Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2026031703
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are ubiquitously detected in aquatic environments, and conventional treatment methods fail to achieve efficient degradation due to their structural stability and resistance to biological transformation. Heterogeneous electro-Fenton (HEF) technology, which generates H2O2 in situ via the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e−ORR) and activates it to hydroxyl radicals (·OH) on solid catalysts, has emerged as a promising advanced oxidation process. HEF eliminates the need for external reagents, offers adjustable potential, and operates effectively across a broader pH range than classical Fenton, mitigating iron sludge production and secondary pollution. However, catalytic efficiency is significantly influenced by catalyst properties, solution pH, current density, and electrolyte type. Current research focuses on two main strategies: (1) developing high-performance bifunctional catalysts that simultaneously enhance 2e−ORR selectivity and H2O2-to-·OH conversion efficiency, and (2) constructing dual-cathode systems that spatially separate H2O2 generation and activation, thereby improving reaction synergy, reducing metal leaching, and enhancing electron utilization. Additionally, HEF can be coupled with electro-oxidation, persulfate activation, and UV irradiation to exploit synergistic effects, enhancing mineralization efficiency and reducing energy consumption. This paper systematically reviews the reaction mechanisms, key influencing factors, and optimization strategies of HEF, aiming to provide a theoretical basis and technical reference for its engineering application.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3834-x
Lithium metal anodes face critical barriers to practical application due to dendritic growth and interfacial instability, which cause short cycle life and safety hazards. This work introduces a highly stable and ultrahigh-rate lithium metal anode using a lithiophilic Sm2S3-modified carbonaceous host. The in situ formation of a Li2S-reinforced interphase layer enables highly reversible lithium plating/stripping and uniform deposition. The modified anode achieves an ultrahigh rate capability of 20 mA cm−2 and ultralong cycling stability of 7440 cycles with dendrite-free morphology. In a 4.5 V anode-less Li||LiCoO2 cell with an areal capacity of ~1.93 mA h cm−2, the system sustains over 1100 cycles with 87.2% capacity retention under harsh conditions: an ultralow negative-to-positive capacity ratio (N/P) of ~0.26 and lean electrolyte of ~5 g Ah−1. Furthermore, an anode-less pouch cell with an ultrahigh areal capacity of ~6.01 mA h cm−2 delivers superior cycling performance even at an ultra-low N/P ratio of ~0.71 and ultra-lean electrolyte of ~1 g Ah−1, achieving a high energy density of 505 Wh kg−1. This work provides a scalable and effective strategy for advancing reliable, practical lithium metal batteries.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202509019
To enhance the electricity generation and decolorization efficiency of bioelectrochemical systems (BES) for azo dye wastewater, this study introduced pomelo peel biochar as anode material and flavonoid-rich Chinese herbal medicines as electron mediators (EMs) into microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The anodes were prepared by chemical activation with KOH, ZnCl2, and H3BO3, followed by polypyrrole (PPy) modification. Among the modified anodes, PPy-PPCH3BO3-CC exhibited the best electrochemical performance. The EMs were derived from aqueous extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis (Huangqin), Ginkgo biloba leaves, and Pueraria lobata (Gegen). The extract from Scutellaria baicalensis showed the highest electron transfer capability. In the MFC system equipped with the optimal anode and Scutellaria baicalensis extract, the maximum output voltage reached (587±10) mV, power density increased to 423.12 mW·m−2, Coulombic efficiency was (57.85±1.06)%, COD removal efficiency was (77.45±0.92)%, charge transfer resistance (Rct) decreased to 7.15 Ω, and methyl orange decolorization rate reached (95.86±1.12)%. These results were significantly superior to the control group, demonstrating that natural source materials can effectively enhance the performance of BES for methyl orange wastewater treatment.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3783-x
The synergistic strategy combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy has recently demonstrated significant promise in cancer treatment. However, the substantial physicochemical disparities between chemotherapeutic agents and small-molecule immune adjuvants pose considerable challenges for co-delivery strategies. In this study, we designed a reactive oxygen species-responsive paclitaxel prodrug, PTX-PBA, which markedly enhanced drug encapsulation stability and dual-drug loading efficiency by various polymeric delivery systems. The resultant nanosystem (NanoPR) exhibited excellent physicochemical properties and ROS-triggered release profiles, effectively inducing immunogenic cell death in tumor cells while promoting dendritic cell maturation and CD8+ T cells activation. In murine models of 4T1 breast cancer and CT26 colon carcinoma, NanoPR achieved significant tumor growth inhibition and elicited durable immune memory responses. Collectively, this work provides an innovative molecular design strategy for the co-delivery of chemotherapeutics and immunomodulators, offering a robust foundation for the clinical translation of chemo-immunotherapy.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3541-8
