Jian Yang (, ), Shaoqiang Zhu (, ), Dongdong Zhao (, ), Xudong Rong (, ), Xiang Zhang (, ), Naiqin Zhao (, ), Chunnian He (, )
{"title":"Interface engineering in hexagonal boron nitride/metal systems: from in situ growth to metal matrix composites","authors":"Jian Yang \u0000 (, ), Shaoqiang Zhu \u0000 (, ), Dongdong Zhao \u0000 (, ), Xudong Rong \u0000 (, ), Xiang Zhang \u0000 (, ), Naiqin Zhao \u0000 (, ), Chunnian He \u0000 (, )","doi":"10.1007/s40843-025-3592-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40843-025-3592-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) exhibits unique physicochemical properties, and the interfaces it forms with metals are crucial for the development of next-generation electronic devices, catalysts, and high-performance composite materials. This review focuses on interface engineering within h-BN/metal systems, systematically analyzing the interfacial characteristics associated with two primary approaches: <i>in situ</i> growth and <i>ex situ</i> compositing. Specifically, during the <i>in situ</i> growth of h-BN thin films on metal substrates, the metal substrate and growth conditions exert multifaceted influences on film quality through interfacial coupling. For <i>ex situ</i> preparation of h-BN/metal composites, interface construction is synergistically determined by h-BN dimension, matrix properties, and the fabrication process. This review aims to elucidate the fundamental principles and unique mechanisms of h-BN/metal interface control, thereby providing strategic insights for the designing and optimizing advanced h-BN-based functional devices and composite materials.</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":773,"journal":{"name":"Science China Materials","volume":"68 9","pages":"3114 - 3142"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145028114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Reversible modulation of circularly polarized luminescence in chiral molecular cage-based supramolecular assemblies","authors":"Jianqiu Li \u0000 (, ), Ran-Qi Chen \u0000 (, ), Taowei Zhu \u0000 (, ), Xiaoyan Wang \u0000 (, ), Xiaonian Xue \u0000 (, ), Huang Wu \u0000 (, ), Dechao Geng \u0000 (, ), Yu Wang \u0000 (, )","doi":"10.1007/s40843-025-3611-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40843-025-3611-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Supramolecular materials exhibiting reversible circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) are of great interest for their potential applications in the development of 3D display technology and information encryption. In this work, we synthesize a pair of molecular cage enantiomers constructed from (2<i>R</i>)/(2<i>S</i>)-diaminocyclohexane-functionalized naphthalenediimide units ((4<i>R</i>/<i>S</i>)Cy-NDIDA) and fluorescent tris(4-formylphenyl)amine (TPA) components. The cage exhibits extremely weak fluorescence emission in both liquid and solid states. Notably, the introduction of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (TFPB) as a guest molecule gradually activates the photoluminescence (PL) and CPL signals of the chiral cage via host-guest interaction. Furthermore, photochromic diarylethene (DAE) is incorporated into the system. The reversible isomerization of DAE under light irradiation enables dynamic control of Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) interactions with the host-guest complex, resulting in switchable fluorescence quenching and recovery. This precise strategy for controlling dynamic CPL switching of the chiral molecular cage offers a novel strategy for the development of supramolecular CPL systems.\u0000</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":773,"journal":{"name":"Science China Materials","volume":"68 9","pages":"3229 - 3238"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145028121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rui Shi (, ), Wanglong Hong (, ), Shengli Zhu (, ), Zhenduo Cui (, ), Zhaoyang Li (, ), Shuilin Wu (, ), Wence Xu (, ), Zhonghui Gao (, ), Yanqin Liang (, ), Hui Jiang (, )
{"title":"Organic cocrystals in the NIR window: functional design, controlled synthesis and frontier applications","authors":"Rui Shi \u0000 (, ), Wanglong Hong \u0000 (, ), Shengli Zhu \u0000 (, ), Zhenduo Cui \u0000 (, ), Zhaoyang Li \u0000 (, ), Shuilin Wu \u0000 (, ), Wence Xu \u0000 (, ), Zhonghui Gao \u0000 (, ), Yanqin Liang \u0000 (, ), Hui Jiang \u0000 (, )","doi":"10.1007/s40843-025-3546-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40843-025-3546-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>As an emerging functional material system, organic cocrystals in the near-infrared (NIR) window drive the innovation of novel material systems. In recent years, it has made breakthroughs in optoelectronics, energy conversion, and biomedicine, thanks to its unique molecular assembly strategy, charge-transfer characteristics, and multi-dimensional application potential. This paper systematically reviews the design strategies, preparation methods, structure relationships, characterization methods, and cutting-edge applications of this type of material. Finally, it presents prospects for future research directions and challenges.