Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China (中国有色金属学报)•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1003-6326(26)67059-8
A multi-stage heat treatment (MSHT) strategy, comprising a high-temperature short-duration water quench (WQ) followed by low-temperature long-duration furnace cooling (FC), was applied to a near-alpha Ti-0.3Mo-0.8Ni-2Al-1.5Zr alloy to overcome the strength-ductility tradeoff. The WQ state produced lath nano-martensite alpha-prime, residual beta-prime, and equiaxed recrystallized alpha. Subsequent FC decomposition transformed alpha-prime/beta-prime into homogeneously dispersed nano-scale alpha+beta precipitates, while equiaxed alpha coarsened via grain boundary migration. The WQ condition exhibited an ultimate tensile strength (sigma_UTS) of 610 MPa and elongation to failure (epsilon_f) of 18.2%. The WQ+400FC condition achieved a peak sigma_UTS of 791.5 MPa with epsilon_f = 16.7%, yielding a strength-ductility product (sigma_UTS * epsilon_f) of 13.2 GPa*%, a 19% improvement over the WQ state. Texture analysis revealed a duplex texture in WQ: weak {0001}//Z0 and strong {0110}//Y0, inherited after FC. The 400FC sample showed the highest lattice strain inhomogeneity, with peak kernel average misorientation (KAM) of 1.5 degrees and grain orientation spread (GOS) of 0.96 degrees, correlating with the excellent sigma_UTS. Non-basal slip systems exhibited higher Schmid factor (SF) values after heat treatment, contributing to ductility. Burgers orientation relationship (BOR) reconstruction confirmed variant selection during beta to alpha-prime transformation, with only four predominant alpha-prime variants instead of the twelve theoretically possible.
Railway Engineering Science (铁道工程科学)•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40534-025-00406-3
The expansion of urban and intercity rail networks—exemplified by China's 162,000 km of railway operating mileage and 48,000 km of high-speed lines by the end of 2024—has intensified concerns over train-induced environmental vibrations. Although typically of low amplitude, these vibrations can cause long-term structural deterioration, interfere with precision instruments, and disrupt human comfort. Documented cases include the 1000-year-old Probhutaratna Pagoda in Beijing, located 130 m from a major railway, which exhibited signs of vibration-induced degradation despite measured levels remaining within regulatory thresholds; the 632-year-old Bell Tower in Xi'an, where two overlapping metro lines produced cumulative vibration effects on ancient timber; and Peking University laboratories, where Metro Line 4 vibrations caused visible image distortion in electron microscopes. The complex dynamic interactions among train, track, infrastructure, soils, and buildings render vibration prediction a formidable challenge. This paper provides a comprehensive review of state-of-the-art modeling methods for train-induced vibrations from surface and underground railway traffic. It begins by addressing wave propagation in natural soils, followed by an in-depth examination of analytical, numerical, and empirical approaches for predicting ground and building vibrations. The review identifies unresolved issues and outlines areas requiring further investigation, including the need for efficient prediction models to assess vibrations and design mitigation measures.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-02011-9
Zn-based thermal charging devices, utilizing the synergistic effect of ion thermoextraction and thermodiffusion, are able to efficiently convert thermal energy into electrical energy and storage in the devices, making them a highly promising technology for low-grade heat recovery and utilization. However, the low output power density and energy conversion efficiency resulted by the slow diffusion kinetics of Zn2+ hinder their development. Herein, we present a high-performance thermal charging cell design using Zn2+/NH4+ hybrid ion electrolyte, which not only maintains the high output voltage of the Zn-based thermoelectric system, but also significantly enhances the output power density due to the fast diffusion kinetics of NH4+. Based on this strategy, the thermal charging cell displays a high thermopower of 12.5 mV K−1 and an excellent normalized power density of 19.6 mW m−2 K−2 at a temperature difference of 35 K. The Carnot-relative efficiency is as high as 12.74%. Moreover, it can operate continuously for over 72 h when the temperature difference persists, achieving a balance between thermoelectric conversion and output. This work provides a simple and effective strategy for the design of high-performance thermal charging cells for low-grade heat conversion and utilization.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01824-y
