The Chinese Journal of Process Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12034/j.issn.1009-606X.225246
The development of efficient catalyst classification technologies is crucial for optimizing fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) and catalytic pyrolysis coupling processes, where distinct particle size distributions are required for different reaction pathways. In this study, a large-scale cold-model experimental platform of a multi-arm vortex separator is established to explore the influence of operating conditions on classification behavior. Systematic experiments are conducted by changing ejection gas velocity (8~20 m/s), inlet particle concentration (30~70 g/m3), and bed linear velocity (0.15~0.25 m/s). The results demonstrate that ejection gas velocity governs classification sharpness by controlling the entrainment of fines within the coarse fraction. The increase in ejection gas velocity enlarges the upward axial gas velocity inside the device, thereby enhancing the entrainment effect on particles near the vortex arm outlets. Increasing the ejection gas velocity from 12 to 16 m/s reduces proportion of fine particles in coarse components from 14% to 12%. The inlet particle concentration imposes competing effects on classification performance: while higher concentrations promote agglomeration and modify turbulence distribution, excessive loading intensifies fine-particle entrainment, thereby diminishing classification selectivity. The system maintains stable pressure drop characteristics under different bed linear velocities, with the pressure drop increasing by maximum of about 15% when the bed linear velocity is raised from 0.15 m/s to 0.25 m/s. Analysis of grade efficiency curves reveals classical S-shaped profiles with cut sizes (dc50) shifting under different operating regimes. Higher particle concentrations reduces dc50, favoring fine-particle removal, while higher ejection gas velocities enlarge dc50, moving the classification boundary toward larger sizes. These findings confirm the synergistic effect of ejection gas velocity and inlet concentration, highlighting that rational parameter matching can simultaneously improve efficiency and selectivity. Beyond the experimental findings, this work emphasizes the broader applicability of multi-arm vortex separators in refining and petrochemical processes. By enabling precise adjustment of particle size distribution, the system offers a promising pathway for enhancing catalyst utilization, extending catalyst lifetime, and facilitating process intensification in coupled FCC-pyrolysis units.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3846-9
The tuning of ligand linkage modes in porous crystalline materials to create isomers with varied properties is significant, yet remains rare in structural design and photocatalytic applications. Here, we investigate isomeric metal-covalent organic frameworks (MCOFs), MCOF-E and MCOF-Z, and reveal that specific construction struts lead to E/Z ligand linkage modes with distinct stacking structures, stimulated by temperature. These isomeric MCOFs exhibit different light absorption, charge transfer, and photocatalytic performance. Notably, MCOF-E achieves an aniline generation efficiency of 4.90 mM h−1 in nitrobenzene hydrogenation, with high conversion (~100%) and selectivity (>99%), outperforming MCOF-Z and other counterparts. Theoretical calculations indicate that MCOF-E possesses a narrower band gap than MCOF-Z, facilitating more efficient generation of photo-induced carriers, which accelerates reaction kinetics and significantly improves nitrobenzene hydrogenation efficiency. This work provides insight into the structure-function relationships of MCOFs and demonstrates the potential of isomerization as a strategy to optimize photocatalytic performance.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-3961-8
This correction addresses an inadvertent misplacement of Fig. 4b3 during figure reorganization in the original article published in Science China Materials, volume 65, issue 10, 2022, page 2850 (DOI: 10.1007/s40843-022-2024-6). The corrected Fig. 4b is presented herein. The authors confirm that this correction does not affect the results, conclusions, text, or figure caption of the original work. The correction was requested by the authors and received on 6 January 2026, accepted on 8 January 2026, and published online on 10 February 2026. The original study introduced flexible electrostatic hydrogels derived from marine organisms for nitric oxide-enhanced photodynamic therapy against multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. The correction ensures the accurate representation of experimental data, maintaining the integrity of the scientific record.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4150-2
Bacterial infection and irregular wound morphology are major challenges in clinical wound management. Injectable hydrogels can conform to irregular wound geometries but often lack antimicrobial activity. Here, we report an injectable hydrogel (HPAu gel) formed by sequentially mixing phenylboronic acid-modified hyaluronic acid (HA-PBA) and chloroauric acid under alkaline conditions. The gel's internal multiple crosslinks enable uniform encapsulation of in situ-generated gold nanoparticles. Hydrogen bonds and phenylboronic acid ester bonds confer self-healing, injectability, and adhesion, allowing effective sealing of irregular cavities. In vitro, the hydrogel exhibits long-lasting photothermal stability and eliminates multiple bacterial strains. In a mouse dorsal full-thickness infected wound model, HPAu gel under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation eradicated Staphylococcus aureus, reduced inflammation (TNF-α fluorescence area significantly lower; IL-10 area 12.88‰ vs <2‰ in Blank), promoted vascular regeneration (CD31 and α-SMA expression increased), and accelerated wound healing. This work presents a promising strategy for treating irregular infected wounds.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-024-3242-2
This correction addresses three minor errors in the originally published article 'A pro-healing short-chain antimicrobial peptide that inhibits sepsis' (Sci China Mater, 2024, 67: 3733–3736). The errors, caused by incorrect placement of images during layout, pertain to Figure 1g, Figure 3b, and Figure 4a. The corrected figures are provided herein. These corrections do not alter the results or conclusions of the original study. The original work reported the characterization and antimicrobial mechanism of LS5, a short-chain antimicrobial peptide, including minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and propidium iodide (PI) uptake kinetics. Biocompatibility of LS5 and its gel formulation (LS5-gel) was evaluated through live-dead assays, blood cell morphology, cell migration, viability, MTT assay, hemolysis rate, and wound healing rate. The statistical significance of the biocompatibility data was denoted by p-values (p < 0.05 for all reported comparisons). All authors agree with the corrections and apologize for the errors. This correction ensures the integrity of the published record and maintains the reproducibility of the reported findings.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3391-0
Noble metal nanoclusters (MNCs) possess atomically precise structures and tunable compositions, yet their practical deployment is constrained by rapid oxidation-induced structural degradation and ligand detachment, leading to aggregation during storage and catalysis. This study introduces a redox-mediated stabilization strategy by integrating ultrasmall Au25 nanoclusters with amine-functionalized UiO-66-NH2. The uniformly dispersed amine groups act as reductive reagents, suppressing Au oxidation while reinforcing thiol-terminated ligand anchoring via dynamic coordination. This dual stabilization preserves the initial ultrasmall size and structural integrity of Au25 NCs under ambient storage and light irradiation. The engineered type-II heterojunction between Au25 NCs and UiO-66-NH2 enhances visible-light harvesting and charge separation, enabling efficient O2 activation to reactive oxygen species (ROS). The Au25/UiO-66-NH2 composites achieve 99.999% bacterial inactivation against Escherichia coli within 40 min under visible light, retaining high efficacy after five reuse cycles. Integration into wearable fabrics demonstrates potential for continuous antibacterial protection. This work establishes amine-functionalized MOFs as universal redox-active supports for stabilizing metastable MNCs, offering a versatile platform for durable photocatalytic systems in environmental and biomedical applications.