SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4288-1
The high-temperature oxidation resistance of Cr2AlC MAX phase ceramics is severely compromised by rapid Al depletion and the formation of a brittle sub-surface Cr7C3 layer. This study elucidates how trace Y2O3 doping (0.25 and 0.5 wt.%) modulates the oxidation behavior of Cr2AlC at 1100 °C. The incorporation of 0.5 wt.% Y2O3 significantly suppresses the parabolic rate constant compared to undoped counterparts. This kinetic suppression is attributed to the Reactive Element Effect (REE), where Y3+ segregation at α-Al2O3 grain boundaries inhibits outward Al3+ diffusion, shifting the scale growth mechanism to inward oxygen diffusion control. Consequently, this retarded Al consumption prevents the decomposition of the Cr2AlC substrate into Cr7C3. While undoped specimens fail due to volume contraction and Kirkendall voiding associated with the Cr7C3 interlayer, specimens with the most effective doping content within the investigated range maintain a stable, atomically sharp α-Al2O3/Cr2AlC interface devoid of voids and decomposition products. The superior adhesion of this interface is attributed to three synergistic factors: the elimination of volumetric mismatch induced by phase transformation, the mechanical interlocking provided by Y-rich oxide pegs, and the intrinsically higher interfacial bonding strength of the α-Al2O3/Cr2AlC system as confirmed by DFT calculations. These findings provide a mechanistic framework for designing oxidation-resistant MAX phase ceramics via reactive element doping.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4493-8
Metal halide perovskite photovoltaics have achieved power conversion efficiencies rivaling crystalline silicon, yet their transition from laboratory-scale devices to commercial deployment requires a paradigm shift toward application-specific engineering and macroscopic system integration. This review systematically evaluates the customized deployment of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) across diverse operational theaters, including building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), portable Internet of Things (IoT) systems, agricultural photovoltaics (Agri-PV), vehicle-integrated photovoltaics (VIPV), utility-scale tandems, and extreme space environments. Despite these opportunities, critical challenges persist in translating laboratory achievements into industrial-scale production. We critically evaluate primary bottlenecks hindering gigawatt-scale commercialization, focusing on the performance gap inherent in large-area manufacturing. Additionally, we analyze intrinsic material instabilities driven by dynamic ion migration and multi-scale lattice strain under realistic outdoor conditions. To conclude, we outline a strategic roadmap for overcoming these barriers, emphasizing lattice strain regulation, rigorous dynamic environmental testing protocols, and comprehensive sustainable lifecycle management. By synergizing mechanistic insights with scalable manufacturing and ecological assessments, this review provides a holistic framework to accelerate the ubiquitous commercialization of customizable, stable, and high-efficiency perovskite energy systems.
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.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202604001
This study systematically investigated the occurrence, spatial distribution, sources, and ecological risks of 160 pesticides in Dianchi Lake, a typical plateau lake impacted by agricultural activities. A total of 37 pesticides were detected in the water, with total concentrations ranging from 64.2 to 1132.8 ng/L (average 610.0 ng/L). Fungicides, including boscalid (BOS), fluopicolide (FPC), and dimethomorph (DMM), were dominant, contributing up to 65.0% of the total concentration. Spatially, the southern lake region exhibited significantly higher concentrations (672.5 ng/L) than the north, attributed to intensive facility agriculture. Highly hydrophobic pesticides, such as penconazole (PEN), showed a tendency to enrich in bottom layers. Source apportionment identified inflowing rivers and wastewater treatment plant effluents as primary input sources, with average concentrations 7 and 9 times higher than lake water, respectively. Ecological risk assessment revealed that pesticides posed the highest risk to algae, followed by daphnia and fish. Prometryn (PMT) was identified as a high-risk factor for algae, while profenofos (PFF) and carbendazim (CBD) posed potential threats to higher trophic levels. These findings provide fundamental data and technical support for understanding pesticide pollution in plateau lake ecosystems.
