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LQ
Verified CAS / Academic Author31 Decoded Studies

Prof. LI Qian-yi

School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing

Co-Affiliations:School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of TechnologyState Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, ChinaCentral South UniversityHubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Automotive Components, Wuhan University of TechnologyState Key Laboratory of Powder Metallurgy, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China

Research Publications & English Decoded Briefs

Showing 31 publications
Opto-Electronic Advances (光电进展)2026DOI: 10.29026/oea.2026.250270

Overcoming Challenges in InP-Based Quantum Dots: From Nucleation Mechanisms to High-Performance Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diodes

Indium phosphide-based quantum dots (InP QDs) are positioned as the leading cadmium-free alternative for next-generation display and optoelectronic technologies, offering high photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY), narrow emission spectra, and size-tunable wavelengths. Commercial deployment, however, remains constrained by synthetic and processing bottlenecks. State-of-the-art InP QD systems typically deliver PL QY below 90% and emission linewidths exceeding 35 nm, while device external quantum efficiency (EQE) and operational lifetime improve only incrementally. This review systematically examines the nucleation mechanisms governing InP core formation and evaluates optimization strategies for core/shell heterostructures, ligand engineering, and device architecture. A comprehensive analysis of recent breakthroughs in red, green, and blue InP-based quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) is presented, with emphasis on charge transport modulation and suppression of charge leakage. Despite progress, a significant performance gap persists for practical display applications. Critical unresolved challenges include achieving high-performance electroluminescence from small QDs, mitigating imbalanced carrier injection that drives Auger recombination, Joule heating, and low recombination efficiency, elucidating luminescence and aging mechanisms, and improving blue-emitting device performance. The review concludes by outlining pathways to overcome these limitations, including fabrication of large-sized InP QDs with near-unity PL QY, enhancement of radiative recombination and light extraction efficiency, advanced characterization of degradation mechanisms, and performance enhancement of blue InP-based QLEDs.

Opto-Electronic Advances (光电进展)2026DOI: 10.29026/oea.2026.250267

Scene-Level Passive Polarization 3D Imaging

Scene-level passive 3D imaging under natural conditions remains a critical unmet need, as established techniques such as structured light, LiDAR, and active stereo rely on controlled illumination and scanning, limiting their applicability to large, dynamic outdoor environments. Passive polarization 3D imaging offers inherent advantages for long-range, high-precision reconstruction but is fundamentally impeded by two obstacles: the π ambiguity of the azimuth component of surface normals and the discontinuity of multiple targets within a scene. This study introduces a scene-level passive polarization 3D imaging method that integrates binocular stereo vision with polarization cues. The reconstruction of discontinuous targets is formulated as a minimization problem, where pixel-level normal directions from polarization and absolute scale information from binocular stereo serve as mutual constraints for iterative optimization. This framework resolves the discontinuity challenge and recovers true depth. A scale normalization strategy globally aligns multi-view measurement data, eliminating inter-frame scale inconsistencies that hinder dynamic reconstruction. Multi-frame point cloud fusion yields the final scene-level 3D structure. Experimental validation on natural field scenes demonstrates robust, wide-scene, high-accuracy passive video reconstructions with centimeter-level precision. This passive polarization stereo approach represents a significant advancement in scene-level 3D imaging, with potential applications in autonomous navigation, environmental monitoring, and cultural heritage documentation.

Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China (中国有色金属学报)2026DOI: 10.1016/S1003-6326(26)67065-3

Single Crystal NCM811 Cathode Material Prepared by Rapid Solvothermal Method

Polycrystalline LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) cathodes undergo intergranular cracking and structural collapse during extended cycling, limiting their commercial viability. This study reports single-crystalline NCM811 synthesized via a rapid ethanol–water solvothermal method. The solvothermal duration was varied, and the 60 min sample (NCM-60) exhibited optimal electrochemical performance. X-ray diffractometry confirmed an α-NaFeO2 structure with R-3m space group and high crystallinity. NCM-60 delivered a reversible capacity of 157.28 mA·h/g at 1C and a capacity retention of 55.06% after 200 cycles, significantly outperforming polycrystalline NCM (PC-NCM). Cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy revealed no apparent cracks in NCM-60 after 200 cycles, whereas PC-NCM exhibited severe intergranular fracture. The results demonstrate that shortening solvothermal time reduces precursor particle size and crystallinity, but 60 min yields the best balance. Pre-oxidation of the carbonate precursor before lithiation is recommended to mitigate CO2 evolution and lithium–nickel disorder during high-temperature sintering. This rapid solvothermal route offers a scalable pathway to single-crystal NCM811 with enhanced cycling stability and mechanical integrity.

