SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4404-7
Electrochemical propylene epoxidation offers a sustainable route to propylene oxide (PO), but achieving high selectivity and stability under industrial current densities remains challenging. Herein, we report a high entropy amorphous CoFeNiCrMnBOx borate loaded with high valence Pt single atoms catalyst (a-Pt-HEBO) for stable bromine radical-mediated propylene epoxidation reaction (BrPOR). The high-entropy amorphous structure reshapes the interfacial hydrogen-bonding network and enriches free water, substantially lowering the energy barrier for water dissociation. Meanwhile, the strong electronic interactions between the coordinatively unsaturated, high-valence single Pt atoms and the substrate effectively prevent transition metal dissolution at high anodic potentials. The catalyst achieved 82.1% Faraday efficiency of PO at an industrial grade current density of 100 mA cm-2, and demonstrated excellent industrial application stability in up to 500 h of continuous test and within a scaled-up electrolyzer (4 × 4 cm2). This work provides a design for high-entropy catalysts in halogen-mediated electrosynthesis and a viable pathway toward carbon-neutral PO production.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4491-3
Magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) with multiferroic tunneling barriers offer a pathway to fully electrically controlled multi-state memory, addressing the high energy costs and scalability limits of magnetically controlled counterparts. In this work, we propose a theoretical design achieving four or ten distinct resistance states via electrical control, with a giant tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) ratio of 1.1×10^4% (11000%). This value surpasses all previously reported MTJs, including experimental systems such as CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB (TMR 65%, 4 states) and theoretical systems like Ga2O3/MgO/Ga2O3 (TMR 1120%, 2 states). The multiferroic barrier enables simultaneous control of ferroelectric and magnetic order parameters, allowing reversible switching between multiple resistance levels without external magnetic fields. Our first-principles calculations reveal that the high TMR arises from spin-dependent tunneling through the barrier, modulated by the ferroelectric polarization direction and magnetization configuration. The device operates with low write energy and exhibits non-volatile retention, making it suitable for high-density storage and in-memory computing. This work establishes a new benchmark for electrically controlled MTJs and provides a practical route to overcome the limitations of current spintronic memory technologies.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4381-5
Bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3)-based alloys remain the benchmark for low-temperature thermoelectric applications, yet their conversion efficiency is limited by the trade-off between electrical and thermal transport. This study introduces a pseudo grain boundary engineering strategy to simultaneously enhance the average figure of merit (ZT) in p-type (Bi,Sb)2Te3 (BST) materials. By incorporating Ag-based compounds, the carrier concentration is optimized via substitution of Ag+ ions, while the introduction of secondary phases at grain boundaries effectively suppresses lattice thermal conductivity. The approach yields a peak ZT of 1.35 at 393 K and an average ZT of 1.25 across 303–483 K, representing a significant improvement over pristine BST. Compared to prior reports, this work achieves superior average ZT while maintaining high electrical conductivity, addressing the longstanding bottleneck of thermal conductivity reduction without compromising carrier mobility. The findings underscore the efficacy of pseudo grain boundary engineering in advancing Bi2Te3-based thermoelectrics for solid-state cooling and power generation.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4159-y
The electrocatalytic oxidation of ethylene glycol (EG) derived from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste to valuable glycolic acid (GA) represents an attractive route for waste resource upcycling. However, achieving high selectivity remains challenging due to the difficulty in steering the complex reaction pathway. In this study, PdPtCuInBi high-entropy intermetallic metallene (HEI-PdPtCuInBiene) is reported to precisely control EG oxidation reaction (EGOR) pathway for GA production by constructing multiple active sites at the atomic scale. In PET hydrolysate, it achieves a Faradaic efficiency of 99.87% and a production rate of 1.47 mmol h−1 cm−2, along with excellent stability. Mechanistic studies reveal that the high-entropy structure induces strong p-d orbital hybridization, which optimizes the electronic structure of active sites, thus weakening the adsorption of key carbonyl intermediates and suppressing C–C bond cleavage. The synergistic electronic effect among Pd, Pt, and Cu further enables differential adsorption of distinct intermediates on diverse active sites, enhancing the selective formation of GA. Techno-economic analysis exhibits high profitability (~$784.9 t−1 PET) of this route, demonstrating the great potential of high-entropy intermetallic metallene in regulating electrocatalytic upcycling of PET waste and beyond.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4106-8
