Applied Surface Science最新文献

{"title":"Surface chemistry and local electronic structure modulated by multicomponent alloying: unlocking high‑performance liquid‑metal thermal interface materials","authors":"Hao Xia, Bai-Hong Liu, Bo Liu, Liang-Fei Duan, Guang-Hua Wang, Pei-Zhi Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.168861","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.168861","url":null,"abstract":"The simultaneous optimization of bulk thermal transport and interfacial heat transfer for room‑temperature liquid‑metal thermal‑interface applications is constrained by compositional incompatibilities that adversely couple these two sets of properties. In this work, a quinary GaInSnZnTi liquid alloy is synthesized via multicomponent alloying to circumvent this coupling. Experimental characterizations and first‑principles DFT calculations reveal that Zn and Ti incorporation induces reconfiguration of the local density of electronic states, enhancing the intrinsic thermal conductivity of the liquid matrix. Meanwhile, preferential oxidation of Zn and Ti contributes to the compositional and chemical-state evolution of the native surface oxide layer. Wettability and rheological measurements further reveal enhanced surface wettability and increased viscosity after multicomponent alloying. The interplay between bulk electronic modulation and surface chemical-state evolution contributes to the enhanced heat-transfer performance under elevated power-density conditions. This alloying strategy establishes a viable approach for independent manipulation of bulk and interfacial properties in liquid‑metal systems.","PeriodicalId":247,"journal":{"name":"Applied Surface Science","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149358653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morphology-controlled low-temperature CVD synthesis of SnO2 microcones for photoelectrochemical applications","authors":"Bartłomiej Orczykowski,&nbsp;Magdalena Gurgul-Bednarczyk,&nbsp;Tomasz Uchacz,&nbsp;Marcin Kozieł,&nbsp;Marcin Pisarek,&nbsp;Leszek Zaraska","doi":"10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.168845","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.168845","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study focuses on the characterization of one-dimensional c microstructures, resembling microcones, synthesized via a modified low-temperature chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. Emphasis was placed on the relationship between the mass ratio of tin(II) chloride dihydrate and anhydrous zinc chloride during synthesis and the resulting morphology. Structural properties were also comprehensively investigated using SEM, XRD, XPS, and Raman spectroscopy techniques, revealing diameter-dependent structural and surface-related variations. Further correlation of the properties with optical and photoelectrochemical features was performed using UV–Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, Mott-Schottky analysis, and illumination with both a solar simulator and a monochromatic light source. The results demonstrated that by adjusting synthesis parameters, materials with tailored morphologies can be obtained, leading to enhanced response to irradiation. A clear correlation between the morphology, structural properties, and photoelectrochemical performance of SnO₂ microstructures was established and explained.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":247,"journal":{"name":"Applied Surface Science","volume":"755 ","pages":"Article 168845"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2026-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149358668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Boosting in‑situ CoOOH generation on Co3O4 via La doping for enhanced electrocatalytic 5‑hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation","authors":"Lu Sun, Ruifang He, Ke Ren, Xiaona Li, Peng Tian, Junwei Ye","doi":"10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.168841","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.168841","url":null,"abstract":"Converting biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) into valuable 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) via electrocatalysis is critically important for greener chemical production. However, in the electrocatalytic oxidation of HMF (HMFOR), the surface structure of the catalyst often undergoes restructuring, leading to the formation of metal hydroxides (M‑OOH), which are widely recognized as the key active species in this reaction. Therefore, the precise regulation of the generation of M‑OOH at catalyst surfaces/interfaces and the interfacial adsorption behavior remains a key bottleneck for developing high-efficiency HMFOR electrocatalysts. Herein, a series of La-doped Co<ce:inf loc=\"post\">3</ce:inf>O<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf> nanoneedle arrays with different doping proportions were prepared on nickel foam (NF) for the efficient HMFOR. In situ characterizations combined with theoretical calculations demonstrate that La doping promotes the generation of the redox-active surface species CoOOH during the reaction. Meanwhile, La doping effectively optimizes the interfacial electronic structure, which strengthens the adsorption toward OH* intermediates and substrate molecules, synergistically boosting the HMFOR kinetic process. The optimal as-prepared La<ce:inf loc=\"post\">1.8</ce:inf>/Co<ce:inf loc=\"post\">3</ce:inf>O<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf>/NF exhibits a current density about four times higher than that of Co<ce:inf loc=\"post\">3</ce:inf>O<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf>/NF in HMFOR. The Yield and Faraday efficiency of FDCA reach as high as both 99 %. This study provides a feasible approach for enhancing electrocatalyst performance by regulating surface reconstruction during the HMFOR process.","PeriodicalId":247,"journal":{"name":"Applied Surface Science","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149358678","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bonding characteristics and interfacial structures in surface activated room-temperature direct bonding of LiNbO3 wafers with different orientations","authors":"Yoshiki Katoda, Takeru Moritomo, Ryo Takigawa","doi":"10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.168842","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.168842","url":null,"abstract":"LiNbO<ce:inf loc=\"post\">3</ce:inf> single crystals are essential materials for next-generation photonic and acoustic devices. While room-temperature surface-activated bonding (SAB) can help avoid the severe thermal stresses due to thermal expansion, the application of direct SAB to LiNbO<ce:inf loc=\"post\">3</ce:inf>–LiNbO<ce:inf loc=\"post\">3</ce:inf> homogeneous interfaces, the influence of crystal orientation, and accurate bond strength evaluation methods need to be explored. In this study, room-temperature direct bonding of LiNbO<ce:inf loc=\"post\">3</ce:inf>–LiNbO<ce:inf loc=\"post\">3</ce:inf> homogeneous interfaces via SAB was investigated, focusing on the effects of crystal orientation on the bond strength, stress corrosion behavior, and interfacial structure. Crack-opening tests conducted under controlled humidity revealed that environmental moisture induces severe water stress corrosion, leading to a significant underestimation of the bond strength in ambient air; therefore, evaluation under low-humidity conditions (relative humidity &lt; 1 %) is essential for accurate measurements. Under these low-humidity conditions, no significant orientation-dependent differences in the bond strength or stress corrosion behavior were observed. Nanoscale interfacial and debonded surface analyses revealed that a Li-deficient amorphous layer, formed via Ar fast atomic beam irradiation during surface activation, can effectively eliminate the influence of crystal anisotropy. These findings clarify the bonding mechanisms of anisotropic oxide single crystals and help establish a reliable methodology for evaluating the bond strength of surface-activated oxide interfaces.","PeriodicalId":247,"journal":{"name":"Applied Surface Science","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149358673","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Selective flotation separation of galena and sphalerite enabled by depressant HDTMPA: multi-site coordination adsorption mechanism","authors":"Xiaowang Yuan, Jingzhong Kuang, Lei Wang, Tingsheng Qiu, Mingming Yu, Lingguo Meng","doi":"10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.168843","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.168843","url":null,"abstract":"The selective flotation separation of galena and sphalerite remains difficult because of their similar surface properties, and traditional depressants are often limited by high dosages and poor selectivity. This study investigated hexamethylenediamine tetramethylene phosphonic acid (HDTMPA) as a novel organic depressant for sphalerite and elucidated its effect on the flotation behavior of the two minerals. As the HDTMPA concentration increased, sphalerite recovery decreased sharply, whereas galena was only slightly affected. In the artificial mixed-mineral flotation tests, galena recovery was 86.78 percentage points higher than that of sphalerite, demonstrating that HDTMPA selectively depressed sphalerite. HDTMPA coordinates with surface Zn sites on sphalerite to form a stable multidentate chelating structure. Its flexible hexamethylenediamine backbone shields multiple active sites and hinders collector adsorption, while the phosphonic acid groups exposed toward the aqueous phase form a strongly hydrated layer, rendering the sphalerite surface hydrophilic. In contrast, the weak bonding interaction between HDTMPA and galena prevents stable adsorption and does not hinder the subsequent collector adsorption. These results indicate that HDTMPA is a promising highly effective selective