Interconnected Grains Research Articles

High removal of PS and PET microplastics from tap water by using Fe2O3 porous microparticles and photothermal irradiation with NIR light

This work reports the synthesis of Fe2O3 (FeO) microparticles using the Pechini method and their use to remove microplastics from tap water. The analysis by electronic microscopy revealed that the FeO microparticles (FeMicroPs) have a porous structure and are formed by interconnected grains with sizes of 80-120 nm. In addition, the X-ray diffraction analysis pointed out that the FeMicroPs are composed of γ- Fe2O3 and α- Fe2O3 phases. To remove the PS and PET microplastics with sizes of 0.1-3 μm from the tap water, FeO was added to the contaminated water and the mixture of FeO+microplastics was irradiated with focused NIR light (980 nm). This provoked the melting of the microplastics on the FeO surface. Later, the FeMicroPs with adsorbed microplastics was recovered with magnets. This last procedure permitted a high removal of microplastics from the tap water, and the adsorption capacity was 1000 mg/g. In the next step, the microplastics adsorbed on the FeO were irradiated with NIR light to induce its thermal decomposition by photothermal irradiation, this in turn, produced the elimination of the microplastics from the FeO surface and allowed its reuse to remove more microplastics from the tap water. The elimination of the microplastics from the FeO surface was confirmed by the FTIR and Raman techniques, since the vibrational peaks associated with the microplastics disappeared from the FeO surface after the photothermal irradiation. Thus, the results of this investigation suggest that the photothermal irradiation with NIR light not only facilitates the removal of microplastics from the tap water, but also, it was useful to degrade the microplastics definitively without producing more contamination. This technique could be used to remove microplastics in water treatment plants.

Hydrogen embrittlement in Nickel oligocrystals: Experimentation and crystal plasticity-phase field fracture modeling

This work investigates the hydrogen embrittlement (HE) behavior of Nickel-201 alloy using experimental and numerical approaches. In experimentation, the effect of electrochemical hydrogen charging on the deformation behavior of tensile oligocrystals is investigated at different strain rates. Irrespective of the strain rate levels, all the hydrogen-charged tensile oligocrystals exhibited intergranular (IG) fracture exclusively along the random high-angle grain boundaries (RHAGBs). At the same time, no crack was observed along the coincident site lattice (CSL) Σ3 type grain boundaries. The absence of an interconnected grain boundary network, lower stress levels, and insensitivity of H-induced IG fracture to the strain rate levels of investigated FCC oligocrystals (with low lattice hydrogen diffusion coefficient) established the insignificance of dynamic H-redistribution toward HE. In numerical simulations, a crystal plasticity-phase field fracture finite element model simulates the macroscopic tensile response and corresponding microscopic fracture evolution behavior for hydrogen-free and hydrogen-charged tensile oligocrystals. The experimental results corroborated by numerical simulations, validate that the reduction in fracture energy of RHAGBs, induced by hydrogen segregation through thermodynamic equilibrium during hydrogen charging prior to deformation, is the dominating factor governing HE.

Enhancing the Phase Crystallinity of Buried Layer Perovskites through Organic Salt Molecule‐Assisted Crystal Growth

The performance and stability of perovskite solar cells rely crucially on the purity of their active perovskite phase. While the two‐step method has emerged as a well‐known technique for fabricating high‐performance cells, it suffers from significant PbI2 phase impurities at the buried layer due to inefficient diffusion of cationic molecules into the preprepared PbI2 layer. Herein, a simple yet highly effective method is presented to boost phase purity within the buried layer by introducing formamidinium iodide (FAI) seed molecules into the underlying PbI2 layer. X‐Ray diffraction analysis result reveals that this process significantly reduces the PbI2 phase and enhances the purity of the perovskite's phase. It is also observed that this technique can produce perovskite layer with a remarkably smooth surface structure and large interconnected crystal grains, forming a continuous layer. These characteristics are subjected to further enhancement when hexamethylenetetramine molecules are concurrently introduced with FAI into the PbI2 layer. Solar cells fabricated using this method, with an active area of 0.1 cm2, achieve a remarkable power conversion efficiency of up to 24.52% with Voc as high as 1.18 V, representing a substantial improvement over cells produced using the standard two‐step method, which attains only 22.18% efficiency. With its simple yet impactful approach, the present method should find widespread adoption in the production of high‐performance perovskite solar cells.

