SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4476-1
Self-sustained oscillation in soft actuators enables autonomous, untethered robotic locomotion, yet existing light-driven systems suffer from low oscillation frequencies, rapid photothermal degradation, and reliance on external controllers. This work presents a bat-inspired soft robot that converts continuous near-infrared (NIR) irradiation into sustained rotational motion via a coiled MXene-based liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) actuator. The actuator integrates Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets as photothermal converters within an LCE matrix, achieving a photothermal conversion efficiency of 78.3% and a steady-state temperature of 142 °C under 1.5 W cm−2 NIR (808 nm). The coil geometry induces a self-shadowing effect that generates periodic light exposure, producing autonomous oscillation at 2.7 Hz with an amplitude of 45°. The robot demonstrates a rotational speed of 120 rpm and a specific power density of 3.2 W kg−1, outperforming previously reported light-driven oscillators by a factor of 2.5. Under continuous operation for 10,000 cycles, the actuator retains 92% of its initial oscillation amplitude, with a degradation rate of 0.008% per cycle. The bat-inspired wing morphology enables directional rotation and obstacle avoidance in confined spaces. This platform eliminates the need for external modulation, offering a scalable route to autonomous soft robotics for inspection, environmental monitoring, and micro-manipulation.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4202-3
Carbon dots (CDs) with absorption in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 900-1700 nm) hold promise for tumor theranostics, yet existing synthesis methods often involve complex procedures, harsh conditions, or lack precise control. Here we report a 'self-photooxidation-restructuring' strategy that enables structural reorganization of the carbon core in CDs, achieving a significant redshift of absorption into the NIR-II region. Under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation, the precursor (B-CDs, absorption in UV region) generates singlet oxygen, which self-oxidizes aldehyde groups and the carbon skeleton of B-CDs to stronger electron-withdrawing carboxyl groups and carbon radicals, respectively. These processes facilitate the formation of new C=C bonds between isolated aromatic domains, thereby transforming B-CDs into novel CDs (N-CDs) characterized by enhanced donor-acceptor interactions and a redshift in absorption toward the NIR-II window. Various experimental data, including high-resolution XPS, FTIR, NMR, EPR, have proved the proposed formation mechanism. The novel N-CDs afforded a high photothermal conversion efficiency of up to 71.33%, which enabled 1064 nm laser-activated photoacoustic imaging (PAI)-guided photothermal therapy (PTT) in tumors. This work opens a new avenue for the synthesis and modulation of CDs in the NIR-II region.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4360-7
Polarization-sensitive photodetection is critical for advanced optical communication and imaging systems, yet conventional photodetectors suffer from low on-off ratios and limited polarization discrimination. Here, we report gate-tunable PdSe2/WSe2 van der Waals heterostructures that achieve ultrahigh light on-off ratio and polarization-sensitive photodetection. The heterostructure forms a type-II band alignment, enabling efficient charge separation and self-powered operation. By applying a gate voltage, the photoresponse can be modulated, achieving an on-off ratio exceeding 10^6 under illumination. The device exhibits a high responsivity of 1.2 A/W and a specific detectivity of 10^12 Jones at room temperature. Polarization-sensitive measurements reveal a linear dichroism ratio of 2.1 at 532 nm, attributed to the anisotropic crystal structure of PdSe2. The photodetector operates over a broad spectral range from visible to near-infrared (400-1000 nm) with fast response times (rise/fall < 100 μs). The gate-tunable capability allows dynamic control of the photocurrent, enabling adaptive sensing applications. These results demonstrate that PdSe2/WSe2 heterostructures are promising candidates for high-performance, polarization-sensitive photodetectors, offering a pathway for next-generation optoelectronic devices.
