Bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) exhibit high yield strength but little tensile ductility. For this class of materials, damage tolerance is a key mechanical design parameter needed for their engineering use. Recently we have discovered a correlation between the local structural characteristics in the glass and the propensity for shear transformations. Based on the dependence of glass structure on alloy composition, zirconium (Zr)-rich Zr–titanium (Ti)–copper (Cu)–aluminum (Al) compositions are predicted to be more prone to spread-out plastic deformation and hence profuse shear banding. This structural perspective has guided us to locate a Zr61Ti2Cu25Al12 (ZT1) BMG that exhibits a record-breaking fracture toughness, on par with the palladium (Pd)-based BMG recently developed at Caltech. At the same time, the new BMG consists of common metals and has robust glass-forming ability. Interestingly, the ZT1 BMG derives its high toughness from its high propensity for crack deflection and local loading-mode change (from mode I to substantially mode II) at the crack tip due to extensive shear band interactions. A crack-resistance curve (R-curve) has been obtained following American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards, employing both “single-specimen” and “multiple-specimen” techniques as well as fatigue precracked specimens. The combination of high strength and fracture toughness places ZT1 atop all engineering metallic alloys in the strength–toughness Ashby diagram, pushing the envelop accessible to a structural material in terms of its damage tolerance.

Electropulsing treatment (EPT) provided a promising technology to improve the microstructure and plasticity of the cold-rolled Ti–6Al–4V noticeably while only affecting the strength mildly. Thus, titanium alloy of high plasticity and good comprehensive property can be obtained by this high efficient processing method. The research found that the tensile ductility could be improved largely with the increasing frequency. In the low frequency, the maximum ductility (32.5%) could be obtained at 293 Hz-EPT. Under high-frequency EPT, plasticity has a slight decrease but the tensile strength increases in the contrary. With the help of multi-characterization, abstracting phenomena are explained and therefore the conclusion has been drawn that the whole process of increasing frequency EPT can be divided roughly into two periods: (a) recrystallization period in the low frequency, at this period athermal effect of the EPT played a leading role and (b) phase change period in the high frequency, at this period the other important factor of the EPT thermal effect was predominant. As a comparison, furnace heat treatment is conducted to prove the preferential phase transition instead of complete recrystallization under the single heating effect. The mechanism of the results can be discussed by the competitive mechanism of recrystallization process and phase change in the EPT processing.

A number of recent mechanical property studies have sought to validate atomistic and multiscale models with matching experimental volumes. One such property is the ductile–brittle transition temperature (DBTT). Currently no model exists that incorporates both external and internal variables in an analytical model to address both length scales and environment. Using thermally activated parameters for dislocation plasticity, the present study attempts a small piece of this. With activation energy and activation volumes previously determined for single and polycrystalline Fe–3% Si, predictions of DBTT both with and without atmospheric hydrogen are made. These are compared with standard fracture toughness measurements similarly for samples both with and without atmospheric hydrogen. In the hydrogen-free samples, average strain rate varied by four orders of magnitude. DBTT shifts are experimentally found and predicted to increase 100 K or more with either increasing strain rate or exposure to hydrogen.

Graphene is currently one of the most extensively studied materials because it displays a number of unique structural and electronic properties. A variety of methods are currently available for the growth of graphene; however, few are viable for large scale, cost-effective production of high quality graphene. Here, a novel growth process for few layer graphene using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and a commercial iron nanopowder catalyst is described. This method is readily scalable so it can be used to produce a large volume of graphene sheets. Graphene sheets made from this process were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Raman spectroscopy shows that the product consists of few layer graphene sheets. This is the first reported method of utilizing nanoparticles to synthesize graphene by a CVD process, which typically produces multiwalled carbon nanotubes. A possible mechanism for the formation of graphene by this modified CVD process is discussed.

Indium-tin-oxide (ITO) thin films were prepared by reactive magnetron sputtering; their optical constants and thickness were determined by spectral reflectometry (SR) in the wavelength range from 400 nm to 800 nm and spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) in the wavelength range from 191 nm to 1690 nm. A comparative evaluation of the measured data from SR and SE has been made using the same single layer optical model based on the Cauchy dispersion relation. The introduction of a surface roughness layer into the optical model considerably improved the fit quality during evaluation of SE data. Vertical inhomogeneity of the ITO thin films was assessed using a multilayer optical model describing porosity gradient and the three-layer optical model suggested by Jung [Y.S. Jung, Thin Solid Films467, 36 (2004)] from the SE data.

