Mechanical and dielectric properties of functionalized boron nitride nanosheets/silicon nitride composites

Uniformly dispersed boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) reinforced silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) composites were prepared by surface modification assisted flocculation combined with SPS sintering. In order to improve the dispersibility of the BNNSs in the composites, the liquid phase stripped BNNSs are surface functionalized by a two-step covalently modification. The amino-modified BNNSs (NH₂-BNNSs) and Si₃N₄ powders have opposite surface potential, mixed evenly by electrostatic interaction during flocculation. The results showed that mechanical properties of Si₃N₄ composites were obviously enhanced by adding NH₂-BNNSs. The fracture toughness and bending strength of Si₃N₄ composites added 0.75 wt% NH₂-BNNSs were increased by 34% and 28%, respectively, compared with monolithic Si₃N₄. Toughening mechanisms are synergistic action of the torn, pull-out or bridging of BNNSs and crack deflection mechanisms with microstructural analyzes. The dielectric properties of the Si₃N₄ ceramics are also improved after the addition of NH₂-BNNSs.     

Chemical durability and surface alteration of lanthanide zirconates (A2Zr2O7: A = La-Yb)

Chemical durability of lanthanide zirconates (A₂Zr₂O₇) (A = La-Yb) under near-field environments is important for evaluating their application as potential nuclear waste forms. In this work, A₂Zr₂O₇ (A = La-Yb) are synthesized by spark plasma sintering with controlled microstructure and their chemical durability are evaluated in a nitric acid solution (pH = 1). Scanning transmission electron microscopy analysis reveals an amorphous passivation film either enriched with Zr or lanthanide. The complex chemistry of the passivation films can be correlated with a transition in corrosion mechanisms from a preferential release of lanthanide in La₂Zr₂O₇ to a preferential release of Zr in Er₂Zr₂O₇ and Yb₂Zr₂O₇. These results suggest a dominant mechanism of incongruent dissolution and surface reorganization for the formation of passivation films. Strong correlations are identified between the leaching rates and cation ionic size, ionic potential, electronegativity differences between A-site cation and Zr, and bonding valence sum of oxygen, suggesting important impacts of structural and bonding characteristics in controlling chemical durability of lanthanide zirconates.     

Matrix Manipulation of Directly-Synthesized PbS Quantum Dot Inks Enabled by Coordination Engineering

The direct-synthesis of conductive PbS quantum dot (QD) ink is facile, scalable, and low-cost, boosting the future commercialization of optoelectronics based on colloidal QDs. However, manipulating the QD matrix structures still is a challenge, which limits the corresponding QD solar cell performance. Here, for the first time a coordination-engineering strategy to finely adjust the matrix thickness around the QDs is presented, in which halogen salts are introduced into the reaction to convert the excessive insulating lead iodide into soluble iodoplumbate species. As a result, the obtained QD film exhibits shrunk insulating shells, leading to higher charge carrier transport and superior surface passivation compared to the control devices. A significantly improved power-conversion efficiency from 10.52% to 12.12% can be achieved after the matrix engineering. Therefore, the work shows high significance in promoting the practical application of directly synthesized PbS QD inks in large-area low-cost optoelectronic devices.     

Engineering Silver-Enriched Copper Core-Shell Electrocatalysts to Enhance the Production of Ethylene and C2+ Chemicals from Carbon Dioxide at Low Cell Potentials

Copper catalysts are widely studied for the electroreduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to value-added hydrocarbon products. Controlling the surface composition of copper nanomaterials may provide the electronic and structural properties necessary for carbon-carbon coupling, thus increasing the Faradaic efficiency (FE) towards ethylene and other multi-carbon (C₂₊) products. Synthesis and catalytic study of silver-coated copper nanoparticles (Cu@Ag NPs) for the reduction of CO₂ are presented. Bimetallic CuAg NPs are typically difficult to produce due to the bulk immiscibility between these two metals. Slow injection of the silver precursor, concentrations of organic capping agents, and gas environment proved critical to control the size and metal distribution of the Cu@Ag NPs. The optimized Cu@Ag electrocatalyst exhibited a very low onset cell potential of −2.25 V for ethylene formation, reaching a FE towards C₂₊ products (FE_C2+) of 43% at −2.50 V, which is 1.0 V lower than a reference Cu catalyst to reach a similar FE_C2+. The high ethylene formation at low potentials is attributed to enhanced C C coupling on the Ag enriched shell of the Cu@Ag electrocatalysts. This study offers a new catalyst design towards increasing the efficiency for the electroreduction of CO₂ to value-added chemicals.     

