SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4279-0
Inkjet printing has emerged as a viable additive manufacturing route for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), offering drop-on-demand patterning, high material utilization, and compatibility with large-area flexible substrates. This review critically examines the formulation science, printhead physics, and drying kinetics that govern the quality of inkjet-printed organic layers. We analyze the rheological window required for stable jetting, typically 1–20 mPa·s viscosity and 25–45 mN/m surface tension, and the dimensionless Ohnesorge number (0.1 < Z < 1) that defines satellite-free droplet formation. The coffee-ring effect, driven by capillary flow and solvent evaporation gradients, remains the dominant failure mode for pixel non-uniformity; binary solvent systems and substrate temperature control (40–60 °C) mitigate this. We survey recent progress in printed hole-transport, emissive, and electron-transport layers, with particular attention to cross-linkable hole-transport materials that resist interlayer dissolution. Device performance metrics from printed OLEDs now reach external quantum efficiencies of 15–20% for fluorescent emitters and >25% for phosphorescent systems, with operating lifetimes (T95) exceeding 1,000 hours at 1,000 cd/m². We identify remaining bottlenecks: nozzle clogging from aggregated nanoparticles, film thickness variation across large panels, and the absence of standardized ink formulations. The review concludes with a roadmap for industrial adoption, emphasizing in-line metrology and closed-loop process control as prerequisites for yield parity with vacuum-deposited OLEDs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4467-x
Conventional eye-movement interaction systems depend on video capture, infrared tracking, and image recognition, which impose inherent constraints on accuracy, response latency, and stability. This study introduces an eyelash-guided signal interaction system based on a triboelectric nanogenerator (PF-TENG) using PDMS-FDTS thin films. The system employs eyelash movements as interactive inputs, eliminating the need for complex optical acquisition devices. A CNN-LSTM hybrid neural network classifies distinct eyelash movement patterns with a classification accuracy exceeding 98.5%. The PF-TENG device exhibits ultra-flexibility and transparency, enabling seamless integration onto eyeglasses without obstructing the user's field of view. Experimental validation demonstrates real-time monitoring of ocular states for driving fatigue detection, accurately identifying fatigue signs and enhancing application potential in intelligent driving. The system offers a natural, comfortable input modality and significant advantages for human-machine interaction, with broad prospects in eye-movement control and intelligent transportation.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4343-7
Piezoelectric materials interconvert mechanical and electrical energy, but piezoceramics are brittle while PVDF-based ferroelectric polymers exhibit low piezoelectric coefficients (d33 ≈ -30 pC N-1). Chemical modification via morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) engineering has raised d33 in P(VDF-TrFE) to -63.5 pC N-1, and to -69 pC N-1 with stretching, but intrinsic piezoelectricity in relaxor terpolymers remains limited. Here, relaxor ferroelectric P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) with varying C=C double bond (DB) content is synthesized via dehydrochlorination. Structural and electrical characterization reveals that increasing DB content stabilizes long-range ferroelectric order while suppressing short-range relaxor characteristics, forming a trans/helix phase boundary. At a critical DB content of 2.0 mol%, a markedly enhanced intrinsic d33 of -129.0 pC N-1 is achieved, outperforming previous MPB approaches. This finding addresses the fundamental bottleneck of low piezoelectric response in flexible ferroelectric polymers and provides a viable route for high-performance wearable electromechanical devices.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4313-7
Liquid-to-vapor mass transfer is central to energy and environmental processes. Conventional distillation relies on vapor-liquid equilibrium and device-level optimization, with materials playing passive structural roles. Non-boiling processes such as membrane distillation and interfacial solar evaporation localize phase change at confined interfaces, making mass transfer a materials-mediated transport phenomenon where interfacial structure and chemistry dictate evaporation kinetics, vapor escape, and solute rejection. Janus interface materials, featuring spatially separated hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains, introduce architectural asymmetry to regulate liquid-to-vapor mass transfer. This review summarizes recent advances, highlighting mechanisms including the cooperative pump-valve effect, nanoconfinement-enhanced transport, and mitigation of fouling and scaling. Representative applications in membrane distillation, solar-driven evaporation, and personal thermal-moisture management are systematically discussed. Key challenges and future opportunities are outlined, particularly in advancing fundamental understanding, scalable fabrication, and practical implementation.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4165-1
Developing efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) synthesis is vital for sustainable chemistry, yet optimizing the electronic structure of triazine-based covalent organic frameworks (COFs) through precise spatial engineering remains a challenge. In this work, we constructed four model COFs to systematically decode how the spatial arrangement and incorporation level of triazine moieties regulate the electronic structures and H2O2 production efficiency. Combined experimental and theoretical analyses revealed that FB-AT achieved an optimal donor-acceptor architecture via rational spatial arrangement of triazine and benzene moieties. This configuration established an intramolecular potential gradient, which not only promoted charge separation by suppressing the exciton binding energy but also enriched the electron density at triazine sites. These electron-rich active centers significantly facilitated the oxygen reduction reaction by lowering the thermodynamic energy barrier for *OOH intermediate formation. Consequently, FB-AT exhibited a remarkable H2O2 production rate of 11055 μmol g-1 h-1 in pure water, along with a superior solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency of 1.16%. Additionally, FB-AT enabled complete degradation of phenol, tetracycline, and rhodamine B within 5–15 min of visible light irradiation. This work provides crucial guidance for the rational design of advanced COF photocatalysts for sustainable H2O2 production and water decontamination.
Nano Research Energy•2026•DOI: 10.26599/NRE.2025.9120181
Solid-state lithium metal batteries (SLMBs) demand quasi-solid polymer electrolytes (QSSPEs) that simultaneously deliver high ionic conductivity, interfacial stability, and oxidative resistance. This study reports a QSSPE membrane (MP46) formulated with MG30:LiTFSI:succinonitrile at a 10:4:6 weight ratio, exhibiting a wide electrochemical window of 5.1 V. Complementary infrared spectroscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, and electron microscopy reveal a hierarchical ionic conductive network consisting of sphere-like nanostructures embedded within microphase-segregated architectures. This morphology enhances lithium-ion transport while preserving mechanical integrity. The strong interfacial adhesion between MP46 and lithium metal enables stable lithium plating and stripping for over 800 h at 0.2 mA·cm–2, effectively mitigating dendrite formation. When paired with LiFePO4 and LiCoO2 cathodes, MP46 sustains prolonged cycling, retaining 80.1% capacity after 1400 cycles at 2 C and 92.1% after 200 cycles at 4.5 V, respectively. Pouch-type cells further demonstrate mechanical flexibility and operational safety under deformation. These results establish MP46 as a viable candidate for stable high-energy-density SLMBs, offering fundamental insights into the design of next-generation polymer electrolytes.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4201-0
Open fracture fixation faces dual critical challenges: bacterial infection and impaired bone healing. This study presents a rationally designed biomacromolecular network coating (Ti-GOED) on titanium alloy bone plates to simultaneously address these issues. The coating integrates antimicrobial and osteogenic components, achieving an optimal balance between antibacterial efficacy and biocompatibility. In vitro assays demonstrated that Ti-GOED eliminates over 99% of common pathogenic bacteria by inhibiting peptidoglycan synthesis, disrupting bacterial cell wall formation, compromising membrane integrity, and leading to intracellular DNA leakage and bacterial death. Concurrently, Ti-GOED enhances the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) via activation of the PI3K-Akt and HIF-1 signaling pathways. In vivo animal experiments confirmed strong antibacterial and osteogenic properties. This work provides a strategy for developing antibacterial coatings on medical devices, with significant potential for preventing and treating infections post-fracture fixation.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4385-1
Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are effective hole-selective contacts for inverted perovskite solar cells, but scalable deposition on rough substrates is hindered by molecular aggregation, disordered packing, and incomplete adsorption. We propose a hybrid strategy incorporating 4-(Piperidin-4-yl)butanoic acid hydrochloride (PBACl) into the 4PABCz solution during dip-coating. PBACl suppresses aggregation via hydrogen bonding and ionic interactions, yielding homogeneous coverage and improved wettability. The piperidine and carboxyl groups passivate buried interfacial defects through hydrogen bonding and coordination with perovskites. Small-area cells achieve a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 26.09%, while a 5 cm × 5 cm mini-module (aperture area 14.4 cm²) delivers 23.29% PCE. Encapsulated devices retain 80% of initial PCE after 1350 h maximum power point tracking under continuous illumination. This ion modulation strategy bridges molecular-level interface control with scalable processing, offering a pathway to industrially relevant perovskite photovoltaics.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4203-7
The solution process holds great promise for organic light-emitting diode (OLED) fabrication owing to its minimal material loss, simple processing and low equipment investment. However, solution-processed blue OLEDs still face the challenges of low electroluminescence efficiency and poor working stability. In this study, two new cross-linkable blue light-emitting molecules, v-4CzBn and v-5CzBn, were synthesized. They featured a multicarbazole-substituted benzonitrile donor–acceptor structure as the emitting core, with two vinyl phenyl units on the carbazole rings serving as cross-linking groups. A singlet–triplet energy gap of ΔEST ≤ 0.10 eV and a high reverse intersystem crossing rate (kRISC > 10^6 s−1) were achieved because the three-dimensionally confined covalent network structure formed through a thermal cross-linking reaction limited intramolecular motions and vibrational relaxations of luminescent units. Moreover, this structure suppressed irreversible morphological changes and structural deterioration of light-emitting units due to aggregation or crystallization, improving the light-emitting performance of the device. Nondoped solution-processed OLEDs with the structure of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/TFB/S-4CzBn/TPBi/LiF/Al exhibited blue emission with a peak at 488 nm, achieving a maximum external quantum efficiency of 12.01%, a maximum luminance of 11,141.15 cd m−2, and a T50 lifetime of 1375.66 h@100 cd m−2. This result represents the longest operational lifetime reported to date for solution-process devices with cross-linked emitting layers.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3642-4
