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/s40843-026-4439-4
Silk fibroin (SF) hydrogels are promising for neural regeneration but suffer from progressive stiffening due to excessive β-sheet assembly, limiting their use in traumatic brain injury (TBI) repair. This study introduces a dopamine (DA)-mediated synergistic topological entanglement strategy to construct an SF-DA/gelatin-DA composite hydrogel (SG). The system integrates covalent cross-linking, net cationic electrostatic repulsion, hydrogen bonding, and π-π stacking to regulate SF assembly dynamics at the molecular level. The resulting SG hydrogel maintains stable mechanical softness over extended periods, with a storage modulus of approximately 1.2 kPa after 28 days, compared to a 5-fold increase in pure SF hydrogels. The sustained softness promotes neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation and differentiation, with a 2.5-fold increase in βIII-tubulin expression and a 1.8-fold increase in GFAP expression after 14 days. In a rat TBI model, SG hydrogel implantation reduced glial scar formation by 40% and improved neurological function scores by 30% at 8 weeks. The hydrogel degrades at a rate of 12% per week, matching tissue regeneration. This multi-crosslinking approach offers a clinically translatable strategy for neural tissue engineering, addressing the critical bottleneck of mechanical instability in SF-based biomaterials.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4358-y
Oxygen electrocatalysis underpins the viability of proton-exchange-membrane water electrolyzers and rechargeable Zn–air batteries, yet commercial deployment remains constrained by the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which impose overpotentials exceeding 300 mV and accelerate catalyst degradation. This review, submitted to SCIENCE CHINA Materials (Manuscript ID SCMs-2026-1384.R1), synthesizes recent advances in rational catalyst design guided by the direct observation and theoretical treatment of reaction intermediates. The authors compile evidence from in situ characterization and computational modeling to establish that intermediate binding energies—particularly *OOH, *O, and *OH on Ru, Ir, Co, and Fe–N–C active sites—serve as predictive descriptors for activity and stability. Cited works demonstrate that 4f-modified Ru–O polarity, spin-balanced Janus Ir–Co magnetic atoms, and aligned d-orbital energy levels in dual-atom sites can shift rate-determining steps and lower activation barriers. The review further examines interfacial microenvironment engineering via anion adsorption, ligand functionalization, and S,N co-doped carbon confinement, which modulate local pH, water orientation, and mass transport. Emphasis is placed on dual-site mechanisms, including FeN6–CoN4 and Co-substituted Ni coordination polymers, where synergistic strong–weak adsorption coupling alters ORR pathways from adsorbate evolution to dissociation. The manuscript provides a critical assessment of descriptor reliability, noting that intermediate binding alone cannot capture dynamic reconstruction, electrolyte effects, or long-term operational stability. By integrating in situ spectroscopy with descriptor-based design, the review offers a framework for translating mechanistic insight into durable, cost-effective oxygen electrocatalysts for industrial electrolysis and metal–air batteries.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4448-y
Zero-dimensional (0D) hybrid metal halides are promising for optoelectronic displays, bioimaging, and anti-counterfeiting due to strong exciton localization and self-trapped exciton (STE) emission. However, low-toxicity, biocompatible zinc halides with blue emission remain scarce, hindered by structural isolation of [ZnBr4]2− tetrahedra, electron-phonon coupling, lattice distortion, and nonradiative relaxation. Here, we synthesize MPAZnBr4 (MPA = N-(3-aminopropyl) morpholine), a 0D zinc bromide halide. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals a monoclinic P21/c space group with a = 6.65190 Å, b = 16.11210 Å, c = 13.79640 Å, β = 94.5700°, Z = 4, and a calculated density of 2.394 g/cm3. The isolated [ZnBr4]2− tetrahedra are hydrogen-bonded to MPA cations, with the shortest Br···Br contact of 4.76 Å indicating weak inter-cluster electronic coupling. Upon photoexcitation, MPAZnBr4 exhibits bright blue emission centered at 450 nm with a full width at half maximum of 135 nm. Wavelength-dependent emission mapping confirms a single radiative pathway, while temperature-dependent photoluminescence identifies triplet STE emission with a thermal quenching activation energy of 55 meV. The extensive hydrogen-bonding network imparts remarkable structural stability, showing negligible photoluminescence decay under prolonged excitation or storage. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrate switchable and rewritable information encryption and decryption, enabling complex luminescent patterns. These findings provide a strategy for constructing highly stable, low-toxicity blue-emissive Zn-based 0D metal halides for advanced photonic and information-security applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4466-3
Conventional surface coating technologies for 45 steel are constrained by high processing temperatures, limited material compatibility, and insufficient interfacial bonding. This study introduces ultrasonic vibration-assisted mechanical coating (UVAMC) as a low-temperature deposition route that mitigates these limitations. The process yields a chromium coating on 45 steel with a nanoscale elemental interdiffusion transition layer at the interface, achieving a bonding strength of 66.0 MPa. The coating delivers improved corrosion resistance in aggressive environments while preserving the substrate's original compressive and tensile strength. The method also demonstrates broad process adaptability, successfully depositing copper, aluminum, and 316 stainless steel powders, and forming complex shapes such as the "SZU" pattern. These results establish UVAMC as a viable surface functionalization strategy for metallic materials, combining efficient deposition with operational flexibility.
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/s40843-026-4502-1
Near-infrared-II (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) luminescent materials are pivotal for deep-tissue bioimaging and optical communication, yet their performance is often limited by low quantum yields and thermal quenching. Here, we report a thermal-enhanced NIR-II luminescence in Sb3+/Er3+ co-doped Cs3GdCl6 microcrystals synthesized via a modified Bridgman method. Under ultraviolet excitation, the co-doped microcrystals exhibit intense NIR-II emission centered at 1532 nm corresponding to Er3+: 4I13/2 → 4I15/2 transition, with a maximum relative sensitivity of 1.2% K−1 at 303 K. Notably, the integrated NIR-II emission intensity increases by 2.3-fold from 298 K to 373 K, demonstrating anomalous thermal enhancement. This behavior is attributed to the thermally activated energy transfer from Sb3+ sensitizers to Er3+ activators, as confirmed by temperature-dependent photoluminescence spectra and decay kinetics. The energy transfer efficiency reaches 86% at room temperature and further improves with rising temperature. The microcrystals also show excellent photostability, retaining 95% of initial intensity after 120 min continuous UV irradiation. Furthermore, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept wireless optical communication link using the microcrystals as a NIR-II phosphor, achieving a signal-to-noise ratio of 30 dB at 400 Hz modulation frequency. These findings provide a new strategy for designing thermal-enhanced NIR-II luminescent materials and expand their potential in temperature sensing and optical communication.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4138-5
Electrocoagulation (EC) has emerged as a promising electrochemical technology for wastewater treatment, offering distinct advantages over conventional chemical coagulation and membrane processes. This review systematically summarizes recent advancements in EC, focusing on the underlying mechanisms, key operating parameters, and diverse technical applications. The EC process involves three stages: electrolytic oxidation and in-situ coagulant formation, destabilization of contaminants, and floc formation. Unlike chemical coagulation, EC requires no external chemical additives, and process control is achieved by adjusting current density, voltage, or electrode materials, enabling adaptation to varying wastewater qualities. The review highlights the influence of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on EC efficiency, as clarified by Luo et al. (Water Research, 2025). Furthermore, it discusses reactor design innovations, including continuous-flow and cascade-type configurations, and the role of current waveforms in mitigating electrode passivation. The integration of EC with membrane bioreactors and forward osmosis is also examined, demonstrating enhanced treatment performance and fouling mitigation. Key challenges, such as energy consumption and electrode scaling, are addressed, along with future research directions. This comprehensive analysis provides a critical framework for optimizing EC systems and scaling them for industrial wastewater treatment, emphasizing the need for holistic reactor design and process integration to achieve sustainable water reuse.
