Journal of Advanced Ceramics•2026•DOI: 10.26599/JAC.2026.9221340
Protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) offer efficient intermediate-temperature energy conversion but are constrained by the trade-off between insufficient electrode activity and limited operational durability. This work develops a Zn/Yb B-site codoping strategy combined with temperature-induced nanoparticle exsolution to construct a triple-conducting cathode. Cation-driven charge modulation enhances ionic diffusion and electronic conduction, while the exsolved secondary BaCoO3−δ phase increases active site density, optimizes interfacial charge transfer, and promotes oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics. Zn/Yb codoping redistributes local charge density, weakens metal–oxygen bonds, and reduces oxygen vacancy formation energy, promoting oxygen vacancy generation. The increased oxygen vacancy concentration facilitates surface oxygen activation and lattice hydration, enhancing oxygen-ion and proton transport. Enhanced d–p orbital hybridization improves electronic conductivity and accelerates charge transfer kinetics. Optimized alkaline–earth sites suppress carbonate formation, imparting excellent CO2 tolerance. The optimized cathode delivers a peak power density of 0.99 W·cm−2 at 600 °C and stable operation over 100 h, with a polarization resistance of 0.110 Ω·cm2 under 20% H2O-air. This work provides a novel strategy for optimizing activity, conductivity, and stability in PCFC cathodes.
Nano Research•2026•DOI: 10.26599/FRICT.2026.9441213
Nanocomposites have attracted significant attention as lubricant additives due to their advantages in reducing friction, enhancing wear resistance, and improving thermal and oxidative stability. In recent years, increasing research has explored how different types of nanomaterials (such as carbon-based materials, metallic nanoparticles, and ceramic phases) can use synergistic effects to achieve performance surpassing that of their single components. This review focuses on relevant studies published between 2020 and 2025, providing an updated overview of the advantages, synthesis methods, structures, dispersion stability, lubrication mechanisms, and tribological behavior of nanocomposites. Various structural types are discussed, including core–shell, layered, and in situ hybrid systems, along with their fabrication routes, such as sol–gel processing, hydrothermal synthesis, and surface modification strategies. The lubrication mechanism of nanocomposites is analyzed based on the material structure and the testing conditions. Particular attention is paid to the synergistic effects among multiple components within the nanocomposites and to how these synergies enhance tribological performance. Furthermore, the challenges faced by nanocomposites and potential future developments are discussed. This review aims to clarify the current status of nanocomposites as lubricant additives and facilitate their future application in advanced lubrication systems.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2026•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2026.01.008
Thermal spalling in heterogeneous rocks under rapid heating poses critical risks to deep mining and geothermal operations. In this study, we develop a coupled thermal–mechanical–damage (TM-D) model that explicitly incorporates Weibull distributed heterogeneity to a single fracture in rock, and validate it against ceramic quenching and granite acoustic emission experiments. Distance based generalized sensitivity analysis (DGSA) is applied to quantify the influence and interactions of key parameters, revealing the dominant controls on spalling onset, severity, and damage morphology. The results demonstrate that thermal stress dominates crack initiation and propagation, that lateral constraints can significantly delay and suppress spalling, and that material heterogeneity markedly influences peak stress and damage modes within a certain range of thermal expansion coefficient and has multiple effects on thermal spalling. This study provides a theoretical basis for quantitative assessment and parameter optimization of thermal spalling processes in rock masses.
Journal of Central South University•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-026-6168-7
With the continual deterioration of mining conditions, the deformation and failure of surrounding rock in roadways with weak roofs under intense mine pressure during close-distance coal seam extraction has become a critical issue restricting the safe and efficient mining of coal. To address the issue of increased surrounding rock damage caused by blasting pressure relief in such roadways, this study proposes an innovative non-explosive method for roof cutting and pressure relief with dense drilling (RCPRDD) to protect the roadway. A combined approach of laboratory experiments, theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and field testing was employed to clarify the rock weakening effects and mechanisms induced by dense drilling. An optimal design method for drilling diameter and spacing was established, and the effectiveness of this method was validated. The research results indicate that the degree of rock weakening induced by dense drilling is primarily related to the drilling density coefficient. As the drilling density coefficient increases, the rock weakening effect becomes more pronounced. At the same time, dense drilling exerts a significant amplifying effect on the tensile stress experienced by the side roof of the roadway goaf. A functional relationship between the dense drilling weakening coefficient and the drilling density coefficient was established, providing a theoretical basis for the selection of key parameters for dense drilling. The method was ultimately implemented in a field engineering test, effectively reducing the stress in the coal body of the advanced roadway, controlling the deformation and failure of the surrounding rock, and achieving the goal of protecting the roadway. This demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of the RCPRDD. The research findings provide a scientific basis for controlling roadway deformation under similar conditions.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01978-9
Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are among the most cutting-edge catalysts in the multiphase catalysis track due to their unique geometrical and electronic properties, the highest atom utilization efficiency, and uniform active sites. SACs have been facing an unresolved problem in practical applications: the opposing contradiction of activity-stability. The successful development of single-atom nano-islands (SANIs) cleverly combines the ultra-high atom utilization efficiency of SACs with the confinement effect and structural stability of nano-island structures, realizing the “moving but not aggregation” of SACs, which fundamentally solves this inherent contradiction. Although research on the precise loading of single atoms on nano-islands continues to advance, existing reviews have not yet established a closed-loop cognitive framework encompassing “models-synthesis-high stability mechanisms-high activity essence-applications.” This work fills this critical gap by systematically integrating the basic conceptual models and cutting-edge synthesis strategies of SANIs, focusing on revealing the underlying mechanisms by which SANIs overcome the stability bottleneck of SACs, elucidating the role of nano-islands and their synergistic mechanisms to clarify the high activity essence, and establishing the structure–activity relationship between atomic confinement effects and macroscopic performance, ultimately achieving breakthrough validation across catalytic systems. This review aims to open new perspectives, drive a paradigm shift in understanding the multi-dimensional advantages of SANIs, and thereby spur breakthrough progress in this frontier field.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01971-2
The dissolution of iron from the cathode and electrode/electrolyte interface (EEI) during long cycles significantly accelerates the aging process of LiFePO4 (LFP)/graphite batteries; there is a lack of systematic understanding of the spatial distribution of the EEI interface layer and the dissolve of Fe ions, especially in terms of the mechanism of the cathode–electrolyte interphase (CEI), solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), and iron dissolution. In this study, aged cells were subjected to continuous activation with constant current and multi-step segmented indirect activation (IA) and analyzed for capacity fade, impedance growth, and active Li+ mass loss at the EEI and nanoscale levels. The interaction between dissolved Fe2+ and the EEI in LFP/graphite pouch batteries was proposed and verified. The findings indicate that during IA process, the electric field facilitates the migration of solvated ions toward the electrodes, while simultaneously inhibiting the formation of organic species such as ROCO2Li. The SEI primarily consists of a mixture of organic and inorganic small molecules, forming a continuous and uniform film on the electrode surface. This study demonstrates that IA favors the formation of a uniform EEI and offers constructive insights for advancing accelerated lifetime prediction strategies in lithium-ion batteries.
Journal of Central South University•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-026-6265-7
A porous wollastonite ceramic with high porosity and low density has been successfully fabricated at low temperature with silicate tailings and electrolytic manganese slag (MS) as primary raw materials in this study. The influences of calcination temperature, SiC, and MS addition amounts on porosity, water adsorption, pore size distribution, bulk density, and bending strength were systematically studied. The results showed that 0.4 wt% of SiC was optimal for the ceramic foaming at a sintering temperature of 1140 ℃. The porosity of ceramics reduced from 78.4% to 63.7%, bulk density elevated from 0.96 to 1.13 g/cm3, and bending strength increased from 8.43 to 11.22 MPa as the MS increased from 8.33 wt% to 41.67 wt%. Moreover, the best corrosion resistance performance was reached to 99.55% with 8.33 wt% MS content and a sintering temperature of 1160 ℃. This work is of significance for the solid waste utilization.
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/s40820-025-01780-7
Due to their high mechanical compliance and excellent biocompatibility, conductive hydrogels exhibit significant potential for applications in flexible electronics. However, as the demand for high sensitivity, superior mechanical properties, and strong adhesion performance continues to grow, many conventional fabrication methods remain complex and costly. Herein, we propose a simple and efficient strategy to construct an entangled network hydrogel through a liquid–metal-induced cross-linking reaction, hydrogel demonstrates outstanding properties, including exceptional stretchability (1643%), high tensile strength (366.54 kPa), toughness (350.2 kJ m−3), and relatively low mechanical hysteresis. The hydrogel exhibits long-term stable reusable adhesion (104 kPa), enabling conformal and stable adhesion to human skin. This capability allows it to effectively capture high-quality epidermal electrophysiological signals with high signal-to-noise ratio (25.2 dB) and low impedance (310 ohms). Furthermore, by integrating advanced machine learning algorithms, achieving an attention classification accuracy of 91.38%, which will significantly impact fields like education, healthcare, and artificial intelligence.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01783-4
Disrupting the symmetric electron distribution of porphyrin-like Fe single-atom catalysts has been considered as an effective way to harvest high intrinsic activity. Understanding the catalytic performance governed by geometric microstrains is highly desirable for further optimization of such efficient sites. Here, we decipher the crucial role of local microstrain in boosting intrinsic activity and durability of asymmetric Fe single-atom catalysts (Fe–N3S1) by replacing one N atom with S atom. The high-curvature hollow carbon nanosphere substrate introduces 1.3% local compressive strain to Fe–N bonds and 1.5% tensile strain to Fe–S bonds, downshifting the d-band center and accelerating the kinetics of *OH reduction. Consequently, highly curved Fe–N3S1 sites anchored on hollow carbon nanosphere (FeNS-HNS-20) exhibit negligible current loss, a high half-wave potential of 0.922 V vs. RHE and turnover frequency of 6.2 e−1 s−1 site−1, which are 53 mV more positive and 1.7 times that of flat Fe–N–S counterpart, respectively. More importantly, multiple operando spectroscopies monitored the dynamic optimization of strained Fe–N3S1 sites into Fe–N3 sites, further mitigating the overadsorption of *OH intermediates. This work not only sheds new light on local microstrain-induced catalytic enhancement, but also provides a plausible direction for optimizing efficient asymmetric sites via geometric configurations.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01739-8
