Low Temperature Environment Research Articles

A fully coupled thermo-mechanical peridynamic model for cracking analysis of frozen rocks

In cold regions, the crack propagation and coalescence behaviors of frozen rocks with ice-filled flaws are very complex. Research on the failure mechanisms of such rock masses is essential to ensure the structural safety of geological engineering in low-temperature environments. Therefore, a fully coupled thermo-mechanical model considering the frost heave effect was constructed using the ordinary state-based peridynamic (OSBPD) theory, and the cracking characteristics of frozen rocks were analyzed. The constitutive equations of the OSBPD model were modified by introducing the coupling term for the thermal-structural interaction and an equivalent pressure density term for frost heave. An improved global convergence criterion was also proposed to achieve a fast convergence to the numerical solution. The correctness and validity of the proposed coupling model were confirmed using several numerical examples. Additionally, the effect of frost heave pressure on the cracking behavior and mechanical properties of frozen rocks was thoroughly discussed. The results show that (a) the frost heave pressure drives the rock to crack along the direction of prefabricated flaws, and (b) the ultimate compressive strength of frozen rocks exhibits a decreasing trend with an increase in frost heave pressure.

Cu/TiO2 adsorbents modified by air plasma for adsorption–oxidation of H2S

In this study, non-thermal plasma (NTP) was employed to modify the Cu/TiO2 adsorbent to efficiently purify H2S in low-temperature and micro-oxygen environments. The effects of Cu loading amounts and atmospheres of NTP treatment on the adsorption-oxidation performance of the adsorbents were investigated. The NTP modification successfully boosted the H2S removal capacity to varying degrees, and the optimized adsorbent treated by air plasma (Cu/TiO2-Air) attained the best H2S breakthrough capacity of 113.29 mg H2S/gadsorbent, which was almost 5 times higher than that of the adsorbent without NTP modification. Further studies demonstrated that the superior performance of Cu/TiO2-Air was attributed to increased mesoporous volume, more exposure of active sites (CuO) and functional groups (amino groups and hydroxyl groups), enhanced Ti-O-Cu interaction, and the favorable ratio of active oxygen species. Additionally, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results indicated the main reason for the deactivation was the consumption of the active components (CuO) and the agglomeration of reaction products (CuS and SO42−) occupying the active sites on the surface and the inner pores of the adsorbents.

A sustainable, high-quality method for machining film cooling holes: Cryogenic airflow-assisted electrochemical discharge drilling

Film cooling hole is an essential part of aero-engines, necessitating without recast layer, no stray corrosion, and high machining efficiency. Its sustainable manufacturing has been at the forefront of industrial focus. Existing machining methods have problems such as low efficiency and environmental hazards. In order to achieve the production requirements of precision, quality, and green simultaneously, an external cryogenic airflow-assisted electrochemical discharge drilling (ECDD) is proposed. Compared with the current electrochemical drilling (ECD) or electrical discharge drilling (EDD), a glycol working fluid with ultra-low conductivity neutralizing salt replaces the high conductivity of acidic solution or spark oil to realize green machining without a recast layer. Compared to existing ECDD, the introduction of cryogenic gas with glycol can significantly reduce stray corrosion and achieve exceptionally high surface quality. In the theoretical part, the influence mechanism of a low-temperature environment on the electrochemical interface was analyzed by using the electrochemical analysis technique. In addition, a multi-physical field simulation model was established, which was finally verified by experiments. Finally, the surface characteristics were analyzed by using TEM. The results demonstrate that the cryogenic environment enhances the passivation effect, as evidenced by a 35% reduction in taper at 258 K and a 28.2% decrease in stray corrosion. The hole side has nano-roughness (Ra 0.512 μm). Notably, the material removal rate does not significantly diminish at low temperatures and achieves 0.1 mm/s, superior to EDD. As there is no need for an additional machining step after drilling, this method proves its characteristic to attain sustainability, efficiency, and high quality, indicating promising application prospects.

Low-Temperature 3D Printing Technology of Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Matrix Conductive Hydrogel Sensors with Diversified Path Structures and Good Electric Sensing Properties.

