SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4479-8
The von Neumann architecture is increasingly constrained by energy consumption and data-transfer efficiency as artificial intelligence and data-intensive applications expand. Neuromorphic computing, inspired by the human brain's information-processing mechanisms, offers an alternative paradigm. Two-dimensional (2D) ferroelectric materials are promising candidates due to their intrinsic non-volatility, atomic-scale thickness, ultra-low power consumption, excellent fatigue endurance, and dangling-bond-free surfaces. This review examines recent advances in 2D ferroelectric materials and associated device architectures for neuromorphic applications. It first introduces ferroelectric mechanisms and representative 2D ferroelectrics, then surveys key device architectures including ferroelectric tunnel junctions, diodes, transistors, and photovoltaic devices. Their applications in in-memory computing and in-sensor neuromorphic systems are discussed, with emphasis on artificial neural networks, spiking neural networks, reservoir computing, and neuromorphic perception for efficient information processing and intelligent sensing. The unique properties of 2D ferroelectrics enable integrated sensing, memory, and computing functionalities, demonstrating potential for future neuromorphic and brain-inspired intelligent systems.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3884-1
Sliding ferroelectricity arises from lateral interlayer shifts in stacked two-dimensional van der Waals materials, where relative sliding of one layer over another breaks inversion symmetry and generates switchable polarization. This novel mechanism enables intrinsically nonpolar crystals to exhibit ferroelectric behavior via specific stacking arrangements, expanding the pool of potential ferroelectrics. Distinctive features include ultralow switching barriers, exceptional endurance over millions to trillions of cycles, and ultrafast polarization reversal on sub-nanosecond timescales, surpassing conventional ferroelectrics. This review begins with theoretical models of sliding ferroelectricity, followed by experimental verification and characterization techniques. It then discusses recent advances in polarization-switching kinetics, domain wall dynamics, topological polar structures, multiple polarization states, optical probing, and active modulation strategies. Finally, challenges and future prospects for two-dimensional sliding ferroelectric materials are addressed.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3956-0
Chiral organic-inorganic hybrid metal halides (OIHMHs) are multifunctional materials with structural diversity and chiroptical properties. However, current chiral OIHMHs predominantly exhibit circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) in the visible spectrum, while ultraviolet and near-infrared (NIR) CPL remains challenging. Here, we report lead-free chiral zero-dimensional (0D) OIHMHs, (R/S-DACH)2In2Br10:Sb3+/Yb3+ (DACH = 1,2-diaminocyclohexane), featuring spectrally tunable CPL emissions covering visible to NIR regions. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction, circular dichroism, and CPL spectroscopy revealed that robust hydrogen-bonding interactions between organic cations and inorganic emitters are crucial for chirality expression. Sb3+-doped (R/S-DACH)2In2Br10 single crystals exhibited intense broadband emission at 644 nm from the 3P1 to 1S0 transition of Sb3+, achieving a record photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 49.9% (two orders of magnitude higher than pristine crystals) and a luminescence dissymmetry factor (glum) of ±7.1×10−3. Notably, Sb3+/Yb3+ co-doped crystals simultaneously generated dual-band CPL at 644 nm (glum = ±2.1×10−2) and 994 nm (glum = ±6.8×10−3), representing an important example of NIR-CPL in OIHMHs. An LED device based on (R-DACH)2In2Br10:2.7%Sb3+ exhibited bright orange emission with a color-rendering index of 78.4 and excellent spectral and operational stabilities. These findings establish a design strategy for broadband CPL and expand applications of chiral metal halides in advanced optoelectronics.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202511005
To enhance the adsorption performance of volcanic rock for nitrogen in water, an α-Fe2O3/volcanic rock composite was successfully prepared via ferric citrate impregnation and calcination. Its adsorption characteristics for NH4+-N and NO3−-N and application in tidal flow constructed wetlands (TFCWs) were systematically investigated. Results showed that the adsorption kinetics of both nitrogen forms followed a pseudo-second-order model, indicating chemisorption dominance. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models both fitted the data, suggesting coexistence of monolayer and multilayer adsorption. The saturated adsorption capacities of α-Fe2O3/volcanic rock for NH4+-N and NO3−-N were 0.055 mg·g−1 and 0.067 mg·g−1, respectively. In TFCWs using this composite as substrate, average removal efficiencies for NH4+-N and NO3−-N reached 72.51% and 68.13%, respectively. Furthermore, microbial community abundance and diversity in the wetland system significantly increased, indicating that α-Fe2O3 introduction effectively enhanced microbial activity, thereby improving nitrogen removal efficiency.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025051802
This study investigates the recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus from anaerobic digestion biogas slurry of chicken manure via magnesium-modified zeolite coupled with electrochemical precipitation crystallization. Three types of magnesium-modified zeolites were prepared using alkali activation and magnesium loading to enhance adsorption capacity. A coupled 'magnesium-modified zeolite-electrochemical MAP' reactor was constructed, and key parameters (N/P ratio, pH, current density) were optimized via response surface methodology. The results show that MgCl2-modified zeolite (MgCl2-ZO) exhibited the best coupling precipitation performance. Under optimal conditions (N/P ratio 3.78, pH 8.43, current density 13.11 A·m−2), the removal efficiencies for total nitrogen (TN), total ammonium nitrogen (TAN), total phosphorus (TP), and total phosphate (TPS) reached 54.84%, 62.93%, 82.02%, and 77.72%, respectively. The mechanism involves synergistic adsorption and electrochemical release of Mg2+ from the magnesium electrode, which promotes struvite crystallization. The electrochemical field enhances ion exchange and chemical precipitation on the zeolite surface, facilitating efficient nutrient recovery. This approach offers a promising solution for nutrient management in livestock wastewater.