SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4304-5
Comprehensive assessment of rehabilitation efficiency is essential for designing appropriate training programs for better musculoskeletal functional recovery. Existing contact-receptor-dependent rehabilitation assessment systems mostly focus on assessing the restoration of muscle function by evaluating grip strength or joint flexion angle; however, parameters reflecting neuromuscular synergistic function are always overlooked. Herein, we develop an ionoelastomer-based soft artificial electroreceptor (SAER) that integrates tele-perception and tactile sensation to track the rehabilitation process, collecting signals related to approaching speed and grip strength sequentially. The SAER uses polyurethane ionoelastomer incorporated with quasi-solid conductive salt as the electric field receptor, and is integrated on a rehabilitation-training ball after assembly to establish an untethered detection device; this enables the remote capture of hand approaching parameter within a 9 cm range, followed by the quantification of grip strength when contacting and grasping. Furthermore, a data-driven assessment system is established by integrating machine learning, which accurately classifies rehabilitation efficiency into six levels; it supports for rehabilitation evaluation and training programs adjustment. Overall, the SAER-based rehabilitation management system establishes a paradigm that synergistically evaluating parameters corresponding to neuromuscular functional restoration and holds strong potential for home-based active rehabilitation for minimizing dependence on frequent clinical supervision.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4212-x
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a lethal interstitial lung disease with limited therapeutic options. Current treatments, such as nintedanib and pirfenidone, target downstream fibrosis but fail to address the upstream drivers, including persistent alveolar epithelial injury and abnormal repair. This study presents an inhalable, reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive liposomal system (SAB/GC-1@Lip-cRGD) that co-delivers the antioxidant salvianolic acid B (SAB) and the thyroid hormone receptor β (TRβ) agonist Sobetirome (GC-1). The liposomes are surface-modified with cRGD peptides for targeted delivery to fibrotic lesions and possess a negative surface charge to enhance mucus penetration. In the high-ROS fibrotic microenvironment, the liposomes destabilize, releasing SAB and GC-1. SAB scavenges ROS to remodel the fibrotic niche, while GC-1 reactivates TRβ signaling, driving the differentiation of stalled Krt8+ transitional epithelial cells into functional alveolar type I (AT1) cells. In a mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis, SAB/GC-1@Lip-cRGD significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) and TGF-β1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung homogenates. The proportion of CD206+ M2 macrophages decreased from 27.4% in the model group to 6.2% after treatment, indicating potent anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects. This synergistic strategy of microenvironment remodeling and epithelial regeneration achieved robust collagen depletion, restoration of alveolar integrity, and recovery of pulmonary function, outperforming single-drug or non-targeted formulations. The work provides a generalized paradigm for integrating microenvironment regulation with regenerative repair in pulmonary diseases.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4197-4
Deep-blue organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) remain the most challenging primary-color emitters due to stringent exciton energy requirements. We strategically designed two innovative deep-blue emitters, SCZ-4AnCN and STPA-4AnCN, via systematic functionalization of an anthracene core with arylamino-decorated spirofluorene donors and cyano-substituted phenyl acceptors. Comprehensive theoretical and experimental analyses demonstrate that these spirofluorene-anthracene hybrids adopt precisely engineered distorted configurations, effectively suppressing detrimental intermolecular π–π stacking in condensed phases. The sp3-hybridized bridgehead carbons in spirofluorene units play a pivotal role by simultaneously restricting π-conjugation extension and fine-tuning donor–acceptor interactions, thereby stabilizing the lowest excited singlet (S1) state with dominant local excitation (LE) character. This molecular engineering yields exceptional deep-blue emission with remarkable efficiency. Notably, the materials exhibit unique high-lying reverse intersystem crossing (hRISC) behavior, enabling efficient triplet harvesting. Optimized doped devices incorporating SCZ-4AnCN achieve outstanding performance, including a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE_max) exceeding 10% and CIE coordinates (0.154, 0.052) approaching the BT.2020 blue standard. Nondoped devices maintain impressive performance with an EQE_max of 7.51% and superior operational stability, demonstrating less than 10% efficiency roll-off at 1000 cd m−2. This work validates anthracene-based molecular architectures for deep-blue electroluminescence and establishes a transformative design paradigm for next-generation OLED emitters.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3848-7