Novel and practical low-temperature 3D printing technology composed of a low-temperature 3D printing machine and optimized low-temperature 3D printing parameters was successfully developed. Under a low-temperature environment of 0--20 °C, poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix hydrogels including PVA-sodium lignosulphonate (PVA-LS) hydrogel and PVA-sodium carboxymethylcellulose (PVA-CMC) hydrogel exhibited specific low-temperature rheology properties, building theoretical low-temperature 3D printable bases. The self-made low-temperature 3D printing machine realized a machinery foundation for low-temperature 3D printing technology. Combined with ancillary path and strut members, simple and complicated structures were constructed with high precision. Based on self-compiling G-codes of path structures, layered variable-angle structures with high structure strength were also realized. After low-temperature 3D printing of path structures, excellent electrical sensing functions can be constructed on PVA matrix hydrogel surfaces via monoplasmatic silver particles which can be obtained from reduced reactions. Under the premise of maintaining original material function attributes, low-temperature 3D printing technology realized functionalization of path structures. Based on "3D printing first and then functionalization" logic, low-temperature 3D printing technology innovatively combined structure-strength design, 3D printable ability and electrical sensing functions of PVA matrix hydrogels.

Graphite-epoxy composite systems for Joule heating based de-icing

Ice accretion and build-up in low temperature environments are issues plaguing many different branches of the industry. Recently much work has been done into the development of active de-icing systems based on carbon materials and their composites. The following research presents an investigation into graphite/epoxy composite materials made by a simple casting method with cheap materials and scalability potential, intended for de-icing applications based on Joule heating. The examination has been carried out for samples with different amounts of carbon filler using IR thermal imaging to measure sample heating under the influence of electrical current under constant voltage. Measured electrical currents were then analyzed to examine changes in samples' electrical resistance dependent on temperature. Results provide a positive outlook for further experiments and development for this type of material toward its potential application.

In Situ Self-Elimination of Defects via Controlled Perovskite Crystallization Dynamics for High-Performance Solar Cells.

Understanding and controlling crystallization is crucial for high-quality perovskite films and efficient solar cells. Herein, theissue of defects in formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3 ) formation is addressed, focusing on the role of intermediates. A comprehensive picture of structural and carrier evolution during crystallization is demonstrated using in situ grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Three crystallization stages are identified: precursors to the δ-FAPbI3 intermediate, then to α-FAPbI3 , where defects spontaneously emerge. A hydrogen-sulfate-based ionic liquid additive is found to enable the phase-conversion pathway of precursors → solvated intermediates → α-FAPbI3 , during which the spontaneous generation of δ-FAPbI3 can be effectively circumvented. This additive extends the initial growth kinetics and facilitates solvent-FA+ ion exchange, which results in the self-elimination of defects during crystallization. Therefore, the improved crystallization dynamics lead to larger grain sizes and fewer defects within thin films. Ultimately, the improved perovskite crystallization dynamics enablehigh-performance solar cells,achieving impressive efficiencies of 25.14%at 300K and 26.12% at 240K. This breakthrough might open up a new era of application for the emerging perovskite photovoltaic technology to low-temperature environments such as near-space and polar regions.

Effects of Inoculation with Newly Isolated Cold-Adapted Bacteria on Winter Cattle Manure Composting in the Tibetan Plateau

The low-temperature environment of the Tibetan Plateau presents a technical challenge to composting. This study screened cold-adapted microbes with strong degradation ability and selected five strains to experimentally test and evaluate composting cattle manure in a natural environment in the plateau region. The results showed that both the control and the treatment groups had a slow temperature rise at the beginning of the composting. However, after the first turning, the temperature rise in the inoculated group accelerated. The inoculation of cold-adapted bacteria increased the OM loss in the compost by 8.6%, decreased the retention of nitrogen of the compost by 3%, and increased the seed germination index (GI) value from 44.4% to 73.9%. Microbial community structure analysis showed that the relative abundance of Psychrobacter was more than 50% at the beginning of the composting in the two experimental groups. The cold-adapted microbial inoculation increased the diversity of the microbial community, i.e., Truepera and Luteimona, and the abundance of specific microorganisms during the thermophilic and maturation stages. This study demonstrates that inoculation of cold-adapted bacteria improves the maturity and efficiency of cattle manure composting in a natural plateau environment.

A novel dynamic model and simulations on abnormal wear of a space shaft cage worked at low temperature environment

A novel dynamic model is proposed for a space shaft, which is used to analyze the dynamical processes of the cage during movement. The results achieved from variance analysis reveal that the ranges between guide and pocket clearances jointly influence the abnormal wear of the cage. From dynamic simulations and theoretic prediction, optimal ranges of guide distance and pocket clearance very from 365 to 375 µm, and 445 and 460 µm, respectively. The experimental results are in good agreement with those of theoretical and simulated outcomes, making abnormal wear of the cage reduce from 41.3% to 10%. These findings provide new insights to design and manufacture a high-performance space shaft cage to avoid abnormal wear worked at low temperature environment.