Nano Research2026DOI: 10.26599/NR.2026.94908686

Superhydrophobic, Active Anti-Corrosion, and Solar Anti-Icing Coating with Fast Self-Healing Properties

Corrosion and icing critically threaten the service safety of magnesium (Mg) alloys in aerospace and transportation industries. Although superhydrophobic coatings offer effective anti-corrosion and anti-icing functions, they are limited by susceptibility to failure due to physical damage or capillary condensation. Here, a multifunctional integrated coating (SAAS) is reported, which endows coated Mg alloys with excellent superhydrophobicity, active anti-corrosion performance, anti-icing properties, and fast self-healing capabilities. Layered double hydroxide (LDH) modified and intercalated with sodium laurate (La) acts as nanoreservoirs, releasing La corrosion inhibitors via an anion-exchange process to retard corrosion. Incorporation of MXene provides full-spectrum high absorption and efficient photothermal conversion, achieving a surface temperature of 61 °C under 1.0 sun illumination, which prevents adhesion and accumulation of supercooled droplets. Near-infrared (NIR) irradiation induces macromolecular chain migration and phase transition, enabling fast self-healing of coating damage. The SAAS coating exhibits a water contact angle of 153°, a corrosion current density of 1.294 × 10⁻⁹ A·cm⁻² (four orders of magnitude lower than bare Mg alloy), an icing delay time approximately 23 times longer than the substrate, and a healing rate of about 0.34 cm·s⁻¹ under NIR. This study provides a novel strategy for enhancing aircraft skin durability and offers insights into multifunctional coating design.

Nano Research2026DOI: 10.26599/FRICT.2025.9441210

Steady Shear Rheological Response of Ferrofluids Containing Hydrophilic Fumed Silica under Magnetic Fields

This study investigates the steady shear rheological behavior of water-based ferrofluids composited with hydrophilic fumed silica under different magnetic field strengths, with particular attention paid to avoiding gelation that reduces fluidity. Seven composite ferrofluid samples were prepared and characterized. By adjusting the silica particle size and volume fraction, their effects on viscosity and yield stress were explored. As a result, pronounced shear-thinning behavior is observed in this dispersion, with their flow curves under different magnetic field strengths effectively scaled by the Mason number. A higher silica concentration or larger particle size increases the critical Mason number, showing that field-induced structures become more stable. In contrast, only high silica concentrations significantly enhance shear thinning, as reflected by a larger flow index, whereas particle size has little influence. Yield stress analysis further shows that macroscopic models capture normalized Bingham yield stress, while microscopic models better predict normalized static yield stress. Overall, this work demonstrates that hydrophilic fumed silica offers a simple and effective route for tuning the magnetorheology of water-based ferrofluids without inducing gelation, ensuring controllable rheology and good fluidity.

China Foundry2026DOI: 10.1007/s41230-026-5183-5

Achieving optimal strength-conductivity balance in cast Al-2.3Fe-Mg-Si alloys via Mg/Si ratio regulation

The Al-2.3Fe eutectic alloy is regarded as a promising substitute for Cu conductors in automotive motors owing to its excellent castability and low resistivity. However, its application is restricted by the mutually exclusive relationship between electrical conductivity and mechanical strength. The microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-2.3Fe alloy were modified through Mg/Si alloying combined with T6 heat treatment in this work, leading to the development of a high-performance cast Al-2.3Fe-Mg-Si alloy. In the Al-2.3Fe-0.40Mg-0.72Si (Mg/Si=0.56) alloy subjected to T6 treatment, an electrical conductivity of (52.5±0.6)% IACS is achieved, while the ultimate tensile strength is significantly enhanced to 309.5±5.6 MPa. The addition of Mg and Si brings about marked changes in the solidification process of the Al-2.3Fe alloy, resulting in considerable variations in both the morphology of the second phase and its phase constitution. The aging behavior of the alloy is governed by second phase and solid solubility. Through optimization of the Mg/Si ratio, the aging response can be effectively enhanced. At the ratio of Mg/Si=0.56, a balance is achieved between solid solubility and precipitation, while simultaneously minimizing the detrimental impact on electrical conductivity and reaching the best mechanical properties and electrical conductivity in peak-aged Al-2.3Fe-xMg-ySi alloy. This work providing valuable insights for developing advanced conductor materials.

China Foundry2026DOI: 10.1007/s41230-026-5150-1

Effects of TiB2 on microstructure, mechanical properties, and fluidity of AlSi10MnMg alloy fabricated by high-pressure die casting

Optimizing the mechanical properties and fluidity of hypoeutectic Al-Si alloys in high-pressure die casting (HPDC) is critical for manufacturing thin-walled components with large sizes. The performance and fluidity of castings over long flow distances depend on the precise control of solidification behavior during the complex HPDC process. In this study, an AlSi10MnMg alloy was fabricated using a fluidity test mold with three channels of different thicknesses to investigate the influence of varying TiB2 content on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and fluidity of the alloy during long-distance filling in HPDC. Results indicate that the addition of 0.018wt.% TiB2 significantly reduces externally solidified crystals (ESCs) and porosity contents, improving the filling distance from 1,700 mm to 1,833 mm. The reduction in ESCs in the castings by TiB2 is attributed to its ability to promote the migration of ESCs from the shot sleeve toward the melt center, where temperature and flow velocity are higher. At a filling distance of 1,300 mm, the ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS), and elongation increase notably with addition of 0.018wt.% TiB2. When the addition of TiB2 increases to 0.036wt.%, the area fraction of ESCs in the channel increases compared to that with 0.018wt.%, and the filling distance slightly decreases to 1,796.9 mm. The mechanical properties of the alloy with 0.036wt.% TiB2 are better than those of the alloy with 0.018wt.% TiB2 over short distances, but become inferior beyond 1,000 mm. This work reveals the role of TiB2 in regulating solidification and flow during long-range filling, offering new insights into the processability of HPDC Al-Si alloys.

