SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4412-y
GeTe-based thermoelectric materials are promising lead-free alternatives to PbTe, but their intrinsically high Ge vacancy concentration (~10^21 cm^-3) leads to excessive carrier density and degraded Seebeck coefficient. This study integrates resonant levels (RLs) via In doping and local van der Waals gaps via Sb/Bi alloying to decouple electron and phonon transport. The optimal composition Ge0.91Sb0.04Bi0.04In0.01Te exhibits a Seebeck coefficient of ~287.31 μV K^-1 at 323 K, more than double that of the In-free sample (~102.28 μV K^-1). The peak figure of merit zT reaches ~1.8 at 723 K, with an average zT of ~1.0 over 323–723 K. Vickers hardness is enhanced to ~224 HV, a ~93% improvement over pristine GeTe (~116 HV). X-ray diffraction reveals a structural evolution toward a pseudo-cubic phase with increasing In content, and the (202) peak shifts to lower angles, indicating lattice expansion. These results demonstrate that synergistic RLs and van der Waals gaps effectively optimize carrier concentration and suppress thermal conductivity, offering a viable route for high-performance, mechanically robust GeTe thermoelectrics.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4272-3
Ruthenium (Ru)-based alloys are promising alternatives to commercial Pt/C catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) owing to their low cost and favorable hydrogen adsorption properties. However, the sluggish water dissociation on Ru catalysts remains a major kinetic bottleneck in alkaline solutions. Herein, we report a rare earth (RE) dilute alloy strategy by incorporating a trace amount of cerium (Ce, ~1 at%) into a RuCu alloy to promote interfacial water activation. The oxophilic Ce sites strengthen H2O adsorption and reduce the energy barrier for water dissociation, thereby accelerating the Volmer step during alkaline hydrogen evolution. Consequently, the RuCuCe catalyst delivers 10 mA cm−2 at an overpotential of only 18 mV in 1.0 M KOH and maintains stable operation for over 100 h at 500 mA cm−2 in a membrane electrode assembly. In situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and pH-dependent measurements verify the facilitated Volmer process induced by Ce incorporation. Temperature-dependent analysis further shows that the apparent activation energy decreases from 47.4 kJ mol−1 for RuCu to 26.4 kJ mol−1 for RuCuCe, consistent with enhanced water dissociation kinetics. This work establishes RE dilute metal alloys as an effective platform for boosting the intrinsic activity of Ru-based alloy catalysts, in which RE incorporation promotes water dissociation while inducing charge redistribution in the alloy matrix.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4302-9
The pre-deposited lead iodide (PbI2) film in two-step inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) often exhibits a dense structure, which impedes the diffusion and reaction of organic ammonium salts, leading to unreacted PbI2 residues and compromised device performance. To address this, 2,4-oxazolidinedione (OD) is introduced as a molecule additive into the PbI2 precursor solution. Owing to its stronger coordination with PbI2, OD effectively modulates its crystallization behavior, resulting in a porous structure. This porous structure significantly facilitates the diffusion and infiltration of organic ammonium salts, thereby minimizing PbI2 residue and enhancing the completeness of the perovskite conversion. Furthermore, OD and the constructed porous network jointly retard the crystallization kinetics of perovskite, promoting the formation of perovskite films with improved crystallinity and preferred crystal orientation. Therefore, the optimized PSCs achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 26.31%, and demonstrate excellent operational stability, retaining 90.24% of initial PCE for 1500 h at 25°C and 90.47% after 1000 h at 65°C. The champion device exhibits a VOC of 1.197 V, a JSC of 26.28 mA cm-2, and an FF of 83.58%, with negligible hysteresis. This study presents a straightforward yet effective approach to advancing the performance and stability of inverted PSCs fabricated via the two-step method.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4385-1
Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are effective hole-selective contacts for inverted perovskite solar cells, but scalable deposition on rough substrates is hindered by molecular aggregation, disordered packing, and incomplete adsorption. We propose a hybrid strategy incorporating 4-(Piperidin-4-yl)butanoic acid hydrochloride (PBACl) into the 4PABCz solution during dip-coating. PBACl suppresses aggregation via hydrogen bonding and ionic interactions, yielding homogeneous coverage and improved wettability. The piperidine and carboxyl groups passivate buried interfacial defects through hydrogen bonding and coordination with perovskites. Small-area cells achieve a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 26.09%, while a 5 cm × 5 cm mini-module (aperture area 14.4 cm²) delivers 23.29% PCE. Encapsulated devices retain 80% of initial PCE after 1350 h maximum power point tracking under continuous illumination. This ion modulation strategy bridges molecular-level interface control with scalable processing, offering a pathway to industrially relevant perovskite photovoltaics.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4205-8