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/s40843-026-4213-x
Lipid peroxyl radicals (ROO·) are terminal propagating species in lipid peroxidation, driving oxidative damage in neurological disorders. Their prolonged lifetime and rapid diffusion within lipid membranes render them difficult to neutralize. Here, we report a bioelectric-responsive TEMPO-doped polydopamine (PDA@TEMPO) nanozyme that sustains catalytic interception of ROO· radicals under persistent oxidative stress. By coupling a PDA redox reservoir with TEMPO catalytic centers, the nanozyme establishes a self-regenerating radical-neutralization cycle via proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET). The π-conjugated framework facilitates charge migration and enables an electric-field-enhanced antioxidant response. In a seizure model, the nanozyme dynamically responds to bioelectric fluctuations, accelerating radical interception and alleviating oxidative stress in neural microenvironments. These findings establish bioelectric-coupled nanozymes as a general strategy for catalytic and sustained regulation of oxidative stress in neural microenvironments, providing a potential therapeutic approach for neurological disorders.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4217-y
Rational design and construction of effective photocatalysts is a promising way for green and sustainable chemistry, but still a great challenge. Herein, taking triphenylamine-containing aldehydes as reactants, two covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs), tris(4-formylphenyl)amine (TPA)-CTF and tris(4-formylbiphenyl)amine (TBPA)-CTF, were rationally constructed. The strong electron donor property of the triphenylamine moieties derived from the initial reactants and the strong electron acceptor nature of the in-situ formed built-in triazine rings in CTFs endowed these robust triphenylamine-based CTFs with donor-acceptor (D-A) or donor-π-acceptor (D-π-A) structure features. Photocatalytic experiments revealed that, compared with the controlled phenyl analogue CTF, 1,3,5-tri(p-formylphenyl)benzene (TFPB)-CTF, both of the triphenylamine-based CTFs exhibited superior photocatalytic activity not only in photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide generation, but also in photocatalytic aerobic oxidations of diverse organic substrates. Theoretical studies further confirmed that their enhanced photocatalytic performance should be attributed to their unique D-A or D-π-A features in the constructed triphenylamine-based CTFs. This work successfully demonstrated that rational selection of reactants containing electron donor moieties to construct CTFs should be a reliable way for the construction of effective photocatalysts for photocatalytic oxidation reactions.
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/s40843-025-3664-x
The proliferation of electronic devices and wireless communications has escalated the demand for materials that simultaneously provide electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and infrared (IR) thermal camouflage, a combination critical for military and civilian applications. Traditional metallic shields suffer from high density, poor processability, and cost, while polymer-based alternatives often lack sufficient shielding effectiveness and environmental stability. Here, we report a multilayer composite film fabricated via layer-by-layer vacuum filtration and hot-pressing, integrating modified aramid nanofibers (ANF) and MXene (Ti3C2Tx) nanosheets. The film architecture comprises ANF-polypyrrole (ANF-PPy) as the matrix and Ag-MXene as the functional filler, with in-situ grown Ag nanoparticles intercalating between MXene layers to enhance interlayer spacing and electromagnetic wave scattering. At a thickness of only 33 μm, the film achieves an average EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of 66.75 dB and a specific shielding effectiveness (SSE/t) of 38432.54 dB cm2 g−1. The multilayer structure promotes multiple internal reflections and interfacial polarization losses, while the tight integration ensures high IR reflectivity. This work establishes a foundation for developing multifunctional protective materials with dual EMI shielding and IR camouflage capabilities, addressing the critical bottleneck of simultaneous performance in ultrathin, flexible formats.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3617-x
Macrophages are pivotal in infection resolution and tissue repair via dynamic M1-to-M2 phenotypic polarization. Although various nano-biomaterials can modulate macrophage polarization, achieving sequential M1-to-M2 transition using a single nanoformulation remains challenging. Here, we propose a strategy employing transition metal carbide/nitride (MXene) nanosheets, internalized by macrophages, as the sole regulator to induce sequential polarization. Under a rotating magnetic field, the high electrical conductivity and magnetoelectric activity of endocytosed MXene generate electrical signals and reactive oxygen species (ROS), driving M1 polarization. Upon magnetic field removal, the inherent bioactivity of MXene facilitates repolarization to the M2 phenotype. Mechanistically, this transition involves inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway and activation of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. In vivo, MXene nanosheets under on-off rotating magnetic field stimulation enabled sequential M1-to-M2 polarization, promoting bacterial clearance and tissue regeneration in infected wounds. This two-step sequential strategy targeting macrophages offers a promising therapeutic approach for infected wound healing.
New Carbon Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(25)61033-X
Carbon-based materials have gained significant attention in anticancer treatment due to their exceptional biocompatibility, yet critical challenges persist in establishing definitive correlations between their porous structures and functional performance. We report the use of a silica template to guide pore formation in the design of mesoporous carbon spheres (mC) with tailored pore structures for improved combined photothermal-chemotherapy. The mesopore size of mC was adjusted by kinetic control of resin polymerization and silica hydrolysis. Structural characterization showed that 4.4 nm mesopores enabled an exceptional gemcitabine loading of 228 mg g−1 and a sustained pH/thermal dual-responsive release with >70% drug release under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. Finite element analysis demonstrated pore size-dependent heat transfer dynamics, with the improved mC achieving a superior photothermal conversion efficiency of 62% by a combination of N-doping and defect engineering. In vitro evaluations confirmed outstanding biocompatibility with >95% cell viability at 200 μg mL−1 and potent tumor suppression in pancreatic and biliary cancer models with an ~5% cell viability at 25 μg mL−1 where combined therapy showed a 3.7-fold increased cytotoxicity over monotherapy. The improved structure of mC facilitated cascade therapeutic effects with enhanced tumor permeability derived from NIR-triggered hyperthermia and prolonged therapeutic exposure due to pH-responsive drug release. This pore engineering strategy establishes a structure-function process for next-generation theranostic platforms, addressing the critical limitations of conventional pancreatic and biliary cancer therapies through spatiotemporal control of multimodal treatment.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3698-5
The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a critical bottleneck in next-generation sustainable energy systems due to its sluggish kinetics. Developing cost-effective, high-efficiency electrocatalysts requires understanding the dynamic structural evolution at electrode-electrolyte interfaces under operating conditions. In situ techniques are invaluable for identifying active centers and monitoring key intermediates. This review comprehensively summarizes recent advances in cutting-edge in situ methods for characterizing OER electrocatalyst structure evolution. It provides a brief overview of active motifs and robust structures using multiple in situ correlative techniques, establishing essential structure-performance relationships and updating mechanistic understanding at atomic scale under realistic conditions. Key challenges and perspectives are highlighted to promote rational design of promising electrocatalysts for efficient oxygen-associated electrocatalysis and electrosynthesis.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3666-2
Light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) are promising for low-cost, solution-processed display and lighting applications, yet achieving high efficiency and color purity remains challenging. Here, we report two ionic multi-resonance (MR) emitters with narrowband blue emission for high-color-purity LECs. By covalently bonding an imidazolium functional group into a boron/nitrogen-doped polycyclic skeleton, the emitters retain the narrowband emission and high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of the MR core while gaining ionic character. The design exploits two types of nitrogen atoms in the imidazolium unit: the pyrrolic N at the 1-position forms a para-B-π-N linkage, elevating excited-state energy levels and blue-shifting emission; the pyridinic N at the 3-position provides a quaternization site, yielding intrinsically ionic emitters compatible with ionic hosts. The emitters exhibit blue emission with narrow full-width at half-maximum of 26–27 nm and high PLQYs of 95%–97% in solid-state films. LECs based on these emitters achieve narrowband blue electroluminescence with CIE coordinates of (0.12, 0.26) and a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 4.6%, representing the first narrowband blue LECs based on intrinsically ionic MR emitters. This work demonstrates a viable molecular design strategy for high-color-purity LECs, addressing the long-standing trade-off between efficiency and color purity in this technology.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3506-3
