Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.202608_9713
The integration of high-penetration renewable energy sources into power grids has exacerbated deficiencies in system inertia and damping, precipitating sub-synchronous oscillation (SSO) instabilities. Grid-forming virtual synchronous generator (GFM-VSG) systems, which emulate the rotor inertia and damping characteristics of conventional synchronous machines, are increasingly deployed to provide grid support. This study establishes an oscillation transfer effect model and evaluation framework to elucidate the mechanisms by which oscillations propagate among electrical quantities in GFM-VSG systems. The analysis reveals that SSO in GFM-VSG systems does not solely arise from insufficient stability margins; it is also attributable to oscillation transfer effects between different electrical quantities. The proposed framework enables quantitative assessment of oscillation transfer effects. Experimental validation confirms the effectiveness and feasibility of the modeling methodology and evaluation framework. The oscillation transfer model's amplitude-frequency characteristic at the oscillation frequency directly reflects the strength of oscillation transfer between corresponding electrical quantities, and experimental results align with this characteristic. The findings demonstrate that conventional stability analysis models, which neglect oscillation transfer effects, are inadequate for capturing the coupling mechanisms that influence system stability. The proposed framework provides a systematic approach to quantify these effects, thereby enabling targeted suppression of SSO and enhancement of system stability.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4279-0
Inkjet printing has emerged as a viable additive manufacturing route for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), offering drop-on-demand patterning, high material utilization, and compatibility with large-area flexible substrates. This review critically examines the formulation science, printhead physics, and drying kinetics that govern the quality of inkjet-printed organic layers. We analyze the rheological window required for stable jetting, typically 1–20 mPa·s viscosity and 25–45 mN/m surface tension, and the dimensionless Ohnesorge number (0.1 < Z < 1) that defines satellite-free droplet formation. The coffee-ring effect, driven by capillary flow and solvent evaporation gradients, remains the dominant failure mode for pixel non-uniformity; binary solvent systems and substrate temperature control (40–60 °C) mitigate this. We survey recent progress in printed hole-transport, emissive, and electron-transport layers, with particular attention to cross-linkable hole-transport materials that resist interlayer dissolution. Device performance metrics from printed OLEDs now reach external quantum efficiencies of 15–20% for fluorescent emitters and >25% for phosphorescent systems, with operating lifetimes (T95) exceeding 1,000 hours at 1,000 cd/m². We identify remaining bottlenecks: nozzle clogging from aggregated nanoparticles, film thickness variation across large panels, and the absence of standardized ink formulations. The review concludes with a roadmap for industrial adoption, emphasizing in-line metrology and closed-loop process control as prerequisites for yield parity with vacuum-deposited OLEDs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4494-9
Superionic conductors exhibit high cation mobility arising from weak binding and continuous transport pathways, atomistically characterized by extensive structural disorder and partial occupancy akin to amorphization. This disorder, whether confined to a cation sublattice or extended to full amorphization, strongly impedes lattice thermal transport, rendering these materials intrinsically ideal thermal insulators. This work investigates Ag26I18W4O16, a superionic conductor tunable from fully amorphous to single-crystalline states, as a model system to probe the impact of disorder and amorphization on thermal transport. Extensive Ag+ disorder, in both crystalline and amorphous phases, reduces thermal conductivity to approximately the theoretical lower bound of 0.16 W/m-K with virtually no temperature dependence, while concurrently achieving the lowest mean sound velocity ever recorded for a dense solid. Pair distribution function (PDF) analysis of synchrotron X-ray total scattering data indicates that short-range disorder (< 5 Å), rather than long-range periodicity, governs thermal insulation performance in both phases. These findings suggest a design strategy reconciling structural stability with glass-like thermal insulation.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4250-0
