Ultrastrong Medium‐Entropy Single‐Phase Alloys Designed via Severe Lattice Distortion

Severe lattice distortion is a core effect in the design of multiprincipal element alloys with the aim to enhance yield strength, a key indicator in structural engineering. Yet, the yield strength values of medium‐ and high‐entropy alloys investigated so far do not substantially exceed those of conventional alloys owing to the insufficient utilization of lattice distortion. Here it is shown that a simple VCoNi equiatomic medium‐entropy alloy exhibits a near 1 GPa yield strength and good ductility, outperforming conventional solid‐solution alloys. It is demonstrated that a wide fluctuation of the atomic bond distances in such alloys, i.e., severe lattice distortion, improves both yield stress and its sensitivity to grain size. In addition, the dislocation‐mediated plasticity effectively enhances the strength–ductility relationship by generating nanosized dislocation substructures due to massive pinning. The results demonstrate that severe lattice distortion is a key property for identifying extra‐strong materials for structural engineering applications.     

Stabilisation of Schrödinger equation in dynamic boundary feedback with a memory-typed heat equation

In this work, we study the dynamic behaviour for a heat equation with exponential polynomial kernel memory to be a controller for a Schrödinger system. By introducing some new variables, the time-variant system is transformed into a time-invariant one. Remarkably, the resolvent of the closed-loop system operator is not compact anymore. The residual spectrum is shown to be empty and the continuous spectrum consisting of finite isolated points are obtained. It is shown that the sequence of generalised eigenfunctions forms a Riesz basis for the Hilbert state space. This deduces the spectrum-determined growth condition for the C ₀-semigroup, and the exponential stability is then established.     

Comparative study on the viscosity modeling of the Ag–Au–Cu liquid alloys

With the new CALPHAD-type model proposed in our previous work, the viscosity of the Ag–Au–Cu system was re-optimized. Comparisons were made in the calculated viscosities of the Ag–Au and Ag–Cu liquid alloys at 1373 K among different models. It was found that the CALPHAD-type models perform better than the empirical models. The calculated viscosities of the Ag–Au–Cu liquid alloys with and without ternary interaction parameters were both compared with the calculation results of the previous CALPHAD-type model. Considering ternary interaction, the best fitness with the experimental data could be obtained by our model. The good performance in reproducing the measured viscosities of binary and ternary systems evidences the validity of the new model.     

Advances in multimetallic alloy-based anodes for alkali-ion and alkali-metal batteries

In order to meet the growing demand of portable electronic devices and electric vehicles, enhancements in battery performance metrics are required to provide higher energy/power densities and longer cycle lives, especially for anode materials. Alloying anodes, such as Group IVA elements-based materials, are attracting increasing interest as anodes for next-generation high-performance alkali-metal-ion batteries (AMIBs) owing to their extremely high specific capacities, low working voltages, and natural abundance. Nevertheless, alloying-type anodes usually display unsatisfactory cycle life due to their intrinsic violent volumetric and structural changes during the charge–discharge process, causing mechanical fracture and exacerbating side reactions. In order to overcome these challenges, efforts have been made in recent years to manufacture multimetallic anodes that can accommodate the induced strain, thus showing high Coulomb efficiency and long cycle life. Meanwhile, much work has been conducted to understand the details of structural changes and reaction mechanisms taking place by in-situ characterization methodologies. In this paper, we review the various recent developments in multimetallic anode materials for AMIBs and shed light on optimizing the anode materials. Finally, the perspectives and future challenges in achieving the practical applications of multimetallic alloy anodes in high-energy AMIB systems are proposed.     

Operational time-series data modeling via LSTM network integrating principal component analysis based on human experience

Today’s information technologies involve increasingly intelligent systems, which come at the cost of increasingly complex equipment. Modern monitoring systems collect multi-measuring-point and long-term data which make equipment health prediction a “big data” problem. It is difficult to extract information from such condition monitoring data to accurately estimate or predict health statuses. Deep learning is a powerful tool for big data processing that is widely utilized in image and speech recognition applications, and can also provide effective predictions in industrial processes. This paper proposes the Long Short-term Memory Integrating Principal Component Analysis based on Human Experience (HEPCA-LSTM), which uses operational time-series data for equipment health prognostics. Principal component analysis based on human experience is first conducted to extract condition parameters from the condition monitoring system. The long short-term memory (LSTM) framework is then constructed to predict the target status. Finally, a dynamic update of the prediction model with incoming data is performed at a certain interval to prevent any model misalignment caused by the drifting of relevant variables. The proposed model is validated on a practical case and found to outperform other prediction methods. It utilizes a powerful deep learning analysis method, the LSTM, to fully process big condition monitoring series data; it effectively extracts the features involved with human experience and takes dynamic updates into consideration.     

