SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4248-2
Marine biofouling imposes substantial operational penalties on maritime assets, yet commercial silicone foul-release coatings rely on static, non-adaptive networks that cannot be reprocessed or repaired. This work introduces selenonium-salt-catalyzed dynamic siloxane exchange as a route to polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) vitrimer coatings. The authors incorporate A16Se+ organoselenium catalysts into PDMS networks at loadings designated A16Se+xPDMS, enabling thermally activated siloxane bond exchange that confers vitrimeric stress relaxation, reprocessability, and high-temperature self-healing. Antibiofouling performance is benchmarked against pristine PDMS using colony morphology assays for Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, SEM imaging of bacterial adhesion after 3 h, Chlorella fluorescence adhesion quantification, zeta potential measurements, and 3-month seawater immersion panels. Reviewer 1 questioned the direct relevance of recyclability and high-temperature self-healing to marine antifouling and requested that surface elastic modulus and Pseudomonas antibacterial data be elevated to the main text. In response, the authors relocated scratch and self-healing results from Figure 5 to Supporting Information Figures S12 and S13, condensed the main-text discussion, and integrated surface elastic modulus data into Figure 4G and Pseudomonas antibacterial results into Figure 6A. The revised manuscript positions dynamic exchange as supporting evidence of network dynamics rather than as a primary antifouling metric, while foregrounding modulus and antibacterial performance as the application-relevant properties.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4471-6
Triplet sensitization, inspired in part by the natural management of triplet-state energy in photosynthetic systems, has emerged as a transformative strategy for overcoming the intrinsic photophysical limitations of photochromic systems driven by direct excitation, including rapid fatigue, inefficient photoconversion, and the stringent requirement for high-energy ultraviolet light. By exploiting triplet excited states and Dexter-type triplet–triplet energy transfer (TET), this strategy enables red-shifted activation and improved switching performance under milder irradiation conditions. This review summarizes recent advances in triplet-sensitized photochromism across two mechanistic platforms, E/Z isomerization (azobenzenes and overcrowded-alkene molecular motors) and electrocyclization (diarylethenes), examining the full range of triplet sensitizers employed to date, from metalloporphyrins, organic chromophores, and semiconductor quantum dots to metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) and charge-transfer complexes (CTCs). Finally, we examine the key challenges of directional control, structural organization, and efficient long-wavelength sensitization, while discuss emerging strategies that may promote triplet-sensitized photochromism as a versatile platform for next-generation photoresponsive materials and light-controlled biomedicine.
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/s40843-026-4502-1
Near-infrared-II (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) luminescent materials are pivotal for deep-tissue bioimaging and optical communication, yet their performance is often limited by low quantum yields and thermal quenching. Here, we report a thermal-enhanced NIR-II luminescence in Sb3+/Er3+ co-doped Cs3GdCl6 microcrystals synthesized via a modified Bridgman method. Under ultraviolet excitation, the co-doped microcrystals exhibit intense NIR-II emission centered at 1532 nm corresponding to Er3+: 4I13/2 → 4I15/2 transition, with a maximum relative sensitivity of 1.2% K−1 at 303 K. Notably, the integrated NIR-II emission intensity increases by 2.3-fold from 298 K to 373 K, demonstrating anomalous thermal enhancement. This behavior is attributed to the thermally activated energy transfer from Sb3+ sensitizers to Er3+ activators, as confirmed by temperature-dependent photoluminescence spectra and decay kinetics. The energy transfer efficiency reaches 86% at room temperature and further improves with rising temperature. The microcrystals also show excellent photostability, retaining 95% of initial intensity after 120 min continuous UV irradiation. Furthermore, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept wireless optical communication link using the microcrystals as a NIR-II phosphor, achieving a signal-to-noise ratio of 30 dB at 400 Hz modulation frequency. These findings provide a new strategy for designing thermal-enhanced NIR-II luminescent materials and expand their potential in temperature sensing and optical communication.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4300-3