Shape memory polymer (SMP)-based transfer printing offers a promising route for heterogeneous integration of flexible electronics, yet non-contact release reliability remains a critical bottleneck. This study systematically investigates the influence of pickup heating modes—localized versus global—on the release yield and energy-delivery mechanisms through combined experiments and finite element simulations. The localized heating mode concentrates strain energy at the interface, enabling controlled chip ejection with high yield, whereas global heating dissipates energy, leading to release failure. Quantitative analysis reveals that localized heating achieves a release yield of 100% under optimized conditions, compared to near-zero for global heating. The ejection velocity under localized heating is higher, which may induce chip bouncing on the receiver substrate, affecting transfer accuracy; however, this can be mitigated by adjusting release gap and laser parameters. The findings establish a theoretical framework for energy pathway design, providing guidelines for achieving high-yield, accurate non-contact release in laser-induced transfer printing. This work advances the practical application of SMP-based transfer printing for micro-LED displays and flexible electronics, addressing a key manufacturing bottleneck.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4205-8
The global energy crisis and environmental pollution necessitate efficient recovery and utilization of thermal energy resources such as industrial waste heat. Thermoelectric materials, enabling direct conversion between thermal and electrical energy, offer broad application prospects in waste heat power generation and chip cooling. The energy conversion efficiency is determined by the dimensionless figure of merit, ZT = (S^2σ/κ)T, where S is the Seebeck coefficient, σ is the electrical conductivity, κ is the thermal conductivity, and T is the absolute temperature. Ideal thermoelectric materials require both a high power factor (PF = S^2σ) and low thermal conductivity. However, the strong coupling between electrical and thermal transport parameters makes synergistic optimization challenging. Over the past two decades, strategies such as band engineering, nanostructuring, liquid-like ions, interstitial atoms, phonon softening, and defect engineering have been explored. Among these, entropy engineering has emerged as a novel strategy that achieves synergistic optimization by introducing multiple components to increase configurational entropy. High entropy materials, originating from alloys, are defined as multi-principal element systems with five or more elements in near-equiatomic ratios forming single-phase solid solutions. The molar configurational entropy ΔS_conf = R∑x_i ln x_i, with materials classified as high entropy (ΔS_conf > 1.5R), medium entropy (1R < ΔS_conf < 1.5R), or low entropy (ΔS_conf < 1R). Four core effects are summarized: high entropy effect, lattice distortion effect, sluggish diffusion effect, and cocktail effect. Research has expanded from alloys to oxides, chalcogenides, and half-Heusler compounds. This review systematically summarizes the mechanisms by which lattice distortion in high entropy materials affects electrical and thermal transport, and discusses optimization strategies for thermoelectric performance.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4317-4
This correction addresses an image assembly error identified in Fig. 7a of the original article published in Science China Materials, volume 66, issue 6, 2023, pages 2513–2522. The error was confined to the assembly of images in Fig. 7a, which presents H&E staining analysis of major organs from a toxicity study. The corrected version of Fig. 7 is provided in this corrigendum. The original study evaluated the toxicity of lyophilized cabazitaxel (CTX) and Tween 80-based CTX formulations in CD-1 mice following a single intravenous administration of 30 mg kg−1 CTX via the tail vein on day 0, with sacrifice on day 14 for analysis (n=5). The figure includes H&E staining of major organs, complete blood count (CBC) analysis with statistical significance indicated by *p < 0.05, and mouse weight measurements. The correction does not affect the overall results, data interpretation, or scientific conclusions of the original article. All authors have reviewed and approved the content of this corrigendum. The authors sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to the editorial office, reviewers, and readers. The article was received on 6 May 2026, accepted on 4 June 2026, and published online on 31 July 2026.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3642-4
High-density glass scintillators are promising alternatives to crystals for next-generation radiation detection due to their low cost, excellent physical and chemical stability, and processability. In this study, a series of Ce3+-activated gadolinium gallium borosilicate (GGBS x) glasses were synthesized via vacuum melt-quenching. With increasing Gd2O3 content, glass density increased from 5.86 to 6.05 g/cm3, and molar volume from 36.43 to 39.79 cm3/mol. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis revealed that in GGBS 1 glass, Ce3+ exclusively adopts a hexahedral [CeO6] configuration, while Gd3+ exhibits both hexahedral and octahedral coordination with a bond length of 2.35±0.1 Å and Debye-Waller factor σ2 of 0.0122±0.0015 Å2. As Gd2O3 content increased, shallow trap depth rose from 0.804 to 0.858 eV, while deep trap depth first increased from 0.948 to 1.434 eV then decreased to 1.010 eV. GGBS 1 glass exhibited high transmittance (~80%) in the visible range and a photoluminescence quantum yield of 78.4%. Under X-ray irradiation, its X-ray excited luminescence intensity reached 128.5% of that of Bi4Ge3O12 (BGO) crystal, with a spatial resolution of 29.1 lp/mm, approaching the highest reported for glass scintillators. Under γ-ray excitation, it achieved a light yield of 1058 photons/MeV and an energy resolution of 23.7% at 662 keV. These results indicate that GGBS 1 glass scintillator warrants further development for applications in X-ray imaging and γ-ray spectroscopy.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3712-2
