SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4248-2
Marine biofouling imposes substantial operational penalties on maritime assets, yet commercial silicone foul-release coatings rely on static, non-adaptive networks that cannot be reprocessed or repaired. This work introduces selenonium-salt-catalyzed dynamic siloxane exchange as a route to polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) vitrimer coatings. The authors incorporate A16Se+ organoselenium catalysts into PDMS networks at loadings designated A16Se+xPDMS, enabling thermally activated siloxane bond exchange that confers vitrimeric stress relaxation, reprocessability, and high-temperature self-healing. Antibiofouling performance is benchmarked against pristine PDMS using colony morphology assays for Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, SEM imaging of bacterial adhesion after 3 h, Chlorella fluorescence adhesion quantification, zeta potential measurements, and 3-month seawater immersion panels. Reviewer 1 questioned the direct relevance of recyclability and high-temperature self-healing to marine antifouling and requested that surface elastic modulus and Pseudomonas antibacterial data be elevated to the main text. In response, the authors relocated scratch and self-healing results from Figure 5 to Supporting Information Figures S12 and S13, condensed the main-text discussion, and integrated surface elastic modulus data into Figure 4G and Pseudomonas antibacterial results into Figure 6A. The revised manuscript positions dynamic exchange as supporting evidence of network dynamics rather than as a primary antifouling metric, while foregrounding modulus and antibacterial performance as the application-relevant properties.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4391-5
Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) enable precise tuning of the ITO/active layer interfacial dipole, yet their impact on the crystallization kinetics of the overlying active layer remains poorly understood, limiting their potential in high-efficiency organic solar cells. This study introduces THPC, a self-assembling material with an extended carbazole core and heteroatom substitution, as a hole transport layer (HTL). Unlike the hydrophilic PEDOT:PSS, THPC exhibits low surface energy, providing a favorable template that extends the film formation kinetics of the PM6:L8-BO-X blend by nearly 1.4 times, mitigating the explosive nucleation prevalent in PM6-based active layers. This promotes a highly ordered fibrous morphology and enhances vertical phase separation. The deep work function of THPC (5.32 eV) increases the built-in potential, reduces interfacial trap density, and facilitates charge extraction. Consequently, non-radiative recombination loss decreases from 0.243 eV to 0.227 eV, and the open-circuit voltage rises from 0.866 V to 0.883 V, yielding a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.19%, outperforming the PEDOT:PSS control (18.67%). This finding is confirmed across multiple Y-series acceptors, all approaching 20% PCE. Notably, the D18:L8-BO system achieves a PCE of 20.55%, demonstrating broad applicability.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4420-7
Cu2-xSe is a leading p-type thermoelectric material owing to its phonon-liquid electron-crystal (PLEC) behavior, yet the atomic-scale mechanisms governing Cu+ migration remain unresolved. This study employs in situ high-resolution neutron diffraction coupled with maximum entropy method (MEM) analysis to map the temperature-dependent evolution of Cu+ nuclear density in β-Cu2Se and β-Cu1.95Se. At 398–423 K, intra-tetrahedral Cu 8c ↔ 32f <111> hopping emerges, with isosurface values of 0.505 fm Å-3 for β-Cu2Se and 0.484 fm Å-3 for β-Cu1.95Se. Above 448 K, inter-tetrahedral pathways form via Cu 32f ↔ 32f <100> or 32f ↔ 4b ↔ 32f <111> migration, as revealed by line scans along [1̅11̅] up to 723 K. The presence of Cu vacancies (x = 0.05) alters the onset and connectivity of these pathways, directly impacting phonon scattering and electron transport. These findings establish a structural basis for controlling Cu+ mobility, offering a rational route to mitigate Cu precipitation and enhance zT stability beyond 1.5 at 900 K. The work bridges microstructural dynamics and thermoelectric performance, providing critical guidance for defect engineering in superionic thermoelectrics.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4204-4
Heterodimensional superlattices, integrating materials of different dimensionalities (e.g., 0D, 1D, 2D) within a periodic structure, have attracted significant attention due to their unique electronic structures and emergent properties arising from inter-dimensional coupling. This review comprehensively summarizes the state-of-the-art preparation strategies, distinctive physical properties, and diverse applications of these emerging systems. Beyond conventional epitaxial growth and chemical intercalation methods, recent advances include van der Waals assembly and phase engineering, enabling precise control over layer stacking and interfacial interactions. Key properties discussed include tunable electronic band structures, enhanced spin-orbit coupling, and emergent phenomena such as the in-plane Hall effect, which are promising for spintronic devices. The review also highlights applications in energy storage and conversion, where heterodimensional superlattices exhibit improved ion transport and catalytic activity. Challenges remain in scalable fabrication and structural stability, but the field holds potential for next-generation electronics and energy technologies.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4350-4
Flexible wearable sensors have transformed motion tracking, soft robotics, and human-machine interfaces by enabling precise movement detection and adaptability to curved surfaces. However, conventional composite sensors often face challenges such as limited sensitivity, detection range, linearity, and durability. In this study, we propose a stretchable auxetic sensing textile with a negative Poisson’s ratio (NPR) structure, incorporating reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) by micro-crack engineering to enhance its mechanical durability and sensing performance. Integrating macro-scale NPR with micro-scale wrinkles, this innovative design achieves a high sensitivity of 11.2 within a wide detection range (0-100%), a more linear sensing range with an R2 value of 0.998, an ultra-low detection limit of 0.5%, and exceptional durability, outperforming conventional wearable sensors. Additionally, the textile sensor boasts excellent moisture permeability (32.7 g m⁻² h⁻¹) and a remarkable NPR value of -0.25, ensuring comfort and adaptability for various wearable applications. Integrated with deep learning algorithms, the auxetic sensing textile demonstrates 98% accuracy in recognizing soft robotic movements at various bending angles. It is capable of capturing both small-scale physiological signals, such as electrocardiograms, and large-scale movements, offering significant freedom of movement and adaptability to complex surfaces.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4342-3