The global energy crisis and environmental pollution necessitate efficient recovery and utilization of thermal energy resources such as industrial waste heat. Thermoelectric materials, enabling direct conversion between thermal and electrical energy, offer broad application prospects in waste heat power generation and chip cooling. The energy conversion efficiency is determined by the dimensionless figure of merit, ZT = (S^2σ/κ)T, where S is the Seebeck coefficient, σ is the electrical conductivity, κ is the thermal conductivity, and T is the absolute temperature. Ideal thermoelectric materials require both a high power factor (PF = S^2σ) and low thermal conductivity. However, the strong coupling between electrical and thermal transport parameters makes synergistic optimization challenging. Over the past two decades, strategies such as band engineering, nanostructuring, liquid-like ions, interstitial atoms, phonon softening, and defect engineering have been explored. Among these, entropy engineering has emerged as a novel strategy that achieves synergistic optimization by introducing multiple components to increase configurational entropy. High entropy materials, originating from alloys, are defined as multi-principal element systems with five or more elements in near-equiatomic ratios forming single-phase solid solutions. The molar configurational entropy ΔS_conf = R∑x_i ln x_i, with materials classified as high entropy (ΔS_conf > 1.5R), medium entropy (1R < ΔS_conf < 1.5R), or low entropy (ΔS_conf < 1R). Four core effects are summarized: high entropy effect, lattice distortion effect, sluggish diffusion effect, and cocktail effect. Research has expanded from alloys to oxides, chalcogenides, and half-Heusler compounds. This review systematically summarizes the mechanisms by which lattice distortion in high entropy materials affects electrical and thermal transport, and discusses optimization strategies for thermoelectric performance.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3793-9
Organic solar cells (OSCs) require both a high donor/acceptor (D/A) interfacial area for efficient exciton dissociation and a vertically phase-separated morphology for efficient charge transport. Traditional bulk heterojunctions (BHJs) provide large interfacial areas but lack vertical phase separation, while quasi-planar heterojunctions (QPHJs) achieve vertical separation at the cost of reduced interfacial contact. Here, we introduce an in situ pore-forming strategy for polymer thin films. By incorporating an excess of additives as pore-forming agents into the donor layer, a nanoporous film with a fibrous nano-network is generated. Subsequent deposition of acceptor molecules fills these nanopores, creating a hybrid planar/bulk heterojunction (HP/BHJ) that synergizes the strengths of both architectures. This design enhances performance by: (1) increasing the D/A interfacial area via nanopores, forming a three-dimensional network that accelerates exciton dissociation; (2) promoting close molecular packing that minimizes carrier recombination and establishes low-defect charge transport channels; and (3) fostering vertical phase separation through layer-by-layer deposition. Binary OSCs fabricated with this strategy achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.0%, surpassing conventional BHJ and QPHJ devices by a significant margin. The approach demonstrates general applicability, with analogous improvements observed in D18/BTP-eC9-4F and PM6/L8-BO systems, underscoring its potential for advancing OSC performance.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3705-5
Biodegradable metals (BMs) are designed to corrode gradually in physiological environments, yet this corrosion can compromise their mechanical integrity, potentially causing premature implant failure. For emerging zinc-based alloys, the corrosion-mechanical property relationship remains inadequately characterized. This study systematically investigated the long-term corrosion-associated mechanical behavior of hot-extruded Zn-Cu and Zn-Cu-Fe alloys, promising Zn-based bio-metals, in comparison with pure Zn, under immersion degradation in Hank's solution. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and mechanical testing revealed that the evolving corrosion profile governs mechanical performance. Alloying with Cu and Fe mitigated corrosion's detrimental effects: grain refinement reduced localized corrosion susceptibility, while finely dispersed second phases acted as cathodic sites, promoting uniform corrosion. Additionally, Cu and Fe facilitated the formation of protective corrosion product layers, suppressing further matrix attack. Consequently, the overall reduced corrosion, particularly localized corrosion, lowered stress concentration susceptibility, delaying mechanical decline and preserving structural integrity. These findings elucidate the degradation-mechanical property correlation in Zn-based bio-metals and underscore critical considerations for developing new bio-metals for clinical translation.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3764-5
Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are ubiquitous in portable electronics and electric vehicles, yet their flammable liquid electrolytes pose safety hazards and limit energy density. All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) with solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) offer enhanced safety and higher energy density. Among SSEs, metal chloride SSEs (Li aMCl b, M = In, Y, Er) combine high ionic conductivity, mechanical deformability, and compatibility with high-voltage cathodes. However, their ionic conductivity and anode stability require improvement. Here, we introduce pentavalent Ta5+ doping into Li3InCl6 (LIC) to engineer Li+ vacancies via charge compensation, yielding Li3−2xIn1−xTaxCl6 (LITxC, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.6). Ta5+ incorporation efficiently increases Li+ vacancy content without disrupting the cubic close packing (ccp) structure. The optimized composition, Li2.4In0.7Ta0.3Cl6 (LIT0.3C), achieves an ionic conductivity of 2.19 mS cm−1 at 30 °C and a low activation energy of 0.273 eV, balancing vacancy concentration and Li+ content. Ta5+ doping also enhances kinetic stability against the anode. ASSBs with LIT0.3C demonstrate excellent cycling stability: Ni90 cathodes retain 72.3% capacity after 1000 cycles at 0.5 C, while NCM523 cathodes retain 84.1% after 500 cycles at 0.2 C and 80.7% after 1000 cycles. These results highlight a practical strategy for improving chloride SSE performance, offering new insights for high-performance ASSB design.
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.
New Carbon Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(25)61036-5
Large graphene oxide (LGO) sheets offer significant advantages over smaller ones in various applications, yet their production via Hummers-type oxidation of large natural graphite flakes remains challenging due to difficulties in achieving full oxidation and avoiding fragmentation. This study provides the first direct evidence that large graphite flakes (up to 1 mm) can be completely oxidized without fragmentation under static conditions, as revealed by in-situ monitoring. The oxidation process is governed by diffusion of the oxidizer between layers, described by Fick's law, where a high oxidizer concentration gradient increases the diffusion rate. By minimizing the amount of concentrated H2SO4 solvent, we achieved a semi-solid state that elevates oxidizer concentration, facilitating Mn(VII) diffusion and enabling complete oxidation of gram-scale large flakes with significantly reduced reagent consumption. Reaction temperature was optimized to balance graphite oxidation and Mn(VII) self-decomposition. Using this approach, 200-, 100-, and 50-mesh natural graphite were fully oxidized with reduced H2SO4 and KMnO4 usage. After exfoliation, LGO with average lateral sizes of 27.3, 58.7, and 116.2 μm were obtained, respectively, with 100% conversion and yield over 165%. This work not only provides a scalable, cost-effective strategy for LGO production but also advances the fundamental understanding of Hummers-type oxidation.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202507027
Ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) is a common water pollutant that can induce eutrophication and threaten aquatic ecosystems and human health. Accurate monitoring is essential for water safety. This study applied a self-developed gas-permeable membrane-based conductivity sensor (GPMCS) for real-time in-situ monitoring of NH3-N in two water bodies. In the Qunying River (surface river water), GPMCS captured concentration fluctuations linked to pump operations and sewage intrusion, with mean inlet and outlet concentrations of 4.67 and 3.42 mg/L, respectively. In Swan Lake (landscape aquaculture water), concentrations reached up to 11.16 mg/L, with site means of 6.42 and 7.04 mg/L, influenced by aquaculture activities, weather, and location. GPMCS results correlated strongly with national standard methods (r1=0.8132, r2=0.7483), confirming accuracy and reliability. Compared to existing techniques, GPMCS offers high selectivity, strong anti-interference, portability, no sample pretreatment, low cost, and environmental friendliness, making it suitable for long-term in-situ monitoring. This technology provides robust support for sustainable water environment management.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202507029
This study systematically evaluates the environmental risks associated with the resource utilization of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash in the production of aerated concrete, co-prepared with multiple solid wastes. The focus is on the leaching behavior and total content of heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn) under CO2 curing and chelating agent stabilization. Water washing pretreatment parameters (liquid-to-solid ratio, washing time, ash-to-slag ratio) were optimized for chloride removal. Results demonstrate that CO2 curing suppresses the leaching of most metals; leaching concentrations of Cr, Pb, Cd, and Zn decrease with reduced fly ash content, whereas Cu leaching increases when fly ash is absent. The addition of 17.5% organic sulfur stabilizer (DTC) significantly outperforms inorganic sulfide (Na2S) in immobilizing heavy metals, achieving compliance with national standards without compromising compressive strength or carbon sequestration. Water washing effectively reduces soluble chloride content to below 1% (mass fraction), meeting the HJ 1134-2020 regulatory limit. Optimal parameters include a liquid-to-solid ratio of 5, washing time of 20 min, and a raw material ratio of incineration bottom slag:fly ash:slag = 40:20:40. Under these conditions, the final product exhibits a compressive strength of 1.50 MPa, with heavy metals and soluble chlorides fully compliant. This work provides key technical support for the safe recycling of MSWI fly ash in building materials.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025010402
