Ammonia serves not only as a primary raw material in synthetic fertilizers, but also as a novel high-energy- density fuel. In recent years, electrocatalytic nitrate reduction for ammonia synthesis has gained extensive attention as a green and sustainable approach due to its potential as an eco-friendly and sustainable way that could replace the energy-intensive and high-carbon-emission Haber-Bosch process. Nevertheless, the efficient electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis is still hampered by low reaction efficiency and product selectivity as well as catalyst stability. Hence, there is a pressing need to develop efficient catalysts to advance electrocatalytic nitrate reduction for ammonia synthesis. Recently, metal oxide catalysts have been at the center of attention for their superior performance in electrocatalytic nitrate reduction for ammonia synthesis. This review consolidates the developments of metal oxide electrocatalysts converting nitrate to ammonia, focusing on elucidating the reaction mechanism and introducing typical metal-based (Cu, Fe, Ti, etc.) catalysts. Additionally, it discusses the latest research progress in enhancing catalytic reaction efficiency, product selectivity, and material stability through strategies like morphology control, surface reconstruction, oxygen vacancy engineering, element doping, metal-assisted catalyst loading, etc. Finally, the paper outlines the challenges and future research directions in the realm of electrocatalytic nitrate reduction for ammonia synthesis.

As a kind of important functional material, flexible piezoelectric materials can realize the effective conversion between mechanical energy and electrical energy, with the advantages of good toughness, high plasticity and light weight. Therefore, they can be attached to the human body to obtain human or environment information in real time, which is widely used in the fields of motion detection, health monitoring, and human-computer interaction. Due to high requirements of various three-dimensional (3D) structures of the flexible piezoelectric materials, additive manufacturing has been extensively utilized to fabricate different kinds of piezoelectric materials. This technology is expected to break the bottleneck of traditional processing of piezoelectric material by improving the structural design freedom and the performance of flexible piezoelectric materials, and provides enormous potential and opportunities for the application of flexible piezoelectric materials. Based on the introduction of the classification and features of flexible piezoelectric materials, this paper explained the main additive manufacturing technologies, including fused deposition modeling, direct ink writing, selective laser sintering, electric-assisted direct writing, stereolithography, and inkjet printing that commonly used in processing these materials. Then, various structural designs, such as multi-layer structure, porous structure, and interdigital structure for the flexible piezoelectric materials produced by different additive manufacturing approaches were reviewed. Moreover, the applications of additive manufactured flexible piezoelectric materials in energy harvesting, piezoelectric sensing, human-computer interaction, and bioengineering were introduced. Finally, the challenges faced by additive manufacturing on processing flexible piezoelectric materials and the development trends in the future were summarized and prospected.

Bentonite is an abundant, cheap and readily available natural clay mineral, with montmorillonite (MMT) as its main mineral composition. MMT possesses excellent ion exchange, adsorption and ion transport properties due to its unique two-dimensional layered nanostructure, abundant pore structure, and high specific surface area. Moreover, it also possesses excellent thermal, chemical and mechanical stabilities. In recent years, MMT has attracted extensive attention in the field of electrochemical energy storage owing to the above excellent characteristics, especially the inherent fast ion (Li⁺, Na⁺, Zn²⁺, etc.) transport properties. Thus, the bentonite-based functional materials have been widely applied to the key components (i.e., electrodes, polymer electrolytes, and separators) of electrochemical energy storage devices and show good application prospects. In this review, the structure and physicochemical properties of bentonite are firstly introduced, and then the research progress of bentonite-based functional materials in the field of electrochemical energy storage, mainly including metal anodes, lithium-sulfur battery cathodes, solid/gel polymer electrolytes, and polymer separators, is comprehensively summarized. On the basis of these facts, the ion transport promotion mechanism of bentonite-based functional materials during the process of electrochemical energy storage is elaborated. Finally, the current problems and challenges faced by application of bentonite-based materials in electrochemical energy storage devices are pondered, and the possible future research directions are prospected. This review provides useful guidance for the design and development of bentonite-based electrochemical energy storage functional materials.

Nowadays, we are facing increasingly serious energy and environmental problems, which urgently need more efficient chemical industry technologies to meet the requirements of low cost, high yield and sustainability. Developing efficient catalysts is of great significance for improving production efficiency, expanding economic benefits, optimizing energy structure, and ameliorating industrial structure. Single-atom catalysts (SACs), featuring unique properties arising from their single-atom dispersion on support surface, have demonstrated exceptional activity, selectivity and stability in energy catalysis, environmental catalysis and organic catalysis. Therefore, preparation methods and catalytic mechanisms of SACs have become a hot research topic on the international catalytic community. This review describes three strategies for preparing SACs: bottom-up synthesis, top-down synthesis and quantum dots cross-linking/self-assembly. Specifically, methods such as co-precipitation, immersion, atomic layer deposition, high-temperature atom thermal transfer, and high-temperature pyrolysis are presented in detail. These approaches precisely control the location and distribution of metal atoms, maximizing their utilization and catalytic efficiency. In addition, the challenges and development prospects faced by SACs related to stability, integrated control and industrial scalability are also summarized.

To further expand the application of advanced ceramic materials in helicopters, this paper reviews their application in helicopter structures both domestically and internationally. It emphasizes the technical maturity and development trends of various ceramic materials in helicopter specific structural applications, such as energy impact protection parts, energy conversion components, and corrosion protection areas. By comparing the gaps between domestic and international use of advanced ceramic materials in helicopter specific structures, the paper provides suggestions for the future development. Recommendations include the use of reaction-sintered contoured integrated opaque armor ceramics and polycrystalline transparent armor ceramics for the high-speed dynamic impact energy protection parts, cermet composite coatings compatible with epoxy resin composite substrates for the low-energy impact protection parts, and hybrid ceramic matrix composite/polymer matrix composite (HCMC-PMC) materials for the thermal shock protection parts. Additionally, multifunctional composite materials, such as high-performance miniature piezoelectric ceramic thin film functional devices and flexible hybrid electronic structures based on micro-piezoelectric ceramic materials, should be developed for the mechanical and electrical energy conversion components. Microwave-absorbing ceramic composites derived from polymer-derived ceramics that are compatible with epoxy resin composite substrates are recommended for the electromagnetic and thermal energy conversion components. Furthermore, high-performance abrasion-resistant and corrosion-resistant Sol-Gel coatings are suggested for the corrosion protection areas. It is also essential to establish a high-speed dynamic energy impact protection mechanism for helicopters, optimize the ballistic performance of protective materials, and develop advanced ceramic materials digital testing and verification technologies, represented by multi-functional composite materials for helicopter specific structures. These efforts will greatly shorten the application cycle of advanced ceramic materials and reduce the verification cost.

