High-energy Ball Milling Method Research Articles

Interface-driven microwave absorption enhancement in Mn-optimized Co2FeAl1-xMnx Heusler alloys

To address the urgent need for efficient and stable electromagnetic wave absorbing materials for electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection, we synthesized Co2FeAl1−xMnx Heusler soft magnetic alloys using a high-energy planetary ball milling method. We comprehensively analyzed their structural characteristics, surface morphology, magnetic properties, and electromagnetic parameters to explore their potential in electromagnetic wave absorption. The results show that incorporating manganese (Mn) significantly changes the alloys' crystal structure, surface morphology, and magnetic properties, greatly enhancing their wave absorption performance. The Mn doping specifically alters the surface morphology, which plays a crucial role in influencing the wave absorption characteristics of the Heusler alloys. When the Mn content increased to 25 %, the sample exhibits superior wave absorption, achieving the maximum reflection loss of −44.83 dB at 13.68 GHz with a thickness of 1.5 mm and an effective absorption bandwidth of 5.52 GHz. With a significant increase in the aspect ratio and noticeable changes in surface morphology, the sample with 75 % Mn content shows exceptional performance with an effective absorption bandwidth of 5.68 GHz, representing the highest effective absorption bandwidth in single-phase Heusler alloys. The Mn doping strategy effectively improves the material's impedance matching by adjusting its permittivity and permeability, facilitating multiple polarization relaxation mechanisms and significantly enhancing the alloys' electromagnetic wave absorption efficiency. Our study provides detailed experimental data for optimizing the electromagnetic wave absorption characteristics of Heusler alloys, verifies their practical application potential, and paves the way for developing new high-performance electromagnetic wave absorbing materials.

Effect of SiC doping on microwave absorbing properties of ball-milled carbonyl iron/MoS2 composites

Using MoS2 to prepare novel composite absorbing coatings is an effective strategy to enhance electromagnetic wave absorption. In order to explore the preparation process of large-scale preparation of MoS2 composite absorbing materials, a Fe/MoS2/SiC laminated composite absorbing material was prepared by high-energy ball milling method to realize the absorption of electromagnetic waves. By adjusting the proportion of SiC, SiC, MoS2 and Fe were ball-milled at room temperature for 20 h, and the dielectric properties were improved to achieve good absorbing effect. The microstructure and properties of the materials were measured by XRD, SEM, Raman, XPS, HRTEM, VSM and VNA. The results show that the doping of appropriate amount of SiC reduces the interplanar spacing of MoS2 and increases the edge points, which increases the conductivity of MoS2. MoS2 reduces the number of layers and increases its size and area, which improves the dielectric properties of Fe/MoS2 and optimizes the electromagnetic parameters of the composites. When the ratio (mole) of SiC, Fe and MoS2 is 3:6:2, the best electromagnetic wave absorption effect is obtained, the lowest electromagnetic wave reflection loss is −72.98 dB, and the best bandwidth is 3.04 GHz when the matching thickness is 6.53 mm.

The effect of high-energy ball milling on enhancing the mechanical properties, light transmittance, and thermal shock resistance of bone china porcelain

A bone china grouting slurry was prepared using two different milling methods: low-energy ball milling (Named LBC) for 24 h and high-energy ball milling (Named HBC) for 1 h. Bone china green bodies were formed by grouting, and the dried green bodies were calcined at different temperatures points in the temperature range from 1235 °C to 1255 °C. The slurry characteristics, as well as the structure and properties of the calcined samples, were analyzed and evaluated. The particle sizes of LBC and HBC slurry D50 are 5.819 μm and 3.571 μm, respectively, accounting for 80.4% and 98.7% of their respective proportions. The particle size distribution range of HBC samples was relatively concentrated, and the viscosity of the two slurries was 1040 mPa·s and 2800 mPa·s, respectively. The ball milling method significantly influenced the formation of product phases. The content of calcium feldspar and β-TCP phases in HBC samples calcined at 1245 °C was higher than that in their LBC counterparts, while the quartz content in LBC was higher than that in HBC samples. The water absorption and porosity of the HBC samples were lower than those of the LBC samples, with a flexural strength of 205 MPa, heat shock temperature difference of 190 °C, and light transmittance of 5.18%/3.73 mm, which were 22.4%, 26.7%, and 4.2% higher than those of the LBC samples, respectively. These results indicate that bone china prepared using the high-energy ball milling method exhibits excellent performance.

