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• The process parameters are determined through trial runs based on the bead height and width of single-bead geometry. • The grain boundary wetting transion (GBWT) is depicted by SEM image to identify incomplete and complete wetting transition. • A precipitation-hardened matrix has formed, resulting in reduced ductility in the top portion of the deposited sample. • The laves and δ phases of the deposited samples are investigated by SEM analysis, and the EBSD γ phase is identified. • The grain growth occurs when Ni elements are added to the laves and delta phases of the deposited samples. The current research work deals with the investigation of mechanical, wetting transition on grain boundary (GB) and metallurgical properties of Inconel 718 alloy used in aerospace industrial applications. The fabrication of thin-wall structure (multilayer structure) is fabricated using wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) technique. The novelty of this method is that gas metal arc welding (GMAW) is used as energy source and cold metal transfer (CMT) is used as mode of droplet transfer. Four tensile samples are extracted asper ASTM E8/E8M standards and three microstructure samples are extracted from thin wall structure. Optical microscopy (OM), SEM, EDAX, and EBSD analysis were carried out. In addition, Hardness and tensile tests, as well as fractography analysis were conducted. The grain boundary wetting transition (GBWT) analysis is also carried out. SEM analysis reveals that Nb-rich MC-type carbide contains grain boundaries of droplets, indicating incomplete wetting. Laves and delta (δ) phases are also identified as liquids of a continuous layer separated by Ni elements, indicating complete wetting. EBSD analysis indicates the average grain size as 251.2 μm. The average value of micro hardness as 417.3 HV and UTS as 609.75 MPa are achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• C /Al composite with high EM shielding properties (75 dB) is prepared by a simple rolling process. • C/Al composite is ultralight (density ∼ 1.1 g/cm3). • C/Al composite is highly conductive (1.3 × 106 S/m, specific conductivity 1.13 × 103 Sm2/kg). • C/Al composite also demonstrates high mechanical property with the tensile strength of 95 MPa. In this report, we demonstrate a convenient method to successfully fabricate carbon/aluminium(C/Al) composites by creating a good interface between carbon nanotube (CNT) sheets and Al materials. To enhance the conductivity of carbon matrix, we employ physical and chemical compaction, together with gold-doping techniques to the carbon nanotube sheets. The morphology, structure and properties of C/Al composites are characterized by SEM, Raman spectrum, tensile test, and vector network analysis. The results show that the density of the successfully prepared composite is only 1.1 g/cm3. The tensile strength reaches 95 MPa. The conductivity can reach 1.3 × 106 S/m, and the specific conductivity is 1.13 × 103 Sm2/kg, and the electromagnetic (EM) shielding properties in the X-band (8.2–12.4 GHz) can reach 75 dB, which present fascinating aspect in the shielding application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The porous properties (size distribution) of claystone and cement mortar were analysed by NMR T 2 spectroscopy. • Three-dimensional pore matrix models of claystone and cement mortar were reconstructed based on CT identification techniques. • The pore matrix models reconstructed in 3D based on CT were accurately located and identified in the IIZ. The interfacial influence zone (IIZ) is a weak link between cast-in-situ cement materials and bulk geological materials. Identifying IIZ is essential for studying binary structure's mechanical properties. This paper aims to locate the IIZ of a clay rock-cement mortar (C-C) binary by macro-pore distribution in space using CT and NMR tests. First, the porous properties of clay rock and cement mortar were analyzed by the T 2 spectrum of the NMR test. Mortar's macro-pore volume is larger than clay rock's. Second, the 3D pore-matrix models of these two materials were reconstructed., with larger porosity in mortar than clay rock, consistent with NMR tests. Therefore, the method of pore location using 3D reconstructed models based on CT images may be reliable. Finally, a pore-matrix model of the C-C binary was reconstructed, and the IIZ was identified by pore distribution. The IIZ shape is an approximately ellipsoidal area with thin ends and thick middle, with a max thickness of 8 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel Ag/G/Cu multilayer composite substrate was obtained by ultrasonic action. • Effect of graphene interlayer on the Raman signals of substrates was investigated. • The fabricated composite substrate shows high SERS sensitivity to R6G. Graphene-mediated surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates are currently being investigated for their potential in ultrasensitive detection. Graphene (G) combined with plasmonic metal nanostructures is expected to provide an exceptional SERS response. Here, we prepared a flexible multilayer composite structure by directly decorating silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on CVD graphene/copper foil under ultrasonic conditions. Due to the multi-dimensional plasmonic coupling of precious metals, extra chemical enhancement and exceptional molecule harvesting capability of G interlayer, the as-prepared Ag/G/Cu multilayer composite structure manifested ultrahigh sensitivity with the detection limit of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) as low as 1.0 × 10-14 M and a high enhancement factor (EF) of 8.86 × 108. The high performance flexible SERS substrate, with its ingenious process and simple structure, demonstrates excellent potential for applications in environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Various oxide precursors were used to coat SiO particles, which were then subjected to high-temperature sintering to form composites. • The oxide cladding has a good rigid shell and suppresses the volume expansion effect of the SiO material. • The discharge capacities of SiO@SiR and SiO@TiR reached 1105.62 mAh g−1 and 994.09 mAh g−1, respectively, after 100 cycles, demonstrating excellent cycling stability. Silicon monoxide (SiO) has gained popularity as an anode material for next-generation lithium-ion batteries due to its high theoretical specific capacity, moderate operating potential (0.4 V), low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, its large volume expansion (200 %) during charging and discharging, along with low electrical conductivity, limits its application. SiO@X composites with different cladding coatings were prepared. The results show that the composites with Si and Ti additions have discharge capacities of 1105.62 mAh g−1 and 994.09 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles, respectively, and their capacity retention rates are significantly greater than those of the other three composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Micro-encapsuled composite spheres were fabricated by spray-drying. • The influence of composition on structure and property