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/s40843-026-4464-9
Topological polarization textures have transitioned from theoretical predictions to experimental observations over two decades, yet their stabilization has remained largely confined to low-dimensional architectures where geometric confinement balances depolarization, strain, and gradient energies. Extending these textures into bulk ferroelectrics and quantitatively linking them to macroscopic electromechanical properties constitutes a persistent challenge. Wu et al. address this by engineering vortex and antivortex domains in bulk rhombohedral 0.7Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.3PbTiO3 (PMN-30PT) crystals. Phase-field simulations reveal that increasing vortex core density from 6 to 27 μm⁻² enhances the dielectric constant (ε33/ε0) and piezoelectric coefficient (d33) by approximately 3.5-fold and 3.4-fold, respectively, correlating with increased polarization curl. Experimentally, a mechanically assisted direct-current poling (MDCP) strategy elevates vortex core density from 0.01 to 21 μm⁻², boosting d33 from 1380 to 1820 pC·N⁻¹ and ε33/ε0 from 4,630 to 6,230. This mechanically driven approach enables controllable manipulation of topological domain architectures in bulk crystals without nanoscale confinement, offering a scalable route for functional optimization. The work establishes bulk ferroelectrics as a platform for topology-mediated electromechanical design, introducing an additional degree of freedom for enhancing piezoelectric performance in three-dimensional crystals.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4418-7
Glioblastoma (GBM) remains the most lethal primary brain tumor, with the blood-brain barrier (BBB) severely restricting effective treatment options. Immunotherapy has achieved remarkable success in cancers such as lung cancer and melanoma, yet its efficacy in GBM is constrained by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and a paucity of tumor-infiltrating T cells. This study developed a biomimetic nanocomposite for the co-delivery of an immunogenic cell death (ICD) inducer and an indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO-1) inhibitor to overcome these challenges. Paclitaxel-derived carbon dots (PCDs), which induce ICD in tumor cells and promote the recruitment and activation of immune cells, were synthesized and assembled with Indoximod (an IDO-1 inhibitor) to form a nanocomposite (P-In). A biomimetic coating was subsequently applied to create M@P-In. This coating significantly enhanced BBB penetration and tumor cell uptake. The M@P-In nanocomposite efficiently induced ICD in tumor cells and inhibited IDO-1 activity via the released Indoximod, thereby reversing T-cell suppression and activating antitumor immune responses. Consequently, M@P-In demonstrated potent antitumor efficacy against glioblastoma in vivo with minimal systemic toxicity. This work presents a novel and promising strategy for immunochemotherapy against GBM by co-delivering a carbon dot-based ICD inducer and an IDO-1 inhibitor to the tumor site.
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/s40843-026-4404-7
Electrochemical propylene epoxidation offers a sustainable route to propylene oxide (PO), but achieving high selectivity and stability under industrial current densities remains challenging. Herein, we report a high entropy amorphous CoFeNiCrMnBOx borate loaded with high valence Pt single atoms catalyst (a-Pt-HEBO) for stable bromine radical-mediated propylene epoxidation reaction (BrPOR). The high-entropy amorphous structure reshapes the interfacial hydrogen-bonding network and enriches free water, substantially lowering the energy barrier for water dissociation. Meanwhile, the strong electronic interactions between the coordinatively unsaturated, high-valence single Pt atoms and the substrate effectively prevent transition metal dissolution at high anodic potentials. The catalyst achieved 82.1% Faraday efficiency of PO at an industrial grade current density of 100 mA cm-2, and demonstrated excellent industrial application stability in up to 500 h of continuous test and within a scaled-up electrolyzer (4 × 4 cm2). This work provides a design for high-entropy catalysts in halogen-mediated electrosynthesis and a viable pathway toward carbon-neutral PO production.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4309-8
Iridium-doped cobalt oxide nanosheets derived from a ZIF template were evaluated as oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts for proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE). Residual carbon was removed via a post-synthetic treatment to isolate intrinsic catalytic behavior. The Ir0.23Co0.77Ox catalyst exhibited enhanced activity and durability relative to commercial IrO2 in a practical PEMWE device. Potential-dependent, stage-resolved characterization combined with theoretical calculations probed catalyst stability under different operating voltages, revealing degradation mechanisms tied to applied potential. Contact angle measurements showed that the Ir0.23Co0.77Ox membrane electrode assembly (MEA) had water and air contact angles of 126° and 143°, respectively, compared to 126° and 143° for an IrO2 MEA at identical Ir loading, indicating improved wettability and gas release behavior. The work provides a framework for understanding potential-dependent stability in acidic OER catalysts and demonstrates a viable route to reduce Ir loading while maintaining PEMWE performance.
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/s40843-026-4378-6
Electrical stimulation (ES) is a powerful strategy to mimic endogenous bioelectricity and accelerate complex tissue regeneration, such as chronic wound healing. However, aligning external stimulation with native bioelectrical and biochemical signals for rapid and scarless tissue regeneration remains challenging. Here, we report a wireless bioelectronic dressing (E-dressing) that establishes stable bioelectronic interfaces and precisely modulates cellular physiological activities. Bioactive allylamine-functionalized gold clusterzymes (AM-AuNCs) with intrinsic superoxide dismutase-like activity were designed as functional modifiers to co-polymerize with acrylic acid (AA), forming conductive p(AA-AuNCs) hydrogels. AM-AuNCs impart the hydrogel with superior antioxidant activity, robust interfacial adhesion, and high conductivity, enabling rapid hemostasis, efficient electrical stimulation transmission, and precise fibroblast regulation. Combined with 1.00 V of electrical stimulation, the p(AA-AuNCs) hydrogel significantly promotes fibroblast proliferation, migration, and alignment by upregulating TGF-β, FGF-2, and EGF. Integrated with a biocompatible, flexible zinc-ion battery delivering sustained and tunable electrical signals for over 7 days, the E-dressing precisely guides collagen remodeling, inhibits myofibroblast activation, and maintains Col I/Col III balance, leading to a 5-fold acceleration of wound closure and a 65.5% reduction in scar formation. This multifunctional E-dressing represents a promising bioelectronic device for precise cellular regulation and multimodal regenerative therapy.
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/s40843-026-4262-7
The escalating demands of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and neural computing necessitate multifunctional optoelectronic devices capable of integrating sensing, memory, and processing. Two-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) offer unique advantages, yet their practical deployment is hindered by complex architectures and inefficient mode-switching. Here, we demonstrate a MoTe2/SnS2 anti-ambipolar heterojunction device enabling single-gate reconfiguration among frequency doubling, broadband photodetection, and neuromorphic computing. The device exhibits a peak-to-valley ratio (PVR) of 465, ensuring efficient frequency doubling. As a photodetector, it operates across an exceptionally broad spectral range of 520–2200 nm, with outstanding responsivity and detectivity. Furthermore, the device emulates complete synaptic behaviors, including short-term plasticity (STP), long-term plasticity (LTP), and paired-pulse facilitation (PPF). Integrated into a reservoir computing (RC) system trained on a vehicle motion dataset, it achieves a directional recognition accuracy of 98.7%. This work establishes a paradigm for multifunctional integration and low-power neuromorphic computing, advancing next-generation intelligent optoelectronic systems.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4235-6
Fluorite-structured oxides (HfO2, ZrO2) are promising for resistive random-access memory (RRAM) due to their scalability and tunable properties. However, achieving high resistive switching on/off ratios remains challenging. Here, we report a collaborative strategy combining Hf/Zr ratio optimization and Lu3+ doping to regulate band structure and oxygen vacancy concentration in Hf0.4Zr0.6O2 (LHZO) thin films. The resulting LHZO devices exhibit a resistive switching ratio of 8.4 × 10^4, two orders of magnitude higher than that of ZrO2 (1.2 × 10^3). Electrical characterization and synchrotron radiation photoemission spectroscopy reveal that Lu doping widens the bandgap to 4.95 eV, downshifts the valence band, and introduces defect states, collectively suppressing p-type conductivity and reducing off-state leakage current. Simultaneously, Lu3+ doping enriches oxygen vacancies, stabilizing ohmic conductive filaments in the on-state. This co-optimization of band structure and oxygen vacancies effectively enhances insulating properties in the high-resistance state and ohmic conductivity in the low-resistance state, leading to superior resistive switching performance with robust retention (>10^4 s). Our findings establish a fundamental strategy for tailoring electronic properties of doped HfZrO2 thin films toward high-performance RRAM applications.
