Materials Today Advances最新文献

The crystal structures and optical properties of full-series multilayered GaTe_1−xS_x (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) are examined. The results reveal that the monoclinic (M) phase dominates for 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4, and the hexagonal (H) phase dominates for 0.425 ≤ x ≤ 1. The full-series multilayer GaTe_1−xS_x exhibited strong photoluminescence. The emission range of M-GaTe_1−xS_x (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) layers displays 1.65–1.77 eV (700–750 nm) and that of the H-GaTe_1−xS_x (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) layers is 1.588–2.5 eV (496–780 nm). Micro-time-resolved photoluminescence (μTRPL) revealed that the M-phase had a shorter PL recombination lifetime than H-phase because the surface effect. The multilayer GaTe_1−xS_x (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) exhibited superior light emission and absorption capabilities for application in light-emitting and photocatalytic devices. The GaTe_0.5S_0.5 nanosheet photocatalyst demonstrated the best photocatalytic performance because its abundant surface state and mixed phases to enhance the photo-degradation ability.

Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-67 (ZIF-67) has been used in a variety of applications including catalysis, separations, and energy storage. However, the weak hydrostability of ZIF-67, due to structural hydrolysis and degradation, dramatically limits their applicability after aqueous exposure. In this work, cosolvent-stabilized superhydrophobic, highly hydrostable ZIF-67 was synthesized at room temperature using a facile, one-pot hydrothermal synthesis route, and the effect of cosolvent concentration on ZIF-67 crystal structure properties and hydrostability was studied systematically. The underlying mechanism for the cosolvent-supported hydrostability improvement was also proposed. Furthermore, the influence of hydrotreatment on the resultant ZIF-67s' catalytic performance was studied in the ‘Sabatier reaction’ for CO₂ to synthetic natural gas (CH₄) conversion. The ZIF-67-derived calcined catalysts obtained from the hydrotreated samples of the cosolvent-stabilized ZIF-67 exhibited no prominent loss in catalytic performance and showed better CO₂ conversion, higher CH₄ selectivity, and less CO production, in comparison to the conventional ZIF-67 samples. Notably, the use of a lower ligand-to-metal ratio (∼8) in the current synthesis significantly reduced the overall chemical consumption, achieving highly economically and environmentally friendly manufacturing of exceptionally hydrostable ZIF-67.

With the development of minimally invasive approaches, calcium-based injectable bone paste has attracted attention as a synthetic alternative due to its biodegradability and analogous composition with native bone. However, this approach is associated with the problem of the materials being absorbed before new bone formation has occurred, with a high resorption, and degradation rate. Here, a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)/magnesium hydroxide (MH)/vitamin D (Vit D) microsphere-incorporated α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate (α-CSH)/beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) injectable paste was designed for the regeneration of bone tissue. The combination of the bioceramic particles with α-CSH demonstrated an appropriate setting time for ease of use in clinical practice and enhanced mechanical properties. Additionally, the introduction of a bone paste with the MH and Vit D-incorporated PLGA microsphere induced osteogenic differentiation and alleviated the inflammatory response, which may occur after massive bone surgery. Based on these findings, this paper presents a versatile bone paste that promotes osteogenesis and modulates the osteoimmune microenvironment for effective bone regeneration.

The martensitic microstructure decides on the functional properties of shape memory alloys. However, for the most commonly used alloy, NiTi, it is still unclear how its microstructure is built up because the analysis is hampered by grain boundaries of polycrystalline samples. Here, we eliminate grain boundaries by using epitaxially grown films in (111)_B2 orientation. By combining scale-bridging microscopy with integral inverse pole figures, we solve the puzzle of the hierarchical martensitic microstructure. We identify two martensite clusters as building blocks and three kinds of twin boundaries. Nesting them at different length scales explains why habit plane variants with ${⟨011⟩}_{\mathrm{B}{19}^{\text{'}}}$ twin boundaries and {942} habit planes are dominant; but also some incompatible interfaces occur. Though the observed hierarchical microstructure agrees with the phenomenological theory of martensite, the transformation path decides which microstructure forms. The combination of local and global measurements with theory allows solving the scale bridging 3D puzzle of the martensitic microstructure in NiTi exemplarily for epitaxial films.

The non-equiatomic FeNiCoAlTaB high-entropy alloy exhibits outstanding quasi-static mechanical properties. Here, we investigate the microstructural evolution and mechanical response of this alloy subjected to dynamic loading, which has not been done before. A novel strategy combining extensive microbanding and martensitic transformation improves the resistance to the plastic instability by deterring the formation of adiabatic shear bands, that only occur beyond a critical shear strain larger than 4. The aged alloy, with grain sizes up to 400 μm, exhibits a dynamic yield stress over 1300 MPa with good deformability in this regime. This investigation sheds light on potential strategies for the enhancement of dynamic mechanical properties of structural materials through the use of a stress-induced martensitic transformation.