The advancement of clean electricity is positioning electrochemical reactors at the forefront of future electrosynthesis technologies. Solid-state electrolyte (SSE) reactors emerge for their distinctive configurations and ability to produce high-purity fuels and chemicals efficiently without additional purification steps. This marks a substantial development in electrochemical synthesis. In this perspective, we critically examine cutting-edge innovations in SSE devices with particular emphasis on the architectural introduction of core cell components, novel electrochemical cell configurations, and assembly methodologies. The use of SSE reactors is presently undergoing a pivotal transition from fundamental laboratory investigations to large-scale engineering implementations, demonstrating remarkable progress in multiple domains: (1) sustainable synthesis of high-value organic acids (formic and acetic acids), (2) production of critical oxidizers hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and liquid fuels (ethanol), (3) ammonia (NH3) production, (4) carbon capture technologies, (5) lithium recovery and recycling, and (6) tandem or coupling strategies for high-value-added products. Importantly, the transformative potential in environmental remediation, particularly for airborne pollutant sequestration and advanced wastewater purification, is addressed. Additionally, the innovative architectural blueprints for next-generation SSE stack are presented, aiming to establish a comprehensive framework to guide the transition from laboratory-scale innovation to industrial-scale deployment of SSE devices in the foreseeable future.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01812-2
In the era of global climate change, personal thermoregulation has become critical to addressing the growing demands for thermoadaptability, comfort, health, and work efficiency in dynamic environments. Here, we introduce an innovative three-dimensional (3D) self-folding knitted fabric that achieves dual thermal regulation modes through architectural reconfiguration. In the warming mode, the fabric maintains its natural 3D structure, trapping still air with extremely low thermal conductivity to provide high thermal resistance (0.06 m2 K W−1), effectively minimizing heat loss. In the cooling mode, the fabric transitions to a 2D flat state via stretching, with titanium dioxide (TiO2) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coatings that enhance solar reflectivity (89.5%) and infrared emissivity (93.5%), achieving a cooling effect of 4.3 °C under sunlight. The fabric demonstrates exceptional durability and washability, enduring over 1000 folding cycles, and is manufactured using scalable and cost-effective knitting techniques. Beyond thermoregulation, it exhibits excellent breathability, sweat management, and flexibility, ensuring wear comfort and tactile feel under diverse conditions. This study presents an innovative solution for next-generation adaptive textiles, addressing the limitations of static thermal fabrics and advancing personal thermal management with wide applications for wearable technology, extreme environments, and sustainable fashion.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01792-3
Currently, perovskite solar cells have achieved commendable progresses in power conversion efficiency (PCE) and operational stability. However, some conventional laboratory-scale fabrication methods become challenging when scaling up material syntheses or device production. Particularly, the prolonged high-temperature annealing process for the crystallization of perovskites requires a substantial amount of energy consumption and impact the modules’ throughput. Here, we report a modified near-infrared annealing (NIRA) process, which involves the excess PbI2 engineered crystallization, efficiently reduces the preparation time for perovskite active layer to within 20 s compared to dozens of min in conventional hot plate annealing (HPA) process. The study showed that the incorporated PbI2 promoted the consistent nucleation of the perovskite film, leading to the subsequent rapid and homogeneous crystallization at the NIRA stage. Thus, highly crystalized perovskite film was realized with even better crystallization performance than conventional HPA-based film. Ultimately, efficient perovskite solar modules of 36 and 100 cm2 were readily fabricated with the optimal PCEs of 22.03% and 20.18%, respectively. This study demonstrates, for the first time, the successful achievement of homogeneous and high-quality crystallization in large-area perovskite films through rapid NIRA processing. This approach not only significantly reduces energy consumption during production, but also substantially shortens the manufacturing cycle, paving a new path toward the commercial-scale application of perovskite solar modules.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01596-x
The growing demands for energy storage systems, electric vehicles, and portable electronics have significantly pushed forward the need for safe and reliable lithium batteries. It is essential to design functional separators with improved mechanical and electrochemical characteristics. This review covers the improved mechanical and electrochemical performances as well as the advancements made in the design of separators utilizing a variety of techniques. In terms of electrolyte wettability and adhesion of the coating materials, we provide an overview of the current status of research on coated separators, in situ modified separators, and grafting modified separators, and elaborate additional performance parameters of interest. The characteristics of inorganics coated separators, organic framework coated separators and inorganic–organic coated separators from different fabrication methods are compared. Future directions regarding new modified materials, manufacturing process, quantitative analysis of adhesion and so on are proposed toward next-generation advanced lithium batteries.
