Application of dense plasma focus devices and lasers in the radiation material sciences for the goals of inertial fusion beyond ignition

Specimens of materials for prospective use in chambers of nuclear fusion reactors with inertial plasma confinement,namely,W,ODS steels,Eurofer 97 steel,a number of ceramics,etc.,have been irradiated by dense plasma focus devices and a laser in the Q-switchedmode of operation with a wide range of parameters,including some that noticeably exceeded those expected in reactors.By means of 1-ns laser interferometry and neutron measurements,the characteristics of plasma streams and fast ion beams,as well as the dynamics of their interaction with solid-state targets,have been investigated.3D profilometry,optical and scanning electron microscopy,atomic emission spectroscopy,X-ray elemental and structural analyses,and precise weighing of specimens before and after irradiation have provided data on the roughening threshold and the susceptibility to damage of the materials under investigation.Analysis of the results,together with numerical modeling,has revealed the important role of shock waves in the damage processes.It has been shown that a so-called integral damage factor may be used only within restricted ranges of the irradiation parameters.It has also been found that in the irradiation regime with well-developed gasdynamic motion of secondary plasma,the overall amount of radiation energy is spent preferentially either on removing large masses of cool matter from the material surface or on heating a small amount of plasma to high temperature(and,consequently,imparting to it a high velocity),depending on the power flux density and characteristics of the pulsed irradiation.

Literature classification and its applications in condensed matter physics and materials science by natural language processing

The exponential growth of literature is constraining researchers’access to comprehensive information in related fields.While natural language processing(NLP)may offer an effective solution to literature classification,it remains hindered by the lack of labelled dataset.In this article,we introduce a novel method for generating literature classification models through semi-supervised learning,which can generate labelled dataset iteratively with limited human input.We apply this method to train NLP models for classifying literatures related to several research directions,i.e.,battery,superconductor,topological material,and artificial intelligence(AI)in materials science.The trained NLP‘battery’model applied on a larger dataset different from the training and testing dataset can achieve F1 score of 0.738,which indicates the accuracy and reliability of this scheme.Furthermore,our approach demonstrates that even with insufficient data,the not-well-trained model in the first few cycles can identify the relationships among different research fields and facilitate the discovery and understanding of interdisciplinary directions.

Integrated Practice of Cultivating Innovative Ability and Ideological Education for Graduate Students of Materials Science Major

Aiming at the problem of weak integration of innovation ability and ideological education of postgraduates in materials major,this paper explores postgraduates’cultivation work under the support of Liaocheng University.It is found that the cultivation of the innovation ability of postgraduates in materials can be the realization path and sublimation carrier of ideological education,ideological education can provide spiritual support and methodological guidance for the former,and the organic integration of the two is feasible.Constructing the fit relationship between innovation ability and ideological education,institutionalizing tutor guidance,establishing tutor+counselor+professional teacher communication mechanism,and taking disciplinary competitions as a handhold can achieve the integration of innovation ability cultivation and ideological education of graduate students in materials major.

Recent progress in perovskite solar cells:material science

Perovskite solar cells represent a promising third-generation photovoltaic technology with low fabrication cost and high power conversion efficiency.In light of the rapid development of perovskite materials and devices,a systematic survey on the latest advancements covering a broad range of related work is urgently needed.This review summarizes the recent major advances in the research of perovskite solar cells from a material science perspective.The discussed topics include the devices based on different type of perovskites(organic-inorganic hybrid,all-inorganic,and lead-free perovskite and perovskite quantum dots),the properties of perovskite defects,different type of charge transport materials(organic,polymeric,and inorganic hole transport materials and inorganic and organic electron transport materials),counter electrodes,and interfacial materials used to improve the efficiency and stability of devices.Most discussions focus on the key progresses reported within the recent five years.Meanwhile,the major issues limiting the production of perovskite solar cells and the prospects for the future development of related materials are discussed.