Vegetable consumption is a well-established pathway for human exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These contaminants are absorbed by vegetables through uptake from soil and irrigation water, leading to bioaccumulation within plant tissues and posing potential risks to human health. Therefore, monitoring PFAS concentrations in vegetables is critical for assessing dietary exposure and associated health risks. In this study, a solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of 24 PFAS compounds in leafy vegetables, including Shanghai Bok Choy, Cabbage, and Water Spinach. The analytical method, incorporating organic solvent extraction followed by SPE cleanup, was optimized with respect to both extraction solvent and SPE sorbent. Alkaline methanol was used as the extraction solvent, and PFAS in vegetables were extracted via vortex-assisted extraction. Tandem mass spectrometry was used for detection in multiple reaction monitoring mode, and quantification was performed by internal standard method. Under optimized conditions, at a spiking level of 2 ng, recoveries ranged from 50.0% to 120.8% with relative standard deviations (RSD) between 1.0% and 26%. Calibration curves showed good linearity with correlation coefficients (r) greater than 0.99. Limits of detection (LOD, S/N=3) were between 0.002 and 0.103 ng·g−1, and limits of quantification (LOQ, S/N=10) were between 0.007 and 0.343 ng·g−1. The method was applied to real samples, detecting 20 PFAS, with 10 compounds showing 100% detection frequency. Total PFAS concentrations ranged from 2.92 to 6.83 ng·g−1 dry weight (dw). Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) was the dominant contaminant, with concentrations from 1.18 to 3.74 ng·g−1 dw. The method demonstrates good sensitivity and accuracy, effectively identifying and quantifying multiple PFAS, thus providing reliable technical support for monitoring PFAS in vegetables.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202604006
High-strength sulfamethoxazole (SMX) wastewater severely inhibits anaerobic microorganisms, reducing organic degradation and methane yield. This study investigated the effects of short-chain (C6-HSL) and long-chain (C12-HSL) N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) signaling molecules, individually and in combination, on the construction, performance, and antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) profiles of anaerobic electroactive biofilms within a microbial electrolysis cell coupled anaerobic digestion (MEC-AD) system. Compared to the control (no AHLs), SMX removal efficiency increased by 9.26%, 7.44%, and 10.67% for C6-HSL (T1), C12-HSL (T2), and combined (T3) treatments, respectively. Methane production rates rose by 20.4%, 16.9%, and 23.1% for T1, T2, and T3, respectively. AHLs promoted extracellular polymeric substance secretion, enhancing electroactive microbe attachment to the anode. Microbial community analysis revealed increased diversity and modulated key functional genera. Notably, Georgenia abundance increased by 16.77% (T1) and 36.47% (T3) but decreased by 15.99% (T2). ARG analysis showed that single AHLs elevated intI1, sul1, and sul2 abundances, whereas combined AHLs (T3) exhibited a milder response, with sul2 abundance reduced by 4.92% relative to control. This suggests synergistic AHLs suppress ARG host proliferation. This study first demonstrates that combined short- and long-chain AHLs enhance electroactive biofilm formation, maintain microbial community stability, and modulate ARG dissemination risk, offering a quorum sensing-based strategy for antibiotic wastewater treatment and risk management.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605019
The utilization of food waste as a fermentation substrate can effectively reduce the substrate cost of lactic acid production industrialization, and synergistic fermentation with leachate could promote lactic acid production. However, the effect of magnesium ions in leachate on lactic acid production, metabolic processes, and key functional bacterial communities remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of adding magnesium ions on lactic acid fermentation using food waste as substrate. Results showed that the optimal magnesium ion dosage was 750 mg/L, achieving a lactic acid yield of (37.4±0.5) g COD/L and L-lactic acid optical activity of (96.3±0.9)%. Mechanistic studies revealed that magnesium ions accelerated substrate dissolution, significantly enhanced the activities of key hydrolytic enzymes (α-glucosidase, amylase, protease) and L-lactic acid producing enzymes, thereby increasing hydrolysis and lactate production rates. Simultaneously, the relative activity of lactate-consuming enzymes decreased, slowing lactate consumption. At 750 mg/L Mg2+, the relative abundances of Enterococcus and Streptococcus were 65.0% (2.2 times the Blank) and 18.7% (37.8% of the Blank), respectively, with a total of 83.7%, enhancing lactic acid yield and L-lactic acid optical activity. Metabolic pathway prediction and functional gene analysis further indicated that magnesium ions increased the relative abundance of carbohydrate metabolism pathways and genes encoding lactate dehydrogenase. This study provides technical support for food waste resource utilization.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3829-7
Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) is pivotal for advanced photonic applications, yet achieving concurrent high emission efficiency and large dissymmetry factors remains challenging. Here, we report a chiral reticular chemistry strategy to construct homochiral porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as efficient CPL-active materials. By co-assembling enantiopure R/S-binol with achiral luminescent ligands, three pairs of enantiomeric pillar-layered MOFs were synthesized. These frameworks exhibit significantly amplified CPL responses, with |g_lum| values enhanced by up to two orders of magnitude compared to free ligands, reaching levels comparable to state-of-the-art chiral assemblies, while maintaining high photoluminescence efficiencies (Φ_PL up to 67%). Mechanistic investigations reveal that CPL originates primarily from the global chirality of the hierarchical frameworks rather than the intrinsic chirality of the precursors. This work establishes a robust design principle for porous CPL-active materials, offering new insights into chirality transfer and opening avenues to integrate strong luminescence with stable chirality in extended frameworks.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.3724/2097-213X.2026.JFCT.0001
The escalating global demand for carbon reduction has positioned chemical absorption using alkanolamine solvents as the predominant post-combustion CO2 capture technology, owing to its high absorption efficiency and process maturity. However, the regeneration of CO2-rich solvents is energy-intensive, with the desorption step accounting for 40.0%–60.0% of total energy consumption. Traditional amine-based methods suffer from high energy penalties, solvent degradation, and equipment corrosion, limiting scalability. Catalytic CO2 desorption, employing solid acid catalysts (SACs), has emerged to address these challenges by lowering the activation energy for CO2 release, enhancing reaction kinetics, and enabling efficient regeneration at lower temperatures (110–130 °C reduced). This review systematically examines research from the past five years on key catalyst materials, focusing on structure-activity relationships, synergistic mechanisms of Lewis acid, Brønsted acid, and basic sites, and their influence on desorption pathways. It highlights that SACs not only improve desorption dynamics but also facilitate catalyst recovery, avoiding adverse effects on absorption. The paper analyzes current scientific and technological challenges, including catalyst stability, selectivity, and scale-up, and provides an outlook on industrial application in low-cost carbon capture. Key findings indicate that catalysts such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), heteropolyacids, and waste-derived materials can reduce regeneration energy by up to 30%–40% while maintaining high desorption efficiency. The review underscores the potential of catalytic regeneration to significantly lower operational costs and enhance the viability of amine-based CO2 capture in industrial settings.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025112603
The cycloaddition of carbon dioxide (CO2) to epoxides (CCE) is a 100% atom-economical transformation yielding cyclic carbonates, which are valuable chemical products. This reaction valorizes CO2 as a carbon feedstock, mitigating the greenhouse effect and aligning with carbon neutrality goals. Conventional covalent organic framework (COF) catalysts often require co-catalysts to achieve high efficiency. To address this, we designed and prepared a series of ionic COFs, denoted EB-BT(nOH), that simultaneously incorporate acid (hydroxyl), base (nitrogen), and nucleophilic bromide (Br−) functionalities. These materials efficiently catalyze the CCE reaction without any co-catalyst. Among them, EB-BT(OH) exhibited the highest catalytic activity, achieving a 99% yield of the target product at 120 °C and 2.0 MPa CO2 pressure. By systematically varying the hydroxyl content in the COF backbone, we investigated the critical role of hydrogen bond donors (HBDs) in the CCE reaction. This work provides new design principles for COF-based catalysts for CCE, eliminating the need for co-catalysts and enhancing process sustainability.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3874-1
