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Copyright of Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica is the property of Acta Materiea Compositae Sinica Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

All‐solid‐state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) are expected to revolutionize large‐scale energy storage and electric vehicles due to their exceptional safety and high energy density. Central to this technology is the development of solid electrolytes, with halide electrolytes emerging as highly promising candidates, offering high ionic conductivity, robust electrochemical stability and excellent mechanical properties. Since the breakthrough discovery of Li3YCl6 in 2018, research on halide electrolytes has entered a new era. However, despite continuous research efforts, practical challenges persist in their application, including the need to further enhance ionic conductivity, improve moisture resistance, and achieve better compatibility with electrode materials. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent progress and ongoing challenges in halide electrolytes, examining crystal structures, conduction mechanisms, and scalable synthesis techniques. Various modification strategies are also explored aimed at boosting ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability, with a particular focus on improving interface stability. Finally, future perspectives are outlined for designing high‐performance halide electrolyte materials, offering guidance for ongoing research efforts toward their commercial application in ASSLBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic ozonation with metal oxides is of interest for advanced water treatment technology. The amount of active oxygen-containing radicals produced is a primary objective of this process. Fe2O3 is a widely used catalyst because of its high performance. In this study, Fe2O3/SBA-15 was synthesized and characterized. The results revealed that Fe2O3/SBA-15 was a nano-/mesoporous material with high-order hexagonal array structures and exhibited greater catalytic performance than Fe2O3 in ozonation processes. To investigate the role of the Fe2O3/SBA-15 surface in O3 decomposition, the kinetic constant was measured, and the interfacial reactions were discussed. Compared with Fe2O3, Fe2O3/SBA-15 significantly increased the formation of hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and the efficient utilization of O3 in the catalytic O3 decomposition process. The SBA-15 support decreased the O3 self-decomposition rate during catalytic ozonation with Fe2O3/SBA-15, which resulted in increased formation of •OH via the reaction between O3 and Fe2O3. From a practical point of view, Fe2O3/SBA-15 is an efficient green ozonation catalyst for water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel olivine-magnesite composite material for removal of heavy metals was prepared by simply ball-milling. • Interface interaction of Mg 2 SiO 4 /MgCO 3 facilitated the formation of CdCO 3. • Significant fixation of Cd2+ was achieved even under weakly acidic conditions (pH=4). In this study, an efficient stabilizer material for cadmium (Cd2+) treatment was successfully prepared by simply co-milling olivine with magnesite. Several analytical methods including XRD, TEM, SEM and FTIR, combined with theoretical calculations (DFT), were used to investigate mechanochemical interfacial reaction between two minerals, and the reaction mechanism of Cd removal, with ion exchange between Cd2+ and Mg2+ as the main pathway. A fixation capacity of Cd2+ as high as 270.61 mg/g, much higher than that of the pristine minerals and even the individual/physical mixture of milled olivine and magnesite, has been obtained at optimized conditions, with a neutral pH value of the solution after treatment to allow its direct discharge. The as-proposed Mg-based stabilizer with various advantages such as cost benefits, green feature etc., will boosts the utilization efficiency of natural minerals over the elaborately prepared adsorbents. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene has been considered an ideal reinforcement in aluminum alloys with its high Young's modulus and fracture strength, which greatly expands the application range of aluminum alloys. However, the dispersion of graphene and the interfacial reaction between graphene and the aluminum matrix limit its application due to elevated temperature. Friction stirring processing (FSP) is regarded as a promising technique to prepare metal matrix composites at lower temperatures. In this paper, FSP was used to prepare graphene-nanoplates-reinforced aluminum composites (GNPs/Al). The corresponding effects of the process parameters and graphene content on GNPs/Al were thoroughly studied. The results showed that plastic strain, heat input, and graphene content were the key influencing factors. Large degrees of plastic strain can enhance the dispersion of graphene by increasing the number of stirring passes and the ratio of stirring to welding velocity, thereby improving the strength of GNPs/Al. Low heat input restricts the plastic flow of graphene in the matrix, whereas excessive heat input can promote interfacial reactions and lead to the formation of a more brittle phase, Al4C3. This is primarily associated with the stirring velocity and welding velocity. High graphene content levels can improve the material strength by refining the grain size, improving the load transfer ability, and acting as a precipitate to prevent dislocation movement. These findings make a contribution to the development of advanced aluminum alloys with graphene reinforcement, offering broader application potential in industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Metal Working (1674-165X) is the property of Metal Working Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Nickel oxide (NiOx)‐based inverted perovskite solar cells stand as promising candidates for advancing perovskite photovoltaics towards commercialization, leveraging their remarkable stability, scalability, and cost‐effectiveness. However, the interfacial redox reaction between high‐valence Ni4+ and perovskite, alongside the facile conversion of iodide in perovskite into I2, significantly deteriorates the performance and reproducibility of NiOx‐based perovskite photovoltaics. Here, potassium borohydride (KBH4) is introduced as a dual‐action reductant, which effectively avoids the Ni4+/perovskite interface reaction and mitigates the