Shallow mineral resources are gradually depleting worldwide, therefore, deep mining is becoming increasingly prevalent within the mining industry. Drilling and blasting are the predominant excavation methods used in deep environments. However, challenges such as inefficient borehole utilization and significant over- or under-excavation are frequently encountered. Scientific investigations on deep rock mass blasting are crucial for the effective development and utilization of deep resources, underpinning safe and efficient deep mine operations. This paper identifies the challenges faced in deep rock mass blasting and presents a review of the current research, primarily from the perspective of Chinese institutions and their experiences, integrating theoretical and technical perspectives through a bibliometric analysis. First, key developmental trends and prominent research teams were identified in the context of this review. Subsequently, three principal areas of theoretical research are analyzed and summarized: blasting stress field evolution, crack propagation behavior, and vibrational response characteristics under in-situ stress conditions. The application and optimization of cut and perimeter blasting techniques for deep rock masses were also examined. Finally, drawing upon existing research, this study explores three key future directions: prediction of blasting effects, utilization of unloading stress waves for cooperative rock fragmentation, and optimization of production blasting in deep metal mines. This review aims to provide a systematic framework for future research in the field of deep rock mass blasting.

Driven by the proposed new circular economy goals and “dual carbon” strategy (carbon peak and carbon neutrality), the inherent recyclability of aluminum and its alloys makes their secondary utilization critical for green and sustainable development. Owing to its controllable source, scrap aluminum produced by manufacturing industries, such as the automobile, aerospace, and electronics industries, represents a high-value resource that will be critical for the global supply of aluminum and its alloys. However, large amounts of impurity elements (Fe, Si, Mg, Cu, and others) are introduced into scrap aluminum during the recycling process, among which Fe is the most harmful. Consequently, recycled aluminum is largely restricted to lower-grade applications, precluding its comprehensive substitution of primary aluminum. This article reviews the detrimental effects of Fe and the resulting Fe-rich phases (FRPs) on aluminum alloys, summarizes existing Fe removal and deterioration mitigation methods, and evaluates the industrial feasibility of these methods to provide comprehensive theoretical guidance for future FRP control technology. Moreover, this review provides guidance for resolving the impediments to the grade preservation and subsequent use of industrial recycled aluminum.

The poor flowability of high-concentration tailings slurry often leads to slurry hardening and rake blockages in thickeners. To address this, the study employed computed tomography and rheological measurement techniques to investigate the effect of slurry concentration on static yield stress (τ_B), and a comparative analysis was conducted between thickened tailings and freshly mixed slurry. Results show that the concentration, coarse particle content, and pore structure of thickened tailings are nonhomogeneous. Slurry concentration and the proportion of coarse particles (75–300 µm) increase with decreasing slurry height, while pores in the 50–250-µm range serve as the primary storage space for water. The τ_B of thickened tailings is 5.3–61.3 times higher than that of freshly mixed slurry. Furthermore, τ_B decreases with decreasing coefficient of variation (CV) of slurry porosity. It is proposed to use CV to quantify differences in τ_B between thickened tailings and freshly mixed slurry. Field application at an iron ore mine in China validated the results, providing insights to mitigate slurry hardening in silos.

Chalcopyrite dissolution during gold cyanidation consumes excessive NaCN and dissolved oxygen, generating byproducts that inhibit gold leaching. This study investigates the regulatory mechanism of lead acetate (C₄H₆O₄Pb·3H₂O) on the cyanidation behavior of chalcopyrite. Cyanide leaching tests with varying C₄H₆O₄Pb·3H₂O dosages were performed, and interfacial property changes were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). The results demonstrated that a 0.03 g·g⁻¹ dosage of C₄H₆O₄Pb·3H₂O reduced NaCN consumption from 0.60 to 0.28 g and decreased thiocyanate ion concentration from 1833.5 to 813.5 mg·L⁻¹ after 24 h of leaching. Dissolved oxygen remained above 5.9 mg·L⁻¹, indicating suppressed oxygen depletion. XPS and ToF-SIMS confirmed a ∼9 nm passivation layer composed of Pb(OH)₂, PbO, and PbS on the chalcopyrite surface, which inhibited the formation of CuCN, Fe(CN)₆⁴⁻, and SCN⁻ species. This passivation layer significantly reduced copper and iron dissolution, lowering their concentrations by 569.2 and 16.5 mg·L⁻¹, respectively. These findings indicate that C₄H₆O₄Pb·3H₂O effectively mitigates the detrimental impact of chalcopyrite on cyanide leaching and optimizes the chemical environment for gold leaching.

