The development of high-performance sensing materials for the simultaneous detection of multiple environmental pollutants remains a critical challenge in analytical chemistry. Herein, we report the synthesis of bimetallic phosphide (NiCoP) nanoflowers via a facile two-step hydrothermal and phosphorization strategy, and their application as an efficient electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous determination of hydroquinone (HQ), catechol (CC), and acetaminophen (AP). The hierarchical three-dimensional nanoflower architecture, constructed from interconnected nanosheets, endows the material with a large specific surface area and abundant accessible active sites. The NiCoP-modified glassy carbon electrode (NiCoP/GCE) exhibits good electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of HQ, CC, and AP. Under optimized conditions, the sensor displays wide linear dynamic ranges (10–100000 μM for HQ, 25–19000 μM for CC, and 25–15000 μM for AP) and low detection limits (5.23 μM, 10.24 μM, and 9.53 μM for HQ, CC, and AP, respectively). Furthermore, the sensor demonstrates good selectivity and stability. The practical applicability of the sensor was successfully validated by quantifying the three analytes in real water samples with satisfactory recoveries. This work highlights the potential of bimetallic phosphides as robust sensing materials for environmental monitoring
TiB2 coatings were deposited on graphite substrates by high-temperature molten salt electrophoretic deposition in a Na3AlF6-AlF3-CaF2-Al2O3 system. The effects of TiB2 particle concentration (1–2 wt
Ring-shaped microcavities with tunable dimensions and unique optical properties are of considerable interest for emerging photonic and optoelectronic technologies. In this work, we report the spontaneous formation of ring-shaped microcavities in poly(methyl methacrylate)–pigment composite films prepared by a simple, cost-effective, and lithography-free spin coating process. The cavity morphology is found to be highly sensitive to processing parameters, enabling systematic tuning of the average cavity diameter from 15 to 50 μ m through variation of spin speed, solution concentration, and polymer molecular weight. Furthermore, the use of a mixture of pigments extends the cavity size up to 70 μ m, demonstrating an additional route for morphology control. The ring-shaped cavities exhibit pronounced optical waveguiding with characteristics consistent with whispering gallery mode (WGM)-guided propagation leading to enhanced light confinement along the cavity periphery. The observed waveguiding behavior is strongly correlated with the spatial distribution of pigment particles within the ring structures. The introduction of a second pigment disrupts the waveguiding behavior and is attributed to the formation of a non-uniform and discontinuous pigment arrangement along the cavity periphery. By linking self-organized morphology with light confinement behavior, this study provides a promising route toward the rational design of tunable microcavity structures for applications in optical sensing, low-threshold microlasers, integrated photonics, and emerging flexible optoelectronic technologies.
Smart switchable wetting surfaces have emerged as a prominent research hotspot in interfacial science. This paper systematically reviews the research progress of such surfaces from biomimetic design to responsive regulation. Based on wetting theoretical models, this review elaborates on the synergistic regulation mechanisms of surface roughness and chemical composition governing wetting states. This review summarizes the fabrication strategies, applicable scenarios, advantages, and limitations of templating, coating, and etching methods. For wettability switching behavior, external stimuli are classified into three main types: physical stimuli, chemical stimuli and multi-modal synergistic stimuli. Physical stimuli mainly include temperature, light, magnetic field, electric field and mechanical force, while chemical stimuli cover pH change, ion concentration and solvent environment. Furthermore, the reversible transformation mechanisms of surface chemical properties and microstructures are analyzed. In practical applications, this review concludes the typical applications of switchable wetting surfaces in oil-water separation, cell capture, microdroplet reaction and droplet manipulation. Finally, the existing challenges including slow response speed, poor mechanical stability and difficulty in large-scale fabrication are pointed out, and future research directions focusing on environmental friendliness and practical industrialization are prospected.
