SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4313-7
Liquid-to-vapor mass transfer is central to energy and environmental processes. Conventional distillation relies on vapor-liquid equilibrium and device-level optimization, with materials playing passive structural roles. Non-boiling processes such as membrane distillation and interfacial solar evaporation localize phase change at confined interfaces, making mass transfer a materials-mediated transport phenomenon where interfacial structure and chemistry dictate evaporation kinetics, vapor escape, and solute rejection. Janus interface materials, featuring spatially separated hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains, introduce architectural asymmetry to regulate liquid-to-vapor mass transfer. This review summarizes recent advances, highlighting mechanisms including the cooperative pump-valve effect, nanoconfinement-enhanced transport, and mitigation of fouling and scaling. Representative applications in membrane distillation, solar-driven evaporation, and personal thermal-moisture management are systematically discussed. Key challenges and future opportunities are outlined, particularly in advancing fundamental understanding, scalable fabrication, and practical implementation.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4468-6
The proliferation of multispectral detection platforms demands materials that simultaneously satisfy electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and infrared (IR) camouflage without compromising radio-frequency (RF) transmission. Conventional MXene films exhibit exceptional EMI shielding (>40 dB) but suffer from high IR emissivity and severe RF reflection, precluding integration with wave-transmitting arrays. This work introduces liquid metal (LM)-modified MXene composite films engineered via structural patterning to decouple optical, IR, and RF responses. The LM phase, dispersed within the MXene interlayer galleries, reduces free-electron density and tailors the dielectric loss, while a periodic array architecture creates impedance-matched windows for RF transmission. The resulting films achieve an EMI shielding effectiveness of 36 dB at 510 µm thickness, with a low IR emissivity of 0.36 and an RF transmittance exceeding 80% in the X-band. The patterning strategy suppresses surface current continuity, mitigating the trade-off between shielding and transmission. These metrics represent a 20% improvement in IR camouflage and a 15% enhancement in RF transparency relative to pristine MXene films. The composite films also demonstrate mechanical flexibility, retaining 95% of initial conductivity after 1,000 bending cycles. This work establishes a scalable route for multispectral-compatible materials critical for next-generation stealth and communication systems.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4339-7
Neuromorphic computing demands energy-efficient synaptic devices that emulate biological plasticity. Optoelectronic memristors based on colloidal quantum dots (QDs) offer tunable bandgaps and solution processability, yet suffer from defect-mediated nonradiative recombination and instability. Here, we report ZnS-passivated CdZnSe core/shell QDs as the active layer in memristive devices, achieving enhanced synaptic emulation and information encryption. Time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) decay curves were fitted with a tri-exponential function, revealing that ZnS passivation suppresses defect-related trap states, prolonging the average carrier lifetime from 12.3 ns (CdZnSe) to 28.7 ns (CdZnSe/ZnS). The intensity proportion of the fast decay component (τ1 ≈ 1.2 ns) decreased from 45% to 18%, indicating reduced surface trapping. Devices incorporating CdZnSe/ZnS QDs exhibit stable bipolar resistive switching with an ON/OFF ratio exceeding 10^3, endurance of >10^3 cycles, and retention of >10^4 s. Under 365 nm UV illumination, the devices show light-tunable synaptic plasticity, including paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) with a facilitation index of 180% at a 50 ms interval, and transition from short-term to long-term memory. The memristors successfully emulate essential synaptic functions and are employed in a simple encryption scheme, demonstrating the potential of defect-passivated QDs for secure neuromorphic hardware.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4367-4
Single-crystalline Cs3Cu2I5 has attracted considerable interest owing to its excellent scintillation performance and favorable stability. Nevertheless, second phases induced by peritectic reactions during melt growth give rise to deteriorated scintillation properties and promote crystal cracking. In this work, the effects of non-stoichiometric ratios of raw material (n(CsI)=0.57, 0.62, and 0.63) on the crystallization behavior and scintillation properties were systematically investigated. The results show that the crystal quality is optimal at n(CsI)=0.62, featuring high transparency, absence of macroscopic inclusions, and cracking free, with a PLQY of 79.3%. Temperature-dependent photoluminescence verifies the self-trapped exciton emission mechanism with strong exciton-phonon coupling, giving an exciton binding energy of 473.9 meV and a Huang-Rhys factor S of 79.8. The as-grown crystal exhibits an optimized light yield of 24,380 photons/MeV, an energy resolution of 3.8% for 137Cs (662 keV) γ-rays, a dominant decay time of 957 ns, and excellent linear response in the medium-to-high energy region. Precise regulation of the raw material stoichiometry can effectively suppress the formation of second phases, yielding high-quality Cs3Cu2I5 single crystals whose comprehensive performance demonstrates promising application potential in γ-ray detection.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3553-7
