Journal of Materials Science最新文献

Membrane separation technology offers numerous advantages. However, it also faces several challenges, such as membrane fouling and damage caused by chlorine attack. Reverse osmosis (RO is currently the most widely applied) technology for water desalination. Significant advances have been achieved in the development of RO membranes using various raw materials, such as polyamide and polyimide. Nanoparticles and other nanomaterials have been extensively explored as membrane modifiers to enhance separation efficiency and mitigate fouling. Nanotechnology has created the best approach of NMs fabrication, which has a good effect on the addition of NMs into the RO membrane preparation. Therefore, continuous research on RO membrane is an open door. This review critically analyzes and evaluates the recent progress in nanomaterial-modified RO membranes for water desalination. The effects of nanomaterial incorporation on fouling resistance, chlorine resistance, membrane physicochemical properties, and overall desalination performance are systematically discussed. The analysis demonstrates that nanomaterial modification can significantly improve membrane durability and operational performance. Despite these advancements, challenges related to membrane stability, scalability, and long-term performance remain, indicating that continued research on nanomaterial-based RO membranes is necessary.

A greater focus on the development of sustainable and renewable energy storage systems is necessary. The advantages of supercapacitors make them promising devices for energy storage technology. However, their low energy density compared to batteries necessitates the design of new electrode materials to enhance their performance. In this study, a binder-free electrode material based on a MnO₂@NiMn-LDH composite was synthesized for a symmetric supercapacitor, followed by its characterization and a study of its charge storage mechanism. The stages of this research included (1) Ni-Foam Preparation, (2) MnO₂ Synthesis, (3) NiMn-LDH Synthesis, (4) MnO₂@NiMn-LDH Composite Synthesis, (5) Material characterization using Powder XRD, FT-IR, SEM, and BET, and (6) Electrochemical testing and charge storage mechanism studies using CV and GCD instruments. Based on this research, a hydrothermal method was successfully used to synthesize δ-MnO₂, NiMn-LDH, and the MnO₂@NiMn-LDH composite, supported by Powder XRD, SEM, BET, and FT-IR characterization. The specific capacitance of the MnO₂@NiMn-LDH composite material was the highest, at 297.08 F g⁻¹ at 5 mV s⁻¹. GCD analysis showed that the symmetric supercapacitor has high cycling stability over 30 cycles, with a coulombic efficiency reaching 100% from the 6th cycle onwards. The energy density and power density of the symmetric supercapacitor were 13.55 Wh kg⁻¹ and 302.03 W kg⁻¹, respectively, at 0.1 A g⁻¹. Furthermore, the analysis of the charge storage mechanism showed that at a low scan rate (5 mV s⁻¹), the diffusion contribution reached 70.6%, which then decreased as the scan rate increased, reaching 50.8% at a scan rate of 50 mV s⁻¹.

This study compares the structural, electronic, optical, photovoltaic, and photocatalytic properties of Zr-based orthorhombic chalcogenide perovskites, CaZrS₃ and BaZrS₃, using density functional theory (DFT) and SCAPS-1D simulations. Both materials are structurally stable and possess direct band gaps, with BaZrS₃ displaying the narrower gap and stronger light absorption in the visible range. Photovoltaic device modeling shows that CaZrS₃ reaches a higher power conversion efficiency (29.17%) compared to BaZrS₃ (13.30%). The photocatalytic assessment further indicates that CaZrS₃ is capable of producing both H₂ and O₂ at pH 0 and 7, whereas BaZrS₃ can generate H₂ under both conditions but supports O₂ evolution only at neutral pH. Overall, these results underline the promise of lead-free Zr-based chalcogenide perovskites as versatile candidates for sustainable energy applications, integrating efficient solar harvesting with water splitting and CO₂ conversion.