Electrochemical potential and ion diffusion of electrode materials restrain the energy and power densities of lithium-ion batteries, and these challenges also remain in the intercalation-type Li3VO4 (LVO). In this work, the local [VO4] coordination symmetry in LVO is broken by a higher concentration of oxygen vacancies (Vö), resulting in an increased average V–O bond length and a larger ligand field splitting. These alterations reduce the energy level of the lowest unoccupied orbitals (e*) and lift the electrochemical potential, resulting in a higher voltage output. Additionally, the broken local symmetry in Vö-LVO is found to reduce the band gap and expand the ion transport channels, which favors enhancing electronic conductivity and facilitates ion diffusion, thereby improving the electrochemical kinetics in the energy storage process. The local symmetry broken sample (Vö-LVO) achieves a significantly improved capacity of 532 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g in comparison with 394 mAh/g of pristine LVO, and long cycling stability with retained capacity of 398 mAh/g at 1 A/g over 500 cycles compared with 236 mAh/g of the pristine LVO. The fundamental understanding paves the way to exploit high-performance electrodes via ligand field engineering for next-generation rechargeable batteries.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3836-8
Flexible energy storage and harvesting devices, as core components of flexible electronic systems, have driven the transformation from external power supply to self-powering and from fixed forms to adaptive configurations, playing a pivotal role in wearable technology and the Internet of Things. MXenes, a class of two-dimensional transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides, are promising candidates due to their excellent conductivity, mechanical flexibility, and tunable interfacial characteristics. Specifically, interfacial characteristics—surface energy, surface terminations, and interlayer spacing—decisively influence device performance. This review summarizes the influence of microcosmic interfacial characteristics on macroscopic properties, interfacial regulation strategies, and applications in flexible energy storage and harvesting. It concludes with challenges and perspectives for designing high-performance MXene-based energy devices. Key applications include flexible supercapacitors, batteries, and triboelectric nanogenerators. For instance, pillared Ti3C2 via CTAB pre-pillaring and Sn4+ pillaring regulates interlayer spacing, enhancing ion transport. The review integrates recent advances, such as MXene/nylon scaffolds for dendrite-free zinc anodes and MXene-bonded hard carbon films for sodium/potassium storage, demonstrating improved cycling stability and rate capability. The interfacial engineering strategies discussed provide a roadmap for overcoming stacking issues and achieving high energy density and mechanical robustness.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3665-2
Immuno-phototherapy faces a critical bottleneck: achieving high singlet oxygen (1O2) quantum yield and efficient photothermal conversion simultaneously under a single near-infrared (NIR) laser. Here, we report an acceptor-donor-acceptor (A-D-A) structured molecule, 3,9-bis(2-methylene-((3-(1,1-dicyanomethylene)-6/7-methyl)-indanone))-5,5,11,11-tetrakis(4-hexylphenyl)-dithieno[2,3-d:2',3'-d']-s-indaceno[1,2-b:5,6-b']-dithiophene (m-ITIC), formulated into nanoparticles (NPs) via self-assembly with DSPE-PEG-NH2. The NPs exhibit strong NIR absorption and fluorescence at 688 and 768 nm, respectively. Under single-laser irradiation, they generate heat, superoxide anion (O2•−), and 1O2, with a 1O2 quantum yield of 56.8% and photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) of 27.4%. This enables NIR fluorescence imaging-guided synergistic photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT). Notably, the nanoplatform induces PANoptosis—a coordinated cell death program integrating pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis—in tumor cells, amplifying immunogenic cell death (ICD). This triggers robust dendritic cell activation, macrophage polarization toward M1 phenotype, elevated CD8+ T cell infiltration, and suppression of immunosuppressive Treg cells, leading to significant tumor growth inhibition and prevention of lung metastasis in vivo. Therapeutic efficacy was validated in patient-derived tumor organoids, underscoring translational potential. This study presents a novel single-laser-activated nanoplatform that simultaneously mediates efficient photothermal and photodynamic effects and induces PANoptosis-driven ICD for synergistic cancer immunotherapy.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202506020
