SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4435-9
Organic room-temperature phosphorescent (RTP) materials exhibit large Stokes shifts, high signal-to-noise ratios, and long emission lifetimes, positioning them as promising candidates for advanced anti-counterfeiting, bioimaging, sensing, and display technologies. Despite significant progress in molecular design—including radical-based systems, crystal engineering, host-guest doping, polymer matrix confinement, and supramolecular assembly—the integration of these materials with 3D printing remains in its infancy. This review critically examines the design strategies and research advances in 3D-printed organic RTP materials, focusing on the fundamental photophysical processes of intersystem crossing and suppression of non-radiative transitions. We analyze how printing parameters, matrix rheology, and layer-by-layer deposition influence phosphorescence quantum yields and lifetimes. Key challenges such as oxygen quenching, thermal degradation during extrusion, and poor interlayer adhesion are discussed with quantitative benchmarks. The review highlights that current 3D-printed RTP systems achieve lifetimes up to 1.2 s and quantum yields of 12% under ambient conditions, but scalability beyond 100 cm² remains limited by nozzle clogging and slow curing kinetics. By mapping material formulation to printability, we identify operational windows for extrusion-based and vat photopolymerization techniques. This work provides a roadmap for engineers to transition RTP materials from laboratory-scale demonstrations to industrial fabrication of complex 3D architectures with persistent luminescence.
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/s40843-026-4433-5
Negative thermal expansion (NTE) and zero thermal expansion (ZTE) materials are technologically relevant for precision engineering, yet their practical deployment is constrained by narrow operating temperature windows. This study introduces an entropy-designing strategy to regulate the thermal expansion behavior in the AⅠBⅡCⅢMo3O12 system, specifically K0.4(Mg0.25Mn0.25Co0.25Ni0.25)0.4Sc1.6Mo3O12 (CE0.4MO) and related CExMO compositions (x = 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0). By tuning configurational entropy, the operating temperature windows for both NTE and ZTE are significantly broadened, with the ZTE region shifting to higher temperatures. Among single-phase compositions, CE0.4MO exhibits the lowest configurational entropy and demonstrates NTE from 100 to 830 K and ZTE up to 1100 K, surpassing most reported ZTE materials. Systematic analyses of structural evolution, lattice dynamics, and electronic structure reveal that reduced configurational entropy suppresses structural evolution, directly correlating with decreased structural flexibility. Higher atomic displacement parameters (ADPs) of oxygen in CE1.0MO provide experimental evidence for enhanced flexibility. Raman spectroscopy shows that the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of peaks in the 750–900 cm-1 range positively correlates with configurational entropy, indicating reduced lattice disorder, while modes within 750–1050 cm-1 blue-shift as entropy decreases, confirming lattice stiffening. Electron localization function (ELF) and charge density analyses indicate that Mg/Mn/Co/Ni/Sc–O bonds are ionic, with ionicity weakening as configurational entropy decreases, thereby enhancing constraints on atomic vibrations and reducing structural flexibility. This work establishes a theoretical foundation for designing thermal expansion materials with wide operating temperature ranges.
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/s40843-026-4381-5
Bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3)-based alloys remain the benchmark for low-temperature thermoelectric applications, yet their conversion efficiency is limited by the trade-off between electrical and thermal transport. This study introduces a pseudo grain boundary engineering strategy to simultaneously enhance the average figure of merit (ZT) in p-type (Bi,Sb)2Te3 (BST) materials. By incorporating Ag-based compounds, the carrier concentration is optimized via substitution of Ag+ ions, while the introduction of secondary phases at grain boundaries effectively suppresses lattice thermal conductivity. The approach yields a peak ZT of 1.35 at 393 K and an average ZT of 1.25 across 303–483 K, representing a significant improvement over pristine BST. Compared to prior reports, this work achieves superior average ZT while maintaining high electrical conductivity, addressing the longstanding bottleneck of thermal conductivity reduction without compromising carrier mobility. The findings underscore the efficacy of pseudo grain boundary engineering in advancing Bi2Te3-based thermoelectrics for solid-state cooling and power generation.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4206-6
Precise patterning of highly ordered organic semiconductor (OSC) thin-film arrays is critical for next-generation electronics. We report a ladder-like polysilsesquioxane (LPSQ) strategy to synthesize two functional analogs with tunable surface energies and robust dielectric properties. These LPSQ dielectrics, functionalized with alkyl or fluoroalkyl side chains, serve dual roles as gate insulators and patterning layers to guide blade-coating of 2,7-dioctyl[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene (C8-BTBT). This approach yields highly aligned arrays suitable for three-dimensional integration in flexible electronics. Synergistic combination of dense LPSQ dielectric packing and aligned semiconductor domains leads to excellent organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) performance, achieving approximately four-fold improvement in field-effect mobility compared to conventional silicon oxide dielectrics. Patterned LPSQ dielectrics enable high-resolution C8-BTBT patterning on plastic substrates, supporting 4-inch-scale 3D integration of flexible logic circuits, including inverters (voltage gain >100), NOR gates, and NAND gates. This work provides a scalable route to high-performance, large-area flexible organic circuits.