In comparison to Li-ion batteries, Na-ion batteries offer the benefits of low cost, good low-temperature performance, and safety, attracting great attention in the cost- and reliability-sensitive applications. With high capacity and low cost, Prussian blue-like materials (PBAs) stand as promising cathode materials for Na-ion batteries. However, the presence of crystalline water within their structure induces fast performance decay of the battery, serving as a critical bottleneck limiting their application. This work reports a facile thermal treatment strategy to effectively remove crystalline water from PBAs cathode materials, improving capacity retention from 73% to 88% after 340 cycles. The in-situ analysis uncovers that the initial loss of Coulombic efficiency of PBAs cathode is a result of its irreversible transformation from a trigonal form to cubic phase during the charging and discharging process. This issue can be addressed by introducing of Na₂C₂O₄ to compensate the irreversible Na loss in the cathode. On this basis, a high-performance quasi-solid-state Na-ion battery is built by pairing a low-water-content PBAs cathode with Na₂C₂O₄ additive and a hard carbon (HC) anode within a poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA)-based quasi-solid-state electrolyte with high ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability. This battery exhibits the specific capacities ranging from 58 to 105 mAh·g^-1 at current densities from 20 to 500 mA·g^-1, capable of sustaining stable cycling for over 200 cycles. This study underscores the significant improvement in stability and capacity of PBAs cathode materials by the efficient removal of crystalline water in them.

Absorptive materials, by absorbing electromagnetic wave energy, effectively mitigate electromagnetic interference through reduction or elimination of wave reflection. The electromagnetic parameters of materials determine their electromagnetic wave absorption performance. Traditional control strategies, such as adjusting filler ratio, changing macroscopic morphology, and regulating composite methods, have certain limitations to control their structure and cannot fundamentally alter their electromagnetic parameters, which severely hinders their further development. Now, micro-nanostructure design strategies can basically change electromagnetic parameters of the materials by altering their electrical conductivity, charge density and magnetic properties, showing significant advantages in controlling electromagnetic wave absorption capacity. However, the precise micro-nanostructure design and the mass production still face challenges to be overcome. Additionally, structure-property relationship between micro-nanostructures and electromagnetic wave response, and its underline mechanisms are still not fully understood. Herein, a comprehensive review on these relationships was introduced to elucidate the advantages of micro-nanostructure design strategies for regulating electromagnetic wave absorption capacity. Moreover, by introducing these strategies, such as element doping, surface effect modulation and nucleation-controlled growth, this review provides researchers with deep insights and theoretical guidance for modulating electromagnetic properties through micro-nanostructure design. Finally, the research progresses on electromagnetic performance modulation through micro-nanostructure design based on the case of quantum dots, nanocrystals and nanowires, as well as the current research status and prospects in the field of electromagnetic absorption were summarized, providing a theoretical foundation and strategic support for the development of micro-nanoparticles.

Carbide ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) have emerged as ideal coating materials for the thermal protection systems of hypersonic vehicles due to their high melting point (>3000 ℃), high hardness, low thermal conductivity, excellent heat resistance, and good chemical stability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of structure and properties of carbide UHTCs, namely TiC, ZrC, HfC, NbC, and TaC. Furthermore, it summarizes recent developments in preparation of carbide UHTC coatings using various methods, including chemical vapor deposition, plasma spraying, and solid-phase reaction. Effects of coating microstructure, composition, structural design, and heat flux on the ablation behavior are analyzed. Data from recent literature corroborate that the added second phase can facilitate formation of complex oxides, generate an oxidation layer during ablation to undergo moderate sintering, protect structural integrity, and enhance oxygen barrier properties. Multi-layer structural designs utilize gradient layering and multi-functional structures, which effectively alleviate thermal stress within the coating, suppress crack propagation, and facilitate synergistic enhancing effects among different layers. Finally, the challenges and opportunities in development of carbide UHTC anti-ablation coatings are prospected.

Inorganic non-metallic biomaterial is one of main types of biomaterials, which is widely used in biomedical fields such as tissue repair, tumor therapy, and drug delivery., making an important contribution to national life and health. Research on inorganic non-metallic biomaterials in China is flourishing, but their production and application are still in the stage of overcoming difficulties. To realize the high-quality development of China's inorganic non-metallic biomaterials and improve their hard power to protect national life and health, this paper analyzes hotspots and difficult problems in research and application of China's inorganic non-metallic biomaterials by means of strategic study. Based on current development opportunities and challenges, some suggestions are proposed for the development of inorganic non-metallic biomaterials, such as material design for unique performance, research on materiobiology, exploration of new principles and mechanisms mediated by materials, customization by intelligent personalization, design through big data screening and artificial intelligence, and standardization based evaluation/regulation. This aims to provide guidance for development of inorganic non-metallic biomedical products and push forward scientific research while accumulating talent resources.

SiC ceramics exhibit high strength and thermal stability, rendering them highly suitable for applications in space and thermal components. However, the growing demand for large-sized and complex-shaped SiC ceramics necessitates advanced manufacturing techniques. In comparison to traditional reduction and equal material manufacturing methods, 3D printing technology offers significant advantages in various aspects, such as manufacturing cycle, effective cost, and reliability. There are many 3D printing methods, each with distinct characteristics. Stereolithography (SLA) is capable of achieving high precision and superior surface quality. However, its practical applications often necessitate special design of support structures. Additionally, issues such as residual stress and low solid content significantly hinder its further development. Selective laser sintering (SLS) exhibits strong material compatibility, which is suitable for a wide range of materials, including polymers, metals and ceramics. This technology enables large-scale rapid prototyping at low manufacturing costs. But its surface quality of the formed billet is typically insufficient, which needs additional post-processing. Fused deposition modeling (FDM) though facilitates the preparation of SiC ceramics via reaction sintering, proves unsuitable for constructing large components which restricts its applicability in actual production contexts, due to its inadequate interlayer bonding strength coupled with pronounced surface striations and slower forming speeds. This paper reviews the latest research progresses of 3D-printed SiC ceramics and analyzes the subsequent high-temperature densification treatments of green bodies, along with their fundamental physical properties. Finally, it proposes some prospects of 3D printing of SiC ceramic materials, and strengthens integration of new 3D printing technologies and various printing methods for fine regulation of ceramics’ macro- and micro-structures.

Hydrogen generation from electrolyzed water has received extensive attention in the scientific community due to its green and environmentally friendly properties, as well as the high purity of hydrogen produced. However, the slow oxygen evolution reaction (OER) during electrocatalytic water splitting has significantly hampered the development of hydrogen production, posing numerous challenges in its practical application. In this study, a novel three-dimensional (3D) core-shell heterostructure catalyst with crystalline NiMoO₄ nanorods as “core” and amorphous CoFe-LDH nanosheets as “shell” was successfully fabricated on a conductive nickel foam (NF) substrate by using a combination of hydrothermal and electrodeposition strategy. This special 3D core-shell structure fully stimulates the electrocatalytic potential of NiMoO₄ and CoFe-LDH, which greatly enhances the efficiency of the overall water-splitting. Through the synergistic interaction of NiMoO₄ and amorphous CoFe-LDH, the NiMoO₄@CoFe-LDH/NF nanocatalysts generates more active sites and exhibits highly efficient electron transfer ability and excellent OER electrocatalytic activity. Electrochemical tests show that NiMoO₄@CoFe-LDH/NF exhibits the most excellent electrochemical performance when the electrodeposition time is 60 s. The overpotentials η₁₀ and η₁₀₀ at 10 and 100 mA·cm⁻² are only 168 and 216 mV, respectively, which shows a very small Tafel slope and excellent long-term stability. Meanwhile, the overall water-splitting system of NiMoO₄@CoFe-LDH||NiMoO₄ exhibits a low driving voltage, which can produce a current density of 10 mA·cm⁻² at 1.57 V. In conclusion, this work provides new ideas for design and development of efficient catalytic materials for electrolyzed water.

