SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4151-2
The rapid increase in atmospheric CO2 due to fossil-fuel consumption has heightened the demand for efficient carbon capture and utilization technologies. Ionic liquids (ILs) have emerged as versatile media and catalysts for CO2 conversion, offering advantages such as negligible volatility, wide electrochemical windows, and strong CO2 affinity. However, the vast design space of ILs and limited experimental data make traditional trial-and-error screening inefficient. This review summarizes recent advancements in applying machine learning (ML) to the design and screening of ILs for CO2 conversion. The roles of ILs in catalytic processes and the limitations of traditional screening methods are discussed. ML-based workflows are explored, with emphasis on addressing challenges posed by small and noisy datasets. Finally, future opportunities in mechanism-informed descriptors, multi-objective optimization, and the integration of domain expertise with data-driven approaches are highlighted to accelerate the discovery of next-generation ILs for sustainable CO2 conversion.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4197-4
Deep-blue organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) remain the most challenging primary-color emitters due to stringent exciton energy requirements. We strategically designed two innovative deep-blue emitters, SCZ-4AnCN and STPA-4AnCN, via systematic functionalization of an anthracene core with arylamino-decorated spirofluorene donors and cyano-substituted phenyl acceptors. Comprehensive theoretical and experimental analyses demonstrate that these spirofluorene-anthracene hybrids adopt precisely engineered distorted configurations, effectively suppressing detrimental intermolecular π–π stacking in condensed phases. The sp3-hybridized bridgehead carbons in spirofluorene units play a pivotal role by simultaneously restricting π-conjugation extension and fine-tuning donor–acceptor interactions, thereby stabilizing the lowest excited singlet (S1) state with dominant local excitation (LE) character. This molecular engineering yields exceptional deep-blue emission with remarkable efficiency. Notably, the materials exhibit unique high-lying reverse intersystem crossing (hRISC) behavior, enabling efficient triplet harvesting. Optimized doped devices incorporating SCZ-4AnCN achieve outstanding performance, including a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE_max) exceeding 10% and CIE coordinates (0.154, 0.052) approaching the BT.2020 blue standard. Nondoped devices maintain impressive performance with an EQE_max of 7.51% and superior operational stability, demonstrating less than 10% efficiency roll-off at 1000 cd m−2. This work validates anthracene-based molecular architectures for deep-blue electroluminescence and establishes a transformative design paradigm for next-generation OLED emitters.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3536-5
Nanomaterial-based optical biomedicine and devices have attracted significant attention for tumor diagnosis and treatment, yet their application in tumor ablation is often hindered by limited functional integration and concerns over excessive radiation exposure. In this study, we address these challenges by developing a multifunctional fiber probe based on lanthanide-doped nanoparticles, featuring decoupled modules for localized heating and optical thermometry. This design enables synergistic therapy under near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. Beyond achieving precise photothermal ablation and real-time temperature monitoring, we uncovered a unique phenomenon: the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by these nanoparticles under NIR laser excitation, even in the absence of traditional photosensitizers. Through a combination of experimental and computational approaches, we elucidated the physical mechanisms underlying ROS generation in wide-bandgap lanthanide nanoparticles. Leveraging these insights, we constructed an all-optical fiber system capable of simultaneous precise thermal control and photodynamic therapy. Our findings offer valuable guidance for the development of advanced optical nanomaterials and devices for effective tumor treatment, both in vivo and in vitro.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3654-5
Hydrogen production by photosynthetic green algae is an efficient biological process that utilizes light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into clean and renewable energy. In this paper, we constructed a hybrid system combining graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and Chlorella pyrenoidosa (Chlorella), in which g-C3N4 serves as an extracellular electron source and Chlorella acts as a biological reactor for specific hydrogen production. In particular, the electronic structure of carbon nitride was optimized by means of hydrothermal alkalization and copper ion doping, expanded the light absorption range and enhanced the light response ability. g-C3N4, as an extracellular electron source, can provide electrons for Chlorella to improve hydrogen production performance which is 3.7 times that of bare Chlorella. The construction of a biological hybrid system is a feasible optimization strategy for the hybrid system to promote the synergistic effect of the hybrid system by regulating the properties of non-living components.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024122101
