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The processes responsible for the isotopic compositions and abundances of volatile elements in the early solar system remain highly debated. Orders of magnitude variation of (highly) volatile elements exist between different magmatic iron meteorite groups, but it is unclear to what extent their depletions can be explained by evaporation from metal melts during parent body accretion and/or subsequent break up. To this end, we present 86 new evaporation experiments with the aim of constraining the volatility of most volatile metals from metallic melts. The results confirm the previously proposed important effects of S in metal melt on the volatility of the elements of interest governed by their S-loving or S-phobic behavior. Nominally S-loving elements In, Sn, Te, Pb and Bi are significantly more volatile in Fe melt relative to FeS liquid, whereas nominally S-avoiding elements Ga and Sb are more volatile in FeS liquid relative to Fe melt, at a given pressure and temperature. The newly derived volatility sequences for S-free/poor and S-rich metallic melts were also compared with commonly used volatility models based on condensation temperatures. The results indicate significant differences between the latter, including the much more volatile behavior of Te, relative to Se, in both explored bulk compositions, which are traditionally assumed to be equally volatile. The (minimum) degree of volatile element depletion due to evaporation was quantified using the new experimental results and models. A comparison between the volatile element depletions in magmatic iron meteorites and the predicted depletions appropriate for evaporation from Fe melts shows that the latter depletions can be easily reconciled with (an) evaporation event(s). Altogether, the new data and models will provide an important framework when more accurate and precise estimates of magmatic iron meteorite bulk volatile element contents are available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entropy stabilized multi-cation oxides are of significant interest in heterogeneous catalysis due to higher number of active sites, when compared to simple binary oxides, which reduces the overpotential for catalytic transformations. To control the enthalpy of mixing and suppress potential phase segregation, the use of molecular metal alkoxides for chemical cross-linking of different metal centers shows promise in creating homogenous high entropy chemical preceramic networks. Herein, we report on a high-entropy MO 2 phase (M = V, Sn, Ti, Zr, Hf), synthesized by cross-linking partially hydrolyzed metal iso-propoxides [M(OH) n (O i Pr) 4-n ] x. The amorphous xerogels calcined at 700 °C, 900 °C and 1250 °C revealed the formation of a single crystalline phase [(V, Sn, Ti, Zr, Hf)O 2 ] that was verified by powder X-ray diffraction analysis, whereas the chemical composition was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The HEO exhibited superior catalytic activity in oxygen evolution reaction with an overpotential of 312.7 mV and an electrochemically active surface area of 0.625 F cm−2. Furthermore, the chronopotentiometry measurements confirmed a high stability (> 90 h) for the HEO samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet the challenge of varied working temperatures of inductance components in new energy vehicle and 5G communication, the high- T C high-permeability MnZn ferrite with excellent temperature stability was developed by the addition of SnO 2. In this series of samples, initial permeability μ i maintains large values in a wide temperature range. With increasing the SnO 2 content, the temperature of the second permeability peak T sp decreases and meanwhile Curie temperature T C maintains as high as 160 °C. For the best sample with 6000 ppm SnO 2 , μ i at 25 °C is 7244 and exhibits the excellent temperature stability with the low specific temperature coefficient of 0.35 × 10−6 °C−1 between 25 and 130 °C. The addition of SnO 2 generates Fe2+ and adjusts the magneto-crystalline anisotropy constant K 1 = 0 point, which is responsible for the wide-temperature high permeability. The effect of SnO 2 addition on magnetization process has also been clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring new applications of negative thermal expansion (NTE) materials is a recent research hotspot. In this work, the IV A element Sn was used to tailor the thermal expansion and dielectric properties of NTE material ZrMgMo 3 O 12 , and the samples Zr 1–x Sn x MgMo 3 O 12 (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25) can be used in the field of high-frequency dielectric ceramics. Both the substitution amount of Sn and sintering temperature have a certain effect on the properties of Zr 1-x Sn x MgMo 3 O 12. The coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) can be adjusted between near zero thermal expansion (ZTE) (−0.24 × 10−6/K−1) and NTE (−8.16 × 10−6/K−1) and become larger toward negative as the amount of Sn increased under the same sintering temperature. The dielectric constants of Zr 1-x Sn x MgMo 3 O 12 can be adjusted in the range of 130∼155, which are about 25 times than ZrMgMo 3 O 12. The dissipation factors of Zr 1-x Sn x MgMo 3 O 12 were adjustable between 4.37 × 10−4 and 5.54 × 10−4, meeting the application requirements of high-frequency dielectric ceramics. This research shows that Sn can adjust the thermal expansion properties and significantly improves the dielectric properties of ZrMgMo 3 O 12 , so that Zr 1-x Sn x MgMo 3 O 12 materials have high value in the field of high-frequency dielectric ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducing the second metal is an effective strategy to ameliorate oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance of cobalt and nitrogen doped carbon materials (Co-NC). In this study, Sn modulated Co-NC catalysts with enriched active sites (CoSn-NC) were synthesized by using formamide as ligand. Co and Sn bimetals coexist on nitrogen-doped carbon carriers and coordinated with nitrogen to form M − N active centers. Compared with Co-NC, CoSn -NC exhibited outstanding catalytic activity in terms of early initial potential of 1.04 V and positive half-wave potential of 0.89 V. Electrochemical testing and XPS characterization proved that the addition of Sn enriched the active site of Co-NC. More importantly, the electronic structure of Co–N is adjusted to perfect adsorption energy of the intermediate. The study puts forward a new idea and direction for optimizing single metal Co-NC catalyst. Synopsis: This paper is committed to developing Cobalt-based bimetallic materials with enrich active sites to replace scarce Pt/C for ORR. [Display omitted] • Co and Sn bimetals coexist on nitrogen-doped carbon carriers. • Sn Modulated Co-NC catalysts with enriched active sites. • The M − N structure is the main catalytic site by SCN− toxicity experiments. • CoSn-NC shows enhanced ORR catalytic activity, stability and methanol resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic aerogels are promising candidates for high-temperature thermal resistance and thermal insulation materials. However, their application can be restricted by their brittleness when exposed to harsh conditions. Herein, this study has developed a novel synthesis process based on a sol-gel method and carbothermal reduction-nitridation to produce a porous TiN composite aerogel from an organic/inorganic hybrid. The resulting TiN displays a polyhedral particle size of around 30–60 nm with nanoscale pores. In addition, the TiN aerogel demonstrates a high BET-specific surface area of 653.42 m2/g and a very low thermal conductivity of 0.046 W/(m·K). Furthermore, the TiN aerogel composite displays a good thermal difference with no shrinkage and cracks of the morphology during the butane blazing torch at 1300 °C for 10 min under air environment, demonstrating its excellent thermal insulation property and anti-oxidation characteristics. The gas-solid reaction mechanism of TiN aerogel based on the Gibbs free energy calculations is also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ruthenium-based catalysts have been proposed to potentially replace iridium-based catalysts in acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER), however the limited long-term stability poses a significant challenge. In addressing this issue, this study successfully synthesizes RuO 2 NPs/TiN electrocatalysts by