China Foundry2026DOI: 10.1007/s41230-026-5185-3

Optimization of multi-process parameters in secondary cooling solidification process of S30432 continuous casting billet

The synergistic mechanism of multiple process parameters on the solidification structure of niobium containing austenitic stainless steel during continuous casting is complex, which seriously affects the quality of continuous casting billets and seamless pipes. In order to optimize the quality of continuous casting billet, a finite element model of solidification and heat transfer in continuous casting process was established for the secondary cooling process of continuous casting billet. The control variable method was used to explore the influence of casting speed and superheat on the solidification process. At the same time, an orthogonal scheme was designed to study the coupling effect of multiple process parameters on the heat transfer and solidification state of continuous casting billets, and optimized process parameters were selected. The optimization results of process parameters were verified through production experiments, and it is found that the enrichment of coarse niobium compounds directly causes the initiation and propagation of inner wall cracks during the large deformation hot piercing of S30432 seamless tubes. Process parameter optimization, especially the synergistic effect of the decrease of superheat and increase of specific water flow promotes the grain refinement and expension of equiaxed crystal zone, thereby mitigating the segregation of Nb elements and improving the distribution of niobium compounds.

China Foundry2026DOI: 10.1007/s41230-026-5206-2

Effect of critical tempering on microstructure evolution, mechanical performance, and corrosion behavior of a cast multiphase stainless steel

A novel cast stainless steel featuring a multiphase microstructure and a nominal composition of Fe-13.5Cr-2.6Si-6.9Ni-1.1Cu-1.1Mn-1.0Mo-0.35Al-0.025C (wt.%) was investigated. Following solution treatment at 1,050 °C and water quenching, the specimens were subjected to further tempering at 570 °C, 610 °C, and 650 °C to explore the effects of critical tempering on microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance. Various characterization techniques were employed to examine the phase distribution within the microstructure, with particular attention given to the content and morphology of reverted austenite. Tensile and corrosion tests were carried out to evaluate the performance of the specimens. The results reveal that critical tempering significantly enhances the mechanical properties, with the specimen tempered at 610 °C achieving the highest product of strength and elongation (PSE=23.6 GPa·%), whereas corrosion resistance deteriorates with increasing tempering temperature. Calculations of the martensite start temperature (Ms) and stacking fault energy (γSFE) for the reversed austenite in different specimens indicate that the stability of reversed austenite strongly influences mechanical behavior through the TRIP and TWIP effects. However, tempering-induced Cr segregation at ferrite/martensite interfaces and the formation of Cr-depleted zones become more pronounced at higher tempering temperatures, leading to a degradation in corrosion resistance. Furthermore, multiphase coordinated deformation improves the strength-ductility balance, while corrosion tends to initiate at chemically inhomogeneous phase boundaries.

Journal of Central South University2026DOI: 10.1007/s11771-026-6256-8

True triaxial experiment and FDEM simulation on the controlling effect of coal-measure rock interfaces on hydraulic fracture propagation

This study integrates true triaxial hydraulic fracturing experiments with finite-discrete element method (FDEM) numerical simulation to systematically investigate the control mechanisms of interface strength and inclination angle on hydraulic fracture propagation in coal measure strata under different in-situ stress conditions. The results indicate that the fracture propagation path at the rock interface is jointly controlled by the interface strength coefficient (η), the interface inclination angle (θ), and the vertical stress difference coefficient (k). When fractures propagate from soft rock to hard rock, the interface strength coefficient (η) plays a dominant role. The larger the η is, the more likely the hydraulic fracture is to penetrate the interface along the direction of vertical stress. Conversely, when fractures propagate from hard rock to soft rock, vertical stress primarily controls the propagation path. A larger vertical stress difference coefficient promotes interface crossing, while a smaller coefficient tends to cause the fracture to extend laterally along the interface. The interface inclination angle influences the magnitude and direction of the vertical stress component along the interface. A smaller θ facilitates interface penetration by hydraulic fractures, whereas a larger θ leads to fracture propagation along the interface. The complexity of the hydraulic fracture network increases with higher k and θ . Moreover, the complexity of hydraulic fracture morphology exhibits a non-monotonic trend, initially decreasing and then increasing with rising k and θ. This research provides an important theoretical basis for the design and control of hydraulic fracturing in coal measure strata.

Nano-Micro Letters2025DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01789-y

Eliciting Dual-Niche Immunological Priming by Acupoint Delivery of Nanovaccines

Immunization has long played essential roles in preventing diseases. However, the desire for precision delivery of vaccines to boost a robust immune response remains largely unmet. Here, we describe the use of acupoint delivery of nanovaccines (ADN) to elicit dual-niche immunological priming. ADN can simultaneously stimulate mast cell-assisted maturation of dendritic cells at the acupoint and enable direct delivery of nanovaccines into the draining lymph nodes. We demonstrate that ADN not only provokes antigen presentation by lymph node-resident CD8α+ dendritic cells, but also induces the accumulation of nanovaccines in B-cell zones, amplifying antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses and immunoglobulin G antibody expression in draining lymph nodes. ADN also generates systemic immune responses by causing immune memory and preventing T-cell anergy in the spleen. Further supported by evoking effective antitumor responses and high-level antiviral antibodies in mice, ADN provides a simple yet versatile platform for advanced nanovaccination.