High-density glass scintillators are promising alternatives to crystals for next-generation radiation detection due to their low cost, excellent physical and chemical stability, and processability. In this study, a series of Ce3+-activated gadolinium gallium borosilicate (GGBS x) glasses were synthesized via vacuum melt-quenching. With increasing Gd2O3 content, glass density increased from 5.86 to 6.05 g/cm3, and molar volume from 36.43 to 39.79 cm3/mol. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis revealed that in GGBS 1 glass, Ce3+ exclusively adopts a hexahedral [CeO6] configuration, while Gd3+ exhibits both hexahedral and octahedral coordination with a bond length of 2.35±0.1 Å and Debye-Waller factor σ2 of 0.0122±0.0015 Å2. As Gd2O3 content increased, shallow trap depth rose from 0.804 to 0.858 eV, while deep trap depth first increased from 0.948 to 1.434 eV then decreased to 1.010 eV. GGBS 1 glass exhibited high transmittance (~80%) in the visible range and a photoluminescence quantum yield of 78.4%. Under X-ray irradiation, its X-ray excited luminescence intensity reached 128.5% of that of Bi4Ge3O12 (BGO) crystal, with a spatial resolution of 29.1 lp/mm, approaching the highest reported for glass scintillators. Under γ-ray excitation, it achieved a light yield of 1058 photons/MeV and an energy resolution of 23.7% at 662 keV. These results indicate that GGBS 1 glass scintillator warrants further development for applications in X-ray imaging and γ-ray spectroscopy.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3630-2
This study demonstrates a dual-interface engineering approach for performance enhancement in perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells. By applying ethylenediamine dihydroiodide (EDAI2) to simultaneously modify both top and bottom interfaces of wide-bandgap perovskite layers, we achieve synergistic defect suppression and charge transport optimization. Time-resolved photoluminescence characterization reveals extended carrier lifetimes and improved spatial homogeneity in dual-modified perovskite films. The optimized single-junction wide-bandgap (>1.66 eV) perovskite solar cells attain a champion efficiency of 22.75% with enhanced operational stability. Implemented in perovskite-silicon tandem configuration, the devices achieve over 31% power conversion efficiency, validating the effectiveness of organic ligand-mediated dual-interface engineering in regulating carrier dynamics and advancing perovskite-based tandem photovoltaics.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3699-1
Dual-atom (DA) catalysts have exhibited great potential in regulating the catalytic performance of CO2 reduction. However, precise construction of DAs on a support remains challenging. Herein, we report the precise immobilization of M-DAs (M = Ru, Rh, Pt) onto the Zr-oxo cluster of a 2D porphyrinic metal-organic framework (2D-Ni-PCN-222) via a dimetallic complex pre-coordination strategy. The resultant M-DAs/2D-Ni-PCN-222 catalysts were applied to CO2 photoreduction using ammonia borane as the H* donor. Under visible light, the optimal catalyst, Ru-DAs/2D-Ni-PCN-222, exhibited a HCOO− production rate of 35.4 mmol g−1 h−1 with nearly 100% selectivity and a turnover frequency of 691 h−1. Kinetic isotope experiments demonstrated that the coupling rate between H* and CO2 governed the production efficiency of HCOO−. In situ experiments and density functional theory calculations disclosed that Ru-DAs with highly delocalized d electrons could accept photogenerated electrons from 2D-Ni-PCN-222 and inject them into inert CO2 molecules. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations revealed that adaptive shortening of Ru–O coordination bonds during CO2 adsorption played a crucial role in facilitating deeper activation and the formation of an optimal η3–O,C,O adsorption mode of CO2. This work provides a precise strategy for constructing dual-atom catalysts on MOFs and elucidates the mechanism of CO2 photoreduction, offering insights for the design of efficient photocatalysts.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3671-0
Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a non-invasive tumor treatment that offers controllability, non-drug resistance, and precise ablation, yet its efficacy is limited by uncontrolled heat diffusion and weak immune responses, often leading to metastasis. Here, we report a chondroitin sulfate-modified Prussian blue-montmorillonite immunoregulator (PM@CS) that integrates tumor cell adhesion and Golgi targeting to confine photothermal damage at the organelle level. PM@CS accumulates on the Golgi apparatus, reducing heat transfer distance and enhancing photothermal ablation. This targeted hyperthermia disrupts post-translational modification and secretion of metastasis-associated proteins, with GOLPH3 and GOLM1 expression reduced by 63.4% and 70.3%, respectively. Furthermore, PM@CS promotes dendritic cell maturation (3.3-fold increase in CD80+ and CD86+ populations) and enhances antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell proliferation, attributed to the immunoadjuvant properties of montmorillonite. Notably, PM@CS upregulates voltage-gated calcium channels (CaV) and enhances Ca2+ influx, activating calcium signaling cascades that amplify immunotherapy. This synergistic approach inhibits primary tumor growth and lung metastasis, offering a promising strategy for cancer treatment.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3705-5
Biodegradable metals (BMs) are designed to corrode gradually in physiological environments, yet this corrosion can compromise their mechanical integrity, potentially causing premature implant failure. For emerging zinc-based alloys, the corrosion-mechanical property relationship remains inadequately characterized. This study systematically investigated the long-term corrosion-associated mechanical behavior of hot-extruded Zn-Cu and Zn-Cu-Fe alloys, promising Zn-based bio-metals, in comparison with pure Zn, under immersion degradation in Hank's solution. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and mechanical testing revealed that the evolving corrosion profile governs mechanical performance. Alloying with Cu and Fe mitigated corrosion's detrimental effects: grain refinement reduced localized corrosion susceptibility, while finely dispersed second phases acted as cathodic sites, promoting uniform corrosion. Additionally, Cu and Fe facilitated the formation of protective corrosion product layers, suppressing further matrix attack. Consequently, the overall reduced corrosion, particularly localized corrosion, lowered stress concentration susceptibility, delaying mechanical decline and preserving structural integrity. These findings elucidate the degradation-mechanical property correlation in Zn-based bio-metals and underscore critical considerations for developing new bio-metals for clinical translation.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3722-3
Magnesium alloys are promising biodegradable bone implant materials due to their biocompatibility and mechanical compatibility, but rapid degradation and postoperative bacterial infection limit clinical application. Here, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) and 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic diimide (PD) composite coatings (ZIF-8@PD) were fabricated in situ on micro-arc oxidation (MAO) coated AZ31 alloys via two-step and one-step (OS) methods. The MAO/ZIF-8@PD and MAO/ZIF-8@PD (OS) coatings reduced corrosion current density by three and two orders of magnitude, respectively, compared to MAO coating, due to the physical barrier of the 2D-co-3D MOF structure. Under 808 nm near-infrared laser irradiation, photothermal and photodynamic effects from PD, combined with contact killing by released Zn2+ ions, achieved bactericidal rates ≥99.5% against E. coli and S. aureus. Photothermal conversion efficiencies were 44.01% and 48.57% for the two-step and one-step coatings, respectively. The distinct Zn2+ sources led to different 2D-co-3D MOF structures, influencing degradation and antibacterial behavior. These coatings offer a strategy to enhance corrosion resistance and antibacterial activity of Mg alloys for biomedical applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3581-2
Radiotherapy (RT) is a standard cancer treatment that directly kills tumor cells and promotes systemic immune responses. However, RT can exacerbate tumor hypoxia, which suppresses dendritic cell (DC) antigen presentation and weakens systemic anti-tumor immunity. Here, we report oxygen-loaded in situ gels carrying bacterial outer membrane (MOGel) that slowly degrade to release oxygen and bacterial outer membrane (OM). Oxygen release alleviates tumor hypoxia, while OM continuously activates DCs, enhancing their antigen-presenting capability. In vitro, MOGel combined with RT induced the strongest tumor cell apoptosis. In an orthotopic colon cancer model, MOGel+RT achieved an 80% tumor suppression rate. Notably, MOGel+RT elicited an enhanced abscopal effect, with hypoxia relief and enhanced DC activation contributing to systemic immune responses. These findings suggest that OM-based oxygen gels offer a novel strategy to enhance systemic immune responses to RT.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3678-1
Reed membrane, a natural cellulosic material traditionally used in musical instruments, holds promise in flexible electronics due to its abundance, low cost, and excellent biocompatibility. However, its native form contains water-soluble ions and lipid-soluble waxes that hinder performance in acoustic and electronics by compromising electrical insulation and mechanical stability. Here, supercritical fluid superposition purification (SCSP-WA) is introduced, which utilizes supercritical CO2 with water and acetone as bipolar co-solvents to selectively remove these impurities. Post-SCSP-WA treatment, the reed membrane exhibits significant enhancements in mechanical strength and electrical insulation, achieving a 4-fold increase in elongation at break, improved tensile strength and Young’s modulus, and a 98.5% reduction in leakage current, all while maintaining low and stable capacitance. These improvements stem from the restructuring of the fibrous network into a porous, interconnected microstructure. Material characterization (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)) confirmed the effective removal of magnesium and waxy functional groups, along with enhanced fiber crosslinking. Cytotoxicity tests further validated the biocompatibility of the SCSP-WA-treated membranes. This environmentally sustainable approach expands the potential of reed membranes in flexible bioelectronics and bio-integrated acoustic systems.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202506005
The escalating generation of medical waste, driven by healthcare expansion and frequent medical activities, poses significant environmental and public health risks. Under the framework of ecological civilization, China is developing a comprehensive policy system for medical waste treatment and disposal, yet the current framework remains nascent and exhibits inconsistencies between national and local policies. This study systematically analyzes the status of national and local policies from 2003 to 2024, collecting 413 policy documents (166 from national ministries and 247 from provincial governments). The analysis examines temporal evolution, regional distribution, and policy focus, alongside the influence of medical waste output, treatment technologies, facility infrastructure, and major epidemic responses. Findings reveal distinct policy phases: initial self-disposal, exploratory management, foundational system building, and rapid development. Regional disparities are pronounced, with eastern coastal areas showing more advanced policies due to greater technical and financial resources. The surge in medical waste, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, underscores the need for enhanced regulatory guidance. Non-incineration technologies are gaining traction for their environmental and cost benefits, and facility coverage has improved but remains uneven. The study proposes five policy principles to foster technological innovation and industrial upgrading, ensuring safe medical waste management and environmental protection.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202506010
To facilitate accurate understanding and implementation of the provisions in the Technical Specification for Comprehensive Utilization of Titanium Gypsum (GB/T 45015-2024), and to promote technological capability in comprehensive utilization while effectively controlling environmental risks during utilization, this paper analyzes the current status and existing problems of titanium gypsum generation, management, and utilization technologies in China. The standard is systematically interpreted. It is concluded that the implementation of this standard will promote resource utilization of titanium gypsum, foster energy conservation and carbon reduction in the titanium dioxide industry, and further safeguard ecological and environmental security. China produces over 3,120×10^4 t of titanium gypsum annually (2023), yet its comprehensive utilization rate is only about 10%, far lower than that of phosphogypsum (~40%) and desulfurization gypsum (~80%). The standard, as the first national standard dedicated to titanium gypsum resource utilization, establishes technical pathways for building materials and ecological restoration, sets limits for soluble impurities, and specifies pollution control indicators throughout the utilization process. It addresses the long-standing gaps in technical standards, product quality variability, and environmental supervision, providing critical support for the green and low-carbon transformation of the sulfuric acid process titanium dioxide industry.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202507041
