SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4212-x
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a lethal interstitial lung disease with limited therapeutic options. Current treatments, such as nintedanib and pirfenidone, target downstream fibrosis but fail to address the upstream drivers, including persistent alveolar epithelial injury and abnormal repair. This study presents an inhalable, reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive liposomal system (SAB/GC-1@Lip-cRGD) that co-delivers the antioxidant salvianolic acid B (SAB) and the thyroid hormone receptor β (TRβ) agonist Sobetirome (GC-1). The liposomes are surface-modified with cRGD peptides for targeted delivery to fibrotic lesions and possess a negative surface charge to enhance mucus penetration. In the high-ROS fibrotic microenvironment, the liposomes destabilize, releasing SAB and GC-1. SAB scavenges ROS to remodel the fibrotic niche, while GC-1 reactivates TRβ signaling, driving the differentiation of stalled Krt8+ transitional epithelial cells into functional alveolar type I (AT1) cells. In a mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis, SAB/GC-1@Lip-cRGD significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) and TGF-β1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung homogenates. The proportion of CD206+ M2 macrophages decreased from 27.4% in the model group to 6.2% after treatment, indicating potent anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects. This synergistic strategy of microenvironment remodeling and epithelial regeneration achieved robust collagen depletion, restoration of alveolar integrity, and recovery of pulmonary function, outperforming single-drug or non-targeted formulations. The work provides a generalized paradigm for integrating microenvironment regulation with regenerative repair in pulmonary diseases.
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/s40843-025-3720-2
The emergence of smart textiles and wearable electronics demands conductive fibers that maintain stable electrical performance under dynamic mechanical deformation. Conventional conductive yarns, based on carbon nanomaterials, metallic coatings, or hybrids, suffer from a trade-off between conductivity and stretchability, often exhibiting resistance fluctuations or failure under strain. Liquid metals (LM) offer high conductivity and intrinsic deformability but suffer from interfacial instability, such as dewetting and leakage, without structural guidance. This work presents a hierarchical design strategy integrating capillary-guided infiltration and interfacial anchoring of LM within yarn microstructures. Electrospun poly(styrene-block-butadiene-block-styrene) (SBS) microfibers onto commercial spandex (PU) yarns create a porous base with three-dimensional microchannels. These channels are functionalized with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to enhance wettability and provide reactive sites for alloying with LM. Upon immersion, LM is drawn into the porous network via capillary action, forming stable intermetallic bonds (Ag9In4 and AgIn2) with the AgNP-modified fibers. Encapsulation with a second SBS layer yields the final SBS-LM/Ag-SBS (SLMAS) yarn. The resulting yarns exhibit exceptional electrical conductivity, with resistance as low as 0.082 Ω/cm at an LM loading of 6.88 mg/cm. They demonstrate strain-invariant performance, long-term durability, and functional convergence, supporting Joule heating and electrochromic display within a single fiber. Joule heating tests show a temperature rise from 86.4 to 122.7°C, following Ohm's and Joule's law. Integration of thermochromic microcapsules enables voltage-triggered color change, laying groundwork for electrothermally responsive textiles. Challenges remain in material costs, multi-step fabrication, and durability under environmental stressors. This work establishes a new paradigm for stretchable fiber electronics, reconciling conductivity with extreme mechanical compliance.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4169-9
Transition metal fluorides (TMFs) are promising cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their high theoretical capacity and energy density, yet their practical application is hindered by low utilization rates stemming from particle sizes exceeding the effective Li+ transport distance (<20 nm). This work introduces a multiphase metal fluoride composite (MMFC) synthesized via a hydrothermal method, leveraging high-entropy concepts and interface engineering to enhance electrochemical performance. The MMFC, after annealing at 400°C (MMFC-400), exhibits high specific capacity, excellent rate capability, and cycling stability. The multiphase interfaces accelerate Li+ migration kinetics and provide additional active sites, addressing the limitations of conventional TMF cathodes. This study proposes a multiphase interfacial energy storage strategy for advanced TMF cathodes, offering a pathway to high-performance LIBs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4229-6