Optoelectronic properties of perovskite thin films derived from lead sulfide via radio frequency magnetron sputtering: effect of the substrate temperature

Methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3; MAPbI3) films were fabricated from sputtered lead sulfide (PbS) films prepared at various substrate temperatures according to the Thornton structural zone model. PbS films were converted to lead iodide (PbI2) and finally to MAPbI3 in a two-step gas-phase reaction. The increase in substrate temperature caused the morphology to change to fibrous interconnected grains, which played an important role in improving the optoelectrical properties of perovskite films. Moreover, enhanced charge transport of MAPbI3 films was observed owing to the fibrous interconnected PbI2 precursor, which was confirmed by a higher absorption coefficient and longer carrier lifetime.

Effect of substrate temperature on the properties of spray-deposited Cu2NiSnS4 films

Recently, quaternary Cu2NiSnS4 (CNTS) material has emerged as one of the best promising materials for photovoltaic applications. The spray pyrolysis method was employed to deposit CNTS films by varying substrate temperatures from 250 to 450 °C. All the XRD patterns are polycrystalline with (111) preferred orientation having the crystallite size of 11 nm. The compact, interconnected grains with sizes ranging from 130 to 250 nm are observed from the SEM analysis. The Raman peaks observed at 291, 335, and 348 cm−1 correspond to the cubic CNTS phase. Also, the NiS1.97 and Cu8S5 secondary phases are occurred at 137 and 477 cm−1, respectively. All films show the presence of Cu:Ni:Sn:S with good elemental composition. Taut plot shows the band gap of 1.49 eV for cubic CNTS along with NiS1.97 (1.37 eV) and Cu8S5 (1.38 eV) phases. So, the CNTS material can be a good candidate for photovoltaic applications.

Synthesis, Structural, Optical, and Electrical Characterization of Biochitosan/Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 Composite Thin-Film Materials.

The purpose of this research work was to synthesis bioderived nanocomposite films by incorporating Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 (NBTO) nanoparticles into a chitosan matrix. The NBTO nanoparticles were synthesized using a traditional solid-state technique. Then, through a solution-casting approach, flexible composite films were fabricated using chitosan polymer. The study presents a range of compelling findings. For structural and morphological insights, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals a fascinating morphology where NBTO nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed and interlocked with other particles, forming interconnected grains with significant interspaces within the chitosan matrix. For the optical properties, the spectral response within the 300-800 nm range is primarily governed by light scattering attributed to NBTO particles with diameter sizes ranging from 100 to 400 nm, as well as the distinctive bandgap exhibited by the NBTO phase. The investigation of dielectric properties demonstrates that composite films exhibit markedly higher dielectric values in comparison to pure chitosan films. It is noteworthy that an increase in the NBTO content results in a corresponding increase in dielectric values, enhancing the versatility of these materials. Local piezoelectric measurements utilizing piezoresponse force microscopy confirm the expected piezoelectric and ferroelectric behavior of NBTO particles when dispersed within the chitosan matrix. This research introduces a novel class of biocompatible nanocomposite materials, combining impressive structural attributes, enhanced dielectric properties, and piezoelectric capabilities. The outcomes of this study hold substantial promise for advanced applications in opto- and piezoelectric technologies, marking a significant advancement in biologically sourced materials with multifunctional properties.

Synergetic effects of boron nitride with waste zirconia: Evaluation of instantaneous fingerprint detection and mechanical properties for biomedical applications

Herein, present study mainly focuses on the synthesis and characterizations of boron nitride reinforced waste zirconia (wZrO2) with different concentrations. Composites were prepared via a scalable solid-state reaction method. Various physical parameters such as density, ionic concentration, polaron radius, and field strength were evaluated. XRD results reveal crystalline nature with a major phase of tetragonal zirconia and as boron nitride is reinforced, the tetragonal transforms into a monoclinic zirconia. Interconnected spherical grains and nanosheets were observed using FESEM. Mechanical characterizations revealed the highest compressive strength of 266 MPa. The latent fingerprints were visualized using a composite on different surfaces, implementing the powder dusting and solution techniques. MTT assay was performed and revealed good biocompatible nature. These results reveal that composite is suitable for fabrication of bioceramics with acceptable mechanical and biological performances. The composite can also be utilized for latent fingerprint detection in forensic science.

