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Break-down of the relationship between α-relaxation and equilibration in hydrostatically compressed metallic glasses 流体静力压缩金属玻璃中α-弛豫与平衡关系的破坏
IF 22 1区 材料科学
Materials Today Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-25 DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2025.12.011
Antoine Cornet , Jie Shen , Alberto Ronca , Shubin Li , Nico Neuber , Maximilian Frey , Eloi Pineda , Thierry Deschamps , Christine Martinet , Sylvie Le Floch , Daniele Cangialosi , Yuriy Chushkin , Federico Zontone , Marco Cammarata , Gavin B.M. Vaughan , Marco di Michiel , Gaston Garbarino , Ralf Busch , Isabella Gallino , Celine Goujon , Beatrice Ruta
{"title":"Break-down of the relationship between α-relaxation and equilibration in hydrostatically compressed metallic glasses","authors":"Antoine Cornet ,&nbsp;Jie Shen ,&nbsp;Alberto Ronca ,&nbsp;Shubin Li ,&nbsp;Nico Neuber ,&nbsp;Maximilian Frey ,&nbsp;Eloi Pineda ,&nbsp;Thierry Deschamps ,&nbsp;Christine Martinet ,&nbsp;Sylvie Le Floch ,&nbsp;Daniele Cangialosi ,&nbsp;Yuriy Chushkin ,&nbsp;Federico Zontone ,&nbsp;Marco Cammarata ,&nbsp;Gavin B.M. Vaughan ,&nbsp;Marco di Michiel ,&nbsp;Gaston Garbarino ,&nbsp;Ralf Busch ,&nbsp;Isabella Gallino ,&nbsp;Celine Goujon ,&nbsp;Beatrice Ruta","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.12.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.12.011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Glasses encode the memory of any thermo-mechanical treatment applied to them. This ability is associated to the existence of a myriad of metastable amorphous states which can be probed through different experimental pathways. It is usually assumed that this memory can be erased in the supercooled liquid, and that this process occurs on a time scale controlled by the <em>α</em>-relaxation. We find that this assumption does not apply for hydrostatically compressed glasses. Annealing under pressure a prototypical metallic glass can irreversibly modify its dynamics, thermodynamics and structure, reduce the atomic mobility and lead to structural modifications of the first coordination shells which reduce the thermal stability with respect to a glass annealed in absence of pressure. When heated above their glass transition temperature, these compressed glasses do not convert into the pristine supercooled liquid, implying the existence of an additional process, beyond the <em>α</em>-relaxation, contributing to the equilibrium recovery of the material. These results establish pressure as a powerful tool for engineering non-equilibrium glassy materials with tailored properties, while deepening our understanding of relaxation dynamics in disordered systems under extreme conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"92 ","pages":"Pages 304-314"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146015624","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}
引用次数: 0
Material reformation and opportunities created by tetraamino-p-benzoquinone 四氨基对苯醌的物质改造与机遇
IF 22 1区 材料科学
Materials Today Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-19 DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2025.12.010
Qun Liu , Haoyu Guo , Chengliang Wang
{"title":"Material reformation and opportunities created by tetraamino-p-benzoquinone","authors":"Qun Liu ,&nbsp;Haoyu Guo ,&nbsp;Chengliang Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.12.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.12.010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Conjugated organic/polymeric materials with multi-functional groups are superior in material reformation and diverse applications. However, the combination of conjugation and the functional groups bring inherent complexities, leading to different reaction modes from non-conjugated systems, uncontrolled reactions, doubtful performance and ambiguous structure–property relationships. As a typical example, tetraamino-p-benzoquinone (TABQ) is a recent star material due to its conjugated core and rich functional groups, which has been not only applied in various applications but also used to construct abundant novel materials including small molecules, oligomers, polymers, covalent-organic frameworks and metal–organic frameworks through synthesis control and topological construction. By delving into the possibilities from TABQ, this review aims to draw attention to the cautious molecular design of conjugated materials, avoid the misunderstandings originating from the unexpected reactions of the multi-functional groups, evoke patience on the insightful structure–property relationship, and inspire new opportunities for the creation of more functionalized material systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"92 ","pages":"Pages 751-764"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146015629","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}
引用次数: 0
Advancing analysis of differential scanning calorimetry data – Converging DSC and AI 差示扫描量热数据的先进分析——DSC和AI的融合
IF 22 1区 材料科学
Materials Today Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-07 DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2025.12.036