Wound healing in diabetes is challenged by complex microenvironments. Herein, a molybdenum disulfide nanoflower and zinc oxide nanoparticle-loaded tannic acid/trihydroxystearic acid monoglycerides hydrogel (MoS2–ZnO@TM/TA) was successfully constructed as an antibacterial platform. This hydrogel regulates the microbial environment of diabetic wounds via photothermal antibacterial activity. The hydrogel exhibits an 93
High-strength steels are susceptible to fatigue failure controlled by non-metallic inclusions under high-cycle and very-high-cycle fatigue service conditions. Their fatigue failure behavior can no longer be adequately explained solely by nominal strength or average cleanliness. Focusing on inclusion-controlled fatigue, this review systematically summarizes the statistical characteristics of inclusions, extreme defect control, the coupled relationship among strength, toughness and fatigue, and defect-tolerant engineering design concepts in high-strength steels. The available evidence indicates that inclusions should be regarded as a statistical defect population with variations in size, spatial distribution and type. The fatigue limit is often governed by the maximum dangerous defect or high-risk defect within the highly stressed volume, rather than by the average inclusion level. Defect harmfulness is determined not only by size, but also by defect type, morphological sharpness, interfacial bonding state and local stress concentration. Increasing strength can improve the load-bearing capacity of the matrix; however, excessive strengthening increases defect sensitivity. Toughness, in contrast, enhances defect tolerance through crack-tip plastic dissipation, crack deflection and crack closure. Therefore, fatigue reliability design of high-strength steels should shift from traditional strength-dominated design toward the coordinated design of strength, toughness and defect tolerance. Future research should further develop three-dimensional statistical characterization of inclusions, classified critical defect evaluation, multi-factor coupled fatigue life models and damage-tolerant design methods for engineering components.
The sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) remain a primary bottleneck for the commercialization of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). To address this, we report the development of ternary platinum–cobalt–lanthanum (PtCoLa) intermetallic nanoparticles as efficient and robust ORR electrocatalysts. By varying the lanthanum content, the electrocatalytic performance exhibited a volcano-shaped trend. An optimal composition outperforms commercial Pt/C in terms of intrinsic activity. The highly electropositive lanthanum effectively tunes the electronic structure of the platinum active sites, optimizing the binding energy of oxygen intermediates. Excessive lanthanum incorporation leads to the segregation of amorphous phases, which block active sites. Furthermore, the optimized PtCoLa catalyst demonstrates durability under harsh conditions. Post-mortem analyses reveal that the structural integration of lanthanum acts as a robust stabilizer, suppressing nanoparticle agglomeration and active sites dissolution. This study provides profound insights into the rational design of lanthanide-doped intermetallic architectures for advanced energy conversion systems.
Precipitation strengthening in engineering alloys arises from the interaction of moving dislocations with second-phase particles, yet experiments rarely separate the contributions of precipitate size, morphology, interface character, spatial distribution, and external loading. This review organizes the computational evidence using precipitate parameters as the primary axis, so that the descriptor controlling strength in a given alloy state can be identified. Evidence is surveyed from molecular dynamics (MD), discrete dislocation dynamics (DDD), phase-field modelling (PFM), and Kampmann–Wagner numerical (KWN) models across age-hardenable Al, Mg, Cu-, Ni-, Fe-base, and high-entropy alloy systems, comparing how each parameter shifts the cutting-to-bypass transition. Several mechanisms move the effective resistance away from uniform-array, single-radius estimates. Lower-tail size statistics and soft-channel percolation lower the bypass threshold, off-centre slip-plane cutting reduces local cross sections, coherency loss drives interface-mediated transformations, and modulus mismatch produces anomalous strengthening even for soft particles. Temperature and strain rate move the boundary between shearing, bypassing, and interface-mediated transformation, so that the power-law superposition exponent for combined mechanisms is state-dependent rather than a material constant. The parameter-level view points out which descriptor controls strength in a given alloy state and helps connect atomistic, mesoscale, and microstructure-evolution evidence in a common picture.