The rotary kiln roasting of lepidolite for lithium extraction faces challenges of unstable lithium conversion rates and high energy consumption. To address this, a multi-objective optimization method coupling improved neural network simulation with a multi-objective genetic algorithm was proposed, targeting the synergistic optimization of lithium conversion rate (TRLi) and natural gas consumption intensity (EIng). Using long-term industrial time-series data of batching parameters and kiln operating variables, back-propagation (BP) neural network and its particle swarm optimization (PSO) improved variant were developed to model TRLi and EIng. The PSO-BP model demonstrated superior accuracy in capturing the complex nonlinear relationships, reducing mean absolute percentage errors (MAPE) to 0.278 and 0.284 for TRLi and EIng, respectively. Subsequently, the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) was employed to construct a multi-objective optimization model, yielding a Pareto-optimal set of process parameters that maximize TRLi and minimize EIng. The results revealed that under NSGA-II optimized conditions, TRLi could be stabilized between 82.45% and 87.96%, an average increase of 3.61 percentage points over baseline operations, while EIng could be reduced to 53.7 m3 per ton of clinker. For an annual processing capacity of 3.2×105 tons of lepidolite concentrate and sulfate mixture, this corresponds to an additional 127.1 tons of lithium metal recovery, a reduction of 1,964,912 m3 in natural gas consumption, and a decrease of 3,763.84 tons in CO2 emissions annually. This study provides theoretical and technical support for the green, high-quality, and low-carbon supply of critical raw materials for the lithium battery new energy industry.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024110202
Anaerobic digestion (AD) is an environmentally friendly biochemical technology for waste treatment and renewable energy production, yet its methane conversion efficiency remains suboptimal. This study employed flux balance analysis (FBA) to determine the optimal temperature for methane production in AD, and subsequently regulated key flexible nodes in the metabolic pathway to maximize methane flux. At the optimal temperature of 40 °C, up-regulating the acetyl-CoA flexible node increased methane flux by 48.5%, while up-regulating the acetate node increased it by 36.6%. The higher improvement via acetyl-CoA regulation is attributed to the fact that 40 °C is unfavorable for hydrogen-producing acetogenic bacteria, making acetyl-CoA the critical control point. These findings demonstrate that flexible node regulation can overcome the limitations of temperature optimization alone. The FBA methodology provides a reliable, cost-effective approach for optimizing target product yields in AD and other fermentation systems, requiring only input and output measurements to resolve intermediate metabolic fluxes.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3935-1
Silk fibroin (SF)-based hydrogels are promising for biological interfaces, yet achieving multifunctionality—mechanical robustness, adhesion, conductivity, and stability—often requires chemical modification that compromises biocompatibility. Here, we report a protonation-mediated SF/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel adhesive that retains natural silk properties while gaining tailored functionalities. The physically crosslinked network is formed solely via molecular interactions, with phosphoric acid (H3PO4) as a protonation agent to modulate hydrogen bonding, enabling precise control over adhesion, mechanical strength, and electronic conductivity. Glycerol (Gly) is incorporated as a moisturizing agent to enhance long-term stability for skin applications. The resulting hydrogel exhibits excellent performance in monitoring electrophysiological signals, including electrocardiogram (ECG), electromyogram (EMG), and electroencephalogram (EEG), demonstrating its potential as a platform for advanced biological interfaces. This work addresses the critical challenge of developing SF-based hydrogels that combine natural advantages with multifunctionality, offering a promising route for wearable health monitors and human-machine interfaces.
New Carbon Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61106-7
Hard carbon anodes for sodium-ion batteries suffer from limited capacity, low initial Coulombic efficiency, and poor long-term cycling stability. To address these issues, we report a dual-stabilization strategy that combines micropore confinement and chemical bonding to control sulfur species in coal-derived hard carbon. Bituminous coal, with its naturally condensed aromatic framework, serves as the carbon precursor. A two-step thermal process first constructs a microporous carbon framework, followed by gas-phase sulfidation to introduce sulfur. The sulfur is confined within micropores and forms stable covalent C–S bonds with the carbon matrix, providing synergistic physical–chemical stabilization. This suppresses sulfur migration, prevents interfacial side reactions, and introduces additional redox-active sites. The optimized sample (HC-10) delivers a high reversible capacity of 450 mAh/g after 800 cycles at a current density of 1 A/g, with excellent rate capability and cycling stability. Mechanistic analysis reveals that the stabilized sulfur species reversibly participate in sodium-ion storage and improve interfacial kinetics. This work provides an effective strategy for stabilizing sulfur in coal-derived carbon materials and offers insights into the design of high-performance anodes for sodium-ion batteries.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3756-5