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/s40843-025-3848-7
Conventional heterogeneous photocatalysts often suffer from insufficient light absorption, rapid charge recombination, and a lack of specific reactive sites for efficient photocatalytic oxidation. To overcome these limitations, we propose a molecular polarization engineering approach utilizing structurally well-defined donor (D)-acceptor (A) covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs). The construction of dipole-induced built-in electric fields within the D-A-structured CTFs enables enhanced exciton dissociation and facilitates directional charge transfer. Specifically, the asymmetric A1-D-A2 moiety enhances molecular polarization in the dual-acceptor system CTF-TBT (A1-D-A2), enabling efficient charge separation through multiple electron-withdrawing units. This structural design promotes directional electron transfer toward the secondary acceptor (benzothiazole, A2), while simultaneously concentrating holes on the donor unit. Consequently, the A2 moiety acts as a site for efficient O2 activation via electron accumulation, whereas the highly oxidized donor unit provides strongly positive holes (h+) that facilitate substrate oxidation. Experimental and DFT calculation results confirm that CTF-TBT demonstrates highly enhanced photocatalytic oxidation performance, which can be attributed to its multi-channel charge separation mechanism and spatially separated redox-active sites. This study highlights the effectiveness of molecular dipole engineering in designing heterogeneous photocatalysts with controlled charge transfer pathways and improved redox capabilities. The proposed design principles provide a universal approach for promoting solar-driven chemical synthesis applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3432-8
This correction addresses an error in the labeling of author affiliations in the original publication (Sci China Mater, 2025, 68: 1561, DOI: 10.1007/s40843-024-3290-9). The corrected affiliations are as follows: Fuxia Huang, Feng Wang, Ya Liu, and Liejin Guo are affiliated with the International Research Center for Renewable Energy, State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China. Yifei Liu is affiliated with the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China. The correction was made upon the request of the authors and with approval from the respective institutions. The original article focused on crystal defects engineering of BiOI to enhance photocatalytic CO2 reduction to C2 products, a critical area for sustainable fuel synthesis. This correction ensures accurate attribution and institutional recognition, which is essential for research integrity and reproducibility. No changes were made to the scientific content or conclusions of the original study.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3713-y
Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are promising electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), yet their practical application remains limited by poor electrical conductivity and sluggish reaction kinetics. In this work, we synthesize three high-entropy LDHs (HELDHs) featuring a hierarchical architecture of microspheres assembled from ultrathin nanosheets, via a simple hydrothermal method using a combination of low-cost, catalytically active transition metals (Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Cr). Among them, the FeCoNiMnZn HELDH exhibits outstanding OER performance, requiring an overpotential of only 306 mV to reach a current density of 100 mA cm−2. Notably, during 200 h of continuous operation, the device exhibits a stable and, in some cases, increasing current output. This exceptional activity is attributed to the formation of abundant cation vacancies, induced by Zn leaching, which enhance the intrinsic catalytic properties by optimizing the adsorption energies of key OER intermediates. Density functional theory calculations further validate that these vacancies modulate the electronic structure and lower reaction barriers, underscoring the effectiveness of cation-vacancy engineering in high-entropy systems for efficient and durable water oxidation catalysis. The optimized catalyst was further evaluated as the air cathode in a zinc–air battery, demonstrating practical electrochemical performance.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024112804
The rapid dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic environments poses serious threats to public health and environmental safety under the 'One Health' framework. Nanoplastics (NPs), as co-occurring pollutants, can exacerbate ARG risks by promoting horizontal gene transfer (HGT), yet the influence of different functional groups on extracellular ARG (eARG) transformation remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of carboxy-modified polystyrene NPs (PS-COOH) and amino-functionalized polystyrene NPs (PS-NH2) compared to unmodified polystyrene NPs (PS) on the transformation of the extracellular resistance plasmid IE-V1955 (carrying an ampicillin resistance gene) into Escherichia coli DH5α. Results showed that PS-COOH exposure promoted plasmid transformation similarly to PS, with effects increasing over 0.1–20 mg·L−1. Low concentrations (0.1–0.5 mg·L−1) of PS-NH2 also enhanced transformation, with stronger effects than PS-COOH at equal doses, whereas high concentrations (1–20 mg·L−1) inhibited it. Mechanistically, PS-COOH (0.1–20 mg·L−1) and low PS-NH2 induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased cell membrane permeability, elevated the protein-to-polysaccharide ratio in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and promoted biofilm formation, thereby facilitating transformation. High PS-NH2 concentrations caused excessive ROS leading to cell lysis and formed aggregates with plasmids larger than membrane pores, blocking uptake. These findings provide a theoretical basis for assessing the combined environmental health risks of NPs and ARGs.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024122101
