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| Open AccessMetals strengthen with increasing temperature at extreme strain rates
Microballistic impact testing at strain rates greater than 106 s−1 shows that pure metals, including copper, gold and titanium, become stronger with increasing temperature.
- Ian Dowding
- & Christopher A. Schuh
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Article
| Open AccessElectric recycling of Portland cement at scale
Recovered cement paste can be reclinkered if used as a partial substitute for the lime–dolomite flux used in steel recycling, which can reduce waste and carbon emissions.
- Cyrille F. Dunant
- , Shiju Joseph
- & Julian M. Allwood
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Growth of diamond in liquid metal at 1 atm pressure
Diamond crystals and polycrystalline diamond films can be grown using liquid metal at standard pressure and high temperature instead of conventional high pressure and high temperature.
- Yan Gong
- , Da Luo
- & Rodney S. Ruoff
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High fatigue resistance in a titanium alloy via near-void-free 3D printing
We successfully rebuild an approximate void-free additive manufacturing microstructure in Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy by the development of a void-free additive manufacturing processing technique through an understanding of the asynchronism of phase transformation and grain growth.
- Zhan Qu
- , Zhenjun Zhang
- & Zhefeng Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessTwisted-layer boron nitride ceramic with high deformability and strength
A bulk ceramic composed of interlocked boron nitride nanoplates with a laminated structure of twist-stacked nanoslices is created using hot-pressing and spark plasma sintering, which exhibits large elastic and plastic deformability and high strength at room temperature.
- Yingju Wu
- , Yang Zhang
- & Yongjun Tian
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| Open AccessGreen steel from red mud through climate-neutral hydrogen plasma reduction
Red mud is shown to yield green steel through fossil-free hydrogen-plasma-based reduction, a simple and fast method involving rapid liquid-state reduction, chemical partitioning, and density-driven and viscosity-driven separation.
- Matic Jovičević-Klug
- , Isnaldi R. Souza Filho
- & Dierk Raabe
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Negative mixing enthalpy solid solutions deliver high strength and ductility
A HfNbTiVAl10 alloy shows tensile ductility and ultrahigh yield strength from the addition of aluminium to a HfNbTiV alloy, resulting in a negative mixing enthalpy solid solution, which promotes strength and favours formation of hierarchical chemical fluctuations.
- Zibing An
- , Ang Li
- & Xiaodong Han
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| Open AccessDisordered enthalpy–entropy descriptor for high-entropy ceramics discovery
DEED captures the balance between entropy gains and costs, allowing the correct classification of functional synthesizability of multicomponent ceramics, regardless of chemistry and structure, and provides an array of potential new candidates, ripe for experimental discoveries.
- Simon Divilov
- , Hagen Eckert
- & Stefano Curtarolo
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Structural transition and migration of incoherent twin boundary in diamond
We report atomic observations of six incoherent twin boundary configurations and structural transitions in diamond at room temperature, showing a dislocation-mediated mechanism different from metallic systems and shedding new light on grain boundary behaviour.
- Ke Tong
- , Xiang Zhang
- & Yongjun Tian
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Three-dimensional atomic structure and local chemical order of medium- and high-entropy nanoalloys
Atomic electron tomography is used to determine the 3D atomic positions and chemical species of medium- and high-entropy alloy nanoparticles and quantitatively characterize the local lattice distortion, strain tensor, twin boundaries, dislocation cores and chemical short-range order.
- Saman Moniri
- , Yao Yang
- & Jianwei Miao
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Multiscale stress deconcentration amplifies fatigue resistance of rubber
A rubber in which highly entangled long polymers strongly adhere with rigid particles deconcentrates stress across multiple scales, amplifying the fatigue threshold.
- Jason Steck
- , Junsoo Kim
- & Zhigang Suo
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A stable atmospheric-pressure plasma for extreme-temperature synthesis
A plasma set-up consisting of a pair of carbon-fibre-tip-enhanced electrodes enables the generation of a uniform, ultra-high temperature and stable plasma (up to 8,000 K) at atmospheric pressure using a combination of vertically oriented long and short carbon fibres.
