Progress in Materials Science最新文献

Shortage of freshwater is a global challenge related to population growth, changes in climate conditions and industrial and agricultural needs. Thus, sustainable freshwater production through desalination and wastewater treatment is essential for various human purposes. Membrane distillation (MD) is a recent thermal driven membrane based purification technology with capability to eliminate the limitations of traditional desalination technologies by a synergistic exploitation of the nexus between water and energy. Though MD is recognized as an ecofriendly technology, input heat energy utilization and its efficient management remains a challenge influencing the economic viability of the technology and hindering its realistic applications. To solve this problem, it requires an integrative approach involving materials chemistry, physical chemistry, polymer science, and materials engineering. In addition to the use of robust wetting and fouling resistant membranes, employing the newly developed self-surface heating membranes such as photothermal, joule heating and induction heating membranes have not only minimized energy requirement and fouling issues of MD technology but also enabled it to be considered as potential and economically viable approach for producing high-quality freshwater with negligible carbon footprint. Specifically, recent studies on self-surface heating membranes, utilizing nanomaterials with photothermal, conductive, and magnetic properties, have revealed new possibilities for renewable energy utilization in MD technology. Through direct irradiation or photovoltaic energy conversion, nanomaterial-integrated membranes significantly enhance MD's energy efficiency and productivity without compromising cost-effectiveness, opening avenues for sustainable desalination and water purification technologies. Here, we furnish a comprehensive state of the art overview on (1) the progress of conventional antifouling MD membranes and (2) the opportunities, challenges and limitations of the emerging field of self-surface heated MD (i.e., photothermal MD (PMD), Joule-heating MD and Induction heated MD). We also discuss the exceptional physicochemical properties, antifouling properties, fabrication and scalability of self-surface heating membranes, as well as the strategies for their deployment into MD modules enabling localization of heat at the membrane surface for direct feed heating, thereby leading to sustainable freshwater production.

This paper provides an in-depth overview of the recent advances and future prospects in utilizing two-dimensional Mo₂C MXene for flexible electrochemical energy storage devices. Mo₂C MXene exhibits exceptional properties, such as high electrical conductivity, mechanical flexibility, and a large surface area, which make it a promising material for diverse energy storage applications, including lithium-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, sodium-ion batteries, and supercapacitors. The review begins by discussing the various synthesis methods and characterization techniques employed to fabricate flexible Mo₂C MXene-based composites. It then delves into detailed analyses of the electrochemical performance of these composites in different energy storage systems. The optimal temperature and duration for synthesizing flexible Mo₂C MXene materials are examined, with a focus on their influence on specific capacity, current density, and cycle life. Furthermore, the review investigates the synergistic effects of incorporating flexible Mo₂C MXene with other materials, such as graphene, carbon nanofibers, carbon nanotubes, nanowires, nanorods, and porous materials. The objective is to explore how these supporting materials can enhance flexibility and surpass existing energy storage technologies, particularly in the context of lithium-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, sodium-ion batteries, and supercapacitors. The concluding section addresses the future prospects and challenges in the field.

The marine industry has been a major user of polymer composites for over 50 years. There has been a strong historical preference for glass fibre reinforced thermoset polymers, mainly polyesters and epoxies, but manufacturers are starting to realize that the current materials and practices are not sustainable. As a result, there is increasing interest in alternative materials, which offer the prospects of lower carbon footprints, reduced environmental impacts or both. The design decisions made today are critical, as many marine structures are designed for 20 to 30 years lifetime. In order to focus on viable solutions, it is essential to base these decisions on a balanced overview of the many new materials and processes. This review provides an up-to-date evaluation of emerging material options, fibres, matrix polymers and sandwich core and associated manufacturing developments. First, materials for the pleasure boat industry are discussed. Then high performance carbon fibre composite applications are described. These are discussed with respect to end of life scenarios such as re-use and recycling, life cycle assessment is examined. Recent examples of changes in material selection philosophy and associated benefits for sustainability illustrate what is possible and what remains to be done.

As a new member in high-entropy materials family developed after high-entropy alloys, high-entropy compounds (HECs) are of particular interest owing to the combination of superiorities from high entropy and cocktail effects. The discovery of HECs indeed opens up a new frontier in the field of energy storage and conversion. This article provides a comprehensive review of the new frontiers on HECs for energy-related application. It begins with the fundamentals of HECs, with an emphasis on thermodynamic and structural features, and characterizations of HECs. Discussion is then made on the synthetic strategies of component optimization and structure engineering for the developing various HECs. Thereafter, the application of HECs particularly in electrodes for rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors, electrolytes for batteries, electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO₂RR) are highlighted. Finally, this review is concluded with an outlook of future research on HECs, major challenges to be addressed and possible solutions.

Polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) are unique polymers known for their intrinsic micro-scale porosity contributed by bulky and rigid contortion sites in the polymer backbone. Inherent attributes of PIMs, such as structural diversity and good processability have made them valuable in various applications. Herein, we outlined a comprehensive overview on the latest progress of ladder PIMs on different industrial challenges. This review has systematically discussed the state-of-the-art ladder PIMs redesigned on intrinsic micro-structure through five different perspectives, including (i) architecting the polymer backbone, (ii) post-modification on polymer structure, (iii) polymer blends and copolymerization, (iv) mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), and (v) post-modification on membranes, aiming to address the carbon-related international treaties. A summary of their CO₂ capture performance on Robeson plots is portrayed and evaluated. In addition, the implementation of PIMs in energy-efficient membrane-based olefin/paraffin separation is highlighted. Subsequently, solution-processable ladder PIMs, in the form of powder, nanofibrous, films or membranes applied in the field of environmental application, catalysis, electrochemical energy storage and conversion, sensing, and 3D printing are emphasized. Along with the contemplation on outlook and future perspective, this review is anticipated to path a new avenue for the continuous development and optimization of PIMs materials in sustainable applications.

