Zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) exhibit great potential as energy storage devices due to their low cost and excellent safety. However, the growth of zinc dendrites and hydrogen evolution reaction on the zinc anode severely hinder their industrialization. Here, we modified polyacrylamide (PAM) gel electrolyte with a highly electronegative boron trifluoride diethyl ether complex (BFEE) containing a source of-BF3 to suppress parasitic side effects on the anode of quasi-solid-state ZIBs. As a Lewis acid,-BF3 interacts strongly with the interface between anode and electrolyte, where it effectively modulates the inner Helmholtz plane (IHP). Specifically, the electrostatic interaction between-BF3 group and Zn2+ ensures uniform Zn2+ distribution in the PAM/BFEE gel electrolyte, effectively inhibiting the concentration of local electric fields at the interface and suppressing the growth of Zn dendrite. In this work, we have explored the optimal addition amount of BFEE in PAM (2 wt%) and obtained the gel electrolyte of PAM/BFEE-2 %, which exhibits excellent mechanical properties with a fracture stress of 121 kPa and a tensile strain up to 2745 %. Moreover, the modulated IHP promoted the preferential adsorption and growth of Zn2+ on the Zn (002) crystal plane that with higher adsorption energy in the assembled Zn|PAM/BFEE-2 %|Zn battery. This full battery achieved over 1000 h of cycling stability at a current density of 1 mA cm-2, confirming that the introduction of highly electronegative BFEE into PAM can effectively suppress dendrite growth and achieve long-term stability of the zinc anode.

Multifunctional coatings with super-hydrophobic, thermal insulation, and transparency properties are highly desirable for energy-saving windows. In this paper, a transparent inorganic composite coating is developed using aluminum hydrogen phosphate (AP) as an inorganic binder, with silica (SiO2) and antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) nanoparticles to construct a hierarchical micro/nanostructure. The prepared coating achieves an excellent super-hydrophobicity (WCA of-157.3 degrees and WSA of-3 degrees). Thermal insulation tests shown a temperature reduction of 7.5 degrees C (-24% decrease) under simulated sunlight. The coating also demonstrates excellent selfcleaning, mechanical durability, and chemical weathering resistance. This inorganic binder-based strategy offers a new pathway for designing durable multifunctional coatings for architectural glass applications.

Superelasticity - exhibiting either Hookean (linear) or non-Hookean (nonlinear) recoverable strain beyond 2% - has been realized in distinct material systems such as metallic glasses, shape memory alloys, strain glass alloys and Gum metals, enabling diverse technological applications. Here we demonstrate that, through compositional tuning in a high-entropy alloy, the elastic behavior can be continuously and reversibly modulated between Hookean superelasticity, non-Hookean superelasticity with an ultrahigh recoverable strain of ~8%, and back to the Hookean regime. By combining atomic-scale strain mapping and extensive first-principles calculations, we reveal that this tunability is governed by a hidden strain order, arising from frustrated crystallization of two competing phases. As a result, local lattice distortion arises, producing a heterogeneous strain landscape that modulates phase stability, phase transformation propensity, and elastic response. Our findings establish a materials design strategy for programming Hookean and non-Hookean elasticity behavior on demand, with promising applications in microelectromechanical systems, high-precision actuators, and adaptive damping devices.

Glycerol electrooxidation (GOR), as a thermodynamically more favorable organic small-molecule oxidation reaction, has emerged as a viable substitute to the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode. Such displacement of OER by GOR not only effectively lowers the anodic potential but also enables the generation of valueadded chemicals such as formic acid through the oxidation of small organic molecules. In this work, we designed a sulfur-doped bimetallic heterojunction catalyst enriched with oxygen vacancies (CuCo2O4-x/CuCo2S4). The presence of oxygen vacancies provides doping sites for sulfur incorporation, whereby partial substitution of lattice oxygen with sulfur alters the surface atomic configuration and crystal structure, leading to lattice distortion. The synergistic interplay between oxygen vacancies and heterojunctions modulates the surface electronic distribution, enhances charge transfer, and exposes additional active sites, thereby endowing the catalyst with remarkable activity toward GOR. A high current density of 147 mA & sdot;cm-2 can be achieved at a potential of 1.7 V (vs. RHE). Meanwhile, the selective production of formic acid is as high as 87 % at a potential of 1.6 V (vs. RHE). This work provides a viable strategy for replacing OER with GOR and achieving efficient electrochemical energy conversion, holding promising potential for applications in the field of fine chemical engineering.

