30 October 2025, Volume 56 Issue 10

    

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Focuses & Concerns
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  The effect of molecular weight of polyvinyl butyral onparameters of batching and casting in MLCC

  ZHU Dongping, WANG Xin, WANG Hongxian, HOU Shaoxing, WANG Xiaohui

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10001-10008. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.001

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  Polyvinyl butyral (PVB) has good compatibility with other additives, strong dimensional stability, and high tensile strength, making it widely used in the batching process of multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC). This article investigates the effects of three different molecular weights of PVB on the viscosity of binder and ceramic slurries, the tensile strength of binder sheets and ceramic films, the dispersibility of ceramic slurries, the microstructure of green films, and the electrical properties of MLCC. Experiments have shown that when the PVB molecular weight increases from 53 000 and 95 000 to 110 000, the viscosity of binder increases by 37.70% and 150.00%, respectively. The viscosity of the ceramic slurry increases by 43.97% and 69.85%, respectively. The tensile strength of the green film increases by 26.38% and 52.08%, respectively. Furthermore, a thorough analysis is conducted on the mechanism of changes in viscosity and tensile strength. When the PVB molecular weight is 95 000, a flat and dense green film is obtained, and the MLCC prepared has excellent electrical properties. When the molecular weight of PVB increases to 110 000, the difficulty of batching process increases due to the high viscosity of the binder. Therefore, it is more reasonable to use a molecular weight type of 95 000 when casting a film with a thickness of about 20 μm.
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  Preparation and properties study oflow-temperature curing polyimides containing isoquinoline moieties

  PAN Haonan, DU Qiyuan, YUAN Huibo, WANG Bolin, LU Zhiyu, TAN Wanyi, MIN Yonggang

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10009-10016. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.002

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  As for microelectronics, low-temperature curable polyimide(LPI) is highly desirable. Introducing low-temperature curable accelerators is one of the effective ways to promote cyclization. Among these methods, the curing catalyst units in the main chain can endow PI with high dimensional thermal stability, but it may influence the cyclization of poly(amic acid) due to the steric hindrance effect between adjacent polymer chains.Herein, we incorporate isoquinoline-based amines into PI main chains to afford low-temperature curable PIs with high dimensional thermal stability. In this paper, LPIs with high dimensional thermal stability were obtained by preparing monomers containing an isoquinoline structure and immobilising basic groups inside the molecular chains. In contrast to the reference PI ODA-PMDA, isoquinoline-based PIs can reach high imidization degree at low curing temperature of 200 ℃. Attributed to the stronger basicity of isoquinoline and the smaller steric hindrance effect when catalyzing the adjacent poly(amic acid) chains, isoquinoline-based polymers exhibit stronger catalytic activity. In addition, the isoquinoline-based molecular chains can form intermolecular hydrogen bonds with adjacent molecular chains, leading to more regular chain packing structure. Thus, low CTE of 14.1 ppm/K -15.8 ppm/K in the range of 50 ℃ to 200 ℃ is achieved.
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  A novel flame-retardant electrolyte forsodium-ion batteries based on acetal molecule diluents

  ZHOU Haoran, GAO Yanfeng, LIU Yu

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10017-10024. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.003

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  In this work, a new flame-retardant sodium-ion electrolyte and its stabilization mechanism in sodium-ion batteries were investigated. We introduced dimethyl acetal (DA) into the conventional flame-retardant electrolyte system of trimethyl phosphate (TMP). While maintaining the inherent flame-retardant properties of the electrolyte, the adverse effects of TMP on the cycling performance of hard carbon anode materials were mitigated. Compared with the electrochemical performance of the electrolyte without DA (ETP), the electrolyte with DA (EDT) improved the electrochemical performance of the battery significantly. Furthermore, based on the multi-scale characterization techniques and other electrochemical tests, the electrochemical performance and post-cycling SEI film composition of hard carbon half-cells and full-cells using EDT and ETP electrolytes were comparatively analyzed. And the results showed that the hard carbon half-cells using EDT electrolyte could still offer a discharge specific capacity of 300 mAh/g after cycling for 150 cycles at 0.2 C (1 C=300 Ma/g), and the cycling performance was significantly better than that with the ETP electrolyte. In addition, the HC‖NVP full cell with EDT electrolyte showed a discharge specific capacity of 100 m Ah/g (based on NVP cathode) for 100 cycles with no capacity degradation at a current density of 20 Ma/g, and the capacity retention rate was more than 80% for 500 cycles at higher current density of 100 Ma/g, which proved the feasibility of the new EDT electrolyte improving the performance of the sodium-ion batteries. The new flame-retardant electrolyte designed in this paper can promote the development and application of organic sodium-ion batteries.
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  The influence of acidic and alkaline environments on the preparation of8YSZ powder via oxalate coordination precipitation

