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/s40843-026-4233-8
Ferroelectrics with intrinsic electric polarization are indispensable for non-volatile storage and computing-in-memory chips. However, conventional perovskite ferroelectrics suffer from size effects that degrade functional properties at reduced dimensions, limiting nanoscale applications. Fluorite-based ferroelectrics, such as HfO2 and ZrO2, maintain ferroelectricity in nanocrystalline films and are compatible with Si-based processes, but their ferroelectricity relies on a metastable orthorhombic (O) phase that is thermodynamically unstable at room temperature, leading to wake-up effects, fatigue, and reduced reliability. Previous stabilization strategies (stress, doping, oxygen vacancies) lack atomic-level verification or depend on specific processing conditions. This highlight discusses a recent Nature Materials study by Wang et al. that demonstrates grain boundary (GB) chemical engineering as a new paradigm. Using a La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 (LSMO) buffer layer, they achieved stable O-phase ZrO2 films. Atomic-scale HAADF and EELS revealed ordered GBs with selective segregation of La, Sr, and Mn, forming chemically ordered heterostructures. First-principles calculations showed that the ordered eg/t2g orbital arrangement of Mn3+/Mn4+ at GBs softens phonon modes by regulating Zr–O bond strength, stabilizing the ferroelectric phase. This work establishes GBs as independent functional units, offering a universal approach for designing highly stable metastable functional materials.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3770-9
Intramolecular through-space charge-transfer (TSCT)-enabled thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters have shown exceptional potential for advancing organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technologies, owing to their efficient utilization of triplet excitons and optimized photophysical properties. To date, the intrinsic correlation among molecular geometries, intramolecular non-covalent interactions, and photophysical properties in TSCT-TADF emitters remains unconfirmed, and this study theoretically clarifies this critical correlation. Specifically, through integrating molecular engineering, screening strategies, first-principles calculations, energy decomposition analysis, and statistical modeling, we systematically investigated 24 experimentally reported TADF molecules, and 54 newly designed structures in both solution and thin-film environments. We establish a clear geometric criterion for high-efficiency TSCT-TADF emitters: donor-acceptor (D-A) dihedral angles below 25° and interfragment distances within 4 Å—conditions validated by both theoretical predictions and experimental evidence. Based on this insight, we designed two novel molecular libraries with benzene- or carbazole-derivative bridges, using O-bridged triphenylamine (DPXZ) as the donor and quinolino[3,2,1-de]acridine-5,9-dione (QAO) as the acceptor. Our calculations confirm that sub-25° D-A dihedral angles correlate with exceptional delayed fluorescence efficiency, with predictions reaching up to 96% and an average of 70% for the new thin film systems. This study provides a rational design strategy for high-performance TSCT-TADF emitters, significantly advancing the molecular-level understanding of through-space interactions and accelerating the discovery of tailored, efficient OLED materials.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024112806
Microplastics (MPs) are persistent emerging contaminants ubiquitously distributed in soil-groundwater environments, where their aggregation and transport critically govern pollutant fate and ecological risks. Natural organic matter (NOM), a complex assemblage of organic compounds, interacts with MPs and porous media via hydrogen bonding, π-π interactions, hydrophobic effects, and electrostatic binding, thereby modulating MP surface properties and environmental behavior. This review systematically synthesizes the mechanisms by which NOM influences MP aggregation and transport, with emphasis on the distinct roles of humic substances, proteins, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and their synergistic modulation with solution chemistry (pH, ionic strength, ion type). Additionally, NOM accelerates MP aging and alters surface characteristics, consequently impacting transport capacity. Current research limitations are identified, and future directions are proposed to inform MP pollution risk assessment and management strategies. Key findings indicate that NOM generally enhances MP stability and mobility at low ionic strengths, while high ionic strengths may induce aggregation depending on NOM type and ion valence. Humic substances predominantly increase electrostatic repulsion, whereas proteins and EPS can bridge particles, promoting aggregation. Aging processes, accelerated by NOM photochemical activity, increase surface oxygen functionality and hydrophilicity, further altering transport. The review underscores the need for systematic studies under environmentally relevant conditions to predict MP fate accurately.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3895-7
Flexible transparent electrodes are vital for next-generation electronics, but conventional silver nanowire (AgNW) networks suffer from non-uniform current and “hot spots” due to their random arrangement. To address this, we present a facile rubber pressure treatment that enables the controlled self-assembly of ordered AgNW micromesh (Ag NMs) on hydrophilic surfaces. This simple physical treatment simultaneously modifies surface energy and topography through molecular chain transfer from the rubber, creating optimal wetting conditions for coffee-ring assembly. This dual modification transforms droplet evaporation from constant contact angle to constant contact radius mode, enabling the universal fabrication of well-defined Ag NMs on diverse substrates like glass, polymers, and even curved surfaces. The resulting Ag NMs/colorless polyimide (CPI) electrodes (2 cm × 2 cm, ~30 Ω/sq), fabricated via single-step transfer and embedding, demonstrate desirable uniform sheet resistance distribution (<5% variation), outstanding mechanical durability, and environmental stability. These electrodes exhibit superior performance in practical applications, including stable electrical heating (159 ± 3°C at 8 V) with uniform temperature distribution and excellent electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding (26.4 dB), while maintaining high optical transparency (~78%). This scalable approach offers a promising platform for advanced flexible electronics.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60676-7