This study presents an innovative approach to membrane fabrication through the development of Fe3O4-modified Cs-based mixed matrix membranes, utilizing magnetic-field-assisted nanoparticle orientation and environmentally friendly cross-linking with sodium tripolyphosphate (STP) to enhance isopropanol dehydration performance. This study examines the influence of various preparation parameters—the magnetic field application during fabrication, Fe3O4 nanoparticle content, and the concentration of cross-linking agent sodium tripolyphosphate (STP)—on the membrane structural and functional properties. A comprehensive suite of analytical techniques, encompassing Fourier-transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, dynamic light scattering, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, atomic force and transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, magnetic measurements, swelling tests, contact angle assessments, and mechanical property evaluations, was employed to validate structure and characteristics of membranes and modifier. Additionally, computational analysis was conducted to elucidate the interactions between membrane and feed components, providing insight into the separation performance. By incorporating an optimal 5 wt
Laser-induced graphene (LIG) has emerged as a promising route for fabricating flexible supercapacitor electrodes, yet research has overwhelmingly focused on infrared CO2 lasers. Here, we demonstrate that a compact 445 nm diode laser, operating at substantially lower power than conventional infrared systems, can produce graphene-based supercapacitors with competitive electrochemical performance. Using optimized laser parameters identified in our prior work (1.75 W, 10 mm/s, 230 LPI), we fabricate LIG electrodes on polyimide tape and systematically investigate their electrochemical behavior through cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The resulting LIG exhibits a hierarchically porous network with moderate defect density (I(D)/I(G) = 0.76). Electrochemical characterization reveals that 445 nm LIG achieves an areal specific capacitance of 34.48 mF/cm2 for single electrodes and 9.45 mF/cm2 for symmetric solid-state devices, with a maximum energy density of 1.31 μWh/cm2 and power density of 125 μW/cm2. Critically, unlike the purely capacitive behavior typically reported for CO2 LIG, our findings reveal a measurable pseudocapacitive contribution which is attributed to oxygen-containing functional groups that are suggested to be retained under the milder thermal conditions of visible laser processing coexisting with electrical double-layer storage. This mixed-mode charge storage mechanism distinguishes 445 nm LIG from its infrared-derived counterparts and demonstrates that visible-wavelength diode lasers offer an energy-efficient, accessible, and underexplored pathway for flexible energy storage fabrication.
Copper alloys are widely used in ships and marine engineering equipment due to their excellent antifouling performance. However, during long-term service, the gradual densification of the corrosion product layer and microalgae attachment can severely degrade their antifouling performance. To address this, Cu–Mn cladding layers with Mn contents of 10 wt
This paper presents an overview of the development of FeNiMnAl(Cr) alloys at Dartmouth College, which started in 2003. Initial alloy development started with equiatomic or near-equiatomic FeNiMnAl alloys that were nanostructured two-phase B2/b.c.c. or B2/L21, which appeared to form by spinodal decomposition. These were extremely strong (yield strength, YS, up to 2.35 GPa) but brittle. Lowering the aluminum content produced eutectoid or eutectic two-phase B2/f.c.c. alloys with coarser microstructures. The eutectic alloys, which appeared for aluminum contents < 15 at.