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) model sizes to trillions of parameters has intensified the demand for computational paradigms that overcome the von Neumann bottleneck. Emerging memory technologies, while advancing, fall short of meeting the massive requirements of large-scale models. Ferroelectric materials, with their continuous tunability of domain patterns, offer a promising route to emulate synaptic weights in biological learning. This review systematically examines four fundamental ferroelectric-based device architectures: ferroelectric capacitors, ferroelectric field-effect transistors (FeFETs), ferroelectric tunnel junctions (FTJs), and ferroelectric domain wall memories. We analyze their latest progress, application domains, and inherent advantages, while critically assessing the challenges impeding their commercialization. Key issues include scalability, endurance, retention, and integration with CMOS technology. We also highlight optimization strategies for material and device performance, array-level design, and neuromorphic computing architectures. Future research directions are proposed, emphasizing the expansion of novel applications and the realization of energy-efficient, high-density in-memory computing systems. This review provides a comprehensive framework for researchers and engineers aiming to harness ferroelectric devices for next-generation computing.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3823-4
The global demand for chlorine gas continues to rise, driven by its indispensable role in chemical synthesis, disinfection, and wastewater treatment. Electrocatalytic chlorine evolution from seawater presents a promising alternative to the energy-intensive chlor-alkali process, yet it is hampered by the competing oxygen evolution reaction and the sluggish kinetics of chlorine evolution on conventional catalysts. Here, we report a novel hollow porous CoNiSe2/NiSe2 heterostructure nanosheet array synthesized via ion exchange and calcination, which exhibits exceptional catalytic activity and selectivity for the chlorine evolution reaction in acidic seawater-like electrolytes. The unique hollow porous morphology provides a high specific surface area, facilitating mass transport and exposing abundant active sites. Crucially, the heterointerface between CoNiSe2 and NiSe2 promotes d-p orbital hybridization between Co/Ni 3d and Se 4p states, which lowers the reaction energy barrier for chlorine evolution. The catalyst achieves a low overpotential of 108 mV to reach a current density of 100 mA cm−2 in 4.0 M NaCl acidic medium, with excellent stability and Cl2 selectivity. This work demonstrates the potential of non-noble metal selenides as efficient and durable catalysts for chlorine production, offering a pathway toward more sustainable chlor-alkali technology.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3787-x
Circumventing the tumor's defensive antioxidant system and achieving precision cancer therapy remain major challenges in high-efficacy tumor treatments. Here, we propose a synergistic strategy integrating non-oxidative physical ablation and oxidative chemical intervention. An acid-responsive self-collapsing nanomineral PCSB is constructed, comprising poly(acrylic acid)-modified calcium sulfite (CaSO3) and a pH-responsive photoacoustic (PA) therapeutic molecule, aza-BDP. In the tumor acidic microenvironment, PCSB decomposes, releasing PA agents and SO2/Ca2+, thereby enabling combined non-oxidative mechanical damage from PA therapy and oxidative chemical damage from SO2 gas and Ca2+ ions. This dual-action approach effectively reduces resistance conferred by tumor antioxidant mechanisms and improves treatment precision. The study presents a synergistic physical-chemical strategy with significant potential for solid tumor elimination.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3900-8
Memristors, which leverage ion migration for resistance switching, offer breakthroughs in bionic perception, information security, and edge computing but face bottlenecks in functional integration and stability. Herein, we explore all-inorganic Cu3SbI6 nanocrystals (NCs) & PMMA composite memristors (Ag/PMMA&Cu3SbI6/ITO) regulated by NCs doping (0–15 wt%). The devices operate via electric field-induced Ag+ ion migration and conductive filament dynamics, where NCs act as local electric field enhancers. At a doping concentration of 4 wt%, stable bipolar switching (Ron/Roff > 2 × 10^3, cycling endurance > 700 cycles) enables the simulation of biological nociception/Pavlovian reflexes and the construction of basic logic gates. At 2 wt%, sparse NCs induce random filament formation for encryption key extraction, which integrates with 4 wt% logic gates to enable efficient encryption/decryption of text/image data. This work provides a strategy for designing multifunctional memristors by regulating ion transport through nanocrystal concentration, offering references for related functional integration and cross-disciplinary applications.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2026021002