Bicarbonate and carbonate ions (HCO3−/CO3^2−) are ubiquitous in wastewater and readily scavenge strong oxidants, leading to the formation of carbonate radicals (CO3·−) in radical-based advanced oxidation processes. This study investigated the influence of HCO3−/CO3^2− on the degradation kinetics of sulfamethazine (SMR) in a UV/TiO2 system. The presence of HCO3−/CO3^2− enhanced the degradation rate of SMR by sixfold compared to UV/TiO2 alone. Radical quenching experiments identified CO3·− as the primary reactive species responsible for the enhanced degradation, with hydroxyl radicals (·OH) also contributing. To quantitatively delineate the roles of reactive species and account for water matrix effects, a kinetic model was constructed using Kintecus software. The model accurately predicted SMR degradation over time and the contributions of individual radicals, demonstrating good predictive capability. Application of the model to real wastewater predicted that CO3·− is the dominant radical responsible for SMR degradation. These findings highlight the critical role of carbonate radicals in UV/TiO2 processes and provide a robust modeling framework for predicting the fate of pharmaceuticals in carbonate-rich waters.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024120701
Surface waters contain numerous photoactive substances and low molecular weight carboxylic acids (LCAs). Hydroxyl radicals (HO•) can react with LCAs to generate the highly reducing carbon dioxide anion radical (CO2•−). Excited triplet state dissolved organic matter (3DOM*), a common oxidant in surface waters, may also oxidize LCAs to CO2•−, but this pathway remains unexplored. This study simulated sunlight-driven generation of CO2•− via 3DOM* using 4-benzoylbenzoic acid (CBBP) as a 3DOM* precursor and formate (HCOO−) as a model LCA. Metronidazole (MNZ) served as the target pollutant. Comparative degradation experiments in hν, hν/HCOO−, hν/CBBP, and hν/CBBP/HCOO− systems, combined with electron spin resonance spectroscopy and quenching tests, confirmed that CO2•− generated in the hν/CBBP/HCOO− system was the primary reactive species responsible for enhanced MNZ degradation, originating mainly from 3CBBP* oxidizing HCOO−. Under optimized conditions (8 mmol·L−1 HCOO−, 200 μmol·L−1 CBBP, 10 μmol·L−1 MNZ), 98.2% degradation was achieved within 30 min. Degradation efficiency increased with HCOO− concentration and was pH-independent. Cl−, NO3−, CO3^2−, and low concentrations of HCO3− inhibited degradation, while high HCO3− slightly promoted it. Humic acid (HA) inhibited degradation in a concentration-dependent manner. The system also performed well in real water matrices, suggesting potential for treating micropollutants via reductive pathways.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202606006
Chitosan-based microsphere composites have attracted considerable attention for phosphorus adsorption due to their facile preparation, low cost, environmental friendliness, and high uptake capacity. This review summarizes the physicochemical properties and preparation methods of chitosan microspheres for phosphate removal, outlines common modification strategies to enhance adsorption capacity, and discusses their applications in aqueous environments. Adsorption mechanisms, regeneration, and resource recovery of spent microspheres are analyzed. Challenges and recommendations are proposed, including streamlined preparation, enhanced phosphorus recovery, removal of multiple phosphorus forms, and practical implementation. The review aims to guide the development of high-performance chitosan-based microspheres for phosphorus removal.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3951-4
Silicon anodes offer an ultrahigh theoretical capacity (4200 mAh g−1) but suffer from >300% volumetric expansion during cycling and unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation, leading to rapid capacity fading. Here, we design a hierarchical composite p-cSi@aSi@MgSiN2@C featuring a porous crystalline-amorphous silicon core (p-cSi@aSi), an in-situ MgSiN2 transition layer, and an outer nitrogen-doped carbon shell. The 3D interconnected pores accommodate volume expansion, while amorphous silicon enables isotropic lithiation-induced strain, eliminating crystalline phase transition barriers. The MgSiN2 layer transforms into a tough Li3N-rich SEI with ultra-fast ion channels, and the carbon shell provides mechanical confinement and electronic conductivity. This synergistic interface engineering achieves an initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 81.4%, a charge transfer resistance of 16.4 Ω after 200 cycles (64% reduction), and a Li+ diffusion coefficient of 1.72×10−11 cm2 s−1. The anode delivers 1719.3 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C after 200 cycles and 823.8 mAh g−1 at 0.5 C after 500 cycles. The molten salt electrolysis synthesis achieves a current efficiency of 68.12% and specific energy consumption of 12.76 kWh kg−1, with an estimated electricity cost of 1154.69 USD ton−1, only 20% of commercial Si/C anodes. This work resolves the ICE-cycle life trade-off and provides a scalable, cost-effective approach for next-generation high-energy batteries.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-024-3297-2
