SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4279-0
Inkjet printing has emerged as a viable additive manufacturing route for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), offering drop-on-demand patterning, high material utilization, and compatibility with large-area flexible substrates. This review critically examines the formulation science, printhead physics, and drying kinetics that govern the quality of inkjet-printed organic layers. We analyze the rheological window required for stable jetting, typically 1–20 mPa·s viscosity and 25–45 mN/m surface tension, and the dimensionless Ohnesorge number (0.1 < Z < 1) that defines satellite-free droplet formation. The coffee-ring effect, driven by capillary flow and solvent evaporation gradients, remains the dominant failure mode for pixel non-uniformity; binary solvent systems and substrate temperature control (40–60 °C) mitigate this. We survey recent progress in printed hole-transport, emissive, and electron-transport layers, with particular attention to cross-linkable hole-transport materials that resist interlayer dissolution. Device performance metrics from printed OLEDs now reach external quantum efficiencies of 15–20% for fluorescent emitters and >25% for phosphorescent systems, with operating lifetimes (T95) exceeding 1,000 hours at 1,000 cd/m². We identify remaining bottlenecks: nozzle clogging from aggregated nanoparticles, film thickness variation across large panels, and the absence of standardized ink formulations. The review concludes with a roadmap for industrial adoption, emphasizing in-line metrology and closed-loop process control as prerequisites for yield parity with vacuum-deposited OLEDs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4468-6
The proliferation of multispectral detection platforms demands materials that simultaneously satisfy electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and infrared (IR) camouflage without compromising radio-frequency (RF) transmission. Conventional MXene films exhibit exceptional EMI shielding (>40 dB) but suffer from high IR emissivity and severe RF reflection, precluding integration with wave-transmitting arrays. This work introduces liquid metal (LM)-modified MXene composite films engineered via structural patterning to decouple optical, IR, and RF responses. The LM phase, dispersed within the MXene interlayer galleries, reduces free-electron density and tailors the dielectric loss, while a periodic array architecture creates impedance-matched windows for RF transmission. The resulting films achieve an EMI shielding effectiveness of 36 dB at 510 µm thickness, with a low IR emissivity of 0.36 and an RF transmittance exceeding 80% in the X-band. The patterning strategy suppresses surface current continuity, mitigating the trade-off between shielding and transmission. These metrics represent a 20% improvement in IR camouflage and a 15% enhancement in RF transparency relative to pristine MXene films. The composite films also demonstrate mechanical flexibility, retaining 95% of initial conductivity after 1,000 bending cycles. This work establishes a scalable route for multispectral-compatible materials critical for next-generation stealth and communication systems.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4275-3
Electrochemical in-situ production of active chlorine (AC) via chlorine evolution reaction (CER) can alleviate hull corrosion and residual chlorine overage, which is a highly reliable disinfectant for sewage and ballast water. Nonetheless, the primarily competitive oxygen evolution reaction and gradual anode passivation hinder its practical application. Herein, we employed the in-situ hydrothermal strategy to synthesize Ru/TiO2-x to realize high activity and selectivity of CER. The robust interaction of Ru sites and TiO2-x achieved via a one-step hydrothermal synthesis strategy, the structural and valence state characterizations confirm that Ti3+ stabilizes Ru solely in the metallic state (Ru0) via structural confinement effects, effectively inhibiting catalyst oxidation. As a result, the Ru/TiO2-x requires only an overpotential of 33 mV to reach 10 mA cm−2, and possess strong catalytic durability, sustaining continuous operation for 100 h with negligible current decay. Further integration with a triboelectric nanogenerators successfully realizes the generation of AC, which demonstrates a >99.9% inactivation efficiency against Escherichia coli in simulated seawater environments, while also effectively degrading ammonia nitrogen and urea contaminants in domestic wastewater.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4292-4
