In the paper published in National Science Review, the authors report a general and completely new effect of polymeric insulators in organic semiconductors: the insulator-donor electron wavefunction coupling effect. Such insulators can couple with a series of donor polymers to reduce the energy barrier level and facilitate the intramolecular electron transport. This coupling effect offers a simple yet effective method for enhancing the performance of organic solar cells.

A research team, led by the University of Liverpool, has developed an innovative Mass Spectrometry technology-based technique to rapidly assess paracetamol levels from saliva.

In a paper published in SCIENCE CHINA Chemistry, a step-scheme (S-scheme) heterojunction involving a donor-acceptor (D-A) conjugated polymer and manganese cadmium sulfide (BTz@MCS) has been fabricated to achieve efficient photocatalytic H₂O₂ production in a non-sacrificial system. The high photocatalytic performance of the developed catalyst is attributed to well-designed S-scheme heterojunctions with improved charge separation and transfer.

In a paper published in SCIENCE CHINA Chemistry, an indium-involved modification strategy is employed to address the instability of sulfide electrolyte and Lithium metal. The optimized doping yields a high Li-ion conductivity of 7.5 mS cm⁻¹ for Li_5.54In_0.02PS_4.47O_0.03Cl_1.5 electrolyte, accompanied by enhanced endurance against air/moisture and bare Li metal. Additionally, a composite layer comprising Li–In alloy and LiF phases is generated on the surface of lithium metal anode via the reaction between InF₃ and molten Li. Consequently, the combination of the Li_5.54In_0.02PS_4.47O_0.03Cl_1.5 electrolyte and the InF₃@Li anode provides exceptional electrochemical performances in both symmetric cells and solid-state lithium metal batteries across different operating temperatures.

As global nitrogen pollution intensifies, scientists are seeking more effective and sustainable solutions. Recently, a review published in SCIENCE CHINA Chemistry explored the broad applications of electrocatalysis in the detection, removal, and resource recovery of nitrogen pollutants. The review emphasizes the critical role of electrocatalysis in addressing nitrogen pollution and discusses opportunities for future material innovations.

Dr. Atsuko Nishigaki and their research team from the Department of Environmental Science at the Faculty of Science, Toho University, discovered that the marine worm Marphysa sp. E (sensu Abe et al. 2019), an annelid living in the tidal flat sediments of Tokyo Bay, rapidly decreased the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are carcinogenic environmental pollutants, by ingesting and excreting organic-rich reduced mud containing high concentrations of PAHs. The PAH concentration was halved within two hours.

In a paper published in SCIENCE CHINA Chemistry, the strain and electronic structure of PtMnM intermetallics have been modulated by introducing another transition metal, and the optimized PtMnCo intermetallics exhibit excellent ORR activity and durability.