Materials LettersPub Date : 2025-09-11DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139494
Yanru Li , Dinan Yang , Lei Zheng , Haoqi Wang , Lin Ma , Jinzheng Yang , Yali Wang
{"title":"Synergistic CoNi alloy/N-doped carbon nanospheres as high-efficiency separator coatings for stable lithium-sulfur batteries","authors":"Yanru Li , Dinan Yang , Lei Zheng , Haoqi Wang , Lin Ma , Jinzheng Yang , Yali Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139494","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139494","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To address polysulfide shuttling and sluggish kinetics in Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries, we developed CoNi alloy-decorated N-doped carbon nanospheres (CoNi-CNSs) via in-situ pyrolysis as efficient separator coatings. The material synergistically integrates catalytic CoNi nanoparticles with conductive N-doped carbon, delivering 1200.2 mAh g<sup>−1</sup> at 0.1 C and outstanding stability with a capacity decay of 0.069 % per cycle over 500 cycles at 0.5 C. This approach demonstrates a practical strategy for separator modification to enhance the performance of Li-S batteries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":384,"journal":{"name":"Materials Letters","volume":"403 ","pages":"Article 139494"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145045998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Materials LettersPub Date : 2025-09-10DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139498
Kewei Zhang , Rui Hu , Hang Zou , Xiangyu Gao , Xian Luo , Zeyang Wu , Zilong Guo
{"title":"Ta site occupation in O-Ti2AlNb phase: A synergistic study combining first-principles calculations and transmission electron microscopy","authors":"Kewei Zhang , Rui Hu , Hang Zou , Xiangyu Gao , Xian Luo , Zeyang Wu , Zilong Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139498","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139498","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The site occupancy behavior of Ta atoms in O-Ti<sub>2</sub>AlNb phase was investigated through integrated first-principles calculations and experimental validation. A distinct hierarchical site occupancy preference of Ta was revealed: Ta preferentially occupies Nb sites, secondarily substitutes Ti sites, while exhibiting complete absence from Al sites. Such a phenomenon can be attributed to the atomic size compatibility, electronegativity similarity, and equivalent valence electron configuration between Ta and Nb atoms, consistent with the Hume-Rothery solid solution criteria, which stabilize the structure of Ti<sub>2</sub>Al(Nb,Ta). Thermodynamically, the Ta-Nb substitution configuration exhibits enhanced stability over (Ti,Ta)<sub>2</sub>AlNb and Ti<sub>2</sub>(Al,Ta)Nb systems. This study provides critical theoretical guidance for designing advanced Ti<sub>2</sub>AlNb-Ta alloys with optimized microstructural stability and properties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":384,"journal":{"name":"Materials Letters","volume":"403 ","pages":"Article 139498"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145045999","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Materials LettersPub Date : 2025-09-09DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139478
Rita, Aditi Kandari, Devendra Singh Negi
{"title":"Biogenic ZnO nanoparticles from Urtica ardens leaves: a sustainable route to combat bacteria and degrade pollutants","authors":"Rita, Aditi Kandari, Devendra Singh Negi","doi":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139478","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139478","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The emerging need for water contamination and antibiotic-resistant microbes calls for environmentally friendly, multi-functional nanomaterials. Vacancy-rich- Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (UZO NPs) were green-synthesized in the present research using ethanolic extract of <em>Urtica ardens</em>, a Himalayan medicinal plant. The nanoparticles were analyzed by UV–Vis, XRD, FTIR, FE-SEM, HRTEM, EDX, EPR and XPS demonstrating hexagonal ZnO with 37.18 nm crystallite size and spherical-to-rod morphologies(50–90 nm). FTIR and XPS Confirmed phytochemicals facilitating reduction and stabilization. UZO NPs exhibited antibacterial activities against MRSA and <em>Citrobacter</em> and 94.8 % degradation of malachite green within 60 min. The study demonstrates their dual antimicrobial and photocatalytic potential for biomedical and wastewater applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":384,"journal":{"name":"Materials Letters","volume":"403 ","pages":"Article 139478"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145027336","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Materials LettersPub Date : 2025-09-09DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139491
Shi-ao Luo, Fan Kong
{"title":"Surface-enhanced Raman scattering in graphene oxide improved by grafting organic semiconductor","authors":"Shi-ao Luo, Fan Kong","doi":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139491","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139491","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As an excellent candidate for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates, graphene oxide (GO) has attracted extensive research interest due to its amphiphilicity, flexibility, and diverse chemical modification capabilities. In this study, polymer chains derived from 8-hydroxyquinoline were grafted onto GO (denoted as GO-PQ) via free radical polymerization chain transfer reactions, followed by chelation with zinc acetate 8-hydroxyquinolate to form a GO-PQZnQ composite. This functionalization significantly induces surface wrinkling in GO, enhances the adsorption of probe molecules, and improves light scattering. Efficient charge transfer from both rhodamine 6G (R6G) and zinc 8-hydroxyquinolate to GO leads to emission quenching and reduces background signals. The Raman signal intensity of R6G on the GO-PQZnQ substrate is enhanced nearly sevenfold compared to that on unmodified GO. The grafted PQZnQ complex promotes charge transfer, which contributes to the observed SERS enhancement.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":384,"journal":{"name":"Materials Letters","volume":"403 ","pages":"Article 139491"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145045960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Materials LettersPub Date : 2025-09-09DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139492
