SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4347-9
Overcoming the intrinsic loading ceiling of oxide-supported single-atom catalysts remains a long-standing challenge, because oxide frameworks generally provide limited capacity for accommodating high densities of isolated metal species. Here, we report a hollow TiO2 nanoreactor that effectively addresses the long-standing loading limitation of oxide-supported catalysts by coupling high-capacity ion exchange with structural confinement. The multiscale framework is derived from a sodium titanate hollow flower-sphere assembled from ultrathin nanosheets. It enables broad accessibility of exchange sites and facilitates high Cu uptake prior to oxide formation. Subsequently, during Ar-assisted transformation into oxygen-vacancy-rich TiO2, the incorporated Cu species remain highly dispersed within the framework, while vacancy-mediated metal–support interactions further enhance their stability. As a result, controllable Cu speciation is achieved at ultrahigh loadings of 7.4 wt% as spatially isolated single atoms and 12.4 wt% as single-atom/subnanometer-cluster hybrids. The optimized hybrid catalyst delivers a hydrogen evolution rate of 28.8 mmol g−1 h−1 under simulated sunlight, surpassing conventional low-loading Cu/TiO2 systems under comparable conditions. This strategy is readily extendable to other transition metals (Fe, Co, and Ni), establishing a structural design principle for constructing high-density and speciation-controlled metal sites on oxide supports.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4309-8
Iridium-doped cobalt oxide nanosheets derived from a ZIF template were evaluated as oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts for proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE). Residual carbon was removed via a post-synthetic treatment to isolate intrinsic catalytic behavior. The Ir0.23Co0.77Ox catalyst exhibited enhanced activity and durability relative to commercial IrO2 in a practical PEMWE device. Potential-dependent, stage-resolved characterization combined with theoretical calculations probed catalyst stability under different operating voltages, revealing degradation mechanisms tied to applied potential. Contact angle measurements showed that the Ir0.23Co0.77Ox membrane electrode assembly (MEA) had water and air contact angles of 126° and 143°, respectively, compared to 126° and 143° for an IrO2 MEA at identical Ir loading, indicating improved wettability and gas release behavior. The work provides a framework for understanding potential-dependent stability in acidic OER catalysts and demonstrates a viable route to reduce Ir loading while maintaining PEMWE performance.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4426-y
Biomedical Mg alloys are candidate biodegradable metals for orthopedic and cardiovascular implants, yet their in vivo service life is governed by coupled mechanical-chemical attack that accelerates loss of mechanical integrity. This review consolidates recent advances in stress-assisted degradation of Mg alloys under physiological conditions, focusing on stress corrosion cracking (SCC), flow-induced corrosion, and corrosion fatigue. Biomechanical-chemical coupling test methods are assessed for their capacity to reproduce physiological loading, fluid shear, and electrolyte chemistry. Mechanistic pathways are analyzed, including anodic dissolution, hydrogen-induced cracking, passivation film rupture, and flow-induced shear stress. Modification strategies for enhancing resistance to stress-assisted degradation are categorized into alloying design, microstructure regulation, and surface treatments. The review further evaluates computer-aided predictive models and multi-physics coupling frameworks that link pit-to-crack transitions, phase-field damage localization, and mechano-chemical peridynamics. Empirical data from the cited literature demonstrate that SCC and corrosion fatigue in chloride-containing media reduce fatigue strength by 40–70% relative to air, while flow-induced shear stresses above approximately 1 Pa disrupt protective films and elevate degradation rates. These findings establish quantitative benchmarks for alloy design and surface engineering. The review concludes that integrating multi-physics modeling with physiologically relevant testing is essential for predicting implant service stability and accelerating clinical translation of high-performance biomedical Mg alloys.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4260-5
Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are recognized as a leading candidate for next-generation energy storage due to their high theoretical specific capacity (1675 mAh g⁻¹). However, the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) severely limits cycle life and energy efficiency. Here, we report a multi-interface engineering strategy employing a MnO₂-TiO₂@Ti₃C₂ MXene (MT@MX) heterojunction, synthesized via a facile redox reaction between MXene and KMnO₄, to modulate bidirectional polysulfide conversion. The 2D structure with high conductivity and abundant heterogeneous interfaces facilitates fast ion/electron transfer, reduces reaction energy barriers, and enhances adsorption via d-band center effects. The stepped built-in electric field (BIEF) in MT@MX lowers the migration energy barrier of LiPSs from catalytic MXene to TiO₂ and then to adsorptive MnO₂, enabling reversible migration across multi-interfaces. Optimized heterointerfaces synergistically integrate adsorption, diffusion, and catalytic conversion, yielding excellent cycling stability even at a high sulfur loading of 6.4 mg cm⁻². This work demonstrates that constructing heterojunctions with stepped BIEF offers a feasible approach to modulate interfacial diffusion and provides a new design strategy for high-performance LSB electrocatalysts.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4323-8
