SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4500-8
Electroreduction of CO2 to ethylene offers a promising route for renewable electricity storage, yet achieving high ethylene selectivity at industrial current densities remains challenging due to the large energy barrier for C–C coupling. Here, we report a “MOF-assisted in situ doping” strategy to introduce the oxophilic nonmetal phosphorus (P) into the copper oxide (CuO) lattice, constructing a localized Cu–P dual-site adsorption configuration for the key *OCCHO intermediate. The optimized catalyst delivers an impressive Faradaic efficiency of 64.6% for ethylene with a partial current density of 646 mA cm-2. Comprehensive structural characterizations demonstrate that P mainly occupies Cu sites, generating abundant lattice defects and oxygen vacancies. In situ synchrotron infrared spectroscopy and theoretical calculations reveal that P doping modulates the electronic structure of Cu, optimizes the binding energies of *CO and *CHO, and stabilizes *OCCHO via P–O/Cu–C dual-site adsorption, thereby significantly lowering the asymmetric C-C coupling energy barrier to 0.74 eV. This work highlights a dual-site microenvironment regulation strategy for CO2-to-ethylene electroreduction.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4302-9
The pre-deposited lead iodide (PbI2) film in two-step inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) often exhibits a dense structure, which impedes the diffusion and reaction of organic ammonium salts, leading to unreacted PbI2 residues and compromised device performance. To address this, 2,4-oxazolidinedione (OD) is introduced as a molecule additive into the PbI2 precursor solution. Owing to its stronger coordination with PbI2, OD effectively modulates its crystallization behavior, resulting in a porous structure. This porous structure significantly facilitates the diffusion and infiltration of organic ammonium salts, thereby minimizing PbI2 residue and enhancing the completeness of the perovskite conversion. Furthermore, OD and the constructed porous network jointly retard the crystallization kinetics of perovskite, promoting the formation of perovskite films with improved crystallinity and preferred crystal orientation. Therefore, the optimized PSCs achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 26.31%, and demonstrate excellent operational stability, retaining 90.24% of initial PCE for 1500 h at 25°C and 90.47% after 1000 h at 65°C. The champion device exhibits a VOC of 1.197 V, a JSC of 26.28 mA cm-2, and an FF of 83.58%, with negligible hysteresis. This study presents a straightforward yet effective approach to advancing the performance and stability of inverted PSCs fabricated via the two-step method.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4394-x
Spiral graphene, characterized by Bernal-stacked layers and unique electronic properties, holds promise for advanced quantum and optoelectronic devices. However, its controlled synthesis remains challenging. Here, we report the self-assembly growth of single-crystal spiral graphene on a liquid heterogeneous substrate via chemical vapor deposition (CVD). A 50-μm-thick Cu foil was placed on a Ni support and heated to 1083 °C, the melting point of pure Cu, ensuring a fully molten Cu layer on solid Ni. Growth proceeded for 30 minutes under optimized conditions. The resulting spiral graphene exhibits a uniform Bernal stacking configuration, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and selected-area electron diffraction. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) depth profiling and isotope-labeling experiments reveal that carbon incorporation occurs predominantly at the spiral step edges, following a self-assembly mechanism driven by the liquid substrate's dynamic surface. Control experiments on solid Cu-Ni alloys yield no spiral morphology, underscoring the critical role of the liquid phase. The liquid heterogeneous substrate facilitates rapid carbon diffusion and step-edge attachment, enabling the growth of high-quality single-crystal spirals with controlled layer number. This work provides a scalable route to synthesize spiral graphene with tailored stacking, advancing its application in twistronics and high-performance electronics.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4081-y
The evolution of precision medicine has propelled multimodal imaging-guided phototheranostics to the forefront for precise tumor diagnosis and therapy. Low-temperature photothermal therapy (PTT) offers a promising approach for the treatment of melanoma due to its non-invasiveness and minimal damage to normal tissues. However, its efficacy is limited by cancer cell thermal tolerance. To address this, a new type of multifunctional energy disruptor (CAMeO-Q NPs) is developed featuring homologous targeting and mitochondria targeting, and synergistically enhancing low-temperature PTT in melanoma by reversing heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90)-mediated thermal tolerance and blocking mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) biosynthesis. The multifunctional energy disruptor enables precise trimodal imaging (fluorescence imaging/FLI, photoacoustic imaging/PAI, and photothermal imaging/PTI) guidance for low-temperature PTT. Comprising a mitochondria-targeting photothermal agent and an Hsp90 inhibitor, CAMeO-Q NPs induce selective mitochondrial damage under 660 nm laser irradiation and downregulate cellular HSP expression by ATP inhibition and Hsp90 inhibitor. This multifunctional energy disruptor provides a novel strategy for enhancing multimodal imaging-guided low-temperature photothermal therapy through combined homologous targeting, mitochondria-targeting, and Hsp90 inhibition.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60662-7
Perovskite-type catalysts show promise for CO2 methanation, yet their low-temperature performance and mechanisms remain unclear. Here, a LaNiO3/CeO2 catalyst was synthesized via sol-gel and impregnation. In situ reduction decomposed the perovskite into highly dispersed Ni0 particles (average 12.6 nm) on CeO2, which provided abundant oxygen vacancies (Ce3+/(Ce3++Ce4+) = 9.2%) and weak/moderate basic sites. This synergy enhanced CO2 adsorption and activation. At 200–300 °C, the catalyst achieved ~100% CH4 selectivity and CO2 conversion up to 23.6% at 300 °C. Comparative studies with LaNiO3, LaCeNiO4, Ni/CeO2, and La-Ni/CeO2 revealed that the perovskite pre-structuration and in situ reduction optimize Ni dispersion and metal-support interactions, stabilizing Ni0 and tuning surface basicity and oxygen vacancies. This work provides a design strategy for efficient low-temperature CO2 methanation catalysts.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4129-y
Therapeutic biosynthesis is a promising strategy for precision cancer therapy, yet achieving controlled synthesis of abiotic materials within tumors remains challenging. Here, we report a “dual lock-and-key” system for tumor-specific intracellular synthesis. The precursor, termed “dual-lock,” is activated by two endogenously overexpressed enzymes—azoreductase (AzoR) and nitroreductase (NTR)—acting as “dual keys” in target cancer cells. This activation triggers a condensation reaction that produces fibrous mesh covalent organic polymers (Fm-COPs) in situ. Synthesized Fm-COPs effectively disrupt the cytoskeleton, inhibiting cell migration and invasion while inducing apoptosis. In vivo studies demonstrate that this strategy achieves specific tumor enrichment and deep penetration, leading to significant tumor growth inhibition (tumor inhibition rate >70%) without systemic toxicity, as evidenced by stable body weights and normal histopathology. The dual enzyme-responsive mechanism ensures high selectivity, and the small-molecule precursors facilitate efficient tumor penetration. This work presents a next-generation approach for high-precision cancer therapy, offering a biocompatible and autonomous strategy for intracellular synthesis.
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.