Electrochemistry-driven techniques for advanced energy storage/conversion and environmental protection play a crucial role in achieving sustainable development goals. As an indispensable component in diverse electrochemical systems, electroactive materials gain soaring interest in terms of rational design and sustainable synthesis. Notably, mechanochemistry-based green and powerful synthesis has been widely employed to fabricate diverse electroactive materials, given their scalability and tunability. Recently, mechanochemically synthesized electroactive materials have been widely applied in various environmental and energy fields, leading to significant progress. However, a systematic analysis of these advancements is still missing. Herein, we comprehensively discuss recent achievements in mechanosynthesized electroactive materials for sustainable energy and environmental applications. The development of mechanochemical synthesis is introduced, along with different types of mechanosynthesized electroactive materials. Subsequently, the review delves into the applications of these materials in advanced energy conversion/storage systems and environmental remediation. The rational design of electroactive materials and their structure-performance correlation are illustrated by discussing the effects of the mechanochemical process on the internal and external properties of materials and their electrochemical performance. Lastly, key perspectives in this field are discussed, including mechanochemical process monitoring, field-assisted mechanochemical synthesis, material performance optimization, practical applications, and mechanochemistry-driven fuels/chemicals synthesis. By illustrating current advances and perspectives related to the development of mechanosynthesized electroactive materials, this review aims to shed some light on upcoming research on green mechanochemical synthesis-driven energy and environmental sustainability.

The continuous advancement of materials and technologies has significantly propelled the progress of human civilization. However, the more humans achieved, the more bottlenecks we encounter which span from space exploration, cutting edge advanced cooling to the clinical therapy of a single malignant tumor. The revolution to break through such barriers lies in the identification of extreme materials that can easily tackle the existing challenges and fundamentally extend the technological boundary, thus potentially leading to the creation of entirely new devices and systems. The emergence of room-temperature liquid metals (LMs) with their unique characteristics and diverse unconventional capabilities distinguished from traditionally developed electrical, soft, and fluidic materials, is anticipated to revolutionize a broad range of interdisciplinary fields. This review is dedicated to extracting the extreme features of LMs and systematizing their distinct applied scenarios from pervasive electronic fabrication to thermal management, and healthcare systems until human-like transformable robotics. The prospects and challenges of LM extreme materials are outlined. It is expected that further investigations on the clarified scientific and technological categories lying behind will contribute well to the next generation human civilization in the coming time.

Metalloids and transition/refractory elements typically differ significantly in the electronic structure and atomic size, allowing for stronger solid-solution hardening in high-entropy alloys (HEAs) as well as improved work-hardening capability, which leads to exceptional strength-ductility balance. In this regard, Si addition has opened up a new pathway for developing novel and high-performance Cantor-based, lightweight, and refractory HEAs, which has recently attracted considerable attention from the materials science community. Accordingly, the present review paper summarizes the recent progress in tailoring the mechanical properties and strengthening mechanisms of Si-added HEAs. After reviewing the general strengthening mechanisms of HEAs, the impact of Si addition is critically discussed, especially its effects on the (I) solid-solution hardening by local lattice distortion and chemical short-range order (SRO) hardening, (II) second-phase strengthening by promoting the formation of disordered solid-solution phases, silicides, σ-phase, and other intermetallics, (III) structural refinement and facilitating the development of heterostructures, and (IV) work-hardening behavior by altering the dislocation arrangements, boosting the twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) effect as well as HCP and BCC transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) effect by reduced and variable stacking fault energy (SFE). Finally, the research gaps and future prospects are introduced, including metastability engineering, superplasticity, application of severe plastic deformation (SPD) techniques for grain refinement, and additive manufacturing.

The prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections has emerged as a serious threat to clinical treatment and global human health, and has become one of the most important challenges in clinical therapy. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop safe, effective, and new antibacterial strategies based on multifunctional nanomaterials for the accurate detection and treatment of MDR bacterial infections. Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is an emerging antibacterial therapeutic strategy that uses Fenton/Fenton-like metal-based nanocatalysts to convert hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) into hydroxyl radicals (OH) to destroy MDR bacterial infections. Despite the enormous potential of CDT, a single CDT has limitations such as low catalytic efficacy and insufficient production of H₂O₂. In this regard, CDT can be combined with other antibacterial strategies, such as photothermal therapy (PTT), in which CDT efficacy can be effectively enhanced by the PTT heating effect. Thus, the rational combination of PTT and CDT into one nanoplatform has been demonstrated as a highly efficient antibacterial strategy for achieving a better therapeutic effect. This review summarizes and discusses the latest advances in photothermal-enhanced CDT (PT/CDT) based on multifunctional nanomaterials for bacterial infection theranostics as well as the advantages, challenges, and future research directions for clinical applications, which will inspire the development of new PT/CDT based on metal-based photothermal nanocatalysts for future bacterial infection theranostics.