Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.202608_9718
Offshore floating wind turbines (OFWTs) suffer from severe wind-wave-induced vibrations that degrade power quality and accelerate structural fatigue. This study addresses the underactuated nonlinear control problem by installing a tuned mass damper (TMD) in the nacelle and proposing a fixed-time active vibration mitigation strategy. A coupled dynamic model of the barge-type OFWT is derived via Lagrange's equations, incorporating platform pitch, tower fore-aft bending, and TMD motion. A fixed-time nonlinear disturbance observer (FTNDO) is constructed to estimate and compensate wind-wave disturbances within a fixed time independent of initial conditions. An intermediate control input resolves the underactuation by mapping the single TMD actuator to multiple subsystems. Fixed-time active controllers are designed for each subsystem, and Lyapunov analysis proves fixed-time stability of the closed-loop system. Simulations under two operational conditions validate the FTNDO and controller. Compared with passive TMD, the proposed method reduces platform vibration by 44.33% and tower vibration by 46.09%. The control input remains bounded within ±1.0×10^6 N·m, demonstrating practical feasibility. The fixed-time convergence ensures rapid suppression of transient oscillations, overcoming the asymptotic-only guarantees of existing sliding mode or H∞ controllers. This work provides a high-performance, robust solution for deep-sea floating wind turbine vibration control, with direct implications for structural longevity and power quality.
Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.202608_9711
The integration of high-penetration distributed photovoltaics (DPV) into distribution networks introduces significant operational uncertainties and challenges in maintaining voltage profiles and reliability. This study proposes a robust joint planning methodology for distributed resources based on cluster partitioning to enhance DPV accommodation. A comprehensive cluster partitioning index is formulated, incorporating modularity, active/reactive power balance, and source-load simultaneity rate, solved via an improved genetic algorithm. Subsequently, a bi-level robust joint planning model is established. The upper level determines the optimal siting and sizing of DPV and energy storage under source-load uncertainties, controlled by an uncertainty adjustment parameter. The lower level evaluates reliability indices through an analytical method that accounts for cluster islanding probability, feeding operational information back to the upper level. Iterative optimization balances robustness and reliability. The proposed method is validated through simulations on a modified IEEE 33-bus system, demonstrating its effectiveness in improving DPV accommodation and system reliability. The results indicate that the cluster-based approach reduces power exchange between clusters and enhances local autonomy, providing a practical framework for planning distributed resources in active distribution networks.
Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.202608_9714
The segmentation between China's green certificate (GC) trading and carbon markets has created a critical accounting gap: existing regional grid emission factors fail to deduct renewable energy environmental attributes already transferred via GC transactions, resulting in double counting of green power benefits. This study proposes a carbon emission accounting framework that integrates geospatial information with GC trading mechanisms. A GC-carbon reduction association model is established, systematically classifying GC transaction types and formulating corresponding accounting criteria. A differentiated accounting framework based on transaction characteristics enables spatial matching between GC transactions and regional power grids. Kalman filtering and inversion techniques are applied to optimize the accuracy of thermal power plant carbon emission monitoring data. Validation is conducted using the IEEE 30-bus system and a geographic region in China. The framework addresses the dual-calculation deficiency in current practices, where grid emission factors retain renewable energy shares that have already been traded as GCs. By establishing a mapping relationship between the power network and geographic regions, the method enables precise carbon accounting at both source and consumption ends. The results demonstrate the rationality and effectiveness of the proposed approach, providing a methodological foundation for coordinating GC trading with carbon market accounting rules and supporting the establishment of unified carbon emission accounting standards that avoid environmental benefit duplication.
Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.202608_9702
Short-term load forecasting faces escalating volatility and nonlinearity due to high renewable penetration. This study proposes a hybrid framework integrating Soft Dynamic Time Warping-Improved Partitioning Around Medoids (SDTW-IPAM) clustering with an Informer model. The SDTW distance metric captures local temporal deformations in load curves, while Gap statistics and K-means++ initialization optimize PAM clustering to adaptively determine cluster count and initial medoids. Load profiles are partitioned into double-peak, high-peak, and smooth patterns. Maximum Information Coefficient (MIC) selects differential features for each cluster, and dedicated Informer models are trained per pattern. Validation on real load data from Urumqi, Xinjiang, demonstrates that the combined model outperforms benchmark models across EMAE, ERMSE, and R², particularly for highly volatile load patterns. The method enhances forecasting accuracy and robustness, offering practical value for power system scheduling under renewable uncertainty. Limitations include exclusion of direct renewable generation, price signals, and storage states; future work will incorporate multi-variable inputs and extreme weather scenarios.
Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.202608_9680
The boron-rich layer (BRL) and phosphorus-rich layer (PRL) formed during thermal diffusion in crystalline silicon solar cells are detrimental to carrier lifetime and conversion efficiency. This study investigates a single-step wet chemical co-etching process using a mixed acid solution of HF, HNO3, and H2O to simultaneously remove both BRL and PRL from 165 mm × 165 mm n-type CZ silicon substrates. The optimal etching condition is determined as HF:HNO3:H2O = 1:5:20 by volume with an etching time of 5 min. The co-etching process effectively modulates the sheet resistance of both the front boron emitter and the rear phosphorus back-surface field, reduces surface defect density, and enhances minority carrier lifetime and implied open-circuit voltage (iVoc). After co-etching, the iVoc increases from 585 mV to 610 mV, and the minority carrier lifetime rises from below 20 µs to 75.7 µs. The process enables simultaneous removal of BRL and PRL, simplifying the fabrication flow and reducing chemical waste treatment costs. This work demonstrates a viable pathway for industrial-scale production of high-efficiency n-type PERT solar cells with reduced process complexity.
Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.202608_9681
Surface and interface defects in perovskite films induce non-radiative recombination losses that limit device performance. Conventional solution-phase passivation methods often cause disordered surface composition. This study introduces a pulsed electric field (PEF)-induced NH3 post-treatment strategy for perovskite films. Under PEF, nitrogen atoms in NH3 interact with coordinatively unsaturated Pb2+ in the [PbI6]4− octahedral framework, stabilizing Pb2+ defects, while hydrogen atoms strengthen interactions with I− ions, suppressing iodine migration and reducing iodine vacancies. The PEF-induced NH3 modification yields a more uniform surface potential distribution, enhancing carrier transport. The average power conversion efficiency (PCE) increases from 23.32% to 24.79%. Unencapsulated devices retain 84% of initial PCE after 1000 h in air, compared to 75% for control devices. This approach synergistically regulates passivation and defect healing, reducing non-radiative recombination and improving charge transport and long-term stability.
Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.202608_9679
Tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar cells, despite achieving commercial efficiencies up to 25.6% and a theoretical limit of 28.7%, exhibit ultraviolet-induced degradation (UVID) that threatens long-term reliability. This study investigates the metastable behavior of industrial-scale TOPCon cells under dark storage and cumulative ultraviolet (UVA-365 nm) irradiation at 200 W/m². Dark storage over 60 days revealed a decay in minority carrier lifetime (τ) by 13%, with implicit open-circuit voltage (i-Voc) and implicit fill factor (i-FF) decreasing by 0.17% and 0.30%, respectively. Critically, short-term UV exposure (approximately 1 s) produced an anomalous efficiency enhancement: average power conversion efficiency (PCE) increased by 0.07%, open-circuit voltage (Voc) by 0.89 mV, and fill factor (FF) by 0.15% across a batch of 4677 cells. Prolonged UV irradiation, however, reversed these gains, causing passivation degradation and net PCE loss. This dual behavior—initial improvement followed by deterioration—is attributed to the interplay between hydrogen-mediated defect metastability and UV-induced interface damage. The findings establish a previously unreported UV-induced recovery mechanism and provide a quantitative basis for optimizing UV pre-treatment in TOPCon manufacturing, potentially enabling efficiency gains without additional capital expenditure.
Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.202608_9668
This study addresses the technical bottlenecks of low efficiency and high cost in hydrogen storage and transportation by proposing a cryogenic high-pressure hydrogen storage system integrated with a liquid nitrogen cold shield composite insulation. Optimized for a standard 40-foot (approximately 12.2 m) tank container, the system achieves a hydrogen storage capacity of 999.68 kg with a volumetric efficiency of 64 kg/m³, tripling the payload of conventional high-pressure tube trailers. Through hexagonal tube bundle topology optimization, a 200 mm diameter tube bundle is identified as the optimal configuration. The system employs a liquid nitrogen cold shield (static evaporation rate 0.25%/d) combined with high-vacuum multilayer insulation, enabling a lossless hydrogen storage period of 118 days. A point-to-point transportation cost model quantifies that, for transport distances of 200–800 km and scales of 500–1500 kg/d, the unit transportation cost is reduced by 73.2% compared to high-pressure tube trailers and saves 54.2% in initial investment relative to liquid hydrogen tankers. The system offers a cost-effective storage and transportation solution for medium-scale, medium-to-long-distance hydrogen delivery, particularly for hydrogen metallurgy and off-grid hydrogen production scenarios.
Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.202608_9667
This study addresses the critical lack of validated test apparatus for evaluating hydrogen-induced aging in polymer liners of Type IV hydrogen storage cylinders under extreme service conditions. A novel hydrogen aging test apparatus, independently developed by the China Special Equipment Inspection and Research Institute, is presented. The apparatus integrates a high-pressure hydrogen aging vessel, an explosion-proof environmental chamber, a regulation and control system, and a software control system, enabling tests at pressures up to 87.5 MPa and temperatures from -40 to 100 °C. The reliability of the apparatus was verified through a 1000-hour hydrogen aging test on high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liner material at 85 °C and 87.5 MPa (1.25 times nominal working pressure). Post-aging characterization included hydrogen permeation tests and mechanical tensile tests. Results indicate a slight degradation in hydrogen barrier performance: the hydrogen permeation coefficient (Pe) increased by 4.76%, the diffusion coefficient (D) decreased by 3.08%, and the solubility coefficient (S) increased by 8.10%. Conversely, mechanical properties showed minor improvements: average tensile strength increased by 6.51% and nominal elongation at break increased by 15.33%. These findings provide essential empirical data for the selection, development, and improvement of liner materials for 70 MPa Type IV hydrogen storage cylinders, supporting the advancement of China's hydrogen energy infrastructure.
Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.202608_9660
Clogging of reinjection wells by microbial deposition in heterogeneous layered aquifers severely limits the operational lifespan of water-source heat pump (WSHP) systems. This study investigates the migration and deposition behavior of Escherichia coli in stratified porous media using a one-dimensional sand column apparatus. Three distinct sand fractions—coarse gravel (T1, d50 = 2.67 mm, k = 3.65 × 10⁻¹ cm/s), medium gravel (T2, d50 = 2.59 mm, k = 3.33 × 10⁻¹ cm/s), and fine gravel (T3, d50 = 1.98 mm, k = 2.98 × 10⁻¹ cm/s)—were packed in a controlled sequence to simulate layered aquifer configurations. A bacterial suspension of 8 × 10⁹ CFU/mL was injected, and breakthrough curves along with pore-water pressure were monitored at four ports spaced 15 cm apart. Results demonstrate that E. coli deposition is predominantly concentrated at the surface layer, with concentration declining exponentially with migration distance. Lower permeability media (fine gravel) shift the deposition front closer to the inlet. The layered sequence exerts a pronounced effect on transport: a coarse-to-fine packing order causes earlier breakthrough peak arrival compared to homogeneous or fine-to-coarse arrangements. A permeability decay model was validated against experimental data, showing strong agreement between predicted and measured permeability reduction over time. These findings provide a mechanistic basis for optimizing reinjection well design and filter material grading to mitigate microbial clogging in WSHP systems.
Power Automation Equipment•2026•DOI: 10.16081/j.epae.202606022
Real-time electromagnetic transient simulation of modular multilevel converters (MMCs) on multi-core CPU platforms at large time steps is constrained by the difficulty of predicting diode conduction states during blocking operation. Conventional direct prediction methods sample node voltages at the previous time step and extrapolate the next switching state; at 50 μs, however, multiple natural commutation events can occur within a single step, producing over-shoot, numerical oscillation, and elevated prediction failure rates. This work proposes a blocking-state prediction method grounded in the internal topological and electrical constraints of submodules. Diodes exhibiting identical behavior under blocking are aggregated into a unified equivalent circuit, and a constraint-based state prediction mechanism with enhanced robustness is constructed, eliminating reliance on high-speed FPGA timestamping or variable-step rollback. Offline and real-time simulations on the ADPSS platform demonstrate that at a 50 μs step the proposed method maintains computational error within 3‰–7‰, substantially reduces prediction failure probability relative to direct prediction, and completes a single simulation step in approximately 22.23 μs on a multi-core CPU architecture, satisfying the 50 μs real-time constraint. The method provides a viable pathway for efficient CPU-based real-time simulation of large-scale MMC systems.
