Pub Date : 2026-01-03DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140046
Jianlei Song , Lifeng Hou , Hongxia Zhang , Qixin Yan , Yinghui Wei
This study investigated the effect of sodium phosphate (Na₃PO₄) in NaCl solution on the polarization of magnesium (Mg) anode and the cathode hydrogen evolution. Na₃PO₄ demonstrates favorable sustained-release characteristics on magnesium corrosion, suppressing it in NaCl solution by reducing both hydrogen evolution rate and anodic dissolution. The established double-layer model at the Mg surface reveals the underlying inhibition/acceleration mechanisms, the dissolution rate and hydrogen evolution rate on the magnesium surface are governed by the coverage of its active sites.
{"title":"Steering Mg anodic dissolution and hydrogen evolution via the interfacial double layer","authors":"Jianlei Song , Lifeng Hou , Hongxia Zhang , Qixin Yan , Yinghui Wei","doi":"10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140046","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140046","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated the effect of sodium phosphate (Na₃PO₄) in NaCl solution on the polarization of magnesium (Mg) anode and the cathode hydrogen evolution. Na₃PO₄ demonstrates favorable sustained-release characteristics on magnesium corrosion, suppressing it in NaCl solution by reducing both hydrogen evolution rate and anodic dissolution. The established double-layer model at the Mg surface reveals the underlying inhibition/acceleration mechanisms, the dissolution rate and hydrogen evolution rate on the magnesium surface are governed by the coverage of its active sites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":384,"journal":{"name":"Materials Letters","volume":"407 ","pages":"Article 140046"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145922484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-03DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140049
Sriparna Paul , Kamna Chaturvedi , Sarika Verma
In recent years, the development of non-toxic, lightweight, flexible and high performance X-Ray shielding material has shown a great concern amongst the researchers. The conventional flexible composites often leads to non-uniform attenuation behaviour due to the non-uniform distribution of fillers in the natural rubber matrix. In this work, efforts were made to address this limitation by fabricating a lead-free chemically bonded flexible sheets using brine sludge as a filler in a natural rubber matrix along with the curing agents to overcome the insufficient strength of the samples found in other reports. Designed with a uniform thickness of 2 mm and 5 mm, the composite materials were fabricated using a conventional two-roll milling under specific working conditions. The composites underwent thorough mixing, curing, and post-curing processes before being evaluated for their physical morphology, radiation shielding efficiency, and mechanical performance. X-ray shielding properties including linear attenuation coefficient (μ), mass attenuation coefficient (μm), and half value layer (HVL) have also been studied. It is seen that 5 mm thick composite exhibited superior shielding efficiency as compared to 2 mm thick composite and also offers 0.25 mm lead attenuation equivalent at 100 kV, aligning with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Standards and toxicity safety standards. These findings emphasize its potential for diverse medical and industrial uses as flexible radiation shielding materials in addition to their low cost, uniform attenuation throughout the matrix and contributions to a cleaner environment, with further research needed to enhance its shielding efficiency.
{"title":"Novel brine sludge/natural rubber composite reinforced with barium-bismuth oxide for X-ray radiation shielding in medical applications","authors":"Sriparna Paul , Kamna Chaturvedi , Sarika Verma","doi":"10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140049","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140049","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, the development of non-toxic, lightweight, flexible and high performance X-Ray shielding material has shown a great concern amongst the researchers. The conventional flexible composites often leads to non-uniform attenuation behaviour due to the non-uniform distribution of fillers in the natural rubber matrix. In this work, efforts were made to address this limitation by fabricating a lead-free chemically bonded flexible sheets using brine sludge as a filler in a natural rubber matrix along with the curing agents to overcome the insufficient strength of the samples found in other reports. Designed with a uniform thickness of 2 mm and 5 mm, the composite materials were fabricated using a conventional two-roll milling under specific working conditions. The composites underwent thorough mixing, curing, and post-curing processes before being evaluated for their physical morphology, radiation shielding efficiency, and mechanical performance. X-ray shielding properties including linear attenuation coefficient (μ), mass attenuation coefficient (μ<sub>m</sub>), and half value layer (HVL) have also been studied. It is seen that 5 mm thick composite exhibited superior shielding efficiency as compared to 2 mm thick composite and also offers 0.25 mm lead attenuation equivalent at 100 kV, aligning with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Standards and toxicity safety standards. These findings emphasize its potential for diverse medical and industrial uses as flexible radiation shielding materials in addition to their low cost, uniform attenuation throughout the matrix and contributions to a cleaner environment, with further research needed to enhance its shielding efficiency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":384,"journal":{"name":"Materials Letters","volume":"407 ","pages":"Article 140049"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145922573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-03DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140048
Yuefeng Jiang, Meiqiong Ou, Yaqian Yang, Min Wang, Yingche Ma
A novel austenitic stainless steel with a Ti/C ratio of 4 was recently designed for lead-cooled fast reactors. During the 450 °C long-term annealing, the 20 % cold-worked material with this specific Ti/C ratio exhibited dense precipitation within deformation twinning regions with the size predominantly below 100 nm. This unique behavior was synergistically promoted by the pre-existing twin boundaries, which provided abundant nucleation sites, and resulted in a remarkable increase in room-temperature tensile yield strength. In this paper, the cold-worked and thermally aged microstructures were characterized, and the precipitation mechanism governed by Ti/C stoichiometry and the resultant strengthening effects were discussed.
