SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4249-2
Underwater bubble manipulation is critical for water electrolysis, heat transfer, and mineral flotation, yet existing strategies relying on buoyancy or Laplace gradient forces from asymmetric surface geometries suffer from limited flexibility and narrow applicability. This work introduces a temperature-responsive anisotropic cilia surface (TRAS) that achieves bidirectional long-range bubble transport by modulating elastic modulus and stiffness. The TRAS enables precise control over the asymmetric three-phase contact line and viscous resistance, facilitating reversible bubble motion. Experimental validation using aqueous ethanol droplets with varying surface tensions (73.16 mN/m for 0 vol% to 22.27 mN/m for 100 vol%) on cilia with center-to-center spacings of 0.2–1.0 mm reveals that transport direction depends on both cilia spacing and liquid surface tension. Droplets of 0 vol% and 20 vol% ethanol exhibit sustained reverse transport on hard cilia, while 60 vol%, 80 vol%, and 100 vol% solutions show sustained forward transport. Notably, 40 vol% ethanol droplets display bidirectional transport at 0.6 mm spacing, reverse transport at 0.8 and 1.0 mm, and forward transport at 0.2 and 0.4 mm. These results demonstrate that tuning surface tension and cilia spacing provides a versatile platform for directional bubble manipulation, with promising applications in heat transfer, electrochemistry, and gas handling systems.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4482-6
Polymer semiconductors offer solution processability, mechanical flexibility, and molecular tunability for flexible displays, wearable devices, and the Internet of Things, yet their charge transport properties remain substantially inferior to inorganic semiconductors. Efficient charge transport demands simultaneous structural order across molecular conformation, aggregate connectivity, and macroscopic orientation, but these length scales are strongly coupled: primary aggregates in solution, secondary nucleation during solvent evaporation, and final film solidification intertwine, rendering structural control dependent on empirical trial and error. Prior approaches—molecular design, solvent additives, thermal annealing, and shear coating—have improved crystallization and orientation, but two interrelated issues persist. First, enhancing aggregation does not guarantee higher mobility: insufficient aggregation yields small, loosely connected structures, while excessive aggregation causes premature nucleation, fiber twisting, and large grain boundaries. Second, direct observation of how solution aggregates evolve across molecular, mesoscopic, and macroscopic scales into solid films is often lacking. The fundamental challenge is not whether to promote crystallization, but how to cooperatively control aggregate type/size, internal order, connectivity, and assembly pathway, and to transform empirical solvent selection into predictive design rules. Zhao et al. report a self-templated gradient assembly (STGA) strategy that couples solubility parameters with vapor pressure to regulate both solution-state aggregation and assembly kinetics. Unlike conventional anti-solvent approaches that trigger rapid nucleation, STGA operates within mutually compatible solvent mixtures that retain polymer solubility and generate a continuous decline in solvent quality during evaporation. Preformed ordered aggregates become endogenous templates for subsequent assembly and crystallization rather than transient intermediates. Using a newly designed linear donor–acceptor polymer, PFIDTO-BT, and the relative energy difference (RED) index, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy confirmed that primary aggregates systematically enlarge as solvent quality decreases. Vapor pressure provides a second dimension, defining a solvent-selection matrix. For low-solubility, low-volatility components, the selectivity toward side chain/backbone parameter Ratio (S/B) further distinguishes aggregation pathways induced by different poor solvents. This framework connects solvent selection to hierarchical polymer organization through a semi-quantitative, experimentally testable methodology, enabling single-crystal-like polymer semiconductors with ultrahigh charge carrier mobility.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4260-5
Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are recognized as a leading candidate for next-generation energy storage due to their high theoretical specific capacity (1675 mAh g⁻¹). However, the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) severely limits cycle life and energy efficiency. Here, we report a multi-interface engineering strategy employing a MnO₂-TiO₂@Ti₃C₂ MXene (MT@MX) heterojunction, synthesized via a facile redox reaction between MXene and KMnO₄, to modulate bidirectional polysulfide conversion. The 2D structure with high conductivity and abundant heterogeneous interfaces facilitates fast ion/electron transfer, reduces reaction energy barriers, and enhances adsorption via d-band center effects. The stepped built-in electric field (BIEF) in MT@MX lowers the migration energy barrier of LiPSs from catalytic MXene to TiO₂ and then to adsorptive MnO₂, enabling reversible migration across multi-interfaces. Optimized heterointerfaces synergistically integrate adsorption, diffusion, and catalytic conversion, yielding excellent cycling stability even at a high sulfur loading of 6.4 mg cm⁻². This work demonstrates that constructing heterojunctions with stepped BIEF offers a feasible approach to modulate interfacial diffusion and provides a new design strategy for high-performance LSB electrocatalysts.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4319-x
This erratum corrects an error in the Acknowledgments section of the original article 'Investigation on graphene growth by roll-to-roll chemical vapor deposition' published in Science China Materials, Vol. 65, Issue 4, page 1042, 2022. The authors regret that the funding number (No. (2021)105) for the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program was incorrectly used. The correct funding number is No. KQTD20200820113010022. The authors apologize for any inconvenience caused. This correction does not affect the scientific content, results, or conclusions of the original paper. The original research focused on the kinetics of graphene growth via roll-to-roll chemical vapor deposition (CVD), a scalable method for producing high-quality graphene films. The study addressed challenges in continuous manufacturing, such as uniformity, growth rate, and defect control, and provided insights into optimizing process parameters for industrial-scale production. The erratum ensures accurate attribution of funding sources, maintaining the integrity of the research record.
