Substrate Size Research Articles

Modulation of wetting state switching of droplets on superhydrophobic microstructured surfaces by external electric field

HypothesisElectrowetting on conventional dielectrics requires direct fluid-electrode contact to generate strong electric fields at the three-phase contact line to modulate the wetting. Since the electric field alters wetting, the modulation of wetting can be achieved by applying an external electric field through insulated electrodes, preventing the liquid from contacting the electrodes. ExperimentA simple and efficient method for non-contact between the fluid and the electrode external electric field modulation of fluid wetting was proposed. The switching ability of droplets on microgroove surfaces from Cassie-Baxter to Wenzel wetting state under an external electric field was used to drive and quantify the relationship between wetting, contact angle, and the applied voltage. FindingsApplying an external electric field modulates the wetting of deionized water, ionic liquids, and high-viscosity liquids on microgrooves. The wetting degree of liquid can be controlled by adjusting the external voltage parameters. The finite element simulations revealed that the Maxwell force drove this process. The effects of substrate size and liquid properties on wetting behavior were also examined. Post-application cross-sectional imaging showed the formation of a conformal interface, highlighting the relevance of the proposed method in advanced adaptive shape fabrication and microfluidic control, among other applications.

Effect of β phase size on the microstructure of thermally grown oxide in water vapor atmosphere at 1100 °C

The arc-melted and vacuum-casted CoNiCrAlHf alloys with a 7YSZ top coat were designed to develop a protective alumina scale at 1100 °C in water vapor content. Arc-melted CoNiCrAlHf alloys provided substantial improvements in oxidation resistance. In this work, the oxidation behavior and void distribution of thermally grown oxide (TGO) formed on CoNiCrAlHf alloys were analyzed. The Al2O3 crystal structure and void distribution were studied as a function of the grain size of the CoNiCrAlHf substrate. Numerous voids developed in the oxide scale, and coarse HfO2 particles segregated at the Al2O3 grain boundaries of vacuum-cast CoNiCrAlHf alloys. The uniformly distributed HfO2 particles prevented void formation in the oxide scale. As a result, the phase transformation of Al2O3 was effectively impeded in water vapor.

First description of redds of the only non‐introgressed population of a critically endangered salmonid in a stream vulnerable to droughts

AbstractLocation, dimensions, substrate and depth of the redds of the only non‐introgressed population of the critically endangered Mediterranean trout Salmo cettii Rafinesque 1810 were investigated over 2 days, in January–February 2021, in a reach located in the headwaters of Tellesimo stream, Sicily. The habitat type (pool, riffle and glide) was identified for all the 13 redds observed; lengths, widths, depths and substrate size were measured in a sample of them. Eighty‐five percent of the redds were located in pools and 15% in glides; no redd was found in riffles. The median total redd length was 80 cm (range: 43–580 cm; n = 11), and the median total area was 0.20 m2 (range: 0.01–2.09 m2; n = 11). The median size of dominant substrate in pot was 0.65 cm (range: 0.20–2 cm) and in tailspill 1.25 cm (range: 0.50–2.00 cm). Redds were found at median water depth of 27.5 cm (range: 12–98 cm). These results represent the first description of the characteristics of the spawning nests of this autochthonous salmonid.

Enhancing the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials of mulberry-derived postbiotics through submerged fermentation with B. subtilis H4 and B. amyloliquefaciens LFB112

Mulberry-derived postbiotics (MDP) have been scientifically proven to possess beneficial properties for human health, making them potential nutraceuticals. This study aims to enhance the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of MDP via submerged fermentation with Bacillus subtilis H4 (H4) and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens LFB112 (LFB112) bacterial strains. Our results demonstrated compelling evidence that the combination of two strains with the optimized time (24 h), inoculum size (8%), and substrate size (10%) significantly increased the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activities. When compared to the non-fermented mulberry (NFM), the MDP with the above-optimized conditions showed substantially higher antioxidant activities such as DPPH, 2,2′-Azino-bis (3-ethylebenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), hydroxyl scavenging activities, and reducing power capabilities. Moreover, the MDP showed a significant decrease in the lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in RAW264.7 cells. The antibacterial assays such as minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) showed that MDP possesses antibacterial activity against various pathogenic bacterial strains with the lowest MIC recorded as 32.5 mg/ml against S. pullorum CVCC519, while the highest MIC observed was 40 mg/ml against P. aeruginosa. The lowest and highest MBCs observed were 40 and 55 mg/ml against S. aureus ATCC43300 and S. pullorum CVCC519 respectively. Furthermore, the MDP showed good ant-inflammatory activities by significantly reducing the nitric oxide (NO) concentration (p<0.0001) and mRNA expression of the proinflammatory cytokines in response to the LPS-induced inflammation in the RAW264.7 macrophage cell line. To sum up, our findings indicate that MDP as a novel postbiotics can be utilized both as a functional food and a safe feed additive, possibly benefiting gut and metabolic health.

