Biomedical rare-earth magnesium alloy:Current status and future prospects

Biomedical magnesium(Mg)alloys have garnered significant attention because of their unique biodegradability,favorable biocompatibility,and suitable mechanical properties.The incorporation of rare earth(RE)elements,with their distinct physical and chemical properties,has greatly contributed to enhancing the mechanical performance,degradation behavior,and biological performance of biomedical Mg alloys.Currently,a series of RE-Mg alloys are being designed and investigated for orthopedic implants and cardiovascular stents,achieving substantial and encouraging research progress.In this work,a comprehensive summary of the state-of-the-art in biomedical RE-Mg alloys is provided.The physiological effects and design standards of RE elements in biomedical Mg alloys are discussed.Particularly,the degradation behavior and mechanical properties,including their underlying action are studied in-depth.Furthermore,the preparation techniques and current application status of RE-Mg alloys are reviewed.Finally,we address the ongoing challenges and propose future prospects to guide the development of high-performance biomedical Mg-RE alloys.

Effect and Mechanism of Rare Earth Hydrotalcite Inhibiting Coal Spontaneous Combustion

A hydrotalcite(layered double hydroxide, LDH) inhibitor which is suitable for the whole process of coal spontaneous combustion and a LDH inhibitor containing rare earth lanthanum elements were prepared. The inhibition effect and mechanism were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy(SEM),X-ray diffraction(XRD), thermal performance analysis, in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy and temperature-programmed experiment. The results have shown that the inhibitor containing lanthanum can play a good inhibitory role in every stage of coal oxidation. During the slow oxidation of coal samples, the inhibitor containing lanthanum ions can slow down the oxidation process of coal and increase the initial temperature of coal spontaneous combustion. At the same time, because the hydroxyl groups in LDHs are connected with-COO-groups on the coal surface through hydrogen bonds, the stability of coal is improved. With the increase of temperature, LDHs can remove interlayer water molecules and reduce the surface temperature of coal. CO release rate of coal samples decreases significantly after adding inhibitor containing lanthanum element, and the maximum inhibition rate of the inhibitor is 58.1%.

Rare Earth Elements(La,Ce,Pr)Modified Co/NC Catalyst for Efficient and Stable Ammonia Decomposition to Hydrogen Production

Co/NC catalysts modified with rare earth elements(La,Ce,Pr)were prepared by pyrolysis of rare earth elements doped ZIF-67.The experimental results show that the modification of rare earth elements significantly improves the ammonia decomposition activity and stability of the Co/NC catalyst.The La-Co/NC catalyst can achieve an 82.3%ammonia decomposition and 18.4 mmol hydrogen production rate at 550℃with a GHSV of 20000 cm^(3)·h^(-1).Furthermore,no obvious performance degradation is observed after 72 hours of reaction for all rare earth elements modified catalysts.It is shown that the modification of rare earth elements significantly improves the surface alkalinity and surface chemical state of the catalyst,and thus improves the ammonia decomposition activity of the catalyst.A new type of high-performance ammonia decomposition Co-based catalyst is proposed,and the promoting effect of rare earth elements on the activity of ammonia decomposition is revealed.

Changes in Sediment Sources in the Southern Muddy Area of Weihai,China,Since the Late Pleistocene:A Record from Rare Earth Elements

The small muddy areas developed in the southern Shandong Peninsula have attracted increasing attention from researchers because of complex changes in sediment sources driven by sea-level fluctuations and land-sea interactions since the late Pleistocene.This study investigates the evolution of sediment sources and their responses to environmental changes since the late Pleistocene,using core WHZK01 collected from the nearshore muddy area in southern Weihai for rare earth element(REE)analysis.In doing so,this work highlights the changing patterns of material sources and the primary control factors.The results reveal that the sedimentary deposits in core WHZK01 exhibit distinct terrestrial characteristics.Discriminant function analysis(F_(D))and source discrimination dia-grams both suggest that the primary sources of these deposits are the Yellow River and adjacent small and medium-sized rivers,although the sources vary among different sedimentary units.Furthermore,the DU3 layer(17.82-25.10 m)displays typical riverine sedimentation,dominated by terrestrial detrital input,primarily from the local rivers,namely the Huanglei and Muzhu Rivers.The material in the DU2 layer(14.91-17.82 m)is mainly influenced by a mixture of the Qinglong and Yellow Rivers.The DU1 layer(0-14.91 m)is influenced by sea-level changes during the Holocene,with the Yellow River being the primary source,although there is also some input from local rivers.The changes in sea level during the Holocene and the input of Yellow River material carried by the coastal currents of the Yellow Sea are identified as the main controlling factors for the changes in material sources in the study area since the late Pleistocene,with small and mediumsized rivers also exerting some influence on the material sources.The above mentioned findings not only contribute to a better understanding of the source-sink systems of the Yellow River and adjacent small and mediumsized rivers but also deepen our understanding of the late Quaternary land-sea interactions in the Shandong Peninsula.

