Nano Research•2026•DOI: 10.26599/NR.2026.94908790
The integration of electrothermal films into smart windows demands simultaneous high optical transparency and exceptional heating performance, a trade-off that has constrained flexible transparent heater development. This work reports a transparent conductive single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) film composed of highly crystalline, long SWCNTs in small bundles, synthesized by floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition (FCCVD). The small-bundle SWCNT film, with an average bundle diameter of 7.1 nm, achieves a sheet resistance of 26 Ω/□ at 82% transmittance and reaches a stable temperature of 102 °C under a low applied voltage of 20 V. The superior electrothermal performance relative to large-bundle counterparts originates from a higher areal nanotube density and more efficient conductive pathways at equivalent transmittance. Integrating this transparent heating film with a paraffin wax/polydimethylsiloxane (PW/PDMS) thermochromic functional layer yields a large-area flexible smart window. The device exhibits a reversible visible light transmittance range from 0.17% to 78% and exceptional cycling stability. This study overcomes the transparency–conductivity trade-off in transparent electrothermal films, providing a viable route for flexible smart windows and related thermal management devices.
Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China (中国有色金属学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1003-6326(25)66955-X
The effect mechanism of electroshock treatment (EST) on microstructure evolution and mechanical property variations of Ti−8Al−1Mo−1V alloy was investigated. The results show that EST results in the phase transformation from the acicular secondary αs to β phase. While the EST time is 0.12 s, the acicular martensitic phase (αM) precipitates. The results of electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) reveals that the average grain size decreases from 3.95 to 2.53 μm after EST, indicating that the grains are refined, and the significant recrystallization behavior and martensitic transformation occur. The orientation distribution reveals a more uniform distribution of texture, which is caused by the variation of crystal orientation after the phase transformation. The compression fracture behavior of materials indicates that EST significantly enhances the yield strength while reduces the fracture strain. The improvement of yield strength is mainly attributed to the precipitation of martensitic phase. All results indicate that EST is an effective approach for manipulating the microstructure and optimizing the texture distribution of titanium alloys.
China Foundry•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s41230-025-4231-x
A356/6061 bimetallic specimens were prepared by liquid-solid compound casting. The effects of various casting conditions on the interfacial microstructure and mechanical properties of the bimetallic specimens were studied. Results demonstrate that a combination of chemical zinc deposition and electroplating can create a dense protective layer on the surface of the 6061 aluminum bar, achieving complete metallurgical bonding at the bimetallic interface. The interfacial microstructure is primarily characterized by equiaxed grain formation, with eutectic silicon distributed along the grain boundaries. Notably, the thickness of the zinc plating layer does not significantly influence the microstructure of the interface transition layer. Pouring temperature is critical for establishing metallurgical bonding at the bimetallic interface, with the thickness of the transition layer increasing as the pouring temperature rises. The hardness of the bimetallic composite interface falls between the hardness values of the two constituent materials. While the thickness of the galvanized layer has a minimal effect on interfacial shear strength, there is a slight decrease in shear strength with increasing pouring temperature, with a maximum value recorded at 68 MPa.
Journal of Central South University•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-025-6056-6
The microstructures, mechanical properties, and fracture behaviors of an Al-5.9Zn-1.9Mg alloy subjected to thermomechanical treatment across different pre-rolling temperatures have been exhaustively investigated in present work. The pre-deformation temperature exerts a modest influence on grain morphology, while it profoundly impacts the dislocation configurations and precipitation behaviors. Elevating the rolling temperature from ambient to 170 ℃ results in a reduction in dislocation density within grains accompanied by a notable enhancement in their distributional uniformity. While advancing the temperature to 320 ℃ prompts the premature formation of precipitates during deformation, which diminishes the precipitation during the subsequent ageing. Tensile results reveal that the thermomechanical treatment incorporating pre-rolling at 170 ℃ confers a substantial strengthening effect on the alloy on the basis of both grain boundary strengthening and dislocation strengthening stemmed from pre-deformation along with the precipitation strengthening generated by ageing. Furthermore, the microstructure exhibits a relatively scarce presence of inhomogeneous features such as dislocation pile-ups and micro shear bands, contributing favorably to enhance the ductility of the alloy that presents the mixture of cleavage fracture and dimple-induced failure.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01536-9
The incidence of large bone defects caused by traumatic injury is increasing worldwide, and the tissue regeneration process requires a long recovery time due to limited self-healing capability. Endogenous bioelectrical phenomena have been well recognized as critical biophysical factors in bone remodeling and regeneration. Inspired by bioelectricity, electrical stimulation has been widely considered an external intervention to induce the osteogenic lineage of cells and enhance the synthesis of the extracellular matrix, thereby accelerating bone regeneration. With ongoing advances in biomaterials and energy-harvesting techniques, electroactive biomaterials and self-powered systems have been considered biomimetic approaches to ensure functional recovery by recapitulating the natural electrophysiological microenvironment of healthy bone tissue. In this review, we first introduce the role of bioelectricity and the endogenous electric field in bone tissue and summarize different techniques to electrically stimulate cells and tissue. Next, we highlight the latest progress in exploring electroactive hybrid biomaterials as well as self-powered systems such as triboelectric and piezoelectric-based nanogenerators and photovoltaic cell-based devices and their implementation in bone tissue engineering. Finally, we emphasize the significance of simulating the target tissue’s electrophysiological microenvironment and propose the opportunities and challenges faced by electroactive hybrid biomaterials and self-powered bioelectronics for bone repair strategies.