  ZHOU Jinlong, WU Kejing, LU Houfang, HU Qiang

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10025-10031. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.004

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  Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) materials, known for their excellent mechanical properties, thermal stability, and high oxygen ionic conductivity at elevated temperatures, are widely applied in solid oxide cells (SOCs). This study, through oxalic acid coordination, investigates the co-precipitation of Zr⁴⁺ and Y³⁺ under acidic and basic conditions, exploring the effects of pH environment on the characteristics of YSZ powders prepared via oxalate precipitation. A detailed discussion of the formation mechanism of oxalate precursors under varying pH conditions is presented. Results indicate that under neutral conditions, the 8YSZ powders yield dense films with small grains and low activation energy after sintering, while under alkaline conditions, the resulting dense films exhibit large grains and numerous oxygen vacancies. Acidic conditions, however, are less favorable for powder sintering and the formation of tetragonal/cubic zirconia phases. By adjusting the acidic and basic environment, the sintering and electrochemical performance of YSZ powders can be significantly enhanced.
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  Preparation and performance study ofa novel Co²⁺ colorimetric probe CDAH

  YANG Shili, XU Peipei, GUANG Shanyi, XU Hongyao

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10032-10038. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.005

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  A functional colorimetric probe (CDAH) was designed and prepared by using coumarin derivatives as the fluorescent group and salicylhydrazide as the ligand through the Schiff base reaction. This probe can specifically recognize Co²⁺ in a DMSO and water solution (v/v, 9/1) and form a coordination compound with Co²⁺, with the solution color changing from light green to yellow. The experimental results show that after adding Co²⁺ to the probe solution, the UV-Vis absorption wavelength of the complex specifically weakens at 380 nm and enhances at 431 nm. Meanwhile, the probe shows no obvious response to other metal ions, indicating its good specificity and anti-interference ability. Additionally, the probe CDAH has high sensitivity with a detection limit of 1.04×10^-6 mol/L and high accuracy. Job-Plot curves, NMR titration, mass spectrometry experiments, and theoretical simulation calculations confirm that the probe forms a 1∶1 coordination compound with Co²⁺. Moreover, the probe can also be applied to water environment detection, with good sensitivity and high accuracy. The portable test paper experiment shows that the CDAH test paper can visually identify Co²⁺.
Review & Advance
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  Research progress on piezoelectric nylon

  MA Xiaopeng, ZHENG Yi, HOU Chunyue, WANG Xiaodong

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10039-10050. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.006

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  Piezoelectric nylon materials exhibit excellent flexibility, mechanical stability, and high-temperature stability, exhibiting broad application prospects in numerous fields such as transducers, sensors, and energy-harvesting devices. Nevertheless, nylon materials have a relatively low piezoelectric coefficient, and their piezoelectric mechanism is still unclear. This restricts their large-scale applications. Therefore, there are many ways to regulate the piezoelectric coefficient of nylon, and then clarify the working mechanism of piezoelectric nylon. This paper first analyzes the piezoelectric mechanism of nylon materials and summarizes different types of methods for regulating the structure and properties of piezoelectric nylon materials, among which electrospinning methods are extensively studied. Finally, this paper summarizes the applications of piezoelectric nylon materials and outlines the prospects of its research direction in the future.
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  Research progress on phase change heat transfer enhancement technology

  DA Jinlong, WEN Jianjun

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10051-10062. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.007

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  Phase change heat storage is the accumulation and release of heat through reversible state changes, and the heat transfer efficiency between high and low temperature media and phase change materials is one of the key factors affecting its heat storage effect. PCMs have good temperature control and high energy storage density in their phase change temperature range, but they generally face the challenge of insufficient thermal conductivity, so they need to be optimized by heat transfer enhancement technology. Based on the types and characteristics of phase change materials and their heat transfer mechanisms, this paper introduces several single heat transfer enhancement technologies such as fins, heat pipes, nanoparticles and porous materials, and also analyzes the combined heat transfer enhancement technologies of heat pipes and fins, heat pipes and porous materials, fins and nanoparticles, fins and porous materials, and nanoparticles and porous materials. The research status of cascade heat transfer enhancement and convective heat transfer enhancement is analyzed, and as well as the unique advantages of these heat transfer enhancement methods in improving heat storage performance. Finally, the limitations of phase change heat transfer enhancement technology are summarized, and its future application potential is prospected, emphasizing the need to combine theory and practice to optimize the performance of phase change heat storage system in tmic benefits.
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  Research progress on the design and applications of ultra-black materials

