Experimental and theoretical studies on two-dimensional vanadium carbide hybrid nanomaterials derived from V_(4)AlC_(3) as excellent catalyst for MgH_(2)

Hydrogen is considered one of the most ideal future energy carriers.The safe storage and convenient transportation of hydrogen are key factors for the utilization of hydrogen energy.In the current investigation,two-dimensional vanadium carbide(VC) was prepared by an etching method using V_(4)AlC_(3) as a precursor and then employed to enhance the hydrogen storage properties of MgH_(2).The studied results indicate that VC-doped MgH_(2) can absorb hydrogen at room temperature and release hydrogen at 170℃. Moreover,it absorbs 5.0 wt.%of H_(2) within 9.8 min at 100℃ and desorbs 5.0 wt.% of H_(2) within 3.2 min at 300℃.The dehydrogenation apparent activation energy of VC-doped MgH_(2) is 89.3 ± 2.8 kJ/mol,which is far lower than that of additive-free MgH_(2)(138.5 ± 2.4 kJ/mol),respectively.Ab-initio simulations showed that VC can stretch Mg-H bonds and make the Mg-H bonds easier to break,which is responsible for the decrease of dehydrogenation temperature and conducive to accelerating the diffusion rate of hydrogen atoms,thus,the hydrogen storage properties of MgH_(2) are remarkable improved through addition of VC.

A three-dimensional feature extraction-based method for coal cleat characterization using X-ray μCT and its application to a Bowen Basin coal specimen

Cleats are the dominant micro-fracture network controlling the macro-mechanical behavior of coal.Improved understanding of the spatial characteristics of cleat networks is therefore important to the coal mining industry.Discrete fracture networks(DFNs)are increasingly used in engineering analyses to spatially model fractures at various scales.The reliability of coal DFNs largely depends on the confidence in the input cleat statistics.Estimates of these parameters can be made from image-based three-dimensional(3D)characterization of coal cleats using X-ray micro-computed tomography(m CT).One key step in this process,after cleat extraction,is the separation of individual cleats,without which the cleats are a connected network and statistics for different cleat sets cannot be measured.In this paper,a feature extraction-based image processing method is introduced to identify and separate distinct cleat groups from 3D X-ray m CT images.Kernels(filters)representing explicit cleat features of coal are built and cleat separation is successfully achieved by convolutional operations on 3D coal images.The new method is applied to a coal specimen with 80 mm in diameter and 100 mm in length acquired from an Anglo American Steelmaking Coal mine in the Bowen Basin,Queensland,Australia.It is demonstrated that the new method produces reliable cleat separation capable of defining individual cleats and preserving 3D topology after separation.Bedding-parallel fractures are also identified and separated,which has his-torically been challenging to delineate and rarely reported.A variety of cleat/fracture statistics is measured which not only can quantitatively characterize the cleat/fracture system but also can be used for DFN modeling.Finally,variability and heterogeneity with respect to the core axis are investigated.Significant heterogeneity is observed and suggests that the representative elementary volume(REV)of the cleat groups for engineering purposes may be a complex problem requiring careful consideration.

Preparation and Arc Breakdown Behavior of Nanocrystalline W-Cu Electrical Contact Materials

Nanostructured （NS） W-Cu composite powder was prepared by mechanical alloying （MA）, and nanostructured bulk of W-Cu contact material was fabricated by hot pressed sintering in an electrical vacuum furnace. The microstructure, electric conductivity, hardness, breakdown voltage and arcing time of NS W-Cu alloys were measured and compared to conventional W-Cu alloys prepared by powder metallurgy. The results show that microstructural refinement and uniformity can improve the breakdown behavior, the electric arc stability and the arc extinction ability of nanostructured W-Cu contacts materials. Also, the nanostructured W-Cu contact material shows the characteristic of spreading electric arcs, which is of benefit to electric arc erosion.