Developing high-efficient flame-retardant coatings is crucial for fire safety polymer and battery fields. Traditional intumescent coatings and ceramifiable coatings struggle to provide immediate and prolonged protection simultaneously, which limits the applicability. To address this, an innovative bi-layered coating with organic/nano-inorganic additives is inspired by differential response behaviors, enabling relay response effect with both fast-acting and extended protection. Specifically, two layers function continuously in the form of a relay. With a mere 320 microns, the bi-layered coating withstands fire temperatures of up to 1400 °C for at least 900 s. Consequently, the coating effective prevented burn through in aluminum plates and glass fabric-reinforced epoxy resin, which otherwise were burned through in 135 and 173 s, respectively. Meanwhile, the bi-layered coating suppressed the formation and decomposition of solid interface layer in lithium soft-package batteries, leading to prolonged electrochemical stability and fire safety. Additionally, the bi-layered coating with a fast response endows polyurethane foam with rapid self-extinguishing, preventing ignition even under exposure to strong fire of 1400 °C. Shortly, our work offers new insights into the design and development of thin, high-performance, and multi-application flame-retardant coatings.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01727-y
Rechargeable zinc (Zn)-ion batteries (RZIBs) with hydrogel electrolytes (HEs) have gained significant attention in the last decade owing to their high safety, low cost, sufficient material abundance, and superb environmental friendliness, which is extremely important for wearable energy storage applications. Given that HEs play a critical role in building flexible RZIBs, it is urgent to summarize the recent advances in this field and elucidate the design principles of HEs for practical applications. This review systematically presents the development history, recent advances in the material fundamentals, functional designs, challenges, and prospects of the HEs-based RZIBs. Firstly, the fundamentals, species, and flexible mechanisms of HEs are discussed, along with their compatibility with Zn anodes and various cathodes. Then, the functional designs of hydrogel electrolytes in harsh conditions are comprehensively discussed, including high/low/wide-temperature windows, mechanical deformations (e.g., bending, twisting, and straining), and damages (e.g., cutting, burning, and soaking). Finally, the remaining challenges and future perspectives for advancing HEs-based RZIBs are outlined.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01745-w
Realizing the point-of-care tumor markers biodetection with good convenience and high sensitivity possesses great significance for prompting cancer monitoring and screening in biomedical study field. Herein, the quantum dots luminescence and microfluidic biochip with machine vision algorithm-based intelligent biosensing platform have been designed and manufactured for point-of-care tumor markers diagnostics. The employed quantum dots with excellent photoluminescent performance are modified with specific antibody as the optical labeling agents for the designed sandwich structure immunoassay. The corresponding biosensing investigations of the designed biodetection platform illustrate several advantages involving high sensitivity (~0.021 ng mL−1), outstanding accessibility, and great integrability. Moreover, related test results of human-sourced artificial saliva samples demonstrate better detection capabilities compared with commercially utilized rapid test strips. Combining these infusive abilities, our elaborate biosensing platform is expected to exhibit potential applications for the future point-of-care tumor markers diagnostic area.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2025.10.003
Salt deposits in China predominantly originate from lake deposits, characterized by thin salt beds interspersed with numerous interlayers, collectively termed bedded salt formations. Historically, solution mining practices have adopted the layered solution mining approach, inspired by coal mining techniques. However, this approach fails to account for the unique challenges of salt solution mining. Practical implementation is inefficient, costs escalate post-construction, and cavern geometry is constrained by salt bed thickness. Additionally, resource loss in abandoned beds and stability risks in adjacent mining zones remain unresolved. This study investigates mining scheme selection for low-grade salt deposits in Huai'an Salt Basin, introducing a continuous solution mining method that traverses multiple interlayers. Through comprehensive analysis of plastic deformation in caverns and surrounding rock, volume shrinkage rates, and economic costs comparing continuous and layered solution mining approaches, the results demonstrate that: (1) In the layered solution mining with horizontal interconnected wells scheme, plastic deformation zones propagate unevenly, posing interlayer connectivity risks. Concurrently, roof subsidence and floor heave destabilize the structure; (2) the continuous solution mining with horizontal interconnected wells scheme reduces plastic deformation zones to 3.4% of cavern volume, with volumetric shrinkage below 17%, markedly improving stability; (3) Economically, the continuous solution mining scheme generates caverns 2.43 times larger than the layered solution mining, slashing unit volume costs to 41.1% while enhancing resource recovery and long-term viability. The continuous method demonstrates distinct economic advantages and achieves higher resource utilization efficiency in solution mining compared to layered mining. Furthermore, its superior cavern stability presents strong potential for large-scale implementation.