B.L. Dargaville , T. Ayyachi , D.W. Hutmacher
{"title":"Advancing analysis of differential scanning calorimetry data – Converging DSC and AI","authors":"B.L. Dargaville ,&nbsp;T. Ayyachi ,&nbsp;D.W. Hutmacher","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.12.036","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.12.036","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)<!--> <!-->is a prominent analytical technique in materials science, offering detailed insights into the thermal properties and behavior of materials. DSC provides valuable information for understanding material composition, structure, and performance by measuring the heat flow associated with thermal events. Interpreting DSC curves is a complex process that requires substantial expertise, and misinterpretation can lead to inaccurate conclusions about material properties. Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into DSC presents a transformative opportunity to significantly enhance the accuracy, precision, and reliability of thermal analysis. By employing advanced AI algorithms, researchers can analyze DSC data in real time, allowing immediate insights into thermal transitions, such as glass transition, crystallization, and melting. This review outlines how the convergence of DSC and AI can not only expedite the research process but also standardize data interpretation, minimize human error, and reduce reliance on specialized operator expertise, thereby empowering non-experts to interpret DSC data with greater confidence and accuracy. This integration enhances the accessibility, reproducibility, and credibility of thermal data derived from advanced thermal analysis techniques across various scientific and industrial sectors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"92 ","pages":"Pages 996-1007"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146015699","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}
引用次数: 0
Synergizing ROS-biocatalysis and biofilm penetration via photothermal artificial enzymes with atomic homojunction sites to eradicate drug-resistant bacterial infections 利用具有原子同质结位点的光热人工酶协同ros -生物催化和生物膜渗透以根除耐药细菌感染
IF 22 1区 材料科学
Materials Today Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-05 DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2025.12.003
Xizheng Wu , Zhenyu Xing , Jiangge Li , Zhiying Ding , Lingnuo Fan , Mao Wang , Tian Ma , Chong Cheng , Weifeng Zhao , Changsheng Zhao
{"title":"Synergizing ROS-biocatalysis and biofilm penetration via photothermal artificial enzymes with atomic homojunction sites to eradicate drug-resistant bacterial infections","authors":"Xizheng Wu ,&nbsp;Zhenyu Xing ,&nbsp;Jiangge Li ,&nbsp;Zhiying Ding ,&nbsp;Lingnuo Fan ,&nbsp;Mao Wang ,&nbsp;Tian Ma ,&nbsp;Chong Cheng ,&nbsp;Weifeng Zhao ,&nbsp;Changsheng Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.12.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.12.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The treatment of biofilm-associated drug-resistant bacterial infections remains a formidable clinical challenge, primarily due to the limited permeability of therapeutic agents through the dense extracellular matrix and the inherent drug resistance of biofilm-embedded microorganisms. Here, to overcome this challenge, we report the design of an atomic Fe-O-Mo/Fe-S-Mo homojunction photothermal nanosheet (Fe-HJPS) to synergize reactive oxygen species (ROS)-biocatalysis and biofilm penetration for eradicating drug-resistant bacterial infections. Spectroscopic and computational analyses reveal that the homojunction sites in the Fe-HJPS, comprising asymmetric Fe-S-Mo/Fe-O-Mo coordinations around Fe centers, downshift the high <em>d-p</em> hybrid orbital energy level compared to the original symmetric Fe-S-Mo coordination. This optimization enhances the adsorption affinity of oxygen intermediates and improves ROS-biocatalytic activities. Notably, under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, the Fe-HJPS generates localized heat and disturbs the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in biofilms to increase the permeability of bacterial membranes, thereby facilitating ROS influx into bacterial cells. This dual-action mechanism of ROS production and biofilm penetration enables effective biofilm eradication at ultralow concentration (40 μg·mL<sup>−1</sup>), demonstrating superior efficacy against drug-resistant infections in both <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em> models. Our findings establish atomic-scale homojunction in photothermal artificial enzymes as a versatile strategy for designing non-antibiotic antimicrobial nanomaterials that overcome drug-resistant bacterial infections.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"92 ","pages":"Pages 226-240"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146016594","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}
引用次数: 0
Locking aggregation states in tough hydrogels through protective domain formation 通过形成保护结构域锁定坚韧水凝胶中的聚集态
IF 22 1区 材料科学
Materials Today Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-10 DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2025.12.005