Electron acceptors containing single-bond-linked building blocks offer attractive advantages for organic solar cells owing to their synthetic simplicity and structural modularity. However, achieving backbone planarity without compromising electronic compatibility remains a persistent challenge. Conventional conformational locking strategies based on alkoxy substitution can effectively suppress torsional freedom but often elevate the highest occupied molecular orbital energy level, limiting compatibility with widely used donor polymers. Here, we report a partially fused electron acceptor design that achieves intrinsic backbone planarity through heterocycle selection rather than side-chain-assisted conformational locking. By incorporating a benzodifuran core and furan-thiophene linkages, the resulting acceptors exhibit a near-coplanar backbone geometry as revealed by density functional theory calculations, without the need for electronically perturbing alkoxy groups. Devices based on the optimized acceptor (BDF-1) deliver a binary power conversion efficiency of 12.2%, and further improvement to 19.5% is achieved in a ternary blend with PM6 and BTP-eC9. The enhanced performance is accompanied by favorable morphology, balanced charge transport, and suppressed recombination losses. This work provides molecular-level insight into partially fused acceptor design and demonstrates that heteroatom-guided conformational locking offers a viable strategy for expanding the design space of acceptors with single-bond-linked building blocks while maintaining compatibility with mainstream donor systems.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3775-3
The urgent imperative for carbon-neutral chemical production has accelerated the development of solar-driven catalytic technologies that convert abundant C1 feedstocks (CO2 and CH4) into value-added C2+ molecules. Standalone photocatalysis remains constrained by rapid charge-carrier recombination and poor C–C coupling selectivity. This review critically examines multi-field-coupled catalysis—a transformative paradigm synergistically integrating solar energy with auxiliary thermal, electric, and magnetic fields. Through mechanistic dissection of photothermal, photoelectrochemical, and photomagnetic field cooperativities, it is summarized that thermal gradients attenuate phonon scattering to enhance charge-carrier drift mobility while vibrationally stabilizing reactive intermediates, electric potentials drive vectorial charge transport via Coulomb-force-directed separation and band alignment, and magnetic fields modulate spin-selective electron transfer through Zeeman splitting-mediated polarization to boost reaction specificity. This synergistic multi-field integration circumvents intrinsic limitations of single-mode photocatalysis by collectively reconfiguring reaction coordinates for selective C–C coupling. We further address persistent challenges in resolving ultrafast interfacial charge-transfer dynamics, scaling integrated field reactors for industrial deployment, and advancing in situ operando characterization of multiscale processes. Strategic research priorities are proposed to advance sustainable multi-field-coupled catalytic production of fuels and platform chemicals.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3828-y
The rapid development of halogen-free solvent-processed organic solar cells (OSCs) has been enabled by side-chain modification on small molecular acceptors, yet the structure-property relationship between inner/outer chain lengths and device performance remains unclear. This study systematically investigates five non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) with varied side-chain positions and architectures, clarifying the effects of inner versus outer modifications on energy level distribution, film morphology, and carrier dynamics. Notably, longer alkyl chains are not always superior; excessive solubility reduces molecular packing order. The optimized PM6:BTP-TO12 blend achieves a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.2%. Furthermore, ternary OSCs incorporating BTP-TO12 as a guest material reach a remarkable PCE of 19.5%, enhancing the performance of L8-BO-based devices processed with green solvents. This improvement is attributed to the low energy loss and well-controlled aggregation behavior of BTP-TO12 in environmentally friendly toluene. These findings establish a design guideline for side-chain engineering in green-solvent-processed OSCs, achieving state-of-the-art performance and advancing scalable, eco-compatible photovoltaic technologies.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3610-7
Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) offers an attractive route to produce value-added multicarbon (C2+) products, yet suffers from competing hydrogen evolution and monocarbon production. Here, we propose a dual-confinement effect on CO2 reactant and *CO intermediate, induced by tuning the pore configuration of reconstructed covalent organic frameworks (RC-COFs). The highly crystalline microporous RC-COF-1, when coated on a Cu electrode, enhances local CO2 concentration and restricts CO diffusion, thereby promoting C-C coupling. In acidic electrolyte, the RC-COF-1@Cu electrode achieves a maximum C2+ Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 67.0% at 500 mA cm−2, while maintaining a total carbon product FE above 90% across a broad current density range (100–500 mA cm−2). Experimental and theoretical analyses confirm that the ordered micropores of RC-COF-1 modulate reactant adsorption and intermediate diffusion, leading to improved C2+ selectivity. This work underscores the critical role of COF pore architecture in microenvironment engineering for heterogeneous catalysis.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3647-4
Chromium oxides (CrOx) and fluorinated graphite (CFx) are two typical cathode materials for lithium primary batteries. The former possesses the highest theoretical energy density but suffers from low practical capacity and inferior rate capability; the latter has the highest theoretical discharge capacity but fails to support fast discharge. Combining the merits of both cathodes via a composite design is desirable, yet the electrochemical performance of such composites remains unsatisfactory. In this work, we identified that by regulating the overlapped discharge potential of these two cathodes, fluorine atoms migrate from CFx to CrOx, leading to a homogeneous distribution of LiF and improved ionic and electronic conductivity, ultimately enhancing high-rate discharge performance. Benefiting from this synergetic effect, the CrOx/10%eCFx composite exhibits a considerably high energy density of 496.59 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 49.7 kW kg−1 (50 C), far superior to pure CrOx and CFx electrodes. We believe that the high-performance CrOx/eCFx composite cathode will justify its practical application in revitalizing advanced lithium primary batteries.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3695-8
Sulfur-based lithium-ion batteries, particularly those employing sulfurized poly(acrylonitrile) (SPAN) cathodes and graphite (Gr) anodes, offer high theoretical capacity and low cost but suffer from temperature-dependent capacity decay. This study systematically investigates the electrochemical dynamics and capacity decay mechanism of SPAN||Gr pouch cells cycled at 25–55 °C. Multiscale analyses reveal that capacity fade arises from active lithium loss and increased resistance, both accelerated by higher temperatures. Active lithium loss is primarily attributed to dead lithium formation and thickening of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI), while resistance increase is predominantly due to SEI/CEI thickening. As temperature rises, active lithium loss becomes the dominant decay factor. Leveraging the consistent decay mechanism across temperatures, an accelerated aging model based on the Arrhenius equation is developed: y = 0.9x + a. This model accurately predicts cycling parameters at specific temperatures and reduces testing time by 50% when extrapolating from 55 °C to 25 °C. These insights provide critical guidance for developing long-life sulfur-based batteries for practical energy storage applications.
