SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4436-0
Microwave-absorbing materials (MAMs) deployed on naval vessels, aerospace vehicles, and critical electronic systems face coupled electromagnetic, marine salt-spray corrosion, and extreme-temperature loads that legacy single-function absorbers cannot withstand. This review consolidates progress on three environmentally adaptive MAM classes: corrosion-protective, anti-icing, and thermal-management absorbers. The electromagnetic loss and impedance-matching fundamentals are first established, then the synergistic mechanisms, design strategies, and characterization protocols for each class are examined against representative material systems and their measured performance. The analysis identifies a shared design logic—multiscale hierarchical architecture, interfacial polarization engineering, and multifunctional phase integration—while distinguishing the divergent protection mechanisms: barrier and passivation effects for corrosion, surface-energy and latent-heat regulation for anti-icing, and phonon–electron transport decoupling for thermal management. Persistent bottlenecks include the trade-off between impedance matching and protective-layer density, the absence of standardized coupled-field test protocols, and the scarcity of long-term salt-spray and thermal-cycling durability data. Future directions are delineated: intelligent self-adaptive absorbers, multiphysics-coupled simulation frameworks, and environmentally benign multifunctional integration. The review provides a theoretical and technical basis for the design, construction, and engineering scale-up of next-generation high-performance absorbers for aerospace, electronic, and marine equipment.
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/s40843-026-4350-4
Flexible wearable sensors have transformed motion tracking, soft robotics, and human-machine interfaces by enabling precise movement detection and adaptability to curved surfaces. However, conventional composite sensors often face challenges such as limited sensitivity, detection range, linearity, and durability. In this study, we propose a stretchable auxetic sensing textile with a negative Poisson’s ratio (NPR) structure, incorporating reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) by micro-crack engineering to enhance its mechanical durability and sensing performance. Integrating macro-scale NPR with micro-scale wrinkles, this innovative design achieves a high sensitivity of 11.2 within a wide detection range (0-100%), a more linear sensing range with an R2 value of 0.998, an ultra-low detection limit of 0.5%, and exceptional durability, outperforming conventional wearable sensors. Additionally, the textile sensor boasts excellent moisture permeability (32.7 g m⁻² h⁻¹) and a remarkable NPR value of -0.25, ensuring comfort and adaptability for various wearable applications. Integrated with deep learning algorithms, the auxetic sensing textile demonstrates 98% accuracy in recognizing soft robotic movements at various bending angles. It is capable of capturing both small-scale physiological signals, such as electrocardiograms, and large-scale movements, offering significant freedom of movement and adaptability to complex surfaces.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3710-y
Layered transition metal oxide cathodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) suffer from Jahn–Teller distortion of MnO6, Na+/vacancy ordering, and irreversible lattice oxygen loss, causing capacity fading and voltage decay. Here, we report a P2-type material, Na0.67Ni0.3Mn0.6Li0.09Sn0.01O2 (NNMO-Li0.09Sn0.01), co-doped with closed-shell Li+ and Sn4+ ions. Li+ increases the Mn4+/Mn3+ ratio, mitigating Jahn–Teller distortion, and disrupts Ni/Mn ordering, suppressing Na+/vacancy ordering. Sn4+ forms stronger Sn–O bonds (548 kJ mol−1), enhancing bonding between transition metal ions and oxygen, reducing oxygen loss. NNMO-Li0.09Sn0.01 delivers a specific capacity of 90.3 mAh g−1 with 62.9% capacity retention after 50 cycles at 0.1 C (1 C = 200 mA g−1), and 90.3% voltage retention. This closed-shell substitution strategy offers a viable approach for enhancing structural stability of wide-voltage layered oxide cathodes.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(25)60617-7
