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🏛️ Key Research Academy60 Indexed Works

University of Science and Technology of China

Verified scientific contributions, CAS laboratory outputs, clinical trial papers, and engineering breakthroughs produced by researchers and faculty affiliated with University of Science and Technology of China.

Journal of Inorganic Materials (无机材料学报)•2026

Research Progress on Controllable Synthesis of Blue-emitting ZnSeTe Quantum Dots and Quantum-dot Light-emitting Diode Devices

Authors: FEI Wenlong, WANG Yakun, LIAO Liangsheng

Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) are promising emissive materials for optoelectronic devices owing to their tunable emission wavelength, high color purity, and solution processability. Quantum-dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs), an important complementary technology to organic light-emitting diodes, have demonstrated considerable potential in display applications. However, the inherent toxicity of conventional Cd- and Pb-based QDs has driven the development of heavy-metal-free QDs systems. Currently, heavy-metal-free blue QLEDs still lag significantly behind their red and green counterparts in device efficiency and operational stability, representing a critical bottleneck to their practical application. To address this issue, ZnSeTe QDs have attracted significant research interest due to their tunable bandgap and excellent blue emission properties. In this work, a comprehensive review of ZnSeTe QDs is provided. Firstly, their nucleation and growth mechanisms, as well as typical synthesis methods are introduced, and the key factors affecting their optical properties are discussed. On this basis, various performance optimization strategies, including band engineering, surface etching, shell passivation, and ligand regulation, are systematically summarized. Furthermore, electroluminescence mechanisms of QLEDs and recent progress on the application of ZnSeTe QDs in blue-emitting devices are reviewed. Finally, the current challenges, such as low emission efficiency, limited device lifetime, and charge injection imbalance, are discussed, and potential future development directions are proposed.

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Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2026

Mitigating Phosphonic Acid–Perovskite Interfacial Degradation via Molecular Engineering for Ultra-Stable Solar Cells

Authors: LI Xu, GUO Yuxiao, LUO Xin, YAN Haoyuan, XU Bo

Metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a leading next-generation photovoltaic technology, with certified efficiencies surpassing 27% and approaching the theoretical limit for single-junction devices. However, their commercialization is critically hindered by insufficient long-term operational stability, particularly under harsh conditions such as elevated temperatures (≥85 °C) and full-spectrum illumination. The hole-transport layer (HTL) plays a decisive role in both efficiency and stability, and phosphonic acid-based self-assembled monolayers (PA-SAMs) have become the material of choice for inverted-structure PSCs due to their molecular-scale precision and superior energy-level alignment. Nevertheless, PA-SAMs primarily anchor to ITO surfaces via weak hydrogen bonds, which dissociate under photothermal stress, leading to molecular desorption and migration into the perovskite layer, thereby inducing degradation and performance decline. In a recent breakthrough published in Science (2026), Fei et al. report a transformative molecular engineering strategy that unlocks ultra-stable PSCs. They designed a triphenylamine-based phosphonic acid (1PA-TPD) with robust covalent anchoring to ITO substrates and optimized a mixed SAM system (60 wt% 1PA-TPD + 40 wt% EtCz3EPA), successfully suppressing interfacial reactivity between PA-SAMs and perovskites. This multifunctional strategy integrates strong substrate binding, interfacial reaction inhibition, crystallinity enhancement, and defect passivation, enabling small-area PSCs with a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.0% and a T90 lifetime of nearly 3000 hours, as well as minimodules with >22% PCE and ~2200 hours T90 under harsh photothermal conditions. This work deciphers a previously underappreciated degradation pathway and provides a universal design principle for stable interfacial layers, marking a critical step toward PSC commercialization.

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Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2026

Exciplex-Enabled Fully Stretchable OLEDs Achieve a Record External Quantum Efficiency of 17%

Authors: Meng Wang, Liang Li

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are promising candidates for on-skin applications due to their intrinsic stretchability. However, the external quantum efficiency (EQE) of stretchable OLEDs has long been limited to approximately 10%, stemming from the incorporation of insulating elastomer matrices that hinder exciton energy transfer and charge transport, and from conventional stretchable electrodes with insufficient electrical properties and poor interfacial contact. In a recent breakthrough published in Nature (2026), Gogotsi and Lee reported an exciplex-enabled strategy that overcomes these limitations. By integrating a stretchable exciplex-assisted phosphorescent emitting layer, triplet harvesting is significantly enhanced through an elastomer-tolerant triplet-recycling mechanism. Furthermore, they employ work-function-tunable MXene-contact stretchable electrodes (MCSEs) that provide two-dimensional electrical contact for efficient charge injection. Combining these advances, they achieve an unprecedented EQE of 17% in fully stretchable OLEDs while maintaining excellent mechanical stability. The spin-flip process, which converts non-radiative triplets into radiative singlets, is critical yet challenging in stretchable OLEDs because the necessary spin-orbit coupling (SOC) is sensitive to variations in intermolecular distance under strain. The authors utilize the phosphorescent emitter bis(2-phenylpyridine) (Ir(ppy)2acac), whose heavy-metal iridium center provides strong SOC, enabling nearly complete intersystem crossing and triplet utilization. The study demonstrates that the intrinsic SOC of Ir(ppy)2acac remains stable under 50% tensile strain, preserving both spin-mixing rates and photoluminescence stability. To prevent aggregation-induced quenching and enable efficient energy transfer within a soft matrix, the authors develop a stretchable exciplex-assisted phosphorescent (ExciPh) layer using TCTA and TPBi to form an exciplex cohost, while a thermoplastic polyurethane (PU) elastomer provides mechanical stretchability. This system enables triplet excitons to undergo reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) within a charge-transfer state, followed by long-range Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) to the phosphorescent dopant. The fabricated OLED demonstrates an EQE of 21.7%, validating the effectiveness of this approach. Beyond the emissive layer, the researchers develop MXene-conductive stretchable electrodes (MCSEs) by integrating a two-dimensional MXene interlayer with silver nanowire (AgNW) networks, achieving a sheet resistance of ~30 Ω/sq with over 85% transmittance at 550 nm and a widely tunable work function (3.79–5.71 eV). They also introduce a stretchable gradient hole injection layer (SGraHIL) that suppresses exciton quenching at the interface while maintaining excellent stretchability. By integrating the SGraHIL, the ExciPh emitting layer, and MCSE electrodes, the authors fabricate fully stretchable OLEDs that achieve an unprecedented EQE of 17%, retaining 83% of initial efficiency after 100 cycles of 20% cyclic strain. This work represents a significant advance in intrinsically stretchable optoelectronics, offering a scalable route toward highly conductive, work-function-tunable contacts and influencing broader fields such as stretchable sensors and soft photonic systems.

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Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2026

Mitigating phosphonic acid-perovskite interfacial degradation via molecular engineering for ultra-stable solar cells

Authors: LI Xu, GUO Yuxiao, LUO Xin, YAN Haoyuan, XU Bo

Metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are revolutionizing next-generation photovoltaics by combining high efficiency with low-cost solution processing and flexible compatibility. Certified efficiencies now surpass 27%, nearing the theoretical limit for single-junction cells and highlighting their strong potential for commercialization. In contrast to traditional silicon cells, which require high-temperature processing and rigid substrates, PSCs can be fabricated near room temperature using earth-abundant materials, significantly lowering energy consumption and production costs. However, their commercialization is hindered by a fundamental challenge: insufficient long-term operational stability. PSCs must endure harsh real-world conditions, including elevated temperatures (≥85 °C) and full-spectrum illumination. Meeting the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard of ≥25 years of service life remains an unresolved critical hurdle for SAM-based PSCs. The hole-transport layer (HTL) plays a decisive role in both the efficiency and long-term stability of PSCs, responsible for efficiently extracting photogenerated holes from the perovskite layer to the transparent conductive oxide electrode. Inadequate extraction leads to severe interfacial charge recombination and significant efficiency losses. Among various HTL materials, phosphonic acid-based self-assembled monolayers (PA-SAMs) have become the material of choice for inverted-structure PSCs, owing to their molecular-scale precision, ultrathin film formation, and superior energy-level alignment—properties that effectively suppress non-radiative recombination and enhance initial device performance. Nevertheless, their practical application is severely limited by an inherent flaw: PA-SAMs primarily anchor to ITO surfaces via weak hydrogen bonds, which dissociate under photothermal stress. This triggers molecular desorption and migration into the perovskite layer, inducing degradation and eventual performance decline. To tackle this persistent issue, Fei et al. report a transformative molecular engineering strategy that unlocks ultra-stable PSCs (Science 2026, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adz7969). The team designed a triphenylamine-based phosphonic acid (1PA-TPD) with robust covalent anchoring to ITO substrates and optimized a mixed SAM system (60 wt% 1PA-TPD + 40 wt% EtCz3EPA), successfully suppressing interfacial reactivity between PA-SAMs and perovskites. This multifunctional strategy integrates strong substrate binding, interfacial reaction inhibition, crystallinity enhancement, and defect passivation.

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Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2026

Preface to Focus Topic on Integrated Circuits, Technologies and Applications (ICTA) 2025

Authors: Yan Lu, Sai-Weng Sin

This Special Topic of the Journal of Semiconductors (JoS) features expanded versions of key articles presented at the 2025 IEEE International Conference on Integrated Circuits Technologies and Applications (ICTA), held in Macao, China, from October 22 to 24, 2025. IEEE ICTA is an IEEE flagship conference in the field of integrated circuits (IC) in China, providing a communication platform for sharing state-of-the-art techniques from experts in the field of ICs. Among the 146 papers presented at ICTA 2025, the Technical Program Committee and the Award Committee selected 3 high-quality articles for recommendation to the Special Topic of JoS, covering the technical fields of RF, medical neural interface, and vision sensing ICs. The first article, from Zhejiang University, introduces a fractional-N dual-path SPD/PFD PLL with a complementary digital-to-time converter (DTC) pair for DTC range reduction and INL cancellation, achieving 118 fs RMS jitter and -247.5 dB figure-of-merit in 7 nm FinFET. The second article, also from Zhejiang University, presents a battery-free neural interface with dual-overlapped on-chip antennas, enabling high-data-rate backscatter for 72-channel simultaneous recording, achieving 18 Mbps backscatter data rate in 65 nm CMOS. The third article, from the Southern University of Science and Technology, describes a cascadable stereo matching processor with a scalable semi-global matching algorithm, achieving speedups of up to 178x and 97x over CPU and Edge GPU platforms, respectively, with an energy efficiency of 7.9 pJ/pixel in 40-nm CMOS.

