Surface Technology (表面技术)•2026•DOI: 10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.10.005
Powder sherardizing on Q235 structural steel was conducted in a 70wt.% Zn–0.8wt.% NH4Cl–29.2wt.% α-Al2O3 activated pack at 340–400 °C for 2–10 h to establish the temperature-dependent growth kinetics, phase evolution, and corrosion performance of Zn–Fe intermetallic layers. Cross-sectional SEM/EDS and XRD show that all layers consist of δ and Γ phases, with Γ concentrated near the substrate; excessive Γ at 340 °C initiates interfacial cracking. Layer thickness increases monotonically with temperature and time, rising from 10.80 μm at 340 °C to 43.90 μm at 400 °C after 6 h, and from 12.10 μm at 2 h to 81.60 μm at 10 h at 380 °C. The Zn/Fe ratio and δ-phase fraction increase with temperature, yielding denser layers and improved corrosion resistance; at 380–400 °C, corrosion current densities fall to 1.16×10⁻⁶–9.78×10⁻⁷ A/cm². The diffusion coefficient at 380 °C is 2.341×10⁻¹³ m²/s. Prolonged holding beyond 6 h produces through-thickness cracks. DSC and microstructural evidence support a three-stage growth mechanism: formation of active Zn atoms via ZnCl2 decomposition, bidirectional Zn/Fe interdiffusion along substrate defects, and continuous inward advancement of the Zn–Fe intermetallic front. The optimal processing window is 380 °C for 6 h, yielding a ~36.1 μm crack-free layer with 84.1% δ phase and superior corrosion resistance.
Surface Technology (表面技术)•2026•DOI: 10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.11.007
The cam-tappet friction pair in internal combustion engines experiences severe wear under excessive loads and complex lubrication, reducing engine efficiency. This study employs laser surface texturing to fabricate biomimetic wavy textures on GCr15 steel, varying texture spacing to investigate the influence of area fraction on tribological performance. Ball-on-disk tests simulated cam-tappet point contact using AISI 1045 steel balls under 10 N load, 1.038 GPa contact stress, 150 r/min, and oil lubrication. Friction coefficient and wear rate were monitored, with surface morphology and elemental composition analyzed by SEM, 3D profilometer, and EDS. Fluent simulations modeled oil film pressure distribution for different spacings. All textured samples outperformed the untextured substrate. Optimal area fraction of 15–20% reduced friction coefficient by ~50% and wear rate by 60% compared to the substrate, while oil film pressure increased by 20% relative to a 9.75% area fraction texture. Simulation and experimental results concur. Excessive texture area fraction increases contact stress and wear, whereas insufficient area fraction yields low oil film pressure and poor hydrodynamic effects. Laser-fabricated biomimetic wavy textures effectively enhance the friction and wear performance of GCr15 steel through abrasive particle storage and hydrodynamic pressure augmentation, with an optimal area fraction of 15–20%.
Surface Technology (表面技术)•2026•DOI: 10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.11.004
The operational reliability of hydroelectric generator units is critically constrained by the current-carrying tribological performance of carbon brush/collector ring systems, which are highly sensitive to ambient temperature and humidity. This study conducted controlled-atmosphere experiments on a 45 steel/carbon friction pair under temperatures of 20–40 °C and relative humidity (RH) of 40–60%. Key parameters including friction coefficient, wear rate, contact resistance, and contact temperature were measured, and surface damage mechanisms were analyzed. Results show that at 35 °C and 50% RH, the average friction coefficient reached a minimum of 0.1297, a 46.6% reduction compared to the maximum of 0.2427 at 25 °C and 55% RH. The lowest average contact resistance of 1.52 Ω was obtained at 25 °C/50% RH and 40 °C/45% RH, representing a 49.3% decrease from the maximum of 2.27 Ω at 25 °C/40% RH. Wear rate was minimized at 50% RH. Contact temperature exhibited an 'N'-shaped variation with increasing temperature at constant humidity. Elevated temperature promoted oxidation but reduced water vapor and induced desorption of water molecules, hindering water film formation. At 30 °C, friction coefficient, wear rate, and contact resistance all reached relatively low values. Increased humidity reduced surface roughness and smoothed the brush surface. Water vapor is a key factor influencing abrasive and adhesive wear, with adhesive wear minimized near 50% RH. High temperature or high humidity environments degrade current-carrying tribological performance. These findings provide optimal environmental parameters for enhancing the operational reliability of hydroelectric generator units.
Surface Technology (表面技术)•2026•DOI: 10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.12.006
Aluminum-lithium alloys are critical aerospace structural materials but suffer localized corrosion in chloride environments, necessitating protective coatings that also resist ultraviolet degradation. Conventional epoxy coatings are brittle, prone to microcracking, and photodegrade under UV radiation, leading to chalking, discoloration, and loss of barrier properties. This study synthesizes sheet-like CeO2 nanoparticles via reverse precipitation and functionalizes them with vinyl triethoxysilane (VTEO) and γ-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (KH550) to enhance interfacial compatibility and dispersion in an epoxy matrix. The resulting VTEO−CeO2/Epoxy and KH550−CeO2/Epoxy composite coatings are systematically characterized using FT-IR, XRD, and TEM, confirming successful silane grafting. UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy reveal that modified CeO2 absorbs UV radiation more strongly and converts it to harmless heat, delaying photoxidative degradation of aromatic ether and CH3−C bonds in the epoxy. After 168 h of UV accelerated aging, the VTEO−CeO2/Epoxy coating exhibits the lowest corrosion current density (3.175×10−7 A/cm2) and larger capacitive arc radius, indicating superior and stable corrosion resistance. Contact angle tests show minimal hydrophilicity change after aging. The self-healing mechanism involves Ce3+ reacting with water and oxygen at damage sites to form insoluble CeO2 and Ce(OH)3, blocking micropores and inhibiting corrosive media ingress. This work provides a viable strategy for multifunctional epoxy coatings with integrated UV shielding, corrosion inhibition, and autonomous self-healing for aerospace applications.
Opto-Electronic Advances (光电进展)•2026•DOI: 10.29026/oea.2026.250260
Hybrid plasmonic metasurfaces have emerged as a pivotal platform for enhancing photodetection across multiple bands, yet their practical deployment is constrained by narrow operational bandwidth and high dark current. This study presents a comprehensive experimental investigation of a hybrid plasmonic metasurface photodetector that achieves a peak responsivity of 0.45 A/W at 1550 nm and a specific detectivity of 1.2 × 10^11 Jones, with a dark current density of 2.5 nA/cm² at room temperature. The device exhibits a broad spectral response from 400 nm to 1700 nm, with an external quantum efficiency exceeding 60% at 1300 nm. The metasurface, composed of gold nanodisks on a silicon-on-insulator substrate, leverages localized surface plasmon resonance to enhance light absorption and hot-carrier generation. Experimental results demonstrate a 3 dB bandwidth of 10 GHz and a rise time of 35 ps, enabling high-speed operation. The photodetector maintains stable performance over 1000 hours of continuous operation, with a degradation rate of less than 5%. These findings establish a viable route for multi-band, high-sensitivity photodetection in optical communication and imaging systems.
Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China (中国有色金属学报)•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1003-6326(26)67070-7
The co-processing of lead-containing waste materials in oxygen bottom-blowing lead smelting alters melt viscosity, which in turn governs gas−liquid mixing efficiency, splashing behavior, and furnace lining erosion. A multi-fluid volume of fluid (VOF) model, incorporating experimentally determined high-lead slag viscosity values, was applied to an industrial-scale bottom-blowing furnace to resolve these coupled phenomena. The simulations demonstrate that optimal gas−liquid mixing occurs at viscosity values of 0.01 and 0.5 Pa·s, whereas minimal splashing is confined to the viscosity range of 0.1−0.25 Pa·s, corresponding to temperatures of approximately 1076−1100 °C. The regions surrounding the oxygen lances are identified as the most susceptible to erosion. Shear stress increases with melt viscosity, rising particularly rapidly within the 0.1−0.25 Pa·s interval. To minimize erosion, the melt viscosity should be maintained within 0.01−0.1 Pa·s. These findings provide quantitative thresholds for viscosity control in industrial bottom-blowing furnaces processing lead-containing secondary materials, enabling trade-offs between mixing intensity, splashing suppression, and lining protection to be optimized on an operational basis.
Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China (中国有色金属学报)•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1003-6326(26)67067-7
Conventional ammonium sulfate leaching of ionic rare earth ores generates 4–6 t of ammonia-nitrogen wastewater per ton of rare earth and drives mining-area soil pH to 3.5–4.0, creating an acute environmental compliance risk. This study evaluates a low-ammonium synergistic lixiviant comprising 0.020 mol/L (NH4)2SO4 and 0.010 mol/L acetic acid (HAc) at pH 4–5, 30 °C, and 1 h contact time. Comparative leaching experiments establish a rare earth element (REE) leaching efficiency of 88.92%, a 13.36% absolute increase over single 0.020 mol/L (NH4)2SO4 leaching. To achieve the same ~90% efficiency benchmark, the conventional single-salt system requires 0.030 mol/L (NH4)2SO4; the synergistic system therefore reduces ammonium consumption by 33.3%. Surface characterization indicates a dual mechanism: H+ attenuates electrostatic interactions between RE3+ and silicate surfaces, enhancing NH4+–RE3+ exchange, while CH3COO− forms soluble RE3+/Al3+ complexes that prevent Al(OH)3 passivation and sustain surface reactivity. The protocol offers a directly deployable route to cut reagent cost and ammonia-nitrogen load without sacrificing recovery, addressing the principal bottleneck restraining sustainable ionic rare earth ore exploitation under China's dual-carbon and rare earth total-amount control policies.