Zintl-phase Mg₃(Sb, Bi)₂ alloys have garnered significant attention, due to their abundance of constituent elements, non-toxicity, low cost, and intrinsically low thermal conductivity. However, their large-scale application remains limited by the stringent synthesis requirements. In this study, we report a scalable melting–SPS strategy to synthesize Mg₃(Sb, Bi)₂ alloys with precisely tuning the Bi content. Partial substitution of Sb by Bi effectively modulates carrier concentration and mobility, while the associated mass and strain field fluctuations, together with the softer Mg–Bi bonds, significantly enhance phonon scattering and reduce lattice thermal conductivity. The optimized composition Mg_3.5SbBi_0.99Te_0.01 achieved a peak power factor of 23.56 μW cm⁻¹ K⁻² at 373 K, outperforming most reported Mg₃(Sb, Bi)₂ materials in the near room temperature range. It also delivers a high average ZT of 0.99, comparable to the commercial Bi₂Te₃-based alloys. Its room-temperature ZT of 0.83 surpasses most previously reported Mg₃(Sb, Bi)₂ materials. A peak ZT of 1.13 at 423 K further demonstrates this balanced and high performance across 300–773 K, highlighting the strong potential of the scalable fabrication route for practical thermoelectric applications.

The thermoelectric figure of merit of the distorted Heusler alloy TiFe(_{1.5})Sb was investigated by first-principles calculations of lattice thermal conductivity. The electronic thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, and Seebeck coefficient are calculated by semi-classical Boltzmann transport theory. TiFe(_{1.5})Sb was found to be thermally and dynamically stable, as confirmed by its phonon dispersion. Additionally, the absence of the gap between acoustic and optical modes enhances phonon scattering, leading to a low lattice thermal conductivity of 0.703 W/mK at 300 K. Our study also reveals that TiFe(_{1.5})Sb is a non-magnetic semiconductor. Notably, it demonstrates a significant longitudinal thermoelectric effect, with a Seebeck coefficient of 359.4 (mu)V/K at 300 K. The combination of low lattice thermal conductivity and a high Seebeck coefficient results in a high thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 0.88 and 0.91 at 300 K and 500 K, respectively. These findings highlight the considerable potential of TiFe(_{1.5})Sb as a promising material for thermoelectric device applications.

Wood is an anisotropic material, which affects its performance under different loading conditions. To understand the origin of surface failures occurring in wood under mechanical disintegration loads, an accurate investigation of its elastic and plastic behaviour is required. This study introduces a methodology that integrates experimental scratch testing, X-ray micro-computed tomography ((mu {text{CT}})), and finite element simulations to examine the elastic and plastic deformation and failure behaviour of untreated pine wood under scratch loading. In the existing literature, scratch testing is primarily employed to assess coating adhesion or material abrasion resistance; its use for probing the mechanical response of wood remains limited. In the present study, scratches were applied to pine specimens in the radial, tangential, and longitudinal directions of wood using a diamond indenter under constant normal loads perpendicular to the scratched surface. The permanent residual depths measured by (mu {text{CT}}) were compared with FE-predicted deformations. The selected methodology enables quantification of the relationship between wood structure, loading conditions, and scratch performance. The results demonstrated that the regions with higher density favoured elastic deformation, whereas the residual scratch depth, reflecting plastic deformation, provided a reliable indicator of scratch resistance, exhibiting higher scratch resistance for the higher density wood. In particular, the wood with higher density showed residual depths in the range of 53–144 µm in radial direction scratches, whereas the less dense wood showed values between 90 and 300 µm. (mu {text{CT}}) imaging also revealed detailed deformation mechanisms and fracture pathways that develop under scratch-type loading. By coupling (mu {text{CT}}) with FE modelling for wood scratch mechanics, the work deepens the understanding of how wood microstructure responds to different scratch loading conditions. The findings can serve as a scientific reference for future experimental and numerical investigations of scratching, cutting and other disintegration loads in untreated wood and wood-based composites at the microscale.

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Kagome lattice materials, with their unique corner-sharing triangular lattice structure, are a perfect platform to investigate quantum magnetism, geometrical frustration, and exotic electronic phenomena. In this review article, we have focused on relatively recent work on titanium-based systems and related compounds, including ({text{TbTi}}_{3}{text{Bi}}_{4}), ({text{RETi}}_{3}{text{Bi}}_{4}) ((text{RE}=text{Yb},text{ Pr},text{ Nd},text{Sm}),) ({text{ATi}}_{3}{text{Bi}}_{5} (text{A}=text{Rb},text{ Cs}),) and ({text{Ln}}_{2-text{x}}{text{Ti}}_{6+text{x}}{text{Bi}}_{9} (text{Ln}:text{ Tb}-text{Lu})), in which the rare-earth element occupies the RE, A, Ln sites and its substitution tunes the structural and magnetic properties composed of kagome lattices. We have highlighted how the lattice geometry, lattice distortion and magnetic anisotropy affect the emergence of frustrated spin states, topological phases, and unconventional ground states in quantum materials. We summarize experimental approaches to synthesize and probe titanium-based kagome systems and assess how structural features of this large family of materials connect to their magnetization, thermal transport, and charge transport. We have particularly highlighted the role of rare-earth (lanthanide atoms with unpaired electrons that strongly affect magnetism) substitution in tuning magnetic frustration, spin dynamics, and the lattice symmetry. This perspective provides a comprehensive outlook on the significance of kagome systems in fundamental science and their potential in advancing quantum technologies.

