SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4432-9
Sodium vanadium phosphate (Na3V2(PO4)3, NVP) with NASICON structure is a promising cathode for sodium-ion batteries but suffers from low electronic conductivity and a high energy barrier for the V4+/V5+ redox couple, limiting practical energy density. A medium-entropy tuning strategy yields the multi-element substituted Na3.2V1.5Cr0.1Fe0.1Mn0.1Ni0.1Ti0.1(PO4)3 (ME-NVP). Entropy modulation tailors the microscopic electronic structure, enabling reversible V4+/V5+ redox at 4.0 V. Analyses reveal a synergistic diffusion mechanism that accelerates Na+ transport and enhances multiple-electron redox kinetics. Ex-situ X-ray diffraction confirms highly reversible structural evolution during cycling. The ME-NVP cathode delivers 116.8 mAh g-1 at 0.1C and retains 83.9% of initial capacity after 1000 cycles at 20C, with excellent performance from -12 to 50 °C. This work demonstrates that configurational entropy regulation unlocks high-energy polyanion cathodes for advanced sodium-ion batteries.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4263-3
Monolayer black phosphorus (phosphorene) exhibits a direct bandgap and strong in-plane anisotropy, making it a promising candidate for near-infrared (NIR) optoelectronic devices. However, the precise modulation of its excitonic emission via anisotropic strain remains insufficiently understood, particularly regarding the contrasting strain responses of phosphorene versus transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). Here, we combine experimental characterization with tight-binding (TB) modeling to elucidate the strain-dependent bandgap evolution in phosphorene. Using a four-band TB model, we derive the bandgap at the Γ point as E_g^BP = 4t1 + 2t2 + 4t3 + 2t5, with hopping parameters t1 = -1.220 eV, t2 = 3.665 eV, t3 = -0.205 eV, t4 = -0.105 eV, and t5 = -0.055 eV. Under tensile strain along the zigzag (ZZ) direction, the interatomic distance associated with t1 increases, reducing the magnitude of |t1|. Since t1 is negative, the bandgap increases, contrary to the behavior of monolayer MoS2, where tensile strain decreases the bandgap due to positive hopping parameters t11, t22, and t12. This anisotropic strain response enables selective tuning of NIR exciton emission. Our findings provide a quantitative framework for strain engineering in phosphorene-based NIR devices, highlighting the critical role of hopping parameter signs in determining bandgap modulation.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4298-x
Conventional electrochemical artificial muscles rely on liquid electrolytes, which suffer from poor encapsulation processability, high leakage risks, and inadequate biocompatibility, limiting their application in bionic medicine, wearable exoskeletons, and humanoid robots. To address these bottlenecks, we fabricated a polyvinyl alcohol-polyacrylic acid (PVA-PAA) double-network hydrogel electrolyte and integrated it with twisted carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns via ultraviolet curing, constructing an all-solid-state artificial muscle unit. The unit maintained structural integrity and actuation performance after mechanical deformation treatments such as weaving and knotting. Experimentally, it achieved a maximum contractile stroke of 16% at −1 to 1.8 V and generated an isometric force of approximately 500 mN at −1 to 2 V. The solid-state artificial muscles exhibited excellent mechanical properties, compact size, and high flexibility, offering new opportunities for applications in bionic medical devices and intelligent robots.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4300-3
The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells (OSCs) has surpassed 21% with the donor polymer D18, yet its processing from non-halogenated solvents like ortho-xylene (o-XY) remains inefficient due to uncontrolled film formation kinetics. Here, we systematically synthesize D18 polymers with molecular weights ranging from 41.6 kDa to 70.9 kDa to modulate crystallization kinetics. In-situ film drying studies reveal that lower molecular weights accelerate solidification, leading to excessive aggregation, while higher molecular weights slow it, causing insufficient phase separation. A medium molecular weight (D18-M) achieves a balanced crystallization rate, promoting favorable morphology and yielding a PCE of 20.55% with L8-BO as acceptor—one of the highest reported for non-halogenated solvent-processed OSCs. Energy loss analysis indicates that although low-molecular-weight polymers exhibit higher intrinsic luminescence, the blend film's emission is governed by exciton environment, which is dictated by morphology. This work underscores the critical role of molecular weight in controlling film formation and morphology, offering a simple yet effective strategy for high-efficiency, environmentally friendly OSCs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4369-1
Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries for large-scale energy storage due to sodium's abundance and low cost. Among cathode materials, polyanionic compounds like Na3V2(PO4)2O2F (NVPOF) offer high energy density and dual voltage plateaus at ~3.6 and 4.0 V, but suffer from low electronic conductivity and sluggish Na+ diffusion. Here, we report a dual-modulation strategy combining high-valence Nb5+ doping and polydopamine-derived carbon coating to synthesize Na3V1.94Nb0.06(PO4)2O2F-C (NVPOF-Nb-C) via a hydrothermal route. X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement confirm that Nb5+ doping induces slight lattice expansion without altering the tetragonal I4/mmm framework. Density functional theory calculations reveal that Nb5+ doping optimizes the crystal structure and reduces the Na+ diffusion barrier, while the uniform carbon coating enhances electron transport. Consequently, NVPOF-Nb-C exhibits remarkably improved electrochemical performance, including high reversible capacity, excellent rate capability, and ultralong cycling stability. In a full cell with hard carbon anode, it delivers a high energy density of 487.2 Wh kg−1 at 1C and retains 91.51% capacity after 3000 cycles at 20C. This work provides a synergistic strategy to overcome the intrinsic limitations of polyanionic cathodes for practical SIB applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4317-4
This correction addresses an image assembly error identified in Fig. 7a of the original article published in Science China Materials, volume 66, issue 6, 2023, pages 2513–2522. The error was confined to the assembly of images in Fig. 7a, which presents H&E staining analysis of major organs from a toxicity study. The corrected version of Fig. 7 is provided in this corrigendum. The original study evaluated the toxicity of lyophilized cabazitaxel (CTX) and Tween 80-based CTX formulations in CD-1 mice following a single intravenous administration of 30 mg kg−1 CTX via the tail vein on day 0, with sacrifice on day 14 for analysis (n=5). The figure includes H&E staining of major organs, complete blood count (CBC) analysis with statistical significance indicated by *p < 0.05, and mouse weight measurements. The correction does not affect the overall results, data interpretation, or scientific conclusions of the original article. All authors have reviewed and approved the content of this corrigendum. The authors sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to the editorial office, reviewers, and readers. The article was received on 6 May 2026, accepted on 4 June 2026, and published online on 31 July 2026.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3746-x
The polyanionic compound Na3V2(PO4)2O2F (NVPOF) possesses a stable three-dimensional framework, high theoretical specific capacity, and favorable operating voltage, yet its sluggish Na+ diffusion kinetics and low electronic conductivity impede industrial application. This study proposes a dual regulation strategy combining carbon coating and heat treatment temperature to synergistically enhance crystallinity and electrochemical performance. NVPOF@C-400 and NVPOF@C-600 were synthesized via in-situ dopamine hydrochloride coating followed by heat treatment at 400 °C and 600 °C, respectively. Carbon coating at 600 °C significantly improved crystallinity and increased electronic conductivity by three orders of magnitude through the carbon layer's conductive network. The ~4.5 nm carbon layer effectively suppressed abnormal grain growth and secondary crystallization aggregation at high temperatures, maintaining uniform particle size of approximately 0.36 μm, which shortens Na+ diffusion pathways and prevents ion transport obstruction. Consequently, NVPOF@C-600 delivered a high discharge capacity of 102.5 mAh g−1 at 20 C and retained 96.5% capacity after 10,000 cycles. In a full-cell configuration with hard carbon (HC), NVPOF@C-600//HC achieved an impressive 89.3% capacity retention after 9,000 cycles. This work provides critical insights for practical implementation of high-performance NVPOF cathodes in sodium-ion batteries.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3686-6
Fused silica (SiO2) exhibits exceptional thermal stability and dielectric properties, making it an attractive material for aerospace and military applications. However, its relatively poor mechanical performance has limited its widespread practical utilization. This study proposed an innovative approach to fabricate SiO2-hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) composite ceramics via spark plasma sintering (SPS), leveraging the high-temperature phase transformation of cubic boron nitride (cBN) to introduce randomly oriented hBN as a reinforcing phase within the SiO2 matrix. The randomly oriented hBN nanoplates allow cracks to propagate along stronger grain boundaries, rather than along weaker interlayers of hBN, significantly improving the overall strength and fracture toughness of the composite. The maximum flexural strength and fracture toughness achieved are 183.4 MPa and 2.06 MPa m1/2 respectively, which are 3.6 times and 4 times that of fused SiO2. Concurrently, the composites exhibit low dielectric constants (ε = 3.58–3.69) and dielectric losses (tan δ < 0.0087) at 1 MHz. This work successfully enhanced the mechanical performance of fused SiO2 while preserving its excellent dielectric characteristics, opening new possibilities for its potential applications in advanced structural and functional fields.