Tungsten, a strategic non-ferrous metal critical for advanced industrial applications, predominantly exists as underutilized scheelite resources characterized by fine-grained intergrowths with calcite that are challenging to separate. This study deciphers the atomic-scale mechanism underlying the selective flotation separation of scheelite from calcite mediated by hydrolyzed polymaleic anhydride (HPMA), a novel environmentally benign reagent, through integrated experimental characterization and computational simulations. Micro-flotation assays quantitatively demonstrated HPMA’s exceptional selectivity, suppressing calcite recovery from 91.64% to 18.61% at pH 7 (10 mg·L⁻¹ dosage) while preserving scheelite floatability. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed HPMA preferentially adsorbs on calcite, efficiently hindering sodium oleate (NaOL) attachment, whereas NaOL selectively binds to scheelite. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis confirmed carboxyl (−COO⁻) group chemisorption at calcite’s Ca sites, evidenced by a 0.26 eV negative shift in Ca 2p_3/2 binding energy and new Ca–O bond formation. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations quantified adsorption energetics: HPMA exhibited stronger affinity for calcite (104) surfaces (−1166.441 kJ·mol⁻¹) versus scheelite (112) (335.180 kJ·mol⁻¹). Mulliken bond population analysis quantified interfacial bonding nature. The calcite–HPMA interface formed polar covalent bonds (populations 0.23–0.28), contrasting with NaOL’s ionic interactions (population 0.13) on scheelite. This covalent advantage enables HPMA to preferentially passivate calcite surfaces, suppressing NaOL co-adsorption and facilitating selective scheelite recovery through differential surface reactivity modulation.

Ludwigite ore is a strategic mineral resource unique to China. Its efficient and comprehensive utilization is of paramount importance for ensuring the healthy and sustainable development of China’s industry and national defense security. This study presents and validates a scale-up integrated process for separating boron and iron from boron–iron mixed concentrate (BIMC) and producing reduced iron powder and high-purity boric acid. The process involves reductive soda-ash roasting in a rotary kiln, followed by wet-grinding, magnetic separation, and fractional crystallization. Under optimized parameters, the process achieved a boron leaching efficiency of 70.23%, an iron grade in the magnetic concentrate of 94.12wt%, and a corresponding recovery of 93.35%. The recovered reduced iron powder can be used as feed for short-process steelmaking. The boron-rich liquor was then used to prepare high-purity boric acid (>99wt%) with a regular morphology by adjusting the pH with sulfuric acid, and the corresponding aqueous chemical behaviors were investigated. This integrated process offers a promising approach for the efficient and environmentally friendly utilization of boron–iron complex ore.

China has about 98% of the diasporic bauxite ores, with around 70% being low-grade. These low-grade bauxites containing high silica pose significant challenges in alumina recovery, as their reaction with sodium aluminate in the Bayer process leads to alumina loss and increased caustic consumption. This study presents a novel, sustainable process for upgrading low-grade bauxite with an initial alumina-to-silica mass ratio (A/S) of 2.39. The process involves muffle furnace heating and water quenching, as well as fragmentation of bauxite. In this process, low-grade bauxite was first treated in a muffle furnace at 350°C for 50 min, using a particle size of 355–425 µm, and then suddenly cooled in cold water for fragmentation. Subsequently, a separation of the parts into smaller sizes is needed. The results demonstrate a 130% increase in the A/S mass ratio, with 67% concentrate recovery for alumina extraction. This method offers a promising solution for efficiently using low-grade bauxites without further treatments, contributing to more sustainable alumina production practices. The process is adaptable to different bauxite sources and could significantly impact alumina refineries’ economics and environmental footprint worldwide.