iodide‐to‐I2 oxidation within perovskite film. This synergistic redox modulation significantly suppresses nonradiative recombination and increases the carrier lifetime. As a result, an impressive power conversion efficiency of 24.17% for NiOx‐based perovskite solar cells is achieved, and a record efficiency of 20.2% for NiOx‐based perovskite solar modules fabricated under ambient conditions. Notably, when evaluated using the ISOS‐L‐2 standard protocol, the module retains 94% of its initial efficiency after 2000 h of continuous illumination under maximum power point at 65 °C in ambient air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the microscopic reaction mechanism and kinetic model of Al/PTFE, a reactive force field (ReaxFF) was used to simulate the interface model of the Al/PTFE system with different oxide layer thicknesses (0 Å, 5 Å, 10 Å), and the thermochemical behavior of Al/PTFE at different heating rates was analyzed by simultaneous thermal analysis (TG-DSC). The results show that the thickness of the oxide layer has a significant effect on the reaction process of Al/PTFE. In the system with an oxide layer thickness of 5 Å, the compactness of the oxide layer changes due to thermal rearrangement, resulting in the diffusion of reactants (fluorine-containing substances) through the oxide layer into the Al core. The reaction mainly occurs between the oxide layer and the Al core. For the 10 Å oxide layer, the reaction only exists outside the interface of the oxide layer. With the movement of the oxygen ions in the oxide layer and the Al atoms in the Al core, the oxide layer moves to the Al core, which makes the reaction continue. By analyzing the reaction process of Al/PTFE, the mechanism function of Al/PTFE was obtained by combining the shrinkage volume model (R3 model) and the three-dimensional diffusion (D3 model). In addition, the activation energy of Al/PTFE was 258.8 kJ/mol and the pre-exponential factor was 2.495 × 1015 min−1. The research results have important theoretical significance and reference value for the in-depth understanding of the microscopic chemical reaction mechanism and the quantitative study of macroscopic energy release of Al/PTFE reactive materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxide inclusions in Ni-based superalloys play a crucial role in determining their mechanical properties, oxidation resistance, and corrosion resistance at high temperatures. In this paper, the source and formation mechanism of different types of oxide inclusions in a high-aluminum Ni-based superalloy were systematically studied. An automatic field emission scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer and a self-designed superalloy inclusion analysis standard was utilized to quantitatively reveal the oxide inclusion characteristics of the high-aluminum Ni-based superalloy prepared via vacuum induction melting (VIM) and vacuum induction remelting (VIR) processes. The experimental results indicate that the typical oxide inclusions in the Ni-based superalloy before the VIR process are irregular MgO·Al2O3 inclusions with sizes of less than 2 μm. After the VIR process, the typical oxide inclusions in the Ni-based superalloy are also MgO·Al2O3 inclusions. However, these oxide inclusions can be classified into three categories: (i) endogenous irregular MgO·Al2O3 inclusions, less than 4.3 μm in size, inherited from the master alloy; (ii) several hundred-micron film-like MgO·Al2O3 inclusions generated as interface reaction products between the MgO crucible and melts; and (iii) millimeter-scale MgO·Al2O3 inclusions and several tens of microns of MgO inclusions from the exfoliation of the MgO crucible matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica is the property of Acta Materiea Compositae Sinica Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The distribution of reinforcements and interfacial bonding state with the metal matrix are crucial factors in achieving excellent comprehensive mechanical properties for aluminum (Al) matrix composites. Normally, after heat treatment, graphene nanosheets (GNSs)/Al composites experience a significant loss of strength. Here, better performance of GNS/Al was explored with a hybrid strategy by introducing 0.9 vol.% silicon carbide nanoparticles (SiCnp) into the composite. Pre-ball milling of Al powders and 0.9 vol.% SiCnp gained Al flakes that provided a large dispersion area for 3.0 vol.% GNS during the shift speed ball milling process, leading to uniformly dispersed GNS for both as-sintered and as-extruded (0.9 vol.% SiCnp + 3.0 vol.% GNS)/Al. High-temperature heat treatment at 600 °C for 60 min was performed on the as-extruded composite, giving rise to intragranular distribution of SiCnp due to recrystallization and grain growth of the Al matrix. Meanwhile, nanoscale Al4C3, which can act as an additional reinforcing nanoparticle, was generated because of an appropriate interfacial reaction between GNS and Al. The intragranular distribution of both nanoparticles improves the Al matrix continuity of composites and plays a key role in ensuring the plasticity of composites. As a result, the work hardening ability of the heat-treated hybrid (0.9 vol.% SiCnp + 3.0 vol.% GNS)/Al composite was well improved, and the tensile elongation increased by 42.7% with little loss of the strength. The present work provides a new strategy in achieving coordination on strength–plasticity of Al matrix composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diamond/aluminum composites have attracted significant attention as novel thermal management materials, with their interfacial bonding state and configuration playing a crucial role in determining their thermal conductivity and mechanical properties. The present work aims to evaluate the bending strength and thermal conductivity of CNT-modified Ti-coated diamond/aluminum composites with multi-scale structures. The Fe catalyst was encapsulated on the surface of Ti-coated diamond particles using the solution impregnation method, and CNTs were grown in situ on the surface of Ti-coated diamond particles using the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method. We investigated the influence of interface structure on the thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of diamond/aluminum composites. The results show that the CNT-modified Ti-coated diamond/aluminum composite exhibits excellent bending strength, reaching up to 281 MPa, compared to uncoated diamond/aluminum composites and Ti-coated