Mechanoluminescent (ML) materials, due to their unique mechanical-to-optical energy conversion, hold significant promise in stress sensing and are poised to become the next generation of visual strain-sensing materials. Currently, expanding ML material systems and enhancing their performance remain focal points of research. In this study, a series of Tb³⁺-doped green ML phosphors was synthesized using BaSrGa₄O₈ matrix (hexagonal crystal system, space group P6₃, with a non-centrosymmetric structure) via high-temperature solid-state synthesis. These materials emitted bright green light under various mechanical excitations (tension, compression, and torsion). Clear note mappings were observed by writing B, S, G, O, T, and b on the prepared ML elastomer with a glass rod. By analyzing the colormap, the stress conditions during the writing process could be traced. This is the first observation of ML phenomenon in the above-mentioned matrix doping system. Under 254 nm ultraviolet (UV) excitation, BaSr_1-xGa₄O₈: xTb³⁺ phosphors exhibited bright green emission at 543 nm, which was attributed to ⁵D₄-⁷F₅ transition of Tb³⁺, and shared the same luminescent center as ML. The samples continued to display strong long persistent luminescence after UV irradiation was removed. By combining ML, photoluminescence (PL), and long persistent luminescence (LPL) with thermoluminescence (TL) analysis, further insights into their intrinsic connections were elucidated. In conclusion, this study broadens the range of high-performance ML material systems, showcasing potential applications in visual strain sensing, information security, and anti-counterfeiting.

With the rising of the gas inlet temperature in front of the turbine of aero-engine, ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) have emerged as the preferred matrix material for the new generation of high-temperature components in aero-engine due to their light weight, high strength, oxidation resistance, insensitivity to crack, and excellent temperature durability. However, because of their limited resistance to high temperature water vapor and oxygen erosion, development of thermal spray coating technology for hot-end components of CMCs engines has become an urgent challenge to be overcome. In this paper, based upon changes of material selection strategies and application examples of foreign aero-engines, technical limitations of the employed superalloys + film cooling + thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) for hot-end components of aero-engines were analyzed, and technical advantages of the utilized CMCs + appropriate film cooling + environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) were consolidated. Thermal and environmental barrier coatings (TEBCs) and environmental barrier coatings-abradable sealing coatings (EBCs-ASCs) for CMCs were reviewed on the basis of recent research findings from domestic and oversea scholars. Finally, opportunities and challenges associated with thermal spraying EBCs for higher temperature gas flow were analyzed, and the direction of design and preparation on a certain composition and structure for TEBCs was clarified, among which the focal points of future research endeavors were prospected.

Silicon sludge, the photovoltaic cutting silicon waste, has become one of the expected raw materials for the key silicon carbon anode materials used in high energy density batteries above 300 Wh·kg^-1 due to its low cost, two-dimensional lamellar structure and ultrahigh specific capacity (4200 mAh·g^-1). However, silicon sludge requires systematic modification because of its challenges such as complex composition, large particle size, poor electrical conductivity, low stability and poor electrochemical performance. This paper systematically reviews the application status and research progress of silicon sludge in lithium-ion batteries. Firstly, the important effects of metal and non-metal impurities on battery performance are summarized, in which metal impurities are normally removed by magnetic separation and acid pickling, and non-metallic impurities are removed by liquid-liquid extraction and heat treatment. Secondly, detailed elucidation about the initial performance and modification methods of the silicon sludge is provided. Concretely, silicon sludge can be nano-sized to reduce expansion by grinding, etching, electrothermal shock, and alloy dealloying, enhance electrical conductivity through doping the intrinsic silicon and doping the carbon layer on the silicon surface, improve stability through the construction of inert layer, conductive layer and functional group, and obtain mechanical support and protection through silicon-carbon composite. Finally, the challenges, development directions and future prospects of silicon-based anode based on silicon sludge are put forward, aiming to provide a reference for converting silicon sludge into treasure and promote the rapid development of high energy density lithium-ion batteries.

Violet light excited white light emitting diodes (LEDs) have attracted widespread attention due to their advantages of tunable color temperature and visual comfort. However, high-performance phosphors suitable for violet light excitation (400-420 nm) have not yet been widely applied on a large scale. One of the key factors regarding the commercial utilizations is the stability. Unfortunately, there still lacks research on this issue. In this study, three rare-earth phosphors suitable for violet light excitation in LEDs were synthesized via a solid-state reaction method, namely K₂CaPO₄F:Eu²⁺, K_1.3Al₁₁O_17+δ:Eu²⁺ and Ca₂YHf₂Al₃O₁₂:Ce³⁺,Tb³⁺. The stability experiments were then conducted under conditions of high temperature and humidity, water immersion, and long-term violet light irradiation from LED chips. The luminescent properties, failure mechanisms, and environmental stability were analyzed. Finally, a white LED device was prepared by combining the as-synthesized three phosphors onto a 400 nm violet light chip. Results demonstrate that the as-synthesized phosphors exhibit not only optimized luminescence performance compared to phosphors prepared in former works, but also a more comprehensive evaluation of environmental stability across different conditions. The white LED device achieves a color rendering index of 93.6, a correlated color temperature of 5151 K and a color coordinate of (0.34, 0.36), showcasing excellent white light illumination performance. Furthermore, the environmental stability of the white LED device is improved compared to individual phosphors. By taking lead in investigating the environmental stability of violet light excited LED phosphors, this work provides valuable insights and guidance for advancing their applications.

Compared with traditional lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries are an ideal alternative due to their cost advantages and sustainable resource supply. At present, the cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries mainly include transition metal oxides, polyanionic compounds and Prussian blue analogues. However, irreversible phase conversion, Jahn-Teller effect and interface instability of cathode materials seriously affect the cycling stability of sodium-ion batteries. In this paper, the research progress and industrialization process of strategies for improving cyclic stability of cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries are systematically introduced. Firstly, the structure as well as advantages and disadvantages of cathode materials is analyzed in detail, and the structural stability, cost and cycling performance are compared. Secondly, the latest research progress of structure optimization and chemical element doping strategies in improving the cycling stability of cathode materials is elaborated in detail, and the interaction between structural stability, electronic conductivity, ion intercalation/deintercalation of cathode materials and electrochemical performance is revealed. Then, the development process and industrialization progress of sodium-ion batteries are summarized. Finally, the significant problems that still need to be addressed for cathode materials and systems for sodium-ion batteries are sorted out and their future developments are prospected, aiming to propel the steady and healthy development of sodium-ion battery industry.