New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2024-39-04-08)
Interfacial adhesion between carbon fibers (CF) and polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) is a key factor that affects the mechanical performances of their composites. It is therefore of great importance to impregnate the CF bundles with PEKK as efficiently as possible. We report that PEKK with a good dispersion in a mixed solution of 4-chlorophenol and 1,2-dichloroethane can be introduced onto CF surfaces by solution impregnation and curing at 280, 320, 340 and 360 °C. The excellent wettability or infiltration of the PEKK solution guarantees a full covering and its tight binding to CFs, making it possible to evaluate the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) with the microdroplet method. The interior of the CF bundles is completely and uniformly filled with PEKK by solution impregnation, leading to a high interlaminar shear strength (ILSS). The maximum IFSS and ILSS reached 107.8 and 99.3 MPa, respectively. Such superior shear properties are ascribed to the formation of amorphous PEKK in the small spaces between CFs.
Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China (中国有色金属学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1003-6326(25)67022-1
Based on the application requirements for porous dental implants, four porous structures of gyroid, RD (rhombic dodecahedron), cubic, and CHC (three identical cylinders hollow cubic) for porous titanium implants have been designed and fabricated using selective laser melting (SLM) technology. Typically, the unit cell dimensions range from 0.5 to 1.6 mm, with pore diameters between 300 and 900 µm, achieving porosities of 60%−80%. The influence of porous structures with small unit cell on scaffold formability and mechanical properties was investigated through compression, torsion tests as well as finite element simulations. Consequently, gyroid scaffolds exhibit optimal formability with the lowest porosity and pore deviation. With the same porosity, gyroid and RD scaffolds exhibit lower compressive strength than cubic and CHC scaffolds, yet their torsional properties show an inverse relationship. Moreover, gyroid scaffolds possess the highest torque but the lowest compressive strength and elastic modulus. The gyroid scaffold with 60% porosity shows a modulus of 3.96 GPa, matching bone modulus of 0−30 GPa. Its compressive strength reaches 176.3 MPa, exceeding that of bone by 100 MPa. Additionally, the torque for the d4.0 mm implant is 2.22 N·m, approaching the FDA safe torque of 2.3 N·m. Therefore, the gyroid represents the most ideal structure for porous dental implants.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25050011
As the development of single-junction solar cells reaches a bottleneck, tandem solar cells have emerged as a critical pathway to further enhance power conversion efficiency. Among them, monolithic perovskite/silicon heterojunction tandem solar cells are currently the fastest-growing technology, achieving the highest efficiencies at relatively low costs. The interconnecting layer, which connects the two sub-cells, plays a crucial role in tandem cell performance. It collects electrons and holes from the respective sub-cells and facilitates recombination and tunneling at the interface. Therefore, the properties of the interconnecting layer are pivotal to the overall device performance. In this work, we applied statistical analysis and machine learning algorithms to systematically analyze the interconnecting layer. A comprehensive dataset on interconnecting layer parameters was established, and predictive modeling was performed using Lasso linear regression, random forest, and multilayer perceptron (a type of neural network). The analysis revealed key feature importance for experimental parameters, providing valuable insights into the application of interconnecting layers in perovskite/silicon heterojunction tandem solar cells. The final optimized interconnecting layer can achieve a proof-of-concept efficiency of 38.17%, providing guidance and direction for the development of monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2025.07.003
The tensile strength of rocks under real-time high-temperatures is essential for enhanced geothermal system development. However, the complex occurrence and deep burial of hot dry rocks limit the quantity and quality of standard samples for mechanical testing. This paper compared the tensile strengths obtained from Brazilian splitting tests on standard samples (with a diameter of 50 mm and a thickness of 25 mm) and micro-tensile samples (with a diameter of 50 mm and a thickness of 25 mm) of two types of granites. A power-law size effect model was established between the two sets of data, validating the reliability of the testing method. Then, miniature Brazilian splitting under real-time high-temperature, combined with X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed temperature-dependent strength variations and microstructural damage mechanisms. The results show that: (1) The comparison error between the tensile strength obtained by the fitting model and that of the measured standard samples was less than 6%. (2) In real-time high-temperature conditions, tensile strength of granite exhibited non-monotonic behavior, increasing below 300 °C before decreasing, with sharp declines at 400–500 °C and 600–700 °C. (3) Thermal damage stems from the differences in the high-temperature behavior of minerals, including dehydration, phase transformation, and differential expansion.