Metallic glasses (MGs) often suffer from sluggish hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) kinetics in neutral and alkaline media, with their catalytic performance predominantly confined to acidic environments. Herein, we reported a novel thermoplastic forming technique to fabricate a self-supported partially crystallized nanoporous Pt56.2Ni5.2Cu16.8P21.8 metallic glass (C-NPMG). The C-NPMG catalyst delivers ultralow overpotentials of 18.0 mV (0.5 M H2SO4), 42.2 mV (1 M KOH), and 88.0 mV (1 M phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)) at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, outperforming most state-of-the-art non-noble MGs and Pt-based benchmarks across all pH conditions. Notably, it maintains negligible performance decay for over 1000 h in alkaline electrolytes, showcasing superior stability. Experimental and computational analyses reveal that the enhanced HER activity arises from three synergistic effects: (1) the high-specific-surface-area nanoporous architecture that maximizes active site exposure; (2) the formation of crystallite-amorphous interfaces during partial crystallization, which lowers the energy barrier for H2 desorption; (3) the hierarchical super-hydrophilic and super-hydrophobic wettability of the C-NPMG, which optimizes mass transport and prevents electrolyte-induced corrosion. This work establishes a novel design paradigm for developing high-performance, pH-universal HER electrocatalysts by integrating structural nano-engineering and crystallite-amorphous phase synergy in metallic glass systems to overcome the trade-offs between performance and stability in electrochemical water splitting.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3625-3
Zirconia (ZrO2)-based fluorite ferroelectric materials are promising for nonvolatile memory and logic devices due to their CMOS compatibility and cost advantages over hafnium oxide (HfO2). However, the metastable nature of the ferroelectric orthorhombic phase (o-phase) hinders practical application. Here, we report the strain-mediated stabilization of the ferroelectric o-phase in ZrO2 thin films grown on niobium-doped strontium titanate (NSTO) substrates with different crystallographic orientations via chemical solution deposition. Systematic structural and ferroelectric characterization, combined with simulation, reveals that substrate orientation controls in-plane tensile strain, selectively promoting epitaxial growth of the o-phase. The ZrO2 film on NSTO(110) exhibits the highest o-phase content, achieving a remanent polarization (2Pr) of 92.64 μC/cm², which remains as high as 88.54 μC/cm² after resistive-capacitive (RC) delay calibration. The device shows endurance of approximately 10^7 cycles with favorable fatigue characteristics. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) further indicates distortion of Zr-O tetrahedra, providing microscopic insight into the ferroelectricity. This work presents a novel strategy for property tuning of ZrO2 films and supports their application in storage and logic devices.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3663-6
Escalating global climate change has precipitated a dramatic surge in building cooling/heating energy demands, critically undermining urban sustainability. Although dynamic thermal management technologies show potential for reducing architectural carbon footprints, prevailing active regulation systems remain constrained by energy-intensive mode-switching mechanisms and unsustainable operational costs. Here, we develop a zebra-inspired radiative modulator (ZIRM) that achieves climate-customized building thermal management through spatially partitioned integration of radiative cooling (RC) and heating (RH) functional units. The material breakthrough resides in a hybrid thin-film architecture combining a cellulose acetate/Zeolitic imidazolate framework-L (ZIF-L) porous membrane (solar reflectance ~95%, thermal emissivity ~0.88) with an MXene/ZIF-67 derived carbon-based absorption layer (solar absorption ~93%, thermal emissivity ~0.37), resolving the opto-thermal coupling limitations inherent to conventional materials. Experimental verification demonstrates that programmable regulation of the RC/RH area ratio enables broad-range temperature differential control from −4.3 to 12.1 °C during daytime operation. Building energy simulations reveal ZIRM’s annual energy consumption of 1.45×10^10 GJ, corresponding to 9.9% and 2.7% reductions compared to pure RC and RH systems, respectively. The established “configuration-environment-performance” predictive model pioneers a paradigm-shifting solution for carbon-neutral architecture, synergizing material innovation with climate-customized engineering strategies.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3503-9
This correction addresses an image misuse in the original publication (Sci China Mater, 2025, 68(6): 2095, DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3311-6). Specifically, a fluorescent image in Fig. 4d, depicting live/dead cells after treatment with MPDA@TMZ without laser irradiation, was erroneously presented. The corrected Fig. 4 is provided, and the authors confirm that the results and conclusions of the original paper remain unaffected. The correction ensures the integrity of the reported data, particularly the cell viability and apoptosis assays. The study focuses on mesoporous bowl-shaped polydopamine (MPDA) nanoparticles co-loaded with temozolomide (TMZ) and indocyanine green (ICG) for synergistic glioblastoma therapy. The corrected figure includes CLSM images of G422 cells after incubation with various formulations (ICG, sPDA@ICG, mPDA@ICG, MPDA@ICG), cell viability curves, quantitative fluorescence intensity, live/dead staining, and apoptosis quantification. Statistical significance is denoted as ****p < 0.01. The correction maintains the scientific validity of the findings, which demonstrate the potential of MPDA-based nanoplatforms for combined chemo-photothermal therapy.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3702-0
Construction of metal-mediated redox sites is an appealing approach to enhance photocatalytic CO2 reduction coupled with H2O oxidation. However, conventional static redox sites generally lack spatiotemporal matching during reaction processes due to the constraints of rigid structure and the linear scaling relationship of adsorbed species. Herein, an alkanolamine-Ir synergistic system was developed, where flexible monoethanolamine (MEA) molecules function as molecular ferries to selectively adsorb CO2 via carbamate formation, while adjacent Ir nanoparticles (NPs) serve as H spillover hubs that relay protons, creating spatiotemporal adaptability that synchronizes CO2 reduction and water oxidation. In addition, time-resolved in situ spectroscopy directly captures the rapid transformation of carbamate intermediates concurrent with sustained IrOOH intermediates formation. Microkinetic modeling further demonstrates that the MEA-Ir modified system (M-Ir/ACN) creates interconnected H spillover networks between Ir NPs and MEA, facilitating efficient proton transport that drives *COOH formation with a favorable thermodynamic energy. As a result, the M-Ir/ACN achieves a 20-fold increase in CO production compared to the pristine sample while maintaining high stability throughout 45 h of continuous operation. This study presents that flexible molecular ferries boost CO2 adsorption, and deciphers how flexible molecular-metal synergy directs the trafficking of CO2-derived intermediates toward highly efficient CO2 photoreduction.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3748-9
Direct regeneration is a sustainable solution for recycling spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), yet the irregular strains induced by the irreversible FePO4 phase after cycling hinder Li+ replenishment in spent LiFePO4 cathodes. This study proposes a lattice stress modulation strategy that reduces FePO4 to Fe2P2O7, reducing unit cell volume from 271.7 to 122.6 Å3, releasing residual stress and reconstructing continuous Li+ transport channels. The phase transformation reconstructs FeO6 octahedra, lowering the migration energy barrier for ions. This synergistically weakens steric effects, facilitating Li+ replenishment and eliminating Li-Fe anti-site defects. Regenerated LiFePO4 cathodes achieve 80.2% capacity retention after 1000 cycles at 2C, outperforming commercial cathodes. The work establishes fundamental principles for the pre-treatment stage of direct regeneration and provides a paradigm-shifting solution for sustainable LIB recycling.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3785-5
The effective separation and utilization of photo-generated carriers are critical for advancing photocatalysis, particularly in coupled reactions of H2 production and value-added chemical synthesis. Here, a sandwich-structured MnO2@ZnIn2S4@Ti3C2 hollow sphere was designed, with MnO2 and Ti3C2 loaded on the inner and outer surfaces of ZnIn2S4, respectively. MnO2 acts as an oxidation cocatalyst collecting photo-generated holes, while Ti3C2 serves as a reduction cocatalyst for electrons, promoting spatial separation of carriers and enabling spatially separated redox reactions. The hollow structure enhances light harvesting. The optimal catalyst achieves photocatalytic H2 production rate of 6.29 mmol g−1 h−1 and benzaldehyde production rate of 5.26 mmol g−1 h−1 from benzyl alcohol oxidation, significantly outperforming ZnIn2S4, MnO2@ZnIn2S4, and ZnIn2S4@Ti3C2. In situ irradiated X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms effective carrier separation. In situ electron paramagnetic resonance and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy reveal reaction intermediates. This work provides a strategy for designing efficient photocatalysts for coupled H2 production and selective oxidation.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202506081
Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are promising for degrading organic pollutants in water treatment. Heterogeneous catalytic ozonation (HCO) has gained attention due to its high oxidation efficiency, strong interference resistance, and low secondary pollution. In this study, a series of trimetallic-carbon composite ozone catalysts were prepared via an organic precursor calcination method using γ-Al2O3 as support. This method enhanced catalytic activity and mechanical strength while overcoming the limitations of carbon materials (low mechanical strength) and metal-based materials (poor mass transfer). The optimized catalyst, CA-FeCoCu, comprising Fe, Co, Cu, carbon, and alumina, exhibited excellent performance in phenol degradation and real industrial wastewater treatment. Characterization revealed that the synergistic effect of trimetals and the introduction of multiple carbon types increased specific surface area and hydroxyl radical (·OH) generation. In a pilot-scale fixed-bed reactor, the CA-FeCoCu/O3 system reduced COD from 120 mg·L−1 to below 40 mg·L−1, with an O3 consumption ratio (O/C) of less than 1, effectively lowering operational costs. This work provides a new strategy for developing efficient and stable heterogeneous O3 catalysts and offers a reference for the practical application of HCO in industrial wastewater treatment.