High-entropy carbide (HEC) ceramics are distinguished by their high hardness, oxidation resistance, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and high thermal conductivity, positioning them as promising candidates for application in extreme environments. However, inherent brittleness of these high-entropy ceramics limits their further application. In order to enhance the toughness of HEC ceramics, polycarbosilane (PCS), a precursor of silicon carbide (SiC), was added into the precursor of (Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, W)C high-entropy ceramic. The in-situ formed SiC (SiC_i) by pyrolysis of PCS can serve as reinforcement for HEC ceramics. The results demonstrate that the volume fraction of SiC in the ceramics obtained from the pyrolysis of PCS is 23.38%. The SiC phases, with an average grain size of 1.19 μm, are evenly distributed in the high-entropy ceramic matrix. The pyrolysis process of ceramic precursors was investigated, revealing that the pyrolysis products of PCS exit as amorphous O_x-Si-C_y at low pyrolysis temperature, while a crystalline SiC phase emerges when the pyrolysis temperature exceeds 1500 ℃. Bulk (Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, W)C-SiC_i ceramic was prepared by hot-pressing of precursor-derived ceramic powders obtained through pyrolysis at 1600 ℃. Mechanical properties of (Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, W)C-SiC_i ceramic bulk were investigated, and composite ceramic bulks toughened by commercial silicon carbide nanopowders or silicon carbide whiskers were also prepared for comparison. Compared with (Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, W)C ceramic, all composite ceramic bulks exhibit enhanced flexural strength and toughness. Notably, the in-situ generated SiC_i via precursor-derived method shows the most significant toughening effect. Flexural strength and fracture toughness of (Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, W)C-SiC_i ceramic are (698±9) MPa and (7.9±0.6) MPa·m^1/2, respectively, representing improvements of 17.71% and 41.07% compared to that of (Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, W)C ceramic bulk. Taking all above data into comprehensive account, the improvement is mainly due to the small grain size and uniform distribution of SiC in the composite ceramics prepared via precursor-derived method, which enhance energy consumption and hinder crack propagation under external stress.

In the process of electrolyzing water to produce hydrogen, the sluggish electrocatalytic kinetics of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) limit the energy conversion efficiency. High-entropy materials have been considered as potential catalysts due to their unique structural features and excellent performance, which could potentially replace traditional metal oxides and precious metals for energy conversion and water electrolysis. Due to the incompatibility between different metals and non-metals, there have been few reports on the synthesis of high-entropy compounds, especially high-entropy metal phosphides. In this study, a series of carbon-based high-entropy alloy phosphide nanoparticles were synthesized using citric acid as complexing agent and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate as phosphorus source via a low-temperature Sol-Gel method with different elemental metals. In 1 mol·L^-1 KOH solution, FeCoNiMoCeP/C exhibited good water electrolysis performance at a current density of 10 mA·cm^-2, with overpotentials of 119 and 240 mV for the HER and OER, respectively. Similarly, in overall water splitting studies, FeCoNiMoCeP/C also showed excellent catalytic activity. When operating at a current density of 10 mA·cm^-2, FeCoNiMoCeP/C required only 1.53 V as the combined anode and cathode voltage for electrolyzing water. This is due to the synergistic effects among the atoms of high-entropy phosphide catalysts which provide more reaction sites to increase reaction activity and selectivity. This study is expected to expand the potential applications of high-entropy alloys in the field of electrocatalysis.

Ag₂Se-based thermoelectric films and devices have become a popular research topic in the field of wearable thermoelectric energy conversion due to their narrow bandgap semiconductor properties, which exhibit good thermoelectric properties at room temperature. These films are typically constructed by stacking nanoparticles, and the dimensions of nanomaterials significantly impact the thermoelectric transport properties of the network. In this study, Ag₂Se nanomaterials with different dimensions were prepared by solvothermal and template methods, and flexible Ag₂Se thermoelectric films were constructed on polyimide substrates using Ag₂Se nanomaterials with different dimensions by spraying process combined with high-temperature post processing. The effects of the dimensionality of Ag₂Se nanomaterials on the microstructures and thermoelectric properties of the films were then systematically investigated. Zero dimensional Ag₂Se nanoparticles exhibited superior conductive networks and thermoelectric properties in comparison to one dimensional nanowire structures. Furthermore, the room temperature power factor of the films reached 199.6 μW·m^-1·K^-2, and the power factor was 257.9 μW·m^-1·K^-2 at the temperature of 375 K, which indicated the good thermoelectric properties of the films. Additionally a device was designed and integrated based on the Ag₂Se films, with four thermoelectric arms and excellent performance. The device exhibited good mechanical flexibility and output performance with internal resistance increased by only 8.2% after 1000 bending cycles (bending radius: 20 mm), and the device displayed an open-circuit voltage of 9.1 mV and a max output power of 43.7 nW at a temperature difference of 30 K. This study presents a novel approach for the preparation of flexible Ag₂Se-based thermoelectric thin-film materials and devices.

β-FeSi₂, an environmentally friendly and high temperature oxidation-resistant thermoelectric material, has potential applications in the field of industrial waste heat recovery. Previous studies have shown that phosphorus (P), an ideal n-type dopant in the silicon (Si) site of β-FeSi₂, can easily lead to the formation of a secondary phase, thereby limiting the enhancement of thermoelectric performance. In this study, a series of FeSi_2-xP_x (x=0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06) samples were synthesized using an induction melting method, which greatly inhibited the formation of the secondary phase. Then, the influence of P doping on the electrical and thermal transport properties of β-FeSi₂ was studied. The results indicate that the solubility limit of P in β-FeSi₂ is about 0.04, consistent with earlier theoretical predictions based on the defect formation energy. It is also discovered that P doping enhanced the thermoelectric performance of β-FeSi₂, culminating in an optimal figure of merit (ZT) of FeSi_1.96P_0.04 approximately 0.12 at 850 K, which is much higher than the previous results (ZT about 0.03 at 673 K). However, compared to β-FeSi₂ doped with other n-type elements like cobalt (Co) and iridium (Ir), which can achieve carrier concentrations up to 10²² cm^-3, P-doped β-FeSi₂ exhibits lower carrier concentrations, with the highest of only 10²⁰ cm^-3. This results in a weaker electron-phonon scattering effect, which in turn constrains the overall enhancement of the thermoelectric performance. If the carrier concentration could be further increased, the thermoelectric performance of the material is expected to evolve significantly.

Inorganic nanoparticles have demonstrated significant applications in biomedicine field, whose biomedical functions and physicochemical properties are greatly influenced by their size and morphology. However, it still remains challenging to achieve high batch-to-batch reproducibility in the synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles with traditional batch synthesis methods. Meanwhile, microfluidic technology offers an advanced strategy that provides high controllability and repeatability for the synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles. Additionally, it facilitates rapid mass and heat transfer, while offering the advantages of small reaction volumes and low energy consumption, rendering it an ideal approach for the synthesis of inorganic nano-biomaterials. This article reviews the research and application progress of microfluidic technology in preparation of inorganic nano-biomaterials. Firstly, flow regimes and principles of mixing in the microfluidic devices are introduced. Subsequently, structural features and fluid mixing efficiency of five widely studied and applied microfluidic devices are presented. Importantly, applications of these microfluidic devices in synthesis and surface modification of inorganic nanoparticles are comprehensively summarized. Finally, this article briefly outlines challenges and potential opportunities for future developments in microfluidic-based synthesis and application of inorganic nano-biomaterials.