depressant for the flotation separation of galena and sphalerite","PeriodicalId":247,"journal":{"name":"Applied Surface Science","volume":"257 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149358677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Co single atom sites on mesoporous carbons derived from ZIF-8 precursors for high performance ORR","authors":"Siyu Chen, Lipeng Wang, Leandro N. Bengoa, Rosa M. González-Gil, Andrea I. Acevedo, Pedro Gómez-Romero","doi":"10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.168822","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.168822","url":null,"abstract":"ZIFs (Zeolitic imidazolate framework) are typically used directly or as precursors for carbon-based materials in several applications including as catalyst supports for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, most ZIF-8 derived carbons are rich in micropores, which slows oxygen transport to active sites. To overcome this limitation, we report a template-free, cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) guided methodology that enables the construction of cobalt single-atom mesoporous carbon by pre-coordination and modulation of the ZIFs shell structure at the precursor stage. During <ce:italic>in-situ</ce:italic> assembly, Co/ZIF-8 nucleates densely on cellulose nanocrystals, forming thin, open shells. After pyrolysis and acid washing, the resulting carbon framework exhibits broad mesoporosity and a higher mesopore volume than pyrolyzed CNC. This pore structure may facilitate electrolyte penetration and access to Co–N<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf> sites. In alkaline media, the catalyst gives a high half-wave potential (∼0.84 V), a 55.9 mV dec<ce:sup loc=\"post\">−1</ce:sup> Tafel slope, and stable activity towards ORR under repeated LSV cycling (10000 cycles). The use of cellulose nanocrystals, a green, water-processable feedstock, avoids hard templates and harsh activation, lowers cost and waste, and is well suited for scaling-up. This work shows a simple, safe, and sustainable-by-design path to durable Co–N<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf> catalysts with controlled mesoporosity and prolonged ORR activity.","PeriodicalId":247,"journal":{"name":"Applied Surface Science","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149358689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Surface group-mediated catalytic regulation in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: mechanisms and recent advances","authors":"Ke Li, Kangzhou Wang, Xinhua Gao, Qingxiang Ma, Tian-Sheng Zhao, Jianli Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.168827","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.168827","url":null,"abstract":"Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) is a core technology for the green conversion of carbonaceous resources into clean fuels and high-value-added chemicals. Surface functional groups act as critical mediators to precisely tailor the surface microenvironment of FTS catalysts and exert decisive effects on catalytic performance. A systematic and comprehensive review on the classification, regulation mechanisms, and structure-activity relationships of surface groups in FTS is still lacking. In this review, we systematically summarize the classification, construction strategies, and support compatibility of surface functional groups in FTS. The core regulation mechanisms are thoroughly elucidated, including wettability modulation, electronic structure optimization, structural stability reinforcement, and reaction pathways. Advanced in-situ/operando characterization techniques and theoretical calculations for identifying surface groups are also summarized. A clear structure–activity relationship of surface group construction, interface regulation, mechanism selection, and product orientation is established, which provides a unified theoretical basis for the rational design of high performance FTS catalysts. Finally, the existing key challenges and future research directions in this field are prospected.","PeriodicalId":247,"journal":{"name":"Applied Surface Science","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149358690","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Electrochemical Insights into cation-dependent cathodic behavior of SS316 in phosphate electrolytes","authors":"Mansour Toorani, Megan Forney, Sana Heydarian, Damilola A. Daramola","doi":"10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.168789","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.168789","url":null,"abstract":"This study examines the roles of potassium (K<ce:sup loc=\"post\">+</ce:sup>) and ammonium (NH<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf><ce:sup loc=\"post\">+</ce:sup>) in the cathodic behavior of SS316 in phosphate electrolytes, with emphasis on the combined influences of cation identity, bulk pH, and interfacial evolution. Potentiodynamic polarization, reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)-corrected cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) at open circuit and under bias, single-frequency EIS (SFEIS), and SEM-EDS characterization were employed. The results reveal distinct cathodic responses in K<ce:sup loc=\"post\">+</ce:sup>- and NH<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf><ce:sup loc=\"post\">+</ce:sup>-containing phosphate electrolytes. Under the cathodic cycling conditions investigated, NH<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf><ce:sup loc=\"post\">+</ce:sup>-containing media generally exhibit higher cathodic currents and lower single-frequency impedance than their K<ce:sup loc=\"post\">+</ce:sup>-containing counterparts. In the acidic NH<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf><ce:sup loc=\"post\">+</ce:sup>-containing electrolyte, the higher cathodic response is consistent with a possible contribution from NH<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf><ce:sup loc=\"post\">+</ce:sup> as an interfacial proton donor. In the more basic NH<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf><ce:sup loc=\"post\">+</ce:sup>-containing electrolyte, NH<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf><ce:sup loc=\"post\">+</ce:sup>/NH<ce:inf loc=\"post\">3</ce:inf> acid-base chemistry may moderate cathodically induced interfacial alkalization and influence passive-film evolution. EIS reveals electrolyte- and potential-dependent differences in interfacial resistance, while time-resolved SFEIS and ex-situ SEM-EDS show differences in impedance evolution and post-test surface morphology. The electrochemical observations are consistent with a more electrochemically accessible interface in the NH<ce:inf loc=\"post\">4</ce:inf><ce:sup loc=\"post\">+</ce:sup>-containing electrolytes. Overall, the findings highlight the combined influence of cation identity, bulk pH, and phosphate speciation on the cathodic response and interfacial evolution of passivating SS316 electrodes.","PeriodicalId":247,"journal":{"name":"Applied Surface Science","volume":"2 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149291952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modulating the energy landscape for inducing on-surface thermal trans[formula omitted]cis switching of an azobenzene derivative by metal doping","authors":"Nidhi Rawat, Showkat H. Mir, Hariom Birla, Thiruvancheril G. Gopakumar","doi":"10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.168749","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.168749","url":null,"abstract":"Molecular switches constitute a class of molecules that can reversibly switch between two or more distinct states in response to external stimuli. The change in electronic properties associated with the <ce:italic>trans</ce:italic><mml:math altimg=\"si23.svg\" display=\"inline\"><mml:mo>↔</mml:mo></mml:math><ce:italic>cis</ce:italic> isomerization in azobenzene derivatives makes them a prominent class of molecular switches. Generally, the energy barrier for the <ce:italic>trans</ce:italic><mml:math altimg=\"si24.svg\" display=\"inline\"><mml:mo>→</mml:mo></mml:math><ce:italic>cis</ce:italic> switching is high (<mml:math altimg=\"si48.svg\" display=\"inline\"><mml:mo>≈</mml:mo></mml:math>1.5–2 eV) for azobenzene derivatives, making the isomers inaccessible under ambient conditions. In this work, we demonstrate that metal doping in the adlayer of an azobenzene derivative can modulate the energy landscape and enhance isomerization. Using a solution-based approach, the adlayer of 4-(phenylazo)benzoic acid is doped with Cu ions. Due to strong electronic coupling between the molecules within the assembly mediated by Cu ions, the energy barrier is drastically reduced, enabling thermal-induced <ce:italic>trans</ce:italic><mml:math altimg=\"si24.svg\" display=\"inline\"><mml:mo>→</mml:mo></mml:math><ce:italic>cis</ce:italic> switching on the surface, which is scarce for azobenzene derivatives on surfaces, in bulk, or in solution. The approach lays the foundation for designing molecular switches with enhanced efficiency by reducing energy barriers. It opens new pathways to modulate the energy landscape of on-surface chemical and physical processes.","PeriodicalId":247,"journal":{"name":"Applied Surface Science","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149291991","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Surface engineering of Ta-based MOenes for photocatalytic overall water splitting: S-vacancy-optimized redox sites and janus-polarity-driven charge separation","authors":"Jianjian Wang, Yanqing Shen, Xinyu Wang, Long Pang, Peng E, Zhongxiang Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.168719","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2026.168719","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":247,"journal":{"name":"Applied Surface Science","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149231967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}