Recent Advances in Multifunctional Reticular Framework Nanoparticles:A Paradigm Shift in Materials Science Road to a Structured Future

Porous organic frameworks(POFs)have become a highly sought-after research domain that offers a promising avenue for developing cutting-edge nanostructured materials,both in their pristine state and when subjected to various chemical and structural modifications.Metal–organic frameworks,covalent organic frameworks,and hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks are examples of these emerging materials that have gained significant attention due to their unique properties,such as high crystallinity,intrinsic porosity,unique structural regularity,diverse functionality,design flexibility,and outstanding stability.This review provides an overview of the state-of-the-art research on base-stable POFs,emphasizing the distinct pros and cons of reticular framework nanoparticles compared to other types of nanocluster materials.Thereafter,the review highlights the unique opportunity to produce multifunctional tailoring nanoparticles to meet specific application requirements.It is recommended that this potential for creating customized nanoparticles should be the driving force behind future synthesis efforts to tap the full potential of this multifaceted material category.

Recent advances in transition metal phosphide materials:Synthesis and applications in supercapacitors

Supercapacitors(SCs)are considered promising energy storge systems because of their outstanding power density,fast charge and discharge rate and long-term cycling stability.The exploitation of cheap and efficient electrode materials is the key to improve the performance of supercapacitors.As the battery-type materials,transition metal phosphides(TMPs)possess high theoretical specific capacity,good electrical conductivity and superior structural stability,which have been extensively studied to be electrode materials for supercapacitors.In this review,we summarize the up-to-date progress on TMPs materials from diversified synthetic methods,diverse nanostructures and several prominent TMPs and their composites in application of supercapacitors.In the end,we also propose the remaining challenges toward the rational discovery and synthesis of high-performance TMP electrodes materials for energy storage.

Cu-Based Materials for Enhanced C_(2+) Product Selectivity in Photo-/Electro-Catalytic CO_(2) Reduction: Challenges and Prospects

Carbon dioxide conversion into valuable products using photocatalysis and electrocatalysis is an effective approach to mitigate global environmental issues and the energy shortages. Among the materials utilized for catalytic reduction of CO_(2), Cu-based materials are highly advantageous owing to their widespread availability, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, Cu-based materials demonstrate interesting abilities in the adsorption and activation of carbon dioxide, allowing the formation of C_(2+) compounds through C–C coupling process. Herein, the basic principles of photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction reactions(PCO_(2)RR) and electrocatalytic CO_(2) reduction reaction(ECO_(2)RR) and the pathways for the generation C_(2+) products are introduced. This review categorizes Cu-based materials into different groups including Cu metal, Cu oxides, Cu alloys, and Cu SACs, Cu heterojunctions based on their catalytic applications. The relationship between the Cu surfaces and their efficiency in both PCO_(2)RR and ECO_(2)RR is emphasized. Through a review of recent studies on PCO_(2)RR and ECO_(2)RR using Cu-based catalysts, the focus is on understanding the underlying reasons for the enhanced selectivity toward C_(2+) products. Finally, the opportunities and challenges associated with Cu-based materials in the CO_(2) catalytic reduction applications are presented, along with research directions that can guide for the design of highly active and selective Cu-based materials for CO_(2) reduction processes in the future.

Structural Engineering of Anode Materials for Low-Temperature Lithium-Ion Batteries:Mechanisms,Strategies,and Prospects

The severe degradation of electrochemical performance for lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)at low temperatures poses a significant challenge to their practical applications.Consequently,extensive efforts have been contributed to explore novel anode materials with high electronic conductivity and rapid Li^(+)diffusion kinetics for achieving favorable low-temperature performance of LIBs.Herein,we try to review the recent reports on the synthesis and characterizations of low-temperature anode materials.First,we summarize the underlying mechanisms responsible for the performance degradation of anode materials at subzero temperatures.Second,detailed discussions concerning the key pathways(boosting electronic conductivity,enhancing Li^(+)diffusion kinetics,and inhibiting lithium dendrite)for improving the low-temperature performance of anode materials are presented.Third,several commonly used low-temperature anode materials are briefly introduced.Fourth,recent progress in the engineering of these low-temperature anode materials is summarized in terms of structural design,morphology control,surface&interface modifications,and multiphase materials.Finally,the challenges that remain to be solved in the field of low-temperature anode materials are discussed.This review was organized to offer valuable insights and guidance for next-generation LIBs with excellent low-temperature electrochemical performance.