Photochemical organic synthesis exploits the distinctive redox properties of excited-state photocatalysts to avoid stoichiometric redox reagents, enabling green and sustainable transformations. However, the conversion efficiency of light-to-chemical energy remains a key bottleneck for large-scale application. Here, we synthesize ultra-thin graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets by regulating precursor types and thermal protocols. In photochemical Minisci-type cross-couplings, this ultra-thin carbon nitride exhibits high catalytic efficiency, achieving rates of 40 mmol g_cat−1 h−1 under LED irradiation and 10.9 mmol g_cat−1 h−1 under natural sunlight. The photocatalyst's high specific surface area (120 m2 g−1) enhances substrate adsorption capacity and accelerates surface electron transfer, boosting photocatalytic efficiency. Furthermore, the material demonstrates excellent recycling stability, and the reaction system was successfully scaled to gram-level, highlighting its potential for industrial applications. This work provides a typical case for solar-driven organic synthesis and inspires further developments in heterogeneous photocatalysis.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025021903
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are key precursors of secondary organic aerosols (SOA), and their oxidation reactions are regulated by reactive intermediates. A deep understanding of the reaction mechanisms of VOCs-derived reactive intermediates is crucial for evaluating SOA formation. Atmospheric peroxyalkyl radicals (RO2·) are important intermediates produced during VOCs oxidation and can generate highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOMs) through a unique atmospheric autoxidation mechanism, contributing significantly to SOA formation. This article reviews recent advances in computational studies on the autoxidation mechanisms of RO2· with different functional groups, focusing on the autoxidation reactions of RO2· derived from alkanes, alkenes, carbonyl compounds, aromatic hydrocarbons, heteroatom-containing compounds, and other substances. The review highlights the commonalities and differences in autoxidation mechanisms across these functional groups, emphasizing the role of intramolecular hydrogen shifts and subsequent O2 addition steps. Furthermore, we emphasize that future research should focus on the autoxidation of second-generation RO2· and autoxidation mechanisms driven by different intramolecular reactions. Quantum chemical calculations, often combined with kinetic modeling, provide molecular-level insights into reaction pathways and rate constants, which are essential for predicting HOM formation and SOA yields. This review aims to guide further theoretical investigations and support the development of more accurate atmospheric chemistry models.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202606001
Municipal sludge anaerobic resource recovery efficiency in China lags behind developed countries. Widespread chemical phosphorus removal increases iron and aluminum salt precipitates in waste activated sludge, forming chemical-biological sludge that reduces acidogenic efficiency. This study identified key factors and developed a high-precision prediction model. Integrating literature and experimental data, acidogenic performance indicators under various conditions were compiled. Five machine learning models—Backpropagation Neural Network, Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System, Support Vector Machine, K-Nearest Neighbors, and Random Forest—were systematically compared. Random Forest achieved the best predictive performance with a test set coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.9463, significantly outperforming others with minimal overfitting risk, demonstrating strong capability for high-dimensional, nonlinear, multi-factor coupled problems. Feature importance analysis revealed pH and Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS) as primary drivers, with aluminum salts exerting greater influence than iron salts. Engineering optimization should follow the pathway: 'adjust pH, stabilize organic matter, control aluminum salts'. This study provides an intelligent predictive tool and clarifies optimization directions, advancing precision and intelligent sludge treatment.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202511003
Tailings dam leakage can cause secondary sudden water pollution events, imposing severe combined stress of high turbidity and heavy metal contamination on natural water bodies within a short period, threatening aquatic ecological security. Existing studies have systematically revealed the pollution characteristics and biological effects of such events, which are fundamentally distinct from natural high-turbidity water and industrial wastewater leakage. Compared with natural high-turbidity water, tailings leakage inputs finer particles with higher specific surface area, leading to more intense and prolonged turbidity stress. Meanwhile, heavy metals in tailings are more enriched than natural sediments, with higher proportions of active forms and bioavailability, causing significant bioaccumulation and toxic effects, and long-term decline in benthic community species richness. Compared with industrial wastewater leakage, tailings leakage simultaneously releases high concentrations of fine suspended solids and multiple heavy metals, forming a unique 'physical-chemical' combined stress. This synergistic effect amplifies biological toxicity through multiple pathways such as mechanical damage, light limitation, and oxidative stress, resulting in severe and often irreversible ecological damage, such as impaired fish swimming behavior and collapse of benthic community structure. Analyzing the long-term impacts of tailings leakage on aquatic ecosystems from the perspective of combined stress is helpful for providing scientific basis for emergency response and medium-to-long-term ecological risk prevention of related sudden water pollution events.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202511020