New Carbon Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61099-2
The first molecular dynamics (MD) simulation dataset is reported for the interfacial shear behavior of carbon fiber/thermoplastic composites (CFRTPs), aimed at overcoming the critical interfacial problem that limits their high-end applications such as aerospace and new energy vehicles. The study features two key advances. First, we use the newly developed CHONSi-2024 reactive force field (ReaxFF), which provides high-precision parameters specifically for CFRTP interfacial systems. Second, the atomic models are constructed based on experimental characterization data and rigorously validated across multiple parameters, including shear modulus, yield behavior, stress-strain curves, and fracture morphology, ensuring quantitative agreement with experimental results. This dataset provides a complete record of the simulations, encompassing atomic trajectories, local structural changes, interfacial stress-strain responses, and system thermodynamic behaviors. These data offer direct atomic-scale insights into the interfacial strengthening mechanisms. The generated trajectories are compatible with mainstream software for visualization and analysis. Moreover, the dataset constitutes a high-quality resource for developing machine learning force fields, building structure-property relationships, and enabling the predictive modeling and high-throughput screening of composite interfaces. This dataset is anticipated to advance the fundamental understanding of composite interfaces and facilitate the rational design of high-performance CFRTPs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3833-1
Developing plasmonic nanomaterials with compositions beyond noble metals is crucial for expanding their applications. Transition metal nitrides, such as titanium nitride (TiN), exhibit excellent plasmonic optical properties and photothermal conversion efficiency, showing promise in catalysis, photothermal therapy, and seawater desalination. However, the structure-property relationship governing their plasmonic optical properties remains unclear. Here, we constructed Au@TiN core-shell nanostructures and systematically investigated the tunability of their geometry, composition, and optical properties. By varying the Au core size and TiN shell thickness, we achieved precise control over the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) from visible to near-infrared wavelengths. Single-particle scattering spectroscopy revealed distinct plasmon hybridization modes, with experimental spectra matching theoretical simulations. The Au@TiN nanostructures exhibited enhanced photothermal conversion efficiency (η = 78.5%) under 808 nm laser irradiation, significantly outperforming pure TiN nanoparticles (η = 45.2%). This work demonstrates multi-factor control over plasmonic effects in TiN, providing insights for designing TiN-based plasmonic nanomaterials for catalysis and sensing.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202509020
The AAOA-MBR (anaerobic-anoxic-oxic-anoxic membrane bioreactor) process is widely used in municipal wastewater treatment, but its multi-stage internal recirculation complicates sludge retention time (SRT) and carbon source distribution. This study systematically regulated three reflux ratios (R1: membrane tank to oxic tank; R2: oxic tank to anoxic I tank; R3: anoxic II tank to anaerobic tank) in a pilot-scale system (0.24 m3·d−1) to reveal their effects on nutrient removal and membrane fouling. When R1:R2:R3 = 300%:200%:100%, effluent COD, TN, TP, and NH3-N met discharge standards. Reducing R1 and R2, thereby decreasing total reflux ratio from R=6 to R=3, shortened SRT, which suppressed nitrifier accumulation and increased effluent COD and TN, but decreased TP. High-throughput sequencing of anoxic I and oxic tanks showed that denitrifying bacteria (Thauera and Ottowia) relative abundances decreased from 0.68% to 0.42% and 0.51% to 0.24%, respectively, while the phosphorus-accumulating organism Candidatus_Accumulibacter increased from 0.78% to 1.12%, enhancing phosphorus removal. Additionally, lowering R1 to 200% caused sludge accumulation in the membrane tank, exacerbating membrane fouling. Thus, internal recirculation ratios must be adjusted based on influent characteristics to balance nutrient removal and membrane performance.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60654-8