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.
The Chinese Journal of Process Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12034/j.issn.1009-606X.225213
Gas-liquid stirred tanks are widely used in oxidation, hydrogenation, and other chemical processes, where the gas dispersion state directly affects production efficiency. This study systematically investigated the effects of impeller type, impeller installation height, and rotational speed on gas-liquid dispersion in a stirred tank equipped with a porous tube sparger. Two typical impellers, a wide hydrofoil (WH) and a half-elliptical disk turbine (HEDT), were tested at various installation heights (L/D ratios) and gassing rates. The critical rotational speed for complete gas dispersion, agitation power consumption, and overall gas holdup were measured. Results showed that for both impellers, the critical Froude number (Fr) decreased significantly with increasing gas flow number (FlG). Under the same gassing rate, the HEDT impeller generally required a higher critical Fr and greater agitation power for complete dispersion compared to the WH impeller. Relative power demand (RPD) decreased as FlG increased, with a more pronounced decline at higher L/D ratios. At different impeller positions, the RPD of the HEDT impeller was higher than that of the WH impeller, indicating that the HEDT impeller's power was less affected by gas. Notably, the impeller installation height significantly influenced gas holdup and power consumption. When L/D = 0.75, higher gas holdup and lower power consumption were observed. This work provides crucial theoretical and data support for optimizing the design of gas-liquid stirred tanks with gas sparging, offering clear engineering value for enhancing mass transfer efficiency and energy-saving operation in chemical processes.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4028-5
The escalating thermal management demands of modern electronics necessitate materials with superior thermal conductivity and matched thermal expansion. Cu/Diamond composites are promising, yet their fabrication typically requires extreme conditions (high temperature/pressure) or complex coating processes. This work introduces a one-step, heat-source-free cold manufacturing method using ultrasonic vibration to consolidate Cu/Diamond composites at room temperature and a low pressure of ~16 MPa within seconds. The applied pressure is reduced by 200–500 times, and the required temperature is only 20% of that used in conventional high-temperature high-pressure sintering. Direct metallurgical bonding at Cu-Cu interfaces and solid embedding of diamond particles in the Cu matrix are achieved, yielding a composite with a high yield strength of 150 MPa. The method enables a maximum diamond proportion of ~60%, resulting in a thermal conductivity exceeding 1043 W/(m·K) and a coefficient of thermal expansion below 10×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹. Complex shapes are readily fabricated, and heat dissipation tests demonstrate superior performance compared to commercial Al₂O₃ and AlN substrates. The loose preparation conditions and rapid processing confer significant industrial production potential.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3545-7
Magnetically driven hydrogel robots show promise in biomedical and underwater applications due to remote controllability, flexibility, biocompatibility, and chemical stability. However, limited functional integration restricts their adaptability. Here, a universal modular assembly strategy is introduced using a self-healing κ-carrageenan/polyacrylamide hydrogel embedded with magnetic particles, enabling free assembly of magnetic actuation modules. These modules construct soft robots with complex geometries and magnetization distributions, allowing diverse deformations under magnetic fields. The strategy further integrates photocatalysis by embedding Ru-Bi2CrO6 photocatalysts into functional modules, yielding an oxygen-generating robot. This robot exhibits flexible underwater movement via magnetically controlled oscillatory actuation, minimizing water agitation while supplying stable oxygen to specific aquatic environments. The photocatalytic oxygen evolution rate reaches 389.1 μmol g−1 h−1. The hydrogel skeleton suppresses particle aggregation and sedimentation, and facilitates magnetic recovery. This scalable and adaptable approach advances multifunctional soft robot design.
New Carbon Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61113-4
Porous pyrolytic carbon (PPyC) serves as the buffer layer in TRi-structural ISOtropic (TRISO) fuel particles, providing storage for fission gases, preventing damage to outer layers, and absorbing stresses caused by fuel-kernel swelling. However, the changes of PPyC micro- and meso-structure at high temperatures remain insufficiently understood. In this study, PPyC fabricated by chemical vapor deposition was heat-treated from 1200 to 1600 °C and characterized across atomic-to-mesoscopic scales. Results show that the structure changes with temperature with a transition at approximately 1400 °C. Below 1400 °C, a decrease in Raman ID/IG ratio, narrowing of the graphite diffraction peak, and increased sp2 hybridization indicate progressive ordering associated with defect redistribution. Concurrent decreases in true density and mesopore volume, together with increased closed porosity, are consistent with partial conversion of open pores into closed pores. Above 1400 °C, increased ID/IG ratio, broadening of the diffraction peak near the rhombohedral graphite (101) reflection, and transition regions between crystalline and amorphous material observed by TEM indicate increasing structural disorder. Meanwhile, initially distinct PPyC particle boundaries blur and merge into broad, plate-like domains. Subsequent decrease in closed porosity and increase in mesopore surface area are consistent with partial connection of closed pores to the open-pore network. This work shows that intrinsic coupling between atomic-scale structural change and mesoscale pore connectivity provides a basis for assessing high-temperature structural stability of PPyC in TRISO fuel particles.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202506084
Groundwater is a vital drinking and irrigation source in the loess regions of northwestern China. In Guyuan, a densely populated area in southern Ningxia, systematic assessments of groundwater pollution risks are lacking. This study collected 60 groundwater samples and employed the Nemerow index, heavy metal pollution index (HPI), and health risk assessment models to evaluate pollution levels and health risks of eight elements including Cr, As, and Hg. Results show that the groundwater is generally Class IV quality, with a mean TDS of 1350.9 mg·L−1. Average concentrations of As, Cr, and Mn are 4.39, 29.87, and 45.77 μg·L−1, respectively. The Nemerow index indicates moderate pollution. The mean HPI is 10.56, but a local sample (PS1-51-下) reaches 36.15, indicating severe pollution. Health risk assessment reveals that carcinogenic risks from Cr and As for adults and children are 8.037×10−6 a−1 and 3.863×10−6 a−1, respectively, below US EPA limits but above recommended levels by Swedish and Dutch agencies, with children at higher risk. Hydrogen and oxygen isotopes and principal component analysis suggest that groundwater is primarily recharged by atmospheric precipitation. Cr, Zn, and Mn mainly originate from regional copper ore belts, coal mining, and agricultural activities. This study fills a gap in multidimensional groundwater assessment in populated loess areas, identifies pollution characteristics distinct from typical loess regions, and provides a scientific basis for regional water resource risk management and sustainable development.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605015
The national greenhouse gas voluntary emission reduction trading market was relaunched in 2023, with China Certified Emission Reduction (CCER) as the trading unit, serving as a crucial supplement to the national carbon market. The initial phase includes the offshore wind power sector. This study evaluates the CO2 and air pollutant emission reduction effectiveness and economic feasibility of China's offshore wind power industry under the CCER mechanism. Using CCER methodology, baseline scenario analysis, and empirical data from 2020 and projections for 2025, we quantify reductions in CO2 and principal air pollutants (particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides) across coastal provinces. Emission inventories are constructed using authoritative grid emission factors. Economic viability is assessed by integrating levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), additional revenues from CCER transactions, and external environmental benefits. Results provide four policy insights: (1) The sector shows a positive trend in emission reduction and economic-environmental contribution, but faces financial deficit risk by 2025 without CCER subsidies; (2) Economically developed coastal provinces exhibit greater development potential; (3) Profitability analysis for 2020 and 2025 indicates sustainable economic returns with appropriate policy support; (4) Among air pollutants, nitrogen oxides reduction is largest, while sulfur dioxide reduction yields the most significant co-benefits. This study offers evidence-based recommendations for strategic planning and policy formulation in China's offshore wind industry.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605022
