Acta Materialia最新文献

{"title":"Solute co-segregation mechanisms at low-angle grain boundaries in magnesium: A combined atomic-scale experimental and modeling study","authors":"Risheng Pei ,&nbsp;Joé Petrazoller ,&nbsp;Achraf Atila ,&nbsp;Simon Arnoldi ,&nbsp;Lei Xiao ,&nbsp;Xiaoqing Liu ,&nbsp;Hexin Wang ,&nbsp;Sandra Korte-Kerzel ,&nbsp;Stéphane Berbenni ,&nbsp;Thiebaud Richeton ,&nbsp;Julien Guénolé ,&nbsp;Zhuocheng Xie ,&nbsp;Talal Al-Samman","doi":"10.1016/j.actamat.2026.121947","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actamat.2026.121947","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Solute segregation at low-angle grain boundaries (LAGBs) critically affects the microstructure and mechanical properties of magnesium (Mg) alloys. In modern alloys containing multiple substitutional elements, understanding solute-solute interactions at microstructural defects becomes essential for alloy design. This study investigates the co-segregation mechanisms of calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn), and aluminum (Al) at a LAGB in a dilute Mg-0.23Al-1.00Zn-0.38Ca (AZX010) alloy by combining atomic-scale experimental and modeling techniques. Three-dimensional atom probe tomography (3D-APT) revealed significant segregation of Ca, Zn, and Al at the LAGB, with Ca forming linear segregation patterns along dislocation arrays characteristic of the LAGB. Clustering analysis showed increased Ca–Ca pairs at the boundary, indicating synergistic solute interactions. Atomistic simulations and elastic dipole calculations demonstrated that larger Ca atoms prefer tensile regions around dislocations, while smaller Zn and Al atoms favor compressive areas. These simulations also found that Ca–Ca co-segregation near dislocation cores is energetically more favorable than other solute pairings, explaining the enhanced Ca clustering observed experimentally. Thermodynamic modeling incorporating calculated segregation energies and solute-solute interactions accurately predicted solute concentrations at the LAGB, aligning with experimental data. The findings emphasize the importance of solute interactions at dislocation cores in Mg alloys, offering insights for improving mechanical performance through targeted alloying and grain boundary engineering.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":238,"journal":{"name":"Acta Materialia","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 121947"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146006379","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In situ TEM measurement of strain rate-dependent activation volume of ultrafine-grained Au films","authors":"Yichen Yang ,&nbsp;Kunqing Ding ,&nbsp;Xing Liu ,&nbsp;Ting Zhu ,&nbsp;Josh Kacher ,&nbsp;Olivier Pierron","doi":"10.1016/j.actamat.2025.121868","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actamat.2025.121868","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the rate-controlling plastic deformation mechanisms in ultrafine-grained metals is essential for improving their mechanical performance. Strain rate sensitivity and the associated activation volume are commonly used to probe these underlying mechanisms. In this study, we investigate the strain rate-dependent deformation behavior of ultrafine grained gold films using an in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) nanomechanical testing technique. This approach enables direct measurement of the strain rate sensitivity and physical activation volume across a wide range of strain rates (∼10^–5 to 1 s^-1), while observing dynamic dislocation processes. The results reveal a marked decrease in strain rate sensitivity with increasing strain rate, accompanied by an increase in physical activation volume, suggesting a transition in the rate-limiting mechanisms. In situ TEM observations capture a transition from single-slip to multi-slip activity and the formation of dislocation junctions at higher strain rates. Integrated experimental and modeling analyses reveal that the rate-controlling mechanisms are governed not only by the external loading condition but also by the internal stress state, evidenced by transient dislocation dynamics and evolving dislocation structures observed through in situ TEM straining experiments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":238,"journal":{"name":"Acta Materialia","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 121868"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145823712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Topological descriptors for disordered networks enable property prediction