The construction of species sensitivity distribution (SSD) models using a single function requires optimization to reduce subjectivity. To minimize model selection uncertainty and align with Chinese freshwater organism effect criteria, this study integrated native freshwater species toxicity data, including experimental and predicted values from interspecies correlation estimation (ICE) and acute-chronic ratio (ACR) methods, and applied a model-averaging approach to construct SSD models for seven representative phthalate esters (PAEs): dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DnBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), and dihexyl phthalate (DnHP). The derived short-term predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECacute) for DMP, DEP, DnBP, BBP, DEHP, DIDP, and DnHP were 16.796, 4.984, 9.064×10⁻², 2.490×10⁻¹, 1.898×10⁻², 1.386×10⁻¹, and 7.428×10⁻² μg·L⁻¹, respectively. Long-term PNECs (PNECchronic) were 3.245×10², 36.500, 1.149, 4.018, 8.949×10⁻², 1.637, and 4.073×10⁻¹ μg·L⁻¹, respectively. These PNECs, based on native species toxicity data and more stringent than existing standards, are recommended as potential references for water quality criteria based on Chinese freshwater organism effects. Ecological risk assessment using the hazard quotient (HQ) method on exposure concentrations from typical Chinese freshwater basins revealed that DEHP and DnBP posed high short-term risks, BBP mainly medium risk, while DMP, DEP, and DnHP showed low or no risk. Long-term risks indicated DEHP at medium to high risk, DnBP mainly medium to low, BBP low or no risk, and DMP, DEP, and DnHP no risk. The overall ecological risk ranking was DEHP > DnBP > BBP > DEP > DMP ≈ DnHP.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60655-X
Defect-induced nonradiative recombination critically restricts the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Lewis base additives show great promise in defect passivation, but current screening methods rely heavily on empirical trial and error and lack clear design principles, making it difficult to efficiently discover high-performance candidate materials. Here, we present a machine learning (ML) framework to intelligently screen Lewis base molecules for defect passivation. We trained six ensemble models on a dataset of 146 experimental data points, with Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) yielding the best classification performance (87% accuracy). Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) interpretability analysis subsequently identifies the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy (−7.5 to −6.3 eV), additive concentration (2.5 to 6.5 mg/mL), and simplified molecular backbones (O atom ≤ 2, C atom < 5) as critical design criteria. The ML prediction was experimentally validated: (S)-pyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid ((S)-PCA) and 2-methyl-1,3-cyclopentanedione (MCPD) (Class Ⅱ) improved PCE by 2.22% and 2.01%, respectively, while 3-hydroxymethyl-3-methylbutanenitrile (3-HMBN) (Class Ⅰ) showed minimal gain. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further confirmed the stronger binding affinities and elevated defect formation energies of Class Ⅱ additives. Notably, the champion (S)-PCA device achieved a PCE of 24.05%. This work established an ML-accelerated paradigm for the rational design of defect passivators, bridging data science and photovoltaics.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025051802
This study investigates the recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus from anaerobic digestion biogas slurry of chicken manure via magnesium-modified zeolite coupled with electrochemical precipitation crystallization. Three types of magnesium-modified zeolites were prepared using alkali activation and magnesium loading to enhance adsorption capacity. A coupled 'magnesium-modified zeolite-electrochemical MAP' reactor was constructed, and key parameters (N/P ratio, pH, current density) were optimized via response surface methodology. The results show that MgCl2-modified zeolite (MgCl2-ZO) exhibited the best coupling precipitation performance. Under optimal conditions (N/P ratio 3.78, pH 8.43, current density 13.11 A·m−2), the removal efficiencies for total nitrogen (TN), total ammonium nitrogen (TAN), total phosphorus (TP), and total phosphate (TPS) reached 54.84%, 62.93%, 82.02%, and 77.72%, respectively. The mechanism involves synergistic adsorption and electrochemical release of Mg2+ from the magnesium electrode, which promotes struvite crystallization. The electrochemical field enhances ion exchange and chemical precipitation on the zeolite surface, facilitating efficient nutrient recovery. This approach offers a promising solution for nutrient management in livestock wastewater.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60717-7
Alkali lignin, a high-volume byproduct from pulp and paper manufacturing and biomass refining, is a promising feedstock for aromatic hydrocarbon production in liquid fuels due to its high energy density and abundant aromatic moieties. However, its highly cross-linked polymeric structure hinders efficient valorization. This work investigates catalytic conversion of alkali lignin into bio-oil under in situ H2 supply from formic acid. A series of Ni-Mo/h-BN bimetallic catalysts with varied metal ratios were synthesized by impregnation and characterized by XPS, XRD, and other techniques. The effects of reaction parameters on H2 production via aqueous-phase reforming (APR) of formic acid were evaluated. Optimal H2 yield was achieved at a formic acid-to-water molar ratio of 1:10 and a Ni/Mo atomic ratio of 3:1. H2 yield increased monotonically with temperature from 220 to 280 °C, reaching a maximum of 38.48 mmol. Subsequently, influences of reaction temperature and residence time on bio-oil production were examined. The highest heavy bio-oil yield (18.93%) and maximum relative content of aromatic hydrocarbons (13.81%) were both achieved at 280 °C. Prolonged reaction time reduced heavy bio-oil yield and aromatic hydrocarbon abundance while favoring furan derivatives. This work demonstrates good synergy between in situ hydrogen generation from formic acid and lignin hydrogenation in the temperature range 240–280 °C.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4109-2