This study investigated the cultivation of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) for the treatment of real textile dyeing wastewater, focusing on the influence of organic loading rate (OLR) on granulation and pollutant removal. After 60 days of cultivation, dense granules of approximately 1 mm diameter were formed, with extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) content of 92.22 mg·L−1, achieving COD and color removal efficiencies of 88.5% and 73.3%, respectively. OLR significantly regulated sludge characteristics: at an OLR of 3.0 kg·(m3·d)−1, the average granule size reached a maximum of 1.38 mm, EPS content peaked at 95.21 mg·g−1, and the highest COD and color removals were observed (92.73% and 86.35%, respectively). However, an excessive OLR of 5.0 kg·(m3·d)−1 led to sludge bulking and disintegration. Microbial community analysis revealed that Proteobacteria (44.06%–49.17%) and Bacteroidetes (27.49%–29.64%) were the dominant phyla, with their abundances significantly correlated with EPS protein secretion and pollutant removal efficiency. This study elucidates the mechanism by which OLR optimizes textile wastewater treatment through modulation of microbial community structure and EPS secretion, providing a theoretical basis and technical support for the practical application of AGS in textile dyeing wastewater treatment.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025121001
Ion chromatography (IC) is the core analytical method for qualitative and quantitative determination of anions in complex water environments, and its separation efficiency highly depends on the performance of the stationary phase. This review systematically summarizes recent progress in the preparation and functionalization of IC stationary phases, addressing the urgent need for high selectivity and sensitivity in water anion analysis. The characteristics of organic polymer-based and inorganic-based matrices are compared, highlighting the advantages of polymer matrices such as poly(methacrylate), poly(vinyl alcohol), polystyrene-divinylbenzene (PS-DVB), and ethylvinylbenzene-divinylbenzene (EVB-DVB) in terms of wide pH tolerance (e.g., pH 0–14 for PS-DVB) and organic solvent compatibility, which allow the use of strong acid or base eluents. Various functionalization strategies are discussed, including the introduction of quaternary ammonium groups, hydrophilic modifications, and grafting of functional layers, which enhance separation selectivity and detection capability. The review also covers the development of hybrid stationary phases and the application of IC in monitoring trace pollutants in water, such as bromate, chlorite, chlorate, fluoride, and nitrate, as regulated by Chinese standards (GB 5749—2022). Future trends are projected, focusing on novel materials for precise identification and high-throughput monitoring. The paper provides a comprehensive reference for the design of high-performance stationary phases, emphasizing the importance of matrix selection and surface chemistry in achieving robust and sensitive anion analysis.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024122402
Carbamazepine (CBZ), a typical emerging contaminant, poses significant environmental and health risks due to its frequent detection, high toxicity, and resistance to conventional degradation. This study synthesized a composite material (PH-BC3-600) via high-temperature pyrolysis of mining waste pyrite and discarded Polygonatum kingianum dregs biochar. The composite was employed to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for CBZ degradation. Results demonstrated that biochar incorporation provided pyrite with more active sites, achieving 88.19% removal of 2.5 mg·L−1 CBZ within 5 minutes, with excellent resistance to Cl−, NO3−, and humic acid. Quenching experiments confirmed the involvement of ·OH, SO4·−, 1O2, and e− in the degradation process. The biochar increased the content of highly reductive sulfur species (S2−, S2−2, Sn2−) in PH-BC3-600, facilitating the reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II) and thereby enhancing PMS activation. Additionally, PH-BC3-600 exhibited lower iron leaching compared to traditional pyrite-based materials, overcoming a key drawback of conventional catalysts. This study highlights the promising potential of PH-BC3-600 for activating PMS in the treatment of emerging contaminants in water.
The Chinese Journal of Process Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12034/j.issn.1009-606X.225159
Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in electric vehicles due to their high energy density, long cycle life, and stability. However, significant heat generation caused by power fluctuations under dynamic driving conditions poses substantial challenges to battery safety and longevity. Existing research often focuses on thermal behavior under fixed ambient temperatures or constant discharge rates, failing to replicate real-world dynamic operations. This study investigates the thermal performance of a 52 Ah battery pack under three typical dynamic operating conditions: steady operation, alternating load operation, and progressive acceleration. Experiments were conducted at ambient temperatures of 25, 30, and 35°C. Results show that the direct cooling thermal management system meets temperature control requirements during steady and alternating load operations at all tested temperatures. However, under progressive acceleration at 35°C, the battery pack's maximum surface temperature reaches 49.8°C with a significant temperature difference of 16.5°C, exceeding safe limits. After installing aluminum fins, the maximum temperature is reduced to 40.9°C, and the temperature difference drops to 5.0°C. Longitudinal temperature difference decreases from 11.2°C to 4.6°C, and transverse temperature difference from 5.9°C to 1.2°C. The fins enhance longitudinal heat conduction and mitigate transverse temperature imbalance. These findings underscore the importance of optimizing thermal management strategies and provide experimental data for developing more effective systems, contributing to improved battery safety and longevity under real-world driving conditions.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3930-3
Methylammonium lead tribromide (MAPbBr3) single crystals (SCs) are promising for room-temperature gamma-ray and X-ray detection, but scaling their size often compromises crystal quality. Here, we report a strategic precursor stoichiometry engineering approach to grow inch-sized, high-quality MAPbBr3 SCs via a constant-temperature evaporation method. We show that constructing a robust electrical double layer through organic cation modulation effectively stabilizes the colloidal precursor. This is achieved by synergistically suppressing MA+ deprotonation while promoting MA+ adsorption as counterions on the [PbBrn]2−n complexes, which collectively strengthens interparticle repulsion and raises the nucleation barrier. This multifaceted approach yields MAPbBr3 SCs with lateral dimensions up to 2 inches and an exceptional X-ray diffraction rocking curve full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 0.0093° at the (002) face. Consequently, the SCs enable spectroscopic-grade gamma-ray detection, achieving energy resolutions (ER) of 8.4% for the 57Co source (122 keV) and 11.1% for the 137Cs source (662 keV), along with a high X-ray sensitivity of 1.65 × 10^4 μC Gy−1 cm−2. This work paves the way for the practical application of MAPbBr3 SCs in high-performance gamma-ray and X-ray detection.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3891-5
Alloys with low thermal expansion are vital for precision components in aerospace, cryogenics, optics, and electronics, where dimensional stability under thermal cycling is essential. As these applications face harsher mechanical and thermal conditions, materials must offer not only low thermal expansion but also high strength and ductility. Achieving all three remains difficult, as their underlying microstructural requirements often conflict. Here, we present a medium-entropy alloy, Fe54Ni34Co6Ti3Al3 (at.%), designed to overcome this challenge through tailored precipitation engineering. The alloy forms coherent L12 nanoprecipitates that not only provide substantial precipitation strengthening but also modulate the composition of the face-centered cubic matrix. This tuning induces a low coefficient of thermal expansion and metastability in the matrix, enabling transformation-induced plasticity that enhances ductility and strain hardening. As a result, the alloy achieves a tensile yield strength of (1036±21) MPa, uniform elongation of 18.4%±1.1%, and a coefficient of thermal expansion of 5.8×10−6 °C−1. This work demonstrates a precipitation-driven pathway to reconcile strength, ductility, and thermal stability, offering a new strategy for designing multifunctional structural materials for advanced engineering environments.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3487-x
Continuous carbon fiber-reinforced ZrB2-SiC ceramic matrix composites are promising thermal protection materials for hypersonic vehicles and reusable spacecraft. Although injection-assisted vacuum impregnation (IVI) offers advantages such as shorter processing cycles, lower costs, and reduced fiber damage compared to conventional methods, phenolic/acetone-based IVI systems yield composites (designated as CPS) with limited ceramic contents. To address this, an aqueous slurry-based IVI approach was developed, producing composites designated as CHS. After a single IVI cycle, CHS achieved a ZrB2 phase volume fraction of 25 vol.%, 47% higher than CPS, while reducing processing time by 49%. After chemical vapor infiltration, CVI-CHS composite exhibited a room-temperature compressive strength of 106.78±10.53 MPa, representing a 28% improvement over CVI-CPS. Crack propagation analysis revealed discontinuous zigzag patterns under compression, dominated by fiber bridging and pull-out energy dissipation mechanisms. Flexural results revealed both composites retain considerable strength (111.15±12.46 and 83.15±12.03 MPa) along with low flexural modulus (13.00±2.41 and 13.52±6.99 GPa) and high strain tolerance (1.32%±0.018% and 1.07%±0.34%). It is attributed to the anisotropy of fiber preforms and the elastic modulus mismatch among different phases, which hindered effective constraint of fibers by the matrix and, in turn, facilitated mitigation of stress concentration. Additionally, CVI-CPS demonstrated superior X-band electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding (34–36 dB) compared to CVI-CHS (22–27 dB), resulting from synergistic effects between pyrolitic and deposited carbon in the matrix of the former. Both composites showed enhanced EMI shielding efficiency with increasing temperature up to 600°C. This eco-friendly aqueous IVI strategy enables high-performance, cost-effective thermal protection materials with higher ceramic loading and tunable multifunctional properties.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3846-9
The tuning of ligand linkage modes in porous crystalline materials to create isomers with varied properties is significant, yet remains rare in structural design and photocatalytic applications. Here, we investigate isomeric metal-covalent organic frameworks (MCOFs), MCOF-E and MCOF-Z, and reveal that specific construction struts lead to E/Z ligand linkage modes with distinct stacking structures, stimulated by temperature. These isomeric MCOFs exhibit different light absorption, charge transfer, and photocatalytic performance. Notably, MCOF-E achieves an aniline generation efficiency of 4.90 mM h−1 in nitrobenzene hydrogenation, with high conversion (~100%) and selectivity (>99%), outperforming MCOF-Z and other counterparts. Theoretical calculations indicate that MCOF-E possesses a narrower band gap than MCOF-Z, facilitating more efficient generation of photo-induced carriers, which accelerates reaction kinetics and significantly improves nitrobenzene hydrogenation efficiency. This work provides insight into the structure-function relationships of MCOFs and demonstrates the potential of isomerization as a strategy to optimize photocatalytic performance.