China Foundry•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s41230-025-4177-z
The design of casting gating system directly determines the solidification sequence, defect severity, and overall quality of the casting. A novel machine learning strategy was developed to design the counter pressure casting gating system of a large thin-walled cabin casting. A high-quality dataset was established through orthogonal experiments combined with design criteria for the gating system. Spearman’s correlation analysis was used to select high-quality features. The gating system dimensions were predicted using a gated recurrent unit (GRU) recurrent neural network and an elastic network model. Using EasyCast and ProCAST casting software, a comparative analysis of the flow field, temperature field, and solidification field can be conducted to demonstrate the achievement of steady filling and top-down sequential solidification. Compared to the empirical formula method, this method eliminates trial-and-error iterations, reduces porosity, reduces casting defect volume from 11.23 cubic centimeters to 2.23 cubic centimeters, eliminates internal casting defects through the incorporation of an internally cooled iron, fulfilling the goal of intelligent gating system design.
China Foundry•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s41230-025-4171-5
In order to investigate the segregation process and clarify its effect on the formation of TiN during the solidification of a micro-alloy steel containing titanium (Ti), a new mathematical model concerning solute transportation, solidification, as well as TiN precipitation was successfully established and verified. The transportation of solute elements was described using the Brody-Fleming microsegregation model, while the thermodynamic principles governing the precipitation of TiN were derived within the framework of the model. Additionally, the model accounts for variations in the diffusion coefficient due to phase transition and the influence of non-equilibrium solidification on solute distribution. High-temperature tests were conducted to validate the mathematical model. Results show that during solidification, due to selective crystallization, there is positive segregation of Ti and N in the solidifying front. What’s more, due to the high cooling rate near the surface of this steel, negative segregation is easier to be formed in the surface area. The highest concentration of TiN precipitation is found in the 1/4 width of this steel. High-temperature experiment shows that when the solidifying front reaches the 1/4 width of the specimen, the concentration product of Ti and N elements biased at the solidifying front reaches the thermodynamic conditions of TiN precipitation, and exists a higher concentration of TiN distributed in this region. To address this phenomenon, a comparative analysis of the effects of cooling rate and initial solute element content on TiN precipitation behavior was conducted. An increase in the surface cooling rate accelerates the progression of the solidification front and diminishes solute segregation near the front, thereby reducing TiN precipitation. However, with the increase of the initial solute element content, the concentration product of Ti and N elements rises, then the content of TiN precipitation increases. The results of this model provide important insight into the micro segregation and TiN precipitation mechanism of the micro-alloy steels bearing titanium.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-3017-2
Calcium–magnesium–alumina–silicate (CMAS) and/or molten salt corrosion have attracted increased attention, which is an important cause of thermal barrier coating (TBC) failure. In this study, the effect of CMAS and NaCl melting sequence on the corrosion mechanisms of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) TBCs was revealed through experiments and finite element simulations. The YSZ TBCs were prepared via atmospheric plasma spraying. Subsequently, the CMAS and NaCl corrosion experiments of the TBCs were conducted at 1250°C. Results indicated that the melting sequence of CMAS and NaCl could influence the TBC failure mode. The coating failure modes after CMAS + NaCl mixed corrosion and NaCl melting followed by CMAS melting were buckling failures. Conversely, the coating failure mode was observed to be spalling failures. This study provides data support for the optimization of TBC systems in complex corrosive environments.
Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s10033-025-01274-y
Intelligent manufacturing (IM), a driving force behind the fourth industrial revolution, is reshaping the manufacturing sector by enhancing productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. Despite the rapid technological advancements in IM, comprehensive bibliometric reviews remain limited. This article systematically reviews the latest research in IM, addressing emerging hotspots, key technologies, and their applications across the entire product manufacturing cycle. Bibliometric analysis is employed to identify research trends visualize publication volume, collaboration patterns, research domains, co-citations, and emerging areas of interest. The article then examines key technologies supporting IM, including sensors, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), digital twins, and virtual reality (VR)/augmented reality (AR). Furthermore, it explores the application of these technologies throughout the manufacturing cycle—from intelligent reliability design, material transportation and tracking, to intelligent planning and scheduling, machining and fabrication, monitoring and maintenance, quality inspection and control, warehousing and management, and sustainable green manufacturing—through specific case studies. Lastly, the article discusses future research directions, highlighting the increasing global market and the need for enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration, technological integration, computing power upgrades, and attention to security and privacy in IM. This study provides valuable insights for scholars and serves as a guide for future research and strategic investment decisions, offering a comprehensive view of the IM field.
Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s10033-025-01249-z
A rotary sealing device that automatically compensates for wear is designed to address the issues of easy wear and the short service life of the rotary sealing device with automatic wear compensation in mining machinery. After the end face of the guide sleeve wears out, it still tightly adheres to the sealing valve seat under the pressure difference, achieving automatic wear compensation. Based on fluid-solid coupling technology, the structural strength of the rotary sealing device was checked. The influence of factors on the sealing performance of rotary sealing devices was studied using the control variable method. The results show that as the pressure of water increases, the leakage rate of the sealing device decreases, and after 30 MPa, the leakage rate is almost 0 mL/h. The temperature of the rotating sealing device increases with the increase of rotation speed or pressure, and the temperature is more affected by the rotation speed factor. The frictional torque increases with increasing pressure and is independent of rotational speed. Comprehensive analysis shows that the wear resistance and reliability level of the sealing guide sleeve material is PVDF>PEEK>PE>PA. This study designs a high-pressure automatic compensation wear rotary sealing device and selects the optimal sealing material, providing technical support for the application of high-pressure water jet in mining machinery.
Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s10033-025-01177-y
Hierarchical micro/nanograting structures have attracted increasing attention owing to their significant applications in the fields of structural coloring, anti-counterfeiting, and decoration. Thus, the fabrication of hierarchical micro/nanograting structures is important for these applications. In this study, a strategy for machining hierarchical micro/nanograting structures is developed by controlling the tool movement trajectory. A coupling Euler-Lagrange finite element model is established to simulate the machining process. The effect of the machining methods on the nanograting formation is demonstrated, and a suitable machining method for reducing the cutting force is obtained. The height of the nanograting decreases with an increase in the tool edge radius. Furthermore, optical variable devices (OVDs) are machined using an array overlap machining approach. Coding schemes for the parallel column unit crossover and column unit in the groove crossover are designed to achieve high-quality machining of OVDs. The coloring of the logo of the Harbin Institute of Technology and the logo of the centennial anniversary of the Harbin Institute of Technology on the surface of metal samples, such as aluminum alloys, is realized. The findings of this study provide a method for the fabrication of hierarchical micro/nanograting structures that can be used to prepare OVDs.
