SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4480-1
Ternary organic solar cells (OSCs) incorporating a structurally compatible guest acceptor (C7-Cl) into the PM6:BTP-eC9 host system are demonstrated. The low Flory-Huggins interaction parameter between host and guest acceptors facilitates intimate mixing, optimizing molecular packing and energy-level alignment. High-sensitivity sEQE and EQEEL analyses reveal a reduced non-radiative energy loss (KE3) of 0.216 eV in the ternary device. Consequently, the optimized ternary OSC achieves a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.02% and an improved T80 operational lifetime of 1065 h. This work establishes a feasible strategy via structurally compatible guest doping to simultaneously optimize vertical phase separation and suppress non-radiative loss, providing a facile and effective route toward high-performance and stable OSCs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4255-5
Localized overheating in high-rate lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) or lithium metal batteries (LMBs) accelerates dendrite formation, disrupting current density and thermal distribution uniformity. This study constructs a Janus-structured, polybenzimidazole (PBI)-welded separator (JNS@PBI) with polypropylene nanofibers (PPNFs) on one face and nanoscale carbon black-modified PPNFs (CPPNFs) on the other. The CPPNFs layer provides electronic conductivity to homogenize interfacial current distribution and heat dissipation, while the PPNFs layer ensures electronic insulation. PBI, serving as a welding agent with intrinsic ionic conductivity, enhances mechanical properties and lithium-ion transport. This design enables synergistic transport of ions and electrons at the JNS@PBI/SEI interface. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations elucidate how JNS@PBI enhances interfacial ion transport and regulates lithium deposition. JNS@PBI exhibits high porosity (71.3%), superior electrolyte uptake (451%), and high ionic conductivity (1.80 mS cm−1). Electrochemical tests confirm exceptional interfacial stability, with stable polarization voltage over 2000 h of plating/stripping cycles. Remarkable rate capability and cycling endurance are observed: high-capacity retention rates of 85.2% after 700 cycles at 1 C and 90.3% after 1500 cycles at 3 C in assembled LiFePO4/graphite full cells. This work provides a promising approach for next-generation separators for high-safety LIBs or LMBs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3596-2
High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have shown great promise in the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) due to their tunable composition and unique physical and chemical properties. However, the role of HEAs in CO2RR and the underlying reaction mechanism remain underexplored, particularly through in situ techniques. In this work, we investigate the mechanism of CO2 reduction on AuAgCuPdPt HEAs using in situ Raman spectroscopy and attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy to reveal key intermediates and reaction pathways. Our results demonstrate that within the potential window of −0.2 to −0.7 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), the AuAgCuPdPt HEAs efficiently reduce CO2 to CO, achieving a Faradaic efficiency (FE) for CO greater than 90%, with a peak FE of 96.5% at −0.3 V vs. RHE. The CO2− intermediate was observed at low potentials, revealing the reaction pathway in the CO2 reduction process. Additionally, in situ ATR-FTIR results suggest that the introduction of an appropriate amount of Pt metal not only promotes water dissociation to generate protonic hydrogen, but also facilitates the desorption of *CO intermediates. The kinetic isotope effect of hydrogen-deuterium (H-D) confirms that water dissociation acts as a key proton donor in CO2RR. Furthermore, the catalyst of AuAgCuPdPt HEAs was applied as cathodes in a Zn-CO2 battery, achieving 90.23% FE for CO and a power density of 3.474 mW cm−2. This study provides new insights into the mechanistic understanding of CO2 reduction and underscores the importance of in situ spectroscopic techniques for advancing the design of efficient electrocatalysts for CO2 conversion.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3588-2
The rapid evolution of aerospace technology necessitates the development of multi-functional composites that combine light weight, mechanical robustness, thermal protection/insulation, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. C/SiC porous ceramic composites are promising for thermal protection in hypersonic vehicles. Here, we report a facile strategy to fabricate Cf/SiC composite polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs) via re-pyrolysis of high-energy ball-milled polycarbosilane-vinyltriethoxysilane-graphene oxide (PVG) with Cf/SiC(rGO)p blend interleaves. In-situ generated honeycomb-like cellular structures and non-directional channels reduce density and increase porosity. High-quality SiO2 joints, formed from Si-dangling bonds, strengthen interfacial bonding via a brazing effect, while in-situ SiOC nanowires (SiOCnws) create a hierarchically enhanced network, improving fracture toughness and crack resistance. Multi-scale interfacial/dipole polarization enhances EMI shielding. The optimized Cf(0.2)/SiC(rGO) composite exhibits low density (1.49 g cm−3), high fracture toughness (6.32 MPa m1/2), hardness (7.18 GPa), compressive strength (72.67 MPa), and EMI shielding effectiveness of 58.31 dB. It maintains structural stability under butane blowtorch ablation at ~1300 °C for 3600 s. Porous variants show thermal conductivity of 0.211 W m−1 K−1 with 69.74% porosity. These multi-functional composites are promising for thermal protection systems in aerospace applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3615-1
