SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4312-8
Carbazole phosphonic acid-based self-assembled molecules (SAMs) serve as effective hole-selective contacts in organic solar cells (OSCs), yet their molecular packing and aggregation behavior during solution processing remain difficult to control, limiting hole transport and device durability. This study introduces a polymer-templated self-assembly strategy to regulate molecular organization by one-step spin-coating a blend of [2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)ethyl]phosphonic acid (2PACz) and PEDOT:PSS. The polycationic PEDOT+ framework acts as a template, providing supplementary anchoring interactions that promote ordered molecular arrangement and suppress unfavorable agglomeration. Pronounced face-on orientation and enhanced structural coherence of 2PACz within the polymer matrix are evidenced. The templated ordering improves vertical charge transport, interfacial homogeneity, and film morphology. In binary OSCs based on PM6:BTP-eC9, the hybrid hole transport layers (HTLs) yield a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.26%, with an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.874 V, a short-circuit current (JSC) of 28.97 mA cm-2, and a fill factor (FF) of 80.02%. Devices incorporating hybrid HTLs exhibit exceptional operational stability, retaining over 90% of initial PCE (T90) after 405 h of continuous operation at the maximum power point (MPP). This work establishes polymer-directed SAM assembly as a scalable route to simultaneously optimize nanoscale molecular packing, interfacial energetics, and long-term device stability for high-performance OSCs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4415-3
The escalating demands of military stealth platforms and the proliferation of electromagnetic pollution have intensified the need for high-performance electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbers. Nanofibers, characterized by high specific surface area and favorable composite compatibility, are engineered into absorbers with outstanding electromagnetic properties. This review consolidates the preparation and optimization strategies for nanofiber-based absorbers. The electromagnetic attenuation mechanisms are first outlined, followed by a systematic classification of nanofiber fabrication methods into two principal categories: in-situ synthesis and electrospinning-derived processes. Recent advances in optimization strategies for absorbers constructed from nanofibers with tailored electromagnetic characteristics are then examined. The review draws upon representative studies, including ultrathin and flexible electromagnetic interference shielding films via interface-confinement, design strategies for wave-absorbing polymer-based shielding materials, impedance-matchable 3D MXene sponge/NiFe@NC heterostructures with tunable pores, and the influence of fiber coating on SiCf/epoxy composites. These works collectively demonstrate the critical role of fiber architecture, interface engineering, and impedance matching in determining absorption performance. The analysis identifies persistent challenges in scalability, cost, and environmental stability, and outlines future prospects for nanofiber-based EMW absorbers. This review provides a foundational reference for researchers and engineers seeking to translate nanofiber absorber concepts into deployable stealth and pollution-mitigation technologies.
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/s40843-026-4179-x
Perylene diimide (PDI) radical anions exhibit poor environmental stability, restricting their generation efficiency and practical application. Here, a PDI-functionalized bispillar[5]arene (PDI-P5) was designed to construct stable and high-efficiency photothermal radicals. Intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) between PDI and bispillar[5]arene narrows the energy gap. Under 455 nm ultraviolet light irradiation and diethylamine (DEA) vapor exposure, photoinduced electron transfer (PET) efficiently generates PDI-P5·− radicals, which possess broad near-infrared (NIR) absorption, enhanced non-radiative transitions, and excellent stability. Notably, PDI-P5·− can rapidly reach 90 °C under 0.20 W cm−2 simulated sunlight irradiation. Moreover, it exhibits superior multi-step photothermal anti-counterfeiting performance. This work provides a novel strategy for the development of stable radical-based photothermal materials, which holds great potential for anti-counterfeiting and bioimaging applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3838-5
Air-permeable and ultrathin conductive electrodes are essential for next-generation soft electronics, including breathable wearables, on-skin devices, and bio-integrated electronics. However, conventional metallization strategies, such as sputtering and ink-printing, often suffer from severe vertical charge leakage due to the porous and ultrathin characteristics of nanofibrous networks, leading to device short-circuiting, operational failure, and limited vertical integration. Here, we present a solvent-selective dissolution-assisted transfer printing strategy to achieve surface-confined metallization of ultrathin, lightweight, and gas-permeable nanofibrous networks, enabling lateral conductivity while maintaining vertical insulation. This transfer printing process facilitates not only the rapid formation of conductive patterns on the surface of nanofibrous networks but also mechanical reinforcement through solvent evaporation-induced interlocked fiber-fiber welding. Meanwhile, the strategy preserves the high permeability of the nanofibrous networks and imparts a unique combination of surface conductivity (2 Ω cm) and vertical insulativity (10^11 Ω cm). The resulting anisotropic conductive networks enable low-voltage wearable heaters, high-sensitive pressure sensors, and ultralight temperature sensors. A pressure-temperature dual-modal sensing patch is further fabricated for intelligent grasping classification. The proposed surface-confined metallization strategy enables rapid fabrication of an anisotropic conductive network as a building block to construct air-permeable, ultrathin, and lightweight wearable electronics.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3804-7