{"title":"Deformation twinning induced ultra-fine carbide precipitation in a newly developed austenitic stainless steel","authors":"Yuefeng Jiang, Meiqiong Ou, Yaqian Yang, Min Wang, Yingche Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140048","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140048","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A novel austenitic stainless steel with a Ti/C ratio of 4 was recently designed for lead-cooled fast reactors. During the 450 °C long-term annealing, the 20 % cold-worked material with this specific Ti/C ratio exhibited dense precipitation within deformation twinning regions with the size predominantly below 100 nm. This unique behavior was synergistically promoted by the pre-existing twin boundaries, which provided abundant nucleation sites, and resulted in a remarkable increase in room-temperature tensile yield strength. In this paper, the cold-worked and thermally aged microstructures were characterized, and the precipitation mechanism governed by Ti/C stoichiometry and the resultant strengthening effects were discussed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":384,"journal":{"name":"Materials Letters","volume":"407 ","pages":"Article 140048"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145922574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-02DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2025.140042
Z. Lukáčová Bujňáková , O. Shpotyuk , M. Baláž , J. Briančin , K. Hreus , L. Storozhuk , E. Dutková
The successful delamination of bulk selenium (Se) into a 2D-structured selenene was first achieved through a two-step mechanochemical processing. In the first step, the powdered bulk Se was co-milled in a planetary mill with sodium chloride NaCl acting as a solid solvent, essentially reducing the crystallite sizes (from 36 nm to 26 nm) and microstrain of trigonal Se. This NaCl-assisted pre-milling is necessary for further successful delamination of nanostructured Se. In the second step, the delamination of pre-milled Se was carried out using wet media milling in a polyvinylpyrrolidone solution. As a result, sheets of 2D-structured Se, composed of one or several layers with a 183-times increased specific surface area compared to the starting samples (from 0.06 m2/g to 11 m2/g), were fabricated. The sample characteristics were evaluated using X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning and transmission microscopy, and specific surface area measurements.
{"title":"Delamination of selenium by wet media milling","authors":"Z. Lukáčová Bujňáková , O. Shpotyuk , M. Baláž , J. Briančin , K. Hreus , L. Storozhuk , E. Dutková","doi":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.140042","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.140042","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The successful delamination of bulk selenium (Se) into a 2D-structured selenene was first achieved through a two-step mechanochemical processing. In the first step, the powdered bulk Se was co-milled in a planetary mill with sodium chloride NaCl acting as a solid solvent, essentially reducing the crystallite sizes (from 36 nm to 26 nm) and microstrain of trigonal Se. This NaCl-assisted pre-milling is necessary for further successful delamination of nanostructured Se. In the second step, the delamination of pre-milled Se was carried out using wet media milling in a polyvinylpyrrolidone solution. As a result, sheets of 2D-structured Se, composed of one or several layers with a 183-times increased specific surface area compared to the starting samples (from 0.06 m<sup>2</sup>/g to 11 m<sup>2</sup>/g), were fabricated. The sample characteristics were evaluated using X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning and transmission microscopy, and specific surface area measurements.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":384,"journal":{"name":"Materials Letters","volume":"407 ","pages":"Article 140042"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973791","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-02DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140043
Yee Ng, Tzee Luai Meng, Xian Yi Tan, Coryl J.J. Lee, Chee Kiang Ivan Tan, Dennis C.C. Tan, Hongfei Liu
Severe shot peening (SSP) was applied to DSS2205 duplex stainless steel at an intensity of 0.635 mmA with coverages of 100–1500 %. Crystallographic evolution was characterized by X-ray diffraction and electron backscatter diffraction. Both phases exhibited near-surface grain refinement, with more pronounced refinement in austenite, while no austenite-to-martensite transformation was detected. In contrast to austenite, ferrite developed strong texture through rotation of the [111] axis towards the surface normal. These structural modifications were confined to a ∼ 200 μm layer, increased with coverage, and saturated at ∼1000 %. Differences between phases are attributed to distinct plastic deformation mechanisms.