Perovskite/organic tandem solar cells (PO-TSCs) have emerged as a compelling photovoltaic architecture to transcend the Shockley-Queisser limit of single-junction devices. By monolithically stacking a wide-bandgap (WBG) perovskite top cell and a narrow-bandgap (NBG) organic bottom cell, PO-TSCs enable broad spectral utilization and reduced thermalization loss, offering a viable pathway toward efficiencies beyond 30%. Their solution processability, compatibility with orthogonal solvents, and potential for lightweight, flexible, and semi-transparent modules further make them attractive for building integrated and portable electronics. However, the realization of high-performance PO-TSCs critically depends on precise carrier regulation across the entire multilayer stack, where inefficient charge transport, recombination losses, and interfacial bottlenecks often limit the overall power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability. This review systematically examines the carrier-regulation strategies essential for advancing PO-TSCs, focusing on defect and phase-control in WBG perovskites, the design of optically transparent and electrically efficient interconnecting layers, and the enhancement of charge generation and collection in organic subcells. The integration of these approaches has recently enabled efficiencies exceeding 26%, demonstrating the rapid progress of the field. Ultimately, we conclude with an outlook on the remaining challenges in scalability, operational stability, and manufacturability, providing a roadmap for future research toward commercially viable tandem photovoltaics.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3583-6
Water scarcity and the increasing demand for clean water have driven the development of efficient solar desalination technologies. Interfacial solar steam generation (ISSG) is promising, yet its practical deployment is hindered by insufficient light harvesting and salt crystallization on photothermal surfaces. Here, we report a Janus hydrogel evaporator in which tubular Co9S8 nanocrystals are uniformly embedded in a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix with a concave pyramid pattern, creating a broadband light-trapping architecture (200–2500 nm) with 96% solar absorption. The top surface is further coated with hydrophobic zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), while the bottom retains intrinsic hydrogel hydrophilicity, establishing asymmetric wettability that sustains rapid water supply yet suppresses salt deposition. Under one-sun illumination (1 kW m−2), the Janus evaporator achieves an evaporation rate of 2.69 kg m−2 h−1 and a solar-to-vapor efficiency of 98.15%. Continuous operation in 3.5 wt% brine shows stable performance for 11 h without observable salt crystallization. This work offers an effective, durable pathway toward high-performance solar desalination and wastewater purification.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3714-3
Eco-friendly aqueous zinc batteries (AZBs) are promising alternatives to lead-acid batteries in applications requiring both safety and energy density. However, their practical deployment is hindered by the synergistic deterioration of zinc anodes—structural collapse and kinetic failure—under high depth of discharge (DOD) and high current densities, which severely limits actual energy and power densities. Here, we report a strategy for the in situ integration of a double-layer topological chitosan framework (D-CTS) on current collectors via regulating phase separation kinetics during multistage coordination-neutralization electrophoresis. The vertical through-hole array is formed by coupling instantaneous and delayed phase separation. Subsequently, a columnar zinc array is mediated by D-CTS to construct an integrated component (D-CTS-Zn) comprising a vertical through-hole separator and an array anode. The embedded interconnected nanonetworks within the through-hole walls enable dynamic equilibrium of the columnar zinc array through a lateral ion compensation mechanism. As a result, Zn||Zn symmetric cells with D-CTS-Zn stably cycle over 3000 cycles at 200 mA cm−2 under 60% DOD. The assembled D-CTS-Zn||MnO2 battery delivers an energy density of 83 Wh kg−1 at an ultrahigh power density of 9.25 kW kg−1. This work provides a constructive strategy for chitosan phase separation regulation and separator-induced reversible metal array anodes.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3719-8