The fabrication of high-efficiency organic solar cells (OSCs) under ambient conditions remains a formidable challenge due to the sensitivity of active layer morphology to environmental factors. We propose an innovative approach for air-processed devices that combines spontaneous water-spreading film formation with layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition. This method enables the fabrication of donor- and acceptor-dominant bulk heterojunction blend films near the anode and cathode interfacial layers, respectively, optimizing vertical phase separation and enhancing charge transfer efficiency. In the D18:L8-BO system, the device achieves a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.02% with an exceptionally narrow efficiency distribution. Even for devices with an area of 1 cm2, a PCE of 16.56% is attained. After a 1000-hour decay test, the efficiency retains 84.1%. This novel method offers a promising pathway for advancing the industrial application of large-area, highly stable devices with narrow efficiency distribution under ambient conditions.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4216-7
Flexible Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) solar cells are promising for lightweight and mechanically pliable photovoltaics, yet their performance is limited by severe non-radiative recombination and residual stress. Here, we report a sealed constant temperature (SCT) annealing strategy that simultaneously optimizes the CZTSSe/CdS heterojunction and alleviates stress. Under uniform mild thermal conditions (85°C, 5 h), SCT annealing promotes gradient diffusion of Cd2+ into the absorber, partially substituting Zn2+, which optimizes band alignment, passivates interface defects, and suppresses near-interface CuZn defects. This reduces open-circuit voltage loss and improves fill factor. The flexible device achieves a power conversion efficiency of 13.07%, a significant improvement over the reference (12.1%). The SCT strategy also enhances mechanical flexibility by reducing residual stress. Our findings provide a controllable route to advance both efficiency and flexibility of flexible CZTSSe solar cells.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3643-8
Inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) suffer from defect-mediated nonradiative recombination and inefficient charge extraction, particularly at the buried interface and grain boundaries (GBs), which limit power conversion efficiency (PCE) and operational stability. This study introduces a multifunctional phosphonic acid molecule, (2-(3,6-bis(trifluoromethoxy)-9H-carbazol-9-yl)ethyl)phosphonic acid (M28), as an additive in the perovskite precursor solution. M28 spontaneously segregates toward the buried interface and GBs, fulfilling three roles: (1) slowing crystallization to enlarge grains and improve film quality, (2) passivating defects to suppress charge recombination, and (3) inducing p-type doping to create an extra electric field that promotes hole transport. Devices incorporating M28 achieve a champion PCE of 25.96% and retain 80% of initial efficiency after 1500 h of maximum power point tracking. This work demonstrates the efficacy of multifunctional phosphonic acid additives in addressing buried-interface and GB defects, offering a viable route to high-performance, stable inverted PSCs.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3548-9
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is constrained by the absence of tumor selectivity in conventional photosensitizers (PSs), which produces phototoxicity in normal tissues and risks activation by ambient light. Covalent conjugation of PSs to targeting peptides improves accumulation but does not suppress off-target activation. This work reports B-HCPP-RGD, a single-molecule PS that integrates αVβ3 integrin targeting with dual responsiveness to H2O2 and cathepsin B. The hypocrellin-derived type I PS HCEA is masked by a 4-(bromomethyl)phenylboronic acid pinacol ester H2O2-responsive group and conjugated to cyclic Arg-Gly-Asp (cRGD) through a cathepsin B-cleavable Gln-Val dipeptide linker. ROS generation in solution is effectively suppressed until both H2O2 and cathepsin B are present, at which point HCEA is released. In vitro, B-HCPP-RGD shows negligible phototoxicity toward normal cells and pronounced phototoxicity toward tumor cells, including under hypoxic conditions. In vivo, the conjugate actively targets tumor tissue and achieves a high tumor inhibition rate with favorable biosafety. The results establish a modular design for dual-responsive, tumor-targeted PSs that improves the precision and safety of PDT.