{"title":"Grain refinement and ferrite-selective texturing in duplex stainless steel 2205 induced by severe shot peening","authors":"Yee Ng, Tzee Luai Meng, Xian Yi Tan, Coryl J.J. Lee, Chee Kiang Ivan Tan, Dennis C.C. Tan, Hongfei Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140043","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140043","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Severe shot peening (SSP) was applied to DSS2205 duplex stainless steel at an intensity of 0.635 mmA with coverages of 100–1500 %. Crystallographic evolution was characterized by X-ray diffraction and electron backscatter diffraction. Both phases exhibited near-surface grain refinement, with more pronounced refinement in austenite, while no austenite-to-martensite transformation was detected. In contrast to austenite, ferrite developed strong texture through rotation of the [111] axis towards the surface normal. These structural modifications were confined to a ∼ 200 μm layer, increased with coverage, and saturated at ∼1000 %. Differences between phases are attributed to distinct plastic deformation mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":384,"journal":{"name":"Materials Letters","volume":"407 ","pages":"Article 140043"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145882908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-02DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140044
Quanbo Kuang , Richu Wang , Juangang Zhao
The microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of a rapidly solidified Al-Mg-Li alloy under different aging conditions were investigated. The results showed that Al3Li is the primary precipitated phases in the alloy after aging treatment. Higher aging temperature and dislocations induced by pre-deformation accelerated the coarsening of Al3Li. An outstanding yield strength of 418 ± 5 MPa, ultimate tensile strength of 546 ± 7 MPa, and elongation of 12.8 ± 0.5 % were obtained in the pre-deformation aging alloy. The increased strength is attributed to the homogeneous distribution of fine Al3Li phase combined with dislocation strengthening.
{"title":"Achieving high strength and ductility in rapidly solidified Al-Mg-Li alloy via heat treatment","authors":"Quanbo Kuang , Richu Wang , Juangang Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140044","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140044","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of a rapidly solidified Al-Mg-Li alloy under different aging conditions were investigated. The results showed that Al<sub>3</sub>Li is the primary precipitated phases in the alloy after aging treatment. Higher aging temperature and dislocations induced by pre-deformation accelerated the coarsening of Al<sub>3</sub>Li. An outstanding yield strength of 418 ± 5 MPa, ultimate tensile strength of 546 ± 7 MPa, and elongation of 12.8 ± 0.5 % were obtained in the pre-deformation aging alloy. The increased strength is attributed to the homogeneous distribution of fine Al<sub>3</sub>Li phase combined with dislocation strengthening.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":384,"journal":{"name":"Materials Letters","volume":"407 ","pages":"Article 140044"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145922489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-02DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2025.140032
Van Hau Tran , Tien Dung Cao , Thi Huyen Nguyen , Van Trinh Pham , Van Chuc Nguyen , Thi Thanh Cao , Hung Thang Bui , Thi Nam Pham , Hoang Tung Nguyen , Duy Long Pham , Thanh Tung Nguyen , Dai Lam Tran , Ngoc Minh Phan , Van Hao Nguyen , Van Tu Nguyen
In this study, we report on novel anode material based on hierarchical urchin-shaped TiO2@C-Si@C (u-TSC) nanocomposite. To form the nanocomposite, urchin-shaped TiO2 was first prepared through a hydrothermal process and then used as a framework for decorating sodium deoxycholate (SDC)-assisted silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs), followed by thermal annealing at 800C in argon gas. The obtained results showed a good distribution of SiNPs on the TiO2 nanoneedles. The u-TSC nanocomposite anode showed an initial discharge/charge capacity of 715/354 mAhg−1 at a current density of 100 mAg−1 and retained discharge capacity of 458 mAhg−1 after 100 cycles, which was attributed to the synergistic effects of TiO2 framework, conductive carbon layer, and SiNPs. These findings open a promising strategy for the development of high-performance anode materials based on TiO2 and Si for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).
