Crystals最新文献

{"title":"Effects of Ge-Doping on Thermoelectric Performance of Polycrystalline Cubic Sn0.5Ag0.25Bi0.25Se0.50Te0.50","authors":"Haoyu Zhao, Junliang Zhu, Zhonghe Zhu, Lin Bo, Wenying Wang, Xingshuo Liu, C.-P. Li, Degang Zhao","doi":"10.3390/cryst15070622","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15070622","url":null,"abstract":"Cubic phase SnSe-based materials have great potential in the field of thermoelectricity due to their reduced carrier scattering, increased band degeneracy, and ultra-low lattice thermal conductivity. Nevertheless, systematic studies on the influence of element doping on the thermoelectric properties of cubic SnSe-based materials are still relatively scarce. To enrich the research in this field, this work investigates the effects of Ge doping on the phase composition, electrical and thermal transport properties of cubic Sn0.50Ag0.25Bi0.25Se0.50Te0.50 thermoelectric materials. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed that the Ge-doped samples exhibited a single cubic phase structure, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) revealed a uniform distribution of elements within the samples. The results indicate that increasing the Ge doping content substantially enhances their electrical conductivity, albeit at the expense of elevated thermal conductivity. By optimizing the content of Ge-doping, the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) reached 0.74 at 750 K. Notably, while moderate Ge doping enhances electrical transport properties, excessive doping leads to a significant rise in thermal conductivity, ultimately constraining further thermoelectric performance gains.","PeriodicalId":10855,"journal":{"name":"Crystals","volume":"15 7","pages":"622-622"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/7/622/pdf?version=1751620171","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147909797","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nanoporous Copper Fabricated by Dealloying Single-Phase Mn-Cu-Al Alloy and Its Non-Enzymatic Glucose Detection","authors":"Jinyi Wang, Bowen Fan, Jincheng Yu, Mengqiong Huang, JS Song, Zhaokun Yang, Yuan Ji","doi":"10.3390/cryst15060563","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15060563","url":null,"abstract":"Single-phase ternary Mn-Cu-Al alloy ribbons were fabricated by melt-spinning a Mn48Cu28Al24 ingot on a rotating copper roller. They were used as dealloying precursor for forming the nanoporous structure in HCl solution. The basic dealloying behavior was examined by controlling the dealloying time from 5 min to 180 min at 50 °C. Due to the active chemical property, Mn and Al elements are easily etched in acid solutions. Meanwhile, Cu elements retained and rearranged. A three-dimensional bicontinous nanoporous structure was fabricated, with a ligament size of 55 nm~100 nm and pore size of 35 nm~85 nm. The porosity evolution of dealloyed MnCuAl alloy was divided into three stages. First, the dissolution of Mn and Al is so significant that formation of pores is dominant. Stage two, the rapid growth of both ligament size and pore size. The ligament/pore ratio is nearly unchanged. The last stage is ligament coarsening. Moreover, the electrocatalytic activity for glucose oxidation of dealloyed samples is examined. The 40 min dealloyed MnCuAl ribbon exhibited the highest sensitivity and relatively maximum current density.","PeriodicalId":10855,"journal":{"name":"Crystals","volume":"15 6","pages":"563-563"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/6/563/pdf?version=1749903860","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147883840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Coordination Polymer of Dy(III) with Polycarboxylic Acid Ligand: Synthesis, Characterization and Magnetic Properties","authors":"Mingli Liu, Ziqi Meng, Xinfang Wang, Yanan Cui","doi":"10.3390/cryst15060550","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15060550","url":null,"abstract":"A dysprosium-based metal–organic framework (MOF), namely [DyLH2O]n (1) (H3L = 4-((bis(carboxymethyl) amino)methyl)benzoic acid), was successfully synthesized via the hydrothermal method. According to the structural characterization, metal centers in this complex are linked by four bridges (two oxygens and two carboxylic groups), leading to Dy2 units. On further connection by single carboxylic groups, the dimeric units extend to form a two-dimensional layer with a 44 topological structure. Finally, the 2D layers were assembled into a 3D framework by the L−3 anions. A thermogravimetric test shows that [DyLH2O]n can maintain high thermal stability after losing water, until the temperature reaches 426 °C. Magnetic studies on 1 reveal antiferromagnetic exchange interactions of Dy3+…Dy3+ at low temperatures. Additionally, frequency-dependent out-of-phase signals were observed in alternating current (ac) magnetic susceptibility measurements for 1, indicating that it has slow magnetic relaxation features.","PeriodicalId":10855,"journal":{"name":"Crystals","volume":"15 