New Carbon Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61065-7
Capacitive deionization (CDI) is an emerging desalination technology that removes dissolved salts from brackish water via ion electrosorption at electrically charged electrode interfaces. It has gained recognition as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional methods such as reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, and thermal distillation, which often suffer from high energy consumption and environmental impact. Among electrode materials, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are particularly attractive due to their high specific surface area, superior electrical conductivity, and excellent electrochemical stability. This review comprehensively analyzes recent advances in performance optimization strategies for CNT-based CDI electrodes, including material engineering and structural design. Key strategies include hybridization with activated carbon, graphene, metal oxides, and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), as well as surface functionalization and three-dimensional architecture construction. These approaches enhance salt adsorption capacity, charge efficiency, and cycling stability. For instance, dispersing CNTs in activated carbon electrodes improves conductivity and ion transport, while MOF-derived nitrogen-doped carbon/CNT heterostructures exhibit high desalination performance. The review also evaluates the pivotal role of CNT-based electrodes in driving technological progress in CDI and discusses persistent challenges such as electrode fouling, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. Promising research directions, including flow-electrode systems and selective ion removal, are highlighted to overcome current limitations. Overall, CNT-based materials hold significant promise for advancing CDI as a viable water purification technology.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(25)60617-7
The global energy landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, with wind energy gaining increasing prominence due to its clean and renewable nature. However, as installed wind power capacity expands, disposal of waste wind turbine blades (WWTB) has emerged as a significant challenge. These blades are predominantly composed of epoxy resin (EP) polymers, carbon fibers (CFs), and glass fibers (GFs). Improper disposal exacerbates environmental concerns and leads to loss of valuable resources, particularly carbon-based materials. Pyrolysis technology, a versatile and environmentally sustainable method for resource recovery, has garnered considerable attention for WWTB disposal. This work presents a comprehensive review of pyrolytic recycling of WWTB, focusing on principles and classifications of pyrolysis technology, key factors influencing the pyrolysis process, as well as pyrolysis methods, equipment, products, and their applications. Through in-depth analysis of current research, this review identifies critical unresolved issues and provides a forward-looking perspective on emerging research trends. The review highlights that pyrolysis can effectively recover glass fibers and carbon fibers with mechanical property retention depending on process conditions, and that catalytic pyrolysis can enhance the quality of recovered products. Economic analysis indicates that collaborative disposal methods can improve cost-effectiveness. Future research should focus on optimizing process parameters for large-scale industrial application and developing more efficient catalysts to improve product selectivity and fiber quality.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202604026
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants ubiquitously present in soils, posing severe risks to ecosystems and human health. This study synthesized MIL-88A(Fe) via a hydrothermal solvent method and applied it to the photocatalytic degradation of phenanthrene-pyrene (PHE-PYR) composite contaminants in soil, investigating the adsorption-photocatalytic synergy. Results demonstrated that adsorption of PHE-PYR onto MIL-88A(Fe) was dominated by physical and monolayer surface adsorption, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 97.25 mg/kg. This strong adsorption increased pollutant concentration near active sites, accelerating photocatalytic degradation. Under optimal conditions—3% catalyst dosage, 40% soil water content, 60 min visible light irradiation, initial pollutant concentration of 200 mg/kg, and acidic soil—the total degradation efficiency reached 79.20%. Photoelectrochemical characterization revealed significant visible-light response (200–600 nm), a narrow bandgap of 3.04 eV, and favorable band structure facilitating efficient electron-hole separation. Quenching experiments identified superoxide radicals (·O2−) and holes (h+) as primary reactive species. GC-MS analysis of intermediates indicated that PYR undergoes hydroxylation, oxidation, and ring-opening to form PHE, which is further hydroxylated and oxidized, ultimately mineralizing to CO2 and H2O. This work provides an efficient strategy for remediating PAH-contaminated soils.