Preparation and Characterization of Black Phosphene/Titanium Dioxide Composite Nanomaterials by Liquid-Stripping and Solution Mixing Method

In this study, black phosphorus (BP) was prepared via the high-energy ball milling method, and two-dimensional (2D) BP was further fabricated using the liquid-phase stripping approach. Nano TiO2 was synthesized via the sol-gel method, and it was combined with black phosphene through N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) medium by a straightforward solution mixing process to produce BP/ TiO2 composite photocatalyst. Subsequently, spectrophotometric analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were conducted. The band gap of BP was calculated using the Tauc plot method. The results revealed that the values are 1.06 eV and 1.23 eV, corresponding to the band gap emissions of four-and three-layer BP band gap emission, indicating the successful preparation of few layers of black phosphorus. The HRTEM analysis demonstrated that the BP/ TiO2 composite photocatalyst formed a relatively stable crystalline state.

Control of tungsten-epoxy composite porosity prepared using a high-energy ball milling method: An engineering aspect of backing layer fabrication

Tungsten-epoxy composite is commonly used as a backing layer substrate of piezoelectric-based ultrasonic transducers. The physical properties of this composite, such as porosity, play a significant role in controlling the behavior and specifications of transducer fabrication. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of tungsten content in epoxy to control porosity and determine the engineering aspects of ultrasonic transducer fabrication. The experiment was conducted using a shaker-type high-energy ball milling method, where non-spherical and faceted tungsten particles with a mean size of 1 μm were composited into epoxy resin as a matrix at various tungsten-epoxy weight ratios of 0:1 to 10:1. The prepared composite surface morphological and elemental, tungsten loading, particles, and epoxy bonding were examined and analyzed. Furthermore, analysis was carried out on the relationship between tungsten content and the parameters corresponding to the composite acoustic characteristics, such as sound velocity, acoustic attenuation, and acoustic impedance. The results showed that composite porosity increased in the range of 12.40–31.87%, corresponding to acoustic impedance from 3.04 to 9.37 Mrayl (below 10 Mrayl for biomedical ultrasonic transducers) when the tungsten-epoxy weight ratio varied from 0:1 to 10:1. This showed the significant influence of tungsten particle loading on controlling porosity of tungsten-epoxy composite by precisely tuning the weight ratio, contributing to engineering process in the fabrication. In conclusion, porosity was adjusted by controlling the tungsten loading content in epoxy.

Fabrication of ZnO-quantum dot hybrid nanocomposites with enhanced light scattering and emission characteristics for micro LED display applications

Herein, a facile method is reported to fabricate a color conversion layer comprised of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and quantum dots (QDs) for micro-light emitting diode (μ-LED) displays. Further, 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA)-treated ZnO NPs (ZnO@MUA NPs) are synthesized via a high-energy ball milling method, which bypasses the need for complex synthesis processes and enables functional groups to attach to the surface, thereby facilitating the formation of ZnO@MUA NPs-QD hybrid composites (ZQCs). The particle size, surface characteristics, elemental composition, and binding energy are analyzed to elucidate the reaction mechanism and to confirm that the fabricated ZQC exhibits a chemically bonded structure. To ascertain the optimal molar concentration for incorporating the QDs, parameters such as QD bonding efficiency, quantity of bonded QDs, interparticle distance, and absolute photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) are evaluated as functions of molar concentration. As a result, the optimal molar concentration is found to be 1930 nM, giving a bonding efficiency of 96.8 %, along with the bonded QDs of 1.51 × 1011 per a unit area of 1 mm2 of ZnO NPs and a PLQY of 64.8 %. Furthermore, comprehensive optical analyses are performed to assess the potential of the ZQC as a color conversion material for μ-LED displays, in comparison to the use of pristine QDs and silica NP-QD composites.

