Surface Technology (表面技术)•2026•DOI: 10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.08.009
This study addresses the corrosion failure of SS304L stainless steel in breeding environments by developing a laser micro-additive copper-embedded surface functionalization process. A 355 nm nanosecond laser with 60 W average power, 40 kHz repetition rate, and 16 ns pulse width was used to embed a 0.12 µm Cu foil onto SS304L substrates under three coating strategies: single-layer, double-layer, and double-pass, each at scanning speeds of 400, 800, and 1200 mm/s. Surface characterization via 3D profilometry, SEM, EDS, and XPS revealed regular grooves and micro-concave structures with height differences increasing from 0.1 µm (untreated) to 1.6–3.8 µm, with the double-pass sample achieving the maximum 3.8 µm. Cu particles were successfully embedded, forming CuO and Cu2O oxide layers. Electrochemical tests in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution showed that the optimal sample (double-layer coating at 800 mm/s, designated b2) exhibited the highest corrosion potential (increased by ~0.04 V), a one-order-of-magnitude reduction in corrosion current, and a maximum charge transfer resistance (Rct) of 6954 Ω·cm². These results demonstrate that laser micro-additive embedding of copper synergistically enhances the corrosion resistance of stainless steel through surface texturing, copper particle incorporation, and oxide film formation.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01847-5
Developing biomass platform compounds into high value-added chemicals is a key step in renewable resource utilization. Herein, we report porous carbon-supported Ni-ZnO nanoparticles catalyst (Ni-ZnO/AC) synthesized via low-temperature coprecipitation, exhibiting excellent performance for the selective hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). A linear correlation is first observed between solvent polarity (ET(30)) and product selectivity within both polar aprotic and protic solvent classes, suggesting that solvent properties play a vital role in directing reaction pathways. Among these, 1,4-dioxane (aprotic) favors the formation of 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF) with 97.5% selectivity, while isopropanol (iPrOH, protic) promotes 2,5-dimethylfuran production with up to 99.5% selectivity. Mechanistic investigations further reveal that beyond polarity, proton-donating ability is critical in facilitating hydrodeoxygenation. iPrOH enables a hydrogen shuttle mechanism where protons assist in hydroxyl group removal, lowering the activation barrier. In contrast, 1,4-dioxane, lacking hydrogen bond donors, stabilizes BHMF and hinders further conversion. Density functional theory calculations confirm a lower activation energy in iPrOH (0.60 eV) compared to 1,4-dioxane (1.07 eV). This work offers mechanistic insights and a practical strategy for solvent-mediated control of product selectivity in biomass hydrogenation, highlighting the decisive role of solvent-catalyst-substrate interactions.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01654-y
Transition metal carbides, known as MXenes, particularly Ti3C2Tx, have been extensively explored as promising materials for electrochemical reactions. However, transition metal carbonitride MXenes with high nitrogen content for electrochemical reactions are rarely reported. In this work, transition metal carbonitride MXenes incorporated with Pt-based electrocatalysts, ranging from single atoms to sub-nanometer dimensions, are explored for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The fabricated Pt clusters/MXene catalyst exhibits superior HER performance compared to the single-atom-incorporated MXene and commercial Pt/C catalyst in both acidic and alkaline electrolytes. The optimized sample shows low overpotentials of 28, 65, and 154 mV at current densities of 10, 100, and 500 mA cm−2, a small Tafel slope of 29 mV dec−1, a high mass activity of 1203 mA mgPt−1 and an excellent turnover frequency of 6.1 s−1 in the acidic electrolyte. Density functional theory calculations indicate that this high performance can be attributed to the enhanced active sites, increased surface functional groups, faster charge transfer dynamics, and stronger electronic interaction between Pt and MXene, resulting in optimized hydrogen absorption/desorption toward better HER. This work demonstrates that MXenes with a high content of nitrogen may be promising candidates for various catalytic reactions by incorporating single atoms or clusters.