The declining costs of renewable energy are progressively improving the economic viability of employing electrochemical techniques for carbon dioxide capture. Electrochemical carbon capture (ECC) technology utilizes electrical energy to drive electrode reactions, enabling the selective separation of CO2. The vigorous development of ECC powered by renewable energy offers a promising alternative route to conventional carbon capture methods, overcoming limitations associated with thermally driven capture and release cycles. This approach provides a promising alternative route that is more efficient, flexible, scalable, low-energy-consuming and low-polluting for traditional carbon capture technologies. This review begins by introducing established, large-scale carbon capture technologies, such as pre-combustion capture, post-combustion capture, oxy-fuel combustion, adsorption, membrane separation and the calcium looping process. It then transitions to several rapidly developing ECC technologies, including electrochemically mediated amine regeneration (EMAR), pH-swing-mediated systems, and methods involving redox-active molecules. The pH-swing systems are further categorized into bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED), proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET), and membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI). For each method, the underlying principles, technological advancements, advantages, as well as current problems and challenges, are systematically elucidated. It is anticipated that with the widespread deployment of green electricity and persistent innovation in electrochemical materials, ECC technology will emerge as a highly efficient and low-carbon strategy, contributing significantly to the global goal of achieving carbon neutrality.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202503016
Open-pit coal mining severely damages soil and plant community structure and function, causing soil nutrient loss and ecological degradation. Vegetation reconstruction is a key measure for restoring degraded mining ecosystems, with the core challenge being the selection of suitable plant species and optimization of plant configurations. This study focused on the degraded ecosystem of the Baiyinhua open-pit mine in Inner Mongolia, screening native plant species for vegetation reconstruction experiments to investigate early-stage changes in soil nutrient availability and the underlying microbial mechanisms. Results showed that soil physicochemical properties and fungal community diversity exhibited strong adaptability during early reconstruction. However, soil fungal community composition and the relative abundance of saprotrophic fungi differed significantly among plant configurations. Leymus chinensis significantly increased the proportion of soil saprotrophic fungi from 67.28% in the control to 81.63%, while reducing the relative proportion of pathogenic fungi from 15.63% to 4.33%, demonstrating its potential to enhance soil health. Medicago rivularis improved soil microbial community composition and increased soil available phosphorus content, highlighting its capacity as an excellent pioneer species for optimizing soil nutrient availability. Furthermore, mixed sowing of grasses and legumes showed potential to enhance the nitrogen-fixing effect of legumes. Given the significant positive correlation between soil fungal community composition and total nitrogen and available nitrogen, the effects of different plant configurations on soil nutrient availability and biological health likely stem largely from the regulation of soil fungal community composition. In conclusion, achieving the goal of selecting optimal plant configurations still requires long-term continuous observation and analysis, particularly for optimizing configurations between high-quality grasses like Leymus chinensis and legumes.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60683-4
The catalytic conversion of C1 molecules (e.g., CO, CO2) is pivotal for sustainable C1 chemistry and low-carbon transformation. A profound understanding of microscopic reaction mechanisms requires systematic theoretical and experimental data. This study constructs a computational dataset for C1 molecular catalytic conversion over iron-based catalysts, focusing on Fe5C2 and systematically integrating multidimensional information on adsorption, dissociation, and formation reactions across crystal surfaces (001, 111, 510). The dataset comprises 690 directories and 1961 files, including 96 configurations for Fe5C2(001), 93 for Fe5C2(111), and 472 for Fe5C2(510). It covers adsorbed states (e.g., COH, H2), dissociated states (e.g., CO under 2H conditions), and formation states (e.g., CH/CH3 under 2H and H2O conditions). A standardized hierarchical storage system categorizes reaction types, crystal surfaces, and structural parameters. This dataset serves as a benchmark for validating quantum chemical methods and provides critical data support for catalyst design and reaction pathway optimization by uncovering coupling effects of crystal surfaces and reaction mechanisms. The data are publicly available via DOI: 10.57760/sciencedb.34259.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3904-6