diamond/aluminum composites. The selective bonding between diamond and aluminum was improved by the interfacial reaction between Ti and diamond particles, as well as between CNT and Al. This led to the enhanced mechanical properties of Ti-coated diamond/aluminum composites while maintaining acceptable thermal conductivity. This work provides insights into the interface's configuration design and the performance optimization of diamond/metal composites for thermal management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collagen is widely used in the development of new functional materials due to its high structural stability, good biocompatibility, and excellent hydrophilicity, but the collagen protein denatures easily, which makes its thermal stability and mechanical strength difficult to reach some of the parameters required in the application. To solve this, protein crosslinking is an effective way to better use collagen. In this paper, we compared the thermal stability and morphological stability of three kinds of sulfonated calixarenes crosslinked collagen before and after the treatment. The results showed that sulfonated calixarenes could significantly improve the thermal stability and morphological stability of dermal collagen. The reinforcing and toughening mechanism of the sulfonated calixarenes was revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), ultraviolet--visible--near-infrared (UV--vis--NIR) spectrometer, X-ray diffraction detection (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and circular dichroism (CD) detection. The results showed that sulfonated calixarenes were evenly distributed in collagen fibers and formed hydrogen bonds or electrovalent bonds with amino groups, peptide groups, or amide groups in collagen to improve the thermal stability of the collagen. Three kinds of sulfonated calixarenes enter collagen fiber to support the collagen, increase the three-dimensional weave angle of collagen, and improve the physical and mechanical properties of collagen, thereby toughening and enhancing the collagen. Based on the above studies, the reinforcing and toughening mechanism of the sulfonated calixarenes crosslinked collagen was established. Confirmed the existence of hydrogen bonds between the three sulfonated calixarenes and collagen, and the nonchemical bond energy of the system was proportional to the molecular size of sulfonated calixarenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metallurgical quality control of magnesium (Mg) and Mg alloys in melting process is required to ensure a satisfied mechanical and corrosion performance, while the typical used steel crucible introduces impurities and interfacial interaction during melting process. Therefore, a systematic study about impurities diffusion and interfacial interaction between molten Mg and steel is necessary. In the present study, the interfacial reaction between molten AZ91D Mg alloy and mild steel during melting process was investigated with the melting temperatures of 700 °C, 750 °C and 800 °C. The results show that Al(Fe, Mn) intermetallic layer is the intermetallic primarily formed at the interfaces of AZ91D melt and mild steel. Meanwhile, Al8(Mn, Fe)5 is indexed between Al(Fe, Mn) and AZ91D. AlFe3C appears between the mild steel and Al(Fe, Mn) at 700 °C and 750 °C, but absent at 800 °C due to the increased solubility of carbon in Mg matrix. It is found that the growth of the intermetallic layer is controlled by diffusion mechanism, and Al and Mn are the dominant diffusing species in the whole interfacial reaction process. By measuring the thickness of different layers, the growth constant was calculated. It increases from 1.89(±0.03)×10-12 m² ·s-1 at 700 °C to 3.05(±0.05)×10-12 m² ·s-1 at 750 °C, and 5.18(±0.05)×10-12 m² ·s-1 at 800 °C. Meanwhile, the content of Fe is linearly increased in AZ91D with the increase of holding time at 700 °C and 750 °C, while it shows a significantly increment after holding for 8 h at 800 °C, indicating holding temperature is more crucial to determine the Fe content of AZ91D than holding time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Nickel oxide (NiOx)‐based inverted perovskite solar cells stand as promising candidates for advancing perovskite photovoltaics towards commercialization, leveraging their remarkable stability, scalability, and cost‐effectiveness. However, the interfacial redox reaction between high‐valence Ni4+ and perovskite, alongside the facile conversion of iodide in perovskite into I2, significantly deteriorates the performance and reproducibility of NiOx‐based perovskite photovoltaics. Here, potassium borohydride (KBH4) is introduced as a dual‐action reductant, which effectively avoids the Ni4+/perovskite interface reaction and mitigates the iodide‐to‐I2 oxidation within perovskite film. This synergistic redox modulation significantly suppresses nonradiative recombination and increases the carrier lifetime. As a result, an impressive power conversion efficiency of 24.17% for NiOx‐based perovskite solar cells is achieved, and a record efficiency of 20.2% for NiOx‐based perovskite solar modules fabricated under ambient conditions. Notably, when evaluated using the ISOS‐L‐2 standard protocol, the module retains 94% of its initial efficiency after 2000 h of continuous illumination under maximum power point at 65 °C in ambient air.

Calcium hexaaluminate (CA6) materials have garnered attention for their potential use as lining materials in metallurgical furnaces during the steel-making process. The present work explored the effects of M2O5 (M = Nb, Ta) on the steel corrosion behaviour of calcium hexaaluminate combined with the evolution of physical properties. The introduction of M2O5 (M = Nb, Ta) was proved to be advantageous in mitigating the emulsification of CA6 material in the molten steel, and the increase in the densification of emulsion layer could prevent CA6 materials from further steel corrosion and penetration. The improved steel corrosion resistance of CA6 materials was attributed to the optimization of the physical properties facilitated by the formation of defects and the in situ phase. In addition, the reduction in the wettability between the CA6 materials and molten steel served to diminish the reactivity of the interface reaction. This work determined the corrosion behaviour and corrosion mechanism of the CA6 materials in molten steel and provided a new research route for designing CA6 materials with improved corrosion resistance to molten steel.