The mineral composition and microstructure critically affect high-basicity sinter quality. Using analytical grade reagents, the formation mechanisms of main minerals and microstructures in high-basicity sinter (hematite-type, magnetite-type, and vanadium-titanium magnetite-type) during mineralization were analyzed via polarized light microscopy and FactSage. The results indicated that hematite appeared as primary and secondary forms in different sinter types at 900°C. In the heating process, calcium ferrite, magnetite, and perovskite formed at 1150, 1280, and 1400°C, respectively, while olivine formed at 1200°C during cooling. From room temperature to 1400°C, microstructures evolved from powder-like to porphyritic and skeletal crystal forms. During cooling (1280 to 1100°C), an interlaced-erosion structure was observed. FactSage simulations show that in the low-temperature phase, the liquid composition is closer to the high-basicity CaO–Fe₂O₃ liquid phase region, where silica-ferrite of calcium and aluminum (SFCA) binds with magnetite and hematite to form an interlaced-erosion structure. The porphyritic structure resulted from SFCA melting into the liquid phase, hematite decomposing, and the glass phase cementing magnetite upon quenching. The skeletal crystal structure forms during the high-temperature phase as the high silicate content in the liquid phase increases melting viscosity, reduces local medium concentration, and leads to incomplete crystal growth. This research aims to advance high-basicity sinter metallogenic theory and guide sintering quality improvement.

This study aims to investigate the metallurgical behavior and the transformation mechanism of microcrystalline structure of coke in a hydrogen-rich smelting process. The co-gasification reaction of coke in the reaction gas (CO₂ + H₂O) was studied under different H₂O contents, ranging from 0 to 20vol%. The thermal properties of coke after the gasification reaction were examined using the coke reactivity index (CRI) and coke strength after reaction (CSR) at 1100°C. The microcrystalline structure was analyzed by Raman spectroscopy, and the pore structure was studied by scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method, and X-ray computed tomography. The results indicated that the CRI increased with increasing H₂O content in the gas, while the CSR decreased. Pore erosion occurred in both the internal and surface parts of the coke gasified with pure CO₂. Furthermore, as the H₂O content increased to 20vol%, the pores at the surface of the coke were significantly eroded. The enlarged pores, thinning pore walls, and generation of pore channels eroded a large number of small pores inside the coke, which results in elevated levels of porosity within the coke. This indicates that the carbon dissolution of H₂O was more pronounced than that of CO₂, ultimately leading to a significant decrease in the strength of the reduced coke. Raman spectra demonstrated that the overall graphitization of the reduced coke increased with H₂O content due to the fact that H₂O primarily erodes the irregular carbon structure, resulting in a relatively higher percentage of its internal regular structure.

The application of CO₂ in the steelmaking process has yielded promising results, demonstrating a certain capability for nitrogen removal. To accurately determine the kinetic parameters of nitrogen reactions at the iron melt interface under CO₂ injection conditions, an isotope exchange technique was employed. This technique was used to monitor the evolution of the nitrogen isotopic composition during the reaction between a ²⁸N₂–³⁰N₂–CO₂–CO–Ar gas mixture and an iron melt of controlled composition. The kinetic parameters of nitrogen were subsequently calculated for various CO₂/CO ratios. Furthermore, the dissociation rate determining model was applied to establish the relationship between the interfacial reaction rate constant (k_c) and the activity of surfactive elements (O, C, and S) in molten iron (a_O, a_C, and a_S), expressed as