Development of novel artificial synaptic devices, which make up the majority of neural networks, has emerged as a pivotal path to hardware realization of neuromorphic computing. An electrochemical ion synapse, also known as a three-terminal synaptic device based on electrochemical transistors, is a device that may efficiently use ions in the electrolyte layer to modify channel conductivity. By electrochemical doping and recovering ions in channel materials exhibiting redox activity, this device mimics biological synaptic properties. The advantages of the electrochemical ion synapse, which uses proton (H⁺) as the doping particle, are lower energy consumption, faster operation, and a longer cycle life among the ions that alter the channel material's conductance. This article reviews the recent research progress on proton-regulated electrochemical ion synapses, summarizes the material systems used for the channel layer and electrolyte layer of proton-regulated electrochemical ion synapses, analyzes the challenges faced by proton-regulated electrochemical ion synapses, and points out directions on their future development.

Calcium bismuth niobate (CaBi₂Nb₂O₉) is a typical bismuth layered structure piezoelectric material with high Curie temperature (about 943 ℃) and high stability, which is an important candidate functional element for high temperature vibration sensors above 600 ℃. However, its low piezoelectric coefficient and high temperature resistivity seriously limit the signal acquisition of high-temperature piezoelectric vibration sensor. To improve the comprehensive performance, in this work, W/Cr co-doped CaBi₂Nb_1.975W_0.025O₉-x%Cr₂O₃ (CBNW-xCr, 0<x≤0.2) Aurivillius phase ceramics were prepared via conventional solid-state sintering route. The effects of W/Cr co-doping on the crystal structure and electrical properties of CBN piezoelectric ceramics were investigated. The results show that co-doping of W/Cr elements transforms crystal structure of the ceramics from orthorhombic to tetragonal crystal system, enhances distortion of the crystal structure, and significantly improves piezoelectric and insulating properties of the piezoelectric ceramics. When x=0.1, the Curie temperature is 931 ℃, the piezoelectric coefficient is 15.6 pC/N, the resistivity reaches the order of 10⁶ Ω∙cm at 600 ℃, and the dielectric loss is only 0.029, which endows the system an important potential application in the field of high-temperature piezoelectricity.

The all-inorganic CsPbX₃ (X=Cl, Br, I) perovskite nanocrystals have been widely applied in optoelectronic devices due to their excellent optoelectronic properties. However, their poor stability remains one of the main factors restricting their commercial development. This research focuses on improving the stability and solid-state luminescence performance of CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals. The porous MIL-53 (Al) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with outstanding hydrophobic properties was chosen as the encapsulation matrix. CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals were grown in situ within the MIL-53 (Al) channels by using a thermal injection process to successfully synthesize CsPbBr₃@MIL-53 nanocomposite phosphors with outstanding solid-state luminescence performance and high stability. MIL-53 chelates with CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals through benzene rings and organic ligands, firmly anchoring nanocrystals in the pores. This not only protects the CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals from external environmental influences but also effectively prevents aggregation between nanocrystals, thereby avoiding quenching of solid-state fluorescence. Additionally, the COO^- functional groups in MIL-53 bind with the unpaired Pb²⁺ on the surface of CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals, passivating the surface defects and suppressing non-radiative carrier recombination. Furthermore, the contained benzene rings and organic long chains endow the nanocomposite phosphors with excellent hydrophobic properties. The synergistic effect of these factors significantly enhances the optical performance and water stability of CsPbBr₃@MIL-53 nanocomposite phosphors. As a result, photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of CsPbBr₃@MIL-53 nanocomposite phosphors reaches 75.4%, which is 2.3 times of that of solid-state CsPbBr₃ nanocrystal powders (33.2%). Even after being completely immersed in water for 10 h, its fluorescence intensity can still maintain 75.6% of the initial value. Finally, the green-emitting CsPbBr₃@MIL-53 nanocomposite phosphors were applied to white LED devices, achieving a wide-color-gamut coverage area of 126% NTSC and 85% Rec. 2020, which demonstrates its application prospects in wide-color-gamut display devices.

Material property differences among components of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) lead to excessive stresses during cell fabrication and operation, among which functional gradient material electrodes have attracted attention for their ability to reduce residual and thermal stresses in SOFC. But so far, there is rare study on SOFC with functional gradient anode using numerical simulation of thermal stress. In this study, a multi-physics field coupling model of SOFC with complete structure was established by COMSOL Multiphysics 6.0. Based on multi-physics field coupling model and numerical simulation of the residual stresses and thermal stresses in SOFC, four different distribution curves were employed to characterize the component distribution of anode materials. The results show that the tensile stress of anode can be significantly reduced by using functional gradient material during fabrication at different temperatures, especially at room temperature. Compared with non-gradient distribution, the maximum tensile stress of the anode is reduced by 47.69% before reduction and 35.74% after reduction by using quadratic curve distribution. During the operation process, the heat generated by the electrochemical reaction and the convective heat transfer of gas leads to the temperature difference between inlet and outlet, resulting in significant stress concentration at inlet and outlet of the metal frame as well as at contact surface between rib and electrode. Functional gradient materials can significantly reduce the maximum stress on the anode, metal frame and electrolyte, which is particularly obvious when using quadratic curve distribution. Therefore, this research has potential theoretical significance and engineering value for designing and fabricating SOFCs.

Piezoelectric multilayer actuators feature large displacement generation at a relatively low driving voltage and are widely used in various fields. As the most commonly used material in multilayer actuators, soft lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics have higher dielectric constant and loss, which often lead to higher power consumption and heat generation that in turn affect fatigue characteristics and stability of piezoelectric multilayer actuators. In this work, Mn-doped (in mole fraction) Pb(Sb_1/2Nb_1/2)_0.02Zr_0.51Ti_0.47O₃-0.6%MnCO₃ (PSN-PZT) hard ceramic was selected as base material in order to prepare piezoelectric ceramics that have low heat generation and are suitable for the application of piezoelectric multilayer actuator. Certain amount of Li₂CO₃ was doped as sintering aid for lowering sintering temperature of ceramics, and above-Curie-temperature polarization was utilized to enhance electric properties of ceramics. Eventually, multilayer actuator composed of this material was fabricated via tape-casting process and compared with Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)_0.25(Ti_0.48Zr_0.52)_0.75O₃ (PMN-PZT) actuator prepared with the same parameters. The results indicated that the sintering temperature of PSN-PZT ceramic was decreased to 1050 ℃ due to Li₂CO₃ sintering aid, which introduced liquid sintering during the sintering process. PSN-PZT ceramics poled above the Curie temperature obtained optimal electric performance with 0.1% (in mass) Li₂CO₃ doping, and the piezoelectric coefficient (d₃₃) and unipolar strain at 2 kV/mm reached 388 pC/N and 0.13%, respectively. The results of temperature rise and strain degradation of both multilayer actuators indicated that the temperature rise of hard PSN-PZT actuator was about 20 ℃ lower than that of PMN-PZT actuator under 200 Hz and the strain decreased by 6% after 5×10⁶ cycles. It indicates that PSN-PZT ceramics with Li₂CO₃ doping for lowering sintering temperature have some advantages in heat generation and fatigue characteristic while having descent piezoelectric properties, which endows it an important potential application in high-power, high-frequency and other demanding working conditions.