The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells (OSCs) has surpassed 21% with the donor polymer D18, yet its processing from non-halogenated solvents like ortho-xylene (o-XY) remains inefficient due to uncontrolled film formation kinetics. Here, we systematically synthesize D18 polymers with molecular weights ranging from 41.6 kDa to 70.9 kDa to modulate crystallization kinetics. In-situ film drying studies reveal that lower molecular weights accelerate solidification, leading to excessive aggregation, while higher molecular weights slow it, causing insufficient phase separation. A medium molecular weight (D18-M) achieves a balanced crystallization rate, promoting favorable morphology and yielding a PCE of 20.55% with L8-BO as acceptor—one of the highest reported for non-halogenated solvent-processed OSCs. Energy loss analysis indicates that although low-molecular-weight polymers exhibit higher intrinsic luminescence, the blend film's emission is governed by exciton environment, which is dictated by morphology. This work underscores the critical role of molecular weight in controlling film formation and morphology, offering a simple yet effective strategy for high-efficiency, environmentally friendly OSCs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4367-4
Single-crystalline Cs3Cu2I5 has attracted considerable interest owing to its excellent scintillation performance and favorable stability. Nevertheless, second phases induced by peritectic reactions during melt growth give rise to deteriorated scintillation properties and promote crystal cracking. In this work, the effects of non-stoichiometric ratios of raw material (n(CsI)=0.57, 0.62, and 0.63) on the crystallization behavior and scintillation properties were systematically investigated. The results show that the crystal quality is optimal at n(CsI)=0.62, featuring high transparency, absence of macroscopic inclusions, and cracking free, with a PLQY of 79.3%. Temperature-dependent photoluminescence verifies the self-trapped exciton emission mechanism with strong exciton-phonon coupling, giving an exciton binding energy of 473.9 meV and a Huang-Rhys factor S of 79.8. The as-grown crystal exhibits an optimized light yield of 24,380 photons/MeV, an energy resolution of 3.8% for 137Cs (662 keV) γ-rays, a dominant decay time of 957 ns, and excellent linear response in the medium-to-high energy region. Precise regulation of the raw material stoichiometry can effectively suppress the formation of second phases, yielding high-quality Cs3Cu2I5 single crystals whose comprehensive performance demonstrates promising application potential in γ-ray detection.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4209-3
Solar interfacial evaporation and photocatalysis exhibit intrinsic complementarity in energy utilization pathways and reaction mechanisms. Integrating photocatalysis into interfacial evaporation systems enables a synergistic platform for efficient evaporation and pollutant removal. In this study, a defect-engineering strategy is developed for UiO-66 by covalently anchoring five carboxyl-containing organic dyes into its framework, where steric hindrance and ligand substitution synergistically induce abundant structural defects. This approach yields a series of defect-rich UiO-66 materials with tunable dye loading. Among them, the dye-sensitized UiO-66@dye-2 system demonstrates optimal light absorption capacity and vacancy defects. The dyes act as sensitizers, broadening the light absorption range and accelerating water evaporation, while the defect-inducing dyes introduce abundant trap sites, enabling rapid charge transfer and efficient spatial charge separation. Under 1-sun irradiation, the system achieves an outstanding water evaporation rate with a high solar-to-vapor conversion efficiency of 97.8%, along with excellent photocatalytic performance, achieving 95.4% degradation of phenol pollutants. Notably, it maintains stable degradation performance across highly acidic and alkaline environments, ensuring reliability for long-term operations in complex conditions. This work provides a molecular-level strategy for constructing defect-rich UiO-66 derivatives and offers insights for designing next-generation materials for integrated photothermal-photocatalytic environmental remediation.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3610-7
Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) offers an attractive route to produce value-added multicarbon (C2+) products, yet suffers from competing hydrogen evolution and monocarbon production. Here, we propose a dual-confinement effect on CO2 reactant and *CO intermediate, induced by tuning the pore configuration of reconstructed covalent organic frameworks (RC-COFs). The highly crystalline microporous RC-COF-1, when coated on a Cu electrode, enhances local CO2 concentration and restricts CO diffusion, thereby promoting C-C coupling. In acidic electrolyte, the RC-COF-1@Cu electrode achieves a maximum C2+ Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 67.0% at 500 mA cm−2, while maintaining a total carbon product FE above 90% across a broad current density range (100–500 mA cm−2). Experimental and theoretical analyses confirm that the ordered micropores of RC-COF-1 modulate reactant adsorption and intermediate diffusion, leading to improved C2+ selectivity. This work underscores the critical role of COF pore architecture in microenvironment engineering for heterogeneous catalysis.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3647-4
Chromium oxides (CrOx) and fluorinated graphite (CFx) are two typical cathode materials for lithium primary batteries. The former possesses the highest theoretical energy density but suffers from low practical capacity and inferior rate capability; the latter has the highest theoretical discharge capacity but fails to support fast discharge. Combining the merits of both cathodes via a composite design is desirable, yet the electrochemical performance of such composites remains unsatisfactory. In this work, we identified that by regulating the overlapped discharge potential of these two cathodes, fluorine atoms migrate from CFx to CrOx, leading to a homogeneous distribution of LiF and improved ionic and electronic conductivity, ultimately enhancing high-rate discharge performance. Benefiting from this synergetic effect, the CrOx/10%eCFx composite exhibits a considerably high energy density of 496.59 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 49.7 kW kg−1 (50 C), far superior to pure CrOx and CFx electrodes. We believe that the high-performance CrOx/eCFx composite cathode will justify its practical application in revitalizing advanced lithium primary batteries.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3695-8
Sulfur-based lithium-ion batteries, particularly those employing sulfurized poly(acrylonitrile) (SPAN) cathodes and graphite (Gr) anodes, offer high theoretical capacity and low cost but suffer from temperature-dependent capacity decay. This study systematically investigates the electrochemical dynamics and capacity decay mechanism of SPAN||Gr pouch cells cycled at 25–55 °C. Multiscale analyses reveal that capacity fade arises from active lithium loss and increased resistance, both accelerated by higher temperatures. Active lithium loss is primarily attributed to dead lithium formation and thickening of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI), while resistance increase is predominantly due to SEI/CEI thickening. As temperature rises, active lithium loss becomes the dominant decay factor. Leveraging the consistent decay mechanism across temperatures, an accelerated aging model based on the Arrhenius equation is developed: y = 0.9x + a. This model accurately predicts cycling parameters at specific temperatures and reduces testing time by 50% when extrapolating from 55 °C to 25 °C. These insights provide critical guidance for developing long-life sulfur-based batteries for practical energy storage applications.
New Carbon Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61072-4
Sodium-ion capacitors (SICs) typically feature a hybrid design, incorporating a battery-type anode that operates by faradaic redox reactions and an activated carbon cathode that functions through electrical double-layer (EDL) adsorption/desorption. However, the kinetics of faradaic processes are inherently slower than those of EDL processes, leading to a fundamental problem known as kinetic imbalance between the electrodes, which hinders the development of high-performance SICs. To address this, we synthesized composites of bismuth nanoparticles in N-doped carbon (Bi@NC) by a high-temperature sintering method. The resulting Bi@NC anode has a specific capacity of 300 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, an exceptional rate capability (maintaining performance at currents exceeding 75 A g−1), and outstanding cycling stability over 12,000 cycles. Three-electrode Swagelok cell tests revealed that this high-rate Bi@NC composite effectively decreases the kinetic gap with the activated carbon cathode, as shown by an analysis of their respective potential swing windows (vs. Na/Na+). This enables the fabricated SIC to achieve a maximum energy density of 115 Wh kg−1, a peak power density of 45,535 W kg−1, and a long cycle life exceeding 8,000 cycles.
