Lead-free piezoceramics, particularly potassium sodium niobate (KNN)-based compositions, have long been plagued by performance instability and mechanistic ambiguity arising from high processing sensitivity. Here, we develop a robust processing route integrating sand milling, hot pressing and controlled grain coarsening to enable microstructure tuning, improve electromechanical performance, and elucidate grainsize-dependent behavior. Three composition-identical, dense ceramics with distinct grain sizes (0.22, 0.52, and 35.7 & micro;m) are successfully prepared with a 160-fold grain-size difference while maintaining homogeneous microstructures and decent temperature stability. While the fine-grained specimen delivers a piezoelectric coefficient d*33 = 265 pm V-1 together with an excellent Young's modulus Es = 179 GPa and hardness H = 8.71 GPa, the intermediate-grained specimen exhibits the highest piezoelectric response with d*33 = 490 pm V-1 , and the coarse-grained specimen ( similar to 35.7 & micro;m) provides a comparative reference for understanding grain-size effects while maintaining adequate electromechanical properties. These results reveal a non-monotonic dependence of performance on grain size, with an optimum in the submicron regime. By enabling access to multiple grain-size states while preserving microstructural homogeneity, this strategy helps improve performance reliability and guides application-oriented microstructure design in lead-free ceramics. (c) 2026 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.

Hard carbon has emerged as a highly promising anode material for sodium-ion batteries. However, rational regulation of its microstructure to achieve synergistic enhancement in electrochemical performance remains a critical challenge. In this work, we demonstrate a scalable co-pyrolysis strategy that integrates bamboo biomass with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) to regulate free-radical evolution and interactions during pyrolysis, thereby enabling the tailored formation of pseudo-graphitic domains and closed-pore architectures in biomass-derived hard carbon. Through systematic structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical analyses, including in situ Raman spectroscopy and the galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT), we establish multiscale correlations among preparation parameters, structural evolution, sodium-ion storage behavior, and overall electrochemical performance. The optimized hard carbon delivers a reversible capacity of 367.4 mAh g-1, with an initial Coulombic efficiency of 89.6%, and retains 92.5% of its capacity after 500 cycles at 0.1 A g-1. This work provides a novel precursor-modulation strategy to facilitate the practical commercialization of hard carbon for high-performance sodium-ion batteries.

We report the discovery of a geometric pathway for tuning ferroelectric properties through a thermally driven reconfiguration between coexisting polar states in Li-substituted NaNbO_{3}. Using a first-principles density functional theory calculation and ^{7}Li solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy measurement, we reveal that Li substitution creates two distinct polar configurations whose transformation under annealing enhances the Curie temperature and induces piezoelectric hardening. Our findings establish a geometrically driven polar state reconfiguration mechanism, providing a general design principle for ferroics whereby macroscopic functional properties can be engineered via lattice geometry.

The dysregulation of neutrophil death pathways constitutes a critical barrier to diabetic tissue regeneration, in which pyroptosis perpetuates chronic inflammation while apoptosis promotes tissue homeostasis. However, achieving reliable control over neutrophil death patterns to tune inflammation and repair processes remains a major challenge. Here, we develop a multifunctional aerogel scaffold based on piezoelectric ceramic nanofibers to synergistically direct neutrophil fate. Specifically, (K,Na)NbO3 piezoceramics are incorporated into gelatin/polylactic acid nanofiber membranes, homogenized via high-speed fragmentation, and freeze-dried to form a porous aerogel scaffold. Conjugation with the retinoid derivative peretinoin yields the final piezoelectric ceramic nanofiber aerogel (KAP). Peretinoin released from KAP suppresses caspase-3-mediated cleavage of gasdermin E (GSDME), switching neutrophil death from pyroptosis to apoptosis. Meanwhile, upon ultrasound activation, KAP generates surface potentials to enhance macrophage phagocytic capacity via calcium influx and lysosomal acidification. This dual mechano-chemical approach promotes efferocytosis and reprograms macrophages toward a pro-regenerative phenotype, thereby breaking the cycle of chronic inflammation in diabetic microenvironments. In diabetic rodent models, KAP significantly accelerates the healing of both soft and hard tissues. This study presents a piezoelectric ceramic nanofiber aerogel that offers a potential therapeutic approach for diabetic tissue regeneration.