was studied. • Anisotropic conduction was demonstrated and mechanism was disclosed. A novel micro-encapsuled composite spheres was fabricated by multi-step process combining with chemical modification, physical deposition as well as spray-drying technique. The microstructure, morphology and compositions were comprehensively investigated. The optimized micro-encapsuled spheres were applied to construct epoxy resin-based anisotropic conductive film (ACF). The dielectric shell of the micro spheres was capable of disintegration under pressure, resulting into electric pathways. The transition from dielectric state to anisotropic conductive state was demonstrated for the microsphere-containing ACF epoxy resin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bi 2 O 2 Te nanowires were grown via Au-catalyzed vapor–liquid-solid, solving challenge of fabricating 1D Bi 2 O 2 Te. • Growth of Bi 2 O 2 Te nanowires is influenced by crystal structure, Au nanoparticle distribution and liquid–solid interface dynamics. • This process transitions 2D Bi 2 O 2 Te to 1D and can unlock new properties. To address the growing demand for high-performance 1D nanostructured semiconductors, this study reports on the directional growth of Bi 2 O 2 Te nanowires facilitated by a Au nanoparticle-catalyzed vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) process. We reveal how the growth of Bi 2 O 2 Te nanowires is directionally influenced by the crystallographic orientation of the material and the dynamics at the liquid–solid interface, presenting the process's ability to transition the intrinsic properties of 2D materials into 1D nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• RGO layer composite Cu/Ag metal mesh transparent heater (TH) was prepared. • The RGO/mesh composite structure showed a sheet resistance as low as 1.45 Ω/sq. • A temperature of 150 ℃ was achieved by applying a voltage of 1.8 V to the TH. • It exhibited excellent heating performance and temperature uniformity. A novel transparent heater (TH) composed of reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/metal mesh with enhanced heating performance and temperature uniformity, was prepared by thermal reduction in a tube furnace. The synergistic effect between the RGO layer and Cu/Ag mesh effectively improved the electrical properties of the RGO/mesh composite structure. Consequently, the TH demonstrated an efficient electrothermal performance (stable response temperature of 150 °C at 1.8 V) and more uniform surface temperature distribution. This work contributes to the development of composite TH devices for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In situ conversion of CNTs/Ti to TiC/Ti. • Constructed a two-scale laminated titanium matrix composite. • Strength increased by 18.8%, while plasticity remained almost unchanged. In this research, a novel strategy for improving titanium alloy strength while maintaining ductility is proposed. A laminar structure of titanium matrix composites on both macroscopic and microscopic scales has been obtained by in-situ reaction combined with spark plasma sintering (SPS), which consists of pure titanium layers and in-situ TiC layers. In particular, the in-situ TiC layer, which has a "brick and mortar" structure, is formed by the reaction of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) with flaky titanium powder.Results show that the two-scaled laminate composite exhibits exceptional strength/ductility synergy, with significantly increased yield strength (+127.32 MPa compared to pure Ti) while maintaining a commendable ductility of 23.2 %.This research proposes a practical strategy to achieve a balance between strength and ductility through the synergistic effect of multiple structures in titanium matrix composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The effect of heat treatment on the diffusion layers of laminated composites was investigated. • The formation of solid solution and intermetallic layers at the interfaces of metal strips. • Diffusion controlled mechanism for brass and interface controlled mechanism for intermetallic compounds were dominated. • 11% difference of the thickness for the calculated diffusion layer with the actual thickness. In this study, the effect of heat treatment on the laminated Mg/Zn/Cu/Al composite produced by accumulative roll bonding (ARB) was investigated. For this purpose, interfacial microstructural formed during the heat treatment were investigated. The results showed that with increase in both temperature and time, the diffusion layers (DLs) grew. The brass, (Al,Cu), and (Mg,Zn) layers created that is related to the diffusion and interface migration. The growth of the brass layer was diffusion controlled and the growth of the (Al,Cu), and (Mg,Zn) layers were mixed controlled. In both of them, chemical compositions were changed and new phases created as DLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A series of perpendicularly magnetized TbFeCo films with MgAl 2 O 4 capping are fabricated. • Lower Tcomp and reduced Ms is observed in TbFeCo with MAO capping. • An antiferromagnetic coupling is witnessed in TbFeCo/MAO structures. • A large exchange energy density of ∼ 0.5 erg/cm2 is obtained. We investigate MgAl 2 O 4 (MAO) capping effects on the magnetic properties of TbFeCo films. Compared with TbFeCo films, a shift of compensation point to lower temperatures together with significantly reduced saturation magnetization is found in the case of MAO capping. An antiferromagnetic exchange coupling is observed in TbFeCo/MAO structures. This can be well explained by a double layer model with opposite phases. An exchange energy density of ∼ 0.5 erg/cm2 is obtained, which is comparable but lower than that of TbFeCo bilayers with opposite phases. Our findings may be useful for developing ultrathin TbFeCo/MAO heterostructure-based spintronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The mesoporous TiO 2 film was chlorinated by HCl solution and first applied in perovskite solar cells. • It is the first time that the properties of the interface layer between TiO 2 and perovskite are regulated by HCl solution. • The efficiency of C-PSCs based on HCl aqueous solution treated m-TiO 2 layer increased by 7.96 %. • The C-PSCs based on chlorinated TiO 2 have an excellent stability on a large square of 1 cm2. Printable HTM-free (HTM = hole-transporting material) mesoporous carbon-based perovskite solar cells (C-PSCs) are one of the most promising technologies. In this study, a high-quality chlorinated mesoscopic TiO 2 (m-TiO 2) film was obtained by hydrochloric acid (HCl) wet chemical process and applied in C-PSCs based on TiO 2 /ZrO 2 /(5-AVA) x (MA) 1-x PbI 3 /C structures. Experimental results show that the PCE of chlorinated m-TiO 2 C-PSCs greatly improved. Based on (5-AVA) x (MA) 1-x PbI 3 , C-PSCs with TiO 2 ETL treated with HCl aqueous solution achieved an average photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 9.36 %, which is an increase of 7.96 % in comparison with the efficiency of the device using unmodified TiO 2 ETL, while the V oc and the J sc were increased by 3.63 % and 2.63 %, respectively. In a 30-day aging test, C-PSCs based on (5-AVA) x (MA) 1-x PbI 3 