</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":773,"journal":{"name":"Science China Materials","volume":"68 9","pages":"2999 - 3018"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145028177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Recent achievements on the modification of microenvironment for fuel cell catalysis","authors":"Shuqi Yu \u0000 (, ), Yao Wang \u0000 (, ), Zidong Wei \u0000 (, )","doi":"10.1007/s40843-025-3541-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40843-025-3541-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Hydrogen fuel cells with high energy conversion efficiency and zero carbon emissions play a critical role in addressing energy crises and environmental pollution, when the hydrogen is derived from renewable energy-powered water electrolysis. The core of the reaction lies in the catalytic reaction interface. At this interface, the complex interactions among catalysts, aqueous environments, ion species, and ionomers directly determine the efficiency of the catalytic reaction. This review systematically summarized four key interfacial influencing factors, including adsorption behavior of catalysts, interfacial water dynamics, ion modification, and ionomer-electrode interactions. It provided an in-depth summary of key regulation strategies such as catalyst engineering, interfacial water structure optimization, ionic group functionalization, and interface reinforcement. Furthermore, future development directions are proposed, focusing on <i>in-situ</i> characterization, multiphase interface engineering, durability enhancement of non-precious metal catalysts, and machine learning-driven multiscale modeling, aiming to establish fuel cells as a cornerstone of sustainable energy systems.\u0000</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":773,"journal":{"name":"Science China Materials","volume":"68 9","pages":"3060 - 3074"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144924436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xianshuo Wu (, ), Yiwen Ren (, ), Yihan Zhang (, ), Lingjie Sun (, ), Zhaofeng Wang (, ), Suhao Hu (, ), Yidi Xie (, ), Yuhan Du (, ), Rongjin Li (, ), Xiaotao Zhang (, ), Fangxu Yang (, )
{"title":"Blended phase separation strategy for seamless integration of ultrathin crystalline channels and charge trapping layers toward multimode neuromorphic optoelectronics","authors":"Xianshuo Wu \u0000 (, ), Yiwen Ren \u0000 (, ), Yihan Zhang \u0000 (, ), Lingjie Sun \u0000 (, ), Zhaofeng Wang \u0000 (, ), Suhao Hu \u0000 (, ), Yidi Xie \u0000 (, ), Yuhan Du \u0000 (, ), Rongjin Li \u0000 (, ), Xiaotao Zhang \u0000 (, ), Fangxu Yang \u0000 (, )","doi":"10.1007/s40843-025-3593-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40843-025-3593-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Organic ultrathin crystals, comprising monolayers or a few molecular layers, exhibit outstanding optoelectronic properties and have shown great promise for constructing advanced functional neuromorphic devices. However, scalable growth of high-quality organic ultrathin crystals and their seamless concurrent integration with charge trapping layers for multi-mode neuromorphic devices, that required in future high-density neuromorphic integration, remain challenging. Here, we present a scalable one-step fabrication strategy based on solution shearing, where spontaneous vertical phase separation of a small-molecule/polymer (Ph-BTBT-10/PS) blend enables the simultaneous formation of high-quality ultrathin Ph-BTBT-10 crystals and an electret PS charge-trapping layer. The PS electret layer serves a dual function: it facilitates the formation of ultrathin, highly ordered Ph-BTBT-10 crystals; meanwhile, its gate-tunable electron-trapping capability enables dynamic switching between photo-switching and photo-synaptic modes within a single device. As a photodetector, the device exhibits exceptional performance, including a responsivity of 4.7 × 10<sup>4</sup> A/W, specific detectivity of 2.2 × 10<sup>17</sup> Jones, and photosensitivity of 1.5 × 10<sup>8</sup>. Under negative gate bias, light-triggered switching behavior enables logic gate demonstration, while under positive gate modulation, photonic synaptic behavior successfully emulates key biological functions, including excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC), paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), short-term plasticity (STP) to long-term plasticity (LTP) transition, dynamic learning-forgetting processes, and image processing. Moreover, the system exhibits excellent compatibility with low-voltage flexible substrates and further demonstrates its application in low-consumption flexible neuromorphic devices. This work provides a scalable route toward high-performance, multifunctional neuromorphic optoelectronics based on organic ultrathin crystals, and advances the integration of flexible electronics and brain-inspired computing.\u0000</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":773,"journal":{"name":"Science China Materials","volume":"68 9","pages":"3219 - 3228"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144924427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bo Liu, Jianbo Li, Zhouhang Feng, Daiyi Deng, Yitao Wang, Haiqing Wang, Yuefeng Zhang, Dong Huang, Xianhua Chen, Fusheng Pan