Carbonate radical anion (CO3.− ${\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}}^{.-}$) is generally overlooked in atmospheric chemistry. Our recent work emphasizes the important role of carbonate radicals produced on mineral dust surfaces in fast sulfate production under solar irradiation in the presence of CO2 at specifically low RH and light intensity. Yet so far how CO3.− ${\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}}^{.-}$ involves and affects secondary sulfate production under diverse RH, light intensity, and complex constituent matrix remains unknown, which essentially limits our comprehensive knowledge of CO3.− ${\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}}^{.-}$initiated SO2 oxidation scheme in the atmosphere. Herein, we explored the heterogeneous SO2 oxidation over both model and authentic dust and clays in the presence of CO2 at atmospheric relevant RHs and light intensities. Interestingly, we observe that CO2 promotes sulfate yield over authentic dust and clays at atmospheric‐relevant RH and light intensity. This observation relates to the favorable kinetic between SO2 oxidation and CO3.− ${\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}}^{.-}$ while auto‐quenching of these radical ions is largely minimized due to the sufficient sites of crustal constituents. Furthermore, employing a suite of authentic dust and machine learning strategies, we evaluated the relative importance of each constituent within airborne minerals or clays as well as environmental conditions including relative humidity, light intensity, and CO2 concentration in affecting SO2 uptake capability. On this basis, sulfate formation mediated by dust‐driven pathway, accounting for nearly ∼20.9% of overall contribution by the end of this century during some pollution episodes, even higher than gas‐phase ·OH $\cdot \text{OH}$ (∼16.9%), will be increased by 163% if CO2‐initiated SO2 oxidation scheme is incorporated. Plain Language Summary: How carbonate radical ions involve and affect sulfate formation under different RHs, light intensities, and complex component matrices remains an open question. Secondary sulfate production is facilitated by CO3.− ${\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}}^{.-}$ over authentic dust particles in atmospheric relevant RH and light intensity. More importantly, this research emphasizes that CO2 is not an inert greenhouse gas that rarely participates in atmospheric chemistry but a strong oxidant precursor that will produce CO3.− ${\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}}^{.-}$ and subsequently trigger quick SO2 oxidation via chain reactions. This dust‐driven reaction channel mediated by CO3.− ${\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}}^{.-}$ potentially contributes to nearly ∼1/5 of secondary sulfate production during some pollution hours if the growing intensive anthropogenic activities continue. Key Points: Carbonate radical‐initiated SO2 heterogeneous oxidation is sensitive to RH, CO2 concentration, light intensity, and dust constituentsCarbonate radicals promote atmospheric sulfate production on authentic dust and clay particles at haze‐relevant conditionsThis previously unrecognized scheme will account for ∼20.9% of overall atmospheric sulfate formation by the end of this century [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the clogging problem associated with submerged entry nozzles (SEN) used for aluminum‐killed steel, the reaction behavior between the SEN and molten steel with high Al content with the influence of an external electric field is studied in this paper. The results showed that the application of an effective and positive voltage to the walls of the SEN would promote the decarburization of the SEN itself and the interfacial reaction between nozzle material and molten steel containing aluminum. On the contrary, these behaviors would be inhibited under the control of the negative voltage. Therefore, with the polarity of electric field applied on the SEN, it is necessary to determine whether the critical factor leading to clogging is the content of the Al2O3 inclusions or Al alloy content in the steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevant experiments and studies were conducted to address the metallurgical defects such as subcutaneous bubbles and slag inclusions occurring during the enamel steel continuous casting process. According to the high-temperature experimental results, calculations were made to determine the changes in viscosity and tension due to the steel reaction with the slag. Based on the experimental findings, there was a notable variation in the content of SiO2 and Al2O3 in the slag before and after the reaction. The concentration of the element Al in the steel melt significantly decreased, whereas the concentration of Ti showed a minimal change. These observations indicate that the reduction of SiO2 at the slag–steel interface is predominantly attributed to the role of Al. The calculation results showed that at 300 s of reaction time, the viscosity rapidly increased from 0.108 to 0.133 Pa·s and then slowly increased to 0.155 Pa·s; The interfacial tension rapidly decreased from its initial value of 1,380 mJ·m−2 to a minimum of 1,320 mJ·m−2, and it then slowly increased to an equilibrium state. Therefore, the main cause of the occurrence of porosity defects in the enamel steel continuous casting process is the reduction of interfacial tension between slag, steel, and gas caused by the reaction between the slag and steel, as well as the foaming of the slag.

Oxide inclusions in Ni-based superalloys play a crucial role in determining their mechanical properties, oxidation resistance, and corrosion resistance at high temperatures. In this paper, the source and formation mechanism of different types of oxide inclusions in a high-aluminum Ni-based superalloy were systematically studied. An automatic field emission scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer and a self-designed superalloy inclusion analysis standard was utilized to quantitatively reveal the oxide inclusion characteristics of the high-aluminum Ni-based superalloy prepared via vacuum induction melting (VIM) and vacuum induction remelting (VIR) processes. The experimental results indicate that the typical oxide inclusions in the Ni-based superalloy before the VIR process are irregular MgO·Al2O3 inclusions with sizes of less than 2 μm. After the VIR process, the typical oxide inclusions in the Ni-based superalloy are also MgO·Al2O3 inclusions. However, these oxide inclusions can be classified into three categories: (i) endogenous irregular MgO·Al2O3 inclusions, less than 4.3 μm in size, inherited from the master alloy; (ii) several hundred-micron film-like MgO·Al2O3 inclusions generated as interface reaction products between the MgO crucible and melts; and (iii) millimeter-scale MgO·Al2O3 inclusions and several tens of microns of MgO inclusions from the exfoliation of the MgO crucible matrix.

