Opto-Electronic Advances (光电进展)•2026•DOI: 10.29026/oea.2026.250267
Scene-level passive 3D imaging under natural conditions remains a critical unmet need, as established techniques such as structured light, LiDAR, and active stereo rely on controlled illumination and scanning, limiting their applicability to large, dynamic outdoor environments. Passive polarization 3D imaging offers inherent advantages for long-range, high-precision reconstruction but is fundamentally impeded by two obstacles: the π ambiguity of the azimuth component of surface normals and the discontinuity of multiple targets within a scene. This study introduces a scene-level passive polarization 3D imaging method that integrates binocular stereo vision with polarization cues. The reconstruction of discontinuous targets is formulated as a minimization problem, where pixel-level normal directions from polarization and absolute scale information from binocular stereo serve as mutual constraints for iterative optimization. This framework resolves the discontinuity challenge and recovers true depth. A scale normalization strategy globally aligns multi-view measurement data, eliminating inter-frame scale inconsistencies that hinder dynamic reconstruction. Multi-frame point cloud fusion yields the final scene-level 3D structure. Experimental validation on natural field scenes demonstrates robust, wide-scene, high-accuracy passive video reconstructions with centimeter-level precision. This passive polarization stereo approach represents a significant advancement in scene-level 3D imaging, with potential applications in autonomous navigation, environmental monitoring, and cultural heritage documentation.
Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China (中国有色金属学报)•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1003-6326(26)67057-4
The ignition vulnerability of magnesium alloys restricts their deployment in high-temperature aerospace and railway applications. This study investigates the influence of calcium content (0, 0.6, 1.2, 1.8 wt.%) on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and ignition resistance of gravity-cast and hot-extruded Mg−6Zn−0.6Zr alloys. Calcium addition promotes the formation of Ca2Mg6Zn3 phases while suppressing MgZn2 precipitation in the as-cast condition. Homogenization dissolves most MgZn2 phases but retains numerous Ca2Mg6Zn3 particles. Subsequent extrusion fragments the Ca2Mg6Zn3 phases and precipitates nanoscale MgZn2 within the matrix. The synergy of fine grains and high-density precipitates substantially enhances strength. The Mg−6Zn−0.6Zr−1.2Ca alloy achieves optimal mechanical performance, with ultimate tensile strength of 380.1 MPa, yield strength of 360.1 MPa, and elongation of 10.4%. The ignition point increases from 556 °C for the Ca-free alloy to 824 °C for the 1.8 wt.% Ca alloy, attributed to the formation of a dense CaO−MgO oxide layer. These findings demonstrate that calcium alloying offers a cost-effective, rare-earth-free pathway to simultaneously improve mechanical integrity and ignition resistance in magnesium alloys.
Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China (中国有色金属学报)•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1003-6326(26)67055-0
Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) offer exceptional high-temperature performance and lightweight characteristics, yet their limited manufacturability restricts fabrication of complex, large-scale structural components. Ni-based superalloys exhibit outstanding elevated-temperature properties, and hybrid CMC/superalloy components can significantly expand engineering applications. Interfacial residual stresses arising from thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) mismatch, thermal gradient differences, and phase transformations severely impair joint performance. This review systematically examines residual stress formation mechanisms in CMCs/Ni-based superalloys joints and summarizes mitigation methodologies including interlayer techniques, composite filler approaches, and interface structure design strategies. Key experimental findings from recent studies demonstrate that composite fillers incorporating nanoparticles (e.g., Ag-CuO-Al2O3, Si3N4, Sc2W3O12, graphene nanosheets, carbon nanotubes, WC) effectively regulate interfacial reactions and relieve residual stresses. For instance, Ag-Cu-Ti+Sc2(WO4)3 composite filler reduced residual stress in Cf/SiC-GH3536 joints, while graphene nanoplatelets reinforced AgCuTi fillers improved SiC/GH99 joint integrity. Mo and B inserts in SiCf/SiC-Ni-based superalloy joints provided microstructural control and reinforcement. These methodologies address the critical bottleneck of CTE mismatch-induced stress concentration, offering pathways to reliable CMC/superalloy hybrid structures for aerospace, energy, and propulsion applications. Challenges remain in scaling these techniques for industrial production and ensuring long-term stability under service conditions.