New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2025-6-3)
The typical method for preparing the porous carbon used in supercapacitors (SCs) is time-consuming and energy-intensive. We report a fast and efficient route to synthesize and tailor the structure of porous carbon by a Joule heating technique (JHT) using phenolic resin and precursors. During the JHT process, the time and energy needed are both significantly reduced because the precursor is heated to the target temperature at a rate of 1100 K/s, so the porous carbon is formed with the release of small molecules and the etching of the substrate by K2CO3. JHT has a higher energy efficiency than traditional carbonization methods in a tube furnace and allows for precise control of the pyrolysis process, thus achieving better control of the material's structure and properties. Samples obtained by JHT contain abundant pores and a large specific surface area (1652.7 m2/g), which give an excellent specific capacitance of 476.0 F/g and rate capability (75.1% capacitance retention at 64.0 A/g in an aqueous alkaline electrolyte). Furthermore, in electrolytes of 17.0 mol/kg NaClO4 (water-in-salt) and 1.0 mol/L TEABF4/AN, the symmetric SCs have a maximum energy density of 33.3 and 50.8 Wh/kg at power densities of 220.4 and 376.4 W/kg, respectively. The cells also have good long-term stability, with a nearly 100% Coulombic efficiency, and a capacitance retention of 93.1% in a water-in-salt electrolyte after 10000 cycles, and 88.9% in an organic electrolyte after 8000 cycles. This study shows that JHT has the potential to serve as an ultra-fast method to prepare porous carbons for energy storage.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-025-3244-1
The effect of thermal degradation on the welded hybrid joints of metal and polymer composites is insufficient, which seriously inhibits the engineering applications of the joints. In this study, robust hybrid joints of metal and polymer composites were fabricated by the combination of friction lap welding (FLW) and laser surface treatment for investigating the effect of accelerated aging on the joint properties. Results showed that the FLW hybrid joints without laser surface treatment exhibited 91% reduction in the tensile shear force (TSF) after 7 days of accelerated aging tests. In contrast, the FLW hybrid joints with suitable laser surface treatment exhibited only 26% reduction in TSF even after 35 days of accelerated aging tests. Fractures of the tensile specimens occurred across the composite plates rather than along the joint interface. The enhanced reliability of the hybrid joints was mainly attributed to (1) the formation of micro-mechanical interlocking between the polymer composites and aluminum alloy plate, and (2) the modification of the stress distribution along the joint interface.
Journal of Central South University•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-025-6041-0
The effects of pre-compression and pre-aging on the age-hardening response and microstructure of Mg-9.8Sn-3.0Zn (wt.%) alloy have been investigated via hardness test and advanced electron microscopy. The alloy subjected to both pre-compression and pre-aging exhibits the most refined and densest distribution of precipitates upon aging at 200 ℃, leading to the superior age-hardening performance observed in the alloy. Comparatively, the alloy that underwent only pre-aging displayed a greater number density of precipitates than its counterpart that was neither pre-compressed nor pre-aged when both were aged to their peak conditions at 200 ℃, indicating an enhanced age-hardening response in the pre-aged alloy. The precipitates in these three peak-aged alloys consist of Mg2Sn and MgZn2 phases. The reason why the pre-aged alloy has a higher number density of precipitates than the directly aged alloy is that MgZn2 phase formed during pre-aging can serve as heterogeneous nucleation site for the formation of Mg2Sn. The reason why the pre-compression and pre-aged alloy has the highest number density of precipitates is that Mg3Sn and MgZn2 phases formed during pre-aging, alongside lattice defects introduced during pre-compression, collectively act as effective heterogeneous nucleation sites for the formation of Mg2Sn during the subsequent aging at 200 ℃.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-3069-3
The rust layer is a critical factor in determining the corrosion resistance performance of weathering bridge steel. Understanding the evolution mechanism of this rust layer is fundamental for the design and optimization of such steel. This study investigates the evolution of the rust layer on high-Cr-content weathering bridge steel, using an atmospheric corrosion monitoring (ACM) sensor and big data mining techniques in a simulated tropical marine atmosphere. Results reveal that the protective properties of the rust layer follow a periodic pattern of “ascending–constant” rather than a continuous ascending. Correlation analysis indicates that this phenomenon is attributed to the introduction of Cr, which promotes the formation of FeCr2O4 in the rust layer. FeCr2O4 helps prevent chloride ions from penetrating the rust layer, exerting a protective effect. These findings provide a strong scientific foundation for the design and improvement of new high-Cr-content weathering bridge steels.