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.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3919-0
Nuclear energy is critical for sustainable economic development and achieving carbon neutrality. With only about 6.14 million tons of terrestrial uranium, sufficient for ~70 years of global nuclear power plant operation, the recovery of uranium from seawater and spent fuel is essential for long-term nuclear fuel supply. The ocean contains approximately 4.5 billion tons of uranium, which could sustain nuclear power for ~2000 years if efficiently extracted. However, seawater uranium extraction faces significant challenges due to the extremely low uranium concentration (~3.3 ppb), high concentrations of competing ions, natural organic matter, and marine biofouling. This perspective reviews representative laboratory advances, including sulfonated covalent organic frameworks (S-COF) achieving a sorption capacity of 31.5 mg/(g·day) with high selectivity, amidoxime-based organic cages with a capacity of 11.97 mg/g over 30 days, and a micro-redox reactor strategy that continuously regenerates binding sites. Electrochemical methods have also shown promise for converting soluble U(VI) to insoluble U(IV) oxides. Despite these advances, the transition from laboratory powders to durable marine materials remains problematic. Key gaps include the need for antibacterial properties, mechanical stability under wave action, cost competitiveness with terrestrial mining, and environmental safety of nanomaterials. Artificial intelligence (AI) is proposed to accelerate the design of high-performance, stable materials. This perspective emphasizes the necessity for interdisciplinary research to bridge the gap between bench-scale innovations and practical ocean deployment.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202507064
This study investigates pollutant removal characteristics and kinetic behaviors in sewage networks, and analyzes their impact on the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C/N, as COD/TN) of influent to wastewater treatment plants. Source water quality sampling at drainage outlets revealed spatial and temporal variations in C/N, with domestic sewage exhibiting higher C/N than industrial sewage, and diurnal peaks reaching 6.92 versus 4.71 during off-peak hours. Using a pilot-scale adjustable sewage network system in Kunshan, experiments were conducted under high (0.491 m·s−1) and low (0.089 m·s−1) flow velocities, monitoring pollutant removal over 144 hours. Pseudo-first-order kinetics were applied to model COD and TN removal. Results showed that COD (including SCOD and PCOD), BOD5, and SS achieved approximately 80% removal within 144 h, with higher removal at low flow velocity. TN, NH3-N, and TP exhibited lower overall removal rates. Kinetic fitting revealed that COD removal rate constants (kCOD) were significantly higher than those for TN (kTN), and both decreased with increasing flow velocity: at low velocity, kCOD=0.0167 h−1 and kTN=0.0029 h−1; at high velocity, kCOD=0.0127 h−1 and kTN=0.0020 h−1. Simulations based on actual source pollutant concentrations indicated that the time for C/N to drop to the denitrification critical value of 4.50 was 12.24 h at high velocity, but shortened to 9.49 h at low velocity. These findings demonstrate that increasing flow velocity effectively retards the decline of C/N. Therefore, regulating network flow velocity to reduce hydraulic retention time is a key strategy for maintaining adequate C/N at the terminal and ensuring denitrification efficiency in wastewater treatment plants.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202506053
Red mud, a highly alkaline industrial solid waste from alumina production, poses severe environmental risks due to its high alkalinity, low organic matter content, and poor aggregation, which critically impede its soil reconstruction and ecological utilization. This study proposes a novel approach of low-temperature micro-oxidation to drive the synergistic soil reconstruction of red mud and coal. By constructing a low-temperature micro-oxidation atmosphere, the soil properties of the reaction products were investigated, the decomposition and reconstruction of alkaline minerals and alkali release were analyzed, and the oxidation of carbon-based minerals and organic matter transformation in coal were examined. The mechanism of the synergistic reaction between red mud and coal under low-temperature micro-oxidation was elucidated. Results showed that at 250 °C under micro-oxidation, the pH of the product decreased to 8.47, organic matter content increased to 12.98%, and the proportion of aggregates >0.250 mm increased. Alkaline minerals such as cancrinite and grossular in red mud underwent decomposition and reconstruction in the low-temperature hydrothermal environment, releasing substantial free alkali. The condensed aromatic rings of carbon-based minerals in coal were oxidized by free radicals, leading to ring-opening and bond cleavage, producing small-molecule organic acids and macromolecular humic acids. The continuous oxidation of carbon-based minerals in coal generated acids, which neutralized the alkali released from red mud, driving sustained dealkalization. The inorganic particles of red mud flocculated with macromolecular humic acids, forming micro-aggregates and significantly improving soil properties. This research provides technical support for the rapid ecological utilization of red mud at industrial scale.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202507043
Municipal sludge with high moisture content and strong viscosity tends to form a dense crust during conventional rotary drum drying, reducing heat and mass transfer efficiency and prolonging drying time. This study proposes a thermal steel ball-enhanced rotary drum drying method that introduces high heat capacity, high thermal conductivity steel balls to achieve synergistic contact heat conduction and mechanical disturbance. An evaluation system incorporating dimensionless moisture ratio (MR), drying rate (DR), characteristic drying time (tdry), effective moisture diffusivity (Deff), and volumetric evaporation intensity (U) was established. Results show that compared with conventional drying, steel ball-enhanced drying increased maximum drying rate (DRmax) by 22.59%–41.19%, U by 38.06%–93.43%, and shortened tdry by 27.56%–48.30%, with more pronounced advantages under high load conditions. Deff was significantly higher throughout the process, with maximum increase up to 48.30%, indicating that ball rolling and collision effectively disrupt the crust and promote moisture migration. Mechanistic analysis reveals that the performance enhancement arises from the dual action of thermal-mechanical coupling and mechanical disturbance, which enhances local heat flux via contact conduction and dynamically renews the drying interface, shortening diffusion paths. This study elucidates the heat and mass transfer mechanisms of thermal steel ball-enhanced sludge drying, providing theoretical support and technical reference for efficient sludge volume reduction and dryer design optimization.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202507055