Journal of Central South University•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-025-5929-z
High-entropy alloy composites (HEACs) have attracted significant attention due to their exceptional mechanical properties and chemical stability. By adjusting the content of reinforcing particles in the high-entropy alloy and by employing advanced additive manufacturing techniques, high-performance HEACs can be fabricated. However, there is still considerable room for improvement in their performance. In this study, CoCrFeMnNi HEA powders were used as the matrix, and NiCoFeAlTi high-entropy intermetallic powders were used as the high-entropy reinforcement (HER). CoCrFeMnNi/NiCoFeAlTi HEACs were fabricated using selective laser melting technology. The study results indicate that after aging, the microstructure of HEACs with HER exhibits Al- and Ti-rich nano-oxide precipitates with an orthorhombic CMCM type structure system. After aging at 873 K for 2 h, HEACs with HER achieved excellent overall mechanical properties, with an ultimate tensile strength of 731 MPa. This is attributed to the combined and synergistic effects of precipitation strengthening, dislocation strengthening, and the high lattice distortion caused by high intragranular defects, which provide a multi-scale strengthening and hardening mechanism for the plastic deformation of HEACs with HER. This study demonstrates that aging plays a crucial role in controlling the precipitate phases in complex multi-element alloys.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-3075-5
An effective approach to enhance the surface degradation characteristics of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) type 420 stainless steel involves the incorporation of spherical cast WC/W2C to create LPBF metal matrix composites (MMCs). However, the corrosion behavior of stainless steel and cast WC/W2C varies inversely across different pH levels, and the phenomenon of pitting corrosion in LPBF MMCs under varying pH conditions remains insufficiently explored. In LPBF 420 + 5wt% WC/W2C MMCs, pits form adjacent to cast WC/W2C in acidic and neutral environments, attributed to the presence of chromium-rich carbides and galvanic coupling effects. The dissolution of the reinforced particles facilitates pit nucleation in alkaline conditions. Notably, in-situ reaction layers exhibit superior corrosion resistance to the matrix or the reinforced particles across all pH levels. The distinct corrosion mechanisms influence the pitting corrosion behavior, with the corrosion ranking based on critical pitting potential being neutral > alkaline > acidic, contrasting the observed kinetics of pit growth (alkaline > acidic > neutral).
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-025-3138-2
TiFe alloys are AB-based hydrogen storage materials with unique characteristics and a wide range of applications. However, the presence of impurity gases (such as O2, CO, CO2, and CH4) has a considerable impact on the hydrogen storage capacity and kinetics of TiFe alloys, drastically limiting their practical application in hydrogen storage. Consequently, in this study, we investigated the hydrogen absorption kinetics and cycling performance of the TiFe0.9 alloy in the presence of common impurity gases (including CH4, CO, CO2, and O2) and determined the corresponding poisoning mechanisms. Specifically, we found that CH4 did not react with the alloy but acted through physical coverage. In contrast, CO and CO2 occupy the active sites for H2, significantly impeding the dissociation and absorption of H2. In addition, O2 reacts directly with the alloy to form a passivating layer that prevents hydrogen absorption. These findings were further corroborated by in situ Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and density functional theory (DFT). The relationship between the adsorption energies of the impurity gases and hydrogen obtained through DFT calculations complements the experimental results. Understanding these poisoning behaviors is crucial for designing Ti-based high-entropy hydrogen storage alloy alloys with enhanced resistance to poisoning.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-025-3201-z