Supramolecular helical architectures hold promise for enantioselective catalysis, yet the influence of screw pitch on catalytic performance remains underexplored. Here, we report the construction of right-/left-handed helical nanoribbons (P/M-DAIPA) based on 5-aminoisophthalic acid dimer (DAIPA). Through an alcohol-mediated self-assembly strategy, the average screw pitch was tuned from 360 to 3152 nm. Mechanistic studies revealed that hydrogen-bonding interactions between DAIPA, modulated by alcohol identity and alcohol/water ratios, dictate helical morphology and pitch. Encapsulation of Fe3O4 nanoparticles yielded P-DAIPA-Fe3O4 and M-DAIPA-Fe3O4 nanozymes, which exhibited higher catalytic efficiency toward S-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and R-DOPA, respectively. Notably, catalytic enantioselectivity inversely correlated with screw pitch, achieving selectivity factors from 1.52 to 2.01. Experimental evidence demonstrated that shorter screw pitch enhances adsorption enantioselectivity of R/S-DOPA on the nanozymes, providing mechanistic insight into pitch-dependent asymmetric catalysis. This work deciphers solvent-driven control of supramolecular screw pitch and establishes a framework for engineering chiral nanozymes with tunable enantioselectivity, advancing enantioselective synthesis.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3903-4
Cross-wavelength near-perfect light capture technology is crucial in various fields, including spectroscopy, energy conversion, and electromagnetic control. Nevertheless, the primary challenge in broadband absorption is effectively coordinating the intrinsic response behavior of various electromagnetic waves across the nanometer-centimeter scale when interacting with matter. By adopting a multi-scale structural design strategy, the carbon-zirconium heterointerface is integrated into the macroscopic periodic unit cell (PUC) to develop an ultra-wideband light capture material. The optical coupling effect, strengthened by electronic transitions, molecular motion, and spatial scattering effects, endows ZC-PUC with exceptional light-capture performance ranging from ultraviolet to microwave frequencies. Specifically, the ZC-PUC absorber possesses a near-perfect absorption rate of 95.7% across the ultraviolet-visible-infrared spectrum (190–2500 nm), and an effective absorption coverage of 99.99% in the microwave and terahertz bands (1997.9 GHz). More importantly, the as-prepared material maintains the morphology structure and physical phase even when exposed to an alkaline or acidic environment for 365 days and simultaneously possesses stable light capture properties. The easily scalable approach retains excellent structural stability and ultra-wideband light trapping capability under extreme conditions, offering a versatile platform for the development of next-generation devices.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4012-4
Stimuli-responsive fluorescent hydrogels, owing to their tunable optical properties and unique smart response characteristics, have significant potential in encryption applications and information security. However, most current systems are limited to single-stimulus responsiveness and lack the capability for programmable information erasure or multi-modal dynamic synergy. Hence, we propose a multi-stimuli-responsive phase-change hydrogel incorporating aggregation-induced emission hydrophobic carbon dots (AIE-HCDs) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-cellulose network, demonstrating dynamic fluorescence chromism under various external triggers. The hydrogel exhibits solvent-exchange-triggered fluorescence color changes from blue to red, enabled by the concentration modulation of AIE-HCDs through the exchange between PEG and water. Additionally, the temperature-induced phase transition of PEG from crystalline to molten state modulates the aggregation and dispersion of AIE-HCDs, thereby enabling dynamic fluorescence color changes. The phase transition further confers excellent shape-memory behavior and adjustable mechanical properties, with the tensile modulus varying from 6.28 MPa in the molten state to 36.23 MPa in the crystalline state, while maintaining high transparency (~88% in the molten state). By utilizing micro-contact printing and the multi-stimulus response, an encryption platform enables information to be hidden, selectively read under sequential stimuli (thermal, UV, and solvent), and completely erased upon demand. This strategy demonstrates significant potential for advancing high-level information encryption and anti-counterfeiting technologies.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4037-1