The proliferation of 5G communications and smart electronic devices has intensified electromagnetic wave (EMW) pollution, necessitating microwave absorption materials (MAMs) with high efficiency, lightweight, and flexibility. Traditional MAMs suffer from high density and narrow effective absorption bandwidth (EAB). This work presents a lightweight, flexible microwave-absorbing composite fabricated by in-situ polymerization foaming of polyurethane (PU) with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and flaky carbonyl iron (FCI). The hierarchical PU composite foam, designated 3*PFC 0.5-1.0-1.5, achieves an EAB of 15.7 GHz, covering 98.1% of the tested 2–18 GHz range, including S, C, X, and Ku bands. This performance stems from synergistic conductive and magnetic losses, along with impedance matching facilitated by the hierarchical porous structure. The composite maintains low density and high compressibility, offering a promising solution for EMW absorption in 5G, military stealth, and smart devices. The in-situ method ensures strong interfacial adhesion between fillers and matrix, enhancing durability compared to impregnation methods. This study demonstrates a scalable approach to fabricate high-performance MAMs with broad bandwidth and mechanical robustness.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3815-0
The development of bifunctional electrocatalysts capable of integrating biomass-derived platform molecule oxidation with organic reduction offers a promising strategy for simultaneously enhancing energy efficiency and generating high-value chemicals. However, designing catalysts that exhibit both high activity and stability in integrated systems remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report a self-supported electrode composed of nitrogen-doped carbonized wood (NCW) supported NiCo nanosheets (NiCo 0.3/NCW) that enables the electrocatalytic 5-hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation to produce 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and the nitrobenzene reduction to yield aniline in an integrated electrochemical cell. The NiCo 0.3/NCW electrode achieves the production of FDCA and aniline at a low cell voltage of 1.7 V, with ~99% anodic and ~92% cathodic Faradaic efficiencies, respectively. Experimental characterizations disclose that the hierarchical porous NCW architecture promotes the dispersion of active sites, while nitrogen doping strengthens metal–support interactions. In-situ spectroscopic experiments combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that cobalt incorporation tunes the electronic structure of nickel, thus optimizing substrate and intermediate adsorption, and lowering energy barriers. These effects ultimately enhance the performance of the natural wood-derived catalyst in integrated biomass valorization and selective organic electrosynthesis.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202507059
Anaerobic digestion sludge (ADS) contains recalcitrant organic matter and exhibits poor dewaterability, posing challenges for disposal. This study evaluated the immobilization of white rot fungi (WRF) on four carriers—polyvinyl alcohol, cotton thread, wood chips, and sodium alginate—for ADS treatment. Cotton thread immobilization yielded the earliest and most sustained enzyme activity, highest biomass retention, and minimal biomass loss. WRF treatment achieved a 10.09% removal of total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) and significantly disrupted extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), selectively degrading soluble EPS. To maintain fungal activity, periodic carrier replacement was required. Compared to the control, the experimental group showed an 8.9 mg·L−1 reduction in total protein and polysaccharide content in soluble EPS, a 27.33% decrease in capillary suction time (CST), and improved sludge dewaterability. These results demonstrate the potential of WRF for ADS treatment.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202507027
Ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) is a common water pollutant that can induce eutrophication and threaten aquatic ecosystems and human health. Accurate monitoring is essential for water safety. This study applied a self-developed gas-permeable membrane-based conductivity sensor (GPMCS) for real-time in-situ monitoring of NH3-N in two water bodies. In the Qunying River (surface river water), GPMCS captured concentration fluctuations linked to pump operations and sewage intrusion, with mean inlet and outlet concentrations of 4.67 and 3.42 mg/L, respectively. In Swan Lake (landscape aquaculture water), concentrations reached up to 11.16 mg/L, with site means of 6.42 and 7.04 mg/L, influenced by aquaculture activities, weather, and location. GPMCS results correlated strongly with national standard methods (r1=0.8132, r2=0.7483), confirming accuracy and reliability. Compared to existing techniques, GPMCS offers high selectivity, strong anti-interference, portability, no sample pretreatment, low cost, and environmental friendliness, making it suitable for long-term in-situ monitoring. This technology provides robust support for sustainable water environment management.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202604024