Aluminum and Zinc Co-substituted Cobalt Ferrite: Structural, Magnetic, and Magnetostrictive Properties

We report on the influence of Al and Zn co-substitution on the structural, magnetic, and magnetostrictive properties of cobalt ferrite (Co1–xZnxFe2–xAlxO4, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.15; CZFAO) materials, which were made using a glycine-nitrate autocombustion process. The cubic spinel structure is present in both the as-synthesized and the sintered CZFAO samples, where it was evident that the crystallite size and lattice parameter reduced with increasing x due to the incorporation of smaller Al3+ ions in place of larger Fe3+ ions in spinel ferrite. Co-substitution induced changes in the metal–oxygen bond lengths, causing both the tetrahedral and octahedral infrared and Raman spectroscopic bands to shift toward higher wavenumbers. The electron microscopy analyses indicate that the Al–Zn substitution induces grain growth, leading to a dense, interconnected grain morphology. Mossbauer analyses indicate that the Al3+ occupies the octahedral site, whereas Zn2+ is substituted at the tetrahedral site. Due to equal magnetic dilution of both tetrahedral and octahedral sites caused by the presence of Zn and Al at the appropriate sites, the saturation magnetization MS of CZFAO is the same as that of pure CFO. All other magnetic parameters (coercivity HC, magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant K1, and Curie temperature TC) decrease with increasing x, where the decline observed is mostly due to superexchange interaction (A-O-B) reduction caused by the substituents’ non-magnetic character. CZFAO materials exhibit higher magnetostriction strain λ and strain sensitivity dλ/dH at relatively low magnetic fields; among all the samples, x = 0.15 demonstrates a maximum strain sensitivity of −2.53 × 10–9 m/A at 23 kA/m magnetic field. The composition-tuned CZFAO materials with desirable properties are suitable for application in torque sensors.

Impact of La3+ doping on temperature coefficient of resistivity and peak temperature of La x Ca0.89-xSr0.11MnO3 films prepared by sol-gel spin coating method

Herein, refined LaxCa0.89-xSr0.11MnO3 (LCSMO, x = 0.65, 0.68, 0.71 and 0.74) films were prepared through the sol-gel spin-coating. The influence of La3+ content on the structural properties of LCSMO films was investigated by X-ray diffraction and Atomic force microscope, demonstrating that LCSMO films can grow well on SrTiO3 (00l) substrate. Besides, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy verified the double exchange (DE) effect was weakened with La3+ dopant. The La3+ doping and interconnected grains boundaries (GBs) led to the weakening DE effect and GBs scattering, respectively. Due to superior GBs connectivity, the resistivity of LCSMO films was less than 7.1 × 10−4 Ω·cm at low temperature of 100 K. Importantly, it is an effective control method to keep the temperature (Tk) corresponding to temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) at room temperature with Sr2+ content as constant in LCSMO films. At x = 0.71, the peak TCR value was found to be 8.84%/K and corresponding Tk was 283.15 K. These results are beneficial for advanced application of uncooling infrared bolometer.

Development and Characterization of Solution-Processable Dithieno[3,2-b : 2',3'-d]thiophenes Derivatives with Various End-capped Groups for Organic Field-Effect Transistors.

In this paper, four organic materials based on dithieno[3,2-b : 2',3'-d]thiophene (DTT) core structure with end-capping groups (phenyl and thienyl) and linker (acetylenic and olefinic) between DTT-core and end-capping groups were synthesized and characterized as solution-processable organic semiconductors (OSCs) for organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). Thermal, optical, and electrochemical properties of the corresponding materials were determined. Next, all DTT-derivatives were coated by solution-shearing method, and the thin-film microstructures and morphologies were investigated. To investigate the electrical performance of four newly synthesized DTT-derivatives, bottom-gate/top-contact OFETs were fabricated and characterized in ambient condition. It was found that substitution of acetylenic for olefinic linkers between DTT-cores and end-capping groups enhanced device performance. Especially, the resulting OFETs based on the compound containing phenylacetylene exhibited the highest hole mobility of 0.15 cm2 /Vs and current on/off ratio of ∼106 , consistent with film morphology and texture showing long range interconnected crystalline grains and strong diffraction peaks.