Al–B4C-(Gd, Gd2O3) composite materials: Synthesis and characterization for neutron shielding applications

In this study, Al–20%B4C-x%Gd and Al–20%B4C-x%Gd2O3 (x = 1, 3, 5) composite powders were prepared using a high-energy planetary ball milling method to enhance the physical properties of Al–B4C neutron shielding composites. The prepared powders were subjected to uniaxial cold compaction at 500 MPa, resulting in cylindrical specimens. Subsequently, the specimens were sintered in a tube furnace at 600 °C for 1 h under an Ar atmosphere to prevent oxidation. The microstructure of the resulting composites was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX). Archimedes density, hardness, and corrosion tests were performed on the compacted samples. Moreover, the composite's thermal and fast neutron absorption rates were calculated using the MCNP6.2 simulation code. The neutron equivalent dose rate was experimentally determined using the Am–Be neutron source. The simulation results demonstrated that the composite materials containing Gd exhibited the highest thermal neutron absorption rate, while those containing Gd2O3 demonstrated the highest fast neutron absorption rate. This research contributes valuable insights into the design and utilization of neutron-absorbing materials with suitable mechanical properties.

One-pot synthesis of Li3xLa2/3−xTiO3/PVA composite with high tunable electrical attributes governed by the Li+ content

The primary goal of this study is to elucidate the structural and electrical characteristics, alongside potential applications, of ceramic-polymeric composites. These composites are achieved by incorporating lithium-lanthanum titanates (Li3xLa2/3−xTiO3 - LLTO) into a polyvinyl alcohol polymeric matrix (PVA). The synthesis of lithium-lanthanum titanates occurred through high-energy ball milling method. Then, three types of composites were produced using the solvent casting method: a sample of pure Poly (vinyl alcohol) polymer (PVA), a second PVA composite with the addition of La0·59Li0·24TiO3 (Li-0.24) and a third sample with La0·56Li0·33TiO3 (Li-0.33). SEM and AFM analyzes revealed notable changes in the morphology and 3D spatial patterns of the films upon incorporating lithium-lanthanum titanates into the PVA matrix. The PVA film presents a topography featuring a more evenly distributed range of topographic heights, indicating a smoother surface structure. With varying LLTO content, the morphology of the PVA composite underwent changes. The lower roughness of the PVA surface is evident from its measured average roughness value (Ra = 1.9 ± 0.5 nm). Upon incorporating LLTO, the surfaces displayed increased roughness, measuring specifically at 40.1 ± 7.3 nm (Li-0.24) and 22.7 ± 5.5 nm (Li-0.33). Notably, there was an approximately 43 % reduction in the average roughness value from Li-0.24 to Li-0.33. The analysis by Raman allowed the identification of functional groups of the PVA polymeric chain, in addition to the presence of some vibrational modes related to the structure of lithium-lanthanum titanates for the sample with the highest content of Li+ ions (Li-0.33). Finally, the sample Li-0.33 showed the lowest value of electrical resistance (67 kΩ) and of phase angle (16°), compared to the PVA (100 MΩ and 90°). These results show that the presence of the LLTO changed the insulating behavior of the PVA matrix changed and improved potential to electronic applications.

Rational design of germanium–copper based nanocomposite anodes for high-performance lithium-ion storage

The rising energy demand in the 21st century has necessitated a shift from fossil fuels to irregular renewable sources for carbon neutrality. Therefore, energy-storage systems are crucial for storing intermittently produced energy. Electric vehicles (EVs), which are expected to replace internal combustion engines, are in high demand for achieving carbon neutrality. The development of efficient secondary batteries (such as lithium-ion batteries; LIBs) is vital for increasing the energy-storage capacity and driving range of EVs. Currently, the most commercialized carbon-based anode material has a capacity of 372 mAh g−1. However, this capacity is insufficient to produce the high-capacity batteries required in the current market. Therefore, in this study, GeO2, which can store 8.4 lithium atoms in one molecule, was selected as the target material. To enhance its electrochemical properties, conductive Cu and C were introduced into GeO2. The composites were synthesized via high-energy ball milling, a simple and easy method to scale up. Three types of GeO2/Cu@C composites, GeO2/Cu@C (10, 20, and 30 wt%), were prepared by varying the carbon content. Among them, GeO2/Cu@C (20 wt%) exhibited an average reversible capacity of 660.6 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles, with a capacity retention of 75.4 % at a current density of 0.1 A g−1. Even at a high current density of 0.5 A g−1, its average capacity and capacity retention were 672.3 mAh g−1 and 99.5 %, respectively, after 100 cycles. Moreover, galvanostatic intermittent titration technique analysis revealed that the Li+ diffusion coefficient of GeO2/Cu@C (20 wt%) was higher than those of the other electrodes. The full-cell with the NCM622 cathode exhibited a high energy density of 284.9 Wh kg−1. Therefore, the GeO2/Cu@C (20 wt%) electrode is anticipated to be a potential anode for long-term LIB cycling.