The vast compositional space of high-entropy materials presents a fundamental challenge for catalyst discovery. Considering 21 candidate elements at a 1% atomic resolution, this combinatorial explosion exceeds 10 billion (>10^10) possibilities, rendering direct experimental exploration impractical. Furthermore, purely data-driven approaches often struggle to comprehend the intrinsic chemical roles of discrete elemental identities, yet they excel at mapping continuous concentration gradients. Recognizing this distinction, we transform this combinatorial explosion into a targeted optimization problem by decoupling elemental selection from compositional ratio refinement. Ultrafast carbon thermal shock (CTS) is first employed to screen viable elemental combinations and establish an optimal quinary framework. Machine learning (ML) is subsequently applied to optimize compositional ratios within this reduced space, where statistical modeling efficiently navigates the remaining high-dimensional landscape. Targeting the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) as a proof-of-concept, our hybrid framework pruned the search space from over 10^10 possible compositions down into 13 systems, ultimately identifying high-entropy oxide (HEO)-Fe17.57Co28.45Ni31.27Mo10.57Zr12.14 as the optimal catalyst. The optimized high-entropy oxide exhibits an overpotential of 240 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and sustains stable operation at 1 A cm−2 for over 600 h in 1 M KOH. Mechanistic analysis reveals that Mo electronically tunes oxygen-intermediate adsorption, while Zr enhances structural robustness, collectively enabling high activity and durability. This work demonstrates that bridging discrete physical screening with continuous data-driven optimization provides an efficient and generalizable pathway for navigating high-dimensional material frontiers.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3559-5
Polyamide (PA) membranes are promising for lithium extraction from spent lithium-ion battery (LIB) leachate but face a trade-off between selectivity and permeability. Here, we demonstrate that nascent PA membranes post-grafted with triaminoguanidinium (TAG) monomers (PA-TAG membranes) gain expanded ion passage channels (0.8–7.1 Å) and enhanced positive charge, achieving high-performance lithium separation. The PA-TAG membrane exhibits a pure water permeance (PWP) of 15.5 L m−2 h−1 bar−1, superior divalent ion rejection (~98%), and an excellent separation factor (~30), significantly outperforming pristine PA membranes. In a simulated acidic battery leachate, the PA-TAG membrane achieved a relative volumetric lithium recovery rate of 48.2% after a two-stage nanofiltration process, with the Li+/M2+ mass ratio of the second permeate reaching 53.35, 445 times that of the feed (0.12). The membrane maintained stable performance over 45 hours of nanofiltration and resisted acidic conditions (pH=2) for at least 20 days. These results highlight the potential of PA-TAG membranes for efficient lithium extraction from acidic battery leachate, addressing the critical need for sustainable recycling of spent LIBs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3554-7
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have achieved a record power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 27.0%, rivaling silicon-based cells while halving cost, positioning them near commercialization. However, long-term outdoor stability of industrial-scale perovskite solar modules (PSMs) remains a critical challenge. Guo et al. report a milestone: an industrial-scale PSM (aperture area 785 cm2) with a PCE of 19.6% and projected T80 (time to 80% of initial PCE) exceeding 6.7 years under light-dark cycling. The PSM demonstrated stability comparable to commercial silicon solar cells during 45 days of outdoor operation. The key innovation is perovskite surface reconstruction via vapor-deposited terpyridine (Tpy), which reorganizes defective [PbI6]4− octahedra into a zero-dimensional (0D) structure with fully isolated octahedra, eliminating irreversible ion migration. Grazing-incident wide-angle X-ray scattering confirmed formation of (Tpy)2PbI6 on the surface. Time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry showed that the 0D layer confines iodine migration, making it reversible during light-dark cycles, whereas pristine films exhibit irreversible migration. Temperature-dependent conductivity revealed increased activation energy for ion migration from 0.43 to 0.68 eV. The treated films exhibited photoluminescence lifetime of 532.6 ns and trap density of 1.57×10^15 cm−3. Small-area devices (0.16 cm2) achieved PCE of 25.3%, while scaled modules (785 cm2) retained 19.6%, a new world record. This surface isolation treatment offers a scalable route to stabilize large-area PSMs for outdoor deployment.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3686-6
