Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025011302
Heavy metal contamination in soil severely compromises the quality and safety of Alisma orientale medicinal materials, and consumption of contaminated herbal preparations poses health risks. To characterize contamination and risks in Sichuan's genuine producing areas, 159 paired soil and plant samples were collected. Concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, and Ni were determined via ICP-OES. Soil pollution was assessed using the Single Pollution Index (Pi), Nemerow Comprehensive Index (Pn), and Potential Ecological Risk Index (RI). Human health risks from heavy metals in Alisma were evaluated via Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Hazard Index (HI). Mean soil concentrations were Cu 29.57, Zn 61.86, Pb 29.51, Cd 1.77, and Ni 28.08 mg·kg−1. Except for Cd, all elements were below agricultural soil screening values. Pi and Pn confirmed Cd contamination, with Cd posing slight to strong potential ecological risks. Cu, Cd, Pb, and Ni showed highly significant positive correlations, indicating common origins. Heavy metal concentrations in Alisma did not exceed pharmacopeial limits. The plant exhibited strong Zn enrichment but weak accumulation of Cu, Cd, and Pb, and negligible Ni enrichment. THQ and HI values indicated no potential health risks under current exposure. Quantitative assessment is critical for soil pollution control, safe cultivation, and medication safety.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025012002
Acid orange 7 (AO7), a recalcitrant azo dye, poses significant threats to aquatic ecosystems and human health. This study investigates the activation of urea-hydrogen peroxide (UHP) by iron-modified corn straw biochars (Fe-CSBs) for AO7 degradation. Fe-CSBs were synthesized via impregnation-pyrolysis at 300, 500, and 700 °C using ferrous sulfate as modifier. The oxidative removal efficiencies of AO7 by Fe-CSB-activated UHP were compared, and the effects of Fe-CSB dosage, UHP dosage, initial AO7 concentration, initial pH, and coexisting anions (CO3^2−, HCO3^−, Cl^−) were systematically examined. Quenching experiments identified reactive oxygen species, and LC-MS analysis determined degradation intermediates. Results showed that all Fe-CSBs effectively activated UHP, achieving degradation rates of 98.54%, 97.38%, and 98.54% for Fe-CSB300, Fe-CSB500, and Fe-CSB700, respectively, under optimal conditions (0.2 g·L−1 UHP, 0.2 g·L−1 Fe-CSB, 20 mg·L−1 AO7, pH 3, 60 min). CO3^2− and HCO3^− inhibited degradation, while Cl^− had negligible effect. The primary reactive species were hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and singlet oxygen (^1O2). Degradation proceeded via cleavage of the azo bond, forming benzene-containing intermediates, which underwent deamination, desulfurization, and oxidation to smaller organics, ultimately mineralizing to CO2 and H2O. This work provides insights into UHP-based advanced oxidation processes for dye wastewater treatment.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3774-3
Lithium-air capacitor batteries (LACBs) integrate the rapid charge-discharge capability of supercapacitors into conventional lithium-oxygen batteries, significantly enhancing power density. However, their cycling stability remains unsatisfactory. In this study, we incorporated redox mediators (RMs) into an LACB featuring a dual-cathode configuration. This design facilitates sustained electron transfer between the electrode and Li2O2/Oxygen, thereby delaying RM deactivation caused by electrode passivation and improving overall electrochemical performance. The RM-enhanced battery achieved over 250 cycles at 2 mA cm−2 with a limited capacity of 0.5 mAh cm−2, while exhibiting a 0.54 V reduction in charging voltage at 0.1 mA cm−2 compared to the RM-free system. Furthermore, application of an aluminum foil sealing technique enabled a power density of 13.8 mW cm−2 at 6 mA cm−2, overcoming mass transport limitations inherent in open-cell configurations. We also investigated the influence of oxygen barrier films with varying barrier capabilities on LACB performance. Results indicate that films with superior oxygen resistance better maintain a clean capacitor electrode surface, thereby providing more stable electron supply to the RMs and enhancing rate capability and cycling performance. These findings underscore the potential of redox mediators in improving the performance and longevity of LACBs, offering a promising strategy for their future development.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4086-4
Interventional therapy has emerged as a transformative alternative to open surgery owing to its minimal invasiveness and fast recovery. However, it still presents risks of iatrogenic injury from vascular access, necessitating prompt and reliable vascular closure. Although various closure systems have been developed, they often suffer from complicated deployment procedures, potential for loosening, and risk of device migration. Herein, we develop a smart self-deployable vascular closure device enabled by a semi-interpenetrating network (sIPN) that synergistically integrates a programmable shape memory effect and robust tissue adhesion. The sIPN was designed by interpenetrating flexible, dopamine-functionalized poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PTD) chains into a photo-crosslinkable poly(ε-caprolactone)-based copolymer (PCC) network. The vascular closure model was fabricated via a UV-assisted fused deposition modeling printing strategy, significantly reducing mechanical anisotropy while facilitating structural customization. The resulting device exhibits autonomous self-deployment at 37 °C, along with reliable tissue adhesion under physiological conditions (maximum shear strength of 150.5 kPa). In vitro, the material demonstrates exceptional hemocompatibility (below 3%) and excellently enhanced cell migration (up to 38.9%). In vivo, immunofluorescence analysis reveals a promotion for CD31 (162.18%) and αSMA (154.93%) compared to the control group. These results highlight the PTD/PCC sIPN as a bioadaptive, multifunctional material platform for intelligent vascular closure, offering great promise for clinical translation in interventional therapies.