The Electrocatalytic Performance of Rare Earth Ion Doped Co_(0.2)Ni_(0.8)-MOF-74 Catalyst for Nitrogen Reduction

We took Co_(0.2)Ni_(0.8)-MOF-74 with bimetallic synergistic effect as the basic material,and selected rare earth ions Ho,Gd,and Er with ion radii close to Co and Ni as the research objects for doping.The influence of rare earth ion doping amount and doping type on the eNRR performance of the catalyst was explored.The experimental results show that the ammonia yield rate and Faraday efficiency doped with Co_(0.2)Ni_(0.8)-MOF-0.5Ho are the highest,reaching 1.28×10^(-10)mol·s^(-1)·cm^(-2)/39.8%,which is higher than the1.12×10^(-10)mol·s^(-1)·cm^(-2)/32.2%of Co_(0.2)Ni_(0.8)-MOF-74,and is about 14.3%/23.7%higher than that without doping,respectively.And the stability of Co_(0.2)Ni_(0.8)-MOF-0.5 Ho is good(after 80 hours of continuous testing,the current density did not significantly decrease).This is mainly due to doping,which gives Co_(0.2)Ni_(0.8)-MOF-74 a larger specific surface area and catalytic active sites.The catalyst doped at the same time has more metal cation centers,which increases the electron density of the metal centers and enhances the corresponding eNRR performance.

Association between Exposure of Rare Earth Elements and Outcomes of In Vitro Fertilization-Embryo Transfer in Beijing

Objective The study aimed to investigate the impact of rare earth elements(REEs)exposure on pregnancy outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer(IVF-ET)by analyzing samples from spouses.Methods A total of 141 couples were included.Blood and follicular fluid from the wives and semen plasma from the husbands,were analyzed for REEs using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS).Spearman's correlation coefficients and the Mann–Whitney U test were used to assess correlations and compare REE concentrations among three types of samples,respectively.Logistic models were utilized to estimate the individual REE effect on IVF-ET outcomes,while BKMR and WQS models explored the mixture of REE interaction effects on IVF-ET outcomes.Results Higher La concentration in semen(median 0.089 ng/mL,P=0.03)was associated with a lower fertilization rate.However,this effect was not observed after artificial selection intervention through intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI)(P=0.27).In semen,the REEs mixture did not exhibit any significant association with clinical pregnancy.Conclusion Our study revealed a potential association between high La exposure in semen and a decline in fertilization rate,but not clinical pregnancy rate.This is the first to report REEs concentrations in follicular fluid with La,Ce,Pr,and Nd found at significantly lower concentrations than in serum,suggesting that these four REEs may not accumulate in the female reproductive system.However,at the current exposure levels,mixed REEs exposure did not exhibit reproductive toxicity.

Improvement strategy on thermophysical properties of A_(2)B_(2)O_(7)-type rare earth zirconates for thermal barrier coatings applications:A review

The A_(2)B_(2)O_(7)-type rare earth zirconate compounds have been considered as promising candidates for thermal barrier coating(TBC) materials because of their low sintering rate,improved phase stability,and reduced thermal conductivity in contrast with the currently used yttria-partially stabilized zirconia (YSZ) in high operating temperature environments.This review summarizes the recent progress on rare earth zirconates for TBCs that insulate high-temperature gas from hot-section components in gas turbines.Based on the first principles,molecular dynamics,and new data-driven calculation approaches,doping and high-entropy strategies have now been adopted in advanced TBC materials design.In this paper,the solid-state heat transfer mechanism of TBCs is explained from two aspects,including heat conduction over the full operating temperature range and thermal radiation at medium and high temperature.This paper also provides new insights into design considerations of adaptive TBC materials,and the challenges and potential breakthroughs are further highlighted for extreme environmental applications.Strategies for improving thermophysical performance are proposed in two approaches:defect engineering and material compositing.

