Journal of Advanced Ceramics•2026•DOI: 10.26599/JAC.2026.9221334
Carbon fiber-reinforced ultrahigh-temperature ceramic composites (C/UHTCs) based on ZrC–SiC are limited by rapid ablation above 2500 °C under prolonged oxidizing exposure. This study reports C/ZrC–SiC–Cu3Si–Cu interpenetrating composites fabricated by infiltrating a Zr–Si–Cu ternary melt into carbon fiber-reinforced carbon aerogel (C/CA) preforms. The process yields a uniform metal-ceramic matrix via ceramization of the carbon aerogel and in situ precipitation of Cu-containing phases. During oxyacetylene ablation at a surface temperature of 2557–2600 °C for 1200 s, the composite exhibits mass and linear ablation rates of 0.0604 mg·cm−2·s−1 and 0.1808 μm·s−1, respectively, surpassing conventional C/ZrC–SiC and other reported ceramic and ceramic-metal matrix composites under similar conditions. The ablation resistance arises from transpiration cooling via continuous evaporation of dispersed Cu-containing phases, which maintains a surface temperature of approximately 2300 °C under a heat flux of 3.18 MW·m−2, combined with a protective Zr–Si–O glassy layer that inhibits oxygen diffusion and resists mechanical denudation. The composite also demonstrates a flexural strength of 194±7 MPa, a fracture toughness of 11.8±1.2 MPa·m1/2, and a work of fracture of 5315±1232 J·m−2, exceeding most reaction-melt-infiltration-derived C/ZrC–SiC. These properties are attributed to the highly reactive carbon aerogel matrix, a protective PyC interface, optimized interfacial debonding, crack deflection mechanisms, and compressive residual stresses. The combination of active-passive cooling and robust mechanical performance positions this composite as a candidate for structural applications in extreme thermal-mechanical environments.
Journal of Advanced Ceramics•2026•DOI: 10.26599/JAC.2026.9221346
Achieving intrinsic surface compressive stress in monolithic oxide ceramics without heterogeneous interfaces remains a persistent challenge. This study introduces oxygen-vacancy compensation prestressing (OVCP), a defect-engineering strategy that generates in situ surface prestressing in zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA). Oxygen vacancy-rich ZTA was first produced by vacuum hot pressing, followed by air annealing to induce surface reoxygenation and form an oxygen-charged layer (OCL). The optimized treatment increased flexural strength to (1679±78) MPa, a 31% improvement over the unannealed state. Mechanistically, oxygen-vacancy compensation during annealing induces lattice expansion in the near-surface region. Constrained by the less-oxidized interior, this expansion converts into a residual compressive stress field that suppresses bending-induced failure. A simplified bilayer model quantitatively supports the experimentally observed strengthening behavior. These findings establish oxygen vacancy-regulated lattice expansion as an effective mechanism for intrinsic surface prestressing, providing a simple, interface-free route for strengthening oxide ceramics. The approach circumvents delamination and interfacial debonding inherent to conventional coating or laminated architectures, offering a scalable pathway for high-performance structural oxide ceramics.
China Foundry•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s41230-026-5274-3
With the growing demand for lightweight and high-performance components in automotive and aerospace industries, aluminum alloy die-castings are evolving toward larger dimensions and thinner walls, posing significant challenges to thermal management during solidification. Traditional cooling channel designs often fail to ensure uniform temperature distribution, leading to defects such as shrinkage porosity and deformation. This study proposes an automated design framework integrating the moving morphable components (MMC) topology optimization method with particle swarm optimization (PSO) to generate efficient and manufacturable cooling channel layouts for A380 aluminum alloys. Firstly, a systematic initialization strategy was developed with component dimensions of 4-10 mm in width and 15-40 mm in length, along with discrete orientation angles. The optimization process effectively guided components toward high-temperature regions identified through numerical simulation, followed by post-processing operations including temperature-based sorting, overlap removal, and component interconnection. The final design with 20 retained components was selected. Then, castings with a conventional cooling system and without any cooling system were employed as benchmark cases for comparison with the current optimized design. Compared with the conventional and no-cooling cases, the current cooling system exhibits a consistently lower temperature standard deviation after 30 s, maintains superior thermal uniformity throughout solidification, and achieves this improvement without comprising the average temperature.
China Foundry•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s41230-025-5004-2
The microstructure of high Nb-TiAl alloys was optimized by the addition of a small amount of Ta elements to further improve their properties. A series of Ti46Al1.5Cr8Nb-xTa (x=0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, at.%) alloys were prepared by vacuum arc melting. The microstructure, mechanical properties, and related influencing mechanisms were systematically investigated. The results indicate that the solidification microstructure of the Ti46Al1.5Cr8Nb-xTa alloys comprises the γ-TiAl phase, α2-Ti3Al phase, and B2 phase. As the Ta content increases from 0.2at.% to 1.0at.%, the content of α2 phase and B2 phase increases, while the γ phase content decreases. Among them, the B2 phase shows the most pronounced change, being significantly refined, with its content increasing from 12.49% to 21.91%. In addition, the average size of the lamellar colony decreases from 160.65 to 94.44 μm. The addition of the Ta element shifts the solidification path toward lower aluminum concentrations, leading to changes in phase content. The tantalum-induced increase in the B2 phase and enhanced supercooling at the solidification front provide the basis for lamellar colony refinement. Compressive testing at room temperature reveals that the Ti46Al1.5Cr8Nb0.4Ta alloy exhibits optimal compressive properties, achieving a compressive strength of 2,434 MPa and a compressive strain of 33.1%. The improvement of its properties is attributed to a combination of lamellar colony refinement, solid solution strengthening resulting from the incorporation of Ta element, and a reduction in the c/a of the γ phase.
Journal of Central South University•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-026-6161-1
Zn-Mn alloys are regarded as promising biodegradable metals for orthopedic applications owing to their moderate degradation rates and favorable osteogenic properties. However, the presence of a substantial number of second-phase particles in Zn-based alloys might induce severe localized degradation via micro-coupling corrosion, thereby compromising the mechanical integrity of the alloy during in vivo tissue regeneration. In this study, high-pressure solid solution (HPSS) treatment was conducted at 5 GPa and 380 ℃ for 1 h to fabricate Zn-0.5Mn alloys. Microstructural characterization revealed that the HPSS treatment facilitated the formation of a supersaturated solid solution by completely dissolving the ζ-MnZn13 phase into the α-Zn matrix. The resultant strengthening mechanisms, including supersaturated solid solution strengthening, grain-size strengthening, and dislocation strengthening, collectively enhanced the compressive yield strength (σcys) of the Zn-0.5Mn alloy to about 183.7 MPa, approximately three times that of the as-cast (AC) Zn-0.5Mn alloy. Moreover, compared with the AC alloy, the HPSS Zn-0.5Mn alloy exhibited uniform degradation behavior with a markedly reduced degradation rate.
Journal of Central South University•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-026-6168-7
With the continual deterioration of mining conditions, the deformation and failure of surrounding rock in roadways with weak roofs under intense mine pressure during close-distance coal seam extraction has become a critical issue restricting the safe and efficient mining of coal. To address the issue of increased surrounding rock damage caused by blasting pressure relief in such roadways, this study proposes an innovative non-explosive method for roof cutting and pressure relief with dense drilling (RCPRDD) to protect the roadway. A combined approach of laboratory experiments, theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and field testing was employed to clarify the rock weakening effects and mechanisms induced by dense drilling. An optimal design method for drilling diameter and spacing was established, and the effectiveness of this method was validated. The research results indicate that the degree of rock weakening induced by dense drilling is primarily related to the drilling density coefficient. As the drilling density coefficient increases, the rock weakening effect becomes more pronounced. At the same time, dense drilling exerts a significant amplifying effect on the tensile stress experienced by the side roof of the roadway goaf. A functional relationship between the dense drilling weakening coefficient and the drilling density coefficient was established, providing a theoretical basis for the selection of key parameters for dense drilling. The method was ultimately implemented in a field engineering test, effectively reducing the stress in the coal body of the advanced roadway, controlling the deformation and failure of the surrounding rock, and achieving the goal of protecting the roadway. This demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of the RCPRDD. The research findings provide a scientific basis for controlling roadway deformation under similar conditions.
