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.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.3724/2097-213X.2025.JFCT.0021
Red mud, an industrial solid waste from alumina production, poses severe environmental challenges. This study presents a resource-efficient strategy to convert red mud into high-performance microwave absorbing materials. FexOy/TiO2/C composites were synthesized via a sol-gel method using starch as carbon source, followed by carbothermal reduction. The phase composition and microstructure were optimized by adjusting calcination temperature and raw material ratio. The optimal sample, RmCT-5.4-700, exhibited a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of -30.2 dB at 14.0 GHz with an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 5.3 GHz at a coating thickness of 2.0 mm. The superior absorption performance is attributed to the synergistic effects of dielectric components (TiO2, graphitized carbon) and magnetic components (Fe3O4/Fe). Carbothermal reduction introduces defects that induce dipole polarization, while the conductive network formed by graphitized carbon and Fe3O4/Fe particles enhances conductive loss. Heterogeneous interfaces between Fe3O4, Fe, TiO2, and the red mud matrix promote interfacial polarization. The magnetic loss of Fe3O4/Fe improves impedance matching, facilitating electromagnetic wave penetration and absorption. This work not only provides a novel route for red mud valorization but also contributes to the high-value utilization of solid wastes.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202604009
Biological nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is often limited by insufficient influent carbon sources, necessitating external carbon addition to enhance denitrification. Conventional single carbon sources, such as sodium acetate, frequently fail to meet the metabolic demands of complex microbial communities, compromising nitrogen removal efficiency and stability. Composite carbon sources, by providing multiple electron donors, can improve metabolic cooperation among microorganisms, yet their underlying microbial mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. In this study, activated sludge from a municipal WWTP was used to investigate the microbial mechanisms of composite carbon sources during denitrification. Batch denitrification experiments were conducted in combination with metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses to systematically characterize microbial community structure and functional gene expression under different carbon source conditions. Results showed that, compared with sodium acetate as the single carbon source, the composite carbon source system (sodium acetate: sodium succinate: ethanol = 2:1:3) increased the denitrification rate from (6.822 ± 0.141) mg/(L·h) to (8.370 ± 0.186) mg/(L·h), representing a 22.7% improvement, while reducing N2O accumulation by approximately 55%. Metagenomic analysis revealed that Ottowia, Rubrivivax, Thauera, and Zoogloea were the dominant denitrifying genera. Metatranscriptomic results further demonstrated that the composite carbon sources significantly upregulated the transcription of key denitrification genes, with nirS, norB, and nosZ increasing by 37.8%, 27.4%, and 48.6%, respectively. In addition, the composite carbon sources promoted complementary carbon metabolic strategies among different microbial communities, enhancing electron donor supply and improving denitrification efficiency. These findings indicate that composite carbon sources synergistically enhance denitrification performance through regulation of functional gene transcription in complex microbial communities, providing a theoretical basis for carbon source optimization in WWTPs.
New Carbon Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61097-9
Silicon/carbon (Si/C) composites are promising anode materials for high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because they mitigate the severe volume expansion and poor electrical conductivity of pure silicon anodes. This review systematically summarizes the state-of-the-art preparation methods for Si/C composites, including ball milling, spray drying, electrostatic spinning, and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Structural engineering strategies, such as carbon precursor coating, silicon-precursor-based wet chemistry, and silicon surface modification, are critically assessed for their effectiveness in enhancing electrical conductivity, buffering volume changes, and improving overall electrochemical performance. The review highlights that while Si offers a theoretical capacity of 4200 mAh g−1, far exceeding graphite's 372 mAh g−1, its practical application is hindered by capacity fading and low initial coulombic efficiency. The integration of carbon matrices not only provides mechanical flexibility but also facilitates electron transport. Key performance metrics from recent studies, including specific capacities exceeding 1000 mAh g−1 and improved cycling stability over hundreds of cycles, are discussed. The review also addresses the challenges of scalable production and cost-effectiveness, emphasizing the need for optimized precursor selection and processing parameters. Future research directions are proposed, focusing on the rational design of hierarchical structures and the development of novel binders to further enhance the long-term durability of Si/C anodes. This comprehensive overview serves as a valuable resource for researchers and engineers aiming to advance the commercialization of high-energy-density LIBs.