New Carbon Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61108-0
Adipic acid is a key monomer for nylon-6,6 and nylon-6, yet its industrial production via nitric acid oxidation of KA oil suffers from high energy consumption and N2O emissions. This study reports a green catalytic system for one-pot oxidation of cyclohexane to adipic acid using a Cu/Cu2O@C composite catalyst derived from wood chips. During pyrolysis, wood chips serve as both carbon support precursor and in-situ reducing agent, converting Cu2+ into Cu/Cu2O active species. The abundant defects in biomass carbon form strong coordination interactions with copper, regulating the electronic distribution of active sites and enhancing catalytic performance. Under optimized conditions (100 °C, 12 h), the Cu/[email protected] catalyst achieves a cyclohexane conversion of 19.36% and an adipic acid selectivity of 73.28%. Mechanistic studies reveal that the electronic interaction between the carbon support and copper species strengthens adsorption of cyclohexanone, promoting selective formation of adipic acid. The reaction follows a free radical chain mechanism involving hydroxyl and alkyl radicals. This work provides a viable strategy for developing eco-friendly, low-cost, and high-efficiency catalytic materials for industrial adipic acid synthesis.
New Carbon Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61116-X
A standardized dataset of linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) curves is presented for evaluating the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance of carbon-supported catalysts in acidic media. All electrochemical tests were conducted in O2-saturated 0.5 mol L−1 H2SO4 at controlled rotation speeds using a rotating disk electrode. The dataset comprises 120 validated entries from both non-precious metal (MNC) and platinum-based (Pt-MC) catalysts, including original LSV curves and extracted performance parameters such as onset potential, half-wave potential, and limiting current densities at different rotation speeds. Data processing involved potential conversion to the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) scale, background subtraction, outlier removal, and reproducibility checks with defined quality control thresholds (relative standard deviation ≤2% for E1/2 and ≤5% for limiting current). The standardized collection serves as a reliable benchmark for catalyst performance comparison, supports kinetic and mass transport analysis, and provides a structured data source for machine learning applications in electrocatalysis. The dataset is openly available via Science Data Bank, with a DOI, and is intended as a dynamic resource for the ORR electrocatalysis community.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605008
Vegetable production is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, yet national-scale assessments comparing cultivation modes remain scarce. Using life cycle assessment (LCA) and provincial statistical data from 2018–2022 across 27 provinces, we quantified the carbon footprint (CF) per unit yield for 10 typical vegetables under open-field and facility farming. Results show annual average CFs range from 65.5 to 293.8 g CO2-eq/kg, with open-field radish lowest and open-field green bean highest. Spatial heterogeneity is pronounced, especially for facility eggplant and open-field green bean. CF exhibits distinct clustering: fruit vegetables emit more in central-southern open-field and northern facility systems, while leafy vegetables follow a 'south-high, north-low' pattern. Fertilizer production and field N2O emissions dominate, contributing up to 80.4% of total CF. In facility systems, irrigation electricity and agricultural film inputs become significant, reaching 57.87% contribution. These findings support region- and crop-specific mitigation strategies for China's agricultural dual-carbon goals.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3877-7
Circularly polarized (CP) photodetectors are pivotal for optical communication, polarization imaging, and target recognition. Chiral organic materials offer structural tunability, solution processability, and compatibility with flexible substrates, yet their development is hindered by synthetic challenges, enantiomeric separation difficulties, and intrinsically weak chiroptical responses. Recent advances in molecular design and solid-state assembly have markedly enhanced device performance. This review summarizes developments in chiral organic materials for CP photodetection, focusing on molecular design and supramolecular engineering. It highlights strategies such as chiral non-fullerene acceptors, cooperative supramolecular polymerization, and chiral 2D supramolecular organization in single crystals, which amplify dissymmetry factors and enable high-performance detection across UV to near-infrared regions. Potential applications in spin-encoded communication, biological sensing, and quantum computing are discussed. The review aims to deepen understanding and foster interdisciplinary research in this emerging field.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3830-6