Wetting front migration model of ion-adsorption rare earth during the multi-hole unsaturated liquid injection

In the process of ion-adsorption rare earth ore leaching,the migration characteristics of the wetting front in multi-hole injection holes and the influence of wetting front intersection effect on the migration distance of wetting fronts are still unclear.Besides,wetting front migration distance and leaching time are usually required to optimize the leaching process.In this study,wetting front migration tests of ionadsorption rare earth ores during the multi-hole fluid injection(the spacing between injection holes was 10 cm,12 cm and 14 cm)and single-hole fluid injection were completed under the constant water head height.At the pre-intersection stage,the wetting front migration laws of ion-adsorption rare earth ores during the multi-hole fluid injection and single-hole fluid injection were identical.At the postintersection stage,the intersection accelerated the wetting front migration.By using the Darcy’s law,the intersection effect of wetting fronts during the multi-hole liquid injection was transformed into the water head height directly above the intersection.Finally,based on the Green-Ampt model,a wetting front migration model of ion-adsorption rare earth ores during the multi-hole unsaturated liquid injection was established.Error analysis results showed that the proposed model can accurately simulate the infiltration process under experimental conditions.The research results enrich the infiltration law and theory of ion-adsorption rare earth ores during the multi-hole liquid injection,and this study provides a scientific basis for optimizing the liquid injection well pattern parameters of ion-adsorption rare earth in situ leaching in the future.

Synthesis of palladium-rare earth alloy as a high-performance bifunctional catalyst for direct ethanol fuel cells

Direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) have drawn attention for their simplicity, rapid start-up, high power density and environmental friendliness. Despite these advantages, the widespread application of DEFCs faces challenges, primarily due to the inadequate performance of anode and cathode catalysts. Pd-based materials have shown exceptional catalytic activity for both the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) and the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Alloying noble metals with rare earth elements has emerged as an effective strategy to further enhance the catalytic activity by modulating the electronic structure. In this study, we synthesized a series of palladium-rare earth (Pd3RE) alloys supported on carbon to serve as bifunctional catalysts that efficiently promote both ORR and EOR. Compared to Pd/C, the Pd3Tb/C catalyst exhibits 3.1-fold and 1.8-fold enhancement in activity for ORR and EOR, respectively. The charge transfer in the Pd3Tb/C results in an electron-rich Pd component, thereby weakening the binding energy with oxygen species and facilitating the two reactions.

Differential Expression Analysis of Proteins Regulated by Rare Earth Cerium in Soybean Leaves at Seedling Stage

This study was to explore the functional mechanism of rare earth regulating soybean leaves and the characteristics and functions of differentially expressed proteins under the regulation of rare earth. In this study, Dongnong 42 was used as material, and 30 mg·L^(-1) CeCl_(3) solution was sprayed on soybean leaves at the seedling stage. Tandem mass tag(TMT) quantitative proteomics technique and bioinformatics analysis were used to identify soybean leaf proteins. A total of 8 510 proteins were identified, and 127 differentially expressed proteins(DEPs) in response to rare earth cerium regulation were identified, among which 64 were upregulated and 63 were down-regulated. The gene ontology(GO) annotation indicated that DEPs were mainly involved in metabolic process, cellular process, response to stimulus, biological regulation, and response to a stimulus;DEPs in cell module categories were mainly involved in cells, cell part, organelle, membrane, membrane part, organelle par, and protein-containing complex;DEPs in molecular functional categories were mainly involved in catalytic activity, binding and antioxidant activity. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG) pathway significantly enriched starch and sucrose metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, galactose metabolism, pentose phosphate pathway, and MAPK signaling pathway-plant. These DEPs were mainly involved in photosynthesis, glucose metabolism and stress response. Forty-six differential protein interaction networks were identified by protein interaction network analysis. This experiment provided a reference for studies of the mechanism of rare earth cerium regulating soybean leaf function from the proteomic perspective.