MatChat: A large language model and application service platform for materials science

The prediction of chemical synthesis pathways plays a pivotal role in materials science research. Challenges, such as the complexity of synthesis pathways and the lack of comprehensive datasets, currently hinder our ability to predict these chemical processes accurately. However, recent advancements in generative artificial intelligence(GAI), including automated text generation and question–answering systems, coupled with fine-tuning techniques, have facilitated the deployment of large-scale AI models tailored to specific domains. In this study, we harness the power of the LLaMA2-7B model and enhance it through a learning process that incorporates 13878 pieces of structured material knowledge data.This specialized AI model, named Mat Chat, focuses on predicting inorganic material synthesis pathways. Mat Chat exhibits remarkable proficiency in generating and reasoning with knowledge in materials science. Although Mat Chat requires further refinement to meet the diverse material design needs, this research undeniably highlights its impressive reasoning capabilities and innovative potential in materials science. Mat Chat is now accessible online and open for use, with both the model and its application framework available as open source. This study establishes a robust foundation for collaborative innovation in the integration of generative AI in materials science.

Current and further trajectories in designing functional materials for solid oxide electrochemical cells:A review of other reviews

Complex oxides are an important class of materials with enormous potential for electrochemical appli-cations.Depending on their composition and structure,such complex oxides can exhibit either a single conductivity(oxygen-ionic or protonic,or n-type,or p-type electronic)or a combination thereof gener-ating distinct dual-conducting or even triple-conducting materials.These properties enable their use as diverse functional materials for solid oxide fuel cells,solid oxide electrolysis cells,permeable membranes,and gas sensors.The literature review shows that the field of solid oxide materials and related electro-chemical cells has a significant level of research engagement,with over 8,000 publications published since 2020.The manual analysis of such a large volume of material is challenging.However,by examining the review articles,it is possible to identify key patterns,recent achievements,prospects,and remaining obstacles.To perform such an analysis,the present article provides,for the first time,a comprehensive summary of previous review publications that have been published since 2020,with a special focus on solid oxide materials and electrochemical systems.Thus,this study provides an important reference for researchers specializing in the fields of solid state ionics,high-temperature electrochemistry,and energyconversiontechnologies.

Two-dimensional layered In_(2)P_(3)S_(9): A novel superior anode material for sodium-ion batteries

Developing reliable and efficient anode materials is essential for the successfully practical application of sodium-ion batteries.Herein,employing a straightforward and rapid chemical vapor deposition technique,two-dimensional layered ternary indium phosphorus sulfide(In_(2)P_(3)S_(9)) nanosheets are prepared.The layered structure and ternary composition of the In_(2)P_(3)S_(9) electrode result in impressive electrochemical performance,including a high reversible capacity of 704 mA h g^(-1) at 0.1 A g^(-1),an outstanding rate capability with 425 mA h g^(-1) at 5 A g^(-1),and an exceptional cycling stability with a capacity retention of88% after 350 cycles at 1 A g^(-1).Furthermore,sodium-ion full cell also affords a high capacity of 308 and114 mA h g^(-1) at 0.1 and 5 A g^(-1).Ex-situ X-ray diffraction and ex-situ high-resolution transmission electron microscopy tests are conducted to investigate the underlying Na-storage mechanism of In_(2)P_(3)S_(9).The results reveal that during the first cycle,the P-S bond is broken to form the elemental P and In_(2)S_(3),collectively contributing to a remarkably high reversible specific capacity.The excellent electrochemical energy storage results corroborate the practical application potential of In_(2)P_(3)S_(9) for sodium-ion batteries.