Power Automation Equipment•2026•DOI: 10.16081/j.epae.202606001
The increasing penetration of renewable energy sources has introduced novel instability phenomena in power grids, such as sustained and repeated low-voltage ride-through events, which existing models fail to analyze or explain. This paper addresses the typical continuous-discrete hybrid characteristics of renewable energy generation systems at both the unit and station levels. It discusses the interwoven discrete multi-mode switching and continuous state evolution during faults, emphasizing the necessity of hybrid models. Four classes of hybrid models are compared, including hybrid automata, hybrid Petri nets, switching models, and piecewise affine models, with their applicable scenarios. For switching models and piecewise affine models, parameter identification methods are proposed, and their applicable scenarios are discussed. To tackle the challenge of aggregating dispersed renewable units with diverse discrete event states, a mechanism-data fusion hybrid model aggregation method is proposed. Future research directions for hybrid characteristic modeling of renewable energy generation systems are outlined. The review highlights that current hybrid models remain in an early stage, and mechanism-data fusion modeling is a promising supplement. Key challenges include balancing model complexity and accuracy, and addressing the contradiction between diverse transient behaviors and model universality.
Power Automation Equipment•2026•DOI: 10.16081/j.epae.202605011
Traditional electromagnetic transient simulation of synchronous generators suffers from insufficient numerical stability, low computational efficiency, and inadequate representation of magnetic saturation. To improve the reliability of power grid security and stability analysis, this paper proposes an improved modeling scheme based on the voltage-behind-reactance (VBR) method, focusing on the performance deficiencies of conventional current-source equivalent models. The scheme constructs a decoupled machine-network interface circuit with constant resistance-inductance branches via constant-parameterization, employs piecewise linearization of the flux-current characteristic curve to accurately represent magnetic saturation, and adopts a hybrid explicit-implicit Euler discretization to avoid algebraic loops. Validation on a single-machine infinite-bus benchmark and fault condition tests on the IEEE 14-bus system using MATLAB/Simulink demonstrate that the proposed model significantly enhances computational efficiency and numerical stability for large-step simulations while maintaining excellent accuracy in fault transient scenarios. Compared with the MATLAB/Simulink SPS model, the proposed model achieves a 55.6% improvement in computational efficiency under equal simulation accuracy, with two-norm voltage errors of 0.33% and 0.3% at nodes 5 and 9, and current errors of 0.51% and 0.41%, respectively. The model is suitable for large-scale electromagnetic transient simulation analysis of power systems.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4249-2
Underwater bubble manipulation is critical for water electrolysis, heat transfer, and mineral flotation, yet existing strategies relying on buoyancy or Laplace gradient forces from asymmetric surface geometries suffer from limited flexibility and narrow applicability. This work introduces a temperature-responsive anisotropic cilia surface (TRAS) that achieves bidirectional long-range bubble transport by modulating elastic modulus and stiffness. The TRAS enables precise control over the asymmetric three-phase contact line and viscous resistance, facilitating reversible bubble motion. Experimental validation using aqueous ethanol droplets with varying surface tensions (73.16 mN/m for 0 vol% to 22.27 mN/m for 100 vol%) on cilia with center-to-center spacings of 0.2–1.0 mm reveals that transport direction depends on both cilia spacing and liquid surface tension. Droplets of 0 vol% and 20 vol% ethanol exhibit sustained reverse transport on hard cilia, while 60 vol%, 80 vol%, and 100 vol% solutions show sustained forward transport. Notably, 40 vol% ethanol droplets display bidirectional transport at 0.6 mm spacing, reverse transport at 0.8 and 1.0 mm, and forward transport at 0.2 and 0.4 mm. These results demonstrate that tuning surface tension and cilia spacing provides a versatile platform for directional bubble manipulation, with promising applications in heat transfer, electrochemistry, and gas handling systems.
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/s40843-026-4362-y
The commercial viability of zinc-air batteries (ZABs) is constrained by the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which necessitates robust, cost-effective catalysts. While cobalt-based single-atom catalysts (Co SACs) exhibit superior selectivity and stability relative to Fe-N-C counterparts, their intrinsic ORR activity remains limited by scaling relations among intermediates. This study alleviates these constraints by precisely engineering the coordination symmetry of Co SACs. Through a mild annealing strategy, boron was incorporated into the first and second coordination shells of Co centers, creating an asymmetric Co-N3B-O local environment. The first-shell B/O coordination modulates the electronic structure of the Co center, while hydrogen bonding between *OOH and the coordinated O atom stabilizes the key intermediate, synergistically enhancing ORR activity. The optimized Co-BCN-950 catalyst delivers a peak power density of 216 mW cm-2 in ZABs, a 43% enhancement over commercial Pt/C (151 mW cm-2), alongside an open-circuit voltage of 1.43 V and a specific capacity of 790 mAh g-1. These findings establish a paradigm for tailoring the local coordination of SACs, enabling next-generation high-stability energy storage systems.
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/s40843-026-4476-1
Self-sustained oscillation in soft actuators enables autonomous, untethered robotic locomotion, yet existing light-driven systems suffer from low oscillation frequencies, rapid photothermal degradation, and reliance on external controllers. This work presents a bat-inspired soft robot that converts continuous near-infrared (NIR) irradiation into sustained rotational motion via a coiled MXene-based liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) actuator. The actuator integrates Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets as photothermal converters within an LCE matrix, achieving a photothermal conversion efficiency of 78.3% and a steady-state temperature of 142 °C under 1.5 W cm−2 NIR (808 nm). The coil geometry induces a self-shadowing effect that generates periodic light exposure, producing autonomous oscillation at 2.7 Hz with an amplitude of 45°. The robot demonstrates a rotational speed of 120 rpm and a specific power density of 3.2 W kg−1, outperforming previously reported light-driven oscillators by a factor of 2.5. Under continuous operation for 10,000 cycles, the actuator retains 92% of its initial oscillation amplitude, with a degradation rate of 0.008% per cycle. The bat-inspired wing morphology enables directional rotation and obstacle avoidance in confined spaces. This platform eliminates the need for external modulation, offering a scalable route to autonomous soft robotics for inspection, environmental monitoring, and micro-manipulation.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4391-5
Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) enable precise tuning of the ITO/active layer interfacial dipole, yet their impact on the crystallization kinetics of the overlying active layer remains poorly understood, limiting their potential in high-efficiency organic solar cells. This study introduces THPC, a self-assembling material with an extended carbazole core and heteroatom substitution, as a hole transport layer (HTL). Unlike the hydrophilic PEDOT:PSS, THPC exhibits low surface energy, providing a favorable template that extends the film formation kinetics of the PM6:L8-BO-X blend by nearly 1.4 times, mitigating the explosive nucleation prevalent in PM6-based active layers. This promotes a highly ordered fibrous morphology and enhances vertical phase separation. The deep work function of THPC (5.32 eV) increases the built-in potential, reduces interfacial trap density, and facilitates charge extraction. Consequently, non-radiative recombination loss decreases from 0.243 eV to 0.227 eV, and the open-circuit voltage rises from 0.866 V to 0.883 V, yielding a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.19%, outperforming the PEDOT:PSS control (18.67%). This finding is confirmed across multiple Y-series acceptors, all approaching 20% PCE. Notably, the D18:L8-BO system achieves a PCE of 20.55%, demonstrating broad applicability.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4425-4
Flexible and weavable alternating-current electroluminescent (ACEL) fiber devices are pivotal for wearable displays and human-computer interfaces, yet their intrinsic lack of color tunability restricts high-density information interaction. This study presents a dynamically color-tunable electroluminescent fiber device with a coaxial winding structure that integrates multiple fiber electrodes emitting the three primary colors. Through simple voltage driving, the device achieves a color gamut covering 131.07% of the sRGB standard, enabling arbitrary full-color tunability, including standard white light with CIE coordinates of (0.31, 0.33). The emission peak is continuously tunable over a 161.7 nm range, a 4-fold enhancement compared to previously reported ACEL fibers. The coaxial winding architecture is compatible with large-scale fabrication, yielding hundred-meter-scale fiber devices with a luminance variation of only 2.76%. The electroluminescent performance remains stable under stringent industrial standards: 10,000 friction cycles, 20 accelerated washing cycles, and 10-day storage at 105 °C and −20 °C. Integration into a smart textile watchband demonstrates real-time heart rate visualization via progress color changes and gesture-controlled color switching, validating its potential as an effective human-computer interface.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4480-1
Ternary organic solar cells (OSCs) incorporating a structurally compatible guest acceptor (C7-Cl) into the PM6:BTP-eC9 host system are demonstrated. The low Flory-Huggins interaction parameter between host and guest acceptors facilitates intimate mixing, optimizing molecular packing and energy-level alignment. High-sensitivity sEQE and EQEEL analyses reveal a reduced non-radiative energy loss (KE3) of 0.216 eV in the ternary device. Consequently, the optimized ternary OSC achieves a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.02% and an improved T80 operational lifetime of 1065 h. This work establishes a feasible strategy via structurally compatible guest doping to simultaneously optimize vertical phase separation and suppress non-radiative loss, providing a facile and effective route toward high-performance and stable OSCs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4447-3
Chargeable photoconductivity, a non-volatile photoresponse phenomenon, was investigated in multiferroic heterostructures comprising Bi0.85La0.15FeO3 (BLFO) and a quasi-two-dimensional electron gas (Q2DEG). Two device architectures, LSMO/BLFO/Q2DEG and Pt/BLFO/Q2DEG, were fabricated and characterized under varying electrical connection conditions between the top electrode and the Q2DEG during illumination and dark waiting stages. Current-voltage (I-V) measurements reveal that the heterostructures exhibit persistent photoconductivity after illumination, with the magnitude and retention dependent on the circuit configuration. Under open/open conditions, the photocurrent increases with illumination duration, and subsequent dark waiting leads to a gradual decay, indicating charge storage and release mechanisms. The LSMO/BLFO/Q2DEG heterostructure demonstrates superior chargeable photoconductivity compared to the Pt counterpart, attributed to the oxygen vacancy migration and interfacial polarization effects. These findings establish a foundation for oxide-based photoelectric memory devices with potential for low-power, non-volatile optoelectronic applications. The results provide critical insights into the interplay between ferroelectric polarization, oxygen vacancy dynamics, and charge trapping at the BLFO/Q2DEG interface, offering a pathway for designing advanced multiferroic optoelectronic devices.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4468-6
The proliferation of multispectral detection platforms demands materials that simultaneously satisfy electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and infrared (IR) camouflage without compromising radio-frequency (RF) transmission. Conventional MXene films exhibit exceptional EMI shielding (>40 dB) but suffer from high IR emissivity and severe RF reflection, precluding integration with wave-transmitting arrays. This work introduces liquid metal (LM)-modified MXene composite films engineered via structural patterning to decouple optical, IR, and RF responses. The LM phase, dispersed within the MXene interlayer galleries, reduces free-electron density and tailors the dielectric loss, while a periodic array architecture creates impedance-matched windows for RF transmission. The resulting films achieve an EMI shielding effectiveness of 36 dB at 510 µm thickness, with a low IR emissivity of 0.36 and an RF transmittance exceeding 80% in the X-band. The patterning strategy suppresses surface current continuity, mitigating the trade-off between shielding and transmission. These metrics represent a 20% improvement in IR camouflage and a 15% enhancement in RF transparency relative to pristine MXene films. The composite films also demonstrate mechanical flexibility, retaining 95% of initial conductivity after 1,000 bending cycles. This work establishes a scalable route for multispectral-compatible materials critical for next-generation stealth and communication systems.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4165-1
Developing efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) synthesis is vital for sustainable chemistry, yet optimizing the electronic structure of triazine-based covalent organic frameworks (COFs) through precise spatial engineering remains a challenge. In this work, we constructed four model COFs to systematically decode how the spatial arrangement and incorporation level of triazine moieties regulate the electronic structures and H2O2 production efficiency. Combined experimental and theoretical analyses revealed that FB-AT achieved an optimal donor-acceptor architecture via rational spatial arrangement of triazine and benzene moieties. This configuration established an intramolecular potential gradient, which not only promoted charge separation by suppressing the exciton binding energy but also enriched the electron density at triazine sites. These electron-rich active centers significantly facilitated the oxygen reduction reaction by lowering the thermodynamic energy barrier for *OOH intermediate formation. Consequently, FB-AT exhibited a remarkable H2O2 production rate of 11055 μmol g-1 h-1 in pure water, along with a superior solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency of 1.16%. Additionally, FB-AT enabled complete degradation of phenol, tetracycline, and rhodamine B within 5–15 min of visible light irradiation. This work provides crucial guidance for the rational design of advanced COF photocatalysts for sustainable H2O2 production and water decontamination.