LiTaO3 mixing effects to suppress side reactions at the LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cathode and Li5.3PS4.3Cl1.7 solid electrolyte of all-solid-state lithium batteries

Suppressing the side reactions at the solid electrolyte-electrode interface in all-solid-state battery (ASSB) is very important aspect of improving battery performance. Coating an electrochemically stable material on the surface of cathode has been used to suppress the side reactions occurring at interface between solid electrolyte and cathode. However, to achieve effective suppression, the thickness of the coating film must be thin and uniform. Moreover, an expensive ethoxide series typically must be used as a starting material. In this study, LiTaO3 coating material was simply mixed with the solid electrolyte to measure the effect of suppressing side reactions. To synthesize the solid electrolyte Li5.3PS4.3Cl1.7 and the mixing material LiTaO3, high-energy ball milling and wet milling methods were used, respectively. The structural characteristics of the prepared solid electrolytes were studied by powder X-ray diffraction. The LiTaO3 mixed solid electrolyte based ASSB showed a high discharge capacity of 177.3 mAh/g in the initial cycle, whereas the bare solid electrolyte (Li5.3PS4.3Cl1.7) based ASSB showed a discharge capacity of 159.1 mAh/g. To understand the side reactions, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis was performed after galvanostatic charge-discharge cycles. The EIS analysis confirmed that the side reaction between a solid electrolyte and a cathode was effectively suppressed in LiTaO3 mixed solid electrolyte based ASSBs.

Structural characteristics of Zn-MOFs and derived zinc oxide by X-ray diffraction peak analysis fabricated by mechanical and hydrothermal methods

In this work, the Zn based MOFs were synthesized from cyanoguanidine and zinc acetate source precursors via two hydrothermal methods and high energy ball milling technique and also the free salt and bimetallic samples have been synthesized. Then, the fabricated Zn-MOFs were heat for calcination at 550 °C for 110 min. The synthesized nanostructures were examined by XRD, SEM and FTIR analysis to gain insight about structure, morphology and functional groups properties. The results confirm that it is possible to prepare Zn MOFs using high energy ball milling methods. Besides, the fabricated MOF and complex structures can be converted to porous zinc oxide (ZnO) by a simple thermal annealing in air. Then, the line broadening of ZnO from mechanochemical and hydrothermal methods was showed due to the small crystallite size and lattice strain. The broadening was studied by the Scherrer formula and Williamson Hall (UDM, USDM, UDEDM) and Size-strain plot techniques. In addition, undesirable phases may affect the synthesized part during thermal cycles. We demonstrate the potential of using high-energy X-ray diffraction for detailed analysis of minority phases in ZnO-derived components.

Photocatalytic activity enhancement of g-C3N4 nanosheets through simultaneous inter- and intra-layer charge separation using a facile mechano-thermal method

Herein, a novel mechano-thermal approach has been proposed to tune the electronic structure and enhance the photocatalytic performance of g-C3N4 nanosheets. According to the results, the high-energy ball-milling method modified the role of the ammonium chloride from the blowing agent to the doping agent, leading to the introduction of the interstitial and substitutional Chlorine (Cl) atoms into the nanosheet structure. Such a modification not only promoted electron-hole separation through the inter- and intra-layer of the g-C3N4 nanosheets, but it also led to the band gap energy reduction and higher oxidation capability of the photogenerated holes. These key improvements have been reflected in the optimized sample with a high-energy ball-milling time of 15 min (g-C3N4–15). Compared to the sample without the ball-milling process, g-C3N4–15 exhibited simultaneous intra- and inter-layer charge separation, reduction in the band gap energy from 2.82 to 2.76 eV, and positive shift in the valence band. Furthermore, these modifications in the electronic structure of the nanosheets contributed to the outstanding photocatalytic performance of the g-C3N4–15 towards methylene blue (MB) photodegradation. Among the samples with different ball-milling times, g-C3N4–15 demonstrated the highest MB photodegradation rate constant (0.0125 min−1), approximately 9 times greater than the sample without the ball-milling process. Additionally, the proposed photodegradation pathway suggested that the positive shift in the valence band of g-C3N4–15 could activate hydroxyl radicals (.OH) and promote demethylation and ring-opening of MB dyes.

