SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4248-2
Marine biofouling imposes substantial operational penalties on maritime assets, yet commercial silicone foul-release coatings rely on static, non-adaptive networks that cannot be reprocessed or repaired. This work introduces selenonium-salt-catalyzed dynamic siloxane exchange as a route to polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) vitrimer coatings. The authors incorporate A16Se+ organoselenium catalysts into PDMS networks at loadings designated A16Se+xPDMS, enabling thermally activated siloxane bond exchange that confers vitrimeric stress relaxation, reprocessability, and high-temperature self-healing. Antibiofouling performance is benchmarked against pristine PDMS using colony morphology assays for Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, SEM imaging of bacterial adhesion after 3 h, Chlorella fluorescence adhesion quantification, zeta potential measurements, and 3-month seawater immersion panels. Reviewer 1 questioned the direct relevance of recyclability and high-temperature self-healing to marine antifouling and requested that surface elastic modulus and Pseudomonas antibacterial data be elevated to the main text. In response, the authors relocated scratch and self-healing results from Figure 5 to Supporting Information Figures S12 and S13, condensed the main-text discussion, and integrated surface elastic modulus data into Figure 4G and Pseudomonas antibacterial results into Figure 6A. The revised manuscript positions dynamic exchange as supporting evidence of network dynamics rather than as a primary antifouling metric, while foregrounding modulus and antibacterial performance as the application-relevant properties.
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.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024122501
Fullerene (C60) is an emerging atmospheric pollutant that may influence sulfate formation during haze events. This study investigated the effect of C60 on sulfate production in the gas-phase oxidation of SO2 by H2O2 using a flow tube reactor. Results demonstrated that the presence of C60 significantly increased sulfate yields. Control experiments varying C60 loading, H2O2 concentration, and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation revealed that higher C60 amounts, elevated H2O2 levels, and UV exposure enhanced the promoting effect. Mechanistic investigations via free radical trapping and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated a pre-adsorption-oxidation pathway. XPS analysis showed electron transfer on the C60 surface, converting adsorbed S(IV) to S(VI), confirming direct participation of C60 in sulfate formation. Radical trapping experiments and model calculations confirmed that C60 promotes the generation of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and superoxide radicals (·O2−), which are key oxidants driving SO2 conversion to sulfate. The study reveals that C60 particles markedly enhance atmospheric sulfate formation, offering a novel pathway for understanding sulfate generation mechanisms. These findings have implications for air quality modeling and haze mitigation strategies, as C60 may act as a catalytic surface for sulfate production in polluted atmospheres.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3889-6
Photocatalytic hydrogen production is fundamentally limited by inefficient charge separation and asynchronous supply of electrons and protons to active sites. Here, we designed a ZnIn2S4/ZnCo2S4 (ZIS/ZCS) heterojunction with an atomically coherent interface achieved via an ultralow lattice mismatch of 0.05%. This unique structure promotes rapid electron transfer through a built-in electric field and facilitates continuous proton migration via a hydrogen spillover effect, thereby synchronizing electron and proton delivery at the catalytic interface. This dual regulation of electrons and protons synergistically promotes proton-coupled electron transfer, resulting in a high hydrogen evolution rate of 70.3 mmol g−1 h−1 and selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to aldehyde (39.3 mmol g−1 h−1) with 93.6% selectivity. This work demonstrates the critical importance of lattice match and dual charge-proton management in designing efficient photocatalysts for complex redox reactions.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4053-5