Sulfur-based batteries are promising for next-generation energy storage due to high theoretical capacity, natural abundance, and low cost of sulfur cathodes. However, practical implementation is impeded by sluggish sulfur redox kinetics, dissolution and migration of intermediate polysulfides, and formation of insulating discharge products. Conventional catalyst design focuses on charge distribution, adsorption energetics, and structural confinement, yet these approaches incompletely describe the complex electronic processes governing sulfur conversion. Electron spin, an intrinsic quantum degree of freedom, offers an additional dimension for modulating catalytic behavior via its influence on electronic structure and orbital interactions at catalytic interfaces. In spin-polarized systems, changes in occupation and splitting of transition-metal d orbitals can regulate d-p hybridization with sulfur species, affecting interfacial charge transfer and energetics of sulfur redox reactions. This review summarizes recent progress in elucidating and manipulating electron spin in sulfur-based battery systems. Fundamental principles connecting spin states with electronic structure and catalytic behavior are outlined, followed by experimental approaches for probing spin-related electronic properties using spectroscopic and magnetic characterization techniques. Emerging strategies for spin regulation are highlighted, including heteroatom doping, defect engineering, coordination environment modulation, chirality-induced spin selectivity, and external magnetic-field control. Remaining challenges in identifying spin effects under realistic electrochemical conditions are addressed, along with opportunities for integrating spin-related descriptors into catalyst design. Establishing quantitative relationships between spin polarization, orbital hybridization, and sulfur reaction pathways may provide new perspectives for high-performance sulfur-based batteries.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4360-7
Polarization-sensitive photodetection is critical for advanced optical communication and imaging systems, yet conventional photodetectors suffer from low on-off ratios and limited polarization discrimination. Here, we report gate-tunable PdSe2/WSe2 van der Waals heterostructures that achieve ultrahigh light on-off ratio and polarization-sensitive photodetection. The heterostructure forms a type-II band alignment, enabling efficient charge separation and self-powered operation. By applying a gate voltage, the photoresponse can be modulated, achieving an on-off ratio exceeding 10^6 under illumination. The device exhibits a high responsivity of 1.2 A/W and a specific detectivity of 10^12 Jones at room temperature. Polarization-sensitive measurements reveal a linear dichroism ratio of 2.1 at 532 nm, attributed to the anisotropic crystal structure of PdSe2. The photodetector operates over a broad spectral range from visible to near-infrared (400-1000 nm) with fast response times (rise/fall < 100 μs). The gate-tunable capability allows dynamic control of the photocurrent, enabling adaptive sensing applications. These results demonstrate that PdSe2/WSe2 heterostructures are promising candidates for high-performance, polarization-sensitive photodetectors, offering a pathway for next-generation optoelectronic devices.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4206-6
Precise patterning of highly ordered organic semiconductor (OSC) thin-film arrays is critical for next-generation electronics. We report a ladder-like polysilsesquioxane (LPSQ) strategy to synthesize two functional analogs with tunable surface energies and robust dielectric properties. These LPSQ dielectrics, functionalized with alkyl or fluoroalkyl side chains, serve dual roles as gate insulators and patterning layers to guide blade-coating of 2,7-dioctyl[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene (C8-BTBT). This approach yields highly aligned arrays suitable for three-dimensional integration in flexible electronics. Synergistic combination of dense LPSQ dielectric packing and aligned semiconductor domains leads to excellent organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) performance, achieving approximately four-fold improvement in field-effect mobility compared to conventional silicon oxide dielectrics. Patterned LPSQ dielectrics enable high-resolution C8-BTBT patterning on plastic substrates, supporting 4-inch-scale 3D integration of flexible logic circuits, including inverters (voltage gain >100), NOR gates, and NAND gates. This work provides a scalable route to high-performance, large-area flexible organic circuits.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4182-6