New Carbon Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61071-2
Aqueous zinc-ion capacitors (ZICs) are promising energy storage systems due to their high specific capacity and superior reliability. Heteroatom-doped carbon materials have been shown to substantially increase the capacitance of ZICs, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this work, coal-based activated carbon was functionalized with both boron (B) and nitrogen (N) to serve as the cathode material in ZICs. The optimized material, designated CAC-120, exhibits a high specific capacity of 371.4 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 and retains 74% of its initial capacity after 10,000 cycles. Electrochemical analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that pyridinic N plays a crucial role in enhancing Zn2+ storage, demonstrating superior electrochemical reversibility. Furthermore, an assembled aqueous ZIC using the CAC-120 cathode achieves a high reversible capacity of 90.8 mAh g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 and exceptional long-term stability over 17,000 cycles. This work provides valuable insight into the design of high-capacity and ultrafast pseudocapacitive carbon cathodes for ZICs, highlighting the synergistic effects of pore structure engineering and heteroatom doping.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024112804
The rapid dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic environments poses serious threats to public health and environmental safety under the 'One Health' framework. Nanoplastics (NPs), as co-occurring pollutants, can exacerbate ARG risks by promoting horizontal gene transfer (HGT), yet the influence of different functional groups on extracellular ARG (eARG) transformation remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of carboxy-modified polystyrene NPs (PS-COOH) and amino-functionalized polystyrene NPs (PS-NH2) compared to unmodified polystyrene NPs (PS) on the transformation of the extracellular resistance plasmid IE-V1955 (carrying an ampicillin resistance gene) into Escherichia coli DH5α. Results showed that PS-COOH exposure promoted plasmid transformation similarly to PS, with effects increasing over 0.1–20 mg·L−1. Low concentrations (0.1–0.5 mg·L−1) of PS-NH2 also enhanced transformation, with stronger effects than PS-COOH at equal doses, whereas high concentrations (1–20 mg·L−1) inhibited it. Mechanistically, PS-COOH (0.1–20 mg·L−1) and low PS-NH2 induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased cell membrane permeability, elevated the protein-to-polysaccharide ratio in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and promoted biofilm formation, thereby facilitating transformation. High PS-NH2 concentrations caused excessive ROS leading to cell lysis and formed aggregates with plasmids larger than membrane pores, blocking uptake. These findings provide a theoretical basis for assessing the combined environmental health risks of NPs and ARGs.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024112106
Selective synergistic catalytic elimination (SSCE) of CH3SH and CO2 represents a significant approach towards achieving green chemistry objectives. In this study, a series of Al2O3 catalysts with different surface hydroxyl coordination states were designed and fabricated through a simple water bath strategy. The performance of the corresponding catalysts for selective synergistic catalytic elimination of CH3SH and CO2 was systematically evaluated. The catalysts were comprehensively characterized by BET, XRD, XPS, NMR and CO-DRIFTS techniques. The experimental results revealed that the synthesized samples exhibited uniform specific surface areas (150 m2·g−1) and pore sizes (12 nm), while demonstrating varying hydroxyl coordination states, which significantly affects the surface acidity of W-Al2O3 catalyst. Notably, W80-Al2O3, synthesized at 80 °C via water bath heating, displayed the highest proportion of μ1-type hydroxyl coordination. This unique structural feature endowed the catalyst with enhanced Brønsted acidity and superior CO adsorption capacity compared to other catalysts, which significantly promotes the further hydrogenation of CO to CH4 in the SSCE process. As a result, the SSCE performance of W80-Al2O3 was significantly improved, achieving complete conversion of CH3SH (100%) and a CH4 product concentration of 1326 μmol·g−1, which is significantly higher than that of Al2O3 (56 μmol·g−1) and W-Al2O3 (54 μmol·g−1). This work provides a new strategy for the synergistic reduction of typical sulfur-containing odorous pollutants and carbon dioxide.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025010802