65, 130, and 160 mT transverse static magnetic field (TSMF) were introduced into the electroslag remelting (ESR) process to investigate the evolution of eutectic carbide morphology and mechanical property of M2 high speed steel. The application of TSMF induces the homogenization of the temperature field and reduces local solidification time, thereby inhibiting the non-heterogeneous nucleation and the growth of eutectic carbides. According to the result of electron back scatter diffraction (EBSD), as TSMF is applied and magnetic flux density (MFD) increases, the orientation of carbides becomes increasingly diverse and discontinuous. The results indicate that the application of TSMF leads to the refinement and dispersion of carbides, with the effect becoming more pronounced as the MFD increases. It enhances the wear resistance and hardness of ingots. The wear resistance significantly improved, with the maximum wear depth decreasing by 26.2% (9.54 to 7.04 µm) and the total wear volume dropping by 20% (2.75 × 10⁷ to 2.20 × 10⁷ µm³). Concurrently, the material’s hardness increased from HRC 49.9 to 55.4. The overall results reveal that the presence of TSMF is beneficial for eutectic carbide morphology, thus achieving considerable improvement in mechanical properties of M2 high-speed steel ingots.

The development of steel slag/stone-wood plastic composites reinforced with calcium sulfate whisker is beneficial for reducing costs in the stone-wood plastic industry and promoting the resource utilization of industrial waste. Steel slag powder (SSP) composited with calcium sulfate whisker (CSW) was investigated as a replacement for a portion of talc powder (TP) in the creation of calcium sulfate whisker-reinforced steel slag/stone-wood plastic composites (CSW-SSP/SPCs). The reinforcement effect and thermal stability mechanism of CSW within these composites were examined by assessing their mechanical properties, mineral composition, structural composition, thermal stability, crystallinity, and microstructure. The results showed that the tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength of CSW-SSP/SPCs were increased by 28.13%, 25.02%, and 45.55%, respectively, which were significantly better than those of the pure TP sample. The SSP composited with CSW effectively replaced part of the TP, where CSW significantly reinforced the composites through its bridging, micro-filling, and synergistic effects with the SSP. Meanwhile, the MgO, Al₂O₃, and Fe₂O₃ in the SSP crosslinked with the carbon layer skeleton and residual materials to form a more stable carbon layer, which inhibited the combustion reaction and further enhanced the thermal stability and retarded the thermal degradation process.

The endpoint timing of copper-converter blowing directly affects the quality of blister copper, furnace stability, and blowing efficiency. Therefore, enhancing the digitalization and intelligence levels of this process has significant practical importance. This study employed a deep learning algorithm that integrated a convolutional neural network (CNN) and graph attention network (GAT). It utilized CNNs to extract image features from the cooling samples of high-temperature melts. Subsequently, by fusing these image features with various production condition data and constraints through the GAT, a model was constructed to determine the best endpoint and predict the product composition. This model could predict the main elemental content of furnace products and estimate the required blowing time. A dataset comprising 5172 production parameters and images of high-temperature cooling samples from a furnace was established. The model was trained and validated using this dataset, and the results indicated that the model achieved endpoint judgment accuracies of 96.73% and 97.85% for the slag-making and copper-making periods, respectively, on the test set. The average prediction error for the composition across four cycles of copper-converter blowing was as low as 0.705wt%, and the average error in estimating the required blowing time was only 1.94 min. The results of this study provide new methods and insights for the development of intelligent endpoint judgment technologies for copper-converter blowing.

