Prof. Kui Zhao | Publications & Academic Profile | SinoGreenTech

Research Publications & English Decoded Briefs

Showing 3 publications

SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3679-8

Inhalable Acid-Responsive Methane Nanocapsule for Remodeling Fibrogenic Microenvironment to Alleviate Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic interstitial lung disease with high mortality and limited therapeutic options. Dysregulated macrophage polarization drives fibroblast activation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), yet no effective management exists. Here, we develop an inhalable methane nanocapsule (MNC) that spatiotemporally controls methane release in the lung to remodel the fibrogenic microenvironment. MNC is formulated via self-assembly of biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-polyethylene glycol (PLGA-PEG) and a novel acid-responsive methane prodrug Fe(BPY)2(CH3)2, enhancing mucosal penetration and sustained methane release in acidic inflammatory niches. In a bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis model, MNC inhalation achieves efficient lung deposition and sustained methane release, significantly reducing inflammation, ameliorating fibrosis, and improving lung function without systemic side effects. Mechanistically, MNC rebalances macrophage polarization by inhibiting M2 phenotype overexpression and downregulates the MMP9/TIMP-1 ratio to suppress myofibroblast proliferation and EMT, synergistically halting fibrotic progression. This inhalable methane nanocapsule offers a promising strategy for safe and effective IPF treatment.

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SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3522-7

Chain Alignment and Film Crystallinity Manipulation Towards High-Performance Large-Area Printed Stretchable Electronics

Scalable printing of stretchable conjugated polymer films is essential for low-cost, large-area wearable electronics, yet achieving optimal film morphology that simultaneously enhances energy dissipation and charge transport remains a critical challenge. This study demonstrates large-area stretchable conjugated polymer films with low crystallinity but strong chain alignment, fabricated by simultaneously regulating fluid field and solidification dynamics during bar-coating. The strong fluid field aligns polymer chains in the coating direction and promotes solution aggregation in the initial wet layer, while sequential rapid solidification restricts crystallization and facilitates aggregate alignment, forming highly-aligned nanofiber networks within the elastomer phase. These elastomer-constrained nanofiber networks maintain connectivity under strain, providing efficient charge transport channels. The resulting films exhibit high charge mobilities of 6.11 and 2.98 cm2 V−1 s−1 at 0% and 100% strains, respectively, among the highest reported for stretchable conjugated polymer films. The films also achieve a high X-ray sensitivity of 1757.2 μC Gyair−1 cm−2 and an ultralow detection limit of 72.5 nGyair s−1, with maintained imaging capability before and after stretching. This work establishes a robust morphology control strategy for high-performance, large-area stretchable conjugated polymer films, advancing their practical application in wearable electronics.

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SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3643-8

Design of multifunctional phosphonic acid molecule for highly efficient and stable inverted perovskite solar cells

Inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) suffer from defect-mediated nonradiative recombination and inefficient charge extraction, particularly at the buried interface and grain boundaries (GBs), which limit power conversion efficiency (PCE) and operational stability. This study introduces a multifunctional phosphonic acid molecule, (2-(3,6-bis(trifluoromethoxy)-9H-carbazol-9-yl)ethyl)phosphonic acid (M28), as an additive in the perovskite precursor solution. M28 spontaneously segregates toward the buried interface and GBs, fulfilling three roles: (1) slowing crystallization to enlarge grains and improve film quality, (2) passivating defects to suppress charge recombination, and (3) inducing p-type doping to create an extra electric field that promotes hole transport. Devices incorporating M28 achieve a champion PCE of 25.96% and retain 80% of initial efficiency after 1500 h of maximum power point tracking. This work demonstrates the efficacy of multifunctional phosphonic acid additives in addressing buried-interface and GB defects, offering a viable route to high-performance, stable inverted PSCs.

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