Application Of Materials Research Articles

Excellent Thermoelectric Performance Realized in Copper Sulfide Magnetic Nanocomposites Via Modified Solid States Reaction.

Solid-state reactions, which are the basic reactions involved in the preparation, processing, and application of materials, are ubiquitous in material science and chemistry research. In the fields of metallurgy and geology, a significant number of complex chemical reactions occur during the smelting of ores. Inspired by the smelting of copper concentrate, this work applies modified metallurgical chemical reactions to the field of (thermoeletric) TE materials. By controlling the reaction temperature and composition, porous copper sulfide magnetic nanocomposites can be formed. Regulating the composition generates numerous precipitates and Cu-rich phases, and controlling the microstructure facilitates the formation of porous structures. The second phase and porous structure effectively decreased thermal conductivity. Furthermore, the introduction of ferromagnetic Fe3O4 particles plays a role in reducing carrier concentration and forming potential barrier scattering low energy carriers, which improves the Seebeck coefficient of the samples. Ultimately, the optimum figure of merit (ZT) of ≈1.3 at 773 K for the Cu1.8S + 2 wt.% Fe3O4 bulk sample and an average ZT of 0.57 over the entire operating temperature range. The modified solid states reaction between oxides and sulfides could be employed to optimize electrical and thermal transport properties for sulfide TE material, as well as sulfide batteries, sulfide photoelectric materials, and sulfide catalytic materials.

Molecular dynamics simulations of collision cascades in polycrystalline tungsten

Abstract Using molecular dynamics methods, simulations of collision cascades in polycrystalline tungsten (W) have been conducted in this study, including different primary-knock-on atom (PKA) directions, grain sizes, and PKA energies between 10 and 150 keV. The results indicate that a smaller grain size leads to more defects forming in grain boundary regions during cascade processes. The impact of high-energy PKA may cause a certain degree of distortion of the grain boundaries, which has a higher probability in systems with smaller grain sizes and becomes more pronounced as the PKA energy increases. The direction of PKA can affect the formation and diffusion pathways of defects. When the PKA direction is perpendicular to the grain boundary, defects preferentially form near the grain boundary regions; by contrast, defects are more inclined to form in the interior of the grains. These results are of great significance for comprehending the changes in the performance of polycrystalline W under the high-energy fusion environments and can provide theoretical guidance for further optimization and application of W-based plasma materials.

In situ formation of NaTi2(PO4)3 coating layers to enhance the high-temperature performance of NaNi1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3O2 cathode materials.

The insufficient structure and interfacial stability of O3-type layered oxide cathode materials hinder their practical application in sodium-ion batteries, particularly at high temperatures. In this study, a thin, island-like NaTi2(PO4)3 coating layer (∼15 nm) is constructed on the surface of NaNi1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3O2 through an in situ reaction involving nano-TiO2, Na2CO3 and NH4H2PO4. During the high-temperature calcination process, partial Ti-atom diffusion into the NaNi1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3O2 lattice results in the expansion of the interslab of the sodium layer and a reduction in lattice oxygen vacancies. Benefitting from the stable NaTi2(PO4)3-modified interface and enhanced structural stability, the NaNi1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3O2 coated with 2 wt% NaTi2(PO4)3 exhibits optimal cycle stability at high temperature. It retains 90.3% of its initial capacity after 100 cycles at 0.5C (1C = 130 mA g-1, 45 °C). This dual-modification strategy, obtained from a facile approach, has the potential to facilitate the practical application of O3-type layered oxide cathode materials.

Luminescent bio-sensors via co-assembly of hen egg white lysozyme with Eu3+/Tb3+-complexes.

Protein crystals have advantageous properties as framework materials, such as porosity and organized, high-density functional groups with the potential for guest specificity. Thus, protein crystal materials open up vast opportunities for fluorescent species doping and drug sensing. In this work, we explore this frontier by combining two lanthanide complexes with hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) and directly obtaining co deposited structures in one step using an anti-solvent method different from the previous two-step method. Cross-linking of the protein was achieved using glutaraldehyde, ensuring the stability of the assembly in diverse solvent environments. The use of glutaraldehyde achieved protein cross-linking, ensuring the stability of the components in various solvent environments, including no leakage of fluorescent substances in ultrapure water and anhydrous ethanol. Differential fluorescence quenching effects of amino acids on the two doped luminescent complexes were observed. Introduction of amino acids, varying in concentration and type, resulted in distinct fluorescence enhancement or quenching effects on the protein assembly loaded with the complexes, and the detection results are reflected through different fitting equations and parameters. By exploring the application of this hybrid material for amino acid detection, this work lays the groundwork for broader applications.