Fused silica (SiO2) exhibits exceptional thermal stability and dielectric properties, making it an attractive material for aerospace and military applications. However, its relatively poor mechanical performance has limited its widespread practical utilization. This study proposed an innovative approach to fabricate SiO2-hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) composite ceramics via spark plasma sintering (SPS), leveraging the high-temperature phase transformation of cubic boron nitride (cBN) to introduce randomly oriented hBN as a reinforcing phase within the SiO2 matrix. The randomly oriented hBN nanoplates allow cracks to propagate along stronger grain boundaries, rather than along weaker interlayers of hBN, significantly improving the overall strength and fracture toughness of the composite. The maximum flexural strength and fracture toughness achieved are 183.4 MPa and 2.06 MPa m1/2 respectively, which are 3.6 times and 4 times that of fused SiO2. Concurrently, the composites exhibit low dielectric constants (ε = 3.58–3.69) and dielectric losses (tan δ < 0.0087) at 1 MHz. This work successfully enhanced the mechanical performance of fused SiO2 while preserving its excellent dielectric characteristics, opening new possibilities for its potential applications in advanced structural and functional fields.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3595-7
Cu(I) complexes exhibiting thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) have emerged as promising alternatives to noble-metal-based emitters for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). However, the development of red-emitting Cu(I) complexes has been hindered by slow radiative decay and fast nonradiative decay. In this study, a linear two-coordinate Cu(I) complex, ICuTMC, was designed and synthesized. By pairing a pyrazine-fused N-heterocyclic carbene and a tetra-methylcarbazolyl ligand, a strong ligand-to-ligand charge transfer excited state is generated. Single-crystal structure authenticates close intramolecular C–H···Cu contacts, providing good steric shielding to the metal center. C–H···π interactions between ligands are also revealed. The complex exhibits highly efficient red TADF with emission maximum at 622 nm, photoluminescence quantum yield of 76%, and short delayed fluorescence lifetime of 0.24 μs. This is enabled by a large oscillator strength from the coplanar donor-Cu-acceptor conformation, a small singlet-triplet energy gap from spatial separation of frontier molecular orbitals, and strong spin-orbit coupling from the metal center. Vacuum-deposited OLEDs based on ICuTMC achieve a peak external quantum efficiency of 25.9% and a significantly small roll-off of 1.9% at 10,000 cd m−2. These performances demonstrate a way to overcome the energy gap law for linear coinage metal complexes toward red OLEDs.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60652-4
The performance of industrial zeolite catalysts, exemplified by fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts, is governed by microscopic behaviors including mass transfer, acidity, and coking. Conventional characterization techniques such as XRD, N2 physisorption, and TPD provide bulk-averaged or static ex situ information, failing to resolve dynamic processes under realistic reaction conditions. Recent advances in super-resolution fluorescence imaging enable nanoscale visualization of these key processes. This review systematically summarizes three critical applications: (1) Mass transfer diffusion: heterogeneous diffusion of reactant molecules within hierarchical pore networks is revealed, quantifying diffusion barriers and tortuosity. (2) Acid site accessibility: nanoscale localization of acid sites and their accessibility is achieved, correlating with catalytic activity. (3) Coking behavior: spatiotemporal evolution of coke species is identified, linking coke precursors to deactivation. The review elaborates how super-resolution imaging deepens understanding of fundamental catalytic mechanisms, providing theoretical support for rational design of high-performance catalysts through pore structure optimization, acid site regulation, and coking suppression. Current challenges and future directions are discussed, emphasizing the need for in situ correlation with catalytic performance.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3952-5
High-entropy alloys (HEAs) and metallic glasses (MGs) are promising electrocatalysts but suffer from inherent limitations: HEAs lack corrosion resistance and uniform surfaces due to their crystalline nature, while MGs have limited compositional flexibility, restricting active-site diversity and electronic-structure tuning. High-entropy metallic glasses (HEMGs) integrate the structural disorder of MGs with the multi-principal-element chemistry of HEAs, offering a unique combination of robust corrosion resistance, homogeneous surfaces, and abundant tunable active sites. Using Pd20Pt20Cu20Ni20P20 as a model HEMG, we investigate its electrocatalytic performance for alcohol oxidation and hydrogen evolution. The HEMG exhibits superior activity and stability compared to conventional HEAs and MGs, attributed to its disordered structure and high configurational entropy, which promote optimized adsorption energies and accelerated charge transfer. This work bridges the performance gap between HEAs and MGs, demonstrating HEMGs as multifunctional electrocatalytic materials with potential for industrial applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3920-1