Three major complications often occur after osteosarcoma resection: large bone defects, infectious wounds, and tumor recurrence. In addition to conventional internal fixation and auto- or allografts, multifunctional supportive treatments are needed for limb reconstruction after tumor removal. With inspiration from the "organic-inorganic" hybrid concept, we developed a freestanding polyelectrolyte membrane (PEM) using a layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition of quaternized chitosan (QCS) and hyaluronic acid (HA), and with copper-doped laponite (CuLAP) intercalation. The CuLAP demonstrated photothermal conversion capabilities under near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation, and displayed glutathione (GSH)-depleted Fenton-like catalytic activity. The further engineered PEM possesses a "brick and mortar" structure with enhanced surface roughness and stiffness. The fusion of CuLAP-mediated GSH-depleted chemodynamic treatment (CDT) and moderate photothermal therapy (PTT) facilitated tumor ablation and bactericidal effects. Moreover, the continuous release of copper ions and silicates aided angiogenesis and osteogenesis, supporting the regeneration of both soft (skin) and hard (bone) tissues. This all-in-one platform offers a promising clinical tool for assisting tissue reconstruction after osteosarcoma resection.

This work investigates the influence of heat treatments on a pseudo-binary Ti₃₀Zr₁₀Hf₁₀Ni₃₅Cu₁₅ high-entropy shape memory alloy. Heat treatments on the alloy resulted in the formation of second phases and thus were able to adjust its transformation temperatures. This phenomenon results from the formation of H-phase and (Zr,Hf)₇Cu₁₀ phase during low-temperature and high-temperature aging, respectively. The superelasticity of solution-treated, 500 °C-aged and 700 °C-aged samples was tested under compression, and all samples exhibited nearly 5 % recoverable strain and 15 °C elastocaloric cooling capacity. Further cyclic compression tests confirmed their stability, with up to 75 % of the initial cooling capacity retained after 5000 compression cycles. Due to its high yield strength, the Ti₃₀Zr₁₀Hf₁₀Ni₃₅Cu₁₅ high-entropy shape memory alloy showed great superelasticity and elastocaloric performance at various testing temperatures. Furthermore, with heat treatments, the austenitic transformation finishing temperature (A_f) of the alloy was tunable to between −10 °C (furnace-cooled) and 60 °C (700 °C-aged) with promising functional performance. These features expand the application range of TiZrHfNiCu high-entropy shape memory alloys as potential superelastic and elastocaloric materials.

We report a novel electro-nano-pulsing (ENP) processing method to achieve localized engineering of grain boundary (GB) morphology in polycrystalline metallic materials. ENP is extraordinarily capable of generating intense nanopulse electric current with a current density greater than a few to several hundreds of 10¹⁰A/m² and a pulse duration on the order of a few 100ns. Such a level of current density is ∼3–5 magnitudes higher than that is usually achieved during the Spark Plasma Sintering process. Using the Nichrome-80 superalloy as a model material, we observed a variety of GB roughening phenomena at multiple length scales, resulting in the generation of diverse forms of atomistic facets, nanoscale serrations, and nanoscale step-like GB morphologies after the ENP processing. We think that the excessive GB heat localization and electron wind force or stress are the main factors contributing to the GB morphological changes during the ENP processing. The ENP processing provides a new unique grain boundary engineering strategy to manipulate the GBs with the changes localized at the GB region, without altering its adjacent grains.

With the increase in studies on high-entropy alloys and their impressive structural properties, the preparation processes and applications of high-entropy alloys have become a popular research topic in metallic materials. In this paper, the preparation of FeCrNiCoMnSi_0.1 high-entropy alloy coatings was carried out by the follow-welding high-frequency power ultrasonic impact composite TIG arc melting process, the effects of different power ultrasonic impacts on the microstructure and properties of the coatings are investigated. The results showed that the average grain size is reduced by 74 % (from 278 μm to 72 μm), the average microhardness is increased by 41 % from 568 HV₁ to 807 HV₁, the abrasion resistance is improved by 68 % under the effect of ultrasonic impact. The ultrasonic impact treatment process can effectively refine the microstructure of the coatings and improve the strength of grain boundaries. The corrosion resistance of the coating in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution is enhanced by 65 %, the corrosion type was changed from intergranular corrosion to uniform corrosion. This is mainly caused by the ultrasonic impact treatment which suppresses the elemental segregation of Cr and Mn and improves the grain boundary strength.