The global energy transition necessitates cost-effective, high-performance electrocatalysts for zinc-air batteries (ZABs). Biomass-derived carbon materials offer a sustainable platform due to their intrinsic heteroatom doping, hierarchical porosity, and tunable electronic properties. This review critically examines the engineering of biomass into advanced carbon-based oxygen electrocatalysts for ZABs, focusing on three material classes: metal-free heteroatom-doped carbons, transition metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-Nx-C) sites, and carbon/transition-metal composites. We analyze synthesis-structure-performance relationships, emphasizing how biomass precursors and processing parameters dictate active site density, pore architecture, and catalytic kinetics for oxygen reduction (ORR) and evolution (OER) reactions. Key experimental benchmarks from recent literature are consolidated, including onset potentials (0.85–0.95 V vs. RHE), half-wave potentials (0.75–0.85 V), and Tafel slopes (60–120 mV dec⁻¹). The construction of air electrodes with optimized three-phase interfaces is discussed, highlighting monolithic and self-standing architectures that mitigate mass transport limitations. Flexible ZAB configurations are evaluated, with areal capacities reaching 5–10 mAh cm⁻² and stable cycling over 100–200 hours. Despite progress, challenges persist in scaling biomass conversion, controlling metal dispersion, and achieving long-term operational stability. This review provides a rigorous framework for translating biomass-derived carbons from laboratory curiosities to industrially viable ZAB components, emphasizing the need for standardized testing protocols and techno-economic assessments.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3389-3
Adsorption and corrosion caused by Cl− are the main reasons for the low performance of Pt-based catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in seawater. Although the introduction of hydroxyl species is an ideal approach to enhance HER kinetics and resist harmful Cl−, achieving this goal in Pt-based catalysts is challenging. In this study, we developed a high-temperature reduction process to generate PtNi alloy particles that contain Ni vacancies (Lewis acid sites) that participate in transforming lattice hydroxyls to dissociative hydroxyls on Ni layered double hydroxides (Ni-LDH). The hydroxyls in Ni-LDH bind with Lewis acid active sites to form hydroxyl rich species, a process which enhances the hydrophilicity of PtNi/Ni-LDH to promote water adsorption and enhance resistance to Cl− absorption. Owing to these properties, PtNi/Ni-LDH exhibits superior performance as an electrocatalyst for the HER in alkaline natural seawater as reflected by a low overpotential of 19 mV to drive a current density of 10 mA cm−2, a low Tafel slope of 31 mV dec−1, and an only slightly elevated overpotential after 100 h of operation. This study throws light on the development of new strategies for the design of high-performance catalysts for hydrogen production by electrolytic seawater splitting.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3532-0
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are a low-cost, high-safety alternative to lithium-ion batteries for grid-scale energy storage, but their commercial viability is constrained by zinc dendrite growth and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) on the Zn anode, which cause low Coulombic efficiency (CE), short cycle life, and capacity fade. This study introduces polyquaternium-7 (PQ-7), a cationic surfactant, as a multifunctional electrolyte additive. Experimental and theoretical analyses reveal that PQ-7 adsorbs at initial tip sites on the Zn anode, shielding H2O molecules and inhibiting HER. Competitive adsorption with Zn2+ mitigates the tip effect, promoting uniform Zn deposition over dendritic growth. Consequently, symmetric Zn||Zn cells with PQ-7 achieve stable cycling for over 2117 h at 5 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2, a 15-fold increase over additive-free cells. Zn||Ti cells exhibit a CE exceeding 98% after 240 cycles. Zn||MnO2 full batteries retain 92.1% capacity after 1000 cycles at 1 C and 80% after 1000 cycles at 5 C. These results demonstrate that PQ-7 effectively regulates Zn deposition and suppresses parasitic reactions, offering a straightforward, low-cost strategy for long-life aqueous ZIBs.