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Surface Technology (表面技术)•2026

Research Progress on the Structural Design and Common Preparation Technologies of Thermal Barrier Coatings

Authors: ZHOU Xinnuo, ZHANG Ping

To address the severe challenges faced by high-temperature components in extreme environments, thermal barrier coating (TBC) technology has become a critical approach to enhance their operating temperature tolerance and extend service life. This paper systematically reviews the research progress on the structural design and common preparation technologies of thermal barrier coatings, focusing on the evolutionary logic and performance characteristics of double-layer and multi-layer structures. It specifically analyzes double-layer structures on nickel-based superalloys, steels, and aluminum alloys, as well as multi-layer structures, dual bond coat + ceramic layer structures, and bond coat + multi-layer ceramic structures obtained through different preparation techniques. The article also elaborates on the intrinsic correlation between the microstructure and coating performance of TBCs prepared by two mainstream techniques: atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) and electron beam physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD). Research indicates that double-layer structures have been widely applied due to their good comprehensive performance; while multi-layer/composite structures constructed with A2B2O7-type ceramic materials show more promising application prospects in terms of temperature resistance, thermal cycling life, and corrosion resistance. In response to the current bottlenecks in TBC technology development, this paper looks forward to key future directions for high-performance TBCs from multiple dimensions, including new material development, new process integration, and advanced structural design, providing a systematic theoretical basis and clear technical pathways for the development of TBCs under more demanding service conditions.

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International Journal of Mining Science and Technology•2026

Characteristics and genomic mechanism of Absidia spinosa in inhibiting coal spontaneous combustion

Authors: Xuanmeng Dong, Botao Qin, Fusheng Wang, Xiangming Hu, Liwen Guo, Tiesheng Han

Early prevention and control of coal spontaneous combustion have emerged as a critical research area in coal mine safety. Due to their sustainability and environmental friendliness, microorganisms have gained attention. A filamentous fungus was collected in the coal mine and identified as Absidia spinosa. Results indicated that the mycelium effectively covered and repaired many coal pores. The oxygen consumption ratio of A. spinosa was higher in coal-containing environments than in coal-free conditions. The fungus significantly impacted aliphatic functional groups, disrupting bridging bonds and side chains connected to aromatic structures and reducing the relative content of CAO bonds. Additionally, A. spinosa increases the ignition temperature by 25.34 °C. The total heat release was decreased by approximately 32.58 %, and the activation energies were increased. The genome of Absidia spinosa revealed genes related to oxygen consumption, small molecule degradation, and secretion of metabolic products, such as those annotated under GO ID: 0140657, etc. The pathways involved in the degradation of small organic molecules (e.g., ko00626, etc.), carbon fixation, and nitrogen cycling, all linked to coal decomposition. Through oxygen consumption and the alteration of coal-active structures, A. spinosa effectively inhibits CSC, providing an experimental basis for exploring eco-friendly biological control methods in the goaf.

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China Foundry•2026

Regulating creep behavior via dynamic in-situ precipitation of Ti3AlC phase in Ti45Al8Nb-0.6C alloy

Authors: Zhe Deng, Pei Liu, Wei Wang, Ai-qin Wang, Jing-pei Xie, Zhi-yong Zhang

TiAl alloys are attractive for high-temperature structural applications, yet their creep resistance and microstructural stability at high temperatures remain critical challenges. In this study, Ti45Al8Nb-0.6C alloy was prepared by vacuum induction melting to investigate its creep behavior and underlying deformation mechanisms at 800 °C under 200 MPa. The alloy exhibits a relatively homogeneous microstructure composed of (γ+α2) lamellar colonies, B2 phase, and blocky γ phase, with a creep life of 137 h and a typical ductile-brittle mixed fracture mode. Post-creep microstructural characterization reveals pronounced B2 phase formation, deformation twinning, lamellar coarsening, and abundant stacking faults at lamellar interfaces. Extensive dynamic recrystallization occurs during creep, leading to the formation of fine recrystallized grains. The Ti3AlC phase plays a dual strengthening role by effectively impeding dislocation motion and developing characteristic defect structures, including high-density dislocations and ladder-like stacking faults during deformation. These synergistic microstructural evolutions contribute to the enhanced creep resistance of the alloy.

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China Foundry•2026

Effect of Nb, Ti introduction sequence on adsorption of Nb on TiB2 surface and grain refinement performance of Al-4Ti-1Nb-1B

Authors: Hao Yi, Ying Cheng, Hua-rui Zhang, Hu Zhang

Abstract: In recent years, Al-Ti-Nb-B grain refiners have attracted increasing attention due to their grain refinement performance and anti-Si poisoning ability. This study investigates the influence of the introduction sequence of Ti and Nb during the synthesis of Al-4Ti-1Nb-1B refiners on their refinement performance on CP-Al and a series of Al-Si alloys (Al-3.5Si, Al-7Si, and Al-10.5Si). It is found that Al-4Ti-1Nb-1B prepared by introducing Ti prior to Nb exhibits the best grain refinement and anti-Si poisoning compared to samples where Nb is introduced before Ti or where both are added simultaneously. This Ti-first approach demonstrates superior grain refinement performance across CP-Al, Al-3.5S1, Ai-7Si, and Al-10.5Si alloys, especially at higher Si contents. It refines the grain size of Al-7Si to 150.1±27.5 μm from over 1,500 μm for the unrefined alloy. This superior performance is attributed to the variation in ground-state energy ΔE for the Ti prior to Nb sequence is lower than that of other sequences, thereby facilitating Nb adsorption on the TiB2 surface. TEM observations corroborate these findings, showing that TiB2 prepared by this sequence has the highest average Nb content of 3.80at.%. First-principles calculations reveal that this unique Nb adsorption enhances the TiB2/Al interfacial adhesion energy Wad and suppresses the segregation tendency of Si atoms at the interface, κSi(cSi). The higher the Nb adsorption at the TiB2/Al interface, the stronger the resistance to Si poisoning. These findings underscore the pivotal role of Nb-modified TiB2 in improving grain refinement and offer a novel strategy for advancing grain refiner technologies in Al-Si alloys.

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China Foundry•2026

Factors influencing high-temperature compressive strength of alkaline phenolic resin-bonded sand

Authors: Xin Peng, Yu-yang Qi, Peng Yu, Peng Wan, Zhen-wei Liu, Wen Li, Xu Shen, Xiao-yuan Ji, Ya-jun Yin, Yuan-cai Li, Jian-xin Zhou

During the casting process, no-bake resin-bonded sand molds and cores rapidly heat up upon contact with high-temperature molten metal, causing dramatic changes in the resin binder system and a significant deterioration in mechanical properties, which subsequently leads to casting defects. To reveal the mechanism behind the evolution of high-temperature performance, the effects of resin content, base sand type, and particle size on the compressive strength of alkaline phenolic no-bake resin-bonded sand at temperatures ranging from 600 °C to 1,000 °C were investigated. The results show that the temperature range of 600-800 °C represents the primary stage of strength loss, corresponding to intense resin decomposition. Meanwhile, structural reorganization of the carbon skeleton above 900 °C can lead to a partial recovery of strength. This study provides key data and theoretical support for understanding the high-temperature mechanical behavior of resin-bonded sand and its relationship with casting defects.

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China Foundry•2026

Effect of cooling rate on solidification behavior and micro-segregation of high-alloyed wrought superalloy GH4975

Authors: Guang-di Zhao, Xi-min Zang, Yi-xuan Sun, Xiao-yu Yao

The high-alloyed wrought superalloy GH4975 tends to form coarse MC carbides and eutectic (γ+γ′) phases, which adversely affect the cogging and homogenization process. To provide theoretical guidance for control of MC carbides and eutectic (γ+γ′) formation, differential thermal analysis (DTA) was utilized to investigate the effect of cooing rate (10-90 °C·min-1) on solidification behavior and micro-segregation of GH4975 alloy. According to the thermodynamic calculation and distribution characteristics of precipitates, the MC carbides can act as nucleation sites for γ dendrites, but the nucleation of γ dendrites becomes less dependent on the MC carbide primers at higher cooling rates. As the γ dendrites grow, the elements including Ti and Nb gradually accumulate in the residual liquid and leads to the formation of more MC carbides near the interdendritic region. Finally, the solidification is terminated with the formation of eutectic (γ+γ′). With an increase in cooling rate, the liquidus temperature rises, but the solidus temperature decreases, and thus the solidification range is obviously enlarged. The dendritic structure is significantly refined by the increase of cooling rate. The secondary dendrite arm spacing, λ2, as a function of cooling rate, , can be expressed as λ2=216.78 -0.42. Moreover, the increasing cooling rate weakens the back diffusion of Al, Ti, and Nb, increases the undercooling, and limits the growth of precipitates. Consequently, the sizes of MC carbides, eutectic (γ+γ′), and primary γ′ significantly decrease, but the area fraction of eutectic (γ+γ′) linerly increases as the cooling rate rises. Thus moderate cooling rate (such as 30 °C·min-1) should be selected during the solidification process of GH4975 alloy.

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China Foundry (中国铸造 - 英文版)•2026

Automatic gating and riser system design and defect control for K4169 superalloy guide blade casting based on parametric 3D modeling-simulation integrated system

Authors: Le-chuan Li, Ya-jun Yin, Bing-zheng Fan, Guo-yan Shui, Xiao-yuan Ji, Jian-xin Zhou, Lei Jin

Automation and intelligence have become the primary trends in the design of investment casting processes. However, the design of gating and riser systems still lacks precise quantitative evaluation criteria. Numerical simulation plays a significant role in quantitatively evaluating current processes and making targeted improvements, but its limitations lie in the inability to dynamically reflect the formation outcomes of castings under varying process conditions, making real-time adjustments to gating and riser designs challenging. In this study, an automated design model for gating and riser systems based on integrated parametric 3D modeling-simulation framework is proposed, which enhances the flexibility and usability of evaluating the casting process by simulation. Firstly, geometric feature extraction technology is employed to obtain the geometric information of the target casting. Based on this information, an automated design framework for gating and riser systems is established, incorporating multiple structural parameters for real-time process control. Subsequently, the simulation results for various structural parameters are analyzed, and the influence of these parameters on casting formation is thoroughly investigated. Finally, the optimal design scheme is generated and validated through experimental verification. Simulation analysis and experimental results show that using a larger gate neck (24 mm in side length) and external risers promotes a more uniform temperature distribution and a more stable flow state, effectively eliminating shrinkage cavities and enhancing process yield by 15%.

