SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3928-4
Circularly polarized afterglow (CPA) materials provide an advanced optical signature to light emission, offering great potential for advanced photonic technologies. However, practical implementation remains challenging due to the lack of satisfactory performance, that is, high luminescence dissymmetry factor (g_CPA), long visualization time, and good processability. Here, we develop processable, full-color CPA materials composed of cholesteric liquid crystal polymers (CLCPs) and inorganic phosphors embedded in polymers, achieving a high g_CPA value of up to 0.74 and a long visualization time of 7 min. The materials are constructed with a bilayer structure comprising CLCPs and inorganic luminophors such as Y2O2S:Eu,Mg,Ti, SrAl2O4:Eu,Dy, and Sr2MgSi2O7:Eu. The CLCPs are synthesized from polymerizable liquid crystal monomer RM257, chiral dopants R/S5011, dipropylamine, photoinitiator Irgacure 651, cross-linker PETMP, and chain extender. The resulting materials exhibit excellent circularly polarized optics, enabling the implementation of circular polarization differential imaging (CPDI), where images are generated by subtracting two images captured through left- and right-handed circularly polarized filters. This work demonstrates the unique application of CPA in imaging, opening a new pathway for the use of purely inorganic solid-state luminophors in chiral functional materials.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025092801
Urban river water quality is critically influenced by outfall discharges, yet the seasonal dynamics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and its linkage to water quality remain poorly constrained. This study collected outfall water samples seasonally during 2023–2024 along the Nanfei River and Banqiao River in Hefei, Anhui Province. Parallel factor analysis of excitation-emission matrices identified three fluorescent components: fulvic acid-like C1, tryptophan-like (protein-like) C2, and terrestrial humic-like C3. Seasonal variations were pronounced: protein-like C2 dominated in winter and spring, whereas summer and autumn showed lower C2 proportions due to rainwater dilution and urban nonpoint source runoff inputs. Water quality indices decreased in summer and autumn, primarily attributed to dilution by rainfall runoff. Fluorescence index (FI > 1.9) and biological index (BIX > 1.0) indicated predominantly autochthonous DOM sources. During summer and autumn, humification index (HIX) and specific UV absorbance (SUVA) increased, while spectral slope ratio (SR) decreased, suggesting enhanced terrestrial and urban runoff influence. Significant positive correlations were observed between protein-like C2 and terrestrial humic-like C3 with water quality parameters, indicating their utility as precise indicators of pollution sources and seasonal water quality variations. These findings provide a scientific basis for integrated management of urban outfalls.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202607015
Microplastic pollution poses a severe threat to terrestrial ecosystems, with soil acting as a major sink. The application of sewage sludge organic fertilizer in public green spaces introduces microplastics (MPs) into the soil, yet their release and vertical migration dynamics remain poorly understood. This study investigated the release and transport of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) MPs, the most prevalent types in sludge organic fertilizer, under simulated rainfall conditions representative of Chengdu. Over a six-month simulated rainfall period, the release rate of PE (26.1±1.8%) at 0.2% abundance (weight ratio) and 20–40 μm size was significantly higher than that of PP (16.4±1.3%). The highest release was observed for 40–60 μm particles, while excessive abundance induced aggregation, inhibiting release. A 24-month simulated transport experiment revealed that PE exhibited higher mobility than PP, with peak migration occurring between 14 and 18 months, and 40–60 μm particles showing the greatest transport capacity. Environmental factors critically modulated migration: increasing pH enhanced mobility, but the promoting effect of sludge leachate diminished under alkaline conditions; higher electrolyte concentrations reduced mobility, with sludge leachate exerting stronger inhibition at high EC; organic matter exhibited a non-linear effect, promoting transport at low concentrations and inhibiting at high concentrations. These findings provide essential data for mitigating microplastic contamination in public green spaces.