Amorphous Iridium Oxide-Integrated Anode Electrodes with Ultrahigh Material Utilization for Hydrogen Production at Industrial Current Densities

Herein,ionomer-free amorphous iridium oxide(IrO_(x))thin electrodes are first developed as highly active anodes for proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cells(PEMECs)via low-cost,environmentally friendly,and easily scalable electrodeposition at room temperature.Combined with a Nafion 117 membrane,the IrO_(x)-integrated electrode with an ultralow loading of 0.075 mg cm^(-2)delivers a high cell efficiency of about 90%,achieving more than 96%catalyst savings and 42-fold higher catalyst utilization compared to commercial catalyst-coated membrane(2 mg cm^(-2)).Additionally,the IrO_(x)electrode demonstrates superior performance,higher catalyst utilization and significantly simplified fabrication with easy scalability compared with the most previously reported anodes.Notably,the remarkable performance could be mainly due to the amorphous phase property,sufficient Ir^(3+)content,and rich surface hydroxide groups in catalysts.Overall,due to the high activity,high cell efficiency,an economical,greatly simplified and easily scalable fabrication process,and ultrahigh material utilization,the IrO_(x)electrode shows great potential to be applied in industry and accelerates the commercialization of PEMECs and renewable energy evolution.

Preparation and Properties of Magnesium Oxysulfide Cement Based Foam Board Absorbing Material

In order to better solve the problem of electromagnetic pollution in the civil building cement,to improve the absorption capacity of magnesium oxysulfide cement based materials,and to better use sulfur oxide magnesium cement foamed sheet for improvement of electromagnetic industry,this paper uses the excellent microwave absorbing properties of ferrite and the modified sulfur oxide magnesium cement foam board,and discusses the microwave absorbing performance,aiming at improving the electromagnetic pollution in daily life.The effects of ferrite and silicon carbide doping on microwave absorption properties of modified magnesium oxysulfate cement were studied.At the same time,the wave absorbing properties of the corresponding samples were detected by bow method,and the causes of the corresponding phenomena were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).The results show that the lowest reflectance of the material is-17.9 dB at 34.1 GHz and the average reflectance of the whole band is-15.9 dB under the target frequency band of 26.5-40 GHz.Under the action of external magnetic field,the absorbing particles are affected by magnetization force,magnetic dipole and resistance coupling,and play the absorbing effect in the cement base solidified completely in the electromagnetic field environment.The lowest reflectance is-17.3dB at 36.4GHz and the average reflectance is-14.3dB for the whole band.

Insights into Formation and Li-Storage Mechanisms of Hierarchical Accordion-Shape Orthorhombic CuNb_(2)O_(6) toward Lithium-Ion Capacitors as an Anode-Active Material

The orthorhombic CuNb_(2)O_(6)(O-CNO)is established as a competitive anode for lithium-ion capacitors(LICs)owing to its attractive compositional/structural merits.However,the high-temperature synthesis(>900℃)and controversial charge-storage mechanism always limit its applications.Herein,we develop a low-temperature strategy to fabricate a nano-blocks-constructed hierarchical accordional O-CNO framework by employing multilayered Nb_(2)CT_(x)as the niobium source.The intrinsic stress-induced formation/transformation mechanism of the monoclinic CuNb_(2)O_(6)to O-CNO is tentatively put forward.Furthermore,the integrated phase conversion and solid solution lithium-storage mechanism is reasonably unveiled with comprehensive in(ex)situ characterizations.Thanks to its unique structural merits and lithium-storage process,the resulted O-CNO anode is endowed with a large capacity of 150.3 mAh g^(-1)at 2.0 A g^(-1),along with long-duration cycling behaviors.Furthermore,the constructed O-CNO-based LICs exhibit a high energy(138.9 Wh kg^(-1))and power(4.0 kW kg^(-1))densities with a modest cycling stability(15.8%capacity degradation after 3000 consecutive cycles).More meaningfully,the in-depth insights into the formation and charge-storage process here can promote the extensive development of binary metal Nb-based oxides for advanced LICs.