Controlled fabrication of artificial multiple-stranded helices is central to deciphering chirality complexity and hierarchical self-assembly processes. Inspired by biological helical nanostructures, we designed a twisted figure-of-eight chiral macrocycle (M1) from pyrene and benzene diimide subcomponents to direct hierarchical assembly of double- and quadruple-stranded superhelices. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that M1 undergoes charge-transfer and CH···π interactions-driven helical wrapping, forming right-handed (P) single strands that intertwine into quadruple π-helical superstructures. Crucially, the macrocycle's adaptive cavity and interstitial voids could bind electron-deficient naphthalene diimide (NDI) guests through charge transfer interactions, triggering transformation to left-handed (M) double helices. This structural shift induces helicity inversion and optical anisotropy changes, demonstrating a rare case of crystalline-state multiple-helix conversion with supramolecular chirality inversion. This work establishes a template-free methodology for synthesizing multiple-stranded π-helices and controlling their transformations through supramolecular engineering.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3756-5
Photochemical organic synthesis exploits the distinctive redox properties of excited-state photocatalysts to avoid stoichiometric redox reagents, enabling green and sustainable transformations. However, the conversion efficiency of light-to-chemical energy remains a key bottleneck for large-scale application. Here, we synthesize ultra-thin graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets by regulating precursor types and thermal protocols. In photochemical Minisci-type cross-couplings, this ultra-thin carbon nitride exhibits high catalytic efficiency, achieving rates of 40 mmol g_cat−1 h−1 under LED irradiation and 10.9 mmol g_cat−1 h−1 under natural sunlight. The photocatalyst's high specific surface area (120 m2 g−1) enhances substrate adsorption capacity and accelerates surface electron transfer, boosting photocatalytic efficiency. Furthermore, the material demonstrates excellent recycling stability, and the reaction system was successfully scaled to gram-level, highlighting its potential for industrial applications. This work provides a typical case for solar-driven organic synthesis and inspires further developments in heterogeneous photocatalysis.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202509047
To reveal the dynamic characteristics of ecosystem carbon flux and its response to meteorological factors, this study employed the Biome-BGC model to simulate gross primary productivity (GPP) and net primary productivity (NPP) of vegetation in Beijing for historical (2001–2014) and future (2051–2070) periods under SSP126 and SSP585 scenarios, using multi-source data including regional meteorology, vegetation type, and soil texture. The Mann-Kendall (M-K) test and Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis were applied to examine spatiotemporal patterns and carbon use efficiency (CUE). Results indicate that Biome-BGC accurately reproduces historical carbon flux characteristics. Temporally, annual mean GPP and NPP exhibited fluctuating upward trends, ranging from 584 to 777 g C m−2 a−1 and 238 to 388 g C m−2 a−1, respectively. Spatially, GPP and NPP displayed both same-phase and opposite-phase distribution patterns. Annual mean temperature was the dominant factor influencing GPP and NPP trends, followed by solar radiation and precipitation. Under future scenarios, both GPP and NPP are projected to increase, with SSP585 showing greater enhancement. By 2070, GPP is expected to rise by 171 and 376 g C m−2 a−1 under SSP126 and SSP585, respectively, while NPP increases by 71.8 and 137 g C m−2 a−1. The spatial distribution of GPP and NPP exhibits a 'low-center, high-periphery' pattern, with multi-year means of 969 and 425 g C m−2 a−1. Future CUE is approximately 0.45, indicating substantial carbon sequestration potential of Beijing's vegetation under climate change.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60641-X
Polycarbonate (PC) is a widely utilized engineering plastic, but its accumulation in waste streams poses environmental and health risks due to the leaching of toxic bisphenol A (BPA). This study presents a catalyst-free methanolysis route for the chemical recycling of waste PC into BPA under mild conditions. At 160 °C, complete depolymerization of PC (100.0% conversion) was achieved with a high BPA yield of 95.0% without any catalyst or auxiliary solvent. A scaled-up experiment with 10 g PC demonstrated a facile separation process, recovering BPA with over 85.0% yield. The method proved effective for various commercial PC grades and mixed plastics, including ABS-PC blends, as well as other polyesters such as polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, and polyethylene terephthalate. Based on SEM and GPC analyses, a probable alcoholysis depolymerization mechanism was proposed, involving initial swelling and gradual breakdown of PC into soluble macromolecules with broad molecular weight distribution, ultimately yielding BPA. This work offers a facile, green, and efficient approach for the alcoholysis recovery of polyester plastics, addressing both environmental concerns and sustainable resource utilization.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60636-6
Polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers (DMMx) are promising clean diesel additives. Compared to the traditional aldol condensation route, the one-step oxidative method for producing DMMx directly from methanol is a green synthesis route offering significant advantages. However, due to the complexity of the reaction, a balance must be struck between oxidation depth and C–O chain growth efficiency. This imposes specific requirements on the design of catalysts with multifunctional active sites: the catalyst should possess appropriate oxidative activity, suitable acid strength distribution, and effective synergy between these two functions. To address these challenges, this study designed a sulfuric acid-modified molybdenum-doped NASICON catalyst, which demonstrated favorable catalytic performance in the one-step oxidative synthesis of DMMx from methanol. Over the NSC-Mo-0.5-30% catalyst, methanol conversion rate of 81.3% and the DMMx selectivity of 58.7% were achieved, along with the formation of heavier molecules, as evidenced by the DMM2–6 selectivity of 11.3%. The NH3-TPD, Py-IR and XPS results indicate that the introduction of molybdenum increases the number of weak Lewis acid sites, while sulfuric acid impregnation not only generates gradient-distributed Brønsted acid sites but also promotes the formation of Mo5+/Mo6+ redox pairs. The cooperation of the two types of active sites significantly enhances catalyst performance.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202606018
Swine wastewater, a high-strength organic effluent, offers a viable substrate for anaerobic biohydrogen production, aligning with clean energy recovery. This study compared hydrogen production in three anaerobic sequencing batch reactors (ASBRs) treating: raw wastewater (R1), supernatant after MAP (magnesium ammonium phosphate) precipitation for nitrogen and phosphorus recovery (R2), and the same supernatant with anaerobic sludge heat-treated at 75°C for 0.5 h (R3). Without pH adjustment, hydrogen production in R1 remained below 0.50 mmol/(kg·d). At an influent COD of 1800 mg/L, R2 and R3 achieved hydrogen production rates of 48.17 and 71.44 mmol/(kg·d), respectively. At COD 2400 mg/L, methane concentrations in R1, R2, and R3 were 10.8%, 14.2%, and 9.1%, respectively, indicating MAP pretreatment enhanced both hydrogen and methane production. As COD increased, R1's methane concentration rose to 14.6%, while average COD removal efficiencies for R1, R2, and R3 were 78.9%, 70.8%, and 52.5%, respectively. Under pH adjustment, all reactors peaked at pH 4.0, with hydrogen production rates of 0.10, 7.74, and 8.83 mol/(kg·d) for R1, R2, and R3, respectively. These findings demonstrate that MAP pretreatment combined with sludge heat treatment significantly enhances biohydrogen production, offering a promising strategy for swine wastewater valorization.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202510029
Low hydrolysis efficiency is a core bottleneck in anaerobic digestion (AD) of lignocellulosic agricultural residues, limiting methane production and resource utilization. This study optimized thermal hydrolysis pretreatment (THP) of corn straw (CS) using response surface methodology (RSM) to enhance methane yield. The optimal conditions were determined as solid-to-liquid ratio of 51.0–57.5 mg·mL−1, pretreatment time of 74–81 min, and temperature of 182.5–197.5 °C. Under the optimal combination (52.3 mg·mL−1, 78.4 min, 191 °C), cumulative methane yield increased from 218.0 to 362.9 mL·g−1 VS, a 66.7% improvement over untreated CS. Characterization via XRD, FTIR, and SEM revealed that THP disrupted the lignocellulosic structure, reducing lignin content from 21.5% to 8.3% and crystallinity index (CrI) from 70.83% to 61.95%. Inhibitory derivatives generated during THP included furfural (1.69 mg·mL−1), 5-methylfurfural (2.44 mg·mL−1), and phenol (23.14 mg·L−1), with a theoretical combined inhibition rate of 7.26%. The promotion effect on methane production (66.7%) far exceeded the theoretical inhibition (7.26%), indicating that THP under optimized conditions is effective and environmentally controllable. This study provides a systematic framework for optimizing THP parameters to maximize methane production from agricultural residues.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3949-4
Sodium metal is considered an ideal anode material for high-performance sodium-based batteries. However, volume changes and dendrite growth during cycling seriously restrict its practical application. To address these challenges, this study utilizes harmful green tide algae Enteromorpha prolifera as a raw material to fabricate a self-supporting, sodiophilic, 3D Enteromorpha prolifera-derived carbon (EC) matrix via defect engineering. The results demonstrate that the 3D EC matrix can reduce nucleation overpotential, enhance binding ability with sodium atoms, and induce sodium to deposit horizontally inside EC, effectively addressing the issue of dendrite formation. Furthermore, the Na-EC symmetric cell demonstrates exceptional cycling stability with an ultralow polarization of 12 mV over 1000 h at 5 mA cm−2, 5 mA h cm−2. Notably, this stability persists even under ultrahigh current density and areal capacity conditions (30 mA cm−2, 30 mA h cm−2), maintaining stable operation for 500 h. When configured in full-cell systems with Na3V2(PO4)3 cathode, the assembled cell delivers an initial discharge capacity of 108.1 mA h g−1 at a 1 C rate, and maintains a capacity retention rate of 94.4% after 500 cycles. This study proposes an innovative strategy to advance high-performance dendrite-free sodium metal batteries through the recycling of marine environmental waste into functional energy materials.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025042702