Understanding the intrinsic stage-transition kinetics of lithium-graphite intercalation compounds is central to elucidating the electrochemical performance of graphite anodes in Li-ion batteries, yet quantitatively resolving how individual staging phases transform into one another in real time remains experimentally challenging because neighboring staging phases possess closely related structures and compositions, and their transient coexistence is difficult to deconvolute with sufficient temporal resolution. Here, we establish a stage-resolved kinetic metrology based on time-resolved, in situ 13C magic-angle-spinning solid-state NMR of 13C-enriched graphite, enabling direct, quantitative tracking of the evolution of LixC6 phases during chemically driven delithiation. The large stage-dependent 13C chemical-shift dispersion, combined with the >150-fold signal-to-noise enhancement afforded by isotope enrichment, allows minute-scale acquisition and robust spectral deconvolution of coexisting stage-1 (LiC6), stage-2 (Li0.5C6), and dilute-stage (Li0.33C6) components. Under quasi-equilibrium oxidative delithiation, staging proceeds predominantly through sequential two-phase transitions, LiC6 → Li0.5C6 and Li0.5C6 → Li0.33C6, each well described by Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov kinetics, consistent with diffusion-limited phase-boundary propagation. This kinetic analysis identifies the dense-stage LiC6 → Li0.5C6 transformation as the intrinsic kinetic bottleneck. When the balance between surface Li removal and intraparticle Li redistribution is perturbed, the staging pathway becomes overlapping and heterogeneous, leading to early emergence of higher-stage phases and extended multiphase coexistence. In these regimes, an effective-order cascade model quantitatively captures the coupled evolution of successive stage transitions. These results reveal how intrinsic stage-transition kinetics and transport constraints jointly govern homogeneous versus heterogeneous delithiation in graphite, and provide a general NMR-based framework for time-resolved quantification of staging transformations in intercalation materials.

Lightweight high-entropy alloys(LWHEAs) typically exhibit limited room-temperature ductility. Here, we show that Al-induced chemical ordering can be used to regulate deformation behavior in ac-cast Ti2ZrNbVAlx LWHEAs featuring dendritic segregation Although all alloys exhibit nominally single-phase BCC structure, increasing Al content introduces nanoscale B2-type ordering from grain boundaries into grain interiors. An intermediate degree of ordering promotes dislocation storage capacity, and producing a pronounced strength-ductility synergy. In contrast, excessive intragranular ordering constrains dislocation motion, enforces slip localization, and triggers quasi-cleavage fracture. These results reveal that the spatial distribution and continuity of chemical ordering, rather than its mere presence, govern mechanical performance in BCC LWHEAs with heterogeneous dendritic microstructures.

Bulk mechanical energy-absorbing materials are critically needed for various engineering applications. However, existing state-of-the-art materials face significant limitations: architected systems such as 3D-printed nano- and micro-lattices suffer from scalability constraints, while conventional foams often exhibit a strength-ductility trade-off that limits energy absorption. Here, we overcome these challenges by fabricating bulk architected alloys via electrochemical dealloying of a machine learning-identified compositionally complex spinodal alloy. These materials display a hierarchical structural architecture spanning seven orders of magnitude - from atomic-scale lattice distortion, nanoscale precipitates and amorphous oxide layers, microscale ligaments, to macroscale network dimensions. This multi-scale integration enables synergistic deformation mechanisms, yielding energy absorption capacities of ~106 MJ/m3 in bulk and ~ 305 MJ/m3 in micro-samples. Crucially, this enhanced performance is retained from room temperature to 873 K. Our approach provides an effective strategy for designing scalable, high-performance architected materials for demanding condition energy absorption.