The Chinese Journal of Process Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12034/j.issn.1009-606X.225204
Cobalt-doped silica aerogel (Co@Si-A) catalysts were synthesized via a one-step sol-gel method and applied for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation to degrade tetracycline (TC). The catalyst with 25 wt% cobalt doping (25Co@Si-A) exhibited superior catalytic performance, achieving 98.97% TC degradation within 30 min under specified conditions (TC 10 mg/L, 100 mL). Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis revealed a high specific surface area and well-developed porous architecture with nano-confined spaces. The 25Co@Si-A/PMS system demonstrated outstanding adaptability across a broad pH range (5–9), maintaining >95% degradation efficiency, and showed strong resistance to sulfate and nitrate ions. In real water matrices, degradation efficiency remained around 80%. After five consecutive cycles, the system retained 82.33% degradation efficiency, with cobalt ion leaching of only 23.7 μg/L in the first cycle, indicating excellent stability. Mechanistic studies using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), radical quenching, and probe compound tests confirmed a synergistic radical and non-radical pathway. The primary reactive species were sulfate radicals (SO4•−), hydroxyl radicals (•OH), and singlet oxygen (1O2), with contributions of 58.53%, 9.79%, and 31.68%, respectively. Electrochemical tests indicated that 25Co@Si-A exhibited superior charge transfer compared to Co3O4, attributed to the nano-confined effect of the silica aerogel, which enhanced Co(II)/Co(III) redox cycling and PMS activation. This research provides a promising strategy for utilizing silica aerogel-based catalysts in advanced oxidation processes for water treatment.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60640-8
Ethylene (C2H4) in vehicle exhaust is a highly reactive volatile organic compound (VOC) whose photo-oxidation with NOx contributes to the formation of O3 and secondary organic aerosols (SOA), a key precursor of PM2.5. This study designs a novel MgO-supported Ag-Cu bimetallic catalyst and investigates its performance using density functional theory (DFT). The effects of Ag and Cu loading on geometric structure, stability, and reactant adsorption are analyzed, and the catalytic oxidation pathways of C2H4 over AgCu-MgO are elucidated. Results indicate that loading Ag significantly enhances C2H4 adsorption, with a maximum adsorption energy of -1.46 eV, while O2 adsorption remains weak (-0.45 eV). Cu-MgO shows moderate C2H4 adsorption (-0.87 eV at bridge site) but higher O2 adsorption (-0.76 eV). Among 17 AgCu-MgO dual-atom catalyst (DAC) configurations, those with Ag and Cu co-adsorbed at Mg sites are thermodynamically more stable (binding energies below -10 eV). Configurations with Ag and Cu in close proximity enhance co-adsorption of C2H4 and O2. C2H4 oxidation preferentially proceeds via C=C bond cleavage to form *CH3 and CO2. For three representative configurations (1, 3, 6), free energy barriers for rate-limiting steps in the *HCO and CH2O pathway are consistently higher than those for *CH3 and CO2 pathway. Configuration 6 exhibits the lowest energy barrier (0.32 eV) for its rate-limiting step, indicating the highest catalytic performance. This study provides atomic-scale insights for rational design of efficient catalysts targeting olefinic pollutants in automotive emissions.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025012302
Phosphorus (P) loss from paddy fields contributes to eutrophication in Chaohu Lake. This study evaluated the effects of novel fertilizers and P reduction on P loss and rice yield. Seven treatments were established: no P (CK), rice-specific fertilizer (ZYF), slow-release blended fertilizer (SRF), Xinjutian compound fertilizer (XJT), enhanced loss-controlled fertilizer (CRF), CRF with 10% P reduction (CRF-10P%), and CRF with 30% P reduction (CRF-30P%). Results showed that novel fertilizers and P reduction significantly reduced concentrations of total phosphorus (TP), dissolved phosphorus (DP), and particulate phosphorus (PP) in surface water and leachate. The first 5 days after basal fertilization and heavy rainfall were high-risk periods for P loss. Rainfall increased TP concentrations by 417.74%–432.86% and 94.85%–351.35% in surface water and leachate, respectively; DP increased by 120.80%–322.44%, and PP by 280.66%–501.77% and 80.23%–297.55%. Compared with ZYF, SRF, XJT, and CRF reduced TP loss by 15.43%–33.95%, with SRF showing the lowest loss. Under P reduction, CRF-10P% and CRF-30P% reduced TP loss by 31.48% and 37.04%, respectively, with CRF-30P% achieving the lowest loss. Notably, CRF-10P% increased rice yield by 22.37% relative to ZYF, indicating that moderate P reduction with enhanced loss-controlled fertilizer can maintain or increase yield while reducing environmental risk. The study concludes that CRF-10P% offers a promising strategy for sustainable rice production in the Chaohu Lake watershed.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025010803