Bicarbonate and carbonate ions (HCO3−/CO3^2−) are ubiquitous in wastewater and readily scavenge strong oxidants, leading to the formation of carbonate radicals (CO3·−) in radical-based advanced oxidation processes. This study investigated the influence of HCO3−/CO3^2− on the degradation kinetics of sulfamethazine (SMR) in a UV/TiO2 system. The presence of HCO3−/CO3^2− enhanced the degradation rate of SMR by sixfold compared to UV/TiO2 alone. Radical quenching experiments identified CO3·− as the primary reactive species responsible for the enhanced degradation, with hydroxyl radicals (·OH) also contributing. To quantitatively delineate the roles of reactive species and account for water matrix effects, a kinetic model was constructed using Kintecus software. The model accurately predicted SMR degradation over time and the contributions of individual radicals, demonstrating good predictive capability. Application of the model to real wastewater predicted that CO3·− is the dominant radical responsible for SMR degradation. These findings highlight the critical role of carbonate radicals in UV/TiO2 processes and provide a robust modeling framework for predicting the fate of pharmaceuticals in carbonate-rich waters.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024120701
Surface waters contain numerous photoactive substances and low molecular weight carboxylic acids (LCAs). Hydroxyl radicals (HO•) can react with LCAs to generate the highly reducing carbon dioxide anion radical (CO2•−). Excited triplet state dissolved organic matter (3DOM*), a common oxidant in surface waters, may also oxidize LCAs to CO2•−, but this pathway remains unexplored. This study simulated sunlight-driven generation of CO2•− via 3DOM* using 4-benzoylbenzoic acid (CBBP) as a 3DOM* precursor and formate (HCOO−) as a model LCA. Metronidazole (MNZ) served as the target pollutant. Comparative degradation experiments in hν, hν/HCOO−, hν/CBBP, and hν/CBBP/HCOO− systems, combined with electron spin resonance spectroscopy and quenching tests, confirmed that CO2•− generated in the hν/CBBP/HCOO− system was the primary reactive species responsible for enhanced MNZ degradation, originating mainly from 3CBBP* oxidizing HCOO−. Under optimized conditions (8 mmol·L−1 HCOO−, 200 μmol·L−1 CBBP, 10 μmol·L−1 MNZ), 98.2% degradation was achieved within 30 min. Degradation efficiency increased with HCOO− concentration and was pH-independent. Cl−, NO3−, CO3^2−, and low concentrations of HCO3− inhibited degradation, while high HCO3− slightly promoted it. Humic acid (HA) inhibited degradation in a concentration-dependent manner. The system also performed well in real water matrices, suggesting potential for treating micropollutants via reductive pathways.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024122501
Fullerene (C60) is an emerging atmospheric pollutant that may influence sulfate formation during haze events. This study investigated the effect of C60 on sulfate production in the gas-phase oxidation of SO2 by H2O2 using a flow tube reactor. Results demonstrated that the presence of C60 significantly increased sulfate yields. Control experiments varying C60 loading, H2O2 concentration, and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation revealed that higher C60 amounts, elevated H2O2 levels, and UV exposure enhanced the promoting effect. Mechanistic investigations via free radical trapping and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated a pre-adsorption-oxidation pathway. XPS analysis showed electron transfer on the C60 surface, converting adsorbed S(IV) to S(VI), confirming direct participation of C60 in sulfate formation. Radical trapping experiments and model calculations confirmed that C60 promotes the generation of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and superoxide radicals (·O2−), which are key oxidants driving SO2 conversion to sulfate. The study reveals that C60 particles markedly enhance atmospheric sulfate formation, offering a novel pathway for understanding sulfate generation mechanisms. These findings have implications for air quality modeling and haze mitigation strategies, as C60 may act as a catalytic surface for sulfate production in polluted atmospheres.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202604009
Biological nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is often limited by insufficient influent carbon sources, necessitating external carbon addition to enhance denitrification. Conventional single carbon sources, such as sodium acetate, frequently fail to meet the metabolic demands of complex microbial communities, compromising nitrogen removal efficiency and stability. Composite carbon sources, by providing multiple electron donors, can improve metabolic cooperation among microorganisms, yet their underlying microbial mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. In this study, activated sludge from a municipal WWTP was used to investigate the microbial mechanisms of composite carbon sources during denitrification. Batch denitrification experiments were conducted in combination with metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses to systematically characterize microbial community structure and functional gene expression under different carbon source conditions. Results showed that, compared with sodium acetate as the single carbon source, the composite carbon source system (sodium acetate: sodium succinate: ethanol = 2:1:3) increased the denitrification rate from (6.822 ± 0.141) mg/(L·h) to (8.370 ± 0.186) mg/(L·h), representing a 22.7% improvement, while reducing N2O accumulation by approximately 55%. Metagenomic analysis revealed that Ottowia, Rubrivivax, Thauera, and Zoogloea were the dominant denitrifying genera. Metatranscriptomic results further demonstrated that the composite carbon sources significantly upregulated the transcription of key denitrification genes, with nirS, norB, and nosZ increasing by 37.8%, 27.4%, and 48.6%, respectively. In addition, the composite carbon sources promoted complementary carbon metabolic strategies among different microbial communities, enhancing electron donor supply and improving denitrification efficiency. These findings indicate that composite carbon sources synergistically enhance denitrification performance through regulation of functional gene transcription in complex microbial communities, providing a theoretical basis for carbon source optimization in WWTPs.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202604003
Emerging contaminants (ECs) in wastewater from urban transportation infrastructure remain poorly characterized. This study employed high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS)-based non-target screening to systematically identify the composition and spatial distribution of ECs in wastewater from three functional zones of a metro maintenance depot: storeroom (S1), office/residential area (S2), and final discharge outlet (S3). A total of 417 contaminants were detected, spanning eight categories including industrial materials, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and natural products. Among these, 48 substances were identified with Level 1 confidence via spectral matching. Pesticides exhibited the highest detection frequency and concentration levels, representing the primary contaminant load. Semi-quantitative concentration heatmaps of 24 pesticides revealed significant spatial variation: S2 showed the highest number and concentration of contaminants, reflecting inputs from landscaping and vector control; S1 and S3 showed lower levels, indicating dilution, migration, and attenuation. Representative pesticide bifenox displayed a clear concentration gradient (S2 > S1 > S3), suggesting transport mechanisms such as surface runoff, hydraulic transfer, and sorption. These findings underscore the complexity and diversity of EC sources in metro depot wastewater, highlight the need to prioritize pesticides in regulatory management, and provide fundamental data for understanding EC environmental behavior and informing water environment risk assessment.
The Chinese Journal of Process Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12034/j.issn.1009-606X.225204
Cobalt-doped silica aerogel (Co@Si-A) catalysts were synthesized via a one-step sol-gel method and applied for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation to degrade tetracycline (TC). The catalyst with 25 wt% cobalt doping (25Co@Si-A) exhibited superior catalytic performance, achieving 98.97% TC degradation within 30 min under specified conditions (TC 10 mg/L, 100 mL). Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis revealed a high specific surface area and well-developed porous architecture with nano-confined spaces. The 25Co@Si-A/PMS system demonstrated outstanding adaptability across a broad pH range (5–9), maintaining >95% degradation efficiency, and showed strong resistance to sulfate and nitrate ions. In real water matrices, degradation efficiency remained around 80%. After five consecutive cycles, the system retained 82.33% degradation efficiency, with cobalt ion leaching of only 23.7 μg/L in the first cycle, indicating excellent stability. Mechanistic studies using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), radical quenching, and probe compound tests confirmed a synergistic radical and non-radical pathway. The primary reactive species were sulfate radicals (SO4•−), hydroxyl radicals (•OH), and singlet oxygen (1O2), with contributions of 58.53%, 9.79%, and 31.68%, respectively. Electrochemical tests indicated that 25Co@Si-A exhibited superior charge transfer compared to Co3O4, attributed to the nano-confined effect of the silica aerogel, which enhanced Co(II)/Co(III) redox cycling and PMS activation. This research provides a promising strategy for utilizing silica aerogel-based catalysts in advanced oxidation processes for water treatment.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3935-1
Silk fibroin (SF)-based hydrogels are promising for biological interfaces, yet achieving multifunctionality—mechanical robustness, adhesion, conductivity, and stability—often requires chemical modification that compromises biocompatibility. Here, we report a protonation-mediated SF/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel adhesive that retains natural silk properties while gaining tailored functionalities. The physically crosslinked network is formed solely via molecular interactions, with phosphoric acid (H3PO4) as a protonation agent to modulate hydrogen bonding, enabling precise control over adhesion, mechanical strength, and electronic conductivity. Glycerol (Gly) is incorporated as a moisturizing agent to enhance long-term stability for skin applications. The resulting hydrogel exhibits excellent performance in monitoring electrophysiological signals, including electrocardiogram (ECG), electromyogram (EMG), and electroencephalogram (EEG), demonstrating its potential as a platform for advanced biological interfaces. This work addresses the critical challenge of developing SF-based hydrogels that combine natural advantages with multifunctionality, offering a promising route for wearable health monitors and human-machine interfaces.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3800-7