Top 11 countries by rare earth metal production

(Updated 2024)Rare earth metal production was on the rise again in 2023,jumping to 350,000 metric tons(MT)worldwide—that's up significantly from 190,000 MT in 2018,just five years prior.Demand for rare earth metals is increasing as renewable energy becomes more important across the globe.Rare earths such as neodymium and praseodymium,which are important in clean energy applications and high-tech industries,are in the spotlight,particularly as electric vehicles and hybrid cars gain further popularity.With that in mind,it's worth being aware of rare earth metal production by country figures.Here's a look at the 11 countries that mined the most rare earths in 2023,as per the latest data from US Geological Survey(USGS).

Disorganizing rare earth ions may improve quantum infor mation storage

A new paper in Nature Physics shows that by cramming lots of rare earth ions into a crystal,some will form pairs that act as highly coherent qubits,thus debunking the idea that solid-state qubits need to be super dilute in an ultra-clean material to achieve long lifetimes.According to the study's authors,one of the major barriers to practical quantum computing has been how to make qubits that retain their quantum information long enough to be useful.

Development and characteristics of a low rare-earth containing magnesium alloy with high strength-ductility synergy

In this study,we successfully developed a low RE containing Mg-3Y-2Gd-1Nd-0.5Zr(wt%)alloy with high strength-ductility synergy by combined processes of hot extrusion,hot rolling and ageing.This alloy exhibits an excellent strength-ductility balance(UTS of 345±2.0 MPa,TYS of 301±5.0 MPa and EL of 9.2±1.9%),which is better than that of many Mg-RE wrought alloys with higher RE concentration and even comparable to that of 6061 Al wrought alloy.A long-range chain-like structure consisting ofβphase,βH phase,βM phase and zig-zag atomic columns is observed for the first time in the studied alloy.The combined process of hot extrusion and hot rolling boosts the formation of deformed grains and low angle grain boundaries,and makes the deformed grains dominate in the alloy strengthening.Under this circumstance,the following ageing generates a novel heterogeneous structure comprising the long-range chain-like structure with broad interparticle spacing and the spacious precipitate-free zones in the deformed grains,which plays a key role in the concurrent strengthening and toughening of the alloy.The present study demonstrates that the deformed grains with long-range chain-like structures and precipitate-free zones is desirable microstructure for the low RE containing Mg alloys to achieve high strength-ductility synergy.

Influence of rare earth Ce on hot deformation behavior of as-cast Mn18Cr18N high nitrogen austenitic stainless steel

The hot deformation behavior of Mn18Cr18N and Mn18Cr18N+Ce high nitrogen austenitic stainless steels at 1173-1473 K and 0.01-1 s^(-1) were investigated by thermal compression tests.The influence mechanism of Ce on the hot deformation behavior was analyzed by Ce-containing inclusions and segregation of Ce.The results show that after the addition of Ce,large,angular,hard,and brittle inclusions(TiN-Al_(2)O_(3),TiN,and Al_(2)O_(3)) can be modified to fine and dispersed Ce-containing inclusions(Ce-Al-O-S and TiN-Ce-Al-O-S).During the solidification,Ce-containing inclusions can be used as heterogeneous nucleation particles to refine as-cast grains.During the hot deformation,Ce-containing inclusions can pin dislocation movement and grain boundary migration,induce dynamic recrystallization(DRX)nucleation,and avoid the formation and propagation of micro cracks and gaps.In addition,during the solidification,Ce atoms enrich at the front of solid-li-quid interface,resulting in composition supercooling and refining the secondary dendrites.Similarly,during the hot deformation,Ce atoms tend to segregate at the boundaries of DRX grains,inhibiting the growth of grains.Under the synergistic effect of Ce-containing inclusions and Ce segregation,although the hot deformation resistance and hot deformation activation energy are improved,DRX is more likely to occur and the size of DRX grains is significantly refined,and the problem of hot deformation cracking can be alleviated.Finally,the microhardness of the samples was measured.The results show that compared with as-cast samples,the microhardness of hot-deformed samples increases signific-antly,and with the increase of DRX degree,the microhardness decreases continuously.In addition,Ce can affect the microhardness of Mn18Cr18N steel by affecting as-cast and hot deformation microstructures.