  ZHANG Tianci, ZHAO Weiwei, LIU Xiaoqing

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10063-10070. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.008

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  Materials with a light absorption rate greater than 97% are commonly referred to as ultra-black materials. Due to their excellent light-absorbing properties, ultra-black materials demonstrate broad application prospects in fields such as precision optics, solar energy harvesting, infrared thermal detection, and military camouflage. In addition to their intrinsic black properties, ultra-black materials also feature finely designed surface microstructures to achieve ultra-black levels, both of which are essential components of ultra-black materials. This article categorizes the different materials in the current ultra-black field into metal-based ultra-black, biomass-based ultra-black, carbon-based ultra-black, and polymer-based ultra-black materials. The preparation methods, structural designs, and performance characterization of these four types of ultra-black materials are outlined, alongside a summary of their advantages and disadvantages. Finally, the practical applications and future development of ultra-black materials are discussed.
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  Progress on transition metalmolybdate electrocatalysts

  QIAO Guanyu, JIA Ziyi, FAN Yanjie, BAO Weiwei, HAN Jie, JIANG Peng, AI Taotao

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10071-10083. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.009

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  As a pivotal catalytic technology, electrocatalysis has demonstrated tremendous potential across energy, environment, and chemical engineering domains. The development of stable, efficient, and cost-effective electrocatalysts constitutes one of the central challenges in this field. Transition metal molybdate electrocatalysts have recently emerged as a promising class of materials owing to their unique physicochemical properties, including abundant catalytically active sites and exceptional structural stability. This review systematically summarizes recent advancements in transition metal molybdate-based electrocatalysts, with particular emphasis on their performance metrics and mechanistic insights in key electrocatalytic processes, hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO₂RR). A critical analysis of current challenges, including insufficient activity under industrial conditions and long-term durability concerns, is presented through comprehensive structure-activity correlations. Finally, the future research directions and development trends in this field are envisioned, aiming to provide a comprehensive reference for the further research and application of transition metal molybdate electrocatalysts.
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  Research progress of black photothermal coatings

  QIN Zizhou, YANG Yumeng, ZHANG Guangqian, ZHANG Yang, ZHU Benfeng, LIU Jiao, GUO Weirong, WEI Guoying

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10084-10099. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.010

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  With the rapid advancement of economy and technology, the demands for coatings have become increasingly stringent. Black coatings, characterized by their high absorption and emission rates, play a pivotal role in fields such as aerospace and precision equipment. This paper reviews the types of common black coatings as well as the advantages and disadvantages of their preparation methods. Black coatings can be categorized into two main types, metal-based composite coatings and carbon nanotube composite coatings. While carbon nanotube composite coatings exhibit excellent light absorption capabilities, their wear resistance is relatively poor. In contrast, metal-based composite coatings demonstrate superior overall performance and are more widely applicable. The methods for preparing metal-based composite coatings include electrodeposition, chemical deposition, spraying, and micro-arc oxidation. Among these, electrodeposition stands out as an excellent method due to its ability to control coating structure by adjusting process parameters, thereby enhancing coating performance. Additionally, electrodeposition is simple and environmentally friendly. The fundamental properties of black coatings are high light absorption and thermal radiation performance. However, current coating performance falls short of meeting the growing application demands, representing a significant research bottleneck. Factors influencing coating performance primarily include the process parameters, the electrolyte composition, and the coating structure. This article summarizes commonly used black coatings, their preparation methods, and the factors affecting their performance, aiming to improve their overall performance. Finally, the paper outlines future directions for black coatings, including continuous enhancement of absorption and emission rates, improved durability, and the expansion of application scenarios.
Research & Development
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  First-principles study of the electronic structure,optical and mechanical properties of Pr₂TeSiO₄

  ZHANG Guohao, HU Chaohao, WANG Dianhui, ZHONG Yan

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10100-10105. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.011

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  The crystal structure, electronic properties, optical properties, and mechanical characteristics of orthorhombic Pr₂TeSiO₄ were studied by first-principles calculations. By employing the HSE hybrid functional, the bandgap of Pr₂TeSiO₄ was accurately determined to be 2.78 eV, which categorizing it as a direct bandgap semiconductor with promising photocatalytic applications. The optical analysis showed that Pr₂TeSiO₄ possesses a high refractive index and robust light absorption in the visible spectrum, displaying anisotropic optical behavior across different crystallographic axes. Additionally, the computed elastic constants suggest a high mechanical stability of Pr₂TeSiO₄, further confirming its directional anisotropy. This research lays a vital theoretical groundwork and offers scientific insights for advancing the development and utilization of this material.
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  Mo substitution for Si in regulating the crystallization behaviorand soft magnetic properties of FeSiBCCu nanocrystalline alloys