Chinese Journal of Energetic Materials (含能材料)•2026•DOI: 10.11943/CJEM2026125
Underwater blasting is indispensable for marine engineering, yet its shock waves can damage reef-building corals. This study investigated the physiological damage to Cyphastrea japonica holobiont from underwater explosion shock waves, examining coral host, symbiotic zooxanthellae, and microbiota. The coral's tolerance threshold was 6.74 MPa. Protein content decreased with increasing shock wave intensity, with a maximum reduction of 59.6%. At 11.01 MPa, zooxanthellae density dropped by 87% and photosynthetic rate by 49%, causing significant bleaching. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities significantly decreased, indicating impaired antioxidant defense. Microbial community diversity at the phylum level increased significantly, and genus-level structure became more complex. The study reveals a stepwise damage pathway from host to zooxanthellae photosynthesis to microbial community, providing scientific basis for coral protection during marine blasting.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2026•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/26020013
Polarization is a defining lever of wurtzite (WZ) III-nitrides, enabling two-dimensional electron and hole gases, polarization doping, and electrostatic control in GaN-based power, RF, and optoelectronic devices. Recent advances, especially ferroelectric nitrides, have pushed polarization to unprecedented magnitudes, elevating it from a static constant to an engineering knob. However, the field has long suffered from ambiguity in polarization magnitude, orientation, and mapping to crystal polarity due to inconsistent sign conventions and reference choices. This mini-review highlights recent progress that rethinks and unifies polarization in wurtzite III-nitrides. It discusses how experimental re-benchmarking of giant polarization is reshaping understanding and enabling predictive polarization engineering. Key issues include the dependence of polarization sign on coordinate choice and magnitude on reference structure, as exemplified by Bernardini et al.'s 1997 predictions (values below 0.1 C/m², downward orientation for metal-polar) and Dreyer et al.'s 2016 refinements. The review emphasizes that consistent benchmarking under a unified convention makes interface bound charge density a quantitative design knob rather than an adjustable fitting parameter, benefiting classical HEMTs, N-polar stacks, polarization-doped structures, and ferroelectric nitride integration. A pragmatic roadmap is proposed: reports should state polarity, sign convention, and reference explicitly to ensure portability and falsifiability.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2026•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/26020003
Single-photon sources are indispensable for scalable quantum information technologies, including quantum communication, key distribution, computing, and sensing. Optically active point defects in solid-state materials, known as color centers, are promising candidates for next-generation single-photon emitters (SPEs) due to their atom-like properties, enabling high efficiency, purity, and indistinguishability, while their solid-state nature facilitates integration into scalable quantum photonic devices. Among these, color centers in wide-bandgap semiconductors are particularly attractive for their stable operation at room temperature or higher and wide spectral tunability. Their compatibility with mature semiconductor technology allows direct integration into practical optoelectronic systems. Recent progress has realized defect-based SPEs in diamond, silicon carbide (SiC), silicon nitride (Si3N4), gallium nitride (GaN), aluminum nitride (AlN), hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), zinc oxide (ZnO), and beta-phase gallium oxide (β-Ga2O3). This mini-review summarizes recent advances in SPEs based on wide-bandgap semiconductors, highlighting their potential for integrated quantum photonic circuits. Key platforms include diamond, hosting nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers and group-IV impurity-based defects (SiV, GeV, SnV, PbV) with narrow emission lines and nanosecond lifetimes; Si3N4, where native defects in nitrogen-rich films exhibit linearly polarized emission at 567–670 nm with saturated room-temperature single-photon intensity of 5×10^5 cps; and h-BN, with an ultrawide bandgap of ~6 eV, enabling ultrabright, polarized single-photon emission at room temperature, with carbon-related defects (VBCN−) identified as visible quantum emitters. Challenges remain in structural identification and spectral uniformity, but controlled synthesis and strain engineering offer pathways to scalable quantum photonics.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-02016-4
