In the past, the monitoring system of toxic and harmful gases such as triethylamine (TEA) in the industrial environment was not perfect enough, and with the development of human society, the requirements for environmental friendliness and sustainable development are constantly improving, so the development of a simple, effective and ideal performance of a new TEA gas sensor has become an urgent problem to be solved. In this study, ZnO/Ti3C2Tx gas sensor was prepared by magnetic filtration cathode vacuum arc (FCVA) deposition method for TEA detection. Gas-sensing measurements demonstrated that the response of the present gas sensor is 44.3 for 100 ppm TEA gas at 160 degrees C, and the detection limit is as low as 5 ppm. Moreover, it showed remarkable selectivity and long-term stability. The excellent gas sensing performance can be attributed to the abundant electron transport channels of ZnO/Ti3C2Tx and the formation of heterojunctions. This work provides a new way to prepare gas sensors at low temperatures, which is of great significance for solving the problem of air pollution.

This study developed a light extraction enhancement method for gallium nitride (GaN) scintillators by integrating microsphere self-assembly technology with filter cathode vacuum arc deposition (FCVA) deposition technology. As a representative third-generation wide-bandgap semiconductor, GaN exhibits excellent radiation resistance and superior optical properties, with its 8-inch wafer fabrication capability providing a critical foundation for large-area imaging applications. To address the light extraction limitations imposed by the high refractive index of GaN, we designed a photonic crystal structure: an array of polystyrene microspheres with a 600-nanometer periodicity, combined with a conformal TiO2 layer deposited via FCVA. Experimental results demonstrate significant enhancement: after angular integration, the integrated spectral intensity of the yellow emission band increased by 197% (100 nm TiO2) and 136% (50 nm TiO2), while the near-band-edge emission integrated spectral intensity increased by 83% (100 nm TiO2) and 70% (50 nm TiO2). This performance enhancement stems from the synergistic effect between the optical localization effect of the PS microsphere array and the high refractive index (∼2.4) of TiO2. The FCVA technique, characterized by its high deposition rate (∼10 nm/min) and substantial ion flux, enables rapid fabrication of TiO2 conformal layers with exceptional large-area uniformity, meeting industrial production requirements. This work establishes a significant technical approach for improving light extraction efficiency in GaN materials, demonstrating promising potential for large-area imaging and related applications.

The coupling effects of friction and corrosion significantly exacerbate the wear severity of components during prolonged service in marine environments. In this work, the modulation cycle thickness of soft/hard structure was regulated to fabricate multilayer thick diamond-like carbon coatings using filtered cathodic vacuum arc deposition technology with a high-angle (225 degrees) filtering bent pipe. The tribocorrosion resistance of multilayer DLC coatings was investigated by performing long-term sliding tests (10 h) under high loads (10 N and 20 N) in air and in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. The results show that the soft/hard layer structure can significantly relieve the residual stress (about 46.9 %) of the DLC coatings, and the hardness of the prepared multilayer DLC coatings of about 5 mu m thickness can be enhanced to more than 60 GPa. The tribocorrosion mechanism of multilayer DLC coatings in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution is mainly mechanical fatigue wear making C-sp3 bond to C-sp2 bond conversion, leading to the generation and expansion of micropores. The lubricity of debris and solution mitigates coating wear much more than the coupling effect exacerbates coating wear, enabling the multilayer DLC coating to maintain tribocorrosion protection for a long period of time under high load conditions in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. Wear resistance and corrosion protection are critical for precision components in complex environments. Therefore, compared with the absence of deposited protective coatings, multilayer thick DLC coatings with soft/hard layer structures can effectively mitigate wear of precision components during prolonged use in complex environments (such as under high loads and in corrosive solutions), which provides an important reference value for their protective applications in marine environments.

The high-quality preparation of high-entropy alloy (HEA) films at low temperatures (<100 degrees C) is a significant challenge in the field of materials science. This study employs molecular dynamics simulations (LAMMPS) to systematically investigate the interaction between ultra-low-energy ion beams (100 eV) and equiatomic FeCo-NiCrMn high-entropy alloys, proposing a "thermal spike-defect" mechanism. The findings reveal that at low temperatures (0 K), deposition on the surface layer forms an ordered film with numerous defects. At 350 K, atoms diffuse into the subsurface layer, forming stress gradients, which reduce structural ordering while enhancing diffusion and reducing defects, ultimately leading to the formation of a subsurface alloyed structure. Radial distribution function (RDF) analysis indicates that Ni and Co exhibit strong interaction forces with the Fe substrate. This study elucidates the temperature-dependent regulation of defect formation, atomic diffusion, and mechanical properties, thereby providing theoretical foundations for developing high-performance HEA films fabricated at low temperatures.