Global aquaculture is expanding rapidly, with China leading in production and being the only country where aquaculture output exceeds wild catch. This growth raises concerns about environmental contamination, particularly mercury (Hg), and the safety of aquaculture products. This study investigated Hg accumulation and trophic transfer in a typical ecological mariculture area in Tangshan, Hebei Province, by measuring species-specific Hg concentrations in sediments and various aquatic organisms. Sediment total mercury (THg) levels were extremely low, averaging 4.0 ± 1.3 ng·g−1 dry weight (n=56), attributed to sandy/silty sediments with low adsorption capacity and minimal external/internal Hg inputs. In aquaculture fish, muscle THg and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations were 59.7 ± 30.0 and 53.8 ± 29.2 ng·g−1 wet weight (n=7), respectively, comparable to wild fish from the same area. This is due to efficient trophic transfer and biomagnification of Hg, especially MeHg, along the food chain, influenced by food chain structure, primary consumer accumulation, and metabolic rates. At three seafood consumption levels (41.6–255.6 g·d−1), estimated daily intakes (EDI) of MeHg for Chinese adults ranged from 0.01 to 0.40 μg·kg−1·d−1, with target hazard quotients (THQ) from 0.13 to 3.98. Except for Penaeus monodon and Metapenaeus ensis, all other aquaculture products at high consumption levels exceeded the USEPA safety threshold for MeHg EDI and had THQ > 1, indicating potential health risks.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3821-2
Stimuli-responsive chiral materials hold significant potential for applications in smart photonic devices, chiral sensors, and data storage. Chiral supramolecular smart responsive materials based on azobenzene (Azo) self-assembly systems have attracted considerable attention due to their dynamic and reversible chirality regulation under external stimuli. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in the construction, regulation mechanisms, and functional applications of chiral supramolecular helical structures derived from Azo-based materials. Starting from molecular structure, assembly modes, and external stimuli responsiveness (such as light, heat, solvent, and pH), we discuss precise control over supramolecular chirality, including chiroptical switching, inversion, and asymmetric amplification. Furthermore, the potential applications of assembly materials containing Azo building units in chiroptical properties, chiral recognition, and nanoscopic/macroscopic chiral functional materials are highlighted. We hope this review will provide helpful insights for the design and fabrication of the new generation of smart chiral functional materials.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4190-y
Chirality, a fundamental property of matter, underpins diverse phenomena across chemistry, biology, materials science, and physics. This editorial introduces a special topic on chiral materials, comprising 31 high-quality papers (12 reviews, 1 perspective, 18 original research contributions) that collectively advance the field from molecular to supramolecular chirality, chiral self-assembly, and chirality transfer across multiple length scales. The collection highlights recent progress in theoretical understanding, artificial intelligence-driven design, and applications in optoelectronics, catalysis, sensing, and biomedicine. Key contributions include first-principles calculations elucidating circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) origins, AI-accelerated discovery of chiral functional materials, and reviews on CPL-active non-perovskite halides, chiral inorganic catalysts, polyoxometalate-based materials, and chiral carbon dots. Organic, polymeric, and supramolecular systems are also featured, including stimuli-responsive azobenzene-based helices, aromatic foldamers, and folding-mediated chirality control. Original research spans helical wrapping, enantiomer purity regulation, optically active helical polymers, 2D assemblies, metal-organic frameworks, chiral hybrid halides, perovskites, Eu(III) enantiomers, co-assembled copolymers, polymer dots, ferroelectric liquid crystals, nanozymes, and homochiral MOFs. These works collectively address fundamental questions and demonstrate potential for advanced functional materials with programmable properties, pointing to promising innovation pathways for future technological development.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3936-8