Microstructural and Mechanical Characterization of the Aging Response of Wrought 6156 (Al-Mg-Si) Aluminum Alloy

The impact of the artificial aging response on the microstructure and tensile mechanical properties of aluminum alloy 6156 was investigated. Specimens were artificially aged at three different artificial aging temperatures and for various holding times to investigate all possible aging conditions, including the under-aged (UA), peak-aged (PA) and over-aged (OA) tempers. Microstructural investigation as well as tensile tests were performed immediately after the isothermal artificial aging heat treatment. An almost 50% increase in yield stress (around 340 MPa) was noticed in the PA temper and this was attributed to the precipitation of β′ and Q′ phases, consistent with the modelling predictions. This high yield stress value is accompanied by high values of elongation at fracture (>10%) that is essential for damage tolerance applications. The lack of large or interconnected grain boundary precipitates contributes to this high elongation. Slanted fracture was noticed for both UA and PA tempers, exhibiting a typical ductile and shear fracture mechanism. At the OA temper, coarsening of the precipitates along with broadening of the precipitate free zones resulted in a reduction in the strengthening effectiveness of the precipitates, and a small increase in the tensile ductility of approximately 12% was noticed.

Tin sulfide thin films by spin coating of laser ablated nanocolloids for UV–Vis–NIR photodetection

Tin sulfide (SnS) has emerged in the field of layered metal chalcogenides (LMCs) as one of the preferred semiconductors due to its prominent optical properties and high absorption coefficient. In this work, SnS nanocolloids were obtained by pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) using Nd:YAG laser wavelengths of 532 and 1064 nm. Furthermore, thin films of SnS were spin-coated using nanocolloids and annealed in vacuum at 350 and 450 ℃. Morphology and crystal structure of SnS nanoparticles (NPs) were studied using Transmission electron microscopy and particle sizes calculated were in the range of 8–12 nm. X-ray diffraction results reproduced the same orthorhombic crystal structure for the SnS films as that of SnS NPs. The elemental composition and chemical states were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Morphological analysis of the films by scanning electron microscopy reveals surfaces having interconnected spherical grains. The energy bandgap values of the nanocolloids were 1.9, 2.8 eV and the films were between 1.4 and 2.1 eV. The photodetection abilities of the films exhibit wavelength response in the UV–Visible as well as NIR (785, 840 and 980 nm) regions. The photodetector shows a specific detectivity of 106 Jones. Photodetector parameters such as sensitivity, responsivity, noise equivalent power (NEP), rise time and decay time were also estimated. The study of thin films fabricated from nanocolloids by combining the aspects of PLAL and spin-coating provides a new insight to synthesize reproducible semiconducting thin films for optoelectronics.

Enhanced UV photosensing properties by field-induced polarization in ZnO-modified (Bi0.93Gd0.07)FeO3 ceramics

Self-powered photodetection was studied using x wt% ZnO-modified (Bi0.93Gd0.07)FeO3 (abbreviated as B7GFO-xZn) ferroelectric ceramics. The ITO/B7GFO-xZn ceramic/Au photovoltaic (PV) cell was constructed for photosensing study at ultraviolet-A (λ = 360 nm) and near-ultraviolet (λ = 405 nm). The +2kV/cm poled PV cell using B7GFO-1 wt%Zn ceramic under 360-nm irradiation displays maximal photocurrent density of ~364 μA/cm2 at 102 mW/cm2. Furthermore, a remarkable photosensing performance was observed with photoresponsivity (R) of ~3.02×10−2A/W, specific detectivity (D*) of ~2.27×1012 Jones, and photoconductive gain (G) of ~10.4%. A sensitive photosensing response time (rise time, τr) of ~9 ms was acquired under illumination from the 360-nm laser at 102 mW/cm2. The enhanced photodetection performance originated from the collective influence of the narrower bandgap, enhanced p-n junction effect, E-field-modulated energy band tilt, and improved photocurrent generation due to the local conductive pathways formed by the interconnected domain walls and grain boundaries. This work provides an extensive analysis to elucidate the photovoltaic mechanisms in BiFeO3-based ceramics and explores their potential in self-powered UV photosensing.

The Combination of Laser and Nanoparticles for Enamel Protection: An In Vitro Study.