G-C3N4 nanosheet supported NiCo2O4 nanoparticles for boosting degradation of tetracycline under visible light and ultrasonic irradiation.

The doping of semiconductor materials through some facile and appropriate methods holds significant promise in enhancing the catalytic performance of catalysts. Herein, NiCo2O4/g-C3N4 composite catalysts were synthesized via a high-energy ball milling method. The microstructure and physicochemical characterization of the as-prepared composites confirmed the successful loading of NiCo2O4 nanoparticles onto the g-C3N4 nanosheets. The NiCo2O4/g-C3N4 composites showed excellent catalytic effect under visible light/ultrasonic irradiation, and the efficiency of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) degradation reached 90% within 15 min. The optical properties of g-C3N4 nanosheets were improved by doping, and the diffusion of active materials and carrier migration rate were improved by ultrasonic assistance. Possible catalytic mechanisms and potential pathways of the NiCo2O4/g-C3N4 composites for the degradation of TCH triggered by visible light/ultrasonic irradiation were proposed. This study provides a new strategy for energy-assisted photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants.

Ball-milling preparation of ZnFe2O4/AgI nanocomposite with enhanced photocatalytic activity.

Semiconductor photocatalytic technology is increasingly being utilized in wastewater treatment due to its high efficiency, low energy consumption and environmental friendliness. However, single photocatalysts often exhibit low catalytic performance. In this study, a ZnFe2O4/AgI composite photocatalyst was initially prepared using a high-energy ball-milling method. For the first time, it was applied to the photocatalytic dehydrogenation of diethyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethylpyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate (1,4-DHP), as well as photocatalytic degradation of harmful substances such as amaranth (AM), methyl orange (MO) and indole present in wastewater. The composite photocatalyst exhibited superior catalytic performance compared to ZnFe2O4 and AgI under visible light irradiation (λ ≥ 400 nm). With optimized composition, the pseudo-first-order rate constants of ZnFe2O4/AgI-50% were approximately 6, 20, 64 and 38 times higher than that of AgI for the photooxidation of 1,4-DHP, AM, MO and indole, respectively. The enhanced catalytic activity of the composite was attributed to the formation of heterojunction between ZnFe2O4 and AgI, which facilitated the separation and transfer of photogenerated charge carriers. Mechanism studies revealed that photogenerated holes (h+) and superoxide radical anions (˙O2 -) played pivotal roles in the photocatalytic reaction process.

Combining high energy ball milling and liquid crystal templating method to prepare magnetic ordered mesoporous silica. A physico-chemical investigation.

The physico-chemical investigation of superparamagnetic MCM41 like materials prepared by the novel combination of high energy ball milling and a liquid crystal templating method is presented. Structural, morphological, textural, thermal, and preliminary magnetic characterization demonstrated the successful combination of the two synthesis techniques, avoiding the problems associated with the current methods used for the preparation of magnetic ordered mesoporous silica. MCM41 like materials with high specific surface area values (625-720 m2 g-1) and high mesopore volumes in the range 1-0.7 cm3 g-1 were obtained. The ordered mesoporous structure and accessible pores were maintained after the inclusion of increasing amounts of the magnetic component in the silica structure. All the samples showed superparamagnetic behaviour.

Preparation and Thermoelectric Properties of Bi2Te(3-x)Sex Samples by High Energy Ball Milling and Spark Plasma Sintering Method

Preparation and Thermoelectric Properties of Bi2Te(3-x)Sex Samples by High Energy Ball Milling and Spark Plasma Sintering Method

Evidence of oxygen vacancy-mediated ultrahigh SERS sensitivity of Niobium pentoxide nanoparticles through defect engineering: theoretical and experimental studies.