Dual-band ends-fed dipole-like driver for dual-band antenna arrays

The article addresses the problem of dual-band structure designs based on the quasi-Yagi arrangements. The reported dual-band dipole antenna comprises the out-of-phase power divider, whose outputs excite the corresponding dipole arms to produce appropriate surface current distribution on them. The topology of the antenna itself is designed the way to provide high matching (the realized input reflection coefficient is not exceed minus 25 dB) at both central working frequencies. The low-band dipole is meandered to fit the substrate size. In addition, both the dipoles are excited on their remote terminals, which allows the more efficiently use of the circuit body space. The low profile implementation contributes to meeting the high demands of today and future wireless communications. The fundamental properties of linear dipole antennas, such as the Yagi, of being relatively simple in design, pure linearly polarized, having almost omnidirectional patterns made them of the great interest among researches. In addition, the Yagi arrangement itself allows building on its base even more complex antenna structures, comprised a number of linear dipoles, maintained along one of orthogonal axis. When centrally fed, the classical single-band Yagi antenna suffers from narrow band characteristics, becoming a kind of challenge, which has successfully been addressed by a number of researches in the past. At the same time, on the base of Yagi and quasi-Yagi designs it is possible to combine a number of radiating elements, producing, therefore, multi-band or wideband characteristics. This approach is highly efficient when designing multipurpose devices with different transmitting rates. In this project the novel approach for dual-band dipole antennas design is presented. The driven elements are excited from their remote terminals, forming the quasi-Yagi arrangement with untraditional excitation. The balancing scheme is formed by an out-of-phase power divider, whose outputs are connected to the dipoles arms. The topology of the antenna itself is designed to provide high matching (input reflection coefficient does not exceed minus 25 dB) at both center operating frequencies. When integrating a dual band balancing unit with the radiating elements it is crucial to provide low interference for better radiation characteristics. Besides, the surface currents on the ground plane, should not affect those on the radiating elements for better matching.

Window[1]resorcin[3]arenes: A Novel Macrocycle Able to Self-Assemble to a Catalytically Active Hexameric Cage.

The hexameric resorcin[4]arene capsule has been utilized as one of the most versatile supramolecular capsule catalysts. Enlarging its size would enable expansion of the substrate size scope. However, no larger catalytically active versions have been reported. Herein, we introduce a novel class of macrocycles, named window[1]resorcin[3]arene (wRS), that assemble to a cage-like hexameric host. The new host was studied by NMR, encapsulation experiments, and molecular dynamics simulations. The cage is able to bind tetraalkylammonium ions that are too large for encapsulation inside the hexameric resorcin[4]arene capsule. Most importantly, it retained its catalytic activity, and the accelerated conversion of a large substrate that does not fit the closed hexameric resorcin[4]arene capsule was observed. Thus, it will help to expand the limited substrate size scope of the closed hexameric resorcin[4]arene capsule.

Environmental DNA mitochondrial markers to assess potential occupancy of Endangered Yaqui catfish in the Yaqui River basin, Mexico

Acquiring data on rare and threatened species can be challenging, particularly in remote areas. Environmental DNA (eDNA) offers a less effort-intensive method for detecting species compared to physical fish sampling methods. In our study, we focused on the Endangered Yaqui catfish Ictalurus pricei, a freshwater fish endemic to the Sonoran desert in Arizona, USA, and Sonora, Mexico, and the non-native channel catfish I. punctatus. We developed and employed mitochondrial eDNA markers to sample 35 locations in the Yaqui River basin in Mexico and employed a hierarchical Bayesian formulation of a co-occurrence model to investigate the interactions between the species while accounting for the effects of covariates on species occupancy and detection. Our best model included the influence of channel catfish mitochondrial eDNA on detecting Yaqui catfish mitochondrial eDNA, and we found that channel catfish mitochondrial eDNA detection was negatively related with water temperature and elevation but positively related to substrate size. Yaqui catfish occupancy, as determined with mitochondrial eDNA detection, was best explained by stream permanence and the presence of forested areas, while channel catfish mitochondrial eDNA occurrences were also associated with stream permanence, as well as conifer and shrub-dominated landscapes. Non-native channel catfish mitochondrial eDNA was found in all but 5 locations where Yaqui catfish mitochondrial eDNA was detected, indicating a high likelihood of interaction and hybridization. This potential for hybridization poses a significant threat to the already Endangered Yaqui catfish, emphasizing the need to protect and secure remaining populations for their long-term survival.