- Hua Xie
- , Ning Liu
- & Liangbing Hu
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Dynamic diagnosis of metamaterials through laser-induced vibrational signatures
A high-throughput, non-contact framework is described that uses the laser-induced vibrational signatures of metamaterials to non-destructively quantify their omnidirectional elastic information, dynamic linear properties, damping properties and defects.
- Yun Kai
- , Somayajulu Dhulipala
- & Carlos M. Portela
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Article
| Open AccessVision-controlled jetting for composite systems and robots
We have developed an automated and high-throughput, three-dimensional, vision-controlled inkjet deposition process that enables the high-resolution, contactless printing of a range of materials with varying elastic moduli to create complex structures and robots.
- Thomas J. K. Buchner
- , Simon Rogler
- & Robert K. Katzschmann
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On the origin of diffuse intensities in fcc electron diffraction patterns
Some of the diffuse intensities observed in electron diffraction patterns of face-centred cubic multi-principal element alloys are due to reflections from higher-order Laue zones.
- Francisco Gil Coury
- , Cody Miller
- & Michael Kaufman
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Multistable sheets with rewritable patterns for switchable shape-morphing
To demonstrate the power of multistability, a specific class of groovy metasheets is introduced as a new shape-morphing platform that allows repeated switching from the flat state to multiple, precisely selected and stable three-dimensional shapes.
- A. S. Meeussen
- & M. van Hecke
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Autonomous healing of fatigue cracks via cold welding
We report that fatigue cracks in pure metals can undergo intrinsic self-healing; they were observed to heal by crack flank cold welding induced by local stress state and grain boundary migration.
- Christopher M. Barr
- , Ta Duong
- & Brad L. Boyce
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Homomeric chains of intermolecular bonds scaffold octahedral germanium perovskites
We report assembly of an organic scaffold within perovskite structures, resulting in the suppression of the lone pair expression of Ge and templating the symmetric octahedra.
- Amin Morteza Najarian
- , Filip Dinic
- & Edward H. Sargent
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Organic–inorganic covalent–ionic molecules for elastic ceramic plastic
Covalent organic molecules can be combined with ionic inorganic molecules to create a hybrid material demonstrating paradoxical mechanical properties in a bottom-up manner, enabling the manufacture of an ‘elastic ceramic plastic’.
- Weifeng Fang
- , Zhao Mu
- & Zhaoming Liu
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Article
| Open AccessStrong and ductile titanium–oxygen–iron alloys by additive manufacturing
Combining alloy design with additive manufacturing process design creates α–β titanium–oxygen–iron alloys that are both strong and ductile, with the potential to revitalize off-grade sponge titanium and thereby reduce the carbon footprint of the titanium industry.
- Tingting Song
- , Zibin Chen
- & Ma Qian
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| Open AccessA 3D printable alloy designed for extreme environments
The authors develop a new oxide-dispersion-strengthened NiCoCr-based alloy using a model-driven alloy design approach and laser-based additive manufacturing, showing how such designs can provide superior compositions using far fewer resources than previous methods.
- Timothy M. Smith
- , Christopher A. Kantzos
- & John W. Lawson
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Additive manufacturing of micro-architected metals via hydrogel infusion
An additive manufacturing technique that infuses 3D printed hydrogels with metallic precursors leads to metallic micromaterials, providing new opportunities for the fabrication of energy materials, micro-electromechanical systems and biomedical devices.
- Max A. Saccone
- , Rebecca A. Gallivan
- & Julia R. Greer
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Low-hysteresis shape-memory ceramics designed by multimode modelling
Combining computational thermodynamics and data science tools with lattice engineering enables the design of shape-memory ceramics with reduced hysteresis.