Research progress of cholesteric liquid crystals with broadband reflection characteristics in application of intelligent optical modulation materials

Cholesteric liquid crystals（CLCs） have recently sparked an enormous amount of interest in the development of soft matter materials due to their unique ability to self-organize into a helical supra-molecular architecture and their excellent selective reflection of light based on the Bragg relationship.Nowadays,by the virtue of building the self-organized nanostructures with pitch gradient or non-uniform pitch distribution,extensive work has already been performed to obtain CLC films with a broad reflection band.Based on authors＇ many years＇ research experience,this critical review systematically summarizes the physical and optical background of the CLCs with broadband reflection characteristics,methods to obtain broadband reflection of CLCs,as well as the application in the field of intelligent optical modulation materials.Combined with the research status and the advantages in the field,the important basic and applied scientific problems in the research direction are also introduced.

Identification of Dynamic Active Sites Among Cu Species Derived from MOFs@CuPc for Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction Reaction to Ammonia

Direct electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction(NITRR)is a promising strategy to alleviate the unbalanced nitrogen cycle while achieving the electrosynthesis of ammonia.However,the restructuration of the high-activity Cu-based electrocatalysts in the NITRR process has hindered the identification of dynamical active sites and in-depth investigation of the catalytic mechanism.Herein,Cu species(single-atom,clusters,and nanoparticles)with tunable loading supported on N-doped TiO_(2)/C are successfully manufactured with MOFs@CuPc precursors via the pre-anchor and post-pyrolysis strategy.Restructuration behavior among Cu species is co-dependent on the Cu loading and reaction potential,as evidenced by the advanced operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy,and there exists an incompletely reversible transformation of the restructured structure to the initial state.Notably,restructured CuN_(4)&Cu_(4) deliver the high NH_(3) yield of 88.2 mmol h^(−1)g_(cata)^(−1) and FE(~94.3%)at−0.75 V,resulting from the optimal adsorption of NO_(3)^(−) as well as the rapid conversion of^(*)NH_(2)OH to^(*)NH_(2) intermediates originated from the modulation of charge distribution and d-band center for Cu site.This work not only uncovers CuN_(4)&Cu_(4) have the promising NITRR but also identifies the dynamic Cu species active sites that play a critical role in the efficient electrocatalytic reduction in nitrate to ammonia.

Structure of the Quarks and a New Model of Protons and Neutrons: Answer to Some Open Questions

The described structural model tries to answer some open questions such as: Why do quarks not exist in the open state? Where are the antiparticles from the Big Bang?

Microstructural Dependence of Friction and Wear Behavior in Biological Shells

As an essential renewable mineral resource,mollusk shells can be used as handicrafts,building materials,adsor-bents,etc.However,there are few reports on the wear resistance of their structures.The Vicker’s hardness and friction,and wear resistance of different microstructures in mollusk shells were comparatively studied in the pre-sent work.The hardness of prismatic structures is lower than that of cross-lamellar and nacreous structures.How-ever,the experimental results of sliding tests indicate that the prismatic structure exhibits the best anti-wear ability compared with foliated,crossed-lamellar,and nacreous structures.The anti-wear and hardness do not present a positive correlation,as the wear resistance properties of different microstructures in mollusk shells are governed jointly by organic matrix,structural arrangement,and basic building block actions.The present researchfindings are expected to provide fundamental insight into the design of renewable bionic materials with high wear resistance.

Stability of Nuclei Based on the New Proton and Neutron Model

According to the new proton and neutron nuclear picture described earlier, the structure of the nucleus will also be given a new interpretation. The role of the delocalized electrons detached from the outer shell of neutrons is shown in the binding energy value of the nucleus. It is pointed out that the spatial arrangement of nucleons is also very important for the stability of nuclei according to the analyzation of the magic numbers from a geometric point of view.

Effect of nano-oxide layers on the magnetoresistance of ultrathin permalloy films

Ta/NiFe/Ta ultrathin films with and without nano-oxide layers （NOLs） were prepared by magnetron sputtering followed by a vacuum annealing process. The influence of NOLs on the magnetoresistance （MR） ratio of ultrathin permalloy films was studied. The results show that the influence of grain size and textures on the MR ratio becomes weak when the thickness of the NiFe layer is below 15 nm. A higher MR ratio was observed for the thinner （〈 15 nm） NiFe film with NOLs. The MR ratio of a 10 nm NiFe film can be remarkably enhanced by NOLs. The enhanced MR ratio for these ultrathin films can be attributed to the enhanced specular reflection of conduction electrons.