New Carbon Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61103-1
Flexible pressure sensors that simultaneously achieve high sensitivity, mechanical strength, and long-term stability remain challenging, particularly for biomass-derived carbon aerogels that are intrinsically brittle and prone to structural collapse. Here, we report a bidirectionally frozen carbon aerogel reinforced with tetrapod ZnO whiskers (T-ZnOWs) for high-performance pressure sensing. The aerogel is composed of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets (NCs), and T-ZnOWs, which are reorganized into a mechanically stable, parallel lamellar structure via bidirectional freezing. T-ZnOWs act as rigid interlayer pillars, bridging adjacent carbon lamellae to form a 'layer-support' structure that enables efficient directional stress transfer, suppresses interlayer slippage, and promotes cooperative deformation. The nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets introduce defect-rich conductive paths, enhancing piezoresistive response. Due to modulus mismatch between the supports and carbon layers, applied stress concentrates at layer/support interfaces, generating localized high-stress regions that amplify electrical signal changes. The aerogel is infiltrated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to form a conformal elastic encapsulating layer, improving durability. The resulting sensor exhibits a high gauge factor of 34.4, an ultrahigh sensitivity of 248.41 kPa−1 over a broad pressure range (0–19 kPa), fast response (24 ms) and recovery (69 ms) times, and stable operation over 5000 loading–unloading cycles. The sensor reliably detects physiological signals and joint motions, demonstrating potential for wearable and intelligent sensing applications. This work provides a strategy to improve the mechanical reliability and sensing performance of biomass-derived carbon aerogels.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202507081
Coal chemical waste salt, a solid residue from evaporative crystallization of high-salinity wastewater, poses significant environmental risks and challenges for resource utilization due to its complex composition. This study systematically analyzes its composition and environmental hazards, highlighting its typical "mixed salt" nature and the potential threats of organic pollutants and heavy metals to soil, water, and ecosystems. It reviews mainstream treatment pathways, including organic degradation, inorganic impurity removal, and salt separation, with a focus on the resource utilization of sodium chloride and sodium sulfate and their industrial prospects. The current pollution control technical specifications and product quality standards are examined, comparing the scope and technical points of relevant standards such as the "Technical Specification for Pollution Control of Chemical Waste Salt." Finally, countermeasures are proposed to address challenges including difficult treatment of mixed salts, insufficient resource utilization incentives, and incomplete standard systems, emphasizing technological innovation, policy guidance, and standard improvement.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202506084
Groundwater is a vital drinking and irrigation source in the loess regions of northwestern China. In Guyuan, a densely populated area in southern Ningxia, systematic assessments of groundwater pollution risks are lacking. This study collected 60 groundwater samples and employed the Nemerow index, heavy metal pollution index (HPI), and health risk assessment models to evaluate pollution levels and health risks of eight elements including Cr, As, and Hg. Results show that the groundwater is generally Class IV quality, with a mean TDS of 1350.9 mg·L−1. Average concentrations of As, Cr, and Mn are 4.39, 29.87, and 45.77 μg·L−1, respectively. The Nemerow index indicates moderate pollution. The mean HPI is 10.56, but a local sample (PS1-51-下) reaches 36.15, indicating severe pollution. Health risk assessment reveals that carcinogenic risks from Cr and As for adults and children are 8.037×10−6 a−1 and 3.863×10−6 a−1, respectively, below US EPA limits but above recommended levels by Swedish and Dutch agencies, with children at higher risk. Hydrogen and oxygen isotopes and principal component analysis suggest that groundwater is primarily recharged by atmospheric precipitation. Cr, Zn, and Mn mainly originate from regional copper ore belts, coal mining, and agricultural activities. This study fills a gap in multidimensional groundwater assessment in populated loess areas, identifies pollution characteristics distinct from typical loess regions, and provides a scientific basis for regional water resource risk management and sustainable development.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202508021
Coal chemical industry waste salt, generated from high-salinity wastewater treatment, poses a bottleneck for green transformation under the 'dual carbon' strategy due to its low value and high complexity. This study investigated a typical coal chemical industrial park in Northwest China, using principal component analysis (PCA) on actual waste salt samples to identify pollutant characteristics and assess resource utilization potential. Results showed total organic carbon (TOC) ranged from 707.9 to 7,737.9 mg·kg⁻¹, with benzo(a)pyrene concentrations frequently exceeding the limits of the 'Identification Standards for Hazardous Wastes' (GB 5085.3). Hardness ions and metal ions also surpassed relevant product standards. PCA classified the waste salts into three types: sodium sulfate type, sodium chloride type, and high-complexity mixed salt, each corresponding to distinct resource utilization pathways. The study proposes differentiated technical routes based on PCA classification, providing a feasible reference for classified management and technology selection. This research supports the national policy of 'harmless pretreatment + resource utilization' for waste salt, contributing to green and high-quality development of the coal chemical industry.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202508050
This study investigated the spatial distribution and ecological risk of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) in soil beneath an informal waste dump in a pastoral area of Baingoin County, Nagqu City, Tibet, a high-altitude cold region with frequent freeze-thaw cycles. A total of 55 soil samples were collected from surface (0 cm), middle (10-30 cm), and deep (50 cm) layers. Single-factor index (Pi), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), Nemerow index (PN), and risk assessment code (RAC) were employed to evaluate contamination levels and potential ecological risks, while Kriging interpolation was used to map spatial distribution. Results showed that average concentrations of all seven heavy metals exceeded local background values. Horizontally, high-concentration zones were mainly located at five points within the dump. Vertically, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were significantly enriched in the surface layer, whereas Ni exhibited higher concentrations in deeper layers, indicating downward migration driven by freeze-thaw processes. All evaluation methods identified Cd as the primary pollutant. Speciation analysis revealed that heavy metals were predominantly in the residual fraction, with Ni having the highest weak-acid-extractable fraction (5.55%), indicating strong mobility and potential biological toxicity. This study fills a gap in systematic research on informal waste dumps in high-altitude ecologically fragile areas and provides a case reference for environmental management and remediation of such sites in cold regions.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605023
Identifying the characteristics of carbon emissions and driving forces of the railway sector is essential for formulating effective measures to develop a green and low-carbon railway industry. This study systematically evaluated the direct and indirect carbon emissions from 2016 to 2021 generated by the railway sector of China, and analyzed the spatiotemporal dynamic changes of the carbon emissions. On this basis, by adopting the LMDI model, the key factors affecting the carbon emissions of railway sector were discerned. Moreover, the variations in the dominant factors of the carbon emissions over time, and the spatial heterogeneities in the dominant factors of the carbon emissions of the 18 railway bureaus, were analyzed. The results show that: 1) During the periods from 2016 to 2021, the carbon emissions of China's railway sector showed an overall upward trend, increasing from 57.7486 million tons to 64.2084 million tons, by 11.2%. The Shanghai Bureau, Beijing Bureau, Zhengzhou Bureau, Chengdu Bureau and Guangzhou Bureau substantially contributed to the increases of railway carbon emissions. In spatial, the carbon emissions of the 18 railway bureaus were characterized by lower emissions in the west and higher emissions in the east, mainly due to the regional differences in the socio-economic development, industrial structure and population density; 2) During 2016 to 2021, the decline in energy consumption intensity reduced the carbon emissions of the railway sector by 18.8654 million tons, while the changes in carbon emission intensity, economic benefits of per unit passenger and freight turnover, and operating capacity led to an increase of a sum of 25.3252 million tons of carbon emissions. When decomposing the contributions of each factor by sub-periods, it can be found that the impacts of these factors on the carbon emissions changed over time. Only the factor of carbon emission intensity showed a promoting effect in all sub-periods, the other three factors, as energy consumption intensity, economic benefits of per unit passenger and freight turnover, and operating capacity, had a conversion between promoting and inhibiting effects. 3) The dominant factors of carbon emissions across the 18 railway bureaus exhibited spatial heterogeneity. For instance, operating capacity was the main promoting factor for bureaus like Taiyuan, Beijing, Lanzhou, Nanning, Hohhot, Urumqi, and Qinghai-Tibet, while energy consumption intensity was the main inhibiting factor. For Shanghai, Kunming, Wuhan, Chengdu, Xi'an, Zhengzhou, Jinan, Shenyang, Nanchang, and Guangzhou, economic benefits per unit turnover was the main promoting factor, with energy consumption intensity as the main inhibiting factor. For Harbin, energy consumption intensity was the main promoting factor, while economic benefits per unit turnover was the main inhibiting factor. 4) The railway sector can reduce carbon emissions by optimizing transport organization to reduce empty car rates, optimizing energy structure, and retrofitting infrastructure for energy efficiency, while implementing differentiated emission reduction strategies tailored to each bureau's characteristics.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605024
The refined quantification of carbon footprint in engineering construction projects is critical for formulating targeted carbon reduction strategies during the materialization phase. This study integrates material flow analysis (MFA) with the emission factor method to establish a panoramic carbon flow model for engineering projects. Construction activities are categorized into processing and construction, and office and daily operations, clarifying material and carbon flow relationships within the system boundary and with external systems. Empirical analysis was conducted on the Hejiawan Bridge of Section 11 of the Xiyu High-Speed Railway. Results show that the total carbon flow amounts to 27,482,432.11 kg CO2eq, with direct carbon flow (fuel oil, gasoline) accounting for 7.6% and indirect carbon flow (products, transportation, electricity) accounting for 92.4%. From the material flow perspective, the total carbon flow comprises product carbon flow (72.88%), resource and energy carbon flow (25.73%), transportation carbon flow (1.04%), waste carbon flow (0.35%), and service carbon flow (0.01%). In terms of activity scope, construction-related carbon flow accounts for 99.17%, while office and daily operations account for 0.46%. Two indicators, material consumption carbon flow rate and energy consumption carbon flow rate, are proposed for the first time. Comparative analysis of five girder bridges reveals that the Hejiawan Bridge has a material consumption carbon flow rate of 3.91 kg CO2eq/kg, ranking highest among similar bridges, while its energy consumption carbon flow rate is 13.40 kg CO2eq/kg ec, at a medium level. The assessment indicates relatively high material consumption, suggesting potential for carbon reduction through structural and geological optimization.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3650-6