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Nano-Micro Letters•2026

Atomically Dispersed Pt-Ru Dual-Atom Catalysts for Efficient Low-Temperature CO Oxidation Reaction

Authors: Yanan Qi, Hongqiu Chen, Feng Hong, Xiangbin Cai, Zhehan Ying, Jiangyong Diao, Zhimin Jia, Jiawei Chen, Ning Wang, Shengling Xiang, Xiaowen Chen, Guodong Wen, Bo Sun, Geng Sun, Hongyang Liu

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have demonstrated excellent performance in heterogeneous catalytic reactions owing to their maximized atomic efficiency, distinctive geometric, and electronic configurations. However, the efficacy of SACs remains limited for certain reactions requiring simultaneous activation of multiple reactants over metallic active sites. Herein, we report an atomically dispersed Pt1Ru1 dual-atom pair site anchored on nanodiamond@graphene (ND@G) for CO oxidation. The Pt1Ru1 dual-atom catalyst shows an exceptional turnover frequency (TOF) of 17.6 × 10−2 s−1 at significantly lower temperature (30 °C), achieving a tenfold increase in TOF compared to single-atom Pt1/ND@G catalyst (1.5 × 10−2 s−1) and surpassing to previously reported Pt-based catalysts under similar conditions. Moreover, the catalyst demonstrates excellent stability, maintaining its activity for 40 h at 80 °C without significant deactivation. The superior catalytic performance of Pt-Ru dual-atom catalysts is attributed to the synergistic effect between Pt and Ru atoms with enhanced metallicity for improving simultaneous adsorption and activation of CO and O2, and the tuning of conventional competitive reactant adsorption into a non-competitive pathway over dual-atom pair sites. The present work manifests the advantages of dual-atom pair sites in heterogeneous catalysis and paves the way for precise design of catalysts at the atomic scale.

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Nano-Micro Letters•2026

Synergistic Design of Flexible Nanopapers for High-Performance Proton Pseudocapacitors

Authors: Jiayue Dong, Zhaoqing Lu, Li Hua, Zizhan Guo, Xiaoxu Xu, Jinlong Wu, Fengfeng Jia, Yuanming Wang

Two-dimensional materials for flexible energy storage commonly face huge challenges in limited active surface and hindered charge transport. Herein, we report an innovative asymmetric pseudocapacitor based on synergistic design of modified MXene and graphene, integrating gas-induced rapid expansion technology and precise surface chemical regulation methods. For graphene modification, rapid vaporization induces exfoliation and expansion of graphene oxide layers. Subsequently, pseudocapacitive oxygen-containing groups were selectively introduced through acid oxidation, yielding expanded-and-oxidized graphene (OEG) for positive porous-nanopaper electrode. For MXene modification, alkali-treated MXene underwent hydrazine assistance to facilitate gas expansion and –NH2 grafting, producing MXene-NH2 (NOM) for negative porous-nanopaper electrode. Density functional theory calculations show that –COOH more effectively modulate graphene’s electronic structure by inducing charge redistribution and creating active sites, thereby enhancing H+ adsorption and ion interactions compared to –OH. Meanwhile, –NH2 on MXene enable electron delocalization and dynamic Ti–N–H+ interactions, speeding up proton adsorption/desorption and boosting both pseudocapacitance and conductivity. Through collaborative optimized spatial architecture and surface properties, flexible OEGB and NOMB exhibited of 333.6 and 500.5 F g−1 at high mass loading, respectively. The assembled proton pseudocapacitor readily achieved energy and power densities of 58.9 Wh kg−1 and 3802 W kg−1, respectively, with excellent stability for potential applications.

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Nano-Micro Letters•2026

Prioritized Na+ Adsorption-Driven Cationic Electrostatic Repulsion Enables Highly Reversible Zinc Anodes at Low Temperatures

Authors: Guanchong Mao, Pan Xu, Xin Liu, Xingyu Zhao, Zexiang Shen, Dongliang Chao, Minghua Chen

Aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs) are promising candidates for renewable energy storage, yet their practical deployment in subzero environments remains challenging due to electrolyte freezing and dendritic growth. Although organic additives can enhance the antifreeze properties of electrolytes, their weak polarity diminishes ionic conductivity, and their flammability poses safety concerns, undermining the inherent advantages of aqueous systems. Herein, we present a cost-effective and highly stable Na2SO4 additive introduced into a Zn(ClO4)2-based electrolyte to create an organic-free antifreeze electrolyte. Through Raman spectroscopy, in situ optical microscopy, density functional theory computations, and molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate that Na+ ions improve low-temperature electrolyte performance and mitigate dendrite formation by regulating uniform Zn2+ deposition through preferential adsorption and electrostatic interactions. As a result, the Zn||Zn cells using this electrolyte achieve a remarkable cycling life of 360 h at −40 °C with 61% depth of discharge, and the Zn||PANI cells retained an ultrahigh capacity retention of 91% even after 8000 charge/discharge cycles at −40 °C. This work proposes a cost-effective and practical approach for enhancing the long-term operational stability of AZMBs in low-temperature environments.

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Nano-Micro Letters•2026

A High-Performance Thermal Charging Cell with High Power Density and Long Runtime Enabled by Zn2+ and NH4+ Co-insertion

Authors: Zhiwei Han, Shengliang Zhang, Helang Huang, Jing Wang, Hui Dou, Tianran Zhang, Xiaogang Zhang

Zn-based thermal charging devices, utilizing the synergistic effect of ion thermoextraction and thermodiffusion, are able to efficiently convert thermal energy into electrical energy and storage in the devices, making them a highly promising technology for low-grade heat recovery and utilization. However, the low output power density and energy conversion efficiency resulted by the slow diffusion kinetics of Zn2+ hinder their development. Herein, we present a high-performance thermal charging cell design using Zn2+/NH4+ hybrid ion electrolyte, which not only maintains the high output voltage of the Zn-based thermoelectric system, but also significantly enhances the output power density due to the fast diffusion kinetics of NH4+. Based on this strategy, the thermal charging cell displays a high thermopower of 12.5 mV K−1 and an excellent normalized power density of 19.6 mW m−2 K−2 at a temperature difference of 35 K. The Carnot-relative efficiency is as high as 12.74%. Moreover, it can operate continuously for over 72 h when the temperature difference persists, achieving a balance between thermoelectric conversion and output. This work provides a simple and effective strategy for the design of high-performance thermal charging cells for low-grade heat conversion and utilization.

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Nano-Micro Letters•2026

Design, Fabrication, and Application of Stretchable Electronic Conductors

Authors: Bin Cheng, Jingting Zhuo, Yao Zhou, Jiaxiang Chen, Lingyun Cao, Jiangfeng He, Zhihong Chen, Xiaoxiao Ma, Juan Wang, Honglong Li, Guowei Yang, Fang Yi

Stretchable electronics have been recognized as intriguing next-generation electronics that possess huge market value, and stretchable electronic conductors (SECs) are essential for stretchable electronics, which not only can serve as critical functional components but also are the indispensable electronic connections bridging various electronic components within stretchable electronic systems. Herein, we offer a comprehensive review of recent progress in SECs including the material categories, structure designs, fabrication techniques, and applications. The characteristics, performance enhancement strategies, and application requirements are emphasized. Based on the recent advances, the existing challenges and future prospects are outlined and discussed.

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Nano-Micro Letters (纳微快报)•2026

Ultrathin Gallium Nitride Quantum-Disk-in-Nanowire-Enabled Reconfigurable Bioinspired Sensor for High-Accuracy Human Action Recognition

Authors: Zhixiang Gao, Xin Ju, Huabin Yu, Wei Chen, Xin Liu, Yuanmin Luo, Yang Kang, Dongyang Luo, JiKai Yao, Wengang Gu, Muhammad Hunain Memon, Yong Yan, Haiding Sun

Human action recognition (HAR) is crucial for the development of efficient computer vision, where bioinspired neuromorphic perception visual systems have emerged as a vital solution to address transmission bottlenecks across sensor-processor interfaces. However, the absence of interactions among versatile biomimicking functionalities within a single device, which was developed for specific vision tasks, restricts the computational capacity, practicality, and scalability of in-sensor vision computing. Here, we propose a bioinspired vision sensor composed of a GaN/AlN-based ultrathin quantum-disks-in-nanowires (QD-NWs) array to mimic not only Parvo cells for high-contrast vision and Magno cells for dynamic vision in the human retina but also the synergistic activity between the two cells for in-sensor vision computing. By simply tuning the applied bias voltage on each QD-NW-array-based pixel, we achieve two biosimilar photoresponse characteristics with slow and fast reactions to light stimuli that enhance the in-sensor image quality and HAR efficiency, respectively. Strikingly, the interplay and synergistic interaction of the two photoresponse modes within a single device markedly increased the HAR recognition accuracy from 51.4% to 81.4% owing to the integrated artificial vision system. The demonstration of an intelligent vision sensor offers a promising device platform for the development of highly efficient HAR systems and future smart optoelectronics.

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Journal of Central South University•2026

True triaxial experiment and FDEM simulation on the controlling effect of coal-measure rock interfaces on hydraulic fracture propagation

Authors: MA Jun-qiang, WEI Si-yuan, LI Xue-hua, DONG Guo-wei, YAO Qiang-ling, YUAN Yu-xin, WANG Hong-sheng

This study integrates true triaxial hydraulic fracturing experiments with finite-discrete element method (FDEM) numerical simulation to systematically investigate the control mechanisms of interface strength and inclination angle on hydraulic fracture propagation in coal measure strata under different in-situ stress conditions. The results indicate that the fracture propagation path at the rock interface is jointly controlled by the interface strength coefficient (η), the interface inclination angle (θ), and the vertical stress difference coefficient (k). When fractures propagate from soft rock to hard rock, the interface strength coefficient (η) plays a dominant role. The larger the η is, the more likely the hydraulic fracture is to penetrate the interface along the direction of vertical stress. Conversely, when fractures propagate from hard rock to soft rock, vertical stress primarily controls the propagation path. A larger vertical stress difference coefficient promotes interface crossing, while a smaller coefficient tends to cause the fracture to extend laterally along the interface. The interface inclination angle influences the magnitude and direction of the vertical stress component along the interface. A smaller θ facilitates interface penetration by hydraulic fractures, whereas a larger θ leads to fracture propagation along the interface. The complexity of the hydraulic fracture network increases with higher k and θ . Moreover, the complexity of hydraulic fracture morphology exhibits a non-monotonic trend, initially decreasing and then increasing with rising k and θ. This research provides an important theoretical basis for the design and control of hydraulic fracturing in coal measure strata.