Potassium niobate ceramics are ideal models for studying perovskite niobates but suffer from poor densification and chemical stability. Here, pure potassium niobate ceramics with a high relative density (99%) are fabricated via hot-pressing, achieving piezoelectric performance comparable to that of pure (K,Na)NbO3 ceramics. Detailed microstructural analysis identifies a high concentration of nanoscale cuboidal intragranular pores. This study clarifies a pore-evolution mechanism: K+-driven lattice diffusion triggers crack formation in the Nb2O5 matrix during calcination. These initial cracks sequentially transform from disordered oblong and oriented elongated shapes into thermodynamically stable cuboidal configurations during further processing. These intragranular pores are the key factor leading to the poor chemical stability of potassium niobate ceramics. This work clarifies the grain growth and pore-evolution mechanisms in potassium niobate ceramics, providing critical insights for enhancing the stability and sintering quality of niobate-based materials.

2.5 wt% CeO2-doped barium borosilicate glasses were synthesized through the melt quenching method. The effects of oxidizing, ambient air, and reducing melting conditions on the structural evolution, mechanical properties, optical transmission, surface characteristics, and defect formation of the glasses before and after 106 Gy dose 60Co gamma-ray irradiation were systematically investigated. Both oxidizing melting conditions and gamma irradiation treatment promoted the structural conversion of trigonal [BO3] units to tetrahedral [BO4] units within the glass network. Notably, the ASBB glass (prepared under reducing conditions) exhibited an initial transmittance exceeding 90% at 550 nm (for a 10 mm thickness), with a post-irradiation transmittance loss of less than 5%, demonstrating exceptional optical stability. Pre-irradiation coloration arose predominantly from the Ce3+/Ce4+ mixed-valence charge-transfer transition, whereas post-irradiation absorption was chiefly attributable to non-bridging oxygen hole centers (NBOHC1). An elevated Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio effectively suppressed NBOHC1 formation, highlighting the critical role of Ce3+ in radiation damage mitigation. Furthermore, gamma irradiation induced the generation of E′ centers and oxygen deficiency center (ODC). Collectively, these findings establish that reducing melting conditions significantly play a crucial positive role in enhancing the radiation resistance of cerium-doped barium borosilicate glass.

Volumetric muscle loss (VML) is a debilitating condition characterized by traumatic tissue loss and a subsequent failure of regeneration, resulting in permanent structural and functional deficits. The microenvironment of VML is characterized by a loss of regenerative cues and supportive infrastructure, which disrupts the coordinated cellular processes of muscle differentiation and nerve integration. Electrical stimulation is a potential therapeutic intervention for VML. Here, we developed a wireless electrotherapy strategy using an injectable, conductive, and piezoelectric KOCC hydrogel for the functional recovery of VML. The hydrogel was engineered by incorporating lead-free piezoelectric (K, Na) NbO₃ (KNN) nanoparticles into a dynamically crosslinked network of oxidized sodium alginate and chitosan hydrochloride and calcium ion. Upon exposure to ultrasound (US), the KOCC hydrogel generated controllable, localized electrical fields without the need for implanted electrodes or external wire connections. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that US-stimulated electrical signaling promoted myogenic differentiation, enhanced nerve regeneration and neuromuscular junction formation, and reduced excessive inflammation and fibrosis, which ultimately led to functional improvement in a murine VML model. These results demonstrate the potential of this wireless, US-responsive piezoelectric platform for VML treatment by orchestrating myogenesis and nerve reinnervation.

Simultaneously combining high piezoelectric performance with excellent thermal stability is essential for piezoelectrics operating under high-temperature conditions, yet these two attributes are often in competition. Here, we propose a design strategy that stabilizes the intrinsic lattice contribution by constructing a mixed-symmetry ferroelectrically distorted state and demonstrate its effectiveness in Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O3-xNb (Nx) ceramics. The optimized N3 composition exhibits a high piezoelectric coefficient d33 of 550 pC/N and a high Curie temperature TC of 367°C. Over the wide temperature range of 25-300°C, the variations in piezoelectric coefficient (d33) and electromechanical coupling factor (kp) are limited to only 6% and 9%, respectively. In situ temperature-dependent structural analyses reveal that the enhanced piezoelectricity and thermal robustness originate from a ferroelectric distortion that is strongly developed at room temperature due to niobium doping and remains stable up to 300°C, as further corroborated by first-principles calculations and scanning probe microscopy measurements. This mixed-symmetry-stabilization strategy provides a generalizable route to overcoming the conventional trade-off between performance and stability and offers design guidelines for next-generation high-performance piezoceramics tailored for high-temperature applications.