The origin of the modulated structure in Sr2CuO3+δ (δ = 0.4): [CuO2] in-plane oxygen vacancy or apical oxygen vacancy?

We propose the question of the modulated structures of copper oxide is caused by the [CuO₂] in-plane oxygen vacancy or apical oxygen vacancy. Sr₂CuO_3+δ single-crystal samples were prepared using high-temperature and high-pressure methods. The major phase of Sr₂CuO_3+δ (δ = 0.4) single-crystal system is found to be constituted by the 5 a modulated structure with the Fmmm space group, which originates from the [CuO₂] in-plane oxygen vacancy appearing in octahedral Cu-O. Besides, the presence of the [CuO₂] in-plane oxygen vacancy may obliterate the superconductivity of the system. Experimental results deduce that the oxygen vacancy may appear in the apical oxygen sites in high-temperature copper oxide superconductors.     

High-entropy alloys fabricated via powder metallurgy. A critical review

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have attracted a great deal of interest over the last 14 years. One reason for this level of interest is related to these alloys breaking the alloying principles that have been applied for many centuries. Thus, HEAs usually possess a single phase (contrary to expectations according to the composition of the alloy) and exhibit a high level of performance in different properties related to many developing areas in industry. Despite this significant interest, most HEAs have been developed via ingot metallurgy. More recently, powder metallurgy (PM) has appeared as an interesting alternative for further developing this family of alloys to possibly widen the field of nanostructures in HEAs and improve some capabilities of these alloys. In this paper, PM methods applied to HEAs are reviewed, and some possible ways to develop the use of powders as raw materials are introduced.     

Extending SSD Lifespan with Comprehensive Non-Volatile Memory-Based Write Buffers

Journal of Computer Science and Technology - New non-volatile memory (NVM) technologies are expected to replace main memory DRAM (dynamic random access memory) in the near future. NAND flash...     

Effects of Ni Content and Ball Milling Time on the Hydrogen Storage Thermodynamics and Kinetics Performances of La–Mg–Ni Ternary Alloys

The effects of Ni content and ball milling time on the hydrogen storage thermodynamics and kinetics performances of asmilled La_5Mg_(95-x)Ni_x(x = 5, 10, 15) ternary alloys have been investigated.The evolution of microstructure and phase of experimental alloys in the absorption/desorption process has been characterized by XRD, SEM and HRTEM.The hydrogen storage kinetics and thermodynamics performances and PCI curves have been tested using the Sievert apparatus.It is found that the rising of Ni content remarkably improves the hydrogen storage kinetic performance, but reduces hydrogen storage capacity.And with the increase in milling time, hydrogen desorption activation( E_a) value decreases firstly and then increases; the minimum value is 47.6 kJ/mol, and the corresponding milling time is 10 h for La_5Mg_(85)Ni_(10) alloy.As for the thermodynamics properties, the hydrogenation enthalpy(Δ H) and hydrogenation entropy(Δ S) both decrease firstly and then increase with the rising of Ni content and milling time.The composite La_5Mg_(85)Ni_(10)alloy milled for 10 h exhibits the best thermodynamics and kinetics performances, the lowest E_a of 47.6 kJ/mol, absorption of 5.4 wt.% within 5 min and desorption of 5.2 wt.% within 3 min at 360 ℃ and the lowest Δ H and Δ S of 72.1 kJ/mol and 123.2 J/mol/K.     

In-situ formation of TiN-TiO2 composite layer on NiTi shape memory alloy via fluidized bed reactor

In this work, the NiTi alloy was oxynitrided in a fluidized bed reactor to attain an in-situ TiN-TiO₂ protective composite layer. Samples were treated at 540 ± 10 °C for various holding times ranging between 0 h and 8 h. Microstructural evolution on the surface was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, hardness test, electrochemical behavior, Ni ion release, and bioactivity. Quantitative phase analysis from X-ray diffraction pattern of the treated sample for 8 h showed that TiN (71.3%) and TiO₂ (23.0%) were dominant phases on surface. Hardness results revealed as the oxynitriding time increased from 0 h to 8 h, hardness values increased from 263.4 HV_0.1 to 1227.4 HV_0.1. Scanning electron microscopy observation and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mapping micrographs showed that the grown of TiN with dendritic branches was hindered by Ni-rich regions. Electrochemical measurements using polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis revealed corrosion resistance of the oxynitrided samples was increased by ~170% from 173.3 kΩ cm² for the bare NiTi alloy to 473.1 kΩ cm² for the treated NiTi sample for 8 h. It was found that concentration of the released Ni ions decreased from 0.070 (bare NiTi) mg/l to 0.028 mg/l (treated for 8 h) after oxynitriding treatment. Enhanced biocompatibility of the surface treated sample for 8 h was explained by formation of thick and homogenous TiN-TiO₂ composite layer. Finally, bioactive behavior of the oxynitrided samples were studied using simulated body fluid.