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Journal of Central South University•2026

Micro-CT characterization and fractal study on the fracture structure of coal under the liquid nitrogen cold soaking

Authors: LIU Shu-min, WANG Shuai-lin, LI Xue-long, SUN Hai-tao, WAN Ni, ZHANG Dong-ming, WANG Deng-ke

The development of coalbed methane in China is constrained by complex geological conditions characterized by low permeability, low saturation, low reservoir pressure, and high adsorption ("three lows and one high"), posing significant challenges to its efficient development. The liquid nitrogen-induced fracturing and permeability enhancement technology can effectively promote the expansion and connection of macroscopic and microscopic fractures, thereby improving the permeability of coal seams. In this study, industrial micro-CT scanning technology, the VRA-UNet method, and fractal dimension calculation methods are employed to conduct an in-depth analysis of the action mechanism of liquid nitrogen cold soaking on the fracture structure of coal bodies with different metamorphism degrees. The results indicate that liquid nitrogen cold soaking promotes the generation, expansion, and connection of new fractures inside coal bodies to form fracture networks. Via Matlab programming and VG Studio MAX image analysis software, fracture extraction and calculation are performed on CT-scanned coal samples; it is statistically found that the quantitative fracture indices of coal increase after liquid nitrogen cold soaking. Compared with the fracture spectrum peak proportions of raw coal samples, the fracture spectrum peak proportions of anthracite, bituminous coal, and lignite increase by 8.375%, 12.680%, and 79.939%, respectively after liquid nitrogen cold soaking. By combining the VRA-UNet method for coal fracture identification, the box-counting method is used to calculate that the fractal dimension of coal fractures after liquid nitrogen cold soaking is larger than that of raw coal samples. The research findings of this paper will provide theoretical and technical support for the efficient development of coalbed methane and the improvement of coal seam gas extraction rates.

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Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025

High-Responsivity and High-Speed Germanium Photodetector for C + L Band Applications

Authors: Yiling Hu, Zhipeng Liu, Zhi Liu, Yupeng Zhu, Tao Men, Guangze Zhang, Jun Zheng, Yuhua Zuo, Buwen Cheng

A silicon-based germanium (Ge) photodetector operating in the C and L bands is proposed. The device features a novel asymmetric PIN structure that optimizes the electric field distribution in Ge and reduces the effective width of the depleted region. The optical structure is carefully designed to enhance responsivity over a broad wavelength range. Under a bias of -7 V, where a weak avalanche process occurs, the device achieves responsivities of 1.49 A/W at 1550 nm and 1.16 A/W at 1600 nm, with corresponding bandwidths of 47.1 GHz and 44.5 GHz, respectively. These results demonstrate significant potential for applications in high-speed optical communication systems.

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New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025

Discontinuous ablation behavior of four-directional dual-matrix C/C composites under dual-pulse solid rocket motors

Authors: WEI Lianfeng, WANG Running, ZHANG Jiaping, LI Kezhi, CUI Hong

Four-directional dual-matrix C/C composites were fabricated from PAN-based carbon fibers using a combined approach of soft-hard hybrid weaving preform molding, chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) of pyrolytic carbon (PyC), high pressure impregnation and carbonization of pitch-derived carbon. The ablation resistance of the composites was evaluated by testing in a dual-pulse solid rocket motor, and their ablation behavior was investigated. The carbon rods formed by twisting and carbonizing fiber bundles, exhibited a hexagonal cross-section, surrounded by a dense PyC “wall” structure formed during the CVI process. The linear ablation rates of the composites after pulse I and pulse II were 0.068 mm/s and 0.113 mm/s, respectively. A cellular-like PyC layer and nanowire structures were deposited on the surface of the throat convergent section during the post-combustion cooling phase, while cracks and delamination occurred on and within the divergent section. The ablation of C/C composites under these conditions was a complex multi-mechanism process, including ultra-high temperatures, high-speed gas scouring, oxygen-containing thermochemical ablation, and thermal shock. This work elucidates the ablation behaviors of C/C composites under dual-pulse conditions and provides technical guidance and a theoretical basis for designing and fabricating C/C composites for extreme ablation environments.

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New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025

Modulating the open pore structure of hard carbons derived from wood for sodium-ion battery anodes

Authors: LI Menglong, GONG Jun, LI Jinming, XIE Haipeng, LI Yejun

Hard carbon (HC) derived from renewable biomass is a promising anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, controlling the structure of hard carbon so that it has a high energy density, favorable rate performance, and cycling stability is still a challenge. We propose a strategy to control the open pore structure of hard carbon derived from wood for sodium-ion storage by the addition of sodium carbonate under carbonization at 1100 °C. The resulting HC has an increased interlayer spacing, and a more uniform open pore distribution (2–3 nm) with a high slope capacity, thereby enabling efficient sodium-ion transport and storage. The HC anode has a reversible capacity of 326 mAh g−1 at a current density of 30 mA g−1, and maintains a reversible capacity of 270 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 and a capacity of 68 mAh g−1 even at 10 A g−1 during rate performance tests. After 300 cycles, it retains 76.7% (207 mAh g−1) of its capacity at 1.0 A g−1. In situ Raman spectroscopy and the galvanostatic intermittent titration testing results reveal an adsorption-intercalation-filling sodium storage mechanism. This work provides a strategy to optimize the open pore structure of biomass derived hard carbon for high performance sodium ion storage.

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New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025

Electrochemically activated NiOOH/NiFeV-LDH@CC for a highly efficient oxygen evolution reaction

Authors: Song Yujie, Yue Yunfei, Shen Zhichao, Hou Ying, Song Yanhui, Liu Peizhi, Xu Bingshe, Zhang Haixia, Guo Junjie

The surface reconstruction of NiFe-based layered double hydroxide (LDH) electrocatalysts has been widely studied. The reconstructed NiOOH phase plays a critical role in improving the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance of NiFe-based LDHs, but observing the NiOOH phase is difficult because of its instability and exploring the functional mechanism of NiOOH in NiFe-based LDHs remains a great challenge. A simple electrochemical activation was used to synthesize a NiOOH/NiFeV-LDH@CC catalyst consisting of an array of V-doped NiFe-LDH nanosheets on carbon cloth (CC), in which the reconstructed NiOOH phase is the active species. During electrochemical activation, the release of doped V leads to the formation of abundant vanadium vacancy (VV) and oxygen vacancy (VO) species, and thus the surface of the NiFe-LDH nanosheets is reconstructed to form NiOOH. Because of the improved intrinsic activity from the NiOOH active phase, and the increased electrical conductivity produced by the abundant VO, NiOOH/NiFeV-LDH@CC has an excellent OER performance in an alkaline solution, with low overpotentials of 209 mV and 241 mV at 20 mA cm−2 and 100 mA cm−2, respectively. It also has a long-term stability of 80,000 s at a constant current density of 10 mA cm−2. Using NiOOH/NiFeV-LDH@CC as the anode, an assembled over water splitting (OWS) battery can drive a current density of 20 mA cm−2 (without iR compensation) at a much lower voltage of 1.597 V. At the same time, the electrolytic cell can deliver a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at ~1.55V for more than 80,000 s without significant loss. This electrochemical activation method can be used in future designs of electrocatalysts for OER.

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New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025

The controlled preparation and performance improvement of meso-carbon microbeads for energy storage

Authors: HUANG Junjie, YANG Jianxiao, DONG Silin, GOU Genchang, ZHANG Jingxian, SHUI Yuanyang, YIN Wenkun

Mesocarbon microbeads (MCMBs) are a high-performance carbon material that has been widely used in energy storage and as high-temperature structural materials due to their highly controllable microstructure and excellent electrical conductivity. However, with different energy storage mechanisms such as lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, potassium-ion batteries, and supercapacitors, MCMBs with a single structure cannot fully meet the different material performance requirements. We review the basic characteristics, preparation methods, formation mechanism and modification strategies of MCMBs, focusing on the relationship between its microstructure and electrochemical performance in various energy storage systems, and its application in other fields. The opportunities and challenges of using MCMBs in different energy storage applications are considered.

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New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025

Reduced graphene oxide porous films containing SiC whiskers for constructing multilayer electromagnetic shields

Authors: LI Jing, QI Yi-quan, ZHAO Shi-xiang, QIU Han-xun, YANG Jun-he, YANG Guang-zhi

Developing lightweight and flexible thin films for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding is of great importance. Porous thin films of reduced graphene oxide containing SiC whiskers (SiC@RGO) for EMI shielding were prepared by a two-step reduction of graphene oxide (GO), in which the two steps were chemical reduction by HI and the solid phase microwave irradiation. A significant increase of the film thickness from around 20 to 200 μm was achieved due to the formation of a porous structure by gases released during the 3 s of solid phase microwave irradiation. The total shielding effectiveness (SET) and the reflective SE (SER) of the SiC@RGO porous thin films depended on the GO/SiC mass ratio. The highest SET achieved was 35.6 dB while the SER was only 2.8 dB, when the GO/SiC mass ratio was 4∶1. The addition of SiC whiskers was critical for the multi-reflection, interfacial polarization and dielectric attenuation of EM waves. A multilayer film with a gradient change of SE values was constructed using SiC@RGO porous films and multi-walled carbon nanotubes buckypapers. The highest SET of the multilayer films reached 75.1 dB with a SER of 2.7 dB for a film thickness of about 1.5 mm. These porous SiC@RGO thin films should find use in multilayer or sandwich structures for EMI absorption in packaging or lining.

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New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025

Semi-quantitative analysis of the structural evolution of mesophase pitch-based carbon foams by Raman and FTIR spectroscopy

Authors: LIU Yue, CHANG Sheng-kai, SU Zhan-peng, HUANG Zu-jian, QIN Ji, YANG Jian-xiao

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.

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New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025

Polyetherketoneketone/carbon fiber composites with an amorphous interface prepared by solution impregnation

Authors: ZHANG Feng, LI Bo-lan, JIAO Meng-xiao, LI Yan-bo, WANG Xin, YANG Yu, YANG Yu-qiu, ZHANG Xiao-hua

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.

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New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025

The oxidation reaction mechanism and its kinetics for a carbonaceous precursor prepared from ethylene tar for use as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries

Authors: GUO Tian-rui, CHEN Rong-qi, GAO Wei, WANG Yan-li, ZHAN Liang

The oxidation reaction mechanism and its kinetics for ethylene tar were investigated in order to obtain a suitable anode material for Li-ion batteries. The oxidation of ethylene tar was divided into 3 stages (350–550, 550–700 and 700–900 K) according to the thermogravimetric curve. To reveal the oxidation reaction mechanism, the components of the gases evolved at different stages were analyzed by mass spectrometry and infrared technology. Based on these results the reaction was divided into 4 stages (323–400, 400–605, 605–750 and 750–860 K) to perform simulation calculations of the kinetics. Using the iso-conversion method (Coats-Redfern) to analyze the linear regression rates (R2) between 17 common reaction kinetics models and experimental data, an optimum reaction kinetics model for expressing the oxidation of ethylene tar was determined and the results were as follows. (1) During oxidation, the side chains of aromatic compounds first react with oxygen to form alcohols and aldehydes, leaving peroxy-radicals on aromatic rings. Subsequently, the aromatic compounds with peroxy-radicals undergo polymerization/condensation reactions to form larger molecules. (2) A fourth-order reaction model was used to describe the first 3 stages in the oxidation process, and the activation energies are 47.33, 18.69 and 9.00 kJ·mol−1 at 323–400, 400–605, 605–750 K, respectively. A three-dimensional diffusion model was applied to the fourth stage of the oxidation process, and the activation energy is 88.37 kJ·mol−1 at 750–860 K. A high softening point pitch was also produced for use as a coating of the graphite anode, and after it had been applied the capacity retention after 300 cycles increased from 51.54% to 79.07%.