Nano Research Energy•2026•DOI: 10.26599/NRE.2025.9120181
Solid-state lithium metal batteries (SLMBs) demand quasi-solid polymer electrolytes (QSSPEs) that simultaneously deliver high ionic conductivity, interfacial stability, and oxidative resistance. This study reports a QSSPE membrane (MP46) formulated with MG30:LiTFSI:succinonitrile at a 10:4:6 weight ratio, exhibiting a wide electrochemical window of 5.1 V. Complementary infrared spectroscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, and electron microscopy reveal a hierarchical ionic conductive network consisting of sphere-like nanostructures embedded within microphase-segregated architectures. This morphology enhances lithium-ion transport while preserving mechanical integrity. The strong interfacial adhesion between MP46 and lithium metal enables stable lithium plating and stripping for over 800 h at 0.2 mA·cm–2, effectively mitigating dendrite formation. When paired with LiFePO4 and LiCoO2 cathodes, MP46 sustains prolonged cycling, retaining 80.1% capacity after 1400 cycles at 2 C and 92.1% after 200 cycles at 4.5 V, respectively. Pouch-type cells further demonstrate mechanical flexibility and operational safety under deformation. These results establish MP46 as a viable candidate for stable high-energy-density SLMBs, offering fundamental insights into the design of next-generation polymer electrolytes.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4495-3
Room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) has attracted substantial interest for applications in smart optoelectronics, yet the development of dynamic RTP systems remains intrinsically challenging. Here, we report an appropriately rigid confinement strategy based on NaCl ionic crystals formed in situ via cation-anion exchange, which simultaneously suppresses non-radiative decay and retains sufficient structural flexibility for external stimulation. In the TPN/NaCl and DPB/NaCl systems, dynamic phosphorescence is realized exclusively upon sequential thermal activation and ultraviolet irradiation. Mechanistic investigations reveal that residual water and triplet oxygen initially quench triplet excitons, and their gradual removal enables a competitive evolution between triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) and phosphorescence pathways. This work establishes a general design principle for constructing stimulus-responsive dynamic RTP systems and resolves the long-standing conflict between rigidity and responsiveness in organic phosphorescent materials.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4299-9
A dual-doping strategy incorporating boron (B) and sulfur (S) into graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was employed to engineer band structures and construct an S-scheme homojunction (BSCN) for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) evolution. The BSCN catalyst exhibited an interwoven architecture of porous nanotubes and nanosheets, providing a large specific surface area and abundant active sites. In situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed an S-scheme charge transfer mechanism at the BCN/SCN interface, driven by a built-in electric field that facilitates efficient spatial separation of photogenerated charge carriers. Photoelectrochemical measurements confirmed improved light harvesting and charge separation. DFT simulations indicated near-thermoneutral hydrogen adsorption free energy (ΔGH* = 0.12 eV) at S-doped sites, favorable for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) kinetics. The optimized BSCN achieved an exceptional H2 evolution rate of 14.409 mmol g−1 h−1, approximately 75-fold and 3.4-fold higher than pristine BCN and SCN, respectively. This work establishes a rational doping-mediated approach for designing high-efficiency g-C3N4 homojunctions and provides mechanistic insights into S-scheme charge transfer for solar-driven H2 production.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4281-7
Multispectral camouflage materials must simultaneously address visible and infrared (IR) detection while maintaining environmental stability and mechanical flexibility for deployment in harsh conditions. This work presents a multilayer composite integrating a colorful, IR-transparent visible reflection (VR) layer, a low-emissivity graphene (LEG) layer, and an aramid nanofiber (ANF) aerogel layer. The VR layer provides tunable visible colors without compromising the low-emissivity property of the LEG layer, which achieves IR emissivity between 0.30 and 0.43. The ANF aerogel, reinforced with a grid structure, reduces thermal conduction, lowering IR radiation intensity by 40% at an 80 °C heat source. The composite exhibits effective electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and maintains multifunctional stability in strong acid, strong alkali, saline, and organic media. This design offers a novel strategy for environmentally robust multispectral camouflage materials suitable for extreme operational environments.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4261-2
Developing ion exchange membranes with both high proton conductivity and high selectivity is crucial for vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). Commercial Nafion membranes suffer from severe vanadium crossover, while conventional additives often aggregate, disrupting ion domains and significantly reducing proton conductivity. To overcome this conductivity–selectivity trade-off, we propose a modification strategy based on molecular-level functional strategy. Two complementary additives, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and a fluoroalkyl-grafted polyoxometalate cluster (8FSiW11), are introduced into Nafion matrix to achieve precise, cooperative, regulation of ionic domains. PVP fills ion domains via hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions, constructing an efficient barrier against vanadium ions. Simultaneously, 8FSiW11 anchors at the hydrophilic/hydrophobic interface, providing additional proton sources and hopping sites to compensate for proton neutralization by PVP. The resulting hybrid membrane exhibits a proton/vanadium selectivity of 1×10^6 S min cm^-3, 8.6 times higher than commercial Nafion 212 (NR212), and enables VRFB energy efficiencies (EE) of 88.9% at 100 mA cm^-2 and 83.2% at 200 mA cm^-2. This work demonstrates the potential of synergistic molecular modification strategy to break conductivity–selectivity trade-off in membrane design for next-generation high-performance VRFBs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4295-5
Carbon nanomaterials (CNMs), including carbon nanotubes, graphene, and fullerenes, exhibit exceptional promise in precision biomedicine due to their tunable biocompatibility, programmable surface chemistry, large specific surface area, and quantum confinement effects. However, their clinical translation is hindered by aggregation, poor physiological dispersibility, and limited targeting specificity. This review systematically elaborates on surface engineering strategies—covalent functionalization, non-covalent assembly, and heteroatom doping—to optimize the multifunctionality, biocompatibility, and targeting capabilities of CNMs at the nano-bio interface. We explore how engineered interfaces enable advanced applications in biosensing, stimuli-responsive drug delivery, multimodal bioimaging, antibacterial therapy, and regenerative tissue engineering. The review also addresses challenges such as scalability, long-term toxicity, and regulatory hurdles, and proposes future directions to expedite clinical adoption. By providing a comprehensive framework for rational surface design, this work aims to bridge the gap between fundamental materials science and clinical needs, offering a roadmap for developing next-generation carbon-based theranostics.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4290-9
Thermoelectric materials enable direct and reversible conversion between heat and electricity, offering unique advantages for waste heat recovery, solid-state refrigeration, and deep-space power systems. The performance is evaluated by the dimensionless figure of merit, zT = S²σT/κ, where S is the Seebeck coefficient, σ is the electrical conductivity, T is the absolute temperature, and κ is the total thermal conductivity. Achieving high zT requires simultaneous realization of a large power factor (S²σ) and low thermal conductivity. However, these parameters are intrinsically coupled, posing a fundamental challenge. PbTe is a representative thermoelectric material operating in the intermediate temperature range, with outstanding performance originating from its unique electronic band structure featuring multiple nearly degenerate valence band maxima near the L points. Band convergence via alloying with mono-tellurides such as MgTe, MnTe, CdTe, YbTe, SrTe, and EuTe effectively modifies the valence band structure, increasing band degeneracy and density-of-states effective mass, thereby enhancing electrical conductivity without decreasing the Seebeck coefficient. However, increasing the content of these mono-tellurides limits acceptor dopability, making conventional dopants like Na difficult to incorporate. This study demonstrates that co-doping strategies can preserve dopability while achieving band convergence and dislocation engineering, leading to significantly reduced lattice thermal conductivity and extraordinary peak zT values. The decoupling of electronic and thermal transport through this approach offers a promising route for high-performance thermoelectrics.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4260-5
Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are recognized as a leading candidate for next-generation energy storage due to their high theoretical specific capacity (1675 mAh g⁻¹). However, the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) severely limits cycle life and energy efficiency. Here, we report a multi-interface engineering strategy employing a MnO₂-TiO₂@Ti₃C₂ MXene (MT@MX) heterojunction, synthesized via a facile redox reaction between MXene and KMnO₄, to modulate bidirectional polysulfide conversion. The 2D structure with high conductivity and abundant heterogeneous interfaces facilitates fast ion/electron transfer, reduces reaction energy barriers, and enhances adsorption via d-band center effects. The stepped built-in electric field (BIEF) in MT@MX lowers the migration energy barrier of LiPSs from catalytic MXene to TiO₂ and then to adsorptive MnO₂, enabling reversible migration across multi-interfaces. Optimized heterointerfaces synergistically integrate adsorption, diffusion, and catalytic conversion, yielding excellent cycling stability even at a high sulfur loading of 6.4 mg cm⁻². This work demonstrates that constructing heterojunctions with stepped BIEF offers a feasible approach to modulate interfacial diffusion and provides a new design strategy for high-performance LSB electrocatalysts.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4246-5
Developing organic solar cells (OSCs) processable from green solvents without additives or post-treatments is essential for sustainable manufacturing, yet high power conversion efficiency (PCE) remains difficult due to limited morphology control. Herein, we develop a new electron-deficient building block, dithiazolo[4',5':3,4;5'',4'':5,6]benzo[1,2-d][1,2,3]triazole (DTzBT), which fuses benzo[d][1,2,3]triazole (BTA) with thiazole to leverage S/N-mediated non-covalent interactions, enhance planarity and lower the HOMO. To isolate side-chain effects, two DTzBT-based donors, namely PTzMe-F (N-methyl) and PTzEH-F (N-2-ethylhexyl), have been designed and synthesized. PTzMe-F exhibits poor solubility and miscibility with L8-BO, yielding 2.64% PCE (chloroform). PTzEH-F exhibits excellent processability and favorable morphology, delivering 17.61% PCE (chloroform) and 19.17% as-cast from toluene without any additive or post-treatments. In addition, the ternary LbL device based on PTzEH-F/L8-BO:PC71BM achieved an impressive efficiency of 20.27%. Comprehensive characterization indicates that 2-ethylhexyl side chains afford optimal solubility while preserving strong intermolecular interactions and favorable phase separation. DTzBT mitigates BTA’s HOMO-raising tendency via electron-withdrawing thiazole fusion, reconciling aggregation tunability with energy-level control. These results show that precise backbone and side-chain co-design enables green-solvent, additive-free processing for high-performance OSCs, advancing sustainable photovoltaic manufacturing.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4339-7
Neuromorphic computing demands energy-efficient synaptic devices that emulate biological plasticity. Optoelectronic memristors based on colloidal quantum dots (QDs) offer tunable bandgaps and solution processability, yet suffer from defect-mediated nonradiative recombination and instability. Here, we report ZnS-passivated CdZnSe core/shell QDs as the active layer in memristive devices, achieving enhanced synaptic emulation and information encryption. Time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) decay curves were fitted with a tri-exponential function, revealing that ZnS passivation suppresses defect-related trap states, prolonging the average carrier lifetime from 12.3 ns (CdZnSe) to 28.7 ns (CdZnSe/ZnS). The intensity proportion of the fast decay component (τ1 ≈ 1.2 ns) decreased from 45% to 18%, indicating reduced surface trapping. Devices incorporating CdZnSe/ZnS QDs exhibit stable bipolar resistive switching with an ON/OFF ratio exceeding 10^3, endurance of >10^3 cycles, and retention of >10^4 s. Under 365 nm UV illumination, the devices show light-tunable synaptic plasticity, including paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) with a facilitation index of 180% at a 50 ms interval, and transition from short-term to long-term memory. The memristors successfully emulate essential synaptic functions and are employed in a simple encryption scheme, demonstrating the potential of defect-passivated QDs for secure neuromorphic hardware.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4340-0
Thin films with nonreciprocal circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) emit circularly polarized light with opposite handedness from its two opposite sides, holding great promise for advancing optical multiplexing technologies. Herein, we introduce component orientation mismatch into chiral composite films via stretching, which leads to macroscopic optical anisotropy and accordingly drives the films to show nonreciprocal CPL activity. Stretching triggers linear dichroism-linear birefringence (LD-LB) coupling to realize nonreciprocal circular dichroism (CD) in elastomer films consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and chiral polyacetylene (R/S-PSA). Moreover, fluorescence anisotropy-linear birefringence (f-LB) coupling occurs after introducing fluorescent groups into the films to achieve multi-color nonreciprocal CPL. The unstretched films exhibit reciprocal CPL with a luminescence dissymmetry factor (|glum|) of 10⁻¹, with handedness determined by PSA’s intrinsic helical chirality. In the stretched films, the oriented fluorescent groups undergo f-LB coupling with matrix crystallization, resulting in nonreciprocal CPL (|glum|=10⁻²). Based on this distinctive chiroptical feature, we have developed chiral logic gates, multidimensional optical encryption systems, and enantioselective photopolymerization platforms to demonstrate the potential uses of the as-obtained CPL films. This work provides both fundamental insights into and a versatile material platform for developing smart nonreciprocal photonic systems with advanced chiroptical functionality.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4349-9