Gesture interaction has emerged as a highly effective interface for intelligent human-computer interaction, attributed to its intuitive interaction modality and multi-dimensional control capabilities. However, traditional gesture interaction devices often depend on predefined encoding rules, which substantially limit interaction efficiency and degrade user experience. This study introduces an innovative intelligent finger ring interaction system based on a triboelectric nanogenerator utilizing PDMS/SrTiO3 composite thin film (PS-TENG). The system maps freehand writing gestures directly to textual information input, thereby eliminating the need for complex gesture encoding schemes and offering a user-friendly, low-learning-curve input method. By integrating a deep learning model, the system achieves recognition accuracies of 98.21% for English letters, 96.87% for Arabic numerals, and 96.44% for Chinese characters. Furthermore, it supports secure and encrypted data transmission and enables wireless interaction for gaming control. These findings indicate that the intelligent finger ring interaction system possesses significant potential for practical applications in information input and wireless control.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024112804
The rapid dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic environments poses serious threats to public health and environmental safety under the 'One Health' framework. Nanoplastics (NPs), as co-occurring pollutants, can exacerbate ARG risks by promoting horizontal gene transfer (HGT), yet the influence of different functional groups on extracellular ARG (eARG) transformation remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of carboxy-modified polystyrene NPs (PS-COOH) and amino-functionalized polystyrene NPs (PS-NH2) compared to unmodified polystyrene NPs (PS) on the transformation of the extracellular resistance plasmid IE-V1955 (carrying an ampicillin resistance gene) into Escherichia coli DH5α. Results showed that PS-COOH exposure promoted plasmid transformation similarly to PS, with effects increasing over 0.1–20 mg·L−1. Low concentrations (0.1–0.5 mg·L−1) of PS-NH2 also enhanced transformation, with stronger effects than PS-COOH at equal doses, whereas high concentrations (1–20 mg·L−1) inhibited it. Mechanistically, PS-COOH (0.1–20 mg·L−1) and low PS-NH2 induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased cell membrane permeability, elevated the protein-to-polysaccharide ratio in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and promoted biofilm formation, thereby facilitating transformation. High PS-NH2 concentrations caused excessive ROS leading to cell lysis and formed aggregates with plasmids larger than membrane pores, blocking uptake. These findings provide a theoretical basis for assessing the combined environmental health risks of NPs and ARGs.
The Chinese Journal of Process Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12034/j.issn.1009-606X.225250
Slag foaming is a critical phenomenon in electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking, enhancing thermal efficiency, suppressing metal splashing, and stabilizing the refining process. Accurate prediction and control of slag foaming are essential for green and efficient steelmaking. This review systematically examines research progress on slag foaming prediction, clarifying the applicability, advantages, and limitations of different predictive methods to support intelligent control of foamy slags. Following the framework of 'influencing factors-prediction methods-development trends', the study summarizes the coupling effects of multiple variables such as basicity, viscosity, surface tension, suspended particles, gas parameters, and temperature on foam formation and stability. It compares five major prediction approaches: empirical formulas, dimensionless modeling, thermodynamic calculations, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, and machine learning models, analyzing their core concepts, merits, and constraints. Results indicate that single models often struggle to balance real-time capability and accuracy, particularly under multi-variable coupling and complex operating conditions. Therefore, a hybrid prediction framework combining mechanism-based and data-driven models is proposed, emphasizing physical constraints, multi-scale coupling, and multi-source data fusion. This integrated approach is expected to advance slag foaming prediction from 'computable' to 'controllable and adjustable', offering methodological insights for the development of green and intelligent EAF steelmaking.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605024