The pursuit of advanced structural materials for use in extreme environments, specifically those exceeding 1200°C in aerospace, energy, and defense applications, has exposed the fundamental limitations of conventional Ni-based superalloys. In this context, refractory complex concentrated alloys (RCCAs) have emerged as a transformative materials paradigm, promising a unique combination of ultra-high temperature strength, exceptional microstructural stability, and superior creep resistance. This review provides a comprehensive and critical examination of the rapid advancements in the design and development of RCCAs. It begins by synthesizing the evolution of alloy design methodologies, tracing the progression from empirical and semi-empirical criteria to the integration of sophisticated computational tools, including computational thermodynamics (CALPHAD), first-principles calculations (DFT), and data-driven machine learning (ML) techniques for accelerated discovery. The discussion then delves into the microstructural engineering of RCCAs, highlighting architected phases such as coherent BCC/B2 nanocomposites that mimic the strengthening mechanisms of superalloys yet extend their operational ceiling. A thorough analysis of mechanical and environmental properties, encompassing strength-ductility synergies, creep, fatigue, and oxidation resistance, is presented, underscoring both remarkable achievements and enduring challenges, particularly in room-temperature ductility and long-term environmental durability. The review further assesses scalable manufacturing pathways, such as additive manufacturing, and identifies critical roadblocks to industrial scalability and adoption. By converging fundamental insights with advanced design and processing strategies, this review aims to chart a course for realizing the full potential of RCCAs as next-generation materials for the most demanding technological applications.

Glassy dynamics, a fundamentally important yet long-standing issue of glass physics, is however crucial in understanding the intrinsic properties of metallic glasses. By means of mechanical spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and molecular dynamical simulation, here we report the evolution of fast process in addition to the slow beta relaxation in the Cu-Zr based metallic glasses due to minor Al elemental addition. It is revealed that the icosahedral crystal structures formed as a result of element addition leads to remarkable opposite changes in the broadness and asymmetry of the fast secondary relaxation mode. Moreover, we found that the relaxation strength of fast process increases with the increasing number of these low-energy state ordered atomic structures whereas its relaxation kinetics becomes to be slowdown. The outreach of the present work provides us insight into the dynamic nature of metallic glasses and its variation with chemistry from the atomic-scale structural viewpoint.

With conventional rheological methods, viscosity measurements of metallic glass-forming liquids (MGFLs) are difficult across the glass transition up to the liquidus as well as in the superheated state, owing to their strong crystallization tendencies and/or container-related chemical reaction interference. In this work, by combining state-of-the-art containerless electrostatic levitation (ESL) technology aboard the China space station (CSS) with fast differential scanning calorimetry (FDSC), we have investigated the viscosity behavior of MGFLs in much more detail over the extended temperature region, being generally inaccessible before. In a 10-5 g0 microgravity environment, liquid droplets attain nearly perfect sphericity during in-orbit experiments, thereby ensuring precise measurements of thermophysical properties. The use of FDSC and ESL in outer space not only narrows the viscosity gap in the undercooled liquid by similar to 6 orders of magnitude but also raises the upper measurable limit in the high-temperature melt by similar to 110 K, yielding a more complete viscosity dataset across the entire temperature range. The temperature dependence of viscosity is well fitted by the double exponential form of the Mauro-Yue-Ellison-Gupta- Allan model, which incorporates the concept of a dynamic fragile-to-strong transition in the undercooled liquid. The findings in this work not only provide a valuable dataset for theoretical modeling and engineering practice but also demonstrate the promise of ESL aboard the CSS and FDSC for dynamics studies of MGFLs. (c) 2026 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.

FeCrAl alloys are promising accident tolerant fuel cladding materials for light water reactors, but their limited room temperature ductility and weak strain-hardening capability restrict further application. Here, by combining direct laser deposition (DLD) with nanoparticle reinforcement, we reveal how ZrC nanoparticles regulate melt pool evolution, crystallographic texture, and deformation behavior in FeCrAl alloys. FeCrAl alloy and 3 wt% ZrC/FeCrAl composite were fabricated using a laser power of 400 W and a scanning speed of 3 mm/s. The microstructure and deformation characteristics were systematically characterized by EBSD, TEM, and tensile testing. We show that the DLDed FeCrAl alloy exhibits coarse columnar grains with irregular morphology and large grain size variations (∼56-1447 μm), whereas ZrC addition promotes straighter grain boundaries and a more homogeneous grain structure. We further demonstrate that ZrC nanoparticles significantly modify the crystallographic texture through melt pool geometry regulation, increasing the fractions of (001)//Y and (110)[1-10] orientations while suppressing the (001)//Z and (011)//Y texture components. The reconstructed texture promotes dislocation accumulation and multi slip activation during tensile deformation, leading to enhanced strain hardening. As a result, the ultimate tensile strength increases from 364 MPa to 417 MPa while maintaining comparable uniform elongation (∼9.7%), and the strain hardening exponent n increases from 0.107 to 0.155. The results demonstrate that nanoparticle-induced texture regulation provides an effective pathway for improving the deformation behavior of DLD ed FeCrAl alloys and offers insights into the microstructural design of additively manufactured BCC alloys.

