Improved electric-field-induced strain and strong photoluminescence properties in novel Er3+-modified 0.93Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-0.07BaTiO3 multifunctional ceramics

Recently, the progress of electronic devices toward miniaturization has strongly promoted development of multifunctional materials possessing multiple desirable properties. In this study, we develop and fabricate 0.93Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃-0.07BaTiO₃-xEr multifunctional ceramics which show simultaneously considerable electric-field-induced strain and bright green light emission properties. With the introduction of Er³⁺, the ceramics gradually transform from non-ergodic relaxor phase to ergodic relaxor phase which could reversibly transform to ferroelectric phase under the electric field. As a result, with improving Er³⁺ content, the shape of the polarization-electric field loops of the ceramics become pinched, and it is obvious that the negative strain disappears while the positive strain gradually increases and reaches a maximum value 0.46% at x = 1.2 mol%. Besides, After the ceramics are poled, the light emission peak are greatly enhanced attributed to the decreased crystal symmetry and increased domain size, and is the strongest at x = 1.2 mol%. These results indicate that 0.93Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃-0.07BaTiO₃-xEr ceramics are good candidates for developing multifunctional optoelectronic devices.     

Orthorhombic to tetragonal polymorphic transformation of YTa3O9 and its inhibition through the design of high-entropy (Y0.2La0.2Ce0.2Nd0.2Gd0.2)Ta3O9

To explore the mechanism of phase transformation, YTa₃O₉ was prepared by an integrated one-step synthesis and sintering method at 1500 °C using Y₂O₃ and Ta₂O₅ powders as starting materials. High-temperature XRD patterns and Raman spectra showed that a phase transformation from orthorhombic to tetragonal took place in YTa₃O₉ through the bond length and angle changes at 300–400 °C, which caused a thermal conductivity rise. To inhibit the phase transformation, a high-entropy (Y_0.2La_0.2Ce_0.2Nd_0.2Gd_0.2)Ta₃O₉ (HE RETa₃O₉) was designed and synthesized at 1550 °C using the integrated solid-state synthesis and sintering method. In tetragonal structured HE RETa₃O₉, phase transformation was inhibited by the high-entropy effect. Furthermore, HE RETa₃O₉ exhibited low thermal conductivity, and its tendency to increase with temperature was alleviated (1.69 W/m·K, 1073 K). Good phase stability, low thermal conductivity and comparable fracture toughness to YSZ make HE RETa₃O₉ promising as a new thermal barrier coating material.     

Synthesis and characterization of polycrystalline Mo2BC ceramic

Single-phase polycrystalline Mo₂BC ceramic bulks were synthesized successfully from molybdenum, boron, and graphite powders using the spark plasma sintering method. Herein, it was established that the synthesis temperature of the Mo₂BC ceramic could be as low as 1300 °C. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterization confirmed that the crystal structure of the Mo₂BC ceramic was comparable to that of the MoAlB ceramic. The Vickers hardness of the Mo₂BC ceramic was measured to be 18.1 GPa. Additionally, the compressive strength, flexural strength, and fracture toughness were determined to be 1.74 GPa, 457.72 MPa, and 3.26 MPa· m^1/2, respectively. The Mo₂BC bulk exhibited typical brittle features, in which intergranular and transgranular fractures were the main failure modes.     

High-temperature stability of Mg(Al,Cr)2O4 spinel co-existing with calcium aluminates in air

Cr₂O₃ is a well-known corrosion resistant oxide used in refractory applications. However, it can oxidize into toxic and water-soluble Cr(VI) compounds upon reaction with calcium aluminate cement phases in the presence of oxygen, which subsequently causes disposal problems after use. This study describes the extent to which chromium in the spinel Mg(Al,Cr)₂O₄ phase can be oxidized to Cr(VI) when it reacts with the calcium aluminate cement phases C₁₂A₇, CA, CA₂ and free CaO at 1300 °C in air, using XRD, XPS and leaching tests (TRGS 613 standard) as analytical tools. On reaction with CaO, the Mg(Al,Cr^III)₂O₄ spinel mainly transformed into hauyne (Ca₄Al₆Cr^VIO₁₆) and Ca₅Cr₃O₁₂ which contains both Cr(IV) and Cr(VI). The reaction of C₁₂A₇ and CA with the spinel phase also resulted in the formation of Ca₄Al₆CrO₁₆. Conversely, the reaction of Mg(Al,Cr^III)₂O₄ spinel with CA₂ resulted in the formation of only a trace amount of Cr(VI). Water-soluble Cr(VI) leached in large quantities (>100 mg/L) from samples where the Mg(Al,Cr^III)₂O₄ reacted with either C₁₂A₇ or CA. Almost no Cr(VI) leached from the sample when Mg(Al,Cr^III)₂O₄ reacted with CaO, using the standard TRGS 613 leach test, but a significant amount of Cr(VI) was released into solution when leached with a HCl solution for 12 h. Both Cr(IV) and Cr(VI) present in the Ca₅Cr₃O₁₂ dissolved into acidic solution. Only a small amount of Cr(VI) leached from the sample that resulted when spinel was reacted with CA₂, even after a prolonged HCl leach. Cr(III) in spinel Mg(Al,Cr)₂O₄ is very stable and does not leach in either distilled water or acidic solution.     

