The technology of hydrogen production from acidic electrolyzed water is regarded as the key path of green hydrogen energy economy due to its high efficiency, high hydrogen purity and compact device. However, the slow kinetics of oxygen evolution and hydrogen evolution reactions in acidic media and the stability of the catalyst seriously restrict their large-scale application. It is very important to develop high-efficiency electrocatalysts. Scattered metal-based materials have become a promising candidate system due to their adjustable electronic structure, synergistic effect of multiple active sites and diverse morphologies. However, their practical applications are limited by the imbalance between intrinsic activity and long-term stability. In this paper, the mechanism of electrolytic water and the synthesis methods of various catalysts are reviewed, and the key strategies to improve the performance and stability of catalysts are discussed in depth. At the same time, the application of indium, gallium, tellurium, rhenium, selenium and germanium-based scattered metal catalysts in acidic electrolyzed water is focused. By combing its design ideas and structure-activity relationship, this paper aims to provide theoretical basis and practical direction for the development of acidic hydropower catalysts with high activity, high stability and low cost, and look forward to its future development trend.

Designing coatings with a wide spectrum of functions such as self-healing, liquid repellency, anticorrosion, and a high level of mechanical robustness is crucial in engineering applications. However, simultaneously meeting two or more conflicting requirements remains a challenge. In this work, a holistic, skin-inspired tri-layer coating is proposed to resolve the conflicting requirements of self-healing, liquid repellency, and corrosion resistance in hydrophilic polymer materials. The rational design of multiple gradients in self-healing, wetting, and strength endows a sustained liquid repellency, corrosion resistance, and self-healing even under harsh environments, as well as strong adhesion with metal substrate. The skin-inspired tri-layer coating exhibits complete self-healing even in harsh aqueous environments, owing to the synergistic interaction between layers. The tri-layer structure consists of a hydrophobic epidermis-like barrier layer, a hydrophilic self-healing polymer middle layer, and a micro-arc oxidation porous base layer that provide strong interfacial adhesion and mechanical support. The hydrophilic polymer layer, composed of polyvinyl alcohol and tannic acid, rapidly repairs damaged coating regions through hydrogen bonding and diffusion, triggered by water molecules. Meanwhile, the hydrophobic outer layer acts as a sealing barrier, limiting excessive diffusion of the hydrophilic polymer. Such an integrated skin-inspired coating strategy provides new insights into design and manufacturing multifunctional polymeric coatings to tackle the critical challenges in a variety of engineering services.

This study investigates the microstructural and functional evolution of hot-extruded ZX21 and ZXM211 magnesium alloys subjected to laser surface melting (LSM). The effects of grain size, crystallographic texture, solute enrichment, and secondary phase characteristics on corrosion resistance and microhardness are systematically examined. LSM homogenizes the microstructure, weakens basal texture, and enables a uniform distribution of secondary phases, shifts corrosion toward less localized corrosion attack. Mn’s high melting point and low diffusivity favored solute retention in α-Mg during LSM, limiting second phase precipitations and promoting grain coarsening. Although potentiodynamic polarization indicated a higher average corrosion rate for LSM-treated ZXM211, the corrosion mode was more uniform, consistent with a lower second-phase fraction and a topology in which Ca₂Mg₆Zn₃ embedded within Mg₂Ca limits effective cathode exposure and mitigates microgalvanic intensification. Despite these favorable microstructural changes, secondary precipitation strengthening remains negligible, and no significant improvement in hardness is observed post-LSM, though both as-extruded and LSM-treated states retained high microhardness.