Introduction: Dental decay is caused by the fermentation of carbohydrates and the production of acids which demineralize teeth. The fermented food debris lowers the pH under 5.5, resulting in the mineral loss of teeth. Anti-decay factors are used to reduce decay rates and increase dental protection. Methods: Fifteen sectioned teeth samples were immersed in Ag NPs solution and then irradiated with laser pulses. Structures, morphologies, chemical compositions and microhardness were studied using the Vickers micro-hardness tester, energy dispersive x-ray machine, atomic force microscope and scanning electron microscopes. Results: Nine mature extracted human third molars, cleaned and placed in plastic molds then filled with a warm epoxy resin, were sectioned longitudinally and polished. The samples were then cleaned ultrasonically and stored in distilled water and taken immediately one by one for laser treatment. Sharper, overlapping, interconnected rods and higher resistance against enamel decay were demonstrated with little alterations of the mineral percentages of the teeth samples. Conclusion: The combination of laser light and silver annoparticles improved the decay resistance; where regular inter-connected chain-like merged grains were formed. These laser-induced modifications in enamel components have reduced the lattice stress and enamel solubility and improved resistance against decay. The computer model indicated a possible prediction of the laser-treated profile prior to laser treatment.

Enhancing the thermoelectric performance of nanostructured ZnSb by heterovalent bismuth substitution

Eco-friendly Bi substituted ZnSb samples were prepared by a novel hydrogen decrepitation method, followed by consolidation using the cold pressing technique. The structural and morphological analysis of the samples have been carried out by XRD, FESEM and TEM. XRD analysis confirms the phase purity of the ZnSb sample. The presence of secondary phase of Bi was observed in the XRD patterns of Bi substituted Zn1-xBixSb (0.02 ≤ x ≤ 0.06) samples, probably due to low solid solubility limit of Bi in ZnSb alloy. FESEM and HRTEM images revealed the highly inter-connected grain structure and the grain sizes were in the range of 200 nm. The electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient values of Zn1-xBixSb samples were decreased compared to the pristine ZnSb sample. The power factor of Zn0.98Bi0.02Sb sample increased compared to pure sample. The thermal conductivity of Zn1-xBixSb alloys were increased with increasing Bi content (x). As a result, a high ZT of ~0.45 was achieved for Zn0.98Bi0.02Sb sample at 573 K compared to pure ZnSb (0.39). The experimental results demonstrated that bismuth substitution with optimum content is a promising approach to enhance the thermoelectric properties of ZnSb.

Evolution of 3D interconnected composites of high-entropy TiVNbMoTa alloys and Mg during liquid metal dealloying

The high-entropy alloy (HEA) design strategy is effective for ultra-coarsening-resistant 3D interconnected materials developed by liquid metal dealloying (LMD). However, the fundamental understanding of the dealloying mechanism and structural evolution of multi-principal elements 3D structured materials is still missing. In this study, the microstructural evolutions of 3D interconnected HEAs in Mg matrix were investigated using two types of multiphase precursors, namely, arc-melted and homogenized ones. The precursors' microstructure greatly influences dealloying kinetics and dealloying mechanisms what, in its turn, determines the final morphology of the 3D interconnected HEAs in Mg matrix. First, the prior fcc phase was dealloyed faster than any other precursor phases at dealloying temperatures from 600 to 900 °C. Second, the dealloying kinetics was faster along precursor grain boundaries (GB) as compared with grain interior. This led to the formation of a unique layered composite structure due to the inhomogeneous dealloying along the fine lamellars’ GB of the homogenized precursor. Moreover, governing orientation relationship between precursor and dealloying product depends on the LMD conditions, and it significantly affects the 3D interconnected grain structure. The fundamental understanding of the dealloying mechanisms will pave the way for customized morphology design of the 3D interconnected HEAs in metallic matrix with improved thermal stability and physical properties.

Detecting Intergranular Phases in UNS N07725. Part II: Double-Loop Electrochemical Potentiokinetic Reactivation Test Validation

The formation of interconnected grain boundary (GB) phases in precipitation hardening (PH) nickel Alloy 725 (UNS N07725) compromises its mechanical properties and has been linked to hydrogen embrittlement failures. However, normative industry standards such as API 6ACRA are inadequate for differentiating between Alloy 725 batches with a critical extent of GB precipitation, creating the need for a complementary qualification method.In Alloy 725, intergranular phases produce a Cr and Mo depletion adjacent to GBs (i.e., sensitization). In Part I of this work, this impoverishment in Cr and Mo was used as the basis to develop a double-loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation (DL-EPR) test, optimized to quantify the extent of GB precipitation in Alloy 725. Part II explores the reproducibility and sensitivity of the new approach using three new independent commercial batches containing different extents of precipitation. Results were highly reproducible and confirmed the method’s sensitivity to detect small amounts of GB phases. Additionally, the DL-EPR procedure revealed clear microstructural inhomogeneities across the bars’ thickness, which increased with increasing bar diameter. This investigation strongly supports the validity of the new DL-EPR technique as a reliable and straightforward industry-friendly qualification method to quantify the extent of intergranular phases in Alloy 725.