Substrate interactions dictate the epitaxial growth of low-dimensional nanomaterials, yet controlling these interfaces at the atomic scale precision remains a critical challenge. Blue phosphorene (blueP) with freestanding lattice constant, experimentally realized exclusively on Ag(111), provides a unique platform to explore this interplay. Here, we elucidate the structural evolution of blueP on Ag(111), revealing that neighboring islands are not isolated but linked by single-phosphorus-atom bridges. To manipulate the interfacial coupling, we introduce a tellurium interlayer, driving the formation of an interfacial AgTe buffer that effectively decouples the islands. By tuning the substrate temperature, we achieve the synthesis of magic-number blueP clusters with uniform size and geometry. The resulting isolated blueP nanostructures facilitate the emergence of higher-order topological corner states in triangular geometries. Our findings demonstrate that tailoring interfacial interactions offers a robust route for reshaping phosphorene nanostructures, establishing essential building blocks for next-generation topological quantum materials.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3585-1
Semiconductor-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates have attracted significant attention due to their high uniformity, reproducibility, stability, and cost-effectiveness. However, the Raman enhancement in semiconductors primarily relies on the chemical mechanism (CM), which typically results in a lower enhancement capability compared to traditional noble metals. In this study, we developed a novel two-dimensional (2D) SERS substrate, Ag2Te nanosheets (NSs), synthesized through a simple one-step redox reaction utilizing 2D Te NSs as the template. The 2D Ag2Te NSs not only exhibit strong interfacial interactions with molecules, thereby supporting the CM, but also possess quasi-metallic properties with low resistivity (2.8 × 10−4 Ω cm) and high density of free electrons (4.15 × 10^22 cm−3), giving rise to a significant visible-region surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band and contributing to enormous electromagnetic mechanism (EM). By synergizing CM and EM, the 2D Ag2Te NSs SERS substrate achieved an ultra-low limit of detection (LOD) of 10−10 M with an enhancement factor (EF) of 2.6 × 10^7 for methylene blue (MB), outperforming most semiconductors, even rivaling noble metals. The quasi-metallic properties of 2D Ag2Te NSs also benefit their sensitivity to multiple molecules. The accuracy and reliability were demonstrated in real-sample detections with recoveries of 91.5%–108.3% for various target molecules. These excellent performances, combined with remarkable cost-effectiveness, demonstrate the potential of 2D Ag2Te NSs as a practical SERS substrate with broad applicability. Furthermore, the inherent structural simplicity of these nanosheets creates significant opportunities for further sophisticated nanostructural engineering to advance the SERS performance in the future.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3623-y
Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are an advanced technology for full-color displays, yet the low efficiency of blue OLEDs remains a critical bottleneck. Here, we report a new strategy to design robust Pt(II) emitters with enhanced molecular rigidity and increased locally excited character. The resulting Pt(II) emitter exhibits an extremely narrow emission spectrum peaking at 458.6 nm with a full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of 16.0 nm and a small Huang-Rhys factor of 0.278, together with a high photoluminescence quantum efficiency of 95%. When doped into an OLED, the device emits at 464 nm with high color purity (FWHM = 19 nm) and achieves high external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) of 32.6%, 29.4%, and 26.9% at luminances of 123, 1000, and 5000 cd/m2, respectively. Notably, the device attains a record-high maximum brightness of 84,895 cd/m2 among reported deep-blue OLEDs with Commission Internationale de l'Éclairage (CIE) y-coordinate < 0.15. This work demonstrates one of the highest-performing deep-blue OLEDs reported to date, addressing the dual challenges of efficiency and brightness in this spectral region.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3679-8
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic interstitial lung disease with high mortality and limited therapeutic options. Dysregulated macrophage polarization drives fibroblast activation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), yet no effective management exists. Here, we develop an inhalable methane nanocapsule (MNC) that spatiotemporally controls methane release in the lung to remodel the fibrogenic microenvironment. MNC is formulated via self-assembly of biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-polyethylene glycol (PLGA-PEG) and a novel acid-responsive methane prodrug Fe(BPY)2(CH3)2, enhancing mucosal penetration and sustained methane release in acidic inflammatory niches. In a bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis model, MNC inhalation achieves efficient lung deposition and sustained methane release, significantly reducing inflammation, ameliorating fibrosis, and improving lung function without systemic side effects. Mechanistically, MNC rebalances macrophage polarization by inhibiting M2 phenotype overexpression and downregulates the MMP9/TIMP-1 ratio to suppress myofibroblast proliferation and EMT, synergistically halting fibrotic progression. This inhalable methane nanocapsule offers a promising strategy for safe and effective IPF treatment.