With the increasing number of oil pipelines crossing rivers, the potential risks of oil leakage and surface spreading to river ecosystems and water environments are becoming more severe. Scenario-based simulation of oil spill diffusion is a prerequisite for effective interception point placement and leakage risk prevention. Numerous factors influence oil spill diffusion, including environmental conditions, river hydrology, and accessibility of emergency resources. This study integrates these factors and multiple dynamic processes to design eight typical scenarios for oil spill diffusion simulation, considering emergency resource locations, river hydrological regimes, and leakage modes. A case study is conducted on an oil pipeline crossing a river in northwest China. Results indicate that the diffusion distance and affected area are primarily controlled by water conditions and emergency resource accessibility. In emergency management, the efficiency of maintenance and repair resources during high-water months should be prioritized. Mechanistically, external forces such as hydraulic and wind forces have a greater influence on diffusion distance, surpassing internal forces like gravity, viscosity, and surface tension within a short time. For river crossings near emergency resources, internal force effects should be considered in oil spill diffusion simulations. When emergency resource arrival times are long, the diffusion distance based on Fay's theory is relatively small and can be neglected in engineering practice. This study provides a computational basis and methodological reference for risk assessment and emergency response to potential oil spills from pipelines crossing rivers, enhancing the scientific and effective nature of risk prevention and emergency handling.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60642-1
Inherent minerals significantly influence the thermal conversion of coal, yet the interaction mechanisms among minerals affecting tar generation during pyrolysis remain unclear. This study investigates the effect of acidic mineral components on the behavior of ion-exchangeable Ca2+ during coal pyrolysis. Coal samples were prepared via HCl and HCl-HF acid washing followed by Ca2+ ion exchange. Pyrolysis was conducted in a fixed-bed reactor. Acid washing effectively reduced ash content but also decreased organic element contents (carbon, hydrogen). Loading ion-exchangeable calcium enhanced the thermal weight loss rate in the 500–550 °C range, shifting the peak temperature from 530 °C to 514 °C. At a final pyrolysis temperature of 600 °C with slow heating, kaolinite in acidic minerals underwent dehydroxylation to form metakaolin. The content of small aromatic rings (<6 rings) in char from Ca-loaded coal was lower than that from acid-washed coal without Ca. Coexistence of acidic minerals with ion-exchangeable Ca increased aliphatic hydrocarbon content in tar: YL-HCl-Ca reached 21.98% versus 13.60% for YL-De-Ca. Acidic mineral components inhibit the adverse effect of ion-exchangeable Ca2+ on tar lightening. These findings provide insights into mineral interactions during pyrolysis, aiding in optimizing coal conversion processes for improved tar quality.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3980-y
Organic solar cells (OSCs) have achieved power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) exceeding 20% in laboratory-scale devices, yet challenges persist in developing cost-effective charge-transporting materials (CTMs) that ensure high performance and long-term stability. Conventional organic CTMs such as PEDOT:PSS and PDINN suffer from thermal instability due to molecular diffusion and phase segregation. Solution-processed metal oxides (MOs) offer excellent stability and cost-effectiveness but are plagued by surface defects, particularly hydroxyl groups, which act as recombination centers and photocatalytic sites, degrading device interfaces. Here, we develop an organic-inorganic hybrid strategy to homogeneously passivate solution-processible semiconducting MOs. By first synthesizing MOs rich in surface hydroxyl groups and then introducing organic molecules, we achieve chemically homogeneous passivation that mitigates surface defects. This approach enables favorable interfacial energy level alignment, enhanced charge extraction, and tunable surface energy. Employing these passivated MOs as electron transport layers (ZnO) and hole transport layers (NiOx), we achieve a champion PCE of 20.22% for all-MO CTM-based OSCs, the highest reported to date. Scalability is demonstrated via ambient blade-coating, yielding 18.33% PCE for large-area cells (1.44 cm2) and 16.03% for modules (20.05 cm2), with material costs estimated at only 4% of organic counterparts. Furthermore, devices exhibit outstanding stability, retaining over 80% of initial PCE after 1300 h of maximum power point tracking and over 1000 h of thermal annealing at 85°C. This work establishes a new benchmark for cost-effective, high-performance organic photovoltaics.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3967-x