Two-dimensional van der Waals (vdW) crystals, stacked via atomically thin layers, exhibit rich functionalities and tunable stacking orders. Their mechanical behaviors are crucial for flexible and miniature electronics. While some vdW crystals show superior plasticity, the mechanical properties of SnS2 bulk crystals remain largely unexplored. Here, we synthesize high-quality SnS2 crystals via the Bridgman method and comprehensively investigate their mechanical properties. SnS2 bulk crystals exhibit remarkable plasticity and softness: bending and compression strains exceed 20% and 45%, respectively, without fracture, while tensile fracture strains reach up to ~12% (range 9%–16%). Scanning/transmission electron microscopy reveals multiple deformation units, including layer segments, interlayer/cross-layer slip, twisting, and twinning-like structures. These units provide multiple pathways to release strain energy, promoting plasticity. Alongside weak interlayer vdW interactions, relatively ionic and weak intralayer Sn–S bonds contribute to the softness. This work fills the knowledge gap on SnS2 mechanical properties, advancing its processing and application in diverse electronic devices. Further studies may focus on balancing plasticity and strength by tuning microstructure to activate but confine deformation units.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202507088
Methanol is highly biodegradable, yet its efficient and stable anaerobic treatment is constrained by prolonged microbial adaptation to toxic substances, narrow microbial community structure, and poor sludge granulation. This study applied two functional additives—sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) as an inorganic carbon source (IC) and an amino-acid-rich organic functional supplement (FS)—to accelerate the startup of two upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors. UASB-A received 3,000 mg·L−1 NaHCO3 and 127 mg·L−1 FS, while UASB-B received only 3,000 mg·L−1 NaHCO3. Both additives enabled rapid startup and granulation by shortening hydraulic retention time (HRT) and increasing organic loading rates (4, 6, 9, 15, 20, and 30 g COD·L−1·d−1). Granulation was evidenced by increased total suspended solids (TSS), volatile suspended solids (VSS), and particle size distribution. Microbial community analysis at HRT 0.2 d revealed highest relative abundances of Acetobacterium at 30.2% (UASB-A) and 36.9% (UASB-B). NaHCO3 supplementation enhanced syntrophy between Acetobacterium and the acetoclastic methanogen Methanothrix, while FS significantly increased the abundance of Sporomusa, establishing a novel syntrophic relationship with Methanothrix. These interactions promoted sludge granulation. The study demonstrates that functional additives facilitate rapid startup and granulation in methanol anaerobic treatment, offering a strategy to overcome process bottlenecks.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(25)60616-5
CuZnAl (CZA) is a classic industrial catalyst for methanol synthesis from syngas, but its catalytic performance for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol is suboptimal. The catalytic mechanism of Cu species in CZA remains challenging. This study systematically investigates the valence state changes of active Cu species in CZA catalysts and their influence on catalytic performance by modifying catalysts with varying amounts of electron donor K, thereby identifying the catalytic function of Cu species with different valence states. H2-TPR, XPS, and HR-TEM characterizations reveal that highly dispersed K species supported on CZA catalysts inhibit the reduction of CuO, resulting in a small amount of Cu2O active species being produced under reaction conditions, thus causing a decrease in catalytic activity. Furthermore, XRD and Cu LMM spectra show that the proportion of Cu0 in K-modified CZA catalysts increases with K loading, but a higher proportion of Cu0 species on the surface obviously promotes the reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction. According to the results of in situ infrared spectroscopy, CZA catalyst follows the reaction pathway mediated by HCOO* in the hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3756-5
Photochemical organic synthesis exploits the distinctive redox properties of excited-state photocatalysts to avoid stoichiometric redox reagents, enabling green and sustainable transformations. However, the conversion efficiency of light-to-chemical energy remains a key bottleneck for large-scale application. Here, we synthesize ultra-thin graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets by regulating precursor types and thermal protocols. In photochemical Minisci-type cross-couplings, this ultra-thin carbon nitride exhibits high catalytic efficiency, achieving rates of 40 mmol g_cat−1 h−1 under LED irradiation and 10.9 mmol g_cat−1 h−1 under natural sunlight. The photocatalyst's high specific surface area (120 m2 g−1) enhances substrate adsorption capacity and accelerates surface electron transfer, boosting photocatalytic efficiency. Furthermore, the material demonstrates excellent recycling stability, and the reaction system was successfully scaled to gram-level, highlighting its potential for industrial applications. This work provides a typical case for solar-driven organic synthesis and inspires further developments in heterogeneous photocatalysis.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3801-1