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/s40843-026-4194-2
Lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) exhibit distinctive optical characteristics, including excellent photostability, large anti-Stokes shifts, narrow emission bands, and tunable luminescence lifetimes. Despite their advantages, UCNPs suffer from inherently weak light absorption because of the 4f-4f transitions of lanthanide ions. Near-infrared dye-sensitization has emerged as an effective strategy to enhance their absorption, yet the photoconversion performance remains constrained by photobleaching and interfacial energy losses. In this review, we systematically analyze the surface coordination environments and energy transfer pathways that govern dye-sensitized UCNPs. We evaluate critical molecular parameters, such as dye frameworks, surface binding affinity, and triplet-state energy alignment, in conjunction with nanoparticle structural features, including dopant concentration, core-shell architectures, and surface electronic configurations. By providing a fundamental assessment of these photophysical and photochemical processes, we propose targeted optimization strategies to enhance the performance and stability of these hybrid materials for advanced applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4217-y
Rational design and construction of effective photocatalysts is a promising way for green and sustainable chemistry, but still a great challenge. Herein, taking triphenylamine-containing aldehydes as reactants, two covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs), tris(4-formylphenyl)amine (TPA)-CTF and tris(4-formylbiphenyl)amine (TBPA)-CTF, were rationally constructed. The strong electron donor property of the triphenylamine moieties derived from the initial reactants and the strong electron acceptor nature of the in-situ formed built-in triazine rings in CTFs endowed these robust triphenylamine-based CTFs with donor-acceptor (D-A) or donor-π-acceptor (D-π-A) structure features. Photocatalytic experiments revealed that, compared with the controlled phenyl analogue CTF, 1,3,5-tri(p-formylphenyl)benzene (TFPB)-CTF, both of the triphenylamine-based CTFs exhibited superior photocatalytic activity not only in photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide generation, but also in photocatalytic aerobic oxidations of diverse organic substrates. Theoretical studies further confirmed that their enhanced photocatalytic performance should be attributed to their unique D-A or D-π-A features in the constructed triphenylamine-based CTFs. This work successfully demonstrated that rational selection of reactants containing electron donor moieties to construct CTFs should be a reliable way for the construction of effective photocatalysts for photocatalytic oxidation reactions.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3660-5
High-sensitivity piezoelectric ceramics with high piezoelectric constants (d33) are crucial for miniaturized, low-power, and high-efficiency transducers. However, conventional performance enhancement relies on intrinsic parameter modulation, which is limited and blind. This study introduces a performance-driven metamaterials creation model to develop structure-function-integrated piezoelectric materials. We systematically investigated the effects of metastructure design on d33 across two-dimensional straight rod (SR) structures, three-dimensional dot-matrix (Octa) structures, complex triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structures, and hybrid Octa&SR structures. The results demonstrate that metastructures combining high polarization charge conversion efficiency with low compression modulus (stiffness) effectively enhance d33. The SR structure exhibited optimal polarization charge conversion, the Fks-Shellular (FksS) structure within TPMS showed low stiffness, and the Octa&SR structure combined both properties. Notably, all three structures displayed exceptional piezoelectric performance. Specifically, the FksS structure achieved a substantial d33 of 194 pC/N, a 24% enhancement over conventional solid BaTiO3, while maintaining isotropic and stress-insensitive properties. This work elucidates the mechanism for designing piezoelectric metastructures, offering a novel pathway for developing high-performance, high-failure-strength piezoelectric materials.
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/s40843-025-3630-2
This study demonstrates a dual-interface engineering approach for performance enhancement in perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells. By applying ethylenediamine dihydroiodide (EDAI2) to simultaneously modify both top and bottom interfaces of wide-bandgap perovskite layers, we achieve synergistic defect suppression and charge transport optimization. Time-resolved photoluminescence characterization reveals extended carrier lifetimes and improved spatial homogeneity in dual-modified perovskite films. The optimized single-junction wide-bandgap (>1.66 eV) perovskite solar cells attain a champion efficiency of 22.75% with enhanced operational stability. Implemented in perovskite-silicon tandem configuration, the devices achieve over 31% power conversion efficiency, validating the effectiveness of organic ligand-mediated dual-interface engineering in regulating carrier dynamics and advancing perovskite-based tandem photovoltaics.
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/s40843-025-3625-3
Zirconia (ZrO2)-based fluorite ferroelectric materials are promising for nonvolatile memory and logic devices due to their CMOS compatibility and cost advantages over hafnium oxide (HfO2). However, the metastable nature of the ferroelectric orthorhombic phase (o-phase) hinders practical application. Here, we report the strain-mediated stabilization of the ferroelectric o-phase in ZrO2 thin films grown on niobium-doped strontium titanate (NSTO) substrates with different crystallographic orientations via chemical solution deposition. Systematic structural and ferroelectric characterization, combined with simulation, reveals that substrate orientation controls in-plane tensile strain, selectively promoting epitaxial growth of the o-phase. The ZrO2 film on NSTO(110) exhibits the highest o-phase content, achieving a remanent polarization (2Pr) of 92.64 μC/cm², which remains as high as 88.54 μC/cm² after resistive-capacitive (RC) delay calibration. The device shows endurance of approximately 10^7 cycles with favorable fatigue characteristics. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) further indicates distortion of Zr-O tetrahedra, providing microscopic insight into the ferroelectricity. This work presents a novel strategy for property tuning of ZrO2 films and supports their application in storage and logic devices.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3699-1
Dual-atom (DA) catalysts have exhibited great potential in regulating the catalytic performance of CO2 reduction. However, precise construction of DAs on a support remains challenging. Herein, we report the precise immobilization of M-DAs (M = Ru, Rh, Pt) onto the Zr-oxo cluster of a 2D porphyrinic metal-organic framework (2D-Ni-PCN-222) via a dimetallic complex pre-coordination strategy. The resultant M-DAs/2D-Ni-PCN-222 catalysts were applied to CO2 photoreduction using ammonia borane as the H* donor. Under visible light, the optimal catalyst, Ru-DAs/2D-Ni-PCN-222, exhibited a HCOO− production rate of 35.4 mmol g−1 h−1 with nearly 100% selectivity and a turnover frequency of 691 h−1. Kinetic isotope experiments demonstrated that the coupling rate between H* and CO2 governed the production efficiency of HCOO−. In situ experiments and density functional theory calculations disclosed that Ru-DAs with highly delocalized d electrons could accept photogenerated electrons from 2D-Ni-PCN-222 and inject them into inert CO2 molecules. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations revealed that adaptive shortening of Ru–O coordination bonds during CO2 adsorption played a crucial role in facilitating deeper activation and the formation of an optimal η3–O,C,O adsorption mode of CO2. This work provides a precise strategy for constructing dual-atom catalysts on MOFs and elucidates the mechanism of CO2 photoreduction, offering insights for the design of efficient photocatalysts.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3860-0
Drug detection is critical for public health and security, yet reversible and highly sensitive sensing materials remain scarce. This study presents a novel ionogel sensor material, poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA)/1-butyl-3-methylimidazole tetrafluoroborate, for reproducible detection of N-methylphenylethylamine (MPEA), a structural analogue of methamphetamine. The ionogel is fabricated by immobilizing a flowable ionic liquid within a PEGDA network via UV curing, preserving ionic mobility for efficient conduction. Integrated on a flexible poly(ethylene naphthalate) substrate, the sensor exhibits over 72.6% transmittance in the visible spectrum, enabling concealed attachment. Utilizing non-covalent interactions, the sensor achieves reproducible MPEA detection at sub-ppb levels at room temperature, with a theoretical detection limit of 317 ppt. It demonstrates high selectivity and consistency. Ionic conductivity was confirmed via current-voltage tests and impedance spectroscopy, and the sensing mechanism was clarified. The device maintains reliable performance under bending, indicating suitability for dynamic environments. With Bluetooth integration for wireless data transmission, the sensor shows strong potential for practical, discreet drug monitoring in real-world applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3586-7
Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of mortality and long-term disability worldwide, with endovascular stent intervention emerging as a key therapeutic strategy. Biodegradable Mg-Zn-Y-Nd alloy (ZE21B) offers promising mechanical properties and biocompatibility for vascular scaffolds, yet suffers from inadequate corrosion resistance, insufficient endothelialization, and impaired blood-brain barrier remodeling. This study develops a composite coating comprising barnacle cement protein cp19k and sulfonated hyaluronic acid nanoparticles (NP@S-HA) applied via electrostatic spraying onto ZE21B. The cp19k/NP@S-HA coating enhances corrosion resistance by approximately 40.6% relative to uncoated ZE21B, as determined by electrochemical and static immersion tests. In vitro blood and cellular assays demonstrate that the coating promotes endothelial cell proliferation and migration, inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation while regulating contractile phenotype, suppresses macrophage adherence and induces M2 polarization, reduces TNF-α expression, and mitigates fibroplasia. These findings indicate that the cp19k/NP@S-HA composite coating provides an effective surface modification strategy for biodegradable magnesium alloys in cerebrovascular applications, potentially improving stent performance and patient outcomes.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3657-9
Perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells (TSCs) have achieved power conversion efficiencies (PCE) up to 34.9%, surpassing the Shockley-Queisser limit of single-junction devices. The interconnection layer (ICL) critically bridges top and bottom subcells, enabling charge carrier recombination. Conventional indium oxide (In2O3)-based TCOs suffer from high-energy ion bombardment during sputtering, damaging amorphous silicon subcells and reducing open-circuit voltage (VOC) and fill factor (FF). Additionally, indium scarcity and cost necessitate indium-free alternatives. Here, we introduce a highly degenerate indium-free samarium-doped cadmium oxide (CdO:Sm) TCO as the ICL for perovskite/SHJ TSCs, deposited via low-damage reactive plasma deposition (RPD). The ultrathin CdO:Sm film (~3 nm) exhibits average transmittance of 85% (400–1200 nm) and 90% (800–1200 nm), enabling efficient near-infrared absorption in the bottom subcell. High doping concentration and mobility ensure excellent electrical conductivity. The low work function (4.04 eV) of CdO:Sm facilitates carrier tunneling and efficient recombination. Devices employing CdO:Sm ICL achieved approximately 1% higher efficiency compared to those with indium-based TCO ICLs. Detailed characterization including contact resistivity (1.68 mΩ cm2), conductive atomic force microscopy, Kelvin probe force microscopy, and photoluminescence quenching confirm enhanced carrier transport and extraction. This work demonstrates a viable indium-free ICL for high-efficiency perovskite/SHJ TSCs, addressing both performance and sustainability challenges.