The refined quantification of carbon footprint in engineering construction projects is critical for formulating targeted carbon reduction strategies during the materialization phase. This study integrates material flow analysis (MFA) with the emission factor method to establish a panoramic carbon flow model for engineering projects. Construction activities are categorized into processing and construction, and office and daily operations, clarifying material and carbon flow relationships within the system boundary and with external systems. Empirical analysis was conducted on the Hejiawan Bridge of Section 11 of the Xiyu High-Speed Railway. Results show that the total carbon flow amounts to 27,482,432.11 kg CO2eq, with direct carbon flow (fuel oil, gasoline) accounting for 7.6% and indirect carbon flow (products, transportation, electricity) accounting for 92.4%. From the material flow perspective, the total carbon flow comprises product carbon flow (72.88%), resource and energy carbon flow (25.73%), transportation carbon flow (1.04%), waste carbon flow (0.35%), and service carbon flow (0.01%). In terms of activity scope, construction-related carbon flow accounts for 99.17%, while office and daily operations account for 0.46%. Two indicators, material consumption carbon flow rate and energy consumption carbon flow rate, are proposed for the first time. Comparative analysis of five girder bridges reveals that the Hejiawan Bridge has a material consumption carbon flow rate of 3.91 kg CO2eq/kg, ranking highest among similar bridges, while its energy consumption carbon flow rate is 13.40 kg CO2eq/kg ec, at a medium level. The assessment indicates relatively high material consumption, suggesting potential for carbon reduction through structural and geological optimization.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3798-x
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the colorectal mucosa, where conventional enema therapies suffer from poor retention and limited inflammation modulation. Here, we report a highly fluid probiotic-containing enema solution (s-BSA-Fe+EcN) integrating bovine serum albumin (BSA), Fe2+, and probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN). The solution's high fluidity enables comprehensive coverage of irregular colorectal mucosa. Upon encountering reactive oxygen species (ROS)-rich inflamed lesions, Fe2+ mediates H2O2 scavenging and hydroxyl radical generation, triggering BSA crosslinking and in situ gelation into a conformal hydrogel (h-BSA-Fe+EcN). This targeted adhesion mitigates oxidative damage to host tissues and preserves probiotic viability. In a porcine model, endoscopic imaging confirmed inflammation-targeted gelation in vivo. In a dextran sulfate sodium-induced mouse colitis model, h-BSA-Fe+EcN demonstrated excellent therapeutic efficacy, reducing disease activity index and restoring colonic architecture. This strategy addresses the dual challenges of fluid perfusion and rapid ROS-responsive gelation, offering an advanced transanal treatment for UC.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202509067
Marine litter poses a significant threat to coastal ecosystems globally, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of its multi-compartment distribution and driving mechanisms for effective management. This study investigated the occurrence, composition, and sources of beach, sea surface, and seafloor litter in the northeastern Daya Bay, a semi-enclosed bay, during August–October 2024. Sampling included 11 beach transects, 6 surface transects, and 25 seafloor transects. Results showed that the mean density of large and very large beach litter was 4.41×10^5 items·km−2, while medium beach litter reached 5.39×10^6 items·km−2. Surface litter densities were 5.82×10^2 and 9.90×10^3 items·km−2 for large/very large and medium fractions, respectively. Seafloor litter averaged 5.20×10^3 items·km−2. Plastics dominated all compartments, accounting for 74.0% (beach), 96.0% (surface), and 78.8% (seafloor) of total litter. Source apportionment using NOWPAP methodology indicated that beach and surface litter primarily originated from coastal recreational activities, whereas seafloor litter was mainly derived from shipping and fishing. Beach quality assessment revealed that 63.6% of beaches were moderately clean or better (grade II–IV), and 90.9% were moderately safe or better (grade I–III). Hotspots included tourism beaches, tidal gyre areas, coral reef zones, and fishing grounds. The study underscores the need for targeted management, including improved waste collection on tourist beaches, dynamic cleaning protocols, and port reception facilities for fishing waste.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025030501
Coastal areas serve as critical ecological interfaces for the migration of terrestrial microplastics (MPs) into the ocean, and characterizing their pollution is essential for integrated coastal management. This study investigated the occurrence, sources, and ecological risks of MPs in surface waters of nearshore areas and river estuaries around Hainan Island, a typical tropical tourist island. MPs abundance ranged from 316.67 to 1300 n·m−3 in seawater and from 400 to 5416.67 n·m−3 in river water. In seawater, the dominant polymer was polyethylene terephthalate, with fibers being the predominant shape, size class 500–1000 μm, and white/transparent color. In river water, polypropylene-ethylene copolymer dominated, also as fibers, but with size class 100–500 μm and white/transparent color. Seawater MP abundance showed a significant positive correlation with tourist numbers, and distribution across functional areas followed: tourism areas > natural areas > aquaculture areas > residential areas. Multiple correspondence analysis identified household plastic waste, laundry wastewater, aquaculture, and fishery products as primary sources of seawater MPs. Principal component analysis indicated homologous characteristics between seawater and river MPs, suggesting rivers are a major pathway for terrestrial MP transport to coastal zones. Ecological risk assessment revealed low pollution loads, with potential ecological risks moderate for seawater and medium-low for river water. Notably, 15% of seawater sampling sites exhibited polymer risk level Ⅳ, primarily driven by polyacrylonitrile's high biological toxicity. These findings provide a scientific basis for developing MP pollution control strategies in Hainan Island.