Three-dimensional porous foams and aerogels with high compressibility and elasticity hold great promise for applications in pressure sensing, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and thermal insulation. However, their widespread application is often hindered by compromised structural stability and inadequate fatigue resistance under repeated compression. Herein, a sustainable “top-down” cell wall reconfiguration strategy is proposed to fabricate highly elastic, fatigue-resistant, and electrically conductive lamellar wood sponge from natural balsa wood. This strategy involves the conversion of the intrinsic cellular structure of wood into an arch-shaped lamellar architecture reinforced by chemical cross-linking, followed by coating the lamellar scaffold with conductive polypyrrole (PPy) via in situ polymerization. The resulting PPy-coated cross-linked wood sponge (CWS@PPy) demonstrates reversible compressibility, excellent fatigue resistance (∼3.5% plastic deformation after 10,000 cycles at 40% strain). The strain-induced conductivity changes in CWS@PPy enable tunable EMI shielding effectiveness under cyclic compression and also facilities high-sensitivity pressure sensing (0.72 kPa−1). Additionally, CWS@PPy exhibits a low through-plane thermal conductivity of 0.037 W m−1 K−1, which can be dynamically tuned for adaptive thermal management. The proposed mechanically robust and conductive wood sponge provides a versatile and sustainable platform for next-generation smart devices.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01999-4
With the widespread application of lithium batteries in electric vehicles and energy storage systems, battery-related safety and reliability issues have become increasingly prominent. Conventional monitoring methods often struggle to address dynamic changes under complex operando. In recent years, flexible sensing technology has emerged as a promising solution for battery health monitoring due to its high adaptability and conformability to complex structures. Meanwhile, empowered by artificial intelligence (AI) for data analysis, the collected data enables efficient and accurate state assessment, offering robust support for accident prevention. Against this background, this paper first explores the integrated applications of flexible sensors in battery health monitoring and their unique advantages in addressing complex battery operating conditions, while analyzing the potential of AI in battery state analysis. Subsequently, it systematically reviews mainstream flexible sensing technologies (e.g., film sensors, thermocouples, and optical fiber sensors), elucidating their mechanisms for revealing intricate internal battery processes during operation. Finally, the paper discusses AI’s role in enhancing monitoring efficiency and accuracy, and envisions future research directions and application prospects. This work aims to provide technical references for the battery health monitoring field as well as promote the application of flexible sensing technologies in improving battery system safety and reliability.
Nano-Micro Letters•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01943-6
Seawater zinc-air batteries are promising energy storage devices due to their high energy density and utilization of seawater electrolytes. However, their efficiency is hindered by the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and chloride-induced degradation over conventional catalysts. In this study, we proposed a universal synthetic strategy to construct heteroatom axially coordinated Fe–N4 single-atom seawater catalyst materials (Cl–Fe–N4 and S–Fe–N4). X-ray absorption spectroscopy confirmed their five-coordinated square pyramidal structure. Systematic evaluation of catalytic activities revealed that compared with S–Fe–N4, Cl–Fe–N4 exhibits smaller electrochemical active surface area and specific surface area, yet demonstrates higher limiting current density (5.8 mA cm−2). The assembled zinc-air batteries using Cl–Fe–N4 showed superior power density (187.7 mW cm−2 at 245.1 mA cm−2), indicating that Cl axial coordination more effectively enhances the intrinsic ORR activity. Moreover, Cl–Fe–N4 demonstrates stronger Cl− poisoning resistance in seawater environments. Chronoamperometry tests and zinc-air battery cycling performance evaluations confirmed its enhanced stability. Density functional theory calculations revealed that the introduction of heteroatoms in the axial direction regulates the electron center of Fe single atom, leading to more active reaction intermediates and increased electron density of Fe single sites, thereby enhancing the reduction in adsorbed intermediates and hence the overall ORR catalytic activity.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01845-7
The development of highly efficient and durable bifunctional catalysts with minimal precious metal usage is critical for advancing proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE). We present an iridium–platinum nanoalloy (IrPt) supported on lanthanum and nickel co-doped cobalt oxide, featuring a core–shell architecture with an amorphous IrPtOx shell and an IrPt core. This catalyst exhibits exceptional bifunctional activity for oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions in acidic media, achieving 2 A cm−2 at 1.72 V in a PEMWE device with ultralow loadings of 0.075 mgIr cm−2 and 0.075 mgPt cm−2 at anode and cathode, respectively. It demonstrates outstanding durability, sustaining water splitting for over 646 h with a degradation rate of only 5 μV h−1, outperforming state-of-the-art Ir-based catalysts. In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory simulations reveal that the optimized charge redistribution between Ir and Pt, along with the IrPt core–IrPtOx shell structure, enhances performance. The Ir–O–Pt active sites enable a bi-nuclear mechanism for oxygen evolution reaction and a Volmer–Tafel mechanism for hydrogen evolution reaction, reducing kinetic barriers. Hierarchical porosity, abundant oxygen vacancies, and a high electrochemical surface area further improve electron and mass transfer. This work offers a cost-effective solution for green hydrogen production and advances the design of high-performance bifunctional catalysts for PEMWE.