Variables influencing stream‐type juvenile Chinook Salmon density within floodplain habitat in the Skagit River basin, Washington

AbstractObjectiveDespite decades of restoration work, Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in the Pacific Northwest remain under the protection of the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). Chinook Salmon in the Skagit River basin play a vital role in the abundance and recovery of the Puget Sound Chinook Salmon Evolutionarily Significant Unit, which is currently listed as threatened under the ESA. The stream‐type juvenile (STJ) life history pattern of Chinook Salmon in the Skagit River has higher ocean survival to the adult stage (i.e., productivity) than that of parr or fry out‐migrants, and improvement in STJ Chinook Salmon habitat could increase abundance and diversity in the Skagit River basin. Our objective was to provide recommended ranges of variables shown to influence habitat selection in floodplains by STJ Chinook Salmon.MethodsUsing field observations from 70 sites within the Skagit River basin, we developed generalized linear mixed‐effects models across three seasons in floodplain habitats to correlate variable ranges with densities of STJ Chinook Salmon.ResultModel accuracy varied by season (summer: R2 = 0.24; winter: R2 = 0.56; spring: R2 = 0.54), and significant parameters included velocity, substrate, depth range, and distance to the closest connection with the main stem. Additional significant factors included wood cover, maximum water temperature, velocity range, and interaction of the ranges of velocity and depth. Recommended ranges for habitat variables associated with the highest densities of STJ Chinook Salmon include depths of 40–68 cm, velocities of 0.06–0.33 m/s, substrate sizes of 3–36 mm, and distances of 33–119 m to the main‐stem connection. Water temperatures associated with high juvenile densities varied by season (winter: 4–6°C; summer: 9–14°C).ConclusionOur recommended ranges for habitat variables can be used to refine designs for river restoration projects intended to improve habitat for juvenile Chinook Salmon and other salmonids in the Pacific Northwest.

Effect of Grain Structure of Gold Plating Layer on Environmental Reliability of Sintered Ag-Au Joints.

Gold-plated substrate is widely used in sintering with silver paste because of its high conductivity, stability, and corrosion resistance. However, due to massive interdiffusion between Ag and Au atoms, it is challenging for sintered Ag-Au joints to maintain high reliability. In order to study the effect of grain structure of gold plating layer on the environmental reliability of sintered Ag-Au joints, we prepared four substrates with different gold structures. In addition to the original gold structure (Au substrate), other gold structures were obtained by heat treatment at temperatures of 150 °C (Au-150 substrate), 250 °C (Au-250 substrate), and 350 °C (Au-350 substrate) for 1 h. Compared with the other three gold substrates, the sinter jointed on the Au-350 substrate obtained the highest shear strength. By analyzing the grain structure of the gold plating layer, it is found that the average grain size of the Au-350 substrate is the largest, and the proportion of low-angle grain boundaries is less. Few grain boundaries have a positive impact on inhibiting the excessive diffusion of Ag atoms and improving the bonding performance of the joint. Based on the above study, we further evaluated the environmental reliability of sintered joints. In 150 °C high-thermal storage, the interdiffusion of Ag and Au in the sintered joint on the Au-350 substrate was restricted, retaining stronger bonding until 200 h. In a hygrothermal environment of 85 °C/85% RH, the shear strength of the sintered Ag-Au joint with the Au-350 substrate maintained above 40.2 MPa during 100 h aging. The results indicated that the sintered Ag-Au joint on the Au-350 substrate with the largest grain size has superior high thermal reliability and hygrothermal reliability.