and TiO 2 -HCl 1 exhibited excellent stability under ambient air conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Electrochemical degradation TBP by a Ti/SnO 2 -Sb/F-PbO 2 electrode was proposed. • Removal was achieved of 82.4 % in 80 min with an energy efficiency of 82.6 g kWh−1. • A possible mechanism for the electrochemically degradation of TBP was provided. • Three kinds of degradation behaviors were observed. A Ti/SnO 2 -Sb/F-PbO 2 electrode was applied to electrochemically oxidize tributyl phosphate (TBP). Under the optimal conditions, TBP removal reached 82.4 % in 80 min with an energy efficiency of 82.6 g kWh−1. This method overcame some TBP biodegradation's flaws such as narrow initial treating concentrations range and time- consuming. The degradation energy efficiency of our method ranges from 34.4 g kWh−1 to 379 g kWh−1 at different initial concentrations (0.5–5.0 g/L), which is also far higher than that of a previous electrochemical treatment of TBP (0.13 g kWh−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel multilayer skin model was fabricated with electrospun membranes. • It has better physical properties similar to real skin than paraffin film for microneedle insertion performance evaluation. • OCT was used to compare the accuracy of the models. The preparation of nanofiber materials by electrospinning and the fabrication of microneedle arrays patch for medical and cosmetic purposes using polymer materials are hotspots in the basic and applied research of materials science in recent decades, showing a bright future. However, the mechanical strength of polymer microneedles is relatively weak, and the performance of piercing the skin determines their effectiveness and reliability. A novel multilayered fibrous membrane prepared by electrospinning has been developed with similar mechanical properties to those of real skin, which is made of interwoven elastic fibers. It can replace real skin and exhibits more accuracy, simplicity, and rapidity for in vitro evaluation of microneedle insertion properties compared to some other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bilayer perovskite heterojunction TSCs. • Design and engineering of PSCs in the tandem architecture. • Comparative discussion on single junction and TSCs. • Novel opportunities and future directions. This featured letter comprehensively examines the rapidly evolving field of bilayer perovskite heterojunction tandem solar cells. Developing high-efficiency solar cell technologies has become paramount, with a growing emphasis on renewable energy sources. Bilayer perovskite tandem solar cells have arisen as a promising solution, capitalizing on the advantages of perovskite materials and tandem architecture. This featured letter begins by explaining the fundamental principles underlying bilayer perovskite solar cells, subsequently exploring the design and engineering of heterojunctions within the tandem architecture. It navigates through key advancements in materials synthesis, device fabrication, and optimization strategies, offering insights into the cutting-edge techniques and challenges faced in this growing field. Through a detailed analysis of the current state-of-the-art and prospects, this article provides an invaluable resource for researchers, scientists, and engineers dedicated to advancing the frontiers of solar cell technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • N-doped 1T-2H MoSe 2 /N doped carbon paper was fabricated by a low-temperature nitrogen plasma strategy. • N doping along with 1T phase into the 2H-MoSe 2 can expose more active edge sites and improve electrical conductivity. • N-MoSe 2 /NCP-30 only needs an overpotential of 274 mV to reach −200 mA cm−2 with Tafel slope of 54.7 mV dec-1. Molybdenum selenide (MoSe 2) is considered to be a promising catalyst for seawater hydrogen evolution, but its catalytic activity falls far short of requirements due to its inert surface. Here, self-supported N-doped 1T@2H-MoSe 2 /N doped carbon paper (N-MoSe 2 /NCP) was fabricated by a novel low-temperature nitrogen plasma strategy. In alkaline simulated seawater, the optimized N-MoSe 2 /NCP-30 only requires an overpotential of 274 mV to reach −200 mA cm−2 with Tafel slope of 54.7 mV dec-1, and exhibits stability over 24 h. This work proposes that the introduction of 1 T phase and N dopant into 2H-MoSe 2 using low-temperature plasma strategy can significantly facilitate the exposure of abundant active edge sites and boost the conductivity of MoSe 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The composite coating demonstrates outstanding anti-corrosion performance. • The FG and SiC fillers were incorporated into the PFA coating in layers. • The multi-layered composite coating improves abrasion resistance by 46.2%. • The composite coating is suitable for protecting industrial flue gas heat exchangers. The corrosion and abrasion performance of flue gas heat exchangers is a prominent research focus in the field of industrial flue gas waste heat recovery. In this study, we have developed a multi-layered composite coating containing fluorographene and carborundum fillers, which exhibits excellent anti-corrosion and wear-resistant properties. Electrochemical and abrasion experiments demonstrate that the multi-layered composite coating effectively improves both the corrosion resistance and the mechanical properties of the material. The structure and preparation of this multi-layered composite coating provide a novel approach for design and application of advanced coatings for highly corrosive and dusty flue gas waste heat recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A plasmonic sandwich nanostructure has been designed and prepared. • Large third-optical susceptibility has been achieved. • Laser power as low as 0.1 mW is used. We designed an optical structure comprising plasmonic and dielectric materials that exhibits large third-order optical susceptibility and low-power consumption. Finite-difference time-domain simulation results were used to select tightly-packed gold nanosphere (AuNS) film, indium tin oxide (ITO) films, and gold (Au) thin film to construct AuNS/ITO/Au sandwiched nanostructures. Local-field enhancement factors up to 425 and large third-order optical susceptibility (χ(3)) with an amplitude order of 4.4 × 10−2 esu were achieved under an excitation power of 0.1 mW. These χ(3) results are exceptionally high, thereby rendering AuNS/ITO/Au a promising material for future applications in optical switches and related nonlinear optical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The mechanical performance is improved by the introduction of MXene nanosheets. • The ILSS of the composite containing 2 wt% MXene is improved by 55.58%. • The composite displays outstanding mechanical stability. • The failure modes are fiber debonding, matrix fracture, and fiber breakage. Currently, poor mechanical properties limit the application of composite, especially the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS). Herein, this work employed a simple atomization deposition and co-blending method to introduce reinforcing phase on the interface and in the matrix, and then the unique multilayer-structured composites