Influence of Deicer on Water Stability of Asphalt Mixture under Freeze–Thaw Cycle

In seasonal frozen soil areas, the repeated freeze–thaw cycle of internal moisture in asphalt mixture in winter and spring will accelerate the peeling of asphalt film and aggravate the water damage of asphalt pavement. It is of great significance to carry out the attenuation law of mechanical properties of asphalt mixture under freeze–thaw cycles to prevent and reduce the economic losses caused by water damage to asphalt pavement. This study will investigate the impact of deicer application on the water stability of asphalt mixtures within the climatic conditions prevalent in Northwest China. Specifically, freeze–thaw cycle tests were administered to two types of dense-graded asphalt mixtures under three distinct deicer solutions and three disparate low-temperature environments. The Marshall water immersion test and freeze–thaw splitting test were employed to evaluate the water stability of asphalt mixtures subject to multiple factors, and the relative importance of each factor was statistically analyzed using the acquired data. Results demonstrated that AC-13 and AC-16 asphalt mixtures (AC is asphalt-concrete, which is asphalt concrete, and 13 or 16 represents the maximum particle size of aggregate (13 mm or 16 mm)), saturated in 15% CH4N2O, 20% NaCl, and 20% CH2CH3OH solutions, underwent a varying number of freezing–thawing cycles (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30) at temperatures of −5 °C, −15 °C, and −25 °C, respectively, displayed a discernible decline in their residual stability MS0 and freeze–thaw splitting tensile strength ratio TSR. This decline was particularly marked when temperatures dropped below the solution’s freezing point. Disregarding the fixed factors of weather variation (different low-temperature environments) and road service duration (number of freezing–thawing cycles), the aggregate grading imposed a more pronounced influence on asphalt mixture water stability than the presence of deicers.

Sequential adaptation strategies of SPDA systems to low temperature: EPS mediation and community structure evolution

Temperature stands as a vital factor in the practical application of simultaneous partial-denitrification/anammox (SPDA) systems in mainstream wastewater treatment, thus it is necessary to understand the adaptation strategy of SPDA systems to low temperature. To address this, the potential adaptation of different coupling forms to low temperatures was investigated in a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) and an integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) reactor for 182 days. The results showed that IFAS reactor achieved higher total nitrogen removal rates (TNRRs) at 15 °C (89.67 ± 0.01%) than MBBR system (77.28 ± 0.02%). Nitrogen conversion in the typical cycles showed that PD process was more sensitive to low temperatures than anammox process in SPDA systems. Meanwhile, the significant increase of total extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) content in each biophase and the change of community structure indicated that EPS mediation and community structure evolution in different biophases are two adaptive strategies of SPDA system to temperature decreasing. Biofilm phase tends to produce more EPS to resist the temperature decrease than floc phase. The highly negative relationship between EPS content at 15 °C and the initial temperature of change in community structure (p = 0.036＜0.05, r = -0.964) suggested that microorganisms always tend to resist the adverse environment through EPS mediation first, and then adapt to the low-temperature environment through community structure evolution with the temperature further decreased. This study guided the selection of SPDA coupling system in practical engineering applications, and laid a foundation for efficient biological nitrogen removal at low temperatures.

Design of Superhydrophobic Shape Memory Composites with Kirigami Structures and Uniform Wetting Property.

With the continuous increase in human demand to improve aircraft performance, intelligent aircraft technologies have become a popular research field in recent years. Among them, the deformable skin structure has become one of the key technologies to achieve excellent and reliable performance. However, during the service, deformable skin structures may encounter problems such as surface impact and adhesion of droplets in rainy weather or surface icing in low-temperature environments, which can seriously affect the flight safety of the aircraft. One way to overcome these issues is to use superhydrophobic shape memory materials in the structure. In this regard, first, shape memory composites were prepared with shape memory epoxy resin as the matrix and carbon fiber orthogonal woven fabric as the reinforcement material. Superhydrophobic shape memory composites (SSMCs) were then obtained by casting the kirigami composite with superhydrophobic carbon nanotube-polydimethylsiloxane (CNT@PDMS) mixture, and the surface was processed by laser micromachining. Shape memory performance and surface wetting performance were determined by material testing methods. The results showed that the shape memory recovery rate can reach 85.11%, the surface is superhydrophobic, the average water contact angle is 156.9 ± 4.4°, and the average rolling angle is 3 ± 0.5°. The three-point bending test of the specimens with different kirigami cell configurations showed that the shape memory composite based on the rectangular structure has the best deformability with an aspect ratio of 0.4. From the droplet impact test, it was found that the impact speed of water droplets and the curvature of the surface can greatly affect the dynamic performance of water. This work is expected to be of significant research value and importance for developing functional deformable skin materials.