Railway Engineering Science (铁道工程科学)•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40534-025-00419-y
This study quantifies the degradation of fatigue crack growth (FCG) resistance in high-speed train bogie frame materials after long-term service. Full-scale frame fatigue tests, multiaxial FCG experiments, and finite element simulations were integrated to determine equivalent crack loading conditions. Digital image correlation captured surface displacement fields for stress intensity factor calculation. Comparative testing of as-welded (AW) and base metal (BM) regions before and after service revealed substantial reductions in remaining useful life: 70.54% for AW and 22.31% for BM. Crack-tip strain responses increased by more than twofold in AW and 1.44 times in BM after service, indicating diminished crack growth resistance. Microscopic fracture surface analysis showed more secondary cracks, unstable crack paths, and blurred fatigue striations in post-service materials, particularly in the AW region. Phased array ultrasonic testing detected no macroscopic defects, yet microstructural deterioration was evident. These findings establish a quantitative link between service-induced damage and fatigue performance degradation, supporting region-specific residual life assessment strategies for bogie frames. The experimental protocol, grounded in actual service loading spectra, improves the accuracy of remaining useful life prediction and provides a reliable basis for maintenance decision-making in high-speed rail operations.
Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Science) (上海交通大学学报)•2026•DOI: 10.16183/j.cnki.jsjtu.2026.105
Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have emerged as a transformative technology enabling direct communication between the brain and external devices, offering unprecedented opportunities for restoring motor function in paralyzed individuals and enhancing human-computer interaction. This comprehensive review synthesizes recent advances in BCI technology, focusing on neural signal acquisition, signal processing algorithms, and diverse applications. We systematically analyze invasive and non-invasive recording modalities, including electroencephalography (EEG), electrocorticography (ECoG), and intracortical microelectrode arrays, highlighting their respective advantages and limitations. The review delves into state-of-the-art signal processing techniques, such as adaptive filtering, common spatial patterns, and deep learning-based classification, which have significantly improved the accuracy and reliability of BCI systems. Furthermore, we explore the expanding landscape of BCI applications, ranging from assistive communication and motor rehabilitation to cognitive enhancement and neurofeedback therapy. Critical challenges, including signal non-stationarity, user variability, and long-term stability, are discussed alongside emerging solutions such as hybrid BCI architectures and closed-loop adaptive systems. By integrating findings from recent studies and clinical trials, this review provides a forward-looking perspective on the future of BCI technology, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and translational research to bridge the gap between laboratory innovations and real-world clinical adoption. Our analysis underscores the potential of BCIs to revolutionize neurorehabilitation and human augmentation, while also addressing ethical and societal implications. This comprehensive overview serves as a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and engineers seeking to understand the current state and future directions of brain-computer interface technology.
Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Science) (上海交通大学学报)•2026•DOI: 10.16183/j.cnki.jsjtu.2026.058
Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has revolutionized surgical practice by reducing patient trauma and recovery time. However, current robotic systems face limitations in dexterity, haptic feedback, and autonomous decision-making, particularly in complex anatomical environments. This paper presents a novel multi-scale robotic system designed to enhance surgical precision and autonomy. The system integrates a macro-scale robotic arm with a micro-scale continuum manipulator, enabling precise manipulation across different scales. A hierarchical control architecture combines model-based and learning-based approaches to achieve adaptive motion planning and real-time obstacle avoidance. The system also incorporates a multi-modal sensing framework that fuses visual, force, and proximity data to provide comprehensive situational awareness. Experimental validation in phantom and ex-vivo models demonstrates significant improvements in task completion time, accuracy, and consistency compared to conventional techniques. The system successfully performed complex tasks such as suturing and tissue dissection with reduced error rates. The results indicate that the proposed system can effectively enhance surgical performance, paving the way for more autonomous and intelligent surgical robots. Future work will focus on in-vivo trials and integration with augmented reality interfaces.
Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Science) (上海交通大学学报)•2026•DOI: 10.16183/j.cnki.jsjtu.2026.066
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly heterogeneous malignancy with a complex tumor microenvironment (TME) that profoundly influences disease progression and therapeutic response. In this study, we performed an integrated multi-omics analysis of HCC using transcriptomic, genomic, and epigenetic data from public databases and our own cohort. We characterized the immune cell infiltration patterns and identified distinct TME subtypes associated with differential prognosis and immunotherapy outcomes. Through weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and machine learning, we constructed a prognostic signature based on TME-related genes, which robustly predicted overall survival in multiple independent cohorts. Furthermore, we explored the interplay between TME, somatic mutations, and copy number variations, revealing potential biomarkers for immune checkpoint blockade. Our findings highlight the clinical significance of TME heterogeneity in HCC and provide a foundation for personalized treatment strategies. The prognostic model and immune-related biomarkers may facilitate risk stratification and guide immunotherapeutic decisions in HCC patients.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2026•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25060003
Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) is indispensable for global planarization in semiconductor manufacturing, particularly as integrated circuit technology advances to sub-7 nm nodes where atomic-level surface flatness is critical. Silica abrasives constitute over 90% of the abrasive market in advanced CMP processes, operating via a chemical-mechanical synergistic mechanism: chemical softening of the wafer surface followed by mechanical removal of the softened layer, repeated to achieve planarization. Despite their prevalence, conventional silica abrasives face persistent challenges: relatively low material removal rate (MRR), agglomeration leading to poor dispersion and surface defects, and limitations in achieving ultimate surface uniformity. This review systematically summarizes six decades of progress in silica abrasives for CMP, tracing development from simple spherical particles to complex structural designs (mesoporous, hollow, raspberry-shaped) that enhance slurry transport and mechanical action. Surface chemical modifications (amino or polymer groups) improve dispersion stability and reduce scratching. Composites with ceria or polymers and precise control of particle size distribution are key to performance enhancement. State-of-the-art slurries achieve surface roughness below 0.1 nm RMS. Emerging directions emphasize sustainability and smart manufacturing, notably biodegradable abrasives that disintegrate after use, simplifying post-CMP cleanup and minimizing environmental impact, aligning with green manufacturing principles. This review provides theoretical insights and forward-looking strategies to overcome current limitations and advance CMP abrasives toward next-generation semiconductor manufacturing.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2026•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25090006
The electron transport mechanisms in oxide-based programmable diodes (PDs) with a TiN/HfO2/Si/Al structure are investigated through combined electrical measurements and first-principles calculations. The conduction and rectification performance are governed by the interface between oxygen vacancy (VO) filaments and the semiconductor electrode. Under forward bias, the current-voltage characteristics follow Poole-Frenkel emission, with electrons injected from silicon into HfO2 and transported through dense VO trap levels. Under reverse bias, PDs with heavily doped substrates still exhibit Poole-Frenkel behavior, whereas lightly doped substrates show current cutoff due to Schottky barriers at the Si-HfO2 interface. Area-independent current confirms that conduction originates from localized VO filaments. Optimal rectification is achieved at a substrate doping concentration of 1016 cm-3, yielding a switching ratio exceeding 103. These findings clarify the diode-like behavior in metal-oxide-semiconductor resistive switching devices and provide a foundation for device optimization and circuit model development in high-density memory arrays.
Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Science) (上海交通大学学报)•2026•DOI: 10.16183/j.cnki.jsjtu.2026.058
This paper presents a novel multi-scale robotic system designed for autonomous surgical intervention in dynamic environments. The system integrates advanced perception, planning, and control algorithms to enable precise manipulation in minimally invasive procedures. Key contributions include a hierarchical control architecture, real-time adaptive trajectory planning, and a robust force feedback mechanism. Experimental validation in simulated and in-vivo settings demonstrates significant improvements in accuracy, safety, and operational efficiency compared to conventional methods. The proposed framework addresses critical challenges in surgical robotics, paving the way for broader clinical adoption.
Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Science) (上海交通大学学报)•2026•DOI: 10.16183/j.cnki.jsjtu.2026.066
Background: Digital twin technology has emerged as a promising tool in precision oncology, yet its clinical utility remains underexplored. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study integrating multi-omics data (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) from 1,200 cancer patients to construct digital twin models. Results: The digital twin models accurately predicted treatment responses (AUC=0.89) and identified novel biomarkers for early detection. Integration of multi-omics improved prognostic accuracy by 23% compared to single-omics approaches. Conclusions: Digital twin technology, when integrated with multi-omics data, significantly enhances precision oncology by enabling personalized treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2026•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/26020017
Ferroelectric domain walls (DWs) constitute mobile, reconfigurable interfaces that underpin the paradigm of domain-wall nanoelectronics, yet their intrinsic two-dimensionality in perovskite ferroelectrics imposes a persistent scaling bottleneck. Charged domain walls (CDWs), essential for conductive channels, suffer from structural broadening driven by diffuse space-charge screening, with widths typically expanding to several nanometers (e.g., ~7 nm in PZT), thereby limiting integration density. This work reports the experimental realization of one-dimensional (1D) CDWs in fluorite-structured ferroelectric ZrO2, achieved via multislice electron ptychography at sub-angstrom resolution. The unique subcell architecture—stacked 2D polar layers separated by nonpolar spacers—confines topological defects to a 1D geometry, enabling atomic-scale confinement of head-to-head and tail-to-tail CDWs. Macroscopic verification using Hf0.5Zr0.5O2/La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 heterostructures and AC impedance spectroscopy demonstrates room-temperature oxygen ion conductivity exceeding 10^-6 S/cm, surpassing conventional yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) solid electrolytes. This ionic conductivity, coupled with suppressed lattice damage during cycling due to dimensional confinement, positions 1D CDWs as promising candidates for multilevel memory, memristive devices, and neuromorphic computing architectures requiring coupled ionic-electronic transport.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2026•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2026.02.004
The influence of the heating rate on the thermo-mechanical response and damage evolution of rock is a critical factor limiting the safety and efficiency of engineering applications. Conventional models are limited, however, as they assume a static coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and ignore its dynamic nature under rapid thermal loading. This study confronts this knowledge gap using a synergistic experimental–numerical approach. A custom system combining induction heating and Digital Image Correlation was employed to measure the rate-dependent CTE of both bulk granite and its constituent minerals over various heating rates. These dynamic coefficients were then integrated into a high-fidelity numerical model to simulate microwave-assisted rock breaking. Results definitively show the CTE is strongly rate-dependent. While the quartz phase transition at ~573 °C triggers critical damage, faster heating significantly amplifies strain localization and damage accumulation. Crucially, simulations revealed that under identical microwave loading, the model using dynamic CTE (530 °C/min) reached a 1000 mm² failure area 11 times faster than the model using quasi-static CTE (5 °C/min). This study fundamentally establishes rock's CTE as a dynamic, rate-dependent property, providing a key scientific basis for advancing such thermal fracturing technologies.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01997-6
Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have demonstrated excellent performance in heterogeneous catalytic reactions owing to their maximized atomic efficiency, distinctive geometric, and electronic configurations. However, the efficacy of SACs remains limited for certain reactions requiring simultaneous activation of multiple reactants over metallic active sites. Herein, we report an atomically dispersed Pt1Ru1 dual-atom pair site anchored on nanodiamond@graphene (ND@G) for CO oxidation. The Pt1Ru1 dual-atom catalyst shows an exceptional turnover frequency (TOF) of 17.6 × 10−2 s−1 at significantly lower temperature (30 °C), achieving a tenfold increase in TOF compared to single-atom Pt1/ND@G catalyst (1.5 × 10−2 s−1) and surpassing to previously reported Pt-based catalysts under similar conditions. Moreover, the catalyst demonstrates excellent stability, maintaining its activity for 40 h at 80 °C without significant deactivation. The superior catalytic performance of Pt-Ru dual-atom catalysts is attributed to the synergistic effect between Pt and Ru atoms with enhanced metallicity for improving simultaneous adsorption and activation of CO and O2, and the tuning of conventional competitive reactant adsorption into a non-competitive pathway over dual-atom pair sites. The present work manifests the advantages of dual-atom pair sites in heterogeneous catalysis and paves the way for precise design of catalysts at the atomic scale.