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New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025

N, S co-doped coal-based hard carbon prepared by two-step carbonization and a molten salt template method for sodium storage

Authors: NIU Hui-zhu, WANG Hai-hua, SUN Li-yu, YANG Chen-rong, WANG Yu, CAO Rui, YANG Cun-guo, WANG Jie, SHU Ke-wei

Hard carbon, known for its abundant resources, stable structure and high safety, has emerged as the most popular anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Among various sources, coal-derived hard carbon has attracted extensive attention. In this work, N and S co-doped coal-based carbon material (NSPC1200) was synthesized through a combination of two-step carbonization process and heteroatom doping using long-flame coal as a carbon source, thiourea as a nitrogen and sulfur source, and NaCl as a template. The two-step carbonization process played a crucial role in adjusting the structure of carbon microcrystals and expanding the interlayer spacing. The N and S co-doping regulated the electronic structure of carbon materials, endowing more active sites. Additionally, the introduction of NaCl as a template contributed to the construction of pore structure, which facilitates better contact between electrodes and electrolytes, enabling more efficient transport of Na+ and electrons. Under the synergistic effect, NSPC1200 exhibited exceptional sodium storage capacity, reaching 314.2 mAh g−1 at 20 mA g−1. Furthermore, NSPC1200 demonstrated commendable cycling stability, maintaining a capacity of 224.4 mAh g−1 even after 200 cycles. This work successfully achieves the strategic tuning of the microstructure of coal-based carbon materials, ultimately obtaining hard carbon anode with excellent electrochemical performance.

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New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025

A review of the synthesis, characterization, and mechanism of bimetallic catalysts for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction

Authors: LIAO Yin-li, HUANG Heng-bo, ZOU Ru-yu, SHEN Shu-ling, LIU Xin-juan, TANG Zhi-hong

The electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) is an environmentally friendly way to convert CO2 into valuable chemicals. However, CO2 conversion is a complex process, which contains 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 electron transfer processes. It is very important to develop efficient catalysts to precisely control the number of electron transfers for the chemicals required. Single-metal catalysts have some deficiencies, including slow reaction kinetics, low product selectivity and inadequate stability. In response to these challenges, bimetallic catalysts have received significant attention owing to their unique structure and improved performance. The introduction of secondary metals alters the catalyst’s electronic structure, and creates novel active sites, as well as optimizing their interaction with the intermediates. This review provides a comprehensive account of atomically distributed bimetals based on carbon materials and non-atomic distributed bimetals such as alloys and heterostructures, including their synthesis methods, characterization, and the outcomes of different catalysts. Catalytic mechanisms of different bimetallic catalysts are proposed and challenges encountered in the CO2RR are considered.

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New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025

Polyimide-assisted fabrication of highly oriented graphene-based all-carbon foams for increasing the thermal conductivity of polymer composites

Authors: XIONG Ke, SUN Zhi-peng, HU Ji-chen, MA Cheng, WANG Ji-tong, GE Xiang, QIAO Wen-ming, LING Li-cheng

Graphene and its derivatives are often preferentially oriented horizontally during processing because of their two-dimensional (2D) layer structure. As a result, thermal interface materials (TIMs) composed of a polymer matrix and graphene-derived fillers often have a high in-plane (IP) thermal conductivity (K), however, the low through-plane (TP) K makes them unsuitable for practical use. We report the development of high-quality polyimide/graphite nanosheets (PG) perpendicular to the plane using a directional freezing technique that increase the TP K of polymer-based composites. Graphene-derived nanosheets (GNs) were obtained by the crushing of scraps of highly thermally conductive graphene films. A water-soluble polyamic acid salt solution was used to disperse the hydrophobic GNs filler to achieve directional freezing. The polyimide, which facilitated the directional alignment of the GNs, was then graphitized. The introduction of the GNs increases the order and density of the PG, thus improving the strength and heat transfer performance of its polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite. The obtained PG/PDMS composite (21.1% PG, mass fraction) has an impressive TP K of 14.56 W·m−1·K−1, 81 times that of pure PDMS. This simple polyimide-assisted 2D hydrophobic fillers alignment method provides ideas for the widespread fabrication of anisotropic TIMs and enables the reuse of scraps of graphene films.

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New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025

A review of the high-concentration processing, densification, and applications of graphene oxide and graphene

Authors: WANG Yue, LUO Jia-liang, LU Zhe-hong, DI Jun, WANG Su-wei, JIANG Wei

Dense graphene assemblies, composed of tightly stacked graphene sheets, have outstanding chemical stability and excellent mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. They also do not have the problems of low density, low mechanical strength, poor electrical conductivity, or poor thermal conductivity found in porous graphene aerogels, making them ideal materials for future portable electronic and smart devices. We summarize work on high-concentration graphene oxide (GO) and graphene dispersions prepared by mechanical dispersion, evaporation concentration, centrifugal concentration, and liquid phase exfoliation, as well as two-dimensional (2D) dense graphene-based films and three-dimensional (3D) dense graphene-based structures prepared by vacuum-assisted filtration, interfacial self-assembly, and press-forming, and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each method. The applications of dense graphene-based assemblies in energy storage, thermal management, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding are summarized. Finally, their challenges and prospects in future research are outlined. This review provides a reference for exploring and developing their large-scale, cost-effective manufacture and use.

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New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025

Controllable construction of CoP nanoparticles anchored on a nitrogen-doped porous carbon as an electrocatalyst for highly efficient oxygen reduction in Zn-air batteries

Authors: YAN Xiao-li, WANG Kui, HAO Shu-wei, ZHOU Guang-da, YANG Hao-wei, ZHANG Hua, GUO Jun-jie

Exploring cost-efficient and highly-efficient noble metal-free catalysts for the oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs) involved in sustainable energy devices remains a great challenge. Transition-metal phosphides supported on heteroatom-doped carbons have shown potential as alternative candidates for precious metals because of their tunable electronic structures and higher catalytic performance. Phosphating was used to construct CoP nanoparticles (NPs) anchored on a nitrogen-doped porous carbon framework (CoP@NC) from Co NPs loaded on NC, using PH3 gas released from NaH2PO2 during heat treatment. The dodecahedral structure of Co NPs was retained in their transformation to CoP NPs. The CoP@NC electrocatalyst shows a remarkable ORR activity with a half-wave potential up to 0.92 V under alkaline conditions, which is attributed to the combined coupling between the well dispersed CoP nanoparticles on the nitrogen-doped carbon and the efficient mass transport in the porous structure. Zinc-air batteries assembled with the CoP@NC electrocatalyst as a cathode have a high open-circuit voltage of 1.51 V and power density of 210.1 mW cm−2. This work provides a novel strategy to develop low-cost catalysts with an excellent ORR performance to promote their practical use in metal-air batteries.

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New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025

A review of the use of metal oxide/carbon composite materials to inhibit the shuttle effect in lithium-sulfur batteries

Authors: ZHOU Zhi-qiang, WANG Hui-min, YANG Lu-bin, MA Cheng, WANG Ji-tong, QIAO Wen-ming, LING Li-cheng

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are among the most promising next-generation electrochemical energy-storage systems due to their exceptional theoretical specific capacity, inexpensive production cost and environmental friendliness. However, the poor conductivity of S and Li2S, severe lithium polysulfide (LiPS) shuttling and the sluggish redox kinetics of the phase transformation greatly hinder their commercialization. Carbonaceous materials could be potentially useful in Li-S batteries to tackle these problems with their high specific surface area to host LiPSs and sulfur and excellent electrical conductivity to increase electron transfer rate. However, non-polar carbon materials are unable to interact closely with the highly polar polysulfides, resulting in a low sulfur utilization and a serious shuttle effect. Because of their advantages of strong polarity and a large number of adsorption sites, integrating transition metal oxides (TMOs) with carbon-based materials (CMs) increases the chemical adsorption of LiPSs and electrochemical reaction activity for LiPSs. The working principles and main challenges of Li-S batteries are discussed followed by a review of recent research on the ex-situ and in-situ synthesis of TMO/CM composites. The formation of TMO/CMs with the dimensionalities of CMs from 1D to 3D are then reviewed together with ways of changing their structure, including heterostructure design, vacancy engineering and facet manipulation. Finally, the outlook for using TMO/CMs in Li-S batteries is considered.

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New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025

Cactus-like NC/CoxP electrode enables efficient and stable hydrogen evolution for saline water splitting

Authors: CHEN Xu, ZHAO Jin-yu, ZHANG Wen-sheng, WANG Xiao-min

Designing efficient and robust catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is imperative for saline water electrolysis technology. A catalyst composed of CoxP nanowires array with N-doped carbon nanosheets (NC) was fabricated on Ni foam (NF) by an in-situ growth strategy. The material is designated as NC/CoxP@NF. In the preparation process, Co(OH)2 nanowires were transformed into a metal organic framework of cobalt (ZIF-67) on NF by the dissolution-coordination of endogenous Co2+ and 2-methylimidazole. The resulting cactus-like microstructure gives NC/CoxP@NF abundant exposed active sites and ion transport channels, which improve the HER catalytic reaction kinetics. Furthermore, the interconnected alternating nanowires and free-standing nanosheets in NC/CoxP@NF improve its structural stability, and the formation of surface polyanions (phosphate) and a NC nanosheet protective layer improve the anti-corrosive properties of catalysts. Thus, the NC/CoxP@NF has an excellent performance, requiring overpotentials of 107 and 133 mV for HER to achieve 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 mol L−1 KOH and 1.0 mol L−1 KOH + 0.5 mol L−1 NaCl, respectively. This in-situ transformation strategy is a new way of constructing highly-efficient HER catalysts for saline water electrolysis.

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New Carbon Materials (新型炭材料)•2025

The use of a ternary metal sulfide loading on carbon fibers as the sulfur host for high performance low-temperature lithium sulfur batteries

Authors: HE Xin, ZUO Huai-yang, XIAO Ru, QU Zhuo-yan, SUN Zhen-hua, WANG Bao, Li Feng

The use of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries is limited by sulfur redox reactions involving multi-phase transformations, especially at low temperatures. To address this issue, we report a material (FCNS@NCFs) consisting of nitrogen-doped carbon fibers loaded with a ternary metal sulfide ((Fe, Co, Ni)9S8) for use as the sulfur host in Li-S batteries. This material was prepared using transfer blot filter paper as the carbon precursor, thiourea as the source of nitrogen and sulfur, and FeCl3·6H2O, CoCl2·6H2O and NiCl2·6H2O as the metal ion sources. It was synthesized by an impregnation method followed by calcination. The nitrogen doping significantly increased the conductivity of the host, and the metal sulfides have excellent catalytic activities. Theoretical calculations, and adsorption and deposition experiments show that active sites on the surface of FCNS@NCFs selectively adsorb polysulfides, facilitate rapid adsorption and conversion, prevent cathode passivation and inhibit the polysulfide shuttling. The FCNS@NCFs used as the sulfur host has excellent electrochemical properties. Its initial discharge capacity is 1639.0 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C and room temperature, and it remains a capacity of 1255.1 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles. At −20 °C, it has an initial discharge capacity of 1578.5 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C, with a capacity of 867.5 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles. Its excellent performance at both ambient and low temperatures suggests a new way to produce high-performance low-temperature Li-S batteries.