Lead-free halide perovskites are promising scintillators due to strong X-ray attenuation and high internal quantum efficiency (IQE), but their application is hindered by moisture sensitivity. Here, CsSrCl3:Eu2+ nanocrystals were grown in situ in a specially designed inorganic glass matrix. By employing [PO4]-modification and controlled crystallization, a transparent CsSrCl3:Eu2+ glass-ceramic (GC) scintillator was obtained, combining high crystallinity (15.9%) with excellent optical transparency (85.3% at 432 nm). The GC exhibits outstanding photoluminescence (PL) performance, including a high IQE of 87.6% and superior thermal stability (74% intensity retention at 493 K relative to 303 K). Benefiting from the robust glass matrix, the GC retains 99% of its initial PL intensity after 14 days of water immersion. Under X-ray excitation, it shows blue X-ray excited luminescence (XEL), with peak and integrated intensities reaching 117% and 25.1% of those of Bi4Ge3O12 crystal, respectively. The scintillator achieves a high spatial resolution of 20 lp mm−1 and an X-ray detection limit of 3.7 μGy s−1. Furthermore, it demonstrates exceptional operational stability in humid environments, maintaining clear X-ray image contrast even after 48 h of water submersion. This study provides an effective strategy for stabilizing hygroscopic halide scintillators in a durable [PO4]-modified fluoroaluminate glass matrix and demonstrates the potential of CsSrCl3:Eu2+ GC for high-resolution and stable X-ray imaging.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608021
To address the significant increase in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and its chemical component concentrations caused by the concentrated setting-off of fireworks and firecrackers during the Spring Festival in Yancheng City, this study introduced the Bayesian-optimized XGBoost model (BO-XGBoost) based on PM2.5, particulate component, and meteorological observation data. The model simulated non-setting-off baseline concentrations using meteorological factors as independent variables, enabling quantitative assessment of setting-off contributions. Results showed that the concentrated setting-off exerted significantly differentiated effects on various pollutants. Among water-soluble ions, K+ and Mg2+ were core characteristic tracers, with concentrations reaching 15.89 and 20.08 times baseline levels on Lunar New Year's Eve, directly reflecting high-intensity emissions. Secondary conversion ions such as SO4^2- and NO3^- showed sustained high contributions on both Lunar New Year's Eve and the fifth day of the first lunar month, reflecting cumulative effects of atmospheric chemical transformation. Among inorganic elements, K, Ba, and Sr were core characteristic tracers, with concentrations showing explosive growth on Lunar New Year's Eve, serving as direct fingerprints of fireworks. Elements such as Pb and Mn were also significantly affected, reflecting direct heavy metal emissions. Temporal comparisons indicated that emission intensity on Lunar New Year's Eve was significantly higher than on the fifth day, with increased proportional contribution of secondary conversion processes on the fifth day. The study achieved accurate quantification of setting-off contributions through a data-driven model, clarifying pollution fingerprint characteristics and temporal differentiation patterns, providing scientific basis for air quality management and policy optimization during the Spring Festival.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4144-y
Developing efficient strategies for electrically manipulating two-dimensional magnetism at room temperature is a key challenge in contemporary spintronics. In this study, we demonstrate giant electromechanical control over the magnetism of the room-temperature van der Waals ferromagnet Fe3GaTe2 by integrating it with the ferroelectric α-In2Se3. Modest gate voltages lead to an almost complete suppression of the coercive field by 96.5%, corresponding to a remarkable peak modulation sensitivity of ~8.1 mT V−1, which stands out among existing van der Waals magnetoelectric systems. Importantly, this substantial magnetoelectric response is predominantly unaffected by voltage polarity, as both positive and negative gate voltages induce similar magnetic modulation effects. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, we tracked the voltage-induced Raman spectral changes, revealing a peak shift of 1.7 cm−1 that accurately represents an effective in-plane tensile strain of ~1.42% under an equivalent bias, demonstrating polarity independence as well. The synchronized magnetic response and strain variation unequivocally indicate that the induced tensile strain serves as the fundamental physical driver behind the magnetic modulation. Additionally, density functional theory calculations corroborate that the reduction in magnetic anisotropy induced by tensile strain results in a decrease in the coercive field. Our work establishes a novel and efficient approach for achieving voltage control of magnetism at room temperature in van der Waals multiferroic heterostructures, highlighting their significant potential for applications in ultra-low-power magnetic logic and sensing technologies.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60708-6