Hao Nan Qiu , Chuan Wei Zhang , Lixin Dai , Yichen Yan , Ping He , Ruoyi Ke , Xiaobing Zuo , Hua Zhou , Ximin He
{"title":"Locking aggregation states in tough hydrogels through protective domain formation","authors":"Hao Nan Qiu ,&nbsp;Chuan Wei Zhang ,&nbsp;Lixin Dai ,&nbsp;Yichen Yan ,&nbsp;Ping He ,&nbsp;Ruoyi Ke ,&nbsp;Xiaobing Zuo ,&nbsp;Hua Zhou ,&nbsp;Ximin He","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.12.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.12.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tough hydrogels based on physical crosslinking have attracted tremendous attention due to their excellent mechanical properties achieved through controlled polymer chain aggregation via various processing methods. However, the reversible nature of these physical interactions leads to severe mechanical degradation in aqueous environments, where water molecules competitively disrupt hydrogen bonds and dissolve aggregated structures, fundamentally limiting their practical applications. Herein, we propose a strategy to construct protective domains around physical crosslinks that effectively stabilize the network while preserving energy dissipation capabilities. Using poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a model system, we implement this design through sequential dehydration-induced crystallization and homogeneous free-radical crosslinking (FRC). The resulting protective domains—chemically-crosslinked loose aggregates surrounding crystallites—serve dual functions: shielding physical crosslinks from solvent-induced disruption and storing hidden chain length that enhances extensibility during deformation. Compared to unprotected physically crosslinked hydrogels, this strategy achieves 2.4-fold enhancement in elastic modulus, 2.1-fold increase in breaking strain, and 4.8-fold improvement in toughness, while dramatically improving environmental stability--the mechanical strength retention increases from ∼ 20 % to &gt; 80 % after aqueous immersion, with volume expansion reduced from typical 20–30 % to less than 5 %. Microstructural characterization confirms the coexistence of protected crystallites and loose aggregates. The hydrogel is successfully employed as an electrolyte to construct zinc-ion batteries that feature superior cycling performance, enabled by the exceptional environmental stability and strong structural endurance of the hydrogel. This strategy proves generalizable to various physically crosslinked systems, offering a universal design principle for creating mechanically robust and environmentally stable hydrogels.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"92 ","pages":"Pages 241-252"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146015548","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}
引用次数: 0
Strategic defect engineering in ceria interlayer for high-performing solid oxide electrochemical cells 高性能固体氧化物电化学电池中二氧化铈中间层的战略性缺陷工程
IF 22 1区 材料科学
Materials Today Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-06 DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2026.01.002
Hyeongmin Yu , Incheol Jeong , Sang Won Lee , Hansu Chang , Seeun Oh , Tae Ho Shin , Kang Taek Lee
{"title":"Strategic defect engineering in ceria interlayer for high-performing solid oxide electrochemical cells","authors":"Hyeongmin Yu ,&nbsp;Incheol Jeong ,&nbsp;Sang Won Lee ,&nbsp;Hansu Chang ,&nbsp;Seeun Oh ,&nbsp;Tae Ho Shin ,&nbsp;Kang Taek Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2026.01.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2026.01.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Solid oxide electrochemical cells (SOCs) represent a transformative platform for the efficient and sustainable interconversion between chemical and electrical energy, enabling green hydrogen production and high-efficiency power generation. However, their widespread deployment is constrained by high operating temperatures, as performance degrades sharply at reduced temperatures especially due to increased polarization and ohmic resistances at the oxygen electrode/electrolyte interface. Herein, we present a rationally engineered, defect-rich thin-film ceria interlayer designed to enhance interfacial oxygen exchange kinetics and shorten ion transport pathways, effectively mitigating both polarization and bulk ohmic losses. Density functional theory calculations reveal that excess Gd doping weakens the cation-oxygen bonding and introduces tensile lattice strain, which synergistically lower the oxygen vacancy formation energy and promote vacancy clustering at the surface. These effects enhance both oxygen storage/release capacity and the kinetics of oxygen incorporation and evolution. When incorporated into SOCs, the developed defect-rich ceria interlayer enables exceptional electrochemical performance, achieving a peak power density of 3.00 W/cm<sup>2</sup> in fuel cell mode and a current density of 1.85 A/cm<sup>2</sup> in electrolysis mode at 700°C, significantly outperforming conventional ceria-based interlayers. This work provides new design principles for interlayer engineering in SOCs, and offers a promising pathway toward next-generation energy conversion technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"92 ","pages":"Pages 473-481"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146015620","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}