Journal of Central South University•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-026-6187-4
With the dramatic accumulation of the end-of-life lithium-ion batteries, their recycling is attracting extensive attention worldwide. To address the problem of low lithium recovery in the current typical hydrometallurgy recovery process, this research uses sodium bisulfate as an auxiliary roasting reagent to extract lithium from spent lithium-ion batteries through sulphation roasting, which can enhance the lithium recovery rate significantly. A systematic study of the sulphation roasting process and the mechanisms was carried out with experiments, thermodynamic calculations, and characterization of the roasted sample phases. The results showed that at a roasting temperature of 600 °C, NaHSO4·H2O/spent LiNixCoyMnzO2 cathode powders (S-NCM) mass ratio of 1.2, and roasting time of 60 min, 95% selective dissolution of lithium was acquired, while the leaching rates of Ni, Co, and Mn were confined under 1%. During roasting, the NCM layered structure collapses and the lithium is transformed into the LiNaSO4 phase, while the transition metals transform into Ni6MnO8 and MnCo2O4 phases. The removal of impurity ions from the lithium-rich leaching solution and the generation of Li2CO3 were achieved by a combination of thermodynamic calculations and experiments.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-02014-6
Escalating global energy demands and climate urgency necessitate advanced electrochemical energy conversion and storage technologies (EECSTs) like electrocatalysis and rechargeable batteries. Improving their performance relies on elucidating reaction mechanisms and structure-performance relationships via in situ studies. This review summarizes recent in situ studies of EECSTs through a variety of advanced characterization techniques aiming at mapping reaction pathways for the rational design of overall high-performance reaction systems. We outline the principles, capabilities, advantages, and limitations of various in situ techniques. Their applications in in situ studies of fuel cells, water/CO2 electrolysis, and lithium batteries are highlighted with representative examples. These studies enable dynamic tracking of chemical and structural evolution of overall reaction systems, including materials, intermediates, products, and surroundings during operation, providing insights critical to rational system design. Future advancements will involve integrating multimodal in situ/operando approaches with artificial intelligence to enable real-time monitoring at practical scales. Such integration promises precise mechanistic insights and robust structure-performance correlations, ultimately accelerating the development of high-performance EECSTs aligned with sustainability and market requirements.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01999-4
With the widespread application of lithium batteries in electric vehicles and energy storage systems, battery-related safety and reliability issues have become increasingly prominent. Conventional monitoring methods often struggle to address dynamic changes under complex operando. In recent years, flexible sensing technology has emerged as a promising solution for battery health monitoring due to its high adaptability and conformability to complex structures. Meanwhile, empowered by artificial intelligence (AI) for data analysis, the collected data enables efficient and accurate state assessment, offering robust support for accident prevention. Against this background, this paper first explores the integrated applications of flexible sensors in battery health monitoring and their unique advantages in addressing complex battery operating conditions, while analyzing the potential of AI in battery state analysis. Subsequently, it systematically reviews mainstream flexible sensing technologies (e.g., film sensors, thermocouples, and optical fiber sensors), elucidating their mechanisms for revealing intricate internal battery processes during operation. Finally, the paper discusses AI’s role in enhancing monitoring efficiency and accuracy, and envisions future research directions and application prospects. This work aims to provide technical references for the battery health monitoring field as well as promote the application of flexible sensing technologies in improving battery system safety and reliability.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01998-5
Conventional treatments for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) suffer from low remission rates, high drug resistance, and severe adverse effects. To leverage the therapeutic potential of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nanocatalytic medicine utilizes nanomaterials to generate ROS specifically within tumor sites, enabling efficient and targeted cancer treatment. In this study, hyaluronic acid (HA)-modified copper-N,N-dimethyl-N-phenylsulfonylbisamine (DMSA)-assembled nanoparticles (Cu-DMSA-HA NPs) are developed with tumor-targeting capability and efficiently catalyze ROS production via coordination chemistry. Targeted delivery is facilitated by HA surface modification through recognition of overexpressed cluster of differentiation 44 receptors on cancer cells, which enhances nanoparticle uptake. Once internalized, intracellular glutathione is depleted by the NPs, followed by a Fenton-like reaction that sustains ROS production. Both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that this catalytic strategy effectively inhibits DNA replication, prevents cell cycle progression, down-regulates glutathione peroxidase 4 expression, induces ferroptosis, and ultimately suppresses NSCLC progression. Overall, the readily prepared Cu-DMSA-HA NPs exhibit robust catalytic activity and tumor specificity, highlighting their strong potential for clinical translation in nanocatalytic cancer therapy.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01886-y
Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) with striking electrical and optical properties have appeared at the forefront of semiconductor materials for photocatalytic redox reactions but still suffer from some intrinsic drawbacks such as inferior stability, severe charge-carrier recombination, and limited active sites. Heterojunctions have recently been widely constructed to improve light absorption, passivate surface for enhanced stability, and promote charge-carrier dynamics of MHPs. However, little attention has been paid to the review of MHPs-based heterojunctions for photocatalytic redox reactions. Here, recent advances of MHPs-based heterojunctions for photocatalytic redox reactions are highlighted. The structure, synthesis, and photophysical properties of MHPs-based heterojunctions are first introduced, including basic principles, categories (such as Schottky junction, type-I, type-II, Z-scheme, and S-scheme junction), and synthesis strategies. MHPs-based heterojunctions for photocatalytic redox reactions are then reviewed in four categories: H2 evolution, CO2 reduction, pollutant degradation, and organic synthesis. The challenges and prospects in solar-light-driven redox reactions with MHPs-based heterojunctions in the future are finally discussed.
Nano-Micro Letters (纳微快报)•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01892-0
NH4V4O10 (NVO) is considered a promising cathode material for aqueous zinc-ion batteries due to its high theoretical capacity. However, its practical application is limited by irreversible deamination, structural collapse, and sluggish reaction kinetics during cycling. Herein, K+ and C3N4 co-intercalated NVO (KNVO-C3N4) nanosheets with expanded interlayer spacing are synthesized for the first time to achieve high-rate, stable, and wide-temperature cathodes. Molecular dynamics and experimental results confirm that there is an optimal C3N4 content to achieve higher reaction kinetics. The synergistic effect of K+ and C3N4 co-intercalation significantly reduces the electrostatic interaction between Zn2+ and the [VOn] layer, improves the specific capacity and cycling stability. Consequently, the KNVO-C3N4 electrode displays outstanding electrochemical performance at room temperature and under extreme environments. It exhibits excellent rate performance (228.4 mAh g−1 at 20 A g−1), long-term cycling stability (174.2 mAh g−1 after 10,000 cycles at 20 A g−1), and power/energy density (210.0 Wh kg−1 at 14,200 W kg−1) at room temperature. Notably, it shows remarkable storage performance at −20 °C (111.3 mAh g−1 at 20 A g−1) and 60 °C (208.6 mAh g−1 at 20 A g−1). This strategy offers a novel approach to developing high-performance cathodes capable of operating under extreme temperatures.
Journal of Central South University•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-026-6206-5
Precise differential travel-time measurement is essential for earthquake relative locating. The waveform cross-correlation (WCC) technique is widely regarded as the most effective method for calculating the differential travel-time of seismic phases. However, for earthquake pairs with large magnitude differences, substantial biases can arise due to disparities in the duration of the initial pulse, potentially leading to significant mislocations, particularly for mainshocks. To overcome this limitation, we propose to use the dynamic time warping (DTW) algorithm to optimize differential travel-time calculation. Using high-quality earthquake waveform data from the San Andreas Fault (2012 −2019), we systematically compared the performance of DTW and WCC, respectively. Our results demonstrate that DTW substantially improves differential travel-time measurements, especially in cases involving large magnitude differences. In addition, we tested the robustness of DTW using noisy seismic data, demonstrating its superior resilience to noise.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01933-8
Photodetectors can convert light energy into electrical signals, so are widely used in photovoltaics, photon counting, monitoring, and imaging. Photodetectors are easy to prepare high-resolution photochips because of their small size unit integration. However, these photodetector units often exhibit poor photoelectric performance due to material defects and inadequate structures, which greatly limit the functions of devices. Designing modification strategies and micro-/nanostructures can compensate for defects, adjust the bandgap, and develop novel quantum structures, which consequently optimize photovoltaic units and revolutionize optoelectronic devices. Here, this paper aims to comprehensively elaborate on the surface/interface engineering scheme of micro-/nano-photodetectors. It starts from the fundamentals of photodetectors, such as principles, types, and parameters, and describes the influence of material selection, manufacturing techniques, and post-processing. Then, we analyse in detail the great influence of surface/interface engineering on the performance of photovoltaic devices, including surface/interface modification and micro-/nanostructural design. Finally, the applications and prospects of optoelectronic devices in various fields such as miniaturization of electronic devices, robotics, and human–computer interaction are shown.
International Journal of Mining Science and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2025.10.009
Investigations into the long-term creep behavior of Beishan granite in uniaxial compression were conducted. Four levels of axial stress (60, 70, 87, and 95 MPa) were applied to rock specimens. Contrasting with earlier research, the long-term creep data in this work present a substantial advancement in the time dimension. Except for the sample subjected to 60 MPa axial loading, which did not fail after a loading duration of 1650 d, the specimens under the other three stresses all failed after sustained constant loading durations of 1204, 1023, and 839 d, respectively. A lower envelope of driving stress-ratio for crystalline rocks was obtained, tending towards approximately 0.45 over an infinite time scale. According to the experimental results, as axial stress increases, both the axial strain accumulated in the transient creep process and the strain rate associated with steady-state creep deformation increase exponentially; however, the share of steady-state creep strain remains nearly constant at about 82.53 %. A novel damage-based creep model was put forward. It provides an enhanced depiction of the comprehensive creep process in rocks, notably improving the accuracy in forecasting the accelerated creep phase, which significantly impacts the long-term stability of engineering structures.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01837-7
Rechargeable aqueous zinc (Zn)-metal batteries hold great promise for next-generation energy storage systems. However, their practical application is hindered by several challenges, including dendrite formation, corrosion, and the competing hydrogen evolution reaction. To address these issues, we designed and fabricated a composite protective layer for Zn anodes by integrating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with chitosan through a simple and scalable scraping process. The CNTs ensure uniform electric field distribution due to their high electrical conductivity, while protonated chitosan regulates ion transport and suppresses dendrite formation at the anode interface. The chitosan/CNTs composite layer also facilitates smooth Zn2+ deposition, enhancing the stability and reversibility of the Zn anode. As a result, the chitosan/CNTs @ Zn anode demonstrates exceptional cycling stability, achieving over 3000 h of plating/stripping with minimal degradation. When paired with a V2O5 cathode, the composite-protected anode significantly improves the cycle stability and energy density of the full cell. Techno-economic analysis confirms that batteries incorporating the chitosan/CNTs protective layer outperform those with bare Zn anodes in terms of energy density and overall performance under optimized conditions. This work provides a scalable and sustainable strategy to overcome the critical challenges of aqueous Zn-metal batteries, paving the way for their practical application in next-generation energy storage systems.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01838-6