The increasing complexity of pollutant sources in municipal wastewater networks, driven by unauthorized industrial discharges, poses significant risks to the stable operation of wastewater treatment plants. This study, conducted in an industrial park in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, developed a source apportionment method using excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy combined with spectral angle mapping (SAM). A pollution fingerprint database was constructed from wastewater samples of six representative enterprises (A–F) and municipal sewer samples. The SAM algorithm demonstrated high sensitivity and stability in detecting changes in water composition, with spectral angle values showing a strong linear correlation (R² > 0.88) with the volume ratio of enterprise wastewater in mixed samples. This enabled both qualitative identification and quantitative estimation of pollution sources. Field application over a 12-hour monitoring period identified two enterprises as major contributors to organic matter and nitrogen during critical pollution episodes, consistent with trends in DOC, TN, and UV254. The proposed EEM+SAM approach offers a non-invasive, high-throughput method for real-time monitoring and source tracing of multi-source pollution in complex sewer systems, providing a scientific basis for pollution accountability and precise enforcement.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024112104
Carboxyl-modified polystyrene microplastics (PS-COOH) are negatively charged particles formed by surface oxidation and functional group modification of polystyrene microplastics (PS), widely used in biomedical and analytical chemistry. However, studies on their neurotoxic effects on aquatic organisms are scarce. This study employed zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model organism, exposing embryos to environmentally relevant concentrations (0.1, 1, 10, 100 μg·L−1) of PS and PS-COOH. Neurotoxic effects were assessed by measuring tail coiling frequency at 24 hpf and swimming velocity under alternating light/dark cycles at 120 hpf. Results demonstrated that both PS and PS-COOH induced neurotoxicity, with PS-COOH significantly reducing tail coiling frequency and average swimming speed compared to PS (P<0.05). Exposure to 10 μg·L−1 PS-COOH disrupted neurotransmitter homeostasis, altering levels of acetylcholine (ACh), serotonin (5-HT), and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Transgenic zebrafish Tg(huc:EGFP) fluorescence assays revealed that PS-COOH (0.1–100 μg·L−1) caused damage to central neurons. These findings indicate that PS-COOH exposure impairs cholinergic, serotonergic, and GABAergic neurotransmission, induces neuronal damage, and exerts neurotoxic effects on zebrafish larvae. This study provides a theoretical basis for assessing the ecological and health risks of modified microplastics.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202604025
To meet the minute-level early-warning requirements for odor and multi-pollutant emissions at waste treatment facilities, this study proposed a multivariate short-term time-series prediction framework applicable to multi-tier scenarios covering source and boundary points (i.e., workshops and plant boundaries). Based on continuous online monitoring data with a 5-second resolution, a long short-term memory (LSTM) model using a sliding-window and recursive multi-step prediction strategy was constructed to jointly model odor concentration (OU) and pollutants including VOCs, NH3, H2S, and CH3SH (mg/m³). An evaluation protocol aligned with environmental supervision practice was established, incorporating mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), goodness-of-fit (R²), skill scores (SS) relative to a persistence baseline, and threshold-based error stratification to characterize uncertainty during peak emission periods. The results showed that at workshop monitoring sites with relatively stable operating conditions, VOCs, NH3, H2S, and CH3SH exhibited a high goodness of fit and low prediction errors. In contrast, at boundary sites affected by plume arrival delays and diffusion-dilution non-stationarity, OU and VOCs displayed significantly amplified errors during peak episodes, and the skill score advantage over the baseline became unstable at certain sites. Stratified analysis consistently revealed that non-peak periods outperformed peak periods, indicating that event-driven fluctuations were the main sources of error. Accordingly, this study suggested incorporating exogenous variables such as wind speed and direction, ventilation and gate access control, and operational rhythms, along with peak-sensitive loss functions, into the model to enhance its capacity to characterize and provide early warnings for transient emission pulses. Overall, this study established a reusable methodological baseline and evaluation paradigm for minute-scale multi-pollutant prediction, providing quantitative support for the operational management and source-to-boundary coordinated control of waste treatment facilities.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3470-6
Inkjet printing of two-dimensional transition metal chalcogenides (TMDs) is promising for low-cost, large-scale flexible electronics, yet challenges persist due to poor crystallinity and toxic solvents. Here, we report a green ink formulation using zwitterionic cocamidopropyl betaine (CAB) as a dispersant and surfactant for liquid-phase exfoliation of single-crystalline TMDs in water and isopropanol (IPA). The dispersions contain no additives or binders, enabling direct production of stable (over one month) and concentrated (2 mg/mL) inks for MoS2, MoTe2, WS2, WSe2, and WTe2. Fully-printed MoSe2/CAB humidity sensors exhibit superior sensitivity (ΔI/I0 = 468.1) and rapid response/recovery times (27 s/0.42 s) under bending. Inkjet-printed WTe2/CAB pads on 6-μm-thick substrates demonstrate exceptional mechanical stability, with resistance variations of 1.4% under single bending and 2% after 1,000 cycles, and acquire high-quality electrocardiogram (ECG) and electromyography (EMG) signals. This strategy enables scalable fabrication of TMD-based flexible electronics, advancing industrial integration.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3882-y
Organic semiconductor crystals with well-defined morphologies are highly desirable for high-performance optoelectronic devices, yet precise control over their growth remains a challenge. Here, a novel donor-acceptor (D-A) molecule, TQDPT, has been successfully developed, featuring a rigid π-conjugated acceptor core composed of thiazoloquinoxaline and naphthalene, coupled with phenylphenothiazine donors. This study presents a temperature-mediated crystallization strategy for precisely controlling the morphology and carrier transport properties of TQDPT single crystals. By systematically investigating the growth kinetics across a controlled temperature range (15–35°C), we reveal a distinct transition from needle-like structures to plate-like crystals, with tunable average widths spanning from around 2.8 to 30.1 μm. This morphological evolution is driven by temperature-dependent molecular diffusion and nucleation kinetics. Significantly, the plate-like crystals grown at 25°C exhibit an order-of-magnitude enhancement in mobility compared to needle-like counterparts, while higher temperatures of 35°C yield broader crystals with improved carrier mobility and device stability. This work highlights the critical role of temperature as a pivotal parameter in the dimensional and electronic optimization of organic crystals, offering an attractive approach to optimize functional materials for advanced optoelectronics.