The escalating retirement of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) necessitates efficient recycling technologies to recover cathode materials, particularly lithium iron phosphate (LFP), which dominates the traction battery market. Conventional pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical methods are energy-intensive and environmentally burdensome. Here, we report a fluorine doping-assisted direct regeneration strategy for spent LFP (SLFP) cathodes, yielding a regenerated LFP-F (RLFP-F) with a hybrid structure of ordered crystalline and disordered domains. Fluorine doping reduces the Li+ diffusion energy barrier, as evidenced by density functional theory calculations, and strengthens Fe–O bonding, suppressing Fe migration and anti-site defect formation. The O 2p band center shifts downward, increasing the Fe 3d–O 2p energy separation from 3.23 eV in pristine LFP to 3.46 eV in RLFP-F, enhancing structural stability and electronic conductivity. Electrochemical tests demonstrate that RLFP-F delivers a high-rate capability and excellent cycling stability. Life-cycle assessment reveals that direct regeneration consumes only 9.986 MJ kg−1 and emits 0.324 kg CO2-equivalent per kg of cell, significantly outperforming pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy. Economic analysis based on 2025 Chinese market prices indicates a net profit of $397.15 per ton of SLFP battery recycling, attributed to the closed-loop cathode-to-cathode design. This work provides a sustainable and economically viable route for upcycling spent LFP batteries.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3463-x
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) exhibits an exceptionally low responsiveness to immunotherapy due to its immunologically cold tumor microenvironment (TME), characterized by poor T-cell infiltration and abundant immunosuppressive cells. We synthesized a series of immune-activating lipo-polylysines (IAP-1 to IAP-9) with varying carbon chain and polylysine segment lengths, and evaluated their oncolytic and immunogenic cell death (ICD)-inducing activities. Both activities are structure-dependent. IAP-4 demonstrated the most potent oncolytic and ICD-inducing capabilities in 4T1 tumor cells, inducing necrosis via membrane lysis and mitochondrial damage, and triggering ICD as evidenced by calreticulin exposure, ATP secretion, and HMGB1 release. In vivo, IAP-4 remodeled the TME by enhancing cytotoxic T lymphocyte infiltration and reducing immunosuppressive components, converting cold tumors to hot. This led to inhibition of primary tumors, suppression of recurrence and metastasis, and establishment of antitumor immune memory. This drug-free strategy offers a promising approach for TNBC immunotherapy, with structure-activity relationships providing a framework for designing next-generation oncolytic agents.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3569-7
Asymmetric catalysis is a cornerstone for producing enantiopure fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals, yet conventional nanoparticle catalysts suffer from limited enantioselectivity, high catalyst loading, and ill-defined active sites. Chiral metal nanoclusters (NCs) have emerged as a frontier due to their atomically precise structures and hierarchical chirality spanning the metal core, metal-ligand interface, ligand body, and assembly patterns. This review systematically summarizes recent progress in the synthesis and asymmetric catalytic applications of chiral metal NCs, organized by their core-shell structural scheme. The structural origins of cluster chirality are first elaborated, followed by synthetic methodologies delivering enantiopure metal NCs. Catalytic applications are then outlined, including enantioselective allylic alkylation, Suzuki-Miyaura coupling, and 1,4-addition, with enantiomeric excess (ee) values reaching up to 99% and turnover numbers (TONs) exceeding 1000 in selected systems. The review concludes with perspectives on designing chiral metal NCs for asymmetric catalysis. The fundamental and applicable advances summarized herein provide a framework for developing next-generation enantioselective catalysts with high atom economy, enhanced catalytic efficiency, and clear mechanistic pathways.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3457-3
MAPbI3 perovskite solar cells (PSCs) exhibit a theoretical open-circuit voltage (VOC) of approximately 1.3 V, yet practical devices suffer from substantial VOC loss due to interfacial charge recombination and energy-level misalignment. This study introduces SrTiO3 nanocubes as an interfacial layer between the TiO2 electron transport layer (ETL) and MAPbI3 absorber to synergistically address these losses. The SrTiO3 interlayer facilitates optimal energy-level alignment with the MAPbI3 conduction band, reducing charge carrier energy loss and enhancing electron extraction. Additionally, the minimal lattice mismatch between SrTiO3 and MAPbI3 promotes the growth of high-quality perovskite films with reduced defect density. Time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) measurements reveal that the SrTiO3-modified sample exhibits a prolonged slow decay lifetime of 54 ns and an average carrier lifetime of 60.72 ns, compared to 45.20 ns for the control. Consequently, the VOC of MAPbI3 PSCs increases to 1.17 V, and the power conversion efficiency (PCE) reaches 22.19%, up from 19.95% for the control. Stability tests under 25% relative humidity and 25 °C show that unencapsulated SrTiO3-based PSCs retain approximately 92% of their initial PCE after 500 h, whereas control devices degrade to 74%. This work demonstrates that synergistic energy-level grading and lattice matching via SrTiO3 interface engineering effectively minimizes VOC loss and enhances both efficiency and stability of MAPbI3 PSCs.