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/s40843-025-3697-8
Multi-site coupling is a promising strategy for developing highly efficient and CO-resistant hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) catalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However, designing multifunctional synergistic schemes for single-atom sites remains a significant challenge. Herein, we propose a dual-template-confined oxophilic engineering strategy to construct well-dispersed iridium-nickel (IrNi) atomic dimers adjacent to IrNi nanoclusters on porous nitrogen-doped carbon (IrNi Dimer/NC1.8-PNC). The paired IrNi dimer features an asymmetric Ir-N3 configuration coordinated with heteroatomic Ni-N3O via an N-bridge. Remarkably, IrNi Dimer/NC1.8-PNC exhibits a ~23-fold enhancement in mass activity (4.36 A mg−1 Ir at 20 mV) and 5-fold longer stability compared to benchmarking Pt/C toward HOR, while achieving a high rated power density of 1.18 W cm−2 in PEMFC anode applications. Furthermore, IrNi Dimer/NC1.8-PNC demonstrates superior CO tolerance over monometallic Ir and Pt/C in both half-cell and full-cell devices. Combined experimental and density functional theory studies reveal that oxophilic Ni modulates the electronic environment of Ir through alloying and dimer interactions, thereby enhancing HOR activity. Importantly, the asymmetric IrNi dimer enables efficient CO* and OH* co-adsorption while facilitating CO2* desorption, synergistically mitigating CO poisoning and improving atom utilization efficiency. This work provides a design strategy and fundamental insights for multi-site synergistic catalysts in PEMFC anodes.
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.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(25)60607-4
The methanation of biomass gasification syngas (H2/CO = 3:1) was investigated over Ni/Al2O3 monolithic catalysts supported on cordierite, with a nominal Ni loading of 15 wt%. Catalysts were modified by treatment with 10% NaOH solution for 1 h and 2 h. Physicochemical properties were characterized by BET, TEM, H2-TPR, XRD, CO2-TPD, and TG. Results showed that the 2 h modification (15%Ni/Al2O3-2h) increased specific surface area, enhanced catalytic activity, and increased alkaline site density compared to the unmodified catalyst. Under optimized conditions (H2/CO volume ratio 3:1, space velocity 10000 mL/(g·h), temperature 400 °C), the 15%Ni/Al2O3-2h catalyst achieved a CO conversion of 97% and CH4 selectivity of 100%. Stability tests over 2 h showed that the CO conversion remained stable at approximately 98%, indicating excellent catalytic stability. The study demonstrates that alkali modification with 10% NaOH for 2 h significantly improves both the methanation performance and stability of Ni/Al2O3 monolithic catalysts, offering a promising route for synthetic natural gas production from biomass.
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.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024102403
The rapid combustion of soot at low temperatures is critical for diesel engine cold-start emission control. This study investigates the effects of water vapor (H2O) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) on electricity-pulse-sparked catalysis (EPSC) for soot combustion over a ceramic filter paper-based potassium-supported antimony-doped tin oxide (K/ATO/CP) monolithic catalyst. Under EPSC with 2000 J pulses, the presence of H2O and NOx adversely affected soot combustion performance, yet average reaction rates remained high at 12.0 μmol·gcat−1·s−1 and 9.53 μmol·gcat−1·s−1, respectively, exceeding conventional thermal catalysis (<8 μmol·gcat−1·s−1). In situ Raman and concentration profiles revealed that electricity pulses promote rapid H2O desorption, effectively alleviating H2O poisoning and restoring catalyst activity. In contrast, NOx adsorption forms stable nitrates (e.g., KNO3) that desorb slower than the soot combustion process, leading to incomplete recovery of activity. These findings highlight the importance of adsorbate desorption kinetics in EPSC and suggest that using weakly basic alkaline-earth metals (e.g., Mg, Ca, Sr) with lower nitrate decomposition temperatures could mitigate NOx poisoning. The results provide guidance for advancing EPSC technology in hybrid vehicle exhaust aftertreatment systems.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202604022
The resource utilization of food waste contributes to reducing environmental pollution, driving nutrient cycling and biomass energy development, and promoting the resource recycling industry, achieving a win-win outcome for environment and economy. This study evaluated the resource recovery performance and environmental impacts of producing carbon sources for wastewater treatment through hydrolysis and acidification of food waste, comparing with two conventional alternatives: anaerobic fermentation and incineration. Results showed that among the three technologies, hydrolysis for carbon source production ranked middle in resource recycling efficiency, but its environmental benefits were superior to incineration and anaerobic fermentation. The hydrolysis process did not produce additional wastewater requiring treatment, and its greenhouse gas emissions and solid waste generation intensity were relatively low, at -40.7 kg CO2-eq/t and 9.3%, respectively. Carbon sources derived from food waste can replace commercial alternatives, reducing wastewater treatment costs and promoting synergies between pollution reduction and carbon mitigation. Sensitivity analysis revealed that water content in food waste significantly influences solid impurity generation and energy recovery efficiency of hydrolysis technology. In regions with high food waste generation and carbon source demand, hydrolysis technology is recommended to facilitate large-scale synergistic treatment of wastewater and food waste.
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.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3633-5
High-temperature interfacial diffusion in Half-Heusler (HH) thermoelectric devices poses significant challenges for practical applications, particularly the diffusion of Ag from conventional solders, which degrades material performance and device stability. This study reveals anomalous Ag diffusion through a Cr powder barrier layer into Ti0.5Zr0.5NiSn0.98Sb0.02, driven by Sn phase penetration. In contrast, employing a Cr foil barrier layer pre-densified the material, effectively preventing Sn phase penetration and eliminating Ag diffusion pathways, thereby preserving junction integrity. After aging at 973 K for 30 days, the Cr foil junction maintained a clean interface with a low contact resistivity of 0.27 μΩ cm2. Benefiting from this interfacial design, a Hf-free HH module achieved a high conversion efficiency of 10.4% at a hot-side temperature of 976 K, alongside long-term stability. This work addresses critical bottlenecks in developing high-performance, low-cost HH modules, facilitating their commercial application in waste heat recovery.
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.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202508013
The Sanshenggong section of the Yellow River is a critical hydrological monitoring and control point, whose water quality directly affects the ecological safety and sustainable water resource utilization of the middle and lower reaches. This study analyzed water quality monitoring data from 2011 to 2024 using the Mann-Kendall test to identify abrupt change years, combined with single-factor evaluation and a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method improved by CRITIC-entropy weight combination to systematically assess water quality evolution. The Mann-Kendall test identified 2013 and 2019 as abrupt change points, with non-significant improvement from 2013 to 2015 and significant improvement after 2016. Single-factor evaluation indicated that total phosphorus (TP) was the primary exceeding factor in 2011–2012, and its declining concentration drove the water quality upgrade from Class III to Class II in 2013. The CRITIC-entropy weight combination assigned the highest weight (28.96%) to permanganate index, whose decline was the core driver of water quality improvement. The improved fuzzy evaluation showed that the membership degree of Class III water dropped to zero in 2013, indicating stable improvement, but periodic rebounds in Class II membership suggested potential degradation risks. This study provides scientific evidence for ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605002
The single-phase partial nitrification and anammox (SPN/A) process has seen limited widespread application due to its slow startup and difficulties in enriching anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB). This study utilized high-ammonia nitrogen wastewater to initiate and enhance the SPN/A process in a pilot-scale integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) reactor. By establishing an IFAS-SPN/A coupled system based on the symbiotic relationship between biofilm and sludge, rapid startup and efficient AnAOB enrichment were achieved. An innovative sludge inoculation strategy was employed: first, conventional nitrifying sludge was inoculated to initiate shortcut nitrification and allow ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) to colonize blank carriers; subsequently, anammox sludge was inoculated to promote efficient AnAOB enrichment on the AOB biofilm. The influent was low-temperature shift condensation water from a synthetic ammonia workshop, with an average ammonium nitrogen concentration of 2300 mg/L and COD ranging from 50 to 200 mg/L. The 180-day experiment comprised three stages: shortcut nitrification startup, SPN/A startup, and load intensification. The system successfully started up SPN/A within 120 days, achieving total nitrogen removal efficiency and removal load of (90.21±2.18)% and (0.31±0.07) kg/(m³·d), respectively, through synergistic biofilm and suspended microorganisms. During load intensification, AnAOB relative abundances in biofilm and flocs reached 18.8% and 35.3%, respectively, and removal load increased to (0.64±0.11) kg/(m³·d). Stable influent quality is a prerequisite for efficient and stable nitrogen removal; a surge in influent ammonium concentration caused nitrite accumulation imbalance and deteriorated performance. Adding an equalization tank before the aeration tank mitigates water quality fluctuations, and a 'dilution-reconstruction' strategy for low-ammonia wastewater facilitates rapid recovery after performance deterioration.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605013
The escalating eutrophication of aquatic systems has intensified algal blooms, leading to substantial release and accumulation of algal-derived dissolved organic matter (ADOM), which profoundly influences carbon cycling and pollutant transport. Iron minerals, particularly ferrihydrite, are recognized as critical mediators of DOM sequestration, yet the adsorption fractionation of ADOM under varying environmental conditions remains poorly understood. This study systematically investigated the effects of pH (2.0–10.0) and initial dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration (2–100 mg C/L) on the adsorption capacity and selectivity of ADOM onto ferrihydrite, employing UV-Vis spectroscopy and excitation-emission matrix fluorescence with parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC). Results demonstrated that adsorption capacity increased with pH from 2.0 to 7.0, reaching a maximum of 21.59 mg C/g at pH 7.0, followed by a decline at pH > 7.0 due to enhanced electrostatic repulsion. Within the environmentally relevant pH range of 3.0–9.0, selective fractionation intensified with increasing pH, favoring highly aromatic, high-molecular-weight chromophoric DOM (CDOM) and protein-like/aromatic amino acid fluorescent DOM (FDOM) with high humification and autochthonous characteristics. With increasing initial DOC concentration, adsorption exhibited non-linear growth, with preferential uptake of low-aromaticity, high-molecular-weight CDOM and protein-like FDOM of lower humification and stronger autochthonous features. These findings elucidate that ferrihydrite can effectively sequester reactive ADOM components via pH- and concentration-dependent selective adsorption, potentially altering DOM composition and reactivity in eutrophic waters, thereby providing fundamental data for understanding iron mineral-mediated internal carbon sequestration.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3973-9
Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) is a phenomenon where chiral molecules emit light with distinct left or right circular polarizations upon excitation. Unlike conventional luminescent materials, chiral materials produce light with inherent helicity, leading to unique applications in chiral optoelectronics, quantum technologies, and biophotonics. This review systematically explores the theoretical and computational foundations of CPL, focusing on the interplay between molecular chirality, transition dipole moments, and photoluminescence quantum yield. A major challenge in designing efficient CPL-active materials is optimizing the luminescence dissymmetry factor (g_lum) while maintaining high photoluminescence efficiency. This review comprehensively summarizes how first-principles computational methods, by establishing robust predictive frameworks, have significantly advanced the design of CPL molecules. Even though significant progress has been made in modeling monomeric systems, the effective integration of first-principles calculations to describe CPL in aggregated states remains an ongoing challenge. The review also highlights the promising synergy between computational models, experimental validation, and emerging data-driven techniques such as machine learning (ML) for guiding the design of novel high-performance CPL materials. In conclusion, further research is needed to overcome current computational limitations and develop more effective strategies for CPL material design.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3827-3
Chiral functional materials, characterized by intrinsic spatial asymmetry, hold transformative potential in photonics, enantioselective synthesis, quantum technologies, and biomedicine. However, their rational design and discovery are impeded by the vast chemical space and complex structure-property relationships, rendering traditional trial-and-error approaches inefficient and costly. This review critically examines the paradigm-shifting role of artificial intelligence (AI) in accelerating the discovery and optimization of chiral functional materials. We highlight recent AI-driven breakthroughs, emphasizing machine learning (ML) algorithms that excel in identifying patterns within high-dimensional data, thereby enabling rapid virtual screening and elucidation of intricate structure-property correlations. Key applications span from predicting enantioselectivity in asymmetric catalysis to designing circularly polarized luminescent materials and chiral metamaterials. Notably, ML models have achieved predictive accuracies exceeding 90% in classifying chiral structures and have reduced computational screening times by orders of magnitude. The integration of AI with automated synthesis platforms further enables closed-loop optimization, as demonstrated in the autonomous discovery of optically active chiral perovskite nanocrystals. This review underscores that AI not only accelerates materials discovery but also fosters cross-disciplinary innovation, positioning itself as an indispensable tool for the next generation of chiral functional materials. By synthesizing recent progress, we provide a roadmap for leveraging AI to navigate the complex landscape of chiral materials, ultimately expediting the translation of laboratory innovations into practical applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3877-7
Circularly polarized (CP) photodetectors are pivotal for optical communication, polarization imaging, and target recognition. Chiral organic materials offer structural tunability, solution processability, and compatibility with flexible substrates, yet their development is hindered by synthetic challenges, enantiomeric separation difficulties, and intrinsically weak chiroptical responses. Recent advances in molecular design and solid-state assembly have markedly enhanced device performance. This review summarizes developments in chiral organic materials for CP photodetection, focusing on molecular design and supramolecular engineering. It highlights strategies such as chiral non-fullerene acceptors, cooperative supramolecular polymerization, and chiral 2D supramolecular organization in single crystals, which amplify dissymmetry factors and enable high-performance detection across UV to near-infrared regions. Potential applications in spin-encoded communication, biological sensing, and quantum computing are discussed. The review aims to deepen understanding and foster interdisciplinary research in this emerging field.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4046-6
The deliberate control of framework dimensionality represents a powerful yet underexplored strategy for tailoring the functionality of homochiral metal-organic frameworks (HMOFs). Herein, we report a logical dimensional evolution from 1D and 2D to 3D HMOFs, achieved by tuning the connectivity of the auxiliary ligand. Employing a planar, three-connected ligand, 2,4,6-tri(pyridin-4-yl)-1,3,5-triazine (Tpt), together with enantiopure tetracarboxylate of cyclohexane diamide linkers ((1R,2R/1S,2S)-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarbonyl bis(azanediyl)diisophthalate) (R,R/S,S-CHCAIP) and Zn2+ salts, a pair of 3D porous HMOFs (P/M-HMOF-5) was successfully constructed. The 3D framework features unique heart-shaped channels and a novel 4-(3,3,3,6)-connected topology. Structural analyses reveal trinuclear Zn3(μ3-O) clusters that, upon activation, generate open metal sites. These Lewis acid sites, synergizing with Lewis basic sites from the framework, confer efficient acid-base bifunctional heterogeneous catalysis for the synthesis of 2,3-dihydroquinazolinones in excellent yields (90%–98%). Furthermore, P/M-HMOF-5 serve as highly sensitive and enantioselective fluorescent sensors for amino acids and α-hydroxy carboxylic acids, with the highest discrimination observed for phenylalanine (KBH(D-Phe)/KBH(L-Phe) = 5.85 for M-HMOF-5). This work demonstrates how rational ligand connectivity steers dimensional evolution, enabling the integration of distinct catalytic and sensing functions within a single chiral platform, thereby providing a blueprint for the design of advanced multifunctional materials.
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.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3801-1
Traditional phase transition gel platforms face significant challenges in achieving time-gated information encryption and decryption. Here, we report a photocleavable gel that enables time-gated information encryption and decryption, enhancing information storage security. The gel is synthesized by copolymerization of hydrophobic ortho-nitrobenzyl acrylate (NA) and acrylamide. Upon ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, hydrophobic NA units partially cleave to yield orange-colored o-nitrosobenzaldehyde (NSBA) molecules and hydrophilic acrylic acid groups, altering local color and hydrophilicity. Information is spatially encoded using a photomask. The written information is encrypted by dissolving NSBA molecules in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Upon aqueous immersion, differential hydrophilicity between irradiated and non-irradiated zones triggers localized phase separation, facilitating decryption. Notably, photolysis kinetics is time-gated, ensuring decryption only within a specific time window in water. This method surpasses traditional gel constraints, offering a novel paradigm for secure information storage.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3876-5
Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding technology is evolving from traditional bulky metal enclosures toward ultrathin, conformable, and flexible films. However, as the thickness of the shielding layer decreases, the electromagnetic wave absorption efficiency significantly deteriorates, leading to a marked decline in overall shielding performance. To overcome this intrinsic 'thickness–performance dilemma', porous structural designs are often employed to enhance multiple internal reflections and absorption. Nevertheless, such strategies typically suffer from uncontrollable thickness, poor spatial uniformity, and low process compatibility. To address these challenges, a joint team from the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology and Seoul National University proposed an embedded MXene-in-metal (EXIM) shielding strategy. By embedding a non-porous MXene layer within a metallic film, a metal–MXene–metal heterolamellar architecture was constructed. Remarkably, this ultrathin structure achieves an EMI shielding effectiveness of ~70 dB at only ~1 μm thickness (up to 80 dB at 1.9 μm), breaking the conventional trade-off between reduced thickness and performance degradation. The superior performance originates from the conductivity contrast between the metal and MXene layers, which forms electromagnetic confinement wells. The localized electromagnetic waves undergo multiple polarization losses induced by interfacial dipoles, resulting in efficient energy absorption at thin thicknesses. The study further reveals that the EMI shielding performance of EXIM films primarily depends on the number of metal–MXene heterointerfaces rather than the total thickness. Multilayer stacking (e.g., Cu/Ti3C2Tx/Cu) notably enhances absorption efficiency while imparting excellent isotropy and flexibility. Moreover, introducing a Cr–Al dual-metal passivation layer effectively suppresses MXene oxidation, ensuring long-term operational reliability. The EXIM films are compatible with conventional fabrication and packaging techniques, including physical vapor deposition and spray coating, enabling scalable and large-area production. Practical demonstrations in USB 3.0 chips and flexible Schottky diodes confirm their outstanding capability in mitigating Bluetooth interference and blocking electromagnetic noise. This work is pioneering in that it introduces a new shielding mechanism based on conductivity contrast-induced electromagnetic confinement, achieves ultrahigh shielding effectiveness and mechanical flexibility within an ultrathin (<2 μm) structure, and elucidates a dipole-dominated interfacial polarization loss mechanism that provides theoretical insights into the design of 2D-material-based heterostructured shielding systems. Moreover, it opens up a new path for EMI shielding to shift from 'thick structure reflection' to 'heterogeneous interface confined absorption', providing a novel solution for realizing free-form, interference-free intelligent electronic packaging.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025120801
The interaction between microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter (PSDOM) and iron oxides in soil environments can modulate its photosensitization effects, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. This study investigated the influence of hematite with distinct morphologies—flake-shaped (HNPs) and cubic (HNCs)—on the photosensitization of polystyrene-derived dissolved organic matter (PSDOM). Under 500 W mercury lamp irradiation, both hematite morphologies promoted PSDOM degradation, with HNCs exhibiting superior performance: total organic carbon (TOC) decreased from 18.4 mg·L−1 to 12.3 mg·L−1 within 90 min, compared to 13.3 mg·L−1 for HNPs. Three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy indicated that hematite alters the humification process, thereby modifying photosensitization. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy identified the generation of singlet oxygen (1O2), hydroxyl radicals (·OH), and carbon-centered radicals (CH3C(=O)OO·). HNCs significantly enhanced 1O2 production, while HNPs favored ·OH generation; both inhibited CH3C(=O)OO· formation. Quantitative analysis via high-performance liquid chromatography revealed that the steady-state concentration of 1O2 was highest with HNCs, reaching 2.80 times that of the PSDOM control, whereas ·OH concentration peaked with HNPs at 1.98 times the control. Notably, the steady-state concentration of 1O2 was approximately three orders of magnitude higher than that of ·OH. These findings elucidate the morphology-dependent role of hematite in PSDOM photosensitization, providing mechanistic insights into the environmental fate of microplastic-derived organic matter in complex soil systems.