depositing RuO 2 nanoparticles (NPs) onto TiN nanotubes. The presence of TiN effectively promotes the dispersion of RuO 2 NPs while concurrently mitigating their aggregation, consequently leading to a heightened exposure of active sites within the RuO 2 NPs/TiN catalysts. Additionally, the electron transfer from Ru to Ti demonstrates the strong metal-support interactions between the RuO 2 NPs and TiN, thereby enhancing the performance and stability of RuO 2 NPs/TiN catalysts. The catalysts display a low overpotential of 220 mV at 10 mA cm−2 that is much lower than commercial RuO 2 (280 mV), and experience a stable performance during 100 h of continuous test. Our research expands the spectrum of supported choices available for Ru-based catalysts in the realm of OER. RuO 2 NPs/TiN electrocatalysts is successfully synthesized, demonstrating exceptional stability in catalyzing the acidic OER. [Display omitted] • The incorporation of RuO 2 NPs on TiN harnesses the phenomenon of SMSI enhancing the overall stability of the catalyst. • The TiN nanotube structure promotes the dispersion of RuO 2 , and facilitates the exposure of more active sites. • The catalyst exhibits good performance and stability for acidic OER. • The catalyst shows promising application in PEMWE device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable energy production is urgently needed due to the high environmental costs associated with the use of fossil fuels. Green hydrogen produced by photoelectrocatalysis is an emerging solution for meeting the global energy demand. Herein, we discuss the physicochemical properties and electrochemical hydrogen production of SnS films prepared via chemical bath deposition at 40 °C under visible light. The synthesis times were varied to obtain films with thicknesses of 102, 295, and 495 nm deposited at 3, 4, and 6 h, respectively. All samples were annealed at 400 °C and exhibited an orthorhombic phase. The direct optical bandgap transition decreased from 1.44 to 1.25 eV with increasing sample thickness. With increasing synthesis time, a significant amount of Sn was deposited, forming a surface monolayer of amorphous SnO 2 , which improved the electronic conductivity of the samples. However, the presence of SnO 2 reduced the number of sulfur vacancies, which is crucial for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Therefore, the SnS film synthesized for 3 h exhibited the highest hydrogen evolution rate, which reached 18,826 μmol/m2-h. These results suggest the feasibility of using SnS films for photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation. [Display omitted] • Stable SnS films were prepared using chemical bath deposition. • The synthesis time is crucial for determining optoelectronic properties. • Intrinsic native defects and Sn excess-controlled H 2 photoproduction. • The maximum H 2 production was obtained at the lowest deposition time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely accepted that the complexation of Sn with Cl in magmatic-hydrothermal fluids is critical for the formation of endogenic Sn deposits. However, Sn abundance as high as 0.4 wt% has been found in some chlorine-poor but silicate-rich fluid inclusions associated with a Sn-mineralized pegmatite. To examine the role of silicate solutes in Sn mineralization, we measured the solubility of cassiterite in alkaline silicate-rich fluids by direct observation of single crystal cassiterite dissolution in a hydrothermal diamond anvil cell at 540–900 °C and 5.5–13.6 kbar. Experimental results indicated that a significant amount of cassiterite could be dissolved in both Na 2 Si 3 O 7 –H 2 O and Na 3 AlSi 5 O 13 –H 2 O fluids, and SnO 2 solubility was positively correlated with the concentration of silicate solutes, the Na/(Si + Al) ratio of the fluid and temperature. In Na 2 Si 3 O 7 –H 2 O fluids at ∼680 °C with 24 to 45 wt% silicate solute, SnO 2 solubility increased from 0.65 to1.67 wt%. In Na 3 AlSi 5 O 13 –H 2 O fluids at ∼715 °C with 21 to 52 wt% silicate solute, the solubility increased from 0.49 to 1.19 wt%. These values are comparable to cassiterite solubilities in HCl solutions and Li 2 CO 3 solutions, and are much higher than those in NaCl solutions, 0.1 mol/kg NaOH solution, and 14 wt% SiO 2 solution. In situ Raman spectra collected on fluids demonstrated the presence of silicate monomers and oligomers, and the complexation of Sn with these Si-(Al)-Na clusters or with (OH)− could explain the observed high SnO 2 solubility. Comparison with SnO 2 solubility in peraluminous melt suggests that Sn can be significantly enriched in alkaline silicate-rich fluids. Modeling of progressive fluid-melt unmixing successfully reproduces the observed high Sn abundance in silicate-rich fluid inclusions. Alkaline silicate-rich fluids can therefore serve as an effective agent, alternative to chlorine-rich fluids, for Sn mobilization and mineralization, especially in pegmatite systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study involved the synthesis of Si 3 N 4 ceramics, focusing on adjusting TiN content and sintering temperatures to enhance mechanical properties. Utilizing Density Functional Theory (DFT), we examined the microstructure and elastic properties of Ti-doped β-Si 3 N 4 , providing insights into how the Ti atom influences mechanical behavior. Additionally, a machine learning approach was applied to establish a predictive model for Si 3 N 4 fracture toughness, factoring in material composition and the sintering process. Remarkably, TiN incorporation led to a substantial increase in hardness, reaching 16.63 GPa. At 1800 °C, the resulting material at 10 wt% and 5 wt% TiN content exhibited impressive flexural strength (924 MPa) and fracture toughness (8.48 MPa m1/2). The theoretically calculated elastic properties confirmed the benefits of Ti atom doping in enhancing Si 3 N 4 ceramics. By employing the relu activation function in combination with the rmsprop optimizer, we achieved a coefficient of determination (R 2 ) for the test set no less than 0.824, ensuring reliable predictions for TiN–Si 3 N 4 fracture toughness. This study provides valuable guidance for swiftly predicting high-performance Si 3 N 4 ceramics and introduces a novel research avenue for the development of advanced materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, we conducted an investigation into the oxidation behavior of a novel titanium boron nitride (TiBN) powder, with titanium nitride (TiN) powder used as comparative reference. At an oxidation temperature of 600 °C, the predominant oxidation products of TiBN powders were composed mainly of rutile, with residual TiBN remaining. In contrast, the oxidation products of TiN powders at 700 °C comprised both anatase and rutile phases. The TiBN powder demonstrated a lower rutile transition temperature and enhanced antioxidant activity compared to TiN. As observed in HRTEM and HAADF-STEM images, amorphous regions are discernible between TiBN particles, and the Ti, N, and O elements in the oxidation products of TiBN demonstrate uniform distribution. The lattice constant of the rutile phase formed during the oxidation of TiBN significantly surpasses that observed in the oxidation of TiN, attributed to the solid solution of the boron (B) element. DSC curves unveil both endothermic and exothermic peaks within the temperature range of 500 °C–800 °C during the oxidation of TiBN powders, indicating the occurrence of B 2 O 3 melting alongside TiBN oxidation. Weight loss beyond 1050 °C is attributed to the evaporation of B 2 O 3. DSC and TG curves suggest that the oxidation behavior of TiBN powders closely resembles that of titanium diboride (TiB 2) powders, yet their oxidation resistance surpasses that of TiB 2 powders. The oxidation products resulting from TiBN oxidation exhibit a narrower band gap than P25 TiO 2 , promising higher stability and enhanced electrochemical performance. Our innovative approach in developing a unique TiO 2 photoactive material system could pave the way for novel photocatalysis applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The partition coefficients of Sn (tin) between minerals and silicate melts (D Sn min / m e l t) are vital for understanding the Sn enrichment during magmatic processes related to tin-granites. However, experimentally determined D Sn min / m e l t values remain scarce due to the difficulty in avoiding severe Sn loss to noble metal capsules. In this study, we performed mineral/melt Sn