SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4448-y
Zero-dimensional (0D) hybrid metal halides are promising for optoelectronic displays, bioimaging, and anti-counterfeiting due to strong exciton localization and self-trapped exciton (STE) emission. However, low-toxicity, biocompatible zinc halides with blue emission remain scarce, hindered by structural isolation of [ZnBr4]2− tetrahedra, electron-phonon coupling, lattice distortion, and nonradiative relaxation. Here, we synthesize MPAZnBr4 (MPA = N-(3-aminopropyl) morpholine), a 0D zinc bromide halide. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals a monoclinic P21/c space group with a = 6.65190 Å, b = 16.11210 Å, c = 13.79640 Å, β = 94.5700°, Z = 4, and a calculated density of 2.394 g/cm3. The isolated [ZnBr4]2− tetrahedra are hydrogen-bonded to MPA cations, with the shortest Br···Br contact of 4.76 Å indicating weak inter-cluster electronic coupling. Upon photoexcitation, MPAZnBr4 exhibits bright blue emission centered at 450 nm with a full width at half maximum of 135 nm. Wavelength-dependent emission mapping confirms a single radiative pathway, while temperature-dependent photoluminescence identifies triplet STE emission with a thermal quenching activation energy of 55 meV. The extensive hydrogen-bonding network imparts remarkable structural stability, showing negligible photoluminescence decay under prolonged excitation or storage. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrate switchable and rewritable information encryption and decryption, enabling complex luminescent patterns. These findings provide a strategy for constructing highly stable, low-toxicity blue-emissive Zn-based 0D metal halides for advanced photonic and information-security applications.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(25)60610-4
In this study, melamine and cyanuric acid were used as precursors to form supramolecular crystals via hydrogen-bond-assisted self-assembly followed by hydrothermal treatment. Subsequent high-temperature calcination yielded a novel brush-like three-dimensional carbon nitride. The brush-like 3D architecture was found to expose more accessible active sites, markedly accelerate electron transfer, and suppress the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers. The resulting superoxide (O2•−) and hydroxyl (•OH) radicals generated via electron reduction were identified as the key reactive species in the photocatalytic process. Moreover, the surface of the brush-like structure is enriched with nitrogen vacancies, which enhance the catalyst’s ability to harvest visible light. The photocatalytic performance of the brush-like CNS-650 catalyst was evaluated for rhodamine B (RhB) degradation. Under red-light irradiation (660 nm), its degradation rate was 7.4 times higher than that of bulk CN. This work provides valuable insights into the design and application of efficient metal-free 3D photocatalysts.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025073004
Micro/nano-plastics (MNPs) are emerging contaminants widely detected in human circulatory systems, including blood, heart, and vascular endothelium, raising concerns about cardiovascular health risks. This systematic review analyzed 61 peer-reviewed studies (2008–2024) to elucidate the cardiotoxic effects and molecular mechanisms of MNPs. Evidence indicates that MNPs exposure elevates risks of atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and arrhythmias through oxidative stress, inflammatory cascades, endothelial dysfunction, and metabolic dysregulation. Notably, co-exposure with persistent organic pollutants (POPs) or heavy metals may produce synergistic or antagonistic effects. Current research relies predominantly on animal and cell models, with critical gaps in low-dose, long-term exposure data and epidemiological evidence. Future studies should optimize experimental designs, integrate metabolomics and epigenetics, and explore transgenerational effects and combined toxicity mechanisms to inform pollution control policies and mitigate cardiovascular risks.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(25)60616-5
CuZnAl (CZA) is a classic industrial catalyst for methanol synthesis from syngas, but its catalytic performance for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol is suboptimal. The catalytic mechanism of Cu species in CZA remains challenging. This study systematically investigates the valence state changes of active Cu species in CZA catalysts and their influence on catalytic performance by modifying catalysts with varying amounts of electron donor K, thereby identifying the catalytic function of Cu species with different valence states. H2-TPR, XPS, and HR-TEM characterizations reveal that highly dispersed K species supported on CZA catalysts inhibit the reduction of CuO, resulting in a small amount of Cu2O active species being produced under reaction conditions, thus causing a decrease in catalytic activity. Furthermore, XRD and Cu LMM spectra show that the proportion of Cu0 in K-modified CZA catalysts increases with K loading, but a higher proportion of Cu0 species on the surface obviously promotes the reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction. According to the results of in situ infrared spectroscopy, CZA catalyst follows the reaction pathway mediated by HCOO* in the hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol.