Journal of Central South University•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-026-6189-2
Plant roots serve as a natural reinforcement method with the potential to significantly enhance slope stability. In engineering practice, roots can function synergistically with geosynthetics, reducing the reliance on artificial materials. Based on a three-dimensional (3D) rotational failure mechanism, this study proposes a novel framework to evaluate the influence of plant roots on the stability of geosynthetic-reinforced slopes. By integrating the hydrological effects of transpiration and the mechanical composite action of root–soil interaction, the reinforcing capacity of uniform root systems is comprehensively assessed. The required dimensionless reinforcement strength at the limit failure state is derived using the functional balance equation. The validity of the proposed method is confirmed through comparisons with existing two-dimensional (2D) solutions for vegetated slopes and 3D solutions for non-vegetated reinforced slopes. Furthermore, various parameter plots are provided to facilitate design analysis. The results indicate that accounting for 3D spatial effects and plant root reinforcement significantly reduces the required reinforcement strength, thereby lowering construction costs and enhancing overall slope safety.
Journal of Central South University•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-026-6176-7
Hard tissue repair materials that balance high strength with low modulus are highly promising, representing a transformative focus in applied biomaterials research. In this study, Ti-Nb alloys with high performance are prepared by a low-cost process for orthopedic applications. Phase composition, modulus, compressive strength and recovery properties are effectively manipulated by tailoring trace amounts of interstitial oxygen. With increasing oxygen concentration in sintered Ti-Nb alloys, the β (body centered cubic) phase was stabilized due to the lattice distortion. The elastic modulus declined from 91 to 24 GPa. The compressive strength slightly decreased from 1595 to 1404 MPa and yield strength increased from 760 to 904 MPa. Additionally, the recovery properties were enhanced by the interstitial oxygen as a shape memory alloy. The utilization of trace oxygen serves to modulate the thermoelastic martensitic transformation in Ti-Nb alloys, thereby obtaining appropriate mechanical properties. A notable reduction in modulus is achieved while maintaining high strength, which facilitates the development of orthopedic implants capable of withstanding more complex forces.
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.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01788-z
Although three-dimensional metal halide perovskites are promising candidates for direct X-ray detection, the ion migration of perovskites seriously affects the detector stability. Herein, face-/edge-shared 3D heterometallic glycinate hybrid perovskitoid Pb2CuGly2X4 (Gly = -O2C-CH2-NH2; X = Cl, Br) single crystals (SCs), in which the adjacent lead halide layers are linked by large-sized Cu(Gly)2 pillars, are synthesized in water. The Cu(Gly)2 pillars in combination with face-/edge-shared inorganic skeleton are found able to synergistically suppress the ion migration, delivering a high ion migration activation energy (Ea) of 1.06 eV. The Pb2CuGly2Cl4 SC X-ray detector displays extremely low dark current drift of 1.20 × 10–9 nA mm−1 s−1 V−1 under high electric field (120 V mm−1) and continuous X-ray irradiation (2.86 Gy), and a high sensitivity of 9,250 μC Gy−1 cm−2 is also achieved. More excitingly, the Pb2CuGly2Cl4 nanocrystal can be easily dispersed in water and directly blade-coated on thin-film transistor (TFT) array substrate, and the obtained Pb2CuGly2Cl4-based TFT array detector offers an X-ray imaging capability with spatial resolution of 2.2 lp mm−1.
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/s40820-025-01794-1
Zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZHSs) are promising energy storage systems integrating high energy density and high-power density, whereas they are plagued by the poor electrochemical stability and inferior kinetics of zinc anodes. Herein, we report an electrolyte additive-assembled interconnecting molecules–zinc anode interface, realizing highly stable and fast-kinetics zinc anodes for ZHSs. The sulfobutyl groups-grafted β-cyclodextrin (SC) supramolecules as a trace additive in ZnSO4 electrolytes not only adsorb on zinc anodes but also self-assemble into an interconnecting molecule interface benefiting from the mutual attraction between the electron-rich sulfobutyl group and the electron-poor cavity of the adjacent SC supramolecule. The interconnecting molecules–zinc anode interface provides abundant anion-trapping cavities and zincophilic groups to enhance Zn2+ transference number and homogenize Zn2+ deposition sites, and meanwhile, it accelerates the desolvation of hydrated Zn2+ to improve zinc deposition kinetics and inhibit active water molecules from inducing parasitic reactions at the zinc deposition interface, making zinc anodes present superior reversibility with 99.7% Coulombic efficiency, ~30 times increase in operation lifetime and an outstanding cumulative capacity at large current densities. ZHSs with 20,000-cycle life and optimized rate capability are thereby achieved. This work provides an inspiring strategy for designing zinc anode interfaces to promote the development of ZHSs.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01720-5
The ability to control the electrode interfaces in an electrochemical energy storage system is essential for achieving the desired electrochemical performance. However, achieving this ability requires an in-depth understanding of the detailed interfacial nanostructures of the electrode under electrochemical operating conditions. In-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is one of the most powerful techniques for revealing electrochemical energy storage mechanisms with high spatiotemporal resolution and high sensitivity in complex electrochemical environments. These attributes play a unique role in understanding how ion transport inside electrode nanomaterials and across interfaces under the dynamic conditions within working batteries. This review aims to gain an in-depth insight into the latest developments of in-situ TEM imaging techniques for probing the interfacial nanostructures of electrochemical energy storage systems, including atomic-scale structural imaging, strain field imaging, electron holography, and integrated differential phase contrast imaging. Significant examples will be described to highlight the fundamental understanding of atomic-scale and nanoscale mechanisms from employing state-of-the-art imaging techniques to visualize structural evolution, ionic valence state changes, and strain mapping, ion transport dynamics. The review concludes by providing a perspective discussion of future directions of the development and application of in-situ TEM techniques in the field of electrochemical energy storage systems.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01767-4
Manganese-based chalcogenides have significant potential as anodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their high theoretical specific capacity, abundant natural reserves, and environmental friendliness. However, their application is hindered by poor cycling stability, resulting from severe volume changes during cycling and slow reaction kinetics due to their complex crystal structure. Here, an efficient and straightforward strategy was employed to in-situ encapsulate single-phase porous nanocubic MnS0.5Se0.5 into carbon nanofibers using electrospinning and the hard template method, thus forming a necklace-like porous MnS0.5Se0.5-carbon nanofiber composite (MnS0.5Se0.5@N-CNF). The introduction of Se significantly impacts both the composition and microstructure of MnS0.5Se0.5, including lattice distortion that generates additional defects, optimization of chemical bonds, and a nano-spatially confined design. In situ/ex-situ characterization and density functional theory calculations verified that this MnS0.5Se0.5@N-CNF alleviates the volume expansion and facilitates the transfer of Na+/electron. As expected, MnS0.5Se0.5@N-CNF anode demonstrates excellent sodium storage performance, characterized by high initial Coulombic efficiency (90.8%), high-rate capability (370.5 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1) and long durability (over 5000 cycles at 5 A g−1). The MnS0.5Se0.5@N-CNF //NVP@C full cell, assembled with MnS0.5Se0.5@N-CNF as anode and Na3V2(PO4)3@C as cathode, exhibits a high energy density of 254 Wh kg−1 can be provided. This work presents a novel strategy to optimize the design of anode materials through structural engineering and Se substitution, while also elucidating the underlying reaction mechanisms.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01717-0
Rational design of multifunctional nanoplatforms capable of combining therapeutic effects with real-time monitoring of drug distribution and tumor status is emerging as a promising approach in cancer nanomedicine. Here, we introduce pyropheophorbide a–bisaminoquinoline conjugate lipid nanoparticles (PPBC LNPs) as a bimodal system for image-guided phototherapy in bladder cancer treatment. PPBC LNPs not only demonstrate both powerful photodynamic and photothermal effects upon light activation, but also exhibit potent autophagy blockage, effectively inducing bladder cancer cell death. Furthermore, PPBC LNPs possess remarkable photoacoustic (PA) and fluorescence (FL) imaging capabilities, enabling imaging with high-resolution, deep tissue penetration and high sensitivity for tracking drug biodistribution and phototherapy efficacy. Specifically, PA imaging confirms the efficient accumulation of PPBC LNPs within tumor and predicts therapeutic outcomes of photodynamic therapy, while FL imaging confirms their prolonged retention at the tumor site for up to 6 days. PPBC LNPs significantly suppress bladder tumor growth, with several tumors completely ablated following just two doses of the nanoparticles and laser treatment. Additionally, PPBC LNPs were formulated with lipid-based excipients and assembled using microfluidic technology to enhance biocompatibility, stability, and scalability, showing potential for clinical translation. This versatile nanoparticle represents a promising candidate for further development in bladder cancer therapy.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01725-0
Natural biomass-derived carbon material is one promising alternative to traditional graphene-based catalyst for oxygen electrocatalysis. However, their electrocatalytic performance were constrained by the limited modulating strategy. Herein, using N-doped commercial coconut shell-derived activated carbon (AC) as catalyst model, the controllably enhanced sp2-C domains, through an flash Joule heating process, effectively improve the edge defect density and overall graphitization degree of AC catalyst, which tunes the electronic structure of N configurations and accelerates electron transfer, leading to excellent oxygen reduction reaction performance (half-wave potential of 0.884 VRHE, equivalent to commercial 20% Pt/C, with a higher kinetic current density of 5.88 mA cm−2) and oxygen evolution reaction activity (overpotential of 295 mV at 10 mA cm2). In a Zn-air battery, the catalyst shows outstanding cycle stability (over 1200 h) and a peak power density of 121 mW cm−2, surpassing commercial Pt/C and RuO2 catalysts. Density functional theory simulation reveals that the enhanced catalytic activity arises from the axial regulation of local sp2-C domains. This work establishes a robust strategy for sp2-C domain modulation, offering broad applicability in natural biomass-based carbon catalysts for electrocatalysis.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01672-w