New Carbon Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61094-3
Aqueous zinc-iodine (Zn-I2) batteries are promising for large-scale energy storage due to their intrinsic safety, low cost, and high theoretical capacity (211 mAh g−1 for iodine). However, their practical application is hindered by the poor electronic conductivity of iodine, sluggish redox kinetics, and the shuttle effect of polyiodides. This review systematically analyzes the reaction mechanisms of iodine cathodes, including two-electron (I−/I2) and multi-electron (I−/I2/I+ and I−/I2/I+/IO3−) pathways, and identifies key bottlenecks. It then comprehensively summarizes recent advances in iodine host materials, categorized into three strategies: physical confinement, chemical adsorption, and electrocatalysis. Representative host materials such as porous carbons, covalent organic frameworks (COFs), porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs), polymers, MXenes, and Prussian blue analogs (PBAs) are discussed, with emphasis on the structure–performance relationships. The review highlights that heteroatom doping (e.g., nitrogen) enhances chemical adsorption of iodine species, while single-atom catalysts (e.g., Co, Zn) provide electrocatalytic sites that accelerate conversion kinetics. Finally, future research directions are proposed, including exploration of multi-electron systems, mechanistic elucidation of iodine conversion, development of advanced host materials, and optimization of zinc anodes, to accelerate the commercialization of Zn-I2 batteries.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025012302
Phosphorus (P) loss from paddy fields contributes to eutrophication in Chaohu Lake. This study evaluated the effects of novel fertilizers and P reduction on P loss and rice yield. Seven treatments were established: no P (CK), rice-specific fertilizer (ZYF), slow-release blended fertilizer (SRF), Xinjutian compound fertilizer (XJT), enhanced loss-controlled fertilizer (CRF), CRF with 10% P reduction (CRF-10P%), and CRF with 30% P reduction (CRF-30P%). Results showed that novel fertilizers and P reduction significantly reduced concentrations of total phosphorus (TP), dissolved phosphorus (DP), and particulate phosphorus (PP) in surface water and leachate. The first 5 days after basal fertilization and heavy rainfall were high-risk periods for P loss. Rainfall increased TP concentrations by 417.74%–432.86% and 94.85%–351.35% in surface water and leachate, respectively; DP increased by 120.80%–322.44%, and PP by 280.66%–501.77% and 80.23%–297.55%. Compared with ZYF, SRF, XJT, and CRF reduced TP loss by 15.43%–33.95%, with SRF showing the lowest loss. Under P reduction, CRF-10P% and CRF-30P% reduced TP loss by 31.48% and 37.04%, respectively, with CRF-30P% achieving the lowest loss. Notably, CRF-10P% increased rice yield by 22.37% relative to ZYF, indicating that moderate P reduction with enhanced loss-controlled fertilizer can maintain or increase yield while reducing environmental risk. The study concludes that CRF-10P% offers a promising strategy for sustainable rice production in the Chaohu Lake watershed.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3936-8
The precise separation of enantiomers is essential for developing effective chiral drugs, yet conventional membranes are constrained by the ubiquitous selectivity-permeability trade-off and low flux, limiting scalable production of single-enantiomer drugs. Herein, we present a cascade reaction strategy integrating Sonogashira-Hagihara coupling and Friedel-Crafts alkylation to fabricate porous conjugated microporous polymer membranes (CCMP-M P1–4/SiO2). This approach enhances specific surface area by 400-fold compared to the product from the Sonogashira-Hagihara coupling reaction alone, creating interconnected porous networks that facilitate mass transport. This hypothesis was confirmed by pore-size gradient experiments, which revealed a critical size-matching effect: matched molecular dimensions enable high-speed mass transfer with 97% enantioselectivity, while mismatch reduces selectivity to 9%, as visualized in a separation performance matrix across four chiral molecules. Precise chiral recognition is programmable via absolute configuration control of chiral monomers, with the mechanism of “preferential adsorption–interfacial enrichment–promoted diffusion” confirmed by static adsorption and density functional theory calculations. This strategy achieves breakthrough performance: Naproxen flux reaches 37 mmol m−2 h−1, surpassing literature values, and enables membrane-based separation of Raceanisodamine (89% selectivity of 6S, 2′S and 6R, 2′R-isomer after cascade enrichment) for the first time. This work provides a new paradigm for designing high-performance chiral separation membranes, facilitating scalable and sustainable production of single-enantiomer drugs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3786-8
Conventional cancer diagnostic techniques, such as tissue sampling and microscopy, are invasive and prone to misdiagnosis, driving the need for non-invasive, precise alternatives. Chiral biophotonics, exploiting circularly polarized light (CPL), offers unique polarization-selective interactions with biological tissues, enabling higher imaging contrast and molecular-level discrimination. However, current CPL detection technologies are passive and single-mode, lacking dynamic tunability and parallel processing capabilities. Meanwhile, AI-assisted diagnostics rely on separated sensing and computing units, suffering from poor integration and transmission inefficiency. Here, we report a near-infrared (NIR) chiral organic synaptic photodiode with electrically tunable dual-mode operation, enabling simultaneous CPL detection and neuromorphic processing. Under negative bias, the device operates as a highly sensitive CPL detector for chiroptical signal acquisition. Under positive bias, it exhibits history-dependent synaptic behavior with photocurrent dissymmetry factor (g_ph) dynamically tunable up to -0.06. By integrating this device into an optical convolutional neural network (OCNN), we achieved intelligent cancer detection with CPL-based imaging. Experimental results demonstrate that CPL detection accuracy reaches 83%, approaching the theoretical 87%, significantly outperforming natural light detection at 65%. The device enhances image contrast and feature extraction, laying a foundation for intelligent, adaptive diagnostic systems.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3752-0
Counterfeit products have become widespread, necessitating advanced anti-counterfeiting solutions. Inspired by random wrinkles on peanut surfaces, we propose a biologically physical unclonable function (PUF) label with all-optical anti-counterfeiting. Using spatially selective plasma etching, a single-material random wrinkling strategy overcomes limitations of traditional double-layer wrinkling, such as low entropy and complex processes, enabling selective wrinkling in fixed areas. Innovative introduction of dual-modal luminescent micron defects in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films enables orthogonal control and coordination of the frequency domain of unpredictable wrinkles at the mesoscopic scale, promoting transition from long-range anisotropy to short-range isotropy. Verification requires only simple optical equipment, providing cost-effectiveness and ease of detection. This anti-counterfeiting system incorporates three collaborative security mechanisms: (i) high-entropy PUF encoded wrinkle fingerprints, (ii) angle-sensitive Bragg-like structural colors, and (iii) spatially segmented dual-mode fluorescence. The label exhibits near-ideal cryptographic properties: uniformity close to 0.5, Shannon entropy close to 1, Hamming distance approximately 0.5, and robust environmental stability (similarity >84% after storage at 2°C and 50°C for 48 h). Plasma parameter modulation enables continuous tuning of wrinkle wavelength from 6.1 to 25.0 μm. The system's straightforward preparation, portable verification, and anti-spoofing capabilities position it for real-world applications in secure packaging, high-value product labels, and smart encryption, with potential extension to flexible electronics and wearable security systems.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3742-5