Influence of sand grain size on the nest escape of green sea turtle hatchlings

Sea turtle hatchlings rely on their finite energy reserve to sustain embryonic development in underground nests and during the first few days of their post-hatch life, including nest escape, beach crossing, and swimming offshore. This study aimed to investigate if the grain size of the nest substrate has an impact on green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) hatchlings’ energy usage during nest escape. About-to-hatch green sea turtle eggs were incubated in laboratory chambers filled with either coarse-grain sand (φ = 0.507 phi) or fine-grain sand (φ = 2.028) at a temperature of 28oC. Open-flow respirometry was used to measure the hatchlings’ oxygen consumption rate during nest escape, which was then converted to energy consumption values. Results showed that hatchling morphology, hatching success, emergence success, and synchronous emergence rate were not significantly different between the groups of hatchlings in coarse versus fine sand. Hatchlings that dug through coarse sand emerged significantly faster (168 ± 13.9 h) than those in fine sand (233.21 ± 12.6 h) (t (26) = –3.473, p = 0.002). Additionally, the hatchlings in coarse sand (310.55 ± 28.1 kJ) consumed significantly less energy than hatchlings in fine sand (474.85 ± 64.7 kJ) (t (17.739) = –2.328, p = 0.032). A difference in amount of energy reserve upon emergence was detected between coarse and fine sand groups. To improve hatchery management practices, relocating “doomed” clutches into coarse sand (φ = 0.507) could potentially maximise the hatchlings’ energy reserve.

Design, Cultivation, and Acoustic Analysis of a Building-Sized Mycelium Sculpture

Abstract This paper describes novel computational design, simulation, and fabrication techniques employed in the production of a large sound-absorbing sculpture called Phoenix, made entirely from mycelium-composite materials (myco-materials). Myco-materials are composites made of lignocellulosic agricultural waste fibers bound by fungal mycelium and are produced at commercial scale as alternatives for plastics, insulation foam, or styrene. Mycelium composite materials have known acoustical properties that can be tuned according to variables such as growing time, substrate type, substrate size, and density. The fabrication method for producing the Phoenix sculpture revisits how we build performative and formal complexity in the most economic and sustainable way. The results indicate the potential for grown materials to be used in retrofit projects, allowing rooms to be customized in various acoustical situations, such as music or speech.

Ponto-Caspian amphipod co-location with zebra mussel beds (Dreissena polymorpha) is influenced by substrate size and population source

The global spread of non-native species is leading to an increasing frequency of multiple co-occurring non-native species. We examined the co-occurrence of the bivalve mollusc Dreissena polymorpha (zebra mussel) with three Ponto-Caspian amphipods (Dikerogammarus villosus, Dikerogammarus haemobaphes, and Chelicorophium curvispinum) across England and Wales in association with in-situ substrate size. For all three amphipod species, substrate grain size where amphipods co-occurred with D. polymorpha was significantly finer than when recorded in isolation. Subsequently, we confirmed this via aquarium experiments. We examined the occurrence of D. villosus with D. polymorpha when present with cobbles, gravel, or sand from three population sources (co-location with abundant D. polymorpha populations, co-location with low populations, and naïve). Experiments demonstrated that D. villosus actively sought shelter on or near D. polymorpha, with their co-location being significantly more prevalent in finer grained substrates (sand > gravel > cobble). The strength of this co-location differed by population source, with those co-located with high D. polymorpha densities demonstrating a greater association. Our analyses and experiments indicate that D. polymorpha may facilitate Ponto-Caspian amphipod establishment in otherwise suboptimal locations, whereby mussel shells provide favourable structural habitat for the amphipods, analogous to the presence of coarse-grained benthic sediment.

Solution-Processable Large-Area Black Phosphorus/Reduced Graphene Oxide Schottky Junction for High-Temperature Broadband Photodetectors.

2D materials-based broadband photodetectors have extensive applications in security monitoring and remote sensing fields, especially in supersonic aircraft that require reliable performance under extreme high-temperature conditions. However, the integration of large-area heterostructures with 2D materials often involves high-temperature deposition methods, and also limited options and size of substrates. Herein, a liquid-phase spin-coating method is presented based on the interface engineering to prepare larger-area Van der Waals heterojunctions of black phosphorus (BP)/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) films at room temperature on arbitrary substrates of any required size. Importantly, this method avoids the common requirement of high-temperature, and prevents the curling or stacking in 2D materials during the liquid-phase film formation. The BP/RGO films-based devices exhibit a wide spectral photo-response, ranging from the visible of 532 nm to infrared range of 2200 nm. Additionally, due to Van der Waals interface of Schottky junction, the array devices provide infrared detection at temperatures up to 400 K, with an outstanding photoresponsivity (R) of 12 AW-1 and a specific detectivity (D*) of ≈2.4×109 Jones. This work offers an efficient approach to fabricate large-area 2D Schottky junction films by solution-coating for high-temperature infrared photodetectors.