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/s40843-026-4194-2
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/s40843-026-4153-2
Direct seawater electrolysis offers a promising route to green hydrogen production, circumventing freshwater scarcity. However, the presence of chloride ions (Cl−) poses severe challenges, including competing chlorine evolution reaction (CER) and corrosion of anode catalysts. Here, we report a dual-atom catalyst design, RuCr-Ni3P, where Ru atoms with strong chloride affinity and Cr atoms as Lewis acid centers are co-doped into a nickel phosphide matrix. This catalyst exhibits outstanding oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity and selectivity in alkaline seawater, achieving stable operation for over 4000 hours at industrially relevant current densities. Mechanistic studies reveal that Cl− ions are selectively captured by Ru sites, forming a dynamic Ru–Cl coordination motif that electronically modulates adjacent Ni centers, promoting the formation of high-valent Ni>3+ species. This switches the OER pathway from the lattice oxygen mechanism (LOM) to the more efficient adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM). Concurrently, Cr sites facilitate the formation of Cr–OH species, creating a localized alkaline microenvironment that further enhances OER kinetics. This dual-site synergistic mechanism transforms Cl− from a detrimental impurity into a beneficial chemical switch, concurrently enhancing both activity and stability. Our findings provide a paradigm shift in seawater electrolysis catalyst design, turning a longstanding challenge into an opportunity for efficient and durable hydrogen production.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3793-9
Organic solar cells (OSCs) require both a high donor/acceptor (D/A) interfacial area for efficient exciton dissociation and a vertically phase-separated morphology for efficient charge transport. Traditional bulk heterojunctions (BHJs) provide large interfacial areas but lack vertical phase separation, while quasi-planar heterojunctions (QPHJs) achieve vertical separation at the cost of reduced interfacial contact. Here, we introduce an in situ pore-forming strategy for polymer thin films. By incorporating an excess of additives as pore-forming agents into the donor layer, a nanoporous film with a fibrous nano-network is generated. Subsequent deposition of acceptor molecules fills these nanopores, creating a hybrid planar/bulk heterojunction (HP/BHJ) that synergizes the strengths of both architectures. This design enhances performance by: (1) increasing the D/A interfacial area via nanopores, forming a three-dimensional network that accelerates exciton dissociation; (2) promoting close molecular packing that minimizes carrier recombination and establishes low-defect charge transport channels; and (3) fostering vertical phase separation through layer-by-layer deposition. Binary OSCs fabricated with this strategy achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.0%, surpassing conventional BHJ and QPHJ devices by a significant margin. The approach demonstrates general applicability, with analogous improvements observed in D18/BTP-eC9-4F and PM6/L8-BO systems, underscoring its potential for advancing OSC performance.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3615-1
Stretchable electronics are pivotal for bio-integrated devices, soft robotics, and wearables, yet their development is constrained by single-layer architectures that limit integration density and by mechanical mismatch between rigid components and soft substrates, which curtails service life. Here, we introduce a LEGO-like modular assembly strategy to construct multilayer three-dimensional (3D) stretchable electronics. Electronic components (ECs) and self-healing polyurethane (SPU) substrates patterned with liquid metal (LM) circuits serve as the modular blocks. This design simplifies fabrication and markedly enhances 3D integration density. The combination of LM circuits and self-healing elastic substrates enables devices to withstand diverse deformations and to autonomously heal after mechanical damage. Notably, the devices can undergo multiple recycling and reuse cycles without significant performance loss. This methodology offers a new paradigm for advanced flexible electronics, addressing critical bottlenecks in integration density, mechanical robustness, and sustainability.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3684-4