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Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China (中国有色金属学报)•2025

Optimization of microstructure and properties of directionally solidified Cu−15Ni−8Sn alloy by multi-stage thermomechanical treatment

Authors: Yu-fan SHI, Cheng-jun GUO, Ming-quan YUAN, Xi-ming YANG, Xiang-peng XIAO, Hang WANG, Bin YANG

The Cu−15Ni−8Sn alloy wire with a nano-layered structure was fabricated using directional solidification techniques and a multi-stage thermomechanical treatment. A systematic investigation was conducted on microstructure evolution and its impact on mechanical properties. After aging at 400 °C for 0.25 h, the ultimate tensile strength of the alloy reaches 1509 MPa, >200 MPa higher than that of the alloy after single thermomechanical treatment. Furthermore, grain refinement and heightened 〈111〉 fiber texture are identified as key factors contributing to the enhancement of the mechanical properties of the alloy. These findings highlight the importance of multi-stage thermomechanical treatment on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of Cu−15Ni−8Sn alloy.

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Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China (中国有色金属学报)•2025

6061 Al/Cu layered composites with high strength and well interfacial bonding prepared by accumulative roll bonding

Authors: Ling OU, Yan-jun XIAO, Cai-he FAN, Jun-wei LIU, Wu-dan MA

6061 Al/Cu layered composites were fabricated by accumulative roll bonding (ARB). The microstructural evolution was examined using scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. After seven ARB cycles, the tensile strength increased to 416 MPa, whereas the elongation decreased to 6.7%. The strength enhancement is mainly attributed to work hardening and grain refinement. No brittle intermetallic compounds (IMCs) were detected at the interface, and interfacial bonding improved with additional ARB cycles. The small hardness difference between Al and Cu promoted uniform plastic deformation across layers, enhancing interfacial cohesion. However, strain localization due to different work hardening responses of Al and Cu led to pronounced shear band formation after seven ARB cycles, reducing the plasticity.

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Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China (中国有色金属学报)•2025

Morphological and size evolution of γ' phases during aging in nickel-based single crystal superalloy

Authors: Ye-yuan HU, Shao-xiang LI, Qing-yan XU

A multistage solution treatment process was applied for nickel-based single crystal superalloys, complemented by various aging durations and cooling rates. The microstructure was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to observe the γ' phase. Additionally, phase field simulations were conducted to model the growth of γ' precipitates during aging and analyze their morphological evolution. The experimental results demonstrated that the multistage solution treatment effectively eliminated eutectic phases and carbides. Moreover, samples aged for 10 min exhibited larger and more rectangular γ' precipitates compared with those aged for 5 min. Notably, secondary γ' precipitates were observed in samples subjected to water cooling. Two indices for quantifying rectangularization were proposed and successfully applied. Based on the simulation results, lattice mismatch induced coherency stresses and elevated stress triaxiality along the 〈111〉 direction contributed to the rectangularization of the γ' phase.

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Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2025

Upgrading of 6–0 mm low rank high sulfur lignite by a compound dry cascade separation bed

Authors: Xiaodong Yu, Deqing Gan

In this paper, the effect of vibration intensity on the spatial distribution of sulfur content in bed particles was studied. The effects of vibration and airflow on the mechanical characteristics of particles were studied, the collision behavior mode of particles was determined, the spatial saltation law of particles was investigated, the spatial functional axis of beds was determined, and the saltation separation period of particles was determined. The test results show that: When separation bed provides inlet airflow velocity (Uin) is 2.55 m/s, the airflow distribution interval of I, II and III areas were UI=2.55–2.57 m/s, UII=1.33–1.35 m/s, UIII=0.35–0.38 m/s, respectively; when separation bed vibration amplitude (A) A=2.4–2.5 mm, separation bed vibration frequency (f) f=23–24 Hz, the desulfurization effect is the best. When vibration intensity (C) C=1.22, Uin=1.05 m/s, the particles have disordered contact and collision behavior. When C=14.89, Uin=3.18 m/s, the particles have a transition cataclastic collision. When C=5.80, Uin=2.55 m/s, the particles have directional collision behavior. It is determined that the OX axis is the transverse stable diffusion axis of the material, the OY axis is the longitudinal gradient transport axis of the material, and the OZ axis is the vertical density cascade distribution axis of the material. When separation time (T) T=0–10 s was the period of disorderly diffusion and mixing of particles, T=10–20 s was the period of directional migration and stratification of particles, and T=20–30 s was the period of cascade distribution and separation of particles. Finally, separation experiments conducted under optimal operating parameters demonstrated that the clean coal yield was 72.02% with a sulfur content of 0.98%.

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Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025

Influencing Factors of Noise Characteristics in EBCMOS with Uniformly Doped P-type Substrates

Authors: Xinyue He, Gangcheng Jiao, Hongchang Cheng, Tianjiao Lu, Ye Li, De Song, Weijun Chen

In this study, with the aim of achieving a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in an electron-bombarded complementary metal−oxide−semiconductor (EBCMOS) imaging chip, we analyzed the sources of noise using principles from low-light-level imaging and semiconductor theory, and established a physical computational model that relates the electron-multiplication layer to the noise characteristics of an EBCMOS chip in a uniformly doped structure with a P-type substrate. We conducted theoretical calculations to analyze the effects on noise characteristics of the passivation layer material and thickness, P-substrate doping concentration, P-substrate thickness, incident electron energy, and substrate temperature. By comparing the characteristics of pixel noise, dark current, multiplication electron numbers, and SNR under various structures, we simulated optimized structural parameters of the device. Our simulation results showed that the noise characteristics of the device could be optimized using an Al2O3 passivation thickness of 15 nm and substrate temperature of 260 K, and by decreasing the doping concentration and thickness of the P-type substrate and increasing the incident electron energy. The optimized SNR were 252 e/e. And the substantial impact of dark current noise, primarily governed by interfacial defects, on the overall noise characteristics of the device. This research offers theoretical support to develop EBCMOS imaging chips with high gain and SNR.

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Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025

Trends and Emerging Techniques in Isolated Power Converters

Authors: Lin Cheng, Dongfang Pan

Isolated power converters have emerged as an active research topic in power integrated circuit (IC) design, enabling safe and reliable power delivery across voltage domains in applications such as renewable energy, electric vehicles, and telecommunications. This mini review highlights recent advances and trends in isolated power converter technologies, focusing on efficiency improvement and EMI suppression. Efficiency enhancement techniques include on-chip transformer integration with high-frequency LC-tank oscillators, specialized fabrication methods to improve transformer Q-factor, and transformer-in-package designs using thick copper traces or magnetic cores. Advanced packaging techniques like fan-out wafer-level packaging (FOWLP) are also explored to reduce form factor and enhance performance. Additionally, rectifier architecture innovations, such as active rectifiers and dual-LC-resonant structures, are discussed to overcome efficiency limitations. EMI reduction techniques address both conducted and radiated emissions, which are critical for compliance with standards like CISPR-32 and EN-55032 Class B. The review summarizes representative implementations and outlines future directions for achieving higher efficiency, higher power density, and better EMI performance in isolated power converters.

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Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025

Multi-chip multi-phase DC−DC converters for AI power: a ring, a chain, or a net, independent or master-slave?

Authors: Yan Lu, Zhiguo Tong, Jiacheng Yang, Zhewen Yu, Mo Huang, Xiangyu Mao

As artificial intelligence (AI) workloads escalate exponentially, ultra-thin, high-efficiency voltage regulator modules (VRMs) with exceptional power density become essential for backside-mounted configurations. High-density multiphase DC−DC converters are pivotal for implementing vertical power delivery (VPD) architectures in XPU platforms. Strategically positioning these converters beneath processors and maximizing spatial utilization enables core rail currents exceeding 2 kA while significantly reducing power distribution network (PDN) losses compared to conventional solutions. The VPD configuration elevates system-level energy efficiency with >100 W power saving per processor, yielding megawatt-scale savings in a datacenter that uses ~100 000 processors. The synergy of 48 V power conversion architectures and advanced packaging techniques enables the industry’s commitment to balancing computational demands with CO2 emission reduction and environmental sustainability. This paper discusses system architecture, layout geometry, and control strategies for multi-chip multi-phase DC−DC converters, comparing ring, chain, and net topologies, as well as independent and master-slave control schemes.

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Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025

Preface to Special Topic on Integrated Circuits, Technologies and Applications 2024

Authors: Zheng Wang, Yan Lu

This preface introduces the Special Topic on Integrated Circuits, Technologies and Applications 2024, featuring expanded versions of key articles presented at the 2024 IEEE International Conference on Integrated Circuits Technologies and Applications (ICTA), held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, from October 25 to 27, 2024. Among 115 papers presented, four high-quality articles were selected covering RF IC, Analog IC, and Wireline IC. The RF IC papers include a battery-free wireless temperature sensing chip for food production environment monitoring, achieving ±1.6°C accuracy from 25 to 50°C, and a two-way series Doherty power amplifier with distributed impedance inverting network for millimeter-wave applications, achieving 15.5 GHz bandwidth and 21.2 dB peak gain at 34.2 GHz. The Analog IC paper presents a high-precision bandgap reference with ultra-low temperature coefficient of 2.69 ppm/°C and line sensitivity of 0.0042%/V for battery management systems. The Wireline IC paper introduces a 112 Gbps DSP-based PAM4 SerDes receiver with wideband equalization tuning analog front-end, achieving 17.5 dB peaking tuning range and 6×10^-9 BER with 29.6 dB insertion loss channel. These articles highlight recent advances in integrated circuit design and applications.