of multicomponent oxide glasses","authors":"Xuan Ge ,&nbsp;Daming Sun ,&nbsp;Xiaowei Xu ,&nbsp;Caijuan Shi ,&nbsp;Zixing Zhen ,&nbsp;Zhencai Li ,&nbsp;Søren S. Sørensen ,&nbsp;Christian G. Hoover ,&nbsp;Lars R. Jensen ,&nbsp;Randall E. Youngman ,&nbsp;Yuanzheng Yue ,&nbsp;Jianguo Li ,&nbsp;Qiaodan Hu ,&nbsp;Morten M. Smedskjaer","doi":"10.1016/j.actamat.2025.121881","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actamat.2025.121881","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Establishing the structure-property relationships in multicomponent oxide glasses is highly challenging due to their inherent compositional and structural complexity. In this work, we present a topology-inspired structural decoding strategy to predict the structural impact on the properties of 45S5-based mixed alkali bioactive (MAB) glasses, a prototypical multicomponent system. Two novel topological descriptors, angular rigidity (<span><math><msub><mi>γ</mi><mtext>ac</mtext></msub></math></span>) and persistent homology matrix (<span><math><mrow><mi>P</mi><msub><mi>H</mi><mi>m</mi></msub></mrow></math></span>), are introduced to map the structure-property landscape in MAB glasses. In detail, <span><math><msub><mi>γ</mi><mtext>ac</mtext></msub></math></span> accounts for the spatial averaging of network distortions, quantitatively predicting properties associated with network reorganization, such as glass transition temperature and hardness. <span><math><mrow><mi>P</mi><msub><mi>H</mi><mi>m</mi></msub></mrow></math></span> evaluates the topological similarity between glass and crystalline phases, thereby characterizing the resistance of MAB glasses against crystallization (i.e., glass stability). Compared with conventional network analysis approaches, our two topological descriptors concurrently capture the higher-order nonlinear evolution of properties driven by the synergistic interplay between composition and cooling history. Importantly, these topological descriptors are derived solely from static glass structures generated via experimental measurements, suggesting potential utility for understanding diverse disordered materials. This work thus establishes a closed-loop framework that integrates synthesis, characterization, and predictive modelling for the specific 45S5-based MAB glass systems. The demonstrated ability to correlate topological features with distinct properties within this system represents a step towards the rational design of multicomponent oxide glasses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":238,"journal":{"name":"Acta Materialia","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 121881"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145922981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quantitative study of precipitation strengthening effects of T1 phase in Al–Cu–Li–Mg–Ag alloy: Role of nonuniform spatial distribution","authors":"Xin Wang ,&nbsp;Xusheng Yang ,&nbsp;Weijiu Huang ,&nbsp;Yunchang Xin ,&nbsp;Dehong Lu ,&nbsp;Xianghui Zhu ,&nbsp;Mengdi Li ,&nbsp;Yanzheng Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.actamat.2026.121907","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actamat.2026.121907","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The plate–shaped T₁ phase serves as the primary strengthening precipitate in the advanced Al–Li alloys, and its spatial distribution is a critical factor affecting alloy performance. In this study, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), focused ion beam (FIB), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were combined to investigate the spatial distribution of T₁ plates in specific crystal orientations. The results revealed that the preferred T₁ variants mostly precipitated on the habit plane with the maximum Schmid factor. A modified strengthening model was developed considering the uneven distribution of T₁ phase. To verify the accuracy of this model, yield strength tests were performed on a single grain using nanoindentation. The analysis indicated that precipitation strengthening could be substantially overestimated in grains containing preferential T₁ variants. This study provides a quantitative and precise evaluation of precipitation strengthening in Al–Cu–Li–Mg–Ag alloys, considering specific crystal orientation and spatial distribution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":238,"journal":{"name":"Acta Materialia","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 121907"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145919763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Elastic properties of