New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2026-41-03-03)
Recently, increasingly severe electromagnetic radiation has caused harm to precision equipment and human health, which requires the development of effective electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption materials. These materials require both a strong absorption and a broad bandwidth at low filling rates and small thicknesses. To meet this requirement we have constructed a cobalt-iron/carbon@polypyrrole (CoFe/C@PPy) composite by a two-step synthesis process. The first is the fabrication of magnetic CoFe/C fibers, followed by their coating with a PPy layer with a controlled thickness. This combination of materials results in a magnetic loss from CoFe/C and a dielectric loss from PPy which improves both impedance matching and EMW dissipation. An optimized material has a PPy layer with a thickness of 2.0 mm and a loading of 10% and has a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −45.6 dB at 14.64 GHz, and the corresponding effective absorption bandwidth is 5.12 GHz. Furthermore, CST Studio simulations and far-field radar cross-section (RCS) analysis validate its practical use, showing a notable RCS reduction of up to 37.5 dBm2 for a perfect electric conductor.
New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2024-39-04-06)
Graphitized carbon foams (GFms) were prepared using mesophase pitch (MP) as a raw material by foaming (450 °C), pre-oxidation (320 °C), carbonization (1 000 °C) and graphitization (2 800 °C). The differences in structure and properties of GFms prepared from different MP precursors pretreated by ball milling or liquid phase extraction were investigated and compared, and semi-quantitative calculations were conducted on the Raman and FTIR spectra of samples at each preparation stage. Semi-quantitative spectroscopic analysis provided detailed information on the structure and chemical composition changes of the MP and GFm derived from it. Combined with microscopic observations, the change from precursor to GFm was analyzed. The results showed that ball milling concentrated the distribution of aromatic molecules in the pitch, which contributed to uniform foaming to give a GFm with a uniform pore distribution and good properties. Liquid phase extraction helped remove light components while retaining large aromatics to form graphitic planes with the largest average size during post-treatment to produce a GFm with the highest degree of graphitization and the fewest open pores, giving the best compression resistance (2.47 MPa), the highest thermal conductivity (64.47 W/(m·K)) and the lowest electrical resistance (13.02 μΩ·m). Characterization combining semi-quantitative spectroscopic analysis with microscopic observations allowed us to control the preparation of the MP-derived GFms.
New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2026-41-02-07)
Aqueous zinc-ion capacitors (ZICs) have significant potential as energy storage systems because of their high specific capacity and superior reliability. Heteroatom-doped carbon materials were known to substantially increase the capacitance of ZICs, however the mechanism remains poorly understood. Coal-based activated carbon was functionalized with B and N to serve as the cathode material in ZICs. This modification gave the material a high specific capacity of 371.4 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 and it retained 74% of its initial capacity after 10 000 cycles. Experimental results and density functional theory calculations revealed that pyridinic N plays a crucial role in increasing Zn2+ storage, demonstrating superior electrochemical reversibility. This work gives valuable insight into the design of high-capacity and ultrafast pseudocapacitive carbon cathodes for ZICs.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25010027
Doping plays a pivotal role in enhancing the performance of organic semiconductors (OSCs) for advanced optoelectronic and thermoelectric applications. In this study, we systematically investigated the doping performance and applicability of the ionic dopant 4-isopropyl-4′-methyldiphenyliodonium tetrakis(penta-fluorophenyl-borate) (DPI-TPFB) as a p-dopant for OSCs. Using the p-type OSC PBBT-2T as a model system, we demonstrated that DPI-TPFB shows significant doping effect, as confirmed by ESR spectra, ultraviolet−visible−near-infrared (UV−vis−NIR) absorption, and work function analysis, and enhances the electronic conductivity of PBBT-2T films by over four orders of magnitude. Furthermore, DPI-TPFB exhibited broad doping applicability, effectively doping various p-type OSCs and even imparting p-type characteristics to the n-type OSC N2200, transforming its intrinsic n-type behavior into p-type. The application of DPI-TPFB-doped PBBT-2T films in organic thermoelectric devices (OTEs) was also explored, achieving a power factor of approximately 10 μW∙m−1∙K−2. These findings highlight the potential of DPI-TPFB as a versatile and efficient dopant for integration into organic optoelectronic and thermoelectric devices.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25010030
This paper describes a 2D/3D vision chip with integrated sensing and processing capabilities. The 2D/3D vision chip architecture includes a 2D/3D image sensor and a programmable visual processor. In this architecture, we design a novel on-chip processing flow with die-to-die image transmission and low-latency fixed-point image processing. The vision chip achieves real-time end-to-end processing of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and conventional image processing algorithms. Furthermore, an end-to-end 2D/3D vision system is built to exhibit the capacity of the vision chip. The vision system achieves real-timing applications under 2D and 3D scenes, such as human face detection (processing delay 10.2 ms) and depth map reconstruction (processing delay 4.1 ms). The frame rate of image acquisition, image process, and result display is larger than 30 fps.