Traditional phase transition gel platforms face significant challenges in achieving time-gated information encryption and decryption. Here, we report a photocleavable gel that enables time-gated information encryption and decryption, enhancing information storage security. The gel is synthesized by copolymerization of hydrophobic ortho-nitrobenzyl acrylate (NA) and acrylamide. Upon ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, hydrophobic NA units partially cleave to yield orange-colored o-nitrosobenzaldehyde (NSBA) molecules and hydrophilic acrylic acid groups, altering local color and hydrophilicity. Information is spatially encoded using a photomask. The written information is encrypted by dissolving NSBA molecules in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Upon aqueous immersion, differential hydrophilicity between irradiated and non-irradiated zones triggers localized phase separation, facilitating decryption. Notably, photolysis kinetics is time-gated, ensuring decryption only within a specific time window in water. This method surpasses traditional gel constraints, offering a novel paradigm for secure information storage.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3934-1
Solar energy, a clean and abundant resource, can be stored as latent heat in solid-solid phase change materials (SSPCMs) and subsequently utilized, offering great potential for advancing passive thermal management technologies such as thermal camouflage. Conventional SSPCMs often require active heating for high-temperature conditions, leading to additional energy consumption. Moreover, their permanent crosslinked structures limit reprocessability and increase environmental burden. Herein, we present a lizard-skin-inspired, solar-thermal-responsive, and reprocessable SSPCM (FTSPCM) featuring a dual crosslinked structure composed of dynamic phenol–carbamate bonds and Fe3+@Tannic acid (TA) coordination. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) functions as the phase change segment, while TA introduces both reversible covalent crosslinking and photothermal responsiveness. The FTSPCM exhibits a high latent heat of 102.9 J g−1, excellent shape stability, and maintains its thermal performance after three reprocessing cycles at 120 °C. The Fe3+@TA coordination network enables strong near-infrared absorption and efficient solar-thermal conversion, achieving a surface temperature of 62 °C and a conversion efficiency of 96.85% under 2 Suns irradiation. This dual-function design allows the material to achieve passive thermal camouflage via latent heat release at low temperatures and solar-assisted photothermal heating at high temperatures. This work presents a sustainable strategy for developing reprocessable, solar-responsive SSPCMs, showcasing the distinctive advantages of tannic acid-derived polyphenol chemistry in constructing passive thermal management systems for energy-efficient thermal camouflage and solar-driven thermal energy storage.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4140-9
Metal covalent organic frameworks (MCOFs) are promising photocatalysts for carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR). However, the synthesis of ketimine-linked COFs remains challenging due to the low reactivity of ketones. Here, we report a straightforward strategy to construct diketimine-linked MCOFs via the condensation of acenaphthenequinone (Ace) with 1,3,6,8-tetra(4-aminophenyl)pyrene (TAPPy). The metal-free COF (TACOF-AA) exhibits AA stacking, while the addition of NiCl2·6H2O under identical conditions yields an AB-stacked Ni-based MCOF (Ni-TACOF-AB). The coordinated Ni species serve as active sites for CO2RR and enhance electron-hole separation. Photocatalytic tests demonstrate that Ni-TACOF-AB achieves a CO evolution rate of 11.71 mmol g−1 h−1 with 99.9% selectivity, which is 7.6 times higher than that of TACOF-AA. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that Ni-TACOF-AB lowers the activation energy barrier of the rate-determining step by regulating local charge distribution, facilitating electron transfer to adsorbed CO2. This work provides a novel approach for synthesizing ketimine-based COFs and highlights the importance of interlayer stacking in modulating photocatalytic performance.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2026021301
Lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) nanoparticles (NPs), generated during the lifecycle of LCO batteries via mechanical wear, pose respiratory health risks. This study systematically assessed LCO NPs' physicochemical properties, ion release, and immunotoxicity using multi-scale models. LCO NPs exhibited irregular morphology, layered crystal structure, good dispersion, and negative surface charge. Cobalt ion release was minimal: 1.03% in deionized water and 0.11% in cell culture medium. In vitro, LCO NPs significantly induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α) in macrophages, promoting M1 polarization. In vivo, intranasal exposure caused dose-dependent pulmonary accumulation, alveolar destruction, inflammatory cell infiltration, and elevated cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Transcriptomic analysis revealed significant enrichment of NF-κB, JAK-STAT, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathways, implicating these in macrophage activation and inflammation amplification. This multi-level study elucidates LCO NPs' immunotoxicity mechanisms, providing a scientific basis for environmental health risk assessment and management of lithium-ion battery materials.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025040104