The precise separation of enantiomers is essential for developing effective chiral drugs, yet conventional membranes are constrained by the ubiquitous selectivity-permeability trade-off and low flux, limiting scalable production of single-enantiomer drugs. Herein, we present a cascade reaction strategy integrating Sonogashira-Hagihara coupling and Friedel-Crafts alkylation to fabricate porous conjugated microporous polymer membranes (CCMP-M P1–4/SiO2). This approach enhances specific surface area by 400-fold compared to the product from the Sonogashira-Hagihara coupling reaction alone, creating interconnected porous networks that facilitate mass transport. This hypothesis was confirmed by pore-size gradient experiments, which revealed a critical size-matching effect: matched molecular dimensions enable high-speed mass transfer with 97% enantioselectivity, while mismatch reduces selectivity to 9%, as visualized in a separation performance matrix across four chiral molecules. Precise chiral recognition is programmable via absolute configuration control of chiral monomers, with the mechanism of “preferential adsorption–interfacial enrichment–promoted diffusion” confirmed by static adsorption and density functional theory calculations. This strategy achieves breakthrough performance: Naproxen flux reaches 37 mmol m−2 h−1, surpassing literature values, and enables membrane-based separation of Raceanisodamine (89% selectivity of 6S, 2′S and 6R, 2′R-isomer after cascade enrichment) for the first time. This work provides a new paradigm for designing high-performance chiral separation membranes, facilitating scalable and sustainable production of single-enantiomer drugs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3817-3
The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data-driven edge intelligence applications has created an urgent demand for highly efficient computing hardware. Ferroelectric memristors have emerged as promising candidates for edge hardware due to their multi-level conductance tunability and high integration potential. In this work, we fabricated yttrium-doped hafnium oxide (YHO) memristors with a remanent polarization of ~30 μC/cm2, a multi-level resistive state retention time of approximately 10^5 s, and an endurance of up to 10^9 cycles. Based on this device, we constructed a real-time path-tracking system for intelligent vehicles—which achieves 100% path recognition accuracy—and a traffic sign denoising network optimized for hardware mapping via a hierarchical mixed-precision quantization strategy; this network yields denoised images with a peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of 27.04 and a structural similarity index measure (SSIM) of 0.80. This work paves an innovative pathway for the practical application of hafnium-based ferroelectric memristors, accelerating the development of highly efficient hardware for edge intelligence.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60637-8
Biomass is a sustainable green coal alternative, and its thermochemical conversion, particularly hydrogen-rich gasification, offers an effective pathway for high-value utilization. Co-gasification of biomass with coal gangue enables synergistic utilization of carbon resources, with significant potential for emission reduction and efficiency enhancement. To elucidate how typical biomass components govern the gasification process, three feedstocks with distinct dominant characteristics were selected: pine stick (high cellulose), soybean straw (high nitrogen), and corn stover (high ash with abundant K+). Under fixed conditions (850 °C, steam flow 2 mL/min, N2 flow 75 mL/min), co-gasification with coal gangue was investigated. Results indicated that compositional differences led to distinct synergistic patterns and product distributions. All systems achieved the highest hydrogen yield at a 5:5 raw material mass ratio. The high-cellulose pine stick system yielded the most H2 (9.06 mmol/g) and H2+CO yield (15.25 mmol/g), exhibiting a 'three high, three low' advantage due to efficient volatile reforming. In contrast, the high-ash/K+ corn stover system showed the strongest synergy for CO (SI = 1.22), promoted by the catalytic Boudouard reaction. The high-nitrogen soybean straw system achieved an optimal H2/CO ratio (2.00) but suffered from suppressed syngas yield due to inhibitory nitrogenous tars. This study confirms that biomass composition—specifically cellulose, ash/K+, and nitrogen content—differentially regulates syngas production and synergy by steering dominant reaction pathways, providing a theoretical basis for targeted conversion of waste resources.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202606017
Against the backdrop of global green transition and tightening resource constraints, China's Dual Carbon Goals and Zero-Waste City initiative have positioned waste valorization as a critical pathway for sustainable development. Zinc, a fundamental metal, faces high external dependence and nearing primary resource limits, making the regenerated zinc industry essential. However, the previous standard YS/T 1093-2015 lagged in classification, technical indicators, and environmental requirements. This paper analyzes the revision to YS/T 1093-2024, which renames the standard to 'Recycled Zinc Raw Materials' and clarifies its role as front-end smelting intermediate feedstock. The new standard establishes a classification system covering six typical zinc-bearing materials, expanding utilization of low-grade complex materials (zinc content 5%-15%). It tightens limits on harmful elements (fluorine, chlorine, lead, arsenic) and introduces moisture control and appearance evaluation indicators, enhancing operability and environmental risk control. Compared with EU standards, it shows systematic improvements in raw material coverage, process adaptability, and environmental risk prevention. The revision is expected to drive the regenerated zinc industry toward intensification, high-value utilization, and clean production, improving resource recycling efficiency and supporting China's zinc resource strategic security and low-carbon development.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202607001
