Influence of Bonding Temperature on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of AZ31/Zn/Sn/5083 Diffusion Joint.

Diffusion bonding with an interlayer is considered an effective means of obtaining Mg/Al dissimilar alloy joints. However, at low temperatures, it is often impossible to simultaneously achieve joints between the interlayer and Mg/Al under the same bonding parameters. For this reason, the interlayer is usually prefabricated on the substrate, followed by conducting diffusion bonding.

Facile synthesis of Ir-based high-entropy alloy nanomaterials for efficient oxygen evolution electrocatalysis.

High-entropy alloy (HEA) nanomaterials have emerged as promising candidates as oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalyst to overcome the existing issues of the sluggish reaction kinetics and poor stability. In this study, IrRuCoCuNi HEA three-dimensional-nanoframeworks (3DNF) are prepared using a scalable approach-the spray-drying technique combined with thermal decomposition reduction (SD-TDR). The optimized catalyst, IrRuCoCuNi, demonstrates superior OER performance, with an overpotential of 264 mV at 10 mA cm and a Tafel slope of 47 mV dec, considerably surpassing the catalytic activity of commercial IrO.

Durable superhydrophobicity-memory coating with femtosecond laser-structured micro/nanostructures for anti-corrosion applications.

Superhydrophobic coatings have important application potential and value in the field of metal corrosion protection. However, the practical application of the superhydrophobic coating is significantly hindered by their poor durability. In this study, a durable superhydrophobic coating with repairable micro/nanostructures is prepared by femtosecond laser directly writing micropillar structures on the surface of thermal-responsive shape-memory materials.

Insights into the electrochemical catalytic mechanism of atomically dispersed metal on h-BCN monolayer.

Exploiting efficient and inexpensive electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is of great significance for the rapid development of renewable energy technologies. The embedding of single-atom metals into two-dimensional (2D) carbon-based materials as electrocatalysts for fuel cells and metal-air batteries have become a major research focus. Herein, the catalytic properties of the ORR and OER of partial metal atoms embedded in a two-dimensional h-BCN monolayer were systematically investigated on thermodynamic and kinetic scales using density functional theory calculations.

Carbon-Encapsulated Bimetallic Fe-W-Based Selenides with Abundant Heterogeneous Conductive Network for Superior Potassium Ion Storage.

Potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) are one of the most promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their high ion mobility, abundant resources, and low cost. However, the problems of low capacity and poor cycling stability of KIBs remain unsolved; therefore, it is crucial to explore alternative electrode materials suitable for reversible insertion and extraction of K. Herein, carbon-encapsulated FeSe/WSe microsphere material assembled from nanosheets with abundant heterogeneous interfaces and expanded interlayer spacing (denoted as FWSC) is designed as an anode material for superior potassium ion storage.

Multifunctional bioactive glass nanoparticles: surface-interface decoration and biomedical applications.

Developing bioactive materials with multifunctional properties is crucial for enhancing their biomedical applications in regenerative medicine. Bioactive glass nanoparticle (BGN) is a new generation of biomaterials that demonstrate high biocompatibility and tissue-inducing capacity. However, the hard nanoparticle surface and single surface property limited their wide biomedical applications.

Application of advanced surface modification techniques in titanium-based implants: latest strategies for enhanced antibacterial properties and osseointegration.

Titanium-based implants, renowned for their excellent mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility, have found widespread application as premier implant materials in the medical field. However, as bioinert materials, they often face challenges such as implant failure caused by bacterial infections and inadequate osseointegration post-implantation. Thus, to address these issues, researchers have developed various surface modification techniques to enhance the surface properties and bioactivity of titanium-based implants.

Efficient removal of methyl orange and ciprofloxacin by reusable Eu-TiO/PVDF membranes with adsorption and photocatalysis methods.

The presence of methyl orange (MO) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) in wastewater poses a serious threat to the environment and human health. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO NPs) are widely studied as photocatalysts for wastewater treatment. However, TiO NPs have the drawbacks of high energy required for activation, fast electron-hole pair recombination and difficulty in recovering from water.

Multifunctional polymer-based nanocomposites for synergistic adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of mixed pollutants in water.

Water pollution is a growing concern for mankind due to its harmful effects on humans, animals and plants. Usually, several pollutants are present in wastewater. For example, dyes and antibiotics are found in wastewater because of their widespread use in factories and hospitals.

Introducing phosphorus atoms into MoS nanosheets through a vapor-phase hydrothermal process for the hydrogen evolution reaction.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS)-based electrocatalysts have been considered as promising alternatives to platinum for use in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Developing MoS electrocatalysts with more active sites has been recognized as an efficient way to enhance the HER activity. Moreover, phase transition and heteroatom doping show great influence on the HER performance.

Nanoporous gold with microporous structure prepared by sodium dodecyl sulfate-mediated electrochemical dealloying.

Nanoporous gold (NPG) is a promising catalytic material for the oxidation of CO and methanol applications. However, NPGs are prone to extensive macroscopic cracking that often decrease mechanic properties of NPGs and depresses their catalytic action. To produce crack-free NPG with an ultra-finer porosity in room temperature, the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was added in electrochemical dealloying process.

The Microstructure, Solidification Path, and Microhardness of As-Cast Ni-Al-Cr-Os Alloys in a Ni-Rich Region.

In this study, nine as-cast Ni-Al-Cr-Os alloys were prepared, and their constituent phases and microstructure were examined using X-ray diffraction and electron probe microanalysis techniques. The solidification paths of all the alloys in a Ni-rich corner were revealed based on a detailed analysis of the as-cast microstructure. The liquidus cube of the quaternary Ni-Al-Cr-Os system in a Ni-rich corner was established accordingly.