Recent developments in high-strength Mg-RE-based alloys:Focusing on Mg-Gd and Mg-Y systems

Higher strength is always the goal pursued by researchers for the structural materials,especially for the lightweight magnesium(Mg)alloys which generally have relatively low strength at present.From this aspect,the present paper reviews the recent reports of a kind of Mg alloys,i.e.Mg-RE(RE:rare earths,mainly Gd or Y)casting and wrought alloys,which have been able to achieve high strength compared with common or commercial Mg alloys,from the viewpoint and content of the alloy system,alloying constitution,preparation process,tensile strength and each of the main strengthening mechanisms.This review of recent research and developments in high-strength Mg-RE alloys is beneficial for the further design of Mg alloys with higher strength as well as excellent comprehensive performance.

Deformation behavior of explosive detonation in electroformed nickel liner of shaped charge with nano-sized grains

Nickel liner of shaped charge with nano-sized grains was prepared by electroforming technique and the ultra-highstrain-rate deformation was performed by explosive detonation.The as-electroformed and post-deformed microstructures of electroformed nickel liner of shaped charge were observed by optical metallography(OM),scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and transmission electron microscopy(TEM) and the orientation distribution of the grains was analyzed by electron backscattering pattern(EBSP) technique.Both melting phenomenon in the jet fragment and recovery and recrystallization in the slug after ultra-high-strain-rate deformation were observed.The research evidence shows that dynamic recovery and recrystallization play an important role in ultra-high-strain-rate deformation for electroformed nickel liner of shaped charge with nano-sized grain.

Arc erosion behavior of a nanocomposite W-Cu electrical contact material

在弧故障下面的 nanocomposite W-Cu 材料的侵蚀行为被调查。材料的弧侵蚀率被决定，并且侵蚀的表面和弧侵蚀机制被扫描电子显微镜学学习。thenanocomposite W-Cu 电的接触物质显示出散布弧的一个特征，这被结束。商业地使用的 W-Cu 合金的弧故障在一些区域，和它的平均的弧侵蚀率被限制象前者的一样两次大。而且， nanocomposite W-Cu 材料的弧扑灭能力和弧稳定性是优秀的，这也被证明，并且融化是在弧的 make-and-break 操作的主要失败形式。

Defects Energetics and Electronic Properties of Li Doped ZnO： A Hybrid Hartree-Fock and Density Functional Study

有各种各样的缺点的做 Li 的 ZnO 的电子性质和稳定性被用混合 Hartree-Fock 和密度经由第一原则的计算计算电子结构和缺点形成精力学习了功能的方法。从形成精力计算的结果证明李对建筑群在大多数情形有最低形成精力，他们在李消费大多数李内容做了 ZnO，它使 p 类型传导力难获得。李对建筑群的形成是主要障碍认识到在李的 p 类型传导力做了 ZnO。然而，当环境变化从， LiZn 的形成精力减少对 Zn 富有 O 富有并且在高度 O 富有的环境变得比 Li 对建筑群的更稳定。因此， p 类型传导力能被李获得种的做的 ZnO 或柱子在氧富人空气退火了。

Effect of Ca^(2+) on CO_2 corrosion properties of X65 pipeline steel

The effect of Ca^2＋ on CO2 corrosion to X65 pipeline steel was investigated in the simulated stratum water of an oil field containing different concentrations of Ca^2＋. It is found that Ca^2＋ can enhance the corrosion rate, especially in the Ca^2＋ concentration from 256 to 512 mg/L, which can be attributed to the growing grain size and loosing structure of corrosion scales with increasing Ca^2＋ concentration. X-ray diffraction （XRD） and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS） investigations reveal that a complex carbonate （Fe, Ca）CO3 forms at high Ca^2＋ concentration due to the gradual replacement of Fe^2＋ in FeCO3 by Ca^2＋.

