Academic Research Journal•2026•DOI: 10.26599/NR.2026.94908686
Corrosion and icing critically threaten the service safety of magnesium (Mg) alloys in aerospace and transportation industries. Although superhydrophobic coatings offer effective anti-corrosion and anti-icing functions, they are limited by susceptibility to failure due to physical damage or capillary condensation. Here, a multifunctional integrated coating (SAAS) is reported, which endows coated Mg alloys with excellent superhydrophobicity, active anti-corrosion performance, anti-icing properties, and fast self-healing capabilities. Layered double hydroxide (LDH) modified and intercalated with sodium laurate (La) acts as nanoreservoirs, releasing La corrosion inhibitors via an anion-exchange process to retard corrosion. Incorporation of MXene provides full-spectrum high absorption and efficient photothermal conversion, achieving a surface temperature of 61 °C under 1.0 sun illumination, which prevents adhesion and accumulation of supercooled droplets. Near-infrared (NIR) irradiation induces macromolecular chain migration and phase transition, enabling fast self-healing of coating damage. The SAAS coating exhibits a water contact angle of 153°, a corrosion current density of 1.294 × 10⁻⁹ A·cm⁻² (four orders of magnitude lower than bare Mg alloy), an icing delay time approximately 23 times longer than the substrate, and a healing rate of about 0.34 cm·s⁻¹ under NIR. This study provides a novel strategy for enhancing aircraft skin durability and offers insights into multifunctional coating design.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2026•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2026.01.002
To address the deviation between rigid confining pressure experiments and actual engineering conditions of deep backfill mining, where backfill near the working face has less confining pressure, while that in deep goaf areas is under high confining pressure, this study investigates the load-bearing characteristics of rock granular materials under flexible passive confining pressure. Customized PC molds with varying wall thicknesses and rigid steel molds were used to construct a gradient confining pressure environment. Compression tests were conducted, combined with the characterization of acoustic emission (AE) monitoring, strain measurement, particle sieving, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation. The results show that flexible passive confining pressure divides the particle compression process into three stages that are different from those under traditional rigid constraints, namely the initial compaction stage, the crushing failure stage, and the lateral confinement-dominated stage. AE signals exhibit a bimodal energy distribution, and the time interval between the two can vary by more than 4 times with changes. The failure modes transition from shear to tension. Compared with intact materials, granular materials under lateral confinement maintain continuous volume contraction, and can even maintain a continuous volume contraction trend at least when the strain reaches 8%. And lateral confinement stiffness significantly enhances axial bearing capacity: when the axial strain reaches 30%, the axial stress in the rigid confinement group is nearly 5 times that in the flexible confinement group. Fractal dimension increases from 1.94 to 2.39 as the confinement stiffness rises. This study clarifies the influence mechanism of lateral confinement stiffness on granular mechanics, providing fundamental support for optimizing backfill design based on goaf locations and improving surrounding rock control in deep green mining.
Journal of Central South University•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-026-6266-6
To reduce the subjectivity of conventional instability criteria in deep rock engineering, this study develops an energy-driven criterion grounded in cusp catastrophe theory and embeds it within an improved nonlinear Hoek-Brown (H-B) strength-reduction framework. We derive an explicit algebraic transformation that maps a quartic energy potential to the standard cusp form and introduce the mutation eigenvalue Δ as a physically interpretable measure of proximity to the vanishing of the energy barrier. Building on this, failure staging is diagnosed in practice by the concurrence of a slope mutation in displacement-reduction-factor curves, a threshold jump of total plastic strain-energy increment typically exceeding threefold between adjacent reduction steps, and video-confirmed crack through-connection. Integrating Δ with the nonlinear reduction scheme yields reproducible integral safety factors. Two representative cavern layouts (Model A/B) are validated by scaled physical model tests and companion simulations: global failure occurs at the overload safety factor K=2.33 for Model A and K=2.73 for Model B, with relative deviations from tests (2.4P0 and 2.9P0) of 1.3% and −5.9%, respectively, coinciding with the energy-jump threshold and the multi-evidence diagnosis. Compared with the equivalent Mohr-Coulomb parameter approach, the improved nonlinear scheme produces smaller (more conservative) safety factors by 5.7% and 2.5%, while better matching the observed destabilization process. The framework clarifies the role of Δ as an energy-based instability indicator and offers a practical, verifiable criterion for cavern stability assessment.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01817-x
Organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells achieve remarkable efficiencies (> 26%) yet face stability challenges. Quasi-2D alternating-cation-interlayer perovskites offer enhanced stability through hydrophobic spacer cations but suffer from vertical phase segregation and buried interface defects. Herein, we introduce dicyanodiamide (DCD) to simultaneously address these dual limitations in GA(MA)nPbnI3n+1 perovskites. The guanidine group in DCD passivates undercoordinated Pb2+ and MA+ vacancies at the perovskite/TiO2 interface, while cyano groups eliminate oxygen vacancies in TiO2 via Ti4+–CN coordination, reducing interfacial trap density by 73% with respect to the control sample. In addition, DCD regulates crystallization kinetics, suppressing low-n-phase aggregation and promoting vertical alignment of high-n phases, which benefit for carrier transport. This dual-functional modification enhances charge transport and stabilizes energy-level alignment. The optimized devices achieve a record power conversion efficiency of 21.54% (vs. 19.05% control) and retain 94% initial efficiency after 1200 h, outperforming unmodified counterparts (84% retention). Combining defect passivation with phase homogenization, this work establishes a molecular bridge strategy to decouple stability-efficiency trade-offs in low-dimensional perovskites, providing a universal framework for interface engineering in high-performance optoelectronics.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01782-5
Rechargeable zinc-ion batteries have emerged as one of the most promising candidates for large-scale energy storage applications due to their high safety and low cost. However, the use of Zn metal in batteries suffers from many severe issues, including dendrite growth and parasitic reactions, which often lead to short cycle lives. Herein, we propose the construction of functional organic interfacial layers (OIL) on the Zn metal anodes to address these challenges. Through a well-designed organic-assist pre-construction process, a densely packed artificial layer featuring the immobilized zwitterionic molecular brush can be constructed, which can not only efficiently facilitate the smooth Zn plating and stripping, but also introduce a stable environment for battery reactions. Through density functional theory calculations and experimental characterizations, we verify that the immobilized organic propane sulfonate on Zn anodes can significantly lower the energy barrier and increase the kinetics of Zn2+ transport. Thus, the Zn metal anode with the functional OIL can significantly improve the cycle life of the symmetric cell to over 3500 h stable operation. When paired with the H2V3O8 cathode, the aqueous Zn-ion full cells can be continuously cycled over 7000 cycles, marking an important milestone for Zn anode development for potential industrial applications.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01718-z
Pressure sensors are essential for a wide range of applications, including health monitoring, industrial diagnostics, etc. However, achieving both high sensitivity and mechanical ability to withstand high pressure in a single material remains a significant challenge. This study introduces a high-performance cellulose hydrogel inspired by the biomimetic layered porous structure of human skin. The hydrogel features a novel design composed of a soft layer with large macropores and a hard layer with small micropores, each of which contribute uniquely to its pressure-sensing capabilities. The macropores in the soft part facilitate significant deformation and charge accumulation, providing exceptional sensitivity to low pressures. In contrast, the microporous structure in the hard part enhances pressure range, ensuring support under high pressures and preventing structural failure. The performance of hydrogel is further optimized through ion introduction, which improves its conductivity, and as well the sensitivity. The sensor demonstrated a high sensitivity of 1622 kPa⁻¹, a detection range up to 160 kPa, excellent conductivity of 4.01 S m⁻¹, rapid response time of 33 ms, and a low detection limit of 1.6 Pa, outperforming most existing cellulose-based sensors. This innovative hierarchically porous architecture not only enhances the pressure-sensing performance but also offers a simple and effective approach for utilizing natural polymers in sensing technologies. The cellulose hydrogel demonstrates significant potential in both health monitoring and industrial applications, providing a sensitive, durable, and versatile solution for pressure sensing.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01697-1
The transition to renewable energy sources has elevated the importance of SIBs (SIBs) as cost-effective alternatives to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for large-scale energy storage. This review examines the mechanisms of gas generation in SIBs, identifying sources from cathode materials, anode materials, and electrolytes, which pose safety risks like swelling, leakage, and explosions. Gases such as CO2, H2, and O2 primarily arise from the instability of cathode materials, side reactions between electrode and electrolyte, and electrolyte decomposition under high temperatures or voltages. Enhanced mitigation strategies, encompassing electrolyte design, buffer layer construction, and electrode material optimization, are deliberated upon. Accordingly, subsequent research endeavors should prioritize long-term high-precision gas detection to bolster the safety and performance of SIBs, thereby fortifying their commercial viability and furnishing dependable solutions for large-scale energy storage and electric vehicles.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2025.02.006