Ni50Mn27Ga22Fe1 10M martensite with incommensurate lattice modulation","authors":"A. Sozinov ,&nbsp;M. Vinogradova ,&nbsp;A. Saren ,&nbsp;L. Straka ,&nbsp;M. Zelený ,&nbsp;R. Chulist ,&nbsp;P. Stoklasová ,&nbsp;H. Seiner ,&nbsp;K. Ullakko","doi":"10.1016/j.actamat.2026.121898","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actamat.2026.121898","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We present an elastic matrix for 10M Ni-Mn-Ga-Fe martensite with incommensurate (IC) lattice modulation and immovable twin boundaries (TBs). The modulation vector <span><math><mrow><msub><mi>q</mi><mrow><mi>I</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow></msub><mo>=</mo><mn>0.4136</mn><mo>·</mo><msub><mi>q</mi><mn>110</mn></msub></mrow></math></span> for the investigated IC state is located between the values for the commensurate (C) state, <span><math><mrow><msub><mi>q</mi><mi>C</mi></msub><mo>=</mo><mn>0.4</mn><mo>·</mo><msub><mi>q</mi><mn>110</mn></msub></mrow></math></span>, and the maximum value for IC 10M structures reported in various studies <span><math><mrow><msub><mi>q</mi><mrow><mi>I</mi><mi>C</mi><mi>m</mi><mi>a</mi><mi>x</mi></mrow></msub><mo>=</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo><mrow><mn>3</mn><mo>/</mo><mn>7</mn></mrow><mo>)</mo></mrow><msub><mi>q</mi><mn>110</mn></msub><mo>=</mo><mn>0.4286</mn><mo>·</mo><msub><mi>q</mi><mn>110</mn></msub></mrow></math></span>. The elastic matrix obtained for the IC modulated lattice differs in certain components, especially those related to shear in <em>a/b</em> system, as well as the corresponding Young’s moduli, compared to the values reported for martensite with C modulation. This study presents experimental evidence of internal stability in IC modulated structure, subjected to stresses that significantly exceed the <em>a/b</em> twinning stress (TS) observed in C structures. This study examines the observed differences in the small stress response of C and IC lattices, emphasising the roles of highly mobile <em>a/b</em> TBs and lattice instability near TBs in the C case.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":238,"journal":{"name":"Acta Materialia","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 121898"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145894131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dual engine-driven strategy for advanced copper alloy design employing large language models","authors":"Fei Tan ,&nbsp;Zixuan Zhao ,&nbsp;Yanbin Jiang ,&nbsp;Wenchao Zhang ,&nbsp;Tong Xie ,&nbsp;Wei Chen ,&nbsp;Muzhi Ma ,&nbsp;Yangfan Liu ,&nbsp;Yanpeng Ye ,&nbsp;Zhu Xiao ,&nbsp;Qian Lei ,&nbsp;Guofu Xu ,&nbsp;Jie Ren ,&nbsp;Yuyuan Zhao ,&nbsp;Zhou Li","doi":"10.1016/j.actamat.2025.121886","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actamat.2025.121886","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The advanced alloy design relied on machine learning (ML) methods has been widely employed. Nevertheless, the traditional empirical and data-driven methods were generally lack of physical interpretability, which largely misunderstood the underlying mechanisms to hinder the potential applications of models to some extent. Herein, a dual engine-driven alloy design framework is developed by integrating large language models (LLMs) with physics-informed neural networks (PINN). Compared with traditional ML methods, the evolution of microstructure such as phase transition precipitation sequence can be extracted by LLMs to embed into the neural network, thus largely enhancing physical interpretability and accuracy (from 84% to 92%) for models to guide novel alloy design. Taking the Cu-Ni-Sn as a typical example, our proposed strategy screened 234,361 alloys and identified Cu-10Ni-11Sn-0.1In and Cu-7.5Ni-11Sn-0.1In, based on their optimal balance of strength and conductivity. The targeted alloys were then prepared experimentally, which could deliver a tensile strength of 1610MPa and 1441MPa, and an electrical conductivity of 13.34%IACS and 16.73%IACS, respectively, which are superior to the existing Cu-15Ni-8Sn alloy (1379MPa, 8.78%IACS).