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/s40843-025-3877-7
Circularly polarized (CP) photodetectors are pivotal for optical communication, polarization imaging, and target recognition. Chiral organic materials offer structural tunability, solution processability, and compatibility with flexible substrates, yet their development is hindered by synthetic challenges, enantiomeric separation difficulties, and intrinsically weak chiroptical responses. Recent advances in molecular design and solid-state assembly have markedly enhanced device performance. This review summarizes developments in chiral organic materials for CP photodetection, focusing on molecular design and supramolecular engineering. It highlights strategies such as chiral non-fullerene acceptors, cooperative supramolecular polymerization, and chiral 2D supramolecular organization in single crystals, which amplify dissymmetry factors and enable high-performance detection across UV to near-infrared regions. Potential applications in spin-encoded communication, biological sensing, and quantum computing are discussed. The review aims to deepen understanding and foster interdisciplinary research in this emerging field.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4048-x
Selective oxidation of aromatic alkanes is a key reaction to produce high-value chemicals in the chemical industry. However, the strong C–H bonds and inert chemical properties of aromatic alkanes render the oxidation process difficult, thereby making the development of promising and sustainable catalysts highly desirable. Herein, a resin-assisted coordination co-assembly strategy is developed to synthesize heterometal-doped mesoporous Co3O4 with abundant oxygen vacancies, enabling precise control over both composition and pore structure. The site-specific Mn doping at octahedral sites of mesoporous Co3O4 promotes the formation of oxygen vacancy with enhanced activity. Density functional theory calculations further demonstrate that Mn doping in mesoporous Co3O4 reduces the oxygen vacancy formation energy, induces the electronic structure modifications and introduces the defect energy levels, finally promoting the efficient catalytic oxidation of a series of aromatic alkanes. Representatively, Mn-doped mesoporous Co3O4 exhibits remarkably outstanding catalytic activity, achieving 37% conversion of ethylbenzene and 97% selectivity for acetophenone under solvent-free conditions.