To enhance sludge dewatering efficiency, an MnFe2O4/BC/PMS system was constructed for sludge disintegration. Single-factor and multi-factor experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of MnFe2O4/BC (MFB) dosage, PMS dosage, and reaction time on sludge dewatering performance, establishing the optimal process parameters and the primary-secondary relationships among environmental factors. Active species identification in the MnFe2O4/BC/PMS system revealed the main free radicals responsible for sludge disintegration and the primary pathways of EPS breakdown. Results showed that the influence order of environmental factors on sludge moisture content (Wc) and total organic carbon (TOC) was MFB > PMS > reaction time, while the interaction effects followed MFB-PMS > PMS-reaction time > MFB-reaction time. Optimal dewatering occurred at MFB dosage of 132.99 mg/g DS, PMS dosage of 421.80 mg/g DS, and 18 min reaction time, achieving Wc of 45.8% and TOC of 489.2 mg/L. The ·OH and SO4−· radicals released from MnFe2O4/BC-activated PMS oxidized protein main chains, causing peptide chain breakage. This primarily reduced protein content in sludge from 174.6 mg/L to 75.7 mg/L, with TB-EPS protein content decreasing from 91.8 mg/L to 36.3 mg/L, thereby reducing EPS hydrophilicity and improving sludge dewatering efficiency.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3833-1
Developing plasmonic nanomaterials with compositions beyond noble metals is crucial for expanding their applications. Transition metal nitrides, such as titanium nitride (TiN), exhibit excellent plasmonic optical properties and photothermal conversion efficiency, showing promise in catalysis, photothermal therapy, and seawater desalination. However, the structure-property relationship governing their plasmonic optical properties remains unclear. Here, we constructed Au@TiN core-shell nanostructures and systematically investigated the tunability of their geometry, composition, and optical properties. By varying the Au core size and TiN shell thickness, we achieved precise control over the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) from visible to near-infrared wavelengths. Single-particle scattering spectroscopy revealed distinct plasmon hybridization modes, with experimental spectra matching theoretical simulations. The Au@TiN nanostructures exhibited enhanced photothermal conversion efficiency (η = 78.5%) under 808 nm laser irradiation, significantly outperforming pure TiN nanoparticles (η = 45.2%). This work demonstrates multi-factor control over plasmonic effects in TiN, providing insights for designing TiN-based plasmonic nanomaterials for catalysis and sensing.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202509020
The AAOA-MBR (anaerobic-anoxic-oxic-anoxic membrane bioreactor) process is widely used in municipal wastewater treatment, but its multi-stage internal recirculation complicates sludge retention time (SRT) and carbon source distribution. This study systematically regulated three reflux ratios (R1: membrane tank to oxic tank; R2: oxic tank to anoxic I tank; R3: anoxic II tank to anaerobic tank) in a pilot-scale system (0.24 m3·d−1) to reveal their effects on nutrient removal and membrane fouling. When R1:R2:R3 = 300%:200%:100%, effluent COD, TN, TP, and NH3-N met discharge standards. Reducing R1 and R2, thereby decreasing total reflux ratio from R=6 to R=3, shortened SRT, which suppressed nitrifier accumulation and increased effluent COD and TN, but decreased TP. High-throughput sequencing of anoxic I and oxic tanks showed that denitrifying bacteria (Thauera and Ottowia) relative abundances decreased from 0.68% to 0.42% and 0.51% to 0.24%, respectively, while the phosphorus-accumulating organism Candidatus_Accumulibacter increased from 0.78% to 1.12%, enhancing phosphorus removal. Additionally, lowering R1 to 200% caused sludge accumulation in the membrane tank, exacerbating membrane fouling. Thus, internal recirculation ratios must be adjusted based on influent characteristics to balance nutrient removal and membrane performance.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3597-2
Magnetism and electric polarity are fundamental physical phenomena whose coupling gives rise to magnetoelectric (ME) effects. Multiferroics, materials hosting simultaneous ferroelectric and magnetic orders, offer cross-control mechanisms but face inherent incompatibility due to the d0 rule versus partially filled d/f orbitals. Improper ferroelectricity, as in h-YMnO3, circumvents this but yields weak polarization (<10 μC/cm2). Type-I multiferroics like BiFeO3 exhibit strong polarization (~100 μC/cm2) but weak ME coupling. This paper introduces autferroicity, a novel ferroic state where ferroelectric and magnetic orders are mutually exclusive, leveraging their repulsive coupling to achieve field-selective switching and strong ME response. Autferroics encode logic states in the identity of the active ferroic phase, enabling high-contrast, low-crosstalk nonvolatile memory. Their bistable energy landscape, reshaped by strong ME coupling, facilitates true random number generation (TRNG) with reduced energy barriers and higher switching frequencies. Practical realization demands advances in synthesis and phase control. Autferroicity offers a paradigm shift, exploiting ferroic exclusivity rather than coexistence, promising robust bistability and intrinsically strong ME coupling for next-generation devices.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3847-5