Compared with antibiotics and other drugs with poor functionalities and risk to induce bacterial resistance, inorganic functional nanomaterials with catalytic activity occupy an increasingly important position in the treatment of pathogenic infections by advantages of high response to the infected microenvironment (e.g. weak acid, high H₂O₂ concentration) or external physical stimuli (e.g. laser, ultrasound) and broad-spectrum sterilization. However, the acidic infection microenvironment is weak and unstable, and light or sound signals with high power density will cause damage to human cells. In addition, antimicrobial applications of alternative magnetic field (AMF), a non-invasive signal type with high tissue penetration, convenience to be remotely controlled, and effective magnetoelectric catalysis based on AMF have not been reported. In this study, an AMF-responsive nanocatalytic strategy based on the magnetostrictive-piezoelectric catalytic effect was applied to antibacterial research, and the surface of CoFe₂O₄-BiFeO₃ magnetoelectric nanoparticles (BCFO) was modified with the nitrogen-containing group L-arginine (LA) to achieve a magneto-electric responsive controlled release of powerful bactericide reactive nitrogen species (RNS). In AMF, BCFO simultaneously generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) hydroxyl radical (·OH) and superoxide anion (·O₂^-). The former reacts with LA to release nitric oxide (NO), and the latter combines with NO to produce peroxynitrite (ONOO^-), a typical RNS. As a highly active nitrification and oxidation agent, ONOO^- could exhibit stronger antibacterial activity than ROS under biofriendly AMF. Successful production of ONOO^- and achievement of stronger bactericidal efficiency were validated in this study. This work not only applies magnetoelectric nanocatalysis for antibacterial purposes, but also significantly improves the antibacterial ability through the conversion of ROS to RNS.

Metal phosphides have been studied as prospective anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their higher specific capacity compared to other anode materials. However, rapid capacity decay and limited cycle life caused by volume expansion and low electrical conductivity of phosphides in SIBs remain still unsolved. To address these issues, GeP₃ was first prepared by high-energy ball milling, and then Ketjen black (KB) was introduced to synthesize composite GeP₃/KB anode materials under controlled milling speed and time by a secondary ball milling process. During the ball milling process, GeP₃ and KB form strong chemical bonds, resulting in a closely bonded composite. Consequently, the GeP₃/KB anodes was demonstrated excellent sodium storage performance, achieving a high reversible capacity of 933.41 mAh·g^-1 at a current density of 0.05 A·g^-1 for a special formula of GeP₃/KB-600-40 sample prepared at ball milling speed of 600 r/min for 40 h. Even at a high current density of 2 A·g^-1 over 200 cycles, the capacity remains 314.52 mAh·g^-1 with a retention rate of 66.6%. In conclusion, this work successfully prepares GeP₃/KB anode-carbon composite for electrodes by high-energy ball milling, which can restrict electrode volume expansion, enhance capacity, and improve cycle stability of SIBs.

With the fierce competition of high-end chips, Y₂O₃ coating is an important component of plasma etching cavity, corresponding research gradually becomes a research hotspot. Y₂O₃ coating was prepared on aluminum alloy surface by suspension plasma spraying (SPS). The effects of different process parameters on the phase composition, mechanical properties, microstructure, and dielectric strength of the coating were studied. The effect of microscopic porosity of Y₂O₃ coating on etching rate was analyzed after etching in CF₄/Ar/O₂ mixture for 30, 60 and 120 min, respectively. The microhardness, the porosity, the bonding strength, and the dielectric strength of Y₂O₃ coating prepared by the optimal process 1 (spraying distance 80 mm, liquid feed rate 35 mL/min, atomizing gas flow rate 15 L/min, horizontal gun moving speed 700 mm/s, vertical moving step 1 mm/step) is (3.78±0.36) GPa, (2.35±0.24)%, (36.0±3.6) MPa, and (29.74±2.01) kV/mm, respectively. In the mixed plasma gas composed of CF₄/Ar/O₂, the Y₂O₃ coating undergoes physical and chemical reactions, while Ar⁺ strongly shocks and bombards the coating to break the chemical bond on the surface. CF₂* and F* make Y₂O₃ continuously etched to form YF₃ attaching to the coating surface. At the same time, the physical impact of Ar⁺ constantly acts on the surface of the coating, removing the YF₃ layer, and a small amount of residual YF₃ on the surface of the coating is oxidized and finally forms YOF, resulting in a coating etching rate as low as (11.48±5.21) nm/min. Y₂O₃ coating with high density, low porosity and high uniformity can effectively improve the resistance of parts to plasma etching, which is of great significance in semiconductor industry.

With the rapid development of new aerospace vehicles, there are increasing demands for higher structural reliability and wideband microwave stealth requirements for the components operating under high-temperature condition. SiBCN based metastable ceramics exhibit good resistance to high temperature, thermal shock, ablation, long-term oxidation, and creep, showcasing great potential in the field of high-temperature structural microwave absorption. However, their ability to absorb electromagnetic waves is limited by low dielectric loss. In this study, the SiBCN-rGO ceramic fibers with good mechanical and microwave-absorbing properties were prepared using the wet spinning technology. Results showed that the as-prepared SiBCN-rGO ceramic fibers possessed porous structure, with porosity increasing with the increase of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) content. Additionally, both high rGO content and high fiber specific surface area promoted the crystallization of SiC within the amorphous matrix. The introduction of rGO significantly enhanced the tensile properties of the resulting ceramic fibers. As the mass fraction of rGO increased from 0 to 4%, the fibers’ elongation at break increased from 8.05% to 18.05%, and the tensile strength increased from 1.62 cN/dtex (0.324 GPa) to 2.32 cN/dtex (0.464 GPa). The increase of rGO content also reduced the electrical resistivity of the ceramic fibers. Moreover, as the rGO mass fraction increased from 0 to 4%, both the real and imaginary parts of the fibers’ dielectric constant decreased, while the loss tangent gradually increased. The SiBCN-rGO ceramic fibers with those containing 6% (mass fraction) rGO exhibited excellent wave-absorption performance, showing the minimum reflection coefficient of -50.90 dB at 9.20 GHz and an effective absorption bandwidth of 2.3 GHz, indicating promising applications in wave-absorbing ceramic matrix composites.