This study estimated initial volume mixing ratios of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Dalian from June 1 to August 31, 2024, using a photochemical age-based parameterization method, and performed source apportionment with positive matrix factorization (PMF). Observed average TVOCs concentration was 12.49×10⁻⁹, comprising alkanes (84.2%), alkenes (10.4%), and aromatics (5.4%). Corrected initial TVOCs was 14.93×10⁻⁹, indicating a loss rate of 16.4%. Loss rates were highest for alkenes (53.2%), followed by aromatics (23.3%) and alkanes (6.8%). Ozone formation potential (OFP) averaged 21.31×10⁻⁹ (observed) and 38.75×10⁻⁹ (initial), with an OFP loss rate of 45.0%, distributed as alkenes (56.4%), aromatics (32.7%), and alkanes (10.3%). During ozone pollution episodes, TVOCs chemical loss was 1.9 times that of non-pollution periods, with alkene loss reaching 61.6%; OFP loss was 1.2 times higher, with alkenes contributing 88.4% to TVOCs loss. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation potential from 08:00–17:00 was 1.51×10⁻¹ μg·m⁻³, with 99.4% from aromatics and toluene contributing 68.3%. PMF identified five sources: motor vehicles (49.6%), oil and gas volatilization (20.7%), petrochemical enterprises (12.6%), industrial processes (11.2%), and solvent use (5.9%). OFP modeling indicated motor vehicles contributed most to ozone formation (41.1%), followed by petrochemical enterprises (35.8%). During ozone pollution, PMF based on initial concentrations showed petrochemical sources had the highest OFP contribution (42.5%), whereas observed concentrations indicated motor vehicles as the top contributor (42.5%). This discrepancy underscores the necessity of correcting for photochemical losses in source apportionment studies.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4063-2
Quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) are emerging as a leader in next-generation display technology. In principle, the efficiency of QLEDs is highly reliant on the radiative recombination rate of injected electrons and holes in the QD emissive layer. Within a solitary light-emitting cycle, a pre-negative-charged QD bursts into a fleeting sparkle upon encountering a hole, much like a lighted piston within a roaring engine. More pistons bring higher horsepower. The challenge of achieving highly efficient QLED lies in how to increase the number of pre-negatively charged QDs. To address these limitations, we developed a ZnO@ZnMgO core-shell nanoparticle (NP)-based electron transport layer (ETL). This design synergistically combines the high conductivity of ZnO core and the low defect density of the ZnMgO shell. Measured by electron-excited transient absorption, the average electron population (<N_e>) in the emissive layer for ZnO@ZnMgO and ZnMgO-based QLEDs was 0.61 and 0.33 at 4 V, respectively, which greatly increases the carrier recombination efficiency. As a result, green QLEDs achieve a peak EQE of 30.66%, maximum luminance of 1,615,039.85 cd/m2, and a low turn-on voltage of approximately 2 V. The T95 operational lifetime exceeded 29,000 h at 1,000 cd/m2. Currently, all parameters are at the top level within the QLED region.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4030-y
In the era of artificial intelligence, efficient perception and processing of massive visual information demand advanced machine vision systems. Inspired by human visual adaptation, various optoelectronic devices have been developed, yet most rely on external gate voltages or complex circuits for dynamic sensitivity modulation. This work demonstrates an all-optically controlled biomimetic sensor based on a one-dimensional ZnO/MAPbBr3 heterojunction, achieving both positive and negative photoconductivity effects. By modulating oxygen vacancy states with ultraviolet light, the competition between intrinsic photoconduction and trap-mediated carrier capture is regulated, enabling dynamic control of visible-light photoresponse within a single device. This tunable behavior mimics scotopic adaptation (photopigment regeneration under weak illumination), photopic adaptation (photopigment bleaching in bright environments), and eyelid-like self-protection against intense light. The device operates without external gate bias or cascaded circuits, offering a promising strategy for next-generation intelligent biomimetic sensors in machine vision.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60721-9