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.
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.202606011
Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) contamination in chromite ore processing residue (COPR) and associated soils poses a persistent environmental challenge. This study developed a dispersedly stabilized iron-sulfur-based slurry (DSS-ISB) modified with an inorganic dispersant to enhance nanoparticle suspension stability and interfacial reactivity. The slurry, with a particle size of approximately 200 nm, efficiently reduced and immobilized Cr(VI) without pH adjustment. Under optimal conditions (liquid-to-solid ratio of 5 mL:10 g, DSS-ISB dosage of 1.8 mg/g, reaction time of 20 h), the removal efficiency exceeded 97%, reducing the leaching concentration from 15.03 mg/L to 0.03 mg/L, well below the GB 5085.3—2007 limit of 5 mg/L. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyses revealed a synergistic mechanism of chemical reduction (Fe2+/S2- as dual electron donors) and surface adsorption, converting toxic Cr(VI) to stable Cr(III). Compared with traditional reductants ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) and sodium sulfide (Na2S), DSS-ISB increased removal efficiency by 28.24% and 6.23%, respectively, and unit mass removal capacity by 92.43% and 77.08%. The reagent cost per ton of COPR was reduced to RMB 36.40, achieving savings of 33.82% and 26.02% versus FeSO4 (RMB 55.00) and Na2S (RMB 49.20). The process eliminates pH adjustment and subsequent passivation, simplifying remediation. DSS-ISB offers an economical and green solution for Cr(VI) remediation in both industrial residues and contaminated soils.
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.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202606018
Swine wastewater, a high-strength organic effluent, offers a viable substrate for anaerobic biohydrogen production, aligning with clean energy recovery. This study compared hydrogen production in three anaerobic sequencing batch reactors (ASBRs) treating: raw wastewater (R1), supernatant after MAP (magnesium ammonium phosphate) precipitation for nitrogen and phosphorus recovery (R2), and the same supernatant with anaerobic sludge heat-treated at 75°C for 0.5 h (R3). Without pH adjustment, hydrogen production in R1 remained below 0.50 mmol/(kg·d). At an influent COD of 1800 mg/L, R2 and R3 achieved hydrogen production rates of 48.17 and 71.44 mmol/(kg·d), respectively. At COD 2400 mg/L, methane concentrations in R1, R2, and R3 were 10.8%, 14.2%, and 9.1%, respectively, indicating MAP pretreatment enhanced both hydrogen and methane production. As COD increased, R1's methane concentration rose to 14.6%, while average COD removal efficiencies for R1, R2, and R3 were 78.9%, 70.8%, and 52.5%, respectively. Under pH adjustment, all reactors peaked at pH 4.0, with hydrogen production rates of 0.10, 7.74, and 8.83 mol/(kg·d) for R1, R2, and R3, respectively. These findings demonstrate that MAP pretreatment combined with sludge heat treatment significantly enhances biohydrogen production, offering a promising strategy for swine wastewater valorization.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3858-8
High-quality β-Ga2O3 membranes are pivotal for fabricating high-performance memristive devices. Here, vertical Ag/β-Ga2O3/Pt memristors built on high-crystalline-quality β-Ga2O3 membranes via lattice epitaxy engineering and a sacrificial-layer-assisted exfoliation strategy are reported. The resulting β-Ga2O3-based device demonstrates a high ON/OFF ratio exceeding 10^8, low SET/RESET voltages of 0.13 V/−0.11 V, low programming current of 10^-10 A, stable data retention beyond 4 × 10^4 s, and excellent subthreshold characteristics of ~0.47 mV/dec. Adjustable compliance current enables the coexistence of volatile and non-volatile switching modes. Additionally, the resistive switching versatility is predominantly governed by the migration of Ag ions, as supported by electrical characterizations and first-principles calculations. Furthermore, a β-Ga2O3 memristor-based circuit that functions as a reconfigurable and non-volatile exclusive OR (XOR) logic gate has been designed and simulated, enabling both image encryption/decryption and edge detection. This work not only demonstrates lattice-engineered, high-quality β-Ga2O3 membranes for fabricating advanced memristors but also extends their applicability to digital logic and reconfigurable image processing.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3893-y
Perovskite photolithography, an emerging research frontier, combines the unique properties of perovskite materials with lithographic processes for advanced optoelectronic applications. Currently, bottom-up photolithography is preferred due to perovskites’ intrinsic characteristics, while top-down photolithography offers better compatibility with mature semiconductor manufacturing workflows. In this study, we innovatively propose an integrated technology that merges top-down photolithography with in situ phase-transition strategy. Utilizing non-emissive Cs4PbBr6 perovskite single crystals (SCs) as both structural templates and reaction sources, we achieve spatially selective patterning by precise wet and dry etching, followed by inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-induced Cs4PbBr6 to CsPbBr3 phase transition. This process facilitates the direct fabrication of highly emissive CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 microstructure patterns inside Cs4PbBr6 SCs. Such a synergistic approach simplifies perovskite photolithography procedures and enables rapid, large-scale manufacturability. Furthermore, its integration with machine learning optimization algorithms showcases promising application potential in intelligent anti-counterfeiting. This novel approach, integrating perovskite SCs homologous substrate with customized photolithography, provides a new strategy for fabricating high-performance perovskite optoelectronic devices and is expected to promote technological advancement.
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.202505106
Open-pit coal mining causes severe soil nutrient depletion, limiting vegetation restoration. This study, conducted in the Baiyinhua No.2 mining area (Inner Mongolia), evaluated the effects of different fertilization strategies on soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability and microbial community responses. A field experiment was established in May 2023 with five treatments: low (L), medium (M), and high (H) phosphorus inorganic fertilizers, green manure (GM), and a microbial fertilizer (MF) containing nitrogen-fixing and rhizobia bacteria, compared to a control (CK). Results showed that MF significantly increased total carbon (TC) from 8.47 to 10.17 g·kg⁻¹ and total nitrogen (TN) from 0.37 to 0.56 g·kg⁻¹, while H significantly increased available phosphorus (AP) from 9.78 to 26.28 mg·kg⁻¹. Both treatments significantly altered fungal community structure, with increased relative abundances of Gibberella and Alternaria. The study concludes that MF and H improve soil nutrient availability by modulating fungal communities, with MF offering a sustainable biological approach for mine reclamation. These findings provide targeted fertilization strategies for restoring degraded mining soils and advancing green mining practices.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202505108
Open-pit mining in high-cold regions causes severe ecological degradation, including vegetation loss, soil structure destruction, and frequent freeze-thaw disturbances, complicating ecosystem recovery. This review systematically synthesizes the current status, theories, and key restoration technologies for degraded ecosystems in high-cold mining areas. Comparative analysis with typical high-cold degraded ecosystems worldwide reveals that high-cold mining areas face challenges such as frequent freeze-thaw cycles, hydrological disruption, wind erosion, and difficult vegetation establishment. We propose strengthening aboveground-belowground synergistic restoration: (1) aboveground restoration should focus on screening cold-resistant native plants and optimizing mixed community configurations, combined with plant growth-promoting multi-microbial consortia to facilitate vegetation recovery; (2) belowground restoration should be based on engineering soil profile reconstruction, integrating physical-chemical-biological multi-dimensional remediation techniques to achieve aboveground and belowground community reconstruction and functional recovery; (3) a progressive restoration framework is established, with short-term goals targeting soil stabilization and structure improvement, medium-term goals focusing on constructing multifunctional plant-soil communities, and long-term goals achieving self-sustaining, maintenance-free restored ecosystems. Finally, addressing the unclear mechanisms of aboveground-belowground synergistic interactions and insufficient environmental adaptability of restoration technologies, two prospects are proposed: (1) deepening research on aboveground-belowground synergistic mechanisms to reveal interactions between cold-tolerant microorganisms and plants; (2) advancing the development of characteristic restoration technologies adapted to high-cold environments.
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.