Lithium metal anode faces formidable challenges from uncontrollable dendrite growth and unstable solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI). Interface engineering of the current collectors (CCs) or lithium anodes presents a viable solution. We propose engineering the intrinsic microstructure of coatings to precisely construct interlayers that are both lithiophilic and possess rapid kinetics. A strategy using ion beam deposition (IBD) technology to craft ZnMgSn films with composite microstructures on commercial Cu CCs and lithium foils is reported. This artificial interphase not only exhibits a strongly lithium adsorption energy, but also significantly reduces the diffusion barrier for lithium atoms, thereby synergistically enabling uniform lithium plating. Crucially, this interphase promotes the in-situ formation of a mechanically robust, bilayer SEI rich in LiF, which can effectively accommodate volume changes during cycling. As a result, the ZnMgSn@Cu CC symmetric cell achieves an ultralong lifespan of over 11000 h. The full cell shows a capacity retention of 85.13% after 130 cycles at 5C. The modified lithium anode maintains over 80% capacity after 620 cycles at 1C. This work not only provides an efficient modification strategy but also offers profound insights into the microscopic design principles for an ideal lithium metal interphase, paving the way for practical lithium metal batteries.

Plasma technology has emerged as a critical processing method in material science and surface engineering due to its high efficiency, minimal material damage, and environmental friendliness. It is widely employed in semiconductor fabrication, environmental remediation, aerospace, and energy applications. Plasma-assisted synthesis and surface modification enhance the thermomechanical and corrosion-resistant properties of inorganic nanomaterials, carbon matrices, and functional coatings. With the rapid advancement of lithium-ion batteries, plasma technology has also gained increasing attention for battery material optimization, demonstrating significant potential for improving performance. This review systematically outlines the fundamental principles and methodologies of plasma technology, with a focus on its recent applications in modifying lithium battery separators, and classifies these applications according to different modification principles. Then, the electrochemical performance achieved in different studies was introduced in detail. Furthermore, current challenges and limitations are analyzed, followed by perspectives on future research directions and potential industrial applications.

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films are valued for their high hardness and wear resistance, but their application in harsh environments is limited by high internal stress and poor corrosion resistance. Co-doping with transition metals offers a promising route to overcome these drawbacks by tailoring microstructure and enhancing multifunctional performance. However, the synergistic effects of Ni and Cr co-doping in DLC remain underexplored. In this study, Ni and Cr co-doped DLC (NiCr-DLC) films were fabricated using filtered cathodic vacuum arc deposition (FCVAD). By varying the C2H2 flow rate, the carbon content and microstructure evolved from columnar to fine-grained and compact structures. The optimized film (F55) achieved an ultralow surface roughness (Sa = 0.26 nm), even smoother than the Si substrate. The Ni–Cr co-doping promoted a nanocomposite structure, yielding a maximum hardness of 15.56 GPa and excellent wear resistance (wear rate: 4.45 × 10−7 mm3/N·m). Electrochemical tests revealed significantly improved corrosion resistance compared to AISI 304L stainless steel, with F55 exhibiting the highest corrosion potential, the lowest current density, and the largest impedance modulus. This work demonstrates that Ni-Cr co-doping effectively enhances the mechanical and corrosion properties of DLC films while improving surface quality, providing a viable strategy for developing robust, multifunctional protective coatings for demanding applications in aerospace, automotive, and biomedical systems.

Engineering high-entropy metallic glasses (HE-MGs) often faces a trade-off between hardness and creep resistance, which limits structural deployment. This work demonstrates how interstitial carbon doping can decouple these properties in an AlTiZrNbTaV system. While carbon doping increased the hardness of AlTiZrNbTaVC by 101.60 % to 20.32 GPa, it paradoxically degraded creep resistance. As the strain rate sensitivity (m) of AlTiZrNbTaVC increased more than threefold, from 0.0401 for AlTiZrNbTaV to 0.1501 for AlTiZrNbTaVC. Relaxation time spectrum analysis reveals this degradation stems from lower activation energy barriers for shear transformation zones (STZs). These results establish that the activation energy of STZs, rather than free volume, is the dominant factor controlling room temperature creep in this system. This provides a clear strategy for tailoring HE-MGs by tuning their atomic-scale heterogeneity to achieve a targeted balance between hardness and stability.