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.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605003
Dark fermentation offers a sustainable route for hydrogen production, yet its yield is often limited by inefficient electron transfer and low microbial metabolic activity. This study engineered a mixed microbial biohybrid system incorporating Fe2O3 nanoparticles to overcome these bottlenecks. At an optimal Fe2O3 concentration of 300 mg/L (S300), the hydrogen yield reached 2.94 mol H2 per mol glucose, equivalent to 73.5% of the theoretical maximum and 1.59 times higher than the control (S0). Mechanistic analyses revealed that Fe2O3 nanoparticles stimulated microbial metabolism, as evidenced by a 4.09-fold increase in ATP content and a 1.30-fold rise in total protein concentration. Hydrogenase and dehydrogenase activities were enhanced by 24.62% and 63.11%, respectively, while electron transfer system activity increased by 3.44-fold, accompanied by a significant reduction in charge transfer resistance. Notably, the gradual release of Fe2+ ions from Fe2O3 reduction by dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria (DIRB) was identified as a key factor in stimulating enzyme activity and electron transfer. Microbial community analysis showed that the relative abundance of Clostridium, a key hydrogen-producing genus, increased by 9.75 percentage points to 42.60% in S300. This study demonstrates that Fe2O3-based biohybrids offer a promising strategy to enhance dark fermentation hydrogen production, providing both performance improvements and mechanistic insights into nanomaterial-microbe synergies.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3792-6
The rapid expansion of home-based digital health monitoring necessitates electrodes capable of simultaneous, accurate acquisition of electrophysiological signals and body temperature. Conventional single-function electrodes, including metal block, gel, and Ag/AgCl types, suffer from limitations such as restricted movement, skin irritation, signal degradation over time, and poor permeability for prolonged use. To overcome these challenges, we developed a low-cost, multifunctional flexible electrode enabling concurrent body temperature and electrophysiological signal monitoring without cross-interference. Body temperature is assessed via visual colorimetric evaluation and precisely measured using a custom smartphone application. The electrode features high air permeability, ultra-thin architecture, superior flexibility, antibacterial properties, and strong skin adhesion, while maintaining low interfacial impedance for stable, long-term acquisition of high-fidelity signals such as electrocardiography (ECG) and surface electromyography (sEMG). Integrated with a Raspberry Pi platform and a hybrid convolutional neural network-long short-term memory (CNN-LSTM) algorithm, the system achieves intelligent arrhythmia detection with 99.30% accuracy. This novel electrode provides a powerful tool for multifunctional sensing of temperature and physiological electrical signals, with significant potential for wearable physiological tracking applications.
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.0254-6108.2025031901
The rapid expansion of the nuclear power industry has increased the demand for effective nuclear wastewater treatment, making the efficient removal of radioactive iodine isotopes (e.g., 131I, 129I) from aqueous environments a critical challenge. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), a class of crystalline porous materials characterized by high specific surface area, tunable pore structures, and exceptional stability, exhibit significant potential for capturing radioactive iodine from water. This review systematically examines the adsorption mechanisms of iodine by COF materials, including electrostatic interactions, charge transfer, hydrogen bonding, and secondary mechanisms such as metal coordination, ion exchange, and van der Waals forces. The effects of COF pore structures on iodine removal efficacy are discussed with a focus on pore size and functional group modifications. Key research trends and prevailing challenges in the application of COFs for aqueous iodine capture are analyzed, including the need for selective adsorption in complex wastewater matrices and the scalability of COF synthesis. The review concludes with a perspective on future research directions, emphasizing the design of novel COFs with tailored pore chemistry and the development of cost-effective, regenerable adsorbents for practical deployment in nuclear wastewater treatment.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3917-x
The escalating global challenge of antibiotic contamination demands advanced sensing technologies for environmental monitoring and public health protection. Here, we present a structurally well-defined, intercalation-engineered metal-organic framework (MOF), HSB-W18, which functions as an ultrasensitive and selective fluorescence sensor for fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis unambiguously determined both the framework architecture and the spatial organization of intercalated 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalate molecules at atomic resolution. Through ultrasound-assisted synthesis, highly stable book-shaped microsheets (HSB-W18-MS) were obtained, maintaining exceptional aqueous dispersibility and luminescence intensity for over one month. These microsheets offer distinct advantages for antibiotic detection: specific recognition of diverse fluoroquinolones via unique fluorescence signatures; highly sensitive ratiometric detection of enoxacin (ENX) with a limit of detection (LOD) of 5.62 nM and rapid response kinetics (<30 s); exceptional selectivity alongside reusability. Systematic mechanistic investigations revealed a synergistic detection process involving multiple photophysical pathways. Furthermore, a smartphone-based portable detection system was successfully implemented, and the practical utility of the sensor was validated by quantifying ENX in complex environmental samples: tap water LOD = 18.32 nM and river water LOD = 29.87 nM. This study contributes to fundamental materials science and environmental monitoring by elucidating discernible structure-property relationships in intercalated MOFs, demonstrating a robust platform for field-deployable antibiotic detection and proposing an innovative design paradigm for environmental optical sensors.