partitioning experiments at 0.5–1.0 GPa, 850–1000 °C, and f O 2 of FMQ + 8 to ∼ FMQ − 1. The f O 2 s were imposed by solid buffers of Ru–RuO 2 , Re–ReO 2 , Ni–NiO, Co–CoO and graphite using three improved capsule designs: 1) a single sample capsule (Pt) for the Ru–RuO 2 buffered runs, 2) double capsules with Pt 95 Rh 05 as outer capsule and Re as inner sample capsule for the graphite and Re–ReO 2 buffered runs, and 3) triple capsules for the Co–CoO and Ni–NiO buffered runs, with Pt 95 Rh 05 (or Au) as outer capsule, Re lined Pt as inner sample capsule. These new capsule designs avoided significant Sn loss and enabled us to obtain accurate D Sn min / m e l t at a controlled f O 2. The experimental results show that D Sn min / m e l t values are 0.08–12.66 for amphibole, 0.01–5.55 for biotite, 0.09–10.39 for clinopyroxene, 0.004–0.97 for orthopyroxene, < 0.01 for olivine, 1.34–108.43 for Ti-magnetite, 0.04–4.17 for spinel and 0.10–0.64 for ilmenite. The large variation of D Sn for each mineral was mainly ascribed to the effect of f O 2 , which results in an arresting decrease of D Sn with decreasing f O 2. Under the reducing conditions (f O 2 < FMQ), Sn is highly incompatible (D Sn < 0.1) in almost all the minerals. Modeling results indicate that partial melting at low f O 2 conditions results in Sn enrichment in the derived magma, while subsequent high degree of fractional crystallization is also important for the Sn enrichment in the residual melt. The experimental and modeling results thus explain why major primary tin deposits are always related to reducing and highly fractionated granites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic structure of co-doped SrSnO 3 (SSO) thin films were investigated using photoemission and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. We studied the band structure of SSO and its tuning with La/Sb co-doping at A- and B-sites. We observed an increased conduction bandwidth with doping due to the reduced oxygen octahedral tilting. The presence of oxygen vacancies at the film's surface and the electron doping resulted in the reduction of Sn 4 + to Sn 2 +. High transmittance (> 80 %) along with a conductivity of 200 S cm−1 was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• It describes a process of vacuum carbothermal reduction-directional condensation. • The obtained yields of Sn and Pb are superior to other treatment techniques. • Vacuum technology has once again proved to be a very useful method. Sn ash recycling is an industry with positive development prospects, as it provides better-protected resources, promotes sustainable development, and lays a solid foundation for future development. In this study, an innovative vacuum carbothermal reduction-directional condensation process was developed. The thermodynamic analysis results indicated that the initial reaction pressure and temperature for the carbothermal reduction of the system was 1–10 Pa and 998–1063 K, respectively. The saturation vapor pressure, separation coefficient, and condensation temperature of Sn, Pb, and Zn in the reduced products differed significantly, and their separation could be achieved by controlling the volatilization and condensation temperatures. A single-factor experiment investigated the effects of carbon ratio, temperature, and time on the reduction efficiency, direct yield, and recovery rate. The optimal experimental conditions were the ratio of MeO to C of 4:1, temperature of 1373 K, and time of 120 min. Sn, Pb, and Zn products were obtained at different positions. This process shortens the traditional process, reduces the reduction cost of Sn, and enables the implementation of the process, making it environmentally friendly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the evolution of morphology, electronic and crystalline structures, elemental composition, and optical properties of TiO 2 nanorods (NRs) treated in NH 3 in the temperature range of 400–1100 °C using both experiments and theoretical calculations. The results show that N-doped TiO 2 NRs are obtained in the temperature range of 400–550 °C, in which the formation of the N substitutional defects is more energetically favorable than the N interstitial defects. Our theoretical calculations reveal that the formation of N substitutional defects causes a significant bandgap narrowing, which arises from two different mechanisms: the upward shift of the valence band maximum for a low doping concentration and the downward shift of the conduction band minimum for a high doping concentration. Experimentally, a bandgap in the range of 2.22–2.41 eV can be achieved for N-doped TiO 2 , which enables the visible-light absorption and activates the visible-light photocatalytic activity of the TiO 2 NRs. The nitridation starts from 700 °C and proceeds rapidly in the temperature range of 800–900 °C. However, complete nitridation is achieved when the temperature exceeds 1000 °C. The rutile phase is found to be more prone to nitridation than the anatase phase. During nitridation, the TiO 2 NRs experience significant changes in morphology, structure, and optical properties. The latter is strongly affected by the remaining O concentration in the materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between low and high frequency tunabilities in tin substituted barium titanate (BaTi 1- x Sn x O 3 , Sn-BTO x , x = 0.12, 0.14 and 0.16) ceramics is investigated. Although X-ray powder diffraction reveals an average non-polar cubic structure, Raman spectroscopy and piezoresponse force microscopy, along with ferroelectric and strain measurements under applied voltage reveal the presence of polar nanoclusters, while larger ferroelectric domains are seen in Sn-BTO12. Although the highest low frequency tunability was obtained for Sn-BTO12 (79.2 %), at microwave frequencies comparable tunabilities were achieved for Sn-BTO12 (39.2 %) and Sn-BTO14 (38.2 %). The difference in relative tunabilities between low and high frequencies is attributed to the difference in activities between larger ferroelectric domains and polar nanoclusters at these frequencies, with the former relatively inactive at high frequencies. This study demonstrates that low frequency tunability is not always a good indicator of the high frequency performance due to the lack of a domain contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Li–S batteries and Na–S batteries attract wide attention because of high specific capacity, rich resources and environmental friendliness, but poor rate performance limits their development. Single atoms perform as active sites and promote redox reaction process of sulfur, which are benefit for improving rate performance of Li–S batteries and Na–S batteries. However, many researches only focus on transition metal atoms instead of non-transition metal atoms. Sn atoms are introduced on carbon surface to obtain C/Sn composites and electrochemical performance of C/Sn/S composites in Li–S batteries and Na–S batteries is studied in this paper. As for comparison, electrochemical performance of C/S without Sn atom modified is also studied. Results show that C/Sn/S composite electrodes possess higher rate performance than C/S composite electrodes in both Li–S batteries (359 mAh·g−1 at 20C) and Na–S batteries (151 mAh·g−1 at 20C). High-rate performance of C/Sn/S composite electrodes in Li–S batteries is attributed to catalytic abilities of active Sn atoms and high conductivity of carbon. Researches provide references for structure control and application of carbon composites with non-transition metal atom modified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, in-situ formation of intermetallic compound (IMC) was proposed to reduce the sintering shrinkage mismatch between Ni electrode and dielectric material for multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs). Tin (Sn) was selected as an alloying element and introduced in the form of SnCl 2 into Ni nanopowder. The Sn precursor was decomposed at ∼450 °C and a cubic Ni 3 Sn intermetallic phase was formed at 500 °C, which was gradually transformed to a hexagonal Ni 3 Sn phase at 700 °C and thereafter thermally decomposed above 800 °C forming the Ni–Sn solid solution. The Sn addition shifted the shrinkage onset temperature of Ni electrode to a higher temperature by 300–400 °C and effectively retarded the low temperature densification through in-situ formation of Ni 3 Sn intermetallics by inhibiting the inter-diffusion between Ni