The present study reports large room-temperature ferromagnetism in Co and Tb co-doped GaN films and further investigates the correlation between the doping concentration and the magnetic moment. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements confirm that most of the dopants are incorporated into the GaN lattice. Photoluminescence (PL) and Raman spectra results reveal that post-annealing repaired most of lattice defects induced by ion implantation. The ZFC/FC curves show a blocked phase related to Co precipitates in Co single-doped GaN system and this phase is suppressed by the incorporation of Tb ions in the co-doped GaN systems. Although the magnetic properties were enhanced with the co-implantation of Co and Tb ions, the magnetic moment introduced by each ion slightly decreased with increasing Tb concentration. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that a high doping concentration of Tb atoms leads to the antiferromagnetic phase in the nearest position between Co and Tb ions. Appropriate co-doping with Co and Tb ions in GaN favors the development of enhanced ferromagnetism with no secondary phase. Our study not only offers valuable insights for understanding the magnetic characteristics of co-doped GaN, but also highlights the viability of developing room-temperature diluted magnetic semiconductors by appropriately co-doping TM and RE elements. (c) 2025 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.

Inhomogeneous lithium deposition on Cu current collectors (CCs) often leads to uncontrolled dendrite growth, affecting the cycle life and safety of lithium metal batteries (LMBs). Introducing lithiophilic sites on lithiophobic Cu has been shown to mitigate this issue. In this study, we present a novel "sandwich" anode structure of CuNiZn/ nano-Zn@Cu with a nanosized protuberant surface, fabricated using an advanced filtered cathode vacuum arc (FCVA) co-deposition system. This architecture enhances lithiophilicity and stabilizes the electrode interface. The CuNiZn film promotes uniform lithium deposition and facilitates the formation of a LixZn alloy, accelerating lithium-ion transport to the nano-Zn film. This generates additional lithiophilic sites, reducing dendrite formation. Moreover, the CuNiZn film exhibits strong Zn adsorption, enhancing the stability of nano-Zn during cycling. Symmetrical cells with modified CCs show a low hysteresis voltage of 24.1 mV after 2140 h at a current density of 1 mA cm-2. This study presents a feasible nanostructured bilayer film strategy for optimizing LMB anode CCs, with promising potential for industrial applications.

Copper-doped hydrogenated amorphous carbon (Cu-doped a-C:H) films were synthesized using copper as the cathode and C2H2 as the precursor. The result shows that the negative bias voltage can affect the composition and microstructure of nanocomposite films. With bias voltage increasing, Cu content first increases in the range of 50~300 V and then declines with higher voltage, while the deposition rate decreases continuously. The stress and sp3 content present a similar trend with the bias voltage, increasing during the range from 50 V to 200 V and then decreasing with higher voltage.

Diamond-like carbon coatings can be used to protect precision components in extreme marine environments from the coupling effects of tribocorrosion. However, the thickness of the diamond-like carbon coating is limited by residual stress. In this paper, a method combining filtered cathodic vacuum arc deposition and high-voltage pulsed technology is used to controllably release residual stresses to deposit high-quality thick diamond-like carbon coatings and to study their tribocorrosion mechanism and performance in extreme environments. The results showed that periodic energetic particles could disrupt the local carbon network structure with increasing frequency, thereby reducing the residual stress to 0.787 GPa in a diamond-like carbon coating of about 5 mu m, and the release of residual stress prevented the formation of corrosion channels during corrosion of the diamond-like carbon coating. The high-quality diamond-like carbon coating was tested in a tribocorrosion test at 5 N and 10 N loads. The excellent corrosion resistance reduces the coupling effect of tribocorrosion on the coating. The high content of graphite-like structures inhibits the formation of microcracks, reducing the degree of wear of the diamond-like carbon coating in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. The combination of high-voltage pulsed technology and filtered cathodic vacuum arc deposition can break through the limitation of residual stress on the thickness of diamond-like carbon coatings, which provides meaningful guidance for the application of thick diamond-like carbon coatings for surface protection of precision devices.