{"title":"Hierarchical urchin-shaped TiO2@C-Si@C nanocomposite: Facile synthesis and structural design toward lithium-ion battery anodes","authors":"Van Hau Tran , Tien Dung Cao , Thi Huyen Nguyen , Van Trinh Pham , Van Chuc Nguyen , Thi Thanh Cao , Hung Thang Bui , Thi Nam Pham , Hoang Tung Nguyen , Duy Long Pham , Thanh Tung Nguyen , Dai Lam Tran , Ngoc Minh Phan , Van Hao Nguyen , Van Tu Nguyen","doi":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.140032","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.140032","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, we report on novel anode material based on hierarchical urchin-shaped TiO<sub>2</sub>@C-Si@C (u-TSC) nanocomposite. To form the nanocomposite, urchin-shaped TiO<sub>2</sub> was first prepared through a hydrothermal process and then used as a framework for decorating sodium deoxycholate (SDC)-assisted silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs), followed by thermal annealing at 800C in argon gas. The obtained results showed a good distribution of SiNPs on the TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoneedles. The u-TSC nanocomposite anode showed an initial discharge/charge capacity of 715/354 mAhg<sup>−1</sup> at a current density of 100 mAg<sup>−1</sup> and retained discharge capacity of 458 mAhg<sup>−1</sup> after 100 cycles, which was attributed to the synergistic effects of TiO<sub>2</sub> framework, conductive carbon layer, and SiNPs. These findings open a promising strategy for the development of high-performance anode materials based on TiO<sub>2</sub> and Si for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":384,"journal":{"name":"Materials Letters","volume":"407 ","pages":"Article 140032"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145922577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-02DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140045
Siyuan Li, Fengxia Yang, Hao Sun, Xiaofei Dong, Yan Li
Photo-tunable synaptic memristors are crucial for breaking the von Neumann bottleneck and advancing neuromorphic computing; however, there are still challenges, and further in-depth exploration is needed. In this study, Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) is employed as the resistive switching material to fabricate synaptic memristors with an Al/CZTS/FTO architecture. Their resistive switching performance and emulation of biological synaptic plasticity under photoelectric stimulation are systematically investigated. Experimental results demonstrate that the device exhibits stable bipolar resistive switching behavior, with its On/Off ratio tunable by adjusting the thickness of the CZTS switching layer. Mechanistic analysis reveals that the resistive switching originates from the formation and rupture of conductive filaments mediated by Cu+ migration. Moreover, under light and electrical pulse stimulation, the device well emulates key biological synaptic behaviors, including long-term potentiation (LTP), long-term depression (LTD), and brain-inspired “learning-forgetting-consolidation” behavior. These findings hold significant implications for the development of computing systems that regulate neuromorphic functions through the coupling of photoelectric signals.
{"title":"Photoelectrically tunable CZTS-based memristors for bio-synaptic plasticity emulation","authors":"Siyuan Li, Fengxia Yang, Hao Sun, Xiaofei Dong, Yan Li","doi":"10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140045","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140045","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Photo-tunable synaptic memristors are crucial for breaking the von Neumann bottleneck and advancing neuromorphic computing; however, there are still challenges, and further in-depth exploration is needed. In this study, Cu<sub>2</sub>ZnSnS<sub>4</sub> (CZTS) is employed as the resistive switching material to fabricate synaptic memristors with an Al/CZTS/FTO architecture. Their resistive switching performance and emulation of biological synaptic plasticity under photoelectric stimulation are systematically investigated. Experimental results demonstrate that the device exhibits stable bipolar resistive switching behavior, with its On/Off ratio tunable by adjusting the thickness of the CZTS switching layer. Mechanistic analysis reveals that the resistive switching originates from the formation and rupture of conductive filaments mediated by Cu<sup>+</sup> migration. Moreover, under light and electrical pulse stimulation, the device well emulates key biological synaptic behaviors, including long-term potentiation (LTP), long-term depression (LTD), and brain-inspired “learning-forgetting-consolidation” behavior. These findings hold significant implications for the development of computing systems that regulate neuromorphic functions through the coupling of photoelectric signals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":384,"journal":{"name":"Materials Letters","volume":"407 ","pages":"Article 140045"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145922490","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2025.140029
Lingsheng Chen, Yajie Zhang, Xin Jin
In recent years, with the rise of research on solar cells, tin oxide (SnO2) has been increasingly widely used as an electron transporting layer material (ETL). However, the conventional planar SnO2 films prepared by existing spin-coating processes suffer from non-negligible low carrier transport efficiency due to their limited contact area with the photoactive layer. To address this issue, here we propose for the first time a two-step strategy based on chemical bath deposition (CBD) to prepare high-quality porous SnO2 nanowall film, which is experimentally demonstrated to possess an open channel structure with excellent filling capability. The key advantage of our strategy lies in its capability to dramatically increase the interfacial contact area between the ETL and the photoactive layer. This enhanced interface provides a viable route to optimize carrier transport and thus boost solar cell efficiency.