6","pages":"550-550"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/6/550/pdf?version=1749469492","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147331714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigation of the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of MWCNT/SiC-Filled Ethylene–Butene–Terpolymer Rubber","authors":"Li Zhang, Jianming Liu, Duanjiao Li, Wenxing Sun, Zhi Li, Yongchao Liang, Qiang Fu, Nian Tang, Jie Zhang, Fei Huang, Xuelian Fan, Pengxiang Bai, Haijun Yu, Zhaomeng Liu, Simin Zhu, Dan Qiao","doi":"10.3390/cryst15060539","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15060539","url":null,"abstract":"Rubber is widely used in daily lives, such as in automobile tires, conveyor belts, sealing rings, and gaskets. The performance of rubber determines its service life. Therefore, it is of crucial importance to improve the performance of rubber. Theoretical studies have found that the inherent properties of nanofillers themselves, the interfacial bonding force between fillers and the matrix, and the uniform dispersibility of nanofillers in the polymer matrix are the most significant factors for enhancing the performance of rubber nanocomposites. This study systematically investigated the synergistic enhancement effect of silicon carbide (SiC) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the mechanical and thermal properties of ethylene–butene–terpolymer (EBT) composites. By optimizing the addition amount of fillers and improving the interfacial bonding between fillers and the matrix, the influence of filler content on the properties of composites was studied. The results demonstrate that the addition of SiC and MWCNTs significantly improved the storage modulus, tensile strength, hardness, and thermal stability of the composites. In terms of mechanical properties, the tensile strength of the composites increased from 6.68 MPa of pure EBT to 8.46 MPa, and the 100% modulus increased from 2.14 MPa to 3.81 MPa. Moreover, hardness was significantly enhanced under the reinforcement of SiC/CNT fillers. In terms of thermal stability, the composites exhibited excellent resistance to deformation at high temperatures. Through the analysis of the mechanical and thermal properties of the composites, the synergistic enhancement mechanism between SiC and MWCNTs was revealed. The research results provide a theoretical basis for the design and engineering applications of high-performance ethylene–butylene rubber composites.","PeriodicalId":10855,"journal":{"name":"Crystals","volume":"15 6","pages":"539-539"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/6/539/pdf?version=1749122834","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147333445","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synthesis and High-Pressure Stability Study of Energetic Molecular Perovskite DAI-X1","authors":"Tingting Yan, Han Li, Dongyang Xi, Linan Liu, Lei Sun, Dinghan Jin","doi":"10.3390/cryst15060530","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15060530","url":null,"abstract":"In the pursuit of advancing the knowledge of energetic materials, we successfully formulated the energetic perovskite DAI-X1 with the chemical formula (C12H50I6N3Na2O36). Energetic perovskites hold great promise in various applications, including high-energy storage and propulsion systems, due to their unique combination of high energy density and structural versatility. DAI-X1, in particular, has attracted our attention because of its potential for optimized performance in these areas. We conducted an in-depth investigation into the high-pressure stability of DAI-X1 using in situ high-pressure Raman spectroscopy analysis. DAI-X1 possesses a cubic ABX3 perovskite structure, and notable modifications in its Raman spectroscopic characteristics were noted within the pressure interval of 2.5–7.8 GPa, indicating structural instability under high pressure and suggesting a possible phase transition. Upon pressure release following compression to 12.5 GPa, the Raman spectra exhibit partial reversibility of the phase transition, as certain characteristic peaks return to their original positions while others retain irreversible shifts. This study establishes fundamental understanding for investigating high-pressure responses in DAI-X1 and analogous energetic materials.","PeriodicalId":10855,"journal":{"name":"Crystals","volume":"15 6","pages":"530-530"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/6/530/pdf?version=1748771919","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147911972","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Boundary Between Amorphously and Molecularly Dispersed Curcumin of Its Amorphous Solid Dispersions Determined by Fluorescence Spectroscopy","authors":"Fan Su, Wenling Zheng, Shizhao Ren, Wangchuan Xiao, Fenghua Chen, Rongrong Xue","doi":"10.3390/cryst15060512","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15060512","url":null,"abstract":"Amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) technology