Shape memory effect (SME) usually exists in crystalline alloys, polymers, ceramics, and their composites, induced by phase changes like Martensitic transformation and glass transition. Here, we report SME in metallic glasses (MGs) far below the glass transition temperatures. It is found that the recoverable strain of the trained MG, which reflects SME, increases with training temperature, stress, and time. The SME is interpreted as an intrinsic phenomenon of MGs, in which the local liquid-like regions (LLRs) with viscosities of ∼1010 Pa s and surrounding elastic matrix serve as the switching and memorizing segments, respectively. The activation of the LLRs, affected by deformation temperature and time in an Arrhenius-type relation, involves the nonaffine displacement of solute atoms and the rearrangement of unstable medium-range ordered (MRO) structure. In contrast, the recovery of the matrix containing more rigid MRO string-like structure is mainly contributed by the reversible variation of short-range atomic distance. Due to the instability of the LLRs, a transition from rejuvenation to aging appears during the shape memory (SM) process. The results reveal a new mechanism of SME linking to the dynamic structural heterogeneity of MGs and could be insightful for designing new types of glassy SM functional materials.

Metal-metal bonding has played a pivotal role in advancing human technologies across various industrial sectors. As devices continue to miniaturize, there is an increasing need for efficient bonding techniques capable of achieving metal-metal bonds at smaller length scales. In this study, a facile but effective bonding technique is developed that enables the bonding of randomly oriented copper with copper nanomembranes under low temperatures and pressures. The fabricated copper nanomembranes, with a thickness of ≈50 nm and a width of 1 cm or above, exhibit a unique heterogeneous nanostructure, comprising copper nanocrystals along with nano-copper-oxide dispersions. Consequently, these copper nanomembranes display exceptional mechanical properties, including an ultra-low elastic modulus of ≈35 GPa, a remarkable yield strength of ≈1 GPa, and excellent ductility of ≈40%, overcoming the conventional strength-ductility trade-off observed in various copper alloys. Most importantly, these ultra-soft copper nanomembranes serve as metallic "glues", promoting grain growth across the bonding interface between randomly oriented copper surfaces. This process leads to an average interfacial shear strength of up to 73 MPa at room temperature, representing an approximate 35 times increase in bonding strength compared to direct copper-copper bonding achieved under identical temperature and pressure conditions.

Single-phase ordered body-centered cubic or B2 multi-principal element intermetallics (MPEIs) have garnered significant attention due to their exceptional mechanical and functional properties. However, their discovery in complex compositional spaces is challenging due to the lack of high-dimensional phase diagrams and the inefficiency of traditional trial-and-error methods. In this study, we developed a physics-informed machine learning (ML) framework that integrates a conditional variational autoencoder (CVAE) with an artificial neural network (ANN). This approach effectively addresses the challenges of data limitation and imbalance, enabling the high-throughput generation of B2 MPEIs. Using this framework, we successfully identified a wide range of B2 complex alloys, spanning quaternary to senary systems, with superior mechanical performance. This work not only demonstrates a significant advancement in the discovery of B2 MPEIs but also provides an accelerated pathway for their design and development.