Aggregation-induced emission active chiral polymer dots (AIE@CPdots) are emerging as high-performance emission layers (EMLs) for circularly polarized organic light-emitting diodes (CP-OLEDs) due to their persistent emission stability, high photoluminescence quantum yields, excellent solution processability, facile functionalization, tunable bandgap-governed emission, and superior device processability. However, reports on such systems remain scarce. In this study, a pair of chiral conjugated polymer enantiomers (R/S-PFC) was synthesized via Suzuki polymerization using three monomers: a chiral binaphthalene moiety, a fluorenyl linker, and an AIE-active cyanostyrene dye. After annealing at 110 °C, the resulting R/S-PFC self-assembled into chiral nanoparticles (AIE@CPdots) in a chloroform/n-hexane mixed solvent (9:1 v/v), exhibiting enhanced circularly polarized luminescence with a luminescence dissymmetry factor (|g_lum|) of 4.4 × 10⁻³ at 462 nm. Notably, AIE@CPdots served as the EML in CP-OLEDs, achieving high-performance circularly polarized electroluminescence with an electroluminescence dissymmetry factor (|g_EL|) of 3.0 × 10⁻³ at 464 nm, a maximum luminance (L_max) of 6022 cd m⁻², and a maximum current efficiency (CE_max) of 1.10 cd A⁻¹. This work provides a novel strategy for designing superior EML materials for CP-OLEDs via chiral self-assembled AIE@CPdots.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3850-3
Chiral nanomaterials have attracted considerable attention for antibacterial applications due to their unique chiroptical properties. Here, we report a novel spatiotemporally precise synergistic photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) strategy using circularly polarized light (CPL)-activated chiral molybdenum-doped carbon dots (L-Mo-CDs and D-Mo-CDs). These chiral carbon dots were synthesized using chiral tartaric acid as a precursor. Notably, D-Mo-CDs selectively respond to left-handed CPL (LCP), while L-Mo-CDs respond to right-handed CPL (RCP). Under CPL irradiation, D-Mo-CDs exhibit enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and a higher photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) compared to L-Mo-CDs. In vitro antibacterial assays demonstrate that D-Mo-CDs possess excellent bactericidal efficacy against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In vivo wound healing studies in a mouse model reveal remarkable therapeutic efficacy, attributed to reduced inflammation, accelerated angiogenesis, and enhanced collagen deposition. This work introduces a paradigm for utilizing chiral carbon dots in precision antibacterial therapy, addressing the limitations of conventional chiral nanomaterials such as poor biocompatibility and low photothermal conversion. The findings underscore the potential of metal-doped chiral carbon dots for advanced biomedical applications, offering a spatiotemporally controllable approach to combat bacterial infections without promoting resistance.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3802-0
Exploring efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for both hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions is key to water electrolysis. However, the inherently slow reaction kinetics of electrocatalysis are constrained by mass transfer limitations and unsuitable adsorption/desorption dynamics. Herein, a Fe-doped-Ni3S2/NiFeCoCeIn oxide hydroxide (FNS/HEOXY) crystalline–amorphous heterostructure electrocatalyst with a large work function difference (ΔΦ) and strong built-in electric field (BEF) is successfully designed and synthesized. Benefiting from the electron transfer behavior from FNS to HEOXY, the FNS/HEOXY shows outstanding catalytic activity for both hydrogen and oxygen evolution, along with ultra-high stability in an alkaline medium at an industrial-level current density. Moreover, the anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE) assembled by the FNS/HEOXY requires only a minimal cell voltage of 1.83 V to reach 1 A cm−2 at 80 °C. Both experimental and theoretical results confirm the interfacial charge redistribution induced by the strong BEF, thus finely optimizing the adsorption energy. This work proposes a new design principle toward efficient electrocatalysts for energy conversion.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3818-4
The electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2RR) to multi-carbon (C2+) products is of significant interest due to its implications for chemical manufacturing and carbon neutrality. However, the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and sluggish C–C coupling kinetics impede selectivity at industrial current densities. Here, we report an interfacial nanoconfinement strategy using N-(2-acetamido)iminodiacetic acid (ADA) to engineer a series of capping layer-covered Cu catalysts (Cu@ADA-x). A volcano-type correlation between capping layer thickness and C2+ selectivity is observed. The optimized Cu@ADA-m catalyst achieves a maximum Faradaic efficiency for C2+ products (FE C2+) of 86.8% and maintains over 80% of its initial FE C2+ after 42 hours at 200 mA cm−2, with an energy efficiency of 38.5%. In-situ Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the capping architecture stabilizes metastable Cu species and optimizes gas adsorption, enhancing *CO intermediate utilization and lowering C–C coupling energy barriers. This work provides a catalyst design principle for industrial-scale carbon-neutral electrochemical production of multi-carbon products.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202509095
Biotrickling filtration (BTF) is a promising technology for treating volatile organic compounds (VOCs), but its application to hydrophobic alkanes like isohexane is hindered by mass transfer limitations, low degradation efficiency, and high operational costs. To address these bottlenecks, this study developed composite fillers by incorporating biochars derived from coffee grounds (CG), coconut shells (CS), corn cobs (CC), and activated carbon (AC) into a polyvinyl alcohol-sodium alginate (PVA-SA) hydrogel matrix. The fillers were systematically characterized for water retention, pore structure, surface functional groups, crystalline phase, and acid-base resistance. Adsorption capacity, biofilm formation, and isohexane degradation were evaluated using the strain Rhodococcus ruber ZYH-ZY. Among the composites, CG@PVA-SA exhibited superior performance: water retention of 358 mg·g−1 (vs. 280 mg·g−1 for control), enhanced mesoporosity (specific surface area 4.77 m2·g−1, pore volume 11.46 cm3·kg−1, 10–30% higher than control), and robust acid-base stability (mass loss 21.37% at pH 2 and 31.98% at pH 10). Its saturated adsorption capacity reached 201.02 mg·kg−1 (vs. 114.24 mg·kg−1 for control), and it promoted bacterial colonization with a survival rate of 79.0% (vs. 37.2% for control). Static degradation tests showed 96.59% removal of 10 μL isohexane within 24 h. The abundant polar functional groups and suitable mesoporous structure of coffee ground biochar synergized with the PVA-SA matrix, enhancing water retention, mass transfer, and microbial colonization, thereby significantly improving isohexane purification. CG@PVA-SA is an ideal filler for BTF treatment of alkane VOCs, offering a cost-effective and efficient solution for industrial VOC control.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60636-6
Polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers (DMMx) are promising clean diesel additives. Compared to the traditional aldol condensation route, the one-step oxidative method for producing DMMx directly from methanol is a green synthesis route offering significant advantages. However, due to the complexity of the reaction, a balance must be struck between oxidation depth and C–O chain growth efficiency. This imposes specific requirements on the design of catalysts with multifunctional active sites: the catalyst should possess appropriate oxidative activity, suitable acid strength distribution, and effective synergy between these two functions. To address these challenges, this study designed a sulfuric acid-modified molybdenum-doped NASICON catalyst, which demonstrated favorable catalytic performance in the one-step oxidative synthesis of DMMx from methanol. Over the NSC-Mo-0.5-30% catalyst, methanol conversion rate of 81.3% and the DMMx selectivity of 58.7% were achieved, along with the formation of heavier molecules, as evidenced by the DMM2–6 selectivity of 11.3%. The NH3-TPD, Py-IR and XPS results indicate that the introduction of molybdenum increases the number of weak Lewis acid sites, while sulfuric acid impregnation not only generates gradient-distributed Brønsted acid sites but also promotes the formation of Mo5+/Mo6+ redox pairs. The cooperation of the two types of active sites significantly enhances catalyst performance.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60649-4
To achieve efficient conversion of lignin-derived phenolic compounds into high-value hydrocarbon fuels, a series of NiCo bimetallic catalysts with N-doped biochar and Al2O3 composite supports (NiCo/NC-Al2O3) were designed and synthesized. Comprehensive characterizations (XRD, TEM, XPS, H2-TPD) revealed the superior catalytic activity in the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of lignin-derived phenolic compounds. The optimized Ni8Co2/NC-Al2O3 catalyst exhibited good metal dispersion and excellent hydrogen dissociation adsorption capacity. Under mild reaction conditions (240°C, 1 MPa H2, 4 h), it achieved complete conversion of guaiacol and 99.9% selectivity to cyclohexane, significantly outperforming monometallic Ni10/NC-Al2O3 and Co10/NC-Al2O3 catalysts. Comparative studies indicated a synergistic effect between Ni and Co, where the introduction of Co effectively promoted aromatic ring hydrogenation and C−O bond cleavage. The catalyst maintained high activity after four reuse cycles, demonstrating outstanding structural stability. This study elucidates the regulatory mechanism of the Ni-Co synergistic effect on catalytic performance, providing new insights for the development of efficient non-noble metal HDO catalysts.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025021101
This study investigated the toxic effects of intrauterine benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) exposure on pancreatic development and glucose metabolism in first-generation offspring rats. Pregnant Wistar rats were randomly divided into control and treatment groups receiving 200, 800, or 1600 μg·kg−1 BaP via daily oral gavage during gestation until delivery. Pancreatic histology was assessed in offspring at postnatal day 2 and week 12. Protein and mRNA expression of pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX-1) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) were quantified. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests (IPGTT) and insulin tolerance tests (IPITT) were performed at week 12. Results showed that exposure to 800 and 1600 μg·kg−1 BaP caused dose-dependent pancreatic damage, with more severe islet morphological disruption and reduced islet area, which did not improve with age. PDX-1 and TFAM expression levels decreased in a dose-dependent manner at both time points. At week 12, the 1600 μg·kg−1 group exhibited pre-diabetic symptoms, including elevated blood glucose and insulin levels, and impaired glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. These findings indicate that intrauterine BaP exposure leads to persistent pancreatic developmental impairment and glucose metabolism disorders, potentially mediated by downregulation of PDX-1 and TFAM, with no recovery over time.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025030602