Increasing the carbon content in low-alloy steels is one of the most cost-effective and efficient methods for enhancing strength, often resulting in a significant reduction in ductility. In this study, a high-carbon low-alloy steel with a tensile strength of about 2.6 GPa and a total elongation of 12% was developed, through the synergistic applications of two key strategies: i) refine prior austenite grains (PAGs) leading to the transition of quenched microstructure from brittle twinned martensite to dislocation martensite; ii) suppress the martensitic transformation finish temperature to sub-room temperature by the combined effect of high content of carbon and alloying elements, i.e., Ni, Mn, Si, Cr, and Mo. After quenching and tempering, the steel retains approximately 15vol% stable retained austenite (RA), which enhances ductility through the transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) effect. These strategies collectively contribute to both high strength and excellent ductility, enhancing the strength–ductility synergy in ultra-high strength steels.

Maraging steels are ultrahigh-strength, low-carbon steels requiring strict control of impurity elements to ensure optimal strength and toughness. This study aims to elucidate the role of oxygen content in controlling oxide inclusions and cryogenic toughness in laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) fabricated maraging steels. Two types of powders were used: vacuum induction gas atomization (VIGA) powder with 0.034wt% oxygen and plasma rotating electrode process (PREP) powder with 0.016wt% oxygen. The PREP deposit exhibited finer and more dispersed Al₂O₃ inclusions (average size: (37 ± 11) nm; number density: 7.6 × 10¹⁸ m⁻³) compared to the VIGA deposit ((59 ± 28) nm; 6.5 × 10¹⁸ m⁻³). As a result, the PREP specimens demonstrated significantly improved impact toughness—138 J at 23°C and 65 J at −196°C—representing 53.3% and 47.8% increase over the VIGA specimens, respectively. This difference is due to the lower oxygen content in PREP, leading to lower-temperature nucleation with a reduced nucleation barrier. In addition to quantitatively evaluating the oxygen inclusion–toughness relationship, a thermodynamic model was developed to capture the nucleation and evolution of nanoscale oxides under the rapid thermal cycles characteristic of the L-PBF molten pool, which enables prediction of the size and number density evolution of oxide inclusions under different oxygen levels. These findings offer insights for oxygen-level control and powder design strategies in additive manufacturing of maraging steels.

This study investigated the effects of direct aging (DA), solution treatment (ST), and ST followed by DA (T6) on the microstructural, mechanical, and corrosion properties of direct powder forged Al–10Si–0.3Mg alloy specimens. Microstructural analyses conducted using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electron backscatter diffraction revealed that among DA specimens, direct aging at 200°C (DA-2) exhibited significantly enhanced silicon (Si) particle distribution uniformity and minimal interparticle boundaries owing to increased diffusion bonding; ST specimens exhibited partial Si dissolution, higher porosity, and retained the interparticle boundaries; and T6 specimens exhibited improved microstructural uniformity and enhanced Si precipitation. Furthermore, mechanical property evaluations indicated that T6 treatment comprising ST at 500°C for 180 min followed by DA at 200°C for 360 min resulted in the highest tensile strength (207.15 MPa) and elongation (5.02%), followed closely by DA at 200°C for 360 min (203.13 MPa and 4.39%). These improvements were attributed to the lower residual stress, higher diffusion distances, and well-dispersed Si particles induced by DA-2 treatment. Corrosion analyses conducted using cyclic polarization and impedance spectroscopy indicated varied electrochemical responses, with DA-2 resulting in the lowest corrosion current and highest impedance, and ST resulting in the lowest corrosion resistance. Overall, DA at 200°C for 360 min was the most effective heat treatment, offering the optimal balance between mechanical and corrosion-resistance properties.

