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HighlightsCritical solvation structure changes the hydrogen bond network through “catchers”.Catcher further arrests the active molecules to promote Zn2+ deposition.The Zn||Zn symmetric battery can stably cycle for 2250 h. Zn||V6O13 full battery achieved a capacity retention rate of 99.2% after 10,000 cycles.Aqueous Zn-ion batteries (AZIBs) have attracted increasing attention in next-generation energy storage systems due to their high safety and economic. Unfortunately, the side reactions, dendrites and hydrogen evolution effects at the zinc anode interface in aqueous electrolytes seriously hinder the application of aqueous zinc-ion batteries. Here, we report a critical solvation strategy to achieve reversible zinc electrochemistry by introducing a small polar molecule acetonitrile to form a “catcher” to arrest active molecules (bound water molecules). The stable solvation structure of [Zn(H2O)6]2+ is capable of maintaining and completely inhibiting free water molecules. When [Zn(H2O)6]2+ is partially desolvated in the Helmholtz outer layer, the separated active molecules will be arrested by the “catcher” formed by the strong hydrogen bond N–H bond, ensuring the stable desolvation of Zn2+. The Zn||Zn symmetric battery can stably cycle for 2250 h at 1 mAh cm−2, Zn||V6O13 full battery achieved a capacity retention rate of 99.2% after 10,000 cycles at 10 A g−1. This paper proposes a novel critical solvation strategy that paves the route for the construction of high-performance AZIBs.

The thermal runaway (TR) behavior and combustion hazards of lithium-ion battery (LIB) packs directly determine the implementation of firefighting and flame-retardants in energy storage systems. This work studied the TR propagation process and dangers of large-scale LIB packs by experimental methods. The LIB pack consisted of twenty-four 60 Ah (192 Wh) LIBs with LiFePO4 (LFP) as the cathode material. Flame performance, temperature, smoke production, heat release rate (HRR), and mass loss were analyzed during the experiment. The results indicated that TR propagation of the LIB pack developed from the outside to the inside and from the middle to both sides. The development process could be divided into five stages corresponding to the combustion HRR peaks. In the initial stages, the main factor causing LFP battery TR under heating conditions was the external heat source. With the propagation of TR, heat conduction between batteries became the main factor. Hazard analysis found that the HRRmax of the LIB pack was 314 KW, more than eight times that of a single 60 Ah battery under heating conditions. The LIB pack had higher normalized mass loss and normalized THR (6.94 g/Ah and 187 KJ/Ah, respectively) than a single LFP battery. This study provides a reference for developing strategies to address TR propagation or firefighting in energy storage systems.

The application of pulse power discharge (PPD) technology in the crushing and dismantling of concrete structures has characteristics related to both green and environmental protection, as well as safety and reliability, with broad application prospects in the construction and municipal engineering fields in dense urban areas. Nevertheless, the research into using this technology to break reinforced concrete (RC) slabs is very limited, while the influence of key parameters on the crushing effect of reinforced concrete slabs is not clear. To solve this problem, a finite element model of an RC slab was established by ABAQUS. The effect of a shock wave generated by PPD on the surrounding concrete was simulated by an explosion-load equivalent, and the development process of concrete crack was simulated by a cohesive force model. Based on the results of the model analysis, the effects of reinforcement spacing, as well as diameter and concrete strength on the crushing effect of RC slabs were investigated. The results show that the increase in reinforcement diameter and the decrease in reinforcement spacing have a significant effect on limiting the development of cracks. According to the development of cracks, they can be divided into three types: edge cracks, cracks between central holes, and cracks between edge holes. The influence of reinforcement spacing and diameter on the first two crack widths is the most obvious. The increase in concrete strength also reduces the width of cracks. Based on the analysis results, the calculation expressions of the crushing effect of the PPD technique on RC slabs were established, which provides theoretical support for the popularization and application of this technique.

This case report examines the diagnostic and therapeutic complexities presented by a patient with hepatic encephalopathy resulting from overlapping pathologies of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH). Highlighting the intricate relationship among these conditions, this study delineates the distinct and overlapping clinical features, diagnostic challenges, and therapeutic approaches. The patient exhibited atypical symptoms typical of NASH but lacked clear signs of cirrhosis, complicating both the diagnostic process and the therapeutic management. The diagnostic journey involved a nuanced assessment using multimodal imaging techniques, which were crucial in distinguishing between hepatic encephalopathy caused by cirrhosis and that due to NCPH. Treatment strategies had to be carefully tailored to address the specific etiological factors and pathology of the conditions involved, with particular attention to managing metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and abnormalities in lipid and glucose metabolism, frequently observed in both NASH and HBV. The case underscores the need for a comprehensive and individualized approach in managing complex hepatic conditions, especially when conventional diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols face limitations.

To address the critical challenges in pyrometallurgical recycling processes—such as poor feedstock adaptability, high energy consumption during roasting conversion, and the low added value of rare earth products—this study systematically investigated the mechanism and process optimization of ammonium bifluoride (NH4HF2) roasting for the recovery of neodymium–iron–boron (NdFeB) waste. Thermodynamic analysis confirmed the feasibility of the conversion reaction between NH4HF2 and the rare earth components in NdFeB waste. Single-factor experiments were conducted to examine the effects of roasting temperature, reaction time, and NH4HF2 dosage on rare earth recovery. The optimal conditions were a roasting temperature of 600 °C, a reaction time of 120 min, and a NH4HF2 dosage of 75 wt%, achieving a rare earth recovery rate of 98.81%. Furthermore, the response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to establish a quantitative model correlating process parameters with recovery efficiency. Variance analysis demonstrated that the model was highly significant (F = 136.94, p < 0.0001), with excellent agreement between actual and predicted values (R2 = 0.9944). Factor contribution analysis revealed that NH4HF2 dosage had the most pronounced impact on rare earth fluorination, followed by roasting temperature and reaction time. Under optimized conditions, the purified rare earth fluoride obtained after acid leaching reached a purity of 99.43%, providing high-quality raw material for producing high-value-added rare earth products.