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202606001
Municipal sludge anaerobic resource recovery efficiency in China lags behind developed countries. Widespread chemical phosphorus removal increases iron and aluminum salt precipitates in waste activated sludge, forming chemical-biological sludge that reduces acidogenic efficiency. This study identified key factors and developed a high-precision prediction model. Integrating literature and experimental data, acidogenic performance indicators under various conditions were compiled. Five machine learning models—Backpropagation Neural Network, Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System, Support Vector Machine, K-Nearest Neighbors, and Random Forest—were systematically compared. Random Forest achieved the best predictive performance with a test set coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.9463, significantly outperforming others with minimal overfitting risk, demonstrating strong capability for high-dimensional, nonlinear, multi-factor coupled problems. Feature importance analysis revealed pH and Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS) as primary drivers, with aluminum salts exerting greater influence than iron salts. Engineering optimization should follow the pathway: 'adjust pH, stabilize organic matter, control aluminum salts'. This study provides an intelligent predictive tool and clarifies optimization directions, advancing precision and intelligent sludge treatment.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202505108
Open-pit mining in high-cold regions causes severe ecological degradation, including vegetation loss, soil structure destruction, and frequent freeze-thaw disturbances, complicating ecosystem recovery. This review systematically synthesizes the current status, theories, and key restoration technologies for degraded ecosystems in high-cold mining areas. Comparative analysis with typical high-cold degraded ecosystems worldwide reveals that high-cold mining areas face challenges such as frequent freeze-thaw cycles, hydrological disruption, wind erosion, and difficult vegetation establishment. We propose strengthening aboveground-belowground synergistic restoration: (1) aboveground restoration should focus on screening cold-resistant native plants and optimizing mixed community configurations, combined with plant growth-promoting multi-microbial consortia to facilitate vegetation recovery; (2) belowground restoration should be based on engineering soil profile reconstruction, integrating physical-chemical-biological multi-dimensional remediation techniques to achieve aboveground and belowground community reconstruction and functional recovery; (3) a progressive restoration framework is established, with short-term goals targeting soil stabilization and structure improvement, medium-term goals focusing on constructing multifunctional plant-soil communities, and long-term goals achieving self-sustaining, maintenance-free restored ecosystems. Finally, addressing the unclear mechanisms of aboveground-belowground synergistic interactions and insufficient environmental adaptability of restoration technologies, two prospects are proposed: (1) deepening research on aboveground-belowground synergistic mechanisms to reveal interactions between cold-tolerant microorganisms and plants; (2) advancing the development of characteristic restoration technologies adapted to high-cold environments.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202607012
This study investigated the effects of lychee wood biochar and lignin-degrading bacteria on compost maturity, substance transformation, and bacterial communities during the coupled process of aerobic composting and vermicomposting of cow dung and rice husk. Four treatments were established: no addition (CK), 5% (w/w) lychee wood biochar addition (T1), 0.5% (w/w) lignin-degrading bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus niger) addition (T2), and combined addition of 5% biochar and 0.5% bacteria (T3). Results showed that biochar and/or bacteria addition accelerated temperature rise, extended high-temperature duration to 13 days, and increased maximum temperature. Compared to CK, T1–T3 increased organic matter degradation by 3.97%–9.56%, humic acid content by 12.30%–24.09%, available phosphorus and potassium by 14.48%–32.50% and 6.97%–18.85%, respectively. NH3 emissions were reduced by 25.86%–34.26%, while nitrate nitrogen and total nitrogen increased by 12.83%–43.34% and 5.73%–13.18%, respectively. Seed germination index improved by 11.62%–29.20%. T3 exhibited the best overall performance. During aerobic composting, biochar and/or bacteria significantly increased relative abundances of Bacteroidota, Planctomycetota, and Acidobacteriota, but effects were not significant during vermicomposting. Functional genera such as Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Chryseolinea were enriched in both stages. The study concludes that adding 5% lychee wood biochar and/or 0.5% lignin-degrading bacteria to cow dung and rice husk in coupled composting-vermicomposting improves bacterial community structure, promotes organic matter degradation, enhances humification, reduces nitrogen loss, and accelerates compost maturity, with combined addition being most effective.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3975-2