The effect of Mn content on the microstructure, texture, and room-temperature mechanical properties of hot-extruded Mg–2Nd–1Gd alloy was investigated. The microstructure of hot-extruded Mg–2Nd–1Gd–xMn (x = 0, 0.25wt%, and 0.5wt%) alloys consisted primarily of a fine-grained α-Mg matrix phase and point-like, streamline-distributed Mg₄₁(Nd,Gd)₅ phase along the extrusion direction. In the extruded Mg–2Nd–1Gd–0.25Mn and Mg–2Nd–1Gd–0.5Mn alloys, Mn was mainly present as solid–solution Mn atoms and α-Mn particles, respectively. With increasing Mn content, the recrystallization fraction of the Mg–2Nd–1Gd–xMn alloys increased from 79% to 94.3%, and then decreased to 77.8%. Meanwhile, the average grain size first increased from 7.9 to 11.9 µm and then decreased to 7.5 µm. Microstructural characterization revealed that the solid–solution Mn atoms in the extruded Mg–2Nd–1Gd–0.25Mn alloy reduced the segregation of Nd and Gd, thereby weakening the solute drag effect. In contrast, α-Mn particles pinned the grain boundaries and delayed the recrystallization process in the extruded Mg–2Nd–1Gd–0.5Mn alloy. The extruded Mg–2Nd–1Gd and Mg–2Nd–1Gd–0.25Mn alloys exhibited a typical rare-earth texture, whereas the extruded Mg–2Nd–1Gd–0.5Mn alloy displayed a basal texture combined with a rare-earth texture due to the presence of deformed grains. Among the extruded Mg–2Nd–1Gd–xMn alloys, the Mg–2Nd–1Gd–0.5Mn variant exhibited the best room-temperature mechanical properties, with a yield strength of 138.0 MPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 231.1 MPa, and an elongation of 38.8%. Quantitative analysis indicated that grain boundary and dislocation strengthening were the main contributors to the yield strength of the extruded Mg–2Nd–1Gd–0.5Mn alloy, accounting for 44% and 24.1%, respectively.

To address the problems of high porosity and poor adhesion strength existing in Ti6Al4V coatings prepared by cold spraying technology, the strategy of in-situ laser and micro-forging assistance for cold spraying was proposed in this study. The Ti6Al4V coatings with high relative density and high adhesion strength were successfully prepared. The microstructure, interfacial strengthening mechanism, bending properties, and failure behavior of the coatings were systematically analyzed. With N₂ used as the propelling gas, under the spraying parameters of gas temperature at 800°C and gas pressure at 4 MPa, the Ti6Al4V coatings have achieved a relative density of 99.77% and an adhesion strength exceeding 68.48 MPa. Severe plastic deformation was observed in the Ti6Al4V powder within the coatings. The coatings exhibited no evident porosity defects, and a continuous, dense diffusion layer with a thickness of 5–10 µm was formed between the coating and substrate, primarily composed of α-Ti, α-Ti, TiN, TiC, FeTi, and Fe₂Ti phases. The metallurgical bonding between the coating and substrate significantly enhances the adhesion strength of the coatings. The bending yield strength and flexural strength of the coating-protected Q235 substrate are 427.37 and 770.76 MPa, respectively. Compared with the uncoated Q235 substrate, the bending yield strength and flexural strength of the coating-protected Q235 substrate (with the coatings on the bottom) increase by 41.58% and 27.00%, respectively, demonstrating that the introduction of the coatings can significantly enhance the flexural performance of the substrate. The fracture morphology of the Ti6Al4V coatings after the bending test exhibits ductile fracture characteristics, which accounted for the significant improvement in bending yield strength. The interfacial fracture between the coating and substrate shows quasicleavage characteristics, and the high bonding strength at the coating-substrate interface contributes to the enhancement of the substrate’s flexural strength. Thus, the in-situ first-layer laser-assisted and subsequent-layer micro-forging-assisted cold spraying has provided a feasible solution for the preparation of high-performance protective titanium-based coatings.