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)66981-0
An advanced AlCrSiN/AlCrN/CrN/Cr multilayer coating was developed via hybrid multiarc ion plating and high-power impulse magnetron sputtering. The multilayer design enhanced the substrate–coating compatibility, achieving a critical load of 87.8 N. Silicon doping induced nanocrystallization and amorphization, increasing the hardness to 26 GPa. At high temperatures, a nanoscale Cr-rich (Cr,Al)2O3 layer was formed, effectively inhibiting oxygen diffusion. The coating underwent unique phase transformations, during which Cr2N and amorphous Si3N4 were converted into dispersed SiCr3 nanoparticles, which stabilized Cr atoms and suppressed their outward diffusion. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations revealed that Cr atoms exhibited higher chemical activity and oxygen-capture capability than Al atoms and Si atoms served as diffusion barriers by pinning onto the oxidized surface, considerably improving the oxidation resistance of the coating.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25020010
The event-based vision sensor (EVS), which can generate efficient spiking data streams by exclusively detecting motion, exemplifies neuromorphic vision methodologies. Generally, its inherent lack of texture features limits effectiveness in complex vision processing tasks, necessitating supplementary visual information. However, to date, no event-based hybrid vision solution has been developed that preserves the characteristics of complete spike data streams to support synchronous computation architectures based on spiking neural network (SNN). In this paper, we present a novel spike-based sensor with digitized pixels, which integrates the event detection structure with the pulse frequency modulation (PFM) circuit. This design enables the simultaneous output of spiking data that encodes both temporal changes and texture information. Fabricated in 180 nm process, the proposed sensor achieves a resolution of 128 × 128, a maximum event rate of 960 Meps, a grayscale frame rate of 117.1 kfps, and a measured power consumption of 60.1 mW, which is suited for high-speed, low-latency, edge SNN-based vision computing systems.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25020011
This paper presents a 4-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM-4) distributed feedback (DFB) laser driver. The driver adopts a digital slicing architecture to achieve high linearity by adjusting the weights of three thermometer-coded main paths. An efficient-biased output stage structure is proposed to reduce power consumption while avoiding the degradation of output node bandwidth typically induced by parasitic capacitance in high-current bias path. A two-tap linear and nonlinear feed-forward equalizer (FFE) is implemented in the digital domain to extend bandwidth limitations and compensate for the dynamic nonlinearity of the DFB laser. The nonlinear FFE is realized at the cost of lower power consumption and smaller area by utilizing the simultaneity of low-speed parallel data. The chip is fabricated in 28 nm CMOS process. Measurement results indicate that, with a laser bias current of 40 mA, a modulation current of 20 mApp, and an operating rate of 32 Gb/s PAM-4, the overall power consumption of the chip is 372 mW, corresponding to an energy efficiency of 11.6 pJ/b.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2025.06.007
Coal and rock dynamic disasters are always major hidden dangers threatening mine safety production. Many researchers use cement concrete material as filling and energy-absorption materials. However, the current material toughness is not sufficient to meet the requirements of mine disaster prevention. Based on this, in order to find the optimal-ratio material that combines strength and toughness, the synergistic mechanism of lithium slag (LS), ethylene–vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber mixtures in improving the mechanical properties of cement concrete, as well as the mechanism of microscopic phase evolution, was analyzed through macroscopic experiments, mesoscopic characterization, microscopic analysis, theoretical calculations, and comprehensive evaluation. The stress-strain curves obtained from the uniaxial compressive strength tests of specimens with different admixtures and fibers were investigated, and the characteristics of different stages were analyzed. The mechanical properties of different admixtures and fiber-reinforced materials, including their advantages and disadvantages, were compared through weighted comprehensive evaluation. The entire process of material failure, ranging from pore compaction, crack initiation, crack propagation, specimen instability to crack penetration, was explained via macroscopic fracture morphology, and the mechanical mechanism of how different admixtures affect the mechanical properties of concrete materials was revealed. The microscopic mechanism and the phase-evolution process of how the admixture affects concrete properties were elucidated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), hydration reaction theory, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) was used to reveal the interfacial pore state and element distribution of the internal microstructure of concrete. The results show that PVA fiber bars can play the role of a “skeleton bridge” to improve the toughness of materials. LS can effectively promote the hydration process and cooperate with PVA fiber bars to enhance the mechanical properties of the material. EVA will inhibit the hydration reaction and degrade the material’s mechanical properties through the “organic isolation” effect. In addition, the on-site application has proven that the R3-group materials in this study can effectively inhibit the deformation of the roadway and possess strong reliability. Finally, the advantages and feasibility of LS-and-fiber-reinforced concrete were discussed from four perspectives: environmental protection, economy, disaster prevention, and development. This paper is expected to provide technical reference for the large-scale disposal of solid waste LS, the performance-optimization direction of concrete materials, and the prevention and control of coal and rock dynamic disasters.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2025.10.003
Salt deposits in China predominantly originate from lake deposits, characterized by thin salt beds interspersed with numerous interlayers, collectively termed bedded salt formations. Historically, the solution mining practices have adopted the layered solution mining approach, inspired by coal mining techniques. However, this approach fails to account for the unique challenges of salt solution mining. Practical implementation is inefficient, costs escalate post-construction, and cavern geometry is constrained by salt beds thickness. Additionally, resource loss in abandoned beds and stability risks in adjacent mining zones remain unresolved. This study investigates mining scheme selection for low-grade salt deposits in Huai’an Salt Basin, introducing a continuous solution mining method that traverses multiple interlayers. Through comprehensive analysis of plastic deformation in caverns and surrounding rock, volume shrinkage rates, and economic costs comparing continuous and layered solution mining approaches, the results demonstrate that: (1) In the layered solution mining with horizontal interconnected wells scheme, plastic deformation zones propagate unevenly, posing interlayer connectivity risks. Concurrently, roof subsidence and floor heave destabilize the structure; (2) the continuous solution mining with horizontal interconnected wells scheme reduces plastic deformation zones to 3.4% of cavern volume, with volumetric shrinkage below 17%, markedly improving stability; (3) Economically, the continuous solution mining scheme generates caverns 2.43 times larger than the layered solution mining, slashing unit volume costs to 41.1% while enhancing resource recovery and long-term viability. The continuous method demonstrates distinct economic advantages and achieves higher resource utilization efficiency in solution mining compared to layered mining. Furthermore, its superior cavern stability presents strong potential for large-scale implementation.