In the context of accelerated urbanization, regional air composite pollution in medium and large urban agglomerations is primarily characterized by PM2.5-O3 compound pollution. To elucidate the meteorological causes of PM2.5-O3 compound pollution in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region over the recent seven years (2017–2023), this study analyzed monitoring data from typical cities (Nanjing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Hefei) using Pearson and partial correlation coefficients. Results indicate: (1) PM2.5 pollution exhibited a significant downward trend across all four cities, with notable improvement during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, underscoring the effectiveness of air pollution control measures. Conversely, O3 pollution remained elevated or increased in some cities, indicating persistent challenges in O3 control. (2) During O3 pollution episodes, PM2.5 and O3 concentrations were positively correlated, whereas during PM2.5 pollution episodes, they were negatively correlated. (3) Compound pollution days were predominantly observed from February to October, with the highest frequency (20 days) occurring from April to June. (4) The significant reduction in PM2.5 weakened the aerosol 'umbrella effect', enhancing surface radiation and promoting near-surface O3 formation. Concurrently, changes in the NOx/VOCs ratio weakened O3 titration, and climate warming accelerated O3 precursor generation and potentially altered boundary layer structure, collectively contributing to O3 accumulation in the cold season and an increasing frequency of compound pollution during that period. (5) The formation mechanisms of PM2.5 and O3 are driven by distinct meteorological conditions, with low overall concentration correlation; however, under compound meteorological conditions such as high temperature, stagnant air, and weak diffusion, both pollutants tend to rise synchronously, indicating that compound pollution events are typically driven by multiple adverse meteorological factors. This study demonstrates that from 2017 to 2023, PM2.5 pollution significantly decreased while O3 pollution showed an increasing trend. Compound pollution was concentrated in April–June and influenced by high temperature, stagnant air, and weak diffusion. With effective PM2.5 control, enhanced surface radiation and changes in O3 precursors led to O3 accumulation in the cold season, increasing compound pollution frequency. Overall, compound pollution is driven by multiple meteorological factors, posing complex challenges for control.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025021901
To assess the impact of the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (APPCAP) on the chemical composition of PM2.5, this study analyzed the concentrations, existing forms, and sources of water-soluble ions in PM2.5 collected during summer (June–August) in the northern suburbs of Nanjing for the years 2012, 2013, 2017, and 2019. The results demonstrate a significant reduction in total water-soluble ion concentrations in 2017–2019 compared to 2012, indicating the effectiveness of APPCAP in mitigating PM2.5 pollution. Sulfate (SO4^2−), nitrate (NO3^−), and ammonium (NH4^+) (collectively SNA) were the dominant ionic species, contributing 69.98%–92.58% of the total ion mass, with SO4^2− being the most abundant. In the summers of 2013 and 2017, PM2.5 exhibited alkaline properties, and SNA primarily existed as NH4NO3 and (NH4)2SO4. Conversely, in 2019, PM2.5 became acidic, with SNA present as NH4NO3 and NH4HSO4. The nitrogen oxidation ratio (NOR) and sulfur oxidation ratio (SOR) indicated that NO3^− and SO4^2− predominantly originated from secondary reactions, with SO2 undergoing secondary conversion more readily than NO2, and the degree of secondary conversion increasing annually. Source apportionment revealed a shift from long-range transport in 2013 to local and regional sources by 2017. These findings underscore the success of APPCAP in reducing primary emissions and altering the chemical speciation of secondary inorganic aerosols, while highlighting the persistent dominance of sulfate and the need for continued SO2 emission controls.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3813-y
Sonothermal therapy (STT) is an emerging noninvasive energy-based modality that leverages deeply penetrating ultrasound to activate engineered nanomaterials, converting acoustic energy into localized heat. This review systematically delineates four coupling routes between ultrasound and nanomaterials: thermoelastic, thermoviscous, and plasmonic heating; nonradiative recombination and acousto-electric coupling; thermal vibrations in carbon and conjugated systems; and cavitation heating. Design principles for STT nanomaterials are established, with guidance for pre-, intra-, and post-treatment phases, and linked to applications in tumor ablation, wound infection and healing, and implant-associated infection and regeneration. Hybrid platforms integrating STT with sonodynamic or sonocatalytic reactive oxygen species generation are discussed. Key translational barriers include the lack of quantitative and standardized metrics for conversion efficiency, the need for scalable and reproducible manufacturing aligned with Good Manufacturing Practice, limited in vivo biodistribution and biosafety data, and weak links from preclinical models to clinical endpoints. An integrated framework connecting mechanism, material design, and therapeutic outcome is proposed to guide the development of next-generation STT nanoplatforms for treatment-resistant disease.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3790-5
Near-infrared (NIR) phosphors with high quantum efficiency (QE) and thermal robustness are critical for phosphor-converted light-emitting diodes (pc-LEDs). Here, a Cr3+-activated Lu2BaAl4SiO12 (LBASO) garnet phosphor is engineered via chemical unit cosubstitution of [Ba2+-Si4+] for [Lu3+-Al3+] in Lu3Al5O12 (LuAG), inducing a strong crystal field that yields NIR emission at 705 nm. The optimized LBASO:0.07Cr3+ exhibits an internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of 84.82% and external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 46.02%. Notably, it demonstrates anti-thermal quenching (ATQ) with 126.03% of its initial intensity at 498 K under 442 nm excitation, attributed to a wide band gap, weak electron-phonon coupling, defect trap energy levels, high structural rigidity, and optimized electron population distribution. A NIR pc-LED fabricated with this phosphor achieves an output power of 134.99 mW and photoelectric conversion efficiency of 11.4% at 100 mA drive current. These results underscore the potential of LBASO:Cr3+ for applications in plant lighting, night vision, and nondestructive analysis.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202607001
Co-combustion of municipal solid waste (MSW) and sewage sludge (SS) offers a promising route for synergistic waste management, yet pollutant release dynamics and environmental trade-offs remain inadequately characterized. This study systematically investigated the combustion behavior, pollutant emissions, and environmental impacts of MSW-SS blends at 850, 950, and 1050 °C with varying SS mass fractions (0–100%). Machine learning models, particularly artificial neural networks (ANN), were optimized to predict pollutant generation, and SHAP analysis identified key influencing factors. Results demonstrated that combustion temperature and blending ratio significantly affected burnout efficiency, with temperature exerting a more pronounced effect. An SS proportion of 20% yielded favorable combustion performance. Among pollutants, N2O and C2H4 emissions were significantly influenced by temperature, blending ratio, and their interaction, indicating high sensitivity to operating conditions. CO and C6H6 were primarily affected by blending ratio, while C7H8 responded to both temperature and blending ratio. N2O and CH4 were predominantly released during the initial combustion stage; elevated temperatures markedly suppressed N2O formation, and co-combustion generally reduced CH4 emissions. A 20% SS blend effectively reduced SO2 emissions, and NO synergistic reduction was optimal at 950 °C. Emissions of CO, C2H4, C6H6, and C7H8 exhibited antagonistic behavior under co-combustion. The ANN model accurately predicted pollutant concentrations, with combustion temperature, volatile matter, and fixed carbon content identified as critical factors. Environmental impact assessment revealed that higher temperatures reduced global warming potential (GWP) and photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), while lower MSW proportions decreased POCP but increased GWP and acidification potential (AP). Integrating combustion performance, pollutant release, and environmental impacts, an SS proportion of 20% is recommended for optimized co-combustion.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202607020
Kitchen waste (KW) and excess sludge (ES) are urban biowastes with resource recovery potential, commonly treated via anaerobic digestion (AD) for methane production. However, KW mono-digestion suffers from acidification, while ES yields low methane. This study employed semi-continuous reactors to simulate practical AD, co-digesting KW and ES at a 4:1 volatile solids ratio with biochar addition (0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 g/L). The optimal biochar dosage was 2.5 g/L, achieving cumulative biogas and methane volumes of 17.53 L and 11.63 L, respectively, representing 42.10% and 39.47% increases over the biochar-free control, and 34.45% and 43.30% enhancements relative to thermally hydrolyzed sludge. The methanogenic lag phase decreased from (5.65±0.11) d to (4.33±0.12) d. Process stability improved, with average volatile fatty acids (VFAs) during stable operation dropping from 1708 mg/L to 1033 mg/L. Microbial analysis revealed enhanced diversity and enrichment of Synergistetes and Syntrophomonas, indicating direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) promotion. Biochar at low concentrations enhances AD by immobilizing microbes and facilitating electron transfer, while high concentrations (10 g/L) may inhibit methanogenesis due to fatty acid degradation blockage, yet total methane production remained above control. These findings demonstrate that biochar addition at 2.5 g/L effectively enhances methane production and process stability in KW-ES co-digestion.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3950-x
Photocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production via the two-electron pathway offers an environmentally friendly oxidant and a clean fuel. However, challenges exist in optimal oxygen (O2) adsorption capacities and maintaining O–O bond during O2 activation. Herein, we present a zinc single-atom catalyst (Zn/VN-CN) incorporating nitrogen vacancies (VN), designed to modulate the electronic structure of the photocatalyst, leading to optimized O2 adsorption energy and a remarkable enhancement in H2O2 yield. Benefiting from the synergistic effect between nitrogen vacancies and Zn single atoms, the optimized Zn/VN-CN catalyst exhibits a photocatalytic H2O2 production rate of 2.399 mmol g−1 h−1 under visible-light irradiation, representing a 12-fold enhancement compared to pristine g-C3N4 (CN), along with a high H2O2 selectivity of 87.4%. Combined experimental and theoretical studies indicate that the Zn-N3 sites act as highly active reaction centers, while nitrogen vacancies increase the charge density and downshift the d-band center of the Zn sites, thereby moderating O2 adsorption strength, lowering the activation energy barrier for the formation of *H2O2, and further converting it to H2O2. This work proposes an effective strategy for tuning O2 adsorption behavior to achieve highly selective and active photocatalytic H2O2 production.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3918-x
Electrochemical seawater electrolysis powered by renewable energy is a highly promising route toward sustainable hydrogen production, mitigating both energy shortages and carbon emissions. However, chloride-induced corrosion and competitive chlorine evolution reactions lead to metal site dissolution, severely impairing durability, especially at industrial-level current densities. Here, we report a nitrite-incorporated cobalt-iron layered double hydroxide (CoFe-NO2−-LDH) electrocatalyst that exhibits exceptional activity and stability for seawater splitting. The nitrite anion acts as an electronic pump: it accepts electrons to facilitate the formation of high-valence Fe species essential for initial OER activation, and donates electrons under high potential to suppress oxidative dissolution. Moreover, the negatively charged nitrite generates an electrostatic repulsion field that effectively repels chloride ions, protecting metal active sites from corrosion and segregation. The in situ characterization confirms that nitrite doping weakens the Fe–O covalency, which suppresses lattice oxygen participation and promotes a stable adsorbate-evolving mechanism, consequently leading to significantly enhanced operational stability. When used as an anode, the CoFe-NO2−-LDH catalyst achieves over 1000 h of stable operation at 1000 mA cm−2 in seawater electrolysis, demonstrating great potential for practical applications.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202512057