Understanding the anchorage performance of en-echelon joints under cyclic shear loading is crucial for optimizing support strategies in jointed rock masses. This study examines the anchorage effects on en-echelon joints with various orientations using laboratory cyclic shear tests. By comparing unbolted and bolted en-echelon joints, we analyze shear zone damage, shear properties, dilatancy, energy absorption, and acoustic emission characteristics to evaluate anchoring effects across shear cycles and joint orientations. Results reveal that bolted en-echelon joints experience more severe shear zone damage after cycles, with bolt deformation correlating to shear zone width. Bolted en-echelon joints exhibit faster shear strength deterioration and higher cumulative strength loss compared to unbolted ones, with losses ranging from 20.04% to 72.76%. The compressibility of en-echelon joints reduces the anchoring effect during shear cycles, leading to lower shear strength of bolted en-echelon joints in later stages of shear cycles compared to unbolted ones. Bolts reinforce en-echelon joints more effectively at non-positive angles, with the best performance observed at 0° and –60°. Anchorage accelerates the transition from rolling friction to sliding friction in the shear zone, enhancing energy absorption, which is crucial for rock projects under dynamic shear loading. Additionally, rock bolts expedite the transition of the cumulative AE hits and cumulative AE energy curves from rapid to steady growth, indicating that strong bolt-rock interactions accelerate crack initiation, propagation, and energy release.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2025.09.011
Hydrate-based gas separation offers a promising approach for coalbed methane recovery, reaching energy conservation and emissions reduction. This study innovatively applied high-gravity technology to enhance hydrate formation in separating 25%CH4/67%N2/8% O2 for achieving rapid and efficient methane recovery. Systematic investigations were conducted at 283.2 K and 3.0 MPa with tetrahydrofuran at a molar concentration of 5.56% and L-tryptophan at a mass concentration of 0.5% additives, first evaluating liquid flow rate effects (0–20 mL/min) on mixed hydrate kinetic performance and separation efficiency, followed by rotating speed optimization (0–1200 r min−1) under the optimal liquid flow rate. The high-gravity system amplified the gas–liquid contact area by ∼1155 times through cascaded liquid supply and secondary shear effects, methane molecules entered the hydrate phase rapidly under the highest driving force with the significantly intensified mass transfer. Optimal conditions (20 mL/min, 600 r min−1) yielded an exceptional initial hydrate growth rate of 58.59 mmol/(mol h) and methane recovery of 50.76%, about 71.33 and 0.58 times higher than the static system, respectively. Gas chromatography and Raman spectrometer analyses revealed superior methane enrichment in hydrate phase at 90% gas uptake completion, with a concurrent 41.17% reduction in process duration. These findings demonstrate the efficacy of high-gravity-enhanced hydrate technology for coalbed methane separation, offering valuable insights for optimizing clean energy utilization.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-025-3230-7
The effect of heavy metals on the properties and hydration of blast furnace slag–cement composites (BFS-CC) remain unclear. In this study, two BFS-CC (denoted as DBFS-CC and WBFS-CC) were prepared by dry and wet grinding of BFS, respectively. The effect of Cu(II) on BFS-CC’s properties and hydration was investigated by adding representative copper contaminants (CuO, CuCl2, and CuS) to the composites. Adding 1.0wt% CuO and 0.5wt% CuS increased the 3-d compressive strength of DBFS-CC by 14.9% and 5.7%, respectively, but suppressed the 3-d strength of WBFS-CC. This trend reversed at 28-d curing, where adding 1.5wt% CuO, 2.0wt% CuCl2, and 1.5wt% CuS enhanced the compressive strength of WBFS-CC by 23.4%, 6.2%, and 13.6%, respectively, but adversely affected the strength of DBFS-CC. For 28-d hydration, adding CuCl2 decreased the hydration degree of DBFS-CC but enhanced that of WBFS-CC. Adding CuO promoted the hydration degree of both composites, while adding CuS exhibited inhibitory effects. DBFS-CC immobilized CuCl2 better due to a higher hydration degree, while WBFS-CC immobilized CuO and CuS better due to having finer unhydrated BFS particles and a denser matrix. This study not only focuses on the Cu(II) immobilization effect but also reveals the differential effects of Cu(II) species on the hydration process, providing novel insights into heavy metal interactions in BFS-CC systems and their safe disposal.
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.
Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2024•DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2024.12.006
The storage of solid waste in Bayan Obo has resulted in significant resource wastage and environmental concerns. In this study, an efficient process was developed to recover iron and rare earth elements (REEs) from this waste by processes of hydrogen-based mineral phase transformation (HMPT), magnetic separation, and flotation. Under optimal HMPT conditions (525 °C, 12.5 min, and 30% H2 concentration), an iron concentrate with a TFe grade of 64.09% and a recovery of 95.33% was obtained. The magnetic properties of the solid waste were greatly enhanced by HMPT, allowing the effective magnetic separation of iron minerals. Further optimization of the flotation process resulted in a REEs concentrate with a rare earth oxide (REO) grade of 65%–70% and a REEs recovery of 60%–65%. Hematite was reduced to magnetite during HMPT, and bastnaesite was decomposed to REEs oxides and fluorides, and the particle structure was significantly destroyed. However, changes in monazite, fluorite, and barite were minimal.