The efficient conversion of dinitrogen (N2) to ammonia (NH3) under mild conditions remains a critical challenge for sustainable nitrogen fixation. This study reports a rationally designed ternary heterojunction, GO/MXene/UiO-66 (GM/UiO-66), which achieves directed charge transfer for enhanced photocatalytic nitrogen fixation. The internal electric field at the heterointerface drives anisotropic migration of photogenerated charges, leading to rapid separation of electron–hole pairs and suppression of interfacial recombination. The intrinsic defect structure of graphene oxide (GO) provides active sites for N2 adsorption and activation, while π–π interactions between GO and UiO-66 accelerate electron transfer. Additionally, the Schottky junction between UiO-66 and MXene facilitates hole (h+) transfer. The incorporation of GO and MXene extends visible-light absorption of UiO-66. Under simulated solar illumination, GM/UiO-66 exhibits an NH3 generation rate of 25.1 μmol g−1 h−1, which is 1.9 times higher than that of pristine UiO-66 (13.5 μmol g−1 h−1). This work presents a novel strategy for designing ternary heterojunction composites that optimize charge transfer and significantly improve photocatalytic performance.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3671-0
Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a non-invasive tumor treatment that offers controllability, non-drug resistance, and precise ablation, yet its efficacy is limited by uncontrolled heat diffusion and weak immune responses, often leading to metastasis. Here, we report a chondroitin sulfate-modified Prussian blue-montmorillonite immunoregulator (PM@CS) that integrates tumor cell adhesion and Golgi targeting to confine photothermal damage at the organelle level. PM@CS accumulates on the Golgi apparatus, reducing heat transfer distance and enhancing photothermal ablation. This targeted hyperthermia disrupts post-translational modification and secretion of metastasis-associated proteins, with GOLPH3 and GOLM1 expression reduced by 63.4% and 70.3%, respectively. Furthermore, PM@CS promotes dendritic cell maturation (3.3-fold increase in CD80+ and CD86+ populations) and enhances antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell proliferation, attributed to the immunoadjuvant properties of montmorillonite. Notably, PM@CS upregulates voltage-gated calcium channels (CaV) and enhances Ca2+ influx, activating calcium signaling cascades that amplify immunotherapy. This synergistic approach inhibits primary tumor growth and lung metastasis, offering a promising strategy for cancer treatment.
New Carbon Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61066-9
Carbon materials suffer from limited dielectric loss, resulting in poor impedance matching and inadequate microwave attenuation. To address this, hierarchical structures with synergistic loss mechanisms are sought. Here, biomass cattail serves as a sustainable precursor for nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube arrays decorated with Fe3C nanoparticles via chemical vapor deposition, yielding Fe3C@NCNTs/CMTs composites. The crystallinity, tuned by calcination temperature, critically influences microwave absorption. At 800 °C, the composite achieves a minimum reflection loss of –35.8 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth of 7.02 GHz at a thickness of only 1.7 mm, with an ultralow filler loading of 10 wt%, covering the entire Ku band and part of the X band. This performance stems from enhanced magnetic loss and multiple dielectric polarization mechanisms. The study demonstrates a promising strategy for designing biomass-derived carbon-based broadband microwave absorbers.