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.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025040401
Conventional zero-valent iron (ZVI) suffers from limited electron transfer due to its dense surface oxide layer. This study introduces a mechanochemical ball-milling strategy incorporating sodium chloride (NaCl) with ZVI to fabricate chloride-modified ZVI (Cl-ZVIbm). Using hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) as a model pollutant, Cl-ZVIbm exhibited a 76.5-fold enhancement in removal kinetics (0.0306 min−1 vs. 0.0004 min−1) compared to ball-milled ZVI (ZVIbm), achieving complete removal of 2 mg·L−1 Cr(VI) within 120 min. Spectroscopic characterization and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed dual regulation mechanisms: (1) Cl− substitution of surface hydroxyl groups alters coordination environments, enabling Cr(VI) adsorption via a bidentate binuclear configuration with adsorption energy reduced from –0.28 eV to –1.64 eV; (2) The strong electron-withdrawing effect of Cl− drives directional electron migration from the iron core to the surface, increasing surface Fe(II) content by 26.9% (67.5% vs. 53.2%) and facilitating direct electron transfer to reduce 99.5% of Cr(VI) into low-toxicity Cr(III). Notably, chloride leaching during reactions was only 0.0126 mmol·L−1, far below industrial wastewater discharge standards, confirming environmental compatibility. This work provides atomic-scale insights into chloride-mediated electronic modulation on ZVI surfaces, offering novel principles for interfacial engineering of environmental functional materials and a theoretical basis for heavy metal remediation technologies.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025040104
The oxidative transformation of 2,6-dichlorophenol (2,6-DCP) was investigated in three typical zonal soils: black soil, red soil, and brown soil. Results demonstrated that 2,6-DCP underwent oxidative coupling in all soils, yielding hydroxylated polychlorinated diphenyl ethers (OH-PCDEs) and hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs) as primary products. The highest oxidative efficiency occurred in black soil, with approximately 85.1% of 2,6-DCP transformed within three days. In contrast, red and brown soils exhibited lower efficiencies, indicating a strong dependence on soil properties. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the oxidative coupling reaction is endothermic, with elevated temperatures favoring reaction progress. Furthermore, soil microorganisms and dissolved oxygen were identified as critical controlling factors, acting synergistically to drive the reaction. This study provides the first evidence of natural oxidative coupling of 2,6-DCP in soil, forming OH-PCDEs and OH-PCBs. These findings offer significant scientific insight into the environmental fate of halogenated phenolic pollutants in terrestrial systems.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202607009
Resource utilization of food waste is a key measure for implementing waste classification and constructing zero-waste cities in China. However, the technical route based on anaerobic digestion currently faces developmental bottlenecks. In this study, engineering-scale facilities located in Northeast, North, Northwest, and Southeast China were selected, and material flow analysis was employed to comprehensively assess the current status of anaerobic digestion of food waste. The results indicated that, during the pretreatment stage, both leachate and organic slurry from all surveyed regions exhibited high COD/TN ratios, and the leachate contained high concentrations of lipids. Following three-phase (oil-water-solid) separation, the oil recovery rate could reach over 98%. Anaerobic digestion of each ton of food waste from the four regions generated approximately 70 to 80 Nm³ of biogas, while simultaneously producing liquid digestate accounting for 69% to 80% of the total mass and solid digestate accounting for 2.7% to 3.6%. However, the annual continuous production of digestate was not aligned with the seasonal demand for land use, thereby restricting the pathway for resource utilization. Converting food waste into an external carbon source can significantly enhance its resource utilization efficiency, with the economic benefits increasing by more than 203% compared to the methanogenesis pathway. The selection of the carbon source production technology route should be comprehensively determined by taking into account factors such as the specific nitrogen removal requirements of the target wastewater treatment process, the quality requirements for the carbon source products, and the substitution rate of commercial carbon sources.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202607020
Kitchen waste (KW) and excess sludge (ES) are urban biowastes with resource recovery potential, commonly treated via anaerobic digestion (AD) for methane production. However, KW mono-digestion suffers from acidification, while ES yields low methane. This study employed semi-continuous reactors to simulate practical AD, co-digesting KW and ES at a 4:1 volatile solids ratio with biochar addition (0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 g/L). The optimal biochar dosage was 2.5 g/L, achieving cumulative biogas and methane volumes of 17.53 L and 11.63 L, respectively, representing 42.10% and 39.47% increases over the biochar-free control, and 34.45% and 43.30% enhancements relative to thermally hydrolyzed sludge. The methanogenic lag phase decreased from (5.65±0.11) d to (4.33±0.12) d. Process stability improved, with average volatile fatty acids (VFAs) during stable operation dropping from 1708 mg/L to 1033 mg/L. Microbial analysis revealed enhanced diversity and enrichment of Synergistetes and Syntrophomonas, indicating direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) promotion. Biochar at low concentrations enhances AD by immobilizing microbes and facilitating electron transfer, while high concentrations (10 g/L) may inhibit methanogenesis due to fatty acid degradation blockage, yet total methane production remained above control. These findings demonstrate that biochar addition at 2.5 g/L effectively enhances methane production and process stability in KW-ES co-digestion.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3965-5
Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) have emerged as a promising material platform for soft robotics, effectively integrating programmable molecular orientation with the inherent flexibility of elastomers. This unique combination enables significant, reversible deformations responding to external stimuli, including heat, light, electric, and magnetic fields. Due to these characteristics, LCEs serve as an ideal material system for bridging biological principles with engineered soft robotic applications, enabling the development of adaptive and multifunctional systems with enhanced biomimetic capabilities. However, the mechanisms of bioinspired motion and the effective integration of biomimetic functions in LCE-based robots remain insufficiently explored. This review systematically examines recent advances in LCE-based biomimetic soft robots, focusing on multimodal actuation strategies, including contraction, crawling, rolling, jumping, swimming, and plant-inspired motions. It highlights integrated functional enhancements achieved via innovative material compositions, structural designs, and advanced manufacturing techniques. These developments have enabled novel robotic functionalities, including programmable actuation, self-healing and recycling, color morphing and camouflage, and tunable bioinspired surface characteristics.
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.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4107-x
Aqueous fiber zinc-iodine batteries (FZIBs) with four-electron redox exhibit inherent safety and high energy density for wearable electronics. Nevertheless, their practical implementations are hindered by unsatisfactory cycling stability and low realistic energy density, mainly caused by severe H2O-induced nucleophilic attack toward iodine species and poor zinc anode reversibility. Here, we report a quaternary ammonium-mediated coordination strategy to simultaneously address the irreversible cathode/anode redox behavior and thus promote the electrochemical performance of four-electron FZIBs. The cationic choline ion (Ch+) induces complexation with ICl2− via electrostatic interaction, homogenizing the electron cloud density and suppressing irreversible hydrolysis of I+ species, enabling a reversible near-theoretical high capacity of 418.3 mAh g−1. Meanwhile, preferentially adsorbed Ch+ on the zinc anode surface creates positively charged shielding layers, mitigating the tip effect caused by localized electric field and achieving robust zinc stripping/plating. The enhanced cathode/anode reversibility and improved interfacial stability enable stable FZIBs operation for over 20,000 cycles at 20.0 A g−1. Moreover, successful integration of FZIBs into electronic textiles with glucose and cardiac rhythm sensors demonstrates great potential for next-generation wearable electronics.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202512064
With increasingly stringent discharge standards for fluoride-containing wastewater, there is an urgent need for cost-effective, easily operable adsorbents capable of rapid adsorption and separation for deep defluorination. In this study, a novel adsorbent, Ce-FMSY, was successfully prepared by co-precipitation of cerium (Ce) and Fe3O4 onto Y-type molecular sieve (MSY). The effects of Ce/Fe mass ratio, adsorption time, initial solution pH, and coexisting anions on adsorption performance were systematically investigated. Results showed that at a Ce loading of 1.0% and Ce/Fe mass ratio of 2:1, Ce-FMSY rapidly adsorbed 86.2% of F− within 30 min, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 4.139 mg·g−1. The saturated magnetization of Ce-FMSY was 13.4 emu·g−1, enabling rapid solid-liquid separation. The adsorbent maintained a stable fluoride removal rate of 77.1%–96.8% over an initial pH range of 3–9. Adsorption kinetics and isotherm fitting indicated that F− adsorption onto Ce-FMSY followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Freundlich model, suggesting chemisorption as the dominant mechanism, involving rapid diffusion, surface complexation, and valence transformation reactions. After five adsorption-desorption cycles, the adsorption capacity slightly decreased and then stabilized, with F− removal efficiency maintained at approximately 72.3% of the initial value. This study provides data support and theoretical reference for deep fluoride removal from wastewater.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202510042
Given China's escalating municipal solid waste (MSW) generation and the limitations of current classification schemes, this study proposes a novel waste classification model centered on mid-end intelligent sorting technology. The approach integrates targeted pretreatment with multimodal visual recognition and robotic grasping to efficiently sort complex household waste, while compact equipment innovations adapt to the low-value characteristics of recyclables. An engineering demonstration case shows that the technology can effectively recover low-value recyclables comprising 15%–30% of mixed MSW. If applied at 5% of a case city's waste transfer stations, approximately 5×10^4 t of recyclables could be sorted annually. Preliminary estimates indicate a 20% return on investment for operators at an 80 t·d−1 scale. The study demonstrates that mid-end intelligent sorting offers a technically feasible and economically sustainable solution to reduce fiscal expenditure on waste classification while improving efficiency.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202512014