Haibin Wu , Weili Wang , Tianwei Liu , Pengxu Yan , Jian Chen
{"title":"An arc-melted eutectic medium-entropy alloy with superior strength-ductility synergies at room and cryogenic temperatures","authors":"Haibin Wu , Weili Wang , Tianwei Liu , Pengxu Yan , Jian Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139492","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139492","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The cryogenic compressive mechanical properties of eutectic multi-principal alloys have rarely been reported. In this work, the superior fracture strength-fracture strain synergies at room and liquid nitrogen temperatures (RT and LNT) of the arc-melted Cr<sub>50</sub>Co<sub>25</sub>Ni<sub>25</sub> eutectic medium-entropy alloy were found. These values were 1917 MPa and 39.1 % at RT, along with 1990 MPa and 26.1 % at LNT. The reduction of ductility at LNT was primarily attributed to the inferior deformation capability of the BCC phase containing HCP phase. The fracture mechanisms were dominated by ductile fracture of the FCC phase and brittle fracture of the BCC phase at both temperatures, while dislocation pile-ups and stacking faults were responsible for the deformation mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":384,"journal":{"name":"Materials Letters","volume":"403 ","pages":"Article 139492"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145027415","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Materials LettersPub Date : 2025-09-09DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139461
Ł. Szymański , M. Szala , K. Peddeti , E. Olejnik , K. Biegun , G. Tęcza , A. Bigos , J. Sobczak , N. Sobczak , K. Żak , A. Krella
{"title":"Slurry and cavitation-erosion resistance of steel-ceramic composites manufactured using in-situ and ex-situ techniques","authors":"Ł. Szymański , M. Szala , K. Peddeti , E. Olejnik , K. Biegun , G. Tęcza , A. Bigos , J. Sobczak , N. Sobczak , K. Żak , A. Krella","doi":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139461","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139461","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Steels reinforced with ceramic phases such as WC, TiC, ZrO<sub>2</sub>, and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> were tested for cavitation- and slurry-erosion resistance. These composite materials were produced using <em>in-situ</em> (reactive infiltration, the syntheses of primary carbides during the metallurgical process) and <em>ex-situ</em> (non-pressure infiltration) techniques. The microstructure and hardness of the composite materials were investigated. The ceramic phases increased the hardness by 200–350 HV1-10s. Erosion tests showed that the manufactured composite materials had higher wear resistance as compared to cast steel. In contrast, each of the composite materials showed lower resistance to cavitation-slurry erosion when compared to the cast steel.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":384,"journal":{"name":"Materials Letters","volume":"403 ","pages":"Article 139461"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145046004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Materials LettersPub Date : 2025-09-08DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139489
Nuo Xu , Wang-jia Xia , Xin-an Yang , Cheng-zhao Jin , Wang-bing Zhang
{"title":"Simple synthesis of Au modified dual-Bi based heterojunction and its photocatalytic activity for high concentration RhB","authors":"Nuo Xu , Wang-jia Xia , Xin-an Yang , Cheng-zhao Jin , Wang-bing Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139489","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139489","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In view of the current situation where most bismuth oxide-based photooxidants struggle to achieve effective treatment under high-concentration industrial wastewater conditions, this study constructed a Au modified dual-Bi based heterojunction (β-Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>/Au) with a multiphase interface using a single bismuth source precursor thermal oxidation-citrate reduction synergistic strategy. The coupling of Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> enhances the separation efficiency of photo-generated carriers. The surface plasmon resonance of Au induces an increase in the visible light absorption of the heterojunction, and its ability to capture electrons also promotes the effective separation rate of carriers. The photocatalytic degradation rate of 0.0030 min<sup>−1</sup> indicates that the heterojunction has the potential to treat high-concentration Rhodamine B (0.3 g·L<sup>−1</sup>). In addition, the heterojunction exhibits good photooxidation cycle ability, with only a 3.49 % decrease in three cycles. This research work will offer a demonstration case for addressing the issue of high-concentration organic dye wastewater treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":384,"journal":{"name":"Materials Letters","volume":"403 ","pages":"Article 139489"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145027414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Materials LettersPub Date : 2025-09-08DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139481