Synthesis and characterization of non-symmetrical liquid crystals containing a cholesteryl ester moiety

在这篇论文，一系列 chiral 作为 chiral 实体和联本基由 cholesteryl 酉旨一半组成的非对称的液体晶体(nBA-chol ) 有不同终端烷基链的芳香的核心被综合了并且为他们的液体调查了水晶的性质。在阶段转变温度上并且在 chiral 液体晶体的温度依赖者沥青长度上的终端烷基链的甲又单位的数字的效果被学习了。长终端烷基链趋于展出近晶的 A 中央阶段。chiral 液体晶体的 cholesteric 中央阶段的沥青长度与增加温度并且与分别地在终端烷基链增加甲又单位的数字减少。

Research progress in anisotropic magnetoresistance

Anisotropic magnetoresistance （AMR） is an important physical phenomenon that has broad application potential in many relevant fields. Thus, AMR is one of the most attractive research directions in material science to date. In this article, we summarize the recent advances in AMR, including traditional permalloy AMR, tunnel AMR, ballistic AMR, Coulomb blockade AMR, anomalous AMR, and antiferromagnetic AMR. The existing problems and possible challenges in developing more advanced AMR were briefly discussed, and future development trends and prospects were also speculated.

Toward the development of Mg alloys with simultaneously improved strength and ductility by refining grain size via the deformation process

Magnesium(Mg) alloys, as the lightest metal engineering materials, have broad application prospects.However, the strength and ductility of traditional Mg alloys are still relativity low and difficult to improve simultaneously.Refining grain size via the deformation process based on the grain boundary strengthening and the transition of deformation mechanisms is one of the feasible strategies to prepare Mg alloys with high strength and high ductility.In this review, the effects of grain size on the strength and ductility of Mg alloys are summarized, and fine-grained Mg alloys with high strength and high ductility developed by various severe plastic deformation technologies and improved traditional deformation technologies are introduced.Although some achievements have been made, the effects of grain size on various Mg alloys are rarely discussed systematically and some key mechanisms are unclear or lack direct microscopic evidence.This review can be used as a reference for further development of high-performance fine-grained Mg alloys.

Towards developing Mg alloys with simultaneously improved strength and corrosion resistance via RE alloying

Magnesium(Mg)alloys have received an increasing interest in the past two decades for their tremendous application potential.The strength and corrosion resistance levels of common Mg alloys are still relativity low,and especially they are to be improved simultaneously.The addition of rare earth(RE)to Mg alloys is believed to be beneficial for both the strength and corrosion resistance,and some RE-modified traditional Mg alloys have been studied and some new RE-containing Mg alloys have been developed by now.However,further simultaneous improvements in both strength and anti-corrosion require a better understanding of the behavior and mechanism of RE in Mg alloys.In this review,the common influence mechanisms of RE on mechanical and anti-corrosion properties of Mg alloys are summarized,and the latest research progress of RE-containing Mg alloys with simultaneously improved strength and corrosion resistance are introduced.It is demonstrated that the research on high-strength and high corrosion resistant RE-containing Mg alloys is still immature,and some opinions and suggestions are put forward for the synergetic improvement of the strength and corrosion resistance of Mg alloys,so as to contribute to the further development of Mg alloys with higher performance.

Microstructure and mechanical performances of CGHAZ for oil tank steel during high heat input welding

Microstructure and mechanical performances of the coarse grain heat-affected-zone （CGHAZ） for oil tank steel with different Ti content were investigated through Gleeble-3500, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectrometer. The results show that the strength and low- temperature toughness of base material are significantly improved for the high titanium content steel, but the impact toughness of CGHAZ is seriously deteriorated after the high heat input welding and declined sharply with the heat input increasing, while the effects of heat input on impact toughness are very weak for the low titanium content steel, impact toughness of which is gradually larger than that of high titanium content steel with the welding heat input increasing because of the granular bainite increasing, TiN particle coarsening, and （Ti, Nb） N composition evolution during the high input welding for high titanium content steel.