Sodium metal batteries are promising for large-scale energy storage due to sodium's abundance and low cost, but their commercialization is hindered by dendrite growth and low utilization of sodium metal anodes. Here, we report a yolk-shell structure with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) confined in hollow carbon nanospheres (Au@HCN) as a robust seeding/hosting interphase. The encapsulation isolates Au NPs from direct electrolyte contact, mitigating parasitic reactions, while the void space accommodates volume changes during alloying. Notably, electrochemical testing reveals that Au NPs undergo alloying-induced amorphization upon sodiation, forming a Na-Au amorphous alloy that enhances sodiophilicity and ensures uniform Na nucleation. This amorphous phase, confirmed by ex situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy, reduces nucleation overpotential and promotes dendrite-free deposition. The Au@HCN electrode achieves a high Coulombic efficiency of 99.8% over 500 cycles at 1 mA cm−2 and a long cycle life of over 2000 hours at 0.5 mA cm−2 in symmetric cells. Full cells paired with Na3V2(PO4)3 cathodes deliver a specific capacity of 105 mAh g−1 with 92% retention after 500 cycles. This work provides a rational design for stable sodium metal anodes through encapsulation and alloying-induced amorphization, offering a pathway for practical sodium metal batteries.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4202-3
Carbon dots (CDs) with absorption in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 900-1700 nm) hold promise for tumor theranostics, yet existing synthesis methods often involve complex procedures, harsh conditions, or lack precise control. Here we report a 'self-photooxidation-restructuring' strategy that enables structural reorganization of the carbon core in CDs, achieving a significant redshift of absorption into the NIR-II region. Under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation, the precursor (B-CDs, absorption in UV region) generates singlet oxygen, which self-oxidizes aldehyde groups and the carbon skeleton of B-CDs to stronger electron-withdrawing carboxyl groups and carbon radicals, respectively. These processes facilitate the formation of new C=C bonds between isolated aromatic domains, thereby transforming B-CDs into novel CDs (N-CDs) characterized by enhanced donor-acceptor interactions and a redshift in absorption toward the NIR-II window. Various experimental data, including high-resolution XPS, FTIR, NMR, EPR, have proved the proposed formation mechanism. The novel N-CDs afforded a high photothermal conversion efficiency of up to 71.33%, which enabled 1064 nm laser-activated photoacoustic imaging (PAI)-guided photothermal therapy (PTT) in tumors. This work opens a new avenue for the synthesis and modulation of CDs in the NIR-II region.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4373-2
Infrared stealth technology demands materials with simultaneously low infrared emissivity and robust environmental stability. Traditional coatings suffer from high emissivity or poor thermal stability. Here, we report Sr-doped SmCoO3 perovskite ceramics achieving a record-low room-temperature infrared emissivity of 0.12 in the 8–14 μm atmospheric window. Systematic doping (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5) via solid-phase synthesis reveals that Sr substitution induces a Co3+/Co4+ mixed valence state, increases oxygen vacancy concentration, and distorts the lattice. First-principles calculations (CASTEP) confirm that doping narrows the bandgap from 1.8 eV to 0.9 eV and enhances the double-exchange interaction, boosting carrier concentration and mobility. The optimized composition (x = 0.3) exhibits an electrical conductivity of 1.2×10^3 S/cm and a carrier density of 3.5×10^21 cm^-3, leading to strong infrared reflection. The material maintains emissivity below 0.15 after 100 hours of thermal cycling at 300°C and 500 hours of humidity exposure (85°C/85% RH), demonstrating exceptional environmental durability. This work establishes a new paradigm for designing high-performance inorganic infrared stealth materials via electronic-structural synergy.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4236-8
Electrochemical nitrate reduction (NO3RR) to ammonia offers a sustainable route for nitrogen recovery from wastewater, yet its efficiency is constrained by complex multi-step proton-electron transfers and competitive hydrogen evolution. Here, we report a series of binary cobalt-copper phosphates with precisely tuned Co/Cu ratios, revealing a volcano-type relationship between composition and catalytic activity. The optimized Co0.5Cu1.5(OH)PO4 catalyst, supported on a Ni3Co1OxHy/Ni foam substrate, achieves a Faradaic efficiency of 99.0% for ammonia at a high current density of 200 mA cm−2 in 1 M nitrate electrolyte, with a production rate of 9.18 mg h−1 cm−2 and sustained stability over 200 hours. In-situ ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations elucidate a tandem mechanism: Co sites promote water dissociation to generate active hydrogen (H*), while adjacent Cu sites facilitate nitrate adsorption and subsequent hydrogenation steps. This synergistic division of labor lowers the energy barrier for the rate-determining step, effectively suppressing HER and enhancing intrinsic kinetics. The work demonstrates that precise atomic-ratio engineering in dual-site transition metal phosphates provides a viable strategy to overcome activity-selectivity trade-offs in electrocatalytic nitrate-to-ammonia conversion.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4220-x
High-temperature electronics demand non-volatile memories (NVMs) capable of stable operation above 500 °C for applications in space exploration, nuclear energy, and autonomous driving. Conventional silicon-based devices fail above ~250 °C, and silicon carbide (SiC) cannot process data above 300 °C. Memristors offer a promising solution due to their simple structure, low power consumption, and scalability. A recent breakthrough by Yang et al. (Science) demonstrated a graphene (Gra)/HfOx/W memristor achieving data retention at 700 °C, with retention time of 50 h, endurance of 10^9 cycles, ON/OFF ratio exceeding three orders of magnitude, and operation voltage ~1.5 V. The key innovation is replacing the Pt bottom electrode with in-situ grown graphene, which suppresses high-temperature diffusion of the W top electrode through the HfOx layer. In contrast, Pt/HfOx/W devices fail after annealing at 800 °C for 10^4 s due to W migration, forming conductive filaments that lock the device in the ON state. High-resolution TEM and EDS reveal tungsten oxide (WOx) formation at the W/HfOx interface in Pt-based devices, while Gra-based devices show no such degradation. STEM-EELS confirms W migration across the HfOx layer in Pt devices, but graphene acts as a diffusion barrier, preserving stable switching behavior. This interfacial engineering approach provides a viable pathway for high-temperature NVM, addressing the critical bottleneck of electrode diffusion.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4277-1
Two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials hold promise for next-generation spintronics, yet most exhibit Curie temperatures (Tc) far below room temperature, limiting practical applications. Here, we report the realization of room-temperature ferromagnetism in CuCrSe2 nanosheets via controlled anion removal achieved by post-synthetic vacuum annealing. Raw CuCrSe2 shows a low Tc of ~120 K, whereas annealed CuCrSe2 (A-CuCrSe2) nanosheets exhibit robust ferromagnetic ordering above 300 K. Structural and compositional analyses, including transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, confirm that A-CuCrSe2 retains the original layered crystal structure with an estimated Se vacancy concentration of approximately 10%. Magnetic measurements reveal room-temperature ferromagnetism in exfoliated nanosheets, corroborated by magnetic imaging and electric transport measurements. Anomalous Hall effect (AHE) measurements uncover the coexistence of two ferromagnetic phases within the same sample: one with low Tc (~120 K) and another with high Tc (>300 K), indicating spatially heterogeneous magnetic ordering driven by anion removal distribution. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations elucidate the microscopic mechanism, suggesting that Se vacancies modulate the magnetic exchange interactions, enhancing Tc. This work demonstrates that anion modulation is an effective intrinsic strategy to achieve room-temperature ferromagnetism in 2D materials, potentially advancing spintronic applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4293-9
Traditional soft magnetic alloys (SMAs) suffer from a performance trade-off where enhancing magnetic properties often compromises mechanical and other properties, limiting their use in high-efficiency power systems and advanced electronics. The design concept of medium- and high-entropy alloys (M/HEAs) offers a pathway to overcome this limitation. By leveraging multi-principal-element compositions and tailorable microstructures, medium- and high-entropy soft magnetic alloys (M/HE-SMAs) can integrate superior soft magnetic properties with exceptional mechanical strength-ductility synergy, high electrical resistivity, good thermal stability, and excellent corrosion resistance. This article reviews design strategies for synergistic enhancement of multiple properties in M/HE-SMAs, including blending multiple ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic elements into solid solution, inducing local chemical order, tailoring nanoprecipitates, controlling grain size, and engineering dual/multi-phase structures. The cooperative interactions among these strategies are discussed. Potential research directions for further development and practical applications are proposed.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4255-5
Localized overheating in high-rate lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) or lithium metal batteries (LMBs) accelerates dendrite formation, disrupting current density and thermal distribution uniformity. This study constructs a Janus-structured, polybenzimidazole (PBI)-welded separator (JNS@PBI) with polypropylene nanofibers (PPNFs) on one face and nanoscale carbon black-modified PPNFs (CPPNFs) on the other. The CPPNFs layer provides electronic conductivity to homogenize interfacial current distribution and heat dissipation, while the PPNFs layer ensures electronic insulation. PBI, serving as a welding agent with intrinsic ionic conductivity, enhances mechanical properties and lithium-ion transport. This design enables synergistic transport of ions and electrons at the JNS@PBI/SEI interface. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations elucidate how JNS@PBI enhances interfacial ion transport and regulates lithium deposition. JNS@PBI exhibits high porosity (71.3%), superior electrolyte uptake (451%), and high ionic conductivity (1.80 mS cm−1). Electrochemical tests confirm exceptional interfacial stability, with stable polarization voltage over 2000 h of plating/stripping cycles. Remarkable rate capability and cycling endurance are observed: high-capacity retention rates of 85.2% after 700 cycles at 1 C and 90.3% after 1500 cycles at 3 C in assembled LiFePO4/graphite full cells. This work provides a promising approach for next-generation separators for high-safety LIBs or LMBs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3691-9
Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has significantly advanced NIR light sources, yet creating NIR emitters with optimal luminescence properties, high thermal stability, and adjustable emission peaks remains a critical challenge for future smart NIR devices. Here, we introduce a chemical unit cosubstitution strategy by incorporating Ca2+ and Sn4+ ions into the garnet structure. Through this approach, Y3−yCayGa4.95−ySnyO12:0.05Cr3+ (y = 0–1) phosphors were developed by modulating the A&C ligands, resulting in emission centers ranging from 708 to 768 nm. The modified local environment of Cr3+ accounts for the increased light intensity (2.71 times) and broadening observed. Furthermore, this study investigated the impact of varying Cr3+ concentrations (Y2.6Ca0.4Ga4.6−xSn0.4O12:xCr3+) on the production of high-performance phosphors. Compared with Y3Ga4.93O12:0.07Cr3+, the optimized phosphor exhibited exceptional external quantum efficiency (EQE = 34.96%). The luminescence enhancement is attributed to an increase in radiative transitions caused by octahedral Jahn-Teller distortion, whereas the notable thermal stability (91.3% at 423 K) is attributed to the presence of weak electron-phonon coupling (EPC) and oxygen vacancy (OV) defects. Finally, by combining it with a 450 nm blue LED chip, we constructed a near-infrared phosphor-converted LED (NIR pc-LED) device with superior electroluminescence efficiency (18.8% @ 100 mA), increasing the ultralow quenching rate (< 5% intensity loss after 30 days of operation) and demonstrating remarkable performance in plant lighting applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3582-9
Perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) hold great potential for brain-like neuromorphic computing. However, the development of PQDs-based synaptic devices is hindered by interfacial defects and limited stability. Here, we demonstrate a high-performance Cs2AgBiBr6 QDs/organic single crystal heterojunction synaptic device, fabricated via a novel space-confined vertical growth technique combined with a polymer-free transfer process. Vertically grown organic single crystals enable superior carrier mobility and facilitate the formation of low-defect interfaces with PQDs. The heterojunction exhibits remarkable photosensitivity (7.22 × 10^5 at 425 nm) and detectivity (2.15 × 10^15 Jones), owing to the strong optical absorption of PQDs coupled with the superior charge transport characteristics of organic single crystals. Notably, the device achieves dual-functional light adaptation, emulating synaptic behaviour under blue light while exhibiting photo-switching under green/red light. This unique capability enables smart blue-light hazard protection. This work not only provides a versatile platform for high-performance PQDs-based synaptic devices but also advances the development of brain-inspired neuromorphic systems for next-generation computing and intelligent sensing.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3629-3
Electrically pumped lasers with reduced physical dimensions are critical for future optical information processing, storage, and photonic integrated circuits. However, electrical injection in perovskite lasers faces challenges including material instability, non-radiative losses, and Joule heating. Here, we demonstrate an ultralow-threshold perovskite microlaser decorated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), enabling simultaneous optical pumping and current injection at ambient temperature. The lasing threshold is reduced to 8.6 μJ/cm², approximately 44% lower than that of pristine devices (15.3 μJ/cm²). The AuNPs, with optimized size, enhance both lasing performance and electrical properties, achieving a current injection density of 2.98 kA/cm². AuNPs accelerate hot-carrier cooling, reducing non-radiative recombination and mitigating Joule heating. The threshold decreases progressively with increasing electrical assist fraction. Stability tests confirm excellent resistance to aging and humidity, with stable lasing output under co-excitation in ambient air. This work underscores the feasibility of electrically driven perovskite microlasers, offering a pathway toward electrically pumped microlaser diodes.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3596-2
High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have shown great promise in the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) due to their tunable composition and unique physical and chemical properties. However, the role of HEAs in CO2RR and the underlying reaction mechanism remain underexplored, particularly through in situ techniques. In this work, we investigate the mechanism of CO2 reduction on AuAgCuPdPt HEAs using in situ Raman spectroscopy and attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy to reveal key intermediates and reaction pathways. Our results demonstrate that within the potential window of −0.2 to −0.7 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), the AuAgCuPdPt HEAs efficiently reduce CO2 to CO, achieving a Faradaic efficiency (FE) for CO greater than 90%, with a peak FE of 96.5% at −0.3 V vs. RHE. The CO2− intermediate was observed at low potentials, revealing the reaction pathway in the CO2 reduction process. Additionally, in situ ATR-FTIR results suggest that the introduction of an appropriate amount of Pt metal not only promotes water dissociation to generate protonic hydrogen, but also facilitates the desorption of *CO intermediates. The kinetic isotope effect of hydrogen-deuterium (H-D) confirms that water dissociation acts as a key proton donor in CO2RR. Furthermore, the catalyst of AuAgCuPdPt HEAs was applied as cathodes in a Zn-CO2 battery, achieving 90.23% FE for CO and a power density of 3.474 mW cm−2. This study provides new insights into the mechanistic understanding of CO2 reduction and underscores the importance of in situ spectroscopic techniques for advancing the design of efficient electrocatalysts for CO2 conversion.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3588-2