Metallic glasses (MGs) that mainly made up of metallic elements are a new member of the glassy materials family. This new kind of glass combines the characteristics of liquids and solids, glasses and metals, making it fascinating to both scientists and industrialists. With the discovery of more and more systems, MG is becoming one of the most active research field in metallic materials, and some concepts and technologies derived from MGs also facilitate the development of other materials from quasi-crystals to high entropy alloys. MGs have now been successfully used in aerospace, robotics, medicine, consumer electronics, etc. and the practical applications of MGs are still growing. On the other hand, the diverse properties and the unique structure of the MGs render them ideal models to study major open issues including the structural model of disordered materials, glass transition, collective motion and energy landscape. However, understanding the emerging properties and phenomena of MGs still poses enormous challenges, which has stimulated a wealth of efforts, including the development of new experimental approaches, the synthesis of systems with tailored properties, and the advancements in experimental techniques, theoretical models, and numerical simulations. In this Roadmap, we try to provide a broad overview of recent and potential future activities in the MG field, and present a roadmap for the development and applications of MGs by gathering contributions form scientists with diverse backgrounds, illustrating the major challenges and discussing the latest technology and strategy to tackle these challenges with experts covering various developments in general concepts, synthesis and characterisation, and theoretical and simulation methods.

ABSTRACT Lightweight high entropy alloys (LWHEAs), characterized by their low density, exceptional mechanical properties, and superior corrosion resistance, have gained significant attention in materials science. These alloys exhibit promising potential for applications in cutting‐edge fields such as aerospace, automotive manufacturing, and energy storage. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent advancements in LWHEAs research, with a focus on density‐based classification methods, distinctive crystal structures, mechanical performance at ambient and elevated temperatures, complex deformation mechanisms, and excellent oxidation resistance. Additionally, the paper explores the diverse applications of LWHEAs in structural, functional, and energy‐related materials. Key challenges in current research are highlighted, particularly concerning composition design and performance stability. Finally, the paper outlines future research directions, emphasizing the integration of theoretical modeling, experimental studies, and practical applications to drive technological innovation and facilitate the widespread engineering applications of LWHEAs.

Since the glass structure is inherited from the alloy melt, the thermal history experienced by the melt during cooling significantly influences the structure and properties of metallic glasses. In this work, the effect of melt quenching temperature on the atomic structure, thermophysical properties, and mechanical properties of a Cu-Zr-Al metallic glass is systematically investigated, using a combination of state-of-the-art techniques, including synchrotron-based high-energy X-ray diffraction and chip-based flash differential scanning calorimetry. It is found that for the studied Cu-Zr-Al alloy, the temperature window for preparing completely amorphous and contamination-free ribbons is remarkably narrow, spanning merely similar to 150 K. This window is bounded by heterogeneous nucleation due to the unmelted nuclei at the lower limit and significantly increased O content due to severe chemical reactions at the higher limit. Furthermore, the glass transition, crystallization, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of the Cu-Zr-Al alloy are found to be highly sensitive to the melt temperature prior to quenching during melt-spinning. Two key factors-the disordering and homogenization effects-as well as the progressive enhancement of O contamination with increasing quenching temperature-are revealed to govern the structural and property evolutions. These findings provide valuable insights into tailoring glass structures and properties through the deliberate control of melt thermal history.

Nickel-based catalysts demonstrate considerable promise for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), yet attaining both exceptional activity and sustained durability under prolonged operation persists as a critical research challenge. Herein, a directed self-growth strategy is employed to synthesize Ni-MOF nanosheets with a well-ordered morphology on the nickel foam (NF) surface via strong acid etching followed by ligand introduction. The dense Ni2+ layer generated by acid etching, as a seed, promotes strong bonding between the Ni-MOF and the NF substrate, which accelerates electron transport to the active layer and prevents catalyst detachment during long-term operation. Additionally, the Ni/NiO heterostructure obtained via pyrolysis forms an electron transfer channel that optimizes *H and *H2O adsorption on the Ni side while facilitating *OH desorption through its migration to the NiO domain, collectively contributing to improved HER kinetics. In situ Raman spectra reveal the evolution of key intermediates during the HER, corroborating the DFT predictions and highlighting the critical role of interfacial H2O structures in catalytic performance. The obtained S-Ni-MOF/NF-400 catalyst exhibits an ultralow overpotential (20 mV-10 mA cm-2), surpassing commercial Pt/C catalysts. Moreover, long-term stability tests demonstrate significant improvements in durability. This work not only introduces an outstanding Ni-MOF-based catalyst but also presents a novel strategy for designing highly active and stable HER catalysts.