were fabricated by the technology of layer-by-layer assembly and hot-pressing. Benefiting from the presence of mechanical interlocking, hydrogen bonding, and van der Waals forces, the MXene on the interface and inside the matrix can both improve the ILSS of the composite. Specifically, when 0.5 wt% MXene nanosheets are deposited on the interface, the ILSS of the composite is increased by 21.41 %, and when 2 wt% MXene nanosheets are further introduced into the epoxy, the ILSS of the composite is improved by 55.58 %, reaching 59.96 MPa. Moreover, the ILSS of the composites shows good mechanical stability even after 30 days of storage. Besides, the failure modes of the composite were investigated, mainly including fiber debonding, matrix fracture and fiber breakage. This work adopts a facile and effective approach to prepare composites with excellent shear performance, which can provide more possibilities for the development of composites with high mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Functionally graded unidirectionally solidified (FGDS) Al-33Cu eutectic alloy was produced. • The mean interlamellar spacing and the volume fraction of eutectic Al 2 Cu were controlled in centrifugal casting. • The hardness of FGDS Al-33Cu eutectic alloy gradually decreased from 183 HB to 155 HB in 75 mm section length. To produce a functionally graded and directionally solidified (FGDS) structure, an Al-33Cu eutectic alloy has been centrifugally cast into a bar-shaped steel mold using a vacuum centrifugal casting system. Uni-dimensional cooling was performed to obtain directional solidification. Microstructural characterizations were carried out on the longitudinally sectioned cast bar along the solidification direction. Results showed that the Al 2 Cu eutectic lamellar spacing varied between 0.32 µm and 1 µm from the outer region to the inner region of the cast bars along a 75 mm distance. Centrifugal casting has resulted in microsegregation of copper concentration in a range between 55.8 % and 53.9 % from the outer region to the inner region, respectively. Similarly, the volume fraction of the Al 2 Cu eutectic has also varied between 45.3 % and 53.7 %. This leads to a significant variation in the hardness of the FGDS Al-33Cu eutectic alloy from 183 HB to 155 HB from the outer region towards the inner region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The NCM-2N2Z material is prepared by a one-step hydrothermal method. • Reduction of lithium-nickel mixing by Na+ doping. • ZrO 2 coating improves material electrochemical properties. • NCM-2N2Z has high specific capacitance and good cycling stability. In this paper, the high nickel ternary precursor Ni 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 (OH) 2 is prepared by the hydrothermal method, and the high nickel ternary cathode material LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 is produced by adding LiOH calcination. The effects of Na+ doping and ZrO 2 -coating co-modification on the crystal structure, microscopic morphology, and electrochemical properties of high nickel ternary cathode materials are explored. The results show that the discharge-specific capacity of the co-modified cathode material doped with 2 % Na+ and capped with ZrO 2 reaches 221.5 mA·g−1, and the capacity retention rate is still as high as 96.4 % after 100 cycles of charging and discharging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• AZO/Ti/Ag/AZO thin films were prepared by magnetron sputtering at PET substrates. • The near-infrared transmittance was improved by inserting an untra-thin Ti layer. • The conductivity and surface roughness were improved by inserting the Ti layer. • The transmittance of 80.3 % and 61.7 % in 400–1100 nm and 400–2000 nm was achieved. Multilayer thin films of titanium-embedded Al-doped ZnO/Ag/Al-doped ZnO (AZO/Ag/AZO) structures have been designed and deposited onto polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates to develop an indium-free transparent flexible electrode. The effect of Ti layer on the morphological, structural, optical and electrical properties of multilayer thin films was investigated. The insertion of ultra-thin Ti layers enhances the near-infrared transmittance of AZO/Ag/AZO thin films, widens the spectral transmission window of AZO/Ag/AZO thin films, and improves the conductivity and surface roughness of AZO/Ag/AZO thin films. As the Ag thickness increases from 8 nm to 12 nm, the sheet resistance of the AZO/Ti/Ag/AZO thin film decreases from 16.22 Ω sq-1 to 7.17 Ω sq-1. AZO/Ti/Ag/AZO with an Ag thickness of 8 nm exhibits excellent optoelectronic properties with an average transmittance of 80.3 % and 61.7 % in the wavelength range of 400–1100 nm and 400–2000 nm, as well as a sheet resistance of 16.22 Ω Sq-1. It is demonstrated that AZO/Ti/Ag/AZO multilayer flexible films have great potential in various fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sol-gel is taken to prepare NBT-based thin film capacitor with higher η. • The crystallinity and energy storage performance are highly relevant to the concentration of negatively charged defects. • Internal stress affects the polarization behavior of heterostructure thin films. In this paper, Na 0.5 Bi 0.5 TiO 3 (NBT), Na 0.5 Bi 0.5 (Ti 1-x Fe x)O 3 (x = 0.02, 0.03, 0.04), and Na 0.5 Bi 0.5 Ti 0.97 Fe 0.03 O 3 /(Na 0.5 Bi 0.5 Ti 0.99 Zr 0.01 O 3 /Na 0.5 Bi 0.5 Ti 0.98 Zr 0.02 O 3 /Na 0.5 Bi 0.5 Ti 0.97 Zr 0.03 O 3) (abbreviated as NBFT/NBZ x T) heterostructures were prepared on top-to-bottom Pt/Ti/SiO 2 /Si substrates by the sol–gel method. All films exhibit a pure chalcogenide structure. When 3 % Fe3+ was doped into the pure NBT film, an energy storage efficiency (η) of 49.74 % was obtained. The NBFT/NBZ x T heterostructure was further constructed with an energy storage efficiency of 65 %, attributed to the local nonhomogeneity induced by the Zr4+ concentration difference, which formed a relaxing ferroelectric and delayed the saturation polarization. From the experimental results, NBT-based ferroelectric thin films have great application prospects in the field of energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • CoFe 2 O 4 /Bi 2 MoO 6 metal oxide was prepared by mechanochemical/calcination reaction. • The results showed successful synthesis of this product with flake like morphology. • A good photocatalytic ability with removal efficiency of 98% obtained to remove RhB organic dye. The synthesis of CoFe 2 O 4 /Bi 2 MoO 6 nanoparticles and its components is reported via a mechanochemical procedure followed by calcination treatment. The results revealed successful formation of the product with a non-uniform flake-like morphology and average particles size of 47 nm. The particulate morphologies with average sizes of 60 and 20 nm were also identified for Bi 2 MoO 6 and CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles. Photocatalytic properties of the products were studied on the degradation of Rhodamine Blue (RhB) as an organic dye contaminant from aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. The results indicated a good removal efficiency of 98 % by nanocomposite. It was found Bi 2 MoO 6 plays a main role in photocatalytic performance while magnetic CoFe 2 