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics have been widely investigated due to their excellent electrical properties and thermal stability. However, the sintering temperature of PZT ceramics usually exceeds 1200 °C, where lead elements undergo serious volatilization, leading to a stoichiometric ratio deviation of PZT-based ceramics, thereby deteriorating their electrical properties. In this work, we fabricated Li2CO3 (Li)-doped Pb0.96Sr0.04(Zr0.52Ti0.48)0.9Mn0.1O3 (PSZTMn) ceramics and investigated the influence of doping amount on their characteristics and electrical properties, especially high-power performance. The results showed that the addition of 0.7 wt % Li could decrease the sintering temperature from 1200 to 1050 °C and improve the density of PSZTMn ceramic, resulting in great electrical properties (d33 ∼ 426 pC/N, Qm ∼ 574, and kp ∼ 61.5%). Notably, the maximum vibration velocity (vm) of the low-temperature sintered PSZTMn + 0.7 wt % Li ceramic was significantly increased to 1.9 m/s, which is 19% higher than that of the conventional sintering sample (1.6 m/s). The excellent high-power performance of low-temperature sintering Li2CO3 doped PZT ceramics paves the way for their applications in piezoelectric actuators and transducers.

Fluorinated solvents and additives have been widely recognized as essential components in lithium-based batteries, significantly improving cyclic stability, energy density, and operational resilience across temperature extremes. Nevertheless, the influence of fluorine substitution patterns, specifically the number and positional distribution of fluorine atoms, on the key electrochemical properties of these solvents remains insufficiently investigated, hindering the rational design of electrolytes for high-performance lithium metal batteries (LMBs) and lithium-ion batteries(LIBs).To address the gap, the study conducted quantum chemical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations on a series of cyclic carbonates with varying number and position of fluorination based on ethylene carbonate (EC) and trans-2,3-butylene carbonate(t-BC).The results demonstrate that higher fluorination numbers substantially broaden the electrochemical stability window(ESW) of carbonate-based electrolytes by 15.42% at most per additional fluorine atom, thereby enhancing their overall electrochemical performance while facilitating the desolvation process of Li+. More critically, the positional effect of fluorine substitution is hierarchical: α-position fluorination outperforms β-position in higher electrochemical stability window and molecular polarity while β-position enhances Li+ coordination capability and transference mobility. This trend, together with the spatial concentration of β-fluorine atoms and the relative substitution pattern between the α- and β- positions, lead to complex variations in electrochemical properties. This study establishes that both the number and position of fluorine substitution in cyclic carbonates are critical to the superior electrochemical performance exhibited by fluoroethylene carbonate molecules under standard conditions with standard concentrations of LiPF6 as the solute, establishing a viable approach to for the candidation of advanced battery solvents and solid electrolyte interphase(SEI)- forming additives, facilitating performance improvement in diverse high-performance LIBs and LMBs .

Ceramic capacitors, although promising for advanced high-power energy storage, face challenges in energy density and efficiency at high temperatures, which restricts their practical applications. Guided by phase field simulations, we propose a structural design strategy to construct weakly coupled polar nanoclusters in superparaelectric state, and fabricate BaTiO3-based multilayer ceramic capacitors via prototype device technology. The capacitors achieve an ultrahigh energy storage density of 19.0 J·cm-3 and a high energy storage efficiency of 95.5% at room temperature. More importantly, both metrics are still on the order of > 10.0 J·cm-3 and > 95.0%, respectively, over 25-160 oC, outperforming previously reported ceramic capacitors. The weaken coupling between adjacent nanoclusters caused by disordered polar configurations, suppresses nonlinear polarization response and temperature sensitivity, ultimately enabling superior energy storage performance, which is confirmed by atomic-scale microstructure analysis. This work advances next-generation electronics and provides insights for developing high-performance high-temperature ceramic capacitors.

