031304
The Qingling River, a representative silicate rock catchment in the upper Yangtze Basin, is vital for agricultural productivity in central Yunnan. To investigate its hydrochemical characteristics, river water samples were systematically collected during both dry and wet seasons. Employing hydrochemical diagrams, statistical analysis, and absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) modeling, we identified influencing factors and their contributions to water chemistry and evaluated irrigation suitability. Results showed that pH ranged from 7.36 to 9.18 in dry season and 7.12 to 8.92 in wet season, with total dissolved solids (TDS) varying between 119–2684 mg·L−1 and 125–2342 mg·L−1, respectively. Dominant cations were Ca2+ and Na+, while anions were primarily SO4^2− and HCO3^− in both seasons; notably, SO4^2− concentrations significantly exceeded the Yangtze River Basin’s average. Hydrochemical types varied seasonally: HCO3·SO4-Ca·Mg and HCO3·SO4-Ca dominated in dry season, whereas HCO3·SO4-Ca·Na, HCO3·SO4-Ca·Mg, and HCO3-Ca prevailed in wet season. The river water was affected by five factors: sulfuric acid-dominated water-rock interactions, carbonic acid-dominated water-rock interactions, domestic sewage discharge, agricultural non-point source pollution, and unknown sources. Contribution rates were 47.90%, 24.80%, 16.98%, 2.40%, and 7.92% in dry season, and 28.23%, 28.94%, 27.48%, 2.02%, and 13.34% in wet season, respectively. Water-rock interactions emerged as the primary control on hydrochemistry. While most samples were suitable for irrigation, a few exhibited high salinity, warranting cautious use. This study provides scientific support for irrigation water resource management and safe utilization in the Qingling River Basin.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4016-3
Rare earth-based electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbing materials are promising due to their strong dielectric and magnetic loss capabilities, yet effective enrichment and utilization of rare earth ions remain challenging. Here, an anionic imidazolium-based metal-organic framework (MOF), MOZ-200, is employed to enrich multiple rare earth ions (La3+, Ce3+, Pr3+, Nd3+, Y3+) via host-guest interactions. The anionic framework uniformly confines these ions, which are converted in situ into highly dispersed high-entropy rare earth alloy nanoparticles during carbonization. The resulting HE@C composites feature a conductive, graphitized carbon matrix with abundant multi-scale polarization centers and heterogeneous interfaces, enhancing dipole polarization, interface polarization, and conductive loss. Consequently, the material achieves excellent EMW absorption in the Ku band, with a minimum reflection loss of -79.20 dB and a maximum effective absorption bandwidth of 5.23 GHz. Integrated into a polyurethane matrix, a multifunctional flexible device is realized, offering EMW absorption, photothermal heating, microwave de-icing, and hydrophobicity. This work provides a feasible strategy for rare earth ion utilization and advances the design of flexible multifunctional EMW absorbing materials.