The performance of the fuel electrode in a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) is crucial to facilitating fuel gas electrolysis and is the key determinant of overall electrolysis efficiency. Nevertheless, the commercialization of integrated CO2–H2O electrolysis in SOEC remains constrained by suboptimal catalytic efficiency and long-term stability limitations inherent to conventional fuel electrode architectures. A novel high-entropy Sr2FeTi0.2Cr0.2Mn0.2Mo0.2Co0.2O6−δ (SFTCMMC) was proposed as a prospective electrode material of co-electrolysis in this work. The physicochemical properties and electrochemical performance in the co-electrolysis reaction were investigated. Full cell is capable of electrolyzing H2O and CO2 effectively with an applied voltage. The effects of temperature, H2O and CO2 concentrations, and applied voltage on the electrochemical performance of Sc0.18Zr0.82O2−δ (SSZ)-electrolyte supported SOEC were investigated by varying the operating conditions. The SOEC obtains a favorable electrolysis current density of 1.47 A·cm−2 under co-electrolysis condition at 850°C with 1.5 V. Furthermore, the cell maintains stable performance for 150 h at 1.3 V, and throughout this period, no carbon deposition is detected. The promising findings suggest that the high-entropy SFTCMMC perovskite is a viable fuel electrode candidate for efficient H2O/CO2 co-electrolysis.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-2939-z
Herein, the electrochemical behaviors of Sr on inert W electrode and reactive Zn/Al electrodes were systematically investigated in LiCl–KCl–SrCl2 molten salts at 773 K using various electrochemical methods. The chemical reaction potentials of Li and Sr on reactive Zn/Al electrodes were determined. We observed that Sr could be extracted by decreasing the activity of the deposited metal Sr on the reactive electrode, although the standard reduction potential of Sr(II)/Sr was more negative than that of Li(I)/Li. The electrochemical extraction products of Sr on reactive Zn and Al electrodes were Zn13Sr and Al4Sr, respectively, with no codeposition of Li observed. Based on the density functional theory calculations, both Zn13Sr and Al4Sr were identified as stable intermetallic compounds with Zn-/Al-rich phases. In LiCl–KCl molten salt containing 3wt% SrCl2, the coulombic efficiency of Sr in the Zn electrode was ~54%. The depolarization values for Sr on Zn and Al electrodes were 0.864 and 0.485 V, respectively, exhibiting a stronger chemical interaction between Zn and Sr than between Al and Sr. This study suggests that using reactive electrodes can facilitate extraction of Sr accumulated while electrorefining molten salts, thereby enabling the purification and reuse of the salt and decreasing the volume of the nuclear waste.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-2938-0
Gels and conductive polymer composites, including hydrogen bonds (HBs), have emerged as promising materials for electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption across various applications. However, the relationship between conduction loss in EMW-absorbing materials and charge transfer in HB remains to be fully understood. In this study, we developed a series of deep eutectic gels to fine-tune the quantity of HB by adjusting the molar ratio of choline chloride (ChCl) and ethylene glycol (EG). Owing to the unique properties of deep eutectic gels, the effects of magnetic loss and polarization loss on EMW attenuation can be disregarded. Our results indicate that the quantity of HB initially increases and then decreases with the introduction of EG, with HB-induced conductive loss following similar patterns. At a ChCl and EG molar ratio of 2.4, the gel labeled G22-CE2.4 exhibited the best EMW absorption performance, characterized by an effective absorption bandwidth of 8.50 GHz and a thickness of 2.54 mm. This superior performance is attributed to the synergistic effects of excellent conductive loss and impedance matching generated by the optimal number of HB. This work elucidates the role of HB in dielectric loss for the first time and provides valuable insights into the optimal design of supramolecular polymer absorbers.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-3012-7
With the wide application of electromagnetic wave, a high performance electromagnetic shielding material is urgently needed to solve the harm caused by electromagnetic wave. Complete cross-linking strategy is adopted in this paper. Polyacrylamide (PAM) was synthesized by in-situ polymerization of acrylamide (AM) monomer. The obtained PAM was blended with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to prepare PAM/PEG hydrogels and form rigid support structures. Subsequently, the modified carbon nanotubes (S-CNTs) were incorporated into sodium alginate (SA) and PAM/PEG. Finally, Na+ was used to trigger SA self-assembly, which significantly improved the mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of the hydrogels, and prepared PAM/PEG/SA/S-CNTs-Na hydrogels with high toughness and strong electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding efficiency (SE). The results showed that the compressive strength of PAM/PEG/SA/S-CNTs-Na hydrogel was 19.05 MPa, which was 7.69% higher than that of PAM/PEG hydrogel (17.69 MPa). More encouraging, the average EMI SE of PAM/PEG/SA/S-CNTs-Na hydrogels at a thickness of only 3 mm and a CNTs content of 16.53wt% was 32.92 dB, which is 113.21% higher than that of PAM/PEG hydrogels (15.44 dB).