First-principles prediction of intrinsic ferrovalley properties in Janus rare-earth PrXY (X ≠ Y = Cl, Br, I) monolayers.

In this work, using first-principles calculations, we predict a promising class of two-dimensional ferromagnetic semiconductors, namely Janus PrXY (X ≠ Y = Cl, Br, I) monolayers. Through first-principles calculations, we found that PrXY monolayers have excellent dynamic and thermal stability, and their band structures, influenced by magnetic exchange and spin-orbital coupling, exhibit significant valley polarization. Between K and -K valleys, the Berry curvature values are opposite to each other, resulting in the anomalous valley Hall effect. In addition, applying moderate biaxial strain can further enhance their magnetic anisotropy energy and valley polarization. These findings do not only emphasize the importance of strain in regulating spin and valley characteristics, but also provide new possibilities for the application of ferromagnetic semiconducting materials in spintronic and valleytronic devices.

Nano-spherical tip-based smoothing with minimal damage for 2D van der Waals heterostructures.

Two-dimensional materials and their heterostructures have significant potential for future developments in materials science and optoelectronics due to their unique properties. However, their fabrication and transfer process often introduce impurities and contaminants that degrade their intrinsic qualities. To address this issue, current atomic force microscopy (AFM) probe contact mode methods provide a solution by allowing in situ cleaning and real-time observation of the nanoscale cleaning process. Nevertheless, existing pyramidal probes may scratch surfaces and damage heterostructures during force application. Therefore, we proposed a method based on the nano-spherical probe contact mode to clean residual and polymer contamination for minimum damage cleaning of MoS2/hBN substrates. Comparative experiments with pyramidal probes in 2DM morphology and photoluminescence (PL) have shown that nano-spherical probes are exceptionally effective in cleaning bubbles of various sizes, compared to uncleaned MoS2, where PL full width at half maximum (FWHM) averages 0.115 eV, nano-spherical probes reduce it by 30% to 0.08 eV. Pyramidal probes, however, only clean smaller bubbles and leave residuals in larger ones, resulting in less optimal PL mapping data with values in both the 0.09 eV and 0.0115 eV regions. We also collected the standard deviation of the FWHM data points for the uncleaned region and the regions cleaned by the pyramidal and nano-spherical probes, which were 0.02773, 0.01895, and 0.00531, respectively. Notably, the standard deviation of the FWHM in the nano-spherical probe-cleaned region is only 28% of that in the pyramidal probe-cleaned region. Then, increasing the applied force leads to damage in the crystal structure, resulting in potential inconsistencies across different areas, as evidenced by KPFM and SEM observations. In contrast, nano-spherical probes demonstrate a uniform potential in KPFM and consistently maintain a smooth surface morphology in SEM throughout the process. This approach highlights the potential of nano-spherical probes to advance minimum-damage cleaning techniques in 2D material research and applications.

Numerical Modal Analysis of Foams with Different Types and Configurations

Thanks to the perfect combination of mechanical properties like high strength and rigidity with functional properties like thermo-acoustic insulation and vibration damping, foam structures are becoming increasingly attractive in engineering applications. Most of the research done so far has been focused on the mechanical properties of foams. On the other hand, understanding the vibration behavior of foams is vital since most failures in engineering applications are associated with violent vibrations. In this research, it is focused on the vibration analysis of foams with different types and configurations. In the context of vibration, modal analysis is a highly preferred method for fully understanding the structural behavior of materials. The Finite Element Method is commonly employed for numerical modal analysis to reveal the vibration characteristics of structures, including natural frequencies and corresponding mode shapes. With this objective, the natural frequencies and mode shapes of these foams were defined under both clamped-free and free-free boundary conditions. Subsequently, the effects of material application and boundary conditions were examined. The findings and results obtained can provide valuable insights to researchers and engineers for design applications.

Recent Progress in Chemical Vapor Deposition of 2D Magnetic Materials

AbstractMagnetic 2D materials have gotten significant attention due to their unique low‐dimensional magnetism and potential applications in advanced spintronics, providing an perfect platform for investigating magnetic properties at the 2D limit. The chemical vapor deposition (CVD), known for its simplicity and strong controllability, has become a key technique for fabricating ultrathin magnetic nanosheets. This article systematically reviews recent advancements in CVD‐grown magnetic 2D materials, focusing on the effects of growth parameters on material morphologies and properties, and analyzing the construction of heterostructures and their role in magnetic regulation. In addition, various magnetic characterization methods are introduced, and potential applications of these materials in spintronic devices are discussed. By summarizing current challenges, the article provides insights into future research directions, emphasizing the need to improve material stability, Curie temperature, and scalable synthesis to enable practical applications of 2D magnetic materials.