Nematic liquid crystal elastomers (NLCEs) exhibit excellent mechanical properties and diverse deformation modes, while cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers (CLCEs) as photonic crystals (PCs) possess superior optical performance and intelligent response characteristics. Combining these two elastomers into a monolithic material is a challenging yet promising endeavor. Here, we designed and synthesized a new diselenide-bonded molecule (DSeAc), whose lower bond energy between selenium atoms endows it with excellent bond exchange ability. Consequently, two LCE matrices containing DSeAc molecules can achieve seamless bonding under mild conditions via dynamic diselenide bond exchange. By integrating a CLCE film and an NLCE actuator into a monolithic film, we enable the integration of two functional components, whose functional characteristics can be tailored as required. This function block combination strategy offers a promising pathway for developing smart materials with complex functions, showing great potential in information storage, anti-counterfeiting, and biomimetics.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202509095
Biotrickling filtration (BTF) is a promising technology for treating volatile organic compounds (VOCs), but its application to hydrophobic alkanes like isohexane is hindered by mass transfer limitations, low degradation efficiency, and high operational costs. To address these bottlenecks, this study developed composite fillers by incorporating biochars derived from coffee grounds (CG), coconut shells (CS), corn cobs (CC), and activated carbon (AC) into a polyvinyl alcohol-sodium alginate (PVA-SA) hydrogel matrix. The fillers were systematically characterized for water retention, pore structure, surface functional groups, crystalline phase, and acid-base resistance. Adsorption capacity, biofilm formation, and isohexane degradation were evaluated using the strain Rhodococcus ruber ZYH-ZY. Among the composites, CG@PVA-SA exhibited superior performance: water retention of 358 mg·g−1 (vs. 280 mg·g−1 for control), enhanced mesoporosity (specific surface area 4.77 m2·g−1, pore volume 11.46 cm3·kg−1, 10–30% higher than control), and robust acid-base stability (mass loss 21.37% at pH 2 and 31.98% at pH 10). Its saturated adsorption capacity reached 201.02 mg·kg−1 (vs. 114.24 mg·kg−1 for control), and it promoted bacterial colonization with a survival rate of 79.0% (vs. 37.2% for control). Static degradation tests showed 96.59% removal of 10 μL isohexane within 24 h. The abundant polar functional groups and suitable mesoporous structure of coffee ground biochar synergized with the PVA-SA matrix, enhancing water retention, mass transfer, and microbial colonization, thereby significantly improving isohexane purification. CG@PVA-SA is an ideal filler for BTF treatment of alkane VOCs, offering a cost-effective and efficient solution for industrial VOC control.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025030501
Coastal areas serve as critical ecological interfaces for the migration of terrestrial microplastics (MPs) into the ocean, and characterizing their pollution is essential for integrated coastal management. This study investigated the occurrence, sources, and ecological risks of MPs in surface waters of nearshore areas and river estuaries around Hainan Island, a typical tropical tourist island. MPs abundance ranged from 316.67 to 1300 n·m−3 in seawater and from 400 to 5416.67 n·m−3 in river water. In seawater, the dominant polymer was polyethylene terephthalate, with fibers being the predominant shape, size class 500–1000 μm, and white/transparent color. In river water, polypropylene-ethylene copolymer dominated, also as fibers, but with size class 100–500 μm and white/transparent color. Seawater MP abundance showed a significant positive correlation with tourist numbers, and distribution across functional areas followed: tourism areas > natural areas > aquaculture areas > residential areas. Multiple correspondence analysis identified household plastic waste, laundry wastewater, aquaculture, and fishery products as primary sources of seawater MPs. Principal component analysis indicated homologous characteristics between seawater and river MPs, suggesting rivers are a major pathway for terrestrial MP transport to coastal zones. Ecological risk assessment revealed low pollution loads, with potential ecological risks moderate for seawater and medium-low for river water. Notably, 15% of seawater sampling sites exhibited polymer risk level Ⅳ, primarily driven by polyacrylonitrile's high biological toxicity. These findings provide a scientific basis for developing MP pollution control strategies in Hainan Island.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025092801
Urban river water quality is critically influenced by outfall discharges, yet the seasonal dynamics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and its linkage to water quality remain poorly constrained. This study collected outfall water samples seasonally during 2023–2024 along the Nanfei River and Banqiao River in Hefei, Anhui Province. Parallel factor analysis of excitation-emission matrices identified three fluorescent components: fulvic acid-like C1, tryptophan-like (protein-like) C2, and terrestrial humic-like C3. Seasonal variations were pronounced: protein-like C2 dominated in winter and spring, whereas summer and autumn showed lower C2 proportions due to rainwater dilution and urban nonpoint source runoff inputs. Water quality indices decreased in summer and autumn, primarily attributed to dilution by rainfall runoff. Fluorescence index (FI > 1.9) and biological index (BIX > 1.0) indicated predominantly autochthonous DOM sources. During summer and autumn, humification index (HIX) and specific UV absorbance (SUVA) increased, while spectral slope ratio (SR) decreased, suggesting enhanced terrestrial and urban runoff influence. Significant positive correlations were observed between protein-like C2 and terrestrial humic-like C3 with water quality parameters, indicating their utility as precise indicators of pollution sources and seasonal water quality variations. These findings provide a scientific basis for integrated management of urban outfalls.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3889-6
Photocatalytic hydrogen production is fundamentally limited by inefficient charge separation and asynchronous supply of electrons and protons to active sites. Here, we designed a ZnIn2S4/ZnCo2S4 (ZIS/ZCS) heterojunction with an atomically coherent interface achieved via an ultralow lattice mismatch of 0.05%. This unique structure promotes rapid electron transfer through a built-in electric field and facilitates continuous proton migration via a hydrogen spillover effect, thereby synchronizing electron and proton delivery at the catalytic interface. This dual regulation of electrons and protons synergistically promotes proton-coupled electron transfer, resulting in a high hydrogen evolution rate of 70.3 mmol g−1 h−1 and selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to aldehyde (39.3 mmol g−1 h−1) with 93.6% selectivity. This work demonstrates the critical importance of lattice match and dual charge-proton management in designing efficient photocatalysts for complex redox reactions.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3890-6