The rapid and efficient removal of radioactive iodine species from water is critical for nuclear waste treatment, particularly given the short half-life of 131I (8.02 days). Traditional porous inorganic materials exhibit low uptake capacities (<1 g g−1), while porous frameworks such as MOFs and COFs achieve high capacities (>5 g g−1) but suffer from slow removal kinetics, often requiring hours to capture 80% of iodine. This study introduces nonporous naphthobipyrrole-based organic cages (NBP-Cages) that demonstrate ultrafast iodine removal from water. Among the materials tested, type-II Me-NBP-Cage and Et-NBP-Cage, prepared via reprecipitation, exhibit amorphous morphology with small particle sizes (2–6 μm) and low BET surface areas (33.4 and 2.3 m2 g−1, respectively). Despite their nonporosity, these materials achieve >99% iodine removal within seconds, outperforming previously reported sorbents. The adsorption performance correlates with particle size and morphology: amorphous, small particles with effective surface gaps show superior kinetics. The materials are recyclable; for instance, Et-NBP-Cage can be regenerated by washing with acetonitrile, maintaining removal efficiency over five cycles. This work highlights the potential of nonporous organic cages as high-performance iodine sorbents, addressing the critical need for materials that combine high uptake capacity with rapid removal kinetics.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202607012
This study investigated the effects of lychee wood biochar and lignin-degrading bacteria on compost maturity, substance transformation, and bacterial communities during the coupled process of aerobic composting and vermicomposting of cow dung and rice husk. Four treatments were established: no addition (CK), 5% (w/w) lychee wood biochar addition (T1), 0.5% (w/w) lignin-degrading bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus niger) addition (T2), and combined addition of 5% biochar and 0.5% bacteria (T3). Results showed that biochar and/or bacteria addition accelerated temperature rise, extended high-temperature duration to 13 days, and increased maximum temperature. Compared to CK, T1–T3 increased organic matter degradation by 3.97%–9.56%, humic acid content by 12.30%–24.09%, available phosphorus and potassium by 14.48%–32.50% and 6.97%–18.85%, respectively. NH3 emissions were reduced by 25.86%–34.26%, while nitrate nitrogen and total nitrogen increased by 12.83%–43.34% and 5.73%–13.18%, respectively. Seed germination index improved by 11.62%–29.20%. T3 exhibited the best overall performance. During aerobic composting, biochar and/or bacteria significantly increased relative abundances of Bacteroidota, Planctomycetota, and Acidobacteriota, but effects were not significant during vermicomposting. Functional genera such as Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Chryseolinea were enriched in both stages. The study concludes that adding 5% lychee wood biochar and/or 0.5% lignin-degrading bacteria to cow dung and rice husk in coupled composting-vermicomposting improves bacterial community structure, promotes organic matter degradation, enhances humification, reduces nitrogen loss, and accelerates compost maturity, with combined addition being most effective.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60668-8
A series of Co-based molecular sieve catalysts with varying Si/Al ratios was synthesized via impregnation. Microstructural properties of Co active sites were characterized by XRD, TEM, Raman, H2-TPR, Py-FTIR, and XPS. Results indicate that surface Co species predominantly exist as CoOx nanoclusters and isolated Co2+, with the latter exhibiting superior N2O decomposition activity. Decreasing the Si/Al ratio of the MFI zeolite promotes the formation of isolated Co2+ active sites, thereby enhancing catalytic performance. Compared to Co/S-1 (pure silica support), the Co/HZ60 catalyst (low Si/Al ratio ZSM-5) lowers the temperature for complete N2O decomposition by 80 °C and demonstrates excellent resistance to O2 and NO. The strong interaction between the zeolite framework and Co2+ inhibits oxidation to Co3+, improving N2O adsorption and activation. This work provides a rational design strategy for efficient and stable Co-based catalysts for N2O abatement in industrial tail gases.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4188-x
Sodium metal anodes, with high theoretical capacity (1166 mAh g−1) and low redox potential (−2.71 V vs. H+/H2), are promising for low-cost, high-energy sodium metal batteries (SMBs). However, uncontrolled dendrite growth and drastic volume changes cause short circuits and safety hazards. This work presents a dual-gradient engineering strategy to address these issues. A 3D self-supporting current collector (SSM-ZnS@Zn) was fabricated by laminating a stainless steel mesh (SSM) with a Zn foil decorated with pre-grown ZnS nanoparticles via a one-step rolling process. The substantial electrical conductivity difference between the bottom zinc foil (~16.6×10^6 S m−1) and the top SSM (~1.3×10^6 S m−1) establishes an electric field gradient. Simultaneously, a sodiophilicity gradient is created by electrochemically in-situ generated sodiophilic NaZn13 and Na2S on the bottom zinc foil, combined with the sodiophobic upper SSM layer. This dual-gradient synergy guides bottom-up sodium deposition, homogenizes current density and electric potential, and reinforces mechanical robustness. The framework exhibits outstanding electrochemical performance in both symmetric and full cells, outperforming most reported 3D structures. A pouch cell assembled with SSM-ZnS@Zn successfully lit an LED lamp, demonstrating practical application potential. This strategy surpasses single-gradient limitations and offers a new approach for high-performance sodium metal anode design.