The Chinese Journal of Process Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12034/j.issn.1009-606X.225221
The proliferation of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in portable electronics and electric vehicles has generated a pressing need for sustainable recycling of spent batteries. Conventional pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical routes suffer from low metal recovery efficiencies or require additional precipitants. This study introduces a clean and efficient process for recovering lithium (Li) and cobalt (Co) from spent LiCoO2 cathode materials using a choline chloride-oxalic acid-water (ChCl-OA-H2O) deep eutectic solvent (DES). The method exploits selective precipitation of Co as cobalt oxalate dihydrate (CoC2O4·2H2O) followed by water-content-regulated recovery of Li as lithium oxalate (Li2C2O4) via evaporation crystallization, eliminating the need for external precipitants. Under optimized conditions (molar ratio 1:1:8, solid-liquid ratio 100 g/L, 90 °C, 6.5 h), the leaching efficiency of Li reached 99.4%, with recovery efficiencies of 88.3% for Li and 97.8% for Co. The DES system demonstrated robust cycling stability, maintaining Li and Co recoveries of 78.1% and 92.8% after six regeneration cycles. This work provides a low-pollution, economically viable pathway for LIB recycling, contributing to resource sustainability and offering significant industrial potential.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025011501
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic persistent organic pollutants that pose significant risks to human health. Owing to their high binding affinity for proteins, PFAS are ubiquitously detected in human populations worldwide. Following oral ingestion, PFAS bind to transport proteins such as human serum albumin and organic anion transporters, facilitating their distribution and accumulation in various tissues and organs, including the liver and kidneys, and enabling penetration across the blood-brain and placental barriers. This review systematically examines the migration and enrichment behaviors of PFAS in human tissues and organs mediated by multiple transport proteins, the molecular mechanisms underlying PFAS-protein interactions, and the key factors influencing these interactions. Additionally, we discuss the potential applications derived from PFAS-protein binding. By synthesizing current research findings, this review provides a theoretical foundation for future investigations into PFAS-protein interactions and outlines prospective research directions. The pervasive environmental contamination and documented health effects, including developmental retardation, endocrine disruption, obesity, and cancer, underscore the urgency of understanding PFAS toxicokinetics. Our analysis highlights the critical role of protein binding in the prolonged biological half-lives of PFAS and their tissue-specific accumulation, which are central to health risk assessment and the development of mitigation strategies.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3814-2
Micro-structured surfaces have attracted increasing attention due to their great potential applications. However, it is still a challenge to continuously fabricate micro-structured surfaces based on thermoplastics by a facile, low-cost, and environmentally-friendly method. Herein, with the help of the extrusion molding method and an elaborately designed mold, micro-grooved fiber (MGF) based on high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is continuously prepared. Theoretically, infinitely long MGFs with feature sizes down to a few microns can be efficiently fabricated because of the continuous fabrication characteristic of the melt extrusion method. Interestingly, left- and right-handed micro-grooves with different helix angles can be produced by applying twisting at the die exit, and the macroscopically MGF springs can be further fabricated via a self-designed three-dimensional helical enwind device. By regulating wettability, MGF can achieve liquid self-transport on predefined paths. In addition, MGF fabric exhibits rapid evaporation behavior, whose evaporation rate is about 4 times higher than that of the Smooth fiber (SMF) fabric and 2 times higher than that of the most popular commercial quick-drying fabric (i.e., Cool-max fabric). This work proposes a facile and environmentally-friendly method for continuously preparing low-cost and flexible MGF, opening a new pathway to develop fiber-based microfluidic systems following the concept of "functionalized processing for thermoplastics".