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/s40843-025-3883-2
Tensile stress annealing (TSA) is an effective strategy for tailoring magnetic anisotropy and high-frequency performance in nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloys. Here, we systematically investigate the influence of TSA on the microstructure, magnetic domain evolution, and permeability stability of Fe69.5Co3Nb2Mo1.5Si14B9Cu1 nanocrystalline alloys. Across all applied stresses (0–300 MPa), the alloys retain an ultrafine grain size (≤11 nm), yet the induced uniaxial anisotropy constant (Ku) rises sharply from 22.5 to 665 J/m3. This increase in Ku refines the magnetic domain structure, reducing average domain width from 110 to 36 μm, and shifts the magnetization mechanism from domain-wall displacement to rotation-dominated reversal. Quantitative correlation between Ku, domain structure, and effective permeability (μe) reveals that higher stress suppresses μe at low frequencies but yields exceptional frequency stability: μe ≈ 2330 is maintained up to 1 MHz at 50 MPa, and μe ≈ 585 remains constant from 1 kHz to 10 MHz at 300 MPa. These findings demonstrate that stress-induced anisotropy is a decisive factor in governing high-frequency magnetic response, offering both mechanistic insight and a practical framework for designing next-generation soft magnetic materials for precision current transformers, EMC filters, and MHz-class power electronics.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3772-y
Conformal contact between functional electronic films and biological surfaces is critical for long-term device stability, high signal sensitivity, and favorable signal-to-noise ratio. Traditional transfer methods, such as soft stamps and pad printing, often involve mechanical pressing, leading to poor conformality, localized stress concentration, or structural failure. Alternative strategies, including geometric engineering of non-stretchable materials or using stretchable organic alternatives, mitigate these issues but increase design complexity and reduce fabrication efficiency. Here, we highlight a novel 'drop-printing' strategy introduced by Li et al. that leverages capillary force to manipulate a water droplet to pick up a thin film, transfer it to a target substrate, and print it onto the surface. As the droplet evaporates, the film conformally wraps the surface. The droplet acts as a lubricating layer, while interfacial liquid penetrating microstructures generates capillary pressure, facilitating shape-adaptive deformation and significantly reducing stress concentration. The final positioning and conformality are governed by droplet behavior on the target surface. This approach achieves positional deviation of less than 20 μm via regulation of three-phase contact lines. The strategy enables damage-free conformal wrapping of non-stretchable films onto three-dimensional biological surfaces, as demonstrated by drop-printed silicon microfilm conformally wrapping on a rat brain, with successful NIR laser stimulation triggering forelimb movement and synchronized brain electrophysiological signals. This gentle, high-precision method addresses the pressing need for low-stress conformal bioelectronics, offering a general solution for diverse biological interfaces.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202604005
To elucidate the effects of exogenous antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) exposure on wheat growth and associated bacterial community assembly, the inhibitory impacts of exogenous ARB on wheat seedling root and shoot length, shifts in root endophytic and rhizosphere bacterial communities, and the horizontal transfer of exogenous antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) to indigenous endophytic bacteria were investigated using plate culture counting and 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that exogenous ARB exposure significantly suppressed wheat seedling root and shoot growth, with inhibition rates increasing in an ARB concentration-dependent manner. At an exogenous ARB concentration of 108 CFU/mL, the inhibition rates of seedling root and shoot length reached 68.83% and 36.87%, respectively. During the period of ARB exposure, the relative abundance of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_5 in root endophytic bacteria increased rapidly, becoming the most dominant genus (45.02%) by the end of the exposure period. In contrast, Betaproteobacteriales remained the dominant order in the rhizosphere bacterial community throughout the experiment, with its relative abundance increasing continuously over time. The proportion of ARB-carrying endophytic bacteria initially decreased and then increased during exposure, showing a significant positive correlation with the relative abundances of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_5, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Bacillus, and Paenibacillus (P<0.05). In summary, exogenous ARB exposure significantly inhibits wheat seedling growth and alters the community structure of both root endophytic and rhizosphere bacteria. Sustained ARB exposure leads to the transfer of exogenous ARGs to root endophytes, and Clostridium_sensu_stricto species may act as potential hosts for ARGs in wheat seedling roots.