O 4 provides a simple and easy way for separation and recovery of the employed photocatalyst from aqueous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Tea polyphenols form protective layers on the surface of solid materials. • The cheaper and more readily available coating of tea polyphenols than PDA. • The bioinspired tea polyphenols modification of energetic crystals were prepared. TP has similar advantages to dopamine and can form hydrogen bonds with energetic materials, enhancing interfacial interactions and achieving desensitization. In this study, RDX@TP and HNIW@TP were successfully prepared using TP as desensitized shells. The results indicated that the thermal decomposition temperature of RDX@TP and HNIW@TP increased by 4.4℃ and 11℃ respectively. Moreover, the impact sensitivity of RDX@TP and HNIW@TP decreased by 1.63 times and 2 times respectively. These findings demonstrate the successful application of TP as desensitized shells in energetic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The functionally graded composite slabs (FGCS) exhibit enhanced penetration and crack resistance. • The FGCS target is fabricated by one-time grouting cast to achieve improved interfacial bond. • A reduced perforation limit is observed for the FGCS target under in-service bullet impact. This study develops functionally graded composite slab (FGCS) by a one-time grouting approach based on the design concepts of ultra-high performance fibre reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) and two-stage concrete (TSC). The anti-penetration performance of the FGCS targets is investigated against 7.62 mm in-service bullets with shooting velocity of 843 m/s. The results show that while the TSC target presents superior bullet penetration resistance, it concurrently poses a significant threat of widespread cracking damage. Upon weighing the factors of bullet penetration and risk of cracking, the FGCS emerges as a more viable candidate for protective structures. The FGCS target is cast through a one-time grouting method, and there is no interface delamination under the projectile impact. The optimized FGCS exhibits enhanced in-service bullet impact resistance and a reduced safety thickness of 80 mm compared to the normal UHPFRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Inexpensive ammonium metatungstate for synthesis of WS 2 is used. • Composite film with microcavity and nanofilm inside is formed. • The graphene-WS 2 composite presented fast lithium insertation/deinsertation. • The structure of the composite can be modified by the ratio of graphene to WS 2. In this study, the water-evaporation-induced assembly of a graphene oxide-ammonium metatungstate hydrate multilayer film was developed. After chemical reduction and high-temperature sulfurization, a graphene-WS 2 composite nanofilm with microcavities was obtained. When evaluated as an anode material in a lithium-ion battery, the graphene-WS 2 sample (precursor graphene oxide/WS 2 mass ratio of 1:4) exhibited high initial specific capacity (∼980 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1), optimal cycling performance (∼450 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.1 A g−1), and superior rate capability (∼300 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1). The graphene/WS 2 mass ratio influenced the contact between WS 2 and graphene and the porous nanofilm structure facilitated the kinetics of lithium-ion diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A facile hydrothermal method was used to prepare 1T-WS 2 nanosheets. • High adsorption activity and ultrafast adsorption rate for MB was achieved by WS 2. • WS 2 adsorbents showed excellent acid and alkali-resistant, heat resistant properties. • The ultrasound played an important role in boosting the fast adsorption process. The 1T-WS 2 semiconductors were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method and characterized by a series of technologies. The WS 2 adsorbents showed excellent adsorption performances (210.2 mg/g) and ultrafast adsorption rate (2 min) toward methylene blue (MB) under ultrasound. The high adsorption capacity was attributed to its multilayer structure and large surface area, which provided more easily accessible adsorption sites for MB. Moreover, the adsorption capability of this material exhibited satisfactory tolerance against the changes in both pH and adsorption temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bi 4 O 5 I 2 was successfully fabricated by adding low dosage of KI. • Visible light could be efficiently utilized using Bi 4 O 5 I 2 with biomimetic nanorose structure. • Bismuth-rich can improve the reduction/oxidation ability. • Bi 4 O 5 I 2 degraded 92.3% RhB, showing 4 times higher than that of pure BiOI. A facile chemical precipitation has been successfully developed to fabricate nanoflake BiOI (1.259 g) by adding 1:1 M ratio of Bi (NO 3) 3 ·5H 2 O and 4 mM KI into the mixture of ethylene glycol and distilled water. Interestingly, with addition of 2 mM KI, bismuth-rich oxyiodide (Bi 4 O 5 I 2 , 0.848 g) with nanorose-shaped structure was obtained. In addition, after the collecting the precipitation of Bi 4 O 5 I 2 , the extra 2 mM KI was added in solution, 0.406 g of BiOI (named as BiOI-S) was produced. The quality of the obtained Bi 4 O 5 I 2 and BiOI-S with each 2 mM KI addition is similar as the one step fabrication method using 4 mM KI. The synthesized hierarchical structure Bi 4 O 5 I 2 with nanorose-shaped shows higher band gap energy (1.9 eV) than that of BiOI (1.7 eV), and higher specific surface area (36.9 m2 g−1) than that of BiOI (28.1 m2 g−1). Therefore, Bi 4 O 5 I 2 nanorose-shaped showed superior photo-catalytic performance and degraded 92.3% of rhodamine B, which was 4 times faster than that of the pure BiOI. Our work may provide a facile strategy for efficient photocatalytic activity application in the treatment of water pollution via controlled KI addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel copper/bronze laminate was skillfully fabricated by diffusion welding. • Enhanced impact toughness with a value of ∼151.3 J/cm2 was obtained. • The well-bonded interfaces play an important role in impact energy absorption. • The evolution of its fracture mechanism was systematically elucidated. In this work, a novel copper/bronze laminate was skillfully fabricated by diffusion welding. The impact resistance of such coarse-grained laminate was evaluated by Charpy notched impact testing and the evolution of its fracture mechanism was systematically elucidated. The well-bonded transition interfaces can effectively inhibit crack initiation and propagation under high impact loads. The enhanced impact toughness was achieved from delamination of heterostructured interfaces, which consumed high impact energy. Simultaneously, the coarse-grained copper/bronze layers can consume a large amount of impact energy via undergoing coordinated plastic deformation during the impact process. Consequently, this work broadens the enhancement methods on the mechanical performance of metallic materials by a new structural design strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PMP host is a hierarchically structural functional Janus