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Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2025

Shear Damage Constitutive Model of Rock-Like Joint Surface Considering the Coupling Effect of Cyclic Water Intrusion and Loading

Authors: QIN Zhe, ZHANG Runchang, WANG Ke, CAO Lixue, YAN Yushui

Prolonged cyclic water intrusion has progressively developed joints in the hydro-fluctuation belt, elevating the instability risk of reservoir bank slopes. To investigate its impact on joint shear damage evolution, joint samples were prepared using three representative roughness curves and subjected to direct shear testing following cyclic water intrusion. A shear damage constitutive model considering the coupling effect of cyclic water intrusion and load was developed based on macroscopic phenomenological damage mechanics and micro-statistical theory. Results indicate: (1) All critical shear mechanical parameters (including peak shear strength, shear stiffness, basic friction angle, and joint compressive strength) exhibit progressive deterioration with increasing water intrusion cycles; (2) Model validation through experimental curve comparisons confirms its reliability. The model demonstrates that intensified water intrusion cycles reduce key mechanical indices, inducing a brittle-to-ductile transition in joint surface deformation — a behavior consistent with experimental observations; (3) Damage under cyclic water intrusion and load coupling follows an S-shaped trend, divided into stabilization (water-dominated stage), development (load-dominated stage), and completion stages. The research provides valuable insights for stability studies, such as similar model experiments for reservoir bank slopes and other water-related projects.

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Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2025

Mechanism of low-disturbance and high-pressure-retaining sampling of seafloor sediments at 10000-meter depth and its laboratory experiment and on-site sea trials

Authors: Guangping Liu, Shanqiang Jiang, Yongping Jin, Buyan Wan, Liang Liu, Youduo Peng

Obtaining high-quality 10000-meter-deep seafloor sediment samples is the prerequisite and foundation for conducting deep-sea geological and environmental scientific research. The bottom structure of the deep seafloor is complex, and the physical and mechanical properties and disturbance resistance of sediments of different lithologies vary greatly, so the sediment sampler inevitably disturbs the sediments during the sampling process and affects the quality of the sediment samples. A new type of deep-sea sediment pressure retaining sampler is introduced, the force state and elastic–plastic state of the sampler destroying sediments are analyzed, the radial disturbance model of sediment coring based on the spherical cavity expansion theory is established, and the radius of sediments undergoing plastic deformation around the spherical holes is used as an index for evaluating the radial disturbance of sediments. The distribution of stress and strain fields in the sediments during the expansion of the spherical cavity and the influencing factors of the radius of the radially disturbed region (plastic region) are analyzed using an arithmetic example, and the influence law is analyzed. A sediment disturbance experimental platform was built indoors to simulate the sediment coring process. The radial stress field and pore water pressure of the sediment during the coring process were monitored by sensors arranged inside the sediment, and the results of indoor tests verified the correctness of the perturbation theory model. The sampler was carried aboard the deep-sea manned submersible FENDOUZHE and conducted on-site tests at depths of 9298.4 and 9142.8 m in the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench. Pressure-preserved sediment samples were retrieved, with preservation rates of 94.21% and 92.02%, respectively, which are much higher than the current technical indicator of 80% of pressure-holding ratio for deep-sea sediments. The retrieved sediments have obvious stratification characteristics and little disturbance.

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Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2025

Advances in Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical-Chemical Modelling for CO2 Geological Storage and Utilization

Authors: Nanlin Zhang, Liangliang Jiang, Fushen Liu, Yuhao Luo, Lele Feng, Yiwen Ju, Allegra Hosford Scheirer, Jiansheng Zhang, Birol Dindoruk, S.M. Farouq Ali, Zhangxin Chen

Geological storage and utilization of CO2 involve complex interactions among Thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical (THMC) coupling processes, which significantly affect storage integrity and efficiency. To address the challenges in accurately simulating these coupled phenomena, this paper systematically reviews recent advances in the mathematical modeling and numerical solution of THMC coupling in CO2 geological storage. The study focuses on the derivation and structure of governing and constitutive equations, the classification and comparative performance of fully coupled, iteratively coupled, and explicitly coupled solution methods, and the modeling of dynamic changes in porosity, permeability, and fracture evolution induced by multi-field interactions. Furthermore, the paper evaluates the capabilities, application scenarios, and limitations of major simulation platforms, including TOUGH, CMG-GEM, and COMSOL. By establishing a comparative framework integrating model formulations and solver strategies, this work clarifies the strengths and gaps of current approaches and contributes to the development of robust, scalable, and mechanism-oriented numerical models for long-term prediction of CO2 behavior in geological formations.

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Journal of Semiconductors (半导体学报 - 中国科学院半导体研究所)•2025

Bio-inspired Spectral Adaptive Visual Devices: A New Paradigm for Structure-Defined Functionality

Authors: BAO Youyou, ZHAO Yuhan, WU Daixuan, TIAN He

In recent years, the rapid development of artificial intelligence has driven the widespread deployment of visual systems in complex environments such as autonomous driving, security surveillance, and medical diagnosis. However, existing image sensors—such as CMOS and CCD devices—intrinsically suffer from the limitation of fixed spectral response. Especially in environments with strong glare, haze, or dust, external spectral conditions often severely mismatch the device's design range, leading to significant degradation in image quality and a sharp drop in target recognition accuracy. While algorithmic post-processing (such as color bias correction or background suppression) can mitigate these issues, algorithm approaches typically introduce computational latency and increased energy consumption, making them unsuitable for edge computing or high-speed scenarios. Achieving real-time adaptation to environmental spectral changes at the hardware level remains a major bottleneck in the intelligentization of visual systems. In 2024, Ouyang et al. published a study in Nature Electronics proposing a biomimetic spectral adaptive visual device inspired by the spectral regulation mechanism of Pacific salmon. This design innovatively adopts a filterless, single-structure stacking approach, enabling the switching of the primary response spectral band within the device by adjusting the bias voltage, thereby defining spectral sensing functionality at the structural layer. The filterless stacking approach achieves 'depth-tunable' response through material heterostructures, not only avoids the volume and complexity issues of traditional multi-channel schemes but also constructs 'hardware-adaptive' sensing capabilities at the device level, opening up new avenues for the development of next-generation visual systems. Performance testing shows that the device achieves an external quantum efficiency (EQE) covering 340−880 nm at a +2 V bias, and transforms into a narrow-band response of 930−1075 nm at −2 V. The response and recovery times under 520 and 980 nm illumination are both controlled within 100 ms. Under strong visible light interference, the infrared target suppression ratio R980/R520 exceeds 10^4, demonstrating excellent spectral discrimination capability. The device switches stably at a frequency of 100 kHz and maintains consistent response across a wide temperature range. Further research expanded this device into an 8 × 8 array to test its spectral selective imaging capability, achieving dual-mode switching recognition accuracy of 90% for both visible and infrared targets without any image post-processing.

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Int. Journal of Mining Science and Technology (采矿与安全工程)•2025

Effect of Depositional Environment Differences on Micro-Macro Rheological Behavior of Sedimentary Soft Rocks

Authors: LIU Mengnan, QIAO Wei, CHENG Xianggang, LV Ruijie, MENG Xiangsheng

Although significant progress has been made in micromechanical characterization and upscaling of homogeneous materials, systematic investigations into deposition-controlled micro–macro rheological relationships in heterogeneous sedimentary soft rocks remain limited, particularly concerning time-dependent viscous parameter upscaling. This study investigates six typical fluvial and lacustrine microfacies from the Ordos Basin, China, including riverbed lag, natural levee, floodplain lake, point bar, sheet sand, and shallow lake mud. Mineral composition and microstructure are characterized, and nanoindentation creep tests quantify viscoelastic properties. A micro–macro upscaling method that transforms the time-domain Burger model into the frequency domain and utilizes three traditional homogenization schemes: dilute approximation, Mori-Tanaka, and self-consistent methods, for comparative estimation of macroscopic rheological parameters is proposed. Microstructural analysis demonstrates distinct fabric patterns controlled by depositional energy. Floodplain lake and sheet sand microfacies show superior rheological stability due to dense quartz skeletons, whereas riverbed lag and shallow lake mud perform poorly, caused by skeleton relaxation and clay-dominated slip, respectively. The point bar microfacies exhibits a “rigid-soft hybrid” behavior, with high long-term stability but reduced transient stability. Comparatively, the frequency-domain upscaling framework developed in this study, incorporating the Mori-Tanaka scheme, demonstrates satisfactory agreement with experimental data, validating its capability to predict macroscopic viscoelastic properties from microstructural features.

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China Foundry•2025

A new oolitic content test method for green sand by repeated approximation

Authors: Yu-yang Qi, Jian-xin Zhou, Xin Peng, Si-yuan Pan, Ya-jun Yin, Xiao-yuan Ji, Yuan-cai Li, Peng-fei Lin, Peng Wan

The reuse of green sand in casting production is hindered by the accumulation of oolitic deposits, primarily composed of clay binder with surface degradation, which may adversely affect the the moulding sand performance. Currently, there is a lack of standardized methods for quantifying the oolitic content. Accurate measurement of oolitic content is of great significance to the reuse of green sand. Attempts to determine oolitic content using potassium hydroxide (KOH) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4) methods encounter challenges due to their excessive reactions with SiO2 in the sand. In this study, an improved method for measuring the oolitic content of green sand with repeated approximations was proposed. This method judges the chemical activity of the sample surface through the change of its mass to accurately obtain the mass of the reaction oolitic deposits. The test result of the used sand samples from the foundry shows that the oolitic deposits are completely removed after reacting with KOH solution three times at 300 °C for 20 min. SEM and EDS also show that after three times of reactions, the surface of green sand becomes smooth and the content of Al-containing oolitic deposits is very low. This indicates that the method can accurately control the extent of the reaction. Implementation of this method at Huangshi Dongbei Casting Co., Ltd. has yielded consistent and reliable test results, effectively mirroring variations in green sand oolitic content on the production line. This new method is expected to be widely adopted to improve the efficiency and quality of reused green sand in casting operations.

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China Foundry•2025

Preparation of soluble ceramic cores via additive manufacturing technology: A review

Authors: Xiao-peng Yu, Wen-ming Jiang, Yun-xia Wang, Li Yang, Zi-wei Peng, Zi-tian Fan

Ceramic cores are key components in the production of castings with complex cavity structures. With the continuous development of the aerospace field, the demand for the castings with complex cavity structures is increasing. When using insoluble ceramic cores for casting, there is a significant challenge in removing complex blind cavities, which severely affects the completeness of the shape of the castings. Soluble ceramic cores can disintegrate when placed in water, greatly simplifying the removal process of cores and ensuring the complete formation of castings with complex cavity structures. Additive manufacturing technology, compared to traditional methods for preparing the soluble ceramic cores, does not require molds and can achieve direct forming of complex cores, simplifying the preparation process and reducing production time and costs. Nowadays, various additive manufacturing technologies, such as stereolithography (SL), selective laser sintering (SLS), direct ink writing (DIW), and binder jetting (BJ) technologies, have been successfully applied to the preparation of the ceramic cores. This paper analyzed the advantages and limitations of various additive manufacturing technologies, reviewed the research progress and raw material classifications of soluble ceramic cores prepared by these technologies, and looked forward to the future developments in the preparation of soluble ceramic cores using additive manufacturing technologies.

