SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4260-5
Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are recognized as a leading candidate for next-generation energy storage due to their high theoretical specific capacity (1675 mAh g⁻¹). However, the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) severely limits cycle life and energy efficiency. Here, we report a multi-interface engineering strategy employing a MnO₂-TiO₂@Ti₃C₂ MXene (MT@MX) heterojunction, synthesized via a facile redox reaction between MXene and KMnO₄, to modulate bidirectional polysulfide conversion. The 2D structure with high conductivity and abundant heterogeneous interfaces facilitates fast ion/electron transfer, reduces reaction energy barriers, and enhances adsorption via d-band center effects. The stepped built-in electric field (BIEF) in MT@MX lowers the migration energy barrier of LiPSs from catalytic MXene to TiO₂ and then to adsorptive MnO₂, enabling reversible migration across multi-interfaces. Optimized heterointerfaces synergistically integrate adsorption, diffusion, and catalytic conversion, yielding excellent cycling stability even at a high sulfur loading of 6.4 mg cm⁻². This work demonstrates that constructing heterojunctions with stepped BIEF offers a feasible approach to modulate interfacial diffusion and provides a new design strategy for high-performance LSB electrocatalysts.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3828-y
The rapid development of halogen-free solvent-processed organic solar cells (OSCs) has been enabled by side-chain modification on small molecular acceptors, yet the structure-property relationship between inner/outer chain lengths and device performance remains unclear. This study systematically investigates five non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) with varied side-chain positions and architectures, clarifying the effects of inner versus outer modifications on energy level distribution, film morphology, and carrier dynamics. Notably, longer alkyl chains are not always superior; excessive solubility reduces molecular packing order. The optimized PM6:BTP-TO12 blend achieves a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.2%. Furthermore, ternary OSCs incorporating BTP-TO12 as a guest material reach a remarkable PCE of 19.5%, enhancing the performance of L8-BO-based devices processed with green solvents. This improvement is attributed to the low energy loss and well-controlled aggregation behavior of BTP-TO12 in environmentally friendly toluene. These findings establish a design guideline for side-chain engineering in green-solvent-processed OSCs, achieving state-of-the-art performance and advancing scalable, eco-compatible photovoltaic technologies.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(25)60613-X
This study systematically optimized the preparation of Co-modified Ce/TiO2 catalysts and investigated the effects of preparation method and Co loading on their low-temperature denitrification activity. The sol-gel method with a Co/Ti mass ratio of 0.025 (Ce-Co0.025/TiO2-SG) yielded superior performance compared to impregnation and co-precipitation methods. The catalyst maintained NO conversion above 95% in the 225–350 °C range and exhibited high N2 selectivity. Characterization via BET, XRD, XPS, H2-TPR, and in situ DRIFTS revealed that the enhanced activity was attributed to abundant surface oxygen vacancies, a high proportion of Ce3+ species, and prominent acidic sites. The catalyst followed the Eley-Rideal mechanism, effectively inhibiting nitrate intermediate formation and promoting NO-to-NO2 oxidation. This work provides a reference for developing efficient low-temperature denitrification catalysts for industrial applications such as cement production, which emitted 722,000 tons of NOx in 2020, accounting for 17.3% of industrial emissions.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4093-8
Cyclohexanone oxime (CHO) is a pivotal feedstock for nylon-6 production, yet conventional synthesis routes suffer from high explosion risks, harsh conditions, and costly catalysts. Here, we report an electrocatalytic approach for CHO synthesis via reductive coupling of cyclohexanone (CYC) with nitrite over commercially available Bi2O3. A two-stage pulsed electrolysis protocol is employed: the first stage prepares amorphous Bi2O3, while the second stage produces CHO with a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 74.63% and a yield rate of 0.156 mmol h−1 cm−2. Mechanistic studies, combining experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, reveal that on amorphous Bi2O3, the *NOH intermediate preferentially undergoes hydrogenation to *NHOH and then *NH2OH, rather than the *NOH→*N pathway leading to NH3. This selectivity is attributed to the higher integral crystal orbital Hamilton population (ICOHP) for the N–O bond in *NOH on amorphous Bi2O3 (1.34 vs. 0.84 on amorphous Bi), indicating a weakened N–O bond that facilitates hydrodeoxygenation. Transition state calculations show a kinetic barrier of 0.86 eV for *NH2OH→*NH2, while desorption of *NH2OH to NH2OH is barrierless, favoring NH2OH release. This work provides a sustainable, efficient alternative to conventional CHO production, addressing safety and cost concerns while achieving high selectivity.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3473-0
Ratchetting, also termed cyclic creep, denotes the progressive accumulation of plastic deformation in metals subjected to asymmetric stress-controlled cyclic loading. This phenomenon induces dimensional intolerance and premature fatigue failure in critical engineering structures such as steel rails, nuclear power pipelines, and aircraft engines. Existing strategies to enhance ratchetting resistance—including pre-strain treatment of coarse-grained metals and nanostructuring—often compromise plastic hardening capacity and promote strain localization, thereby degrading long-term cyclic performance. Recent work by Lu's group proposed three prerequisites for high ratchetting resistance: high plastic strain hardening capacity, low dynamic recovery, and suppression of microstructural coarsening during cycling. Based on this framework, a gradient dislocation structured (GDS) 304 austenitic stainless steel (Fe-18%Cr-8%Ni, wt.%) was fabricated via pre-torsion cyclic deformation. While grain size remains uniform at 37 μm, the initial dislocation structure exhibits a radial gradient. Transmission electron microscopy reveals dislocation cell structures with cell size and thickness of 290 nm and 50 nm, respectively, in the surface region, accompanied by abundant low-angle boundaries. This gradient architecture effectively balances strength and ratchetting resistance, offering a viable route for designing structural metals with ultra-high cyclic creep resistance.