Interfacial microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti3SiC2 ceramic and TC11 alloy joint diffusion bonded with a Cu interlayer

Reliable joints of Ti₃SiC₂ ceramic and TC11 alloy were diffusion bonded with a 50 μm thick Cu interlayer. The typical interfacial structure of the diffusion boned joint, which was dependent on the interdiffusion and chemical reactions between Al, Si and Ti atoms from the base materials and Cu interlayer, was TC11/α-Ti + β-Ti + Ti₂Cu + TiCu/Ti₅Si₄ + TiSiCu/Cu(s, s)/Ti₃SiC₂. The influence of bonding temperature and time on the interfacial structure and mechanical properties of Ti₃SiC₂/Cu/TC11 joint was analyzed. With the increase of bonding temperature and time, the joint shear strength was gradually increased due to enhanced atomic diffusion. However, the thickness of Ti₅Si₄ and TiSiCu layers with high microhardness increased for a long holding time, resulting in the reduction of bonding strength. The maximum shear strength of 251 ± 6 MPa was obtained for the joint diffusion bonded at 850 °C for 60 min, and fracture primarily occurred at the diffusion layer adjacent to the Ti₃SiC₂ substrate. This work provided an economical and convenient solution for broadening the engineering application of Ti₃SiC₂ ceramic.     

Mechanical properties and wear behavior of Tin+1(Al,A)Cn (A = Ga,In, Sn,n = 1, 2) via quasi-high-entropy of single atomic thick A layer

The strengthening method of multi-element M-site solid solution is a common approach to improve mechanical properties of MAX phase ceramic. However, the research on capability of multi-element A-site solid solution to improve mechanical properties has rarely been reported. Thereupon, quasi-high-entropy MAX phase ceramic bulks of Ti₂(Al_1?xA_x)C and Ti₃(Al_1?xA_x)C₂ (A = Ga, In, Sn, x = 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) were successfully synthesized by in situ vacuum hot pressing via multi-elements solid solution. The multi-elements solid solution in single-atom thick A layer was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as well as by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mappings. Effects of doped multi-elements contents on the phase, microstructure, mechanical properties, and high temperature tribological behaviors were studied. Results demonstrated that the Vickers hardness, anisotropic flexural strength, fracture toughness, and tribological properties of Ti–Al–C based MAX ceramics could be remarkably improved by constitution of quasi-high-entropy MAX phase in A layers. Moreover, the strengthening and wear mechanisms were also discussed in detail. This method of multi-element solid solution at A-site provides new way to enhance mechanical properties of other MAX phase ceramics.     

大木作术语的物外之意——以四川穿斗民居为例

对四川穿斗民居的田野调查发现,工匠使用的术语存在一物多名、多物同名、异物类名等现象.在梳理田野调查、已有文献大木作术语的基础上,通过设计和施工阶段术语的不同作用,分析具体营造中工匠的思维与意识.同时从术语的角度,就穿斗结构以及术语的重名、异名现象提出新的认识.     

Improvement of mechanical property and corrosion resistance of Mg-Zn-Nd alloy by bi-direction drawing

Mg-Zn-Nd alloy is a promising biodegradable metal material for surgical staples during the reconstruc-tion of digestive tract due to its good biocompatibility and suitable mechanical properties.However,its deformation property and corrosion resistance should be improved to make better safety and effective-ness of staples.In the present study,bi-direction drawing was adopted to maintain the initial texture characteristics,and improve mechanical property and corrosion resistance of Mg-2Zn-0.5Nd alloy.The results showed that the microstructure after bi-direction did not change too much,but the texture could maintain its initial characteristics.The ductility of the alloy with 60 ％ accumulative area reduction after bi-direction drawing was increased by 70 ％,indicating that an outstanding deformation property of Mg-Zn-Nd alloy can be obtained by bi-direction drawing.The corrosion resistance was also improved after bi-direction drawing compared with that under single direction drawing.     

一种基于深度学习的智能威胁评估算法

在现代信息化战争中依据战场态势变化进行合理威胁评估，对实现指挥系统自动化具有重要意义。为了克服传统规则算法评估能力的局限，设计了一种基于深度学习的新型智能威胁评估算法。首先设定了防空威胁评估指标选取原则，在此基础上从多个不同角度出发建立了反映空中目标威胁的指标体系，然后构建深度神经网络模型予以解决。新算法的优点在于威胁评估快速可信、易于实现，且对于不断变化的空情威胁可进行持续更新优化。最后，通过典型作战场景的仿真数据验证了模型的有效性和可行性。     

Liquid-phase epoxidation of propylene with molecular oxygen by chloride manganese meso-tetraphenylporphyrins

Propylene molecule owns two active sites, the direct epoxidation of propylene by dioxygen is still a challenge due to the limitation of selectivity. In this work, the direct liquid-phase propylene aerobic epoxidation protocol by chloride manganese meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (MnTPPCl) was developed. The conversion of propylene was 12.7%, and the selectivity towards PO (propylene oxide) reached up to 80.5%. The formation of PO was attributed to the mechanism via high-valent Mn species, which was confirmed by means of in situ UV–vis spectrum.