The Chinese Journal of Process Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12034/j.issn.1009-606X.225264
The high cost of high-purity hydrogen necessitates the utilization of low-cost industrial by-product hydrogen as an alternative gas source to reduce hydrogen storage costs. Industrial by-product hydrogen typically contains impurities such as H2S and CO, yet the poisoning mechanisms of these gases on superlattice hydrogen storage alloys during hydrogen absorption/desorption remain poorly understood. This study systematically investigates the poisoning effects and regeneration behavior of La0.65Mg1.32Ca1.03Ni9Y0.17 superlattice hydrogen storage alloy in atmospheres containing 10^-3 H2S and CO. The experimental protocol comprised 10 poisoning cycles followed by 1 regeneration, repeated to total 20 poisoning cycles and 2 pure hydrogen regenerations. Results show that in pure hydrogen, the alloy's hydrogen storage capacity gradually decreases after 22 cycles but is effectively restored after dehydrogenation at 473 K. In the presence of impurity gases, the hydrogen storage capacity retention rates after 10 poisoning cycles with H2S and CO are 3.56% and 2.71%, respectively; after 20 cycles, these decrease to 3.68% and 1.73%, respectively. After dehydrogenation at 473 K, retention rates recover to 40.35% and 98.27%, respectively. This indicates that poisoning severity follows the order CO > H2S, while regeneration difficulty follows H2S > CO. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that after poisoning, the main phase transforms from AB3 to AB3H, but reverts to AB3 after high-temperature dehydrogenation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that after H2S poisoning, CaS and CaSO4 form on the alloy surface, indicating irreversible chemical adsorption. In contrast, after CO poisoning, no new substances are detected, indicating reversible adsorption. This study clarifies the differentiated poisoning mechanisms of impurity gases and provides theoretical support for the application of rare-earth superlattice hydrogen storage alloys in complex atmospheres.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3650-6
Aggregation-induced emission active chiral polymer dots (AIE@CPdots) are emerging as high-performance emission layers (EMLs) for circularly polarized organic light-emitting diodes (CP-OLEDs) due to their persistent emission stability, high photoluminescence quantum yields, excellent solution processability, facile functionalization, tunable bandgap-governed emission, and superior device processability. However, reports on such systems remain scarce. In this study, a pair of chiral conjugated polymer enantiomers (R/S-PFC) was synthesized via Suzuki polymerization using three monomers: a chiral binaphthalene moiety, a fluorenyl linker, and an AIE-active cyanostyrene dye. After annealing at 110 °C, the resulting R/S-PFC self-assembled into chiral nanoparticles (AIE@CPdots) in a chloroform/n-hexane mixed solvent (9:1 v/v), exhibiting enhanced circularly polarized luminescence with a luminescence dissymmetry factor (|g_lum|) of 4.4 × 10⁻³ at 462 nm. Notably, AIE@CPdots served as the EML in CP-OLEDs, achieving high-performance circularly polarized electroluminescence with an electroluminescence dissymmetry factor (|g_EL|) of 3.0 × 10⁻³ at 464 nm, a maximum luminance (L_max) of 6022 cd m⁻², and a maximum current efficiency (CE_max) of 1.10 cd A⁻¹. This work provides a novel strategy for designing superior EML materials for CP-OLEDs via chiral self-assembled AIE@CPdots.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3901-2
This work presents a cracked template and vacuum metal evaporation strategy for fabricating structurally randomized copper (Cu) mesh films. Regulating the internal stress distribution within the coating during template cracking enables controlled fabrication of Cu mesh films with varying discrete degrees of mesh aperture area and distinct probability distributions of metal line inclination. The influence of structural parameter randomization on properties was systematically investigated, encompassing higher-order diffraction energy homogenization, optoelectronic performance, and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE). Results demonstrate that increasing structural randomization effectively suppresses higher-order diffraction energy, achieving a reduction to −3.93 dB in normalized higher-order diffraction energy. Furthermore, the Cu mesh film exhibited minimal degradation on imaging system performance, with resolution decreasing only marginally from 80.6 to 71.8 lp/mm. Simultaneously, the most randomized Cu mesh film demonstrates an ultra-low sheet resistance (3.31 Ω/sq), high visible light transmittance (88.7% at 550 nm), an exceptional figure of merit (FoM=913.69), and robust EMI SE within the X-band (average SE of 33.18 dB). These findings underscore that metal mesh films incorporating structural randomization offer an effective strategy for enhancing EMI shielding in high-performance optoelectronic imaging systems.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025041405
Microplastics, as a class of emerging environmental contaminants, pose global concerns due to their potential ecological and human health impacts. Accurate identification and quantification of microplastics in environmental matrices are essential for assessing their environmental fate and ecological risks. Pyrolysis-based analytical methods, which decompose macromolecules into smaller fragments followed by gas chromatographic separation and mass spectrometric detection, offer high sensitivity and accuracy, making them significant for microplastic analysis. Despite these advantages, their application remains nascent, with limited comprehensive understanding of their applicability across diverse environmental media. This review systematically compares three pyrolysis-based techniques—pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS), thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DSC), and thermal extraction-desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TED-GC-MS)—for microplastic detection in various matrices. The effectiveness of each method is evaluated in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, and matrix compatibility. Critical challenges, including lack of standardized protocols, complex sample pretreatment requirements, and limitations in quantifying mixtures, are identified. Future research directions emphasize the need for standardization, optimization of pretreatment for complex matrices, and integration with complementary techniques such as FTIR and Raman spectroscopy to enhance comprehensive microplastic characterization. This review provides a critical framework for selecting appropriate pyrolysis-based methods and highlights areas requiring further methodological development.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025050803