Conventional heterogeneous photocatalysts often suffer from insufficient light absorption, rapid charge recombination, and a lack of specific reactive sites for efficient photocatalytic oxidation. To overcome these limitations, we propose a molecular polarization engineering approach utilizing structurally well-defined donor (D)-acceptor (A) covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs). The construction of dipole-induced built-in electric fields within the D-A-structured CTFs enables enhanced exciton dissociation and facilitates directional charge transfer. Specifically, the asymmetric A1-D-A2 moiety enhances molecular polarization in the dual-acceptor system CTF-TBT (A1-D-A2), enabling efficient charge separation through multiple electron-withdrawing units. This structural design promotes directional electron transfer toward the secondary acceptor (benzothiazole, A2), while simultaneously concentrating holes on the donor unit. Consequently, the A2 moiety acts as a site for efficient O2 activation via electron accumulation, whereas the highly oxidized donor unit provides strongly positive holes (h+) that facilitate substrate oxidation. Experimental and DFT calculation results confirm that CTF-TBT demonstrates highly enhanced photocatalytic oxidation performance, which can be attributed to its multi-channel charge separation mechanism and spatially separated redox-active sites. This study highlights the effectiveness of molecular dipole engineering in designing heterogeneous photocatalysts with controlled charge transfer pathways and improved redox capabilities. The proposed design principles provide a universal approach for promoting solar-driven chemical synthesis applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3644-9
Flexible and perceptive sensors represent the pinnacle of wearable technology; nevertheless, most current hydrogel-based sensors encounter difficulties in concurrently achieving mechanical durability, biocompatibility, high sensitivity, and scalability. This work introduces an innovative multimodal hydrogel–textile composite sensor (WPU–ChCl hydrogel) developed via free radical polymerization of acrylamide, integrating choline chloride (ChCl), EMIM TFSI ionic liquid, and waterborne polyurethane (WPU) to overcome existing constraints. The resultant hydrogel demonstrates a synergistic network of covalent and dynamic non-covalent connections, with remarkable stretchability (~900%), mechanical toughness (>250 kJ/m3), and ionic conductivity (9.2 mS/cm at 600% strain). Comprehensive morphological and chemical analysis validated uniform structure, increased segmental ordering, and improved heat stability. The hydrogel exhibited swift strain responsiveness (gauge factor = 7.23), quick response/recovery times (~108/114 ms), exceptional durability over 500 cycles, and enhanced self-healing and adherence to various surfaces. Integrated into textiles, the composite demonstrated exceptional real-time touch and motion detection capabilities and retained sensing accuracy after 20 wash cycles. Code transmission and machine learning-based high-accuracy gesture recognition (93.65%) were examples of advanced uses. The wireless-enabled system demonstrated efficacy in IoT-based health monitoring, soft robotics, and human–machine interactions, representing a substantial advancement in next-generation wearable electronics.
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.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202512072
Drainage pipeline defect detection predominantly relies on closed-circuit television (CCTV) inspection, which is labor-intensive, inefficient, and prone to missed detections. Although deep learning-based object detection has been applied, it suffers from low precision, recall, and speed in practical scenarios. This study proposes an engineering-oriented detection scheme achieving high recall and low miss rates. The annotation phase employs a cross-frame strategy combining manual labeling of first and last frames with interpolation and tracking-based refinement. Data preprocessing introduces perceptual hashing to identify similar images, enhancing training efficiency. For detection, a Faster R-CNN model is enhanced with Focal Loss to focus on hard examples, defect classification and grading, and a dynamic threshold strategy to improve recall. Validated on 5,068.72 m of real pipeline data, the method achieves a recall rate exceeding 98% across 16 defect categories, a miss rate of only 2% for grade 4 defects, and a 425% improvement in per-segment detection efficiency compared to manual screening. These results demonstrate the method's effectiveness in balancing recall, miss rate, and speed for engineering deployment.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025121001