nanoparticles. Furthermore, the sintered Sn added Ni (Ni–3Sn) electrode exhibited an electrical conductivity comparable to that of pure Ni electrode, demonstrating its suitability as an alternative electrode for MLCCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a series of (Ce 0.2 Zr 0.2 Ti 0.2 Sn 0.2 Y 0.2- x Ca x)O 2-δ (x = 0∼0.2) high-entropy of compositionally-complex ceramics were prepared using solid-state reaction method. The results showed that the content of Ca2+ had significant effects on the phase composition, microstructure and properties of the prepared materials. As Ca2+ content increased, single-phase fluorite was easier to form. When x ≤ 0.05, materials contained dual-phase of fluorite and pyrochlore structures. When x ≥ 0.075, the prepared materials showed single-phase fluorite structure, which indicated that high-entropy fluorite ceramics (HEFCs) could be prepared under this condition. When Ca2+ content increased from 0.075 to 0.2, grain size of HEFCs decreased, and relative density decreased from 95.7 % to 78.6 %. Thermal conductivity of these HEFCs varied from 1.87 W m−1 K−1 to 1.60 W m−1 K−1, which was lower than 8YSZ. As Ca2+ content increased, both size disorder and mass disorder increased too leading to low thermal conductivity. The results indicate that the prepared HEFCs are promising for thermal insulation applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the phase evolution and performance changes of Al-Al 2 O 3 refractories at high temperature upon adding novel Al 2 O 3 -Ti 2 O 3 raw materials, samples with different Al 2 O 3 -Ti 2 O 3 contents were heated at 1300 and 1500 °C under N 2 atomosphere. The samples were analyzed by XRD, SEM, TG-DSC,industrial CT. The results indicate that the reaction between Ti 2 O 3 and Al proceeds at elevated temperatures under N 2 , and the Ti 2 O 3 phase transformed from Al-Ti alloy to TiN. At 1300 ℃, Ti 2 O 3 was party reduced by Al and formed Al-Ti alloys with the unreacted Al, and the remaining Ti 2 O 3 was present in a finely dispersed state, exhibiting fine whiskers in the matrix. When the heating temperature increaseds to 1500 ℃, the whiskers in the matrix became coarse due to the gaseous Al 2 O phase, and Ti 2 O 3 transformed into TiN through Al 2 O(g) migration. The cold compressive strength and bending strength at ambient temperature of the heated samples were significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• IMCs-free joint of Mg/Al alloys was obtained by plating of Ni on AZ31Mg alloy. • Nano-sized Mg 2 Sn IMC was found in the Mg (Ni)/SAC/Al joint at 280 °C by TEM. • Ni coating could not stop the diffusion of Mg into solder as temperature above 280 °C. • The strength of joint with Ni coating enhanced 80.7% than that of without Ni coating. • The relationship between dissolution of Ni and diffusion of Mg was investigated. Magnesium and aluminum alloys are widely used in various industries because of their excellent properties, and their reliable connection may increase application of materials. Intermetallic compounds (IMCs) affect the joint performance of Mg/Al. In this study, AZ31 Mg alloy with/without a nickel (Ni) coating layer and 6061 Al alloy were joined by ultrasonic-assisted soldering with Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu (SAC) filler. The effects of the Ni coating layer on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg/Al joints were systematically investigated. The Ni coating layer had a significant effect on formation of the Mg 2 Sn IMC and the mechanical properties of Mg/Al joints. The blocky Mg 2 Sn IMC formed in the Mg/SAC/Al joints without a Ni coating layer. The content of the Mg 2 Sn IMC increased with increasing soldering temperature, but the joint strength decreased. The joint without a Ni coating layer fractured at the blocky Mg 2 Sn IMC in the solder, and the maximum shear strength was 32.2 MPa. By pre-plating Ni on the Mg substrate, formation of the blocky Mg 2 Sn IMC was inhibited in the soldering temperature range 240–280 °C and the joint strength increased. However, when the soldering temperature increased to 310 °C, the blocky Mg 2 Sn IMC precipitated again in the solder. Transmission electron microscopy showed that some nano-sized Mg 2 Sn IMC and the (Cu, Ni) 6 Sn 5 phase formed in the Mg(Ni)/SAC/Al joint soldered at 280 °C, indicating that the Ni coating layer could no longer prevent diffusion of Mg into the solder when the soldering temperature was higher than 280 °C. The maximum shear strength of the Mg(Ni)/SAC/Al joint was 58.2 MPa for a soldering temperature of 280 °C, which was 80.7% higher than that of the Mg/SAC/Al joint, and the joint was broken at the Mg(Ni)/SAC interface. Pre-plating Ni is a feasible way to inhibit formation of IMCs when joining dissimilar metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doping Sn into transition metal Ni can gain an enhanced hydrogen evolution performance. Optimizing H binding free energy (Δ G H) is considered as the main function of Sn. However, the detailed action mechanism of Sn in NiSn catalyst is still ambiguous. Herein, the functional role of Sn in NiSn was systematically inspected using density functional theory (DFT) method. The difference site Ni of Ni slab was replaced by Sn to build NiSn with the difference distribution of Sn. The calculations about the barrier of H 2 O dissociation and Δ G H show that surface Ni in NiSn is the main active site for catalyzing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the distribution of Sn in NiSn alloy directly decides the main role of Sn in promoting HER. Only replacing surface Ni with Sn, the main role of Sn is to reduce the adsorption of H and promote the H desorption step of HER. When Sn locates at sub-surface or surface and sub-surface Sn exist simultaneously, Δ G H on NiSn has no reduction and accelerating the H 2 O dissociation is the main function of Sn. • Surface Ni in NiSn is the main active site for catalyzing HER. • The distribution of Sn in NiSn decides the main role of Sn in HER. • The main role of surface Sn is to reduce the adsorption of H. • The coexistence of surface and sub-surface Sn accelerate H 2 O dissociation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work examines the Ni–Sn/Ce–La–O catalyst systems for low-temperature stream reforming of ethanol. Catalysts of 5 and 20 wt% metal loading, and different Ce:La ratios are prepared by ultra-sonication assisted solution combustion synthesis method. Catalysts at total metal loading 5 wt% with 33 and 67 at. % La and optimum Sn (Ni:Sn = 14:1) demonstrate better efficiency compared to the Ni/CeO 2 catalysts. At 20 wt% metal loading and Ni:Sn = 1:1 atomic ratio, catalytic activity degrades. The best activity and stability are revealed for the N14S1(5)/CL21 catalyst with 5 wt.% total metal loading, Ni:Sn = 14:1, and Ce:La = 2:1 mol ratio. Physico-chemical characterizations (XRD, H 2 -TPR, NH 3 -TPD, Raman, FESEM, TEM, XPS, N 2 adsorption-desorption, DTA/TGA, etc.) are performed to understand the role of the metal loading, Sn, and La in the catalytic activity and coke deposition behavior. [Display omitted] • Effect of Sn, metal loading, La 2 O 3 on NiSn/CeO 2 catalysts is investigated for LTSRE. • Ce–La–O support and optimum Sn reduce particle size and enhance oxygen vacancies. • Ni 0.93 Sn 0.07 (5)/Ce 0.67 La 0.33 O 2 shows highest ethanol conversion & H 2 selectivity. • La and optimum Sn help in reducing carbon deposition on spent catalysts. • High metal loading (20 wt%) reduces catalytic activity & stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane pyrolysis in liquid metals is a worth-developing process for CO 2 -free hydrogen production. This study investigates methane pyrolysis in molten tin and highlights the impact of several parameters on methane conversion (X CH4) in a novel hybrid solar/electric bubbling reactor. Temperature (1200–1300 °C), total inlet gas flow rate (Q 0 = 0.25–0.5 NL/min), melt height (H im = 60-120-235 mm) and hybridization are addressed. Increasing the temperature from 1200 °C to 1300 °C (Q 0 = 0.25 NL/min and H im = 120 mm) improves X CH4 (32% vs. 69%). Increasing Q 0 from 0.25 to 0.5 NL/min (T = 1200 °C and H im = 120 mm) reduces X CH4 (19% vs. 9%). Doubling the melt height (H im from 60 to 120 mm) increases the residence time of bubbles, which increases X CH4 (7% vs. 19%). A customized sparger is also tested and shows little effect, probably because the holes are relatively large (1 mm diameter). An