A novel slag-based carbon powder-sodium alginate composite membrane was fabricated by incorporating purified slag-derived carbon powder into a sodium alginate matrix, followed by dual crosslinking with polyethyleneimine and glutaraldehyde. The membrane was designed to achieve waste-to-treat-waste objectives, enhance the resource value of industrial slag, and provide an efficient, regenerable adsorbent for Cr(VI) removal from water. Adsorption performance was systematically evaluated. Optimal adsorption occurred at pH 2, with elevated temperature and initial Cr(VI) concentration favoring uptake; equilibrium was reached at approximately 73 h. The adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model, and isotherm data fitted the Langmuir model, yielding a theoretical maximum adsorption capacity of 471.970 mg·g−1. Thermodynamic analysis indicated a spontaneous, endothermic process. In simulated wastewater containing multiple metal ions, competitive effects moderately reduced adsorption capacity. After three adsorption-desorption cycles, the membrane retained good structural stability despite a decline in capacity. Characterization via SEM-EDS, FTIR, and XPS revealed a porous structure and the involvement of functional groups such as –COOH and –NH2, with partial reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III). The adsorption mechanism was attributed to synergistic electrostatic interaction, chemical coordination, and redox reactions.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2026012605
Synthetic phenolic antioxidants (SPAs) are widely used, leading to environmental contamination and human exposure. However, studies on their effects on adipocyte differentiation and underlying mechanisms, particularly for emerging SPAs, are limited. This study evaluated the impacts of 4-tert-octylphenol (4-t-OP) and three novel antioxidants (AO 3114, AO 1135, AO 702) on adipogenesis using the mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation model. Lipid staining, triglyceride measurement, differentiation-related gene expression analysis, and transcriptomic approaches were employed. All four SPAs significantly promoted differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells into mature adipocytes and upregulated expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (Pparγ) and mature adipocyte marker genes. Transcriptomic analysis revealed differential effects on gene transcription during early differentiation. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses indicated that these SPAs promoted adipogenesis by enhancing energy metabolism and protein synthesis, as well as regulating PPAR and other signaling pathways. In conclusion, the tested SPAs promote adipogenesis and disrupt lipid metabolism through distinct mechanisms, suggesting long-term exposure may cause metabolic disorder risks and pose a public health threat.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025051802
This study investigates the recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus from anaerobic digestion biogas slurry of chicken manure via magnesium-modified zeolite coupled with electrochemical precipitation crystallization. Three types of magnesium-modified zeolites were prepared using alkali activation and magnesium loading to enhance adsorption capacity. A coupled 'magnesium-modified zeolite-electrochemical MAP' reactor was constructed, and key parameters (N/P ratio, pH, current density) were optimized via response surface methodology. The results show that MgCl2-modified zeolite (MgCl2-ZO) exhibited the best coupling precipitation performance. Under optimal conditions (N/P ratio 3.78, pH 8.43, current density 13.11 A·m−2), the removal efficiencies for total nitrogen (TN), total ammonium nitrogen (TAN), total phosphorus (TP), and total phosphate (TPS) reached 54.84%, 62.93%, 82.02%, and 77.72%, respectively. The mechanism involves synergistic adsorption and electrochemical release of Mg2+ from the magnesium electrode, which promotes struvite crystallization. The electrochemical field enhances ion exchange and chemical precipitation on the zeolite surface, facilitating efficient nutrient recovery. This approach offers a promising solution for nutrient management in livestock wastewater.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025041505
To combat severe air pollution, China has implemented a series of air pollution control action plans since 2013, effectively alleviating PM2.5 pollution. However, PM2.5 concentrations in most cities within the Fenwei Plain still exceed national standards. This study systematically evaluates PM2.5 concentration changes across two policy phases (2013–2020) using the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model, quantifying contributions of meteorology and emissions, and analyzing sectoral source changes. Results show that annual average PM2.5 concentration declined cumulatively by 19% during 2013–2020. In the first phase (2013–2017), regional PM2.5 decreased by 3% annually, with most improvement in winter; however, due to unfavorable meteorology, concentrations increased in Xi'an and Xianyang. In the second phase (2017–2020), PM2.5 declined by an additional 16%, with more effective control measures, particularly in spring and autumn. Emission reductions dominated in both phases, with stronger effects in the second phase (−8 μg·m−3), significantly outweighing adverse meteorological contributions (+3.5 μg·m−3). Nevertheless, many cities still face challenges from unfavorable meteorology, highlighting the need for future policies to account for meteorological influences. Emissions from industrial, energy, and agricultural sources decreased significantly across both phases. However, during winter heating periods, residential emissions emerged as a source equal in importance to industrial emissions, becoming a key target for future emission controls.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608022
Since the first domestic sludge incineration project was commissioned at Shanghai's Shidongkou Wastewater Treatment Plant in 2004, sludge mono-incineration has been progressively adopted in economically developed Chinese cities. However, decentralized planning of wastewater treatment facilities and variable sludge characteristics complicate the centralized design and operation of incineration plants. This study, based on the planning and engineering design of a sludge incineration plant in Qingdao, analyzes sludge from major municipal wastewater treatment plants, which differ significantly in moisture and organic content due to varying influent characteristics and treatment processes. An energy balance model was constructed using data on sludge moisture and organic content, leading to a sludge allocation scheme and a simplified cost calculation method for heterogeneous sludge. This supports differentiated pricing and rational distribution in drying and incineration projects. Additionally, comparing conventional dewatering (to 76% moisture) and deep dewatering (to 65% moisture) from a "wastewater treatment plant + incineration" perspective, the study evaluates full-process costs and carbon emissions. Results show that deep dewatering increases dewatering costs and emissions but reduces transport and incineration costs and emissions, yielding lower total costs and emissions. The findings provide a basis for optimizing municipal sludge treatment planning and process selection.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4091-4
Perovskite photovoltaics offer exceptional promise for next-generation solar energy, yet their commercialization is impeded by a critical scalability-stability gap: scalable solution-processed coating methods introduce distinct fluid dynamics and crystallization kinetics, yielding varied film morphologies and unstable degradation behaviors. This review addresses this challenge by re-examining stability exclusively through scalable solution-based fabrication. Degradation mechanisms in scalable processing are dissected, emphasizing precursor ink design—solute purity, ink aging, and solvent engineering—which collectively govern film uniformity and reproducibility. Intrinsic instabilities exacerbated under scalable processing are analyzed via crystal and compositional design, defect generation and passivation, and ion migration in large-area devices. Stable device architectures suitable for scalable manufacturing are explored, comparing n-i-p and p-i-n configurations and advancements in charge transport layers. Encapsulation is critically evaluated as the ultimate barrier for commercial modules, covering scalable techniques and material selections, alongside an assessment of operational stability under real-world environments including moisture ingress, thermal cycling, and UV-induced degradation. By integrating these insights, this review establishes a holistic framework for co-designing process scalability and operational longevity, outlining a coherent pathway toward durable and commercially viable perovskite solar modules.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3977-8
Single quantum well (single-QW) two-dimensional (2D) perovskites are poised to revolutionize optoelectronic devices owing to their superior stability and optoelectronic properties. However, solution-processed 2D perovskites typically suffer from disordered multiple-QW structures, leading to inconsistent device performance. Here, we introduce a solvent-hydrolysis-driven method to control crystallization kinetics, yielding highly ordered single-QW 2D perovskite films. Dimethylamine (DMA), generated from the hydrolysis of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), serves as a critical mediator, preventing cluster aggregation and ensuring a uniform colloidal distribution. This approach circumvents the formation of a heterogeneous intermediate phase, thereby promoting the formation of a homogeneous (DMA,MA)PbI3 phase, which is essential for single-QW film development. The resultant photodetector exhibits outstanding performance, with a responsivity of 1153 mA/W and a detectivity of 6.98 × 10^12 Jones, along with excellent photostability under ambient conditions. These attributes render it ideal for photoelectric imaging sensors and large-scale integration. Our findings establish a scalable, solution-processed strategy for high-performance 2D perovskite materials, opening new avenues for advanced optoelectronic applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4116-0
The design of solid electrolyte interphases (SEIs) for poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based solid-state batteries has largely focused on solvent-affinity of Li+ to generate robust but ionically sluggish LiF-rich layers, inherently compromising transport kinetics. Here, we establish a paradigm based on quantifiable physicochemical descriptors (ionic potential and donor number) to guide the design of amphitropic ion pairs (AIPs). These AIPs are engineered to simultaneously tailor both the solvent-affinity and anion-affinity of Li+: a solvent-philic cation with high ionic potential (Al3+) first sequesters reactive solvents, clearing the path for a high-donor-number, lithium-philic anion (NO3−) to remodel solvation. This rationally guided, sequential mechanism enables the in situ synthesis of a LiF/Li3N heterostructured SEI, where dendrite-suppressing LiF domains are seamlessly integrated with ultra-fast Li3N ion channels. This design heterogeneity effectively enhances stability and kinetics, yielding a robust and highly conductive interface. Consequently, Li|Li cells achieve >2000 h of stable cycling, and Li|LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 full cells surpass 600 cycles.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3978-0