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China Foundry•2025

Effects of Al and C content on κ-carbide precipitation and strengthening in high-Mn low-density steels: A quantitative study

Authors: Yu-xiang Liu, Tao Xu, Jian-lei Zhang, Feng-hui An, Gang Chen, Chang-jiang Song, Qi-jie Zhai

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.

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China Foundry•2025

Influence of nodular graphite on microstructure, mechanical properties, and wear behavior of austempered ductile iron

Authors: Xue-bo Zhao, Shu-ya Diao, Yan-song Nan, Jin-hai Liu, Jing-kun Li

This study systematically investigated the effects of graphite nodule parameters, including count, average diameter, and nodularity, on microstructure and mechanical properties of austempered ductile irons (ADIs). The ADI specimens with graphite nodule counts of 212±11 mm-2, 308±9 mm-2, 415±10 mm-2, and 589±13 mm-2 were designated as G-200, G-300, G-400, and G-600, respectively. Results indicate a progressive refinement of graphite with an increase in nodule counts. Specifically, the average nodule diameter decreases from 33.3±1.3 μm for G-200 to 17.0±0.7 μm for G-600. The nodularity of all samples is above 90%. Furthermore, the nodularity exhibits a corresponding increasing trend with the rise of graphite nodule count in ADIs. Additionally, the volume fraction of the austenite phase in ADIs decreases with an increase in graphite nodule count. The graphite nodule count changes the tensile strength and elongation of ADIs. The specimen G-400 exhibits the ultimate tensile strength of 897±11 MPa and an elongation of 9.8%±0.6%, representing 5.3% and 44.1% improvements respectively compared to G-200. To explore the wear resistance of ADIs with different graphite nodule counts, dry sliding friction and wear test of different samples was carried out at room temperature. At a high load of 25 N, G-400 exhibits superior wear resistance, achieving a 42% reduction in worn volume compared to G-200. Worn micromorphology identifies three primary wear mechanisms: microcutting-dominated abrasive wear, adhesive wear, and fatigue wear.

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China Foundry•2025

Effect of La content on microstructure, tensile properties, and electrical conductivity of cast Al-Mg-Si-xLa alloys

Authors: Hong-yu Xu, Hai-feng Jia, Ze-sheng Ji, Ming-liang Li, Han Yu, Bo Jiang, Ye Wang, Mao-liang Hu

Lightweight aluminum alloy conductor materials (Al-Mg-Si alloys) require not only high electrical conductivity to reduce electrical loss, but also high strength to withstand extreme weather conditions. To improve electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of Al-Mg-Si alloy simultaneously, the rare earth La was introduced to modify the Al-Mg-Si alloy. The effect of La addition on the microstructure, tensile properties and electrical conductivity of cast Al-Mg-Si alloy was investigated systematically. Results indicate that the appropriate La content is helpful to improve the strength and electrical conductivity of Al-Mg-Si alloys. When the addition of La is 0.2wt.%, the α-Al grains are refined apparently, Mg and Si solute atoms in the Al matrix are reduced by the formation of Mg2Si phase; the distribution of Al11La3 phases is uniform, and the morphology of AlFeSi phase transforms from continuous state to discontinuous state. The Al-Mg-Si-0.2La alloy exhibits the optimal tensile properties and electrical conductivity, with an ultimate tensile strength of 170 MPa, a yield strength of 88 MPa, an elongation of 18.9%, and an electrical conductivity of 44.0% IACS. These values represent improvements of 9.0%, 15.8%, 70.3%, and 17.3%, respectively, compared to the Al-Mg-Si alloy without La addition. However, excessive La deteriorates the properties of Al-Mg-Si-xLa alloys.

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China Foundry•2025

Effect of Al content on phase evolution, damping capacity, and mechanical properties of AlxCrFe3Ni medium entropy alloys

Authors: Ning-ning Geng, Jiang Li, Wei Zhang, Peng Gao, Qing-chun Xiang, Ying-lei Ren, Bo Yu, Ke-qiang Qiu

The phase constitution, microstructure, damping capacity, and mechanical properties of as-cast AlxCrFe3Ni (x=0.5, 0.52, 0.54, and 0.56, respectively) medium entropy alloys were investigated. It is found that the volume fraction of BCC phase increases while that of FCC decreases with increasing the Al content. When the content of Al is 0.54, the alloy is composed of 82.1vol.% BCC matrix and 17.9vol.% FCC phase. Wherein the FCC phase is distributed on the BCC matrix, forming a structure where the hard BCC matrix is surrounded by soft FCC phase. This results in a hindering effect on the propagation process of vibration waves. The damping performance of Al0.54CrFe3Ni alloy, characterized by an internal friction of Q-1 is as high as 0.059, is higher than that of most FeCr damping alloys. The volume fraction of the BCC phase and the peculiar distribution of the FCC phase are identified as the key factors affecting the damping capacity. In addition, the Al0.54CrFe3Ni alloy exhibits a high yield strength of 811.16 MPa.

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China Foundry•2025

Contextual design and real-time verification for agile casting design

Authors: Dong Xiang, Chu-hao Zhou, Xuan-pu Dong, Shu-ren Guo, Yan-song Ding, Hua-tang Cao

In the foundry industries, process design has traditionally relied on manuals and complex theoretical calculations. With the advent of 3D design in casting, computer-aided design (CAD) has been applied to integrate the features of casting process, thereby expanding the scope of design options. These technologies use parametric model design techniques for rapid component creation and use databases to access standard process parameters and design specifications. However, 3D models are currently still created through inputting or calling parameters, which requires numerous verifications through calculations to ensure the design rationality. This process may be significantly slowed down due to repetitive modifications and extended design time. As a result, there are increasingly urgent demands for a real-time verification mechanism to address this issue. Therefore, this study proposed a novel closed-loop model and software development method that integrated contextual design with real-time verification, dynamically verifying relevant rules for designing 3D casting components. Additionally, the study analyzed three typical closed-loop scenarios of agile design in an independent developed intelligent casting process system. It is believed that foundry industries can potentially benefit from favorably reduced design cycles to yield an enhanced competitive product market.

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Nano-Micro Letters•2025

Hydrolysis-Engineered Robust Porous Micron Silicon Anode for High-Energy Lithium-Ion Batteries

Authors: Mili Liu, Jiangwen Liu, Yunqi Jia, Chen Li, Anwei Zhang, Renzong Hu, Jun Liu, Chengyun Wang, Longtao Ma, Liuzhang Ouyang

Micro-silicon (Si) anode that features high theoretical capacity and fine tap density is ideal for energy-dense lithium-ion batteries. However, the substantial localized mechanical strain caused by the large volume expansion often results in electrode disintegration and capacity loss. Herein, a microporous Si anode with the SiOx/C layer functionalized all-surface and high tap density (~0.65 g cm⁻3) is developed by the hydrolysis-driven strategy that avoids the common use of corrosive etchants and toxic siloxane reagents. The functionalized inner pore with superior structural stability can effectively alleviate the volume change and enhance the electrolyte contact. Simultaneously, the outer particle surface forms a continuous network that prevents electrolyte parasitic decomposition, disperses the interface stress of Si matrix and facilitates electron/ion transport. As a result, the micron-sized Si anode shows only ~9.94 GPa average stress at full lithiation state and delivers an impressive capacity of 901.1 mAh g⁻1 after 500 cycles at 1 A g⁻1. It also performs excellent rate performance of 1123.0 mAh g⁻1 at 5 A g⁻1 and 850.4 at 8 A g⁻1, far exceeding most of reported literatures. Furthermore, when paired with a commercial LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2, the pouch cell demonstrates high capacity and desirable cyclic performance.

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Nano-Micro Letters•2025

Binder-Free Immobilization of Photocatalyst on Membrane Surface for Efficient Photocatalytic H2O2 Production and Water Decontamination

Authors: Zhen-Yu Hu, Tian Liu, Yu-Ru Yang, Alicia Kyoungjin An, Kim Meow Liew, Wen-Wei Li

In photocatalytic water treatment processes, the particulate photocatalysts are typically immobilized on membrane, through either chemical/physical loading onto the surface or directly embedding in the membrane matrix. However, these immobilization strategies inevitably compromise the interfacial mass diffusion and cause activity decline relative to the suspended catalyst. Here, we propose a binder-free surface immobilization strategy for fabrication of high-activity photocatalytic membrane. Through a simple dimethylformamide (DMF) treatment, the nanofibers of polyvinylidene fluoride membrane were softened and stretched, creating enlarged micropores to efficiently capture the photocatalyst. Subsequently, the nanofibers underwent shrinking during DMF evaporation, thus firmly strapping the photocatalyst microparticles on the membrane surface. This surface self-bounded photocatalytic membrane, with firmly bounded yet highly exposed photocatalyst, exhibited 4.2-fold higher efficiency in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) photosynthesis than the matrix-embedded control, due to improved O2 accessibility and H2O2 diffusion. It even outperformed the suspension photocatalytic system attributed to alleviated H2O2 decomposition at the hydrophobic surface. When adopted for UV-based water treatment, the photocatalytic system exhibited tenfold faster micropollutants photodegradation than the catalyst-free control and demonstrated superior robustness for treating contaminated tap water, lake water and secondary wastewater effluent. This immobilization strategy can also be extended to the fabrication of other photocatalytic membranes with diverse catalyst types and membrane substrate. Overall, our work opens a facile avenue for fabrication of high-performance photocatalytic membranes, which may benefit advanced oxidation water purification application and beyond.

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Nano-Micro Letters•2025

An Efficient Deep Learning Framework for Revealing the Evolution of Characterization Methods in Nanoscience

Authors: Hui-Cong Duan, Long-Xing Lin, Ji-Chun Wang, Tong-Ruo Diao, Sheng-Jie Qiu, Bi-Jun Geng, Jia Shi, Shu Hu, Yang Yang

Text mining has emerged as a powerful strategy for extracting domain knowledge structure from large amounts of text data. To date, most text mining methods are restricted to specific literature information, resulting in incomplete knowledge graphs. Here, we report a method that combines citation analysis with topic modeling to describe the hidden development patterns in the history of science. Leveraging this method, we construct a knowledge graph in the field of Raman spectroscopy. The traditional Latent Dirichlet Allocation model is chosen as the baseline model for comparison to validate the performance of our model. Our method improves the topic coherence with a minimum growth rate of 100% compared to the traditional text mining method. It outperforms the traditional text mining method on the diversity, and its growth rate ranges from 0 to 126%. The results show the effectiveness of rule-based tokenizer we designed in solving the word tokenizer problem caused by entity naming rules in the field of chemistry. It is versatile in revealing the distribution of topics, establishing the similarity and inheritance relationships, and identifying the important moments in the history of Raman spectroscopy. Our work provides a comprehensive tool for the science of science research and promises to offer new insights into the historical survey and development forecast of a research field.

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