China Foundry•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s41230-025-4144-8
Fe-28Mn-(10-12)Al-(0.8-1.4)C (wt.%) steels were designed to investigate the influence of varying Al and C content on precipitation behavior of κ-carbide and its contribution to the strength of high-Mn low-density steels. Results reveal that both Al and C elements promote κ-carbide precipitation, with C having a more pronounced effect. In near-rapidly solidified 10Al steel strips, increasing C content from 0.8wt.% to 1.4wt.% raises the κ-carbide size from 9.6 nm to 38.2 nm, accompanied by volume fraction increase from 10.2vol.% to 29.8vol.%. In comparison, the average size and volume fraction of κ-carbides in 12Al0.8C steel are only 11.4 nm and 17.8vol.%, respectively. Higher Al and C content reduces the lattice mismatch between austenite and κ-carbides, thus promoting nucleation of κ-carbides. Notably, the increase in C content results in a greater reduction in the Gibbs free energy of κ-carbide, leading to a stronger driving force for κ-carbide formation. Consequently, as the C content increases from 0.8wt.% to 1.4wt.%, the interaction between κ-carbides and dislocations transforms from particle cutting to bypassing, and the maximum precipitation strengthening of κ-carbides reaches 583 MPa. The construction of the relationship between Al and C content and κ-carbide precipitation in this study would provide valuable insights for alloy design of high-Mn steels.
China Foundry•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s41230-025-3113-6
Annealing treatment is an effective strategy to enhance the comprehensive properties of Mg-8Li-3Al-2Zn (LAZ832) alloy, where the cooling rate plays a decisive role in tailoring microstructure and performance. This study systematically investigates the effects of cooling rates, controlled via water quenching (WC), air cooling (AC), and furnace cooling (FC), on the phase evolution, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance of LAZ832. The annealed microstructure consists of α-Mg, β-Li, AlLi, and MgLi2Al phases, and the volume fraction of Al-Li phases (AlLi and MgLi2Al) increases as the cooling rate decreases. Strengthening mechanisms are dominated by solid solution strengthening, driven by the dissolution of Al and Zn atoms into the matrix, which significantly enhances tensile strength. However, excessive solute content leads to a marked decline in ductility. Scanning probe microscope (SPM) reveals an elevated work function due to the dissolution of Al and Zn atoms into the matrix phase, correlating with improved corrosion resistance. Comprehensive analysis demonstrates that air cooling achieves an optimal balance between tensile strength, ductility, and corrosion resistance, outperforming furnace-cooled samples and offering a pragmatic compromise compared to water-quenched specimens with higher strength but brittle failure. These findings establish a robust framework for designing LAZ832 alloys with tailored microstructures and multi-property optimization, advancing their application in lightweight engineering fields.
China Foundry•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s41230-024-4014-9
Microporosity formed in the solidification process of Al alloys is detrimental to the alloy properties. A two-dimensional cellular automaton (CA) model was developed to simulate the microstructure and microporosity formation in Al-Cu alloys, considering variations in Cu content and solidification rate. The results indicate that the Cu content primarily influences the growth of microporosity. To validate the model, directional solidification experiments were conducted on Al-Cu alloys with varing Cu contents and withdrawal rates. The experimental results of dendrites and microporosity characteristics agree well with the predictions from the developed model, thus confirming the validity of the model. The alloy’s liquidus temperature, dendrite morphology, and hydrogen saturation solubility arising from different Cu contents have significant effects on microporosity morphology. The withdrawal rate primarily affects the nucleation of hydrogen microporosity by altering cooling rates and dendritic growth rates, resulting in different microporosity characteristics.
Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s10033-025-01293-9
The discretization of random fields is the first and most important step in the stochastic analysis of engineering structures with spatially dependent random parameters. The essential step of discretization is solving the Fredholm integral equation to obtain the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the covariance functions of the random fields. The collocation method, which has fewer integral operations, is more efficient in accomplishing the task than the time-consuming Galerkin method, and it is more suitable for engineering applications with complex geometries and a large number of elements. With the help of isogeometric analysis that preserves accurate geometry in analysis, the isogeometric collocation method can efficiently achieve the results with sufficient accuracy. An adaptive moment abscissa is proposed to calculate the coordinates of the collocation points to further improve the accuracy of the collocation method. The adaptive moment abscissae led to more accurate results than the classical Greville abscissae when using the moment parameter optimized with intelligent algorithms. Numerical and engineering examples illustrate the advantages of the proposed isogeometric collocation method based on the adaptive moment abscissae over existing methods in terms of accuracy and efficiency.