The Chinese Journal of Process Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12034/j.issn.1009-606X.225185
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), widely used as an insulating gas in high-voltage electrical equipment, possesses a global warming potential (GWP) 25,200 times that of CO2, necessitating efficient degradation technologies. This study employed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to simulate the thermal catalytic degradation of SF6 in a fixed-bed reactor, integrating models for porous media, heat transfer, turbulence, and chemical kinetics. The simulations revealed significant radial non-uniformities in pressure, velocity, temperature, and species concentration distributions, with temperature identified as the dominant factor influencing degradation efficiency. Radial temperature gradients caused uneven reaction rates, with degradation rates near the wall substantially exceeding those at the central axis, thereby reducing overall SF6 conversion. To address this, structural optimizations were implemented, including reducing the reactor tube diameter and incorporating inert porous media with high thermal conductivity at both ends of the catalytic section. These modifications enhanced radial heat transfer, homogenized the temperature field, and improved the uniformity of reaction rates and species concentrations. Parametric studies on inlet gas velocity showed that both excessively low and high flow rates were detrimental: low velocities led to underutilization of the downstream catalyst and increased energy consumption, while high velocities deteriorated heat transfer and exacerbated radial temperature gradients. The optimal inlet velocity range was determined to be 0.4–0.8 m/s for a reactor tube inner diameter of 10 mm, balancing catalyst utilization, energy consumption, and degradation efficiency. This research provides data-driven guidance for the design and scale-up of SF6 catalytic degradation reactors.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202511090
In ecological restoration projects such as wetland reconstruction and mine reclamation, seedling transplantation or mechanical damage often leads to slow healing, reducing survival rates and weakening carbon sequestration and soil-water conservation functions. To address secondary pollution from traditional chemical remediation, this study developed a self-powered piezoelectric hydrogel for green electrical stimulation of plant wounds. The hydrogel, based on polyacrylamide/polyethylene glycol (PAM/PEG) with CaCl2, formed a microporous, locally ordered piezoionic network. Characterization included microstructure, piezoionic response, and water retention. At 30 °C and 55% relative humidity, the hydrogel retained about 70% mass after 80 h of continuous water loss. Under simulated environmental mechanical forces, the hydrogel generated a peak voltage of approximately 6 mV. In tomato seedling stem models, wound callus area ratios reached approximately 49.50%, 64.87%, and 86.13% at 3, 5, and 10 days, respectively, when the hydrogel was attached and driven by environmental forces. The PAM/PEG/CaCl2 hydrogel efficiently converts environmental mechanical energy into mild electrical signals, promoting plant wound healing, reducing exogenous chemical use, and offering a low-carbon, environmentally friendly material pathway for ecological restoration and urban green space management.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3799-4
Li-rich layered oxides (LLOs) xLi2MnO3·(1−x)LiTMO2 (0 < x < 1, TM = Mn, Ni, Co, etc.) are promising high-energy cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries, capable of achieving energy densities up to 1000 Wh kg−1. However, their practical application is hindered by limited cycle life and voltage decay, primarily stemming from structural instability of Li2MnO3 and LiTMO2 domains during cycling, which manifests as transition metal cation migration, oxygen release, and TM dissolution. This review establishes a comprehensive design and modification scheme based on the fundamental structural unit of LLOs: the LiMn6 hexatomic-ring. In this unit, each Li atom in the TM layer is surrounded by six Mn atoms, forming a π-type hybridization between Mn 3d(t2g) and O 2p orbitals, creating an intact π-bond ring that acts as a distributed redox center. Ordering these functional units into specific spatial configurations can enhance capacity, voltage, and structural stability. However, substituting Mn with other elements breaks the symmetry of the π-bond ring, altering redox behavior and reversibility. The spatial arrangement of LiMn6 rings, representing the arrangement of π-bond rings, is critical for redox activity. In Li2MnO3, the typical honeycomb superstructure of LiMn6 rings is discussed. This review highlights the importance of functional unit ordering in material design, drawing parallels from other systems, and proposes a systematic approach to engineer LLOs for improved electrochemical performance.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3783-x