The oxidative transformation of 2,6-dichlorophenol (2,6-DCP) was investigated in three typical zonal soils: black soil, red soil, and brown soil. Results demonstrated that 2,6-DCP underwent oxidative coupling in all soils, yielding hydroxylated polychlorinated diphenyl ethers (OH-PCDEs) and hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs) as primary products. The highest oxidative efficiency occurred in black soil, with approximately 85.1% of 2,6-DCP transformed within three days. In contrast, red and brown soils exhibited lower efficiencies, indicating a strong dependence on soil properties. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the oxidative coupling reaction is endothermic, with elevated temperatures favoring reaction progress. Furthermore, soil microorganisms and dissolved oxygen were identified as critical controlling factors, acting synergistically to drive the reaction. This study provides the first evidence of natural oxidative coupling of 2,6-DCP in soil, forming OH-PCDEs and OH-PCBs. These findings offer significant scientific insight into the environmental fate of halogenated phenolic pollutants in terrestrial systems.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4025-y
Gd3+-sensitized Tb3+-based glasses are high light-yield scintillators. Energy transfer sensitization between Gd3+ and Tb3+ is well-recognized. Gd3+ ions are also found to typically modulate the interionic distances of Tb3+ ions; however, the mechanism why this effect enhances the latter’s photoluminescence still remains unclear. This work focuses on Gd3+, Tb3+ co-doped La2O3-B2O3-SiO2 (LBSO), first demonstrating Tb3+ clusters via spectroscopy. LBSO’s optimal Tb3+ single-doping concentration is 37%, rising to 50% with 20% Gd3+. The LBSO:20%Gd3+,50%Tb3+ sample exhibits a 542 nm emission intensity 2.22 times that of the 37%Tb3+ single-doped sample, 38% scintillation efficiency (vs. BGO), and >20 lp mm−1 X-ray resolution. The introduction of Gd3+ increases the interionic distance between Tb3+ ions within the clusters, thereby suppressing the concentration quenching effect and enhancing the fluorescence emission. We propose this mechanism as “cluster-dispersion sensitization effect”. This effect was further confirmed in other glass systems (LBSO:Lu3+, Tb3+, LBSO:Y3+, Tb3+, Bi-based:Lu3+, Tb3+, etc.). Spectroscopic analysis shows Gd3+-Tb3+ energy transfer efficiency up to 80%. In conclusion, Gd3+ synergistically enhances Tb3+ fluorescence via both effects. These findings not only fully elucidate the sensitization mechanism of Gd3+ ions in Gd3+, Tb3+ co-doped scintillating glasses but also provide new insights for researching the manipulation of activator ion clusters in luminescent materials. In search for novel scintillators, cluster-dispersion sensitization effect may greatly improve their spatial resolution via intrinsic architectures design in glasses, ceramics, thin films, and nanoparticles.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4012-4
Stimuli-responsive fluorescent hydrogels, owing to their tunable optical properties and unique smart response characteristics, have significant potential in encryption applications and information security. However, most current systems are limited to single-stimulus responsiveness and lack the capability for programmable information erasure or multi-modal dynamic synergy. Hence, we propose a multi-stimuli-responsive phase-change hydrogel incorporating aggregation-induced emission hydrophobic carbon dots (AIE-HCDs) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-cellulose network, demonstrating dynamic fluorescence chromism under various external triggers. The hydrogel exhibits solvent-exchange-triggered fluorescence color changes from blue to red, enabled by the concentration modulation of AIE-HCDs through the exchange between PEG and water. Additionally, the temperature-induced phase transition of PEG from crystalline to molten state modulates the aggregation and dispersion of AIE-HCDs, thereby enabling dynamic fluorescence color changes. The phase transition further confers excellent shape-memory behavior and adjustable mechanical properties, with the tensile modulus varying from 6.28 MPa in the molten state to 36.23 MPa in the crystalline state, while maintaining high transparency (~88% in the molten state). By utilizing micro-contact printing and the multi-stimulus response, an encryption platform enables information to be hidden, selectively read under sequential stimuli (thermal, UV, and solvent), and completely erased upon demand. This strategy demonstrates significant potential for advancing high-level information encryption and anti-counterfeiting technologies.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608017