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/s40820-025-01773-6
Crystallographic engineering of Zn anodes to favor the exposure of (002) planes is an effective approach for improving stability in aqueous electrolytes. However, achieving non-epitaxial electrodeposition with a pronounced (002) texture and maintaining this orientation during extended cycling remains challenging. This study questions the prevailing notion that a single (002)-textured Zn anode inherently ensures superior stability, showing that such anodes cannot sustain their texture in ZnSO4 electrolytes. We then introduced a novel electrolyte additive, benzyltriethylammonium chloride (TEBAC), which preserves the (002) texture over prolonged cycling. Furthermore, we successfully converted commercial Zn foils into highly crystalline (002)-textured Zn without any pretreatment. Experiments and theoretical calculations revealed that the cationic TEBA+ selectively adsorbs onto the anode surface, promoting the exposure of the Zn(002) plane and suppressing dendrite formation. A critical discovery was the pitting corrosion caused by chloride ions from TEBAC, which we mitigated by anion substitution. This modification leads to a remarkable lifespan of 375 days for the Zn||Zn symmetric cells at 1 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2. Furthermore, a TEBA+-modified Zn||VO2 full cell demonstrates high specific capacity and robust cycle stability at 10.0 A g−1. These results provide valuable insights and strategies for developing long-life Zn ion batteries.
China Foundry•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s41230-025-4031-3
Columnar to equiaxial crystal transition (CET) is an important technological feature in many casting processes. This work investigated the CET during the solidification of Mg-Gd-Zn alloys by combining synchrotron radiation in-situ imaging and phase-field method. Results show that the grain size, dendrite tip radius, and secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) all exponentially decrease with an increase in cooling rate (Vc). The variation in the radius of the dendritic tip is similar to the prediction of the Hunt model, while the variation in the SDAS is close to the Bouchard-Kirkaldy model. It is worth noting that the CET is promoted by a decrease in the temperature gradient (G) and an increase in the cooling rate (Vc). In both equiaxed and columnar crystal regions, the dendrite tip growth rate and solid phase volume fraction increase with increasing G and Vc. In addition, the CET process has been predicted by simulation. The results are consistent with the predictions of the GTK model, which is important for the in-depth study of the dendrite morphology in different crystallization regions. In the final stage, the effects of different critical subcooling degrees and nucleation densities on the CET were explored. The results show that increasing the critical nucleation supercooling degree can inhibit the generation of equiaxial crystals, while increasing the nucleation density helps to promote the CET.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01603-1
Traditional hemostatic materials are difficult to meet the needs of non-compressible bleeding and for coagulopathic patients. In addition, open wounds are susceptible to infection, and then develop into chronic wounds. However, the development of integrated dressings that do not depend on coagulation pathway and improve the microenvironment of chronic wounds remains a challenge. Inspired by the porous structure and composition of the natural extracellular matrix, adipic dihydrazide modified gelatin (GA), dodecylamine-grafted hyaluronic acid (HD), and MnO2 nanozyme (manganese dioxide)@DFO (deferoxamine)@PDA (polydopamine) (MDP) nanoparticles were combined to prepare GA/HD/MDP cryogels through amidation reaction and hydrogen bonding. These cryogels exhibited good fatigue resistance, photothermal antibacterial (about 98% killing ratios of both Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) after 3 min near-infrared irradiation), reactive oxygen species scavenging, oxygen release, and angiogenesis properties. Furthermore, in the liver defect model of rats with coagulopathy, the cryogel displayed less bleeding and shorter hemostasis time than commercial gelatin sponge. In MRSA-infected diabetic wounds, the cryogel could decrease wound inflammation and oxidative stress, alleviate the hypoxic environment, promote collagen deposition, and induce vascular regeneration, showing a better repair effect compared with the Tegaderm™ film. These results indicated that GA/HD/MDP cryogels have great potential in non-compressible hemorrhage for coagulopathic patients and in healing infected wounds for diabetic patients.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01666-8
Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) as an emerging modality for malignant tumors mainly involves in sonosensitizers and low-intensity ultrasound (US), which can safely penetrate the tissue without significant attenuation. SDT not only has the advantages including high precision, non-invasiveness, and minimal side effects, but also overcomes the limitation of low penetration of light to deep tumors. The cytotoxic reactive oxygen species can be produced by the utilization of sonosensitizers combined with US and kill tumor cells. However, the underlying mechanism of SDT has not been elucidated, and its unsatisfactory efficiency retards its further clinical application. Herein, we shed light on the main mechanisms of SDT and the types of sonosensitizers, including organic sonosensitizers and inorganic sonosensitizers. Due to the development of nanotechnology, many novel nanoplatforms are utilized in this arisen field to solve the barriers of sonosensitizers and enable continuous innovation. This review also highlights the potential advantages of nanosonosensitizers and focus on the enhanced efficiency of SDT based on nanosonosensitizers with monotherapy or synergistic therapy for deep tumors that are difficult to reach by traditional treatment, especially orthotopic cancers.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01657-9
Non-noble-based single atomic catalysts have exhibited significant potential in electrochemical production of H2O2 via two-electron oxygen reduction reactions (2e− ORR). However, constructing highly efficient and acid-resistant catalysts remains a challenge but significant. In this work, fullerene (C60) with abundant pentagonal inherent defects was employed as a carbon substrate to synthesize defect-rich nanocarbon electrocatalysts doped with NSCo single atoms and accompanied by metallic Co nanoparticles (CoSA/CoNP-NSDNC) for the first time. The electrochemical experiments demonstrate that the active sites of CoSA/CoNP-NSDNC are formed through the synergistic interaction between NSCo single atoms and Co nanoparticle clusters embedded within the carbon framework. The obtained CoSA/CoNP-NSDNC catalyst exhibits an onset potential as 0.72 V versus RHE and achieves up to 90% H2O2 selectivity over a wide potential range of 500 mV. Moreover, the as-obtained CoSA/CoNP-NSDNC configured as the cathode in a self-assembled flow cell under acidic conditions achieves a high H2O2 production rate of 4206.96 mmol gcat⁻1 h⁻1 with a Faraday efficiency of ∼ 95% and exhibit ultra fast degradation of organic pollutants. This work focuses on the synergistic effect of non-noble metal nanoparticles, metal single-atom sites, and topological defects on the 2e− ORR process, which provides a new direction for designing carbon-based catalysts for efficient H2O2 electrosynthesis.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01643-7
Two-dimensional Dion-Jacobson (DJ) perovskite has garnered significant attention due to its superior responsivity and operation stability. However, efforts are predominantly focused on discovering new organic spacer to synthesize novel perovskites, while material-form-associated light management, which is crucial for enhancing the photodetector’s efficiency, is largely overlooked. Herein, we introduced surface light management strategy into DJ-type perovskite system by synthesizing surface-patterned BDAPbBr4 (BPB, BDA = NH3(CH2)4NH3) microplates (MPs) using template-assisted space-confined method, which was further elucidated by theoretical optical simulation. By leveraging surface-patterned MPs to enhance light absorption, the BPB-based photodetectors (PDs) achieved remarkable photoresponse in ultraviolet region, marked by a high on/off ratio (~ 5000), superior responsivity (2.24 A W−1), along with large detectivity (~ 1013 Jones) and low detection limit (68.7 nW cm−2). Additionally, the PDs showcased superior light communication and imaging capabilities even under weak-light illumination. Notably, the anisotropic nature of the surface-patterned MPs conferred excellent polarization sensitivity to the PD. These results represented the first demonstration of BPB perovskite in weak-light communication and imaging, as well as in polarized light detection. Our findings offer valuable insights into enhancing photodetector performance and optoelectronic applications through surface light management strategies.
Nano-Micro Letters•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01652-0
In an era where technological advancement and sustainability converge, developing renewable materials with multifunctional integration is increasingly in demand. This study filled a crucial gap by integrating energy storage, multi-band electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and structural design into bio-based materials. Specifically, conductive polymer layers were formed within the 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxide (TEMPO)-oxidized cellulose fiber skeleton, where a mild TEMPO-mediated oxidation system was applied to endow it with abundant macropores that could be utilized as active sites (specific surface area of 105.6 m2 g−1). Benefiting from the special hierarchical porous structure of the material, the constructed cellulose fiber-derived composites can realize high areal-specific capacitance of 12.44 F cm−2 at 5 mA cm−2 and areal energy density of 3.99 mWh cm−2 (2005 mW cm−2) with an excellent stability of maintaining 90.23% after 10,000 cycles at 50 mA cm−2. Meanwhile, the composites showed a high electrical conductivity of 877.19 S m−1 and excellent EMI efficiency (>99.99%) in multiple wavelength bands. The composite material’s EMI values exceed 100 dB across the L, S, C, and X bands, effectively shielding electromagnetic waves in daily life. The proposed strategy paves the way for utilizing bio-based materials in applications like energy storage and EMI shielding, contributing to a more sustainable future.