  CHEN Zicheng, ZHU Qianke, CHEN Zhe, KANG Shujie, ZHANG Kewei

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10106-10114. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.012

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  The energy-saving and miniaturization of electromagnetic devices require better performance of soft magnetic materials. However, the development of low-loss amorphous/nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials remains a significant challenge. In this work, the effects of Mo substitution for Si on the glass forming ability (GFA), annealing window and soft magnetic properties of Fe₈₀Si_4-xB₁₄C₁Cu₁Mo_x(x=0,0.3,0.6,0.9,1.2%) ribbons were studied. The results showed that with the addition of Mo element, the GFA of the ribbons first decreased and then increased. From the thermodynamic point of view, with the addition of Mo from 0 to 0.9%, the annealing window ΔT_x(=T_x2-T_x1) increased from 93.3 °C to 119.6 °C, widening by 28%. The grain growth activation energy (E_p1) increased from (383±26) kJ/mol to (423±36) kJ/mol, which inhibited the diffusion of atoms and refined the grains. The Fe₈₀Si_3.1B₁₄C₁Cu₁Mo_0.9 ribbon possesses outstanding comprehensive soft magnetic properties after being annealed at 445 ℃ for 3 min, with a coercivity (H_c) of 3.2 A/m, an effective magnetic permeability (μ_e) of 12 900, and a saturation magnetic induction (B_s) of 1.67 T. After the addition of Mo, the reduction of the average grain size (D) (from 32.3 nm to 20.8 nm) and the enhancement of the smoothness of the magnetic domain structure were the causes for the attainment of excellent soft magnetic properties. The newly developed Fe₈₀Si_3.1B₁₄C₁Cu₁Mo_0.9 ribbon provides a promising candidate for high-performance soft magnetic applications.
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  Preparation and performance study of PEN/Al₂O₃ flexible barrier film

  SUN Xiaojie, CHEN Lanlan, FENG Wei

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10115-10120. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.013

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  Aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) films were prepared by thermal atomic layer deposition (T-ALD) and plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) using PEN as the flexible substrate material, respectively. By comparison, it was found that the ratio of O to Al elements of the Al₂O₃ film prepared by PEALD at 80 ℃ was closer to the standard value, and the purity of the film was higher. The film thickness inhomogeneity was lower, only 1.43%, indicating that the quality of the film was better under this condition. In addition, PEALD technology was used to deposite Al₂O₃ film at 80, 100 and 120 ℃, respectively, and the results showed that when the temperature was increased to 120 ℃, the surface roughness of Al₂O₃ film with 300 cycles was the lowest, which was 0.48 nm, the density of the film gradually increased to 2.97 g/cm³, and the water vapor transmission rate was the lowest, which was 1.955×10^-3 g/m²/d.
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  Construction of ruthenium based high-efficiency electrocatalysts loaded oncarbon nanotubes and their performance in hydrogen oxidation in alkaline media

  JIN Jun, ZHENG Jiayue, WANG Shuxiong, DU Zifu, LIU Juanjuan, FANG Sitao, LI Nan, DA Fan, JIAN Xuan

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10121-10128. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.014

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  Hydrogen (H₂), as a clean energy carrier, is considered a candidate for the next generation of energy. Hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells convert hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂) chemical energy into electrical energy, among which the precious metal Pt is considered to be the best electrode material due to its good catalytic performance, but their scarce resources and high price (US$963.58/oz) directly limit their large-scale practical application. Based on this, Ruthenium (Ru) was successfully prepared by hydrothermal method by loading ruthenium (Ru) on carbon nanotube (CNT). Firstly, the surface morphology and valence structure of the catalyst were characterized by transmission electron microscopy(TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), respectively. Then, a detailed investigation of the electrocatalytic hydroxide performance was carried out in 0.1 M KOH electrolyte. Electrochemical test data shows that the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) performance of Ru-CNT catalyst is superior to that of commercial 20% Pt/C catalyst: at an overpotential of 50 mV, the kinetic current density of Ru-CNT catalyst can reach 14.49 mA/cm² (commercial 20% Pt is 5.05 mA/cm²), and the apparent exchange current density is 1.59 mA/cm² (commercial 20% Pt is 1.34 mA/cm²), and after a 12 000 s stability test, it still maintains high catalytic activity.
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  Research on the effects of hydrogen evolution on the morphologicalevolution and functional properties of electrodeposited copper powder

  WANG Zejia , AN Juan, XIA Wentang, YANG Wenqiang, YIN Yakun , Miseyoupo, YANG Mei, WANG Hongdan