Effect of temperature and time on the precipitation ofκ-carbides in Fe-28Mn-10Al-0.8C low-density steels:Aging mechanism and its impact on material properties

In low-density steel,κ-carbides primarily precipitate in the form of nanoscale particles within austenite grains.However,their precipitation within ferrite matrix grains has not been comprehensively explored,and the second-phase evolution mechanism during aging remains unclear.In this study,the crystallographic characteristics and morphological evolution ofκ-carbides in Fe-28Mn-10Al-0.8C(wt%)low-density steel at different aging temperatures and times and the impacts of these changes on the steels’microhardness and properties were comprehensively analyzed.Under different heat treatment conditions,intragranularκ-carbides exhibited various morpho-logical and crystallographic characteristics,such as acicular,spherical,and short rod-like shapes.At the initial stage of aging,acicularκ-carbides primarily precipitated,accompanied by a few spherical carbides.κ-Carbides grew and coarsened with aging time,the spherical carbides were considerably reduced,and rod-like carbides coarsened.Vickers hardness testing demonstrated that the material’s hardness was affected by the volume fraction,morphology,and size ofκ-carbides.Extended aging at higher temperatures led to an increase in carbide size and volume fraction,resulting in a gradual rise in hardness.During deformation,the primary mechanisms for strengthening were dislocation strengthening and second-phase strengthening.Based on these findings,potential strategies for improving material strength are proposed.

Machine learning in metal-ion battery research: Advancing material prediction, characterization, and status evaluation

Metal-ion batteries(MIBs),including alkali metal-ion(Li^(+),Na^(+),and K^(3)),multi-valent metal-ion(Zn^(2+),Mg^(2+),and Al^(3+)),metal-air,and metal-sulfur batteries,play an indispensable role in electrochemical energy storage.However,the performance of MIBs is significantly influenced by numerous variables,resulting in multi-dimensional and long-term challenges in the field of battery research and performance enhancement.Machine learning(ML),with its capability to solve intricate tasks and perform robust data processing,is now catalyzing a revolutionary transformation in the development of MIB materials and devices.In this review,we summarize the utilization of ML algorithms that have expedited research on MIBs over the past five years.We present an extensive overview of existing algorithms,elucidating their details,advantages,and limitations in various applications,which encompass electrode screening,material property prediction,electrolyte formulation design,electrode material characterization,manufacturing parameter optimization,and real-time battery status monitoring.Finally,we propose potential solutions and future directions for the application of ML in advancing MIB development.

Properties and Characteristics of Regolith-Based Materials for Extraterrestrial Construction

The construction of extraterrestrial bases has become a new goal in the active exploration of deep space.Among the construction techniques,in situ resource-based construction is one of the most promising because of its good sustainability and acceptable economic cost,triggering the development of various types of extraterrestrial construction materials.A comprehensive survey and comparison of materials from the perspective of performance was conducted to provide suggestions for material selection and optimization.Thirteen types of typical construction materials are discussed in terms of their reliability and applicability in extreme extraterrestrial environment.Mechanical,thermal and optical,and radiation-shielding properties are considered.The influencing factors and optimization methods for these properties are analyzed.From the perspective of material properties,the existing challenges lie in the comprehensive,long-term,and real characterization of regolith-based construction materials.Correspondingly,the suggested future directions include the application of high-throughput characterization methods,accelerated durability tests,and conducting extraterrestrial experiments.