{"title":"Two-step synthesis of porous SnO2 nanowall film via chemical bath deposition and post-oxidation","authors":"Lingsheng Chen, Yajie Zhang, Xin Jin","doi":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.140029","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.140029","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, with the rise of research on solar cells, tin oxide (SnO<sub>2</sub>) has been increasingly widely used as an electron transporting layer material (ETL). However, the conventional planar SnO<sub>2</sub> films prepared by existing spin-coating processes suffer from non-negligible low carrier transport efficiency due to their limited contact area with the photoactive layer. To address this issue, here we propose for the first time a two-step strategy based on chemical bath deposition (CBD) to prepare high-quality porous SnO<sub>2</sub> nanowall film, which is experimentally demonstrated to possess an open channel structure with excellent filling capability. The key advantage of our strategy lies in its capability to dramatically increase the interfacial contact area between the ETL and the photoactive layer. This enhanced interface provides a viable route to optimize carrier transport and thus boost solar cell efficiency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":384,"journal":{"name":"Materials Letters","volume":"407 ","pages":"Article 140029"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145882914","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-31DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2025.140034
Gouri Tudu , Ganesh Pattan-Siddappa , Seok-Han Lee, Sang-Youn Kim
Phthalate plasticizers are the most commonly employed to plasticize PVC, however they are recognized to be hazardous to both the environment and human health. In order to develop an environmentally friendly plasticizer for PVC gels, we synthesized a non-phthalate plasticizer di-2-ethylhexyl oxalate (DEHO) and demonstrated its efficient plasticizing properties against PVC, followed by a structural and mechanical analysis. Furthermore, the properties were compared to commercially available PVC plasticizers. The observed percent transmittance (% T) of PVC-DEHO was 87 %, which was higher than PVC-DBP (57 %), PVC-ATBC (81 %), and comparable to PVC-DBA (89 %). Interestingly, PVC gel prepared with DEHO plasticizer has a higher percentage strain (∼250) than the gel prepared with commercially available ATBC plasticizer (∼182). Further, a bending actuator fabricated with PVC-DEHO exhibited bending angle of 10° and 20°, at input voltage of 0.5 kV and 1 kV respectively. The experimental results indicate that DEHO can successfully act as a plasticizer for PVC.
{"title":"A single-step, solvent-free synthesis of di-2-ethylhexyl oxalate plasticizer as an alternative to toxic phthalate plasticizers for PVC gel-based soft robots","authors":"Gouri Tudu , Ganesh Pattan-Siddappa , Seok-Han Lee, Sang-Youn Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.140034","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.140034","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phthalate plasticizers are the most commonly employed to plasticize PVC, however they are recognized to be hazardous to both the environment and human health. In order to develop an environmentally friendly plasticizer for PVC gels, we synthesized a non-phthalate plasticizer di-2-ethylhexyl oxalate (DEHO) and demonstrated its efficient plasticizing properties against PVC, followed by a structural and mechanical analysis. Furthermore, the properties were compared to commercially available PVC plasticizers. The observed percent transmittance (% T) of PVC-DEHO was 87 %, which was higher than PVC-DBP (57 %), PVC-ATBC (81 %), and comparable to PVC-DBA (89 %). Interestingly, PVC gel prepared with DEHO plasticizer has a higher percentage strain (∼250) than the gel prepared with commercially available ATBC plasticizer (∼182). Further, a bending actuator fabricated with PVC-DEHO exhibited bending angle of 10° and 20°, at input voltage of 0.5 kV and 1 kV respectively. The experimental results indicate that DEHO can successfully act as a plasticizer for PVC.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":384,"journal":{"name":"Materials Letters","volume":"407 ","pages":"Article 140034"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145922572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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