The multiwalled carbon nanotubes thin-film-based electrode was fabricated by electrophoretic deposition and modified with copper (Cu) nanoparticles to fabricate Cu/CNTs nanocomposite sensor for nonenzymatic glucose detection. The expensive glassy carbon electrode was replaced by fluorine-doped tin oxide glass containing CNTs film to confine the Cu nanoparticles growth by electrodeposition through cyclic voltammetry (CV). The ultraviolet visible and X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the successful deposition of Cu nanoparticles on the CNTs-modified electrode. The atomic force microscopy images confirmed the morphology of electrodeposited Cu on CNTs film as uniformly dispersed particles. The electrocatalytic activity of electrode to the glucose oxidation was investigated in alkaline medium by CV and amperometric measurements. The fabricated sensor exhibited a fast response time of less than 5 s and the sensitivity of 314 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻² with linear concentration range (0.02–3.0 mM) having detection limit 10.0 μM. Due to simple preparation of sensor, Cu/CNTs nanocomposite electrodes are a suitable candidate for reliable determination of glucose with good stability.

Nanocrystalline and amorphous Mg₂Ni-type (Mg₂₄Ni₁₀Cu₂)_100–xNd_x (x = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20) alloys were prepared by melt-spinning technology. The structures of as-cast and spun alloys were characterised by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Electrochemical performance of the alloy electrodes was measured using an automatic galvanostatic system. The electrochemical impedance spectra and Tafel polarisation curves of the alloy electrodes were plotted using an electrochemical work station. The hydrogen diffusion coefficients were calculated using the potential step method. Results indicate that all the as-cast alloys present a multiphase structure with Mg₂Ni type as the major phase with Mg₆Ni, Nd₅Mg₄₁ and NdNi as secondary phases. The secondary phases increased with the increasing Nd content. The as-spun Nd-free alloy exhibited nanocrystalline structure, whereas the as-spun Nd-doped alloys exhibited nanocrystalline and amorphous structures. These results suggest that adding Nd facilitates glass formation of Mg₂Ni-type alloys. Melt spinning and Nd addition improved alloy electrochemical performance, which includes discharge potential characteristics, discharge capacity, electrochemical cycle stability and high-rate discharge ability.

The effects of chloride and thiosulfate ions on localized corrosion of alloy 800 are investigated through dynamical observation of the change in phase image of the diffusion layer during passive film breakdown using digital holography. The results indicate that solution chemistry has a significant effect on film breakdown and diffusion layer. The phase distribution changes at different applied potentials show that in the process of film breakdown, dissolution of metal ions from pitting is not remarkable in chloride-only solution, whereas dissolution of metal ions is significantly high in thiosulfate and chloride solution. Thiosulfate has a combined effect with chloride ions in passive film degradation.

A 0.2C-1.5Mn-1.5Si-0.6Cr-0.05Nb (wt%) steel is treated respectively by novel quenching-partitioning-tempering (Q-P-T) process and traditional quenching and tempering (Q&T) process for comparison. X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that Q-P-T steel has about 10% retained austenite, but Q&T steel hardly has one. With the increase of compression strain rate from 7 × 10² to 5 × 10³ s⁻¹, the flow stress of Q-P-T steel increases, which demonstrates the positive strain rate effect, but does not exist in Q&T steel. The characterization of scanning electron microscopy indicates that a large number of long, straight martensite laths in Q-P-T steel will bend or be destroyed by large compressive strain of 35% at 5 × 10³ s⁻¹. However, relative small compressive strain of about 5% at 7 × 10² s⁻¹ almost does not have any effect on the original lath morphology. The characterization of transmission electron microscopy further reveals the origin of the positive strain rate effect and the microstructural evolution during dynamic compressive deformation.

Electron irradiation effects on phase stability of the E (Al₁₈Cr₂Mg₃) phase have been investigated by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The in situ HRTEM observations show that the Al₁₈Cr₂Mg₃ particles with different thickness undergo amorphization and dissolution under 300 keV electron irradiation at 25 °C. The results indicate that the intermetallic compound Al₁₈Cr₂Mg₃ is unstable under electron irradiation, and structural changes mainly depend on the thickness of particles. Amorphization in the thick particles is caused by a combination of chemical disordering and an increase in point defect concentration. Dissolution after amorphization in the thin particles is attributed to the diffusion of point defect towards the Al matrix.

