SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4201-0
Open fracture fixation faces dual critical challenges: bacterial infection and impaired bone healing. This study presents a rationally designed biomacromolecular network coating (Ti-GOED) on titanium alloy bone plates to simultaneously address these issues. The coating integrates antimicrobial and osteogenic components, achieving an optimal balance between antibacterial efficacy and biocompatibility. In vitro assays demonstrated that Ti-GOED eliminates over 99% of common pathogenic bacteria by inhibiting peptidoglycan synthesis, disrupting bacterial cell wall formation, compromising membrane integrity, and leading to intracellular DNA leakage and bacterial death. Concurrently, Ti-GOED enhances the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) via activation of the PI3K-Akt and HIF-1 signaling pathways. In vivo animal experiments confirmed strong antibacterial and osteogenic properties. This work provides a strategy for developing antibacterial coatings on medical devices, with significant potential for preventing and treating infections post-fracture fixation.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3660-5
High-sensitivity piezoelectric ceramics with high piezoelectric constants (d33) are crucial for miniaturized, low-power, and high-efficiency transducers. However, conventional performance enhancement relies on intrinsic parameter modulation, which is limited and blind. This study introduces a performance-driven metamaterials creation model to develop structure-function-integrated piezoelectric materials. We systematically investigated the effects of metastructure design on d33 across two-dimensional straight rod (SR) structures, three-dimensional dot-matrix (Octa) structures, complex triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structures, and hybrid Octa&SR structures. The results demonstrate that metastructures combining high polarization charge conversion efficiency with low compression modulus (stiffness) effectively enhance d33. The SR structure exhibited optimal polarization charge conversion, the Fks-Shellular (FksS) structure within TPMS showed low stiffness, and the Octa&SR structure combined both properties. Notably, all three structures displayed exceptional piezoelectric performance. Specifically, the FksS structure achieved a substantial d33 of 194 pC/N, a 24% enhancement over conventional solid BaTiO3, while maintaining isotropic and stress-insensitive properties. This work elucidates the mechanism for designing piezoelectric metastructures, offering a novel pathway for developing high-performance, high-failure-strength piezoelectric materials.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3625-3
Zirconia (ZrO2)-based fluorite ferroelectric materials are promising for nonvolatile memory and logic devices due to their CMOS compatibility and cost advantages over hafnium oxide (HfO2). However, the metastable nature of the ferroelectric orthorhombic phase (o-phase) hinders practical application. Here, we report the strain-mediated stabilization of the ferroelectric o-phase in ZrO2 thin films grown on niobium-doped strontium titanate (NSTO) substrates with different crystallographic orientations via chemical solution deposition. Systematic structural and ferroelectric characterization, combined with simulation, reveals that substrate orientation controls in-plane tensile strain, selectively promoting epitaxial growth of the o-phase. The ZrO2 film on NSTO(110) exhibits the highest o-phase content, achieving a remanent polarization (2Pr) of 92.64 μC/cm², which remains as high as 88.54 μC/cm² after resistive-capacitive (RC) delay calibration. The device shows endurance of approximately 10^7 cycles with favorable fatigue characteristics. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) further indicates distortion of Zr-O tetrahedra, providing microscopic insight into the ferroelectricity. This work presents a novel strategy for property tuning of ZrO2 films and supports their application in storage and logic devices.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025030305
The rapid expansion of livestock and poultry farming has intensified the challenge of managing sludge, which contains heavy metals (primarily Cu and Zn), antibiotics, and pathogens. Calcium carbide slag (CCS), an alkaline industrial waste rich in Ca(OH)2, CaCO3, and other minerals, poses environmental risks due to its high alkalinity. This study investigates the speciation transformation of heavy metals in biochar derived from co-pyrolysis of livestock sludge and CCS under varying temperatures (400–700 °C) and mixing ratios (sludge:CCS = 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1). The results demonstrate that at 600 °C and a 2:1 mixing ratio, calcium-based compounds and SiO2 in CCS effectively immobilize heavy metals through crystal solid solution and complexation, reducing their ecological risk. Sequential extraction indicated a shift from exchangeable and reducible fractions to residual fractions, with the residual fraction of Cu and Zn increasing by up to 45% and 38%, respectively, compared to sludge-only pyrolysis. The formation of apatite phosphorus (Ca5(PO4)3OH and Ca3(PO4)2) enhances the bioavailability of phosphorus in the biochar, making it a potential slow-release fertilizer. The study provides a novel strategy for the synergistic treatment of livestock sludge and CCS, offering environmental and economic benefits by producing stable, nutrient-rich biochar while mitigating heavy metal toxicity.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025040104