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3858-8
High-quality β-Ga2O3 membranes are pivotal for fabricating high-performance memristive devices. Here, vertical Ag/β-Ga2O3/Pt memristors built on high-crystalline-quality β-Ga2O3 membranes via lattice epitaxy engineering and a sacrificial-layer-assisted exfoliation strategy are reported. The resulting β-Ga2O3-based device demonstrates a high ON/OFF ratio exceeding 10^8, low SET/RESET voltages of 0.13 V/−0.11 V, low programming current of 10^-10 A, stable data retention beyond 4 × 10^4 s, and excellent subthreshold characteristics of ~0.47 mV/dec. Adjustable compliance current enables the coexistence of volatile and non-volatile switching modes. Additionally, the resistive switching versatility is predominantly governed by the migration of Ag ions, as supported by electrical characterizations and first-principles calculations. Furthermore, a β-Ga2O3 memristor-based circuit that functions as a reconfigurable and non-volatile exclusive OR (XOR) logic gate has been designed and simulated, enabling both image encryption/decryption and edge detection. This work not only demonstrates lattice-engineered, high-quality β-Ga2O3 membranes for fabricating advanced memristors but also extends their applicability to digital logic and reconfigurable image processing.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3948-7
High-performance thermoelectric materials are typically narrow-band gap semiconductors. Here, by decoupling charge and heat transport in BaZrS3 with a band gap of about 1.9 eV, we made the emerging chalcogenide perovskite a high-performance thermoelectric material with only earth-abundant elements. Our first-principles calculations indicate that the high ionicity of BaZrS3 renders the electrons to propagate mainly through the Zr-4d orbitals, so that isovalent alloying Se on S sites minimally affects its charge transport while effectively suppressing lattice thermal conductivity. Using a flux-assisted solid-state method, we synthesized single-phase BaZrS3(1−x)Se3x samples with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.25. As an indicator of decoupled charge and heat transport, the electron mobility is found barely degraded with increasing Se content, while the thermal conductivity is significantly reduced from 2.07 to 0.99 W m−1 K−1 at room temperature. This results in a record-high ZT of 0.81 at 750 K, a value never achieved for materials with band gaps greater than 1.5 eV, and the highest among all perovskite materials. Our work not only underscores the potential of wide band gap semiconductors as high-performance thermoelectric materials, but also demonstrates the strategy of decoupling the charge and heat transport for enhancing their thermoelectric performance.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3974-1
MAB-phase-derived compounds exhibit promising electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption properties due to their unique layered structure and desirable physicochemical characteristics. Among them, Cr2AlB2 is particularly attractive owing to its excellent thermal and electrical conductivity. However, conventional synthesis of Cr2AlB2 requires inert gas protection to prevent oxidation, significantly increasing production costs and limiting its application in EMW absorption. To overcome this bottleneck, we report the successful synthesis of high-purity Cr2AlB2 in ambient air using the molten salt shielded synthesis (MS3) method. This approach not only isolates the material from oxygen interference but also reduces the synthesis temperature, offering a cost-effective and scalable route. The as-synthesized Cr2AlB2 exhibits outstanding EMW absorption performance: a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of -42.10 dB at 12.6 GHz and a maximum effective absorption bandwidth (EABmax) of 3.44 GHz at a thickness of 1.9 mm. This work not only facilitates the large-scale production of Cr2AlB2 but also provides critical insights into its practical application as a high-performance EMW absorber.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4051-x
Graphite lubricants are critical for high-quality and high-efficiency drawing of refractory metal wires, yet inadequate dispersion stability frequently challenges their practical application. Inspired by the bio-surfactant synergic mechanism that combines different bio-surfactants to collectively reduce surface energy and friction, a binary anionic surfactant system comprising sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) and sodium lignosulfonate (SL) was engineered to enhance dispersion and stability via a synergistic effect. The synergistic parameter β was calculated to be −2.34, indicating strong synergism. The resulting graphite lubricants maintained homogeneous dispersion for up to 60 days. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed that the synergistic effects originate from steric hindrance, electrostatic repulsion, π-π stacking, and hydrogen bonding. These hierarchical secondary interactions collectively increased the interfacial formation energy at the graphite/surfactant/water tri-phase interface, thereby effectively wetting particle powders and enhancing stability. During metal wire drawing, the graphite lubricants reduced the friction coefficient between the die and metal wires to 0.06, ultimately enabling drawn tungsten wires with superior surface integrity, expanded loop diameter, and enhanced tensile strength relative to single-surfactant benchmarks. This study provides experimental and theoretical guidance to design effective graphite lubricants for high-quality drawn metal wires.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4062-2
Metalloimmunology, an emerging interdisciplinary field, is reshaping our understanding of the immune system at an unprecedented pace. This review systematically elaborates on the core roles of metal ions as critical signaling molecules and metabolic regulators in both innate and adaptive immunity. Special focus is placed on the molecular mechanisms by which metal ions modulate key immune signaling pathways, as well as their mediation of novel immunogenic cell death modalities including ferroptosis, cuproptosis, and pyroptosis. Furthermore, we comprehensively review innovative metal ion-based therapeutic strategies, encompassing metal nanoadjuvants, metal-organic frameworks and nanozymes, along with their cutting-edge applications in cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, and tissue repair. Finally, this review delves into the challenges faced by this field in targeted delivery, biosafety, and clinical translation, and provides an outlook on its future development directions with particular emphasis on the immense potential of precisely regulating metal homeostasis for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.