Ozone (O3) pollution is a prominent issue in the Guanzhong Plain, necessitating effective control of its precursors, particularly volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, studies on VOC pollution characteristics at the county level are scarce. To investigate the summer VOC pollution characteristics and sources in high-altitude towns of the Guanzhong Plain, continuous monitoring of 53 typical VOC species was conducted at two sites in Changwu County, Xianyang City (elevation 1200 m). The spatiotemporal variations of ambient VOCs and their ozone formation potential (OFP) were analyzed, and source apportionment was performed using the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model. Results showed that average total VOC (TVOCs) concentrations at the Changwu Government and Changwu Middle School sites were 60.04×10⁻⁹ and 83.28×10⁻⁹, respectively. Oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) dominated, accounting for 55.14% and 62.91% of TVOCs, followed by alkenes, aromatic hydrocarbons, and halogenated hydrocarbons. Industrial sources contributed the most (43.2%) to VOC emissions in Changwu County, but site-specific differences were observed: the Government site was primarily influenced by solvent use (30.7%) and motor vehicles (19.1%), while the Middle School site was dominated by domestic sources (27.6%) and motor vehicles (20.0%). The average OFP values at the Government and Middle School sites were 258.84×10⁻⁹ and 378.04×10⁻⁹, respectively, with alkenes and OVOCs as the main contributors, originating from industrial emissions, solvent use, and biogenic sources. EKMA curves indicated that Changwu County was in a VOC-limited regime during the observation period, confirming the effectiveness of VOC control for ozone mitigation. These findings provide scientific guidance for local ozone management and offer a paradigm for precise ozone pollution control in county-level regions of the Guanzhong Plain.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3820-5
Two novel N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-based ligands featuring rigid boron-oxygen (BO) fused-ring units, named Bpmi and Bpmb, and the two corresponding homoleptic meridianal iridium complexes, namely mer-Ir(Bpmi)3 and mer-Ir(Bpmb)3, were designed and synthesized. Single-crystal structures revealed a meridional coordination geometry for both complexes. Shorter Ir–C carbene bond lengths and rigid planar BO-fused ring units contribute to enhanced stability. Both complexes exhibit efficient green phosphorescence (λem = 536/521 nm in toluene, ΦPL > 78%) with short lifetimes (τ = 846/1083 ns), leading to high radiative rate constants (Kr = 10.04 × 10^5 and 7.29 × 10^5 s−1, respectively). Theoretical calculations indicate significantly increased metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) character (21.69% for mer-Ir(Bpmi)3; 17.30% for mer-Ir(Bpmb)3) compared to reference complexes (13.01% for mer-Ir(pmi)3; 15.99% for mer-Ir(pmb)3). Both complexes exhibit exceptional thermal stability with decomposition temperatures of 491°C (mer-Ir(Bpmi)3) and 540°C (mer-Ir(Bpmb)3). OLED devices using mer-Ir(Bpmb)3 and mer-Ir(Bpmi)3 as emitters demonstrate maximum external quantum efficiencies of 20.0% and 15.6%, respectively. This research pioneers boron-fused ring-containing NHCs and their phosphorescent iridium(III) complexes, establishing a novel design strategy for high-performance NHC-based OLED phosphorescent emitters.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025042502
Rice husk biochar (BC) was modified with boron (B) and nitrogen (N) doping and loaded with Fe3S4 to fabricate B-BC@Fe3S4 and N-BC@Fe3S4 catalysts for peroxydisulfate (PDS) activation and enrofloxacin (ENR) degradation. Characterization via SEM, BET, XRD, Raman, and XPS confirmed successful heteroatom incorporation and uniform Fe3S4 dispersion, enhancing specific surface area and defect sites. Degradation experiments showed that B-BC@Fe3S4 and N-BC@Fe3S4 achieved ENR removal efficiencies of 90.72% and 91.89%, respectively, significantly outperforming unmodified BC@Fe3S4 (82.21%). Mechanistic studies revealed that PDS activation proceeded via Fe3S4-mediated electron transfer generating radical species (SO4•−, •OH, O2•−) and via B/N functional groups promoting non-radical singlet oxygen (1O2) formation. Notably, N-BC@Fe3S4 exhibited superior resistance to Fe3+ leaching and greater environmental adaptability under varying pH, anion, and humic acid conditions. These findings demonstrate that B/N-doped biochar-supported Fe3S4 are effective catalysts for PDS activation, offering promising potential for antibiotic removal from real wastewater matrices.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608021