composite. • PMP host is prepared using a simple LBS method. • PMP-S cathode can immobilize lithium polysulfides physically and chemically. • PMP-S cathode achieves long cyclic life and excellent rate performance. A facile and effective strategy is proposed to fabricate high-performance Li-S battery cathodes with a hierarchically structural Janus host composed of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and polyethyleneimine (PEI). The MWCNTs act as conductive skeleton for physical confinement of S and the PEI can chemically immobilize the S/lithium polysulfides. Benefiting from synergistic effects of the multifunctional host, the cathode can load with high S and simultaneously achieves excellent reversible capacity and outstanding rate performance. For instance, the capacity remains around 500 mAh g−1 even after 350 cycles at 0.2 A g−1 with a capacity decay of only 0.12% per cycle. Even at a higher rate current of 1 A g−1, the per cycle capacity decay is only 0.1% within 160 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The pyramid shape influence the stress mode on magneto-electric (ME) device. • Changing the morphology, the device performance can be improved about 28%. • This L-T mode can be used as a new design concept of magneto-electric device. To investigate the influence of the stress conduction mode on the voltage output of the magnetoelectric (ME) device, the structure of the traditional L-T type ME device was modified. The new L-T coupling mode has been mainly considered the two-phase interaction forces between ferroelectric and ferromagnetic materials not only have normal stress but also shear stress. As a comparison, the textured and polished silicon wafers were used as the substrates of the AlN/Fe-Ga ME devices. The AC magnetic field was applied along the length of the device, the voltage outputs of textured ME device were 10.29 mV, 9.92 mV, 20.53 mV higher than that of polished ME device at three non-resonant frequencies 513.37 Hz, 1.13 kHz, and 5.13 kHz, respectively. Compared with polished ME device under the same condition, the voltage outputs of textured ME device were enhanced significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We proposed a conceptual 3D coculture model based on collagen hydrogel microsphere (CHM) with removable superparamagnetic alginate coating (Alg-Mag-CHMs). The removable coating was added onto the surface of micro-sized CHM via layer-by-layer assembly technique. After culture, Alg-Mag-CHMs could be rapidly separated in the magnetic field and the coating could be removed in mild conditions. • Superparamagnetic alginate (Alg-Mag) coated collagen microspheres for 3D cell culture. • The thickness of Alg-Mag coating is tailorable with different number of layers. • The Alg-Mag coating is non-cytotoxic and prevents inner cell leakage. • The Alg-Mag microspheres can be rapidly separated from a mixture by magnetic field. • The Alg-Mag coating can be easily removed to retrieve the inner sample. Coculture models have long been used in cell and tissue engineering studies. The direct contact model normally offers excellent cell-cell interactions, but difficult to separate the two cell types after coculture. The non-contact model offers a good cell separation, but the long cell-cell distance limited the cell interactions. This study proposed a conceptual 3D coculture model based on collagen hydrogel microspheres (CHMs) with removable superparamagnetic alginate coating (Alg-Mag-CHMs) to offer a minimal distance and easy separation. The Alg-Mag-CHMs fabrication was achieved using layer-by-layer encapsulation. The thickness could be tailored by applying different numbers of coating layers. Alg-Mag-CHMs had a denser alginate hydrogel shell, which prevented the risk of cell leakage. After mixture, Alg-Mag-CHMs could be rapidly separated in magnet field and the coating could be easily washed off. This study presented proof of concept data of a non-contact 3D coculture model that offered many useful features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Amorphous GeTe/cubic Sb 2 Te 3 supperlattice-like structure films were fabricated. • Supperlattice-like structure improved the thermal stability of cubic Sb 2 Te 3. • Interface influenced the phase transformation and thermodynamical stability. Abstract We fabricated the amorphous GeTe/cubic Sb 2 Te 3 supperlattice-like structure films by the radio frequency sputtering, and demonstrated the stability of cubic Sb 2 Te 3 could be strengthened. The competition between interface energy and phase transformation energy resulted in the thermodynamical stability at the nanoscale. The presented design approach opens the doors for the stabilization of metastable phase, and sheds new insights into the role of interfaces in materials synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Spin-valve with non-collinear magnetic easy axes between Co and Ni is fabricated. • Both positive and negative magnetoresistance are obtained in Co/Cu/Ni spin-valve. • The inverse sign of magnetoresistance is due to multi-step magnetization reversal. Abstract We studied the magnetoresistance effects in Co/Cu/Ni spin-valves with magnetic fields along different in-plane directions. When the magnetic easy axis directions of Co and Ni layers are parallel, only typical positive magnetoresistance effects were discovered. Interestingly, a magnetoresistance sign inverse was discovered in the spin-valve with different magnetic easy axis directions between Co and Ni layers. This anomalous behavior may be related to the multi-step magnetization reversal processes in these materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Graphene composite was used to prepared multilayer structure for microwave absorbing. • The multilayer absorber possesses a gradient index of characteristic impedance. • Characteristic impedance was tailored by graphene content and rod width of unit cell. • The seven-layer absorber achieved an absorption above 90% in 4.5–40 GHz. • 3D printing process was used to fabricate the complex structure. Abstract An ultra-broadband electromagnetic (EM) absorber composed of composite metamaterials was designed, fabricated and characterized. Polylactic-acid/reduced graphene oxide (PLA/RGO) composites with different amounts of RGO were prepared as a primary material collection. To provide good impedance matching and efficient wave attenuation, the multilayer absorbers were designed with a gradient index (GRIN) of characteristic impedance by manipulating the RGO content and the geometric parameters of the unit cell. The absorbers with different numbers of layers were fabricated by a material extrusion process, and then the reflection loss (RL) of the prepared samples was measured. Results showed that the methodology for designing a metamaterial absorber with gradient impedance and fabricating through a 3D printing process was effective in producing ultra-broadband absorbers. The seven-layer absorber achieved an absorption above 90% in a broad bandwidth of 4.5–40 GHz. This work could provide inspiration for upgrading the performance of some conventional absorbing composites through a rational design of the composite proportion and structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Near