- Edward L. Pang
- , Gregory B. Olson
- & Christopher A. Schuh
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Anomalous slip in body-centred cubic metals
Observations by transmission electron microscopy of deforming niobium and tungsten at low temperature shows that anomalous slip in body-centred cubic metals arises from the unusually high mobility of multi-junctions, which is a source of softening.
- Daniel Caillard
- , Baptiste Bienvenu
- & Emmanuel Clouet
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A dynamically reprogrammable surface with self-evolving shape morphing
The work presents a reprogrammable metasurface, constructed from a matrix of filamentary metal traces, that can precisely and rapidly morph into a wide range of target shapes and dynamic shape processes.
- Yun Bai
- , Heling Wang
- & Xiaoyue Ni
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Aerial additive manufacturing with multiple autonomous robots
An additive manufacturing method using a team of autonomous aerial robots allows for scalable and adaptable three-dimensional printing, and is used to deposit building materials during flight.
- Ketao Zhang
- , Pisak Chermprayong
- & Mirko Kovac
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Atomically engineered interfaces yield extraordinary electrostriction
A system consisting of alternating thin films of two dielectrics is used to produce greatly enhanced electrostriction derived from coherent strain imparted by interfacial lattice discontinuity.
- Haiwu Zhang
- , Nini Pryds
- & Vincenzo Esposito
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Strong yet ductile nanolamellar high-entropy alloys by additive manufacturing
An additive manufacturing strategy is used to produce dual-phase nanolamellar high-entropy alloys that show a combination of enhanced high yield strength and high tensile ductility.
- Jie Ren
- , Yin Zhang
- & Wen Chen
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Dislocation-induced stop-and-go kinetics of interfacial transformations
Environmental transmission electron microscopy is used to reveal that mismatch dislocations modulate the interfacial transformation of copper oxide to copper metal in an intermittent manner.
- Xianhu Sun
- , Dongxiang Wu
- & Guangwen Zhou
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Article
| Open AccessCoherent interfaces govern direct transformation from graphite to diamond
The discovery of graphite–diamond hybrid carbon, Gradia, which consists of graphite and diamond nanodomains interlocked through coherent interfaces, clarifies the long-standing mystery of how graphite turns into diamond.
- Kun Luo
- , Bing Liu
- & Yongjun Tian
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Article
| Open AccessHypocrystalline ceramic aerogels for thermal insulation at extreme conditions
Hypocrystalline ceramic aerogels with a zig-zag architecture show high thermal stability under thermal shock and exposure to high temperature, providing a reliable material system for thermal insulation at extreme conditions.
- Jingran Guo
- , Shubin Fu
- & Xiangfeng Duan
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Uniting tensile ductility with ultrahigh strength via composition undulation
A nanocrystalline metallic alloy with ultrahigh tensile strength and good ductility is achieved by introducing compositional undulation in a highly concentrated solid solution.
- Heng Li
- , Hongxiang Zong
- & Jun Sun
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Matters Arising |
Models of flow through sponges must consider the sponge tissue
- Sally P. Leys
- , Eugueni Matveev
- & Gitai Yahel
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Article
| Open AccessHydrogen trapping and embrittlement in high-strength Al alloys
Atom-scale analysis of hydrogen and other elements at the grain boundaries of a 7xxx aluminium alloy shows that co-segregation of elements favours grain boundary decohesion, and that hydrogen embrittlement is prevented by strong partitioning into the second-phase particles.
- Huan Zhao
- , Poulami Chakraborty
- & Dierk Raabe
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A highly distorted ultraelastic chemically complex Elinvar alloy
A chemically complex alloy that exhibits a high elastic strain limit and low internal friction is described; it also has an Elinvar effect (invariant elastic modulus) over a large temperature range, up to 627 °C.
- Q. F. He
- , J. G. Wang
- & Y. Yang
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Selective sulfidation of metal compounds
A framework for selective sulfidation is proposed for the practical separation and enrichment of numerous metallic elements, to enable environmentally and economically sustainable metal processing.