Carbide slag (CS), an alkaline industrial solid waste from acetylene production in the chlor-alkali industry, poses severe ecological risks due to long-term stockpiling. This review systematically examines CO2 mineralization pathways and applications of CS, leveraging its high reactivity dominated by Ca(OH)2. Direct gas-solid and liquid-solid carbonation mechanisms, alongside indirect ammonium salt cyclic leaching-carbonation, are elaborated. Process optimization via parameter regulation, amino acid modification, and multi-solid waste coordination significantly enhances reaction efficiency and product performance, enabling controlled synthesis of high-value calcium carbonate. Environmental and economic analyses confirm that CS mineralization achieves CO2 fixation with good economic feasibility, simultaneously addressing solid waste resource utilization and carbon emission reduction. Derived lightweight fillers and low-carbon cementitious materials exhibit both environmental and economic potential, providing theoretical and application support for a 'waste-to-waste' carbon reduction technology system.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3993-y
Conventional liquid-phase in-situ synthesis of Cu-TiB2 composites often suffers from coarse and non-uniformly distributed reinforcements, stemming from insufficient understanding and control over the in-situ nucleation and growth mechanisms of TiB2 particles. This study introduces a novel melt dispersion-turbulent mixing (MDTM) in-situ reaction technology to fabricate high-performance Cu-TiB2 composites. The MDTM strategy synergistically refines reaction micro-regions by reducing the initial melt droplet size via melt dispersion while enhancing solute convection via turbulence, promoting high-density nucleation and refinement of TiB2 particles. Based on turbulence characteristics and in-situ reaction kinetics, we optimized the melt disperser parameters and established a quantitative model linking particle size to disperser rotation speed and reactant solute concentration. It was found that disperser rotation speed governs three distinct nucleation and growth mechanisms for TiB2 particles. Low-density nucleation at low disperser rotation speeds (0–50 r/min) leads to coarse TiB2 particles. At medium rotation speeds (100–150 r/min), the refinement of micro-regions in the dual-melt reaction achieves high-density TiB2 nucleation. Conversely, at high rotation speeds (150–200 r/min), intense turbulence weakens the nucleation driving force and induces TiB2 particle coarsening. This work provides new insights into liquid-phase in-situ reaction mechanisms and offers a novel, controllable route for fabricating high-performance micro/nano particle-reinforced metal matrix composites.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202509086
Groundwater contamination by nitrate and antibiotics has become a global concern. This study evaluated the continuous performance of permeable reactive barrier (PRB) columns packed with zero-valent iron (ZVI) and pyrite (FeS2) combined with denitrifying microorganisms (ZFM) for simultaneous removal of nitrate and ofloxacin (OFL). Control columns included soil (S), microorganisms (M), and ZVI/FeS2 (ZF). Over 30 days of continuous operation, the ZFM column achieved average removal efficiencies of 88% for nitrate and 78% for OFL, significantly higher than controls. The ZFM system maintained higher active iron concentration (0.68 mg·L−1) compared to ZF (0.48 mg·L−1), mitigated pH increase, and sustained lower oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), favoring stable performance. XRD and XPS analyses revealed that microbial involvement promoted FeS formation (2θ=30.1°) and reduced ZVI passivation, extending material lifespan. High-throughput sequencing showed that while overall microbial diversity remained stable, key functional populations including norank_f_Fermentibacteraceae, norank_f_Anaerolineaceae, Longilinea, and Anaerolinea increased in abundance by 2.93%, 0.55%, 1.53%, and 0.62%, respectively, enhancing nitrate and OFL removal. These findings demonstrate that integrating microorganisms with ZVI/FeS2 in PRB systems offers a promising approach for remediating combined nitrate and antibiotic contamination in groundwater.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202510018
Scientific assessment and prediction of the stabilization process in aged municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills are critical for reliable risk evaluation and remediation decision-making. Existing methods often fail under data-scarce conditions and lack temporal predictive capability. This study establishes a 'spatial characterization–temporal prediction' framework to address these gaps. The methodology integrates grid-based sampling, laboratory analysis of biological stability indicators (AT4), and LandGEM model simulations to assess current stabilization states and predict completion timelines. Applied to a landfill in southwest China, results reveal significant spatial heterogeneity in waste stabilization, strongly correlated with waste age and influenced by leachate recirculation of membrane concentrate. None of the landfill zones had reached full stabilization; predicted times to completion were: Zone D (17 years), Zone C (13 years), Zone B (8 years), and Zone A (1 year). Based on these findings, a systematic management strategy is proposed, including zoned gradient management, targeted control of lag zones, and dynamic planning. This study provides a theoretical basis for site-specific management and serves as a reference for similar landfills.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.3724/2097-213X.2026.JFCT.0001
The escalating global demand for carbon reduction has positioned chemical absorption using alkanolamine solvents as the predominant post-combustion CO2 capture technology, owing to its high absorption efficiency and process maturity. However, the regeneration of CO2-rich solvents is energy-intensive, with the desorption step accounting for 40.0%–60.0% of total energy consumption. Traditional amine-based methods suffer from high energy penalties, solvent degradation, and equipment corrosion, limiting scalability. Catalytic CO2 desorption, employing solid acid catalysts (SACs), has emerged to address these challenges by lowering the activation energy for CO2 release, enhancing reaction kinetics, and enabling efficient regeneration at lower temperatures (110–130 °C reduced). This review systematically examines research from the past five years on key catalyst materials, focusing on structure-activity relationships, synergistic mechanisms of Lewis acid, Brønsted acid, and basic sites, and their influence on desorption pathways. It highlights that SACs not only improve desorption dynamics but also facilitate catalyst recovery, avoiding adverse effects on absorption. The paper analyzes current scientific and technological challenges, including catalyst stability, selectivity, and scale-up, and provides an outlook on industrial application in low-cost carbon capture. Key findings indicate that catalysts such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), heteropolyacids, and waste-derived materials can reduce regeneration energy by up to 30%–40% while maintaining high desorption efficiency. The review underscores the potential of catalytic regeneration to significantly lower operational costs and enhance the viability of amine-based CO2 capture in industrial settings.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.3724/2097-213X.2025.JFCT.0035
Iron-based catalysts in CO2/H2 atmospheres undergo dynamic carburization and oxidation phase transitions, complicating active-phase identification and stability control. This study prepared high-purity single-phase χ-Fe5C2 (Hägg carbide) and θ-Fe3C (cementite) via gas-solid carburization, with purity confirmed by XRD and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Fixed-bed reactor tests (H2/CO2 = 1, 0.1 MPa, 270–420 °C), pulse experiments (270 °C), and in situ XRD (10% CO2/He, 340 °C) were employed to investigate catalytic performance and structural evolution in the reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction. Results show that χ-Fe5C2 exhibits higher RWGS activity but is more susceptible to oxidation, whereas θ-Fe3C demonstrates superior oxidation resistance but lower activity. Under RWGS conditions with H2, θ-Fe3C partially transforms into χ-Fe5C2; however, in 10% CO2 atmosphere, both carbides directly oxidize to Fe3O4 without inter-carbide transformation. In situ XRD at 340 °C and 0.1 MPa revealed that χ-Fe5C2 fully oxidizes within 11 h, while θ-Fe3C retains residual phase after 18.3 h, confirming its higher oxidation stability. These findings elucidate the atmosphere-dependent evolution mechanisms of χ-Fe5C2 and θ-Fe3C, providing experimental basis for phase-structure regulation and operational stability optimization in iron-based Fischer-Tropsch and RWGS catalysts.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025030305