The synergistic strategy combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy has recently demonstrated significant promise in cancer treatment. However, the substantial physicochemical disparities between chemotherapeutic agents and small-molecule immune adjuvants pose considerable challenges for co-delivery strategies. In this study, we designed a reactive oxygen species-responsive paclitaxel prodrug, PTX-PBA, which markedly enhanced drug encapsulation stability and dual-drug loading efficiency by various polymeric delivery systems. The resultant nanosystem (NanoPR) exhibited excellent physicochemical properties and ROS-triggered release profiles, effectively inducing immunogenic cell death in tumor cells while promoting dendritic cell maturation and CD8+ T cells activation. In murine models of 4T1 breast cancer and CT26 colon carcinoma, NanoPR achieved significant tumor growth inhibition and elicited durable immune memory responses. Collectively, this work provides an innovative molecular design strategy for the co-delivery of chemotherapeutics and immunomodulators, offering a robust foundation for the clinical translation of chemo-immunotherapy.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3976-x
The discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in bilayer nickelate La3Ni2O7−δ (La-327) under high pressure and in thin films at ambient pressure has opened new avenues in superconductivity research. However, La-327 exhibits a narrow phase stability range, leading to stacking faults that suppress bulk superconductivity. Chemical substitutions, particularly at the A-site with smaller rare-earth ions, have been shown to enhance phase purity and reduce stacking faults, while also increasing the orthorhombic distortion and chemical pressure. In this work, we apply the high-entropy (HE) strategy to stabilize the 327 phase with reduced average A-site ionic radius (rA). We successfully synthesized medium-entropy La1.2Pr0.6Nd0.6Sm0.6Ni2O7−δ (ME-327) and high-entropy La0.67Pr0.67Nd0.67Sm0.33Eu0.33Gd0.33Ni2O7−δ (HE-327) polycrystalline samples. These compositions satisfy medium- and high-entropy criteria, with rA values of 1.181 Å and 1.164 Å, respectively. The samples are phase-pure and homogeneous. HE-327 exhibits the lowest cell volume, largest orthorhombicity, and shortest interlayer Ni-Ni distance among reported bilayer nickelates. Physical property measurements reveal low electrical conductivity and a high density-wave (DW) transition temperature. Under high pressure, HE-327 shows a resistivity anomaly at 103 K under 31 GPa, suggesting a possible superconducting transition. Extrapolation indicates that Tc under high pressure exceeds 100 K for HE-327, correlating with reduced rA and enhanced interlayer coupling. Our results demonstrate the ionic size effect and the effectiveness of the HE approach in stabilizing bilayer nickelates, providing a new avenue for developing superconducting materials.
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.202510034
Phosphonate wastewater, characterized by stable C–P bonds, poses significant environmental risks due to its resistance to degradation and potential to contribute to eutrophication. This study developed a chloride-enhanced Fe(II)/PMS/H2O2 system for the oxidative degradation of 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid (PBTC) and simultaneous recovery of phosphorus as iron phosphate (FePO4). Under optimal conditions (0.1 mmol/L PBTC, 1.0 mmol/L Fe(II), 0.5 mmol/L PMS, 0.5 mmol/L H2O2, 10 mmol/L NaCl, initial pH 3.0, 60 min), total phosphorus (TP) removal reached 100%, with phosphorus nearly completely recovered as FePO4 precipitate. Increasing NaCl concentration and temperature enhanced TP removal, while pH significantly influenced removal efficiency and product speciation; acidic conditions (pH < 4.3) favored FePO4 precipitation. Coexisting Ca2+ and Mg2+ had negligible effects, whereas HCO3− and humic acid (HA) inhibited TP removal in a concentration-dependent manner. Radical quenching and electron spin resonance (ESR) analyses identified hydroxyl radicals (•OH), ferryl ion (Fe(IV)=O), sulfate radicals (SO4•−), and chlorine radicals (Cl•) as primary reactive species, with •OH playing a dominant role. Chloride introduction promoted the generation of multiple reactive species, and Cl• and its derivative Cl2•− directly attacked the C–P bond and phosphonate group, facilitating phosphorus release as PO43− and subsequent FePO4 formation. The system's feasibility was validated using actual industrial circulating cooling water. This study provides a novel approach for phosphonate wastewater treatment and phosphorus recovery.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(25)60624-4
Para-xylene (PX) is a critical chemical feedstock for producing polyesters, plastics, and fibers, with China's 2024 consumption reaching 40 million tons (63% of global total) and an import dependency of 17%. Conventional naphtha-based routes face feedstock security and cost volatility, prompting interest in syngas conversion. This review systematically examines recent catalyst developments for direct syngas-to-PX-rich aromatics, focusing on three systems: Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) catalyst/zeolite coupling, methanol synthesis catalyst/zeolite synergy, and dual-engine/zeolite catalysis. Critical parameters such as active component electronic structure, promoter effects, and zeolite pore topology are analyzed to reveal governing principles of activity, selectivity, and stability. Reaction mechanisms via olefin, methanol, and dual-intermediate pathways are explored. Current bottlenecks include coordinated optimization of activity and stability, and unclear regulation of PX selectivity. Future research directions are proposed to address these challenges.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202607025