Micro-hexapod robot with an origami-like SU-8-coated rigid frame

AbstractIn recent years, many microrobots have been developed for search applications using swarms in places where humans cannot enter, such as disaster sites. Hexapod robots are suitable for moving over uneven terrain. In order to use micro-hexapod robots for swarm exploration, it is necessary to reduce the robot’s size while maintaining its rigidity. Herein, we propose a micro-hexapod with an SU-8 rigid frame that can be assembled from a single sheet. By applying the SU-8 coating as a structure to the hexapod and increasing the rigidity, the substrate size can be reduced to within 40 mm × 40 mm and the total length when assembled to approximately 30 mm. This enables the integration of the micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) process into small and inexpensive hexapod robots. In this study, we assembled the hexapod with a rigid frame from a sheet created using the MEMS process and evaluated the leg motion.

Ligand-Assisted self-assembly of colloidal Ag2S nanoparticles

Over the last decade, great attention of researchers has been focused on nanoscale self-assembly due to increasingly technology-relevant applications. Pattern formation by colloidal droplet evaporation is one of the fascinating subjects to study. A deep understanding of physical and chemical processes of the deposited structure formation allows the development of bioprinting methods, nanoarchitectures for optics and electronics, methods for detecting the state of peptides, proteins, etc. In the present work, the effect of organic ligands (MPS, BSA, GSH, EDTA, TG) on Ag2S NP self-assembly during solution droplet evaporation was investigated. The synthesis conditions were optimized to minimize or neglect the contribution of surface roughness, substrate thermal conductivity, NP shape and size, type of solvent. Properties of a stabilizer, such as molecular length, reactivity, tendency to polycondensate or chelate, and their relative concentration affect the nanoparticle–nanoparticle interactions, which results in several types of pattern formation. The dominant forces in different regions of the evaporated droplet via ligand were discussed. The models of pattern formation were proposed. Thus, depending on the ligand, Ag2S NPs tend to form rings (MPS, BSA), concentric rings (BSA), net like structures (TG), and chains (MPS, TG). In addition, it was shown that replacing water with deuterium can significantly change self-organized architectures.

The growth mechanism of Co atoms on Cu substrates

The growth mechanism of Co atoms on Cu atomic substrates was studied by molecular dynamics simulation with large scale atomic/polar massively parallel simulator (LAMMPS). The embedded atom method (EAM) potential was used to investigate the growth processes of Co atoms on different Cu atom configurations. The growth process of Co on Cu substrate was carefully observed. It was found that Co atoms preferentially grow on the (100) facet on the Wulff configuration. To find out under what conditions the core-shell structure is better formed, the number of Cu atoms adsorbed on the surface and the number of Co atoms entering the interior were calculated as a function of the number of deposited atoms. The Wulff configuration was found to be more favorable for the growth of Co atoms on the Cu substrates. And the effect of the size of the Cu substrate on the growth of the Co atoms was also investigated. The results show that the larger the size of the Cu substrate, the more unfavorable the core-shell structure formation. In addition, the effect of temperature on growth was also analyzed. It was found that the higher the temperature, the more unfavorable the growth.

Biofilms on plastic litter in an urban river: Community composition and activity vary by substrate type.