The oxidative transformation of 2,6-dichlorophenol (2,6-DCP) was investigated in three typical zonal soils: black soil, red soil, and brown soil. Results demonstrated that 2,6-DCP underwent oxidative coupling in all soils, yielding hydroxylated polychlorinated diphenyl ethers (OH-PCDEs) and hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs) as primary products. The highest oxidative efficiency occurred in black soil, with approximately 85.1% of 2,6-DCP transformed within three days. In contrast, red and brown soils exhibited lower efficiencies, indicating a strong dependence on soil properties. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the oxidative coupling reaction is endothermic, with elevated temperatures favoring reaction progress. Furthermore, soil microorganisms and dissolved oxygen were identified as critical controlling factors, acting synergistically to drive the reaction. This study provides the first evidence of natural oxidative coupling of 2,6-DCP in soil, forming OH-PCDEs and OH-PCBs. These findings offer significant scientific insight into the environmental fate of halogenated phenolic pollutants in terrestrial systems.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608009
To investigate the flow and heat transfer characteristics of natural draft direct air-cooling towers (NDC) for large coal-fired power generating units, a three-dimensional CFD numerical model covering major plant buildings, air-cooled radiators, and ambient wind fields was established based on the NDC systems of a 2×660 MW unit of a power plant. The influences of meteorological factors, including ambient wind speed, ambient temperature, and ambient wind direction, as well as regulation measures such as rolling shutters, louvers, and bypass windows on the heat dissipation performance of NDC towers were systematically analyzed. The results demonstrate that ambient wind speed acts as the dominant factor governing the performance of the NDC system. As wind speed rose, the uneven distribution of air intake volume and heat dissipation among each cooling delta increased remarkably, which elevated the unit back pressure, and the upstream tower suffered more severe impacts than the downstream one. Ambient temperature exerted a slight effect on circumferential flow distribution, yet substantially changed the overall back pressure of the system. In terms of regulation strategies, closing rolling shutters in the windward zone and reducing the opening of partial louvers can improve air flow redistribution to a certain extent, but will reduce the total air flow rate and total heat dissipation of the entire tower. By contrast, bottom bypass windows can effectively optimize the air intake on the leeward side and boost heat dissipation under high-wind operating conditions, whereas top bypass windows deliver only limited improvement effects. This research can provide fundamental data and technical references for the optimal design, operational regulation, and energy-saving retrofitting of large NDC units.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608020
This paper systematically reviews the progress and achievements of China's collaborative innovation pilots for pollution and carbon emission reduction, identifies existing problems, and proposes targeted recommendations. As of the first batch, 64 pilot units (21 cities and 43 industrial parks) have issued implementation plans, with overall smooth progress and notable phased outcomes. Most pilots have actively promoted institutional and mechanism innovations, achieving substantial advancements in key sectors and critical areas, and yielding replicable practices. However, challenges persist, including fragmented interdepartmental collaboration, insufficient alignment of management systems, funding shortages for synergistic projects, and inadequate technological support. Recommendations include intensifying awareness campaigns, establishing coordinated promotion mechanisms, accelerating management system implementation, advancing core technology R&D, conducting progress evaluations, and amplifying publicity. For the second batch, suggestions focus on expansion strategies, pilot types, and selection methods, emphasizing incremental tasks, diverse pilot subjects (from provincial to enterprise levels), and clear articulation of expected outcomes and demonstration targets. The paper underscores the need to transform local experiences into institutionalized frameworks, fostering a four-dimensional synergy of carbon reduction, pollution control, green expansion, and economic growth, thereby contributing to China's ecological civilization and global climate governance.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4334-9
Piezoelectric materials underpin modern electromechanical energy conversion, serving as critical components in sensors, actuators, and energy harvesters. Their performance is intrinsically governed by the piezoelectric coefficient, yet optimizing this property remains challenging due to the profound influence of diverse microscopic structures. This review systematically examines three fundamental crystalline architectures—perovskite, wurtzite, and fluorite—and critically analyzes performance optimization strategies tailored to each structure. We explore five principal modification approaches: defect engineering, elemental doping, heterostructure film fabrication, composite film design, and buffer layer incorporation, with emphasis on the underlying physical mechanisms that drive property enhancements. By providing a cross-structural comparison, this review establishes clear structure–property relationships, offering a foundational guide for material selection and design. Furthermore, we highlight the implications of these advanced materials for next-generation applications in energy harvesting and smart devices. Finally, we present a forward-looking roadmap, outlining emerging research directions and addressing key technical challenges to guide the development of next-generation high-performance piezoelectric materials.