SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3653-2
Designing photosensitizers with efficient intersystem crossing (ISC) and long-lived triplet excited states is critical for photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, conventional molecular design principles often rely on heavy-atom effects or specific donor-acceptor architectures, limiting generality. Here, we report a facile and rational strategy to convert intrinsically non-photosensitizing fluorophores into effective reactive oxygen species (ROS) generators by introducing guanidinium substituents. The modified photosensitizers exhibit prolonged triplet excited state lifetimes and considerable ROS production, in stark contrast to unmodified fluorophores which show intense fluorescence and negligible ROS generation. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry confirm the formation of stable nitrogen-centered radical cations on the guanidinium moiety, stabilized by p-π conjugation. Mechanistic studies indicate that these radicals promote ISC and prolong triplet state lifetimes. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that guanidinium-modified photosensitizers induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) and elicit potent anti-tumor immunity. This work provides a universal and facile strategy for designing organic photosensitizers through stable radical cation-containing building blocks, expanding the scope of PDT agents.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202507038
To enhance the engineering practicality of pollutant pre-assessment, this study conducted environmental chamber tests for formaldehyde and TVOC emissions from 34 common decoration materials (25 solid and 9 liquid categories). Using the IndoorPACT software, variations in indoor pollutant concentrations under different material area loading rates and air change rates were simulated. Taking Harbin as a case study, concentration response ranges for various single materials under different area loading and ventilation conditions were simulated, leading to the construction of a simplified concentration prediction reference table. Results indicate that indoor pollutant concentrations from both solid and liquid materials peak on the second day after decoration, but decay rates differ significantly: liquid materials decrease by 70%–90% within about one week, and given their typically higher area loading rates in real projects, they exert a more significant impact on indoor air quality in the early post-decoration period. In contrast, solid materials decay more slowly and become the dominant long-term pollution source. The simplified estimation method based on these emission characteristics demonstrates good engineering applicability, providing effective reference for material selection, scheme comparison, and preliminary indoor air quality prediction and control in actual decoration projects.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.3724/2097-213X.2025.JFCT.0025
Endogenous alkali and alkaline earth metals (AAEMs) in biomass ash and pyrolysis temperature significantly influence the properties of pyrolysis polygeneration products. This study selected potassium (K+) and calcium (Ca2+) as representative AAEMs, added them at mass ratios of 2%, 5%, and 7% to corn stover via impregnation, and conducted fixed-bed pyrolysis at 400, 500, and 600 °C to investigate the yields and compositions of gas, liquid, and solid products. Results showed that increasing metal ion concentration significantly increased biochar yield, with Ca2+ at 7% achieving 24.96% biochar yield, while bio-oil yield generally decreased. Ca2+ strongly promoted H2 formation due to its Lewis acidity, reaching 32.49% in gas at 7% concentration, and facilitated furan enrichment to 65.88%. K+ at low concentrations favored phenolic formation, while high concentrations promoted ketones and intensified bio-oil cracking. Increasing temperature from 400 to 600 °C decreased biochar yield and increased gas yield, with high temperatures enhancing secondary cracking and reforming, significantly raising H2 and CH4 yields while suppressing oxygenates. At 600 °C, K+ catalysis increased acids to 39.41%, while Ca2+ maintained furans at 65.89%. This study demonstrates that adjusting metal ion concentration and temperature enables directional regulation of high-value bio-oil components and high-energy gases, providing a theoretical basis for optimized biomass pyrolysis utilization.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3633-5
High-temperature interfacial diffusion in Half-Heusler (HH) thermoelectric devices poses significant challenges for practical applications, particularly the diffusion of Ag from conventional solders, which degrades material performance and device stability. This study reveals anomalous Ag diffusion through a Cr powder barrier layer into Ti0.5Zr0.5NiSn0.98Sb0.02, driven by Sn phase penetration. In contrast, employing a Cr foil barrier layer pre-densified the material, effectively preventing Sn phase penetration and eliminating Ag diffusion pathways, thereby preserving junction integrity. After aging at 973 K for 30 days, the Cr foil junction maintained a clean interface with a low contact resistivity of 0.27 μΩ cm2. Benefiting from this interfacial design, a Hf-free HH module achieved a high conversion efficiency of 10.4% at a hot-side temperature of 976 K, alongside long-term stability. This work addresses critical bottlenecks in developing high-performance, low-cost HH modules, facilitating their commercial application in waste heat recovery.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202511076