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10129-10135. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.015

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  During the electrochemical preparation of copper powder, both the electrodeposition of copper powder and the evolution of hydrogen gas occur simultaneously on the cathode surface. To further investigate the impact of hydrogen evolution on the dendritic growth and functional properties of copper powder, electrodeposition experiments were conducted on both cylindrical and planar cathodes. The results showed that on the cylindrical cathode, with the extension of electrolysis time, the hydrogen evolution efficiency gradually decreased while the fractal dimension increased. When the electrolysis time was 30 minutes, the hydrogen evolution efficiency and fractal dimension reached 41.73% and 1.86, respectively, which were the optimal values. Hydrogen evolution promoted the growth of copper powder dendrites into cluster structures with multi-level dendritic arms. On the planar cathode surface, copper powder particles preferentially grew near the pores formed by hydrogen evolution and gradually evolved into a dendritic structure. Increasing the current density led to a decrease in both copper powder particle size and bulk density. When the current density was 1 300 A/m², the copper powder particle size was 39.92 μm and the bulk density was 0.6474 g/cm³, which were the optimal values. Increasing the copper ion concentration caused the copper powder to gradually transform from a dendritic to a cauliflower-like structure, with an overall increase in particle size and bulk density. When the copper ion concentration was 6 g/L, the particle size and bulk density reached 42.71 μm and 0.6199 g/cm³, respectively, which were the most favorable conditions for hydrogen evolution. This paper explores the important role of hydrogen evolution in the dendritic growth of copper powder and the influence of key electrolysis parameters on the functional properties of copper powder, providing a reference for the controllable preparation of copper powder.
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  Study on preparation and properties of ultrafine composite mineral admixtures

  MING Yang, HUANG Dengke, LI Ling, QU Xinming, CHEN Feixiang, ZHANG Xin, TANG Xiaochun, YAO Dayou

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10136-10143. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.016

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  Multi-component solid waste was used to prepare ultrafine mineral admixtures. The effects of different grinding fineness on the fluidity and activity of multi-component solid waste admixtures were analyzed. The optimal ratio of raw materials was determined by orthogonal test, and the mechanism of action was analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry-differential thermogravimetry (TG-DTG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for microscopic morphology characterization. The results showed that the superfine composite mineral admixture with excellent performance can be prepared by using 35% slag, 39% water-quenching manganese slag, 20% steel slag and 6% desulfurized gypsum, adding 0.3% grinding activator to the specific surface area of 735 m²/kg. The test results showed that the fluidity ratio of cement sand can reach 99%, the activity index of 7 d can reach 89.2%, and the activity index of 28 d can reach 108%. The addition of ultrafine composite mineral admixtures can reduce the chloride ion permeability, hydration heat release rate and hydration heat release rate of cement-based materials. The research results provided a reference for the preparation of high quality mineral admixtures with multi-component solid waste, and have guiding significance for the utilization of low activity solid waste with high added value.
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  Preparation and thermal performance ofLiNO₃/NaCl@fumed silica phase change composites

  PAN Zicai, XIAO Bo, MO Songping, CHENG Wenke, JIA Lisi, CHEN Ying

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10144-10152. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.017

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  A LiNO₃/NaCl@fumed silica (FS) composite material was developed to address the issues of leakage and low thermal conductivity during the molten salt phase transition process, and its properties were studied. After leakage tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterizations, it was found that the optimal content of FS was 15%. To enhance the thermal conductivity of the composite material, LiNO₃/NaCl@FS composite material doped with MgO nanoparticles were prepared, and their microstructure and composition were characterized by SEM and energy-dispersive spectroscopy, respectively. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction results indicated that the adsorption process did not alter the chemical and crystalline structure of the PCM. Differential scanning calorimetry results showed that the melting temperature and latent heat of fusion for the LiNO₃/NaCl@FS+1%MgO composite were 224.5 °C and 261.8 kJ/kg, respectively. The thermal conductivity of the composite suspensions was measured using a Hot Disk thermal constants analyzer, and it was found that the thermal conductivity of the LiNO₃/NaCl@FS+3%MgO composite suspension increased by 14.4% compared to the LiNO₃/NaCl@FS suspension. The results demonstrate that the LiNO₃/NaCl@FS+MgO composite PCM exhibits good phase change performance, thermal conductivity, and thermal reliability, showing promising potential for application in the field of medium-temperature thermal energy storage.
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  Adsorption performance of levofloxacin on modified peanut shellbiochar

  WANG Lei, FANG Zhen, XIE Lei

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10153-10161. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.018