Enhanced Mechanical Strength of Metal Ion-Doped MXene-Based Double-Network Hydrogels for Highly Sensitive and Durable Flexible Sensors.

Development of conductive hydrogels with high sensitivity and excellent mechanical properties remains a challenge for constructing flexible sensor devices. Herein, a universal strategy is presented for enhancing the mechanical strength of Mxene-based double-network hydrogels through metal ion coordination effects. Polyacrylamide (PAM)/sodium alginate (SA)/Mxene double-network (PSM-DN) hydrogels were prepared by metal ion impregnation of PAM/SA/Mxene (PSM) hydrogels.

Towards a scalable and controllable preparation of highly-uniform surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates: Defect-free nanofilms as templates.

The uniformity and reproducibility of substrates highly determine the applicability of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Production of them, however, remains a challenge. Herein, we report a template-based strategy for the strictly controllable and handily scalable preparation of a very uniform SERS substrate, Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs)/nanofilm, where the template used is a flexible, transparent, self-standing, defect-free and robust nanofilm.

Dual-Functional Z-Scheme TiO @MoS @NC Multi-Heterostructures for Photo-Driving Ultrafast Sodium Ion Storage.

Exploiting dual-functional photoelectrodes to harvest and store solar energy is a challenging but efficient way for achieving renewable energy utilization. Herein, multi-heterostructures consisting of N-doped carbon coated MoS nanosheets supported by tubular TiO with photoelectric conversion and electronic transfer interfaces are designed. When a photo sodium ion battery (photo-SIB) is assembled based on the heterostructures, its capacity increases to 399.

Controllable CO Reduction or Hydrocarbon Oxidation Driven by Entire Solar via Silver Quantum Dots Direct Photocatalysis.

The current solar-chemical-industry based on semiconductor photocatalyst is impractical. Metal catalysts are extensively employed in thermal- and electro-catalysis industries, but unsuitable for direct-driven photocatalysis. Herein, silver quantum dots (Ag-QDs) are synthesized on support via an in situ photoreduction method, and in situ photocatalysis temperature programmed dynamics chemisorption desorption analyses are designed to demonstrate that Ag-QDs should be the actual photocatalytic sites.

A Review of Smart Superwetting Surfaces Based on Shape-Memory Micro/Nanostructures.

Bioinspired smart superwetting surfaces with special wettability have aroused great attention from fundamental research to technological applications including self-cleaning, oil-water separation, anti-icing/corrosion/fogging, drag reduction, cell engineering, liquid manipulation, and so on. However, most of the reported smart superwetting surfaces switch their wettability by reversibly changing surface chemistry rather than surface microstructure. Compared with surface chemistry, the regulation of surface microstructure is more difficult and can bring novel functions to the surfaces.

Chemical and mechanical stability of an ion-exchanged lithium disilicate glass in artificial saliva.

Multi-component lithium disilicate (LD) glasses were ion-exchanged in a pure or mixed nitrate salt bath. The surface morphologies, mechanical properties, chemical stability and ion leaching of ion-exchanged LD glasses before and after storage in artificial saliva for 21 days were investigated. It can be found that chemical stability of ion-exchanged LD glass was temperature-dependent.

Challenges and Opportunities of Transition Metal Oxides as Electrocatalysts.

As a sustainable energy technology, electrocatalytic energy conversion and storage has become increasingly prominent. The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), and carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO RR) are the key steps in the industrial applications of energy conversion and storage. Compared to the widely used precious metal catalysts, less-noble transition metal oxides (TMOs) and TMO-like materials have attracted broad attention as electrocatalysts in the above reactions.

Facile and General Method to Synthesize Pt-Based High-Entropy-Alloy Nanoparticles.

Pt-based high-entropy-alloy nanoparticles (HEA-NPs) have excellent physical and chemical properties due to the diversity of composition, complexity of surface structure, high mixing entropy, and properties of nanoscale, and they are used in a wide range of catalytic applications such as catalytic ammoxidation, the electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen, CO/CO reduction, and ethanol/methanol oxidation reaction. However, offering a facile, low-cost, and large-scale method for preparing Pt-based HEA-NPs still faces great challenges. In this study, we employed a spray drying technique combined with thermal decomposition reduction (SD-TDR) method to synthesize a single-phase solid solution from binary nanoparticles to denary Pt-based HEA-NPs containing 10 dissimilar elements loaded on carbon supports in an H atmosphere with a moderate heating rate (3 °C/min), thermal decomposition temperature (300-850 °C), duration time (30 min), and low cooling rate (5-10 °C/min).

Injectable hyaluronan/MnO nanocomposite hydrogel constructed by metal-hydrazide coordinated crosslink mineralization for relieving tumor hypoxia and combined phototherapy.

Hydrogel-based drug delivery holds great promise in topical tumor treatment. However, the simple construction of multifunctional therapeutic hydrogels under physiological conditions is still a huge challenge. Herein, for the first time, a multifunctional hyaluronan/MnO nanocomposite (HHM) hydrogel with injectable and self-healing capabilities was constructed under physiological conditions through innovative in situ mineralization-triggered Mn-hydrazide coordination crosslinking.

Critical Factors Affecting the Catalytic Activity of Redox Mediators on Li-O Battery Discharge.

Redox mediators (RMs) have a substantial ability to govern oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in Li-O batteries, which can realize large capacity and high-rate capability. However, studies on understanding RM-assisted ORR mechanisms are still in their infancy. Herein, a quinone-based molecule, vitamin K1 (VK1), is first used as the ORR RM for Li-O batteries, together with 2,5-di--butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (DBBQ), to elucidate key factors on the catalytic activity of RMs.