A high-performance lead-free piezoelectric ceramic, Li0.03(K0.48Na0.52)0.97(Nb0.8Ta0.2)O3 (KNNLT), was fabricated and simulated for the application of vibrating mesh nebulizers (VMNs). The KNNLT ceramics exhibited dense microstructures, a high piezoelectric coefficient (d33 approximate to 280 pC/N), a large effective strain (d33* approximate to 338 pm/ V), and excellent thermal stability up to 336 degrees C. Finite element analysis (FEA) was employed to simulate the performance of KNNLT-based VMN, by optimizing geometry and operating parameters. The optimal configuration obtained by FEA simulation achieved micrometer-scale central displacement and a uniform acoustic pressure field suitable for efficient atomization. Comparative simulations of different mesh materials revealed that aluminum provided the highest displacement due to its favorable acoustic impedance and moderate stiffness. This work bridges material synthesis and device-level simulation, demonstrating that KNNLT ceramics are a promising lead-free alternative to PZT for next-generation medical nebulizers.

Highly effective piezoelectric hardening is crucial for high-power device applications. In this work, we introduce a novel piezoelectric hardening approach that synergistically combines oxygen vacancies with precipitates for achieving strong pinning of ferroelectric domain walls. In Mn-doped 0.2Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.8Pb(Zr0.5Ti0.5)O3 (Mn-doped PZN-PZT) ceramic, the substitution of Mn3 + for Ti4+ or Zr4+ results in an acceptor doping hardening, whereas the substitution of Mn2+ for Zn2+ leads to the formation of ZnO precipitates, leading to a precipitation hardening. Highly effective piezoelectric hardening via oxygen vacancies and ZnO precipitates in 0.9 wt% MnCO3-doped PZN-PZT sample is realized, where the mechanical quality factor (Qm) and maximum vibration velocity (vmax) represent 10 times and 1.2 times increase, compared to the undoped samples. Moreover, the synergistic strategy of integrating oxygen vacancies with ZnO precipitates can significantly enhance the stability of Qm, offering substantial potential for the design of high-power piezoelectric ceramics.

To improve the sintering performance and quality factor (Q×f) value of molybdate ceramics, we designed and prepared a dual-phase high-entropy scheelite ceramic (Ca0.2Ba0.2Sr0.2Na0.2Bi0.2)MoO4 via the solid-phase reaction method. The resultant ceramics consisted of Na0.32Bi0.56MoO4 and Ba0.75Sr0.25MoO4 solid solution. The (Ca0.2Ba0.2Sr0.2Na0.2Bi0.2)MoO4 ceramics sintered at 900 ℃ exhibited excellent microwave dielectric properties of relative constant (εr) = 12.46, Q× ƒ = 131,009 GHz, and temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τf) = -40 ppm/℃, along with good compatibility with silver electrodes. The εr of the ceramics was influenced by the ionic polarizability and Raman shift whereas the Q×f was primarily influenced by the grain size and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the Raman peak at 886 cm−1. The τf of the ceramics is primarily governed by the A-site bond valence in Na0.32Bi0.56MoO4 due to its dominant role in the ceramics. The dual-phase high-entropy strategy enables molybdate-based ceramics with excellent sintering behavior and dielectric properties, making them suitable for LTCC applications.

We investigate the K^- p → K Ξ(1530) reaction within an effective Lagrangian approach, exploring possible K Ξ^* and K^* Ξ hadronic molecular states and the role of the triangle singularity (TS). The Λ(2050)3/2^- is interpreted as a K Ξ^* molecule, whereas a K^* Ξ molecule with I(J^P)=0(3/2^-) and mass about 2150 MeV denoted as Λ(2150) can generate a TS through triangle-loop diagrams with intermediate K^*, Ξ, and π. The peak structure observed in the cross section near √(s)=2.25 GeV is analyzed in terms of both the Σ(2250) resonance production and the TS mechanism associated with Λ(2150). We find that the TS induces pronounced spin effects in the final state Ξ^*, which can be probed through measurements of its spin density matrix elements. In particular, significant variations of the spin observables in the √(s)=2.2–2.3 GeV region serve as a distinct TS signature absent in a pure resonance scenario. Furthermore, for the three-body reaction K^- p → K^+ π^- Ξ^0, we demonstrate that Ξ^* spin observables can be reliably extracted from the π angular distribution in the Ξπ rest frame by applying an appropriate kinematic cut on the Ξπ invariant mass to suppress background contributions. These predictions can be tested in future high-precision measurements at J-PARC, providing crucial insights into the nature of the TS and the possible existence of the K^* Ξ molecular state.