Photothermal catalysis offers a sustainable route for CO2 conversion to value-added chemicals, yet precise control of active sites and light-harvesting materials remains challenging. Here, we report the rational integration of three-dimensional ordered macroporous (3DOM) CeO2 with positively charged (Niδ+)n clusters to construct efficient photothermal catalysts for the reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction. The 3DOM architecture enhances light absorption, improves access to active sites, and provides a confined environment for reactant enrichment. Engineering (Niδ+)n clusters within 3DOM CeO2 not only affords highly active sites for H2 adsorption and dissociation but also modulates the local structure of CeO2 to promote CO2 adsorption and activation. Furthermore, the (Niδ+)n clusters significantly enhance light-harvesting capability across the UV-vis-NIR spectrum, generating a pronounced photothermal effect that accelerates reaction kinetics. The optimized (Niδ+)n/CeO2 catalyst exhibits outstanding photothermal catalytic performance, achieving a CO production rate of 63.36 mmol g−1 h−1 in a flowing reaction with CO selectivity of 93% under simulated solar irradiation (2.6 W cm−2). Theoretical calculations reveal that the (Niδ+)n/CeO2 catalyst reduces the thermodynamic energy barrier for *COOH formation in CO2 hydrogenation. This study offers valuable insights into the design of photothermal catalysts, highlighting the significant potential of active-site engineering in promoting efficient CO2 conversion for practical solar-to-fuel production.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3862-x
Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is indispensable for next-generation electronics and quantum technologies, yet controlled synthesis of isotopically engineered hBN with macroscopic scalability and atomic-level precision remains challenging. Here, we present a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method using elemental boron (B) and nitrogen (N) precursors to achieve wafer-scale growth and precise isotopic control of hBN films. High-quality hBN films are synthesized on Cu substrates via optimized B evaporation and N2 plasma activation. The growth mechanism involves an oxygen-mediated pathway for B transport and a layer-by-layer (Frank-van der Merwe) mode for multilayer formation. By employing isotopically enriched B powders (10B and 11B) and N2 gases (14N2 and 15N2), we demonstrate tunable isotopic compositions with phonon mode shifts quantitatively matching harmonic oscillator predictions. Furthermore, we realize unprecedented in-plane h10BN-h11BN heterostructures through dynamic B source switching during growth. This PECVD strategy establishes a transformative synthesis platform merging industrial-scale production capacity with atomic-scale isotopic precision, enabling new opportunities to engineer thermal transport, optical response, and quantum coherence in two-dimensional materials.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202510081
Electrochemical two-electron oxygen reduction (2e−ORR) for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) synthesis faces challenges of low cathodic catalytic efficiency and complex catalyst preparation. This study prepared nitrogen-vacancy (Nv) rich carbon nitride via one-step pyrolysis, composited with carbon nanotubes (CNT), and loaded onto graphite felt (GF) to fabricate a non-precious metal gas diffusion electrode Nv-C3N4-CNT/GF. The electrode exhibited a three-dimensional fibrous skeleton with interconnected micro-nano hierarchical pores, facilitating efficient electron transport. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed a low charge transfer resistance of 13.26 Ω, indicating superior electrocatalytic activity and charge transfer efficiency. Single-factor experiments and response surface methodology (RSM) optimization determined optimal conditions: calcination temperature 300 °C, catalyst mass ratio 3:1, Nv-C3N4-CNT loading 0.1 g, current density 40 mA·cm−2, pH 7, and aeration rate 0.1 L·min−1. Under these conditions, H2O2 accumulation reached 1622.73 mg·L−1 after 90 min, which was 1.3 and 1.5 times higher than g-C3N4-CNT/GF and CNT/GF electrodes, respectively. Stability tests showed that after 6 cycles, H2O2 production remained at 1400.52 mg·L−1, and within 960 min, the maximum production reached 2014.04 mg·L−1 with a highest Faradaic efficiency of 54.86%. These results demonstrate the electrode's potential for cyclic use. This study provides a new approach for developing efficient, low-cost electrodes for electrosynthesis of H2O2, offering a reference for green H2O2 production.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(25)60615-3
Co-pyrolysis of oil-rich coal and biomass is a promising route to enhance oil and gas production, yet the underlying synergistic mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigates the effect of hydrothermal pretreatment (HTP) on the co-pyrolysis of Huangling coal (H) and enzymatic hydrolysis lignin (E). Raw and pretreated samples were characterized via proximate/ultimate analysis, SEM, ICP-OES, and 13C-NMR. Fixed-bed pyrolysis experiments were conducted to evaluate synergistic performance. Results show that HTP reduces oxygen content, develops pore structure, and increases concentrations of inorganic metal ions (Ca, K, Fe) in the aqueous phase. Structural modifications bring the carbon skeleton of E closer to that of H, with increased bridge carbon ratio and improved thermal stability, aligning pyrolysis temperature ranges. For the H/E blend (8:2) after 24 h HTP, tar yield increases by 80.52% compared to untreated blend, with significant rises in aliphatic compounds and monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Gas yields of H2, CO, and CH4 increase by 5.47%, 10.98%, and 9.27%, respectively, while CO2 and pyrolysis water generation are inhibited (water yield decreases by 93.98%). Semi-coke pore structure becomes more developed. The enhanced synergistic effect is attributed to a multi-fold mechanism of 'component interaction-structural modification-catalytic cracking'. These findings provide theoretical support for developing technologies to improve co-pyrolysis of oil-rich coal and biomass, advancing low-carbon, high-quality utilization.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4006-4
Hydrogels, despite their potential in flexible electronics and wearable sensors, often suffer from inadequate mechanical robustness under sustained loading. This study aims to overcome this limitation by developing a novel nanocomposite hydrogel system through the integration of calcium-polyoxometalate sub-nanometer wires (Ca-POM SNWs) into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix. Utilizing a H2O/ethylene glycol (EG) binary solvent, the hydrogel achieves uniform dispersion of Ca-POM SNWs, which enhances mechanical properties through dual reinforcement mechanisms: stress dissipation via polymer-mimetic flexibility and crystallinity improvement via hydrophobic ligand-induced chain alignment. The resulting PVA/Ca-POM hydrogel exhibits exceptional performance, including a 2.4-fold increase in fracture stress (0.85 MPa), 3.8-fold toughness enhancement (2.76 MJ m−3), and high ionic conductivity (3.6 S m−1). As a strain sensor, it achieves a gauge factor of 2.56 with rapid response, enabling precise detection of both large joint movements and subtle physiological vibrations. A prototype Morse code communication system further demonstrates its potential in assistive healthcare technologies, facilitating barrier-free, real-time communication between disabled patients and clinicians. This work highlights a breakthrough in inorganic-organic interface compatibility, offering a versatile platform for next-generation wearable technologies and extreme-environment applications. The innovative design principles and multifunctional performance underscore its significance in advancing soft material engineering.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3941-2
The precise and directed assembly of multicomponent aggregates remains a central challenge in materials chemistry, particularly the integration of neutral clusters. This study introduces a 'cation-mediated co-crystallization' strategy to overcome electrostatic assembly barriers between neutral aluminum molecular rings and polyoxometalates (POMs). By controllably functionalizing the rings with cationic moieties, the approach bypasses traditional 'ion-pair' limitations, enabling incorporation of diverse neutral clusters. The strategy exhibits structural extensibility, with cationic sites adjustable on ring exteriors or interiors, and potential extension to various polyanionic systems. The resulting hybrid materials demonstrate outstanding solution processability. When incorporated as dielectric dopants in a polymer matrix, they achieve a synergistic '1+1>2' effect: aluminum rings contribute high capacitance density (~11.19) and low dielectric loss (~0.03), while POMs provide high breakdown strength (~740 MV m−1). This work establishes a paradigm for directed macroscopic functional assembly via molecular-level cluster interaction 'encoding'.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202510017