Conductive 1D Metal–Organic Frameworks DDA‐X (DDA = Hexacoordinated 1,5‐Diamino‐4,8‐Dihydroxy‐9,10‐Anthraceneedione, X = Co, Ni, and Cu) for Highly Efficient Sulfur Redox Kinetics in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries: A Density‐Functional Theory Study

Lithium–sulfur batteries (LiSBs) are considered as the prominent candidates for next‐generation energy storage systems. However, the commercial applications of LiSBs are impeded by shuttling effect and sluggish conversion kinetics of the lithium polysulfides (LiPSs). Herein, it is proposed that the 1D metal–organic framework (1D MOF) DDA‐X (DDA = hexacoordinated 1,5‐diamino‐4,8‐dihydroxy‐9,10‐anthraceneedione, X = Co, Ni, and Cu) can be a potential sulfur host material for LiSBs. Through the first‐principles calculations, it is revealed that the DDA‐X with excellent electronic conductivity mitigates the insulating properties of S‐based electrodes. Because of the significant synergistic effect based on the XS bond and the LiN bond, the DDA‐X can intensely interact with LiPSs and substantially prevent soluble LiPSs species into the electrolyte. Particularly, the battery with the DDA‐Co cathode has excellent electrocatalytic activity for the redox reaction of LiPSs, which has low Gibbs free energy barriers (0.398 eV) and Li2S decomposition energy barriers (1.45 eV) during the charge–discharge cycle, and it is due to the upshift of the d‐band center of Co in DDA‐Co. Through these findings, the application of the 1D MOF materials in high‐performance LiSBs is facilitated.

Efficient Conversion of CO2 to Ethanol by Utilizing the Topological Surface States of Rare-Earth Cuprates.

The design of high-performance catalysts for the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) remains a significant challenge in advancing CO2 conversion and storage technologies. In this study, we explored the novel application of topological materials for CO2RR, with a focus on the production of high-value C2+ products. Among 14 lanthanum cuprates, Pr2CuO4 was identified as a promising candidate due to its robust topological surface states (TSS) and potential selectivity for C2+ products. Electrocatalytic experiments demonstrated excellent and stable selectivity, achieving over 67% ethanol production with a current density of up to 220 mA cm-2. Detailed analysis revealed strong interactions between the C p orbital of key intermediates and the Cu dx2-y2 and dz2 orbitals, which are identified as the primary contributors to TSS. These interactions significantly enhanced charge transfer along the desired reaction pathway, indicating that the interplay between the orbitals of key intermediates and TSS-contributing orbitals could be pivotal for developing new paradigms in catalyst design by leveraging topological effects.

Dual-Defect Regulated G-C3N4 for Piezoelectric Catalytic Tumor Therapy with Enhanced Efficacy.

Piezoelectric catalysis for tumor treatment is an emerging method for generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the development and optimization of piezoelectric catalytic nanomaterials remain the major challenge. Herein, by regulating the internal and surface defects of graphene phase carbon nitride (defect-engineered g-C3N4), its piezoelectricity and sonocatalytic performance is enhanced, thus achieving efficient tumor treatment. By reducing bulk defects, the charges excited by ultrasound (US) within the defect-engineered g-C3N4 can migrate more rapidly to the material surface, thereby enhancing their participation in redox reactions. Increasing surface defects not only introduce more active sites on the surface of defect-engineered g-C3N4 but also enhance the asymmetry of the defect-engineered g-C3N4 structure, resulting in excellent piezoelectric properties. This defect-engineered g-C3N4 nanosheet can effectively generate ROS in tumor cells and induce tumor cell apoptosis under US stimulation. This work not only introduces a method to enhance the piezoelectric catalytic performance of g-C3N4 but also expands the potential application of defect-engineered piezoelectric materials to tumor treatment.

Additive Manufacturing: Prospects and Diverse Applications

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, has emerged as a transformative technology in various industries, providing unprecedented design freedom and customized manufacturing solutions. This paper presents a detailed exploration of additive manufacturing applications in metallic materials, introducing the various types of additive manufacturing technologies, elucidating their fundamental principles, and summarizing current research endeavors. The manuscript offers insights into future directions and challenges in this rapidly evolving field, serving as a valuable resource for researchers and engineers aiming to harness the potential of additive manufacturing in advancing metallic materials.