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":238,"journal":{"name":"Acta Materialia","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 121886"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145894134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quantifying changes to solute segregation behaviour at interfaces in additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V","authors":"Andrew J. Breen ,&nbsp;William J. Davids ,&nbsp;Hansheng Chen ,&nbsp;Han Lin Mai ,&nbsp;Keita Nomoto ,&nbsp;Xiangyuan Cui ,&nbsp;Xiaozhou Liao ,&nbsp;Sophie Primig ,&nbsp;Simon P. Ringer","doi":"10.1016/j.actamat.2026.121904","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actamat.2026.121904","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Electron powder bed fusion has emerged as a promising additive manufacturing process for producing Ti-6Al-4V components with complex geometries. Although prior work has examined microstructural evolution phenomena including how thermal history influences the prevalence of specific α/α grain boundary misorientation intervariants governed by the Burgers orientation relationship between the α and β phases, the solute segregation behaviour at these interfaces remains poorly understood. This study employs correlative transmission Kikuchi diffraction and atom probe tomography to quantify the Gibbsian interfacial excess of V, Fe, and Al across multiple interfaces in electron powder bed fusion produced Ti-6Al-4V. V and Fe exhibited enrichment, while Al was depleted, with V segregation generally increasing with boundary misorientation. Spatial variations in segregation were observed across interface planes, although no consistent trend with boundary curvature was identified. First-principles calculations were also performed on model α/α grain boundaries to evaluate segregation energetics, confirming a thermodynamic preference for V enrichment and Al depletion. The agreement between experimental observations and theoretical predictions highlights the influence of local defect structures and atomic-scale interactions on segregation behaviour. These findings improve understanding of grain boundary chemistry in additively manufactured Ti alloys and provide a basis for future grain boundary engineering approaches aimed at tailoring interfacial properties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":238,"journal":{"name":"Acta Materialia","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 121904"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145902572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Coupled sulfur vacancies enhance oxygen evolution reaction in monolayer FeNiP2S6-x","authors":"Ka Wang ,&nbsp;Qirui Wei ,&nbsp;Ruilin Guan ,&nbsp;Zhigang Zhang ,&nbsp;Jiawei Zhang ,&nbsp;Hengdong Ren ,&nbsp;Wenqing Wei ,&nbsp;Yuxiang Yan ,&nbsp;Haizeng Song ,&nbsp;Jingyi Han ,&nbsp;Peng Zhan ,&nbsp;Xianghong Niu ,&nbsp;Shancheng Yan ,&nbsp;Xinglong Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.actamat.2025.121892","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actamat.2025.121892","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High-efficiency and low-cost oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts are essential for advancing water electrolysis technologies. Transition metal thiophosphates (TMPSs) have garnered considerable interest in the OER field due to their ability to modulate the electronic states of active atoms through surface defect engineering. In this study, monolayer theoretical calculations reveal that the interaction between adjacent single-double sulfur vacancies (S-DSVs) significantly alters the electronic structure of phosphorus atoms, thereby tuning the binding strength with reaction intermediates and effectively lowering the energy barrier of the rate-determining step. As a result, S-DSVs outperform isolated single sulfur vacancies (SSVs) and double sulfur vacancies (DSVs). Single-layer FeNiP₂S_6-x (SL-FeNiP₂S_6-x) catalysts with uniformly distributed S-DSVs were successfully synthesized via a mild and selective etching process using B(OH)₃. Electrochemical measurements demonstrate that SL-FeNiP₂S_6-x with an optimized S-DSV concentration delivers excellent OER performance, achieving a low overpotential of 171 mV at 10 mA cm^-2 and a Tafel slope of 38 mV dec^‑1 in 1 M KOH—surpassing most reported iron/nickel-based OER catalysts. This work introduces a novel strategy for enhancing electrocatalytic activity by precisely controlling the position and distribution of sulfur vacancies through controllable etching.