{"title":"Preparation and mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced Mg-4Y-2Nd-1Gd-0.5Zr composite with in-situ formed triple-layer interface","authors":"Bo Liu, Jianbo Li, Zhouhang Feng, Daiyi Deng, Yitao Wang, Haiqing Wang, Yuefeng Zhang, Dong Huang, Xianhua Chen, Fusheng Pan","doi":"10.1007/s40843-025-3467-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-025-3467-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Carbon fiber reinforced magnesium matrix composite (CFRMMC) was fabricated using two-dimensional orthogonal laminated (TOL) carbon fiber and Mg-4Y-2Nd-1Gd-0.5Zr (WE43) alloy. Microstructural characterization revealed an <i>in-situ</i> formed triple-layer interface because of the addition of Zr and rare earth (RE) elements. This interfacial structure apparently enhanced the bond between carbon fiber and matrix, and facilitated effective stress relaxation and stress transfer under external loading. To benefit from this optimized interface, the fabricated composite exhibited exceptional mechanical properties combined with high modulus and thermal conductivity, achieving an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 640.9±7.0 MPa, elastic modulus (E-mod) of 338.1±1.9 GPa, and thermal conductivity coefficient of 376.156 W m<sup>−1</sup> K<sup>−1</sup>. Furthermore, a modified rule of mixtures for the TOL-CFRMMCs was developed by incorporating the effects of thermal mismatch and interfacial layers, reducing the theoretical prediction error of UTS from 165.1% to within 0.58%, which further demonstrated the effectiveness of the synergistic effect between Zr and RE elements at the theoretical calculation level.\u0000</p>","PeriodicalId":773,"journal":{"name":"Science China Materials","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144924435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Rational engineering of ionic liquid electrolyte: a revolutionary paradigm shift toward advanced lithium batteries","authors":"Fei Lin, Cong Wang, Wenhong Zou, Zejia Ren, Kecheng Gu, Tengyang Gao, Yuxin Tang, Yanyan Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s40843-025-3449-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-025-3449-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The increasing demand for high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in portable electronics and electric vehicles has driven extensive research into advanced electrolytes. Ionic liquids (ILs) and their derived electrolytes, including poly(ionic liquids), ionogels, and IL-functionalized systems, provide significant potential for enhancing the safety and electrochemical performance of LIBs due to their unique properties, such as non-volatility, wide electrochemical windows, and excellent thermal stability. These properties enable safer, high-energy, and long-lasting batteries. In order to benchmark the important development of the new concepts and technologies emerging in IL-based electrolytes, this review conducts a thorough analysis of the physicochemical properties of ILs and their versatile applications in electrolytes, particularly emphasizing their adaptability to fulfill the specific needs of different battery systems. In liquid electrolyte systems, ILs can function as solvents, interfacial modifiers, and critical components for constructing artificial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). In (quasi-)solid-state electrolyte systems, ILs can be polymerized to form poly(ionic liquid)s or integrated with organic, inorganic, or composite materials to develop IL-based electrolytes, demonstrating multifunctional electrochemical performance. Finally, the review critically examines the challenges and opportunities in this field, offering insightful perspectives for future advancements.\u0000</p>","PeriodicalId":773,"journal":{"name":"Science China Materials","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144924444","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lijin Yang, Jiabao Zhuang, Jiawen Chen, Xinrong Wu, Nan Li, Na Zhao
{"title":"Molecularly engineered lipid droplet-targeted NIR-II type I AIE photosensitizers trigger ferroptosis and apoptosis for cancer therapy","authors":"Lijin Yang, Jiabao Zhuang, Jiawen Chen, Xinrong Wu, Nan Li, Na Zhao","doi":"10.1007/s40843-025-3483-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-025-3483-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Despite advancements in lipid droplet (LD)-targeted photosensitizers (PSs), critical challenges persist in achieving deep-tissue penetration, overcoming tumor hypoxic resistance, and coordinating multimodal cell death pathways. To address these limitations, a molecular engineering strategy was introduced to construct a series of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) PSs (MOITP, MOITM, and MOITT), which exhibited near-infrared (NIR) emission. The strong electron-withdrawing capability of the acceptor moiety in MOITT resulted in a bathochromic shift in absorption (606 nm) and NIR-II emission (1080 nm). Under 808 nm laser irradiation, MOITT exhibited the strongest type I reactive oxygen species generation and the highest photothermal conversion efficiency (<i>η</i> = 44%). Notably, MOITT nanoparticles (NPs) showed efficient cellular internalization and selective accumulation in LDs. Upon laser irradiation, phototherapy mediated by MOITT NPs initiated lipid peroxidation, triggering ferroptosis while synergistically inducing apoptosis. <i>In vivo</i> studies demonstrated that MOITT NPs enabled high-resolution NIR-II fluorescence imaging of blood vessels and effective imaging-guided phototherapy to eradicate tumors. This work establishes a novel paradigm for spatiotemporal control of cancer therapy through organelle-specific multimodal cell death integration.\u0000</p>","PeriodicalId":773,"journal":{"name":"Science China Materials","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144924450","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}