Oxygen vacancy engineering in metal oxide-based semiconductors has emerged as an important area of research for sensing applications, such as Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), gas sensing, etc. It has the potential to replace high-cost and unstable noble metal-based substrates in the near future. However, improving the SERS enhancement factor in semiconductor-based substrates remains a challenge. In the present study, we demonstrate that oxygen vacancy engineering in Niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5) enables ultrahigh SERS sensitivity. Oxygen vacancies were induced and manipulated in the Nb2O5 nanoparticles via a facile high-energy ball milling method and post-growth oxygen annealing. A high enhancement factor (EF) of 5.15 × 107 was obtained for the Methylene Blue (MeB) molecule on the oxygen-deficient substrate with the lowest detection limit of 10-8 M, which is 2 orders of magnitude lower than the pristine substrate. Through a careful analysis of the experimental data and theoretical calculations, we investigated the underlying mechanism behind the high EF in SERS and showed that the SERS performance is directly proportional to the oxygen vacancy concentration in the Nb2O5 nanoparticles. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation suggests a strong coupling of the vibronic states and an increased charge transfer (CT) efficiency in the Nb2O5-MeB complex mediated through the vacancy-induced trap states in the defective Nb2O5 structure. Finite element method (FEM)-based simulations revealed a field enhancement factor of ∼4.17 × 102 that contributed to the SERS EF, while the remaining is contributed to the oxygen vacancy-mediated charge transfer, i.e., a factor of ∼1.23 × 105 is due to the high CT efficiency, the highest among the reported values. We believe that these findings offer valuable insights into the fabrication of defect-tailored cost-effective semiconductor-based SERS substrates for ensuing applications, such as trace dye detection.

Novel CuSi2P3-Based Semi-Solid Anolyte for Redox Flow Batteries

Introduction Redox flow batteries (RFBs), as a kind of low-cost, high-efficiency energy storage system, have received increasing attention in recent years. However, the energy density of RFBs is much lower than that of most commercialized lithium-ion batteries, which not only makes RFBs inconvenient in stationary energy storage but also greatly limits their application in many fieldsIn this work, a low-potential CuSi2P3-based composite is synthesized through a simple high-energy mechanical ball milling and impregnation method; then, it is used to prepare a semisolid anolyte, which is able to achieve a high volumetric capacity (320- 400 Ah L-1). The effect of adding binder to a composite is also discussed for the first time. The synthesis method of adding a binder to the composite provides a direction for optimizing the suspension for other active materials to be applied to semi-solid flow battery.Results and DiscussionFigure 1 compares the 1st and 10th galvanostatic discharge-charge cycling tests of two semisolid anolytes, 8 vol% CSP@C-10 vol% Super P (8CSP@C-10SP) and 8 vol% CSP@C-LiPAA-10 vol% Super P (8CSP@C-LiPAA-10SP). The specific capacity of 8CSP@CLiPAA-10SP anolyte at the first cycle can reach up to >2000 mAh g-1, which approaches the theoretical capacity (2079 mAh g-1) based on the corresponding binary Li-alloy products (Li3.75Si and Li3P), with the capacity retention greater than 98% from the 2nd to the 10th cycle. However, the specific capacity of 8CSP@C-10SP anolyte without LiPAA at the first cycle is only about 1000 mAh g-1, and severe capacity fading is encountered. Only a specific capacity of 420 mAh g-1 is left at the 10th cycle, leading to capacity retention of only 40%. The presence of LiPAA makes a more stable CSP composite, which can obtain a better cycling performance. We concluded that the cycling stability of LiPAA binder-based CSP composite is much better for RFBs compared with the one without binder.Figure 1b-e reveals the comparison of SEM images between 8CSP@C-10SP and 8CSP@C-LiPAA-10SP at pristine stage and after cycles respectively. It can be seen from the images that these two semisolid anolytes present very porous structure at the pristine stage (Figure 1b, d). However, after cycles, the surface of 8CSP@C-10SP produces very large film-like precipitates (Figure 1c), which greatly hinders the reaction of active materials in the subsequent cycles and further results in serious capacity fading. On the other hand, the porous structure of the 8CSP@C-LiPAA-10SP after cycles enables sound performance of the anolyte during the continuous cycles. The addition of LiPAA in the CSP composite can improve the contact between CSP and carbon, which confirms the electrical conductivity uniformity of CSP-based suspension.The addition of LiPAA binder to the composite enables the CSP semisolid anolytes to maintain better uniformity and rheological performance. Figure 2 shows the viscosity test results of electrolyte (1 M LiPF6 EC/DEC) and various CSP-based semisolid anolytes. It is indicated in the results that the non-Newtonian fluid semisolid anolytes present greater viscosity than the Newtonian fluid electrolytes, which results in larger flow resistance and more pump loss; therefore, viscosity is an important issue to be considered in the application of SSFBs. We find the viscosity of CSP@C-LiPAA anolyte significantly smaller than that of CSP@C anolyte at the same concentration, which is favorable to reduce the flow loss of the anolyte. The addition of LiPAA binder improves the rheological performance of the semisolid anolyte in an effective way and enormously enhances its cycling stability. Further investigations on the electrochemical reversibility, energy efficiency, cycle life, full cell design, and flow cell performance will be discussed. Acknowledgments The work described was substantially supported by a grant from the the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (2023A1515010954) and the Shenzhen Science and Technology Fund (JCYJ20220531101801002). Figure 1

