Transition/rare earth metal co-modified SiC for low-frequency and high-temperature electromagnetic response
Peer-Reviewed Publication
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Low-frequency electromagnetic response in microwave technology exhibits unprecedented demand, benefiting applications such as 5G communications, Wi-Fi, and radar systems. To date, the purest low-frequency response materials are induced by magnetic metals. However, magnetic metals will demagnetize at high temperatures and cannot serve in high-temperature environments. Here, we introduced a SiC/CoSi/CeSi composite co-modified with transition metal Co and rare earth metal Ce, achieving a 14-fold increase in reflection loss (RL) from -4.74 dB to -66.48 dB. The effective absorption bandwidth (EAB, RL≤-10 dB) is 2.46 GHz. With the SiC/CoSi/CeSi composite, the effective absorption frequency is shifted to the low-frequency band (3.65 GHz), and the high-temperature stability (500 °C) is maintained, inheriting 94.5% effective absorption. Radar cross-section (RCS) simulation further confirms the excellent stealth capability of the composite, reducing the target reflection intensity by 22.7 dB m2. Mechanism investigation indicates that the excellent EMW absorption performance of the composite is attributed to multiple reflections and scattering, conduction losses, abundant interface polarization, and good magnetic loss. This research supplies critical inspiration for developing efficient SiC-based absorbers with both low-frequency and high-temperature responses.
High-entropy doping (HED) effectively enhances microwave absorption in materials. However, achieving HED in MoS2 without phase interference and clarifying its absorption mechanisms remain challenging. This work develops a modular doping process to incorporate multiple dopants into 1T-MoS₂. Multi-element co-doping induces lattice strain and charge redistribution, significantly improving dipole polarization loss. The optimized WVNbTaRu-MoS2 achieves an absorption bandwidth of 7.65 GHz, over double that of undoped MoS2. Combinatorial screening proposes 31 configurations and validates 9 variants, establishing a design framework for advanced MoS2-based absorbers and providing new pathways for performance-oriented microwave absorber design
Researchers from DTU, EPFL and ESRF have developed a new in-operando two-dimensional X-ray imaging technique that reveals how salt formation happens in CO2 electrolyzers during operation. By mapping salt buildup and water distribution with micrometer resolution, the team discovered that salt accumulates preferentially under gas-flow channels rather than land areas. This insight provides a critical step toward designing more stable and durable electrolyzers, paving the way for efficient large-scale CO2 conversion into fuels and chemicals.
High brightness far-red light plays a crucial role in enhancing photosynthetic efficiency and crop yield in plant factories. Here, Cr3+-activated silicate ceramics with near-unity internal quantum efficiency and negligible thermal quenching were developed through full crystallization of glass precursors. Importantly, Ba2+ substitution for Ca2+ in Y2CaAl4SiO12:Cr3+ strengthens the local crystal field, tuning the emission into a narrow far-red band well matched with phytochrome absorption. The optimized ceramics enable 27% wall-plug efficiency in far-red pc-LEDs and record 2.1 W output in laser-driven sources, highlighting their potential as robust all-inorganic color converters for high-power plant-growth lighting.
Facing the increased severely environmental challenges and energy shortages, the development of new green energy systems to replace the traditional fossil fuels has become more urgent for human being. Hydrogen (H2) is regarded as the environmentally friendly and renewable energy resource for the future. Its unparalleled virtue lies in the fact that its combustion byproduct is exclusively water. Alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) technology is recognized as one of the most promising methods for hydrogen production, while its widespread adoption has been impeded by the high associated costs, its global market share remains negligible, at less than 4%. Reducing the cost of alkaline water electrolysis for the production of green hydrogen is a common challenge for countries around the world. The limited elemental abundance and high cost of noble metal electrocatalysts like Pt and RuO2 constrain their large-scale application. Therefore, the development of bifunctional non-precious metal electrocatalysts with a high catalytic activity, low cost, and excellent stability is essential to significantly improve the energy efficiencies of AWE.
A study in Forest Ecosystems revealed that Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) in Europe partly originated in a 17th-century practical agroforestry innovation, and not exclusively in a 19/20th-century academic debate as previously thought. The research into forestry history traced the development of CCF all the way from early agroforestry, through individual-based silviculture, and eventually to the later academic debate, offering historical insights for modern sustainable forest management.
A study in Forest Ecosystems reveals that two closely related evergreen oaks (Quercus aquifolioides and Quercus spinosa) in the Himalayan-Hengduan Mountains adapt to different climates through adjustments in leaf trait integration and modularity, with the high-altitude species having flexible traits for harsh conditions and the lowland one showing tightly coordinated traits for efficiency. It also notes the findings’ value for conservation and understanding species’ responses to climate change.
Inspired by oriented and Bouligand structures in natural organisms with remarkable strength and toughness, this study aims to construct biomimetic HA bioceramics with fine microstructures at nanoscale and microscale to enhance the mechanical properties. An innovative magnetic field-assisted 3D printer was developed to create oriented and Bouligand structural HA ceramics under weak magnetic field strengths (58 mT - 116 mT).
This article has developed an integrated multifunctional composite by combining SiCN ceramics, porous ceramics, and phase change materials via a vacuum impregnation process. The resulting composite achieves an impressive minimum reflection loss of -31.29 dB. Leveraging its phase change property, the PCM effectively buffers temperature fluctuations within the composite. When heated at 90℃ for 42 minutes, the composite maintains a significant temperature difference of 36.6℃ from the external thermal load—this unique thermal buffering capability ensures the material delivers stable thermal insulation and reliable infrared stealth performance. This innovative design offers valuable new insights for advancing the development of multifunctional electromagnetic wave-absorbing materials.
Wind and solar energy are central to China’s pursuit of carbon neutrality and energy transition. From a system-wide perspective, this study examines the future development of wind power, photovoltaic (PV), and concentrated solar power (CSP), covering forecasting methodologies, power system flexibility, energy storage integration, and cross-sector coupling. By 2060, the combined installed capacity of wind and solar is projected to reach 5,496–7,662 GW, accounting for more than 83% of the nation’s total capacity. Despite progress in technological maturity and cost reduction, challenges remain in terms of limited generation efficiency, high storage costs, insufficient grid flexibility, and policy coordination. This paper further proposes a sustainable development roadmap centered on wind–solar synergies.