To address the significant increase in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and its chemical component concentrations caused by the concentrated setting-off of fireworks and firecrackers during the Spring Festival in Yancheng City, this study introduced the Bayesian-optimized XGBoost model (BO-XGBoost) based on PM2.5, particulate component, and meteorological observation data. The model simulated non-setting-off baseline concentrations using meteorological factors as independent variables, enabling quantitative assessment of setting-off contributions. Results showed that the concentrated setting-off exerted significantly differentiated effects on various pollutants. Among water-soluble ions, K+ and Mg2+ were core characteristic tracers, with concentrations reaching 15.89 and 20.08 times baseline levels on Lunar New Year's Eve, directly reflecting high-intensity emissions. Secondary conversion ions such as SO4^2- and NO3^- showed sustained high contributions on both Lunar New Year's Eve and the fifth day of the first lunar month, reflecting cumulative effects of atmospheric chemical transformation. Among inorganic elements, K, Ba, and Sr were core characteristic tracers, with concentrations showing explosive growth on Lunar New Year's Eve, serving as direct fingerprints of fireworks. Elements such as Pb and Mn were also significantly affected, reflecting direct heavy metal emissions. Temporal comparisons indicated that emission intensity on Lunar New Year's Eve was significantly higher than on the fifth day, with increased proportional contribution of secondary conversion processes on the fifth day. The study achieved accurate quantification of setting-off contributions through a data-driven model, clarifying pollution fingerprint characteristics and temporal differentiation patterns, providing scientific basis for air quality management and policy optimization during the Spring Festival.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4033-1
Photodetectors are critical components in modern optoelectronic systems, underpinning applications in optical communication, low-altitude economy, environmental monitoring, and national defense. Layered two-dimensional (2D) materials such as MoS2, WS2, black phosphorus (BP), and ReS2 have attracted extensive attention due to their remarkable electronic and optical properties, including facile mechanical exfoliation and tunable characteristics via thickness engineering. The absence of dangling bonds enables the construction of van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures free from lattice-matching constraints, promoting efficient charge transport, enhanced light absorption, and suppressed dark current. Among layered materials, semimetals such as graphene, PdTe2, MoTe2, and TaIrTe4 exhibit narrow or zero bandgaps, enabling ultrabroadband spectral responses from ultraviolet (UV) to terahertz (THz). ZrTe3, a layered gapless semimetal, demonstrates pronounced carrier transport features, including robust excitons and ultrafast carrier relaxation times, making it an ideal candidate for photodetection. However, pure ZrTe3-based photodetectors suffer from substantial dark current due to the absence of an energy bandgap, degrading signal-to-noise ratio and specific detectivity (D*). This work reports a high-performance broadband photodetector based on a ZrTe3/CuInP2Se6 heterostructure. By exploiting an asymmetric contact configuration that introduces a Schottky barrier, the device effectively suppresses dark current while enhancing photoresponse. The photodetector exhibits broad spectral sensitivity from UV to near-infrared (355–1177 nm), microsecond-level response speed, and high responsivity and specific detectivity. Beyond conventional photodetection, an optoelectronic information encryption-decryption application is demonstrated, where modulated light and bias voltage serve as dual input channels to encode and decode ASCII signals. This study resolves the challenge of high dark current in semimetal-based photodetectors and introduces a multifunctional platform for secure optoelectronic communication, highlighting the potential of ZrTe3 for next-generation photonic and quantum information technologies.