Landfilled municipal solid waste (MSW) in China exceeds 8 billion tons, with high moisture (30–50%) and ash content (>50%), complicating conventional treatment. Slag gasification offers a clean and resource-oriented route, but heavy metal leaching from the resulting slag poses environmental risks. This study investigates the effect of rice husk addition (5–15%) on the vitrification of landfilled-waste slag and the immobilization of heavy metals (Cr, Zn, Cu). Results show that adding 5–10% rice husk lowers the slag flow temperature to a minimum of 1213 °C, attributed to active SiO2 reacting with CaO and Fe2O3 to form low-melting eutectics like anorthite. Leaching concentrations of Cr and Zn decrease from 41.60 and 108.00 mg/L to 5.89 and 7.10 mg/L, respectively, with 10–15% rice husk. The amorphous SiO2 enhances silicate polymerization (Q3, Q4 networks), promoting physical encapsulation and chemical incorporation of heavy metals into stable phases such as Zn2SiO4 and CuFe2O4, increasing the residual fraction and reducing bioavailability. At temperatures >1400 °C, volatilization of Cu and Zn increases, with residual rates dropping to 33–60% and 31–55%, respectively, while Cr remains stable (70–123%). This work elucidates the mechanistic role of rice husk in slag structure modulation and heavy metal immobilization, providing a theoretical basis for the co-treatment of landfilled waste and biomass via a 'treating waste with waste' strategy.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4051-x
Graphite lubricants are critical for high-quality and high-efficiency drawing of refractory metal wires, yet inadequate dispersion stability frequently challenges their practical application. Inspired by the bio-surfactant synergic mechanism that combines different bio-surfactants to collectively reduce surface energy and friction, a binary anionic surfactant system comprising sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) and sodium lignosulfonate (SL) was engineered to enhance dispersion and stability via a synergistic effect. The synergistic parameter β was calculated to be −2.34, indicating strong synergism. The resulting graphite lubricants maintained homogeneous dispersion for up to 60 days. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed that the synergistic effects originate from steric hindrance, electrostatic repulsion, π-π stacking, and hydrogen bonding. These hierarchical secondary interactions collectively increased the interfacial formation energy at the graphite/surfactant/water tri-phase interface, thereby effectively wetting particle powders and enhancing stability. During metal wire drawing, the graphite lubricants reduced the friction coefficient between the die and metal wires to 0.06, ultimately enabling drawn tungsten wires with superior surface integrity, expanded loop diameter, and enhanced tensile strength relative to single-surfactant benchmarks. This study provides experimental and theoretical guidance to design effective graphite lubricants for high-quality drawn metal wires.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3494-2
Dense dual-phase Si3N4 ceramics combining high hardness and toughness were synthesized via high-pressure spark plasma sintering (SPS) at 1500–1560 °C. Using only 5 wt% liquid-phase additives, full densification was achieved at 150 and 200 MPa, whereas 50 MPa SPS at 1600 °C failed. The 200 MPa specimen exhibited stress-induced α→β phase transformation via coherent interface migration, yielding elongated β-columnar grains with embedded α particles. At 1560 °C and 200 MPa, the material achieved a hardness of 21.3±0.3 GPa and fracture toughness of 6.3±0.3 MPa·m1/2, surpassing the 150 MPa baseline which underwent grain coarsening and reduced toughness. The mechanism overcomes the thermodynamic disparity between α and β phases, enabling uniform microstructures with equiaxed and elongated grains. This pressure-regulated approach offers a scalable route for advanced structural ceramics in extreme environments.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3673-4
Organic charge-transfer cocrystals comprising a triphenylene donor and F4TCNQ acceptor (Tri-F4TCNQ) were synthesized and characterized for magnetic-responsive near-infrared photothermal conversion and imaging. The cocrystal exhibits broad absorption from 300 to 1800 nm, with a photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) of 63.6% under 1064 nm laser excitation. This high efficiency is attributed to dominant nonradiative decay pathways and suppressed radiative channels. The material displays intrinsic magnetism, and an external magnetic field enhances photothermal conversion by increasing the spin-parallel state ratio, thereby boosting nonradiative recombination. Photothermal imaging shows a corresponding magnetic field response. Structural stability was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry, and X-ray diffraction, with negligible degradation after six months in air. The cocrystal also demonstrates photosensitivity and magnetic field responsiveness, enabling applications in rapid content extraction and information encryption. This work represents a rare integration of magnetism and photothermal conversion in a single organic cocrystal, offering a foundation for advanced photothermal imaging and magnetic manipulation technologies.