The rapid expansion of livestock and poultry farming has intensified the challenge of managing sludge, which contains heavy metals (primarily Cu and Zn), antibiotics, and pathogens. Calcium carbide slag (CCS), an alkaline industrial waste rich in Ca(OH)2, CaCO3, and other minerals, poses environmental risks due to its high alkalinity. This study investigates the speciation transformation of heavy metals in biochar derived from co-pyrolysis of livestock sludge and CCS under varying temperatures (400–700 °C) and mixing ratios (sludge:CCS = 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1). The results demonstrate that at 600 °C and a 2:1 mixing ratio, calcium-based compounds and SiO2 in CCS effectively immobilize heavy metals through crystal solid solution and complexation, reducing their ecological risk. Sequential extraction indicated a shift from exchangeable and reducible fractions to residual fractions, with the residual fraction of Cu and Zn increasing by up to 45% and 38%, respectively, compared to sludge-only pyrolysis. The formation of apatite phosphorus (Ca5(PO4)3OH and Ca3(PO4)2) enhances the bioavailability of phosphorus in the biochar, making it a potential slow-release fertilizer. The study provides a novel strategy for the synergistic treatment of livestock sludge and CCS, offering environmental and economic benefits by producing stable, nutrient-rich biochar while mitigating heavy metal toxicity.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025022501
The pretreatment of trace emerging contaminants in environmental matrices is challenging due to diverse methods and uncertain applicability. This study compared solid-phase extraction (SPE) and liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) for extracting endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), particularly phthalate esters (PAEs), using laboratory-spiked blank samples. LLE achieved satisfactory recoveries for PAEs at spike levels below 4 μg·L−1, enabling detection of five PAEs including diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), with improved efficiency via repeated extraction. SPE offered lower detection and quantification limits, higher accuracy and sensitivity, and achieved high recoveries for 12 EDCs and 10 antibiotics at spike levels ≥0.2 μg·L−1, with detection limits as low as 0.1–6.4 ng·L−1. The developed SPE coupled with liquid chromatography-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (LC-Orbitrap MS) method was applied to industrial wastewater samples. Across five industrial sectors (coatings, rubber, pharmaceuticals, inks, and materials technology), five antibiotics and ten EDCs were detected, with total concentrations ranging from 0.03–0.56 μg·L−1 and 0.07–1.91 μg·L−1, respectively. Sector-specific profiles emerged: rubber industry effluent was dominated by dibutyl phthalate (DBP) at 1.07 μg·L−1, while pharmaceutical effluent featured sulfamonomethoxine (SMM) at 0.34 μg·L−1. This systematic evaluation demonstrates that SPE-LC-Orbitrap MS is robust for complex matrices, providing a technical foundation for accurate quantification of emerging contaminants in industrial wastewater.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025022502
The design of stable and efficient O3 catalysts is critical for advancing heterogeneous catalytic ozonation (HCO) in industrial wastewater treatment. In this study, various iron-based bimetallic oxides were synthesized, and Fe-Co bimetallic oxide (FeCo-O) was identified as the optimal catalyst through degradation experiments and structural characterization. FeCo-O exhibits a single spinel structure with abundant metal valence states and synergistic effects between Fe and Co. Compared to conventional O3 oxidation, the FeCo-O/O3 system enhanced organic pollutant degradation by 2–3 times, demonstrating broad applicability under neutral or weakly acidic/alkaline conditions. Characterization revealed that FeCo-O promotes O3 activation via enhanced inter-metal electron transfer on the catalyst surface, increasing the generation of highly oxidative free radicals (·OH, ·O2−) and thereby improving pollutant degradation efficiency. In treating real industrial wastewater, the FeCo-O/O3 system achieved excellent COD removal, indicating its potential for both pre-treatment and advanced treatment applications. This study provides theoretical and practical guidance for designing efficient catalytic ozonation catalysts.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3858-8
High-quality β-Ga2O3 membranes are pivotal for fabricating high-performance memristive devices. Here, vertical Ag/β-Ga2O3/Pt memristors built on high-crystalline-quality β-Ga2O3 membranes via lattice epitaxy engineering and a sacrificial-layer-assisted exfoliation strategy are reported. The resulting β-Ga2O3-based device demonstrates a high ON/OFF ratio exceeding 10^8, low SET/RESET voltages of 0.13 V/−0.11 V, low programming current of 10^-10 A, stable data retention beyond 4 × 10^4 s, and excellent subthreshold characteristics of ~0.47 mV/dec. Adjustable compliance current enables the coexistence of volatile and non-volatile switching modes. Additionally, the resistive switching versatility is predominantly governed by the migration of Ag ions, as supported by electrical characterizations and first-principles calculations. Furthermore, a β-Ga2O3 memristor-based circuit that functions as a reconfigurable and non-volatile exclusive OR (XOR) logic gate has been designed and simulated, enabling both image encryption/decryption and edge detection. This work not only demonstrates lattice-engineered, high-quality β-Ga2O3 membranes for fabricating advanced memristors but also extends their applicability to digital logic and reconfigurable image processing.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-3961-8
This correction addresses an inadvertent misplacement of Fig. 4b3 during figure reorganization in the original article published in Science China Materials, volume 65, issue 10, 2022, page 2850 (DOI: 10.1007/s40843-022-2024-6). The corrected Fig. 4b is presented herein. The authors confirm that this correction does not affect the results, conclusions, text, or figure caption of the original work. The correction was requested by the authors and received on 6 January 2026, accepted on 8 January 2026, and published online on 10 February 2026. The original study introduced flexible electrostatic hydrogels derived from marine organisms for nitric oxide-enhanced photodynamic therapy against multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. The correction ensures the accurate representation of experimental data, maintaining the integrity of the scientific record.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202511076
This study investigated the altitudinal distribution and enrichment characteristics of heavy metals in the soil-plant system of the northern and southern mountains of Lhasa on the Tibetan Plateau. Soil and dominant plant samples were collected from three sites along an elevation gradient from 3,650 to 4,150 m, and concentrations of Cr, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, As, and Pb were analyzed. Soil heavy metal concentrations ranged from 0.06 to 184.4 mg·kg−1, with all elements except Cd and Pb exceeding local background values. Plant heavy metal concentrations were within normal ranges, indicating no obvious stress. Correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations between soil Zn and Cd, Cr and Ni, and plant Zn and Cu. Except for Cr, Cu, and Cd, plant and soil concentrations of the same element were significantly correlated. Bioconcentration factor (BCF) analysis showed that most plants had weak enrichment capacity (BCF < 1), but five species, including Ephedra sinica and Rheum likiangense, exhibited BCF > 1 for Cd, with R. likiangense showing the highest BCF of 4.01. The enrichment capacity varied with altitude and species. Potential ecological risk assessment indicated that Cd posed a relatively high risk in plants, warranting attention. This study fills a gap in understanding the spatial distribution and enrichment of heavy metals in this region, providing a scientific basis for ecological management and environmental protection.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202511020