Scalable fabrication of efficient wide-bandgap (WBG) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is crucial to realize the full commercial potential of tandem solar cells. However, there are challenges in fabricating efficient methylammonium-free (MA-free) WBG PSCs by blade coating, especially its phase separation and films stability. In this work, an MA-free WBG perovskite ink is developed for preparing FA0.8Cs0.2Pb(I0.75Br0.25)3 films by blade coating in ambient air. Among various A-site iodides, RbI is found to be the most effective in suppressing the precipitation of PbI2 induced by Pb(SCN)2 while keeping the enlarged grains. The distribution of Rb suggested that the Rb ions are kept isolated with the perovskite grains during the crystallization and Ostwald ripening processes, which contributes to the formation of the large-grain WBG perovskite film with minimum non-radiative recombination. As a result, a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.0% was achieved on small-area WBG PSCs, while mini-modules with an aperture area of 10.5 cm2 exhibited a PCE of 20.2%, among the highest reported for solar cells prepared with WBG perovskites via blade coating. This work presents a scalable and reproducible fabrication strategy for stable MA-free WBG PSCs under ambient conditions, advancing their path toward commercialization.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01808-y
Micro-silicon (Si) anode that features high theoretical capacity and fine tap density is ideal for energy-dense lithium-ion batteries. However, the substantial localized mechanical strain caused by the large volume expansion often results in electrode disintegration and capacity loss. Herein, a microporous Si anode with the SiOx/C layer functionalized all-surface and high tap density (~0.65 g cm⁻3) is developed by the hydrolysis-driven strategy that avoids the common use of corrosive etchants and toxic siloxane reagents. The functionalized inner pore with superior structural stability can effectively alleviate the volume change and enhance the electrolyte contact. Simultaneously, the outer particle surface forms a continuous network that prevents electrolyte parasitic decomposition, disperses the interface stress of Si matrix and facilitates electron/ion transport. As a result, the micron-sized Si anode shows only ~9.94 GPa average stress at full lithiation state and delivers an impressive capacity of 901.1 mAh g⁻1 after 500 cycles at 1 A g⁻1. It also performs excellent rate performance of 1123.0 mAh g⁻1 at 5 A g⁻1 and 850.4 at 8 A g⁻1, far exceeding most of reported literatures. Furthermore, when paired with a commercial LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2, the pouch cell demonstrates high capacity and desirable cyclic performance.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01810-4
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries are promising candidates as stationary storage systems for power-grid applications due to their high safety and low cost. The practical implementation of Zn-ion batteries currently still faces formidable challenges because of Zn dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution, and inadequate environmental adaptability. Herein, to address these challenges, a strategy of regulation of water molecules coordination in electrolyte is proposed via developing a cross-linked hydrophilic hydrogel polymer electrolyte. Within this system, the continuous hydrogen bond among H2O molecules is disrupted and the isolated H2O molecules are strongly bound with a polymeric matrix comprised of polyacrylamide, carboxymethyl cellulose, and ethylene glycol, which can restrain the activity of H2O molecules, thus effectively alleviating Zn dendrite growth and hydrogen evolution and enhancing the anti-freezing ability. With this electrolyte, the Zn||Cu cell presents a high coulombic efficiency of 99.4% over 900 cycles and Zn||Zn symmetric cell exhibits high cycling stability, maintaining plating/stripping for over 1,700 h. Moreover, the assembled Zn||PANI device also demonstrates outstanding electrochemical performance over a wide-temperature range, including a long cycling life over 14,120 cycles at room temperature and an ultralong cycling surpassing 30,000 cycles even at −40 °C. This showcases the manipulation of water coordination chemistry for advanced, highly adaptable batteries.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01809-x
The advancement of fibre electronics is crucial for developing wearable smart textiles. However, traditional single-function fibres are typically limited to basic sensing and data collection capabilities, lacking effective computational and multimodal signal processing abilities, thus significantly restricting their potential in human activity recognition. Recently, Gupta et al. introduced an innovative single-fibre computer embedding eight microelectronic devices, integrating sensing, communication, and computation into a single fibre. Establishing a distributed cooperative fibre network substantially enhanced human activity recognition accuracy from 67% (single-fibre scenario) to 95%. This novel approach effectively addresses the limitations of conventional smart fibres, paving the way for multi-point sensing, edge-based inference, and real-time human–computer interactions in future intelligent textiles.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01796-z
Over 950 billion (about 3.8 million tons) masks have been consumed in the last four years around the world to protect human beings from COVID-19 and air pollution. However, very few of these used masks are being recycled, with the majority of them being landfilled or incinerated. To address this issue, we propose a repurposing upcycling strategy by converting these polypropylene (PP)-based waste masks to high-performance thermally conductive nanocomposites (PP@G, where G refers to graphene) with exceptional electromagnetic interference shielding property. The PP@G is fabricated by loading tannic acid onto PP fibers via electrostatic self-assembling, followed by mixing with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). Because this strategy enables the GNPs to form efficient thermal and electrical conduction pathways along the PP fiber surface, the PP@G shows a high thermal conductivity of 87 W m⁻1 K⁻1 and exhibits an electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of 88 dB (1100 dB cm−1), making it potentially applicable for heat dissipation and electromagnetic shielding in advanced electronic devices. Life cycle assessment and techno-economic assessment results show that our repurposing strategy has significant advantages over existing methods in reducing environmental impacts and economic benefits. This strategy offers a facile and promising approach to upcycling/repurposing of fibrous waste plastics.
China Foundry•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s41230-025-4031-3
Columnar to equiaxial crystal transition (CET) is an important technological feature in many casting processes. This work investigated the CET during the solidification of Mg-Gd-Zn alloys by combining synchrotron radiation in-situ imaging and phase-field method. Results show that the grain size, dendrite tip radius, and secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) all exponentially decrease with an increase in cooling rate (Vc). The variation in the radius of the dendritic tip is similar to the prediction of the Hunt model, while the variation in the SDAS is close to the Bouchard-Kirkaldy model. It is worth noting that the CET is promoted by a decrease in the temperature gradient (G) and an increase in the cooling rate (Vc). In both equiaxed and columnar crystal regions, the dendrite tip growth rate and solid phase volume fraction increase with increasing G and Vc. In addition, the CET process has been predicted by simulation. The results are consistent with the predictions of the GTK model, which is important for the in-depth study of the dendrite morphology in different crystallization regions. In the final stage, the effects of different critical subcooling degrees and nucleation densities on the CET were explored. The results show that increasing the critical nucleation supercooling degree can inhibit the generation of equiaxial crystals, while increasing the nucleation density helps to promote the CET.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01697-1
The transition to renewable energy sources has elevated the importance of SIBs (SIBs) as cost-effective alternatives to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for large-scale energy storage. This review examines the mechanisms of gas generation in SIBs, identifying sources from cathode materials, anode materials, and electrolytes, which pose safety risks like swelling, leakage, and explosions. Gases such as CO2, H2, and O2 primarily arise from the instability of cathode materials, side reactions between electrode and electrolyte, and electrolyte decomposition under high temperatures or voltages. Enhanced mitigation strategies, encompassing electrolyte design, buffer layer construction, and electrode material optimization, are deliberated upon. Accordingly, subsequent research endeavors should prioritize long-term high-precision gas detection to bolster the safety and performance of SIBs, thereby fortifying their commercial viability and furnishing dependable solutions for large-scale energy storage and electric vehicles.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01638-4
Magnetic absorbers with high permeability have significant advantages in low-frequency and broadband electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption. However, the insufficient magnetic loss and inherent high conductivity of existing magnetic absorbers limit the further expansion of EMW absorption bandwidth. Herein, the spinel (FeCoNiCrCu)3O4 high-entropy oxides (HEO) are successfully constructed on the surface of FeCoNiCr0.4Cu0.2 high-entropy alloys (HEA) through low-temperature oxygen bath treatment. On the one hand, HEO and HEA have different magnetocrystalline anisotropies, which is conducive to achieving continuous natural resonance to improve magnetic loss. On the other hand, HEO with low conductivity can serve as an impedance matching layer, achieving magneto-electric co-modulation. When the thickness is 5 mm, the minimum reflection loss (RL) value and absorption bandwidth (RL < −5 dB) of bi-phase high-entropy composites (BPHEC) can reach −12.8 dB and 633 MHz, respectively. The RCS reduction value of multilayer sample with impedance gradient characteristic can reach 18.34 dB m2. In addition, the BPHEC also exhibits temperature-stable EMW absorption performance, high Curie temperature, and oxidation resistance. The absorption bandwidth maintains between 593 and 691 MHz from −50 to 150 °C. This work offers a new and tunable strategy toward modulating the electromagnetic genes for temperature-stable ultra-broadband megahertz EMW absorption.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01600-4
Reversible solid oxide cells (RSOCs) are capable of converting various energy resources, between electricity and chemical fuels, with high efficiency and flexibility, making them suitable for grid balancing and renewable energy consumption. However, the practical application of RSOCs is still limited by the insufficient activity and stability of the electrodes in different operating modes. Herein, a highly efficient symmetrical electrode composed of La0.3Sr0.6Ti0.1Co0.2Fe0.7O3−δ (LSTCF) nanofibers and in situ exsolved Co3Fe7 nanoparticles is developed for boosting the performance of RSOCs. The reversible phase transition, high activity and stability of the electrode have been confirmed by a combination of experimental (e.g., transmission electron microscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure) and computational studies. Electrolyte-supported RSOCs with the symmetrical electrode demonstrate excellent catalytic activity and stability, achieving a high peak power density of 0.98 W cm−2 in the fuel cell mode using H2 as the fuel (or 0.53 W cm−2 using CH4 as the fuel) and a high current density of 1.09 A cm−2 at 1.4 V in the CO2 electrolysis mode (or 1.03 A cm−2 at 1.3 V for H2O electrolysis) at 800 °C while maintaining excellent durability for over 100 h.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1038/sino-451789
Chinese laboratories and battery manufacturers are compressing the all-solid-state battery (ASSB) timeline, with sulfide electrolyte production scaling to pilot tons and cell prototypes targeting 450–500 Wh/kg. This report dissects the empirical state of sulfide solid electrolytes—specifically argyrodite Li6PS5Cl—against high-nickel cathodes (NMC811, NMC9055), focusing on interfacial resistance kinetics, dry-coating process yields, and the operational hazards of H2S generation. CATL, BYD (FinDreams), and Gotion pilot lines reveal a persistent trade-off: energy density gains versus cycle life degradation, with current data showing >80% capacity retention after 1,000 cycles at 0.5C only under optimized stack pressure and temperature. Concurrently, sodium-ion batteries (NIBs) emerge as a pragmatic complement, with layered oxide cathodes achieving $42/kWh at cell level—versus $75/kWh for LFP—and retaining 80% discharge capacity at -30°C. The report benchmarks technical parameters across solid-state, liquid Li-ion, and Na-ion chemistries, concluding that sulfide-based ASSBs will enter niche markets (e.g., aviation, high-end EVs) by 2027, while Na-ion dominates stationary storage and low-cost mobility. CAPEX per annual metric ton for sulfide electrolyte production remains prohibitive at $1.2M–$1.8M, with Western refiners lagging Chinese cost structures by 40–60%.