The fabrication of large-area, high-efficiency perovskite solar cell module (PSM) represents a pivotal stage in the industrialization of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Leveraging volatile solvents within perovskite precursors is a streamlined approach which offers distinct advantages in the industrialization trajectory of PSCs, but often exhibits accelerated crystallization kinetics, diminutive grain dimensions and elevated defect densities within the films, consequently compromising device efficiency and stability. This study devised a volatile solvent system comprising methylamine/acetonitrile (MA/ACN) for the production of MAPbI₃ perovskite solar cells/module. Incorporation of an optimal quantity of PbCl₂ into the perovskite precursor solution served to retard crystallization kinetics and passivate grain boundary imperfections. Notably, small-area device fabricated via this methodology demonstrated a peak photovoltaic conversion efficiency (PCE) of 21.21%, alongside enhanced operational stability. Furthermore, PSM engineered through this approach achieved a PCE of 18.89%. This study presents a novel paradigm for advancing the large-scale industrial manufacturing of PSCs.

Silicon-carbide-fiber-reinforced silicon-carbide-ceramic-based matrix (SiC/SiC) composites possess excellent properties such as low density, high strength and high temperature resistance, showing a potential application for structural components in the aerospace field, but their oxidation behavior remains largely unknown. In this study, Yb₂Si₂O₇ modified SiC/SiC (SiC/SiC-Yb₂Si₂O₇) mini-composites were prepared by introducing Yb₂Si₂O₇ as anti-oxidation phase into SiC fiber bundles via Sol-Gel and depositing SiC matrix by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Influence of Yb₂Si₂O₇ on microstructure, mechanical property and oxidation behavior of SiC/SiC mini-composites was investigated. The results showed that after oxidation in air at 1200 and 1400 ℃ for 50 h, the tensile strength retentions of SiC/SiC mini-composites were 77% and 69%, respectively, and the fracture morphology exhibited flat. The Yb₂Si₂O₇ introduced by Sol-Gel partially distributed in layers, contributing to the toughening of the material. On the fracture surface, there was interlayer debonding, which extended energy dissipation mechanism of SiC/SiC mini-composites. Tensile strength of SiC/SiC-Yb₂Si₂O₇ mini-composites at room temperature was 484 MPa. After oxidation in air at 1200 and 1400 ℃ for 50 h, the tensile strengths decreased to 425 and 374 MPa, resulting in retention rates of 88% and 77%, respectively. It displayed typical non-brittle fracture characteristics. The interface oxygen content of SiC/SiC mini-composites at the fracture surface was higher than that of SiC/SiC-Yb₂Si₂O₇ mini-composites, indicating that introduction of Yb₂Si₂O₇ could alleviate oxygen diffusion towards the interface, and therefore improve the oxidation resistance of SiC/SiC-Yb₂Si₂O₇ mini-composites.

Currently, the carbothermal reduction-nitridation (CRN) process is the predominant method for preparing aluminum nitride (AlN) powder. Although AlN powder prepared by CRN process exhibits high purity and excellent sintering activity, it also presents challenges such as the necessity for high reaction temperatures and difficulties in achieving uniform mixing of its raw materials. This study presents a comprehensive investigation into preparation process of AlN nanopowders using a combination of hydrothermal synthesis and CRN. In the hydrothermal reaction, a homogeneous composite precursor consisting of carbon and boehmite (γ-AlOOH) is synthesized at 200 ℃ using aluminum nitrate as the aluminum source, sucrose as the carbon source, and urea as the precipitant. During the hydrothermal process, the precursor develops a core-shell structure, with boehmite tightly coated with carbon (γ-AlOOH@C) due to electrostatic attraction. Compared with conventional precursor, the hydrothermal hybrid offers many advantages, such as ultrafine particles, uniform particle size distribution, good dispersion, high reactivity, and environmental friendliness. The carbon shell enhances thermodynamic stability of γ-Al₂O₃ compared to the corundum phase (α-Al₂O₃) by preventing the loss of the surface area in alumina. This stability enables γ-Al₂O₃ to maintain high reactivity during CRN process, which initiates at 1300 ℃, and concludes at 1400 ℃. The underlying mechanisms are substantiated through experiments and thermodynamic calculations. This research provides a robust theoretical and experimental foundation for the hydrothermal combined carbothermal preparation of non-oxide ceramic nanopowders.

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) ceramics have become exceptional materials for heat-resistant components in hypersonic vehicles, owing to their superior thermal stability and excellent dielectric properties. However, their densification during sintering still poses challenges for researchers, and their mechanical properties are rather unsatisfactory. In this study, SrAl₂Si₂O₈ (SAS), with low melting point and high strength, was introduced into the h-BN ceramics to facilitate the sintering and reinforce the strength and toughness. Then, BN-SAS ceramic composites were fabricated via hot press sintering using h-BN, SrCO₃, Al₂O₃, and SiO₂ as raw materials, and effects of sintering pressure on their microstructure, mechanical property, and thermal property were investigated. The thermal shock resistance of BN-SAS ceramic composites was evaluated. Results show that phases of as-preparedBN-SAS ceramic composites are h-BN and h-SrAl₂Si₂O₈. With the increase of sintering pressure, the composites’ densities increase, and the mechanical properties shew a rising trend followed by a slight decline. At a sintering pressure of 20 MPa, their bending strength and fracture toughness are (138±4) MPa and (1.84±0.05) MPa·m^1/2, respectively. Composites sintered at 10 MPa exhibit a low coefficient of thermal expansion, with an average of 2.96×10^-6 K^-1 in the temperature range from 200 to 1200 ℃. The BN-SAS ceramic composites prepared at 20 MPa display higher thermal conductivity from 12.42 to 28.42 W·m^-1·K^-1 within the temperature range from room temperature to 1000 ℃. Notably, BN-SAS composites exhibit remarkable thermal shock resistance, with residual bending strength peaking and subsequently declining sharply under a thermal shock temperature difference ranging from 600 to 1400 ℃. The maximum residual bending strength is recorded at a temperature difference of 800 ℃, with a residual strength retention rate of 101%. As the thermal shock temperature difference increase, the degree of oxidation on the ceramic surface and cracks due to thermal stress are also increased gradually.

With upgrading of communication technology and driving of 5G communication applications, the explosive number of filters required by various smart devices promoted prosperity of the filter market. However, the demanded performance also becomes increasingly stringent, including broad bandwidth, high frequency, high power capacity, miniaturization, integration, and low cost, in both academia and industry. To meet these strict requirements, the thin film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) filters have emerged as one of the most promising types of filters with commercial success. But currently they are still facing difficulties such as insufficient performance, complex fabrication process, relatively higher cost, and technological constraints. This paper reviews the relevant issues and key technologies in FBAR filters in three aspects: theoretical research on devices and structural optimization, preparation and optimization of high-performance piezoelectric materials, and development of novel processes and technological integration. The purpose of this paper is to delineate the trajectory of technological advancements and iterations in FBAR filters for scholars in the research field, with the expectation of providing several considerations for future research directions and pathways.