Chiral Supramolecular Hydrogels Regulating Both Osteoblastogenesis and Osteoclastogenesis

Osteoporosis, a chronic bone disorder, poses a global threat to the health of millions of individuals. The disruption of bone homeostasis is the fundamental cause of osteoporosis. Currently, clinical drugs are employed to promote bone formation via enhancing osteogenesis and/or reduce bone loss via inhibiting osteoclastogenesis. However, it is difficult for the current drugs to simultaneously address the osteoblastogenesis and osteoclastogenesis issues associated with osteoporosis. Hence, L/D-phenylalanine derivatives (L/DPF), combined with Mg2+ ions, are employed to assemble into chiral supramolecular hydrogels which facilitate osteocyte activity and inhibit osteoclast function. LPF_Mg hydrogels and DPF_Mg hydrogels demonstrate the opposite supramolecular chirality. Specifically, LPF_Mg hydrogels and DPF_Mg hydrogels are composed of left-handed (M-type) helical nanofibers and right-handed (P-type) helical nanofibers, respectively. The hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking interactions are crucial in the process of hydrogel formation. The chiral left-handed nanofibrous DPF_Mg hydrogels significantly promote osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3 cells and inhibit osteoclast differentiation of RAW267.4 cells, thereby demonstrating substantial potential for applications in improving skeletal health. These findings provide a promising novel perspective on the application of chiral functional materials for osteoporosis therapy.

Application of Graphene in Water Purification

Graphene and its derivatives have emerged as promising materials for water purification due to their unique properties, including high surface area, excellent conductivity, and tunable chemical reactivity. This paper explores the application of graphene-based materials, such as graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and graphene composites, in various water treatment processes. The high porosity and surface chemistry of graphene make it ideal for adsorption, filtration, and removal of contaminants like heavy metals, organic pollutants, and microorganisms from water. In addition, graphene's ability to enable advanced filtration technologies such as membrane-based systems, electrochemical processes, and photo catalytic degradation offers significant improvements in water purification efficiency and selectivity. Challenges related to scalability, material functionalization, and long-term stability is also discussed. The paper highlights recent advancements in the use of graphene materials for sustainable and efficient water treatment, and provides an overview of future research directions in this field to optimize performance and commercialization. Keywords: Graphene, water treatment processes, photo catalytic, commercialization

Rigid Polyurethane Foam Derived from Renewable Sources: Research Progress, Property Enhancement, and Future Prospects

Rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) is a widely utilized thermosetting polymer across various industrial applications, valued for its exceptional properties. However, the demand for sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based polymers has grown increasingly urgent due to rising environmental concerns. Despite its widespread use, RPUF faces challenges such as inadequate mechanical strength, limited thermal stability, and high flammability, all of which are crucial considerations in commercial and household applications. Globally, ongoing efforts are focused on developing innovative technologies that convert renewable sources into new monomers and polymers, some of which could serve as alternatives to traditional RPUFs. Several approaches have been explored to improve the thermal stability, mechanical strength, and flame retardancy of RPUFs, including the modification of bio-based polyols and the incorporation of performance-enhancing fillers. This review emphasizes recent advances in RPUFs derived from natural resources, focusing on their preparation, characterization, and properties, and strategies to enhance the mechanical strength and flame safety of bio-based RPUFs. Additionally, it explores the applications of RPUF materials across various fields, addressing the challenges and potential developments in packaging, household items, construction, and automotive applications.

Multifunctional Covalent Organic Frameworks for Zinc Metal Anodes

ABSTRACTAqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) are one promising electrochemical energy storage system attributed to their high theoretical capacity, relatively low cost as well as high safety. Nevertheless, the formation for zinc dendrites at the anode side severely impedes their electrochemical performance. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), as promising porous materials, possess some broad application prospects in advanced energy storage and conversion systems and they have demonstrated their versatility in settling the issues for zinc metal anodes. In this current review, the multifunctionality of COFs is reviewed. The overview toward zinc metal anodes is firstly overviewed. Then, multifunctional covalent organic frameworks toward stable zinc metal anodes is summarized. By construction of nanoporous structure, introduction of negative charges and utilization of zincophilic properties, COFs could act as protective layers for ZIBs. In addition, COFs have been utilized as the anode materials, separators and electrolytes in AZIBs. Finally, some perspective of COFs toward highly stable AZIBs are presented. This review could plat a platform for the application of the porous materials in advanced high‐energy‐density batteries.