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.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608020
This paper systematically reviews the progress and achievements of China's collaborative innovation pilots for pollution and carbon emission reduction, identifies existing problems, and proposes targeted recommendations. As of the first batch, 64 pilot units (21 cities and 43 industrial parks) have issued implementation plans, with overall smooth progress and notable phased outcomes. Most pilots have actively promoted institutional and mechanism innovations, achieving substantial advancements in key sectors and critical areas, and yielding replicable practices. However, challenges persist, including fragmented interdepartmental collaboration, insufficient alignment of management systems, funding shortages for synergistic projects, and inadequate technological support. Recommendations include intensifying awareness campaigns, establishing coordinated promotion mechanisms, accelerating management system implementation, advancing core technology R&D, conducting progress evaluations, and amplifying publicity. For the second batch, suggestions focus on expansion strategies, pilot types, and selection methods, emphasizing incremental tasks, diverse pilot subjects (from provincial to enterprise levels), and clear articulation of expected outcomes and demonstration targets. The paper underscores the need to transform local experiences into institutionalized frameworks, fostering a four-dimensional synergy of carbon reduction, pollution control, green expansion, and economic growth, thereby contributing to China's ecological civilization and global climate governance.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3969-9
Phosphor-in-glass (PiG) materials are promising color converters for high-power laser illumination, yet suppressing interfacial reactions between phosphor and glass matrix at elevated sintering temperatures remains a critical challenge. Here, we report a Y3Al5O12:Ce3+ (YAG:Ce) phosphor-in-silica glass (PiSG) with high SiO2 content (>85 wt%) fabricated via a Cs2CO3 flux. Incorporation of Cs2O significantly inhibits SiO2-YAG:Ce reactions, preserving internal quantum efficiency (IQE) at 97.7% of pure YAG:Ce, and achieving 88.3% IQE even after calcination at 1400°C for 2 h. In contrast, smaller alkali ions (Li+, Na+) accelerate YAG:Ce decomposition. Mechanistic studies reveal that Cs+ with large ionic radius and weak interaction with oxygen suppresses non-bridging oxygen (NBO) formation, promoting a complete silica network that limits alkali ion diffusion. Leveraging the mixed alkali effect (10% Li2O + 5% Cs2O), the PiSG exhibits enhanced hydrothermal stability, withstanding 200°C treatment for 10 h. A PiG film-sapphire device delivers 3080 lm luminous flux and 213 lm W−1 efficiency under blue laser excitation. These findings establish YAG:Ce-PiSG as a highly promising color-conversion material for high-performance laser illumination.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4145-0
Conductive fibers face a fundamental trade-off between high electrical conductivity and substantial mechanical stretchability, which critically undermines their reliability under extreme or dynamic mechanical conditions. To overcome this challenge, we report a bio-inspired, hierarchically structured conductive fiber engineered by mimicking the parallel-fibril architecture and integrated matrix of skeletal muscle. This fiber is constructed from multiple parallel spandex yarns as the elastic core, a continuous liquid metal (LM) layer as the conductive pathway, and a composite waterborne polyurethane (WPU)/fluoropolymer (FP) sheath as the protective matrix. This unique architecture concurrently delivers exceptional stretchability (>3500%), high electrical conductivity (3.76 × 10^5 S m−1), and outstanding stability against water and mechanical abrasion. Leveraging its excellent conductivity and mechanical compliance, the fiber can be woven into textiles and function as a receiving coil for efficient wireless power transfer. Additionally, a twisted-pair capacitive strain sensor fabricated from this fiber demonstrates a broad, linear response up to 1000% strain. When integrated into garments, the sensor effectively monitors a wide range of physiological activities, from gross joint movements to subtle biological signals, including wrist pulse, vocal vibration, ballistocardiogram, and respiration. This work presents a conductive fiber that integrates high conductivity, ultra-stretchability, waterproofness, and long-term durability, offering a robust material platform and a scalable fabrication strategy for advancing all-weather health-monitoring systems, smart textiles, and next-generation wearable electronics.