The Holocene alluvial-diluvial stratum of the Quaternary is characterized by high soil hydraulic conductivity and intense surface water-groundwater interaction, which leads to rapid and extensive migration of contaminants from landfills. To investigate the contaminant characteristics of a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill in such strata, a case study was conducted at a landfill in southwestern China. Methods including the Nemerow pollution index and the potential ecological risk index were employed to systematically analyze the contamination of groundwater and soil, as well as the spatial distribution of organic matter and heavy metals. The results showed that the groundwater was severely contaminated (PI > 3). The maximum exceedance multiples for total bacterial count, ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), and total coliforms relative to the standard limits were 36, 9.5, and 8, respectively. The composition of the contaminants in groundwater was highly consistent with the characteristics of landfill leachate. For the soil, the concentrations of six heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni, Hg, and As) were all below the Class II screening values of the standard GB 36600—2018. Both the Nemerow pollution index (PI < 0.7) and the potential ecological risk index (RI < 150) indicated that the soil environment was safe. Regarding soil dissolved organic matter (DOM), humic-like substances (22.9% to 34.9%) and fulvic-like substances (22.4% to 27.5%) were the dominant components, and their fluorescence intensities exhibited an exponential decay trend with increasing soil depth. The speciation of Cu, Pb, As, Hg, and Ni was dominated by the residual fraction (52.33% to 90.32%). However, over 70% of Cd existed in active forms (exchangeable + Fe/Mn oxide-bound), suggesting a high migration risk. The horizontal distribution of heavy metals showed regional specificity, with high-value areas mainly concentrated in the screening waste and soil stacking areas. Vertically, Cu and Cd exhibited surface enrichment, while As, Hg, Pb, and Ni were enriched in the groundwater fluctuation zone. These findings indicate that groundwater in alluvial-diluvial strata is highly susceptible to leachate contamination, while soil heavy metal contamination is not significant, with low levels in the aquifer but a tendency to accumulate at the water-soil interface. It is recommended that during landfill remediation, attention be paid to anti-seepage measures in waste excavation and stacking areas, as well as the interception and remediation of the groundwater fluctuation zone, to prevent secondary contamination of soil and groundwater.
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/s40843-025-3895-7
Flexible transparent electrodes are vital for next-generation electronics, but conventional silver nanowire (AgNW) networks suffer from non-uniform current and “hot spots” due to their random arrangement. To address this, we present a facile rubber pressure treatment that enables the controlled self-assembly of ordered AgNW micromesh (Ag NMs) on hydrophilic surfaces. This simple physical treatment simultaneously modifies surface energy and topography through molecular chain transfer from the rubber, creating optimal wetting conditions for coffee-ring assembly. This dual modification transforms droplet evaporation from constant contact angle to constant contact radius mode, enabling the universal fabrication of well-defined Ag NMs on diverse substrates like glass, polymers, and even curved surfaces. The resulting Ag NMs/colorless polyimide (CPI) electrodes (2 cm × 2 cm, ~30 Ω/sq), fabricated via single-step transfer and embedding, demonstrate desirable uniform sheet resistance distribution (<5% variation), outstanding mechanical durability, and environmental stability. These electrodes exhibit superior performance in practical applications, including stable electrical heating (159 ± 3°C at 8 V) with uniform temperature distribution and excellent electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding (26.4 dB), while maintaining high optical transparency (~78%). This scalable approach offers a promising platform for advanced flexible electronics.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202511043
Zero-valent iron (ZVI) suffers from surface passivation and low electron utilization in reductive removal of nitrobenzene (NB). To address these issues, a ball-milled iron/digestate biochar composite (BM-Fe/DBC) was prepared and compared with a physically mixed counterpart (PM-Fe/DBC). Characterization revealed that ball milling tightly embedded ZVI particles into the carbon matrix, forming Fe–C chemical bonds and a strong interfacial coupling structure that established efficient electron transfer channels. This structure significantly enhanced the micro-galvanic effect between iron and carbon, yielding superior reduction performance across a wide pH range (3–9). Under optimal conditions (Fe:C mass ratio 2:1, dosage 1.0 g·L−1, pH 5), BM-Fe/DBC achieved 79.9% NB removal, and the generation of aniline (AN) was 1.85 times that of PM-Fe/DBC. Mechanistic studies indicated that the intimate Fe–C interfacial coupling promoted sustained ZVI corrosion and enhanced the production of indirect reducing species, including adsorbed Fe(II) and atomic hydrogen (H*). Electrochemical analyses showed that BM-Fe/DBC exhibited a lower corrosion potential, a higher corrosion current density (approximately 2.15 times higher), and lower charge transfer resistance, kinetically confirming its superior electron transfer capability. These findings reveal that constructing strong interfacial coupling in iron–carbon composites via mechanochemical methods can effectively overcome key limitations of ZVI in reduction reactions, providing a theoretical basis and practical pathway for designing high-performance water treatment materials.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60762-1