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  Using potassium hydroxide (KOH) as a modifier and peanut shells as the raw material, post-modified biochar (Post-MBC) was synthesized. The Post-MBC was characterized using nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. The study explored the influencing factors and adsorption mechanisms of Post-MBC for levofloxacin (LEV). The results indicated that the specific surface area of Post-MBC was 241.14 m²/g, which was 3.02 times higher than that of unmodified biochar. The total pore volume increased by fourfold. The average pore diameter decreased by 0.6 nm. The micropore volume reached 0.08 cm³/g, representing a 2.98-fold increase compared to unmodified biochar. Under optimal conditions, temperature of 25 ℃, pH of 4 and adsorption time of 120 min, the removal efficiency of 50 mL of 10 mg/L LEV by 0.05 g of Post-MBC was 98.94%, which was 400% higher than that of unmodified biochar. The adsorption process was exothermic and spontaneous, primarily driven by chemical adsorption and controlled by various diffusion steps. The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model, while the isotherm data fit well with the Freundlich model. KOH-modified peanut shell biochar exhibited excellent selectivity in removing LEV.
Process & Technology
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  Preparation of Au@Mg²⁺-Sn₃O₄/SnO₂ microflower andits ethanol sensitivity

  LUO Qing, LI Zhenyu, YAN Guilong, WANG Li, WU Yuanpeng, CHEN Jingyu

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10162-10170. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.019

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  In this study, Mg²⁺-Sn₃O₄/SnO₂ microflowers was successfully prepared by combining the hydrothermal method and the sintering technology. Au nanoparticles were successfully attached to the surface of the microflowers using ultraviolet (UV) reduction technology to form Au@Mg²⁺-Sn₃O₄/SnO₂ microflower. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) clearly detected the formation and evolution of the micronflowers. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that the introduction of Mg²⁺ ions could effectively inhibit the phase transition from Sn₃O₄ to SnO₂ during high-temperature sintering, and the optimal doping amount was 3 at%. The co-doping of Au and Mg²⁺ can effectively reduce the optimal operating temperature of Sn₃O₄/SnO₂ for ethanol detection, enhance the response, shorten the response and recovery time, and realize a long-range linear response.
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  Fabrication of CeO₂/Fe-NiO heterogeneous nanoparticles withhigh performance for oxygen evolution reaction

  SUN Haojie, GUO Ruihua, WANG Ruifen, WANG Li, ZHANG Guofang, LIU Yuanyuan

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10171-10181. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.020

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  Electrolytic water splitting is valued for its advantages such as zero carbon emissions and sustainability in practical applications. However, the high energy barrier and slow reaction kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode limit the development of efficient water electrolysis for hydrogen production. Consequently, the importance of designing OER catalysts that are low-cost, highly efficient, and stable is increasingly highlighted. In this study, a heterogeneous nano-catalyst based on Fe-doped NiO solid solution as the substrate and CeO₂ as the second phase, namely CeO₂/Fe-NiO, was prepared by co-precipitation and calcination methods. The excellent synergistic effect between CeO₂ and Fe-NiO optimizes the adsorption of active intermediates and reduces the energy required for electron transfer during the reaction, thereby exhibited superior catalytic performance under alkaline conditions, with the overpotential η₁₀, Tafel slope and double-layer capacitance (C_dl) of OER were 198.7 mV, 63.48 mV/dec and 2.76 mF/cm², respectively. The catalyst prepared in this study has the advantages of diverse composition, abundant global reserves of matrix elements and good catalytic performance, which provides theoretical support for the exploration and development of efficient, inexpensive, stable and durable water electrolysis catalysts in alkaline environment.
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  Preparation and light-responsive antimicrobial characterization ofBTO/MoS₂ nanorod arrays on titanium

  CHEN Junyi, LU Shuxin, YAO Xiaohong, ZHANG Xiangyu

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10182-10187. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.021

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  Postoperative bacterial infections are one of the major causes of clinical bone implantation failure, and light-responsive antimicrobial coatings have the advantages of being remotely controllable and non-resistant in the treatment of implantation site infections. In this paper, barium titanate/molybdenum disulfide (BTO/MoS₂) nanoarrays were constructed in situ on a titanium substrate by hydrothermal treatment. The synthesis of BTO/MoS₂ nanoarrays was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The degradation experiments with methyl violet (MV) and nitrotetrazolium blue chloride (NBT) verified that the BTO/MoS₂ nanoarrays were able to generate hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and superoxide anion radicals (O2^-·) stably and efficiently under 808 nm light. In vitro antimicrobial experiments showed that the BTO/MoS₂ nanoarrays had excellent killing ability against Staphylococcus aureus under 808 nm light, and the antimicrobial rate reached 99.1%.
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  Electrical properties of NaNbO₃-doped BNT-based ferroelectric ceramics