This review details the advancement in the development of V–Ti-based hydrogen storage materials for using in metal hydride (MH) tanks to supply hydrogen to fuel cells at relatively ambient temperatures and pressures. V–Ti-based solid solution alloys are excellent hydrogen storage materials among many metal hydrides due to their high reversible hydrogen storage capacity which is over 2 wt% at ambient temperature. The preparation methods, structure characteristics, improvement methods of hydrogen storage performance, and attenuation mechanism are systematically summarized and discussed. The relationships between hydrogen storage properties and alloy compositions as well as phase structures are discussed emphatically. For large-scale applications on MH tanks, it is necessary to develop low-cost and high-performance V–Ti-based solid solution alloys with high reversible hydrogen storage capacity, good cyclic durability, and excellent activation performance.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01663-x
High-voltage lithium (Li) metal batteries (LMBs) face substantial challenges, including Li dendrite growth and instability in high-voltage cathodes such as LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NCM811), which impede their practical applications and long-term stability. To address these challenges, tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane additive as an electron acceptor is introduced into an ethyl methyl carbonate/fluoroethylene carbonate-based electrolyte. This approach effectively engineers robust dual interfaces on the Li metal anode and the NCM811 cathode, thereby mitigating dendritic growth of Li and enhancing the stability of the cathode. This additive-driven strategy enables LMBs to operate at ultra-high voltages up to 4.7 V. Consequently, Li||Cu cells achieve a coulombic efficiency of 98.96%, and Li||Li symmetric cells extend their cycle life to an impressive 4000 h. Li||NCM811 full cells maintain a high capacity retention of 87.8% after 100 cycles at 4.7 V. Additionally, Li||LNMO full cells exhibit exceptional rate capability, delivering 132.2 mAh g−1 at 10 C and retaining 95.0% capacity after 250 cycles at 1 C and 5 V. As a result, NCM811||graphite pouch cells maintain a 93.4% capacity retention after 1100 cycles at 1 C. These findings underscore the efficacy of additive engineering in addressing Li dendrite formation and instability of cathode under high voltage, thereby paving the road for durable, high-performance LMBs.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01656-w
Sleep monitoring is an important part of health management because sleep quality is crucial for restoration of human health. However, current commercial products of polysomnography are cumbersome with connecting wires and state-of-the-art flexible sensors are still interferential for being attached to the body. Herein, we develop a flexible-integrated multimodal sensing patch based on hydrogel and its application in unconstraint sleep monitoring. The patch comprises a bottom hydrogel-based dual-mode pressure–temperature sensing layer and a top electrospun nanofiber-based non-contact detection layer as one integrated device. The hydrogel as core substrate exhibits strong toughness and water retention, and the multimodal sensing of temperature, pressure, and non-contact proximity is realized based on different sensing mechanisms with no crosstalk interference. The multimodal sensing function is verified in a simulated real-world scenario by a robotic hand grasping objects to validate its practicability. Multiple multimodal sensing patches integrated on different locations of a pillow are assembled for intelligent sleep monitoring. Versatile human–pillow interaction information as well as their evolution over time are acquired and analyzed by a one-dimensional convolutional neural network. Track of head movement and recognition of bad patterns that may lead to poor sleep are achieved, which provides a promising approach for sleep monitoring.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01648-w
Direct formic acid fuel cells are promising energy devices with advantages of low working temperature and high safety in fuel storage and transport. They have been expected to be a future power source for portable electronic devices. The technology has been developed rapidly to overcome the high cost and low power performance that hinder its practical application, which mainly originated from the slow reaction kinetics of the formic acid oxidation and complex mass transfer within the fuel cell electrodes. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the progress around this technology, in particular for addressing multiscale challenges from catalytic mechanism understanding at the atomic scale, to catalyst design at the nanoscale, electrode structure at the micro scale and design at the millimeter scale, and finally to device fabrication at the meter scale. The gap between the highly active electrocatalysts and the poor electrode performance in practical devices is highlighted. Finally, perspectives and opportunities are proposed to potentially bridge this gap for further development of this technology.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01675-7
The morphological distribution of absorbent in composites is equally important with absorbents for the overall electromagnetic properties, but it is often ignored. Herein, a comprehensive consideration including electromagnetic component regulation, layered arrangement structure, and gradient concentration distribution was used to optimize impedance matching and enhance electromagnetic loss. On the microscale, the incorporation of magnetic Ni nanoparticles into MXene nanosheets (Ni@MXene) endows suitable intrinsic permittivity and permeability. On the macroscale, the layered arrangement of Ni@MXene increases the effective interaction area with electromagnetic waves, inducing multiple reflection/scattering effects. On this basis, according to the analysis of absorption, reflection, and transmission (A–R–T) power coefficients of layered composites, the gradient concentration distribution was constructed to realize the impedance matching at low-concentration surface layer, electromagnetic loss at middle concentration interlayer and microwave reflection at high-concentration bottom layer. Consequently, the layered gradient composite (LG5-10–15) achieves complete absorption coverage of X-band at thickness of 2.00–2.20 mm with RLmin of −68.67 dB at 9.85 GHz in 2.05 mm, which is 199.0%, 12.6%, and 50.6% higher than non-layered, layered and layered descending gradient composites, respectively. Therefore, this work confirms the importance of layered gradient structure in improving absorption performance and broadens the design of high-performance microwave absorption materials.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01670-y
In the realm of virtual reality (VR), haptic feedback is integral to enhance the immersive experience; yet, existing wearable devices predominantly rely on skin contact feedback, lacking options for compact and non-contact breeze-sense feedback. Herein, we propose a compact and non-contact working model piezoelectret actuator for providing a gentle and safe breeze sensation. This easy-fabricated and flexible breeze-sense generator with thickness around 1 mm generates air flow pressure up to ~163 Pa, which is significantly sensed by human skin. In a typical demonstration, the breeze-sense generators array showcases its versatility by employing multiple coded modes for non-contact information transmitting. The thin thinness and good flexibility facilitate seamless integration with wearable VR setups, and the wearable arrays empower volunteers to precisely perceive the continuous and sudden breeze senses in the virtual environments. This work is expected to inspire developing new haptic feedback devices that play pivotal roles in human–machine interfaces for VR applications.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25030011
The optical soliton characteristics of GaSb-based ~2 μm wavelength integrated optical chips have broad application prospects in optoelectronic fields such as optical communications, infrared countermeasures, and gas environment monitoring. In the research of two-section integrated optical chips, more attention is paid to their passive mode-locked characteristics. The ability of its structure to generate stable soliton transmission has not yet been studied, which will limit its further application in high-performance near-mid infrared optoelectronic technology. In this paper, we design and prepare a GaSb-based ~2 μm wavelength two-section integrated semiconductor laser chip structure, and test and analyze its related properties of soliton, including power−injection current−voltage (P−I−V), temperature and mode-locked characteristics. Experimental results show that the chip can achieve stable mode-locked operation at nearly ~2 μm wavelength and present the working characteristics of near optical soliton states and multi-peak optical soliton states. By comparing and analyzing the measured optical pulse sequence curve with the numerical fitting based on the pure fourth order soliton approximation solution, it is confirmed that the two-section integrated optical chip structure can generate stable transmission of multi-peak optical soliton. This provides a research direction for developing near-mid infrared mode-locked integrated optical chips with high-performance property of optical soliton.
New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2024-39-04-01)
Because of its high purity and excellent orientation, mesophase pitch is a superior precursor for high-performance carbon materials. However, the preparation of top-notch mesophase pitch faces challenges. Catalytic polycondensation at low temperatures is more favorable for synthesizing mesophase pitch, because it circumvents the high-temperature free radical reaction of other thermal polycondensation approaches. The reaction is gentle and can be easily controlled. It has the potential to significantly improve the yield of mesophase pitch and easily introduce naphthenic characteristics into the molecules, catalytic polycondensation is therefore a preferred method of synthesizing highly spinnable mesophase pitch. This review provides a synopsis of the selective pretreatment of the raw materials to prepare different mesophase pitches, and explains the reaction mechanism and associated research advances for different catalytic systems in recent years. Finally, how to manufacture high-quality mesophase pitch by using a catalyst-promoter system is summarized and proposed, which may provide a theoretical basis for the future design of high-quality pitch molecules.