Lightweight alloys have gained prominence in weight-critical applications, however their susceptibility to corrosion and inability to mitigate surface ice accumulation remain significant limitations. In this study, these challenges are addressed by developing a photothermal self-healing, solid-like super-slippery coating using magnesium-lithium (Mg-Li) alloy as a substrate. Through synchrotron tomography, the mechanically cross-linked architecture of the cured super-slippery coating integrated with a micro-arc oxidation (MAO) layer is revealed. Experimental results demonstrate that the coating achieves autonomous repair under natural sunlight. In-situ metallographic microscopy further captures dynamic paraffin redistribution during the self-healing process. The contact angle of the FSSC-MAO coating reaches 100°, which effectively reduces the actual contact area between surface droplets and the coating and extending surface icing time by fivefold, while the active photothermal functionality enables rapid de-icing (outdoor temperature: −8°C) via sunlight exposure. Outdoor field tests validate the coating’s dual capability in corrosion resistance and ice mitigation, highlighting its potential for real-world applications in low-temperature environment.

This article aims to synchronously enhance the performance of plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coatings under a wide range of engineering services whilst minimizing process energy consumption upon magnesium alloys as model system through guidance of interpretable machine learning. Experimental data were compiled from literature and our own work. Key PEO descriptors, including electrolyte formulation and electrical parameters, were extracted and quantified as input features. Predictive models were developed for film formation rate, surface porosity, and corrosion current density. Among the three selected regression algorithms, extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) achieved the highest prediction accuracy. SHAP analysis was then applied to interpret the dominant factors governing coating performance. Film formation rate is mainly controlled by fluoride concentration, whereas surface porosity strongly depends on silicate concentration. Excessive silicate increases coating porosity, while an appropriate oxidation time favors improved corrosion resistance. Based on these insights, a Pareto optimization framework was employed to design a baseline electrolyte and electrical parameter set to validate their scientific soundness and generalization of the model. The coating produced under such a scheme exhibits a combination of high growth efficiency and superior corrosion resistance, with a film formation rate of 1.8 µm/min, a surface porosity of 5.4%, and a corrosion current density of about 1.3 × 10−8 A/cm². The proposed framework, which integrates interpretable machine learning with multi-objective optimization, offers an effective route for developing PEO process parameters, enabling the fabrication of low energy, high performance PEO coatings on magnesium alloys and providing a general data driven strategy for related engineering applications.

Layered double hydroxide (LDH) is a common electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, LDH materials usually undergo a relatively slower reconstruction process, which hinders the efficiency of electrochemical water splitting. Herein we modify pristine NiFe-LDH with Se species-containing FeSe2 to fabricate NiFe-LDH/FeSe2 heterojunction catalyst. At the same time, heterojunction constructing also triggers vacancy formation, which is further proved by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) measurements. In situ Raman spectra and a series of electrochemical experiments have proved the synergistic effect of Se species introduction and vacancy to accelerate the surface reconstruction process of the catalyst, thus greatly enhance OER performance, with a low overpotential of 256 mV under the current density of 10 mA cm-2. This work shed light on ways to design catalysts wither rapid surface reconstruction process and develop catalysts with high efficiency toward electrochemical water splitting.

The synthesis of oxidation-resistant, uniformly dispersed copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) is a critical challenge in developing high-performance, low-cost conductive inks for printable flexible electronics. Here, we provided a novel synthesizing strategy for the Cu NPs through deallying Mg80Cu10Y10 metallic glass precursor with mixed capping agents of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). A PEG/PVP mass ratio of 1:2 yields Cu NPs with a mean diameter of similar to 87.7 nm, exhibiting exceptional anti-oxidation and dispersion stability in ethanol for over 20 days. A synergistical protection mechanism is revealed that PVP mainly confers steric hindrance to prevent aggregation, while PEG establishes a compact oxygen-impermeable layer on the particle surface. When formulated into conductive inks, these nanoparticles (NPs) were screen-printed onto flexible polyimide substrates, achieving a post-sintering resistivity as low as 48 mu Omega & centerdot;cm. This study provides a robust and scalable route for cost-effective preparation of high-performance nano-copper inks for printable flexible electronics.