Metal-halide perovskites exhibit exceptional optical gain, narrow emission linewidths, and high emission efficiency, positioning them as promising candidates for next-generation lasers. Thermal evaporation, a mature semiconductor fabrication technique, offers scalability, yet monitoring phase distribution during deposition remains challenging. This study systematically investigates and regulates thermally evaporated FAxCs0.8PbBr3 perovskite films by tuning formamidinium (FA) content to optimize phase distribution. At intermediate FA content, films achieve a balanced distribution of n=2 to n=5 quantum-well phases, facilitating ultrafast carrier transfer (<0.31 ps) and suppressing nonradiative recombination. FA+ actively incorporates as an A-site cation, promoting ordered crystallization and reducing defect densities. The optimized films exhibit a net modal gain of 1041 cm−1 and a gain lifetime of 129 ps. Benefiting from efficient internal scattering, the threshold for cavity-free random lasing is reduced to below 5 μJ/cm2 at room temperature. The low spatial coherence of random lasing enables speckle-free imaging with a speckle contrast as low as 0.011 and improved contrast-to-noise ratios across all spatial frequencies. This work provides a scalable strategy for perovskite composition-phase engineering, advancing speckle-free laser imaging systems compatible with semiconductor-grade, large-area manufacturing.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608023
Zinc-containing steel dust sludge, a by-product of steelmaking, contains high levels of chlorine (Cl) along with valuable metals such as Fe, Zn, K, and Na. When recycled into the steel production process, Cl accumulates, causing sintering instability and severe corrosion of blast furnace linings. This study investigated water leaching for Cl removal from zinc-containing steel dust sludge. Under optimal conditions (liquid-to-solid ratio 5 mL/g, temperature 70 °C, time 60 min, rotation speed 160 r/min), the Cl leaching rate reached 87%. Furthermore, a three-stage countercurrent water washing process at a liquid-to-solid ratio of 6 mL/g and room temperature for 45 min achieved a Cl leaching rate exceeding 90%. The water washing also reduced the leaching toxicity of metals in the sludge to a certain extent. Characterization via XRD, SEM, FT-IR, and XPS revealed that water washing primarily dissolved soluble chlorides (NaCl, KCl, etc.), increasing the specific surface area from 2.71 to 10.11 m²/g and average pore size from 12.83 to 16.29 nm. These findings provide theoretical and technical support for efficient Cl removal from zinc-containing steel dust sludge, facilitating its safe resource utilization.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4009-0
Micro light-emitting diode (Micro-LED) display technology is a promising next-generation display technology due to its high brightness, high contrast, low power consumption, long life, and fast response. However, aggressive downscaling of Micro-LEDs to a few microns makes lift-off fabrication of metal bumps for soldered joints between Micro-LEDs and driver substrates increasingly difficult, challenging high-yield bump arrays under high-density conditions. This study innovatively replaces conventional metal bumps with a photosensitive conductive polymer (PCP), enabling fabrication of polymeric micro-bump arrays via well-established photolithography, bypassing complex lift-off processes and reducing short-circuit risk. Isopropyl alcohol regulates developer wettability for optimal development, yielding bump arrays with bump size 20 μm × 12 μm and height (1.9288 ± 0.0213) μm on thin-film transistor (TFT) drivers with yield over 99.99%. The issue of low bonding yield from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) thermal expansion was resolved by adjusting chip spacing on the temporary substrate, achieving bonding yield exceeding 99.8%. A 0.99-inch full-color Micro-LED display with density 114 pixels per inch (PPI) and brightness 5537 cd/m² was fabricated. High-yield bump arrays, Micro-LED arrays, and high bonding yield are highly reproducible, promoting development of Micro-LED displays and related fields.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4077-0
Flexible memristors are pivotal for advancing neuromorphic computing in wearable electronics, yet the intrinsic brittleness of inorganic oxides poses a critical challenge. Here, we employ an entropy-engineering strategy to control the amorphization of oxide compositions, yielding a precisely controlled crystalline/amorphous microstructure in a BaTi0.25Sn0.25Hf0.25Zr0.25O3 thin film. This film withstands bending angles up to 180°, enabling an Au/BaTi0.25Sn0.25Hf0.25Zr0.25O3/ITO/Mica device that functions as a memristor. Entropy engineering increases oxygen vacancy concentration, imparting stable resistive switching behavior under both flat and bent conditions. The device exhibits exceptional endurance and reproducibility over multiple bending cycles, demonstrating a significant strategy for advancing flexible memristor technologies and holding promise for next-generation high-performance flexible electronics.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-024-3307-4