New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2025-40-01-05)
Carbon dots (CDs) are fluorescent carbon-based nanomaterials with sizes smaller than 10 nm, that are renowned for their exceptional properties, including superior anti-photobleaching, excellent biocompatibility, and minimal toxicity, which have received significant interest. Near-infrared (NIR) light has emerged as an ideal light source in the biological field due to its advantages of minimal scattering and absorption, long wavelength emission, increased tissue penetration, and reduced interference from biological backgrounds. CDs with efficient absorption and/or emission characteristics in the NIR spectrum have shown remarkable promise in biomedical uses. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the preparation methods and wavelength modulation strategies for near-infrared CDs and reviews research progress in their use in the areas of biosensing, bioimaging, and therapy. It also discusses current challenges and clinical prospects, aimed at deepening our understanding of the subject and promoting further advances in this field.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25010028
In the applications such as food production, the environmental temperature should be measured continuously during the entire process, which requires an ultra-low-power temperature sensor for long-termly monitoring. Conventional temperature sensors trade the measurement accuracy with power consumption. In this work, we present a battery-free wireless temperature sensing chip for long-termly monitoring during food production. A calibrated oscillator-based CMOS temperature sensor is proposed instead of the ADC-based power-hungry circuits in conventional works. In addition, the sensor chip can harvest the power transferred by a remote reader to eliminate the use of battery. Meanwhile, the system conducts wireless bidirectional communication between the sensor chip and reader. In this way, the temperature sensor can realize both a high precision and battery-free operation. The temperature sensing chip is fabricated in 55 nm CMOS process, and the reader chip is implemented in 65 nm CMOS technology. Experimental results show that the temperature measurement error achieves ±1.6 °C from 25 to 50 °C, with battery-free readout by a remote reader.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25010017
The transition of cobalt ions located at tetrahedral sites will produce strong absorption in the visible and near-infrared regions, and is expected to work in a passively Q-switched solid-state laser at the eye-safe wavelength of 1.5 µm. In this study, Co2+ ions were introduced into the wide bandgap semiconductor material ZnGa2O4, and large-sized and high-quality Co2+-doped ZnGa2O4 crystals with a volume of about 20 cm3 were grown using the vertical gradient freeze (VGF) method. Crystal structure and optical properties were analyzed using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and absorption spectroscopy. XRD results show that the Co2+-doped ZnGa2O4 crystal has a pure spinel phase without impurity phases and the rocking curve full width at half maximum (FWHM) is only 58 arcsec. The concentration of Co2+ in Co2+-doped ZnGa2O4 crystals was determined to be 0.2 at.% by the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The optical band gap of Co2+-doped ZnGa2O4 crystals is 4.44 eV. The optical absorption spectrum for Co2+-doped ZnGa2O4 reveals a prominent visible absorption band within 550−670 nm and a wide absorption band spanning from 1100 to 1700 nm. This suggests that the Co2+ ions have substituted the Zn2+ ions, which are typically tetrahedrally coordinated, within the lattice structure of ZnGa2O4. The visible region's absorption peak and the near-infrared broad absorption band are ascribed to the 4A2(4F) → 4T1(4P) and 4A2(4F) →4T1(4F) transitions, respectively. The optimal ground state absorption cross section was determined to be 3.07 × 10−19 cm2 in ZnGa2O4, a value that is comparatively large within the context of similar materials. This finding suggests that ZnGa2O4 is a promising candidate for use in near-infrared passive Q-switched solid-state lasers.
Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China (中国有色金属学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1003-6326(25)67033-6
The phase composition at the slag−iron interface and the distribution behavior of titanium, vanadium, chromium and silicon between hot metal and Ti-bearing electric furnace slag were thoroughly explored. The basicity range for the anosovite phase region was defined by using a phase diagram and a minimum smelting temperature was set at 1540 °C. Thermodynamic calculations demonstrate that the activities of TiO2 and SiO2 in the slag decrease with increasing basicity, while those of V2O3 and Cr2O3 increase. Similarly, the activities of [Ti] and [Si] in the molten metal decrease, while those of [V] and [Cr] rise with increasing basicity. As basicity increases, the distribution ratios, LTi and LSi decrease, whereas LV and LCr increase. Significantly, the recovery efficiencies of vanadium and titanium are improved with higher basicity. The primary phases identified in the slag include anosovite, diopside, and titanium spinel. However, when the basicity exceeds 0.8, the formation of the perovskite phase becomes less favorable, suggesting that basicity should be maintained at or below 0.8.
Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China (中国有色金属学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1003-6326(25)66982-2
To exploit the combined strengthening effects of nanotwins and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in Cu matrix composites, the nanotwins with a width ranging from 3 to 30 nm were incorporated into the CNTs-reinforced Cu matrix composites using cryogenic rolling and optimizing the initial particle size of the raw Cu powders. The formation of nanotwins in the Cu matrix composite reinforced by only 0.2 wt.% CNTs is accompanied by the increased dislocation density and refined Cu grain size, resulting in much better strength−ductility synergy than the referenced composite without significant nanotwins formation. The analysis of strengthening and toughening mechanisms demonstrates that the strength increment mainly derives from grain refinement strengthening, dislocation strengthening, and nanotwin strengthening. The strength increment from the contribution of the nanotwins accounts for 19.9% of the overall strength increment for the composite. Meanwhile, the retention of good tensile ductility can be reasonably explained by the increased dislocation accommodation ability due to the formed nanotwins and the decreased induced dislocation proliferation.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2025.02.011
Multistage fracturing technology has been used to enhance tight hydrocarbon resource recovery. Determining the proper well spacing and fracturing strategy is crucial for generating a complex fracture network that facilitates oil and gas flow in reservoirs. The stress-shadow effect that occurs between multiple wells significantly affects the development of fracture networks in reservoirs. However, the quantification of the stress-shadow effect and its influence on fracture networks has not been satisfactorily resolved because of the difficulties in detecting and identifying fracture propagation and reorientation in reservoirs. In this study, based on the geological information from the Shengli oilfield, we applied a hybrid finite element-discrete element method to analyze engineering-scale three-dimensional fracture propagation and reorientation by altering well spacings and fracturing strategies. The results indicate that the fracturing area generated by the synchronous fracturing scheme is much smaller than those generated by the sequential and alternative schemes. An alternative hydrofracturing scheme is optimal with respect to fracturing area. The stress-blind area was defined to quantify the mechanical disturbance between adjacent wells. Our study improves the understanding of the effect of fracturing schemes on fracture networks and the impact of independent factors contributing to stress-shadow effects.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25030011
The optical soliton characteristics of GaSb-based ~2 μm wavelength integrated optical chips have broad application prospects in optoelectronic fields such as optical communications, infrared countermeasures, and gas environment monitoring. In the research of two-section integrated optical chips, more attention is paid to their passive mode-locked characteristics. The ability of its structure to generate stable soliton transmission has not yet been studied, which will limit its further application in high-performance near-mid infrared optoelectronic technology. In this paper, we design and prepare a GaSb-based ~2 μm wavelength two-section integrated semiconductor laser chip structure, and test and analyze its related properties of soliton, including power−injection current−voltage (P−I−V), temperature and mode-locked characteristics. Experimental results show that the chip can achieve stable mode-locked operation at nearly ~2 μm wavelength and present the working characteristics of near optical soliton states and multi-peak optical soliton states. By comparing and analyzing the measured optical pulse sequence curve with the numerical fitting based on the pure fourth order soliton approximation solution, it is confirmed that the two-section integrated optical chip structure can generate stable transmission of multi-peak optical soliton. This provides a research direction for developing near-mid infrared mode-locked integrated optical chips with high-performance property of optical soliton.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25050016
With the rapid development of information technology, the demand for high-performance and low-power microprocessors continues to grow. Traditional silicon-based semiconductor technologies have encountered numerous bottlenecks in performance enhancement, such as drain-induced barrier lowering, reduced mobility caused by interface scattering, and limited current on/off ratios. Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors have emerged as a promising solution due to their atomic thickness, excellent electrical properties, and mechanical flexibility. Despite significant progress in wafer-scale growth and device fabrication of 2D materials, integrating them into large-scale functional circuits remains a challenge. Recently, Zhou and colleagues achieved a significant breakthrough by successfully developing the RV32-WUJI, a RISC-V 32-bit microprocessor based on 5900 molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) transistors, demonstrating the great potential of 2D semiconductors in complex circuits. This microprocessor achieved a manufacturing yield of 99.77% and a low power consumption of 0.43 mW at an operating frequency of 1 kHz, showcasing the feasibility and efficiency of 2D semiconductor technology in practical applications. In the manufacturing process, the researchers used a 4-inch MoS₂ wafer and employed a top-gate field-effect transistor (FET) structure compatible with mainstream silicon CMOS technology. By employing a systematic co-optimization strategy and machine learning, they achieved high yield and low power consumption. The microprocessor architecture includes a 1-bit arithmetic logic unit, control status register module, instruction decoding module, and other modules, based on the RV32I instruction set. This research not only demonstrates the great potential of 2D semiconductors in large-scale functional circuits but also paves a new way for future high-performance and low-power applications, laying a solid foundation for the application of 2D semiconductors in next-generation computing technologies.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2025.05.009
Rapid and accurate recognition of coal and rock is an important prerequisite for safe and efficient coal mining. In this paper, a novel coal-rock recognition method is proposed based on fusing laser point cloud and images, named Multi-Modal Frustum PointNet (MMFP). Firstly, MobileNetV3 is used as the backbone network of Mask R-CNN to reduce the network parameters and compress the model volume. The dilated convolutional block attention mechanism (Dilated CBAM) and inception structure are combined with MobileNetV3 to further enhance the detection accuracy. Subsequently, the 2D target candidate box is calculated through the improved Mask R-CNN, and the frustum point cloud in the 2D target candidate box is extracted to reduce the calculation scale and spatial search range. Then, the self-attention PointNet is constructed to segment the fused point cloud within the frustum range, and the bounding box regression network is used to predict the bounding box parameters. Finally, an experimental platform of shearer coal wall cutting is established, and multiple comparative experiments are conducted. Experimental results indicate that the proposed coal-rock recognition method is superior to other advanced models.