Diamond/aluminum composites have attracted significant attention as novel thermal management materials, with their interfacial bonding state and configuration playing a crucial role in determining their thermal conductivity and mechanical properties. The present work aims to evaluate the bending strength and thermal conductivity of CNT-modified Ti-coated diamond/aluminum composites with multi-scale structures. The Fe catalyst was encapsulated on the surface of Ti-coated diamond particles using the solution impregnation method, and CNTs were grown in situ on the surface of Ti-coated diamond particles using the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method. We investigated the influence of interface structure on the thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of diamond/aluminum composites. The results show that the CNT-modified Ti-coated diamond/aluminum composite exhibits excellent bending strength, reaching up to 281 MPa, compared to uncoated diamond/aluminum composites and Ti-coated diamond/aluminum composites. The selective bonding between diamond and aluminum was improved by the interfacial reaction between Ti and diamond particles, as well as between CNT and Al. This led to the enhanced mechanical properties of Ti-coated diamond/aluminum composites while maintaining acceptable thermal conductivity. This work provides insights into the interface’s configuration design and the performance optimization of diamond/metal composites for thermal management.

A two-step brazing process was successfully employed to join MgF2 ceramic and TA15 alloy using eutectic Ag28% (in mass fraction) Cu alloy and Bi2O3B2O3ZnO (BBZ) glass as fillers, by introducing a 100 μm thick GH4169 interlayer. Multiscale characterization revealed that interdiffusion and reaction occurred at the joint interfaces. As a result, a reliable joint system consisting of TA15/TiCu/TiCu2Al/Ag(s,s) + Cu(s,s)/TiCu2Al/TiCu Ni + Ag-rich layer/GH4169/nano-oxide layer/glass/Mg3(BO3)F3+MgO + MgF2 reaction layer/MgF2 was formed. The GH4169-interlayer exhibited adaptive compatibility though its interaction with AgCu and BBZ glass fillers, effectively accommodating strong interface bonding and thermal mismatch stress between TA15 and MgF2 substrates. It shows an excellent shear strength (32 MPa, at room temperature) as well as thermal cycling stability without any cracking or spallation observed after the 20 thermal shock cycles between room temperature and 300 °C. It provides valuable insights into designing highly reliable ceramic/metal joints that demonstrate superior stability and adaptability in specific applications.

The wettability between the slag and refractory has an important relationship with the corrosion of refractory, which can elucidate the corrosion process and reveal the corrosion mechanism. In this work, the wetting process between different basicity slag and CA 6 substrate was investigated via the sessile drop method. The wetting and spread process, morphology evolution, and ion diffusion behavior were characterized and analyzed, and the interface reactions were calculated by the thermodynamic simulation software FactSage 7.1. The results show that the slag spreading process can be divided into deformation, melting, and wetting three steps. The contact angle increased with the slag basicity increased. The driving force of the higher basicity slag to penetrate CA 6 refractory is weaker, and the penetration depth is smaller, so the width of the reaction layer decreased with the slag basicity increasing, indicating the CA 6 refractory has a better corrosion resistance for high basicity slag. The results of the thermodynamic simulations show that the higher basicity slag can generate CA 2 faster, which can inhibit the slag corrosion rapidly, leading to the increment of contact angle and weaker wetting behavior for higher basicity slag. The CA 6 refractory has great potential for application in high-quality steel smelting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slag refining is a crucial step for Si purification by the metallurgical processes. In this study, the impurity removal at Si/SiO2–CaO–MgO slag interface was investigated experimentally and theoretically. The diffusion couple experiments show that the slag underwent the processes of sintering, solid particle dissolution, and composition homogenization. When the melted slag contacted the Si, the interfacial reaction occurred, and the impurity oxides formed and transferred into the slag phase. The thermodynamic analyses confirmed the existence of the oxidation reaction between impurities and slag. First-principles molecular dynamics simulations of the Si–X–O system (X = Al, B, Ca) clarified the binding behaviors of Al, B, Ca with Si. The calculated binding energy shows that the affinity ability of these impurities with Si are B > Al > Ca at the molecular level, and B impurity is the most difficult one to be removed from Si during the slag refining process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The TiB2 coating deposited by magnetron sputtering on the Ti6Al4V-simulated blade tip with a dense fiber-like microstructure has the adhesion strength grade of HF1. High-speed rubbing results showed that the TiB2 coating could inhibit the adhesive transfer of the Al-hBN seal coating at 300 m/s. It was found that the tribological oxidation of TiB2 coating led to the TiB2/fused Al interface reaction by characterization of the interface microstructure of the Al-adhesive blade tip. The thin interface reaction interlayer mainly consists of TiAl3 phase. The large thermal stress at TiAl3/TiB2 interface makes the interface reaction layer with the Al-adhesive transfer layer easily peel off from the blade tip. Thus, the Al-adhesive transfer is always at a lower level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