The 2011 Fukushima accident exposed critical safety limitations in conventional UO₂–Zr fuel systems, accelerating the development of accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) technologies. Chromium coatings on zirconium alloy cladding emerge as the most promising near-term solution, offering superior high-temperature oxidation resistance through protective Cr₂O₃ scale formation effective up to 1200 °C. However, critical challenges remain from Cr–Zr interdiffusion above the 1332 °C eutectic temperature, driving the development of advanced diffusion barriers including ceramic systems (ZrO₂, CrN), metallic interlayers (Mo, Nb, Ta, W), and multilayer architectures. Systematic evaluation reveals material-specific trade-offs: ceramic barriers (ZrO₂, CrN) demonstrate effectiveness up to 1200–1300 °C but encounter dissolution and phase transformation limitations; refractory metal barriers exhibit temperature-dependent performance, with Mo systems effective to 1300–1400 °C, Ta barriers to 1400–1500 °C approaching benchmark performance, and W-based systems exceeding 1500 °C; composite FeCrAl architectures provide intermediate capability (1200–1350 °C) with enhanced oxidation resistance but face thermal expansion mismatch challenges and require enhancement beyond 1000 °C. Future priorities include mechanistic lifetime modeling, in situ characterization, and processing standardization to enable commercial deployment with quantified safety margins.

High-speed impact tests at a strain rate of 3300 s⁻¹ were performed on Mg–Al-Mn alloys using a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB), with loading applied along both the extrusion direction (ED) and transverse direction (TD). A cutoff ring was used to control strain, enabling detailed characterization of microstructural evolution and adiabatic shear behavior. Compared with quasi-static loading, high strain rates significantly enhanced twinning activity. After 2% strain in both ED and TD, deformation was dominated by twin growth rather than nucleation. Under TD loading, adiabatic shear bands (ASBs) formed at 12% strain, showing pronounced localization and leading to premature failure. Experimental observations, supported by theoretical calculations, demonstrated that the TD direction exhibited higher adiabatic shear sensitivity than the ED direction, resulting in stronger softening, lower ultimate compressive strength, and earlier onset of failure. Despite the short deformation time at high strain rates, discontinuous dynamic recrystallization (DDRX), continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX), and twin-induced dynamic recrystallization (TDRX) were identified as the primary mechanisms contributing to ASB formation. These findings provide new insights into the root causes of ASB-induced failure in magnesium alloys and suggest pathways for texture design and microstructural control strategies to improve their reliability in engineering applications.

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Graphene-based composites functionalized with magnetic nanomaterials exhibit significant application potential in thermal conduction and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. However, the uniform dispersion of magnetic nanomaterials within the graphene framework still poses a challenge. Drawing inspiration from wall masonry, this work employed hydrothermal and self-assembly strategy to prepare Ni(OH)₂ nanosheets/graphene oxide (GO) composite films with a “brick−mortar” lamellar structure, which were then converted into Ni nanocubes/graphene composite films (NGF) through a thermal treatment process. Ni nanocubes are uniformly distributed in the graphene film, providing fast channels for the transmission of electrons/phonons, and improving impedance matching and electromagnetic loss ability. Owing to these advantages, the obtained NGF exhibits a high thermal conductivity of 817 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ and an electrical conductivity of 1504 S cm⁻¹. Moreover, the EMI shielding effectiveness of NGF reaches up to 55 dB in the X-band (8.2–12.4 GHz) at an ultrathin thickness of only 17 μm. This study presents a reliable strategy for fabricating high-performance magnetic graphene films with integrated thermal conductivity and EMI shielding functionalities.