The global energy landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, with wind energy gaining increasing prominence due to its clean and renewable nature. However, as installed wind power capacity expands, disposal of waste wind turbine blades (WWTB) has emerged as a significant challenge. These blades are predominantly composed of epoxy resin (EP) polymers, carbon fibers (CFs), and glass fibers (GFs). Improper disposal exacerbates environmental concerns and leads to loss of valuable resources, particularly carbon-based materials. Pyrolysis technology, a versatile and environmentally sustainable method for resource recovery, has garnered considerable attention for WWTB disposal. This work presents a comprehensive review of pyrolytic recycling of WWTB, focusing on principles and classifications of pyrolysis technology, key factors influencing the pyrolysis process, as well as pyrolysis methods, equipment, products, and their applications. Through in-depth analysis of current research, this review identifies critical unresolved issues and provides a forward-looking perspective on emerging research trends. The review highlights that pyrolysis can effectively recover glass fibers and carbon fibers with mechanical property retention depending on process conditions, and that catalytic pyrolysis can enhance the quality of recovered products. Economic analysis indicates that collaborative disposal methods can improve cost-effectiveness. Future research should focus on optimizing process parameters for large-scale industrial application and developing more efficient catalysts to improve product selectivity and fiber quality.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024102303
Fluoride-containing wastewater treatment typically relies on calcium-based precipitation and flocculation, which suffer from low compliance rates and difficult valorization of fluoride-laden sludge. This study introduces a novel bismuth upconversion luminescent glass (BULG) synthesized from Bi2O3, SiO2, Yb2O3, and Er2O3, designed for efficient fluoride removal and subsequent photocatalytic application. By varying the Bi2O3:SiO2 molar ratio, a series of BULGs with superior upconversion luminescence were obtained. Under optimal conditions (Bi3+:F− molar ratio = 1:1, pH = 2), fluoride removal efficiencies exceeded 97% for all compositions, with the 0.7:0.3 Bi2O3:SiO2 formulation achieving 99.9% removal and rapid settling of the precipitate. The fluoride removal products retained upconversion luminescence and exhibited semiconductor heterojunctions, enabling complete photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin (100% within 60 min). This approach not only efficiently removes fluoride ions but also valorizes the waste into a functional photocatalyst, offering a promising strategy for fluoride-containing wastewater treatment.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025102002
The ultraviolet/chlorine (UV/Cl2) advanced oxidation process generates multiple radical species, enabling synergistic disinfection. However, the systematic influence of UV intensity on process performance remains inadequately characterized. This study investigated UV intensities from 0.25 to 2.0 mW·cm−2, assessing chlorine photolysis kinetics, bacterial inactivation, and disinfection by-product (DBP) formation. Results demonstrate that inactivation efficiency is not solely governed by total UV energy but is co-regulated by reaction kinetics and mass transfer. Increasing UV intensity accelerated chlorine photolysis by 33.7%–277.8%, elevating steady-state concentrations of hydroxyl radicals and chlorine radicals by factors of 1.6–3.8 and 1.3–3.2, respectively, thereby enhancing initial inactivation rates. However, higher intensities reduced cumulative chlorine exposure (CT value) to 14.3%–55.7% of baseline, causing overall inactivation to first increase then decrease. At a fixed UV dose of 150 mJ·cm−2, an intensity of 1.0 mW·cm−2 achieved optimal 6.5-log inactivation of Escherichia coli and the lowest bacterial reactivation rate (0.07%). Common water constituents (HCO3−, Cl−, natural organic matter) inhibited disinfection, with natural organic matter exerting the strongest suppression (2.7-log reduction). Notably, 1.0 mW·cm−2 exhibited the greatest resistance to interference. Elevated intensity reduced total organic halogen formation from 33.7 μg·L−1 to 19.0 μg·L−1. Balancing disinfection efficacy and DBP risk, 1.0 mW·cm−2 is identified as the optimal UV intensity for the UV/Cl2 process in sand-filtered water treatment.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025111302