The rapid evolution of aerospace technology necessitates the development of multi-functional composites that combine light weight, mechanical robustness, thermal protection/insulation, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. C/SiC porous ceramic composites are promising for thermal protection in hypersonic vehicles. Here, we report a facile strategy to fabricate Cf/SiC composite polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs) via re-pyrolysis of high-energy ball-milled polycarbosilane-vinyltriethoxysilane-graphene oxide (PVG) with Cf/SiC(rGO)p blend interleaves. In-situ generated honeycomb-like cellular structures and non-directional channels reduce density and increase porosity. High-quality SiO2 joints, formed from Si-dangling bonds, strengthen interfacial bonding via a brazing effect, while in-situ SiOC nanowires (SiOCnws) create a hierarchically enhanced network, improving fracture toughness and crack resistance. Multi-scale interfacial/dipole polarization enhances EMI shielding. The optimized Cf(0.2)/SiC(rGO) composite exhibits low density (1.49 g cm−3), high fracture toughness (6.32 MPa m1/2), hardness (7.18 GPa), compressive strength (72.67 MPa), and EMI shielding effectiveness of 58.31 dB. It maintains structural stability under butane blowtorch ablation at ~1300 °C for 3600 s. Porous variants show thermal conductivity of 0.211 W m−1 K−1 with 69.74% porosity. These multi-functional composites are promising for thermal protection systems in aerospace applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3622-0
Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) offer promising solutions for self-powered sensors in the Internet of Things, yet traditional materials suffer from limited mechanical durability, environmental stability, and sensing performance under extreme conditions. This study develops a novel eutectogel composed of a deep eutectic solvent (DES) and a poly(itaconic acid-co-2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (P(IA-co-HEA)) polymer network. Through careful molecular design and microstructural modification, the eutectogel achieves low hysteresis, excellent resilience (97.8%), high conductivity (48.02 mS m−1), and strong adhesive strength. Benefiting from the low freezing point and low volatility of the DES, the eutectogel retains 75.7% tensile and 69.4% compressive resilience at −40 °C, and shows no significant change in resilience after 24 h storage under −0.1 MPa vacuum. A self-powered TENG pressure sensor incorporating the eutectogel exhibits a fast response time of 16 ms and stable signal output over 16,000 contact-separation cycles. The sensor operates reliably at −60 °C and under vacuum (−0.1 MPa). These attributes make the high-resilience flexible sensor suitable for long-term, reliable pressure monitoring in extreme environments, addressing critical bottlenecks in durability and environmental stability for self-powered sensing technologies.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3585-1
Semiconductor-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates have attracted significant attention due to their high uniformity, reproducibility, stability, and cost-effectiveness. However, the Raman enhancement in semiconductors primarily relies on the chemical mechanism (CM), which typically results in a lower enhancement capability compared to traditional noble metals. In this study, we developed a novel two-dimensional (2D) SERS substrate, Ag2Te nanosheets (NSs), synthesized through a simple one-step redox reaction utilizing 2D Te NSs as the template. The 2D Ag2Te NSs not only exhibit strong interfacial interactions with molecules, thereby supporting the CM, but also possess quasi-metallic properties with low resistivity (2.8 × 10−4 Ω cm) and high density of free electrons (4.15 × 10^22 cm−3), giving rise to a significant visible-region surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band and contributing to enormous electromagnetic mechanism (EM). By synergizing CM and EM, the 2D Ag2Te NSs SERS substrate achieved an ultra-low limit of detection (LOD) of 10−10 M with an enhancement factor (EF) of 2.6 × 10^7 for methylene blue (MB), outperforming most semiconductors, even rivaling noble metals. The quasi-metallic properties of 2D Ag2Te NSs also benefit their sensitivity to multiple molecules. The accuracy and reliability were demonstrated in real-sample detections with recoveries of 91.5%–108.3% for various target molecules. These excellent performances, combined with remarkable cost-effectiveness, demonstrate the potential of 2D Ag2Te NSs as a practical SERS substrate with broad applicability. Furthermore, the inherent structural simplicity of these nanosheets creates significant opportunities for further sophisticated nanostructural engineering to advance the SERS performance in the future.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3615-1
Stretchable electronics are pivotal for bio-integrated devices, soft robotics, and wearables, yet their development is constrained by single-layer architectures that limit integration density and by mechanical mismatch between rigid components and soft substrates, which curtails service life. Here, we introduce a LEGO-like modular assembly strategy to construct multilayer three-dimensional (3D) stretchable electronics. Electronic components (ECs) and self-healing polyurethane (SPU) substrates patterned with liquid metal (LM) circuits serve as the modular blocks. This design simplifies fabrication and markedly enhances 3D integration density. The combination of LM circuits and self-healing elastic substrates enables devices to withstand diverse deformations and to autonomously heal after mechanical damage. Notably, the devices can undergo multiple recycling and reuse cycles without significant performance loss. This methodology offers a new paradigm for advanced flexible electronics, addressing critical bottlenecks in integration density, mechanical robustness, and sustainability.
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(26)61075-X
The proliferation of electronic devices has intensified electromagnetic radiation pollution, necessitating advanced microwave absorption materials. This study presents the electrospinning fabrication of FeNiCo/carbon nanofiber (FeNiCo/CNF) composites with exceptional microwave absorption properties. The FeNiCo/CNFs achieved a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −55.5 dB at 14.24 GHz with an ultrathin matching thickness of only 1.6 mm. Microstructural analysis and electromagnetic parameter testing revealed that the superior absorption stems from the synergistic interaction between the carbon nanofiber network and FeNiCo alloy nanoparticles, which promotes multiple reflections and efficient energy dissipation. The precise control of coercivity and permeability via systematic modulation of magnetic metal composition enabled enhanced impedance matching and optimized magnetic-dielectric synergy. Furthermore, radar cross-section (RCS) simulations confirmed the material's capability to significantly reduce RCS values across a wide angular range, validating its potential for stealth technology applications. This work introduces a cost-effective and sustainable approach for developing ultralight, high-performance microwave absorbers, addressing the limitations of conventional materials such as high density and poor stability.
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/s40843-025-3575-4
Halide perovskite memristors, known for their ion mobility, have emerged as strong candidates for computational units in next-generation memory and neuromorphic computing systems. Nevertheless, most memristors are limited to operating in a single mode, either resistive switching or threshold switching. In this work, we overcome this limitation by developing dual-mode α-formamidinium lead triiodide (α-FAPbI3) perovskite memristors with switchable volatile/nonvolatile states, enabled by engineered SnO2 electron transport layers (ETLs). Through molecular interface optimization using 3-(N,N′-dimethylmyristylammonio) propanesulfonate (Z14) and 4,4′-(1,10-phenanthroline-3,8-diyl)bis(N,N′-bis(4-methoxyphen-yl)aniline) (PNL), we achieved exceptional device stability. Volatile devices exhibited >500 switching cycles, while nonvolatile devices surpassed 1000 cycles, both maintaining a high on/off ratio (~10^3). Beyond memory applications, these devices successfully emulated biological functionalities. The volatile mode replicated four key nociceptor characteristics (threshold, relaxation, sensitization, and no adaptation), while the nonvolatile mode demonstrated advanced synaptic plasticity, including paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) and spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP). Capitalizing on this dual-mode synergy, we constructed a spiking neural network (SNN) for handwritten digit recognition, achieving a 93% accuracy rate—a significant milestone for perovskite-based neuromorphic systems. This study not only provides a material-level strategy for multifunctional memristor design but also bridges the gap between biological sensing and artificial intelligence, paving the way for adaptive neuromorphic hardware.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3610-7
Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) offers an attractive route to produce value-added multicarbon (C2+) products, yet suffers from competing hydrogen evolution and monocarbon production. Here, we propose a dual-confinement effect on CO2 reactant and *CO intermediate, induced by tuning the pore configuration of reconstructed covalent organic frameworks (RC-COFs). The highly crystalline microporous RC-COF-1, when coated on a Cu electrode, enhances local CO2 concentration and restricts CO diffusion, thereby promoting C-C coupling. In acidic electrolyte, the RC-COF-1@Cu electrode achieves a maximum C2+ Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 67.0% at 500 mA cm−2, while maintaining a total carbon product FE above 90% across a broad current density range (100–500 mA cm−2). Experimental and theoretical analyses confirm that the ordered micropores of RC-COF-1 modulate reactant adsorption and intermediate diffusion, leading to improved C2+ selectivity. This work underscores the critical role of COF pore architecture in microenvironment engineering for heterogeneous catalysis.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3687-6
P2-Na0.67Ni0.33Mn0.67O2 (NNMO) is a promising cathode for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to its high energy density and operating voltage. However, severe P2-O2 phase transition at high cut-off voltage causes large volume variation, structural degradation, and rapid capacity decay. Ion doping has been explored to suppress this transition, but achieving both high capacity and stability remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate that precise composition regulation enables both. The designed P2-Na0.67Ni0.28Mg0.03Fe0.04Mn0.55Ti0.1O2 retains high electrochemical active element content while effectively suppressing phase transition, leading to outstanding structural stability and fast charge transfer kinetics. This cathode delivers a high specific capacity of 143.5 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C and maintains stable cycling over 1000 cycles. Our work provides a new strategy for rationally designing high-capacity, stable cathode materials for SIBs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3733-2
Irreversible sodium loss, primarily caused by solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation during initial cycling, significantly degrades the capacity of sodium-ion batteries by depleting active sodium. While pre-sodiation mitigates initial sodium loss, it fails to address continuous loss throughout the battery lifecycle. To overcome this limitation, we propose a sustained sodium compensation strategy utilizing activation-releasing systems. Key to this approach are high-capacity sodium compensators, Na2C2O4 and Na2C4O4, supported on a B and N co-doped Mo2C-W2C (MoW-C) heterostructure catalyst. This configuration enables efficient sodium release at charging voltages of 3.53 and 3.78 V, respectively. By integrating the sodium supplement agent onto the separator, and precisely controlling voltage and charge, multiple sodium replenishment is achieved over the entire battery lifecycle. This strategy reduces initial active sodium loss by 36.53%. Furthermore, a single activation during subsequent usage provides an additional 0.115 mAh cm−2 of active sodium. As a result, the cell exhibits exceptional cycling stability, with a capacity loss of only 0.059% per cycle over 350 cycles at 0.5 C.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3584-3
Sutures, as necessary medical devices for postoperative treatment, are no longer merely supportive but are required to have advanced functions to promote repair. Here, we report an absorbable self-powered electrical stimulation suture (SES-suture). The suture is composed entirely of absorbable materials (magnesium, polylactic acid, and polycaprolactone) and can be used in vivo for incision closure and repair. The suture has the capacity to generate spontaneous electrical stimulation in response to body movement, allowing for accelerated tissue reconstruction. An in vivo muscle incision repair model in rabbits demonstrated that the wound healing rate under treatment with this suture was 1.6 times faster than that of commercial sutures, proving its postoperative therapeutic capability. Immunofluorescence and quantitative analyses showed that SES-sutures significantly increased α-SMA and CD31 expression, with levels approximately 2.8 and 3.2 times higher than the blank group, respectively, indicating enhanced angiogenesis and muscle regeneration. The SES-suture exhibited excellent mechanical properties, sustained electrical output, structural and functional stability after implantation, and good biocompatibility. This large animal approach offers crucial translational evidence for potential human applications, addressing the limitations of rodent models due to differences in biomechanics and regeneration rates. While the biosafety profile requires further long-term evaluation, the findings strongly suggest that SES-sutures represent a promising therapeutic strategy for enhancing tissue regeneration and functional recovery.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3653-2
Designing photosensitizers with efficient intersystem crossing (ISC) and long-lived triplet excited states is critical for photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, conventional molecular design principles often rely on heavy-atom effects or specific donor-acceptor architectures, limiting generality. Here, we report a facile and rational strategy to convert intrinsically non-photosensitizing fluorophores into effective reactive oxygen species (ROS) generators by introducing guanidinium substituents. The modified photosensitizers exhibit prolonged triplet excited state lifetimes and considerable ROS production, in stark contrast to unmodified fluorophores which show intense fluorescence and negligible ROS generation. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry confirm the formation of stable nitrogen-centered radical cations on the guanidinium moiety, stabilized by p-π conjugation. Mechanistic studies indicate that these radicals promote ISC and prolong triplet state lifetimes. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that guanidinium-modified photosensitizers induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) and elicit potent anti-tumor immunity. This work provides a universal and facile strategy for designing organic photosensitizers through stable radical cation-containing building blocks, expanding the scope of PDT agents.
