High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have attracted increasing interest for extreme-environment applications because of their high strength, corrosion resistance, thermal stability, and functional tunability. Mechanical alloying (MA) is a solid-state powder metallurgy route that enables the fabrication of chemically homogeneous, nanostructured, and metastable HEAs while avoiding segregation and solidification defects associated with liquid-phase processing. This review critically examines MA-derived HEAs by linking milling parameters, powder evolution, consolidation routes, microstructural development, and multifunctional performance. Unlike previous reviews that mainly summarize MA-HEA systems or specific MA-spark plasma sintering (SPS) routes, this work emphasizes cross-parameter statistics, energy-transfer coupling, contamination pathways, and structure-function relationships. The effects of milling time, milling speed, ball-to-powder ratio (BPR), process control agents, and milling atmosphere on alloying kinetics, phase formation, particle refinement, powder recovery, and contamination are systematically evaluated. Statistical analysis shows that milling speeds of 300-400 rpm and a BPR of 10:1 are the most employed conditions, while the median alloying time is approximately 40 h. These findings are interpreted through an energy-transfer framework, highlighting that effective alloying energy, rather than nominal milling intensity, governs MA efficiency. SPS and vacuum hot pressing sintering (VHPS) are compared as major consolidation routes, and MA-derived coatings are discussed for protective and functional applications. Mechanical, corrosion, thermal, and functional properties are reviewed across structural, catalytic, hydrogen-storage, magnetic, electromagnetic absorption, and thermoelectric applications. Future priorities include contamination control, scalable densification, microstructure retention, in situ characterization, database construction, CALPHAD-assisted screening, and machine-learning-guided alloy design.
In the present work, a series of eighteen new donor-acceptor (D-pi-A) organic molecules were designed using density functional theory (DFT) based on a benzothieno[3,2-b]benzothiophene (BT) core. The design successfully achieved significantly improved optoelectronic properties over the reference molecule. Key results include a reduced energy gap as low as 1.73 eV (3A), a lowered LUMO energy down to -3.37 eV (3A) for better alignment with the PC6,BM acceptor (LUMO = -3.50 eV), and a red-shifted absorption maximum up to 442.14 nm (2F). This yielded a higher theoretical open-circuit voltage, with the best-performing molecules (1D, 1E, 1F) achieving a VOC of 1.76 eV. The highest estimated power conversion efficiency reached 37.35% for compound 1D. These results are explained by a comprehensive analysis of the molecular properties. The BT it-bridge provided excellent planarity and intramolecular charge transport (ICT) characteristics. The strategic incorporation of electron-withdrawing groups (NO2, COOH, CN) at one terminal effectively lowered the LUMO energy, while donor groups (amine, methyl, ethyl) at the other end tuned the HOMO, optimizing the energy level alignment with PC6,BM. Computational analyses, including frontier molecular orbital (FMO) studies, global reactivity descriptors, electrostatic potential (ESP) mapping and transition density matrix (TDM), confirmed enhanced intramolecular charge transfer and chemical reactivity. Further investigation through parameters such as light harvesting efficiency (LHE up to 0.96 for 3A), reorganization energy, and transition density matrix (TDM) supported superior charge transport and excitation dynamics. Overall, all newly designed chromophores demonstrated favorable optoelectronic behavior, with the ethyl-substituted scheme (3A-3F) showing significant properties. Our results offer a strong computational methodology for creating D-pi-A materials with great performance for next-generation organic solar cells (OSCs).
Mesoporous nanoparticles that are magnetized have also been discussed as viable systems in combined chemohyperthermia delivery; nevertheless, a challenge of attaining high heating rates and efficient delivery of drugs to the targets has been a major challenge. This paper has produced folate-functionalized chitosan-coated magnetic mesoporous nanoparticles (CF-Doc-MMNPs) used in synergistic treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. The central composite design was used to optimize the formulation to obtain improved magnetization, measured particle size and efficient drug release. Optimized nanoparticles were found to have a homogeneous core-shell morphology with a mean hydrodynamic diameter of approximately 256 nm and a large surface area (approximately 150 m 2/g). A high specific absorption rate (SAR) of therapeutic hyperthermic temperatures was reached through magnetic characterization which established superparamagnetic behavior and the system had high specific absorption rate (SAR) of 113.62 W/g. The nanoparticles demonstrated that they had pH-responsive and sustained drug release, and the release was enhanced in the presence of acidic tumor conditions. In vitro cytotoxicity analyses of MDA-MB-231 cells showed that CF-Doc-MMNPs (LC 50 = 4.190 ug/mL) had a high anticancer activity due to the synergistic of magnetic hyperthermia and targeted drugs delivery in vitro. The current research is a multifunctional nanoplatform with high heating efficiency, controlled release, and folatemediated targeting which could be useful in chemo-hyperthermia of aggressive breast cancer.
Dynamic infrared thermal-radiation modulation technology has garnered significant attention for its ability to overcome the limitations of static techniques and broaden its range of applications. This study presents a dynamically tunable infrared thermal emitter based on near-zero permittivity films and In3SbTe2 (IST) phasechange materials. The device employs a multilayer thin-film structure, achieving dynamic switching of infrared functionality via laser-controlled phase transitions between the crystalline and amorphous states of IST. Simulation results indicate that, when IST is in the crystalline state, the device exhibits an average emissivity higher than 0.8 in the 9.9-14.9 mu m band for p-polarized light within the incident-angle range of 69 degrees-83 degrees, making it suitable for applications in infrared stealth and heat dissipation. When IST is in the amorphous state, the device exhibits an average transmittance higher than 0.7 in the 3.0-5.0 mu m band and higher than 0.6 in the 8.0-12.0 mu m band for p-polarized light over incident angles of 0 degrees-80 degrees. This emitter operates without static power consumption and allows for reversible switching among infrared stealth, heat dissipation, and transmission functions. This multifunctional emitter shows promising application potential in aerospace thermal management, precision thermal control, and energy recovery.
In recent years, the development of nanomaterials with efficient photothermal response has attracted widespread attention as a novel approach to non-invasive cancer treatment. In this study, the MoS2-Silk fibroin hybrid was synthesized with targeted MoS2 phase engineering from 2H to 1T to enhance the photothermal efficiency. Various characterization techniques, including XRD, FTIR, Raman, XPS, SEM, and TEM, confirmed the successful hybridization process. Photothermal evaluations showed that the optimal composition, with a 0.10:1 SF-to-1T-MoS2 ratio (MS0.10), increased the solution temperature by about 53 degrees C after 7 min of NIR laser irradiation. The effects of nanohybrid concentration, laser power, and thermal stability were also investigated, and the results indicated that the nanohybrid exhibited stable, efficient performance under different conditions. Biocompatibility studies on L-929 fibroblast cells showed that the MoS2-SF nanohybrid (MS0.10) at a relatively high concentration of 5 mg/mL maintained a viability of about 75% after 3 days of culture, indicating good biocompatibility. In addition, an MTT assay on MCF-7 breast cancer cells showed that after 7 min of NIR irradiation with MS0.10 (200 mu g/mL), tumor cell viability decreased to approximately 31%, confirming the high efficiency of this nanohybrid in inducing cell death. Overall, the results of this study indicate that the MoS2-SF nanohybrid, in its 1T phase and with enhanced photothermal performance, can be proposed as a promising nanoplatform for photothermal cancer therapy.