W-Si-C composites with high relative densities and good mechanical and wear properties were successfully prepared by spark plasma sintering. The influence of SiC content on the relative density, microstructure, mechanical properties and wear characteristics was investigated. The results indicated that the reaction between SiC and W at their interface produced W2C and W5Si3. SiC also reacted with oxygen impurities at the W grain boundary to form SiO2. The purification of the grain boundaries of W was carried out by SiO2 synthesis. Reactive sintering reduces the free energy of the system and facilitates the densification process of W-Si-C composites. This results in a significant increase in the relative density of W-Si-C composites, which reaches a maximum of 98.12%, higher than the 94.32% of pure tungsten. The hardness significantly increases from 4.33 GPa to 8.40 GPa when the SiC content is 2 wt% compared to pure tungsten due to the generation of the hard ceramic phase and the increase in relative density. The wear resistance of the W-Si-C composites was significantly improved with little SiC addition. The wear rate significantly decreased from 313.27 × 10−3 mm3/N·m of pure tungsten to 5.71 × 10−3 mm3/N·m of W-0.5 wt% SiC. SEM analyses revealed that the dominant wear mechanism of pure tungsten was attributed to fatigue wear, while that of W-Si-C composites was due to abrasive wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of brittle intermetallic compounds (IMCs) generated between a solder and a substrate is crucial for the reliability of solder joints. Therefore, it is necessary to control the growth of IMCs at the interface. Herein, we propose a strategy with the nickel nanoparticle/carbon (Ni&C) films as an interlayer to improve the stability of the solder joint. After adding the interface with the Ni&C film and reflowing for 450 s, the growth of IMCs decreased by 41.05%. After reflowing for 450 and 2100 s, the grain size in the 300 s-Ni&C/Cu substrate decreased by 14.34 and 20.50%, respectively, compared with the pure Cu substrate. Furthermore, the Ni&C film changes the microstructure of the interface and the diffusion pattern of elements, thus reducing the number of Kirkendall voids. As the reflow time increases, the scalloped IMCs are transformed to be prismatic, which can be well explained by the Gibbs–Thomson effect. The synergistic effect between Ni and carbon in Ni&C can jointly control the interface reaction and the growth of IMCs, with the Ni&C film acting as an inert barrier to inhibit the growth of IMCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical world is abundant and diverse. One of the main purposes of laboratory teaching is revealing the mystery of product generation, speculating the micro process of product growth through the observation of macro chemical phenomena, and enhancing students’ interest in chemistry, to deepen students’ understanding of various chemical synthesis processes. In this experiment, the colorful molecular aggregates were taken as the target products to create an “interface reaction” in a self-designed reactor. The colorful (such as white, blue, green and pink) molecular aggregates with hollow tubular and coral reef-like structures were prepared on the surface of a ceramic core based on permeation and diffusion effects, surface tension, and the interfacial reaction mechanism. The method of this popular science experiment is safe, novel, and simple. Meanwhile, the phenomenon of this experiment is obvious with high ornamental value. The objective of discovering the utility and appeal of chemistry and stimulating students’ enthusiasm for learning chemistry in the process of exploring the formation of the micro world will be realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent ceramics have become a research hotspot in the preparation of fluorescent materials in recent years, because of their excellent physical and chemical properties and high transparency. Gadolinium aluminate, as a stable matrix material, is often doped with various active ions to obtain luminescence with different colors. However, it is very difficult to fabricate gadolinium aluminate transparent ceramics by a traditional method, although they are the charming solid lighting materials. Here, we developed a pressureless sintering method to prepare GdAlO3:Mn (GAP:Mn) transparent ceramic films, which were prepared by spin coating layered rare‐earth hydroxide (LRH) on amorphous alumina substrate and sintering at 1550°C for 2 h. Through the interface reaction, the Al2O3 reacted with Gd2O3 to form mesophase Gd4Al2O9 below 1550°C. However, the final products are GdAlO3 at 1550°C. The GAP:Mn4+ film exhibits a high transmittance of about 90%. Under UV excitation at 310 nm, the ceramic film outputs deep red and NIR emissions, which are both arising from the 2Eg–4A2g transition of Mn4+. Due to the electron traps arising from unequal valence substitution, the ceramic film exhibits a negative thermal quenching phenomenon. The ceramic film has a good luminescence thermal stability, because its emission intensity at 150°C maintains over 72% that at room temperature. This work may pave a new way to fabricate transparent ceramics using LRHs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional methods for fabricating multilayered ceramic membranes with ion conducting dense thin layers are often cumbersome, costly, and limited by poor adhesion between layers. Inspired by the architectural structure of the rooted grasses in soil, here, we report an interface‐reaction‐induced reassembly approach for the direct fabrication of Ce0.9Gd0.1O2−δ (CGO) thin layers rooted in the parent multilayered ceramic membranes by only one firing step. The CGO dense layers are very thin, and adhered strongly to the parent support layer, ensuring low ionic transport resistance and structural integrity of the multilayered membranes. When using as an oxygen permeable membrane for upgrading fossil‐fuel‐derived hydrogen, it shows very long durability in harsh conditions containing H2O, CH4, H2, CO2 and H2S. Furthermore, our approach is highly scalable and applicable to a wide variety of ion conducting thin layers, including Y0.08Zr0.92O2−δ, Ce0.9Sm0.1O2−δ and Ce0.9Pr0.1O2−δ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of Sn-0.7Cu solder in electronic packaging is limited by its high melting point, low wettability, and poor solderability. Herein, we obtain Co nanoparticles embedded in carbon skeleton nanosheets (Co&C) via a metal-organic-framework (MOF)-derived method. The composite solder is successfully prepared by adding Co&C into Sn-0.7Cu. The results show that the addition of minor amounts of Co&C has little influence on the melting point of the composite solder. In addition, the wettability of the composite solder is effectively enhanced by the adsorption effect of Co&C. The minimum wetting angle of the composite solder is 27.9° when the content of Co&C is 0.08 wt %. With the addition of Co&C, the microstructure of the solder is refined, and the best refinement effect is achieved when the content of Co&C is 0.08 wt %. Furthermore, adding Co&C can reduce the thickness of the intermetallic compounds (IMCs) and transform the scalloped IMCs into a planar shape. Reflowed