Effect of rare earth on morphology and dispersion of TiB2 phase in Al-Ti-B alloy refiner

To investigate the effect of rare earth on size and distribution of TiB2 phase in aluminum alloy refiner,Al-5Ti-1B-RE master alloy was fabricated,and its microstructure and phase constitutions were investigated by the combination of first principles calculations and experimental investigation.The calculated results reveal that Ce has the most effective modification ability due to the most positive adsorption energy and the largest charge transfer value compared with other rare earth elements.Results of experimental investigation indicate that the addition of rare earth in the Al-5Ti-1B alloys can greatly refine the particle size of TiB2,improve the distribution of particles and lead to better refinement effect than that of the Al-5Ti-1B alloys without rare earth.Moreover,Ce has the best optimization effect,which agrees well with the calculated results.

Effect of surfactant addition on leaching process of weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ores with magnesium sulfate

Surfactants were proposed to be added into magnesium sulfate solution to improve the leaching process of weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ores(WREOs).Effects of surfactants and their concentration on the seepage of leaching solutions and the leaching efficiency of rare earth(RE)and aluminum(Al)were investigated,and the leaching kinetics,the mass transfer process,the adhesion work and the adhesion work reduction factor were analyzed to reveal its strengthening leaching mechanism.The results show that cetyltrimethylammonium bromide(CTAB)has a better strengthening effect on the leaching process than dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide(DTAB),sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS),sodium oleate and oleic acid.In the presence of 0.04%CTAB in 0.2 mol/L solution,the permeability coefficient of WREOs increases from 0.945×10^(-5)to 1.640×10^(-5)cm·s^(-1),and the leaching efficiency of RE increases from 80%to 90%,confirming the promotion of surfactants on the leaching process of WREOs.Kinetic analysis shows that the leaching process conforms to the inner diffusion control model,and the leaching kinetics equations of RE and Al related to CTAB content are obtained.Mass transfer discussion shows a smaller height equivalent to theoretical plate(HETP)of RE and Al at CTAB content of 0.04%,suggesting the higher mass transfer efficiency here.According to the interfacial properties of leaching solutions,the calculated adhesion work and the adhesion work reduction factor further demonstrate the strengthening leaching effect of CTAB on the leaching process of WREOs.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of a cast heat-resistant rare-earth magnesium alloy

Microstructure,mechanical properties and phase transformation of a heat-resistant rare-earth(RE)Mg-16.1Gd-3.5Nd-0.38Zn-0.26Zr-0.15Y(wt.%)alloy were investigated.The as-cast alloy is composed of equiaxedα-Mg matrix,net-shaped Mg5RE and Zr-rich phases.According to aging hardening curves and tensile properties variation,the optimized condition of solution treatment at 520℃for 8 h and subsequent aging at 204℃for 12 h was selected.The continuous secondary Mg5RE phase predominantly formed at grain boundaries during solidification transforms to residual discontinuousβ-Mg5RE phase and fine cuboid REH2particles after heat treatment.The annealed alloy exhibits good comprehensive tensile property at 350℃,with ultimate tensile strength of 153 MPa and elongation to fracture of 6.9%.Segregation of RE elements and eventually RE-rich precipitation at grain boundaries are responsible for the high strength at elevated temperature.

Rare earth elemental and Sr isotopic evidence for seawater intrusion event of the Songliao Basin 91 million years ago

Petrogenesis of lacustrine dolostone is closely related with paleo-lake water conditions.Here we report the high spatial-resolution petrographic and geochemical results of a lacustrine dolomite nodule from the Qingshankou Formation,the Songliao Basin.Sedimentary and elemental signatures confirm the protogenetic origin of this nodule and its effectiveness in recording geochemical characteristics of paleo-lake water during dolomitization.The low Y/Ho ratios,middle rare earth element(MREE)enrichment and subtle positive Eu anomalies within the nodule indicate a fresh water source.However,the Sr isotope values in the core of the nodule(0.7076-0.7080)are close to contemporaneous seawater(0.7074),yet different from the modern river(0.7120)and the host black shale(0.7100).On the premise of excluding the influence of hydrothermal fluids,the significantly low strontium isotope values of the lacustrine dolomite might be caused by seawater interference during dolomitization.Our findings demonstrate that lacustrine dolomite within black shales is not only a faithful tracer of diagenetic water environment,but also a novel and easily identified mineralogical evidence for episodic seawater intrusion event(91 Ma)in the Songliao Basin,which supplements other paleontological and geochemical evidence.

