SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4415-3
The escalating demands of military stealth platforms and the proliferation of electromagnetic pollution have intensified the need for high-performance electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbers. Nanofibers, characterized by high specific surface area and favorable composite compatibility, are engineered into absorbers with outstanding electromagnetic properties. This review consolidates the preparation and optimization strategies for nanofiber-based absorbers. The electromagnetic attenuation mechanisms are first outlined, followed by a systematic classification of nanofiber fabrication methods into two principal categories: in-situ synthesis and electrospinning-derived processes. Recent advances in optimization strategies for absorbers constructed from nanofibers with tailored electromagnetic characteristics are then examined. The review draws upon representative studies, including ultrathin and flexible electromagnetic interference shielding films via interface-confinement, design strategies for wave-absorbing polymer-based shielding materials, impedance-matchable 3D MXene sponge/NiFe@NC heterostructures with tunable pores, and the influence of fiber coating on SiCf/epoxy composites. These works collectively demonstrate the critical role of fiber architecture, interface engineering, and impedance matching in determining absorption performance. The analysis identifies persistent challenges in scalability, cost, and environmental stability, and outlines future prospects for nanofiber-based EMW absorbers. This review provides a foundational reference for researchers and engineers seeking to translate nanofiber absorber concepts into deployable stealth and pollution-mitigation technologies.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3823-4
The global demand for chlorine gas continues to rise, driven by its indispensable role in chemical synthesis, disinfection, and wastewater treatment. Electrocatalytic chlorine evolution from seawater presents a promising alternative to the energy-intensive chlor-alkali process, yet it is hampered by the competing oxygen evolution reaction and the sluggish kinetics of chlorine evolution on conventional catalysts. Here, we report a novel hollow porous CoNiSe2/NiSe2 heterostructure nanosheet array synthesized via ion exchange and calcination, which exhibits exceptional catalytic activity and selectivity for the chlorine evolution reaction in acidic seawater-like electrolytes. The unique hollow porous morphology provides a high specific surface area, facilitating mass transport and exposing abundant active sites. Crucially, the heterointerface between CoNiSe2 and NiSe2 promotes d-p orbital hybridization between Co/Ni 3d and Se 4p states, which lowers the reaction energy barrier for chlorine evolution. The catalyst achieves a low overpotential of 108 mV to reach a current density of 100 mA cm−2 in 4.0 M NaCl acidic medium, with excellent stability and Cl2 selectivity. This work demonstrates the potential of non-noble metal selenides as efficient and durable catalysts for chlorine production, offering a pathway toward more sustainable chlor-alkali technology.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4049-0
Isotope separations, particularly the separation of water isotopologues (H2O, HDO, D2O), are critical yet challenging due to their nearly identical physicochemical properties. Conventional methods such as distillation and electrolysis are energy-intensive and inefficient. Here, we report a molecularly woven porous polymer (PWPN-1) that achieves efficient room-temperature separation of water isotopologues via adaptive framework dynamics. PWPN-1 is constructed from interlaced two-dimensional woven layers linked by B←N coordination nodes, forming a three-dimensional flexible framework. Upon activation, it undergoes reversible contraction along the crystallographic c-axis, exhibiting a breathing behavior that creates differentiated adsorption sites favoring D2O retention. Gas-phase breakthrough experiments demonstrate markedly different retention times for H2O (223 min g−1) and D2O (686 min g−1), with clearly resolved breakthrough curves for H2O/HDO/D2O mixtures under continuous flow. The material is synthesized on a 100-gram scale with ~95% yield and remains stable over multiple adsorption-desorption cycles. Single-crystal structure analyses, combined with path-integral molecular dynamics and DFT calculations, reveal that D2O exhibits slightly stronger binding energies (by 1–2 kJ mol−1) and higher diffusion barriers, arising from nuclear quantum effects. These small energetic differences are amplified by the flexible woven topology, enabling efficient isotope separation under ambient conditions. This work represents a conceptual advance in materials design, transposing macroscopic weaving to the molecular scale for practical isotope enrichment.