The instability of oxygen redox activity in layered oxide cathodes, particularly the formation of localized electron holes on oxygen (O−) and subsequent anion dimerization, has been demonstrated to trigger rapid capacity degradation and severe voltage hysteresis. Our study primarily focuses on P3-type Na2/3Cu1/3Mn2/3O2, which demonstrates reversible oxygen redox with an exceptionally low voltage hysteresis of 0.05 V. Spectroscopic analyses demonstrate a reversible O2−→O− evolution in Na2/3Cu1/3Mn2/3O2 without O–O dimerization. Furthermore, Multilateral non-invasive magnetic methods reveal that strong Cu-O-Mn superexchange interactions during the metal-ligand redox process lead to delocalization of O− species and inhibition of irreversible O–O bonding, thereby enabling ultralow voltage hysteresis. This work establishes magnetic exchange engineering as a transformative strategy to unlock reversible oxygen redox in high-energy battery electrodes.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202512014
Mining activities cause severe soil degradation and microbial diversity loss, impeding ecological restoration. This study evaluated the effects of a novel soil amendment, microporous bio-gravel (MBG), on bacterial and fungal community structure and function in degraded soil from the Baiyinhua open-pit mine, Inner Mongolia. A pot experiment with four MBG-to-soil volume ratios (CK, L=1:3, M=1:2, H=1:1) was conducted, with a simplified plant community and uniform fertilization. After 180 days, soil samples were analyzed via high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics. Results showed that the medium ratio (M) significantly increased fungal Shannon index and evenness, while the high ratio (H) negatively affected bacterial communities. At phylum and genus levels, MBG promoted enrichment of Cyanobacteria and specific functional groups (e.g., nitrogen-fixing bacteria, Bacillus). Co-occurrence network analysis revealed peak complexity, modularity, and average degree in bacterial and fungal networks under the M treatment. Functional prediction indicated significant enrichment of pathways related to lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, nitrotoluene degradation, and plant-pathogen interactions, alongside increased abundance of saprotrophic and ectomycorrhizal fungi. Mantel and VPA analyses showed that MBG indirectly regulated microbial community structure by improving soil physicochemical properties and plant traits, with stronger effects on fungi than bacteria. In conclusion, MBG optimizes the soil microhabitat and plant-soil-microbe interactions, modulating microbial diversity, network complexity, and functional potential. The medium ratio (1:2) was most effective, demonstrating potential for ecological restoration of degraded mine soils.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60656-1
Under the carbon neutrality strategy, biomass boilers have emerged as key facilities for renewable energy utilization, yet are characterized by low-concentration SO2 emissions. Ca-based dry desulfurization presents a promising technology for biomass boiler flue gas purification due to its compact structure, low capital investment and simple operation and maintenance. However, it is generally limited by the low adsorbent utilization and insufficient desulfurization efficiency. Herein, this study developed a novel Ca-Mn composite adsorbent through a synergistic strategy integrating F127 surfactant to optimize dispersion and Mn loading to enhance oxidation efficiency. The resulting adsorbent not only significantly increased the breakthrough sulfur capacity of the Ca-based material but also markedly improved the synergistic removal of Hg0. It was demonstrated that the introduction of Mn elements and F127 effectively suppressed the agglomeration of Ca(OH)2 crystallites and induced an oxygen vacancy-rich structure, while simultaneously optimizing the pore structure of the adsorbent. The modified adsorbent exhibited the enlarged specific surface area and pore volume, which favored to enhance the reaction mass transfer and effectively prevent the pore blockage and coverage of active sites by desulfurization products. The Mn sites and oxygen vacancies formed catalytic centers, which not only accelerated the desulfurization reaction by promoting SO2 oxidation but also enabled the adsorbent to couple with Hg0 catalytic oxidation functionality. Consequently, the simultaneous removal of SO2 and Hg0 was significantly enhanced on the Ca-Mn composite adsorbent.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4021-5