Ion chromatography (IC) is the core analytical method for qualitative and quantitative determination of anions in complex water environments, and its separation efficiency highly depends on the performance of the stationary phase. This review systematically summarizes recent progress in the preparation and functionalization of IC stationary phases, addressing the urgent need for high selectivity and sensitivity in water anion analysis. The characteristics of organic polymer-based and inorganic-based matrices are compared, highlighting the advantages of polymer matrices such as poly(methacrylate), poly(vinyl alcohol), polystyrene-divinylbenzene (PS-DVB), and ethylvinylbenzene-divinylbenzene (EVB-DVB) in terms of wide pH tolerance (e.g., pH 0–14 for PS-DVB) and organic solvent compatibility, which allow the use of strong acid or base eluents. Various functionalization strategies are discussed, including the introduction of quaternary ammonium groups, hydrophilic modifications, and grafting of functional layers, which enhance separation selectivity and detection capability. The review also covers the development of hybrid stationary phases and the application of IC in monitoring trace pollutants in water, such as bromate, chlorite, chlorate, fluoride, and nitrate, as regulated by Chinese standards (GB 5749—2022). Future trends are projected, focusing on novel materials for precise identification and high-throughput monitoring. The paper provides a comprehensive reference for the design of high-performance stationary phases, emphasizing the importance of matrix selection and surface chemistry in achieving robust and sensitive anion analysis.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202604001
This study systematically investigated the occurrence, spatial distribution, sources, and ecological risks of 160 pesticides in Dianchi Lake, a typical plateau lake impacted by agricultural activities. A total of 37 pesticides were detected in the water, with total concentrations ranging from 64.2 to 1132.8 ng/L (average 610.0 ng/L). Fungicides, including boscalid (BOS), fluopicolide (FPC), and dimethomorph (DMM), were dominant, contributing up to 65.0% of the total concentration. Spatially, the southern lake region exhibited significantly higher concentrations (672.5 ng/L) than the north, attributed to intensive facility agriculture. Highly hydrophobic pesticides, such as penconazole (PEN), showed a tendency to enrich in bottom layers. Source apportionment identified inflowing rivers and wastewater treatment plant effluents as primary input sources, with average concentrations 7 and 9 times higher than lake water, respectively. Ecological risk assessment revealed that pesticides posed the highest risk to algae, followed by daphnia and fish. Prometryn (PMT) was identified as a high-risk factor for algae, while profenofos (PFF) and carbendazim (CBD) posed potential threats to higher trophic levels. These findings provide fundamental data and technical support for understanding pesticide pollution in plateau lake ecosystems.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202604013
Reclaimed water serves as an alternative water source for replenishing natural water bodies, yet residual pollutants pose ecological risks. A pilot-scale hybrid vertical flow constructed wetland filled with manganese ore sand, quartz sand, and cobblestones was operated for approximately 140 days to assess nutrient and organic matter removal, ecotoxicity, and the suitability of manganese sand as a functional medium. Influent concentrations were up to 0.4 mg/L ammonia, 0.2 mg/L phosphate, 8 mg/L nitrate, and 30 mg/L COD. After 2–3 months of operation, ammonia and phosphate removal efficiencies exceeded 90% and 80%, respectively. Average reductions for nitrate and COD were 0.67 mg/L and 4.2 mg/L. Manganese sand enhanced organic decomposition, reducing maximum 3D fluorescence intensity by 26%, humic substances by 48%, UV254 by 38%, and achieving 70.8% removal of four target antibiotics. Purified water exhibited no significant genotoxicity, with micronucleus rates approaching tap water levels, and non-concentrated samples showed no acute biotoxicity. However, concentrated samples displayed acute toxicity, suggesting different causative pollutants for genotoxicity and acute toxicity. The study supports manganese sand as an effective medium for improving reclaimed water quality and controlling ecological risks.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025102002