New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2026-41-03-11)
A MgO/biochar composite (MBC) with a wide range of pore sizes was prepared by a MgCl2-NaOH co-impregnation method using lavender stalks as the biochar source, which can effectively remove Pb(II) and Cd(II) from wastewater. The co-impregnation treatment resulted in a specific surface area of the MBC that was approximately 54 times greater than that of the biochar derived from untreated stalks. The ion-exchange capacity of MBC was increased by the incorporation of MgO nanoparticles, which increased the alkali metal ion (Mg2+) content. These specific structures and compositions gave the MBC a high adsorption capacity for Pb(II) and Cd(II). The adsorption data followed a quasi second-order kinetic model. For Cd(II) and Pb(II), the maximum adsorption capacities of MBC-700 (treated at 700 ℃ for 2 h) reached 520 mg/g and 808 mg/g, respectively. The primary adsorption mechanisms were ion exchange, precipitation, electrostatic attraction and surface complexation. Furthermore, metallic lead was recovered by using the reducing properties of the biochar at high temperatures. This study provides a reference for developing inexpensive and efficient heavy metal adsorbents and the low-carbonization utilization of biomass waste.
Atomic Energy Science and Technology (原子能科学技术)•2025•DOI: 10.7538/yzk.2025.youxian.0341
To generate a neutron beam exhibiting a Maxwellian energy distribution with narrow emission angles for measuring the neutron capture reaction rates of the s-process nuclides, a monoenergetic 3.4 MeV proton beam produced by the tandem-accelerator in the China Institute of Atomic Energy was utilized. The proton beam was first transmitted through a 60.5 μm aluminum foil and then impinged on a natural LiF target to produce neutron beam via 7Li(p, n)7Be reaction. The quasi-Gaussian energy distribution of protons in the LiF target resulted in neutron energy spectra that agreed with a Maxwellian energy distribution at kT=(22±2) keV, which was achieved by integrating neutrons detected within an emission angle of 65.0°±2.6° using a 6Li glass detector positioned at 65° relative to the proton beam direction. The narrow angular spread of the Maxwellian-distributed neutron beam enables direct measurement of neutron capture cross-sections for most s-process nuclides, overcoming previous experimental limitations associated with broad angular distributions.
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: 10.1088/1674-4926/25020010
The event-based vision sensor (EVS), which can generate efficient spiking data streams by exclusively detecting motion, exemplifies neuromorphic vision methodologies. Generally, its inherent lack of texture features limits effectiveness in complex vision processing tasks, necessitating supplementary visual information. However, to date, no event-based hybrid vision solution has been developed that preserves the characteristics of complete spike data streams to support synchronous computation architectures based on spiking neural network (SNN). In this paper, we present a novel spike-based sensor with digitized pixels, which integrates the event detection structure with the pulse frequency modulation (PFM) circuit. This design enables the simultaneous output of spiking data that encodes both temporal changes and texture information. Fabricated in 180 nm process, the proposed sensor achieves a resolution of 128 × 128, a maximum event rate of 960 Meps, a grayscale frame rate of 117.1 kfps, and a measured power consumption of 60.1 mW, which is suited for high-speed, low-latency, edge SNN-based vision computing systems.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25020011
This paper presents a 4-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM-4) distributed feedback (DFB) laser driver. The driver adopts a digital slicing architecture to achieve high linearity by adjusting the weights of three thermometer-coded main paths. An efficient-biased output stage structure is proposed to reduce power consumption while avoiding the degradation of output node bandwidth typically induced by parasitic capacitance in high-current bias path. A two-tap linear and nonlinear feed-forward equalizer (FFE) is implemented in the digital domain to extend bandwidth limitations and compensate for the dynamic nonlinearity of the DFB laser. The nonlinear FFE is realized at the cost of lower power consumption and smaller area by utilizing the simultaneity of low-speed parallel data. The chip is fabricated in 28 nm CMOS process. Measurement results indicate that, with a laser bias current of 40 mA, a modulation current of 20 mApp, and an operating rate of 32 Gb/s PAM-4, the overall power consumption of the chip is 372 mW, corresponding to an energy efficiency of 11.6 pJ/b.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25020034
Robotic computing systems play an important role in enabling intelligent robotic tasks through intelligent algorithms and supporting hardware. In recent years, the evolution of robotic algorithms indicates a roadmap from traditional robotics to hierarchical and end-to-end models. This algorithmic advancement poses a critical challenge in achieving balanced system-wide performance. Therefore, algorithm-hardware co-design has emerged as the primary methodology, which analyzes algorithm behaviors on hardware to identify common computational properties. These properties can motivate algorithm optimization to reduce computational complexity and hardware innovation from architecture to circuit for high performance and high energy efficiency. We then reviewed recent works on robotic and embodied AI algorithms and computing hardware to demonstrate this algorithm-hardware co-design methodology. In the end, we discuss future research opportunities by answering two questions: (1) how to adapt the computing platforms to the rapid evolution of embodied AI algorithms, and (2) how to transform the potential of emerging hardware innovations into end-to-end inference improvements.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25030031
Quantum key distribution (QKD) achieves information-theoretic security based on quantum mechanics principles, where single-photon detectors (SPDs) serve as critical components. This study focuses on the sinusoidal gated SPDs widely used in high-speed QKD systems. We investigate the mechanisms underlying the rising-edge jitter in detection signals, identifying contributions from factors such as the temporal width of injected optical pulses, avalanche generation processes, avalanche signal extraction, and pulse discrimination. To address the issue of excessive jitter-induced bit errors, we propose a retiming scheme that utilizes coincidence signals synchronized with the sinusoidal gating signal. This approach effectively suppresses detection signal jitter and reduces the after-pulse probability of the detector. Experimental validation using a high-precision time-to-digital converter (TDC) demonstrates a significant reduction in the rising-edge jitter distribution after applying the suppression scheme. The proposed method features clear principles and straightforward engineering implementation, avoiding direct interference with the detector's operational processes. The designed high-speed sinusoidal gated InGaAs/InP SPD operates at 1.25 GHz, achieving a remarkable reduction in after-pulse probability from 10.7% (without jitter suppression) to 0.72%, thereby enhancing the overall performance of QKD systems.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2025.03.004
Gas content serves as a critical indicator for assessing the resource potential of deep coal mines and forecasting coal mine gas outburst risks. However, existing sampling technologies face challenges in maintaining the integrity of gas content within samples and are often constrained by estimation errors inherent in empirical formulas, which results in inaccurate gas content measurements. This study introduces a lightweight, in-situ pressure- and gas-preserved corer designed to collect coal samples under the pressure conditions at the sampling point, effectively preventing gas loss during transfer and significantly improving measurement accuracy. Additionally, a gas migration model for deep coal mines was developed to elucidate gas migration characteristics under pressure-preserved coring conditions. The model offers valuable insights for optimizing coring parameters, demonstrating that both minimizing the coring hole diameter and reducing the pressure difference between the coring-point pressure and the original pore pressure can effectively improve the precision of gas content measurements. Coring tests conducted at an experimental base validated the performance of the corer and its effectiveness in sample collection. Furthermore, successful horizontal coring tests conducted in an underground coal mine roadway demonstrated that the measured gas content using pressure-preserved coring was 34% higher than that obtained through open sampling methods.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25060003
Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) serves as an indispensable process for achieving global planarization in semiconductor manufacturing, especially as integrated circuit (IC) technology advances to sub-7 nm nodes, where atomic-level surface flatness becomes crucial. Silica abrasives, which account for over 90% of the abrasive market in advanced CMP processes, operate not through simple mechanical grinding but through a key "chemical-mechanical synergistic" mechanism: chemically softening the wafer surface, then mechanically removing the softened layer to expose a new surface, which is further softened and removed, repeating this cycle to produce a smooth wafer. Despite their prevalence, conventional silica abrasives still face challenges, including relatively low material removal rate (MRR), a tendency to agglomerate, leading to poor dispersion and surface defects, and limitations in achieving ultimate surface uniformity. Significant progress has been made to address these issues. Development has progressed from simple spherical particles to complex structural designs (such as mesoporous, hollow, and raspberry-shaped structures) to enhance slurry transport and mechanical action. Surface chemical modifications (e.g., using amino or polymer groups) can improve dispersion stability and reduce scratching. Furthermore, composites with other materials (e.g., ceria, polymers) and precise control of particle size distribution are key to enhancing performance. These innovative approaches have yielded significant performance gains. State-of-the-art slurries have demonstrated the ability to achieve surface roughness below 0.1 nm RMS. The development of silica abrasives is increasingly focused on sustainability and smart manufacturing. A prominent direction is the design of biodegradable abrasives that disintegrate after use, thereby simplifying post-CMP cleanup and minimizing environmental impact—an approach fully aligned with green manufacturing principles. This review systematically summarizes the progress of silica abrasives for CMP over the past 60 years. This summary provides theoretical insights and forward-looking strategies to overcome the current limitations of abrasive technology. We believe this review will be helpful in advancing the field of CMP abrasives towards next-generation semiconductor manufacturing.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2025.05.002
Coal pillars are critical supporting structures between underground coal gasification gasifiers. Its bearing capacity and structural stability are severely threatened by high-temperature environments. To elucidate the high-temperature deterioration mechanism of coal pillars at multiple scales, coal strength features as a function of temperature were investigated via uniaxial compression and acoustic emission equipment. The pyrolysis reaction process and microstructure evolution were characterized via X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric (TG), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and computed tomography (CT) tests. Experimental results reveal a critical temperature threshold of 500 °C for severe degradation of the coal bearing capacity. Specifically, both the strength and elastic modulus exhibit accelerated degradation above this temperature, with maximum reductions of 45.53% and 61.34%, respectively. Above 500 °C, coal essentially undergoes a pyrolysis reaction under N2 and CO2 atmospheres. High temperatures decrease the quantity of O2-based functional groups, growing aromaticity and the degree of graphitization. These changes induce dislocation and slip inside the coal crystal nucleus and then lead to deformation of the coal molecular structural units and strain energy generation. This process results in a great increase in porosity. Consequently, the stress deformation of coal increases, transforming the type of failure from brittle to ductile failure. These findings are expected to provide scientific support for UCG rock strata control.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2025.07.009