Taking inspiration from the in-situ reduction technique employed for exsolved nano-metal as anodes in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), this study utilized Sr₂V_0.1Co_0.9MoO₆, which was synthesized in an ambient air environment, with perovskites of other phases to co-fire with the electrolyte under atmospheric conditions for direct fabrication of a single cell. By this way, the procedure of subjecting the cell to harsh preparative conditions in a reducing/inert atmosphere to prevent its anodic oxidation can be circumvented. After preparation of the anode precursor on the electrolyte sheet, we adopted a simple process of in-situ reduction at 750 ℃ for 4 h on the fuel side to achieve formation of a pure phase Sr₂V_0.1Co_0.9MoO₆ (R-SVCMO) as anode. The results demonstrate a significant reduction in the activation energy of R-SVCMO, accompanied by an increase in conductivity from 2.7 to 21.6 S•cm^-1. Moreover, when employing R-SVCMO as anode in a single cell with H₂ and wet CH₄ as fuel gases, the maximum power density (P_max) at 850 ℃ can reach up to 862 and 514 mW·cm^-2, respectively, showcasing exceptional catalytic performance. The anodes before and after reduction exhibit average thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of 1.15×10^-5 and 1.23×10^-5 K^-1, respectively, within the temperature range of 100-850 ℃, comparable to those observed in conventional SOFC electrolytes. Therefore, the reduction process does not induce any volumetric changes in the anode layer, significantly enhancing its structural stability. Meanwhile, degradation rate of only 0.13% is occurred. It is worth noting that this R-SVCMO synthesis method can result in remarkable long-term stability and high catalytic activity as an anode material. The obtained R-SVCMO can achieve a 60% catalytic efficiency for wet CH₄ and last for 1450 h. Based on this R-SVCMO, the single cell can maintain stability for 450 h at 0.7 V. In conclusion, this study demonstrates an effective way of employing an in-situ fuel reduction method to prepare a single cell with exceptional electrochemical performance and structural stability.

Application of high-power electronic equipment requires inductors with greater high-frequency performance and higher energy efficiency than ever, and thus it is urgent to develop new soft magnetic composites to meet these requirements. To reduce the eddy current loss of soft magnetic composites and obtain molded inductors with high working frequency, low loss and high power, high purity submicron FeNi particles were prepared by plasma torch, and effect of these particles on eddy current loss of soft magnetic composites was examined by simplified finite element model. Soft magnetic composites and molded inductors were prepared by mixing carbonyl iron powder and submicron FeNi particles with different mass fractions. The influence of submicron FeNi particles on the properties of soft magnetic composites and molded inductors is analyzed emphatically. With 30% of mass fraction of submicron FeNi particles, the imaginary part of permeability (μ") of the ring core decreases from 1.57 to 1.36 (reduced by 13.4%), compared with that of the soft magnetic composite made by only pure carbonyl iron powder. The quality factor Q of the molded inductors at 10 MHz increases from 13 to 20 (increased by 53.8%), while the self-resonance frequency increases by 12.7% and the saturation current increases from 2.148 A to 2.352 A. Submicron FeNi particles can effectively reduce eddy current loss and improve stability of the high frequency permeability of soft magnetic composites by increasing the internal resistance of materials and reducing the size of eddy current flow region. Therefore, this study demonstrates that compounding submicron FeNi particles is a promising method to obtain molded inductors with high frequency, low loss, and good comprehensive performance at low cost on a large scale.

The research of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) is of great significance for development of new energy and energy storage methods. As cathode material, P2-type layered oxide material Na_2/3Ni_1/3Mn_2/3O₂ has attracted wide attention due to its excellent capacity and high working voltage. However, it suffers from undesired P2-O2 phase transition, which leads to a drastic change in volume and rapid capacity decay. Here, a P2-Na_0.67Ni_0.18Cu_0.10Mg_0.05Mn_0.67O₂ (NCMM-10-05) cathode was synthesized through solid-state method with synergetic substitution of Cu and Mg. The results indicated that the incorporation of Cu and Mg suppressed irreversible P2-O2 phase transition when charging to high voltage and initialized OP4 phase formation, which improved reversible stability of structure. Thus the as-obtained material exhibited excellent electrochemical performance, which delivered an initial discharge capacity of 113 mAh·g^-1 in the voltage range of 2.00-4.35 V (vs. Na⁺/Na), a reversible capacity of 64.1 mAh·g^-1 at 8C (1C=100 mA·g^-1), and a capacity retention of 88.9% after 200 cycles at 1C. The effect of Cu and Mg synergetic substitution on the structure and electrochemical properties of P2-type layered oxides was explored, and the specific roles played by Cu and Mg in the structural evolution were further investigated by in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. This work provides a new insight into the rational design of highly stable cathode materials with rapid Na⁺ transport capability for SIBs.

As an essential candidate for environment-friendly luminescent quantum dots (QDs), CuInS-based QDs have attracted more attention in recent years. However, several drawbacks still hamper their industrial applications, such as lower photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), complex synthetic pathways, uncontrollable emission spectra, and insufficient photostability. In this study, CuInZnS@ZnS core/shell QDs was prepared via a one-pot/three-step synthetic scheme with accurate and tunable control of PL spectra. Then their ensemble spectroscopic properties during nucleation formation, alloying, and ZnS shell growth processes were systematically investigated. PL peaks of these QDs can be precisely manipulated from 530 to 850 nm by controlling the stoichiometric ratio of Cu/In, Zn²⁺ doping and ZnS shell growth. In particular, CuInZnS@ZnS QDs possess a significantly long emission lifetime (up to 750 ns), high PLQY (up to 85%), and excellent crystallinity. Their spectroscopic evolution is well validated by Cu-deficient related intragap emission model. By controlling the stoichiometric ratio of Cu/In, two distinct Cu-deficient related emission pathways are established based on the differing oxidation states of Cu defects. Therefore, this work provides deeper insights for fabricating high luminescent ternary or quaternary-alloyed QDs.

Platinum (Pt)-based noble metal catalysts (PGMs) are the most widely used commercial catalysts, but they have the problems of high cost, low reserves, and susceptibility to small-molecule toxicity. Transition metal oxides (TMOs) are regarded as potential substitutes for PGMs because of their stability in oxidizing environments and excellent catalytic performance. In this study, comprehensive investigation into the influence of elastic strains on the adsorption energies of carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) on TMOs was conducted. Based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations, these effects in both tetragonal structures (PtO₂, PdO₂) and hexagonal structures (ZnO, CdO), along with their respective transition metals were systematically explored. It was identified that the optimal adsorption sites on metal oxides pinpointed the top of oxygen or the top of metal atom, while face-centered cubic (FCC) and hexagonal close-packed (HCP) holes were preferred for the transition metals. Furthermore, under the influence of elastic strains, the results demonstrated significant disparities in the adsorption energies of H and O between oxides and transition metals. Despite these differences, the effect of elastic strains on the adsorption energies of C, H and O on TMOs mirrored those on transition metals: adsorption energies increased under compressive strains, indicating weaker adsorption, and decreased under tension strains, indicating stronger adsorption. This behavior was rationalized based on the d-band model for adsorption atop a metallic atom or the p-band model for adsorption atop an oxygen atom. Consequently, elastic strains present a promising avenue for tailoring the catalytic properties of TMOs.