Mercury emissions from coal combustion are highly toxic, volatile, and bioaccumulative, posing long-term threats to ecosystems and human health. This review systematically examines the current status and control policies of mercury emissions from coal combustion in China, analyzing distribution characteristics and transformation mechanisms during combustion, with emphasis on collaborative removal in pollution control devices after ultra-low emission retrofitting. A progressive strategy of 'synergistic enhancement–deep purification–resource recycling' is proposed, comprising three tiers: optimizing operational parameters of existing control systems to enhance synergistic mercury removal; developing efficient adsorption and catalytic oxidation technologies for industrial application; and advancing integrated mercury removal and recovery technologies, such as magnetosphere-based sorbents and recovery processes, focusing on high-value utilization. The paper also outlines future research directions aligned with international compliance and domestic environmental tax policies, providing theoretical and technical support for China's commitments to near-zero emissions of coal combustion pollutants.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4038-8
Fluorescent fibers and textiles that integrate outstanding optical performance with excellent flexibility hold significant promise for wearable applications and the Internet of Things (IoT). However, the poor stability of post-organized phosphor-based fibers and the high-cost, high-precision technology of electroluminescent fibers hinder their widespread adoption. Perovskite materials and organic semiconductors, owing to their high-efficiency, tunable luminescent properties and solution processability, are deliberately employed to fabricate desired fluorescent fibers and textiles via a spinning chemistry strategy. Recent advances have successfully applied these fibers to sensors, information displays, optical communications, and health monitoring. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent progress in fluorescent fibers and textiles, covering spinning techniques, emitter design, and wearable applications. We highlight key challenges and future research directions in the fine design and synthesis of fluorescent fibers and textiles, as well as their system integration for practical wearable applications. The review emphasizes the potential of spinning chemistry to enable scalable production of robust, high-performance luminescent fibers, addressing stability and cost barriers. We discuss the use of metal halide perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) with high photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQY) and tunable emission, and organic semiconductor emitters with tailored molecular structures, as promising building blocks. The integration of these materials into fibers via spinning chemistry offers a facile, efficient, and controlled strategy, leading to ultra-stable CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) perovskite filaments with a PLQY of 24.5% and stretchability up to 2400%. The review concludes by outlining future research directions, including the development of lead-free perovskites and self-healing materials, to enhance stability and safety for commercial wearable technologies.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4222-9
The proliferation of high-frequency communication technologies has escalated electromagnetic (EM) pollution, posing risks to health and device reliability. Conventional microwave absorbers dissipate EM energy as heat, creating thermal management burdens and energy waste. This study introduces Bi2Se3 nanosheets, a topological insulator with surface conductivity and internal insulation, as a dual-functional material capable of both microwave absorption and thermoelectric conversion. Nanosheets with controlled morphology were synthesized via a polyol reduction method, with thickness and lateral size tuned by preparation conditions. The resulting composites exhibited excellent microwave absorption, achieving a broad absorption bandwidth of 2.95 GHz at sub-millimeter thickness. A multilayered structure design enabled full-band absorption from 2 to 18 GHz using a single absorbent. The Seebeck coefficient, derived from temperature differences up to 110 °C, was -152 μV/K, indicating efficient conversion of absorbed EM energy into electrical energy. This work demonstrates the potential of Bi2Se3 nanomaterials for self-powered electromagnetic devices, addressing both EM pollution and energy supply challenges.