Influence of lubricating oil circulation characteristics on the performance of electric vehicle heat pump system under low temperature conditions

Electric vehicles frequently employ heat pump systems for winter heating. In winter low-temperature environments, the viscosity of lubricating oil increases, forming an oil film as the refrigerant enters the heat exchanger, consequently impacting the heat transfer efficiency and overall performance of the heat pump system. This paper presents the design and implementation of an experimental heat pump system tailored for electric vehicles. The experimental setup incorporates a specialized device for lubricating oil sampling and an assessment methodology for evaluating heat pump functionality. Under a range of low-temperature conditions, the system underwent comprehensive testing, enabling a detailed analysis and synthesis of the flow characteristics and the influence of lubricating oil within both the heat pump system and the heat exchanger. The results reveal that the oil circulation rate is directly affected by the compressor oil charge, and maintaining the oil circulation rate within the range of 3 %–4 % results in a peak COP of the system. When the ambient temperature is 0 ℃ and the oil filling volume is 200 g, the oil circulation rate is 3.87 %, and the COP can reach 1.93. In addition, as the oil retention in the evaporator increases by 15.67 g, the COP value decreases by 21 %. Similarly, the increase in oil retention in the condenser from 2.43 g to 6.25 g resulted in a corresponding decrease in heat transfer capacity of 0.07 kW/K, leading to an overall deterioration of the system's performance.

Experimental studies and numerical analysis of the dynamic mechanical properties of concrete at low temperatures

Concrete building structures in cold regions are frequently exposed to low-temperature environments and inevitably subjected to impact loads during service. This study aimed to investigate the water–ice phase transformation process of concrete at low temperature and its response to impact loads ranging from 20 °C to −30 °C, using nuclear magnetic resonance and a split Hopkinson pressure bar. Concrete mesoscopic model, with mortar, aggregates, interfacial transition zones (ITZs), and ice particles, was developed to carry out numerical simulation. Under impact loads, the dynamic compressive strength of concrete exhibited an exponential strain rate strengthening effect, with an average increase of 18% at −30 °C compared with 20 °C. Based on the T2 spectrum, bound water in the concrete took up above 80% of the pore water, while 50% of the pore water remained unfrozen at −30 °C. The concrete was primarily damaged by compression, with a tensile damage rate of less than 10%. The damage of each phase material is sensitive to the strain rate, but not to the low-temperature. Numerical simulations of concrete mesoscopic models can be used to analyze the damage evolution and crack propagation mechanisms of concrete at low temperatures, providing a reference for understanding the dynamic failure mechanisms of composite materials.

Physiological, anatomical and quality indexes of root tuber formation and development in chayote (Sechium edule)

BackgroundChayote is an underutilized species of Cucurbitaceae. It is rich in nutrients such as protein, minerals, phenols and its extracts have anti-cardiovascular and anti-cancer effects, making it a versatile plant for both medicinal and culinary purposes. Although research on its root tuber is limited, they are rich in starch and have a structure similar to that of potatoes, cassava, and sweet potatoes. Therefore, they can serve as potential substitutes for potatoes and offer promising prospects as agricultural and industrial resources. However, the physiological and cellular mechanisms of chayote root tuber formation and development are still unclear.ResultsIn this study, we observed the growth habit of ‘Tuershao’ (high yield of root tuber). The results revealed that the tuber enlargement period of ‘Tuershao’ lasts approximately 120 days, with the early enlargement phase occurring during 0–30 days, rapid enlargement phase during 30–90 days, and maturation phase during 90–120 days. Physiological indicators demonstrated a gradual increase in starch content as the tuber developed. The activities of sucrose synthase (SUS) and invertase (VIN) showed a consistent trend, reaching the highest level in the rapid expansion period, which was the key enzyme affecting tuber expansion. Moreover, the special petal like structure formed by the secondary phloem and secondary xylem of the tuber resulted in its enlargement, facilitating the accumulation of abundant starch within the thin-walled cells of this structure. Principal component analysis further confirmed that starch content, SUS and VIN activities, as well as the concentrations of calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), and selenium (Se), were the major factors influencing tuber development. Moreover, the low temperature environment not only promoted the growth of ‘Tuershao’ tubers but also enhanced the accumulation of nutritional substances.ConclusionsThese findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the formation and developmental mechanisms of ‘Tuershao’ tubers, providing valuable guidance for cultivation practices aimed at improving crop yield.