The ultraviolet/chlorine (UV/Cl2) advanced oxidation process generates multiple radical species, enabling synergistic disinfection. However, the systematic influence of UV intensity on process performance remains inadequately characterized. This study investigated UV intensities from 0.25 to 2.0 mW·cm−2, assessing chlorine photolysis kinetics, bacterial inactivation, and disinfection by-product (DBP) formation. Results demonstrate that inactivation efficiency is not solely governed by total UV energy but is co-regulated by reaction kinetics and mass transfer. Increasing UV intensity accelerated chlorine photolysis by 33.7%–277.8%, elevating steady-state concentrations of hydroxyl radicals and chlorine radicals by factors of 1.6–3.8 and 1.3–3.2, respectively, thereby enhancing initial inactivation rates. However, higher intensities reduced cumulative chlorine exposure (CT value) to 14.3%–55.7% of baseline, causing overall inactivation to first increase then decrease. At a fixed UV dose of 150 mJ·cm−2, an intensity of 1.0 mW·cm−2 achieved optimal 6.5-log inactivation of Escherichia coli and the lowest bacterial reactivation rate (0.07%). Common water constituents (HCO3−, Cl−, natural organic matter) inhibited disinfection, with natural organic matter exerting the strongest suppression (2.7-log reduction). Notably, 1.0 mW·cm−2 exhibited the greatest resistance to interference. Elevated intensity reduced total organic halogen formation from 33.7 μg·L−1 to 19.0 μg·L−1. Balancing disinfection efficacy and DBP risk, 1.0 mW·cm−2 is identified as the optimal UV intensity for the UV/Cl2 process in sand-filtered water treatment.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202508081
Traditional soil thermal remediation requires high temperatures (>300 °C), which can damage soil structure, increase energy consumption, and elevate carbon emissions. This study developed a Cu–CeOx/TiO2 trimetallic catalyst to enable low-temperature thermal remediation of naphthalene-contaminated soil. Using nano-TiO2 as a support, catalysts with varying Cu/Ce ratios were prepared via impregnation-calcination. Material characterization (XRD, TEM, XPS, etc.) revealed that Cu and Ce incorporation induced crystal defects in TiO2, enhancing lattice oxygen activity and electron mobility, thereby generating more oxygen vacancies and hydroxyl radicals. Performance evaluation using a TGA-GC-FTIR-MS platform showed that the catalyst with Cu:Ce = 1:1 achieved the best remediation efficiency, reducing the thermal remediation temperature from 250 °C to 211.5 °C and increasing the removal rate by an average of 19.49% compared to the non-catalyst group at the same temperature. The catalyst facilitated stepwise degradation of naphthalene into smaller organic molecules (alcohols, carboxylic acids, aldehydes) and ultimately into H2O and CO2. This work demonstrates that Cu–CeOx/TiO2 significantly lowers the energy demand of thermal remediation, offering a promising approach for low-carbon remediation of organic-contaminated soils.
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.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3823-4
The global demand for chlorine gas continues to rise, driven by its indispensable role in chemical synthesis, disinfection, and wastewater treatment. Electrocatalytic chlorine evolution from seawater presents a promising alternative to the energy-intensive chlor-alkali process, yet it is hampered by the competing oxygen evolution reaction and the sluggish kinetics of chlorine evolution on conventional catalysts. Here, we report a novel hollow porous CoNiSe2/NiSe2 heterostructure nanosheet array synthesized via ion exchange and calcination, which exhibits exceptional catalytic activity and selectivity for the chlorine evolution reaction in acidic seawater-like electrolytes. The unique hollow porous morphology provides a high specific surface area, facilitating mass transport and exposing abundant active sites. Crucially, the heterointerface between CoNiSe2 and NiSe2 promotes d-p orbital hybridization between Co/Ni 3d and Se 4p states, which lowers the reaction energy barrier for chlorine evolution. The catalyst achieves a low overpotential of 108 mV to reach a current density of 100 mA cm−2 in 4.0 M NaCl acidic medium, with excellent stability and Cl2 selectivity. This work demonstrates the potential of non-noble metal selenides as efficient and durable catalysts for chlorine production, offering a pathway toward more sustainable chlor-alkali technology.
