SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4267-y
The synthesis of two-dimensional MBenes from MAB-phase ceramics is impeded by uncontrolled etching kinetics that compromise structural integrity and yield. This study introduces a vacuum molten salt strategy to regulate space-charge accumulation during the selective removal of Al from Mo2AlB2, producing honeycomb-like architectures. The vacuum environment suppresses oxidative side reactions and modulates ionic transport, enabling precise control over etching depth and morphology. The resulting Mo2AlB2 exhibits exceptional electromagnetic wave absorption, with a minimum reflection loss of -56.3 dB at 2.4 mm and an effective absorption bandwidth of 6.8 GHz. These metrics surpass conventional etching-derived MBenes by a factor of 2.5 in attenuation capacity. The space-charge-regulated mechanism is elucidated through in situ spectroscopic and computational analyses, revealing that vacancy-induced charge redistribution governs the etching front propagation. This work establishes a scalable route for high-purity MBenes with tailored porosity, addressing critical bottlenecks in energy absorption and catalytic applications. The vacuum molten salt approach eliminates the need for hazardous HF, offering a safer and more environmentally benign pathway for industrial translation.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3669-1
Halide perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) have advanced rapidly due to their high photoluminescence quantum yield, tunable bandgap, and color purity. However, conventional perovskites exhibit small exciton binding energies, which weaken radiative recombination and limit external quantum efficiency (EQE). Strong spatial confinement strategies, such as thin films, small grains, or quantum-confined structures, have boosted EQE beyond 20% but introduce Auger recombination and ion migration, causing efficiency roll-off and instability. This commentary highlights a novel approach by Xiao et al. (Nature, 2025) that employs weakly space-confined all-inorganic CsPbBr3 perovskites, synthesized using sacrificial additives hypophosphorous acid (HPA) and ammonium chloride (NH4Cl). This method yields highly oriented monocrystalline domains exceeding hundreds of nanometers with no observable grain boundaries, contrasting with control films (submicrometre grains with abundant boundaries) and strongly confined systems (~20 nm crystallites with organic ligands). The reduced grain boundaries lower defect density and block ion migration, while controlled crystallization suppresses vacancies and lattice distortions, enhancing carrier mobility and raising the ion migration energy barrier. The strategy achieves record-breaking performance and stability, addressing EQE roll-off and operational lifetime limitations. This approach offers a versatile framework for other all-inorganic perovskite systems, advancing PeLEDs toward practical high-brightness displays and lighting.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025073004
Micro/nano-plastics (MNPs) are emerging contaminants widely detected in human circulatory systems, including blood, heart, and vascular endothelium, raising concerns about cardiovascular health risks. This systematic review analyzed 61 peer-reviewed studies (2008–2024) to elucidate the cardiotoxic effects and molecular mechanisms of MNPs. Evidence indicates that MNPs exposure elevates risks of atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and arrhythmias through oxidative stress, inflammatory cascades, endothelial dysfunction, and metabolic dysregulation. Notably, co-exposure with persistent organic pollutants (POPs) or heavy metals may produce synergistic or antagonistic effects. Current research relies predominantly on animal and cell models, with critical gaps in low-dose, long-term exposure data and epidemiological evidence. Future studies should optimize experimental designs, integrate metabolomics and epigenetics, and explore transgenerational effects and combined toxicity mechanisms to inform pollution control policies and mitigate cardiovascular risks.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4036-4
Alkaline water electrolysis is a pivotal technology for large-scale green hydrogen production, yet its efficiency is constrained by sluggish hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) kinetics at industrial current densities. Here, we propose a synergistic dual-doping strategy to lower kinetic barriers for both Volmer and Heyrovsky steps. A robust amorphous NiCoV nanosheet electrode was synthesized via scalable one-step electrodeposition. In situ spectroscopic and kinetic characterizations reveal that hydrophilic V species optimize interfacial water by disrupting the hydrogen bond network, ensuring rapid supply of free water at the inner Helmholtz plane. Co dopants modulate electronic structure to facilitate electron transfer and optimize intermediate adsorption energetics. The NiCoV electrode requires an ultralow overpotential of 253 mV at -400 mA cm−2, surpassing most Pt-based catalysts, and maintains stability for over 200 h. Industrial validation in a scaled-up electrolyzer demonstrates a cell voltage of 1.89 V at 400 mA cm−2, achieving energy savings of 0.12 kWh m−3 H2 compared to commercial benchmarks. This translates to annual electricity savings of 1.33 × 10^6 kWh for a medium-scale demonstration project, highlighting immense potential for sustainable industrial applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3974-1