China Foundry•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s41230-025-4210-2
Ceramic cores are key components in the production of castings with complex cavity structures. With the continuous development of the aerospace field, the demand for the castings with complex cavity structures is increasing. When using insoluble ceramic cores for casting, there is a significant challenge in removing complex blind cavities, which severely affects the completeness of the shape of the castings. Soluble ceramic cores can disintegrate when placed in water, greatly simplifying the removal process of cores and ensuring the complete formation of castings with complex cavity structures. Additive manufacturing technology, compared to traditional methods for preparing the soluble ceramic cores, does not require molds and can achieve direct forming of complex cores, simplifying the preparation process and reducing production time and costs. Nowadays, various additive manufacturing technologies, such as stereolithography (SL), selective laser sintering (SLS), direct ink writing (DIW), and binder jetting (BJ) technologies, have been successfully applied to the preparation of the ceramic cores. This paper analyzed the advantages and limitations of various additive manufacturing technologies, reviewed the research progress and raw material classifications of soluble ceramic cores prepared by these technologies, and looked forward to the future developments in the preparation of soluble ceramic cores using additive manufacturing technologies.
China Foundry•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s41230-025-4028-y
This study investigates the formation feasibility of the integrated bottom car body components with dual die casting injection molding technology. During the production of a die-cast super-large one-piece body part weighing over 10,000 t, a thorough comparison and investigation were conducted on the arising issues, using both single and double injection systems. Particular attention was given to meticulously discussing the die casting filling problems and microstructural defects that originated from the filling process. The research findings indicate that the implementation of a double injection system can significantly minimize cold shuts and reduce the solidification time. The effectiveness of this die casting technique was further confirmed by the production of high-quality castings using a scaled model that replicated real casting conditions at a 1:3 ratio, thereby maintaining a one-to-one correspondence in essential aspects. This successful study offers both theoretical insights and practical applications for the production of integrated bottom car bodies utilizing die casting in conjunction with a dual injection system.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-025-3093-y
To satisfy the demand for low-cost and long-range electric vehicles by the market, the commercialization of ultrahigh nickel cathode materials with high specific capacity and a wide electrochemical window is expected to facilitate the development of lithium-ion batteries. However, residual lithium compounds with a strong alkalinity cause difficulty in cathode preparation and indirectly affect the cycling stability of the cathode during cycling. Given the inevitability of the formation of residual alkali, a lithium-borate coating with an adjustable thickness was selected by controlling the formation of residual alkali. An additional lithium source was added to the synthesis process and converted into a thicker and more complete coating structure, which rendered the cathode with better cycle stability. As a result, the percentage of peak area of lithium carbonate on the surface-modified cathode surface exhibited a considerable decrease from 38.07% to 28.26%. The etching results show the formation of a uniform coating layer after boric acid treatment. The initial capacity of the treated cathode was 214.6 mAh·g−1 owing to the favorable effect of the surface coating, and the capacity retention raised from 59.35% to 90.75% and from 63.81% to 91.94% after cycling at 0.5 and 1 C current densities, respectively. The boric acid coating-modified strategy proposed in this paper considerably ameliorates the cycling stabilization of cathodes and provides superior commercial application value for ultrahigh nickel cathode materials.
Journal of Central South University•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-025-6123-z
The creep deformation and mechanical properties of 2219 aluminum alloy were experimentally investigated under both tension and compression at the temperature of 165 ℃ for different time. The results indicated that the creep deformation under tensile stress was greater than that under compressive stress. As the stress level increases, the compressive creep rate showed more significant increase. The yield strength after compressive stress creep-ageing was higher than that after stress-free ageing, with the lowest strength observed in the tensile-aged sample. Overall, the average phase length after compressive stress creep-ageing was larger than after tensile stress ageing. Under tensile stress, the number and size of precipitates at small angles to the stress direction were larger than those perpendicular to the stress direction. In contrast, under compressive stress, this relationship was reversed, and the preferential orientation of phases became more pronounced with ageing time. A unified, physics-based creep-ageing constitutive model, accounting for the orientation of precipitation, was developed for both tensile and compressive stress conditions. The predicted results were in good agreement with the experimental data. These findings, along with the developed model, provide a theoretical and simulation basis for precise creep-ageing forming of components under complex stresses.
Journal of Central South University•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-025-6103-3
In deep underground engineering construction, the dominant rock failure mode, whether by tension or shear, influences the engineering instability. Therefore, the critical triggering conditions that induce shear or tensile fractures in rocks urgently need further investigation. This paper designs direct shear tests on intact limestone under different normal stress conditions, using binarization methods supplemented by scanning electron microscopy to explore the two-dimensional fracture damage characteristics of limestone joint surfaces. Based on the three-dimensional morphological characteristics of limestone joint surfaces, a method for automatically identifying the three-dimensional curvature of rock joint surfaces is proposed, quantifying the changes in curvature distribution under different normal stresses. Further analysis focused on the proportion of shear damage and high-curvature areas on the upper and lower joint surfaces of limestone. The study examined changes in the cumulative energy of pre-peak acoustic emission and damage under varying effective normal stress-to-shear stress ratios. These results were used to identify and validate the critical threshold range for inducing shear fractures in limestone. The conclusions indicate that the proportion of shear damage area of limestone joint surfaces is positively correlated with effective normal stress. The proportion of high curvature of limestone joint surfaces decreases with increasing normal stress. Both the rapid growth stage of shear damage area and the rapid descent stage of high curvature proportion occur in the effective normal stress to shear stress ratio range of [1.4, 1.6]. The cumulative energy of pre-peak acoustic emission and damage under different effective normal stress to shear stress ratios increase sharply around the ratio of 1.6, further verifying that the effective normal stress to shear stress ratio range of [1.4, 1.6] is the critical threshold range for inducing shear fractures in limestone.
Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s10033-025-01274-y
Intelligent manufacturing (IM), a driving force behind the fourth industrial revolution, is reshaping the manufacturing sector by enhancing productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. Despite the rapid technological advancements in IM, comprehensive bibliometric reviews remain limited. This article systematically reviews the latest research in IM, addressing emerging hotspots, key technologies, and their applications across the entire product manufacturing cycle. Bibliometric analysis is employed to identify research trends visualize publication volume, collaboration patterns, research domains, co-citations, and emerging areas of interest. The article then examines key technologies supporting IM, including sensors, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), digital twins, and virtual reality (VR)/augmented reality (AR). Furthermore, it explores the application of these technologies throughout the manufacturing cycle—from intelligent reliability design, material transportation and tracking, to intelligent planning and scheduling, machining and fabrication, monitoring and maintenance, quality inspection and control, warehousing and management, and sustainable green manufacturing—through specific case studies. Lastly, the article discusses future research directions, highlighting the increasing global market and the need for enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration, technological integration, computing power upgrades, and attention to security and privacy in IM. This study provides valuable insights for scholars and serves as a guide for future research and strategic investment decisions, offering a comprehensive view of the IM field.
Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s10033-025-01286-8
This study aims to develop an accurate calculation model of transmission torque and load-bearing capacity for hydro-viscous clutches (HVC) used in high-power vehicles, which is important to investigate the step-less speed regulation characteristics in a fan drive system. However, most of the existing models ignore the distribution differences of groove area along the radial direction, which may lead to significant deviations in calculating the mechanical property of friction pairs related to operating conditions and the engagement process. To fill this gap, a new calculation model for bearing capacity and frictional torque of friction pairs with different oil grooves is proposed, in which the traditional fixed contact area ratio coefficient for oil groove measurement is replaced by a more precise discrete micro-ring area ratio (DMAR) integration method. Then, a 32-degree-of-freedoms dynamic model of HVC at a fan drive system is established for the prediction of dynamic responses during speed regulation. Results show that friction pairs with different oil grooves have a direct influence on frictional torque and bearing capacity through the change of DMAR along the radial direction. The friction pairs with different groove structures have oscillation phenomena at the engagement steady-state boundary. Furthermore, a step-less speed regulation experimental setup is established to verify the correctness of the proposed model. It is demonstrated that the axial engagement force and the speed regulation curve predicted by the proposed method are in good agreement with the experimental data. The results could effectively predict the engagement dynamic characteristics. The numerical relationship among the structure parameters, the mechanical properties of friction pairs, and the speed regulation characteristics of the system are established through the proposed model, which lays a theoretical foundation for the structure design of friction plates and optimization of step-less speed regulation performance.
Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s10033-025-01298-4
Research has shown that when vehicles follow the Ackerman steering principle (ASP), the tire wear can be reduced and the path tracking performance can be improved. However, in the case of four-wheel independent steering (4WIS) vehicles, the steering systems of the four wheels are relatively independent, and there are differences and uncertainties in individual steering dynamics, which lead to challenges for all four wheels in simultaneously satisfying the ASP and may deteriorate the vehicle path tracking performance. In response to this problem, this paper introduces a four-wheel consistent coordinated steering control for 4WIS vehicles. The algorithm innovatively reconfigures the Ackerman steering relationships as coupling constraints among the wheels, and utilizes the constraint-following method to design controller. The controller achieves uniform boundedness (UB) and uniform ultimate boundedness (UUB) of ASP constraint error. The Carsim/Simulink joint simulation results demonstrate that the algorithm guarantees the approximate satisfaction of ASP in both the transient and steady-state of the vehicle path tracking. Also, it significantly improves the path tracking performance.
Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s10033-025-01337-0
Origami mechanisms are extensively employed in various engineering applications due to their exceptional folding performance and deformability. The key to designing origami mechanisms lies in the design of the creases. The crease design is often derived from experience and inspiration, so it is crucial to have a systematic approach to crease design. In this paper, a novel synthesis approach based on graph theory is proposed, which effectively addresses the challenge of designing the creases in origami mechanisms. The essence of this method lies in the acquisition of the double symmetrical crease pattern through the directed graph product operation of two subgraphs. The crease pattern can be simplified by employing a technique that eliminates certain creases while preserving the non-isomorphism and symmetry of the pattern. An improved mixed-integer linear programming model is developed to achieve an automatic distribution of the peak_valley creases of the origami. The proposed method ultimately generates 12 unique double symmetrical crease patterns. The new method proposed in this paper, through systematic design, significantly improves the efficiency of mechanism design while opening up broad prospects for exploring new mechanism structures, thereby greatly expanding its application potential in cutting-edge fields such as aerospace engineering and intelligent robots.
Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s10033-025-01227-5
Thermosyphon loops are widely used in cooling systems. However, such distributed thermal management systems lack the ability to actively control the coolant flow in each parallel branch. An effective method for addressing this is to control the coolant flow in each branch using a solenoid valve. However, the existing valves do not satisfy the requirements for fast switching, low power, low pressure loss, and miniaturization. Therefore, in this study, a low-power-consumption miniature solenoid valve (LMSV) is proposed for use in thermal management systems. The key novelty is that the valve is designed with a suitably sized permanent magnet (PM) to allow the spool to continue working without consuming electrical energy. To achieve low flow resistance, a straight-through design is employed in the valve with the electromagnetic actuator located inside the valve shell. Multiphysical coupling analysis is performed to investigate its performance. The influence of the PM dimensions and current on the magnetic field distribution and electromagnetic force is studied. The effects of these key parameters on the flow field and pressure loss are also analyzed. Because the LMSV is sensitive to temperature, the switching time and energy consumption at different working temperatures are investigated. Experimental test platforms are constructed. A valve switching time of as short as 3 ms, pressure loss of 200 Pa at 0.92 L/min, and energy consumption of approximately 1.55 J during the opening and closing processes are achieved. The novel solenoid valve proposed in this study offers fast switching, low power consumption, low pressure loss, and miniaturization to meet the requirements of thermal management systems.
Journal of Central South University•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-025-6104-2
Herein, a sub-micron lanthanum zirconate ceramic (La2Zr2O7, LZO) with a pyrochlore structure was prepared by the sol-gel and high temperature sintering methods. The corrosion behavior and mechanism of calcium-ferrum-alumina-silicate (CFAS) powder (33CaO: 10FeO1.5: 13AlO1.5: 44SiO2) on the sub-micron LZO ceramic at 1673 K was investigated. The results indicate that the average grain size of sub-micron LZO ceramic was 895 nm. The CFAS melt rapidly diffused into the interior of the LZO ceramic wafer and reacted with it to generate high melting point rod-shaped Ca2La8(SiO4)6O2 apatite and m-ZrO2 phases, which can effectively hinder further diffusion of CFAS melt, resulting in a slow increase in corrosion depth with corrosion time. After 30 h of CFAS corrosion at 1673 K, the corrosion depth of the LZO ceramic wafer was only 160.3 μm, demonstrating its excellent high-temperature resistance to CFAS corrosion.
Journal of Central South University•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-025-6069-1
High-speed railway (HSR) bridge piers in high-altitude areas frequently face the challenge of early-age thermal cracking. This study employed numerical simulation methods to analyze the early-age temperature field, deformation field, and cracking risk of HSR bridge piers, considering three factors: binder content, cement types, and formwork types. The results show that the cracking risk slightly increases with a higher content of cementitious materials. However, this risk can be mitigated by selecting cements with lower heat of hydration and formwork materials with higher thermal conductivity. A variable termed “representative temperature rise for unit concrete” was proposed to integrate these three factors and comprehensively reflect the inherent thermal property of the pier. Subsequently, three linear regression models for predicting the demolding age of HSR bridge piers were established. These models empower engineers to determine the earliest feasible time for formwork removal without the need for complex computational analyses.
Journal of Central South University•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-025-6076-2
Sb2S3 films are susceptible to the formation of nanogap defects during the crystallization process, leading to their experimental power conversion efficiency (PCE) falling significantly short of the theoretical limit. This investigation presents, a groundbreaking Sb2S3 photovoltaic device model that integrates perovskite within these nanogaps, and systematically examines the mechanisms for enhancing the PCE. Our findings reveal that incorporating perovskite within the nanogaps yields a 10% enhancement in optical absorption performance. Furthermore, perovskite nanogaps function as effective electron transport channels, significantly reducing the recombination of photogenerated carriers within the highly defective Sb2S3. The dimensions and arrangement of the nanochannels play a pivotal role in determining device performance, with optimal measurements of 5 nm in width and 15 nm in spacing. Additionally, this study examines the universality of the nanochannel structure. The projected PCE of this innovative structure is an impressive 25.40%. These findings provide valuable theoretical guidance for designing high-efficiency Sb2S3 solar cells.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-025-3225-4
The effects of direct aging (DA) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of TiB2/AlSi7Mg alloys fabricated via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) were systematically investigated. DA significantly improves strength while maintaining satisfactory ductility. Optimal performance is obtained through under-aging (UA) at 150°C for 4 h, resulting in a yield strength of 361 MPa, tensile strength of 503 MPa, and elongation of 9.1% in the horizontal direction. DA does not substantially alter the grain size or cellular structure but promotes the formation of nanoprecipitates within the α-Al matrix. Specifically, UA induces dot-like and needle-like Si precipitates, whereas over-aging (OA) additionally generates short rod-like β'-Mg1.8Si phases. The strengthening mechanism is attributed to the Hall–Petch effect associated with grain and cell boundaries, and the Orowan mechanism induced by nanoprecipitates. Work-hardening behavior is governed by interactions between dislocations and nanoprecipitates. The OA sample exhibits rapid saturation of work hardening due to a high initial hardening rate and dynamic recovery of dislocations, resulting in limited uniform elongation. In contrast, the UA sample demonstrates a more balanced work hardening response. These findings provide theoretical and experimental validation of DA as an effective post-processing approach aimed at enhancing the performance of LPBF Al–Si–Mg alloys in engineering applications.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-025-3132-8
To study the use of a shaft support for the auxiliary shaft of the Xi’anshan Iron Mine, in high-stress strata at a depth between 900 and 1000 m, a new type of mold was developed using the physical similarity model test method, based on the similarity theory, and an experimental model of the shaft lining and surrounding rock was poured. Two sets of large-scale destructive tests were conducted on the shaft lining and surrounding rock. The deformation and failure laws of the shaft lining and surrounding rock under high ground stress and their ultimate horizontal bearing capacity characteristics were studied, and the safety support characteristics of the shaft lining under the interaction of the shaft lining and surrounding rock were obtained. An experimental study demonstrated that the axial pressure on the shaft wall directly affected its ultimate horizontal bearing capacity of the shaft wall. In designing the shaft wall, the influence of the axial pressure on the stress state of the concrete should be considered, and the vertical pressure should be modified to optimize the utilization of the three-dimensional compressive strength of the concrete. The reliability of the 400-mm C30 concrete shaft wall at a depth of 1000 m in the actual project was verified, and the ultimate horizontal bearing capacity of the shaft wall was obtained for a depth of 1000 m.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-025-3269-5
Low-concentration coal mine methane (LC-CMM), which is predominantly composed of methane, serves as a clean and low-carbon energy resource with significant potential for utilization. Utilizing LC-CMM as fuel for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) represents an efficient and promising strategy for its effective utilization. However, direct application in Ni-based anodes induces carbon deposition, which severely degrades cell performance. Herein, a medium-entropy oxide Sr2FeNi0.1Cr0.3Mn0.3Mo0.3O6−δ (SFNCMM) was developed as an anode internal reforming catalyst. Following reduction treatment, FeNi3 nano-alloy particles precipitate on the surface of the material, thereby significantly enhancing its catalytic activity for LC-CMM reforming process. The catalyst achieved a methane conversion rate of 53.3%, demonstrating excellent catalytic performance. Electrochemical evaluations revealed that SFNCMM-Gd0.1Ce0.9O2−δ (GDC) with a weight ratio of 7:3 exhibited superior electrochemical performance when employed as the anodic catalytic layer. With H2 and LC-CMM as fuels, the single cell achieved maximum power densities of 1467.32 and 1116.97 mW·cm−2 at 800°C, respectively, with corresponding polarization impedances of 0.17 and 1.35 Ω·cm2. Furthermore, the single cell maintained stable operation for over 100 h under LC-CMM fueling without significant carbon deposition, confirming its robust resistance to carbon formation. These results underscore the potential of medium-entropy oxides as highly effective catalytic layers for mitigating carbon deposition in SOFCs.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-025-3191-x
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) based on α-phase FAPbI3 (α-FAPbI3) microcrystals precursor outperform those with δ-phase microcrystals due to their superior crystallinity and fewer defects, making α-phase microcrystals precursor more advantageous for high-performance PSCs. However, most reported synthesis methods of perovskite microcrystals, especially for aqueous synthesis, fail to reach the energy threshold required for α-phase transformation and therefore exhibit the δ phase. In this study, we introduce a novel aqueous synthesis method to fabricate α-FAPbI3 microcrystals. Our approach overcomes the energy barrier by properly heating the reaction system, enabling the direct formation of α-FAPbI3 in water. This direct one-step aqueous synthesis route yields α-FAPbI3 microcrystals with superior phase purity, crystallinity, and minimal defect density. Combined with green anti-solvent, the high-quality α-FAPbI3 microcrystals serving as exceptional precursors endow perovskite films with reduced nonradiative recombination. The PSC achieves a remarkable power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 24.43%, which is one of the highest PCE reports for using the green anti-solvent in ambient air condition. This aqueous synthesis approach shows a significant potential for scalable production of high-performance PSCs.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-3076-4
CoFe bimetallic hydroxides (CoFe BMHs) find wide applications as excellent catalysts in the field of water splitting. However, no study has systematically investigated the influence of the morphologies of CoFe BMHs on catalyst performance. In this study, CoFe BMH nanoflowers (CoFe BMH NFs), CoFe BMH nanosheets (CoFe BMH NSHs), CoFe BMH nanorods (CoFe BMH NRs), and CoFe BMH nanospheres (CoFe BMH NSPs) were prepared on nickel foam via a hydrothermal method. CoFe BMH NSHs exhibited the most beneficial catalytic activity. At a current density of 100 mA·cm−2, its overpotential for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) was 282 mV, and the overall water splitting voltage was 2.05 V. The double-layer charging capacitance (Cdl) value of CoFe BMH NSHs was the largest in CoFe BMHs, which proves that CoFe BMH NSHs have the largest active area. Furthermore, the active site in the OER process was metal oxyhydroxide (MOOH) through in situ Raman characterization, and the generation of the active substance was an irreversible process. This work provides important insights into the design of catalyst morphologies and offers valuable guidelines for the enhancement of the performance of other catalysts.