High-concentration chloride ions (Cl−) in industrial wastewater cause severe corrosion and environmental hazards. Conventional removal methods suffer from low efficiency, high cost, and difficulty in product recovery. This study fabricated porous metallic bismuth-based blocks (Bi-PM) via 3D printing, combining chemical precipitation with additive manufacturing. Systematic evaluation of Cl− removal under varying pH and light irradiation revealed that at pH 0.1 and 0.5, dark-condition efficiencies were 53.6% and 31.0%, respectively, increasing to 69.3% and 38.1% under light. Radical trapping identified photogenerated holes as the primary active species, oxidizing metallic Bi to release Bi3+ and enhance precipitation. At pH 0.5, Bi-PM exhibited balanced efficiency and structural stability; over five cycles, average removal efficiency was 25% in darkness versus 41.2% under light, with superior stability under illumination. XRD and SEM confirmed abundant BiOCl formation on the surface under light, mitigating Bi loss. This approach ensures high chloride removal while minimizing material degradation, offering a novel pathway for industrial wastewater treatment.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202509080
Plastic pollution poses a global environmental challenge, and developing efficient, low-cost pyrolysis catalysts is crucial for resource recovery from plastic waste. This study investigates ex-situ catalytic pyrolysis of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) over ZSM-5 (Si/Al = 25) modified with Zn and Fe at loadings of 5% and 10% via impregnation. Catalysts were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, XPS, SEM, TEM, and BET. TGA was used to assess thermal behavior, and catalytic pyrolysis experiments were conducted in a tube furnace at 450 °C, with product analysis by GC-MS. Results show that metal incorporation preserved the ZSM-5 framework while modifying acid site distribution and surface morphology, enhancing cracking and dehydrogenation. All modified catalysts increased light gasoline-range hydrocarbon yield and reduced heavy fractions compared to non-catalytic runs. Among them, 10% Zn/ZSM-5 exhibited the best performance, boosting light gasoline hydrocarbons to 74.77%, approximately three times that of the non-catalytic case, significantly improving oil quality. This study demonstrates the potential of low-cost metal-modified zeolites for efficient and economical plastic waste pyrolysis.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60641-X
Polycarbonate (PC) is a widely utilized engineering plastic, but its accumulation in waste streams poses environmental and health risks due to the leaching of toxic bisphenol A (BPA). This study presents a catalyst-free methanolysis route for the chemical recycling of waste PC into BPA under mild conditions. At 160 °C, complete depolymerization of PC (100.0% conversion) was achieved with a high BPA yield of 95.0% without any catalyst or auxiliary solvent. A scaled-up experiment with 10 g PC demonstrated a facile separation process, recovering BPA with over 85.0% yield. The method proved effective for various commercial PC grades and mixed plastics, including ABS-PC blends, as well as other polyesters such as polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, and polyethylene terephthalate. Based on SEM and GPC analyses, a probable alcoholysis depolymerization mechanism was proposed, involving initial swelling and gradual breakdown of PC into soluble macromolecules with broad molecular weight distribution, ultimately yielding BPA. This work offers a facile, green, and efficient approach for the alcoholysis recovery of polyester plastics, addressing both environmental concerns and sustainable resource utilization.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4065-6
Industrial-scale hydrogen production from seawater is a paramount goal for a sustainable energy future, yet it is severely hampered by the rapid deactivation of electrocatalysts under harsh operating conditions. Here, we introduce a robust self-supporting aerogel catalyst designed to address the two intertwined challenges of activity and stability in high-current-density seawater electrolysis. Our strategy involves creating strong metal-support interactions by anchoring ultrasmall platinum nanoparticles onto a porous N-doped carbon aerogel (Pt@N/CFP). Theoretical calculations reveal that this unique Pt-N interface serves a dual critical function: it not only lowers the kinetic barrier for water dissociation but also creates an electronic shield that effectively prevents chloride ion poisoning of the Pt active sites. When implemented as the cathode in a practical anion-exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzer, the Pt@N/CFP catalyst demonstrates exceptional performance, achieving a low cell voltage of 1.688 V at an industrial-grade current density of 1000 mA cm−2 and maintaining outstanding stability for over 300 h. This work provides guidance for creating exceptionally durable catalysts capable of withstanding extreme electrochemical environments.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4057-4