Influence of Low Temperature Plasma Oxidizing on the Bioactivity of NiTi Shape Memory Alloy for Medical Applications.

The present study elucidates the impact of glow discharge oxidation within a low-temperature plasma environment on the bioactivity characteristics of an NiTi shape memory alloy. The properties of the produced surface layers, such as structure (TEM observations), surface morphology (SEM observations), chemical and phase composition (EDS and XRD measurements), wettability (optical gonimeter), and the biological response of osteoblasts and platelets to the oxidized surface compared with the NiTi alloy without a surface layer are presented. The presented surface modification of the NiTi shape memory alloy, achieved through oxidizing in a low-temperature plasma environment, led to the creation of a continuous surface layer composed of nanocrystalline titanium oxide TiO2 (rutile). The findings obtained from this study provide evidence that the oxidized layer augments the bioactivity of the shape memory alloy. This augmentation was substantiated through the spontaneous biomimetic deposition of apatite from a simulated body fluid (SBF) solution. Furthermore, the modified surface exhibited improved osteoblast proliferation, and enhanced platelet adhesion and activation. This proposed surface modification strategy holds promise as a prospective solution to enhance the biocompatibility and bioactivity of NiTi shape memory alloy intended for prolonged use in bone implant applications.

Stable Low-Temperature Al Batteries Enabled by Integrating Polydopamine-Derived N-Doped Carbon Nanospheres With Flake Graphite.

The battery performance declines significantly in severely cold areas, especially discharge capacity and cycle life, which is the most significant pain point for new energy consumers. To address this issue and improve the low-temperature characteristic of aluminum-ion batteries, in this work, polydopamine-derived N-doped carbon nanospheres are utilized to modify the most promising graphite material. More active sites are introduced into graphite, more ion transport channels are provided, and improved ionic conductivity is achieved in a low-temperature environment. Due to the synergistic effect of the three factors, the ion diffusion resistance is significantly reduced and the diffusion coefficient of aluminum complex ions in the active material become larger at low temperatures. Therefore, the battery delivers an improved capacity retention rate from 23% to 60% at -20 °C and excellent ultra-long cycling stability over 5500 cycles at -10 °C. This provides a novel strategy for constructing low-temperature aluminum-ion batteries with high energy density, which is conducive to promoting the practicality of aluminum-ion batteries.

Effects of fermentation chamber temperature on microbes and quality of cigar wrapper tobacco leaves.

The natural fermentation of cigar tobacco leaves usually utilizes natural temperature and humidity for fermentation. Cigars produced in China are often fermented in winter, and the low environmental temperatures can lead to slow heating of the tobacco stack, affecting the cigar tobacco leaves quality. This study aimed to determine the minimum chamber temperature required to initiate the process of fermentation for cigar tobacco leaves and to explore the impact of temperature on the microbial community of tobacco leaves. Here, the cigar variety "Dexue 1" were subjected to stacking fermentation under three temperature parameters (20 ℃, 27 ℃, 34 ℃). With an increase in environmental temperature, the temperature inside the stack of cigar leaves increased significantly, the protein, total sugar, starch, and total alkaloid content in fermented tobacco leaves decreased, and the aroma components and amino acid content increased. Microbial richness and community diversity associated with fermented tobacco were highest at chamber temperatures of above 27 ℃. The relative abundance of Chryseobacterium and Rhodococcus was significantly negatively correlated with protein, alkaloids, total sugar, and starch, and positively correlated with amino acids and aroma components. Chryseobacterium and Rhodococcus may be responsible for the degradation of macromolecular substances and the conversion of favorable aromatic substances, thus improving the tobacco leaves quality. This study demonstrated that increasing the fermentation chamber temperature above 27 ℃ was conductive to raising the inner-stack temperature, increased microbial diversity and aromatic quality, reduced the strength and irritation, and extremely enhanced the overall quality of fermented cigar tobacco leaves. KEY POINTS: • The environmental temperature of the fermentation chamber has a significant impact on the quality of tobacco • Temperature > 27 ℃ can initiate the process of cigar tobacco leaves fermentation and increase inner-stack temperature and microbial diversity and abundance • Chryseobacterium and Rhodococcus may be related to the degradation of macromolecular substances and the transformation of aromatic substances, thereby improving the quality of tobacco leaves.