New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2024-39-06-11)
To replace precious metal oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts, many transition metals and N-doped carbon composites have been proposed in the last decade resulting in their rapid development as promising non-precious metal catalysts. We used Ketjenblack carbon as the precursor and mixed it with a polymeric ionic liquid (PIL) of [Hvim]NO3 and Fe(NO3)3, which was thermally calcined at 900 °C to produce a porous FeOx, N co-doped carbon material denoted FeOx-N/C. Because the PIL of [Hvim]NO3 strongly combines with and disperses Fe3+ ions, and NO3− is thermally pyrolyzed to form the porous structure, the FeOx-N/C catalyst has a high electrocatalytic activity for the ORR in both 0.1 mol L−1 KOH and 0.5 mol L−1 H2SO4 electrolytes. It was used as the catalyst to assemble a zinc-air battery, which had a peak power density of 185 mW·cm−2. Its superior electrocatalytic activity, wide pH range, and easy preparation make FeOx-N/C a promising electrocatalyst for fuel cells and metal-air batteries.
New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2024-39-04-08)
Interfacial adhesion between carbon fibers (CF) and polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) is a key factor that affects the mechanical performances of their composites. It is therefore of great importance to impregnate the CF bundles with PEKK as efficiently as possible. We report that PEKK with a good dispersion in a mixed solution of 4-chlorophenol and 1,2-dichloroethane can be introduced onto CF surfaces by solution impregnation and curing at 280, 320, 340 and 360 °C. The excellent wettability or infiltration of the PEKK solution guarantees a full covering and its tight binding to CFs, making it possible to evaluate the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) with the microdroplet method. The interior of the CF bundles is completely and uniformly filled with PEKK by solution impregnation, leading to a high interlaminar shear strength (ILSS). The maximum IFSS and ILSS reached 107.8 and 99.3 MPa, respectively. Such superior shear properties are ascribed to the formation of amorphous PEKK in the small spaces between CFs.
New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2024-39-03-06)
In recent years, zinc-ion hybrid capacitors (ZIHCs) have attracted increasing attention due to their environmental friendliness and excellent electrochemical properties. However, their performance is mainly limited by the electrochemical performance of the cathode, so it is necessary to develop an advanced cathode material. N, B co-doped sodium alginate-based porous carbon (NBSPC) was prepared by one-step co-carbonization using sodium alginate as the matrix and NH4B5O8 as the N and B source. This N, B co-doping strategy improves the pore structure of the carbon materials and increases the number of surface functional groups, greatly improving the capacitive behavior of the raw materials and thus improving their electrochemical performance. When used as the cathode in ZIHCs, the NBSPC had an excellent rate performance (85.4 mA h g−1 even at ultra-high current density of 40 A g−1) and good cycling stability (15 000 cycles at 20 A g−1 with a capacity retention rate of 94.5%).
New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2025-40-01-06)
Aqueous zinc ion batteries are regarded as one of the most promising candidates for large-scale energy storage due to their high safety, cost-effectiveness, and environmental friendliness. However, uncontrolled zinc dendrite growth and side reactions of the zinc anode decrease the stability of Zn batteries. We report the synthesis of an air-oxidized carbon nanotube (O-CNT) film by chemical vapor deposition followed by heat treatment in air which is used as a protective layer on the Zn foil to suppress zinc dendrite growth. The increase in the hydrophilicity of the O-CNT film caused by air oxidation facilitates zinc deposition between the film and the anode instead of deposition on the film surface. The porous structure of the O-CNT film homogenizes the Zn2+ ion flux and the electric field on the surface of the Zn foil, leading to the uniform deposition of Zn. As a result, a O-CNT@Zn symmetric cell has a much better cycling stability with a life of more than 3000 h at 1 mA cm−2 with a capacity of 1 mAh cm−2, and values of more than 2000 h and 1 mAh cm−2 at 5 mA cm−2. In addition, a O-CNT@Zn || Mn2+ inserted hydrated vanadium pentoxide (MnVOH) full cell has a better rate performance than a Zn || MnVOH cell, achieving a high discharge capacity of 194 mAh g−1 at a high current density of 8 A g−1. In a long-term cycling test, the O-CNT@Zn || MnVOH full cell has a capacity retention of 58.8% after 2000 cycles at a current density of 5 A·g−1.
Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China (中国有色金属学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1016/S1003-6326(25)66954-8
In order to overcome the embrittlement of metastable titanium alloys caused by the precipitation of ωiso phase during aging, regulation of isothermal ω precipitation was investigated in Ti−15Mo alloy. The results show that the sample is brittle when direct aging (A) is applied at 350 °C for 1 h after solution treatment (ST). If pre-deformation (D) is performed on the ST sample to induce {332} twins and secondary α′′ phase, subsequent aging at 350 °C (STDA350) improves the strength to 931 MPa with a good ductility of about 20% maintained. However, when aging is performed at 400 °C or 450 °C (STDA400/450), the strength can be further improved, but the ductility is dramatically reduced. Atomic-scale characterizations show that the partial collapse of ω phase in the STDA350 sample effectively eliminates aging-induced embrittlement, but complete collapse leads to poor ductility in the STDA400/450 sample.
Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025•DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25020008
In this study, we present the fabrication of vertical SnO/β-Ga2O3 heterojunction diode (HJD) via radio frequency (RF) reactive magnetron sputtering. The valence and conduction band offsets between β-Ga2O3 and SnO are determined to be 2.65 and 0.75 eV, respectively, through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, showing a type-Ⅱ band alignment. Compared to its Schottky barrier diode (SBD) counterpart, the HJD presents a comparable specific ON-resistances (Ron,sp) of 2.8 mΩ·cm² and lower reverse leakage current (IR), leading to an enhanced reverse blocking characteristics with breakdown voltage (BV) of 1675 V and power figure of merit (PFOM) of 1.0 GW/cm². This demonstrates the high quality of the SnO/β-Ga2O3 heterojunction interface. Silvaco TCAD simulation further reveals that electric field crowding at the edge of anode for the SBD was greatly depressed by the introduction of SnO film, revealing the potential application of SnO/β-Ga2O3 heterojunction in the future β-Ga2O3-based power devices.
Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s10033-025-01346-z
Recent years have witnessed unprecedented development in humanoid robotics, with dexterous hand grasping emerging as a focal research area across industrial and academic sectors. To track the state-of-the-art dexterous hand grasp, a review of dexterous hand grasp based on bibliometric analysis is executed. The related studies on dexterous hand grasp are collected from the Web of Science for analysis, where the publication details and cooperation situations from the perspectives of country, institute, etc. are discussed. The keywords cluster is adopted to find the hot research topic of dexterous hand grasp. The development trend of dexterous hand grasp is explored based on the top 25 keywords with the strongest citation bursts. The review findings indicate that precision control via multimodal fusion, autonomous task understanding and intelligent decision, and in-hand dexterous manipulation are top three hotspots in future.
Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s10033-025-01347-y
The average stiffness performance indices throughout the workspace are commonly used as global stiffness performance indices to evaluate the overall stiffness performance of parallel mechanisms, which involves an analysis of the stiffness performance of numerous discrete points in the workspace. This necessitates time-consuming and inefficient calculation, which is particularly pronounced in the optimization design stage of the mechanism, where the variations in the global stiffness performance indices versus various dimensional and structural parameters need to be analyzed. This paper presents a semi-analytical approach for stiffness modeling of the novel (R(RPS&RP))&2-UPS parallel mechanism (referred to as the Trifree mechanism) and proposes “local” stiffness performance indices as alternatives to global indices. Drawing on the screw theory, the Cartesian stiffness matrix of the Trifree mechanism is formulated explicitly by considering the compliances of all elastic elements and the over-constraint characteristics inherent in the mechanism. Based on the spherical motion pattern of the Trifree mechanism, four special reference configurations are extracted within the workspace. This yields “local” stiffness performance indices capable of accurately evaluating the overall stiffness performance of the mechanism and effectively improving the computational efficiency. The variations in global and “local” stiffness performance indices versus key design parameters are investigated. Furthermore, the proposed indices are applied to the Tricept and Trimule mechanisms. The results demonstrate that the proposed indices exhibit excellent computational accuracy and efficiency in evaluating the overall stiffness performance of these spherical parallel mechanisms. Moreover, the stiffness performance of the novel parallel mechanism investigated in this study closely resembles that of the well-known Tricept and Trimule mechanisms. This research proposes a semi-analytic stiffness model of the Trifree mechanism and “local” stiffness performance indices to evaluate the overall stiffness performance, thereby substantially improving the computational efficiency without sacrificing accuracy.