Co-combustion of municipal solid waste (MSW) and sewage sludge (SS) offers a promising route for synergistic waste management, yet pollutant release dynamics and environmental trade-offs remain inadequately characterized. This study systematically investigated the combustion behavior, pollutant emissions, and environmental impacts of MSW-SS blends at 850, 950, and 1050 °C with varying SS mass fractions (0–100%). Machine learning models, particularly artificial neural networks (ANN), were optimized to predict pollutant generation, and SHAP analysis identified key influencing factors. Results demonstrated that combustion temperature and blending ratio significantly affected burnout efficiency, with temperature exerting a more pronounced effect. An SS proportion of 20% yielded favorable combustion performance. Among pollutants, N2O and C2H4 emissions were significantly influenced by temperature, blending ratio, and their interaction, indicating high sensitivity to operating conditions. CO and C6H6 were primarily affected by blending ratio, while C7H8 responded to both temperature and blending ratio. N2O and CH4 were predominantly released during the initial combustion stage; elevated temperatures markedly suppressed N2O formation, and co-combustion generally reduced CH4 emissions. A 20% SS blend effectively reduced SO2 emissions, and NO synergistic reduction was optimal at 950 °C. Emissions of CO, C2H4, C6H6, and C7H8 exhibited antagonistic behavior under co-combustion. The ANN model accurately predicted pollutant concentrations, with combustion temperature, volatile matter, and fixed carbon content identified as critical factors. Environmental impact assessment revealed that higher temperatures reduced global warming potential (GWP) and photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), while lower MSW proportions decreased POCP but increased GWP and acidification potential (AP). Integrating combustion performance, pollutant release, and environmental impacts, an SS proportion of 20% is recommended for optimized co-combustion.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202607002
In municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration simulation, the traditional FLIC-Fluent coupling method suffers from long iteration cycles across multiple operating conditions and significant errors due to data mapping at the coupling interface. This study developed a fully coupled bed combustion simulation program based on Fluent User-Defined Functions (UDF). By integrating four modules—dynamic regulation of particle emissivity, zonal motion control of the grate, bed drag shielding, and wall collision-induced fragmentation—the program achieved fully coupled calculation of solid waste particle movement, bed combustion, and furnace flow fields within a single Fluent platform, completely replacing the bed calculation functions of FLIC software. A 750 t/d reverse-inclined forward-feeding grate furnace in a Chinese waste-to-energy plant was selected for engineering validation. The model was calibrated using continuous operational data from 12 on-site measurement points. Results showed that the computational time per operating condition was reduced by 71.4% compared to the traditional FLIC-Fluent coupling method. The relative error between simulated furnace temperatures and on-site measurements was ≤4.10%, significantly outperforming the 9.68% maximum relative error of the traditional method. The proposed method provides a reliable engineering simulation solution for optimizing operating conditions and screening blending schemes in co-incineration of multi-source solid waste.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202607006
This study evaluates the global warming potential (GWP) of three typical air pollution control device (APCD) configurations in municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration under ultra-low emission standards. The configurations are APCD1 (SNCR+SDS+DS+ACI+FF), APCD2 (SNCR+SDS+DS+ACI+FF+SCR+WS), and APCD3 (SNCR+SDS+DS+ACI+FF+WS+SCR). Life cycle assessment (LCA) was applied to quantify GWP. Results indicate that APCD3 exhibits the highest GWP due to increased electricity consumption, yet it achieves the lowest pollutant emissions among the three. APCD1 shows the highest NOx emissions, contributing significantly to GWP, and requires technological upgrades. APCD2 consumes more resources but does not proportionally reduce emissions, suggesting inefficiencies. Electricity consumption is the dominant factor influencing GWP across all processes; reducing electricity use and improving energy efficiency are critical for mitigating environmental impact. The study recommends further research on CO2 reduction strategies and adoption of more efficient DeNOx technologies to align MSW incineration with ultra-low emission and low-carbon goals.