MAB-phase-derived compounds exhibit promising electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption properties due to their unique layered structure and desirable physicochemical characteristics. Among them, Cr2AlB2 is particularly attractive owing to its excellent thermal and electrical conductivity. However, conventional synthesis of Cr2AlB2 requires inert gas protection to prevent oxidation, significantly increasing production costs and limiting its application in EMW absorption. To overcome this bottleneck, we report the successful synthesis of high-purity Cr2AlB2 in ambient air using the molten salt shielded synthesis (MS3) method. This approach not only isolates the material from oxygen interference but also reduces the synthesis temperature, offering a cost-effective and scalable route. The as-synthesized Cr2AlB2 exhibits outstanding EMW absorption performance: a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of -42.10 dB at 12.6 GHz and a maximum effective absorption bandwidth (EABmax) of 3.44 GHz at a thickness of 1.9 mm. This work not only facilitates the large-scale production of Cr2AlB2 but also provides critical insights into its practical application as a high-performance EMW absorber.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4085-9
Bone defects remain a prevalent clinical challenge, and regenerative medicine based on bone tissue engineering offers promising solutions. Traditional osteogenic materials rely on bioactive macromolecules like growth factors, which suffer from poor stability and stringent storage requirements. From a structural perspective, bone tissue resides in a phosphorylated microenvironment, with 65–70% of inorganic components composed of hydroxyapatite. Inorganic phosphorylated materials induce osteogenic differentiation but exhibit high stiffness, brittleness, slow degradation, and limited mechanical tunability. Synthetic phosphorylated polymers with excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility have been developed to address these issues. In this work, we developed a series of phosphorylated polymers derived from poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS), a biocompatible and biodegradable material. Leveraging the hydroxyl-rich backbone of PGS, we demonstrated an efficient method for controllable phosphorylation of PGS side chains, enabling synthesis of PGS-based phosphorylated (PGS-P) polymers with tunable phosphorus contents. The optimized phosphorylated polyester, PGS-P4, exhibited strong ability to promote osteogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs, and its porous three-dimensional scaffolds showed favorable properties for bone regeneration. BMSCs cultured for one week and observed by fluorescence microscopy showed enhanced BSP protein expression on PGS-P2, PGS-P4, and PGS-P6 groups compared with PLGA and PGS, with PGS-P4 displaying the most intense signal. In summary, we present a simple and controllable method for preparation of functionalized polyesters and their porous scaffolds with tunable phosphorus content, validating its effectiveness in promoting osteogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs. All phosphorylated polyesters exhibit enhanced differentiation-promoting effects compared to non-phosphorylated PGS; however, the degree of enhancement does not increase monotonically with phosphorus content. PGS-P4, containing an optimal phosphorus level, shows the most pronounced biological functions.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4074-6
Achieving carbon neutralization relies heavily on green hydrogen and electrochemical carbon-nitrogen cycles. However, the complexity of these systems and the cost of traditional Edisonian trial-and-error methods hinder rapid progress. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative tool, enabling high-throughput data processing and dynamic adaptation. This review surveys the landscape of AI-driven electrochemistry, bridging the gap from atomic-scale design to industrial-scale implementation. Specifically, we focus on three areas: atomic structure-function decoding, fully automated “self-driving” laboratories, and macro-scale simulations for device durability. Furthermore, we elucidate the critical challenges in integrating AI with materials science. By mapping current trends and future directions, this work aims to unlock the full transformative potential of AI in next-generation energy storage and conversion.