is popularly used for enhancing the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs. Drug molecules in ASDs can be dispersed in the form of either amorphous (AASD) or molecular (MASD) forms. The boundary between AASDs and MASDs (A–M boundary) is defined as the drug concentration at which the existence of MASDs obviously influences the physicochemical properties of ASDs. In this work, fluorescence spectroscopy based on the aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) phenomenon was used to determine the A–M boundary of curcumin (CUR) ASDs prepared via neat ball milling. The relationship between the fluorescence intensity and the loading of CUR in the sample is consistent with the Stern–Volmer equation. For the CUR ASDs with PVP, the samples with CUR loading below 10% show significantly increased fluorescence and have a higher solubility (~178 μg·mL−1), suggesting the A–M boundary is around 10%. Similar A–M boundaries around 10% were also observed for CUR ASDs with PVPVA, Soluplus, HPMC, and HPMCAS. It is of great significance to define the A–M boundary of ASDs for guiding pharmaceutical ASD formulas by balancing drug loading, stability, and solubility.","PeriodicalId":10855,"journal":{"name":"Crystals","volume":"15 6","pages":"512-512"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/6/512/pdf?version=1748334075","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147900715","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"One-Pot Synthesis of CuS/Co3S4@MWCNT Composite as a High-Efficiency Catalyst for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction","authors":"Xinyuan Zhang, Meng Sun, Haibo Guo, Ming Su","doi":"10.3390/cryst15060505","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15060505","url":null,"abstract":"Pursuing cost-effective non-precious metal electrocatalysts is a key challenge in the field of sustainable energy conversion. Transition metal dichalcogenides, known for their unique electronic structure, demonstrate superior electrocatalytic capabilities for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), yet their effectiveness is still lacking. In the present study, a CuS/Co3S4@MWCNT composite was fabricated via single-step hydrothermal synthesis for HER applications. This catalyst exploited the synergistic effects between CuS and Co3S4 to increase edge site functionalities and metallic conductivity, thereby resulting in high catalytical activity within the material. Furthermore, the incorporation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into the composite effectively enhanced electron transfer kinetics throughout the HER process. Notably, thiourea serves a dual function in this synthesis, acting both as a reducing agent and as a sulfur source for the formation of metal sulfides. When evaluated in a 1 M KOH alkaline electrolyte, the synthesized nanocomposite exhibited a minimal overpotential of 300 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA/cm2, and a Tafel slope of merely 76.2 mV/dec, indicative of its good HER catalytic activity. These findings underscore the composite’s potential for application in hydrogen production technologies.","PeriodicalId":10855,"journal":{"name":"Crystals","volume":"15 6","pages":"505-505"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/6/505/pdf?version=1748227661","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147905876","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Formation Mechanism and Gemological Characteristics of “Yellow-Skinned” Nanhong Agate in Northeastern Yunnan, China: Evidence from Mineralogy and Geochemistry","authors":"Qiuyun Song, Shitao Zhang, Weiwei Pu, Liurunxuan Chen, Ruohan Zuo, Xianchao Chen, Dai Zhang, Wenlian Liu","doi":"10.3390/cryst15050488","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15050488","url":null,"abstract":"The “yellow-skinned” Nanhong agate represents a unique variety of Nanhong agate found in northeastern Yunnan, China, and it is highly valued for its distinctive yellow exterior and clear red–yellow interface. Owing to the limited research on this variety, the present study provides the first comprehensive analysis. Field surveys and various laboratory techniques—including polarizing microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry, ultraviolet–visible (UV-VIS) absorption spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, micro X-ray diffraction (µ-XRD) with Rietveld refinement, electron microprobe analysis (EPMA), and laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)—were utilized to investigate its gemological, microtextural, spectroscopic, and geochemical characteristics. Field surveys identified the occurrence states of the “yellow-skinned” Nanhong agate. The laboratory results indicate that the agate primarily consists of α-quartz, with minor amounts of moganite, goethite, and hematite. The coloring mechanism observed in this study is consistent with the findings of previous studies: the external yellow coloration is due to