SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4359-0
Organic solar cells (OSCs) require cathode interlayers (CILs) that combine high charge transport, defect passivation, and thickness insensitivity for scalable manufacturing. Here, we report the synthesis of a novel A-D-A-A'-type polymer, PDPP2F-NDI-N, via the green and efficient direct arylation polymerization (DArP) method. The multiple electron-deficient units in the backbone confer strong electron-withdrawing character, effective work function modulation, enhanced built-in potential, high crystallinity, and ordered molecular packing. PDPP2F-NDI-N exhibits a high electron mobility of 1.01 × 10⁻³ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ and electrical conductivity of 3.13 × 10⁻³ S m⁻¹, facilitating efficient charge extraction and transport. Its interfacial modification capability suppresses interfacial defects and reduces non-radiative recombination losses. In ternary OSCs, PDPP2F-NDI-N achieves a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.44%, with outstanding thickness insensitivity retaining 92.8% of peak PCE at a 30 nm CIL thickness, and a T80 lifetime exceeding 1700 hours under photo-thermal aging. This work demonstrates that poly(A-D-A-alt-A') backbone design combined with DArP synthesis provides an effective strategy for developing high-performance, thickness-insensitive, and stable polymeric CILs, advancing efficient, stable, and scalable OSC applications.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202506021
To elucidate the seasonal variation in cadmium (Cd) accumulation in ratoon rice and its relationship with root surface iron plaque, this study compared Cd concentrations in brown rice and the characteristics of iron plaque components (amorphous Fe, Am-Fe; crystalline Fe, Cry-Fe) between the main and ratoon crops of six rice varieties under different stubble heights. A field experiment was conducted in a Cd-contaminated paddy in Liuyang, Hunan (soil total Cd: 0.56 ± 0.06 mg·kg⁻¹). Ratoon crop treatments included low stubble (20 cm) and high stubble (60 cm). Brown rice Cd concentrations varied by variety, season, and stubble height. Low stubble generally increased brown rice Cd in the ratoon crop compared to high stubble; high stubble reduced Cd in most varieties relative to the main crop. Health risk assessment indicated that low stubble in the ratoon crop posed higher non-carcinogenic risk than the main crop and high stubble, while carcinogenic risks exceeded acceptable levels across all treatments. Iron plaque Am-Fe and Cry-Fe concentrations in the ratoon crop were generally lower than in the main crop, with Am-Fe consistently exceeding Cry-Fe. In the main crop, total Fe, Am-Fe, and Cry-Fe on root surfaces were significantly negatively correlated with brown rice Cd (P < 0.05), but correlations were not significant in the ratoon crop. High stubble reduced Cd accumulation and non-carcinogenic risk in most varieties, yet carcinogenic risk remained. Iron plaque significantly impeded Cd uptake in the main crop but its effect weakened in the ratoon crop. Selecting low-Cd-accumulating varieties and optimizing stubble height are key strategies for safe ratoon rice production in Cd-contaminated areas.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3750-6
SnSe is a promising thermoelectric material for medium-temperature applications due to its ultralow lattice thermal conductivity. However, the poor electrical conductivity of n-type polycrystalline SnSe significantly hinders its practical application. Here, we propose a dual-functional strategy employing InBr3 doping to synergistically enhance electrical transport while suppressing lattice thermal conductivity. For the first time, we demonstrate the successful construction of a Br-enriched conductive network within the SnSe matrix. The incorporation of In3+ and Br− introduces high-density charge carriers, while Br forms percolative conductive networks, resulting in a remarkable enhancement of carrier mobility to ~20.64 cm2 V−1 s−1. Simultaneously, the lattice thermal conductivity is substantially reduced to ~0.25 W m−1 K−1 through the formation of multi-scale defects, including dislocations and Br-rich nanowires, which effectively enhance phonon scattering. As a result, we achieve a peak figure of merit of ZT ~1.41 at 823 K, with an average figure of merit of ~0.42 over the temperature range of 323–823 K. This work provides a universal paradigm for decoupling electron-phonon interactions in thermoelectric materials, offering new insights for the optimization of thermoelectric performance.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60653-6
Carbon deposition caused by mass transfer limitations is a key challenge for traditional microporous ZSM-5 zeolites in coal tar catalytic cracking. To address this, benzene was used as a model compound. Parent ZSM-5 (NL-ZSM-5) was modified with tetraethylammonium hydroxide (TEAOH) to prepare hierarchical ZSM-5 zeolites with different mesopore sizes. Characterization (XRD, FT-IR, BET, TEM) confirmed successful mesopore introduction via selective desilication while retaining the MFI structure. At TEAOH concentration of 0.4 mol/L (ZSM-5-C), total pore volume increased from 0.24 to 0.43 cm3/g, and Brønsted acid amount increased from 0.28 to 0.67 mmol/g, with improved acid site accessibility. Catalytic experiments and carbon deposition analysis showed that hierarchical pore structure inhibits coking via a synergistic effect of diffusion enhancement and adsorption-site regulation. The coke amount of ZSM-5-C was 4.0%, only one-third of that of NL-ZSM-5 (11.9%). Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that the diffusion coefficient of benzene in a 3.0 nm mesopore model is an order of magnitude higher than in a 2.0 nm model. Adsorption capacity decreases with increasing mesopore size, shortening residence time. Increasing temperature enhances diffusion but exponentially intensifies surface condensation reactions (Arrhenius effect), which dominates coke formation; hierarchical pores mitigate this negative effect. This research provides a theoretical basis for designing high-efficiency, coke-resistant catalysts for coal tar conversion.