Chemically complex intermetallic alloys: A new frontier for innovative structural materials

Intermetallic materials are bestowed by diverse ordered superlattice structures together with many unusual properties. In particular, the advent of chemically complex intermetallic alloys (CCIMAs) has received considerable attention in recent years and offers a new paradigm to develop novel metallic materials for advanced structural applications. These newly emerged CCIMAs exhibit synergistic modulations of structural and chemical features, such as self-assembled long-range close-packed ordering, complex sublattice occupancy, and interfacial disordered nanoscale layer, potentially allowing for superb physical and mechanical properties that are unmatched in conventional metallic materials. In this paper, we critically review the historical developments and recent advances in ordered intermetallic materials from the simple binary to chemically complex alloy systems. We are focused on the unique multicomponent superlattice microstructures, nanoscale grain-boundary segregation, and disordering, as well as the various extraordinary mechanical and functional properties of these newly developed CCIMAs. Finally, perspectives on the future research orientation, challenges, and opportunities of this new frontier are provided.     

Type-II AsP/Sc2CO2 van der Waals heterostructure: an excellent photocatalyst for overall water splitting

In this work, we explore the application potential of AsP/M₂CO₂ (M = Sc, Zr) van der Waals heterostructures in photocatalytic water splitting through the first-principles calculations. The calculated results show that AsP/Zr₂CO₂ heterostructure possesses an unfavorable type-Ⅰ band alignment, whereas AsP/Sc₂CO₂ exhibits a desirable type-Ⅱ band alignment, which is beneficial for separating the photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Also, the band edge positions of AsP/Sc₂CO₂ heterostructure stride the redox potential of water, ensuring favorable reaction kinetics. Besides, the strong optical absorption of AsP/Sc₂CO₂ heterostructure in both visible and ultraviolet regions (especially up to 10⁻⁶ cm⁻¹ at about 250 nm) makes it possible to utilize solar energy effectively. Meanwhile, AsP/Sc₂CO₂ heterostructure has an exciton binding energy as low as 0.09 eV, which quantitatively illustrates the high separation efficiency of photogenerated charge carrier. Thus, the type-Ⅱ band alignment, suitable band edge position, strong light absorption, and low exciton binding energy together indicate that AsP/Sc₂CO₂ heterostructure is a potential photocatalytic material. In addition, the obvious redshift phenomenon in the optical spectrum of AsP/Sc₂CO₂ heterostructure shows that biaxial strain can improve its light capture capability. Also, the interconversion between type-Ⅱ and type-Ⅰ can be achieved by applying different strains. All these findings suggest that the novel AsP/Sc₂CO₂ heterostructure has significant application prospects in next-generation photovoltaic and photocatalytic devices.     

Characterizing pathological imperfections in macromolecular crystals: lattice disorders and modulations

Macromolecular crystal structure determination can be complicated or brought to a halt by crystal imperfections. These issues motivated us to write up what we affectionately call ‘The Definitive Hitchhiker’s Guide to Pathological Macromolecular Crystals: Lattice Disorders and Modulations’. Perhaps the most challenging imperfections are lattice order–disorder phenomena and positional modulations. Many of these types of crystals have been solved, and progress has been made on the more challenging forms. Diagnostic tools and how to solve many of these problem crystal structures are reviewed. New avenues are provided for approaching the solution of incommensurately modulated crystals. There are a good number of case studies in the literature of lattice order–disorder phenomena and crystallographic modulations that make it timely to write a review. This review concludes with a projected pathway for solving incommensurately modulated crystals, personal views of future directions and needs of the crystallographic community.     