Exploring the potential of olivine-containing copper-nickel slag for carbon dioxide mineralization in cementitious materials

Water-quenched copper-nickel metallurgical slag enriched with olivine minerals exhibits promising potential for the production of CO_(2)-mineralized cementitious materials.In this work,copper-nickel slag-based cementitious material(CNCM)was synthesized by using different chemical activation methods to enhance its hydration reactivity and CO_(2) mineralization capacity.Different water curing ages and carbonation conditions were explored related to their carbonation and mechanical properties development.Meanwhile,thermogravimetry differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction methods were applied to evaluate the CO_(2) adsorption amount and carbonation products of CNCM.Microstructure development of carbonated CNCM blocks was examined by backscattered electron imaging(BSE)with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry.Results showed that among the studied samples,the CNCM sample that was subjected to water curing for 3 d exhibited the highest CO_(2) sequestration amount of 8.51wt%at 80℃and 72 h while presenting the compressive strength of 39.07 MPa.This result indicated that 1 t of this CNCM can sequester 85.1 kg of CO_(2) and exhibit high compressive strength.Although the addition of citric acid did not improve strength development,it was beneficial to increase the CO_(2) diffusion and adsorption amount under the same carbonation conditions from BSE results.This work provides guidance for synthesizing CO_(2)-mineralized cementitious materials using large amounts of metallurgical slags containing olivine minerals.

Mg-doped,carbon-coated,and prelithiated SiO_(x) as anode materials with improved initial Coulombic efficiency for lithium-ion batteries

Silicon suboxide(SiO_(x),x≈1)is promising in serving as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries with high capacity,but it has a low initial Coulombic efficiency(ICE)due to the irreversible formation of lithium silicates during the first cycle.In this work,we modify SiO_(x) by solid-phase Mg doping reaction using low-cost Mg powder as a reducing agent.We show that Mg reduces SiO_(2) in SiO_(x) to Si and forms MgSiO_(3) or Mg_(2)SiO_(4).The MgSiO_(3) or Mg_(2)SiO_(4) are mainly distributed on the surface of SiO_(x),which suppresses the irreversible lithium-ion loss and enhances the ICE of SiO_(x).However,the formation of MgSiO_(3) or Mg_(2)SiO_(4) also sacrifices the capacity of SiO_(x).Therefore,by controlling the reaction process between Mg and SiO_(x),we can tune the phase composition,proportion,and morphology of the Mg-doped SiO_(x) and manipulate the performance.We obtain samples with a capacity of 1226 mAh g^(–1) and an ICE of 84.12%,which show significant improvement over carbon-coated SiO_(x) without Mg doping.By the synergistical modification of both Mg doping and prelithiation,the capacity of SiO_(x) is further increased to 1477 mAh g^(–1) with a minimal compromise in the ICE(83.77%).

Emerging two-dimensional Mo-based materials for rechargeable metal-ion batteries:Advances and perspectives

With the rapid development of rechargeable metal-ion batteries(MIBs)with safety,stability and high energy density,significant efforts have been devoted to exploring high-performance electrode materials.In recent years,two-dimensional(2D)molybdenum-based(Mo-based)materials have drawn considerable attention due to their exceptional characteristics,including low cost,unique crystal structure,high theoretical capacity and controllable chemical compositions.However,like other transition metal compounds,Mo-based materials are facing thorny challenges to overcome,such as slow electron/ion transfer kinetics and substantial volume changes during the charge and discharge processes.In this review,we summarize the recent progress in developing emerging 2D Mo-based electrode materials for MIBs,encompassing oxides,sulfides,selenides,carbides.After introducing the crystal structure and common synthesis methods,this review sheds light on the charge storage mechanism of several 2D Mo-based materials by various advanced characterization techniques.The latest achievements in utilizing 2D Mo-based materials as electrode materials for various MIBs(including lithium-ion batteries(LIBs),sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)and zinc-ion batteries(ZIBs))are discussed in detail.Afterwards,the modulation strategies for enhancing the electrochemical performance of 2D Mo-based materials are highlighted,focusing on heteroatom doping,vacancies creation,composite coupling engineering and nanostructure design.Finally,we present the existing challenges and future research directions for 2D Mo-based materials to realize high-performance energy storage systems.