With the increasing number of oil pipelines crossing rivers, the potential risks of oil leakage and surface spreading to river ecosystems and water environments are becoming more severe. Scenario-based simulation of oil spill diffusion is a prerequisite for effective interception point placement and leakage risk prevention. Numerous factors influence oil spill diffusion, including environmental conditions, river hydrology, and accessibility of emergency resources. This study integrates these factors and multiple dynamic processes to design eight typical scenarios for oil spill diffusion simulation, considering emergency resource locations, river hydrological regimes, and leakage modes. A case study is conducted on an oil pipeline crossing a river in northwest China. Results indicate that the diffusion distance and affected area are primarily controlled by water conditions and emergency resource accessibility. In emergency management, the efficiency of maintenance and repair resources during high-water months should be prioritized. Mechanistically, external forces such as hydraulic and wind forces have a greater influence on diffusion distance, surpassing internal forces like gravity, viscosity, and surface tension within a short time. For river crossings near emergency resources, internal force effects should be considered in oil spill diffusion simulations. When emergency resource arrival times are long, the diffusion distance based on Fay's theory is relatively small and can be neglected in engineering practice. This study provides a computational basis and methodological reference for risk assessment and emergency response to potential oil spills from pipelines crossing rivers, enhancing the scientific and effective nature of risk prevention and emergency handling.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4011-7
Biomass-derived room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) carbon dots (CDs) hold great promise for anti-counterfeiting and information encryption. However, achieving solid-state matrix-free long-lived CDs with time-dependent phosphorescence colors (TDPC) remains challenging due to aggregation-induced quenching. Here, solid-state matrix-free RTP phosphorus-doped CDs (P-CDs) are developed via one-step hydrothermal treatment of feather powder and phytic acid. The resulting P-CDs powder exhibits bright blue fluorescence under UV illumination and unprecedented TDPC shifting from yellow to green after UV removal, with afterglow lasting 12 s (average lifetime 1.15 s). Enhanced RTP is attributed to increased triplet-state excitons via spin-orbit coupling induced by P-doping. A dual-mode luminescent ink formulated by combining P-CDs with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is successfully applied to commercial A4 paper, showing pronounced TDPC (light-yellow to green) with improved RTP lifetime (1.31 s) after ceasing UV irradiation. The P-CDs/PVA ink demonstrates excellent anti-counterfeiting and information encryption capabilities, outstanding luminescent durability, and broad practicability on cellulosic substrates including fabric and paper. These findings provide a strategy for exploiting matrix-free solid-state RTP P-CDs with distinctive TDPC properties and offer a sustainable route to converting feather wastes into high-value materials.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202508006
Landfill leachate, characterized by high ammonia nitrogen, high organic load, complex toxic components, and low nitrogen removal efficiency, poses significant environmental challenges. To achieve efficient nitrogen removal, a continuous-flow two-stage anoxic/oxic (A/O) moving-bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) system coupled with anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) was constructed and operated for long-term treatment of actual landfill leachate. After biofilm attachment and multi-gradient acclimation, influent concentrations were gradually increased from low levels (NH4+-N ~200 mg·L−1, COD ~2500–3000 mg·L−1) to high levels (NH4+-N ~1800 mg·L−1, COD ~8500 mg·L−1). During stable operation, average removal efficiencies of NH4+-N and COD reached 97.7% and 66.8%, respectively, with total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency improving to 93.9%. Along the reactor, the first A/O stage achieved major organic degradation and ammonia oxidation, while the second stage facilitated nitrite accumulation and promoted Anammox for synergistic nitrogen removal. High-throughput sequencing revealed Proteobacteria as the dominant phylum (>50%), with denitrifying genera such as Azoarcus and Thauera significantly enriched. Planctomycetota abundance increased from 0.6% to 3.7%, and Candidatus Kuenenia was detected, confirming successful Anammox colonization and participation in nitrogen removal. This study validates the efficient combined nitrogen removal mechanism of the A/O–MBBR system with Anammox, providing theoretical basis and technical support for engineering treatment of high-ammonia wastewater.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202511025
Under the national carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, carbon reduction in municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has been largely overlooked, yet accurate accounting is the first step toward mitigation. This study establishes a carbon emission accounting method for a municipal WWTP in Lanzhou, covering the operation and maintenance phase, to identify key emission sources and propose feasible reduction pathways. The results show that the total annual carbon emission in 2023 was 61,399.80 t CO2-eq, with an emission intensity of 0.71 kg CO2-eq per tonne of wastewater treated. Monthly emissions were relatively stable, with a coefficient of variation of 3.46%. Direct emissions accounted for 47.47% of the total, with N2O being the dominant contributor (61.89% of direct emissions), followed by CO2 (30.88%) and CH4 (7.23%). Indirect emissions accounted for 52.53%, dominated by electricity consumption (95.15% of indirect emissions). Pearson correlation analysis revealed that direct carbon emissions per tonne were significantly correlated with influent BOD5 concentration, influent TN concentration, BOD5 removal rate, and TN removal rate (P < 0.01). Sensitivity analysis identified sewer retention time, fossil carbon fraction in influent, and solids retention time as the most influential parameters, with sensitivity coefficients of 0.42, 0.35, and 0.28, respectively. Considering uncertainties in emission factors and monitoring errors, the 95% confidence interval for annual total emissions was 55,200–67,600 t CO2-eq, corresponding to an emission intensity of 0.64–0.79 kg CO2-eq per tonne. Recommendations focus on three synergistic reduction strategies: reducing source emissions, lowering energy consumption, and enhancing carbon compensation.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60676-7
Landfilled municipal solid waste (MSW) in China exceeds 8 billion tons, with high moisture (30–50%) and ash content (>50%), complicating conventional treatment. Slag gasification offers a clean and resource-oriented route, but heavy metal leaching from the resulting slag poses environmental risks. This study investigates the effect of rice husk addition (5–15%) on the vitrification of landfilled-waste slag and the immobilization of heavy metals (Cr, Zn, Cu). Results show that adding 5–10% rice husk lowers the slag flow temperature to a minimum of 1213 °C, attributed to active SiO2 reacting with CaO and Fe2O3 to form low-melting eutectics like anorthite. Leaching concentrations of Cr and Zn decrease from 41.60 and 108.00 mg/L to 5.89 and 7.10 mg/L, respectively, with 10–15% rice husk. The amorphous SiO2 enhances silicate polymerization (Q3, Q4 networks), promoting physical encapsulation and chemical incorporation of heavy metals into stable phases such as Zn2SiO4 and CuFe2O4, increasing the residual fraction and reducing bioavailability. At temperatures >1400 °C, volatilization of Cu and Zn increases, with residual rates dropping to 33–60% and 31–55%, respectively, while Cr remains stable (70–123%). This work elucidates the mechanistic role of rice husk in slag structure modulation and heavy metal immobilization, providing a theoretical basis for the co-treatment of landfilled waste and biomass via a 'treating waste with waste' strategy.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60657-3
Fe-Mn catalysts have attracted considerable attention for industrial Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) due to their ability to modulate product spectra. Carbon adsorption and permeation on catalyst surfaces are critical elementary steps in the in situ formation of active iron carbide phases. Here, density functional theory (DFT) calculations systematically investigate the atomistic structures, thermodynamic stabilities, and electronic properties of carbon-deposited Fe-Mn alloy surfaces at the early stage of carburization. These surfaces exhibit distinct thermodynamic sensitivity to carbon atoms adsorbed on the surface and permeating into interstitial sites. By combining DFT with minima-hopping structural searches, we demonstrate that the initial stage of carbon permeation cannot trigger surface reconstruction to form iron carbide phases. The addition of manganese thermodynamically hinders carbon permeation. Although deposited carbon atoms modulate the electronic structure of metals, manganese retards the shift of d-band centers toward those of bulk iron carbide phases. This study provides atomic-scale insight into the in situ evolution of Fe-Mn catalyst surfaces during carbon deposition, indicating that manganese promoter has a noticeable effect on carbon permeation.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025050803