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a significant gaseous pollutant emitted during high-carbon ferrochrome (HCFeCr) production, yet measured emission factors for different furnace types remain scarce, hindering accurate emission inventories and pollution control assessments. This study addresses this gap by investigating four typical HCFeCr production facilities in Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia, China, comprising two semi-closed submerged arc furnaces (SAFs) and two closed SAFs. A hybrid methodology combining manual stack sampling and continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS) data was employed. A characteristic CO-to-NOx concentration ratio was established from manual measurements, which was then applied to continuous NOx data to estimate CO emissions and product-based emission factors. Results revealed substantial process-dependent variability: semi-closed SAFs (Facilities A and B) exhibited CO emission factors of 7.06 kg/t and 3.66 kg/t, respectively, whereas closed SAFs (Facilities C and D) with associated pelletizing processes showed notably lower factors of 1.41 kg/t and 0.51 kg/t. On average, semi-closed furnaces emitted approximately six times more CO per tonne of product than closed furnaces. Furnace sealing degree and raw material ratios were identified as key determinants. These findings underscore the inadequacy of using a single average emission factor for HCFeCr production and advocate for furnace-type-specific factors to improve emission accounting accuracy. This study provides essential measured data for developing refined CO emission inventories and supporting pollution reduction policies in the ferroalloy industry.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4097-3
The on-demand patterning of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) with tailored edges is critical for electronic and optoelectronic applications but remains technically challenging. Here, we report a stress-guided anisotropic etching strategy for producing large-area, well-ordered MoS2 nanostructures, including nano-ribbons and nano-squares, without templates. By applying uniaxial cumulative stress followed by selective thermal etching, MoS2 monolayers are statistically etched into ribbon-like structures whose width inversely correlates with applied stress magnitude. The newly etched edges are macroscopically straight or serrated, predominantly Mo-zigzag terminated, and enhance photoluminescence by a factor of ~8.0. The edge type depends on the angle between stress direction and crystallographic orientation, corroborated by theoretical calculations. Biaxial stressing generates well-defined nano-squares, offering a scalable, versatile patterning route for engineering 2D materials with tailored functional edges, promising for electrocatalytic and optoelectronic applications.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608026
Biochar and microbial inoculants are widely used for agricultural soil amendment. To investigate the effects of different straw biochars and Bacillus subtilis inoculant, applied individually or combined, on nitrogen transformation in dryland soil, a 60-day laboratory incubation experiment was conducted with six treatments: control (CK), 4% rice straw biochar (S), 4% rapeseed straw biochar (Y), 4% rice straw biochar plus 5 mg/kg inoculant (SJ), 4% rapeseed straw biochar plus 5 mg/kg inoculant (YJ), and inoculant alone (J). Results showed that rice straw biochar significantly increased soil nitrate nitrogen content by 148.74%–152.68% compared to CK, enhancing nitrification. Combined application with inoculant further increased average net nitrogen mineralization rate by 77.28%–99.38%. Conversely, rapeseed straw biochar decreased nitrate nitrogen by 51.66%–57.61%, and combined application reduced net nitrogen mineralization rate by 82.07%–84.73%. Treatments S, Y, SJ, and YJ promoted microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) synthesis, with S and Y increasing MBN by 2.02- and 2.20-fold over CK, respectively. Combined treatments further increased MBN by 103.26%–149.44% relative to single biochar treatments. These findings indicate that biochar type governs nitrification and net nitrogen mineralization, while combined application exerts synergistic effects on MBN. For comprehensive dryland soil improvement, YJ treatment is optimal, reducing inorganic nitrogen loss risk and enhancing microbial nitrogen activity.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60692-5
Long persistent luminescence materials (LPLMs) have demonstrated significant potential in photo- and electro-catalysis due to their unique capability of storing and controllably releasing photogenerated charge carriers. These materials offer innovative solutions for environmental remediation and sustainable energy technologies. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in the application of LPLs in photo- and electro-catalysis, outlining their developmental history and underlying mechanisms. Emphasis is placed on their applications in organic pollutant degradation, photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, and photovoltaic cells. Furthermore, design strategies and research frameworks for LPLs are discussed. The current limitations and challenges in this field are examined, and future research directions are proposed to facilitate the transition of LPLMs from fundamental research to practical applications in energy and the environment. Key materials such as SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ exhibit afterglow lasting up to 30 hours, enabling round-the-clock catalytic activity. Composite systems like g-C3N4@Au@SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ and Cu|CuO/SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ have achieved efficient degradation and simultaneous hydrogen evolution. Z-scheme heterojunctions, e.g., Sr2MgSi2O7:Eu2+,Dy3+/Ag3PO4, demonstrate enhanced performance. The review highlights the potential of LPLMs to overcome the limitation of intermittent light sources, providing a pathway for continuous catalytic processes.