混合激励与应变超晶格系统沟道运动的临界特征

从势和场的观点出发讨论了带电粒子在应变超晶格中的运动行为.在经典力学框架内和偶极近似下,引入正弦平方势,把粒子运动方程化为具有阻尼项和混合激励项的广义摆方程.利用Melnikov方法讨论了系统的临界性质与混沌行为.结果表明,系统的混沌行为与它的参数有关,适当调节参数,就可以原则上保证系统的稳定性.     

p型InGaN/GaN超晶格N面GaN基LED的光电特性

随着氮(N)面GaN材料生长技术的发展,基于N面GaN衬底的高亮度发光二极管(LED)的研究具有重要的科学意义.研究了具有高发光功率的N面GaN基蓝光LED的新型结构设计,通过在N面LED的电子阻挡层和多量子阱有源层之间插入p型InGaN/GaN超晶格来提高有源层中的载流子注入效率.为了对比N面GaN基LED优异的器件性能,同时设计了具有相同结构的Ga面LED.通过对两种LED结构的电致发光特性、有源层中能带图、电场和载流子浓度分布进行比较可以发现,N面LED在输出功率和载流子注入效率上比Ga面LED有明显的提升,从而表明N面GaN基LED具有潜在的应用前景.     

Molecular‐Scale Hybridization of Clay Monolayers and Conducting Polymer for Thin‐Film Supercapacitors

Development of electrode materials with well‐defined architectures is a fruitful and profitable approach for achieving highly‐efficient energy storage systems. A molecular‐scale hybrid system is presented based on the self‐assembly of CoNi‐layered double hydroxide (CoNi‐LDH) monolayers and the conducting polymer (poly(3,4‐ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate), denoted as PEDOT:PSS) into an alternating‐layer superlattice. Owing to the homogeneous interface and intimate interaction, the resulting CoNi‐LDH/PEDOT:PSS hybrid materials possess a simultaneous enhancement in ion and charge‐carrier transport and exhibit improved capacitive properties with a high specific capacitance (960 F g^–1 at 2 A g^–1) and excellent rate capability (83.7% retention at 30 A g^–1). In addition, an in‐plane supercapacitor device with an interdigital design is fabricated based on a CoNi‐LDH/PEDOT:PSS thin film, delivering a significantly enhanced energy and power output (an energy density of 46.1 Wh kg^–1 at 11.9 kW kg^–1). Its application in miniaturized devices is further demonstrated by successfully driving a photodetector. These characteristics demonstrate that the molecular‐scale assembly of LDH monolayers and the conducting polymer is promising for energy storage and conversion applications in miniaturized electronics.     

RE-Mg-Ni系储氢合金高倍率放电性能研究现状

RE-Mg-Ni系储氢合金具有超晶格结构,其主相晶格单元是由一定比率的AB5单元和AB2单元沿c轴交替层叠排列而成。该类型合金自问世以来便以其高容量、易活化的优势受到人们的广泛关注,然而其循环稳定性及高倍率放电性能不尽人意。人们通过大量研究有效提高了其循环稳定性,使其基本满足了商业化要求。但是要将基于该负极材料的镍氢电池应用在混合动力汽车上,仍需改进其高倍率放电性能。系统分析了元素替代、多元合金化、制备工艺、化合物复合、表面处理等手段对RE-Mg-Ni系储氢合金晶体结构及高倍率放电性能的影响。其中元素替代是一种重要且有效的手段,文中分析了不同稀土元素及B侧元素的作用机制,结果表明,B侧组分采用Ni,Co,Mn,Al的储氢合金具有较好的性能。多元合金化是一种复杂的过程,不同元素间可能存在一定的协同作用,研究其作用机制也是下一步的工作重点。通过优化实验方案,综合使用多种改性手段,可以得到高倍率放电性能良好的RE-Mg-Ni系储氢合金,使其基本满足电动工具用镍氢电池的要求,并可望在以后的研究中进一步提高其高倍率放电性能,使其满足混合动力汽车用镍氢电池的要求,实现良好的经济和社会效益。     

Ionic conductivity in oxide heterostructures: the role of interfaces

Abstract

Rapidly growing attention is being directed to the investigation of ionic conductivity in oxide film heterostructures. The main reason for this interest arises from interfacial phenomena in these heterostructures and their applications. Recent results revealed that heterophase interfaces have faster ionic conduction pathways than the bulk or homophase interfaces. This finding can open attractive opportunities in the field of micro-ionic devices. The influence of the interfaces on the conduction properties of heterostructures is becoming increasingly important with the miniaturization of solid-state devices, which leads to an enhanced interface density at the expense of the bulk. This review aims to describe the main evidence of interfacial phenomena in ion-conducting film heterostructures, highlighting the fundamental and technological relevance and offering guidelines to understanding the interface conduction mechanisms in these structures.