The study demonstrates the 100% repeated recyclability of hybrid membranes without any pretreatment. Composite membranes designed with titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) and polysulfone (PSf) membranes were used for reduction of chromium (Cr) (VI) to Cr (III) under sunlight. Different concentrations of TiO2 NPs varying from 1.5% to 2.5% with the difference of 0.5% were incorporated into the membrane matrix. Increase in weight percentage of TiO2 particles enhances the reduction to 100% within 2.5 h with an increase in recyclable capacity as well. The effect of recycling on the surface of the membrane was studied using x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The observations in general indicate an increase in roughness without affecting the catalytic efficiency up to six recycles. The study on surface membrane morphology and catalytic efficiency with reusability opens a scope for a feasible economical chromium reduction via a membrane process. Macro and micro structure of the membrane before reduction and after recycling were studied and compared with scientific evidence. Based on the results, the kinetic model was proposed for the reduction reactions.

Using phase separation, alumina-based porous ceramics with three-dimensional frameworks were prepared, with fine structural roughness created by subsequent hot-water treatment. The pore volume of the porous alumina and its specific surface area increased concomitantly with increasing hot-water treatment time. Porous alumina/fluorinated oil bulk composites were prepared by coating hydrophobic silane onto the porous ceramic surface and subsequently impregnating fluorinated oil. A wetting ridge formed at the bottom of the water droplets on the composites. Partial contact between the water and solid surface was inferred from a comparison of interface energies in the system. The composites provided a smaller sliding angle (SA) than that of the sample without impregnating fluorinated oil. The composite with fine roughness exhibited longer sustainability of a small SA than that without fine roughness. Particle image velocimetry revealed that the dominant sliding mode for water droplets on this composite was slipping. The droplets moved on the surface under an external electric field. Coulombic force contributes to this motion.

An attempt to reduce the effect of major toxic components namely phosphine ligands and unsaturated solvents as being used in conventional nanocrystal synthesis, has been made with a new binary ligand, and a reusable solvent N-octadecane for a smokeless and clean synthesis procedure. The optimized effects of the two ligands oleic acid and octadecyl amine on the nucleation rate and growth of CdSe nanocrystals (NCs) are reported and substantiated by AFM analysis. Oleic acid accelerates particle ripening and nuclei growth, but inhibits nucleation whereas octadecyl amine catalyses nucleation and very gradually improves growth to obtain small stable NCs. Another important feature of the present study is the replacement of 1-octadecene by a competitive N-octadecane as a solvent in such ligand mediated nanocrystal synthesis. The GCMS analysis reports a recovery of 95% of solvent after reuse, thus opening a scope for environmental friendly processes.

Adsorbents with high specific surface areas, developed porosities, and sustainable CO2 capture capacity (∼180 mg/g at 25 °C, 1 bar) were prepared by KOH activation of hydrothermally carbonized carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). Condensed aromatic carbon materials (CSc) with particle diameters of 2–3 μm and many oxygen-containing groups on their surfaces can be obtained after hydrothermal treatment of CMC; these materials are similar to glucose-derived hydrothermal carbons. The activation conditions, including activation ratio and activation temperature, significantly influence the structure and morphology of the adsorbents. In turn, the pore structures, specific surface areas, and adsorption conditions significantly affect the adsorption capacities of these new adsorbents. For samples with the same activation ratio, those with higher specific surface areas show higher CO2 capture capacities at 25 °C and 1 bar. Under these conditions, for samples with different activation ratios, the capacity is dominated by the microporosity development and, in particular, the high volume of smaller micropores (d = 0.4–0.9 nm); when the adsorption pressure is decreased to 0.1 bar, the CO2 capture ability becomes closely correlated with the number of ultramicropores (d < 0.7 nm).

The defense mechanism that nacre (mother-of-pearl) uses to protect its living organism against high-speed predatory attack can provide lessons for engineered armor design. However, the underlying physics responsible for nacre's dynamic energy dissipation has hitherto remained a mystery to be uncovered. Here we demonstrate a new energy dissipation mechanism hidden in nacre and activated only upon dynamic loading, where the crack terminates its propagation along nacre's biopolymer interlayers but straightly impinges the aragonite platelets (95 vol%) in a transgranular manner. This intergranular–transgranular transition promotes the fracture energy dissipation, far exceeding that of the currently-used engineered ceramics. The mechanistic origin accounting for the enhancement of fracture energy dissipation is attributed to the unique nanoparticle architectured aragonite platelets. The dynamic manifestation in nacre can inspire a new route to design stronger-and-tougher engineered ceramic armors.