Nano-Micro Letters2025DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01739-8

Bi-Layered, Ultrathin Coating Initiated Relay Response to Impart Superior Fire Resistance for Polymeric and Metallic Substrates

Developing high-efficient flame-retardant coatings is crucial for fire safety polymer and battery fields. Traditional intumescent coatings and ceramifiable coatings struggle to provide immediate and prolonged protection simultaneously, which limits the applicability. To address this, an innovative bi-layered coating with organic/nano-inorganic additives is inspired by differential response behaviors, enabling relay response effect with both fast-acting and extended protection. Specifically, two layers function continuously in the form of a relay. With a mere 320 microns, the bi-layered coating withstands fire temperatures of up to 1400 °C for at least 900 s. Consequently, the coating effective prevented burn through in aluminum plates and glass fabric-reinforced epoxy resin, which otherwise were burned through in 135 and 173 s, respectively. Meanwhile, the bi-layered coating suppressed the formation and decomposition of solid interface layer in lithium soft-package batteries, leading to prolonged electrochemical stability and fire safety. Additionally, the bi-layered coating with a fast response endows polyurethane foam with rapid self-extinguishing, preventing ignition even under exposure to strong fire of 1400 °C. Shortly, our work offers new insights into the design and development of thin, high-performance, and multi-application flame-retardant coatings.

Nano-Micro Letters2025DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01712-5

High-Temperature Stealth Across Multi-Infrared and Microwave Bands with Efficient Radiative Thermal Management

High-temperature stealth is vital for enhancing the concealment, survivability, and longevity of critical assets. However, achieving stealth across multiple infrared bands—particularly in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) band—along with microwave stealth and efficient thermal management at high temperatures, remains a significant challenge. Here, we propose a strategy that integrates an IR-selective emitter (Mo/Si multilayer films) and a microwave metasurface (TiB2–Al2O3–TiB2) to enable multi-infrared band stealth, encompassing mid-wave infrared (MWIR), long-wave infrared (LWIR), and SWIR bands, and microwave (X-band) stealth at 700 °C, with simultaneous radiative cooling in non-atmospheric window (5–8 μm). At 700 °C, the device exhibits low emissivity of 0.38/0.44/0.60 in the MWIR/LWIR/SWIR bands, reflection loss below −3 dB in the X-band (9.6–12 GHz), and high emissivity of 0.82 in 5–8 μm range—corresponding to a cooling power of 9.57 kW m−2. Moreover, under an input power of 17.3 kW m−2—equivalent to the aerodynamic heating at Mach 2.2—the device demonstrates a temperature reduction of 72.4 °C compared to a conventional low-emissivity molybdenum surface at high temperatures. This work provides comprehensive guidance on high-temperature stealth design, with far-reaching implications for multispectral information processing and thermal management in extreme high-temperature environments.

Nano-Micro Letters2025DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01697-1

Mechanisms and Mitigation Strategies of Gas Generation in Sodium-Ion Batteries

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.

New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)2025DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2026-41-03-14)

The effect of the chemical structure of spinnable pitches on their rheological properties and spinnability and the properties of carbon fibers produced from them

The structure and composition of a spinnable pitch determine the properties of the carbon fibers produced from it. Spinnable pitches with low and high softening points (L-SP and H-SP) were prepared by air-blowing thermal polymerization of coal tar pitch. The polymerization mechanism, structural composition, properties of the pitch, and the carbon fiber properties were investigated by fluorescence excitation-emission spectroscopy with parallel factor analysis, EPR, 13C-NMR, dynamic shear rheometry, XRD, Raman, etc. L-SP had the lower degree of polymerization, longer alkyl side chains, and a higher proportion of C―O―C groups. At its spinning temperature, the molten L-SP had viscous-dominant rheological characteristics. H-SP had larger polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon rings, a higher degree of branching, and a higher polarity. The molten H-SP had a high storage and loss moduli, and a rheological behavior with nearly balanced viscous and elastic properties. Although carbon fibers prepared from H-SP had the better physical properties, their inferior rheological properties could lead to melt die swelling, the formation of surface particles and an increased number of irregularities. The superior viscoelasticity of L-SP promoted uniform stretching, maximizing the properties of carbon fibers. This ultimately resulted in similar tensile strengths and moduli of the carbon fibers prepared from the two pitches. The high-quality spinnable pitch had a high aromatic carbon content, a small size of its PAHs, and a low C=O/O―C=O content, which ensured viscosity-dominated rheological behavior, thereby reducing die swelling and melt fracture, and the spinning stability and properties of the carbon fibers produced were improved.