As the main geomaterials for coral reefs oil or gas extraction and underground infrastructure construction, coral reef limestone demonstrates significantly distinct mechanical responses compared to terrigenous rocks. To investigate the mechanical behaviour of coral reef limestone under the coupling impact of size and strain rate, the uniaxial compression tests were conducted on reef limestone samples with length-to-diameter (L/D) ratio ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 at strain rate ranging from 10−5 s−1 to 10−2 s−1. It is revealed that the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and residual compressive strength (RCS) of coral reef limestone exhibits a decreasing trend with L/D ratio increasing. The dynamic increase factor (DIF) of UCS is linearly correlated with the logarithm of strain rate, while increasing the L/D ratio further enhances the DIF. The elastic modulus increases with strain rate or L/D ratio increasing, whereas the Poisson’s ratio approximates to a constant value of 0.24. The failure strain increases with strain rate increasing or L/D ratio decreasing, while the increase in L/D ratio will inhibit the enhancing effect of the strain rate. The high porosity and low mineral strength are the primary factors contributing to a high RCS of 16.7%–64.9% of UCS, a lower brittleness index and multiple irregular fracture planes. The failure pattern of coral reef limestone transits from the shear-dominated to the splitting-dominated failure with strain rate increasing or L/D ratio decreasing, which is mainly governed by the constrained zones induced by end friction and the strain rate-dependent crack propagation. Moreover, a predictive formula incorporating coupling effect of size and strain rate for the UCS of reef limestone was established and verified to effectively capture the trend of UCS.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2025.07.001
Renewable energy storage technologies are critical for transitioning to sustainable energy systems, with salt caverns playing a significant role in large-scale solutions. In water-soluble mining of low-grade salt formations, insoluble impurities and interlayers detach during salt dissolution and accumulate as sediment at the cavern base, thereby reducing the storage capacity and economic viability of salt cavern gas storage (SCGS). This study investigates sediment formation mechanisms, void distribution, and voidage in the Huai’an low-grade salt mine, introducing a novel self-developed physical simulation device for two butted-well horizontal (TWH) caverns that replicates compressed air injection and brine discharge. Experiments comparing “one injection and one discharge” and “two injections and one discharge” modes revealed that (1) compressed air effectively displaces brine from sediment voids, (2) a 0.5 MPa injection pressure corresponds to a 10.3 MPa operational lower limit in practice, aligning with field data, and (3) sediment voidage is approximately 46%, validated via air-brine interface theory. The “two injections and one discharge” mode outperformed in both discharge volume and rate. Additionally, a mathematical model for brine displacement via compressed air was established. These results provide foundational insights for optimizing compressed air energy storage (CAES) in low-grade salt mines, advancing their role in renewable energy integration.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2025.07.010
Geological storage and utilization of CO2 involve complex interactions among Thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical (THMC) coupling processes, which significantly affect storage integrity and efficiency. To address the challenges in accurately simulating these coupled phenomena, this paper systematically reviews recent advances in the mathematical modeling and numerical solution of THMC coupling in CO2 geological storage. The study focuses on the derivation and structure of governing and constitutive equations, the classification and comparative performance of fully coupled, iteratively coupled, and explicitly coupled solution methods, and the modeling of dynamic changes in porosity, permeability, and fracture evolution induced by multi-field interactions. Furthermore, the paper evaluates the capabilities, application scenarios, and limitations of major simulation platforms, including TOUGH, CMG-GEM, and COMSOL. By establishing a comparative framework integrating model formulations and solver strategies, this work clarifies the strengths and gaps of current approaches and contributes to the development of robust, scalable, and mechanism-oriented numerical models for long-term prediction of CO2 behavior in geological formations.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2025.08.010
The spatiotemporal characterization of plume sedimentation and microorganisms is critical for developing plume ecological monitoring models. To address the limitations of traditional methods in obtaining high-quality sediment, a novel sampling system with 6000 m operational capability and three-month endurance was developed. It is equipped with three sediment samplers and a set of formaldehyde preservation solution injection devices. The system is controlled by a low-power, timing-triggered controller. To investigate low-disturbance rheological mechanisms, gap-controlled rheological tests were conducted to optimize the structural design of the sampling and sealing assembly. Stress-controlled shear rheological tests were employed to investigate the mechanisms governing yield stress in sediments under varying temperature conditions and boundary roughness. Additionally, the coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) method and sediment rheological constitutive models were employed to simulate tube-soil interaction dynamics and sediment disturbance. The radial heterogeneity of sediment disturbance and friction variation of the sampling tube were revealed. The tube was completely "plugged" at a penetration depth of 261 mm, providing critical data support for penetration depth parameters. The deep-sea pressure test and South China Sea field trials demonstrated the system's capability to collect and preserve quantitative time-series sediment samples with high fidelity.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25120042
Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) offer numerous advantages, including the ability to form two-dimensional arrays, low power consumption, and easy coupling, making them promising for visible-light communication, sensing, and micro-display applications. In GaAs-based VCSELs, conductive epitaxial semiconductor distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) enable straightforward vertical current injection. However, in GaN-based VCSELs, the lack of p-type conductive epitaxial DBRs has necessitated complex fabrication processes, such as flip-chip bonding and substrate thinning, which increase thermal resistance and reduce yield. In this work, we demonstrate a room-temperature electrically injected GaN-based VCSEL employing a conductive nanoporous (NP) GaN DBR. The NP-GaN DBR, fabricated by electrochemical etching of highly Si-doped n+-GaN layers, exhibits a high reflectivity of 99.9% with a stopband width of about 35 nm, while retaining excellent electrical conductivity. The device structure incorporates a 10λ cavity for enhanced lateral heat dissipation, a 10-μm-diameter current aperture, and a top dielectric DBR with reduced reflectivity (99.2%) to facilitate top emission. The vertical series resistance through the NP-GaN DBR is approximately 4.5 Ω, significantly lower than that of AlInN/GaN DBRs (>60 Ω), demonstrating the superior electrical performance of the NP-GaN DBR. This work presents a promising approach for achieving high-performance GaN-based VCSELs with simplified fabrication and improved thermal management, paving the way for their integration into high-density display and communication systems.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25120050
In an era dominated by visual information, the display interface serves as a critical gateway between the human and digital worlds. The relentless pursuit of visual immersion has driven display technology from cinema screens to smartphones and now to virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) headsets, progressively moving closer to the human eye. This evolution places unprecedented demands on pixel density, power efficiency, and form factor, pushing up against fundamental physical and physiological limits. The core challenge lies in creating displays that, when viewed at close proximity, offer a seamless, high-fidelity visual experience indistinguishable from reality—a goal often conceptualized as the 'retina display', where the pixel density matches or exceeds the resolving power of the human eye. However, as pixel sizes shrink into the sub-micrometer regime, conventional emissive technologies like organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and micro-light-emitting diodes (micro-LEDs) face insurmountable hurdles: diminished emission intensity, non-uniformity, severe colour cross-talk, and rapidly increasing fabrication complexity. Even the most advanced micro-LED demonstrations struggle to achieve the required pixel densities across large fields of view without significant performance trade-offs. Conversely, reflective displays, or electronic paper (E-paper), which leverage ambient light for visibility, inherently avoid the luminosity and efficiency issues of emissive displays. Their optical contrast is governed by material properties at the nanoscale, remaining theoretically unaffected by pixel size reduction. Yet, established reflective technologies, such as electrophoretic displays (e.g., those in e-readers), have been hamstrung by slow refresh rates (seconds), limited colour gamuts, and resolutions typically below 1000 pixels per inch (PPI), confining them largely to static text and image applications. While optical metasurfaces have demonstrated astonishing static resolutions exceeding 10 000 PPI, they have largely remained just that—static—lacking the dynamic tunability essential for video and interactive content. Previous attempts to create dynamic reflective displays using hybrid nanomaterials have improved colour and speed but failed to break the micron-scale pixel barrier, leaving the holy grail of a high-resolution, video-rate, low-power reflective display tantalizingly out of reach. Now, writing in Nature, Santosa et al. achieve a retina E-paper that not only surmounts these historical limitations but also redefines the possibilities for ultra-high-resolution displays, based on traditional electrochromic (EC) technology. By demonstrating electrically tunable pixels down to ~560 nm in size (>25 000 PPI), full-colour video capability (>25 Hz), high reflectance (~80%), and remarkably low energy consumption (0.5–1.7 mW∙cm–2), they present a paradigm shift from light-emitting to intelligently light-modulating displays at the nanoscale.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2025.12.017
Given the high porosity, strong connectivity, and low strength of reef limestone, microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) reinforcement tests were performed under different grouting cycles. CT-based three-dimensional reconstruction, uniaxial compression, and acoustic emission analyses were employed to elucidate the coupling mechanism between microstructural evolution and macroscopic mechanical behavior. MICP-induced calcium carbonate deposition exhibited distinct scale selectivity, initially occurring in large pores and highly coordinated nodes, which reduced the average pore diameter from 221.26 μm to 75.36 μm and transformed the pore network from a highly connected loose type to a dense isolated one. The elastic modulus increased from 3.27 GPa to 6.21 GPa, and the peak strength approximately doubled, while the failure mode evolved from brittle to brittle–ductile. Acoustic emission analysis revealed a greater proportion of post-peak high-energy events and a frequency shift from high to mid–low ranges, indicating a multi-stage energy dissipation process. A reinforcement variable was introduced to quantify the MICP-induced strengthening, and a structural densification factor was incorporated to establish a constitutive model governed by densification. The study clarifies the coupling mechanism from microscopic densification to macroscopic enhancement, providing theoretical support for the green reinforcement of highly porous rock masses.
China Foundry•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s41230-025-4118-x
In this study, carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/AlSi10Mg composite parts with CNTs contents ranging from 0.0 to 2.0wt.% were successfully fabricated via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) with laser scan speeds ranging from 900 to 1,900 mm·s-1. Uniform dispersion of CNTs in the powders can be achieved when their content is below 2.0wt.%. In the LPBF samples, the morphology of the CNTs is found to be directly related to their content. Especially, the length of CNTs in samples prepared by LPBF increases as the CNT content increases. The length of CNTs is approximately 200-300 nm in the 1.0wt.% CNTs/AlSi10Mg composites and approximately 500-1,000 nm in the 2.0wt.% CNTs/AlSi10Mg composites. The hardness of the composites reaches its highest value of 143.3 HV when the CNTs content is 1.0wt.% and the laser scan speed is 1,300 mm·s-1. It is found that the self-lubricating properties of the CNTs improve the tribological properties of the composites. The coefficient of friction (CoF) and wear rate of the samples decrease with increasing CNT content. At a CNTs content of 2.0wt.%, the CoF and wear rate of the composite decrease by approximately 14% and 30%, respectively, compared to the unreinforced matrix. The presence of CNTs leads to a more complete and refined network microstructure within the samples. Both the CNTs and the aluminum carbide contribute to the Orowan mechanism and the Hall-Petch effect within the matrix.