Xuelin Wang , Junzhuo Li , Siwei Lin , Zhenjia Xie , Guodong Zhang , Zhongzhu Liu , Chengjia Shang
{"title":"In-situ tensile analysis of center segregation-induced microstructural inheritance and cracking mechanisms in the HAZ of wind power steel","authors":"Xuelin Wang , Junzhuo Li , Siwei Lin , Zhenjia Xie , Guodong Zhang , Zhongzhu Liu , Chengjia Shang","doi":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139481","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139481","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>An in-situ characterization study was conducted on the initiation and propagation of cracks in the brittle microstructures induced by segregation inheritance in the HAZ of high-strength wind power steel using SEM and EBSD. The compositional segregation of the base metal is inherited into the HAZ. In addition to the traditionally identified alloying elements C and Mn, Nb and Ti also concentrate in the segregation bands, but the enrichment levels of most elements are decreased due to thermal cycling effects. Typical blocky M/A constituents along with tempered martensite or M/A form in these segregation bands, accompanied by the precipitation of blocky or elongated (Nb,Ti)(C,N) particles exhibiting a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure with dimensions on the scale of ∼ 5 μm. These large-sized (Nb,Ti)(C,N) particles exhibit high brittleness and tend to undergo self-fracture during formation process. Results from in-situ tensile tests demonstrate that segregation-induced microstructures with high stress in HAZ, including MnS and (Nb,Ti)(C,N) particles, act as crack initiation sources during plastic deformation. As the strain increases, cracks propagate perpendicular to the tensile stress direction and gradually evolve into macroscopic cracks, ultimately leading to fracture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":384,"journal":{"name":"Materials Letters","volume":"403 ","pages":"Article 139481"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145027413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Materials LettersPub Date : 2025-09-08DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139484
Maridely Oviedo-Medrano , Sergio Obregón , Miguel A. Ruiz-Gómez , Israel López , Alejandro Vázquez
{"title":"Surface functionalization of silver nanoparticles with pecan nutshell extract for the colorimetric detection of vitamin B1","authors":"Maridely Oviedo-Medrano , Sergio Obregón , Miguel A. Ruiz-Gómez , Israel López , Alejandro Vázquez","doi":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139484","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139484","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Vitamin B1 plays an important role in many biological processes and an imbalance of this biomolecule may negatively alter biogeochemical cycles and harm aquatic life, making its monitoring crucial for public health and environmental preservation. Recent efforts have been focused on developing simple, cost-effective sensors to monitor water quality. Colorimetric sensors, particularly those utilizing noble metal nanoparticles, are a promising solution. In this work, the synthesis of silver nanoparticles via chemical reduction is reported, followed by their surface functionalization with molecules extracted from the pecan nutshell. Silver nanoparticles with an average particle size of 8.2 nm were synthesized via chemical reduction by using sodium borohydride as a reducing agent and then, functionalized with biomolecules extracted from pecan nutshell. The functionalized and non-functionalized Ag nanoparticles were tested for the colorimetric detection of vitamin B1. A LOD of 18.5 µM and a R<sup>2</sup> value of 0.988 were found for the functionalized Ag nanoparticles, presenting a notable improvement compared to the detection using non-functionalized nanoparticles. Hence, the functionalization of silver nanoparticles with biomolecules significantly enhances the colorimetric detection of vitamin B1. Moreover, this methodology can be extended for the detection of other analytes of interest.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":384,"journal":{"name":"Materials Letters","volume":"403 ","pages":"Article 139484"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145046000","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Materials LettersPub Date : 2025-09-08DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139483
S.L. Lafiya , M.S. Kavitha
{"title":"Mango seed derived hydrochar as a sustainable additive in cementitious materials: microstructural and performance analysis","authors":"S.L. Lafiya , M.S. Kavitha","doi":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139483","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139483","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores the viability of mango seed hydrochar (MSH), synthesized through hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), as a sustainable supplementary cementitious material. Incorporating MSH at an optimal 1.5 % replacement level significantly enhanced mortar performance, achieving compressive and flexural strengths of 41.7 MPa and 7.2 MPa, respectively surpassing the control mix. Advanced characterization techniques including powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), BET, and Micro-CT confirmed improved pozzolanic activity, increased mesoporosity, and refined matrix densification. The results demonstrate MSH potential to enhance microstructural integrity and support eco-efficient, non-structural cementitious applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":384,"journal":{"name":"Materials Letters","volume":"403 ","pages":"Article 139483"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145019714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}