Amorphous diamond-like carbon materials are extensively employed as protective coatings across various fields due to their exceptional properties. However, the deformation mechanisms during service remain largely unexplored, particularly regarding the relationship between C-sp3 bond content and creep behavior. In this study, thick diamond-like carbon coatings with different C-sp3 bond contents were prepared by combining filtered cathodic vacuum arc deposition and high-voltage pulsed technology, and the creep behavior of diamond-like carbon coatings with different C-sp3 bond contents was investigated under different loading rates and load conditions. The results show that diamond-like carbon coatings with thicknesses with an average thickness of approximately 5 μm and their C-sp3 bond contents (37.71–82.98

Developing hydrogen-resistant materials requires a deeper understanding of hydrogen transport regulation. High-entropy systems, characterized by multicomponent chemical short-range ordering, present new opportunities for designing hydrogen permeation barriers (HPBs). However, the atomistic origins of their hydrogen-trapping efficacy remain obscured by structural complexity. Here, we prepared phase-pure (FeNiMnCrV)Nx coatings with controlled crystallographic evolution via co-filtered cathode arc deposition (Co-FCVA). Through nitrogen-mediated lattice distortion, we achieve (FeNiMnCrV)Nx sequential phase structure transitions from BCC to amorphous and then to FCC. By atomic-resolution characterization combined with diffusion kinetic analysis, the suppression mechanism of hydrogen permeation in high-performance barriers: the optimized hydrogen adsorption potential is achieved via specific crystallographic orientation selection in the FCC phase, while high-density grain boundary networks establish hierarchical hydrogen traps. Computational simulations reveal electron synergistic effects near the Fermi level that induce rugged energy landscapes for hydrogen migration. Furthermore, transition state simulation analyses the dimensionally constrained characteristics of hydrogen diffusion trajectories within crystal lattices. These findings provide a theoretical framework for the structure-activity relationship between crystal topology and chemical heterogeneity to synergistically regulate hydrogen permeation, clarify the synergistic hydrogen inhibition mechanism of adsorption potential field modulation and kinetic capture, and provide multi-scale theoretical support for the development of high-performance HPBs based on element optimization and interface design.

The superconducting radio frequency performance of Nb3Sn is significantly impacted by its near-surface composition and nanostructure. In this study, an innovative polishing technique for Nb3Sn thin films with nanoscale precision is proposed. Systematic angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ARXPS) analysis reveal that the mechanism of this polishing process involves the formation of a few nanometer-thick oxide layer on the film’s surface, followed by the uniform removal of the oxide layers with HF rinse. It is approximated that the polishing depth achieved in a single cycle can reach several nanometers. Advanced material characterization demonstrates that optimized polishing process effectively eliminates compulsive tin droplets and potential tin-rich phases with poor superconductivity generated on the surface during the preparation of Nb3Sn thin films. Simultaneously, no additional impurity phase will be formed on the surface, and the surface roughness will remain undamaged. Meanwhile, the results of magnetic and electrical analysis show that the superconducting properties of the polished films are not affected. This polishing technique is anticipated to ease the stringent coating conditions for the preparation of high-performance Nb3Sn thin film superconducting cavity, and will be a valuable addition to the post-treatment process of Nb3Sn thin films.

Surface modification of Cu current collectors (CCs) is proven to be an effective method for protecting lithium metal anodes. However, few studies have focused on the quality and efficiency of modification layers. Herein, a novel home‐made filtered cathode vacuum arc (FCVA) co‐deposition system with high modification efficiency, good repeatability and environmental friendliness is proposed to realize the wide range regulation of film composition, structure and performance. Through this system, ZnMgTiAl quaternary alloy films, which have good affinity with Li are successfully constructed on Cu CCs, and the fully enhanced electrochemical performances are achieved. Symmetrical cells constructed with modified CCs maintained a fairly low voltage hysteresis of only 13 mV after 2100 h at a current density of 1 mA cm−2. In addition, the capacity retention rate is as high as 75.0% after 100 cycles in the full cells. The influence of alloy films on the dynamic evolution process of constructing stable artificial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer is revealed by in situ infrared (IR) spectroscopy. This work provides a promising route for designing various feasible modification films for LMBs, and it displays better industrial application prospects than the traditional chemical methods owing to the remarkable controllability and scale‐up capacity.