Journal of Central South University•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-025-6079-z
This paper proposed a RIME-VMD-BiLSTM surrogate model to rapidly and precisely predict the seismic response of a nonlinear vehicle-track-bridge (VTB) system. The surrogate model employs the RIME algorithm to optimize the variational mode decomposition (VMD) parameters (k and α) and the architecture and hyperparameter of the bidirectional long- and short-term memory network (BiLSTM). After comparing different combinations and optimization algorithms, the surrogate model was trained and used to analyze a typical 9-span 32-m high-speed railway simply supported bridge system. A series of numerical examples considering the vehicle speed, bridge damping, seismic intensity, and training strategy on the prediction effect of the surrogate model were conducted on the extended OpenSees platform. The results show that the BiLSTM model performed better than the LSTM model, whereas the prediction effects of the single-LSTM and BiLSTM models were relatively poor. With the introduction of the VMD and RIME optimization techniques, the prediction effect of the proposed RIME-VMD-BiLSTM model was excellent. The abovementioned factors had a significant influence on the seismic response of a VTB system but little impact on the prediction effect of the surrogate model. The proposed surrogate model exhibits notable transferability and robustness for predicting the VTB’s nonlinear seismic response.
Journal of Central South University•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-025-6055-7
TiC/Ti2AlC core-shell structure reinforced Ti-based composite coating was prepared by laser cladding technology. The effect of Ti2AlC content on the microstructure and mechanical behavior of the coating was studied. The results showed that the reinforced phase was mainly TiC/Ti2AlC MAX phase core-shell structure at 20% Ti2AlC content. According to the synthesis mechanism, Ti2AlC nucleated on TiC through the diffusion of Al atoms to further generate the core-shell structure. The friction and wear test results showed that the wear resistance of the coating was significantly improved under the load distribution effect of the core-shell structure. The friction coefficient decreased to 0.342, and the wear rate reached 8.19×10−5 mm3/(N·m), which was only 47.07% of TC4 substrate.
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.
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/s12613-025-3268-6
Despite their attractive features of high energy density, low cost, and safety, polysulfide/iodide flow batteries (SIFBs) are hampered by the sluggish kinetics of the iodide redox couple, which restricts overall performance. Multicomponent sulfides are demonstrated as promising catalysts for accelerating redox reactions. Concurrently, the enhanced configurational entropy arising from multinary compositions drives synergistic effects among constituent elements, establishing a viable pathway to optimize catalytic performance. Building on these foundations, this work introduces a targeted orbital hybridization-optimized electron density strategy to enhance the catalytic activity. Implementing this concept, we developed an in-situ solvothermal synthesis process for an entropy-enhanced AgCuZnSnS4 loaded graphite felt (ACZTS/GF) electrode. The engineered electrode demonstrates exceptional electrocatalytic performance with improved bulk conductivity and interfacial charge transfer kinetics within a SIFB. The cell achieves a high energy efficiency of 88.5% at 20 mA·cm−2 with 10% state-of-charge. Furthermore, the battery delivers a maximum power density of 119.8 mW·cm−2 and exhibits excellent long-term cycling stability. These significant results stem from orbital hybridization-driven electronic state optimization and entropy effect-induced synergistic catalysis.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-3007-4
The enrichment of chromium in the magnetic iron chromite (Fe(CrxFe1−x)2O4) phase is crucial for the recovery and recycling of chromium in stainless-steel pickling sludge. The kinetics and reaction mechanism of the solid-phase reaction between Fe3O4 and Cr2O3 were investigated using the diffusion couple method at 1473 K. Not only the diffusion behavior of Fe2+ ions and Cr3+ ions was elucidated, but also the solid solution behavior of Fe3+ ions was discussed clearly. The microscopic morphology of the diffusion couple and the change in the concentrations of Fe and Cr cations across the diffusion layers were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The self-diffusion coefficients of cations were calculated based on the concentration profiles of Fe and Cr, with the results indicating that the self-diffusion coefficient of the Fe ions was consistently higher than that of the Cr ions. Additionally, a mixture of Fe3O4 and Cr2O3 was annealed at 1373–1473 K for 1–5 h, and the kinetic parameters were calculated by studying the phase content of the product. The phase content of Fe(CrxFe1−x)2O4 in the product was determined by Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction data, revealing that an activation energy (E) of 177.20 kJ·mol−1 and a pre-exponential factor (B) of 610.78 min−1 of the solid-phase reaction that produced the Fe(CrxFe1−x)2O4 spinel.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-3047-9