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01604-0
Dual-band electrochromic devices capable of the spectral-selective modulation of visible (VIS) light and near-infrared (NIR) can notably reduce the energy consumption of buildings and improve the occupants’ visual and thermal comfort. However, the low optical modulation and poor durability of these devices severely limit its practical applications. Herein, we demonstrate an efficient and flexible bifunctional dual-band electrochromic device which not only shows excellent spectral-selective electrochromic performance with a high optical modulation and a long cycle life, but also displays a high capacitance and a high energy recycling efficiency of 51.4%, integrating energy-saving with energy-storage. The nanowires structure and abundant oxygen-vacancies of oxygen-deficient tungsten oxide nanowires endows it high flexibility and a high optical modulation of 73.1% and 85.3% at 633 and 1200 nm respectively. The prototype device assembled can modulate the VIS light and NIR independently and effectively through three distinct modes with a long cycle life (3.3% capacity loss after 10,000 cycles) and a high energy-saving performance (8.8 °C lower than the common glass). Furthermore, simulations also demonstrate that our device outperforms the commercial low-emissivity glass in terms of energy-saving in most climatic zones around the world. Such windows represent an intriguing potential technology to improve the building energy efficiency.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01511-4
Catalyst–support interaction plays a crucial role in improving the catalytic activity of oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Here we modulate the catalyst–support interaction in polyaniline-supported Ni3Fe oxide (Ni3Fe oxide/PANI) with a robust hetero-interface, which significantly improves oxygen evolution activities with an overpotential of 270 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and specific activity of 2.08 mA cmECSA−2 at overpotential of 300 mV, 3.84-fold that of Ni3Fe oxide. It is revealed that the catalyst–support interaction between Ni3Fe oxide and PANI support enhances the Ni–O covalency via the interfacial Ni–N bond, thus promoting the charge and mass transfer on Ni3Fe oxide. Considering the excellent activity and stability, rechargeable Zn-air batteries with optimum Ni3Fe oxide/PANI are assembled, delivering a low charge voltage of 1.95 V to cycle for 400 h at 10 mA cm−2. The regulation of the effect of catalyst–support interaction on catalytic activity provides new possibilities for the future design of highly efficient OER catalysts.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2024•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2024.12.014
It is important to analyze the damage evolution process of surrounding rock under different water content for the stability of engineering rock mass. Based on digital speckle correlation (DSCM), acoustic emission (AE) and electromagnetic radiation (EMR), uniaxial hierarchical cyclic loading and unloading tests were carried out on sandstones with different fracture numbers under dry, natural and saturated water content, to explore the fracture propagation, failure precursor characteristics and damage response mechanism under the influence of water content effect. The results show that with the increase of water content, the peak stress and crack initiation stress decrease gradually, and the decreases are 15.28%–21.11% and 17.64%–23.04%, respectively. The peak strain and crack initiation strain increase gradually, and the increases are 19.85%–44.53% and 19.15%–41.94%, respectively. The precracked rock with different water content is mainly characterized by tensile failure at different loading stages. However, with the increase of water content, the proportion of shear cracks gradually increases, while acoustic emission events gradually decrease, the dissipative energy and energy storage limits of the rock under peak load gradually decrease, and the charge signal increases significantly, which is because the lubrication effect of water reduces the friction coefficient between crack surfaces.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2024•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/24120018
The quantum confinement effect fundamentally alters the optical and electronic properties of quantum dots (QDs), making them versatile building blocks for next-generation light-emitting diodes (LEDs). This study investigates how quantum confinement governs the charge transport, exciton dynamics, and emission efficiency in QD-LEDs, using CsPbI3 QDs as a model system. By systematically varying QD sizes, we reveal size-dependent trade-offs in LED performance, such as enhanced efficiency for smaller QDs but increased brightness and stability for larger QDs under high current densities. Our findings offer critical insights into the design of high-performance QD-LEDs, paving the way for scalable and energy-efficient optoelectronic devices.