Ti–Fe alloys are indispensable for crucial applications in the aerospace, marine, and energy industries. To understand the effect of rapid solidification on phase formation and microstructural evolution in Ti–Fe alloys, melt spinning of a typical Ti_70.5Fe_29.5 eutectic alloy at different cooling rates was investigated in this study. The experimental results show that the melt-spun ribbons exhibit unique three-layered microstructure consisting of thin amorphous-nanocrystalline (Am–NC) hybrid layer on the chilled side and NC layer on the free side, which sandwich a fully Am middle layer. This microstructure is distinctly different from conventional eutectic-coupled microstructures observed in slow-cooled eutectic alloys. In particular, increasing the wheel speed resulted in a thicker Am layer and Fe enrichment, indicating the effect of solute segregation on the glass-forming ability, which is rarely seen in the formation of bulk metallic glasses. In addition, an unexpected Ti₄Fe₂O phase is observed in the NC layer in addition to β-Ti and B2-TiFe phases formed via a divorced eutectic growth mechanism. The analysis indicated that rapid solidification and moderate oxygen doping/contamination are essential for promoting the formation of amorphous and metastable Ti₄Fe₂O phases. This study contributes to a better understanding of the phase-selection mechanism and microstructural evolution in Ti–Fe alloys under far-from-equilibrium conditions, providing useful implications for the fabrication of Ti–Fe-based alloys using rapid-solidification techniques.

Self-supported, hot-pressed FeNiCoCuMo high-entropy alloy (HEA) electrodes were fabricated and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), confirming a face-centered cubic (FCC) matrix with minor body-centered cubic (BCC) phase (∼1wt%). We map the redox behavior of the individual constituents (Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, and Mo) and compare it with HEA to reveal solid-solution synergy (“cocktail effect”). Electrochemistry (cyclic voltammetry (CV)/linear sweep voltammetry (LSV)/Tafel in 1.0 M KOH) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) show broadened redox features for HEA and Ni/Co-rich (oxy)hydroxide signatures with MoO_x contributions. Triplicate electrodes (M1–M3) deliver an average overpotential of 370 mV at 10mA·cm⁻² and a Tafel slope of 78 mV·dec⁻¹, outperforming monometallic references and remaining competitive with the literature-reported RuO₂. Chronopotentiometry 100 h evidence stable operation; post-mortem XRD indicates a thin reconstructed surface while the bulk remains FCC-dominated. Density functional theory (DFT) supports broadened electronic states near the Fermi level and enhanced charge transfer. Overall, structure and computation link compositional disorder, surface reconstruction, and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics in a robust anode for alkaline oxygen evolution.

Y₂O₃ and CeO₂ nanoparticles were individually incorporated into an AlCrFeNiCu coating applied to the surface of a Zr-4 rod. The microstructure, hardness, high-temperature fretting wear behavior, corrosion resistance, and high-temperature oxidation resistance of the coatings were comprehensively evaluated. The results demonstrate that the addition of Y₂O₃ or CeO₂ notably modified the solidification kinetics of the molten pool, affected elemental diffusion pathways, and effectively refined the grain structure, thus significantly improving the overall performance of the AlCrFeNiCu coating. Specifically, the hardness of the AlCrFeNiCu coatings doped with Y₂O₃ and CeO₂ reached 8.61 and 8.72 GPa, respectively, with corresponding wear rate reductions of 41.3% and 38.0% compared to the undoped coating. In a 0.1 mol/L KOH solution, the self-corrosion current densities of both modified coatings decreased by one order of magnitude in comparison to the unmodified AlCrFeNiCu coating. The oxidation behavior of both coatings conformed to parabolic kinetics, and the coatings retained their structural integrity after being exposed to air at 1200°C for 90 min, whereas the undoped coating exhibited micro-cracks after 30 min of exposure.

Two-dimensional layered metal-halide perovskites possess exceptional electronic and optical properties along with remarkable stability, making them a highly promising class of organic-inorganic hybrid semiconductor materials. Owing to their multi-quantum-well structure and high refractive index, effective light management is crucial for optimizing the performance of two-dimensional perovskites. This study utilizes the trapping effect of periodic nanostructures to effectively modulate the light-absorption capacity of two-dimensional perovskites. The theoretical efficiency of two-dimensional perovskite solar cells is systematically analyzed using the finite-difference time-domain method, with a particular focus on the influences of the lattice arrangement, structural morphology, and geometric parameters. Furthermore, the underlying mechanism of light management by periodic nanostructures in two-dimensional perovskites is elucidated, and the structure-property relationship between nanostructures and light-absorption performance is estabished. These findings offer crucial theoretical insights that can guide the enhancement of the performance of perovskite photovoltaic devices.