China Foundry•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s41230-025-4146-6
The phase constitution, microstructure, damping capacity, and mechanical properties of as-cast AlxCrFe3Ni (x=0.5, 0.52, 0.54, and 0.56, respectively) medium entropy alloys were investigated. It is found that the volume fraction of BCC phase increases while that of FCC decreases with increasing the Al content. When the content of Al is 0.54, the alloy is composed of 82.1vol.% BCC matrix and 17.9vol.% FCC phase. Wherein the FCC phase is distributed on the BCC matrix, forming a structure where the hard BCC matrix is surrounded by soft FCC phase. This results in a hindering effect on the propagation process of vibration waves. The damping performance of Al0.54CrFe3Ni alloy, characterized by an internal friction of Q-1 is as high as 0.059, is higher than that of most FeCr damping alloys. The volume fraction of the BCC phase and the peculiar distribution of the FCC phase are identified as the key factors affecting the damping capacity. In addition, the Al0.54CrFe3Ni alloy exhibits a high yield strength of 811.16 MPa.
China Foundry•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s41230-025-4082-5
In this study, Al-xSi-0.3Mn-0.3Mg-0.14Fe alloys (x=6.5, 7.5, 8.5, wt.%) were prepared by super-slow-speed die-casting, and the effects of Si content on the microstructure, mechanical, and thermal/electrical conductivities in as-cast, T5, and T6 states (DIN EN 1706:2020) were investigated. It is found that the increase of Si content in the alloy enhances the formation of eutectic segregation band in the casting surface microstructure. Within the Si content range of 6.5%-8.5%, as a comprehensive evaluation criterion of mechanical properties, the quality index (QI) of 376.1 MPa can be obtained in the as-cast state of the alloy with about 7.5% Si content, 373.4 MPa in T5 state of the alloy with 6.5% Si content, and 432.2 MPa in T6 state of the alloy containing 8.5% Si. The heat treatment state significantly affects the thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity of the alloys. The eutectic silicon in the alloy is segemented and further spheroidizaed during the solution process, and the solute atoms of Mg and Si are more adequately precipitated during the aging process. Both of these greatly reduce the probability of electron scattering. Thus, T6 treatment significantly improves the electrical and thermal conductivities. With the increase of Si content, both thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity decrease slightly, demonstrating a strong correlation with the Si content in the alloy.
Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s10033-025-01349-w
As the demands for assembly quality and efficiency increase, robot-assisted assembly applications are becoming more widespread. Peg-in-hole assembly, as a typical form of assembly, has been widely researched by scholars. Currently, robotic peg-in-hole assembly faces challenges such as complex analysis of part contact forces, difficulties in task modeling, and the failure of traditional strategies. Simply controlling the position of the robot’s end effector cannot achieve high precision, high efficiency peg-in-hole assembly. Flexible assembly, especially intelligent flexible assembly, is becoming the future development trend. So there is a lack of comprehensive reviews on robotic flexible peg-in-hole assembly. This paper first outlines the basic components of peg-in-hole assembly and summarizes the two basic operational processes of peg-in-hole assembly, along with their related theoretical foundations. We then review and analyze the research on passive compliant assembly, active compliant assembly, and intelligent flexible assembly. Finally, it presents an outlook on the future development directions of robotic peg-in-hole assembly.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-2971-z
The equilibrium phase relations of the CaO–SiO2–TiO2–5wt%Fe3O4 system were experimentally investigated at 1400°C in air. High-temperature equilibration-quenching techniques were employed in an electric MoSi2 resistance heated furnace, with phase composition analysis conducted using an electron probe microanalyzer and X-ray diffraction. A single liquid region, liquid–solid phase equilibria regions (including liquid–tridymite, liquid–rutile, liquid–perovskite, and liquid–wollastonite), and three-phase equilibria regions of liquid–tridymite–rutile and liquid–rutile–perovskite were found. The 1400°C isothermal sections of the CaO–SiO2–TiO2–5wt%Fe3O4 system in air were projected. The present experimental results exhibited good agreement with the calculation results obtained from FactSage.
Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s10033-025-01275-x
Under the paradigm of Industry 5.0, intelligent manufacturing transcends mere efficiency enhancement by emphasizing human-machine collaboration, where human expertise plays a central role in assembly processes. Despite advancements in intelligent and digital technologies, assembly process design still heavily relies on manual knowledge reuse, and inefficiencies and inconsistent quality in process documentation are caused. To address the aforementioned issues, this paper proposes a knowledge push method of complex product assembly process design based on distillation model-based dynamically enhanced graph and Bayesian network. First, an initial knowledge graph is constructed using a BERT-BiLSTM-CRF model trained with integrated human expertise and a fine-tuned large language model. Then, a confidence-based dynamic weighted fusion strategy is employed to achieve dynamic incremental construction of the knowledge graph with low resource consumption. Subsequently, a Bayesian network model is constructed based on the relationships between assembly components, assembly features, and operations. Bayesian network reasoning is used to push assembly process knowledge under different design requirements. Finally, the feasibility of the Bayesian network construction method and the effectiveness of Bayesian network reasoning are verified through a specific example, significantly improving the utilization of assembly process knowledge and the efficiency of assembly process design.
Journal of Central South University•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-025-6066-4
The zero-dimensional (0D) ordered lead-free double perovskites (DPs) Cs2B(IV)X6 have recently been recognized as promising candidates in the optoelectronics domain. Their exceptional stability and environmentally benign nature position them as ideal alternatives to their toxic and unstable lead-based halide perovskite counterparts. Recent years have witnessed notable progress in the optical properties of Cs2B(IV)X6, propelled by techniques such as ion doping, surface coating and ligand modification, which has been instrumental in broadening their applications in various optoelectronic domains. Herein, a comprehensive overview is provided on the recent progress regarding synthesis methods, optimization strategies, bandgap engineering, photoluminescence (PL) optimization, and device applications related to Cs2B(IV)X6 materials. It also explores critical aspects including structural diversity, tunable emission, photophysical mechanisms, and material stability. Moreover, the review addresses the prevailing challenges in this field and outlines future research directions aimed at enhancing the photoluminescence quantum yield and stability of Cs2B(IV)X6.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-3074-6
The GH141 superalloy ring-rolled parts often face microstructural inhomogeneity during production. This work investigated the effect of post-dynamic recrystallization on the microstructural evolution of GH141 superalloy after gradient thermal deformation to solve the problem of microstructural inhomogeneity. Compression tests involving double cone (DC) samples were conducted at various temperatures to assess the effect of gradient strain on internal grain microstructure variation, which ranged from the rim to the center of the samples. The results demonstrate considerable microstructural inhomogeneity induced by gradient strain in the DC samples. The delay in heat preservation facilitated post-dynamic recrystallization (PDRX) and promoted extensive recrystallization in the DC samples experiencing large gradient strain, which resulted in a homogeneous grain microstructure throughout the samples. During compression at a relatively low temperature, dynamic recrystallization (DRX) was predominantly driven by continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX). As the deformation temperature increased, the DRX mechanism changed from CDRX-dominated to being dominated by discontinuous dynamic recrystallization (DDRX). During the delay of the heat preservation process, PDRX was dominated by a static recrystallization mechanism, along with the occurrence of meta-dynamic recrystallization (MDRX) mechanisms. In addition, the PDRX mechanism of twin-induced recrystallization nucleation was observed.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-3080-8
Hydrogen displays the potential to partially replace pulverized coal injection (PCI) in the blast furnace, and it can reduce CO2 emissions. In this paper, a three-dimensional mathematical model of hydrogen and pulverized coal co-injection in blast furnace tuyere was established through numerical simulation, and the effect of hydrogen injection and oxygen enrichment interaction on pulverized coal combustion and raceway smelting was investigated. The simulation results indicate that when the coal injection rate decreased from 36 to 30 t/h and the hydrogen injection increased from 0 to 3600 m3/h, the CO2 emissions decreased from 1860 to 1551 kg/t, which represents a 16.6% reduction, and the pulverized coal burnout decreased from 70.1% to 63.7%. The heat released from hydrogen combustion can not only promote the volatilization of pulverized coal but also affect the combustion reaction between volatilization and oxygen, which resulted in a decrease in the temperature at the end of the raceway. Co-injection of hydrogen with PCI increased the wall temperature near the upper half part of the raceway and at the outlet of the tuyere, which required a high cooling efficiency to extend the service life of the blast furnace. The increase in oxygen level compensated for the decreased average temperature in the raceway due to hydrogen injection. The increase in the oxygen content by 3% while maintaining constant hydrogen and PCI injection rates increased the burnout and average raceway temperature by 4.2% and 43 K, respectively. The mole fraction of CO and H2 production increased by 0.04 and 0.02, respectively. Burnout can be improved through optimization of the particle size distribution of pulverized coal.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01597-w
The proliferation of wearable biodevices has boosted the development of soft, innovative, and multifunctional materials for human health monitoring. The integration of wearable sensors with intelligent systems is an overwhelming tendency, providing powerful tools for remote health monitoring and personal health management. Among many candidates, two-dimensional (2D) materials stand out due to several exotic mechanical, electrical, optical, and chemical properties that can be efficiently integrated into atomic-thin films. While previous reviews on 2D materials for biodevices primarily focus on conventional configurations and materials like graphene, the rapid development of new 2D materials with exotic properties has opened up novel applications, particularly in smart interaction and integrated functionalities. This review aims to consolidate recent progress, highlight the unique advantages of 2D materials, and guide future research by discussing existing challenges and opportunities in applying 2D materials for smart wearable biodevices. We begin with an in-depth analysis of the advantages, sensing mechanisms, and potential applications of 2D materials in wearable biodevice fabrication. Following this, we systematically discuss state-of-the-art biodevices based on 2D materials for monitoring various physiological signals within the human body. Special attention is given to showcasing the integration of multi-functionality in 2D smart devices, mainly including self-power supply, integrated diagnosis/treatment, and human–machine interaction. Finally, the review concludes with a concise summary of existing challenges and prospective solutions concerning the utilization of 2D materials for advanced biodevices.
Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s10033-025-01335-2
Reconstructing three-dimensional (3D) shapes from a single image remains a significant challenge in computer vision due to the inherent ambiguity caused by missing or occluded shape information. Previous studies have predominantly focused on mesh models supervised by multi-view silhouettes. However, such methods are limited in reconstructing fine details. In this study, a 3D mesh model is predicted from a single image, leveraging depth consistency and without requiring viewpoint pose annotations. The model effectively learns strong shape priors that preserve finer structures and accurately predicts view poses from "correlation-supervised" viewpoints. Additionally, standard deviation and Laplacian losses were employed to regulate mesh edge distribution, resulting in more precise reconstructions. Differentiable renderer functions were derived from the 3D mesh to generate depth maps. Compared to conventional approaches, the proposed method provided superior representation of subtle structures. When applied to both synthetic and real-world datasets, the model outperformed existing methods in view-based 3D reconstruction tasks.
Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s10033-025-01284-w
Efficient preparation and assembly guidance for complex products relies heavily on semantic information in assembly process documents. This information encompasses various levels of elements and complex semantic relationships. However, there is currently a scarcity of effective modeling techniques to express these documents’ inherent assembly process knowledge. This study introduces a method for constructing an Assembly Process Knowledge Graph of Complex Products (APKG-CP) utilizing text mining techniques to tackle the challenges of high costs, low efficiency, and difficulty reusing process knowledge. Developing the assembly process knowledge graph involves categorizing entity and relationship classes from multiple levels. The Bert-BiLSTM-CRF model integrates BERT (bidirectional encoder representations from transformers), BiLSTM (bidirectional long short-term memory), and CRF (conditional random field) to extract knowledge entities and relationships in assembly process documents automatically. Furthermore, the knowledge fusion method automatically instantiates the assembly process knowledge graph. The proposed construction method is validated by constructing and visualizing an assembly process knowledge graph using data from an aerospace enterprise as an example. Integrating the knowledge graph with the assembly process preparation system demonstrates its effectiveness for process design.
Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s10033-025-01296-6
The abundant muscle tissues of the forearm determine the movements of the wrist, hand and fingers together. However, linking wrist kinematics and forearm muscle activation is still a challenging. There may exist blindness in the rehabilitation therapy of forearm muscles, due to the lack of the physiological characteristics of muscle activation and sequences. An armband with eight channels was used to collect surface electromyographic signals (sEMGs) of a specific section of the forearm under the different wrist movements, palm postures, and external loads, based on the image of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The collected cross-sectional muscles covered almost all surface muscles. The muscle activation could be expressed clearly by enveloping the sEMG signals of 8 muscles within a single cycle. The root mean square (RMS) and the average peak value VP were used to evaluate the activation intensities of dominant muscles. The activation sequences and the absolute times of dominant muscles were obtained from the envelopes of their raw sEMGs, and not influenced by the palm postures and external loads. In addition, their RMS and VP under each wrist movement increased approximate linearly with external loads. The corresponding contribution ratios were first calculated to evaluate the role played by each muscle. The well-defined data of forearm muscles could provide standard references for the rehabilitation therapy of forearm muscles.
Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s10033-025-01208-8
This research aimed to overcome challenges such as high costs, lengthy optimization time, and low efficiency in resolving issues related to wheel-rail contact, rail wear, and vehicle dynamics. Based on the wheel-rail contact parameters, an optimal design method for rail grinding target profile is proposed from wear profile measurement to grinding profile design according to the actual railway track and vehicle operating conditions. We utilized Isight to create a simulation test and developed an RBF proxy model that incorporated both mechanical and geometric aspects of wheel-rail contact. By integrating rail modeling, wheel-rail contact analysis, and multi-objective optimization, we established a rail grinding optimization model that was solved using the NSGA-II algorithm. After optimization, the study achieved a 31.863% reduction in average contact stress, a 70.5% reduction in matching wear work, and a 100.391% increase in the difference in rolling radius between the wheel and rail.
Journal of Central South University•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-025-6079-z
This paper proposed a RIME-VMD-BiLSTM surrogate model to rapidly and precisely predict the seismic response of a nonlinear vehicle-track-bridge (VTB) system. The surrogate model employs the RIME algorithm to optimize the variational mode decomposition (VMD) parameters (k and α) and the architecture and hyperparameter of the bidirectional long- and short-term memory network (BiLSTM). After comparing different combinations and optimization algorithms, the surrogate model was trained and used to analyze a typical 9-span 32-m high-speed railway simply supported bridge system. A series of numerical examples considering the vehicle speed, bridge damping, seismic intensity, and training strategy on the prediction effect of the surrogate model were conducted on the extended OpenSees platform. The results show that the BiLSTM model performed better than the LSTM model, whereas the prediction effects of the single-LSTM and BiLSTM models were relatively poor. With the introduction of the VMD and RIME optimization techniques, the prediction effect of the proposed RIME-VMD-BiLSTM model was excellent. The abovementioned factors had a significant influence on the seismic response of a VTB system but little impact on the prediction effect of the surrogate model. The proposed surrogate model exhibits notable transferability and robustness for predicting the VTB’s nonlinear seismic response.
Journal of Central South University•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-025-6088-y
In practical engineering construction, multi-layered barriers containing geomembranes are extensively applied to retard the migration of pollutants. However, the associated analytical theory on pollutants diffusion still needs to be further improved. In this work, general analytical solutions are derived for one-dimensional diffusion of degradable organic contaminant (DOC) in the multi-layered media containing geomembranes under a time-varying concentration boundary condition, where the variable substitution and separated variable approaches are employed. These analytical solutions with clear expressions can be used not only to study the diffusion behaviors of DOC in bottom and vertical composite barrier systems, but also to verify other complex numerical models. The proposed general analytical solutions are then fully validated via three comparative analyses, including comparisons with the experimental measurements, an existing analytical solution, and a finite-difference solution. Ultimately, the influences of different factors on the composite cutoff wall’s (CCW, which consists of two soil-bentonite layers and a geomembrane) service performance are investigated through a composite vertical barrier system as the application example. The findings obtained from this investigation can provide scientific guidance for the barrier performance evaluation and the engineering design of CCWs. This application example also exhibits the necessity and effectiveness of the developed analytical solutions.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-025-3088-8
Nickel-based single-crystal (SX) superalloys are the key metallic materials of aeroengines. However, thermomechanical deformation always occurs during the directional solidification of SX superalloys, negatively influencing the SX structure. Casting deformation is simulated in most of the previous studies, whereas the direct simulation of dendritic thermomechanical deformation has been largely ignored, resulting in a lack of comprehensive understanding of this process. In this study, we systematically investigate dendritic thermomechanical deformation with a model coupled with dendrite growth, fluid flow, and thermomechanical deformation behavior. Results reveal that the dendritic thermomechanical deformation-induced dendrite bending is not randomly distributed but is mainly concentrated on the casting surface. The dendritic thermal stress increases as dendrite grows and accumulates after dendrite bridging. Transverse thermal contraction mainly occurs at the edge of casting in the corner, and axial thermal contraction is larger than transverse contraction. The high-stress region of the primary dendrite trunk is mainly distributed below the dendrite bridging near the solidified part, and the stress along the transverse direction reaches its maximum value on the casting surface. Stress concentrated on the casting surface is mainly attributed to variations in transverse temperature gradients caused by heat dissipation on the lateral mold wall, and inconsistent constraints in the lateral mold walls.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-025-3124-8
The mixing injection of natural gas and pulverized coal into the blast furnaces shows a promising technological approach in the context of global carbon reduction initiatives. Carrier gas and coal pass through the air inlet of coal lance, and the characteristics of carrier gas affect the flow in the air inlet and the combustion efficiency of coal, so it is very important to study the change of carrier gas characteristics in the lower part of blast furnace. By means of numerical simulation, the influence of carrier gas characteristics (injection rate, composition, and temperature) on the mixed combustion of natural gas (NG) and pulverized coal in the tuyere raceway of Russian blast furnace was analyzed. When N2 is used as carrier gas, the injection rate of carrier gas is reduced from 4000 to 2000 m3/h, the average tuyere temperature is increased (1947.42 to 1963.30 K), the mole fractions of CO and H2 are increased, and the burnout rate of pulverized coal is decreased. Increasing the carrier gas temperature is helpful to improve the burnout of pulverized coal. For every 20 K increase of carrier gas temperature, the average temperature in the raceway increases by 20.6 K, which promotes the release and combustion of volatiles, but the increase of carrier gas temperature from 373 to 393 K only leads to 1.16% burnout change. Considering the transportation characteristics of pulverized coal, it is suggested that the carrier gas temperature should be kept at about 373 K to obtain the best performance. It is worth noting that when air is used as carrier gas, the burnout rate of pulverized coal is increased by 2.69% compared with N2.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-3004-7
The effective reuse of iron phosphate residue (IPR) is the key issue in the recycling of spent LiFePO4 batteries. Therefore, in this study, the reduction leaching of IPR in H2SO4 solution by adding iron powder as reducing agent was investigated and compared with direct leaching. The results show that the leaching rate of IPR reached 97% under the optimum reduction leaching conditions. Kinetic studies show that the activation energy for reduction leaching is 12.71 kJ/mol, while that of direct leaching is 21.57 kJ/mol. Moreover, the reduction leaching time is reduced by half and the acid consumption is reduced by 30% compared to direct leaching with the same leaching rate. This work provides a scientific guidance to the treatment of iron phosphate residue from the recycling of spent LiFePO4 batteries.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-025-3170-2
Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is used to fabricate complex-shaped, dense, and high-performance oxide ceramics. During LPBF, bubbles form and evolve in the melt pool and ultimately remain in the printed ceramics as pores, which significantly degrade the mechanical properties. Therefore, it is essential to understand the bubble behaviors during LPBF. Herein, we conducted an in-situ investigation of the bubble dynamics in the melt pool of homogeneously mixed Al2O3–Y2O3 powders using synchrotron high-speed X-ray imaging. The formation, growth, motion, and evolution of bubbles, as well as the relationship between the instability of melt flow and bubble rupture during LPBF, were elucidated. The findings reveal that bubbles from the interstices within the powder bed grow following three distinct modes, i.e., uplift growth, gas channel attachment, and bubble coalescence. Furthermore, melt flow oscillations caused by the bursting of large bubbles can lead to local instability of the melt pool. Results from this study enhance the understanding of bubble dynamics during LPBF and may provide valuable insights for pore elimination in LPBF-processed oxide ceramics.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-3061-y