Mosquito-repellent textiles: a systematic review of material innovations, application principles and research trends

In many parts of the world, mosquito-borne illnesses have become a serious threat to public health. The development of mosquito-repellent textiles (MRTs) presents a promising approach to mitigating the risk of mosquito bites and the transmission of vector-borne illnesses. Despite the tremendous advancements in research over the years, it is uncommon to find a systematic review that maps the global research landscape with an in-depth analysis of MRT literature. Using the PRISMA approach, a total of 127 articles were carefully selected in March 2024 from Scopus and Google Scholar databases spanning 1989 to 2024. The data were carefully screened, extracted, and analyzed to understand the geospatial research collaborations, technological and materials innovations, application principles, and the current research trends in MRTs. Current innovations point to the fabrication of sustainable mosquito-repellent inherent polymers, and the use of numerical simulations to understand the complex phenomena of mosquito interactions with humans and textile substrates through machine learning. The worldwide research on MRT reveals an increasing trend toward the design and fabrication of sustainable MRTs using bio-based materials with significant efforts in the design of polymers with inherent mosquito-repellence properties. These findings will help researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders make informed choices about future research directions, funding priorities, and partnerships for the fight against mosquito-borne diseases globally.

Efficient Ternary Organic Photovoltaic Films for Fast Exciton Separation to Generate Free Radicals for Wastewater Treatment

ABSTRACTGiven the effectiveness of organic pollutants photodegradation and the excellent photovoltaic nature of organic solar cells (OSCs), this work first innovatively integrated the cross‐fields of OSCs and environmental photocatalysis. Using knowledge of OSC morphology, an insertion strategy involved adding a suitable quantity of guest acceptor (Y6‐O) to the PM6 donor polymer and BTP‐2F‐ThCl host small molecule acceptor system. Y6‐O leads to tighter π–π packing, reduced domain size, and improved domain purity, resulting in favorable morphology for charge generation and transfer in devices and an improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 17.1% to 18.1%. Moreover, terpolymer organic photovoltaic films were applied to wastewater treatment, gaining ions Sb(III) and Sb(V) removals of 100% in 15 min, and guaiacol photodegradations of 90% in 1 h. This work significantly prompts the development of organic photovoltaics and wastewater treatment and opens views for multifunctional organic photovoltaic material applications.

Forward- and Retro-Vapofluorochromism of Sponge-Like Macrocycle Crystals.

Achieving dynamic multicolor emission through solid-state molecular motion is of significant importance for advancing applications in organic solid-state luminescent materials. Herein, we report macrocycle crystals with unique forward- and retro-vapofluorochromic behavior, which is realized by reversible amine vapor uptake and amine-"squeeze" induced guest release. The forward-vapofluorochromism occurs when aliphatic amines penetrate guest-free macrocycle crystals to form host-guest complex crystals. These fluorescent properties can be reversibly toggled by exposing the amine-loaded crystals to another amine vapor through competitive guest replacement inside the crystals. Notably, retro-vapofluorochromism is achieved by exposing amine-loaded crystals to α-methylbenzylamine (MBA). Mechanistic studies show that MBA molecules do not penetrate the crystals, but rather "squeeze" the crystals to release loaded amines, driving the amine-loaded crystals back to the guest-free phase. The demonstrated forward- and retro-vapofluorochromism has already been successfully integrated into a highly secure five-layer information encryption system.

Molecular Evolution of Target Organosulfur Enables High-Performance Aqueous Zinc Batteries.

Organic cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have garnered significant attention due to their environmental friendliness and structurally customizable nature. However, the low voltage, sluggish redox kinetics, and high solubility of most n-type cathode materials hinder their wide deployment. To overcome these challenges, through molecular evolution, we rationally select a cheap industrial material, organodisulfide 2,2'-dithiobis (benzothiazole) (MBTS), as an n-type cathode material for AZIBs. Due to the presence of N-containing benzothiazole rings, the dissociation energy of the sulfur-sulfur (S-S) bond is reduced, substantially enhancing the discharge voltage and improving the reaction kinetics. They regulate the π-conjugated plane to achieve a low solubility and fast charge transfer. Moreover, density functional theory (DFT) calculations elucidate the synergistic effect between adjacent active sites and Zn2+ storage reactions, revealing that the formation of weak coordination bonds between N and Zn atoms (N-Zn-S bond) reduces the solubility of the discharge product. Molecular evolution has led to the fast reaction kinetics of zinc ion storage, thus achieving a high performance under high mass loading. At a current density of 0.05 A g-1, MBTS exhibits an average discharge voltage of 1.02 V, with a mere overpotential of 100 mV, and delivers a high specific capacity of 153.6 mAh g-1. The assembled pouch cell demonstrates an excellent rate capability of 124.4 mAh g-1 at 1 A g-1 and displays a stable cycle life after 200 cycles with 96.8% capacity retention. Remarkably, MBTS maintains high specific capacity and favorable cycle stability under various ultrahigh loadings, up to 18.2 mg cm-2. The findings provide substantial guidance for practical applications of organic electrode materials in AZIBs.