  PAN Ziyue, MA Xianlei, GAO Mengmeng, LI Miao, REN Jiayu, JI Hongfen, JI Xiaomiao

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10188-10193. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.022

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  The ceramics (1- x)[0.6(Bi_0.5Na_0.4K_0.1) _0.955Er _0.03TiO₃- 0.4[2/ 3(SrTiO₃)- 1/ 3(Bi(Mg_{2 / 3}Ni_{1/ 3})O₃)]] - x NaNbO₃ (x=0.15,0.3,0.45,0.6) was prepared using the solid-state reaction method, and their phase structure, microstructure, dielectric properties, and energy storage characteristics were investigated. The results indicate that the ceramics exhibit good dielectric temperature stability (25℃ to 365℃) based on a reference temperature of 150℃. The P-E hysteresis loops shows that the samples exhibit a relatively long hysteresis characteristic, suggesting that the doping of NaNbO₃ affects long-range order of the ferroelectric domains, disrupting their ordered arrangement and leading to changes in the polarization process. Among the different doping ratios, the sample with x=0.3 shows the best energy storage performance, with an effective energy density of 1.18 J/cm³, an energy efficiency of 81.8%, and a breakdown field strength of 170 kV/cm. This research demonstrates that NaNbO₃ doping can effectively modulate the electric domains and polarization behavior of ceramic materials, significantly improving energy storage performance, and provides new insights into the development of environmentally friendly ceramic capacitor materials with a wide dielectric temperature range.
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  Effect of La_1-xSr_xMnO₃ electrodes on ferroelectricity of Hf_0.5Zr_0.5O₂

  JING Sifan, BAI Zhijin, CHAI Linxue, HU Shuai, XU Zedong

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10194-10199. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.023

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  HfO₂-based thin films demonstrate significant potential for next-generation device applications, particularly in high-density logic devices and non-volatile memory architectures, owing to the excellent compatibility with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) processing technology and the ability to maintain robust ferroelectric properties at the nanoscale dimensions. The effective modulation of metastable ferroelectric phases (orthorhombic phase), as well as the optimization of ferroelectricity in HfO₂ thin films, is crucial for achieving high-performance ferroelectric devices. In this study, we systematically investigated the influence of La_1-xSr_xMnO₃ (L(S)MO) bottom electrodes with variable Sr concentration on both the orthorhombic phase and ferroelectric polarization characteristics of Hf_0.5Zr_0.5O₂ (HZO) films. Comprehensive characterization through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and ferroelectric polarization measurements revealed that the Sr concentration of the L(S)MO significantly affects the ferroelectricity of HZO films. The HZO films deposited on La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ (30% Sr concentration) exhibited the highest intensity of the ferroelectric orthorhombic phase diffraction peak and achieved a maximum polarization of 25 μC/cm². The observed positive correlation between polarization and the orthorhombic phase diffraction peak intensity provides compelling evidence for the ferroelectric nature of the orthorhombic phase. This study provides experimental foundations for bottom electrode selection for epitaxial HZO films, offering insights into the design and performance optimization of HfO₂-based ferroelectric devices.
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  Effect of Bi₂O₃ secondary insulation on the dielectric properties of SrTiO₃

  XIAO Menghang, GUO Tong, FENG Kai, HE Chuangchuang, PANG Jinbiao, XIE Qiang, YANG Changping

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10200-10205. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.024

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  This study investigated the effects of Bi₂O₃ secondary insulation on the dielectric properties of SrTiO₃ (STO) grain boundary layer capacitor ceramic substrates. Additionally, the phase composition, crystal structure, morphology, and elemental valence states of the STO samples before and after secondary insulation were characterized using techniques such as XRD, SEM, and XPS. The results indicate that under the condition of 1 000 ℃×5 min, after secondary insulation with Bi₂O₃, the STO sample exhibited a significant increase in insulation resistance, rising from 21 GΩ to 299 GΩ, a 14-fold improvement, while the dielectric constant and loss remained almost unchanged. It indicates that the secondary insulation of Bi₂O₃ is an effective new method to improve the ceramic insulation resistance value and comprehensive dielectric performance of STO grain boundary layer capacitors.
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  The impact of binary eutectic phase change materials on asphalt performance

  MA Feng, PANG Meng, ZHOU Li, FU Zhen, DAI Jiasheng

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10206-10212. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.025