strain free PZT thin film was deposited on a Si wafer. • Lattice strain was controlled by designing a buffer layer structure. • Near strain-free PZT thin film has almost identical properties to those of the bulk ceramics. Abstract Chemical solution deposition (CSD)-derived near strain-free lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin films on a Si substrate were prepared by designing a buffer layer structure. Strain-free PZT thin films with different compositions ranging from Zr/Ti = 50/50 to 58/42 were obtained to demonstrate lattice strain effects on piezoelectric properties. Results show that a near strain-free condition was attained with a SrRuO 3 (SRO: 160 nm)/(La 0.5 ,Sr 0.5)CoO 3 (LSCO: 90 nm)/LaNiO 3 (LNO: 120 nm)/stacking structure, even on a Si substrate. The highest effective d 33 value of the near strain-free PZT thin film was observed at 53/47 composition, which is the same as bulk materials, although the highest effective d 33 value was obtained from 58/42 composition under the compressive lattice strain condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Structural representation, cycling stability and corresponding Coulombic efficiency of Co 3 S 4 @C@MoS 2 and Co 3 S 4 @MoS 2 at 0.2 A/g. Highlights • Co 3 S 4 @C@MoS 2 possessed hollow rhombic dodecahedral shape heterostructures. • Co 3 S 4 @C@MoS 2 anode showed excellent cycling lifespan and rate performance. • Co 3 S 4 @C@MoS 2 anode have high reversible specific capacity. Abstract Transition metal chalcogenides as a promising anode material with high theoretical capacity has attracted more and more attention. This thesis focuses on a facile method to synthesize hollow Co 3 O 4 encapsulated by carbon layers (Co 3 O 4 @C) with polydopamine as precursor, after reacting with thioacetamide and (NH 4) 6 Mo 7 O 24 ·4H 2 O, hollow rhombic dodecahedral shape Co 3 S 4 @C@MoS 2 heterostructures are successfully fabricated and employed as the anode of lithium-ion battery. Benefiting from the typical layered structure of Co 3 S 4 @C@MoS 2 heterostructures, the stability and capacity have been significantly improved, with a high capacity of 672.6 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at the current density of 0.2 A g−1. The excellent electrochemical properties of hollow Co 3 S 4 @C@MoS 2 heterostructures are ascribed to the consolidate of Co 3 S 4 , carbon and MoS 2 , and the stability of the composite structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Copper surfaces with nanowires, microflower and nanowire/microflower hierarchical structures were fabricated. • Etching time and etching solution played key roles in the formation of multi-level structures and the formation of wettability. • Surface composition and morphology exerted a significant influence on wettability. Abstract Copper surfaces, with nanowire, microflower and nanowire/microflower hierarchical structures, were fabricated by a simple and convenient one-step approach without any further treatment. Variation of fine structure, composition, surface roughness and wettability on copper surfaces with etching time and etching solution was systemically investigated. Results revealed that with a little difference in etching time, wettability could change a lot, from high hydrophobicity to superhydrophilicity. What's more, the mechanism of difference in wettability of copper surfaces, etched by different concentrations of etching solution, was clarified. Surface composition and morphology were in the wettability of copper surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • A layered V-10Ti-5Cr/Zr-2.5Nb/V-10Ti-5Cr hybrid was obtained by HPT. • HPT resulted in a "mixing" of the zirconium alloy layer with vanadium alloy layers. • A mixed nanostructure consisting of elongated grains was formed in the layers of the hybrid. • Partial amorphization in the zirconium alloy layers of the hybrid was found. Abstract A layered metallic hybrid material based on vanadium and zirconium alloys was obtained by high pressure torsion (HPT) at room temperature. HPT of the initial three-layer V-10Ti-5Cr alloy/Zr-2.5Nb alloy/V-10Ti-5Cr alloy billet resulted in a "mixing" of the zirconium alloy layer with vanadium alloy layers. A mixed nanostructure consisting of elongated grains (fragments) with a width of 40–50 nm was formed in the zirconium/vanadium alloy layers of the hybrid. Partial amorphization in the zirconium alloy layer of the hybrid material was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Zinc ions were successfully incorporated into CsPbBr x I 3-x assisted by Cs 4 PbI 6. • Zinc alloyed red perovskite exhibited broadened energy bandgap with improved PLQY. • The pure-red device with zinc alloyed perovskite showed increased EL performance and stability. B-site doping is an effective strategy to alleviate Pb toxicity and improve the optical properties of mixed halide perovskite. Assisted by zero-dimensional (0D) Cs 4 PbI 6 , the zinc ion was successfully incorporated in the CsPbBr x I 3-x using facile in-situ solution process and the energy bandgap was enlarged to the pure red region (λ ∼ 636 nm). The Zn-alloyed Cs(Zn y Pb 1-y)Br x I 3-x perovskite film exhibited smoother surface with an improved PLQY of 37.2% than the unalloyed perovskite. Due to the reduction of less conductive 0D perovskite phase, the PeLEDs presented better carrier transport characteristics with evidently improved brightness of 4518 cd/m2. The Cs(Zn y Pb 1-y)Br x I 3-x PeLEDs also exhibited improved efficiency and superior working stability (T50 @100 cd/m2 ∼ 1.75 h) in comparison to the CsPbBr x I 3-x PeLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu-hemin@IR780 nanocomposites were synthesized by a green method. Compared with Cu-hemin, the photothermal ability of Cu-hemin@IR780 under NIR is significantly improved, and the antibacterial activity is greatly enhanced under the synergistic effect with CDT. [Display omitted] • Cu-hemin@IR780 with multilayer nanosheets structure was successfully synthesized. • The nanosheets has the ability to catalyze the production of ·OH. • The nanosheets has excellent photothermal conversion performance. • The nanosheets integrates peroxidase and photothermal properties to achieve synergistic sterilization. The increasing drug resistance of bacteria due to the inappropriate use of various antibiotics has become an ongoing public health problem around the world. In this work, a novel Cu-hemin nanosheet with multilayer structure was synthesized by a simple green method. Integrating the peroxidase properties of hemin with the excellent photothermal conversion performance of IR780, the as-prepared Cu-hemin@IR780 can not only effectively catalyze hydrogen peroxide to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), but also has a highly efficient and stable photothermal effect for sterilization. The antibacterial efficiency against MRSA can reach up to 98.96% by using chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) for synergistic sterilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Flexible TPU is modified by different conductive nanoparticles. • Porous foam sensors with good durability, high sensitivity and excellent lightweigh. • Bidirectional