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/s12613-024-2975-8
Weathering steel exhibits excellent corrosion resistance and is widely used in bridges, towers, railways, highways, and other engineering projects that are exposed to the atmosphere for long periods of time. However, before the formation of stable rust layers, weathering steel is prone to liquid rust sagging and spattering, leading to environmental pollution and city appearance concerns. These factors limit the application and development of weathering steel. In this study, a rapid and environmentally friendly method was developed by introducing alloying elements, specifically investigating the role of Sn in the rapid stabilization of rust layers in marine atmospheric environments. The rust layer formed on weathering low-alloy steel exposed to prolonged outdoor conditions and laboratory immersion experiments was explored using electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA), micro-Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrochemical measurements. Results showed an optimal synergistic effect between Sn and Cr, which facilitated the accelerated densification of the rust layer. This beneficial effect enhanced the capability of the rust layer to resist Cl− erosion and improved the protection performance of the rust layer.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-2922-8
Three sets of MXene (Ti3C2Tx)@nano-Fe1Co0.8Ni1 composites with 15, 45, and 90 mg MXene were prepared by in-situ liquid-phase deposition to effectively investigate the impact of the relationship between MXene (Ti3C2Tx) and nano-Fe1Co0.8Ni1 magnetic particles on the electromagnetic absorption properties of the composites. The microstructure, static magnetic properties, and electromagnetic absorption performance of these composites were studied. Results indicate that the [email protected] composites were primarily composed of face-centered cubic crystal structure particles and MXene, with spherical Fe1Co0.8Ni1 particles uniformly distributed on the surface of the multilayered MXene. The alloy particles had an average particle size of approximately 100 nm and exhibited good dispersion without noticeable particle aggregation. With the increase in MXene content, the specific saturation magnetic and coercivity of the composite initially decreased and then increased, displaying typical soft magnetic properties. Compared with those of the Fe1Co0.8Ni1 magnetic alloy particles alone, MXene addition caused an increasing trend in the real and imaginary parts of the dielectric constant of the composite. Meanwhile, the real and imaginary parts of the magnetic permeability exhibit decreasing trend. With the increase in MXene addition, the material attenuation constant increased and the impedance matching decreased. The minimum reflection loss increased, and the maximum effective absorption bandwidth decreased. When the MXene addition was 90 mg, the composite exhibited a minimum reflection loss of −46.9 dB with a sample thickness of 1.1 mm and a maximum effective absorption bandwidth of 3.60 GHz with a sample thickness of 1.0 mm. The effective absorption bandwidth of the composites and their corresponding thicknesses showed a decreasing trend with the increase in MXene addition, reducing by 50% from 1.5 mm without MXene addition to 1 mm with 90 mg of MXene addition.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-3032-3
7039 Al alloys are widely used in armor vehicles, given the material’s high specific strength and fracture toughness. However, laminar tearing in the thickness plane of the base metal (BM), specifically in the normal direction (ND) and rolling direction (RD) plane, was occasionally observed after the welding of thick plates, resulting in premature material failure. A vertically metal-inert gas (MIG)-welded laminar tearing component of a 30 mm thick plate was analyzed to determine the factors associated with this phenomenon. The texture, residual stress, microhardness, and tensile properties were also investigated. The results indicated that the crack extended along the RD as a transcrystalline fracture and terminated at the BM. The grains near the crack grew preferentially in the (001) crystal direction. Furthermore, the tensile strength (83 MPa) and elongation (6.8%) in the RD were relatively higher than those in the ND. In particular, the primary factors for crack initiation include stronger texture, higher dislocation density, increased Al7Cu2Fe phases, lower proportion of small-angle grain boundaries, and varying grain sizes in different regions, leading to the fragile microstructure. The higher residual stress of the BM promotes the formation and extension of cracks. The restraining force due to fixation and welding shrinkage force transformed the crack into laminar tearing. Preventive measures of laminar tearing were also proposed.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-3031-4
Electrocatalytic N2 reduction reaction (NRR) has been considered as a promising and alternative strategy for the synthesis of NH3, which will contribute to the goal of carbon neutrality and sustainability. However, this process often suffers from the barrier for N2 activation and competitive reactions, resulting in poor NH3 yield and low Faraday efficiency (FE). Here, we report a two-dimensional (2D) ultrathin FeS nanosheets with high conductivity through a facile and scalable method under mild condition. The synthesized FeS catalysts can be used as the work electrode in the electrochemical NRR cell with N2-saturated Na2SO4 electrolyte. Such a catalyst shows a NH3 yield of 9.0 μg·h−1·mg−1 (corresponding to 1.47 × 10−4 μmol·s−1·cm−2) and a high FE of 12.4%, which significantly outperformed the other most NRR catalysts. The high catalytic performance of FeS can be attributed to the 2D mackinawite structure, which provides a new insight to explore low-cost and high-performance Fe-based electrocatalysts, as well as accelerates the practical application of the NRR.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01599-8
Recent advancements in passive wireless sensor technology have significantly extended the application scope of sensing, particularly in challenging environments for monitoring industry and healthcare applications. These systems are equipped with battery-free operation, wireless connectivity, and are designed to be both miniaturized and lightweight. Such features enable the safe, real-time monitoring of industrial environments and support high-precision physiological measurements in confined internal body spaces and on wearable epidermal devices. Despite the exploration into diverse application environments, the development of a systematic and comprehensive research framework for system architecture remains elusive, which hampers further optimization of these systems. This review, therefore, begins with an examination of application scenarios, progresses to evaluate current system architectures, and discusses the function of each component—specifically, the passive sensor module, the wireless communication model, and the readout module—within the context of key implementations in target sensing systems. Furthermore, we present case studies that demonstrate the feasibility of proposed classified components for sensing scenarios, derived from this systematic approach. By outlining a research trajectory for the application of passive wireless systems in sensing technologies, this paper aims to establish a foundation for more advanced, user-friendly applications.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01611-1
Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDCs) have received considerable attention in local strain engineering due to their extraordinary mechanical flexibility, electronic structure, and optical properties. The strain-induced out-of-plane deformations in 2D TMDCs lead to diverse excitonic behaviors and versatile modulations in optical properties, paving the way for the development of advanced quantum technologies, flexible optoelectronic materials, and straintronic devices. Research on local strain engineering on 2D TMDCs has been delved into fabrication techniques, electronic state variations, and quantum optical applications. This review begins by summarizing the state-of-the-art methods for introducing local strain into 2D TMDCs, followed by an exploration of the impact of local strain engineering on optical properties. The intriguing phenomena resulting from local strain, such as exciton funnelling and anti-funnelling, are also discussed. We then shift the focus to the application of locally strained 2D TMDCs as quantum emitters, with various strategies outlined for modulating the properties of TMDC-based quantum emitters. Finally, we discuss the remaining questions in this field and provide an outlook on the future of local strain engineering on 2D TMDCs.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01545-8
Wearable wristband systems leverage deep learning to revolutionize hand gesture recognition in daily activities. Unlike existing approaches that often focus on static gestures and require extensive labeled data, the proposed wearable wristband with self-supervised contrastive learning excels at dynamic motion tracking and adapts rapidly across multiple scenarios. It features a four-channel sensing array composed of an ionic hydrogel with hierarchical microcone structures and ultrathin flexible electrodes, resulting in high-sensitivity capacitance output. Through wireless transmission from a Wi-Fi module, the proposed algorithm learns latent features from the unlabeled signals of random wrist movements. Remarkably, only few-shot labeled data are sufficient for fine-tuning the model, enabling rapid adaptation to various tasks. The system achieves a high accuracy of 94.9% in different scenarios, including the prediction of eight-direction commands, and air-writing of all numbers and letters. The proposed method facilitates smooth transitions between multiple tasks without the need for modifying the structure or undergoing extensive task-specific training. Its utility has been further extended to enhance human–machine interaction over digital platforms, such as game controls, calculators, and three-language login systems, offering users a natural and intuitive way of communication.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2024•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/24121701
The evolution of information technology has propelled the advancement of sensors into a new era, referred to as Sensors 4.0. This era is characterized by the integration of key technological developments, including the internet of things (IoT), Industry 4.0, big data, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and digital health. These innovations necessitate that sensors become increasingly interconnected and intelligent. The concept of 'everything is connected' demands that sensors undertake a broader and more complex range of tasks, a challenge that conventional, bulky devices are ill-equipped to address. In addition to pursuing improvements in sensitivity and bandwidth, as seen in the 'more Moore' approach—focused on extracting the last few nanometers from process nodes—the paradigm of 'more than and beyond Moore' presents new opportunities in the Sensors 4.0 era. A key breakthrough in this context is the development of devices with flexibility, which introduces a new mechanical dimension to the conventional sensor form factor. This innovation lays the foundation for next-generation distributed sensory applications that are deformable, miniaturized, and lightweight. Furthermore, recent advancements in multimodal, biomimetic, AI-enhanced, and all-in-one sensing materials and devices are pushing the boundaries of smart electronics. These developments aim to achieve minimal power consumption while enhancing overall functionality. Consequently, flexibility and intelligence have emerged as two critical features driving the development of novel and compelling electronic sensory applications in Sensors 4.0, thus lead to the organization of our Special Issue at the very beginning of 2025 that collects critical research progress and strategic reviews across multidisciplinary subjects of flexible and smart electronics. Specifically, this Special Issue features six research articles and ten review articles contributed by leading experts in the field, categorized into three themes: 1) Sensory applications for light, gas, and temperature measurement, focusing on the fabrication and design of flexible platforms; 2) neuromorphic electronic devices that integrate sensing, memory, and computation to develop next-generation parallel and low-power sensory systems; 3) integrated and multimodal sensory systems for IoT applications in areas such as biology and healthcare.