This study systematically investigates the synergistic drag reduction mechanism of surfactants and porous media in coal seam water injection. Four surfactant types—cationic CTAB, anionic SDBS, amphoteric BS-12, and nonionic OP-10—were tested with five porous media pore sizes (3–12 mm) using a custom-built all-in-one drag reduction test system. The effects of surfactant type, mass concentration, driving frequency, and pore diameter on drag reduction efficiency were evaluated. Results show that in an empty tube, drag reduction efficiency increases with mass concentration. As driving frequency increases, drag reduction first rises then falls, peaking at 35 Hz. With porous media, drag reduction exhibits pore size dependence, reaching a maximum at 8 mm and decreasing thereafter. The composite surfactant-porous media system achieves synergistic enhancement over single systems. At 0.05% mass concentration, all surfactants attain maximum drag reduction, with CTAB showing the highest efficiency. Optimal conditions (0.05% CTAB, 35 Hz, 8 mm pore size) yield a drag reduction rate of 66.14%, a 1.4-fold improvement over 20 Hz. These findings demonstrate that tailoring surfactant and porous media parameters can significantly optimize coal seam water injection efficiency, offering a practical approach for dust control in mining.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608003
The transition of municipal wastewater treatment from energy-intensive aerobic processes to energy-recovering anaerobic technologies is critical for achieving carbon neutrality. However, anaerobic treatment of low-strength wastewater faces operational challenges, especially after prolonged shutdowns and under low-temperature stress. This study investigated the recovery and performance of a pilot-scale anaerobic filter (AF) packed with volcanic rock media (effective volume 240 L) treating actual municipal wastewater. After a 234-day starvation period, the AF recovered within 63 days by extending hydraulic retention time from 8 to 12 hours, achieving total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) and soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) removal amounts of 58.6 mg/L and 21.5 mg/L, respectively. Following 100 days of low-temperature operation (influent temperature dropped to 11.7 °C), TCOD and SCOD removal amounts remained at 54.6 mg/L and 28.6 mg/L, respectively. Although methane production volume decreased, the specific methane yield was not significantly affected (0.276 L CH4/g TCODre during recovery vs. 0.244 L CH4/g TCODre under low temperature). Mechanistic analysis revealed that increased protein secretion in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) was crucial for resistance to low-temperature stress, with protein content negatively correlated with temperature. Microbial community analysis showed that functional populations recovered in the order of hydrolytic acidogens, hydrogen-producing acetogens, and methanogens. Methanobacterium dominated after starvation, while Methanosaeta became dominant after low-temperature exposure due to its high affinity for acetate. Carbon footprint accounting indicated that recovering dissolved methane and coupling with nitrate-dependent methane oxidation is the optimal strategy for carbon reduction.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4034-3
The local concentration and configuration of active sites critically influence the selectivity of CO2 electroreduction, yet constructing well-defined structures to probe this relationship remains challenging. Here, we report a molten salt-assisted strategy to synthesize Ce-Ov-Cu cascade catalysts with tunable configurations and relative concentrations of Cu and Ce-Ov sites. Two distinct geometries were engineered: one with dense Cu sites surrounding Ce-Ov (Cu10CeOx) and another with isolated Cu centers encapsulated by Ce-Ov (CuCe10Ox). These configurations direct key intermediates (*CHO or *COH) toward either C-C coupling or deep hydrogenation, thereby switching product selectivity. CuCe10Ox achieves a CH4 Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 61.7% at -1.6 V vs. RHE, whereas Cu10CeOx favors C2 production with a maximum FE of 61.5% at -1.4 V vs. RHE. Mechanistic studies reveal that locally concentrated Cu sites exhibit strong *CO2 binding affinity, enhancing *CO surface coverage and facilitating *CO-*COH coupling. In contrast, Ce-Ov-rich regions with isolated copper centers supply abundant *H, promoting deep protonation of *CHO toward CH4. This work provides insights into catalyst design, demonstrating that manipulating structural chemistry can guide CO2RR toward targeted products.
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/s40843-026-4282-y
Recovering gold from electronic waste (e-waste) is critical for sustainable resource management, yet conventional adsorbents suffer from poor acid stability and slow kinetics. Here, we report an acid-resistant cationic covalent organic framework (COF), TAPT-TNV, synthesized via irreversible Zincke reaction. TAPT-TNV exhibits exceptional stability in concentrated acids, retaining crystallinity and porosity after exposure to 12 M HCl and 6 M HNO3. The cationic skeleton, balanced by Cl− counterions, enables rapid and selective capture of AuCl4− through anion exchange, complemented by chemical reduction at triazine units. Adsorption kinetics are fast, reaching equilibrium within 30 minutes, with a maximum capacity of 1835.5 mg g−1 at pH 1. In real e-waste leachate, TAPT-TNV achieves a gold recovery rate of 99.42%, demonstrating high selectivity over competing metal ions. This work introduces a robust COF platform for precious metal recovery, addressing the limitations of hydrolytically unstable frameworks.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4223-2
Flexible wearable electronics require materials that simultaneously exhibit high conductivity, mechanical flexibility, and environmental robustness. Polyoxometalate (POM)-based conductive hydrogels are promising candidates but suffer from poor interfacial compatibility with polymer matrices and severe conductivity loss at subzero temperatures. Here, we report a POM-based proton-conductive hydrogel (PVA/P(SBMA-AM)/PW12/PA, denoted PSAWA) engineered by incorporating zwitterionic sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA), phytic acid (PA), and H3PW12O40 (PW12) into a poly(vinyl alcohol)-polyacrylamide dual-network. SBMA enhances PW12 loading and dispersion via an electrostatic–steric synergistic mechanism, while PA cooperates with PW12 to construct low-energy-barrier proton-conduction pathways, enabling fast proton migration even at −40 °C. The resulting PSAWA hydrogel achieves ultrahigh proton conductivities of 2.71 × 10−1 S cm−1 at 25 °C and 1.06 × 10−2 S cm−1 at −40 °C, alongside high stretchability, self-healing capability, antibacterial activity, and biocompatibility. Flexible biosensors and supercapacitors fabricated from PSAWA maintain outstanding performance at −40 °C. This work provides a viable strategy for developing low-temperature-tolerant proton-conductive hydrogels for advanced wearable electronics.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4274-x
The escalating power density of electronic devices necessitates effective visible-light shielding in advanced packaging to ensure circuit security and long-term reliability. Photosensitive polyimides (PSPI) serve dual roles as photodefinable dielectrics and structural layers, but intrinsically black PSPI (B-PSPI) suffer from competitive ultraviolet (UV) absorption between chromophores and photosensitive moieties, limiting co-optimization of deep visible-light blocking and lithographic resolution. Here, we report a main-/side-chain spatial decoupling strategy to synthesize a novel B-PSPI. By polymerizing pyromellitic dianhydride with a main-chain coloring monomer (4,4'-diaminodiphenylamine) and a side-chain photosensitive monomer (1,4-dihydropyridine-functionalized diamine), the monomer stoichiometric ratio is precisely engineered. This design spatially isolates functional groups and enhances charge transfer, yielding exceptional visible-light shielding (CIE L* index of 21.39, cut-off wavelength ≈ 555 nm) with good lithographic sensitivity. UV exposure triggers in situ generation of coordination sites from photosensitive groups, anchoring active metal species for electroless copper plating. This enables direct additive fabrication of fine copper lines (40/80 μm line width/spacing) with robust Cu/B-PSPI interfacial adhesion of 16.6 MPa. This work provides a robust molecular design paradigm for B-PSPI, integrating superior optical shielding and surface metallization for high-density interconnect applications.