This work examines the mechanical and tribological properties of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) composites co-reinforced with carbon fiber (CF) and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) under dry sliding conditions, with particular emphasis on extending the operational pressure–velocity (PV) limit and elucidating the evolution of tribofilms. PEEK composites reinforced with 15 and 20 wt
The CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloy (HEA) was severely deformed by high-pressure torsion (HPT) at temperatures ranging from 77 K to 673 K. Phase stability, microstructure and texture were investigated by diffraction of synchrotron radiation. At low HPT temperatures, the low stacking fault energy HEA transforms from the face-centered cubic to the hexagonal close-packed structure, whereas at the highest HPT temperature, the alloy decomposes into body-centered cubic and tetragonal phases. Between room temperature and 573 K the typical structural refinement behavior of HPT deformed single-phase metals to a nanocrystalline and ultrafine-grained structure is observed. The microhardness measured at room temperature increases with increasing HPT temperature. This hardness anomaly is attributed to extreme nanostructuring, where grain boundary and phase boundary sliding become the predominant deformation mechanism leading to inverse Hall–Petch behavior, i.e., increasing hardness with increasing grain size. Furthermore, short-term anneal hardening—occurring after the actual HPT experiment—could also contribute to the observed increase in hardness. Microhardness, measured at room temperature, of CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloy and stainless steel deformed by high-pressure torsion at various temperatures. The nanocrystalline materials exhibit inverse Hall–Petch behavior, indicating grain/phase boundary sliding as the dominant deformation mechanism.
Amino acid metabolism is essential for biological functioning, affecting protein synthesis, energy production, and signalling pathways. Changes in amino acid metabolism have been associated with numerous disorders, including cancer. Lysine, an essential amino acid, is significant for its role in post-translational changes and its influence on tumour growth. Precise monitoring of lysine concentrations in biological samples is crucial for establishing its function in lung cancer and for formulating possible treatment approaches. Stochastic sensors have emerged as a viable alternative, providing quick and sensitive detection of analytes directly within complex matrices such as whole blood samples. For the enantioanalysis of lysine in whole blood samples, a 2D disposable stochastic platform, containing a stochastic sensor designed by the modification of a graphene–copper composite with α-cyclodextrin, was used. The working concentration ranges of the platform when used for the assay of L- and D-lysine were between 1.00×10−16 and 1.00×10−4 mol L−1, and between 1.00×10−14 and 1.00×10−8 mol L−1, respectively, with high sensitivities of 4.87×1013 and 1.19×1010 mol L−1, respectively. The limits of determination are very low: 1.00×10−16 mol L−1 for L-Lysine, and 1.00×10−14 mol L−1 for D-Lysine. Recovery tests have shown recovery values higher than 99.00 for both enantiomers despite the ratio in which they are found in the whole blood samples.
The resolution of environmental pollution issues has consistently been a hot topic of widespread concern. Carbamazepine is a typical antiepileptic drug, which is widely utilized and has become a common organic pollutant in aquatic ecosystems. Herein, a series of MOF materials were prepared to photodegrade carbamazepine. Among them, Pt/MIL-101(Cr)/ZIF-8 composite with noble metal-modified double-MOFs structure was synthesized successfully for the first time. The external factors-generated effects on the degradation of carbamazepine were discussed, such as initial pollutant concentration and material dosage. Of all the tested materials, Pt/MIL-101(Cr)/ZIF-8 exhibited the most effective degradation performance, with degradation efficiency of approximately 8.14 and 5.34 times higher than those of the MIL-101(Cr) and ZIF-8, respectively. Furthermore, the plausible mechanism explanation was proposed: on the one hand, the incorporation of dual-MOF structure and noble metal enhanced the light absorption range to visible region, then facilitated electron transfer. On the other hand, the unique conductive properties, plasmonic resonance effects, and the Schottky junction of the Pt nanoparticles offered additional pathways for generating more active species, substantially improving the efficiency of photocatalytic removal of organic pollutants. We expect that this approach could provide a valuable reference for other pollutant degradation
The hot deformation behavior and microstructural restoration mechanisms of an as-cast Fe46Mn35.5Co9Cr9N0.5 (at.