The sustainable development of nuclear energy and the need to mitigate ecological and biological harm from radioactively contaminated water underscore the importance of efficient uranium extraction from the environment. This study introduces a novel polymeric adsorbent, PG-TCP-AO, synthesized via a straightforward two-step process involving nucleophilic aromatic substitution and amidoximation. Uranium adsorption experiments revealed that PG-TCP-AO reached adsorption equilibrium at pH 7 in approximately 60 min, achieving a maximum adsorption capacity of 147.06 mg/g, which was 9.28 times higher than that of PG-TCP-CN. Kinetic analysis showed that the adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model while the isotherm data fit well with the Langmuir isotherm model, suggesting the adsorption was mainly governed by chemical coordination between the amidoxime groups and UO22+, resulting in monolayer adsorption. The negative values of the Gibbs free energy change (Delta G) indicated that the adsorption process was spontaneous under the experimental conditions. Furthermore, PG-TCP-AO demonstrated excellent regeneration efficiency, maintaining over 95 % adsorption capacity after six consecutive adsorption-desorption cycles. Considered its low-cost synthesis, high adsorption capacity, strong environmental adaptability, and superior regeneration performance, PG-TCP-AO should be a promising candidate for practical applications in uranium extraction from seawater and the treatment of uranium-containing wastewater.

ABSTRACT Li‐rich cathodes suffer from electrochemical degradation due to structural incompatibility between the Li‐rich and LiTMO 2 ‐like phases (transition metal [TM] = Mn, Ni). This study identifies and characterizes a previously overlooked transitional phase, the Li‐rich disordered (LRD) domain, which bridges these two primary phases and is the fundamental origin of heterogeneous redox‐driven strain and lattice displacements. Advanced structural analyses reveal that transition metals, particularly Ni, occupy Li sites within this LRD domain. We demonstrate that tailoring the synthesis to constrict the LRD domain effectively mitigates its structural evolution during (de)lithiation. This constricted domain acts as a buffer layer, isolating the anisotropic lattice strain between adjacent domains, thereby suppressing oxygen loss and enhancing structural integrity. In situ high‐temperature XRD further tracks the formation of this domain during synthesis. Consequently, the engineered cathode delivers a 15% (25 mA g −1 , 50 cycles) and 26% (250 mA g −1 , 300 cycles) increase in specific capacity than pristine within 2.0–4.8 V, alongside enhanced long‐term cycling stability. This work elucidates the critical role of the constricted LRD domain in stabilizing anionic redox, offering a fundamental insight for designing advanced Li‐rich cathodes.

Vibrating mesh nebulizers (VMNs) have been extensively used as household medical devices. However, lead-free VMNs have rarely been reported since their invention. Herein, we present a (K,Na)NbO3-based (KNN) lead-free piezoceramic with comparable electrical properties to those of conventional lead-containing counterparts, and for the first time, develop an environmentally benign VMN. The KNN-based piezoceramic demonstrates better electric-field-induced strain (Delta S = 0.23 %) and normalized strain (d33* = 437 p.m./V) compared to lead zirconate titanate (PZT), which is commercially employed in VMNs. Both theoretical finite element analysis (FEA) and experimental 3D laser Doppler vibrometry confirm that the KNN-based piezoceramic component exhibits larger center displacement than PZT. Furthermore, the KNN-based nebulizer generates finer aerosol droplets 3.33 +/- 0.04 mu m when using water as a substitute for medical fluids. This breakthrough not only highlights the potential of KNN-based materials as a sustainable alternative to lead-based piezoelectric but also paves the way for the development of eco-friendly medical devices.