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.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3764-5
Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are ubiquitous in portable electronics and electric vehicles, yet their flammable liquid electrolytes pose safety hazards and limit energy density. All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) with solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) offer enhanced safety and higher energy density. Among SSEs, metal chloride SSEs (Li aMCl b, M = In, Y, Er) combine high ionic conductivity, mechanical deformability, and compatibility with high-voltage cathodes. However, their ionic conductivity and anode stability require improvement. Here, we introduce pentavalent Ta5+ doping into Li3InCl6 (LIC) to engineer Li+ vacancies via charge compensation, yielding Li3−2xIn1−xTaxCl6 (LITxC, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.6). Ta5+ incorporation efficiently increases Li+ vacancy content without disrupting the cubic close packing (ccp) structure. The optimized composition, Li2.4In0.7Ta0.3Cl6 (LIT0.3C), achieves an ionic conductivity of 2.19 mS cm−1 at 30 °C and a low activation energy of 0.273 eV, balancing vacancy concentration and Li+ content. Ta5+ doping also enhances kinetic stability against the anode. ASSBs with LIT0.3C demonstrate excellent cycling stability: Ni90 cathodes retain 72.3% capacity after 1000 cycles at 0.5 C, while NCM523 cathodes retain 84.1% after 500 cycles at 0.2 C and 80.7% after 1000 cycles. These results highlight a practical strategy for improving chloride SSE performance, offering new insights for high-performance ASSB design.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3740-y
The continuous advancement of bionanomaterial technology has driven significant strategic transformations in the design and fabrication of biomimetic nanocarriers. This review systematically traces the evolution from single-cell membrane nanovesicles to hybrid cell membrane nanovesicles integrating multiple cell membranes, culminating in cell membrane hybrid lipid nanoparticles (CM-LNPs) that combine natural cell membranes or membrane proteins with engineered synthetic phospholipids. This technological progression enables the synergistic retention of multicellular biological functions while incorporating advantageous synthetic material properties, such as enhanced engineering flexibility and surface modifiability. The article critically evaluates the advantages and limitations of traditional extrusion and ultrasonication methods for preparing cell membrane nanovesicles, highlighting the benefits and development prospects of novel microfluidic techniques in CM-LNP fabrication. Furthermore, it explores future application prospects and challenges of CM-LNPs in the biomedical field, particularly in drug delivery systems and precision medicine. The review underscores the potential of CM-LNPs to overcome clinical limitations of conventional liposomes, such as poor stability, rapid drug leakage, and inadequate targeting, by leveraging the natural homing effect of cell membranes and the tunability of synthetic lipids. Emphasis is placed on the role of microfluidics in achieving precise, scalable, and reproducible fabrication, which is critical for clinical translation. The abstract synthesizes current knowledge and identifies key research gaps, offering a forward-looking perspective on the engineering of biomimetic nanoparticles for advanced therapeutic applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3947-3
Fiber photodetectors (FPDs) with high deformability, flexible designability, and seamless integrability with everyday textiles hold tremendous potential for next-generation wearable optoelectronics. Inorganic semiconductors (ISCs) are considered ideal building blocks to design and govern the functions of FPDs owing to their superior electrical and optical properties. Recent developments in wearable technology of ISCs, especially in fiber form factor, have driven the creation of various FPDs with smart capabilities, from light sensing, information interfacing, to sophisticated logic operating, revolutionizing human-machine interaction paradigms in many emerging fields. Herein, we present a comprehensive review of recent progress of ISC-based FPDs. Firstly, key design principles for ISC-based FPDs are explored, encompassing material selection, fabrication technologies, device architectures, and textile integration strategies. Then, how defect engineering, alignment engineering, and heterojunction engineering of ISCs can control the optoelectronic performance of FPDs is examined. Following this, potential wearable applications of ISC-based FPDs in optical communication, image sensing, and health monitoring are analyzed. Finally, the challenges and perspectives for the design of high-performance ISC-based FPDs are outlined.
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.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3807-8
Electrocatalytic co-reduction of CO2 and nitrate offers a sustainable route for urea synthesis, valorizing nitrogenous waste and CO2. However, achieving high-performance urea electrosynthesis under ambient conditions remains challenging due to the need for simultaneous activation of CO2 and efficient H2O dissociation to supply active *H for *NOx hydrogenation, ultimately forming key C- and N-containing intermediates for C–N coupling. Here, we report a bifunctional Pd-single-atom-modified Cu (Pd1Cu) nanorod catalyst that synergistically promotes adsorption and stepwise activation of CO2 and H2O, steering the reaction pathway toward selective urea synthesis. Integrating experimental evidence, in situ spectroscopy, and computational analyses, we disclose that atomically dispersed Pd sites kinetically favor co-generation of *CO and *NH2 via H2O dissociation-driven proton transfer, forming an optimal intermediate balance. The dual metal active sites enhance C–N coupling via combined electronic and geometric effects, substantially lowering the reaction energy barrier and improving selectivity. This work provides a rational design strategy for advanced multifunctional catalysts for urea electrosynthesis, contributing to carbon neutrality and waste nitrogen valorization.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3805-1
The sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORR/OER) at the air electrode impede the practical deployment of fiber zinc-air batteries (FZABs) for wearable electronics. Conventional bifunctional catalysts suffer from an inherent activity trade-off due to the distinct mechanisms of ORR and OER. Here, we propose a spatial decoupling strategy to overcome this limitation by engineering isolated Fe single atoms and Fe–Ir dual-atom pairs on a nitrogen-doped carbon matrix (Fe/FeIr-NC). In this architecture, Fe single atoms serve as ORR centers, while Fe–Ir pairs with tunable spacing are tailored for OER, enabling complete functional separation and independent optimization. The catalyst exhibits an ORR half-wave potential of 0.91 V and an OER overpotential of 250 mV at 10 mA cm−2, yielding a record-low bifunctional gap (ΔE = 0.57 V) that outperforms all reported single- and dual-atom catalysts. A flexible fiber zinc-air battery based on this catalyst delivers a peak power density of 3920 W kg−1, along with a 1.4-fold increase in energy efficiency and a 2.6-fold extension in cycle life compared to the commercial Pt/C + IrO2 benchmark. This work not only breaks the traditional activity trade-off in bifunctional catalysis but also offers a promising route toward high-performance power sources for wearable electronics.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3815-0
The development of bifunctional electrocatalysts capable of integrating biomass-derived platform molecule oxidation with organic reduction offers a promising strategy for simultaneously enhancing energy efficiency and generating high-value chemicals. However, designing catalysts that exhibit both high activity and stability in integrated systems remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report a self-supported electrode composed of nitrogen-doped carbonized wood (NCW) supported NiCo nanosheets (NiCo 0.3/NCW) that enables the electrocatalytic 5-hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation to produce 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and the nitrobenzene reduction to yield aniline in an integrated electrochemical cell. The NiCo 0.3/NCW electrode achieves the production of FDCA and aniline at a low cell voltage of 1.7 V, with ~99% anodic and ~92% cathodic Faradaic efficiencies, respectively. Experimental characterizations disclose that the hierarchical porous NCW architecture promotes the dispersion of active sites, while nitrogen doping strengthens metal–support interactions. In-situ spectroscopic experiments combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that cobalt incorporation tunes the electronic structure of nickel, thus optimizing substrate and intermediate adsorption, and lowering energy barriers. These effects ultimately enhance the performance of the natural wood-derived catalyst in integrated biomass valorization and selective organic electrosynthesis.
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.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202507111
This study investigated the effects of a ring-shaped pulsed electric field (PEF) (1.5 V, 4 h on-time per cycle) on nitrogen removal performance and microbial community structure of anammox granular sludge (AnGS). Two anaerobic sequencing batch reactors (R1 control, R2 with PEF) were operated under stepwise increasing nitrogen loading rates (NLR). At NLR below 1,155 mg·(L·d)−1, R2 exhibited total nitrogen removal efficiency (TRE) 7.5%–17.0% higher than R1, with biomass, specific anammox activity (SAA), and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) increased by 5%–7%, 21%–71%, and 54%–77%, respectively. However, at NLR above 1,320 mg·(L·d)−1, the toxic effect of nitrite dominated, and PEF enhancement diminished or even reversed to inhibition. Microbial community analysis revealed that at low-to-moderate NLR, PEF increased the relative abundance of Planctomycetes and key anammox bacteria (Candidatus Brocadia and Candidatus Jettenia), along with enhanced community richness (Chao1) and diversity (Shannon/Simpson indices). At high NLR, PEF decreased microbial richness compared to R1. Principal component analysis and redundancy analysis indicated that PEF was the key factor driving community differences at low-to-moderate NLR, whereas nitrite concentration became the dominant factor at high NLR. This study provides theoretical support for enhancing the resilience and engineering application of anammox processes.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202507054
In many Chinese wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), residual chlorine is still manually monitored at low frequencies, leading to imprecise disinfectant dosing. This study systematically compared four machine learning models—backpropagation (BP) neural network, long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network, random forest (RF), and support vector regression (SVR)—for predicting chlorine consumption (i.e., the difference between chlorine dose and residual chlorine) during non-monitoring periods under different residual chlorine monitoring frequencies (every 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h). Using data from Plant A (equipped with online residual chlorine monitoring) and Plants B and C (manual monitoring every 6 h and 8 h, respectively), input variables included online water quality indicators (temperature, flow, NH3-N, CODCr, TP, TN) and chlorine dose. Results showed that at 1-h intervals, LSTM achieved the highest prediction accuracy; at 2–4-h intervals, RF performed best; at 6-h or lower frequencies, BP was superior; SVR performed worst across all frequencies. Validation on Plants B and C confirmed BP's optimal performance under low-frequency conditions, and particle swarm optimization (PSO) significantly improved its accuracy. These findings provide a basis for selecting appropriate machine learning models for chlorine consumption prediction under varying monitoring frequencies, particularly low-frequency manual monitoring, thereby supporting precise disinfectant dosing control.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202506041
Urban and rural multi-source organic waste faces bottlenecks including high compositional heterogeneity, single resource recovery pathways, and uneven product quality. In the Taihu Lake region, active tourism and catering, high greening, and dense water networks generate large volumes of diverse waste with high moisture content, exacerbating these issues. This study evaluated a coupled bio-drying and aerobic composting process at a demonstration center in Linhu Town, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, employing a three-stage control strategy: gradient dewatering, high-temperature stabilization, and maturation enhancement. Continuous operation showed that kitchen waste moisture content decreased from 77.70% to 58.69% after 1 day of bio-drying, to 23.22% after 7 days of silo reactor composting, and to 17.70% after at least 20 days of maturation. The aerobic composting phase maintained temperatures above 55°C for over 5 days, reaching a maximum of 68.1°C, meeting the harmless treatment requirements of CJJ 52—2014. After 20 days of maturation, the organic fertilizer product had an electrical conductivity below 4.00 mS·cm−1, organic matter content of 51.22%, total nutrient content of 5.61%, and heavy metal concentrations below the limits of NY/T 525—2021. The results provide technical support for efficient treatment and resource utilization of urban and rural organic waste.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202507030
Arsenic is a toxic metalloid predominantly present in water as As(V) and As(III), whose speciation governs toxicity and mobility. Conventional speciation methods (HPLC-ICP-MS, IC-HG-AFS) offer ultralow detection limits but suffer from high cost, long analysis times, and non-portability, hindering on-site rapid monitoring. This study presents a sulfide-based spectrophotometric method exploiting the quantitative reaction between As(V) and S2− to form monothioarsenate (H3AsO3S) with a characteristic absorption at 233 nm. Under optimized conditions (H+ concentration 1 mol·L−1, Na2S dosage 5 mmol·L−1, reaction time 3 min, N2 purging 2 min), As(V) is directly quantified. Total arsenic is determined after complete oxidation of As(III) to As(V) using NaClO (10 mmol·L−1, pH 12, 5 min), and As(III) is obtained by difference. The method exhibits linearity over 0.5–50 mg·L−1 (A = 0.0209c + 0.0627, R² = 0.999), a detection limit of 0.17 mg·L−1, spike recoveries of 101.9%–104.1%, and relative standard deviation of 1.06%. Validation against real industrial wastewater samples showed relative deviations <10% compared with HPLC-ICP-MS and IC-HG-AFS. Total analysis time is within 15 min. The method is simple, cost-effective, and suitable for field monitoring.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(25)60600-1
The service life of refractory bricks in the slag tapping hole of entrained-flow gasifiers is a critical bottleneck for long-term stable operation. This study investigated the damage mechanism of high chromia refractories in four commercial coal-water slurry gasifiers by analyzing gasification coal samples and corroded refractory bricks. Slag characteristics, including crystallization and viscosity-temperature behavior, were evaluated. Results revealed that low-viscosity slag induces more severe refractory damage. To mitigate slag crystallization risk, a safe slag tapping temperature range is recommended as tICT−t2.5 when tICT exceeds t25. Interior morphology of corroded bricks exhibited cracks, primarily attributed to molten slag penetration and subsequent reactions with refractory material. SEM-EDS analysis of slag-aggregate and slag-matrix interfaces identified reduction in Cr2O3 content as the earliest damage characteristic. XRD detected no zirconium-containing spinel in cracks, indicating that thermal expansion mismatch between newly formed phases and the refractory matrix drives crack propagation. A damage mechanism is proposed: initial Cr2O3 depletion compromises both matrix and aggregate, facilitating slag ingress and new phase formation, ultimately leading to structural failure. Early detection or prevention of Cr2O3 reduction is essential to prolong refractory service life.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(25)60617-7
The global energy landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, with wind energy gaining increasing prominence due to its clean and renewable nature. However, as installed wind power capacity expands, disposal of waste wind turbine blades (WWTB) has emerged as a significant challenge. These blades are predominantly composed of epoxy resin (EP) polymers, carbon fibers (CFs), and glass fibers (GFs). Improper disposal exacerbates environmental concerns and leads to loss of valuable resources, particularly carbon-based materials. Pyrolysis technology, a versatile and environmentally sustainable method for resource recovery, has garnered considerable attention for WWTB disposal. This work presents a comprehensive review of pyrolytic recycling of WWTB, focusing on principles and classifications of pyrolysis technology, key factors influencing the pyrolysis process, as well as pyrolysis methods, equipment, products, and their applications. Through in-depth analysis of current research, this review identifies critical unresolved issues and provides a forward-looking perspective on emerging research trends. The review highlights that pyrolysis can effectively recover glass fibers and carbon fibers with mechanical property retention depending on process conditions, and that catalytic pyrolysis can enhance the quality of recovered products. Economic analysis indicates that collaborative disposal methods can improve cost-effectiveness. Future research should focus on optimizing process parameters for large-scale industrial application and developing more efficient catalysts to improve product selectivity and fiber quality.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(25)60610-4
In this study, melamine and cyanuric acid were used as precursors to form supramolecular crystals via hydrogen-bond-assisted self-assembly followed by hydrothermal treatment. Subsequent high-temperature calcination yielded a novel brush-like three-dimensional carbon nitride. The brush-like 3D architecture was found to expose more accessible active sites, markedly accelerate electron transfer, and suppress the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers. The resulting superoxide (O2•−) and hydroxyl (•OH) radicals generated via electron reduction were identified as the key reactive species in the photocatalytic process. Moreover, the surface of the brush-like structure is enriched with nitrogen vacancies, which enhance the catalyst’s ability to harvest visible light. The photocatalytic performance of the brush-like CNS-650 catalyst was evaluated for rhodamine B (RhB) degradation. Under red-light irradiation (660 nm), its degradation rate was 7.4 times higher than that of bulk CN. This work provides valuable insights into the design and application of efficient metal-free 3D photocatalysts.