A long-standing limitation of cast A356 aluminum alloys is the inability to simultaneously refine primary α-Al grains and modify eutectic silicon using conventional methods. This study aims to investigate whether a single in-situ addition of CuO nanoparticles can achieve dual microstructural control and enhance the mechanical, thermal, and tribological properties of A356 alloy using conventional casting equipment. CuO nanoparticles (0.5 to 1.5 wt
High-entropy alloys are considered potential candidate materials for accident-tolerant nuclear fuel cladding because of their high-temperature stability and corrosion resistance. In this work, AlCrCuxFeNbNiy (x = 0.5, 1; y = 0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0) high-entropy alloys were designed to investigate the effects of Ni and Cu regulation on microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion behavior. The microstructure consists of tentatively presumed O-phase, FCC, and Al-contained intermetallic compounds. With increasing Ni content, the formation of AlNi is promoted. After texture correction, the diffraction intensity of FCC phase rises, while the diffraction signal related to Cu9Al4 diminishes. The hardness first declines and then rebounds to 695 HV at y = 0.5. Excessive Ni jeopardizes the hardness because the coarsening of dendritic Ni incorporation enhances the compressive strength but reduces their ductile strain. In the pure water corrosion environments at 360 °C and 18.6 MPa for 72 h, excessive Ni addition induces a net mass loss of the alloys, which is attributed to microstructure coarsening, aggravated chemical heterogeneity, and deteriorated stability of the oxide scale. Reducing Cu content can effectively mitigate Cu segregation in interdendritic regions and improve the overall microstructure homogeneity of the alloys. As a result, micro-galvanic corrosion is weakened, and a more continuous surface oxide layer can be formed during corrosion. AlCrCu0.5FeNbNi shows the best overall corrosion resistance, exhibiting only a slight mass gain of 2.58 mg/dm2 after high-temperature/high-pressure water corrosion. The coexistence of Al2O3 and CrNbO4 is likely favorable for the formation of a relatively compact oxide layer, which may hinder the inward transport of oxygen under high-temperature and high-pressure water environments. Cu/Ni regulation provides an effective strategy for balancing mechanical performance and corrosion resistance in AlCrCuxFeNbNiy alloys for ATF cladding applications.
The Al0.6CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy commonly contains coexisting FCC, BCC, and ordered B2 phases, yet the role of phase constitution in controlling deformation stability under thermal and high-rate loading remains insufficiently understood. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations were used to compare seven representative microstructures: single-phase FCC, BCC, and B2; dual-phase FCC+BCC, FCC+B2, and BCC+B2; and multiphase BCC+FCC+B2. Temperature strongly governs the mechanical response. FCC-rich microstructures retain the highest strength, whereas BCC/B2-rich configurations soften rapidly. Among the dual-phase configurations, the strongest degradation occurs in BCC+B2, where the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) decreases to 1.11 GPa and Young’s modulus drops from 76.24 to 31.35 GPa. The underlying deformation mechanisms are strongly phase dependent. FCC-containing structures deform mainly through dislocation activity and FCC-to-HCP planar faulting, while BCC/B2-rich structures accommodate strain through lattice distortion, shear localization, and structural disordering. Above 900 K, BCC/B2-containing structures exhibit a pronounced increase in highly distorted local environments, indicating a loss of BCC-compatible local topology rather than a confirmed thermodynamic phase transformation. Among the seven microstructures, FCC+B2 reaches its peak tensile stress at the largest strain, approximately ε = 0.150, indicating delayed post-peak softening and improved deformation stability in the FCC+B2 configuration. The multiphase BCC+FCC+B2 structure shows a distinct intermediate response: Its UTS decreases from 4.47 to 2.47 GPa, while Young’s modulus decreases from 77.52 to 26.60 GPa between 300 and 1100 K. At 300 K, FCC shows the strongest strain-rate sensitivity. The FCC-containing dual-phase structures exhibit non-monotonic, interface-sensitive responses, whereas the multiphase BCC+FCC+B2 state remains intermediate. Its rate-dependent response is governed by the competition between FCC-assisted planar-defect activity and BCC/B2-assisted disordering. Overall, these results show that phase constitution controls not only strength and stiffness, but also the transition from defect-mediated plasticity to disorder-assisted strain localization in Al-containing high-entropy alloys.