This study systematically investigates the synergistic drag reduction mechanism of surfactants and porous media in coal seam water injection. Four surfactant types—cationic CTAB, anionic SDBS, amphoteric BS-12, and nonionic OP-10—were tested with five porous media pore sizes (3–12 mm) using a custom-built all-in-one drag reduction test system. The effects of surfactant type, mass concentration, driving frequency, and pore diameter on drag reduction efficiency were evaluated. Results show that in an empty tube, drag reduction efficiency increases with mass concentration. As driving frequency increases, drag reduction first rises then falls, peaking at 35 Hz. With porous media, drag reduction exhibits pore size dependence, reaching a maximum at 8 mm and decreasing thereafter. The composite surfactant-porous media system achieves synergistic enhancement over single systems. At 0.05% mass concentration, all surfactants attain maximum drag reduction, with CTAB showing the highest efficiency. Optimal conditions (0.05% CTAB, 35 Hz, 8 mm pore size) yield a drag reduction rate of 66.14%, a 1.4-fold improvement over 20 Hz. These findings demonstrate that tailoring surfactant and porous media parameters can significantly optimize coal seam water injection efficiency, offering a practical approach for dust control in mining.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025041505
To combat severe air pollution, China has implemented a series of air pollution control action plans since 2013, effectively alleviating PM2.5 pollution. However, PM2.5 concentrations in most cities within the Fenwei Plain still exceed national standards. This study systematically evaluates PM2.5 concentration changes across two policy phases (2013–2020) using the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model, quantifying contributions of meteorology and emissions, and analyzing sectoral source changes. Results show that annual average PM2.5 concentration declined cumulatively by 19% during 2013–2020. In the first phase (2013–2017), regional PM2.5 decreased by 3% annually, with most improvement in winter; however, due to unfavorable meteorology, concentrations increased in Xi'an and Xianyang. In the second phase (2017–2020), PM2.5 declined by an additional 16%, with more effective control measures, particularly in spring and autumn. Emission reductions dominated in both phases, with stronger effects in the second phase (−8 μg·m−3), significantly outweighing adverse meteorological contributions (+3.5 μg·m−3). Nevertheless, many cities still face challenges from unfavorable meteorology, highlighting the need for future policies to account for meteorological influences. Emissions from industrial, energy, and agricultural sources decreased significantly across both phases. However, during winter heating periods, residential emissions emerged as a source equal in importance to industrial emissions, becoming a key target for future emission controls.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60664-0
The selective hydrogenation of biomass-derived furfural (FAL) to high-value chemicals such as furfuryl alcohol (FOL) or tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (HFOL) is pivotal yet challenging due to the need for precise control over reaction pathways. In this study, a Ni2Al-LDO (layered double oxide) catalyst with highly dispersed surface NiO was synthesized via structural topological transformation of layered double hydroxides. The catalyst exhibited excellent performance in furfural hydrogenation, achieving a 91.42% yield of FOL at 160 °C and 1.4 MPa H2. Gradual reduction of Ni2Al-LDO produced Ni/NiO mixtures, enabling a tunable shift from FOL to HFOL as NiO content decreased and metallic Ni content increased. After reduction at 700 °C for 2 hours, the HFOL yield reached 93.95% under identical conditions. CO2-TPD, NH3-TPD, and FT-IR analyses revealed that variations in reduction degree influenced furfural adsorption behavior. NiO species selectively adsorb the C=O group of furfural, with isopropanol serving as the hydrogen source via the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley (MPV) pathway, yielding FOL. In contrast, metallic Ni0 surfaces facilitate flat adsorption, enabling simultaneous activation of both the furan ring and carbonyl group, and can activate both H2 and isopropanol, with H2 as the primary hydrogen source, leading to complete hydrogenation to HFOL. This work elucidates a clear structure-activity relationship centered on the metal oxidation state and provides a practical reduction-engineering approach for designing adaptable catalysts in biomass upgrading.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3548-9
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is constrained by the absence of tumor selectivity in conventional photosensitizers (PSs), which produces phototoxicity in normal tissues and risks activation by ambient light. Covalent conjugation of PSs to targeting peptides improves accumulation but does not suppress off-target activation. This work reports B-HCPP-RGD, a single-molecule PS that integrates αVβ3 integrin targeting with dual responsiveness to H2O2 and cathepsin B. The hypocrellin-derived type I PS HCEA is masked by a 4-(bromomethyl)phenylboronic acid pinacol ester H2O2-responsive group and conjugated to cyclic Arg-Gly-Asp (cRGD) through a cathepsin B-cleavable Gln-Val dipeptide linker. ROS generation in solution is effectively suppressed until both H2O2 and cathepsin B are present, at which point HCEA is released. In vitro, B-HCPP-RGD shows negligible phototoxicity toward normal cells and pronounced phototoxicity toward tumor cells, including under hypoxic conditions. In vivo, the conjugate actively targets tumor tissue and achieves a high tumor inhibition rate with favorable biosafety. The results establish a modular design for dual-responsive, tumor-targeted PSs that improves the precision and safety of PDT.