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":238,"journal":{"name":"Acta Materialia","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 121892"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145883376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Decoding the role of short-range structural order on magnetic and luminescent properties in entropy-enriched yttrium iron garnets","authors":"Rubayet Tanveer ,&nbsp;Dylan Windsor ,&nbsp;Cale Overstreet ,&nbsp;Tatenda Kanyowa ,&nbsp;Bin Hu ,&nbsp;Maik K. Lang ,&nbsp;Haixuan Xu ,&nbsp;Veerle Keppens ,&nbsp;William J. Weber","doi":"10.1016/j.actamat.2026.121927","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actamat.2026.121927","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Two entropy-enriched garnet compositions Y₃Fe₄(ScCrGaAl)₁O₁₂ and Y₃Fe₃(ScCrGaAl)₂O₁₂ were synthesized via the substitution on the <em>Fe³⁺</em> sublattice in yttrium iron garnet (YIG). Structural characterization via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy confirmed that both materials retain the cubic garnet phase with space group <em>Ia̅3d</em>. To unravel local structural features, synchrotron X-ray pair distribution function (PDF) analysis was performed using relaxed randomly generated structures. These fits reveal that the local site preference of the substituent cations – particularly their occupation of tetrahedral vs. octahedral coordination – govern their characteristic cation-oxygen bond length distributions. The data further support a strong site selectivity for <em>Sc³⁺</em> and <em>Cr³⁺</em> toward the larger octahedral environments, likely driven by their ionic radii and crystal field stabilization energies. Strikingly, in the Y₃Fe₄(ScCrGaAl)₁O₁₂ composition, the PDF analysis also uncovered a local order, interpreted as <em>Al³⁺</em> ions predominantly occupying the tetrahedral sites – a feature remained invisible to both XRD and Raman methods. This local order appears to disrupt long-range magnetic connectivity, fostering spin chain fragmentation and resulting in cluster-glass-like magnetic behavior. Photoluminescence measurements reveal that the incorporation of <em>Cr³⁺</em> significantly enhances emission intensity with the emergence of local structural ordering partially delocalizing the crystal-field environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":238,"journal":{"name":"Acta Materialia","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 121927"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145956729","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Double-tough and ultra-strong ceramics: Leveraging multiscale toughening mechanisms through Bayesian optimization","authors":"Francesco Aiello ,&nbsp;Jian Zhang ,&nbsp;Johannes C. Brouwer ,&nbsp;Michele Cassetta ,&nbsp;Mauro Salazar ,&nbsp;Diletta Giuntini","doi":"10.1016/j.actamat.2025.121878","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actamat.2025.121878","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>An optimization-driven approach is presented to create a “double-tough” ceramic. The material features two main toughening mechanisms – crack deflection in a brick-and-mortar microstructure, and transformation toughening in the mortar – and it is engineered to achieve high strength and fracture toughness levels simultaneously. The material design involves high-strength alumina bricks interconnected via a ceria-stabilized zirconia mortar. Given that the design of the optimal material, featuring multiscale toughening mechanisms, typically requires a laborious trial-and-error approach, a Bayesian optimization framework is proposed to streamline and accelerate the experimental campaign. A Gaussian process is used to emulate the material’s mechanical response, and a cost-aware batch Bayesian optimization is implemented to efficiently identify optimal design process parameters, accounting for the cost of experimentally varying them. This approach expedites the optimization of the material’s mechanical properties. As a result, a bio-inspired all-ceramic composite is developed, exhibiting an exceptional balance between bending strength (<span><math><mrow><mn>704</mn><mspace></mspace><mi>MPa</mi></mrow></math></span>) and fracture toughness (<span><math><mrow><mn>13</mn><mo>.</mo><mn>6</mn><mspace></mspace><mi>MPa</mi><mspace></mspace></mrow></math></span>m<span><math><msup><mrow></mrow><mrow><mn>0</mn><mo>.</mo><mn>5</mn></mrow></msup></math></span>), along with a stress intensity factor at crack initiation of <span><math><mrow><mn>6</mn><mo>.</mo><mn>7</mn><mspace></mspace><mi>MPa</mi><mspace></mspace></mrow></math></span>m<span><math><msup><mrow></mrow><mrow><mn>0</mn><mo>.</mo><mn>5</mn></mrow></msup></math></span>. The material exhibits significantly higher strength than both nacre-like ceramic composites and transformation-toughened zirconia at comparable toughness levels.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":238,"journal":{"name":"Acta Materialia","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 121878"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145962467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}