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.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025121602
This study characterized the body burden of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in a physical examination population in Shenzhen and evaluated its impact on thyroid function. Serum samples from 368 residents were analyzed for eight PBDE congeners using atmospheric pressure gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (APGC-MS/MS). The median concentration of ∑8PBDEs was 10.2 ng·g⁻¹ lipid weight (lw), ranging from 0.13 to 2089.4 ng·g⁻¹ lw, with BDE-209 predominating (59.7% of total). Multiple linear regression revealed that a 1.7-fold increase in serum BDE-153 was associated with a 0.4% increase in free triiodothyronine (FT3) (P<0.05), while a 1.7-fold increase in BDE-183 was associated with a 0.9% decrease in total triiodothyronine (T3) and a 0.7% decrease in FT3 (P<0.05). Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) indicated a negative correlation between mixed PBDE exposure and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) at high exposure levels. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression showed that mixed exposure was associated with decreased T3 levels and T3/FT3 ratio, with BDE-153 and BDE-183 as the primary contributors. These findings suggest that PBDE exposure may adversely affect thyroid function and disrupt thyroid hormone homeostasis, with BDE-183 and BDE-153 playing key roles. This study provides a scientific basis for PBDE health risk assessment and thyroid protection.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024122001
Biomass is the only renewable carbon resource with huge reserves and wide sources, and it is green and environmentally friendly. Under the background of 'dual carbon', the clean and efficient utilization of biomass has received increasing attention. Preparation of biochar from biomass is one of the main methods to use biomass efficiently. Biochar surfaces possess porous and aromatic structures, which exhibit good fixation effects on heavy metals in wastewater. However, biochar has shortcomings such as difficulty in recovery and non-reusability. The introduction of iron into biochar can not only enrich surface functional groups, develop pore structure, and increase specific surface area, but also endow magnetic properties, facilitating solid-liquid separation after adsorption. This paper reviews the preparation methods of iron-based magnetic biochar (MBC-Fe), summarizes the effects of different iron sources on its characteristics, and illustrates the adsorption performance and mechanisms of MBC-Fe for typical heavy metals in water. Finally, applications of MBC-Fe in the removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater are concluded, and future utilization potential in other fields is proposed. The review highlights that MBC-Fe exhibits high adsorption capacities, e.g., for Pb(II) and Cd(II), with rapid kinetics and easy separation, making it a promising adsorbent for wastewater treatment.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024112101
The biological reduction of Cr(VI) to less hazardous Cr(III) is a promising strategy for remediating Cr(VI)-contaminated sites. Both biochar and riboflavin can act as electron shuttles to accelerate this bioreduction process, yet their combined effects remain poorly understood. Using Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 as a model reducing bacterium, we investigated the joint influence of biochar (average particle size 28.85 μm) and riboflavin at high (1 mmol·L−1) and low concentrations on Cr(VI) bioreduction. Individually, biochar and high-concentration riboflavin enhanced indirect electron transfer, accelerating Cr(VI) removal. However, when combined, the fast-phase reaction rate (rf0) did not significantly improve compared to single amendments. The combined action factor revealed an antagonistic inhibition between biochar and riboflavin. Mechanistically, high-concentration riboflavin saturated biochar's adsorption sites (equilibrium concentration 0.96±0.04 mmol·L−1), hindering biochar's role as an electron conduit. With a bacterial density of 3.4×10^7 cells·mL−1, the inter-bacterial distance (30.87 μm) exceeded biochar's particle size, and the per-cell riboflavin concentration (2.9×10−2 pmol·cell−1) was sufficient for riboflavin to dominate as the primary electron shuttle, while biochar's surface became coated, reducing its efficacy. These findings reveal the complex interplay between biochar and soluble organic matter in Cr(VI) bioreduction, underscoring the need to consider such antagonistic effects when designing bioremediation strategies for multi-component contaminated environments.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202604017
The Shule River Basin, a typical arid inland river basin, faces critical water scarcity that threatens ecological security and sustainable development. This study integrated the FLUS and InVEST models to simulate water yield in 2030 and 2050 under three climate scenarios (SSP119, SSP245, SSP585). Geographic detectors quantified the driving mechanisms of natural and human factors. Results showed: (1) Desert dominates land use (78.6% in 2020). Under SSP119, desert area decreases by 0.69% by 2050, while under SSP585 it expands by 5.7%, with grassland loss of 23.0%, indicating severe ecological degradation. (2) Water yield exhibits a south-high, north-low spatial pattern, with high values in glacier-covered and high-altitude areas. SSP119 yields the most significant increase (147.6×10^8 t by 2050), whereas SSP585 shows minimal increase (43.9×10^8 t) due to extreme climate. (3) Precipitation and DEM are core driving factors; the interaction between land use type and precipitation has the strongest influence, implying that artificial land use changes can significantly regulate water yield. This multi-scenario framework provides decision support for water resource management and ecological governance in arid inland river basins.
The Chinese Journal of Process Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12034/j.issn.1009-606X.225188
Driven by the urgent demand for green and low-carbon technologies, the development of high-performance and cost-effective rare-earth free permanent magnets has emerged as a key research focus for sustainable energy and advanced electronic applications. Among various candidates, M-type strontium ferrites have attracted considerable attention due to their excellent thermal stability, high magnetocrystalline anisotropy, and abundant raw material availability. In this study, Sr0.41La0.36Ca0.23Fe11.8Co0.2O19 was selected as the base system, and a series of samples were synthesized via a solid-state reaction combined with high-energy ball milling. The synergistic effects of varying CeO2/La2O3 mass ratios (0:10 to 10:0) and pre-sintering temperatures (1150-1200°C) on the microstructure and magnetic properties were systematically investigated. Microstructural analyses revealed that moderate Ce substitution effectively induced controlled lattice distortion and promoted densification, which inhibited abnormal grain growth and refined the microstructure. Such structural modulation not only enhanced domain wall pinning but also improved magnetocrystalline anisotropy, leading to a remarkable increase in coercivity. Magnetic measurements confirmed that the composition with a CeO2/La2O3 mass ratio of 2:8 and pre-sintered at 1180°C achieved the most balanced magnetic performance, exhibiting enhanced coercivity, sufficient remanence, and stable saturation magnetization. This work provides new insights into the cooperative effects between rare-earth doping ratios and thermal processing parameters, clarifying how lattice defects, grain boundary characteristics, and microstructural evolution collectively govern the magnetic properties of M-type ferrites. The findings establish a practical strategy for tailoring the microstructure-property relationship in rare-earth free permanent magnets, opening an optimized processing window for scalable fabrication of environmentally friendly, high-performance ferrite materials.
The Chinese Journal of Process Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12034/j.issn.1009-606X.225221
The proliferation of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in portable electronics and electric vehicles has generated a pressing need for sustainable recycling of spent batteries. Conventional pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical routes suffer from low metal recovery efficiencies or require additional precipitants. This study introduces a clean and efficient process for recovering lithium (Li) and cobalt (Co) from spent LiCoO2 cathode materials using a choline chloride-oxalic acid-water (ChCl-OA-H2O) deep eutectic solvent (DES). The method exploits selective precipitation of Co as cobalt oxalate dihydrate (CoC2O4·2H2O) followed by water-content-regulated recovery of Li as lithium oxalate (Li2C2O4) via evaporation crystallization, eliminating the need for external precipitants. Under optimized conditions (molar ratio 1:1:8, solid-liquid ratio 100 g/L, 90 °C, 6.5 h), the leaching efficiency of Li reached 99.4%, with recovery efficiencies of 88.3% for Li and 97.8% for Co. The DES system demonstrated robust cycling stability, maintaining Li and Co recoveries of 78.1% and 92.8% after six regeneration cycles. This work provides a low-pollution, economically viable pathway for LIB recycling, contributing to resource sustainability and offering significant industrial potential.
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/s40843-025-3485-0
Aqueous Zn-ion batteries (AZIBs) are promising for next-generation energy storage due to high safety and low cost, but their practical use is limited by Zn dendrite growth and side reactions. An ideal anode/electrolyte interphase should block water contact while enabling fast Zn2+ transport, yet conventional thick interphases increase ionic resistance and polarization. Here, we report a hydrophobic yet ultrathin (~5 nm) polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) artificial interphase fabricated via conformal coating. The oxygen-rich PDMS layer selectively coordinates Zn2+ while its superhydrophobicity excludes water, and the ultrathin nature enables rapid Zn2+ conduction, enhancing the Zn2+ transference number by 2.28-fold. This synergistic design suppresses dendrites and mitigates hydrogen evolution. The PDMS-modified anode achieves 99.9% Coulombic efficiency over 3500 cycles, 880-hour symmetrical cell operation at 60% depth of discharge, and 2500-cycle full-cell endurance under lean Zn conditions (N/P ratio 5.7). Proof-of-concept pouch cells sustain 1400 cycles with a 0.01% decay rate. This molecular-scale interphase strategy provides a feasible pathway toward practical AZIB implementation.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4054-x
The sluggish kinetics and high onset potentials of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode of alkaline water/seawater electrolyzers limit overall energy efficiency. Noble-metal oxides like RuO2 are active but suffer from high cost, agglomeration, and dissolution under oxidizing potentials, especially in chloride-rich electrolytes where competing chloride oxidation reaction (ClOR) occurs. Here, we report a mild two-step dry-wet milling strategy to achieve throughout lattice doping of F− into MnO2 (F-MnO2) and subsequent anchoring of atomically dispersed Ru via Ru–O/F hybrid bonds. The strengthened Mn 3d–O/F 2p hybridization and negative charge shielding of surface F− enhance OER activity/selectivity relative to ClOR and impart superior Cl− tolerance and corrosion resistance. The resulting F-Ru-MnO2-TH electrocatalyst exhibits overpotentials of 280 mV and 200 mV at 10 mA cm−2 in alkaline water and simulated seawater, respectively. It retains ~100% of initial activity after 200 h continuous operation in alkaline media and >95% after 300 h in simulated seawater, significantly outperforming Ru-MnO2 and commercial RuO2. This work provides a scalable route to durable, high-performance OER catalysts for seawater electrolysis.