The effect of Ca addition on the microstructure and impression creep properties of AS31 magnesium alloy was investigated in the current study. The results showed that the microstructure of AS31 alloy is composed of α(Mg) phase, massive Mg₁₇Al₁₂ and some Chinese script Mg₂Si compounds. Addition of 2 wt% Ca to AS31 alloy resulted in complete elimination of Mg₁₇Al₁₂ phase and formation of Al₂Ca compound. Ca improved the alloy’s creep properties especially at higher temperature. Improvement in the creep properties was attributed to the elimination of soft Mg₁₇Al₁₂ and formation of thermally stable Al₂Ca compound. According to the obtained stress exponent and creep activation energy, pipe diffusion climb-controlled creep was estimated as the dominant creep mechanism and Ca had no influence on the dominant mechanism.

In this work, the electrochemical behaviors of SAM2X5 Fe-based amorphous alloy coating and hard chromium coating were comparatively studied in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. In comparison with the hard chromium coating, the SAM2X5 coating exhibited a wider and stable passive region with lower passive current density in the potentiodynamic polarization and showed a considerably lower current density at different anodic potentials in the potentiostatic polarization. In order to understand the passivation mechanism of the Fe-based amorphous coating, the components of the passive films formed at various polarization potentials were examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The synergistic effect of Mo, W, Mn and Cr in the passive films was systemically analyzed. It has been revealed that Mo and W facilitate the formation of compact and stable Cr₂O₃ passive film at lower potentials, and the substantial enrichment of Mn in the passive film enhances the passivation ability at relatively higher potentials. The deep understanding of the passivation characteristics in multicomponent alloy systems could provide a guide for the design of corrosion-resistant amorphous alloy coatings for engineering applications.

The effect of sintering temperature on the densification mechanisms, microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of spark plasma sintered (SPS) compacts of a gas atomized Al-4.5 wt.%Cu alloy was investigated. The powder particles whose size varied between 10 to 500 µm was subjected to SPS at 400, 450 and 500 °C at a pressure of 30 MPa. The compact sintered at 500 °C exhibited fully dense microstructure which was characterized by a uniform distribution of the secondary phase, free of dendrites and micro-porosity. Microscopy and the SPS data reveal that the events such as particle rearrangement, localized deformation and bulk deformation appear to be the sequence of sintering mechanisms depending on the size range of powder particles used for consolidation. The compact sintered at 500 °C exhibited the highest hardness and compression strength since the microstructure was characterized by fine distribution of precipitates, large fraction of submicron grains and complete metallurgical bonding.

It is well known that, in kinetics, the interaction between dislocations and interstitial solute normally exerts strong solute drag effect on dislocations, leading to strong solution hardening of the metals. However, due to the low mobility of interstitial solute in many metals, thermodynamic aspect of the interaction between dislocations and interstitial solute is often unobservable and omitted. It will be shown in this article by reviewing the H-induced behaviors in metal–H systems, especially the recent progress in Pd–H system that, when the interstitial solute atoms are highly mobile and able to collect in the vicinity of mobile dislocations easily, the scenario will be remarkably different. The interaction between dislocations and these highly mobile interstitial solute atoms, in thermodynamics, will reduce the line energy of dislocations and will facilitate the generation of dislocations, leading to an increase in dislocation density and an enhanced strain hardening of metals upon plastic deformation.

A novel laminated Al₂O₃/TiC/CaF₂-Al₂O₃/TiC sandwich ceramic composite was fabricated through cold pressing and sintering to achieve better anti-wear performance, such as low friction coefficient and low wear rate. Al₂O₃/TiC/CaF₂ and Al₂O₃/TiC composites were alternatively built layer-by-layer to obtain a sandwich structure. Solid lubricant CaF₂ was added evenly into the Al₂O₃/TiC/CaF₂ layer to reduce the friction and wear. Al₂O₃/TiC ceramic was also cold pressed and sintered for comparison. Friction analysis of the two ceramics was then conducted via a wear-and-tear machine. Worn surface and surface compositions were examined by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersion spectrum, respectively. Results showed that the laminated Al₂O₃/TiC/CaF₂-Al₂O₃/TiC sandwich ceramic composite has lower friction coefficient and lower wear rate than those of Al₂O₃/TiC ceramic alone because of the addition of CaF₂ into the laminated Al₂O₃/TiC/CaF₂-Al₂O₃/TiC sandwich ceramic composite. Under the friction load, the tiny CaF₂ particles were scraped from the Al₂O₃/TiC/CaF₂ layer and spread on friction pairs before falling off into micropits. This process formed a smooth, self-lubricating film, which led to better anti-wear properties. Adhesive wear is the main wear mechanism of Al₂O₃/TiC/CaF₂ layer and abrasive wear is the main wear mechanism of Al₂O₃/TiC layer.