It was reported that high frequencies can improve energy efficiency and corrosion resistance of plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coating by accelerating its growth rate and refining discharge pores, respectively. In this study, we observed that the application of ultra-high frequency (∼104 Hz) to produce a PEO coating on Zr alloy resulted in a notable increase in its growth rate at a later stage (after about 470 V), yet was deleterious to its growth at an initial stage (before about 470 V). It is postulated that the former was attributed to an increased concentration and specific surface area of reactants, while the latter was caused by a decreased reaction temperature. To further increase the energy efficiency of PEO coating, a two-frequency stepped method was proposed, whereby a low frequency (∼102 Hz) and an ultra-high frequency were respectively employed at the initial and the later stages. For comparison, two PEO counterparts at low frequency were prepared through either prolonging oxidation time or increasing current density to achieve the same thickness as the two-frequency stepped PEO coating. Results reveal that the proposed approach enables up to 41.8% and 44.1% energy saving in comparison to the two regular counterparts. Additionally, the resulting coating exhibited an order of magnitude lower corrosion current density in NaCl solution and a higher passivation tendency in HCl solution than its counterparts owing to the presence of a continuous intermediate dense layer.

Inhibitor-loaded microcapsules play a promising role in mitigating metal corrosion through a smart fashion but challenges remain in their commercial implementations, including unexpected leakage of inhibitors, poor compatibility with coating matrices, and short effective lifespan. Herein, dual-MOF-based microcapsules (UiO-66 and ZIF-8) were prepared for carrying curcumin as inhibitor to address those issues via a Pickering emulsion template. Differing from loose single-MOF counterparts, size-complementary dual-MOF particles formed tightly packed barriers (smaller ZIF-8 filling gaps between larger UiO-66) that profoundly suppressed emulsion coalescence and enhanced mechanical resistance of the microcapsules to minimize uncontrolled leakage, achieving a three-time increment in loading rate of curcumin (18.4% vs 6.0%). The dual-MOF particles strengthened interfacial compatibility through multiple interactions with epoxy coating matrix. The resultant composite coating (epoxy + dual-MOF-based microcapsules) maintained a high low-frequency impedance after 40-day immersion in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution and 720-h neural salt spray tests. pH-triggered microcapsule decomposition rapidly released internal curcumin and key species (Zn2+/2-methylimidazole from ZIF-8 and Zr4+/terephthalic acid from UiO-66), collectively establishing a protective film upon steel substrates. Residual MOF particles provided continuous active protection, yielding the lowest corrosion current density after salt spray tests among all scratched coatings. Such a dual-MOF- based microcapsule strategy offers an alternative option for design and development of sustainable and high-efficiency protective coatings against corrosion for numerous engineering services, such as marine and pipeline industry.