New Carbon Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61097-9
Silicon/carbon (Si/C) composites are promising anode materials for high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because they mitigate the severe volume expansion and poor electrical conductivity of pure silicon anodes. This review systematically summarizes the state-of-the-art preparation methods for Si/C composites, including ball milling, spray drying, electrostatic spinning, and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Structural engineering strategies, such as carbon precursor coating, silicon-precursor-based wet chemistry, and silicon surface modification, are critically assessed for their effectiveness in enhancing electrical conductivity, buffering volume changes, and improving overall electrochemical performance. The review highlights that while Si offers a theoretical capacity of 4200 mAh g−1, far exceeding graphite's 372 mAh g−1, its practical application is hindered by capacity fading and low initial coulombic efficiency. The integration of carbon matrices not only provides mechanical flexibility but also facilitates electron transport. Key performance metrics from recent studies, including specific capacities exceeding 1000 mAh g−1 and improved cycling stability over hundreds of cycles, are discussed. The review also addresses the challenges of scalable production and cost-effectiveness, emphasizing the need for optimized precursor selection and processing parameters. Future research directions are proposed, focusing on the rational design of hierarchical structures and the development of novel binders to further enhance the long-term durability of Si/C anodes. This comprehensive overview serves as a valuable resource for researchers and engineers aiming to advance the commercialization of high-energy-density LIBs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3640-3
Cancer immunotherapy, particularly small-molecule immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), offers low cost and high tumor diffusion but suffers from limited efficacy and systemic toxicity. Here, we engineered non-pathogenic Escherichia coli MG1655 for tumor-targeted and synergistic photothermal immunotherapy. Polydopamine (PDA) was coated onto the bacterial surface via in situ polymerization, followed by noncovalent attachment of the IDO-1 inhibitor NLG919, yielding MG1655@PDA-NLG. The functionalized bacteria retained viability and bioactivity while exhibiting outstanding photothermal conversion. In a murine CT26 colon tumor model, intravenous injection led to effective tumor accumulation within 12 h and complete clearance from major organs by 72 h, with negligible hematological toxicity, confirming hypoxic tumor-targeting and biosafety. Under near-infrared irradiation, the engineered bacteria inhibited tumor growth by over 90%, combining photothermal effect and immunogenic cell death (ICD) to promote dendritic cell maturation. This synergized with suppression of tryptophan metabolism, enhancing CD4+ and CD8+ T cell infiltration. This work demonstrates a simple, safe strategy for surface engineering of bacteria with multiple therapeutic agents, offering a promising approach for precise and combined cancer immunotherapy.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3634-0
Messenger RNA-lipid nanoparticle (mRNA-LNP) vaccines have demonstrated extraordinary efficacy against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, establishing LNPs as the premier platform for mRNA therapeutics. However, the pervasive presence of anti-polyethylene glycol (PEG) antibodies undermines PEGylated LNP performance by diminishing therapeutic efficacy. To address this challenge, we synthesized a panel of lipid-poly(2-oxazoline) (lipid-POx) conjugates as alternatives to lipid-PEG and systematically evaluated how their polymer backbone, degree of polymerization, and lipid tail structure influence LNP physicochemical properties and mRNA delivery performance. Among POx-LNPs formulated with heptadecan-9-yl 8-((2-hydroxyethyl)(6-oxo-6-(undecyloxy)hexyl)amino)octanoate (SM-102) as the base lipid, those constructed with single-tailed C18-POx exhibited smaller particle sizes and superior freeze-thaw stability. These C18-POx-LNPs maintained comparable in vivo transfection efficiency to PEG-LNPs even when fully replacing 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3 (DMG)-PEG. Notably, in mice bearing pre-existing anti-PEG antibodies, C18-POx-LNPs demonstrated over 200-fold higher transfection efficiency than PEG-LNPs. Additionally, repeated administration of POx-LNPs induced dose-dependent anti-POx immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG responses, with antibody titers inversely correlated with POx hydrophilicity. This study underscores the effectiveness of substituting PEG with POx in LNP construction to address the transfection efficiency in populations with pre-existing anti-PEG antibodies, and would inspire the development of more hydrophilic polymers for LNP formulation.
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.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3407-0
Grain boundary (GB) engineering has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance the near-room-temperature performance of Mg3(Sb,Bi)2-based thermoelectric materials, yet effective control of Mg distribution at GBs remains a significant challenge. Here, we report a novel approach to achieve targeted Mg segregation at GBs through strategic Ag incorporation in Mg3.3Sb0.5Bi1.497Te0.003. Through comprehensive microstructural characterization and first-principles calculations, we demonstrate that Ag preferentially segregates at GBs, forming Mg-rich MgAg alloy phases while maintaining limited solid solubility within the matrix. This unique GB architecture simultaneously optimizes multiple thermoelectric parameters: the Mg-rich GB regions significantly provide efficient carrier transport channels and enhance carrier mobility, while the MgAg phases and lattice disorders effectively scatter phonons without disrupting electron transport. Consequently, the optimized composition (x = 0.01) exhibits a remarkable enhancement in power factor at 300 K and maintains an average ZT of ~1.0 across 300–400 K. The material also demonstrates excellent mechanical properties and thermal stability, making it particularly suitable for near-room-temperature applications. Our findings not only establish an effective strategy for GB engineering in Mg3(Sb,Bi)2 systems but also provide valuable insights into the rational design of high-performance thermoelectric materials through interface modification.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3646-1
Repairing cartilage defects requires biomaterials with mechanical properties similar to native cartilage. However, balancing these properties with biodegradability remains a major challenge. In this study, a degradable antibacterial hydrogel with promising mechanical characteristics was developed for personalized cartilage defect repair. The hydrogel was synthesized using chitosan and gelatin via microcrystallization and gelation, combined with chemical crosslinking facilitated by epichlorohydrin. This method significantly enhanced the mechanical properties of the material, with compressive modulus of the optimal group reaching 0.2 MPa and tensile strength reaching 2.2 MPa, which are comparable to those of human cartilage. The hydrogel maintained its integrity after 50000 compression cycles. With excellent flowability prior to crosslinking, it can adapt to complex cartilage defects. The inclusion of gentamicin provides antibacterial properties, while nano-hydroxyapatite promotes osteogenesis. This hydrogel, with its multiple crosslinking mechanisms, balances mechanical strength, biodegradability, and adaptability, offering a promising solution for repairing infected cartilage defects.
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.
New Carbon Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61109-2
Silicon-carbon (Si/C) composites are promising high-capacity anode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries, but their commercialization is hindered by severe volume expansion during cycling. We report a chemical vapor deposition method using the pyrolysis of silane, in which ultrafine nano-Si enters a porous carbon framework to produce kilogram-scale Si/C composites. The carbon framework with abundant micropores (~1.9 nm) confines the amorphous silicon and accommodates the volume changes of nano-Si during both lithiation and de-lithiation. The resulting Si/C composites have a 56.76% Si content and have a specific capacity of 2179 mAh g–1, a high initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 93.5%, and a low specific surface area (1.32 m2 g–1). In addition to the nanoconfinement effect, the median particle size (D50, 7.3-13.0 μm) of the carbon framework was shown to control the mechanical strength, coating uniformity and Li+ transport. A D50 of 8.2 μm endows the Si/C composites with outstanding comprehensive properties. They have an excellent rate performance with a 97.0% retention at 3 C relative to 0.1 C, show only minor variations in ICE difference at 60 ℃/-20 ℃ compared with room temperature, and have a low expansion of 35.8% from the delithiated to the lithiated state. The composite was then mixed with graphite to prepare the anode, which was then paired with an NCM523 cathode to assemble pouch cells. The pouch cell retained 87.46% of its initial capacity after 1000 cycles at 1 C. Because of the low expansion of the electrode, the material avoids structural degradation during cycling and thus has an excellent long-term stability.
New Carbon Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61102-X
Silicon-carbon composites prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) are promising anode materials for high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries. However, the influence of the pore structure of the porous carbon (PC) carrier on silicon deposition behavior, and the impact of surface silicon on cycling stability, remain unclear. This study systematically investigates these effects using nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Porous carbons with varying pore architectures were synthesized by adjusting KOH activator ratios. Results show that increased micropore volume facilitates higher silicon mass loading, but also elevates the content of surface floating silicon due to greater silane exposure. Moderately increasing mesopores in high-microporosity carbon promotes deeper silicon deposition, reducing surface floating silicon. Excessive surface floating silicon hinders lithium-ion diffusion kinetics, leading to accumulation of active lithium, accelerated SEI growth, and electrode degradation. Electrochemical testing reveals that the optimized silicon-carbon composite maintains a high specific capacity of 693.1 mAh/g after 150 cycles at 0.5 C (900 mA/g). This work provides new insights into the development and failure mechanisms of CVD-derived silicon-carbon composite anodes, emphasizing the critical role of pore structure in mitigating surface silicon and enhancing cycling stability.
New Carbon Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61104-3
Lithium/fluorinated carbon (Li/CFx) batteries are among the most promising high-energy-density primary batteries, yet substantial heat generation during discharge poses safety concerns, particularly for high-mass-loaded pouch cells. This study systematically investigates the effects of fluorination temperature on the structure and kinetics of fluorinated porous carbon (FPC) cathodes and on heat generation in Ah-level Li/FPC pouch cells. FPC samples with varying degrees of fluorination were synthesized by adjusting fluorination temperature, which influenced not only the F/C ratio but also the C–F bonding configuration, pore structure, and electronic transport capability. Pouch cells employing more highly fluorinated cathodes generated the most heat during discharge, with heat generation exhibiting clear stage dependence, predominantly in the 0–20% depth of discharge (DOD) range. Post-discharge structural characterization and kinetic analysis revealed that highly fluorinated FPC cathodes (FPC-250) undergo more concentrated LiF accumulation, leading to higher charge-transfer resistance, stronger polarization, lower Li+ diffusivity, and higher nucleation overpotential. These factors collectively intensify early-stage heat generation. The study establishes a correlation between fluorination temperature and cathode structure, discharge-product evolution, discharge kinetics, and heat generation, demonstrating that regulating fluorination temperature is an effective strategy for improving the thermal safety of Li/CFx batteries.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202508050
This study investigated the spatial distribution and ecological risk of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) in soil beneath an informal waste dump in a pastoral area of Baingoin County, Nagqu City, Tibet, a high-altitude cold region with frequent freeze-thaw cycles. A total of 55 soil samples were collected from surface (0 cm), middle (10-30 cm), and deep (50 cm) layers. Single-factor index (Pi), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), Nemerow index (PN), and risk assessment code (RAC) were employed to evaluate contamination levels and potential ecological risks, while Kriging interpolation was used to map spatial distribution. Results showed that average concentrations of all seven heavy metals exceeded local background values. Horizontally, high-concentration zones were mainly located at five points within the dump. Vertically, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were significantly enriched in the surface layer, whereas Ni exhibited higher concentrations in deeper layers, indicating downward migration driven by freeze-thaw processes. All evaluation methods identified Cd as the primary pollutant. Speciation analysis revealed that heavy metals were predominantly in the residual fraction, with Ni having the highest weak-acid-extractable fraction (5.55%), indicating strong mobility and potential biological toxicity. This study fills a gap in systematic research on informal waste dumps in high-altitude ecologically fragile areas and provides a case reference for environmental management and remediation of such sites in cold regions.
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.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202508084
Granite mining areas generate large quantities of abandoned soil and rock powder, posing environmental challenges and resource waste. This study investigates the synergistic preparation of porous ceramsite from two typical granite solid wastes—weathered granite soil (high Al2O3) and granite waste rock powder (high SiO2)—with waste glass powder as a fluxing agent. Single-factor experiments and response surface methodology (Box-Behnken) were employed to optimize the process and elucidate the pore-forming mechanism. The optimal conditions were a mass ratio of weathered granite soil:granite waste rock powder:waste glass powder of 5.6:2.4:2, a preheating temperature of 480 °C, a sintering time of 32 min, and a sintering temperature of 1140 °C. Under these conditions, the resulting porous ceramsite achieved a compressive strength of 1.74 MPa. The ceramsite effectively immobilized heavy metals, ensuring environmental safety. This research demonstrates that multi-component complementarity and multi-factor coupling optimization can produce porous ceramsite with favorable mechanical properties and stable pore structure, providing a theoretical basis and technical support for high-value utilization of granite solid waste.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025010604
Groundwater is a vital component of Beijing's water supply, yet elevated sulfide concentrations restrict its utilization. This study employed principal component analysis (PCA) and absolute principal component-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) to apportion sulfide sources and quantify their contributions in the middle and lower reaches of the Chaobai-Wenyu alluvial-proluvial fan. Sulfur and oxygen isotopes (δ34S and δ18O) were used to identify sulfate sources and discern anthropogenic versus natural influences. Results showed that high-sulfide groundwater predominantly occurred in Na-type water, with sulfide accumulation from desulphidation widespread, particularly in Shunyi and within the first, second, and third aquifers, independent of wet/dry seasons. Isotopic analysis indicated sulfate mainly originated from evaporite dissolution, and sulfides from desulphidation were of geological background origin. PCA extracted four principal components: leaching-enrichment (F1), natural dissolution of iron-manganese oxides (F2), water desulphidation (F3), and CaF2 dissolution equilibrium (F4). F3 exhibited the highest factor loading for sulfide (0.418), while other components had small negative loadings. APCS-MLR revealed F3 contributed 21.32% of sulfide, while indigenous sources (e.g., acid-volatile sulfide dissolution, elemental sulfur disproportionation, geothermal activity, well casing materials) contributed 63.66%. Overall, sulfide in the study area is a geological background factor, with limited anthropogenic influence.