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.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2026020207
Although the production and use of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) have been completely banned in China since December 2021, historical production activities may still leave high-concentration residual contamination in localized areas. This study investigated a typical legacy site of historical HBCDs production in eastern China. Surface and core soil samples were systematically collected both inside and outside the former plant area to characterize the occurrence, spatial distribution, and environmental burden of HBCDs, and to evaluate associated human health risks. Results showed that HBCD concentrations in soils outside the plant area ranged from below detection limit to 6.90×10² ng·g⁻¹ dw, while those inside the plant area were substantially higher, reaching up to 1.18×10⁶ ng·g⁻¹ dw. γ-HBCD was the dominant isomer; however, its relative abundance was lower than that reported in commercial HBCD mixtures and in previous studies conducted near production facilities. Outside the plant, HBCDs concentrations in soil generally decreased with increasing distance from the site, yet remained detectable at a distance of approximately 10 km (15.2 ng·g⁻¹ dw). Within the plant area, HBCDs concentrations in soil cores decreased with depth, declining from 1.08×10⁴–1.18×10⁶ ng·g⁻¹ dw in surface soils to 1.05–93.5 ng·g⁻¹ dw at depths of about 4 m. Analysis of the relative cumulative environmental burden indicated that although HBCDs loads were highest in the near-source area, they gradually accumulated over a broader spatial scale. Approximately 23.7%, 40.1%, 60.0%, and 87.1% of the total estimated burden accumulated within 2 km, 2.81 km, 4 km, and 6 km from the site, respectively. Health risk assessment indicated that oral ingestion of soil was the primary exposure pathway for different populations. Localized high-contamination zones within the plant area contributed significantly to non-carcinogenic risks, while overall risks for children outside the plant area were at acceptable levels.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3981-7
Solution-processable quasi-2D perovskites are promising laser gain media due to their high exciton binding energy and improved stability relative to 3D counterparts. However, conventional synthesis yields mixed n-value phases, introducing interfacial defects and energetic disorder that impede charge injection into desired emission centers. Here, we report the first demonstration of stimulated emission from a phase-pure quasi-2D perovskite (n=8) achieved via a solvent-sieving method for selective phase removal. This dynamic purification yields near-unity phase purity (99.85%) with no detectable low-n phases, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The phase-pure film exhibits a narrower and more intense (001) diffraction peak (FWHM 0.16 nm, intensity 16,129) compared to pristine films (FWHM 0.22 nm, intensity 3,304), indicating enhanced crystallinity and increased grain size. Time-resolved photoluminescence reveals a prolonged carrier lifetime of 6.98 ns, suggesting reduced trap density. Atomic force microscopy shows a nearly pinhole-free surface with root mean square roughness of 1.18 nm. Consequently, the amplified spontaneous emission threshold is reduced to 13.82 μJ cm−2, a 12.5% improvement over conventional mixed-phase films (15.8 μJ cm−2). This work provides an efficient route to pure-phase quasi-2D perovskites for low-threshold lasers.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608026
Biochar and microbial inoculants are widely used for agricultural soil amendment. To investigate the effects of different straw biochars and Bacillus subtilis inoculant, applied individually or combined, on nitrogen transformation in dryland soil, a 60-day laboratory incubation experiment was conducted with six treatments: control (CK), 4% rice straw biochar (S), 4% rapeseed straw biochar (Y), 4% rice straw biochar plus 5 mg/kg inoculant (SJ), 4% rapeseed straw biochar plus 5 mg/kg inoculant (YJ), and inoculant alone (J). Results showed that rice straw biochar significantly increased soil nitrate nitrogen content by 148.74%–152.68% compared to CK, enhancing nitrification. Combined application with inoculant further increased average net nitrogen mineralization rate by 77.28%–99.38%. Conversely, rapeseed straw biochar decreased nitrate nitrogen by 51.66%–57.61%, and combined application reduced net nitrogen mineralization rate by 82.07%–84.73%. Treatments S, Y, SJ, and YJ promoted microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) synthesis, with S and Y increasing MBN by 2.02- and 2.20-fold over CK, respectively. Combined treatments further increased MBN by 103.26%–149.44% relative to single biochar treatments. These findings indicate that biochar type governs nitrification and net nitrogen mineralization, while combined application exerts synergistic effects on MBN. For comprehensive dryland soil improvement, YJ treatment is optimal, reducing inorganic nitrogen loss risk and enhancing microbial nitrogen activity.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4044-3