The primary objective of this study is the development of Cu/Nb composite materials for Superconducting Radio-Frequency (SRF) applications under extreme service conditions characterized by a strong RF electromagnetic field, extremely low temperatures, and relatively low heat loss. A novel integrated manufacturing approach is proposed, which combines cold-sprayed AgCuTi alloy as an intermediate coating on the Nb surface and an electroplated Cu layer with a subsequent heat treatment brazing effect. This strategy aims to address the significant challenge of non-intermelting Cu and Nb while also considering effective lateral heat transfer. Mechanical property tests showed that the bond strength of Nb/AgCuTi/Cu composites exceeded 150 MPa. Low-temperature thermal transport tests indicate that the Residual Resistance Ratio (RRR) of the Cu layer surpasses 150, with a thermal conductivity at 4.2 K exceeding 1600 W/(m·K). Moreover, both the composite interface and mechanical properties of the specimens remain stable even after undergoing cyclic cold shock experiments. These findings suggest that the Nb/AgCuTi/Cu composite material developed in this study meets the technical requirements for long-term stable and high-performance operation in high-current and high-power superconducting accelerators.

A series of AlSiC-based nanocomposite coatings with varying carbon concentrations were fabricated by filtered cathodic vacuum arc (FCVA) technology. These coatings featured an amorphous matrix with embedded Al4Si3C6 nanocrystals. With the increase in carbon content, the proportion of amorphous structure within the structure grew, which was accompanied by a rise in sp(3) hybridized carbon bonds. This compositional change led to a significant enhancement in hardness and toughness. Notably, the AlSiC coating deposited at a flow rate of 50 sccm displayed exceptional mechanical properties, including a high hardness of approximately 23.2 GPa, toughness indices of H/E = 0.096 and H-3/E-2 = 0.216 GPa, a low friction coefficient around 0.18, a wear rate as low as similar to 1.09 x 10(-5) mm(3) N-1 m(-1), and a corrosion current density of approximately 1.08 x 10(-9) A/cm(2). The coating's superior tribological characteristics and corrosion resistance can be attributed to two main factors. The enhanced hardness and toughness indices (H/E and H-3/E-2) contributed to its improved deformability, which is essential for wear resistance. Secondly, the presence of a graphite layer formed during friction provided self-lubrication, further reducing wear. Additionally, the chemical inertness of both the amorphous SiC and the amorphous carbon phases within the nanocomposite structure significantly bolstered the coating's resistance to corrosion. The AlSiC nanocomposite coatings deposited by FCVA exhibit outstanding mechanical properties, tribological performance, and corrosion resistance, making them highly suitable for applications in environments where wear and corrosion are significant concerns.

In this work, TiAlSiN/NiCr multilayer coatings with different modulation periods were deposited by cathodic-arc techniques, which combined filtered cathode vacuum arc (FCVA) and cathodic-arc ion plating (CAIP) techniques to deposit sublayers at different bias voltages. The nanoscale multilayer coating (TiAlSiN: 88 nm; NiCr: 9 nm) exhibited excellent oxidation resistance and thermal stability. Annealed coatings at 900 degrees C in air for 1 h, the thickness of the oxide layer of N32 coating is only 0.91 mu m and the increase in coating thickness was only 9.01%, while the thickness of oxide layer of monolayer TiAlSiN coating is 3.02 mu m and thickness increasing of 122.28%. Due to the existence of numerous interfaces, the N32 coating exhibited the lowest wear rate of 1.92 x 10(-7) mm(3)N(-1)m(-1) at 600 degrees C under abrasive wear and adhesive wear mechanisms. In parallel, a new AlNi intermetallic compound with excellent thermal stability was characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) at the coating interfaces. This compound is derived from different cathodic-arc techniques and bias voltages used to deposit coatings, which provides a reference for the structural design of coatings facing thermal environments.

Growth of high-quality Nb_3Sn thin films for superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) applications using the vapor diffusion method requires a uniform distribution of tin nuclei on the niobium (Nb) surface. This study examines the mechanism underlying the observed non-uniform distribution of tin nuclei with tin chloride SnCl_2 . Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis was used to examine the correlation between the nucleation behavior and orientation of niobium grains in the substrate. The findings of the density functional theory (DFT) simulation are in good agreement with the experimental results, showing that the non-uniform distribution of tin nuclei is the result of the adsorption energy of SnCl_2 molecules by varied niobium grain orientations. Further analysis indicated that the surface roughness and grain size of niobium also played significant roles in the nucleation behavior. This study provides valuable insights into enhancing the surface pretreatment of niobium substrates during the growth of Nb_3Sn thin films using the vapor diffusion method.