Mining activities cause severe soil degradation and microbial diversity loss, impeding ecological restoration. This study evaluated the effects of a novel soil amendment, microporous bio-gravel (MBG), on bacterial and fungal community structure and function in degraded soil from the Baiyinhua open-pit mine, Inner Mongolia. A pot experiment with four MBG-to-soil volume ratios (CK, L=1:3, M=1:2, H=1:1) was conducted, with a simplified plant community and uniform fertilization. After 180 days, soil samples were analyzed via high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics. Results showed that the medium ratio (M) significantly increased fungal Shannon index and evenness, while the high ratio (H) negatively affected bacterial communities. At phylum and genus levels, MBG promoted enrichment of Cyanobacteria and specific functional groups (e.g., nitrogen-fixing bacteria, Bacillus). Co-occurrence network analysis revealed peak complexity, modularity, and average degree in bacterial and fungal networks under the M treatment. Functional prediction indicated significant enrichment of pathways related to lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, nitrotoluene degradation, and plant-pathogen interactions, alongside increased abundance of saprotrophic and ectomycorrhizal fungi. Mantel and VPA analyses showed that MBG indirectly regulated microbial community structure by improving soil physicochemical properties and plant traits, with stronger effects on fungi than bacteria. In conclusion, MBG optimizes the soil microhabitat and plant-soil-microbe interactions, modulating microbial diversity, network complexity, and functional potential. The medium ratio (1:2) was most effective, demonstrating potential for ecological restoration of degraded mine soils.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025041804
Ethylene diamine tetra (methylene phosphonic acid) sodium (EDTMPS), an organic phosphonate scale and corrosion inhibitor, is widely used in industrial recirculating cooling water systems. Its efficient degradation in blowdown water is critical for water reuse. This study employed a plate-frame electrochemical advanced oxidation (EAOP) system with a boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode to degrade EDTMPS. The effects of operating conditions (temperature, voltage, liquid flow rate) and water quality parameters (pH, electrolyte concentration, chloride ion concentration) were systematically investigated. Optimal degradation efficiency of 99.48% was achieved at 50 °C, 300 mL·min−1, 7.0 V, pH 10, and 0.05 mol·L−1 Na2SO4. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) characterization of chloride-containing systems indicated that reactive species included hydroxyl radicals, sulfate radicals, and possibly chlorine radicals. In a coexisting system with benzotriazole (BTA), EAOPs degraded EDTMPS and BTA with comparable efficiencies. The results demonstrate that BDD-based EAOPs is effective for removing organic phosphonates from low-chloride, low-hardness cooling water, offering a promising approach for blowdown water treatment and reuse.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025041505
To combat severe air pollution, China has implemented a series of air pollution control action plans since 2013, effectively alleviating PM2.5 pollution. However, PM2.5 concentrations in most cities within the Fenwei Plain still exceed national standards. This study systematically evaluates PM2.5 concentration changes across two policy phases (2013–2020) using the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model, quantifying contributions of meteorology and emissions, and analyzing sectoral source changes. Results show that annual average PM2.5 concentration declined cumulatively by 19% during 2013–2020. In the first phase (2013–2017), regional PM2.5 decreased by 3% annually, with most improvement in winter; however, due to unfavorable meteorology, concentrations increased in Xi'an and Xianyang. In the second phase (2017–2020), PM2.5 declined by an additional 16%, with more effective control measures, particularly in spring and autumn. Emission reductions dominated in both phases, with stronger effects in the second phase (−8 μg·m−3), significantly outweighing adverse meteorological contributions (+3.5 μg·m−3). Nevertheless, many cities still face challenges from unfavorable meteorology, highlighting the need for future policies to account for meteorological influences. Emissions from industrial, energy, and agricultural sources decreased significantly across both phases. However, during winter heating periods, residential emissions emerged as a source equal in importance to industrial emissions, becoming a key target for future emission controls.
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/s40843-025-4034-3
The local concentration and configuration of active sites critically influence the selectivity of CO2 electroreduction, yet constructing well-defined structures to probe this relationship remains challenging. Here, we report a molten salt-assisted strategy to synthesize Ce-Ov-Cu cascade catalysts with tunable configurations and relative concentrations of Cu and Ce-Ov sites. Two distinct geometries were engineered: one with dense Cu sites surrounding Ce-Ov (Cu10CeOx) and another with isolated Cu centers encapsulated by Ce-Ov (CuCe10Ox). These configurations direct key intermediates (*CHO or *COH) toward either C-C coupling or deep hydrogenation, thereby switching product selectivity. CuCe10Ox achieves a CH4 Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 61.7% at -1.6 V vs. RHE, whereas Cu10CeOx favors C2 production with a maximum FE of 61.5% at -1.4 V vs. RHE. Mechanistic studies reveal that locally concentrated Cu sites exhibit strong *CO2 binding affinity, enhancing *CO surface coverage and facilitating *CO-*COH coupling. In contrast, Ce-Ov-rich regions with isolated copper centers supply abundant *H, promoting deep protonation of *CHO toward CH4. This work provides insights into catalyst design, demonstrating that manipulating structural chemistry can guide CO2RR toward targeted products.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4035-5
Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) to formate offers a promising pathway for storing renewable electricity in chemical fuels and enabling carbon recycling. The development of efficient and stable catalysts for this specific pathway, however, remains a central challenge. Heteroatom doping can significantly tune the interaction between active sites and key intermediates, boosting catalytic performance. Conventional doping in Bi-based catalysts often relies on uncontrollable in-situ electrochemical processes, leading to ineffective bulk incorporation. Here, we present a simple pre-doping strategy that enables precise doping at surface active sites, thereby enhancing electrochemical performance. The resulting catalyst achieves >95% Faradaic efficiency for formate across 100–500 mA cm−2 in a flow cell and maintains >95% efficiency for over 70 h at 100 mA cm−2 in a membrane electrode assembly, outperforming pure Bi and Bi2S3. A solar-driven system further demonstrates a 4.4% solar-to-formate conversion efficiency. Mechanistic studies reveal that sulfur doping increases electron density, stabilizes the key *OCHO intermediate, and suppresses hydrogen evolution. These findings provide valuable insights into the precise pre-doping modulation of surface active sites for designing highly efficient and stable CO2RR catalysts.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4032-x
This study introduces a dual-compatibility third component as an interfacial modifier to precisely regulate the active layer morphology of bulk heterojunction organic solar cells (BHJ-OSCs). This approach successfully suppresses excessive phase separation, significantly enhancing the performance of thick-film devices. The interface-styling strategy enhances donor–acceptor interactions, optimizes vertical phase separation morphology, extends exciton diffusion length, improves exciton dissociation efficiency, facilitates efficient charge transport, and effectively suppresses trap-assisted recombination. The ternary device based on PM6:PCN3:PY-IT achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.41%, which was much higher than that of the PM6:PY-IT binary system (18.67%). The device maintains excellent performance at an active layer thickness of 200 nm, achieving a high PCE of 18.25%. This study demonstrates the significance of using dually compatible molecules for interface modification in all-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs), providing theoretical guidance for the fabrication of high-performance thick-film devices.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4057-4
The escalating use of ionizing radiation in medical and industrial applications necessitates lead-free, flexible, and sustainable shielding materials. Current development relies on empirical trial-and-error, which is inefficient. This study introduces a machine learning-assisted Monte Carlo simulation strategy for rapid optimization of metal filler compositions for X-ray attenuation across 40–120 kV. Guided by this AI-driven approach, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based gels containing uniformly dispersed Bi/W/Gd2O3 nanoparticles were developed, forming within 1 minute at -20°C using a PVA-DMSO/H2O co-solvent system. The optimized gel with 50 wt% metal loading exhibits exceptional mechanical properties: tensile strength of 1.76 MPa, toughness of 6.3 MJ m−3, and elongation of 600%. It achieves >98% X-ray shielding efficiency at 5 mm thickness, outperforming lead composites at 120 kV. The physically cross-linked network provides recyclability and anti-freezing capability, retaining flexibility at -50°C. This work establishes a data-driven paradigm for designing high-performance radiation-shielding materials, demonstrating AI's potential to accelerate materials discovery and enable scalable fabrication of eco-friendly protective systems.
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/s40843-025-4051-x
Graphite lubricants are critical for high-quality and high-efficiency drawing of refractory metal wires, yet inadequate dispersion stability frequently challenges their practical application. Inspired by the bio-surfactant synergic mechanism that combines different bio-surfactants to collectively reduce surface energy and friction, a binary anionic surfactant system comprising sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) and sodium lignosulfonate (SL) was engineered to enhance dispersion and stability via a synergistic effect. The synergistic parameter β was calculated to be −2.34, indicating strong synergism. The resulting graphite lubricants maintained homogeneous dispersion for up to 60 days. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed that the synergistic effects originate from steric hindrance, electrostatic repulsion, π-π stacking, and hydrogen bonding. These hierarchical secondary interactions collectively increased the interfacial formation energy at the graphite/surfactant/water tri-phase interface, thereby effectively wetting particle powders and enhancing stability. During metal wire drawing, the graphite lubricants reduced the friction coefficient between the die and metal wires to 0.06, ultimately enabling drawn tungsten wires with superior surface integrity, expanded loop diameter, and enhanced tensile strength relative to single-surfactant benchmarks. This study provides experimental and theoretical guidance to design effective graphite lubricants for high-quality drawn metal wires.