All-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs) are promising for flexible and wearable electronics due to their excellent stability and mechanical stretchability. However, achieving high performance remains challenging due to difficulties in controlling the morphology of polymer blend films. In this study, a novel polymer donor, PBDTF-DTP, incorporating a weak electron-withdrawing yet large-dipole-moment dithienylphthalimide (DTP-2T) unit, was rationally designed and synthesized for ternary all-PSCs. Introducing PBDTF-DTP as a guest donor enables complementary light absorption and deepens the highest occupied molecular orbital level, simultaneously improving short-circuit current density (J_SC) and open-circuit voltage (V_OC). The large dipole moment of DTP-2T increases the dielectric constant, suppressing non-radiative energy loss and further boosting V_OC. Notably, PBDTF-DTP exhibits a relatively higher molecular electrostatic potential than the host donor, effectively tuning compatibility with both polymer donor and acceptor, regulating blend morphology, and promoting formation of a nanoscale fibrillar network. This optimized morphology facilitates efficient charge generation and transport while suppressing charge recombination. Consequently, ternary all-PSCs based on PM6:PBDTF-DTP:PYIT achieve a synergistic enhancement in J_SC, V_OC, and fill factor, yielding a remarkable power conversion efficiency of 18.01%, significantly higher than that of binary PM6:PYIT devices (15.51%). This study demonstrates that combining electrostatic potential optimization with a ternary strategy provides an effective approach to regulate morphology and achieve high-efficiency all-PSCs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4059-3
Deuterium (D2) is indispensable for isotope tracing, neutron scattering, and fusion reactions, yet its separation from hydrogen (H2) remains challenging due to their nearly identical physicochemical properties. Adsorptive separation exploiting the kinetic quantum sieving (KQS) effect at cryogenic temperatures offers a promising route, but demands precise pore engineering. Here, we report a biomass-derived carbon molecular sieve that permits rapid D2 transport while imposing a significant diffusion barrier for H2, enabling effective separation from D2/H2 mixtures. The molecular sieving micropores are generated by transforming cellulose components into slit-type carbon micropores, with lignin acting as a pore-size modifier. At 77 K, the diffusion rate of D2 is 1.8 times that of H2, leading to a D2 concentration in the recovered gas approximately 10% higher than that achieved with conventional microporous carbons. Aspen adsorption simulations demonstrate that D2 can be enriched to 90.1% from a 1.0% D2/H2 mixture within 12 successive cycles following a two-bed cryogenic pressure swing adsorption process. These findings advance the development of effective adsorbents for kinetic D2/H2 separation, offering a sustainable, low-cost route to deuterium enrichment.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4033-1
Photodetectors are critical components in modern optoelectronic systems, underpinning applications in optical communication, low-altitude economy, environmental monitoring, and national defense. Layered two-dimensional (2D) materials such as MoS2, WS2, black phosphorus (BP), and ReS2 have attracted extensive attention due to their remarkable electronic and optical properties, including facile mechanical exfoliation and tunable characteristics via thickness engineering. The absence of dangling bonds enables the construction of van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures free from lattice-matching constraints, promoting efficient charge transport, enhanced light absorption, and suppressed dark current. Among layered materials, semimetals such as graphene, PdTe2, MoTe2, and TaIrTe4 exhibit narrow or zero bandgaps, enabling ultrabroadband spectral responses from ultraviolet (UV) to terahertz (THz). ZrTe3, a layered gapless semimetal, demonstrates pronounced carrier transport features, including robust excitons and ultrafast carrier relaxation times, making it an ideal candidate for photodetection. However, pure ZrTe3-based photodetectors suffer from substantial dark current due to the absence of an energy bandgap, degrading signal-to-noise ratio and specific detectivity (D*). This work reports a high-performance broadband photodetector based on a ZrTe3/CuInP2Se6 heterostructure. By exploiting an asymmetric contact configuration that introduces a Schottky barrier, the device effectively suppresses dark current while enhancing photoresponse. The photodetector exhibits broad spectral sensitivity from UV to near-infrared (355–1177 nm), microsecond-level response speed, and high responsivity and specific detectivity. Beyond conventional photodetection, an optoelectronic information encryption-decryption application is demonstrated, where modulated light and bias voltage serve as dual input channels to encode and decode ASCII signals. This study resolves the challenge of high dark current in semimetal-based photodetectors and introduces a multifunctional platform for secure optoelectronic communication, highlighting the potential of ZrTe3 for next-generation photonic and quantum information technologies.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3924-x
Metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have achieved power conversion efficiencies exceeding 27%, rivaling crystalline silicon photovoltaics. Among device architectures, the inverted p-i-n configuration offers excellent reproducibility, negligible hysteresis, and compatibility with silicon bottom cells, making it promising for scalable tandem integration. As the field shifts toward industrial viability, key challenges focus on interfacial stability, process reproducibility, and large-area manufacturability. The buried interface between the perovskite absorber and charge transport layers dictates nucleation, crystallization, charge extraction, and recombination dynamics. Imperfect interfacial contact or mismatched energy alignment leads to trap states, increased nonradiative recombination, and rapid degradation. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have revolutionized interface control, offering tunable energy levels, minimized parasitic absorption, and reduced defects. However, SAM-based interfaces face scale-up challenges due to molecular aggregation, incomplete coverage, and hydrophobicity, causing nonuniform nucleation and pinhole formation. Co-assembled monolayers (Co-SAMs) have been explored but remain limited to small areas. Addressing this bottleneck, Zhao et al. proposed a 'SAM-in-matrix' strategy embedding SAM molecules within a tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (BCF) matrix. This BCF framework disrupts π–π stacking, suppressing aggregation and producing an amorphous, uniform, and highly wettable hole transport layer, potentially enabling scalable manufacturing.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4274-x
The escalating power density of electronic devices necessitates effective visible-light shielding in advanced packaging to ensure circuit security and long-term reliability. Photosensitive polyimides (PSPI) serve dual roles as photodefinable dielectrics and structural layers, but intrinsically black PSPI (B-PSPI) suffer from competitive ultraviolet (UV) absorption between chromophores and photosensitive moieties, limiting co-optimization of deep visible-light blocking and lithographic resolution. Here, we report a main-/side-chain spatial decoupling strategy to synthesize a novel B-PSPI. By polymerizing pyromellitic dianhydride with a main-chain coloring monomer (4,4'-diaminodiphenylamine) and a side-chain photosensitive monomer (1,4-dihydropyridine-functionalized diamine), the monomer stoichiometric ratio is precisely engineered. This design spatially isolates functional groups and enhances charge transfer, yielding exceptional visible-light shielding (CIE L* index of 21.39, cut-off wavelength ≈ 555 nm) with good lithographic sensitivity. UV exposure triggers in situ generation of coordination sites from photosensitive groups, anchoring active metal species for electroless copper plating. This enables direct additive fabrication of fine copper lines (40/80 μm line width/spacing) with robust Cu/B-PSPI interfacial adhesion of 16.6 MPa. This work provides a robust molecular design paradigm for B-PSPI, integrating superior optical shielding and surface metallization for high-density interconnect applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4118-0
Polymer composite dielectrics are key materials for high-temperature film capacitors, yet their energy storage capability is severely constrained at elevated temperatures. Molecular fillers that simultaneously integrate deep-level trapping (high electron affinity, Ea), strong insulation (large bandgap, Eg), and high thermal stability are rarely available, posing a major challenge for improving high-temperature energy storage performance. To address this challenge, we screen and identify hexaazatriphenylene hexacarbonitrile (HAT-CN) as a promising candidate that fulfills the above critical requirements from numerous commercial organic molecules. When incorporated into a high glass transition temperature (Tg) polymer fluorene polyester (FPE), the resulting all-organic composite exhibits simultaneously suppressed high-temperature conduction loss and preserved mechanical robustness. Consequently, the optimized composite achieves record-high discharged energy densities of 7.31 J cm−3 at 150 °C and 6.14 J cm−3 at 200 °C (η≥90%) with a low cost and scalable process. This work demonstrates that the filler design based on synergistic key properties provides a potent pathway to break the longstanding high-temperature performance bottleneck in polymer dielectrics.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4216-7
Flexible Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) solar cells are promising for lightweight and mechanically pliable photovoltaics, yet their performance is limited by severe non-radiative recombination and residual stress. Here, we report a sealed constant temperature (SCT) annealing strategy that simultaneously optimizes the CZTSSe/CdS heterojunction and alleviates stress. Under uniform mild thermal conditions (85°C, 5 h), SCT annealing promotes gradient diffusion of Cd2+ into the absorber, partially substituting Zn2+, which optimizes band alignment, passivates interface defects, and suppresses near-interface CuZn defects. This reduces open-circuit voltage loss and improves fill factor. The flexible device achieves a power conversion efficiency of 13.07%, a significant improvement over the reference (12.1%). The SCT strategy also enhances mechanical flexibility by reducing residual stress. Our findings provide a controllable route to advance both efficiency and flexibility of flexible CZTSSe solar cells.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3480-1
Electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia (NRA) offers a sustainable route for wastewater denitrification and decentralized ammonia synthesis, but its practical deployment is constrained by sluggish reaction kinetics and the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Monometallic Cu electrocatalysts, despite favorable nitrate adsorption and tunable electronic structure, exhibit weak H* adsorption, limiting the hydrogen radical-mediated pathway that suppresses HER at low overpotentials. Here, highly dispersed Cu/WO3 heterojunctions supported on carbon fiber were synthesized via carbothermal shock reduction, which reaches ultra-high temperatures within seconds and prevents active-site accumulation. The optimal Cu/WO3 heterojunction achieves an ammonia yield rate of 158.66 μmol h−1 cm−2 and a Faradaic efficiency of 98.27%. Electron paramagnetic resonance and density functional theory calculations reveal a synergistic mechanism: Cu sites preferentially adsorb NO3−, while adjacent WO3 sites accelerate water dissociation to generate hydrogen radicals (H*), which drive the continuous hydrogenation of nitrate to ammonia. This spatial separation of functions promotes the H*-mediated pathway and suppresses HER. The work establishes a heterojunction design strategy for non-precious-metal NRA electrocatalysts, enabling high-rate, high-selectivity ammonia production under mild conditions.