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) poses a therapeutic challenge due to its anatomical complexity and the limitations of conventional treatments in achieving precise targeting and sufficient efficacy. Here, we report a multifunctional platform based on heat-triggered electrospray self-healing porous poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres encapsulating indocyanine green (ICG), sequentially coated with a tannic acid-Fe3+ (TAF) metal-phenolic network and fibronectin (FN) for targeted photothermal/chemodynamic combination therapy. The resulting functional microspheres (PI-TAF@FN) exhibit an average size of 1.9 μm, excellent colloidal stability, heat-induced self-healing performance, and a high photothermal conversion efficiency of 51.4%. These microspheres specifically target NPC cells via FN-mediated integrin recognition, enabling ICG/TAF-mediated photothermal therapy under 808-nm laser irradiation and TAF-mediated chemodynamic therapy, leading to enhanced cancer cell apoptosis in vitro. In a mouse NPC model, the combined photothermo-chemodynamic therapy achieved effective tumor treatment with minimal systemic toxicity. Furthermore, the dual TAF and ICG components allow multimode FN-targeted T1-weighted magnetic resonance/fluorescence/thermal imaging for precision NPC management. This electrospray self-healing porous microsphere platform offers a unique theranostic strategy that can integrate diverse therapeutic and diagnostic components for precision oncology.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3366-9
Organic solar cells (OSCs) have transitioned from <1% initial power conversion efficiency (PCE) to a benchmark exceeding 20% in single-junction and tandem architectures, marking a critical milestone for solution-processable photovoltaics. This review consolidates recent reports (2022–2025) on OSCs with PCE >20%, analyzing key strategies: photoactive material innovation (wide-bandgap polymer donors, narrow-bandgap non-fullerene acceptors), multi-component system construction, deposition protocol optimization, solid/solvent additive engineering, and hole/electron transport layer development. Empirical data from 15 high-impact studies reveal PCEs of 20.0–20.6% in single-junction devices and 20.2–26% in perovskite/organic tandem cells, with interfacial engineering (e.g., yttrium phosphotungstate, carbazole-modified 2PACz, naphthalene diimide interlayers) suppressing bimolecular recombination and enabling scalable large-area fabrication. Operational stability remains a bottleneck: amide-based cathode interlayers achieve 20% PCE with dual-modification mechanisms, while self-assembled monolayers enable hole transport layer-free devices with 18% efficiency and improved stability. The review identifies next-stage challenges: reducing voltage losses (to <0.5 V), scaling deposition uniformity beyond 100 cm², and achieving cost parity with silicon (<$0.30/Wp). These issues are critical for flexible and wearable power suppliers, where mechanical durability (<5% PCE degradation after 1000 bending cycles) and low-temperature processing (<150°C) are mandatory. The analysis provides a roadmap for industrial translation, emphasizing that material–device co-optimization, rather than isolated breakthroughs, will determine commercial viability.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3562-3
The global transition to low-carbon economies necessitates scalable hydrogen production via water electrolysis powered by renewable energy. Industry forecasts project global hydrogen demand to exceed 469 million tons per year by 2050, with clean hydrogen comprising 93% of the total. Meeting an annual clean hydrogen demand of 436 Mt would require daily water consumption of 15 Mt, yet major wind and solar installations are concentrated in arid and semi-arid regions with limited freshwater resources. China exemplifies this mismatch: Xinjiang added 42.11 GW of renewable capacity in 2024, far exceeding Fujian's 7.93 GW, while possessing only 80 billion cubic meters of freshwater compared to Fujian's 130 billion. This geographical constraint renders freshwater-dependent electrolysis technologies—alkaline water electrolyzers (AWE), proton exchange membrane electrolyzers (PEMWE), and anion exchange membrane electrolyzers (AEMWE)—increasingly untenable for large-scale deployment. Seawater electrolysis, either indirect (desalination followed by electrolysis) or direct (corrosion-resistant electrodes in untreated seawater), offers a viable pathway. However, inherent impurities including Ca2+, Mg2+, and Cl− impose severe cathodic and anodic challenges. Recent advances in corrosion-resistant, highly active, and selective electrodes now meet industrial requirements for alkaline seawater electrolysis. Electrodes with anti-fluctuation capabilities and electrolyte engineering strategies enable stable operation with intermittent renewable power. Lower water quality requirements simplify system architecture and reduce land footprint, while Cl− tolerance permits treatment of complex water sources. These developments position seawater electrolysis as a critical component of future zero-carbon energy systems.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3631-1
Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) offers cost and dynamic-response advantages over proton exchange membrane systems, yet commercial deployment is constrained by the alkaline stability of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) and the sluggish kinetics of non-precious metal catalysts. This work reports a series of poly(terphenyl-diphenylmethane piperidinium) (QPDPMTP) membranes synthesized with varied diphenylmethane (DPM) content. The alkyl chain of DPM induces pronounced microphase separation and elevates free volume fraction, yielding an OH− conductivity of 152 mS cm−1 at 80 °C for QPDPMTP-10. After 1032 h immersion in 6 M NaOH at 80 °C, the membrane retains 90.7% of its initial conductivity. An AEMWE cell integrating QPDPMTP-10 with a non-precious NiFeCo LDH/NiS/NF anode achieves 3.11 A cm−2 at 2 V in 1 M KOH at 80 °C and sustains 1 A cm−2 for 1800 h under gradient KOH concentration. These results establish a viable pathway for durable, low-cost AEMWE systems.