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•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4081-y
The evolution of precision medicine has propelled multimodal imaging-guided phototheranostics to the forefront for precise tumor diagnosis and therapy. Low-temperature photothermal therapy (PTT) offers a promising approach for the treatment of melanoma due to its non-invasiveness and minimal damage to normal tissues. However, its efficacy is limited by cancer cell thermal tolerance. To address this, a new type of multifunctional energy disruptor (CAMeO-Q NPs) is developed featuring homologous targeting and mitochondria targeting, and synergistically enhancing low-temperature PTT in melanoma by reversing heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90)-mediated thermal tolerance and blocking mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) biosynthesis. The multifunctional energy disruptor enables precise trimodal imaging (fluorescence imaging/FLI, photoacoustic imaging/PAI, and photothermal imaging/PTI) guidance for low-temperature PTT. Comprising a mitochondria-targeting photothermal agent and an Hsp90 inhibitor, CAMeO-Q NPs induce selective mitochondrial damage under 660 nm laser irradiation and downregulate cellular HSP expression by ATP inhibition and Hsp90 inhibitor. This multifunctional energy disruptor provides a novel strategy for enhancing multimodal imaging-guided low-temperature photothermal therapy through combined homologous targeting, mitochondria-targeting, and Hsp90 inhibition.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60668-8
A series of Co-based molecular sieve catalysts with varying Si/Al ratios was synthesized via impregnation. Microstructural properties of Co active sites were characterized by XRD, TEM, Raman, H2-TPR, Py-FTIR, and XPS. Results indicate that surface Co species predominantly exist as CoOx nanoclusters and isolated Co2+, with the latter exhibiting superior N2O decomposition activity. Decreasing the Si/Al ratio of the MFI zeolite promotes the formation of isolated Co2+ active sites, thereby enhancing catalytic performance. Compared to Co/S-1 (pure silica support), the Co/HZ60 catalyst (low Si/Al ratio ZSM-5) lowers the temperature for complete N2O decomposition by 80 °C and demonstrates excellent resistance to O2 and NO. The strong interaction between the zeolite framework and Co2+ inhibits oxidation to Co3+, improving N2O adsorption and activation. This work provides a rational design strategy for efficient and stable Co-based catalysts for N2O abatement in industrial tail gases.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4048-x
Selective oxidation of aromatic alkanes is a key reaction to produce high-value chemicals in the chemical industry. However, the strong C–H bonds and inert chemical properties of aromatic alkanes render the oxidation process difficult, thereby making the development of promising and sustainable catalysts highly desirable. Herein, a resin-assisted coordination co-assembly strategy is developed to synthesize heterometal-doped mesoporous Co3O4 with abundant oxygen vacancies, enabling precise control over both composition and pore structure. The site-specific Mn doping at octahedral sites of mesoporous Co3O4 promotes the formation of oxygen vacancy with enhanced activity. Density functional theory calculations further demonstrate that Mn doping in mesoporous Co3O4 reduces the oxygen vacancy formation energy, induces the electronic structure modifications and introduces the defect energy levels, finally promoting the efficient catalytic oxidation of a series of aromatic alkanes. Representatively, Mn-doped mesoporous Co3O4 exhibits remarkably outstanding catalytic activity, achieving 37% conversion of ethylbenzene and 97% selectivity for acetophenone under solvent-free conditions.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4096-7
Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanomaterials exhibit exceptional properties but suffer from severe aggregation due to undesirable surface characteristics, limiting their application in polymer nanocomposites. Existing covalent functionalization methods often compromise between time efficiency, energy consumption, and structural integrity. This study presents a rapid, room-temperature catalytic grafting strategy using tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (B(C6F5)3) to functionalize h-BN nanoflakes bearing edge hydroxyl groups. The reaction between B–OH groups and activated Si–H bonds of hydrosilanes proceeds under mild conditions, preserving the structural integrity of h-BN. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm the catalytic feasibility and elucidate two possible reaction pathways: backside-attack and flank-attack mechanisms. The modified h-BN exhibits significantly improved dispersibility in low-polarity solvents and tunable surface properties. This efficient method offers a versatile platform for h-BN surface engineering, facilitating broader practical applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4062-2
Metalloimmunology, an emerging interdisciplinary field, is reshaping our understanding of the immune system at an unprecedented pace. This review systematically elaborates on the core roles of metal ions as critical signaling molecules and metabolic regulators in both innate and adaptive immunity. Special focus is placed on the molecular mechanisms by which metal ions modulate key immune signaling pathways, as well as their mediation of novel immunogenic cell death modalities including ferroptosis, cuproptosis, and pyroptosis. Furthermore, we comprehensively review innovative metal ion-based therapeutic strategies, encompassing metal nanoadjuvants, metal-organic frameworks and nanozymes, along with their cutting-edge applications in cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, and tissue repair. Finally, this review delves into the challenges faced by this field in targeted delivery, biosafety, and clinical translation, and provides an outlook on its future development directions with particular emphasis on the immense potential of precisely regulating metal homeostasis for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4040-0
High-performance organic second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals face a persistent challenge: molecular designs that enhance hyperpolarizability often crystallize into centrosymmetric or nonpolar arrangements, suppressing bulk second-order response, while simultaneously reducing optical bandgaps, enforcing a trade-off between nonlinearity and transparency. We report a chirality-driven polar lattice engineering strategy that couples molecular asymmetry with directional intermolecular interactions to promote polar ordering. A binaphthyl-based chromophore (S-3) crystallizes in the polar space group P2₁, exhibiting strong second-harmonic generation (~3.53 × KDP), wide transparency (3.91 eV), phase-matchable birefringence (Δn = 0.15), high laser damage threshold (742.6 MW cm⁻²), and thermal stability up to 210 °C. Theoretical calculations reveal a 69% enhancement in first-order hyperpolarizability (β_tot) relative to the unfunctionalized derivative, with a net intramolecular electron transfer of 0.16 e⁻ from the chiral scaffold to the benzoate acceptor. Crucially, enantiomeric crystals exhibit identical NLO responses, confirming that bulk nonlinearity is governed by engineered lattice polarity, not molecular handedness. This work establishes chirality as an active tool for crystal engineering and provides a general design paradigm for high-performance organic NLO materials.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4164-3
Lithium metal anodes (LMAs) are pivotal for next-generation high-energy batteries, yet their commercialization is hindered by dendrite growth and unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Here, we report a dual-layered artificial SEI (ASEI) comprising an inner LiF-rich inorganic layer and an outer perfluoropolyether (PFOE) organic layer, fabricated via a scalable roll-pressing technique. The LiF-rich layer lowers Li-ion diffusion barriers and provides mechanical robustness, while the PFOE layer chemically stabilizes the interface against electrolyte oxidation. Symmetric cells with PFOE-LiF@Li anodes achieve over 1400 h of stable cycling at 30 mA cm−2 and 5 mAh cm−2. Full cells paired with LiFePO4 cathodes deliver 350 cycles at 1 C and over 550 cycles at 2 C with high capacity retention and Coulombic efficiency. This work establishes a design principle for interfacial engineering, combining inorganic rigidity with organic functionality, and offers a promising route for practical LMBs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4181-6
Green hydrogen production via electrocatalytic water splitting is pivotal for sustainable energy, yet the high cost and scarcity of platinum (Pt) catalysts impede large-scale adoption. Ruthenium (Ru)-based materials emerge as promising alternatives, but their performance requires enhancement. Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), particularly ReS2, offer intrinsic 1T' phase with good conductivity and stability, yet suffer from inert surfaces limiting water adsorption. Here, we report a heterostructure comprising Ru nanoclusters anchored on ReS2 nanosheets (Ru/ReS2) to modulate electronic structure via d-p coupling. This design enhances water dissociation kinetics and optimizes hydrogen adsorption free energy (ΔG_H*). The Ru/ReS2 catalyst exhibits superior hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity in acidic media, achieving an overpotential of 47 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 38 mV dec−1, outperforming commercial Pt/C (overpotential 54 mV, Tafel slope 45 mV dec−1). Notably, it demonstrates exceptional stability, with negligible degradation after 10,000 cyclic voltammetry cycles, contrasting with Pt/C's 54 mV overpotential increase. Density functional theory calculations reveal that d-p coupling between Ru and ReS2 optimizes the electronic structure, facilitating water adsorption and dissociation. This work provides a rational strategy for designing efficient, durable, and cost-effective HER electrocatalysts for green hydrogen production.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3631-1
Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) offers cost and dynamic-response advantages over proton exchange membrane systems, yet commercial deployment is constrained by the alkaline stability of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) and the sluggish kinetics of non-precious metal catalysts. This work reports a series of poly(terphenyl-diphenylmethane piperidinium) (QPDPMTP) membranes synthesized with varied diphenylmethane (DPM) content. The alkyl chain of DPM induces pronounced microphase separation and elevates free volume fraction, yielding an OH− conductivity of 152 mS cm−1 at 80 °C for QPDPMTP-10. After 1032 h immersion in 6 M NaOH at 80 °C, the membrane retains 90.7% of its initial conductivity. An AEMWE cell integrating QPDPMTP-10 with a non-precious NiFeCo LDH/NiS/NF anode achieves 3.11 A cm−2 at 2 V in 1 M KOH at 80 °C and sustains 1 A cm−2 for 1800 h under gradient KOH concentration. These results establish a viable pathway for durable, low-cost AEMWE systems.