New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)2025DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2024-39-06-07)

Defect-rich N/O-co-doped porous carbon frameworks as anodes for superior potassium and sodium-ion batteries

Carbon with its high electrical conductivity, excellent chemical stability, and structure ability is the most promising anode material for sodium and potassium ion batteries. We developed a defect-rich porous carbon framework (DRPCF) built with N/O-co-doped mesoporous nanosheets and containing many defects using porous g-C3N4 (PCN) and dopamine (DA) as raw materials. We prepared samples with PCN/DA mass ratios of 1/1, 2/1 and 3/1 and found that the one with a mass ratio of 2/1 and a carbonization temperature of 700 °C in an Ar atmosphere (DRPCF-2/1-700), had a large specific surface area with an enormous pore volume and a large number of N/O heteroatom active defect sites. Because of this, it had the best pseudocapacitive sodium and potassium ion storage performance. A half battery of Na//DRPCF-2/1-700 maintained a capacity of 328.2 mAh g−1 after being cycled at 1 A g−1 for 900 cycles, and a half battery of K//DRPC-2/1-700 maintained a capacity of 321.5 mAh g−1 after being cycled at 1 A g−1 for 1200 cycles. The rate capability and cycling stability achieved by DRPCF-2/1-700 outperforms most reported carbon materials. Finally, ex-situ Raman spectroscopy analysis result confirms that the filling and removing of K+ and Na+ from the electrochemically active defects are responsible for the high capacity, superior rate and cycling performance of the DRPCF-2/1-700 sample.

New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)2025DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2026-41-02-05)

Fe3C-coated nitrogen-doped CNT/cattail-derived carbon microtube composites for efficient microwave absorption

Due to the inherent limited dielectric loss of carbon materials, their attenuation ability and impedance matching are often unsatisfactory. To overcome these problems, hierarchical structures and combined microwave loss mechanisms have attracted considerable attention in the development of high performance microwave absorbers. In this work, biomass cattail was used as a sustainable precursor to synthesize nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube arrays decorated with Fe3C nanoparticles by chemical vapor deposition. The resulting cattail-derived carbon-based tubular composites (Fe3C@NCNTs/CMTs) feature a unique Fe3C-coated, nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube structure. The influence of crystallinity, tuned by calcination at different temperatures, on microwave absorption was investigated. Remarkably, at 800 °C, Fe3C@NCNTs/CMTs achieved a minimum reflection loss of –35.8 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth of 7.02 GHz at a thickness of only 1.7 mm, even at an ultralow filler loading of 10%, effectively covering the entire Ku band and part of the X band. The excellent microwave absorption performance is attributed to the combined contribution of increased magnetic loss and multiple dielectric polarization mechanisms. This study shows a promising strategy for designing biomass-derived carbon-based broadband microwave absorbing materials.

Atomic Energy Science and Technology (原子能科学技术)2025DOI: 10.7538/yzk.2025.youxian.0385

Radiation-hardened Pipeline in Microcontroller Core

With its growth in spacecraft control applications, the microcontroller (MCU) becomes increasingly sensitive to radiation and the risks of system failure. In a radiation environment, the MCU is vulnerable to impacts from high-energy particles, which can lead to single-event effect (SEE) that disrupt normal system operations. The pipeline of MCU, being the core structure of the system, is particularly susceptible to single-event upset (SEU) and potentially causes execution failures. However, existing radiation-hardening techniques offer limited effectiveness for pipelines. To enhance SEU resistance, this study focused on a 32-bit MCU core with eight pipeline stages, proposing a pipeline hardening approach that utilizes lockstep technology to improve fault tolerance. Signals from two processors were compared including register write data, register contents and pre-fetched instructions. Any discrepancies triggered error flags to indicate faults. When an error flag was raised, recovery was initiated through an interrupt. The interrupt handler then retrieved state information from the advanced peripheral bus (APB) slave module to restore the CPU’s operational state and resume execution. By combining hardware-based state preservation with software-driven error recovery, the proposed solution demonstrated significant improvements in fault tolerance rates and performance compared to traditional checkpoint-based techniques. After completing the pipeline hardening design, a fault injection platform was utilized in this paper to simulate real-world error conditions on internal processor modules. The platform was developed based on the circuit’s register-transfer-level (RTL) design and statistical results. The fault injection platform was performed by automatically finding all registers within the target design. The register values were forced to upset at the tens of nanoseconds scale in the RTL description of the circuit’s design. After running the circuit’s functional simulation, the statistics of the faults in registers were displayed on the platform, which evaluated the influence of SEU. The vulnerability of SEU in the circuit could be observed from the results of the soft error statistics. The post-hardening soft error rates were then measured and compared to pre-hardening data, providing a quantitative evaluation of the improvements. Using this method, the soft error rates of the modules in the MCU core such as PFU, DPU, and Cache AXIM are 40.07%, 26.36%, and 27.29% respectively before hardening. The soft error rates of modules mentioned above are reduced to 0%, 0.69%, and 1.11% after hardening. The hardened and non-hardened designs of the entire core were implemented in FPGA. The total resource utilization of the triple mode redundancy (TMR) is 111 984, as indicated by the number of look-up tables (LUTs) and registers consumed in the FPGA. The total resource utilization of this work is 78 034, and the ratio of resource utilization between this work and TMR is approximately 69.68%. The error recovery time for the hardened MCU processor was analyzed using the completion cycles of a bubble sort algorithm as a benchmark. In this paper, the average recovery cycle using the software checkpoint roll-back method is 36 479.06, and the average recovery cycle using this work is 26 922.5. The ratio of recovery cycles between this work and checkpoint roll-back is about 73.8%. Assessments through random fault injection and FPGA implementation indicate that this approach effectively reduces processor faults caused by soft errors while optimizing resource utilization and efficiency over triple-modular redundancy.

Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China (中国有色金属学报)2025DOI: 10.1016/S1003-6326(25)67029-4

Enhanced furfural hydrogenation via Ru nanoparticles supported on CeO2−Mg(OH)2 composite nanosheet

Ru nanoparticles (NPs) supported on CeO2−Mg(OH)2 composite nanosheets, donated as Ru/CeO2−Mg(OH)2, are developed as the highly active catalyst for selective hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol. Characterization results demonstrate that Ru NPs are adsorbed on the surface of the polyhedra of CeO2, which are scattered on the surface of the thin Mg(OH)2 nanosheets. Ru/CeO2−Mg(OH)2-0.2 achieves 92.6% conversion of furfural and 96.3% selectivity to furfuryl alcohol. Ru/CeO2−Mg(OH)2-0.2 retains high activity after six cycles, due to the introduction of CeO2 to form composite support that effectively prevents the leaching of Ru NPs. The strong metal–support interaction (SMSI) between Ru NPs and the CeO2−Mg(OH)2 composite support can tune the electronic structure of Ru NPs, which facilitates the H2 activation. Moreover, the CeO2−Mg(OH)2 interface exhibits specific adsorption of C=O bonds compared to the CeO2 alone. The composite-supported nanoparticles provide a valuable strategy for constructing highly efficient hydrogenation catalysts.

Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China (中国有色金属学报)2025DOI: 10.1016/S1003-6326(25)66955-X

Effects of electroshock treatment on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of Ti−8Al−1Mo−1V alloy

The effect mechanism of electroshock treatment (EST) on microstructure evolution and mechanical property variations of Ti−8Al−1Mo−1V alloy was investigated. The results show that EST results in the phase transformation from the acicular secondary αs to β phase. While the EST time is 0.12 s, the acicular martensitic phase (αM) precipitates. The results of electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) reveals that the average grain size decreases from 3.95 to 2.53 μm after EST, indicating that the grains are refined, and the significant recrystallization behavior and martensitic transformation occur. The orientation distribution reveals a more uniform distribution of texture, which is caused by the variation of crystal orientation after the phase transformation. The compression fracture behavior of materials indicates that EST significantly enhances the yield strength while reduces the fracture strain. The improvement of yield strength is mainly attributed to the precipitation of martensitic phase. All results indicate that EST is an effective approach for manipulating the microstructure and optimizing the texture distribution of titanium alloys.

Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)2025DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2025.06.003

Geothermal energy production potential of karst geothermal reservoir considering mining-induced stress

Developing hydrothermal resources in highly conductive karst aquifers at deep mine floors is regarded as a potential approach to achieving the co-development of coal and geothermal resources. However, the heat transfer potential of the fracture system in the target reservoir under mining activities remains in suspense. Hence, a coupled thermal–hydraulic-mechanical model was developed for the karst reservoir of Anju coal mine in China, considering non-isothermal convective heat transfer in fractures. This model examined the influence of stress redistribution due to different mining distances (MD) on the effective flow channel length/density and the high/low-aperture fracture distribution. The dynamic heat generation characteristics of the geothermal reservoir were evaluated. Key findings include: Mining-induced stress creates interlaced high-aperture and low-aperture fracture zones below the goaf. Within these interlaced zones, the combined effect of high- and low-aperture fractures restricts the effective flow channel length/density of the fracture network. This contraction of the flow field leads to a significant decline in production flow rate, which consequently reduces both the production flow rate and power as MD increases. This work represents the study of mining disturbances on geothermal production, providing a theoretical foundation for the co-development of coal and geothermal resources.

China Foundry2025DOI: 10.1007/s41230-025-5018-9

Impact of submicron TiB2 particles on microstructure, casting performance, and mechanical properties of an Al-Cu alloy

Abstract: Although the strengthening and grain refinement effects of TiB2 particles on aluminum alloys have been extensively studied, their influence on casting behavior remains relatively underexplored. In this study, the influence of different addition amounts of submicron TiB2 particles on the microstructure, casting performance, and mechanical properties of an Al-Cu (ZL205A) alloy was systematically investigated. The introduction of TiB2 particles leads to significant grain refinement, transforming the microstructure from coarse grains to fine equiaxed grains by providing additional nucleation sites and inhibiting grain growth. SEM and TEM analyses reveal that the added submicron TiB2 particles exhibit minimal effect on the distribution of intermetallic phases or precipitates. Casting performance, as evaluated by spiral fluidity and hot tearing tests, shows notable improvements with TiB2 additions. At a TiB2 content of 3wt.%, the fluidity length increases by 20%, and the hot tearing susceptibility coefficient decreases by 29%. These enhancements are mainly due to the refined grain structure and the formation of interdendritic bridging in TiB2-reinforced alloys. However, the overall enahncement in casting properties shows little variation across the TiB2 additions from 0.2wt.% to 3wt.%. Mechanical testing shows that the highest hardness and strength are achieved with a 1wt.% addition of TiB2 particles, primarily attributed to refined grain size and reinforcement of the aluminum matrix. Based on these findings, a TiB2 particle content of 1wt.% is recommended for optimizing both the casting performance and mechanical properties of the ZL205A alloy.

Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering2025DOI: 10.1186/s10033-025-01336-1

A DDPG-based Path Following Control Strategy for Autonomous Vehicles by Integrated Imitation Learning and Feedforward Exploration

Autonomous driving technology is constantly developing to a higher level of complex scenes, and there is a growing demand for the utilization of end-to-end data-driven control. However, the end-to-end path tracking process often encounters challenges in learning efficiency and generalization. To address this issue, this paper designs a deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG)-based reinforcement learning strategy that integrates imitation learning and feedforward exploration in the path following process. In imitation learning, the path tracking control data generated by the model predictive control (MPC) method is used to train an end-to-end steering control model of a deep neural network. Another feedforward exploration behavior is predicted by road curvature and vehicle speed, and adds it and imitation learning to the DDPG reinforcement learning to obtain decision-making experience and action prediction behavior of the path tracking process. In the reinforcement learning process, imitation learning is used to update the pre-training parameters of the actor network, and a feedforward steering technique with random noise is adopted for strategy exploration. In the reward function, a hierarchical progressive reward form and a constrained objective reward function referring to MPC are designed, and the actor-critic network architecture is determined. Finally, the path tracking performance of the designed method is verified by comparing various training results, simulations, and HIL tests. The results show that the designed method can effectively utilize pre-training and feedforward prior experience to obtain optimal path tracking performance of an autonomous vehicle, and has better generalization ability than other methods. This study provides an efficient control scheme for improving the end-to-end control performance of autonomous vehicles.

Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering2025DOI: 10.1186/s10033-025-01287-7

State of the Art Review on the Crashworthiness of Railway Vehicles

The state of the art is reviewed for the crashworthiness of railway vehicles in aspects of materials, energy absorbing structures, train collision simulation and experiments. The recoverable and nonreversible energy absorbers are introduced for railway vehicles first. Metallic and non-metallic materials play a crucial role in the energy dissipation process. Thin-walled structures at vehicle ends are the main energy absorbers in train collisions, which include the deformation tube, crush box, deformable anti-climber and vehicle end structures. It is necessary to build a specific dynamic model for subway and high-speed trains, which includes gas-hydraulic buffers and energy absorption devices. Furthermore, train crashworthiness could be improved with the help of crash energy management. The train collision is commonly studied by numerical methods and experiments. The research method mainly depends on the primary purpose. The simulation depending on numerical methods should be validated by related experiments. The methods provide theoretical support for train crashworthy design.

Journal of Central South University2025DOI: 10.1007/s11771-025-6068-2

Corrosion behavior of three nickel-based single-crystal superalloys in mixed Na2SO4 and NaCl molten salts at 700 ℃

In this investigation, we examined the high-temperature corrosion behavior of three nickel-based single-crystal superalloys subjected to a mixed molten salt environment of Na2SO4 and NaCl at 700 °C, leading to a preliminary elucidation of their molten salt corrosion mechanisms. By further comparing the corrosion degree of the three nickel-based single-crystal superalloys combined with the Gibbs free energy calculation of the corrosion products, the influence of alloying elements on the corrosion performance of nickel-based single-crystal superalloys was analyzed. It was established that the corrosion mechanism of these nickel-based single-crystal superalloys predominantly involves a cyclic process of oxide layer formation and decomposition, ultimately resulting in the establishment of a protective layer principally composed of NiO, with a constantly regenerating Al2O3 barrier, impeding further alloy degradation. Furthermore, the inclusion of elements such as Cr, Al, Ta, and notably Re has been found to markedly improve the thermal corrosion resistance of the superalloys. These insights not only enhance our comprehension of the corrosion mechanisms pertinent to nickel-based superalloys, but also provide strategic directions for alloy composition refinement aimed at bolstering their corrosion resilience.

Journal of Central South University2025DOI: 10.1007/s11771-025-6114-0

Thermal compression behavior and microstructural evolution of selective laser melted AlMgScZr high-strength aluminum alloys

The AlMgScZr high-strength aluminum alloy fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM) technology exhibits a “bimodal microstructure”, resulting in significant non-uniform deformation during thermal deformation. This study investigates the flow behavior of SLM-processed AlMgScZr aluminum alloy utilizing the Gleeble-1500D thermal simulation machine. The true stress−strain curves were amended based on the friction theory. Through determining the Zener-Hollomon parameters, the correlation between flow stress, deformation temperature, and strain rate during the high-temperature thermoplastic deformation of SLM-processed AlMgScZr aluminum alloy with a “bimodal microstructure” was established. In addition, the microstructural evolution during thermal deformation was analyzed. The results indicated that the predicted flow stress values obtained from the Arrhenius constitutive equation with coupled correction of thermal deformation parameters closely matched the experimental values. The correlation coefficient and the average absolute relative error of the corrected model were 0.999 and 2.766%, respectively, accurately predicting the thermoplastic deformation behavior of SLM-processed high-strength aluminum alloy with a “bimodal microstructure”. Furthermore, hot processing maps at different strains were established, identifying stable and unstable regions under different deformation conditions. Microstructural observations revealed different thermal deformation mechanisms under various deformation temperatures. Specifically, dynamic recrystallization characteristics dominated the microstructure at lower temperatures (300−360 ℃), while dynamic recovery was dominant at higher temperatures (390−500 ℃).