引用次数: 0
Phospholipids tailor mRNA lipid nanoparticle delivery efficacy and immunogenicity 磷脂调节mRNA脂质纳米颗粒递送效率和免疫原性
IF 22 1区 材料科学
Materials Today Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-07 DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2026.01.004
Lu Shi , Kexin Su , Lixin Lin , Xinxin Yan , Xinyue Zhang , Shun He , Xudong Fu , Xin Sheng , Na Kong , Shuai Liu
{"title":"Phospholipids tailor mRNA lipid nanoparticle delivery efficacy and immunogenicity","authors":"Lu Shi ,&nbsp;Kexin Su ,&nbsp;Lixin Lin ,&nbsp;Xinxin Yan ,&nbsp;Xinyue Zhang ,&nbsp;Shun He ,&nbsp;Xudong Fu ,&nbsp;Xin Sheng ,&nbsp;Na Kong ,&nbsp;Shuai Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2026.01.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2026.01.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) represent the most clinically advanced delivery platform for mRNA therapeutics and vaccines, yet currently approved formulations may not be broadly applicable for next-generation utility due to the double-edged sword of immunogenicity. While prior studies have primarily evaluated the contribution of ionizable lipids to immune stimulation, the effects of other components remain underappreciated. Here, we investigate the role of phospholipids in modulating LNP physicochemical characteristics, delivery efficiency, and immunogenicity. Among seven commonly used phospholipids, unsaturated and zwitterionic phospholipids exhibit moderate membrane fluidity and enhanced cellular uptake compared to the saturated counterparts. Notably, LNPs formulated with 1,2-dioleoyl-<em>sn</em>-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) demonstrate significantly enhanced mRNA delivery efficiency following intravenous administration <em>in vivo</em>. In contrast, intramuscular delivery results in relatively consistent mRNA expression across different phospholipids, particularly in lymph nodes. Furthermore, DOPE-containing LNPs mediate relatively low immunogenicity <em>in vivo</em>, endowing non-immunogenic therapy potential. While incorporation of the immunostimulatory phospholipid 1,2-dioleoyl-<em>sn</em>-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) amplifies immune responses by promoting cytokine and chemokine secretion as well as immune cell infiltration, highlighting its promise for mRNA vaccine applications. Our findings demonstrate that the immunogenic profile of LNPs can be finely tuned through rational phospholipid optimization, underscoring the importance of tailoring LNP formulations to optimize performance across diverse therapeutic applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"92 ","pages":"Pages 490-498"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146015622","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}
引用次数: 0
Recent progress and challenges of electrochemical artificial muscle fiber 电化学人造肌纤维的研究进展与挑战
IF 22 1区 材料科学
Materials Today Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-25 DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2025.12.016
Jie Deng , Ming Ren , Lizhong Dong , Wanfei Li , Jiangtao Di
{"title":"Recent progress and challenges of electrochemical artificial muscle fiber","authors":"Jie Deng ,&nbsp;Ming Ren ,&nbsp;Lizhong Dong ,&nbsp;Wanfei Li ,&nbsp;Jiangtao Di","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.12.016","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.12.016","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Electrochemical artificial muscle fibers are a class of smart materials that rely on ion migration between the artificial muscle and electrolyte to produce reversible deformation, and are regarded as a new type of fiber-shaped actuators. Electrochemical artificial muscle fibers have attracted widespread attention due to their low driving voltage, negligible thermal effects, and ease of control. They hold great potential to significantly advance the development of fields such as wearable systems, assistive medicine, soft robotics, and intelligent interaction. After nearly two decades of progress, electrochemical artificial muscle fibers have achieved many exciting breakthroughs. In this paper, we systematically summarize the materials, fabrication, characterization, actuation mechanisms, and ion injection mechanisms of electrochemical artificial muscle fibers. Then we introduce the recent development regarding structure regulation, multifunctional integration, and application of electrochemical artificial muscle fibers. Finally, the challenges and prospects of electrochemical artificial muscle fibers are discussed. This review will guide the preparation of high-performance electrochemical artificial muscle fibers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"92 ","pages":"Pages 780-800"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146015642","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}