Thermoelectric properties of the lanthanum-doped Ca3Co4O9 prepared by a modified parallel flow co-precipitation method

ABSTRACT An improvement in the thermoelectric properties of calcium cobaltite ceramics (Ca3Co4O9) was demonstrated through a modified co-precipitation method and lanthanum doping. With highly reactive precursors derived from the modified method, the energy consumption was conserved due to an apparent decrease in calcination duration. The conventional sintering produced a layer structure with the interconnected grains and the pores, which simultaneously optimised the thermal and electrical conductivity. The thermoelectric property was improved by the combination of the special morphology and ion substitution. The figure of merit ZT reached 0.205 (600°C) which was a competitive value for polycrystalline Ca3Co4O9 ceramics. The study provided a potential route for scalable production of Ca3Co4O9 ceramics with low energy use and excellent performance.

Effect of Germanium Incorporation on the Electrochemical Performance of Electrospun Fe2O3 Nanofibers-Based Anodes in Sodium-Ion Batteries

Fe2O3 and Fe2O3:Ge nanofibers (NFs) were prepared via electrospinning and thoroughly characterized via several techniques in order to investigate the effects produced by germanium incorporation in the nanostructure and crystalline phase of the oxide. The results indicate that reference Fe2O3 NFs consist of interconnected hematite grains, whereas in Fe2O3:Ge NFs, constituted by finer and elongated nanostructures developing mainly along their axis, an amorphous component coexists with the dominant α-Fe2O3 and γ-Fe2O3 phases. Ge4+ ions, mostly dispersed as dopant impurities, are accommodated in the tetrahedral sites of the maghemite lattice and probably in the defective hematite surface sites. When tested as anode active material for sodium ion batteries, Fe2O3:Ge NFs show good specific capacity (320 mAh g−1 at 50 mA g−1) and excellent rate capability (still delivering 140 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1). This behavior derives from the synergistic combination of the nanostructured morphology, the electronic transport properties of the complex material, and the pseudo-capacitive nature of the charge storage mechanism.

Crustal-Scale Geology and Fault Geometry Along the Gold-Endowed Matheson Transect of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt

AbstractGold in the Abitibi greenstone belt in the Superior craton, the most prolific gold-producing greenstone terrane in the world, comes largely from complex orogenic mineralizing systems related to deep crustal deformation zones. In order to get a better understanding of these systems, we therefore combined new magnetic, gravity, seismic, and magnetotelluric data with stratigraphic and structural observations along a transect in the Matheson area of the Abitibi greenstone belt to constrain large-scale geologic models of the Archean crust. A high-resolution seismic transect reveals that the well-known Porcupine Destor fault dips shallowly to the south, whereas the Pipestone fault dips steeply to the north. Facing directions and gravity models indicate that these faults are thrust faults where older mafic volcanic rocks overlie a younger sedimentary basin. The depth of the basin reaches ~2 to 2.5 km between these two faults, where it is interpreted to overlie mafic-dominated volcanic substrata. Regional seismic and magnetotelluric surveys image the full crust down to 36-km depth to reveal a heterogeneous architecture. Three crustal-scale layers include a resistive (104–105 Ωm) upper crust of granite-greenstone rocks, a low-resistivity (~10–50 Ωm) middle crust dominated by granitic plutons for which low resistivity is attributed to the presence of graphite, and a low to moderately resistive (50–1,000 Ωm) and seismically homogeneous lower crust interpreted as granulite gneisses. The significant resistivity transition between upper and middle crust is interpreted to be the result of interconnected micrographite grain coating, precipitated from carbon-bearing crustal fluids emplaced during Neoarchean craton stabilization. A major subvertical, seismically transparent, and extremely low resistive (<10 Ωm) corridor connects the lower and middle crust with the upper crust. The geometry of this low-resistivity feature supports its interpretation as a deep-rooted extensional fault system where the corridor acted as a regional-scale conduit for gold-bearing hydrothermal fluids from a ductile source region in the lower crust to the depositional site in the brittle upper crust. We propose that this newly discovered whole crustal corridor focused the hydrothermal fluids into the Porcupine Destor fault in the Matheson region.