sensing performance achieved by a simple asymmetric sandwich structure. • Adjustable by the structure and performance of the inner and outer layers. Cantilever sensors are widely used in many application areas due to their bidirectional sensing performances. In this paper, we propose a bidirectional cantilever sensor with asymmetric sandwich structure via the simple low-temperature template casting and freeze-drying methods. The high sensitivity TPU porous foams are embedded in the low sensitivity foams, which changes the conductivity and sensitivity of asymmetric sandwich structure in different bending direction. Here, direction of the deformation in the cantilever beam can be detected by the piezoresistive behaviors. The results of the experiments demonstrate the asymmetric sandwich structure cantilever sensor exhibits good flexibility, excellent stability, rapid response speed, and remarkable bidirectional sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A metallurgical AlCuTiVCr HEA coating was prepared on Mg-Li alloy. • Cu-Al layer can balance the thermal matching disparity among HEA layer and Mg-Li. • HEA coating consists of (V, Cr)-rich BCC 1 , Mg-rich BCC 2 , AlCu 2 Ti and β-Ti phases. • The corrosion resistance of Mg-Li alloy was significantly improved. AlCuTiVCr/Cu-Al lightweight high-entropy alloy gradient coating was successfully prepared by laser cladding to improve the corrosion resistance of Mg-Li alloy. The boundaries between AlCuTiVCr protective layer, Cu-Al transition layer and Mg-Li alloy substrate are distinct, forming an excellent metallurgical bonding. The gradient coating design has effectively balanced the thermal matching difference between HEA coating. The prepared AlCuTiVCr protective layer comprises (V, Cr)-rich BCC 1 , Mg-rich BCC 2 , AlCu 2 Ti and β-Ti phases. The Cu-Al transition layer is composed of β-Li, Cu 2 Mg and Al 2 Cu 3 phases. The corrosion potential of AlCuTiVCr protective layer (−0.46 V SEC) is 1.09 V SEC higher than that of Mg-Li alloy (−1.55 V SEC), while the corrosion current density of the protective layer (9.41 × 10−7 A cm−2) is about three orders of magnitude lower than that of the substrate (5.97 × 10−4 A cm−2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CoNiO 2 /MXene composite is successfully fabricated by a facile hydrothermal method combined with an annealing treatment. The CoNiO 2 nanoparticles anchor on MXene evenly form a rough multilayer structure, which can promote Na + transmission and relieve volume expansion during charge/discharge cycling. The CoNiO 2 /MXene multilayer structure composite as anode material for sodium-ion batteries delivers a high discharge capacity of 223 mA h g −1 at 100 mA g −1 and displays outstanding rate performance of 188 mA h g −1 at 300 mA g −1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu wires can be significantly strengthened without losing much conductivity if a continuous nanolamellar structure with Cu and a strong second constituent is achieved. We report on a nanolamellar Cu/steel wire fabricated by repetitive hot-pressing, forging, rolling and subsequent wire drawing. Austenization and quenching in liquid nitrogen resulted in a Cu/martensite structure, exhibiting tensile strength of 1220 MPa. The electrical conductivity of the wire was measured to be about 60% International Annealed Copper Standard (IACS), which was comparable with Cu/Fe fabricated by alloying and casting. In situ tensile tests under high energy X-ray diffraction were utilized to explore the deformation behavior of the wire. It was found that the martensite carried about 60% of the load, accounting for the high strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, 2D hierarchical composites of nano-sized Fe 3 O 4 particles on MXenes (TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x /Fe 3 O 4 ) were synthesized by using a moderate hydrothermal reaction. Electron microscope techniques indicated that the surfaces of MXenes were densely covered with Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles of ∼4.9 nm. Microwave absorption capabilities in terms of the maximum reflection loss ( R L ) and effective bandwidth were investigated. Specifically, the TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x /Fe 3 O 4 exhibited a remarkable absorption performance, with a maximum reflectivity of −57.3 dB at 10.1 GHz and a band range below −10 dB to over 9.1–11.1 GHz at a thickness of 1.9 mm. Therefore, our 2D MXene composites are expected to be promising candidates as ultrathin and lightweight absorbing materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The (TiZrNbHfTa)N/WN multicomponent coatings were deposited by vacuum arc evaporation under different substrate bias (−90 and −280 V). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used for analyzing of complex composition of investigated coatings by reflecting of atomic scale chemical interactions. The structural investigations showed the formation of a simple disordered solid solution in (TiZrNbHfTa)N layer, β-W 2 N phase in WN layer with fcc crystal structure and highly disordered bcc (1 1 0) and (2 2 0)-oriented high-entropy alloy phases, regardless of the applied bias potential. It was shown that with increasing of substrate bias from −90 to −280 V, there is a slight decrease of hardness from 34 to 31 GPa and increase of Young’s modulus from 325 to 337 GPa, which can be explained by annihilation of point defects and precipitation of relatively softer metallic phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using up-to-date methods of material studies, it is revealed that the structure of as cast Al-Si alloy (silumin) is multi-phased and morphologically heterogeneous. It consists of solid solution grains and eutectic Al-Si with a diverse morphology. With the help of selective etching intermetallic compounds (AlNiCu and AlMg) are detected on the grain boundaries of α-solid solution. Treatment of silumin samples by the intense pulsed electron beam with the diverse density results in release of the second phase sub-micro and nano-dimensional particles. According to experiments optimal energy densities of the electron beam are 25, 30 and 35 J/sm 2 . Silumin irradiation results in a manyfold advance of mechanical and tribological properties of the surface layers. As found out, these characteristics of the surface layers change significantly due to the sub-micro and nano-dimensional structure of cellular crystallization formed by the electron beam, which is free of primary inclusions consisting of silicon and intermetallic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel guided tissue regeneration (GTR) membrane with orthogonal aligned fibers in surface layers and random fibers within interlayer was developed by multilayer electrospinning. The mechanical strength of tri-layer membrane was between random and aligned membranes. The promotion of the proliferations of MC3T3-E1 and NIH-3 T3 cells on the tri-layer membrane were observed during monoculture. When cells were cocultured, the tri-layer membrane was effective in impeding MC3T3-E1 and NIH-3 T3 cell infiltration by guiding cells to grow along the direction of the fiber alignment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]