SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4151-2
The rapid increase in atmospheric CO2 due to fossil-fuel consumption has heightened the demand for efficient carbon capture and utilization technologies. Ionic liquids (ILs) have emerged as versatile media and catalysts for CO2 conversion, offering advantages such as negligible volatility, wide electrochemical windows, and strong CO2 affinity. However, the vast design space of ILs and limited experimental data make traditional trial-and-error screening inefficient. This review summarizes recent advancements in applying machine learning (ML) to the design and screening of ILs for CO2 conversion. The roles of ILs in catalytic processes and the limitations of traditional screening methods are discussed. ML-based workflows are explored, with emphasis on addressing challenges posed by small and noisy datasets. Finally, future opportunities in mechanism-informed descriptors, multi-objective optimization, and the integration of domain expertise with data-driven approaches are highlighted to accelerate the discovery of next-generation ILs for sustainable CO2 conversion.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3709-4
Photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) detoxification of ofloxacin in hyposaline wastewater is hindered by weak built-in electric fields (IEF) and rapid charge recombination. Here, we report a crystal dipole engineering strategy using high-valence Mo-doped BiVO4 to enhance IEF and PEC activity. Mo incorporation breaks lattice symmetry, increasing the crystal dipole moment and amplifying IEF to 2.05 times that of pristine BiVO4. This promotes directional carrier migration, improving electron-hole separation efficiency. The optimized 4% Mo-BiVO4 photoanode achieves 96.5% ofloxacin degradation within 60 minutes and maintains 91.9% degradation efficiency in natural lake water containing saline and organic interferents, demonstrating exceptional anti-interference capability. This work provides a strategy for boosting photocatalytic performance through unit-cell dipole engineering, aiming to enhance sustainability in wastewater treatment.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3652-2
Existing robotic end-effector gripping technologies often encounter challenges such as poor adaptability to environmental changes, incomplete deformation sensing, and insufficient adhesion stability, which can compromise operational safety and reliability. Here, we present the bio-inspired self-sensing suction cup, in which the core self-sensing capability is achieved by combining high-performance, laser-induced graphene/Ag NWs flexible sensors with a Wheatstone bridge design. The flexible sensors provide high sensitivity, while the Wheatstone bridge circuit enables accurate and stable detection of deformation during the gripping process. Integrated into the octopus-inspired suction cup, this system allows for real-time monitoring of deformation and adsorption stability. The self-sensing suction cup demonstrates good performance across a 0–25 kPa negative pressure range, with outstanding linearity (R2 = 0.993) and high sensitivity (GF = 10.436 kPa−1). Experimental results confirm that the suction cup can achieve stable adsorption under varying loads and enable real-time monitoring of the suction cup status during the gripping process. This design provides a promising solution for intelligent gripping systems, logistics, and object recognition in challenging environments.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4022-7
Transition metal nitrides (TMNs) have emerged as promising alternatives to noble metals in electrocatalysis due to their noble metal-like electronic structures, high conductivity, low cost, and robust chemical stability against corrosion and oxidation under harsh conditions. The rational design and controlled synthesis of TMNs with distinct structures are crucial for developing highly efficient electrocatalysts. This review comprehensively summarizes representative synthetic strategies for TMNs, including direct nitridation, solid-state reaction, sol-gel assisted reaction, and wet-chemical reaction. It presents distinct structural characterizations and demonstrates their advances in electrochemical applications. Finally, the remaining challenges and future research directions for exploring TMNs with well-defined structures are proposed, aiming to guide the development of high-performance electrocatalysts.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024120701
Surface waters contain numerous photoactive substances and low molecular weight carboxylic acids (LCAs). Hydroxyl radicals (HO•) can react with LCAs to generate the highly reducing carbon dioxide anion radical (CO2•−). Excited triplet state dissolved organic matter (3DOM*), a common oxidant in surface waters, may also oxidize LCAs to CO2•−, but this pathway remains unexplored. This study simulated sunlight-driven generation of CO2•− via 3DOM* using 4-benzoylbenzoic acid (CBBP) as a 3DOM* precursor and formate (HCOO−) as a model LCA. Metronidazole (MNZ) served as the target pollutant. Comparative degradation experiments in hν, hν/HCOO−, hν/CBBP, and hν/CBBP/HCOO− systems, combined with electron spin resonance spectroscopy and quenching tests, confirmed that CO2•− generated in the hν/CBBP/HCOO− system was the primary reactive species responsible for enhanced MNZ degradation, originating mainly from 3CBBP* oxidizing HCOO−. Under optimized conditions (8 mmol·L−1 HCOO−, 200 μmol·L−1 CBBP, 10 μmol·L−1 MNZ), 98.2% degradation was achieved within 30 min. Degradation efficiency increased with HCOO− concentration and was pH-independent. Cl−, NO3−, CO3^2−, and low concentrations of HCO3− inhibited degradation, while high HCO3− slightly promoted it. Humic acid (HA) inhibited degradation in a concentration-dependent manner. The system also performed well in real water matrices, suggesting potential for treating micropollutants via reductive pathways.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3599-5
Layered transition metal tellurides (TMTs) are promising cathode materials for aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) due to their graphite-like layered structure and weak van der Waals interactions, which facilitate rapid ion transport. However, their holistic performance—specific capacity, rate capability, and cycling stability—remains insufficient for practical applications. Here, we report a straightforward NaBH4-assisted chemical etching method to introduce abundant Te vacancies on the surface of Bi2Te3 (denoted H-Bi2Te3). Experimental and theoretical analyses reveal that these Te vacancies refine the band structure, enhance electrical conductivity, and significantly reduce the diffusion barrier for Zn2+ ions. Additionally, the vacancies provide increased storage sites for Zn ions. Consequently, H-Bi2Te3 exhibits superior zinc storage performance: a high Zn2+ diffusion coefficient of 3.98×10−11 cm2 s−1, a specific capacity of 325 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, a rate capability of 217 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1, and exceptional cycling stability with 70 mAh g−1 retained after 10,000 cycles at 1 A g−1. This work introduces a novel vacancy defect engineering strategy for TMT-based cathodes in AZIBs and expands the potential applications of vacancy-rich TMT materials.