Aluminum composites with bismuth nanoparticles and graphene oxide and their application to hydrogen generation in water

The bismuth nanoparticles modified graphene oxide composites (Bi-NPs@GO) and bismuth nanoparticles (Bi-NPs) were prepared by a hydrothermal method. The activated aluminum/bismuth nanoparticles Bi-NPs@GO/Al and Bi-NPs/Al were prepared. Their hydrolysis reaction performance were studied. The experimental results show that the composite of aluminum and Bi-NPs@GO can react rapidly with water. The 4-h milled Bi-NPs@GO/Al composite shows better hydrogen generation performance and reacted with tap water even at 0 °C. The Bi-NPs@GO/Al composite exhibits high hydrogen generation rate at room temperature. The enhancement of aluminum hydrolysis in the composite may be due to that the addition of nano-scale Bi and graphene oxide.     

Nonlinear response in glass fibre non-crimp fabric reinforced vinylester composites

This paper addresses the nonlinear stress-strain response in glass fibre non-crimp fabric reinforced vinylester composite laminates subjected to in-plane tensile loading. The nonlinearity is shown to be a combination of brittle and plastic failure. It is argued that the shift from plastic to brittle behaviour in the vinylester is caused by the state of stress triaxiality caused by the interaction between fibre and vinylester. A model combining damage and plasticity is calibrated and evaluated using data from extensive experimental testing. The onset of damage is predicted using the Puck failure criterion, and the evolution of damage is calibrated from the observed softening in plies loaded in transverse tension. Shear loading beyond linear elastic response is observed to result in irreversible strains. A yield criterion is implemented for shear deformation. A strain hardening law is fitted to the stress-strain response observed in shear loaded plies. Experimental results from a selection of laminates with different layups are used to verify the numerical models. A complete set of model parameters for predicting elastic behaviour, strength and post failure softening is presented for glass fibre non-crimped fabric reinforced vinylester. The predicted behaviour from using these model parameters are shown to be in good agreement with experimental results.     

Effect of strain path change on the through-thickness microstructure during tantalum rolling

High purity tantalum was respectively processed by unidirectional rolling (UR) and clock rolling (CR), and the through-thickness microstructures were investigated by multiple characterization techniques including electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), Vickers hardness (HV) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results show that the through-thickness stored energy distribution in CR specimens is more homogeneous than in UR specimens due to uniform texture distribution. {111} grains possess larger Schmid factors and the corresponding Schmid factor difference ratio than {100} grains, indicating the activation of uniserial slipping in {111} grains, which leads to inhomogeneous deformation and higher stored energy. Besides, X-ray line profile analysis (XLPA) suggests that the stored energy of {111} grains increases successively from the surface to center layer, regardless of strain paths, due to the influence of redundant friction on the surface layers. While the occurrence of multiple slipping in {100} grains leads to homogeneous deformation and lower stored energy.     

时效处理对Mg-2.0Zn-0.5Zr-3.0Gd生物降解镁合金组织、力学性能及耐腐蚀性能的影响

通过金相显微分析(OM)、扫描电镜观察(SEM)、透射电镜观察(TEM)和拉伸性能测试研究不同时效时间对Mg-2.0Zn-0.5Zr-3.0Gd生物镁合金显微组织及力学性能的影响,通过质量损失和电化学方法研究合金在模拟体液(SBF)中的耐腐蚀性能。结果表明:时效时间为4~20 h时,合金中析出相的尺寸及数量随时效时间的延长而增加,析出相主要以纳米级棒状和颗粒状的(Mg,Zn)3Gd相形式存在,部分棒状析出相与α-Mg基体具有共格界面关系。合金的强度及伸长率随时效时间的延长先升高后降低。在120 h的浸泡实验中,合金的平均腐蚀速率、点蚀孔洞的数量及孔洞尺寸随时效时间的延长而逐渐增大,腐蚀速率随浸泡时间延长呈现出先减小、后增大、再缓慢减小以及最后趋于稳定的过程。     

稀土元素Dy对Mg-2Zn-0.5Zr生物镁合金组织与性能的影响

通过拉伸试验、浸泡实验、电化学测试、扫描电镜(SEM)以及光学显微镜(OM)等方法研究了Dy含量对Mg-2Zn-0.5Zr-xDy生物镁合金微观组织、耐腐蚀性能和力学性能的影响。结果表明:随Dy含量的增加,合金的晶粒尺寸逐渐变小,第二相逐渐增多且主要沿晶界分布,合金的平均腐蚀速率先降低后升高,合金的力学性能先升高后降低;当Dy含量为1.5 mass%时,合金的耐蚀性能和综合力学性能均最好,平均腐蚀速率从未添加稀土元素时的1.28 mm/a降为0.92 mm/a,抗拉强度和伸长率分别为154 MPa和8.6%。     

石墨烯基自支撑夹层材料在锂硫电池中的研究进展

近年来，高比能锂-硫电池作为最具前景的新能源储存装置之一引起了人们的广泛关注。然而，在该电池体系中，中间产物聚硫化物的溶解造成的穿梭效应会明显降低电池的循环性能和硫利用率，严重阻碍锂-硫电池的推广应用。综述了近年来石墨烯和石墨烯基复合自支撑中间层材料在锂-硫电池中的应用，例如，通过物理或化学限域的方法减缓多硫化物的穿梭并改善锂-硫电池电化学性能等，并对石墨烯基复合自支撑中间层材料未来在锂硫电池中的实际应用进行了展望。