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  Organic eutectic phase change materials (PCMs) are recognized for their superior latent heat properties and stable phase transition temperatures, offering potential for zero-energy temperature regulation in asphalt pavements. To investigate the impact of eutectic PCMs on the performance of asphalt binders, a binary eutectic PCM composed of stearic acid and myristic acid (SA/MA-PCM) was selected as the thermal management unit. This PCM was incorporated into SBS-modified asphalt at varying concentrations (2, 4, 6 and 8 wt%) to produce phase change-modified asphalt. The crystalline and chemical structures of the binary eutectic PCM were analyzed using polarized light microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The performance of the phase change-modified asphalt was evaluated through multiple tests, including penetration, ductility, softening point, Brookfield rotational viscosity, and dynamic shear rheology. The results indicated that when the SA/MA-PCM content reached 8 wt%, the ductility of the asphalt increased, the cooling rate slowed, and the low-temperature performance improved. However, the Brookfield viscosity and complex modulus G^* decreased, the rutting factor G^*/sinδ and creep recovery rate R declined, and the non-recoverable creep compliance J_nr increased, indicating a reduction in high-temperature rutting resistance. Conversely, the fatigue factor G^*·sinδ decreased, suggesting an improvement in fatigue resistance.
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  Adsorption-photocatalytic synergistic removal of iodide ions fromaqueous solution by Ag₂O@TiO₂-PAN composite membrane

  NIE Liang, ZENG Yi, DENG Huiyu, WANG Shiping, CHEN Qingchun

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10213-10220. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.026

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  The presence of radioactivity and excessive iodide ion in aqueous solution pose a risk to the environment and public health. Compared with chemical precipitation, ion exchange and membrane separation, adsorption is a facile method with low cost, however, the recovery of particle adsorbents is difficult. In this experiment, a new approach was adopted, and an easily recyclable Ag₂O@TiO₂-PAN composite membrane prepared by electrospinning was applied for iodide ions removal from aqueous solution. The incorporation of Ag₂O and TiO₂ were verified by the analysis of scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The adsorption capacity of the membrane for iodide ions increased with the increase of TiO₂ dosage. A-T-PAN-05 membrane prepared by introducing 0.05 g TiO₂ exhibited the maximum adsorption capacity with 85.61 mg/g and the adsorption kinetics conforms to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Combined with the photocatalytic effect, the removal rate of iodide ions reached 94.9%, which showed a good application prospect.
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  Selective leaching of lithium from LiFePO₄ powder byelectrochemical method

  YANG Xiaona, WU Teng, WANG Lei, WANG Xudong, AN Jiajun

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10221-10231. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.027

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  The spent lithium iron phosphate (LFP) powder was loaded on graphite felt (GF) as the anode, and a graphite sheet was used as the cathode. The lithium in the cathode material of spent LFP batteries was leached by an electrochemical method. The effects of five factors, namely voltage, LFP loading, pH, reaction temperature, and electrolyte concentration, on the lithium leaching efficiency were explored in detail using the control variable method. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and other analytical techniques were employed to characterize the morphology, structure, elemental composition, and valence state changes of LFP during the leaching process, and its physicochemical properties and the leaching mechanism were analyzed in depth. The analysis of the apparent leaching kinetics indicated that the leaching process was initially controlled by surface chemical reactions (R²=0.988), and after 1 h of the leaching reaction, it was controlled by the diffusion of Li⁺ (R²=0.995). The results demonstrated that, without adding any acid solution or oxidant, this study could still achieve the efficient leaching and recovery of Li⁺. The leaching rate of Li⁺ reached 98.27%, the leaching rate of iron ions was less than 0.05%, the recovery rate of Li⁺ was 92.53%, and the purity of the obtained Li₃PO₄ product was 99.6%.
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  Sulfur-doped ruthenium dioxide forhighly efficient acid oxygen evolution reaction

  LENG Shunxin, ZHAO Hao, YANG Chenlu, CHEN Chi, LI Jun, WANG Guoliang, YANG Hui

  Journal of Functional Materials. 2025, 56(10): 10232-10236. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-9731.2025.10.028

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  Ru based oxides present high electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in acidic media, while commercial RuO₂ demonstrates poor stability since it’s prone to dissolve during the OER process. In this work, we used thiourea as the sulfur source and controlled sulfur content within RuO₂ catalysts through thermochemical methods. Research indicates that the formation of Ru-O-S structure by S doping can effectively improve the activity and stability of RuO₂. Significantly, RuO₂ doped with 1.34% S results in an OER overpotentials of 268 mV at 10 mA/cm² and presents a long-term stability of 50 h. Future studies of Ru-O-S structure show that S can generate high-valent Ru sites through bridging oxygen, which enhances the OER activity.