In aquatic ecosystems, plastic litter is a substrate for biofilms. Biofilms on plastic and natural surfaces share similar composition and activity, with some differences due to factors such as porosity. In freshwaters, most studies have examined biofilms on benthic substrates, while little research has compared the activity and composition of biofilms on buoyant plastic and natural surfaces. Additionally, the influence of substrate size and successional stage on biofilm composition has not been commonly assessed. We incubated three plastics of distinct textures that are buoyant in rivers, low-density polyethylene (rigid; 1.7 mm thick), low-density polyethylene film (flexible; 0.0254 mm thick), and foamed polystyrene (brittle; 6.5 mm thick), as well as wood substrates (untreated oak veneer; 0.6 mm thick) in the Chicago River. Each material was incubated at three sizes (1, 7.5, and 15 cm2 ). Substrates were incubated at 2-10 cm depths and removed weekly for 6 weeks. On each substrate we measured chlorophyll concentration, biofilm biomass, respiration, and flux of nitrogen gas. We sequenced 16S and 23S rRNA genes at Weeks 1, 3, and 6 to capture biofilm community composition across successional stages. Chlorophyll, biomass, and N2 flux were similar across substrates, but respiration was greater on wood than plastics. Bacterial and algal richness and diversity were highest on foam and wood compared to polyethylene substrates. Bacterial biofilm community composition was distinct between wood and plastic substrates, while the algal community was distinct on wood and foam, which were different from each other and polyethylene substrates. These results indicate that polymer properties influence biofilm alpha and beta diversity, which may affect transport and distribution of plastic pollution and associated microbes, as well as biogeochemical processes in urban rivers. This study provides valuable insights into the effects of substrate on biofilm characteristics, and the ecological impacts of plastic pollution on urban rivers. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Plastic physical and chemical properties act as forces of selection for biofilm. Biofilm activity was similar among three different types of plastic. Community composition between plastic and wood was different.

Influence of substrate size and morphology on skeletobiont assemblages: a case study from the Middle Devonian brachiopods of Morocco

Influence of substrate size and morphology on skeletobiont assemblages: a case study from the Middle Devonian brachiopods of Morocco

Stereolithographic Process for Embedding of Electronic Components into Multi-material Flexible and Stretchable Polymer Substrate to Reduce Stress During Stretching

The integration of rigid electronic components into stretchable materials is a complex challenge due to contrary material properties. This paper shows a novel approach for the embedding of electronic components into flexible and stretchable polymer substrates using a stereolithographic process that leads to stress reduction during stretching. The key factor is the multi-material printing with various elastic material properties. The paper shows a miniaturized packaged component (e.g. 0201 LED) in a flexible and stretchable substrate based on three different materials. The first material has rigid properties (stiffness 42.25 N/mm) and surrounds a small area of the LED with about 500 μm peripheral frame. The main purpose of this material is to round up the sharp edges of the LED to the next material. The second material is more elastic (stiffness 0.11 N/mm) and surrounds the first embedded LED. The purpose of the implementation of the second intermediate material is to spread the load between the LED and stretchable substrate caused by stretching. The third material has even higher elastic properties (stiffness 0.05 N/mm) and builds up the main part of the stretchable substrate (size of (4.5x34) mm2). After the fabrication of the multi-material substrate with the embedded LED, horseshoe conductive traces are screen printed with conductive paste. Finally, the embedded LED substrate with the conductive traces is cured at 125 °C. The final stretchable substrate with the embedded LED was able to stretch up to about 25 % for 30 cycles without disturbing the electrical function.

Enhancing mechanical performance of Al0.3CoCrFeNi HEA films through graphene coating: insights from nanoindentation and dislocation mechanism analysis

The present study comprehensively elucidates the nanoindentation response of graphene-coated Al0.3CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy (HEA), by investigating the underlying mechanism of dislocation nucleation and propagation on the atomic level. In this regard, a series of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of nano-indentation is performed over various configurations of pristine and graphene coated Al0.3CoCrFeNi HEA substrates. To begin with, the MD simulation-derived Young’s modulus (158.74 GPa) and hardness (13.75 GPa) of the Al0.3CoCrFeNi HEA is validated against the existing literature to establish the credibility of the utilized simulation method. The post-indentation deformation mechanism of pristine Al0.3CoCrFeNi HEA is further investigated by varying substrate size, indenter size, and indentation rate, and the materials behaviour is evaluated based on functional responses such as Young’s modulus, hardness, and dislocation density, etc. In the following stage, graphene coated Al0.3CoCrFeNi HEA is nano-indented, resulting in much greater indentation forces compared to pure HEA substrates, indicating higher surface hardness (two-fold increase when compared to pristine HEA). The underlying deformation mechanism demonstrated that inducing graphene coating results in increased dislocation density and a more extensive, entangled dislocation network within the HEA substrate, which leads to strain-hardening. The combination of increased hardness, enhanced strain hardening, and prevention of pile-up effects suggests that Gr-coated HEA substrates have the potential to serve as surface-strengthening materials. The scientific contribution of this study involves extensively unveiling the deformation mechanism of graphene coated Al0.3CoCrFeNi HEA substrate on the atomic scale, which will pave the way for a bottom-up approach to developing graphene coated engineered surfaces.