The CO2 dry reforming of methane (DRM) is pivotal for CO2 utilization within the dual-carbon framework, offering advantages in carbon reduction and value-added chemical production. However, shaped catalysts suitable for industrial-scale DRM remain limited. This work constructs a monolithic catalyst using honeycomb cordierite as the structural support, systematically investigating the effects of organic and inorganic binders on coating structure and catalytic performance. Comparative studies reveal that the active coating fabricated with inorganic aluminum sol exhibits a continuous uniform morphology and excellent adhesion strength. During high-temperature calcination, elemental diffusion within Al2O3 networks bridges the cordierite surface with active catalyst particles, forming a (Ni-Mg)AlxO4 composite structure. This creates robust metal-support interactions between active sites and the residual alumina matrix. The interconnected mesoporous framework provides superior pore confinement, contributing to strong coating adhesion, enhanced activity, and improved resistance to carbon deposition in the monolithic m-NCM-Al-sol catalyst. In contrast, coatings derived from inorganic silica sol suffer from detachment and activity loss due to heterogeneous surface structures and poor adhesion. Organic binders demonstrate inferior performance in macroscopic coating uniformity, adhesion strength, mesoporous confinement, and localized electronic effects, resulting in the poorest catalytic performance. By optimizing aluminum sol coating parameters—binder content, active component dosage, and coating cycles—a synergistic balance between coating thickness and mass transfer is achieved. The optimized catalyst demonstrates excellent DRM performance, providing insights for constructing high-performance shaped catalysts with cordierite coatings.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025041101
Chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) are typical halogenated organic pollutants frequently coexisting with nitrogen oxides (NOx) in flue gases from thermal industrial processes such as waste incineration and metal smelting. The synergistic catalytic removal of these co-pollutants offers substantial environmental benefits and engineering potential. This review focuses on the regulation of catalyst acidity and redox properties, systematically summarizing the synergistic mechanisms between CVOCs catalytic oxidation and NH3-selective catalytic reduction (NH3-SCR) for NOx removal. Special attention is given to reaction pathways governing chlorine species desorption and intermediate mineralization during CVOCs oxidation, alongside intrinsic strategies for broadening the SCR temperature window, enhancing N2 selectivity, and mitigating catalyst deactivation. Key challenges in simultaneous removal include competitive adsorption of coexisting pollutants, chlorine poisoning of catalysts, formation of polychlorinated byproducts, and interference from other flue gas components. Future research directions are proposed, encompassing interfacial mechanistic elucidation, innovative design of multifunctional catalytic sites, and technological transition from laboratory-scale studies to industrial applications. This review provides theoretical insights and technical guidance for integrated control of multiple pollutants.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4158-6
Near-infrared piezochromic materials exhibiting luminescence responses are critical for mechanical sensors and storage devices. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), as crystalline porous materials, combine structural adaptability with tunable photophysical properties, yet their piezochromic applications remain underexplored. Here, we report a series of donor-acceptor structured two-dimensional COFs (2D COFs) with bright red emission, all showing pronounced red-shifts spanning red to near-infrared regions. Notably, Py-BO-COF exhibits the largest piezochromic shift of 187 nm with a high sensitivity of 44.52 nm GPa−1, significantly surpassing Py-BT-COF, TPE-BO-COF, and most reported COF/MOF systems. Py-BO-COF also demonstrates fully reversible and repeatable emission switching over multiple cycles, maintaining excellent linearity without degradation. In situ spectroscopic analyses and theoretical simulations reveal that variations in piezochromic rates arise from differences in charge-transfer (CT) processes, while the pronounced red-shift in Py-BO-COF is associated with reduced interlayer distance and enhanced coplanarity. This study systematically establishes the structure-property relationship in piezochromic 2D COFs, offering strategic guidance for designing highly sensitive and reversible pressure-responsive materials, thereby advancing smart piezochromic 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.
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/s40843-025-4062-2
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/s40843-026-4181-6
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.