Super-slippery surfaces have exhibited significant promise for corrosion protection of metals. However, challenges remain in the way of broad engineering applications, including limited mechanical durability, conflict between mechanical performance and self-healing ability, and volatilization and leakage of lubricant caused by long-term usage. This study aims to improve mechanical strength and minimize liquid loss of super-slippery surfaces by using a silane coupling agent (KH550) as bridging agent to bind phase-change paraffin wax, hydrophilic nano-silica, and low-surface-energy polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) onto epoxy-functionalized surfaces via a series of dehydration, condensation, and cross-linking reactions. This method yields a super-slippery, corrosion-resistant composite coating with phase-change self-healing properties on magnesium-lithium alloy LA81. It demonstrates a high water-contact angle (> 110 degrees) and a low sliding angle (< 8 degrees), indicative of favorable hydrophobic and slippery characteristics. Electrochemical tests reveal a profound increment (seven orders of magnitude) in impedance modulus, substantiating its enhanced anti-corrosive performance. In addition, coating integrity was maintained after 168 h of salt spray exposure. Adhesion tests and 3D synchrotron X-ray imaging confirm a strong bond between the coating and substrate. Due to paraffin's phase-change properties, the composite coating exhibits rapid self-healing when thermally stimulated. Such a self-cleaning, corrosion-resistant, and self-healing composite coating, with exceptional mechanical properties, offers an alternative solution to extending material lifespans in engineering applications. (c) 2025 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Magnesium-lithium (Mg-Li) alloys are promising lightweight materials for engineering applications, but their use is limited by poor wear and corrosion resistance. To address those challenges, micro-arc oxidation (MAO) coatings were fabricated on a model Mg-Li alloy LA81 using electrolytes containing conductive ceramic nanoparticles (TiBCN). Results suggest that TiBCN enhances electrolyte conductivity and altering arc discharge behavior, thereby reducing overall porosity of the resultant MAO coatings. Comprehensive characterization including coating thickness, microstructure, triboelectrochemical and corrosion resistance identify 2.5 g/L TiBCN as the optimal concentration. This formulation exhibits enhanced corrosion resistance, wear resistance and a notably low pore density. Three-dimensional evolution of corrosion in the optimized MAO coating was examined using synchrotron X-ray computed tomography. In corrosive environments, the combined effects of corrosion and expansion of corrosion products alter size, shape, and number of microdefects in MAO coatings over time. These changes were driven by the interactions between localized corrosion propagation and the accumulation and expansion of corrosion products. Ultimately, neighboring micro-defects merged, forming interconnected through-pores and accelerating MAO coating degradation.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an environment-friendly and effective oxidant and has been widely applied. However, medical demand is calling for more effective and convenient H2O2 preparation method. Photocatalysis can effectively produce H2O2 with simple process and easy access catalyst. This article presents a synergistic strategy which combines the advantages of defect engineering and heterojunction to achieve optimal performance. Acetic acid is applied as modulator to introduce linker defect and UiO-67 in-situ grows on surface to build type-II heterojunction. The defect level was quantified with H-1 NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) and transmission electron microscope convince successful combination. Synergistic effect of defect engineering and heterojunction significantly improves photocatalytic performance and achieves 3.92-fold higher photocatalytic H2O2 evolution rates. Photoelectrochemical characterization indicates defect engineering and type-II heterojunction bring about high photo-absorption, carrier separation, and photoelectron response. This article provides a perspective that synergistic effect of defect engineering and heterojunction can increase photocatalytic performance from overall process.

Modulating charge transfer dynamics across heterojunction interfaces and constructing stable interfacial architectures is key to efficient spatial separation of photogenerated carriers. However, it remains a critical challenge in developing integrated systems for simultaneous pollutant degradation and photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) production. Here, we proposes an interface band structure engineering strategy for constructing a strongly coupled S-scheme heterojunction between polyoxometalate (POM) and ZnIn2S4 (ZIS) with continuous S-O covalent bonds via a one-step hydrothermal synthesis technique. In this process, using the three-dimensional (3D) soluble helical [K(H2O)]6 & sdot;[H2SiW12O40]3 & sdot;nH2O (KSiW) as precursors, a series of x% KSiW/ZIS composites were successfully prepared. The resulting architecture exhibits a hydrangea-like morphology, which effectively combines the respective advantages of POM and ZIS and significantly promotes the separation and transfer of photogenerated charges. The 30% KSiW/ZIS exhibits highly efficient couples photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) and H2 production, which demonstrates an integrated synergistic mechanism. Under full-spectrum illumination, it achieves 15.3 mmol g-1 h-1 H2 production and 95.6% TCH degradation, furthermore, in the co-reaction system it maintains 132 mu mol g-1 h-1 H2 generation alongside 89.5% degradation efficiency. The in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), irradiated Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm the "S-scheme" electron transfer theory in KSiW/ZIS photocatalysts, and high activity reflects the formation of a space charge region and band bending between KSiW and ZIS with consecutive sulfur-oxygen covalent bond, resulting in matched kinetics for hydrogen evolution and oxidation degradation. Such a material demonstrates exceptional cycling stability, reusability and versatility, positioning it as a promising candidate for applications in pollutant degradation and photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production.