Methane (CH4), the primary component of natural gas, is an ideal feedstock for producing high-value chemicals and clean fuels due to its high hydrogen-to-carbon ratio. However, its chemical inertness poses significant challenges, and traditional thermal catalytic reforming processes suffer from long reaction pathways and high energy consumption. Photocatalytic technology enables highly selective CH4 conversion under mild conditions, even at room temperature, offering environmental and economic benefits. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in room-temperature photocatalytic systems for direct CH4 conversion. It begins by elucidating the mechanisms, product distributions, and inherent challenges of four key reaction pathways: partial oxidation, non-oxidative coupling, oxidative coupling, and oxidative carbonylation. The discussion then addresses the critical role of catalyst architecture, focusing on semiconductor supports, metal site modulation, and advanced porous frameworks. Furthermore, reactor design and process intensification strategies are examined, including batch and continuous-flow reactors, novel structured reactors, and photo-electro and photo-thermo synergistic approaches. Finally, reaction mechanisms are summarized. Despite progress, challenges remain in fundamental understanding, performance evaluation, and technological integration. Future efforts should focus on mechanistic studies, standardization of evaluation protocols, development of non-noble metal catalysts, system optimization, and comprehensive sustainability assessments.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4074-6
Achieving carbon neutralization relies heavily on green hydrogen and electrochemical carbon-nitrogen cycles. However, the complexity of these systems and the cost of traditional Edisonian trial-and-error methods hinder rapid progress. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative tool, enabling high-throughput data processing and dynamic adaptation. This review surveys the landscape of AI-driven electrochemistry, bridging the gap from atomic-scale design to industrial-scale implementation. Specifically, we focus on three areas: atomic structure-function decoding, fully automated “self-driving” laboratories, and macro-scale simulations for device durability. Furthermore, we elucidate the critical challenges in integrating AI with materials science. By mapping current trends and future directions, this work aims to unlock the full transformative potential of AI in next-generation energy storage and conversion.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4067-4
Confined growth of metal halide perovskite quantum dots (QDs) in porous matrices yields improved stability and sensitivity for their implementation in luminescent chemical sensing applications. Here, we realized the synthesis of highly stable (water, photo, and thermal) and luminescent CsPbX3 QDs within nanoporous glass (NG). This is achieved by a nano-confined aqueous synthesis of CsPbBr3 QDs in Pb-anchored NG. Benefiting from strong Pb–O–Si chemical bonding between the perovskite QDs and the NG matrix, the stability of the encapsulated perovskite QDs is significantly enhanced. The emission of the perovskite NG can be tuned from 440 to 760 nm. By integrating green- and red-emitting perovskite NG onto a blue LED chip, stable WLEDs were successfully fabricated. This facile approach enables the integration of ultra-stable perovskite QDs within transparent porous monoliths toward diverse luminescent chemical sensing applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4132-y
Manganese-iron-based mixed polyanionic cathodes are promising for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to high energy density and operating voltage, but suffer from Jahn-Teller distortion of Mn3+ that degrades cycling stability. Here, a structural modulation strategy via Mg2+ doping is reported. Electrochemically inert Mg2+ forms stronger chemical bonds, adjusts lattice parameters, and suppresses Jahn-Teller distortion, enhancing structural stability. Mg2+ also widens sodium-ion diffusion channels, improving diffusion kinetics. Additionally, an in-situ three-dimensional carbon nanotube (CNT) conductive network boosts electronic conductivity. The resulting NFMPP-Mg@CNTs cathode delivers a discharge capacity of 126 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C (near theoretical 129 mAh g−1), retains 80% capacity after 3000 cycles at 0.5 C, and achieves an energy density of 401 Wh kg−1, among the highest reported for mixed phosphate systems. Ex-situ XPS and first-principles calculations confirm that Mg2+ resists geometric distortion by enhancing lattice stability and widening Na+ diffusion pathways (migration barrier reduced from 0.566 to 0.398 eV). This work provides a viable route for high-energy, long-life SIB cathodes suitable for large-scale energy storage.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4222-9
The proliferation of high-frequency communication technologies has escalated electromagnetic (EM) pollution, posing risks to health and device reliability. Conventional microwave absorbers dissipate EM energy as heat, creating thermal management burdens and energy waste. This study introduces Bi2Se3 nanosheets, a topological insulator with surface conductivity and internal insulation, as a dual-functional material capable of both microwave absorption and thermoelectric conversion. Nanosheets with controlled morphology were synthesized via a polyol reduction method, with thickness and lateral size tuned by preparation conditions. The resulting composites exhibited excellent microwave absorption, achieving a broad absorption bandwidth of 2.95 GHz at sub-millimeter thickness. A multilayered structure design enabled full-band absorption from 2 to 18 GHz using a single absorbent. The Seebeck coefficient, derived from temperature differences up to 110 °C, was -152 μV/K, indicating efficient conversion of absorbed EM energy into electrical energy. This work demonstrates the potential of Bi2Se3 nanomaterials for self-powered electromagnetic devices, addressing both EM pollution and energy supply challenges.