Fatigue Assessment of Cable-Girder Anchorage Zone in a Low Ambient Temperature Environment Based on Extended Finite Element Method

The fatigue safety of cable-girder anchorage structures in cable-stayed bridges under long-term service has attracted much attention. For bridges located in seasonally cold regions, the effect of low-temperature environments should be considered when evaluating fatigue performance. Using the Heilongjiang Bridge in China as a case study, a room-temperature fatigue test with a numerical simulation that considers the low-temperature effect on both load effect and fatigue resistance was proposed. A fatigue test with increased testing load amplitude was performed on a 1:3.75 ratio specimen. After 3.2 million loading cycles and using an acoustic emission technique, no fatigue crack was observed in the anchorage structure. The extended finite element method was then adopted to analyze the anchorage zone’s fatigue crack initiation position and propagation path. Finally, based on the fatigue characteristics of bridge steel, the fatigue resistance to the crack propagation of the vulnerable area was evaluated under three different service conditions. The results show that the fatigue performance of the anchorage zone at low temperatures is sufficient. Moreover, this paper provides a more widely applicable and cost-effective approach for the fatigue evaluation of steel bridges.

Interfacial Engineering for Efficient Low-Temperature Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells.

Photovoltaic technology with low weight, high specific power in cold environments, and compatibility with flexible fabrication is highly desired for near-space vehicles and polar region applications. Herein, we demonstrate efficient low-temperature flexible perovskite solar cells by improving the interfacial contact between electron-transport layer (ETL) and perovskite layer. We find that the adsorbed oxygen active sites and oxygen vacancies of flexible tin oxide (SnO2) ETL layer can be effectively decreased by incorporating a trace amount of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4). The effective defects elimination at the interfacial increases the electron mobility of flexible SnO2 layer, regulates band alignment at the perovskite/SnO2 interface, induces larger perovskite crystal growth, and improves charge collection efficiency in a complete solar cell. Correspondingly, the improved interfacial contact transforms into high-performance solar cells under one-sun illumination (AM 1.5G) with efficiencies up to 23.7% at 218 K, which might open up a new era of application of this emerging flexible photovoltaic technology to low-temperature environments such as near-space and polar regions.

Mineralization processes at the Daliangzi Zn-Pb deposit, Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou metallogenic province, SW China: Insights from sphalerite geochemistry and zoning textures

The Daliangzi deposit is the second largest Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) Zn-Pb deposit in the Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou metallogenic province (SYG), SW China. However, detailed mineralization processes that occurred at different ore-forming stages and spatial locations are poorly understood. In this contribution, we report LA-ICP-MS trace element spot analysis and elemental mapping of sphalerite to reconstruct the mineralization processes. Three stages of sphalerite (SpI–SpIII) with different colours and crystallographic morphology have been identified in Daliangzi. Generally, the colloform SpI is enriched in Cd, Pb, Ag, Sb, As, and Tl. The crystalline SpII is relatively concentrated in Fe, Cu, Ga, Ge, and Mn. The colourless SpIII is depleted in most of the analysed trace elements. Trace elements were incorporated into sphalerite in various ways. For instance, Ge may be incorporated in the SpI by direct substitution of Ge4+ + □ ↔ 2Zn2+ but via coupled substitution of Ge4+ + 2Cu+↔ 3Zn2+ in the SpII and SpIII, and also can enter the SpIII as Ge-bearing mineral micro-inclusions. The temperature and sulfur fugacity estimations based on the sphalerite trace element contents show that the SpI was precipitated in a high-temperature condition with fluctuating sulfur fugacity. The SpII was crystallized during a dramatic decrease in temperature and sulfur fugacity, while the SpIII was formed in a low-temperature environment at the end of the mineralization. Combined with the growth histories of the typical zoning textures, we inferred that (i) the Cd-rich SpI with colloform texture precipitated from a rapid fluid mixing process triggered by the pulsed ingress of metal-rich fluid in open spaces with abundant organic matter; (ii) the SpII with high Ge content crystallized from a slow fluid mixing process associated with the temperature decrease and low organic matter abundance. Especially, the Ga-rich subtype with typical rhythmic bands formed from a self-organizing process that occurred in a closed environment under the stratigraphic unconformity; (iii) the pure SpIII probably formed by the replacement and recrystallization as late fluids flowed through the early sphalerite generations along fissures.