Ti-4Al-6Mo-2V-5Cr-2Zr alloy with different microstructures was prepared through two heat treatment processes (STA 1 and STA 2), and its corrosion fatigue behavior in a 3.5 % NaCl solution was investigated. STA 1 forms a hierarchical nanostructure (HN) containing coarse grain boundary alpha (GB alpha), primary alpha (alpha p), and nanoscale secondary alpha (alpha s) with significant elemental segregation. In contrast, STA 2 forms a lamellar structure (LM) composed of fine, needle-like alpha s with uniform element distribution. Results indicate that LM has better corrosion resistance, its passive film resistance (4.328 x106 Omega & sdot;cm2) is higher than that of HN (1.101 x106 Omega & sdot;cm2, 6.9 nm). In a 3.5 % NaCl solution, STA 1 shows significant corrosion fatigue behavior, whereas STA 2 does not exhibit any signs of corrosion fatigue. The deformation in HN mainly occurs within the coarse alpha phase, and the high dislocation density can lead to localized stress concentrations, thereby damaging the passivation film and initiating corrosion fatigue cracks.

Achieving single-atom catalyst with zero-order approximation or homogeneity necessitates precise control over anchoring sites, which imposes a great challenge as abundance and diversity associated coordination environments. A sound strategy towards such a challenge is to anchor a single atom at a specific localization site on the surface of a twin crystal. Therefore, this article aims to anchor single bismuth (Bi) atom at a specific surface of Zn0.5Cd0.5S twins to maximize charge transfer and achieve redox bifunctional reactions. Such a synergistic mechanism was experimentally and theoretically validated through preparation of Zn0.5Cd0.5S compound as model catalyst with twin phase junction (tetragonal and hexagonal) and Bi atoms doped exclusively in tetragonal form. Bi-anchored (1 mol%) Zn0.5Cd0.5S twins exhibit a peak photocatalytic hydrogen productivity of 5680 mu mol g- 1h- 1 and an oxidative dehydrogenation rate of 4420 mu mol g- 1h- 1 for benzyl alcohol. The presence of biphasic junctions within the sample generates a built-in electric field that accelerates the separation and migration of photogenerated charges from tetragonal to hexagonal. Moreover, following the doping of Bi atoms into the tetragonal phase, 5d electrons of Bi couple with electrons of Zn and Cd, magnifying potential differences between the two conduction bands, which enhanced the transfer rate of photogenerated carriers. Density functional theory (DFT) modelling reveals that Bi atoms served as active center for the oxidation reaction, lowering the reaction potential barrier for intermediates. Consequently, we employ an atomic-level selective doping strategy to optimize photocatalytic activity and establish the relevant structure-activity relationships.

Abstract The adhesion and proliferation of bacteria on high‐contact surfaces and medical implants lead to biofilm formation, posing significant infection risks. Antibiotic resistance necessitates the development of next‐generation antimicrobial materials. Inspired by the antibacterial properties of natural nanostructured surfaces, biomimetic nanostructures engineered on material surfaces can induce mechanical damage to bacteria, offering a promising alternative to antibiotics and reducing environmental contamination from chemical biocides. This review aims to highlight recent advances in the functional modification of mechano‐bactericidal surfaces and their potential as alternatives to traditional antimicrobial surfaces. Initially, representative fabrication methods are introduced for mechanically bactericidal nanostructures. Subsequently, functional modifications are examined to bactericidal nanostructures, including the integration of photoactive materials, chemical biocides, stimuli‐responsive self‐cleaning coatings, and electro‐mediated strategies with bactericidal nanotopographies to overcome limitations in bactericidal mechanisms and enhance synergistic antimicrobial effects. Finally, current challenges are discussed and offer perspectives on future research directions.

This work aims to design and validate the synergistic effects of ultra-high frequency and Y2O3 nanoparticles on sustainable corrosion resistance of plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) upon Mg alloys. Incorporation of Y2O3 nanoparticles into PEO coatings was efficient, with preferential growth on coating surface and within discharge channels. In particular, a high concentration of Y2O3 nanoparticles, up to 20.6 at.%, was observed in PEO coating prepared at the highest frequency (20 kHz) pulse current. Y2O3-based compounds such as YOOH and Y(OH)3 present within PEO coating exhibit superior electrochemical stability, thereby enhancing overall stability and corrosion resistance.