This study investigated the altitudinal distribution and enrichment characteristics of heavy metals in the soil-plant system of the northern and southern mountains of Lhasa on the Tibetan Plateau. Soil and dominant plant samples were collected from three sites along an elevation gradient from 3,650 to 4,150 m, and concentrations of Cr, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, As, and Pb were analyzed. Soil heavy metal concentrations ranged from 0.06 to 184.4 mg·kg−1, with all elements except Cd and Pb exceeding local background values. Plant heavy metal concentrations were within normal ranges, indicating no obvious stress. Correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations between soil Zn and Cd, Cr and Ni, and plant Zn and Cu. Except for Cr, Cu, and Cd, plant and soil concentrations of the same element were significantly correlated. Bioconcentration factor (BCF) analysis showed that most plants had weak enrichment capacity (BCF < 1), but five species, including Ephedra sinica and Rheum likiangense, exhibited BCF > 1 for Cd, with R. likiangense showing the highest BCF of 4.01. The enrichment capacity varied with altitude and species. Potential ecological risk assessment indicated that Cd posed a relatively high risk in plants, warranting attention. This study fills a gap in understanding the spatial distribution and enrichment of heavy metals in this region, providing a scientific basis for ecological management and environmental protection.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3964-5
The escalating demand for personalized thermal-moisture comfort, coupled with the high energy consumption of conventional heating and cooling systems and the imperative for low-carbon energy conservation, has driven the development of shape memory smart fabrics that respond to environmental changes. However, existing shape memory thermal-moisture management fabrics suffer from excessively high response temperatures, inadequate response performance, and suboptimal thermal-moisture management. In this work, a dual-network shape memory polymer (SMP) was synthesized, and its shape memory transition temperature was tuned to align with the human thermal comfort range. The polymer was processed into fibers and subsequently into twisted-coiled artificial muscles to enhance reversible strain. Woven with wool into a plain fabric, the resulting textile exhibits adaptive thermal-moisture management, achieving a warp reversible strain of up to 17.5%. At elevated temperatures, the fabric contracts, exhibiting an air permeability of 1546 mm/s and thermal conductivity of 0.0518 W/(m·K); at lower temperatures, it elongates, with air permeability of 1322 mm/s and thermal conductivity of 0.0426 W/(m·K), thereby realizing 'warm when cool and cool when hot' functionality. Compared with commercial wool fabrics, this smart fabric lowers the skin microenvironment temperature by 1.5 °C and offers an energy savings potential of approximately 222.58 MJ/m² per year in capital cities such as Beijing. This work provides a novel technical pathway and design approach for future personalized comfort and low-carbon, energy-saving textiles.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3905-9
Heteroatom doping is a widely adopted strategy to enhance the electrocatalytic activity of transition metal compounds, yet the intrinsic role of dopants beyond conventional electronic effects remains unresolved. This study reveals a missed heteroatom-doping effect using a graphene-supported Co-doped FeS2 catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Comprehensive characterization and in situ Raman spectroscopy demonstrate that Co incorporation disrupts S–S bond symmetry and orbital matching within FeS2, generating abundant S2− species that accelerate surface reconstruction into active FeOOH under electrochemical conditions. After reconstruction, Co atoms remain integrated within the FeOOH lattice, upshifting its d-band center and optimizing oxygen intermediate adsorption, as confirmed by theoretical calculations. This dual functionality of Co dopants—facilitating rapid reconstruction in the pre-catalyst and modulating the electronic structure of the active phase—provides novel mechanistic insights into dopant-induced dynamic reconstruction for electrocatalysis. The findings challenge the conventional understanding of doping effects and offer a rational design principle for Fe-based OER electrocatalysts, potentially lowering overpotentials and improving stability for practical water splitting.