Hydrogen fuel cells with high energy conversion efficiency and zero carbon emissions play a critical role in addressing energy crises and environmental pollution, when the hydrogen is derived from renewable energy-powered water electrolysis. The core of the reaction lies in the catalytic reaction interface. At this interface, the complex interactions among catalysts, aqueous environments, ion species, and ionomers directly determine the efficiency of the catalytic reaction. This review systematically summarized four key interfacial influencing factors, including adsorption behavior of catalysts, interfacial water dynamics, ion modification, and ionomer-electrode interactions. It provided an in-depth summary of key regulation strategies such as catalyst engineering, interfacial water structure optimization, ionic group functionalization, and interface reinforcement. Furthermore, future development directions are proposed, focusing on in-situ characterization, multiphase interface engineering, durability enhancement of non-precious metal catalysts, and machine learning-driven multiscale modeling, aiming to establish fuel cells as a cornerstone of sustainable energy systems.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3619-1
Inflammation and ischemic microenvironments represent significant challenges in cardiac repair. To address these issues, a series of dual-dynamically crosslinked alginate-based hydrogels (SA-PBA/E/Sr) containing strontium ions (Sr2+) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) were developed, demonstrating microenvironment modulation and angiogenic capabilities in the myocardial infarction (MI) microenvironment. In the SA-PBA/E/Sr hydrogel system, alginate modified with aminophenylboronic acid (PBA) was synthesized to form boronic acid ester bonds with EGCG and an ionic coordination network with Sr2+ ions. The resulting hydrogel exhibits excellent injectability due to its dual-dynamically crosslinked structure, with its formation and mechanical properties being tunably modulated by the PBA substitution degree, EGCG concentration, and Sr2+ content. The incorporation of EGCG enables the hydrogel to efficiently scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitigate oxidative stress-induced cellular damage under hypoxia. Furthermore, the introduction of Sr2+ significantly enhances the migratory capacity of endothelial cells, a critical factor in angiogenesis. In vivo experiments revealed that the injection of SA-PBA/E/Sr hydrogel into the infarcted myocardium of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats led to reduced ROS levels, alleviated inflammatory responses, suppression of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophage expression, enhancement of anti-inflammatory M2 macrophage expression, and accelerated neovascularization in the damaged tissue. Echocardiographic and histological analyses demonstrated a remarkable increase in ejection fraction and a decreased infarct size, collectively indicating significant cardiac functional recovery.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3504-1
Anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs) offer a cost-effective route for green hydrogen production by enabling non-precious metal catalysts and rapid start-stop operation. However, the trade-off between hydroxide conductivity and alkaline stability of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) remains a critical bottleneck. This study introduces a pyrene-based π-π stacking strategy to simultaneously enhance both properties. The synergistic π-stacking networks in the polymer backbone induce long-range cation aggregation through directed self-assembly, generating ionic cluster microdomains that elevate local hydroxide concentration and increase the density of accessible ion hopping sites. Additionally, the electron-donating effect of pyrene reduces the electrostatic potential of β-H adjacent to quaternary ammonium cations, raising the energy barrier for OH− nucleophilic attack. The resulting AEM exhibits exceptional performance: a hydroxide conductivity of 160 mS/cm and merely 0.35% conductivity degradation after 1950 h in 2 M KOH at 80 °C. The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) achieves a current density of 2.58 A/cm2 at 1.8 V and maintains stable operation for over 700 h in durability testing. These findings demonstrate a viable pathway for developing high-performance AEMs that meet the rigorous demands of industrial water electrolysis.