immersed bed of steel particles (0.2–0.4 mm diameter) instead shows improved results (X CH4 = 32%) at a relatively low temperature (1100 °C). Continuous reactor operation at 1300 °C without clogging is also confirmed. Analysis of carbon accumulated at melt surface during molten media methane pyrolysis reveals a tin-containing sheet-like structure. [Display omitted] • Solar methane pyrolysis in molten metal allows turquoise hydrogen production. • Continuous reactor operation was proved through a run of 4 h at 1300 °C. • The total amount of produced carbon floating on the liquid tin surface was recovered. • Hybrid heating led to 92% CH 4 conversion with 120 mm liquid height at 1200 °C. • Increasing heated height of molten tin enhanced bubbles residence time in the hot zone and CH 4 conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft and low-melting-point polycrystalline tin holds considerable promise in the field of advanced lithography. However, its machinability is significantly hindered by the grain size, posing substantial limitations on its practical utility. Herein, a novel approach involving oxidation-enhanced plasma modification is presented to obtain a grain coarsening layer, thereby enhancing machinability. The effects of cutting mode and feed rate are examined, revealing that plasma modification results in the formation of a millimeter-scale grain coarsening layer. Consequently, the tin surface with a surface roughness of 0.98 nm in Sa after cutting is effectively achieved, benefiting applications in ultra-short light wavelength sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigate the effects of doping with ∼10 at% of Si, Al, Sn, and Bi on the atomic order, microstructure, and magnetic properties of CoMnSb samples prepared using the arc-melting method. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and magnetometry techniques were employed to derive the structural and magnetic parameters. The samples demonstrate a superstructure with an Fm -3 m space group. They exhibit a saturation moment of 3.71–4.71 μ B per formula unit at 5 K and a Curie temperature ranging from 474 to 507 K. Rietveld refinement performed on the XRD data revealed a possible occupation of magnetic atoms in the vacant 32 f (x ', x ', x ') sites and atomic swapping, both of which may affect the magnitudes of the magnetic moment and Curie temperature. The electrical measurement results show that the grain boundaries and voids govern the conductivity of the samples. The spin polarization of the Si-doped sample was determined based on the grain-boundary magnetoresistance effect, which showed that this sample has a high degree of atomic order, consistent with the low magnetic moment, Curie temperature, and lattice constant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we employ Density Functional Theory to study the effects of decoration with transition metal (TM) atoms—Ag, Au, Cu, Sc, Ti and Pd—on the H 2 adsorption properties of tin carbide monolayers (SnC-ML), as a prospective material for hydrogen storage. The results indicate that TM adatoms are strongly bonded to the SnC-ML and that electronic charge is transferred from the adatoms to the SnC-ML. In particular, it is found that Sc and Ti are chemisorbed on SnC-ML with strong binding energies. The most stable adsorption site for these metal atoms is above Sn atoms of the SnC-ML. Also, these TM atoms exhibit the higher hydrogen-storage capacities with up to four hydrogen molecules per adatom. In contrast, the other studied metals have at most 2 hydrogen molecules adsorbed. Approximate temperature- and pressure-dependent curves suggest that, to storage hydrogen, Sc- and Ti-decorated SnC-ML should be cooled under freezing temperatures, or kept at 1 MPa and 2.5 MPa, respectively, which are much lower pressures than those currently used in vehicular tanks, which attain pressures of 35 MPa. These results indicate that Sc and Ti decorated SnC-ML can be useful as hydrogen-storage solid-state devices. [Display omitted] • SnC monolayers with transition metal adatoms have been investigated as hydrogen-storage materials. • Sc and Ti atoms are strongly bonded to the carbon atom of the SnC monolayers. • SnC monolayers with Sc and Ti atoms have a high capacity for hydrogen storage. • SnC monolayers with Ag and Au atoms have poor hydrogen storage capacities. • H 2 is physisorbed on transition metal-decorated SnC monolayers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The applications of dielectric capacitors are essential for modern pulsed-power and high-power electronic devices. Antiferroelectric ceramics have garnered much attention as promising materials for capacitive energy storage on account of their ultrahigh recoverable energy density (W rec). However, the relatively high energy loss originating from electric field induced antiferroelectric-ferroelectric (AFE-FE) phase transition results in low energy storage efficiency (η). Herein, the La3+ ions incorporated (Pb 0.98 Sr 0.02)(Zr 0.85 Sn 0.15)O 3 antiferroelectric ceramics were explored to obtain stable antiferroelectric phase and trigger a unique multistage AFE-FE(Ⅰ)-FE(Ⅱ) phase transition simultaneously. Consequently, this strategy led to the achievement of an ultrahigh W rec of 13.9 J/cm3 and an enhanced η of 80.4% in the optimal composition. Notably, these ceramics have also demonstrated exceptional thermal reliability of W rec and η in a wide temperature range, outperforming other previously reported PbZrO 3 -based ceramics. These results offer an efficient approach to promote the capacitive energy storage behavior in antiferroelectric ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Zr and/or Mn, Fe or Co ions were used to induce a robust room temperature ferromagnetic nature in perovskite BaSnO 3 for high performance information applications. Dilute magnetic semiconductor compositions with formula of BaSn 0.96-X Zr 0.04 M X O 3 (M = Mn, Fe, Co, x = 0, 0.02) have been synthesized at 1150 °C. For all compositions, mono-phase of cubic BaSnO 3 structure with very small impurities of SnO 2 were recorded based on X-ray diffraction analysis. The relation between ionic size of dopants and crystal dimension of BaSnO 3 suggests the of Sn4+-site by Zr4+, Mn2+, Fe2+ or Co2+ ions. Extended absorption tails to visible light region were found for BaSn 0.94 Zr 0.04 Mn 0.02 O 3 and BaSn 0.94 Zr 0.04 Co 0.02 O 3 samples, owing to strong defect band transition absorption. Due to the addition of Zr and/or Mn, Fe or Co ions high refine of BaSnO 3 morphology from inhomogeneous large grains to well distribute small one were seen. The XPS results of BaSn 0.96 Zr 0.04 O 3 and BaSn 0.94 Zr 0.04 Co 0.02 O 3 samples confirm that Ba, Sn, O and Zr are in the oxidation states of +II, +IV, −II and +IV/+III, respectively. Magnetically, incorporation of 4 wt% Zr4+ ions (empty 4d-orbital) induced a full-saturated spin ferromagnetic order with saturation magnetization of 1.16 emu/g, retentivity of 0.11 emu/g and coercivity of 147 Oe. Also, codoping by Zr/Co ions stimulates a full-saturated spin ferromagnetic order with saturation magnetization of 1.36 emu/g, retentivity of 0.17 emu/g and coercivity of 149 Oe. The empty 4d-Zr4+ ions have high ability in reversing the diamagnetic nature of BaSnO 3 to ferromagnetic one through interaction with oxygen vacancies. The outer 4d-shell of Zr and 3d-orbital of Co with the oxygen vacancies induce the strong magnetic exchange interaction. Through looking into the previous studies on the magnetic properties of BaSnO 3 , the recorded saturation magnetization of 4 wt% Zr and 4 wt% Zr + 2 wt% Co ions are remarkable values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] A general aspect of synthesis, modern trends and application prospects of organic derivatives of group 14 elements are briefly overviewed. This survey concerns actual research areas with pronounceable scientific sound such as Lewis acidity of catecholate silicon and germanium complexes, their ability to give free radicals and low valence 14 group derivatives. The main recent trends (published mainly within 2017–2022) in the chemistry of group 14 derivatives which are of paramount importance for the development of new catalytic systems, fluorescent marks, activation of small molecules and frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) chemistry are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the electrochemical properties of lead calcium tin (Pb–Ca(0.14%)–Sn(1.04%)) anode