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.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4097-3
The on-demand patterning of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) with tailored edges is critical for electronic and optoelectronic applications but remains technically challenging. Here, we report a stress-guided anisotropic etching strategy for producing large-area, well-ordered MoS2 nanostructures, including nano-ribbons and nano-squares, without templates. By applying uniaxial cumulative stress followed by selective thermal etching, MoS2 monolayers are statistically etched into ribbon-like structures whose width inversely correlates with applied stress magnitude. The newly etched edges are macroscopically straight or serrated, predominantly Mo-zigzag terminated, and enhance photoluminescence by a factor of ~8.0. The edge type depends on the angle between stress direction and crystallographic orientation, corroborated by theoretical calculations. Biaxial stressing generates well-defined nano-squares, offering a scalable, versatile patterning route for engineering 2D materials with tailored functional edges, promising for electrocatalytic and optoelectronic applications.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60684-6
Tungsten trioxide (WO3) is a transition metal oxide of significant interest in heterogeneous catalysis due to its environmental friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and favorable electrical properties. The catalytic performance of WO3 is strongly dependent on its exposed crystal facets, which exhibit distinct physicochemical properties including charge separation efficiency, reactant adsorption capacity, and redox activity. These differences arise from variations in atomic arrangement, electronic structure, and surface energy. This review systematically examines the facet effect of WO3 across photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, photoelectrocatalysis, and thermal catalysis. Theoretical calculations are integrated to elucidate the intrinsic mechanisms underlying facet-dependent behavior from an atomic structure perspective. The paper synthesizes general rules governing the WO3 facet effect across these applications, critically assesses current research limitations, and outlines future directions. Key findings highlight that facet engineering enables precise tuning of catalytic activity and selectivity, with specific facets such as {001}, {110}, and {010} demonstrating enhanced performance in various reactions. The review underscores the importance of morphology control in optimizing WO3-based catalysts and identifies challenges in achieving facet-selective synthesis and stability under operational conditions. Future research should focus on advanced characterization techniques and computational modeling to further unravel facet-dependent mechanisms and guide rational catalyst design.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4126-0
Flexible X-ray detectors are constrained by the difficulty of producing semiconductor films that simultaneously exhibit uniform morphology, high crystallinity, and mechanical robustness. Here, we introduce a hydrogen-bond engineered supramolecular (HBES) strategy to overcome these limitations in supramolecular bismuth halide clusters (PDBiI5). By incorporating polyacrylic acid (PAA), a dynamic supramolecular network is formed that suppresses the coffee-ring effect during ultrasonic spray-coating via increased solution viscosity and controlled kinetic balance between solvent evaporation and solute diffusion. The HBES approach also modulates crystallization kinetics, extending crystal growth time from 23 to 41 s, yielding densely packed films with enhanced crystallinity and reduced defect states. These improvements lead to superior charge transport: a hole mobility of 2.16 cm2 V−1 s−1 and a mobility-lifetime product of 9.1 × 10−4 cm2 V−1. The resulting X-ray detectors achieve a record sensitivity of 19,009 μC Gyair−1 cm−2 and an ultralow detection limit of 3.35 nGyair s−1, with excellent operational and environmental stability. Leveraging the mechanical robustness from the supramolecular network, we demonstrate the first direct-type flexible X-ray imager, retaining 85% performance after 1000 bending cycles. This imager overcomes geometric distortion and vignetting, maintaining 85% edge photocurrent versus 58% for rigid detectors, enabling clear imaging of curved objects. This work establishes a versatile supramolecular engineering paradigm for high-performance flexible X-ray detection and imaging.