引用次数: 0
Clay activation: A review 粘土活化:综述
IF 22 1区 材料科学
Materials Today Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2025-11-24 DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2025.11.024
Dan Meng , Jean Noel Yankwa Djobo , Isabel Pol Segura , Rodrigue Cyriaque Kaze , Carsten Kuenzel , Navid Ranjbar
{"title":"Clay activation: A review","authors":"Dan Meng ,&nbsp;Jean Noel Yankwa Djobo ,&nbsp;Isabel Pol Segura ,&nbsp;Rodrigue Cyriaque Kaze ,&nbsp;Carsten Kuenzel ,&nbsp;Navid Ranjbar","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.11.024","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.11.024","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Intensive research on alternative cements targets Portland cement’s environmental impact, with clays emerging as prime candidates due to global abundance and compatibility with performant low-carbon binders such as geopolymers and limestone calcined clay cement. However, diverse clay minerals exist and the most widely available clays remain poorly understood, with fragmented data and a lack of integrated knowledge; this hinders their optimal utilisation. This review offers clay activation fundamentals and their key role in developing sustainable cementitious binders. It go through four major pillars: <em>I)</em> Fundamentals of phyllosilicates and common clay impurities, before activation; <em>II)</em> Cutting-edge characterisation techniques for quantifying clay reactivity, spanning micro- and nano-scale experimental methods to standardised protocols, with a critical evaluation of their limitations and potential; <em>III)</em> State-of-the-art clay activation techniques, analysing the evolution of various clay minerals under diverse thermal, mechanical, chemical, and combined treatments from mechanistic and microstructural perspectives; and <em>IV)</em> Current clay activation infrastructures and their performance efficiency. This critical review systematically revisits current knowledge by comparative analyses, identifying key gaps in the field, and examining challenges in scaling activation techniques for industrial adoption, providing a framework for future research and technological advancement.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"92 ","pages":"Pages 519-551"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146015704","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}
引用次数: 0
Hierarchical hollow silica shells for scalable and passive superinsulation 可伸缩和被动超绝缘用分层中空硅壳
IF 22 1区 材料科学
Materials Today Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-25 DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2025.12.025
Taotao Meng , Dejian Dong , Long Zhu , Hannah Kriney , Dylan Stone , Wei Liu , Tashfiqul Islam , Chen Zhang , Emils Gustav Benjamin Jurcik , Damena Agonafer , Mohammad Daud , Jongmin Shim , Jason Armstrong , Chunsheng Wang , Shenqiang Ren
{"title":"Hierarchical hollow silica shells for scalable and passive superinsulation","authors":"Taotao Meng ,&nbsp;Dejian Dong ,&nbsp;Long Zhu ,&nbsp;Hannah Kriney ,&nbsp;Dylan Stone ,&nbsp;Wei Liu ,&nbsp;Tashfiqul Islam ,&nbsp;Chen Zhang ,&nbsp;Emils Gustav Benjamin Jurcik ,&nbsp;Damena Agonafer ,&nbsp;Mohammad Daud ,&nbsp;Jongmin Shim ,&nbsp;Jason Armstrong ,&nbsp;Chunsheng Wang ,&nbsp;Shenqiang Ren","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.12.025","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.12.025","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Porous silica materials are highly valued for their thermal management potential, with their high porosity and large surface area making them ideal for insulation. However, challenges persist in their practical manufacturing and in establishing clear relationships between their structure and insulation performance. Here, we report a rapid 10-minute gelation process under ambient temperature and pressure conditions to enable scalable manufacturing of tunable SiO<sub>2</sub> hollow spheres. By systematically investigating the effects of synthetic conditions, the resulting SiO<sub>2</sub> hollow spheres demonstrate a thermal conductivity as low as 15 mW m<sup>−1</sup> K<sup>−1</sup> and porosity exceeding 98 %. We found through simulations that a higher contact area between hollow silica particles leads to increased thermal conductivity. Additionally, we incorporated hollow silica into ceramic fibers, which presents additional advantages for thermal protection against transient high-temperature loads by effectively delaying heat propagation through heat absorption and self-extinguishing behavior in the presence of fire. Notably, the production process features a carbon footprint of 17.07 kg CO<sub>2</sub>/kg and a production yield of up to 40 %, striking a balance between performance and sustainability. This study marks a key step in advancing SiO<sub>2</sub> hollow spheres as effective thermal management materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"92 ","pages":"Pages 406-415"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146016579","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}
引用次数: 0
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