Reducing dependency on external energy sources for gait recognition systems in legged robots is critical for extending operational endurance in field transport and emergency rescue. This study presents a performance-enhanced triboelectric sensor with a tilted magnetic microneedle surface (TMMS-TENG), inspired by the tilted microstructures on mantis forelimbs. By integrating magnetorheological materials with micro-engineering, the tilting and bending of microneedles are controlled via magnetic field direction and intensity, significantly modulating the sensing signal. The TMMS-TENG achieves a peak output power of 5.82 mW at a load resistance of 3 MΩ, with high sensitivity (7.57 kPa⁻¹ in the 0–1 kPa range, 3.55 times higher than planar structures), fast response (loading: 61.3 ms; recovery: 50.8 ms), and high stability. When the microneedle tilt angle is 25°, sensitivity remains at 1.19 kPa⁻¹ in the 1–11 kPa range. The sensor demonstrates outstanding recognition capability and stability in legged robot gait recognition, offering potential for robotics, intelligent manufacturing, and health monitoring. This approach reduces reliance on external power, enhancing flexibility and energy efficiency in field operations.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3348-1
Chemotherapy induces immunogenic cell death (ICD) but is compromised by elevated cholesterol in the tumor microenvironment (TME), which activates myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and exhausts CD8+ T cells. A poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)-based nanoplatform (COD/MTO@PLGA@FA) co-loading mitoxantrone (MTO) and cholesterol oxidase (COD) was engineered to respond to acidic TME, releasing MTO and COD. MTO kills tumor cells and triggers ICD; COD consumes cholesterol, downregulating PD-1 on tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells and inhibiting MDSC activation. In 4T1 tumor-bearing mice, COD/MTO@PLGA@FA plus αPD-L1 increased splenic CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from 63.4% to 72.3% and 25.7% to 32.5%, respectively. CD8+PD-1+ T cells decreased to 5.93% versus 35.9% (PBS), 31.4% (αPD-L1), 29.0% (MTO@PLGA), 23.0% (COD/MTO@PLGA), and 12.2% (COD/MTO@PLGA@FA). MDSC infiltration dropped from 16.3% to 2.25% (combination) and 6.14% (COD/MTO@PLGA@FA alone). DC maturation in tumor-draining lymph nodes reached 35.3% with the combination. The platform reverses CD8+ T cell exhaustion and remodels the immunosuppressive TME, significantly inhibiting tumor growth. This strategy offers a practical approach to enhance chemo-immunotherapy by targeting cholesterol metabolism.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3439-7
Slot-die coating with halogen-free solvents is a promising scalable fabrication strategy for organic solar cells (OSCs). However, the complex interplay between long-timescale solute diffusion and microstructural evolution during the coating process remains poorly understood, limiting further optimization of morphology and device performance. In this study, we elucidate the critical role of solution viscosity in regulating phase separation and aggregation kinetics. Specifically, lower solution viscosity enhances solute diffusion, accelerating molecular aggregation while suppressing liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Notably, we observe that in three different systems with varying crystallinity and immiscibility (PM6:Y6, PTQ10:Y6, and D18:Y6), the optimal processing conditions for peak device efficiency consistently correspond to a nearly identical solution viscosity (~0.8 mPa s), despite variations in optimal processing temperatures. In situ characterizations reveal that at this viscosity, all three systems exhibit constrained LLPS and rapid molecular aggregation, promoting the formation of finely structured, continuous nanoscale domains. These findings establish solution viscosity as a universal governing parameter for morphology control in printed active layers. By providing a fundamental framework for understanding viscosity-mediated phase separation, this work offers valuable insights for advancing high-throughput, environmentally friendly printing techniques for high-efficiency OSCs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3461-5
Thermal compression experiments were conducted on Al-Cu-Mg alloys with varying TiB2 contents (0, 0.1, and 1 wt%) in the temperature range of 340–500 °C and strain rate range of 0.01–10 s−1. Arrhenius-type constitutive equations were formulated to characterize flow behavior, and microstructures of deformed alloys were analyzed. TiB2 particles markedly refine grains from 117 μm (0 wt% TiB2) to 35 μm (0.1 wt% TiB2) and 29 μm (1 wt% TiB2). Both grain size reduction and TiB2 presence contribute to increased flow stress during thermal deformation. Grain refinement induced by TiB2 addition enhances dynamic recrystallization (DRX) processes. Excess TiB2 (1 wt%) further stimulates DRX via particle-stimulated nucleation (PSN) mechanism. Addition of TiB2 effectively suppresses coarsening of recrystallized grains following thermal deformation. These findings elucidate the dual role of TiB2 particles in modulating thermal deformation behavior and recrystallization kinetics, providing a quantitative basis for optimizing thermomechanical processing of particle-reinforced Al-Cu-Mg alloys for aerospace and military applications.