employed in hydrometallurgy. Various methods were employed, including cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), to comprehensively characterize the behavior of this alloy under diverse operating conditions. The findings of this investigation indicate that the Pb–Ca(0.14%)–Sn(1.04%) anode demonstrates remarkable corrosion resistance and a lower oxygen evolution potential in comparison to conventional lead anodes. As a result, enhanced operational efficiency can be achieved. Furthermore, the incorporation of Ca and Sn in the alloy has a substantial positive effect on its mechanical properties, thereby rendering the anode more resilient in harsh operating environments. Consequently, this contributes to reduced maintenance costs. Overall, this study underscores the promising potential of lead calcium tin anodes in promoting more sustainable and efficient hydrometallurgical processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La–Mg–Ni-based hydrogen storage alloys showed good application prospects owing to their high hydrogen storage capacity. However, the poor cycling stability was a key problem. In order to improve the cycling stability, low cost YFe 0.85 master alloy was used as raw material to prepare La–Mg–Ni-based La 0.8- x Y x Mg 0.2 Ni 3-0.85 x Fe 0.85 x (x = 0.50, 0.55, 0.60) hydrogen storage alloys by powder sintering method. The alloys were mainly composed of PuNi 3 phase and MgCu 4 Sn phase. With the increase of Y and Fe, the cell parameters of PuNi 3 phase decreased. Lower mismatch coefficient promoted the cycling stability. As the case of x = 0.60, the capacity retention rate rose up to 95.45%. Aside from the cycling stability, appropriate substitution content contributed to higher capacity and satisfactory kinetics. As the case of x = 0.55, the hydrogen storage capacity reached 1.529 wt%, and hydriding time for the x = 0.60 alloy shrank to 76.7% of that for alloys without Y and Fe at 303 K. [Display omitted] • Y and Fe co-doping transfers LaNi 5 phase into PuNi 3 and MgCu 4 Sn phases. • Y and Fe co-doping increases the hydrogen storage capacity. • Y and Fe co-doping into La–Mg–Ni-based alloy promotes the cycling stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The creep properties of BTM550 alloy are greatly improved. • The morphology of Mg 3 Bi 2 precipitates can be effectively modified with Mn addition. • Orientation relationship between Mg 2 Sn and matrix is found in BTM550 alloy. • Predominant creep mechanism of BTM550 alloy is dislocation climb. The creep properties, microstructural characteristics and creep mechanisms of as-cast Mg-5Bi-5Sn (BT55) alloy without and with Mn (BTM550) addition were investigated via creep at 423, 448, and 473 K as well as stresses of 30, 50 and 75 MPa. The results indicate that adding Mn can result in the formation of primary and the dynamic precipitated α-Mn phases. In addition, the morphology of the precipitated Mg 3 Bi 2 phase and the orientation relationship between Mg 2 Sn precipitates and α-Mg can be effectively modified. Tailoring the microstructural characteristics is responsible for the improved creep performance of BTM550 alloy. The dominant creep mechanisms in BT55 and BTM550 alloys are dislocation cross-slip and climb, respectively. Furthermore, twinning and pyramidal 〈 c + a 〉 slip play an assisting part in both alloys during creep process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum alloyed with other metals, such as Sn and Zn, was synthesized via fusion to trace the impact of alloying elements on the electrochemical characteristics of Al anodes. The corrosion inhibition and electrochemical tests were performed in a 5 M KOH medium in the absence and presence of CO 2 for the Al–Sn, and Al–Zn anodes and compared to the commercial aluminum. Tafel polarization exhibited that the anodic and cathodic branches display lower current densities than Al metal in pure KOH. The steady state of the open circuit voltage (E corr.) for the studied alloys was shifted to a more negative magnitude than for Al. The corrosion current is sharply decreased, and potential is significantly shifted to less negative values in the presence of CO 2. This is due to forming of a protective layer from the carbonate of Al, Sn, and Zn on the surface. Amazing results were obtained and discussed in the case of CO 2. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results exhibited that charge transfer resistance (R ct) values rise with alloying elements. The data of Tafel plots are consistent with those of EIS. The alloying of Al with Sn and Zn elements significantly affects capacitance, hydrogen evolution process suppression, and charge-discharge efficiency. This reveals that the highest potential value in the presence of CO 2 in the charging process is obtained for Al–Zn alloy, while the most negative potential is obtained for Al in the discharging process with CO 2. Moreover, the discharge time is higher in the alloys than in commercial Al in the absence and more in the presence of CO 2. The produced alloys are thought to provide good anodes for long-life rechargeable batteries. • The electrochemical behavior of Al, Al–Zn, and Al–Sn anodes was studied. • Al–Zn alloy has the most stability against corrosion. • Al–Sn has a higher discharging potential and time. • CO 2 enhances both corrosion resistance and charging-discharging behavior. • Hydrogen evolution reaction is suppressed by alloying and the presence of CO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Ti/Zr/Hf)CoSb 0.8 Sn 0.2 compounds are promising p -type thermoelectric materials. In this work, excessive Ga and Co deficiencies were introduced into Ti 0.2 Hf 0.8 CoSb 0.8 Sn 0.2 compounds. The microstructure, electrical, and thermal transport properties were investigated in the temperature range of 300 K < T < 1000 K. The excessive Ga formed nanoinclusions with Ti and Sn at the grain boundaries. The Co deficiencies lowered the thermal conductivity and simultaneously improved the electrical conductivity. As a result, the power factor was enhanced to 3.2 mW/m K2, and the maximum Z.T. of ∼0.93 at 988 K was obtained in the Ti 0.2 Hf 0.8 Co 0.99 Sb 0.8 Sn 0.2 –0.01Ga sample, which is an increase of ∼48% compared to that of the pristine Ti 0.2 Hf 0.8 CoSb 0.8 Sn 0.2 sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium alloys are of considerable current interest for use as degradable implants due to their unique properties including biodegradability, biocompatibility, low density and adequate mechanical properties. Nevertheless, there is a need to further improve these properties either by alloying or through the use of appropriate processing. Among the different biodegradable Mg alloys now in use, the Mg‒Zn series are of special interest and have been the subject of many research investigations. This is primarily because Zn is an essential element for the human body in addition to its positive effects in improving the mechanical strength and lowering the degradation rate of the implant. The properties of Mg‒Zn alloys may be further improved both through the addition of third and fourth alloying elements such as Ca, Ag, Sn or Sr and/or by thermo-mechanical processing where the latter is more environmentally and economically favorable. In practice, procedures based on the application of severe plastic deformation (SPD) are especially suited to produce fine-grained microstructures with improved mechanical, degradation and cell behavior. Equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) is a popular SPD technique that has the capability of producing bulk materials that are sufficiently large for use as typical implants. Accordingly, this review is designed to provide a comprehensive summary of the research that has been undertaken on ECAP-processed biodegradable Mg‒Zn alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Cu, Co and Sn in copper converter slags were recovered in a Cu-Co-Sn-Fe alloy. • Excessive coke or CaO worsened metal-slag separation and decreased metal yield. • Pig iron addition raised Co yield due to the enrichment of Co in an Fe–Co alloy phase. • Cu, Co and Sn yields from converter slag reached 94.4%, 90.1% and 95.0% respectively. Massive amounts of waste copper converter slags have been produced from pyrometallurgical extraction of copper from copper concentrates, and the disposal of them in landfills creates serious environmental problems. However, this converter slag contains numerous valuable heavy