Influence of microwave heating on grain growth behavior and phase stability of nano Y2O3/La2O3 co-doped ZrO2 ceramics

Y2O3-doped ZrO2 (YSZ) is a significant structural material and excellent functional material, it has been widely used in fields such as ceramics, thermal barrier coatings, and medical, etc. The disadvantage of YSZ is that it undergoes phase transition occurs during high-temperature cooling, leading to cracks in zirconia. It is worth mentioning that the failure phase transition of YSZ can be suppressed by the addition of rare earth oxide such as lanthanum oxide. In this paper, ZrO2 nano-powders with 0.2 mol% La2O3-2.8 mol% Y2O3 were prepared by a high-energy ball milling method. The comparison of microwave sintering and conventional sintering temperatures (800 °C–1300 °C) on the phase transition transformation of La2O3-doped Y2O3-stabilized zirconia powders was investigated by the control variable method. Meanwhile, the effects of microwave sintering technology on the microstructure and grain growth behavior of the sintered powders were further analyzed. The results show that microwave sintering is superior to conventional sintering technology. Microwave sintering promotes the rate of conversion of zirconia from monoclinic to tetragonal phase. Furthermore, the average grain size of the samples increased linearly with increasing temperature, and the grain growth further contributed to the presence of stable phases. Adding La3+ and Y3+ can reduce the grain growth activation energy and increase the contents of both the t-ZrO2 and c-ZrO2 in the sample. In this experiment, we find that the samples sintered best at 1200 °C with stable phase composition, well-defined morphology and uniform particle distribution. It is well known that the synthesis of high-quality zirconia materials is essential for good zirconia raw materials in practical production. This study provides an experimental and theoretical basis for the synthesis of zirconia powder with excellent performance.

Te-rP-C Anodes Prepared Using a Scalable Milling Process for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Red phosphorus (rP) is one of the most promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, owing to its high theoretical capacity. However, its low electronic conductivity and large volume expansion during cycling limit its practical applications, as it exhibits low electrochemical activity and unstable cyclability. To address these problems, tellurium (Te)-rP-C composites, which have active materials (Te, rP) that are uniformly distributed within the carbon matrix, were fabricated through a simple high-energy ball milling method. Among the three electrodes, the Te-rP (1:2)-C electrode with a 5% FEC additive delivers a high initial CE of 80% and a high reversible capacity of 734 mAh g-1 after 300 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g-1. Additionally, it exhibits a high-rate capacity of 580 mAh g-1 at a high current density of 10,000 mA g-1. Moreover, a comparison of the electrolytes with and without the 5% FEC additive demonstrated improved cycling stability when the FEC additive was used. Ex situ XRD analysis demonstrated the lithiation/delithiation mechanism of Te-rP (1:2)-C after cycling based on the cyclic voltammetry results. Based on the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis results, a Te-rP-C composite with its notable electrochemical performance as an anode can sufficiently contribute to the battery anode industry.