for 2100 s, the IMCs at the Sn-0.7Cu-0.08Co&C/Cu interface maintain a planar shape, and their thickness is reduced by 21.10% compared with that of the Sn-0.7Cu/Cu interface. The synergistic effect between Co and carbon in Co&C jointly controls the interface reaction and the growth of IMCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of diamond/aluminum composite is of significant importance for its extensive application. In this paper, the interface of diamond/aluminum composite was modified by adding nanoscale W coating on diamond surface. We evaluated the corrosion rate of nanoscale W-coated and uncoated diamond/aluminum composite by a full immersion test and polarization curve test and clarified the corrosion products and corrosion mechanism of the composite. The introduction of W nanoscale coating effectively reduces the corrosion rate of the diamond/aluminum composite. After corrosion, the bending strength and thermal conductivity of the nanoscale W-coated diamond/aluminum composite are considerably higher than those of the uncoated diamond/aluminum composite. The corrosion loss of the material is mainly related to the hydrolysis of the interface product Al4C3, accompanied by the corrosion of the matrix aluminum. Our work provides guidance for improving the life of electronic devices in corrosive environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, S50C steel was hot dipped into molten Al–Fe alloy with different Fe content; when the Fe content exceeded 23 wt.%, the hot-dip coating on S50C steel cannot be achieved due to lack of wetting. Using Vicker's hardness, vane-on-disc wear, and laser specular reflection tests, the Al–23-wt.% Fe alloy hot-dip coating showed high hardness, wear resistance, and surface glossiness. CLSM, SEM, and EDS were used to observe the interface reaction between S50C steel and the hot-dipped Al–23wt.% Fe alloy after an annealing treatment at 650°C–850°C. Because Fe could not diffuse into the Al–23-wt.% Fe alloy, the Al–23-wt.% Fe alloy had no interfacial reaction layer; only the S50C steel formed the Fe3Al intermetallic compound during the thermal activation reaction (activation energy = 253 kJ mol−1). Further, it was found that annealing temperatures of >850°C prevented the formation of Fe3Al intermetallic compound due to the diffusion of carbon into the cast-welding layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-free biochar to activate persulfate and degrade organic contaminants has attracted great attention in advanced oxidation processes, while the role of biochar adsorption in the activation and oxidative decomposition process still needed to be further clarified. In this study, nitrogen-doped porous biochar derived from a waste litchi branch was prepared as a peroxydisulfate (PDS) activator for bisphenol A (BPA) degradation, in which the regulation behavior of biochar adsorption was evaluated on the basis of phase distribution and PDS activation mechanism. N-doped biochar obtained at 800 °C with urea and sodium bicarbonate added presented a high specific surface area (821 m2/g), abundant nanopores, and a graphitic structure, and showed the best adsorption capacity and catalytic activity toward BPA. At a dosage of 0.15 g/L NBC-800, 95% BPA can be completely degraded within 60 min with an apparent rate constant (kobs) of 0.0483 min−1. The identified active sites and reactive oxygen species as well as electrochemical tests suggested that both free radicals O2•− and •OH and nonradical pathways including 1O2 originated from C = O and surface electron-transfer mechanisms were involved in BPA decomposition. The experiments and activation mechanisms all confirmed that BPA adsorption on the NBC-800 surface was an extremely crucial step for BPA oxidative degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ER4047 is more suitable for welding SiCp/Al composites than ER4043 and ER5356. • ER4047 with high Si is more effective in inhibiting the formation of Al 4 C 3. • More SiC particles result in the highest tensile strength when using ER4047. In this study, the microstructure and mechanical properties of SiCp/Al composite welded joints with three different filler metals were studied by dual beam laser welding method. The tensile strength of SiCp/Al composite welded joints with Al-Si welding wire (ER4043 and ER4047) is higher than that with Al-Mg welding wire (ER5356). The main reason for the difference of tensile strength of weld joints is that the brittle phase Al 4 C 3 is formed by the interfacial reaction between SiC particles and Al matrix at high temperature. More Si content in ER4047 can effectively inhibit the interface reaction and reduces the consumption degree of SiC particles in the welded metal, therefore a large number of SiC particles are retained to improve performance of weld seam compared with the other two welding wires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane as a support for metal nanocatalysts, can greatly enhance the catalytic activity of metal nanoparticles and promote the efficient production and separation of products. In this study, a novel sandwich-structured composite membrane was designed and facilely fabricated by using palladium nanocatalysts as the core catalytic layer and two different structured PVDF layers as the outer layers. The composite membrane was used as a reaction interface as well as a separation barrier between reactants and products, efficiently realizing the catalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol and convenient separation of the product benzaldehyde. The membrane was characterized in detailed and the effects of the membrane structure and various reaction conditions on the catalytic oxidation were systematically investigated. The results indicated that the reaction could be conveniently carried out under very mild experimental conditions, obtaining the product benzaldehyde at as high selectivity as 93.17 %. The successful implementation of the sandwich membrane for the production of chlorine-free benzaldehyde provides a new method for the interface reaction. [Display omitted] • Facile preparation of a novel sandwich-like membrane. • Membrane as interface material for reaction. • Reaction occurring between oil and water. • Novel technology for interface catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frequent detection of 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (F-53B) in various environments has raised concerns owing to its comparable or even higher environmental persistence and toxicity than perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). This study investigated the plasma degradation of F-53B for the first time using a water film plasma discharge system. The results revealed that F-53B demonstrated a higher rate constant but similar defluorination compared to PFOS, which could be ascribed to the introduction of the chlorine atom. Successful elimination (94.8–100 %) was attained at F-53B initial concentrations between 0.5 and 10 mg/L, with energy yields varying from 15.1 to 84.5 mg/kWh. The mechanistic exploration suggested that the decomposition of F-53B mainly occurred at the gas-liquid interface, where it directly reacted with reactive species generated by gas discharge. F-53B degradation pathways involving dechlorination, desulfonation, carboxylation, C-O bond cleavage, and stepwise CF 2 elimination were proposed based on the identified byproducts and theoretical calculations. Furthermore, the demonstrated effectiveness in removing F-53B in various coexisting ions and water matrices highlighted the robust anti-interference ability of the treatment process. These findings provide mechanistic insights into the plasma degradation of F-53B, showcasing the potential of plasma processes for eliminating PFAS alternatives in water. [Display omitted] • A comparison of PFOS and F-53B degradation using the plasma process was conducted. • The degradation of F-53B mainly occurs at the plasma-liquid interface. • Plasma treatment is effective for removing F-53B in various water matrices. • The mechanisms of F-53B degradation in the plasma system were proposed. • The toxicity of the products was reduced following the plasma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the growth behavior and rate-controlling processes of intermetallic compounds at Ag/Zn diffusion couple interfaces. Through experimental observations and quantitative analysis, we identify three distinct intermetallic compounds: β-AgZn, γ-Ag 5 Zn 8 , and ε-AgZn 3. We analyze the kinetics of intermetallic compound growth to elucidate the mechanisms governing thickness growth in terms of interdiffusion and interface reactions. The rate-controlling process varies with temperature; volume diffusion controls layer growth at 573–593 K, while both volume diffusion and interface reaction contribute at 623–673 K. Additionally, we evaluate the activation enthalpies of parabolic coefficients, providing insights into the temperature dependence of growth kinetics and quantitation. This comprehensive analysis clarifies the intricate mechanisms underlying intermetallic compound formation, offering valuable implications for material performance and processing optimization in various applications. [Display omitted] • We identified the formation of three intermetallic compounds (β-AgZn, γ-Ag 5 Zn 8 , ε-AgZn 3) at Ag/Zn interfaces. • The temperature dependence of the diffusion coefficient is higher compared to that of the interface reaction rate. • We evaluated activation enthalpies of parabolic coefficients for the growth, elucidating the temperature dependence. • Understanding the mechanisms governing intermetallic compound formation is crucial for material performance optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prebiotic chemical evolution and the emergence of life in the seafloor hydrothermal systems of Hadean Earth is among the most plausible and popular hypotheses for the origin of earthly life. In contrast, many studies pointed out that this hypothesis intrinsically harbors a critical unsolved problem called the "water paradox": Abundant water limits dehydration synthesis and instead facilitates hydrolysis of organic molecules during the early stage of chemical evolution. However, many of these criticisms have not referred to the abundant liquid/supercritical CO2 (L/SC-CO2) fluids and pools in modern hydrothermal systems, which not only create dry environments but also behave as hydrophobic solvents at and beneath the seafloor. In this paper, we theorize the generation and preservation of a L/SC-CO2 pool in modern seafloor hydrothermal systems and reinterpret the fossil hydrothermal systems preserved in early Archean seafloor basalts. The theoretical estimation of subseafloor phase separation and phase segregation of CO2-rich hydrothermal fluids suggests the presence of L/SC-CO2 fluids and pools in Hadean seafloor hydrothermal systems. Because they behave as hydrophobic organic solvents, L/SC-CO2 can potentially initiate the dehydration synthesis of organic molecules in seafloor hydrothermal systems. Moreover, at the interface between L/SC-CO2 and H2O-rich fluid (seawater or hydrothermal fluid), amphiphilic molecules might be generated and triggered into self-assembled growth. Based on the abundant occurrence and physicochemical properties of L/SC-CO2 fluids, we propose a new stepwise concept for the origin of life, whereby prebiotic chemical evolution was co-hosted and facilitated by L/SC-CO2 in Hadean water-rich seafloor hydrothermal systems. This "liquid/supercritical CO2 hypothesis" potentially overcomes the water paradox and strengthens the idea that earthly life was hatched in deep-sea hydrothermal systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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For LiCoO 2 (LCO) operated beyond 4.55 V (vs Li/Li + ), it usually suffers from severe surface degradation. Constructing a robust cathode/electrolyte interphase (CEI) is effective to alleviate the above issues, however, the correlated mechanisms still remain vague. Herein, a progressively reinforced CEI is realized via constructing Zr─O deposits (ZrO 2 and Li 2 ZrO 3 ) on LCO surface (i.e., Z-LCO). Upon cycle, these Zr─O deposits can promote the decomposition of LiPF 6 , and progressively convert to the highly dispersed Zr─O─F species. In particular, the chemical reaction between LiF and Zr─O─F species further leads to the densification of CEI, which greatly reinforces its toughness and conductivity. Combining the robust CEI and thin surface rock-salt layer of Z-LCO, several benefits are achieved, including stabilizing the surface lattice oxygen, facilitating the interface Li + transport kinetics, and enhancing the reversibility of O3/H1-3 phase transition, etc. As a result, the Z-LCO||Li cells exhibit a high capacity retention of 84.2% after 1000 cycles in 3-4.65 V, 80.9% after 1500 cycles in 3-4.6 V, and a high rate capacity of 160 mAh g -1 at 16 C (1 C = 200 mA g -1 ). This work provides a new insight for developing advanced LCO cathodes., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)