Low- to medium-maturity oil shale resources display substantial reserves, offering promising prospects for in-situ conversion in China. Investigating the evolution of the mechanical properties of the reservoir and caprock under in-situ high-temperature and confinement conditions is of considerable importance. Compared to conventional mechanical experiments on rock samples after high-temperature treatment, in-situ high-temperature experiments can more accurately characterize the behavior of rocks in practical engineering, thereby providing a more realistic reflection of their mechanical properties. In this study, an in-situ high-temperature triaxial compression testing machine is developed to conduct in-situ compression tests on sandstone at different temperatures (25, 200, 400, 500, and 650°C) and confining pressures (0, 10, and 20 MPa). Based on the experimental results, the temperature-dependent changes in compressive strength, peak strain, elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio, cohesion, and internal friction angle are thoroughly analyzed and discussed. Results indicate that the mass of sandstone gradually decreases as the temperature increases. The thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of sandstone exhibit a linear relationship with temperature. Peak stress decreases as the temperature rises, while it increases with higher confining pressures. Notably, the influence of confining pressure on peak stress diminishes at higher temperatures. Additionally, as the temperature rises, the Poisson’s ratio of sandstone decreases. The internal friction angle also decreases with increasing temperature, with 400°C acting as the threshold temperature. Interestingly, under uniaxial conditions, the damage stress of sandstone is less affected by temperature. However, when the confining pressure is 10 or 20 MPa, the damage stress decreases as the temperature increases. This study enhances our understanding of the influence of in-situ high-temperature and confinement conditions on the mechanical properties of sandstone strata. The study also provides valuable references and experimental data that support the development of low- to medium-maturity oil shale resources.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-2957-x
Cyanide is the most widely used reagent in gold production processes. However, cyanide is highly toxic and poses safety hazards during transportation and use. Therefore, it is necessary to develop gold leaching reagents that can replace cyanide. This paper introduces a method for synthesizing a gold leaching reagent. Sodium cyanate is used as the main raw material, with sodium hydroxide and sodium ferrocyanide used as additives. The gold leaching reagent can be obtained under the conditions of a mass ratio of sodium cyanate, sodium hydroxide, and sodium ferrocyanide of 15:3:1, synthesis temperature of 600°C, and synthesis time of 1 h. This reagent has a good recovery effect on gold concentrate and gold-containing electronic waste. The gold leaching rate of roasted desulfurized gold concentrate can reach 87.56%. For the extraction experiments of three types of gold-containing electronic waste, the gold leaching rate can reach over 90% after 2 h. Furthermore, the reagent exhibits good selectivity towards gold. Component analysis indicates that the effective component in the reagent could be sodium isocyanate.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01588-x
As modern communication and detection technologies advance at a swift pace, multifunctional electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials with active/positive infrared stealth, hydrophobicity, and electric-thermal conversion ability have received extensive attention. Meeting the aforesaid requirements simultaneously remains a huge challenge. In this research, the melamine foam (MF)/polypyrrole (PPy) nanowire arrays (MF@PPy) were fabricated via one-step electrochemical polymerization. The hierarchical MF@PPy foam was composed of three-dimensional PPy micro-skeleton and ordered PPy nanowire arrays. Due to the upwardly grown PPy nanowire arrays, the MF@PPy foam possessed good hydrophobicity ability with a water contact angle of 142.00° and outstanding stability under various harsh environments. Meanwhile, the MF@PPy foam showed excellent thermal insulation property on account of the low thermal conductivity and elongated ligament characteristic of PPy nanowire arrays. Furthermore, taking advantage of the high conductivity (128.2 S m−1), the MF@PPy foam exhibited rapid Joule heating under 3 V, resulting in dynamic infrared stealth and thermal camouflage effects. More importantly, the MF@PPy foam exhibited remarkable EMI shielding effectiveness values of 55.77 dB and 19,928.57 dB cm2 g−1. Strong EMI shielding was put down to the hierarchically porous PPy structure, which offered outstanding impedance matching, conduction loss, and multiple attenuations. This innovative approach provides significant insights to the development of advanced multifunctional EMI shielding foams by constructing PPy nanowire arrays, showing great applications in both military and civilian fields.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01546-7
Sodium-ion batteries hold great promise as next-generation energy storage systems. However, the high instability of the electrode/electrolyte interphase during cycling has seriously hindered the development of SIBs. In particular, an unstable cathode–electrolyte interphase (CEI) leads to successive electrolyte side reactions, transition metal leaching and rapid capacity decay, which tends to be exacerbated under high-voltage conditions. Therefore, constructing dense and stable CEIs are crucial for high-performance SIBs. This work reports localized high-concentration electrolyte by incorporating a highly oxidation-resistant sulfolane solvent with non-solvent diluent 1H, 1H, 5H-octafluoropentyl-1, 1, 2, 2-tetrafluoroethyl ether, which exhibited excellent oxidative stability and was able to form thin, dense and homogeneous CEI. The excellent CEI enabled the O3-type layered oxide cathode NaNi1/3Mn1/3Fe1/3O2 (NaNMF) to achieve stable cycling, with a capacity retention of 79.48% after 300 cycles at 1 C and 81.15% after 400 cycles at 2 C with a high charging voltage of 4.2 V. In addition, its nonflammable nature enhances the safety of SIBs. This work provides a viable pathway for the application of sulfolane-based electrolytes on SIBs and the design of next-generation high-voltage electrolytes.