The experiment explored the Fe2O3 reduction process with H2/CO mixed gas and confirmed a promoting effect from CO when its volume proportion in mixed gas is 20% at 850°C. The ReaxFF molecular dynamics (MD) simulation method was used to observe the reduction process and provide an atomic-level explanation. The accuracy of the parameters used in the simulation was verified by the density functional theory (DFT) calculation. The simulation shows that the initial reduction rate of H2 is much faster than that of CO (from 800 to 950°C). As the reduction proceeds, cementite, obtained after CO participates in the reduction at 850°C, will appear on the iron surface. Due to the active properties of C atoms in cementite, they are easy to further react with the O atoms in Fe2O3. The generation of internal CO may destroy the dense structure of the surface layer, thereby affecting the overall reduction swelling of Fe2O3. However, excess CO is detrimental to the reaction rate, mainly because of the poor thermodynamic conditions of CO in the temperature range and the molecular diffusion capacity is not as good as that of H2. Furthermore, the surface structures obtained after H2 and CO reduction have been compared, and it was found that the structure obtained by CO reduction has a larger surface area, thus promoting the subsequent reaction of H2.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-2943-3
Fe–Ga sheets with large magnetostriction are required for improving the conversion efficiency under the ultra-high frequency magnetic field. Trace Tb element doping can simultaneously improve the magnetostriction and ductility of Fe–Ga alloy. However, the impact of trace Tb doping on the microstructure and magnetostriction of Fe–Ga thin sheets is an open question. In this paper, the effects of trace Tb addition on the secondary recrystallization and magnetostriction of Fe–Ga thin sheets are systematically studied by comparing the characteristics evolution of precipitation, texture, and nanoinclusions. The results indicate that trace Tb addition accelerates the secondary recrystallization of Goss texture due to the combined action of the bimodal size distributed precipitates, smaller grains, and more HEGBs in primary recrystallization. After quenching at 900°C, the magnetostriction value in 0.07at%Tb-doped Fe81Ga19 thin sheets increases by 30% to that of Fe81Ga19 thin sheets. The increase in magnetostriction is attributed to the decrease in the number of Tb-rich precipitates and the higher density of the nanometer-sized modified-D03 inclusions induced by the dissolving of trace Tb elements after quenching. These results demonstrate a simple and efficient approach for preparing Fe–Ga thin sheets with a large magnetostrictive coefficient by a combination of trace RE element addition and conventional rolling method.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-3047-9
Low- to medium-maturity oil shale resources display substantial reserves, offering promising prospects for in-situ conversion in China. Investigating the evolution of the mechanical properties of the reservoir and caprock under in-situ high-temperature and confinement conditions is of considerable importance. Compared to conventional mechanical experiments on rock samples after high-temperature treatment, in-situ high-temperature experiments can more accurately characterize the behavior of rocks in practical engineering, thereby providing a more realistic reflection of their mechanical properties. In this study, an in-situ high-temperature triaxial compression testing machine is developed to conduct in-situ compression tests on sandstone at different temperatures (25, 200, 400, 500, and 650°C) and confining pressures (0, 10, and 20 MPa). Based on the experimental results, the temperature-dependent changes in compressive strength, peak strain, elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio, cohesion, and internal friction angle are thoroughly analyzed and discussed. Results indicate that the mass of sandstone gradually decreases as the temperature increases. The thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of sandstone exhibit a linear relationship with temperature. Peak stress decreases as the temperature rises, while it increases with higher confining pressures. Notably, the influence of confining pressure on peak stress diminishes at higher temperatures. Additionally, as the temperature rises, the Poisson’s ratio of sandstone decreases. The internal friction angle also decreases with increasing temperature, with 400°C acting as the threshold temperature. Interestingly, under uniaxial conditions, the damage stress of sandstone is less affected by temperature. However, when the confining pressure is 10 or 20 MPa, the damage stress decreases as the temperature increases. This study enhances our understanding of the influence of in-situ high-temperature and confinement conditions on the mechanical properties of sandstone strata. The study also provides valuable references and experimental data that support the development of low- to medium-maturity oil shale resources.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-2898-4
With the continuous increase in the disposal volume of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), properly recycling spent LIBs has become essential for the advancement of the circular economy. This study presents a systematic analysis of the chlorination roasting kinetics and proposes a new two-step chlorination roasting process that integrates thermodynamics for the recycling of LIB cathode materials. The activation energy for the chloride reaction was 88.41 kJ/mol according to thermogravimetric analysis–derivative thermogravimetry data obtained by using model-free, model-fitting, and Z(α) function (α is conversion rate). Results indicated that the reaction was dominated by the first-order (F1) model when the conversion rate was less than or equal to 0.5 and shifted to the second-order (F2) model when the conversion rate exceeded 0.5. Optimal conditions were determined by thoroughly investigating the effects of roasting temperature, roasting time, and the mass ratio of NH4Cl to LiCoO2. Under the optimal conditions, namely 400°C, 20 min, and NH4Cl/LiCoO2 mass ratio of 3:1, the leaching efficiency of Li and Co reached 99.43% and 99.05%, respectively. Analysis of the roasted products revealed that valuable metals in LiCoO2 transformed into CoCl2 and LiCl. Furthermore, the reaction mechanism was elucidated, providing insights for the establishment of a novel low-temperature chlorination roasting technology based on a crystal structure perspective. This technology can guide the development of LIB recycling processes with low energy consumption, low secondary pollution, high recovery efficiency, and high added value.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01557-4
Bioactive molecules have shown great promise for effectively regulating various bone formation processes, rendering them attractive therapeutics for bone regeneration. However, the widespread application of bioactive molecules is limited by their low accumulation and short half-lives in vivo. Hydrogels have emerged as ideal carriers to address these challenges, offering the potential to prolong retention times at lesion sites, extend half-lives in vivo and mitigate side effects, avoid burst release, and promote adsorption under physiological conditions. This review systematically summarizes the recent advances in the development of bioactive molecule-loaded hydrogels for bone regeneration, encompassing applications in cranial defect repair, femoral defect repair, periodontal bone regeneration, and bone regeneration with underlying diseases. Additionally, this review discusses the current strategies aimed at improving the release profiles of bioactive molecules through stimuli-responsive delivery, carrier-assisted delivery, and sequential delivery. Finally, this review elucidates the existing challenges and future directions of hydrogel encapsulated bioactive molecules in the field of bone regeneration.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01546-7
Sodium-ion batteries hold great promise as next-generation energy storage systems. However, the high instability of the electrode/electrolyte interphase during cycling has seriously hindered the development of SIBs. In particular, an unstable cathode–electrolyte interphase (CEI) leads to successive electrolyte side reactions, transition metal leaching and rapid capacity decay, which tends to be exacerbated under high-voltage conditions. Therefore, constructing dense and stable CEIs are crucial for high-performance SIBs. This work reports localized high-concentration electrolyte by incorporating a highly oxidation-resistant sulfolane solvent with non-solvent diluent 1H, 1H, 5H-octafluoropentyl-1, 1, 2, 2-tetrafluoroethyl ether, which exhibited excellent oxidative stability and was able to form thin, dense and homogeneous CEI. The excellent CEI enabled the O3-type layered oxide cathode NaNi1/3Mn1/3Fe1/3O2 (NaNMF) to achieve stable cycling, with a capacity retention of 79.48% after 300 cycles at 1 C and 81.15% after 400 cycles at 2 C with a high charging voltage of 4.2 V. In addition, its nonflammable nature enhances the safety of SIBs. This work provides a viable pathway for the application of sulfolane-based electrolytes on SIBs and the design of next-generation high-voltage electrolytes.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01529-8
Recently published in Joule, Feng Liu and colleagues from Shanghai Jiaotong University reported a record-breaking 20.8% power conversion efficiency in organic solar cells (OSCs) with an interpenetrating fibril network active layer morphology, featuring a bulk p-i-n structure and proper vertical segregation achieved through additive-assisted layer-by-layer deposition. This optimized hierarchical gradient fibrillar morphology and optical management synergistically facilitates exciton diffusion, reduces recombination losses, and enhances light capture capability. This approach not only offers a solution to achieving high-efficiency devices but also demonstrates the potential for commercial applications of OSCs.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01494-2
Research efforts on electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials have begun to converge on green and sustainable biomass materials. These materials offer numerous advantages such as being lightweight, porous, and hierarchical. Due to their porous nature, interfacial compatibility, and electrical conductivity, biomass materials hold significant potential as EMI shielding materials. Despite concerted efforts on the EMI shielding of biomass materials have been reported, this research area is still relatively new compared to traditional EMI shielding materials. In particular, a more comprehensive study and summary of the factors influencing biomass EMI shielding materials including the pore structure adjustment, preparation process, and micro-control would be valuable. The preparation methods and characteristics of wood, bamboo, cellulose and lignin in EMI shielding field are critically discussed in this paper, and similar biomass EMI materials are summarized and analyzed. The composite methods and fillers of various biomass materials were reviewed. this paper also highlights the mechanism of EMI shielding as well as existing prospects and challenges for development trends in this field.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2024•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2024.12.007
Salt cavern energy storage technology contributes to energy reserves and renewable energy scale-up. This study focuses on salt cavern gas storage in Jintan to assess the long-term stability of its surrounding rock under frequent operation. The fatigue test results indicate that stress holding significantly reduces fatigue life, with the magnitude of stress level outweighing the duration of holding time in determining peak strain. Employing a machine learning approach, the impact of various factors on fatigue life and peak strain was quantified, revealing that higher stress limits and stress holding adversely impact the fatigue index, whereas lower stress limits and rate exhibit a positive effect. A novel fatigue-creep composite damage constitutive model is constructed, which is able to consider stress magnitude, rate, and stress holding. The model, validated through multi-path tests, accurately captures the elasto-viscous behavior of salt rock during loading, unloading, and stress holding. Sensitivity analysis further reveals the time- and stress-dependent behavior of model parameters, clarifying that strain changes stem not only from stress variations but are also influenced by alterations in elasto-viscous parameters. This study provides a new method for the mechanical assessment of salt cavern gas storage surrounding rocks.