Municipal solid waste (MSW) is a significant source of urban carbon emissions. This study integrates life cycle assessment (LCA) and system dynamics (SD) to construct a multi-subsystem LCA-SD model covering economy, population, waste generation, transportation, treatment, and resource utilization, using Fuzhou City as a case study. The model was validated against historical data and uncertainty analysis. Carbon emissions from MSW transportation, treatment, and resource utilization during 2013–2023 were calculated, and emission trends under seven reduction scenarios for 2024–2035 were predicted. Results show that Fuzhou's MSW treatment evolved through three stages: 'landfill+incineration', 'treatment structure adjustment', and 'incineration+kitchen waste resource utilization', corresponding to emission growth, fluctuation, and reduction periods. In 2023, total net carbon emissions were 1.07×10^6 t CO2-eq, with incineration being the largest contributor (9.93×10^5 t), followed by transportation (2.93×10^4 t), leachate treatment (2.14×10^4 t), and kitchen waste treatment (7.90×10^3 t, negative emission). Scenario analysis indicates that without further measures, carbon neutrality cannot be achieved. Synergistic enhancement of kitchen waste separation and incineration power generation efficiency can significantly boost reduction, potentially achieving carbon neutrality by 2032. The study provides a dynamic accounting and scenario assessment framework for low-carbon transition of urban solid waste systems.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60676-7
Landfilled municipal solid waste (MSW) in China exceeds 8 billion tons, with high moisture (30–50%) and ash content (>50%), complicating conventional treatment. Slag gasification offers a clean and resource-oriented route, but heavy metal leaching from the resulting slag poses environmental risks. This study investigates the effect of rice husk addition (5–15%) on the vitrification of landfilled-waste slag and the immobilization of heavy metals (Cr, Zn, Cu). Results show that adding 5–10% rice husk lowers the slag flow temperature to a minimum of 1213 °C, attributed to active SiO2 reacting with CaO and Fe2O3 to form low-melting eutectics like anorthite. Leaching concentrations of Cr and Zn decrease from 41.60 and 108.00 mg/L to 5.89 and 7.10 mg/L, respectively, with 10–15% rice husk. The amorphous SiO2 enhances silicate polymerization (Q3, Q4 networks), promoting physical encapsulation and chemical incorporation of heavy metals into stable phases such as Zn2SiO4 and CuFe2O4, increasing the residual fraction and reducing bioavailability. At temperatures >1400 °C, volatilization of Cu and Zn increases, with residual rates dropping to 33–60% and 31–55%, respectively, while Cr remains stable (70–123%). This work elucidates the mechanistic role of rice husk in slag structure modulation and heavy metal immobilization, providing a theoretical basis for the co-treatment of landfilled waste and biomass via a 'treating waste with waste' strategy.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608007
The Minjiang River Basin, subjected to combined pollution from domestic, agricultural, and industrial sources, has become a typical sensitive area for studying the environmental behavior of emerging contaminants such as antibiotics. This study conducted a cross-year comparative analysis of the composition and concentrations of antibiotics in water samples from nine sampling sites during the dry season in November 2022 and 2024. The findings revealed: 1) After the implementation of the "National Action Plan for Reducing Antimicrobial Use in Livestock", the detection concentrations of tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) decreased (e.g., doxycycline concentrations dropped from 7.75 ng/L to undetectable levels), and the mixed risk quotient (MRQ) across the entire basin transitioned from medium to low risk. However, lincomycin (up to 4.6 ng/L), clarithromycin (1.3 ng/L), and florfenicol (0.6 ng/L) have emerged, indicating an increasing hidden ecological risk from substitution. 2) High-concentration antibiotic zones transferred from urban residential areas in 2022 to intensive aquaculture zones and upstream reservoir areas in 2024. The reduction in dry-season water flow intensified pollutant accumulation, synergistically enhancing the effects of tidal drag. Additionally, the conversion of agricultural land to aquaculture ponds led to increased use of alternative drugs (e.g., sulfamethazine), while policy interventions mitigated the exacerbation of urban antibiotic pollution by construction land. This study elucidates the migration patterns of antibiotic pollution under the synergistic effects of policy regulation and natural processes, emphasizing the need to address hidden risks of substitute drugs and the driving role of land-use changes, providing scientific basis for watershed-scale risk assessment and precise management of emerging pollutants.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60663-9
The catalytic hydrogenation of biomass-derived dimethyl succinate (DMS) to 1,4-butanediol (BDO) is a pivotal route for producing high-value C4 chemicals in green chemistry. Cu/SiO2 catalysts are known for high selectivity in hydrogenating ester groups, with performance correlated to copper species microstructure. Although calcination critically defines this active structure, systematic influence of calcination atmosphere remains underexplored. Here, Cu/SiO2 catalysts were prepared via urea-assisted hydrothermal method and calcined under different atmospheres to elucidate effects on physicochemical properties and hydrogenation performance. Comprehensive characterization (N2 physisorption, FT-IR, H2-TPR, XRD, TEM, N2O pulse chemisorption, XPS, NH3-TPD) revealed that calcination atmosphere profoundly alters metal-support interaction, regulating dispersion and chemical state of copper species. Specifically, air calcination promoted stronger metal-support interaction, enhancing copper dispersion and increasing proportion of key active Cu+ species. Consequently, air-calcined catalyst achieved 92.37% DMS conversion and 64.15% BDO yield under optimized conditions (210 °C, 5.0 MPa, WHSV 0.6 h−1, H2/DMS molar ratio 100). This work underscores calcination atmosphere engineering as potent strategy for optimizing metal-support interactions in heterogeneous catalysts for efficient hydrogenation.
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/s40843-026-4216-7
Flexible Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) solar cells are promising for lightweight and mechanically pliable photovoltaics, yet their performance is limited by severe non-radiative recombination and residual stress. Here, we report a sealed constant temperature (SCT) annealing strategy that simultaneously optimizes the CZTSSe/CdS heterojunction and alleviates stress. Under uniform mild thermal conditions (85°C, 5 h), SCT annealing promotes gradient diffusion of Cd2+ into the absorber, partially substituting Zn2+, which optimizes band alignment, passivates interface defects, and suppresses near-interface CuZn defects. This reduces open-circuit voltage loss and improves fill factor. The flexible device achieves a power conversion efficiency of 13.07%, a significant improvement over the reference (12.1%). The SCT strategy also enhances mechanical flexibility by reducing residual stress. Our findings provide a controllable route to advance both efficiency and flexibility of flexible CZTSSe solar cells.