The escalating use of ionizing radiation in medical and industrial applications necessitates lead-free, flexible, and sustainable shielding materials. Current development relies on empirical trial-and-error, which is inefficient. This study introduces a machine learning-assisted Monte Carlo simulation strategy for rapid optimization of metal filler compositions for X-ray attenuation across 40–120 kV. Guided by this AI-driven approach, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based gels containing uniformly dispersed Bi/W/Gd2O3 nanoparticles were developed, forming within 1 minute at -20°C using a PVA-DMSO/H2O co-solvent system. The optimized gel with 50 wt% metal loading exhibits exceptional mechanical properties: tensile strength of 1.76 MPa, toughness of 6.3 MJ m−3, and elongation of 600%. It achieves >98% X-ray shielding efficiency at 5 mm thickness, outperforming lead composites at 120 kV. The physically cross-linked network provides recyclability and anti-freezing capability, retaining flexibility at -50°C. This work establishes a data-driven paradigm for designing high-performance radiation-shielding materials, demonstrating AI's potential to accelerate materials discovery and enable scalable fabrication of eco-friendly protective systems.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4051-x
Graphite lubricants are critical for high-quality and high-efficiency drawing of refractory metal wires, yet inadequate dispersion stability frequently challenges their practical application. Inspired by the bio-surfactant synergic mechanism that combines different bio-surfactants to collectively reduce surface energy and friction, a binary anionic surfactant system comprising sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) and sodium lignosulfonate (SL) was engineered to enhance dispersion and stability via a synergistic effect. The synergistic parameter β was calculated to be −2.34, indicating strong synergism. The resulting graphite lubricants maintained homogeneous dispersion for up to 60 days. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed that the synergistic effects originate from steric hindrance, electrostatic repulsion, π-π stacking, and hydrogen bonding. These hierarchical secondary interactions collectively increased the interfacial formation energy at the graphite/surfactant/water tri-phase interface, thereby effectively wetting particle powders and enhancing stability. During metal wire drawing, the graphite lubricants reduced the friction coefficient between the die and metal wires to 0.06, ultimately enabling drawn tungsten wires with superior surface integrity, expanded loop diameter, and enhanced tensile strength relative to single-surfactant benchmarks. This study provides experimental and theoretical guidance to design effective graphite lubricants for high-quality drawn metal wires.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4146-8
The conventional trial-and-error approach for the research and development (R&D) of high-performance super-hydrophilic coatings presents long-standing challenges, including data scarcity, unclear structure-activity relationships, and lack of design guidelines. In this study, an innovative multi-model framework that synergistically integrates a specialized polymer large language model (PolyLLM) and a polymer machine learning model (PolyML) for intelligent R&D of super-hydrophilic coating systems is designed and demonstrated. During the hydrophilic polymer research phase, the multi-model leverages the domain-specific insights and chemical tool capabilities of the fine-tuned PolyLLM to systematically screen 852 hydrophilic monomers and generate 3880 hypothetical polymer architectures. By utilizing the PolyML, the multi-model enables precise performance predictions and quantitative evaluations of feature importance to facilitate efficient high-throughput screening of optimal structures from the generated polymer database. Experimental validation confirms that the multi-model achieves a mean absolute error (MAE) below 10% across various polymer property prediction tasks compared to experimental data. This approach leads to the rapid discovery of hydrophilic polymers with exceptional anti-swelling and wear-resistance. In developing super-hydrophilic coatings, the multi-model effectively combines PolyLLM's guidance for large-scale synthesis with PolyML's capabilities for precise formulation optimization and curing parameter adjustments. The effectiveness of multi-model is demonstrated by the accelerated development of high-performance anti-fogging coatings for swim goggles and optical films with outstanding water- and wear-resistance that significantly outperform leading commercial products. This multi-model offers a flexible approach for advanced polymer coatings, leading to a seamless connection between laboratory research and industrial development.
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.