Disrupting calcium ions (Ca2+) homeostasis to induce calcium overloading has emerged as a promising strategy for cancer therapy. However, calcium overloading based on exogenous calcium salts (such as calcium carbonate and calcium peroxide) can easily lead to off-target Ca2+ release, causing severe side effects such as hypercalcemia and cardiac or renal dysfunction. This review explores the calcium-free nanomaterials for mediating targeted calcium dysregulation in tumors. These nanomaterials function not by carrying Ca2+ but by precisely regulating endogenous calcium signaling pathways. They promote massive Ca2+ influx through targeted activation of calcium channels and/or inhibit Ca2+ efflux by suppressing pumps, effectively triggering intracellular calcium accumulation. Such a strategy efficiently induces mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and immunogenic cell death, thereby inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis while potentiating antitumor immunity. We systematically summarize the design principles, mechanisms of action, and therapeutic applications of these calcium-free nanoplatforms, highlighting their potential to overcome the limitations of traditional therapies and boost ion-interference-based cancer treatment.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3975-2
The instability of oxygen redox activity in layered oxide cathodes, particularly the formation of localized electron holes on oxygen (O−) and subsequent anion dimerization, has been demonstrated to trigger rapid capacity degradation and severe voltage hysteresis. Our study primarily focuses on P3-type Na2/3Cu1/3Mn2/3O2, which demonstrates reversible oxygen redox with an exceptionally low voltage hysteresis of 0.05 V. Spectroscopic analyses demonstrate a reversible O2−→O− evolution in Na2/3Cu1/3Mn2/3O2 without O–O dimerization. Furthermore, Multilateral non-invasive magnetic methods reveal that strong Cu-O-Mn superexchange interactions during the metal-ligand redox process lead to delocalization of O− species and inhibition of irreversible O–O bonding, thereby enabling ultralow voltage hysteresis. This work establishes magnetic exchange engineering as a transformative strategy to unlock reversible oxygen redox in high-energy battery electrodes.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2026050701
Azo food colorants are persistent aquatic pollutants posing risks to ecosystems and human health. Utilizing biomass waste to produce low-cost activated carbon offers a sustainable strategy for their removal. In this study, activated carbon (HPR-AC) was synthesized from Haematococcus pluvialis residue via phosphoric acid activation, and its adsorption performance was evaluated using Sunset Yellow (SY), Ponceau 4R (P4R), and Tartrazine (TY) as model pollutants. The effects of solution pH, adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration, and temperature on adsorption efficiency were systematically examined. Characterization by BET, FTIR, XRD, and XPS revealed that HPR-AC possesses a high specific surface area and an abundant mesoporous structure. The adsorption process was well described by the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models, indicating monolayer chemisorption and an endothermic nature. At pH 5 and 55 °C, the maximum adsorption capacities reached 67.12, 79.72, and 72.75 mg·g−1 for SY, P4R, and TY, respectively. Statistical physics modeling further suggested a multilayer physical adsorption mechanism, primarily governed by pore filling, electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, and charge transfer. These findings provide both theoretical insights and empirical data for the valorization of H. pluvialis residue and the development of efficient, sustainable adsorbents for azo dye removal from water.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608026
Biochar and microbial inoculants are widely used for agricultural soil amendment. To investigate the effects of different straw biochars and Bacillus subtilis inoculant, applied individually or combined, on nitrogen transformation in dryland soil, a 60-day laboratory incubation experiment was conducted with six treatments: control (CK), 4% rice straw biochar (S), 4% rapeseed straw biochar (Y), 4% rice straw biochar plus 5 mg/kg inoculant (SJ), 4% rapeseed straw biochar plus 5 mg/kg inoculant (YJ), and inoculant alone (J). Results showed that rice straw biochar significantly increased soil nitrate nitrogen content by 148.74%–152.68% compared to CK, enhancing nitrification. Combined application with inoculant further increased average net nitrogen mineralization rate by 77.28%–99.38%. Conversely, rapeseed straw biochar decreased nitrate nitrogen by 51.66%–57.61%, and combined application reduced net nitrogen mineralization rate by 82.07%–84.73%. Treatments S, Y, SJ, and YJ promoted microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) synthesis, with S and Y increasing MBN by 2.02- and 2.20-fold over CK, respectively. Combined treatments further increased MBN by 103.26%–149.44% relative to single biochar treatments. These findings indicate that biochar type governs nitrification and net nitrogen mineralization, while combined application exerts synergistic effects on MBN. For comprehensive dryland soil improvement, YJ treatment is optimal, reducing inorganic nitrogen loss risk and enhancing microbial nitrogen activity.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4021-5