A better residual stress prediction model can lead to more accurate life assessments, better manufacturing process design and improved component reliability. Accurate modeling of transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) is critical for improving residual stress simulation fidelity in advanced manufacturing processes. In this work, a novel TRIP model is implemented within a finite element framework to predict residual stress in quenched AISI 4140 steel cylinders. The proposed model incorporates a dual-exponential normalized saturation function to capture TRIP kinetics. Residual stress characterization through X-ray diffraction (XRD) is employed to validate the predictive capability of the finite element model that couples the new TRIP model. In addition, the performance of the new TRIP model in predicting residual stress is compared with traditional TRIP models such as Leblond and Desalos model. Systematic comparison of finite element models incorporating different TRIP models reveals that traditional TRIP models exhibit more deviations from the measurements, while the new TRIP model demonstrates more accurate predictive accuracy, with both the axial and hoop residual stress distribution curves showing a better degree of agreement with XRD results. The findings of this study provide a reliable numerical simulation tool for optimizing the quenching process, particularly for improving fatigue life predictions of critical components such as gears and bearings.

Estimating the latent heat flux ( λET ) accurately is important for water-saving irrigation in arid regions of Northwest China. The Penman-Monteith model is a commonly used method for estimating λET , but the parameterization of canopy resistance in the model has been a difficulty in research. In this study, continuous observation of λET during the growing period of maize and grassland in Northwest China was conducted based on the Bowen ratio energy balance (BREB) method and the Eddy covariance system (ECS). Two methods, Katerji-Perrier (K-P) and Garcıá-Santos (G-A), were used to determine the canopy resistance in the Penman-Monteith model and the estimation errors and causes of the two sub-models were explored. The results indicated that both models underestimated the λET of grassland and maize. The K-P model performed relatively well ( R 2 > 0.94), with the root mean square errors ( RMSE ) equaled 37.3 and 28.1 W/m 2 for grass and maize, respectively. The accuracy of the G-A model was slightly lower than that of the K-P model, with the determination coefficient ( R 2 ) equaled 0.90 and 0.92, and the RMSE equaled 46.2 W/m 2 (grass) and 42.1 W/m 2 (maize). The vapor pressure deficit ( VPD ) was the main factor affecting the accuracy of K-P and G-A sub-models. The error of two models increased with the increasing in VPD for both crops.

Using the quenching process to create a specific residual stress distribution in steel parts is a key method for improving their strength. Although finite element simulation can overcome the time-consuming and labor-intensive limitations of experimental measurements, accurately predicting the residual stress distribution in quenched steel parts remains a challenge for researchers and manufacturers. The initial yield strength weighting scheme used in finite element simulations has a significant impact on the results. To investigate the influence of initial yield strength weighting on the residual stress distribution in quenched steel cylinders, finite element models with different yield strength weightings have been developed. The results show that the large hardness difference between austenite and martensite can cause significant deviations between the residual stress predicted using linear weighting and the experimental results. The linear weighting scheme commonly used by researchers overestimates the yield strength of the austenite phase in the mixed-phase material during cooling, leading to an overestimation of residual stress. Employing nonlinear yield strength weightings, such as Leblond weighting, can significantly improve the computational accuracy of finite element models, yielding more reliable and consistent predictions. This improved accuracy in predicting residual stress using finite element simulation offers a powerful tool for optimizing the quenching process.

Although extensive research has been done on distortion of heat-treated steel parts, our understanding of heat-treated distortion in spiral bevel gears is far from complete. The cooling characteristics and phase transformation of spiral bevel gears during carburizing and quenching and the effect of quench rate on the uniformity of temperature and phase transformation have been investigated using a medium-alloyed Cr–Ni steel. A new thermodynamic-based model of M S (the start temperature of martensitic transformation) has been proposed, which incorporates both the effects of austenite grain size and carbon content gradient to investigate the kinetics of martensitic transformation during quenching. The effect of austenite grain size on M S was considered in the critical driving force calculation model for martensitic transformation, which includes terms for interfacial energy, strain energy and Hall–Petch energy. In addition, a new method was proposed to characterize the non-uniformity of temperature and martensite distribution across the tooth of the spiral bevel gear. The finite element method was utilized to solve the coupled carbon concentration field, temperature field and metallurgical field. Results show that the complex geometry of spiral bevel gears results in a significant degree of non-uniformity of temperature and phase transformation during carburizing and quenching. Higher quenching medium temperature can reduce the non-uniformity of temperature distribution, while the effect on the volume fraction of martensite formed is almost negligible. Research findings presented have the potential to benefit further research on distortions of spiral bevel gears.

In additive manufacturing, blended powders present a compelling alternative to pre-alloyed powders, offering enhanced compositional flexibility and circumventing the high costs associated with pre-alloyed powder production. In this work, a novel crack-free Ti-10AlMnScZrMgSiFe alloy (in wt.%) was prepared by laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) from a blended powder feedstock to investigate the microstructure and mechanical performance. Microstructural analysis confirmed a dual-phase microstructure comprising both alpha (α) and alpha prime (α′) phases. Further characterization revealed the presence of dense dislocations and nano-scale twins, intrinsic to the rapid solidification inherent in the L-PBF process. The as-printed alloy demonstrated an ultimate tensile strength of 1,075 MPa coupled with a total elongation of ∼10.0%. These superior properties are attributed to the synergistic strengthening effects of dense dislocations, nano-twins, and solid solution strengthening.