Journal of Central South University•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s11771-025-6052-x
Indium (In) has been used as a thermal interface material (TIM1) in high-performance central processing unit (CPU) for better heat dissipation. However, leakage or pump-out of liquid indium during the multiple reflow cycles limits its application in advanced flip chip ball gray array (FCBGA) packaging. Former researchers place a seal or dam structure to prevent In leakage, leading to the risk of In explosion, thermal degradation, or require additional keep-out zones. In this work, a copper foam (CF) matrix was embedded in In to absorb the liquid In and eliminate the leakage of In TIM1 during the multiple reflow cycles, as the CF capillary force. Au/Ni/Cu-Au/Ni/Cu joint was fabricated by soldering with the composite solder at 190 ℃ for 2 min. After reflow cycles, good metallurgical bonding was formed at interfaces of joint. Rod-like Cu11In9 formed at the CF and In interface, due to the re-dissolved of Cu11In9 crystal. Small amount of Cu atoms from CF can reduce the activity of In, which inhibits the growth of Ni3In7 intermetallic compound (IMC) at the interface of In and Au/Ni/Cu substrate. The CF matrix also improved the shear strength (22.9%) and thermal conductivity of the solder joints. Besides, the fracture behavior of solder joints without CF matrix was classified to be ductile type while that with CF matrix was changed to be ductile-brittle mixed type.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-025-3138-2
TiFe alloys are AB-based hydrogen storage materials with unique characteristics and a wide range of applications. However, the presence of impurity gases (such as O2, CO, CO2, and CH4) has a considerable impact on the hydrogen storage capacity and kinetics of TiFe alloys, drastically limiting their practical application in hydrogen storage. Consequently, in this study, we investigated the hydrogen absorption kinetics and cycling performance of the TiFe0.9 alloy in the presence of common impurity gases (including CH4, CO, CO2, and O2) and determined the corresponding poisoning mechanisms. Specifically, we found that CH4 did not react with the alloy but acted through physical coverage. In contrast, CO and CO2 occupy the active sites for H2, significantly impeding the dissociation and absorption of H2. In addition, O2 reacts directly with the alloy to form a passivating layer that prevents hydrogen absorption. These findings were further corroborated by in situ Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and density functional theory (DFT). The relationship between the adsorption energies of the impurity gases and hydrogen obtained through DFT calculations complements the experimental results. Understanding these poisoning behaviors is crucial for designing Ti-based high-entropy hydrogen storage alloy alloys with enhanced resistance to poisoning.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-025-3277-5
The commercialization of solid oxide fuel cells depends on the cathode, which possesses both high catalytic activity and a thermal-expansion coefficient (TEC) that aligns with the electrolyte. Although the cobalt-based cathode La0.6Sr0.4CoO3 (LSC) offers excellent catalytic performance, its TEC is significantly larger than that of the electrolyte. In this study, we mechanically mix Sm0.2Ce0.8O2−δ (SDC) with LSC to create a composite cathode. By incorporating 50wt% SDC, the TEC decreases significantly from 18.29 × 10−6 to 13.90 × 10−6 K−1. Under thermal-shock conditions ranging from room temperature to 800°C, the growth rate of polarization resistance is only 0.658% per cycle, i.e., merely 49% that of pure LSC. The button cell comprising the LSC-SDC composite cathode operates stably for over 900 h without Sr segregation, with a voltage growth rate of 1.11%/kh. A commercial flat-tube cell (active area: 70 cm2) comprising the LSC-SDC composite cathode delivers 54.8 W at 750°C. The distribution of relaxation-time shows that the non-electrode portion is the main rate-limiting step. This study demonstrates that the LSC-SDC mixture strategy effectively improves the compatibility with the electrolyte while maintaining a high output, thus rendering it a promising commercial cathode material.
Int. Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials (矿物冶金与材料学报)•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s12613-024-3030-5
This study successfully developed a series of carbon-sol-reinforced copper (Cu-CS) composite coatings by electrodeposition employing a superiorly dispersed carbon sol (CS) to avoid nanoparticle aggregation. The CS, characterized using transmission electron microscopy and zeta potential analysis, consisted of carbon particles with an approximate diameter of 300 nm uniformly distributed in the electrolytes. The characteristics of the composite coatings were examined via scanning electron microscopy to observe its microstructures, X-ray diffraction to detect its phase constituents, and durability testing to determine the wear and corrosion resistance. Results indicated a significant improvement in coating thickness, density, and uniformity achieved for the Cu-CS composite coating with the addition of 20 mL/L CS. Moreover, the Cu-CS composite coating exhibited a low wear volume (1.15 × 10−3 mm3), a high hardness (HV0.5 137.1), and a low corrosion rate (0.191 mm/a). The significant contribution of carbon particles to the improvement of coating performance is mainly influenced by two factors, namely, the strengthening and lubricating effects resulting from the incorporated carbon particles. Nevertheless, overdosage of CS can compromise the microstructure of the Cu-CS composite coating, creating defects and undermining its functionality.
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.