goethite, while the internal red hue is attributed to hematite. Its unique pseudo-granular silica (Type III) structure provides a foundational basis for the later formation of the “yellow-skinned” agate variety, and geochemical data reveal the distribution patterns of elements. Based on geological surveys and experimental data, the formation of the “yellow-skinned” Nanhong agate in northeastern Yunnan can be divided into two stages: first, hydrothermal fluids filled the vesicles in the Permian Emeishan Basalt Formation (P2β), leading to the formation of primary Nanhong agate. Subsequently, the Type III primary agate underwent weathering, erosion, transport, and deposition in the red–brown sandy mudstone of the Lower Triassic Feixianguan Formation (T1f). The sedimentary environment in the second stage facilitated the conversion of outer hematite into goethite, resulting in the distinct “yellow-skinned” appearance with a clear red–yellow boundary. Based on the occurrence and stratigraphic relations, this study constrains the formation age of the “yellow-skinned” Nanhong agate to approximately 261.6 Ma.","PeriodicalId":10855,"journal":{"name":"Crystals","volume":"15 5","pages":"488-488"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/5/488/pdf?version=1747829732","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147921988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Crystalline Li-Ta-Oxychlorides with Lithium Superionic Conduction","authors":"Hao-Tian Bao, Bo-Qun Cao, Gang-Qin Shao","doi":"10.3390/cryst15050475","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15050475","url":null,"abstract":"Nowadays, some amorphous and microcrystalline solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) with dual anions have attained high ionic conductivity and good compatibility with electrodes in all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries (ASSLIBs). In this work, crystalline SSEs of series A (Li1+xTaO1+xCl4−x, −0.70 ≤ x ≤ 0.50) and B (LiTaO2+yCl2−2y, −1.22 ≤ y ≤ 0), having great application potential well over ambient temperatures, were prepared at 260–460 °C for 2–10 h using Li2O, TaCl5, and LiTaO3 as the raw materials. The three-phase coexisting samples attained high σ values ranging from 5.20 to 7.35 mS cm−1, which are among the reported high values of amorphous co-essential SSEs and other alloplasmatic crystalline ones. It is attributed to the synergistic effect of the polyanion trans-[O2Cl4] and cis-[O4Cl2] octahedra framework.","PeriodicalId":10855,"journal":{"name":"Crystals","volume":"15 5","pages":"475-475"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/5/475/pdf?version=1747484232","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147897143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Shape-Engineering and Mechanism Investigation of AgCl Microcrystals","authors":"Chunli Cai, Qian Wang, Changsheng Yin, Xuhuan Li, Rong Yang, Xiaodong Shen, Wenbo Xin","doi":"10.3390/cryst15050451","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15050451","url":null,"abstract":"AgCl microcrystals are used in visible light photocatalysis. However, their properties depend strongly on the morphology of the crystals and the degree of exposure of the crystal planes. Despite extensive research conducted on the synthesis of AgCl microcrystals, the majority of existing studies have focused on the stable growth of crystals. The role of Cl− ions concentration as a key factor controlling the microcrystals morphology has not been fully explored, which limits the precise tuning of the morphology of AgCl microcrystals. In this study, AgCl microcrystals with controllable morphology are successfully synthesized by a facile solvothermal method. During the preparation process, ethylene glycol (EG) is utilized as a solvent, while polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is employed as a surfactant. We systematically investigate the etching mechanism of AgCl microcrystals by analyzing the effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) concentration on their morphology. This investigation involves the integration of diverse characterization methods, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and geometrical struc-ture analysis. The results demonstrate that Cl− functions as both a surfactant, thereby promoting the nucleation of cubic microcrystals, and as an etchant, selectively etching the crystal surface. The order of selective etching on the crystal surface follows (100) planes > (110) planes > (111) planes. Based on this new mechanism, AgCl microcrystals with various morphologies, such as cube, octopod and dendrite, are successfully prepared, which provides a new idea for the precise design of noble metal halide microcrystals.","PeriodicalId":10855,"journal":{"name":"Crystals","volume":"15 5","pages":"451-451"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/5/451/pdf?version=1747117190","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147913463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}