Journal of Central South University2025DOI: 10.1007/s11771-025-6041-0

Influence of pre-compression and pre-aging on precipitation behavior in casting Mg-9.8Sn-3.0Zn alloy

The effects of pre-compression and pre-aging on the age-hardening response and microstructure of Mg-9.8Sn-3.0Zn (wt.%) alloy have been investigated via hardness test and advanced electron microscopy. The alloy subjected to both pre-compression and pre-aging exhibits the most refined and densest distribution of precipitates upon aging at 200 ℃, leading to the superior age-hardening performance observed in the alloy. Comparatively, the alloy that underwent only pre-aging displayed a greater number density of precipitates than its counterpart that was neither pre-compressed nor pre-aged when both were aged to their peak conditions at 200 ℃, indicating an enhanced age-hardening response in the pre-aged alloy. The precipitates in these three peak-aged alloys consist of Mg2Sn and MgZn2 phases. The reason why the pre-aged alloy has a higher number density of precipitates than the directly aged alloy is that MgZn2 phase formed during pre-aging can serve as heterogeneous nucleation site for the formation of Mg2Sn. The reason why the pre-compression and pre-aged alloy has the highest number density of precipitates is that Mg3Sn and MgZn2 phases formed during pre-aging, alongside lattice defects introduced during pre-compression, collectively act as effective heterogeneous nucleation sites for the formation of Mg2Sn during the subsequent aging at 200 ℃.

Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)2025DOI: 10.1007/s12613-025-3121-y

Hydrogen-assisted mineral phase transformation for iron recovery and sulfur removal from laterite nickel ore tailings

This study explores a hydrogen-assisted mineral phase transformation process with synergistic desulfurization for the efficient recovery of iron from the high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) tailings of laterite nickel ore. HPAL tailings containing 51.50wt% iron and 2.09wt% sulfur present environmental challenges due to their sulfur content. Pre-treatment at 950°C for 15 min successfully reduced the sulfur content to 0.295wt% and increased the iron grade to 57.66wt%. Further hydrogen-assisted mineral phase transformation at 520°C for 30 min, using 40vol% hydrogen and a gas flow rate of 600 mL·min–1, resulted in a product with an iron grade of 61.00wt% and 90.11% iron recovery. The overall desulfurization rate reached 85.83% when wet scrubbing and limestone were used to capture the sulfur. This study demonstrates the efficiency of this hydrogen-assisted process for sustainable iron recovery and sulfur removal from laterite nickel ore tailings, with potential for industrial applications.

Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)2025DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-3021-6

Temperature-stabilized novel high-entropy microwave dielectric (Mg0.5Zn0.5)0.4+xLi0.4(Ca0.5Sr0.5)0.4−xTiO3 ceramics

A series of high-entropy ceramics with the nominal composition (Mg0.5Zn0.5)0.4+xLi0.4(Ca0.5Sr0.5)0.4−xTiO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) has been successfully synthesized using the conventional solid-phase method. The (Mg0.5Zn0.5)0.4+xLi0.4(Ca0.5Sr0.5)0.4−xTiO3 ceramics are confirmed to be composed of the main phase (Zn,Mg,Li)TiO3 and the secondary phase Ca0.5Sr0.5TiO3 by X-ray diffractometer, Rietveld refinement, and X-ray spectroscopy analysis. The quality factor (Q×f) of the samples is inversely proportional to the content of the Ca0.5Sr0.5TiO3 phase, and it is influenced by the density. The secondary phase and molecular polarizability (αT) have a significant impact on the dielectric constant (εr) of the samples. Moreover, the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τf) of the samples is determined by the distortion of [TiO6] octahedra and the secondary phase. The results indicate that (Mg0.5Zn0.5)0.4+xLi0.4(Ca0.5Sr0.5)0.4−xTiO3 ceramics achieve ideal microwave dielectric properties (εr = 17.6, Q×f = 40900 GHz, τf = −8.6 ppm/°C) when x = 0.35. (Mg0.5Zn0.5)0.4+xLi0.4(Ca0.5Sr0.5)0.4−xTiO3 ceramics possess the potential for application in wireless communication, and a new approach has been provided to enhance the performance of microwave dielectric ceramics.

Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)2025DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-2896-6

Investigation of bubbles escape behavior from low basicity mold flux for high-Mn high-Al steels using 3D X-ray microscope

During the continuous casting process of high-Mn high-Al steels, various types of gases such as Ar need to escape through the top of the mold. In which, the behavior of bubbles traversing the liquid slag serves as a restrictive link, closely associated with viscosity and the thickness of liquid slag. In contrast to two-dimensional surface observation, three-dimensional (3D) analysis method can offer a more intuitive, accurate, and comprehensive information. Therefore, this study employs a 3D X-ray microscope (3D-XRM) to obtained spatial distribution and 3D morphological characteristics of residual bubbles in mold flux under different basicity of liquid slag, different temperatures, and different holding times. The results indicate that as basicity of slag increases from 0.52 to 1.03, temperature increases from 1423 to 1573 K, the viscosity of slag decreases, the floating rate of bubbles increases. In addition, when holding time increases from 10 to 30 s, the bubbles floating distance increases, and the volume fraction and average equivalent sphere diameter of the bubbles solidified in the mold flux gradually decreases. In one word, increasing the basicity, temperature, and holding time leading to an increase in the removal rate of bubbles especially for the large. These findings of bubbles escape behavior provide valuable insights into optimizing low basicity mold flux for high-Mn high-Al steels.

Nano-Micro Letters2025DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01546-7

Sulfolane-Based Flame-Retardant Electrolyte for High-Voltage Sodium-Ion Batteries

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.