Efficient sequestration of radioactive iodine species (I2, CH3I, I3−) is vital for nuclear safety and environmental protection. However, developing multifunctional adsorbents that remain effective under diverse conditions remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report two functionalized PD-COFs (PD-WS and PD-WY) with moderate crystallinity, outstanding thermal stability, and robust chemical resistance. They exhibit superior adsorption performance in both gas and liquid phases. Specifically, at 75°C, PD-WY achieves capacities of 4.88 g g−1 for I2, 1.55 g g−1 for CH3I, and 5.55 g g−1 for the I2/CH3I mixture, while high capacities are also retained at room temperature. In solution, PD-WY adsorbs up to 3.56 g g−1 of I3− in water and 2.00 g g−1 of iodine in cyclohexane. These COFs display rapid kinetics (K80% = 3.25 g g−1 h−1 for I2 and 7.89 g g−1 h−1 for I3−) and excellent selectivity. Mechanistic studies indicated that the excellent iodine affinity of PD-COFs arises from their rich electronic structures, abundant active sites, and charge transfer interactions. These findings position PD-COFs as highly promising adsorbents for nuclear waste treatment and environmental remediation.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4099-2
Lithium (Li)-metal batteries (LMBs) are promising next-generation energy storage systems due to their high theoretical capacity (3860 mAh g−1) and low electrochemical potential (−3.04 V vs. standard hydrogen electrode). However, uncontrollable Li dendrite growth and volume fluctuations during cycling cause low Coulombic efficiency, safety hazards, and rapid capacity decay. Conventional 3D current collectors mitigate these issues by increasing surface area and providing void space, but they suffer from top-heavy deposition and underutilization of internal space. Emerging Janus/gradient anode structures, featuring asymmetric or gradient properties in lithiophilicity, conductivity, or porosity, enable bottom-up Li plating and efficient space utilization. This review systematically summarizes design principles, operational mechanisms, and recent progress in lithiophilic-lithiophobic Janus designs, conductivity-gradient frameworks, and dual-gradient configurations. These structures collectively improve Coulombic efficiency, cyclic longevity, and safety. The review concludes with future research directions, underscoring the potential of Janus/gradient anodes for high-energy-density and durable LMBs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4222-9
The proliferation of high-frequency communication technologies has escalated electromagnetic (EM) pollution, posing risks to health and device reliability. Conventional microwave absorbers dissipate EM energy as heat, creating thermal management burdens and energy waste. This study introduces Bi2Se3 nanosheets, a topological insulator with surface conductivity and internal insulation, as a dual-functional material capable of both microwave absorption and thermoelectric conversion. Nanosheets with controlled morphology were synthesized via a polyol reduction method, with thickness and lateral size tuned by preparation conditions. The resulting composites exhibited excellent microwave absorption, achieving a broad absorption bandwidth of 2.95 GHz at sub-millimeter thickness. A multilayered structure design enabled full-band absorption from 2 to 18 GHz using a single absorbent. The Seebeck coefficient, derived from temperature differences up to 110 °C, was -152 μV/K, indicating efficient conversion of absorbed EM energy into electrical energy. This work demonstrates the potential of Bi2Se3 nanomaterials for self-powered electromagnetic devices, addressing both EM pollution and energy supply challenges.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3535-8
The brain's selective visual attention mechanism (SVAM) enables robust visual recognition in noisy environments through diverse neural action potential peaks acting as filters. Spiking neural networks (SNNs) mimic this paradigm but limited noise immunity and high write current density hinder brain-like efficiency. Hardware implementing SVAM necessitates spiking spintronic devices with noise-resistant and low operation current densities; such devices remain unreported. Here, we report an orbit-torque (OT) actuated ferromagnetic spiking synapse and neuron featuring a tunable peak action potential. These are more akin to biological neurons with varying sensitivities to external sensory stimuli, thereby augmenting the perception aptitude of the system in complex surroundings. Capitalizing on the high-efficiency OT, the ferromagnetic device demands a write current density of 5 × 10^6 A/cm^2, which is an order of magnitude lower than other spiking devices actuated by spin-orbit torque. Leveraging these neuromorphic devices, an all-spin SNN with low current density and tunable action potential peak has been fabricated, successfully mimicking the SVAM. In complex noise environment, the SNN achieves 92% on Cifar-10 and 95% on MNIST dataset, surpassing state-of-the-art spin-based SNNs by 5%. Our work provides a promising avenue for exploring the SVAM-inspired spiking neuromorphic devices, enhancing the bionic performance of the SNNs.