Effect of particle gradation on pore structure and seepage law of solution in weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ores

Both CT and Avizo software were used to explore the effect of particle gradation on the evolution characteristics of pore structure and seepage paths in weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ores during leaching.The results showed that the pore areas in four kinds of ore samples before leaching were mainly concentrated in 10^(4)–10^(7)μm^(2),whose pore quantities accounted for 96.89%,94.94%,90.48%,and 89.45%,respectively,while the corresponding pore volume only accounted for 30.74%,14.55%,7.58%,and 2.84%of the total pore volume.With the decrease of fractal dimension,the average pore throat length increased,but pore throat quantities,the average pore throat radius and coordination number decreased.Compared with that before leaching,the change degree of pore structure during leaching increased with the fractal dimension decreasing.For example,the reduction rate of the average coordination number of ore samples was 14.36%,21.30%,28.00%,and 32.90%,respectively.Seepage simulation results indicated that seepage paths were uniformly distributed before leaching while the streamline density and seepage velocity increased with the fractal dimension decreasing.Besides,the phenomenon of the streamline interruption gradually reduced during leaching while preferential seepage got more obvious with the decrease of the fractal dimension.

Rare earth alloy nanomaterials in electrocatalysis

With the rapid development of society and economy, the excessive consumption of fossil energy has led to the global energy and environment crisis. In order to explore the sustainable development of new energy, research based on electrocatalysis has attracted extensive attention in the academic circle. The main challenge in this field is to develop nano-catalysts with excellent electrocatalytic activity and selectivity for target products. The state of the active site in catalyst plays a decisive role in the activity and selectivity of the reaction. In order to design efficient and excellent catalysts, it is an effective means to adjust the electronic structure of catalysts. Electronic effects are also called ligand effects. By alloying with rare earth(RE) elements, electrons can be redistributed between RE elements and transition metal elements, achieving accurate design of the electronic structure of the active site in the alloy. Because of the unique electronic structure of RE, it has been paid attention in the field of catalysis. The outermost shell structure of RE elements is basically the same as that of the lower shell, except that the number of electrons in the 4f orbital is different, but the energy level is similar, so their properties are very similar. When RE elements form compounds, both the f electrons in the outermost shell and the d electrons in the lower outer shell can participate in bonding. In addition, part of the 4f electrons in the third outer shell can also participate in bonding.In order to improve the performance of metal catalysts, alloying provides an effective method to design advanced functional materials. RE alloys can integrate the unique electronic structure and catalytic behavior of RE elements into metal materials, which not only provides an opportunity to adjust the electronic structure and catalytic activity of the active component, but also enhances the structural stability of the alloy and is expected to significantly improve the catalytic performance of the catalyst. From the perspective of electronic and catalytic activity, RE elements have unique electronic configuration and lanthanide shrinkage effect. Alloying with RE elements will make the alloy have more abundant electronic structure, activity, and spatial arrangement, effectively adjusting the reaction kinetics of the electrochemical process of the catalyst. In this paper, the composition,structure, synthesis of RE alloys and their applications in the field of electrocatalysis are summarized, including the hydrogen evolution reaction, the oxygen evolution reaction, the oxygen reduction reaction, the methanol oxidation reaction, the ethanol oxidation reaction, and other catalytic reactions. At the same time, the present challenges of RE alloy electrocatalytic materials are summarized and their future development direction is pointed out. In the field of electrocatalysis, the cost of catalyst is too high and the stability is not strong. Therefore, the testing process should be related to the actual application, and the test method should be standardized, so as to carry forward the field of electrocatalysis.