Stretchable electronics are pivotal for bio-integrated devices, soft robotics, and wearables, yet their development is constrained by single-layer architectures that limit integration density and by mechanical mismatch between rigid components and soft substrates, which curtails service life. Here, we introduce a LEGO-like modular assembly strategy to construct multilayer three-dimensional (3D) stretchable electronics. Electronic components (ECs) and self-healing polyurethane (SPU) substrates patterned with liquid metal (LM) circuits serve as the modular blocks. This design simplifies fabrication and markedly enhances 3D integration density. The combination of LM circuits and self-healing elastic substrates enables devices to withstand diverse deformations and to autonomously heal after mechanical damage. Notably, the devices can undergo multiple recycling and reuse cycles without significant performance loss. This methodology offers a new paradigm for advanced flexible electronics, addressing critical bottlenecks in integration density, mechanical robustness, and sustainability.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202606016
Barium slag, a solid waste from barium salt production, poses environmental risks due to high sulfur and soluble barium content. This study investigated the desulfurization of barium slag using sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) as a precipitating agent. The effects of reaction temperature, time, and Na2CO3 concentration on desulfurization efficiency were systematically evaluated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) were employed to analyze phase transformations and microstructural evolution. Results showed that desulfurization primarily proceeds via the reaction of ettringite (Ca6(Al(OH)6)2(SO4)3·26H2O) with Na2CO3, forming calcium carbonate (CaCO3) precipitates. However, the precipitated CaCO3 accumulates on ettringite surfaces, hindering further reaction. Under optimal conditions (60 °C, 5 h, 2 mol/L Na2CO3), the desulfurization efficiency reached 91.21%, reducing sulfur content in the slag to 0.27%, meeting the HJ 662—2013 standard for cement kiln co-processing. This work provides a mechanistic basis for efficient and environmentally sound treatment of barium slag, supporting its resource utilization in cement production.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3351-2
Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) face critical barriers of inferior cycling stability and safety hazards from uncontrolled lithium dendrite growth. This study constructs a multifunctional hybrid protection layer of Li3Bi/LiF via spontaneous reduction between Li and BiF3. The lithiophilic Li3Bi serves as nucleation seeds to reduce the nucleation barrier and guide uniform Li deposition, while LiF with high ionic conductivity promotes Li+ diffusion kinetics and homogenizes Li+ flux during plating/stripping. The BiF3-Li symmetric cell exhibits excellent Li plating/stripping behavior over 2500 h at 3 mA cm−2 for 3 mAh cm−2 with a low voltage hysteresis of 60 mV. The BiF3-Li||LiFePO4 full cell demonstrates a remarkable capacity retention of 73% after 1700 cycles at 1 C. This work provides a facile strategy for developing multifunctional artificial interlayers and offers valuable insights for the design and fabrication of high-performance LMBs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3523-1
Natural surfaces with heterogeneous wettability inspire functional material innovations. Lubricant-infused slipperiness and heterogeneous three-dimensional (3D) micro-textures display diversified interface features and spatial topologies. However, constructing well-defined heterogeneous wettability on 3D micro-textures to create stable heterogeneous slippery surfaces remains challenging. Here, a 3D micro-heterogeneous wetting surface, featuring a lubricant sea dotted with superhydrophilic micro-islands, was fabricated via an innovative method without costly techniques. Tunable micro-island dimensions are supported for stable lubricant retention and programmable slipperiness. The flexibility and vertical heterogeneity enable the film advanced functions of deformation-responsive convertible adhesion and high-performance water collection. This work can greatly boost interfacial materials and extend their application in intelligent microfluidics and sustainable systems.