Lead-free halide double perovskites have attracted significant attention owing to their eco-friendliness, structural tunability, and self-trapped exciton emission. Nevertheless, achieving efficient and stable near-infrared-II (NIR-II) luminescence, especially in materials incorporating lanthanide ions, remains a considerable challenge in photonics research. Herein, we report a notable advance in the design and synthesis of Sb3+-sensitized Cs2NaLuCl6:Er3+ double perovskite single crystals, which exhibit an unprecedented external quantum efficiency of 45.3% for emission at 1542 nm. Sb3+ acts as a broadband ultraviolet absorber and transfers energy to Er3+ via self-trapped exciton emission. Moreover, at high concentrations of Er3+, Er3+-Er3+ cross relaxation (2H11/2 + 4I15/2 → 4I9/2 + 4I13/2) selectively populates the NIR-emitting 4I13/2 state, suppressing competitive visible emission pathways. This synergistic host-sensitizer-activator design strategy, supported by density functional theory calculations, addresses long-standing efficiency limitations and opens new avenues for high-performance NIR-II emitters in bioimaging, night vision, and optical communications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4082-6
High-performance nonvolatile memory devices are crucial for next-generation computing, yet achieving low-power, stable, and reproducible resistive switching remains challenging, primarily due to stochastic filament formation and limited precise control over the electronic properties of active materials. Herein, we employ a rational molecular engineering strategy to address these limitations by constructing a series of two-dimensional pyrene-based covalent organic frameworks (Py-COFs)—Py-H, Py-CH3, and Py-OH—via systematic substitution (–H, –CH3, and –OH) on the phenyl linkers to modulate backbone electronics. The electron-donating –CH3 and –OH motifs enrich the π-conjugated backbone with higher electron density, while the –OH moiety in Py-OH further engages in p-π conjugation with the benzene ring and forms intramolecular hydrogen bonds, thereby increasing framework rigidity, enhancing orbital overlap, and promoting charge delocalization. Enabled by these structural refinements, Py-OH-based devices exhibit markedly improved resistive switching behavior, characterized by a low operating voltage, an ON/OFF ratio of ~10^3.45, and excellent retention stability. Combined photophysical, electrochemical, and high-resolution TEM analyses corroborate that hydroxyl-driven p-π conjugation, hydrogen-bond reinforcement, and the emergent nanowire-like morphology synergistically suppress uncontrolled filament formation and promote efficient charge transport. These findings establish a clear structure-property correlation in functionalized Py-COFs and underscore their promise as tunable active layers for low-power, high-performance resistive memory and neuromorphic computing.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4044-3
Efficient sequestration of radioactive iodine species (I2, CH3I, I3−) is vital for nuclear safety and environmental protection. However, developing multifunctional adsorbents that remain effective under diverse conditions remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report two functionalized PD-COFs (PD-WS and PD-WY) with moderate crystallinity, outstanding thermal stability, and robust chemical resistance. They exhibit superior adsorption performance in both gas and liquid phases. Specifically, at 75°C, PD-WY achieves capacities of 4.88 g g−1 for I2, 1.55 g g−1 for CH3I, and 5.55 g g−1 for the I2/CH3I mixture, while high capacities are also retained at room temperature. In solution, PD-WY adsorbs up to 3.56 g g−1 of I3− in water and 2.00 g g−1 of iodine in cyclohexane. These COFs display rapid kinetics (K80% = 3.25 g g−1 h−1 for I2 and 7.89 g g−1 h−1 for I3−) and excellent selectivity. Mechanistic studies indicated that the excellent iodine affinity of PD-COFs arises from their rich electronic structures, abundant active sites, and charge transfer interactions. These findings position PD-COFs as highly promising adsorbents for nuclear waste treatment and environmental remediation.