The convergence of artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, and soft electronics has advanced tactile perception in flexible electronic skins, enabling applications in robotics, healthcare, and human-machine interfaces. However, conventional tactile sensing architectures separate sensing and processing, requiring analog-to-digital converters and data transfer to microcontrollers, which is energy-intensive and introduces latency. In-sensor computing integrates sensing and processing, reducing power consumption and enabling in-situ analog operations such as multiplication-accumulation (MAC) for artificial neural networks. Wang et al. developed a capacitive in-sensor tactile computing system combining a flexible pressure sensor array with electrical switching networks and a fixed capacitor to perform MAC operations in the charge domain. The sensor unit uses an ionic dielectric layer of PVA/H3PO4 prepared via sandpaper-templated molding, sandwiched between Au electrodes on waterborne polyurethane substrates, achieving high sensitivity of 0.36 nF/kPa and excellent stability. A 3×3 kernel of sensors with programmable bias voltages implements averaging and Laplacian filters for noise reduction and edge detection, validated experimentally. The system processes binary and analog tactile stimuli, with output voltage scaling proportionally with pressure. This in-sensor computing approach addresses energy and latency bottlenecks, offering a pathway for real-time, power-constrained e-skin applications in autonomous robotics, prosthetics, and intelligent interfaces.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025032403
An electrochemical sensor for lead ion (Pb2+) detection was developed based on a metal-organic framework (UiO-66-NH2) and conductive polymer polyaniline (PANI) composite. The UiO-66-NH2 was synthesized via hydrothermal method, and the UiO-66-NH2@PANI composite was prepared by in-situ polymerization. The composite was drop-coated onto a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to fabricate the sensor. Material characterization was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Electrochemical performance was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Key parameters including loading amount, enrichment time, and pH were optimized. Under optimal conditions, the sensor exhibited a linear response to Pb2+ in the concentration range of 10–200 μg·L−1 with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.9960, and a limit of detection (LOD) of 9.8 μg·L−1. The sensor demonstrated good anti-interference, repeatability, and stability. Practical applicability was assessed by spiked recovery tests in Yellow River water and tap water, yielding recovery rates of 94.1%–100.8% with relative standard deviations (RSD) ≤3.84%. Comparative analysis with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) showed comparable accuracy, confirming the sensor's potential for reliable Pb2+ monitoring in environmental samples.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4085-9
Bone defects remain a prevalent clinical challenge, and regenerative medicine based on bone tissue engineering offers promising solutions. Traditional osteogenic materials rely on bioactive macromolecules like growth factors, which suffer from poor stability and stringent storage requirements. From a structural perspective, bone tissue resides in a phosphorylated microenvironment, with 65–70% of inorganic components composed of hydroxyapatite. Inorganic phosphorylated materials induce osteogenic differentiation but exhibit high stiffness, brittleness, slow degradation, and limited mechanical tunability. Synthetic phosphorylated polymers with excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility have been developed to address these issues. In this work, we developed a series of phosphorylated polymers derived from poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS), a biocompatible and biodegradable material. Leveraging the hydroxyl-rich backbone of PGS, we demonstrated an efficient method for controllable phosphorylation of PGS side chains, enabling synthesis of PGS-based phosphorylated (PGS-P) polymers with tunable phosphorus contents. The optimized phosphorylated polyester, PGS-P4, exhibited strong ability to promote osteogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs, and its porous three-dimensional scaffolds showed favorable properties for bone regeneration. BMSCs cultured for one week and observed by fluorescence microscopy showed enhanced BSP protein expression on PGS-P2, PGS-P4, and PGS-P6 groups compared with PLGA and PGS, with PGS-P4 displaying the most intense signal. In summary, we present a simple and controllable method for preparation of functionalized polyesters and their porous scaffolds with tunable phosphorus content, validating its effectiveness in promoting osteogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs. All phosphorylated polyesters exhibit enhanced differentiation-promoting effects compared to non-phosphorylated PGS; however, the degree of enhancement does not increase monotonically with phosphorus content. PGS-P4, containing an optimal phosphorus level, shows the most pronounced biological functions.