Lead-free halide double perovskites have attracted significant attention owing to their eco-friendliness, structural tunability, and self-trapped exciton emission. Nevertheless, achieving efficient and stable near-infrared-II (NIR-II) luminescence, especially in materials incorporating lanthanide ions, remains a considerable challenge in photonics research. Herein, we report a notable advance in the design and synthesis of Sb3+-sensitized Cs2NaLuCl6:Er3+ double perovskite single crystals, which exhibit an unprecedented external quantum efficiency of 45.3% for emission at 1542 nm. Sb3+ acts as a broadband ultraviolet absorber and transfers energy to Er3+ via self-trapped exciton emission. Moreover, at high concentrations of Er3+, Er3+-Er3+ cross relaxation (2H11/2 + 4I15/2 → 4I9/2 + 4I13/2) selectively populates the NIR-emitting 4I13/2 state, suppressing competitive visible emission pathways. This synergistic host-sensitizer-activator design strategy, supported by density functional theory calculations, addresses long-standing efficiency limitations and opens new avenues for high-performance NIR-II emitters in bioimaging, night vision, and optical communications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4123-0
Aqueous aluminum-ion batteries (AAIBs) are promising for large-scale energy storage due to safety, sustainability, and theoretical high capacity. However, sluggish electron/ion transport in conventional cathodes limits rate capability. Here, we first propose high-entropy engineering of metal oxides (HEOs) as cathodes in AAIBs, leveraging the 'cocktail effect' and abundant electron transport pathways to enhance rate-capacity. Atomic-level interactions between different metal atoms broaden the d-band with reduced electronic level degeneracy, facilitating rapid electron transport, achieving one of the best rate capabilities (119.4 mAh g−1 at 10.0 A g−1) among metal-oxide cathodes. The disordered layered oxides formed with a high-entropy framework alleviate electrostatic repulsion between aluminum ions and the fixed lattice, mitigating structural degradation and imparting excellent cycling stability (over 95.1 mAh g−1 after 500 cycles at 2.0 A g−1). The optimized HEO-Cr cathode (Fe0.6Co0.6Ni0.6Mn0.6Cr0.6O4) exhibits outstanding rate performance and cycling stability. DFT simulations and electrochemical tests reveal that multi-transition metal incorporation, bandgap narrowing, and unique lattice structure drastically enhance electron transport efficiency. The layered phase formed after cycling, based on a high-entropy framework, overcomes challenges from high charge density aluminum ions, significantly enhancing cycling stability. This work paves the way for high-performance AAIBs and other aqueous multivalent metal ion batteries by rationally designing high-entropy engineering.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4181-6
Green hydrogen production via electrocatalytic water splitting is pivotal for sustainable energy, yet the high cost and scarcity of platinum (Pt) catalysts impede large-scale adoption. Ruthenium (Ru)-based materials emerge as promising alternatives, but their performance requires enhancement. Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), particularly ReS2, offer intrinsic 1T' phase with good conductivity and stability, yet suffer from inert surfaces limiting water adsorption. Here, we report a heterostructure comprising Ru nanoclusters anchored on ReS2 nanosheets (Ru/ReS2) to modulate electronic structure via d-p coupling. This design enhances water dissociation kinetics and optimizes hydrogen adsorption free energy (ΔG_H*). The Ru/ReS2 catalyst exhibits superior hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity in acidic media, achieving an overpotential of 47 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 38 mV dec−1, outperforming commercial Pt/C (overpotential 54 mV, Tafel slope 45 mV dec−1). Notably, it demonstrates exceptional stability, with negligible degradation after 10,000 cyclic voltammetry cycles, contrasting with Pt/C's 54 mV overpotential increase. Density functional theory calculations reveal that d-p coupling between Ru and ReS2 optimizes the electronic structure, facilitating water adsorption and dissociation. This work provides a rational strategy for designing efficient, durable, and cost-effective HER electrocatalysts for green hydrogen production.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3631-1
Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) offers cost and dynamic-response advantages over proton exchange membrane systems, yet commercial deployment is constrained by the alkaline stability of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) and the sluggish kinetics of non-precious metal catalysts. This work reports a series of poly(terphenyl-diphenylmethane piperidinium) (QPDPMTP) membranes synthesized with varied diphenylmethane (DPM) content. The alkyl chain of DPM induces pronounced microphase separation and elevates free volume fraction, yielding an OH− conductivity of 152 mS cm−1 at 80 °C for QPDPMTP-10. After 1032 h immersion in 6 M NaOH at 80 °C, the membrane retains 90.7% of its initial conductivity. An AEMWE cell integrating QPDPMTP-10 with a non-precious NiFeCo LDH/NiS/NF anode achieves 3.11 A cm−2 at 2 V in 1 M KOH at 80 °C and sustains 1 A cm−2 for 1800 h under gradient KOH concentration. These results establish a viable pathway for durable, low-cost AEMWE systems.