metals, including copper, cobalt and tin etc. In this research, due to similar properties of iron and cobalt, pig iron with a low melting point was creatively used as capturing agent for cobalt recycling in a smelting reduction. The recovery of copper and tin was also studied. The phase transformation during reduction process was clarified by X-ray diffraction and Scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectrometer analyses. After the reduction performed at 1250 °C, the copper, cobalt and tin were recovered in a copper-cobalt-tin-iron alloy. The addition of pig iron improved cobalt yield, which was ascribed to the enrichment of cobalt in an iron–cobalt alloy phase. This decreased activity of the reduced cobalt and promoted reduction of cobalt oxide. As a result, the cobalt yield had a significant increase from 66.2% to 90.1% by adding 2% pig iron. Similarly, the copper also accelerated tin recovery through the formation of a copper–tin alloy. The copper and tin yields reached 94.4% and 95.0%, respectively. This work provided a high efficiency method to recover copper, cobalt and tin from waste copper converter slags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Device modeling of lead free CH 3 NH 3 SnI 3 solar cell is comprehensively performed. • Effect of different kesterite based HTLs and zinc based ETLs on the solar cell are studied. • Dependency on the band alignment, absorption, electric field, recombination, defects, thickness, doping, temperature and reflecting are investigated. • Among 24 proposed optimized structures, ZnO/MASnI 3 /CNTS achieved the highest PCE of 29.24% with J sc of 29.44 mA cm−2, V oc of 1.12V and FF of 88.82%. • Reasons for low power conversion efficiencies of the structures were also analyzed. Methylammonium tin triiodide (MASnI 3) perovskite solar cells (PSC) have gained a lot of interest due to their edge over conventional Pb-based PSC in terms of less-toxic nature, wider optical absorption range and smaller bandgap. In this work, 24 novel n-i-p heterostructures of MASnI 3 PSC have been analyzed in detail with various zinc-based electron transport layers (ETL) and kesterite-based hole transport layers (HTL). The proposed device architecture (FTO/ETL/CH 3 NH 3 SnI 3 /HTL/Back contact) performance was first enhanced by optimizing the thickness and then by the doping concentration of each layer via SCAPS-1D simulator under AM 1.5G illumination. The energy band alignment of the different charge transport layers (CTL) with MASnI 3 was analyzed in detail to understand its working principle. Moreover, the effects of optical absorption, band offsets, electric field, defect density, interface defects, temperature, rear reflective coating, and electrodes are monitored to characterize the performance of each cell structure. Among all the proposed structures, ZnO/MASnI 3 /CNTS based perovskite solar cell performed outstandingly well with J sc of 29.44 mA cm−2, V oc of 1.12 V, FF of 88.82 %, and PCE of 29.24 %. These simulations provided important insights into the mechanism of carrier transport and the factors affecting the performance of solar cells. The results in this paper will help the research community in fabricating highly efficient eco-friendly solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variation in crystallinity, morphology and phase of zinc tin hydroxide nanostructures are investigated after annealing at different (oxidizing, non-oxidizing and reducing) atmospheres. The zinc tin hydroxide nanostructures are prepared using hydrolysis assisted co-precipitation method. Annealing in oxidizing (oxygen and air) and non-oxidizing (nitrogen and argon) atmospheres do not have a significant effect on morphological and structural properties. However, the annealing in the reducing (ammonia) atmosphere converts the cubic nanostructures into nanorods and spherical particles. The zinc tin hydroxide forms three new phases (ZnON, SnO 2 and Sn) after annealing in reducing atmosphere. The formation of ZnON and SnO 2 phases are evident in Raman and XPS analysis. The reducing atmosphere (ammonia) changes the reaction kinetics leading to diffusion control crystal growth that could be responsible for such structural and morphological transformation. The bandgap is significantly changed after morphological and structural transformation with notable variation in photocurrent density, charge transfer resistance, and charge carrier concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, IN718 metal matrix composites (MMCs), with TiN content of 0–30 vol %, have been fabricated using laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF). The process has been carried out with varying scanning speeds of 500–800 mm/s, while maintaining constant laser power (100 W), hatch overlap (⁓ 50%) and layer thickness (⁓ 25 μm). A 2D numerical model has been established using the phase-field (PF) method to understand the role of driving forces (e.g., Marangoni force, thermal buoyancy force and recoil pressure) and deformation of melt pool behavior at different scanning speeds. In addition, the particle tracing model was coupled in the PF model to understand the motion of the reinforced particles. The microstructure of the fusion zone (or melt pool) has been predicted by evaluating the temperature gradient, solidification rate, and cooling rate. The solidification map of IN718 alloys indicated the microstructure of the fusion zone to be columnar dendrites at both the scanning speeds (500 mm/s and 800 mm/s). Depending upon the scanning speed, various defects (keyhole, balling and fusion defects) were observed in the fabricated composites. At 500 mm/s, the fabricated composite exhibited the lowest porosity (⁓ 0.27 vol%). The mechanical properties of MMCs were evaluated in terms of micro-hardness and wear resistance. The micro-hardness of MMCs increased with an increase in the TiN content and decrease in the scanning speed. The wear resistance of IN718 MMCs was found to improve when the TiN content was increased (up to 20% vol. %). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The granites associated with world–class W and Sn deposits generally have high concentrations of U, Th, and K and can be classified as high heat producing (HHP) granites (>5 μW m−3) because of high radiogenic heat production, but how long radiogenic heat can prolong the suprasolidus lifetime of magmas and whether radiogenic heat exerts an impact on W and Sn mineralization is poorly understood. To answer these questions, finite element numerical modeling was established to link magma cooling by heat conduction with diffusion of W, Sn, and H 2 O from silicate melts to coexisting aqueous fluids before the solidus is reached. The magma in the models is emplaced to a depth of 5 km and its size (vertical thickness of 4–5 km and horizontal length of 20 km) is constrained by the granites associated with world–class W and Sn deposits. Fluid convection was not considered in the models. The sensitivity analysis and comparison results suggest that the suprasolidus lifetimes of HHP magmas are positively correlated with the heat production and magma thickness and negatively correlated with the solidus temperatures and the thermal conductivity of host rocks. Average radiogenic heat of 5–10 μW m−3, together with decreased solidus temperatures due to magmatic differentiation and a moderate thermal conductivity of host rocks, can prolong the suprasolidus lifetime of HHP magmas by 49–427 ka (1 Ma = 1000 ka), corresponding to 11–85% of the suprasolidus lifetime of equally sized magmas with normal radiogenic heat (2 μW m−3). From the available gravity modeling data, over half of the granites associated with world–class W and Sn deposits are at least 1 km thicker than the values calculated from the empirical power–law equation, and the modeling results indicate that an increase of 500–1000 m in magma thickness prolongs the suprasolidus lifetimes of HHP magmas (5 μW m−3) by 50–74%. During magma cooling before solidus is reached, the diffusion of W and Sn is at least several orders of magnitude slower than that of H 2 O in hydrous melts; thus, the equilibrium partitioning of these two metals between silicate melts and coexisting aqueous fluids is not reached, and the metal diffusion from melts is a rate-limiting step. The prolongation of the suprasolidus lifetimes by radiogenic heat and decreased solidus temperatures can allow extraction of 17–95% more W and Sn from silicate melts before the solidus is reached and increase the possibility of producing W and Sn mineralization at later stages. Therefore, the coexistence of HHP granites and world–class W and Sn deposits is not accidental. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports on the synthesis of tin-nitrogen/carbon (Sn–N/C) catalysts suitable for the electroreduction of molecular oxygen at the cathode of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The catalysts were synthesized through a simple pyrolysis process of folic acid as the carbon and nitrogen source, tin chloride as a tin source and Vulcan carbon as the substrate. The synthesized catalyst exhibited excellent oxygen reduction activity with a half wave potential of 0.82 V and a mass activity of 15.5 mA mg−1. Successful application at the cathode of a self-breathing fuel cell further confirmed the superior performance of this catalyst leading to a power density of 29.4 mW cm−2. This is very comparable to the reference platinum/Vulcan carbon catalyst (28.4 mW cm−2). In addition, this Sn–N/C catalyst showed good stability under accelerated stress tests with only a 12% decrease in fuel cell performance after 10,000 cycles. The superior performance was assumed to be due to the presence of both metal-nitrogen and nitrogen-carbon active sites, which facilitate the four-electron path of the oxygen reduction reaction. A tin-nitrogen/carbon catalyst shows similar performances in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells as platinum on Vulcan carbon. [Display omitted] • Tin-nitrogen/carbon electrocatalysts could be synthesized through a simple solid-state route. • These oxygen reduction catalysts exhibited excellent mass activity compared to the state-of-the-art platinum-based catalysts. • When operated in a self-breathing fuel cell, the tin-nitrogen/carbon catalyst achieved the same power density than platinum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tin pyrophosphate is a feasible solid-state proton conductor as electrolyte and ionomers for applications in fuel cells and sensors, etc. Nevertheless, the morphology and proton conductivity of the SnP 2 O 7 varies vigorously due to different fabrication methods, molar ratios of phosphorous to tin and sintering temperature. In this work, a core-shell SnP 2 O 7 (c-SnP 2 O 7) has been fabricated via a conventional acid method between SnO 2 nanoparticles and various phosphoric acids including H 3 PO 4 , H 4 P 2 O 7 , (HPO 3) x and P 2 O 5 under temperature as low as 200 °C. The transformation of SnO 2 to c-SnP 2 O 7 in these phosphoric acids follows dissolving and reprecipitation mechanism where Sn(HPO 4) 2 is the intermediate species. In addition, the dominated factor for the transformation is the presence of P 2 O 7 4− due to the condensation or hydration of various phosphoric acids. The as-synthesized c-SnP 2 O 7 contains crystalline SnP 2 O 7 inner core, an amorphous phosphate intermediate layer and an outer-layer with gel-like phosphorous-rich species. Furthermore, the phosphorous-rich gel layer contributes to outstanding proton conductivity of c-SnP 2 O 7 up to 8.0 × 10−2 S cm−1 at 260 °C and excellent durability of 115 h at 240 °C and anhydrous conditions. Overall, the core-shell SnP 2 O 7 is a promising proton conductor to be used in elevated temperature fuel cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of tin (Sn)-doped titania (TiO 2) composites were prepared by electrospinning and then calcined at temperatures of 500 °C, 600 °C, and 700 °C. The morpho-structural and optical properties of the resulting composites were assesed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. In this way, the effect of the dopant amounts and calcination temperatures on the composition, morphology, band gap energy (E g) of the prepared composites was established, as well as their photocatalytic activity towards ciprofloxacin (CIP) photodegradation. The kinetics of ciprofloxacin photodecomposition reactions was analyzed. Herein, it is reported that the nanostructured material based on ([1.5%]Sn:TiO 2) sintered at 500 °C shows a remarkable photocatalytic activity with a removal efficiency of about 100% and a rate constant of 9.685 × 10−2 min−1. The photocatalytic stability of this material was evaluated by reusability tests with five cycles under identical conditions for CIP photodegradation. In-depth structural investigations were undertaken to explain this remarkable photocatalytic activity towards water decontamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tin has ten stable isotopes, providing the opportunity to investigate and discriminate nucleosynthetic isotope anomalies from mass-dependent and mass-independent isotope fractionation. Novel protocols for chemical separation (based on TBP-resin) and MC-ICP-MS analyses are reported here for high precision Sn isotope measurements on terrestrial rocks and chondrites. Relative to the Sn reference standard (NIST SRM 3161a), terrestrial basalts and chondrites show isotope patterns that are consistent with mass-dependent and mass-independent isotope fractionation processes as well as with 115Sn radiogenic ingrowth from 115In. Two different mass-independent isotope effects are identified, namely the nuclear volume (or nuclear field shift) and the magnetic isotope effect. The magnetic isotope effect dominates in the two measured ordinary chondrites, while repeated analyses of the carbonaceous chondrite Murchison (CM2) display a pattern consistent with a nuclear volume effect. Terrestrial basalts show patterns that are compatible with a mixture of nuclear volume and magnetic isotope effects. The ultimate origin of the isotope fractionation is unclear but a fractionation induced during sample preparation seems unlikely because different groups of chondrites show distinctly different patterns, hence pointing towards natural geo/cosmochemical processes. Only the carbonaceous chondrite Murchison (CM2) shows a Sn isotope pattern similar to what expected for nucleosynthetic variations. However, this pattern is better reproduced by nuclear volume effects. Thus, after considering mass-independent and mass-dependent effects, we find no evidence of residual nucleosynthetic anomalies, in agreement with observations for most other elements with similar half-mass condensation temperatures. Most chondrites show a deficit in 115Sn/120Sn (typically −150 to −200 ppm) relative to terrestrial samples, with the exception of one ordinary chondrite that displays an excess of about +250 ppm. The 115Sn/120Sn data correlate with In/Sn, being consistent with the β− decay of 115In over the age of the solar system. This represents the first evidence of the 115In-115Sn decay system in natural samples. The radiogenic 115Sn signature of the BSE derives from a suprachondritic In/Sn BSE , which reflects preferential partitioning of Sn into the Earth's core. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst a world of never-ending waste production and waste disposal crises, scientists have been working their way to come up with solutions to serve the earth better. Two such commonly found trash deteriorating the environment are glass and tin can waste. This study aims to investigate the comparative suitability of response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) in predicting the mechanical strength of concrete prepared with fine glass aggregate (GFA) and condensed milk can (tin) fibers (CMCF). An experimental scheme has been designed in this study with two input variables as GFA and CMCF, and two output variables compressive and splitting tensile strength. The results show that both variables influenced the compressive and splitting tensile strength of concrete at 7, 28, and 56 days (p < 0.01). The maximum compressive and splitting tensile strength was found at 20% GFA with 1% CMCF and 10% GFA with 0.5% CMCF, respectively. The model predicted values in both techniques were in close agreement with corresponding experimental values in all cases. The results of different statistical parameters in terms of coefficient of correlation, coefficient of determination, chi-square, mean square error, root mean square error, mean absolute error, and standard error prediction indicate the functionality of both modeling approaches for concrete strength prediction. However, RSM models yield better accuracy in simulating the compressive and splitting tensile strength of concrete than ANN models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]