The development of high-performance microwave-absorbing materials with integrated thermal management capabilities is critical for advanced electronic and communication systems. In this study, we synthesized hollow core-shell structured composites through controlled pyrolysis of zeolite imidazolate framework (ZIFs). Structural and compositional characterizations confirm the successful formation of highly graphitized carbon frameworks embedded with metallic nanoparticles (Co or Zn) and a protective mesoporous SiO₂ shell. The as-prepared Zn–C@SiO₂ exhibits a minimum reflection loss (RL_min) of −23.77 dB with an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 6.24 GHz at 2.0 mm thickness, while Co–C@SiO₂ demonstrates superior microwave absorption (RL_min = −51.9 dB, EAB = 5.36 GHz). The enhanced dielectric loss attributed to the interfacial polarization effects was systematically investigated. Additionally, the composites exhibit rapid thermal response, highlighting their dual functionality as microwave absorbers and thermal management materials.

Multi-principal-element alloys (MPEAs) have emerged as a transformative class of metallic materials, surpassing conventional alloys due to their“four core effects”. The inherent compositional complexity and programmable multifunctionality of MPEAs collectively drive their emergence as a vanguard in materials innovation. By synergistically modulating metastable engineering and magneto-volume effects, we developed a MPEA (Fe,Co,Cr)_100−xNi_x with an ultralow coefficient of thermal expansion (α₁ = 1.00 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, 100–100 K) and exceptional mechanical properties (tensile strength: 560 MPa, the elongation to failure: 53%). This alloy exhibits both significant transformations induced plasticity (TRIP) and zero thermal expansion effects (Invar) at room temperature, classified as a recently proposed TRIP-Invar alloy. In situ magnetic analysis reveals that ferromagnetic order mediates pronounced magnetic compensation of intrinsic lattice contraction during cooling through spin-state transitions, thereby generating zero thermal expansion behavior. In situ neutron diffraction reveals that the good strength–plasticity trade-off arises from a deformation-triggered martensitic transformation, which enhances strain hardening through dislocation multiplication and grain boundary reinforcement. This work proposes a materials design strategy for next-generation structural-functional integrated materials, advancing the fundamental understanding of thermal expansion-mechanical property optimization in MPEAs.

The detection of ammonia (NH₃) is essential for environmental monitoring, industrial safety, and medical diagnosis. However, fluctuating environmental conditions and the limited stability of conventional sensing materials make it difficult to achieve highly selective, highly sensitive, and reliable NH₃ sensing at room temperature. To improve NH₃ selectivity, we investigated a dual-functionalized Nb₂CT_x/SnS₂ composite containing both amine and carboxyl groups. Combining the superior NH₃ adsorption capability of SnS₂ with the outstanding electrical conductivity and surface reactivity of the Nb₂CT_x MXene produces a composite that can be used as a highly sensitive and selective chemiresistive sensor. Experimental results revealed that this sensor had a low detection threshold of 10 ppm, along with fast response (32 s) and recovery (78 s) times at 100 ppm of NH₃ under ambient conditions. Moreover, under harsh environmental conditions such as exposure to interfering gases, high humidity, and temperature fluctuations, the incorporation of the amine and carboxyl groups significantly enhanced the structural integrity and selectivity of the sensor. In real-world applications, this sensor could exhibit exceptional selectivity for NH₃ against common interfering gases like formaldehyde, acetone, ethanol, trimethylamine, and CO₂. Overall, these results highlight that this material could be used to develop a high-performance NH₃ sensor with promising sensing characteristics under a wide range of environmental conditions.