- Caspar Stinn
- & Antoine Allanore
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Ultrahard bulk amorphous carbon from collapsed fullerene
Preparing amorphous phases of carbon with mostly sp3 bonding in bulk is challenging, but macroscopic samples that are nearly pure sp3 are synthesized here by heating fullerenes at high pressure.
- Yuchen Shang
- , Zhaodong Liu
- & Bingbing Liu
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Exploding and weeping ceramics
A study demonstrates that a range of different behaviours—from reversible, through weeping, to explosive—can be exhibited by a chemically homogeneous ceramic system by manipulating conditions of compatibility in unusual ways.
- Hanlin Gu
- , Jascha Rohmer
- & Richard D. James
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An elastic metal–organic crystal with a densely catenated backbone
A rubber-like, metal–organic crystal is reported with a mechanically interlocked catenane backbone, which could allow for easy guest molecule uptake and release.
- Wenjing Meng
- , Shun Kondo
- & Hiroshi Sato
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Perspective |
Mechanical computing
Computing approaches based on mechanical mechanisms are discussed, with a view towards a framework in which adaptable materials and structures act as a distributed information processing network.
- Hiromi Yasuda
- , Philip R. Buskohl
- & Jordan R. Raney
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Structured fabrics with tunable mechanical properties
A structured fabric constructed of linked hollow polyhedral particles (resembling chain mail) can be simply and reversibly tuned between flexible and rigid states; when it is compressed, its linked particles become jammed.
- Yifan Wang
- , Liuchi Li
- & Chiara Daraio
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Extreme flow simulations reveal skeletal adaptations of deep-sea sponges
High-performance hydrodynamic simulations show that the skeletal structure of the deep-sea sponge Euplectella aspergillum reduces the hydrodynamic stresses on it, while possibly being beneficial for feeding and reproduction.
- Giacomo Falcucci
- , Giorgio Amati
- & Sauro Succi
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Bifunctional nanoprecipitates strengthen and ductilize a medium-entropy alloy
Increased strength and ductility in a medium-entropy alloy of Fe, Ni, Al and Ti is demonstrated using nanoprecipitates that simultaneously hinder phase transformation and block dislocation motion.
- Ying Yang
- , Tianyi Chen
- & Easo P. George
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Cellular fluidics
Cellular fluidics provides a platform of unit-cell-based, three-dimensional structures for the deterministic control of multiphase flow, transport and reaction processes.
- Nikola A. Dudukovic
- , Erika J. Fong
- & Eric B. Duoss
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Perspective |
The rise of intelligent matter
Inanimate matter is beginning to show some signs of basic intelligence—the ability to sense, actuate and use memory, as controlled by an internal communication network in functional materials.
- C. Kaspar
- , B. J. Ravoo
- & W. H. P. Pernice
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Intrinsic toughening and stable crack propagation in hexagonal boron nitride
Single-crystal monolayer hexagonal boron nitride is unexpectedly tough owing to its asymmetric lattice structure, which facilitates repeated crack deflection, crack branching and edge swapping, enhancing energy dissipation.
- Yingchao Yang
- , Zhigong Song
- & Jun Lou
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Direct observation of chemical short-range order in a medium-entropy alloy
Direct experimental evidence of chemical short-range atomic-scale ordering (CSRO) in a VCoNi medium-entropy alloy is provided via diffraction and electron microscopy, analysed from specific crystallographic directions.
- Xuefei Chen
- , Qi Wang
- & En Ma
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Multistable inflatable origami structures at the metre scale
Origami-inspired multistable structures that can be inflated from flat to three dimensions have been designed; a library of foldable shapes is created and then combined to build metre-scale functional structures.
- David Melancon
- , Benjamin Gorissen
- & Katia Bertoldi
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Liquid-induced topological transformations of cellular microstructures
A two-tiered dynamic design strategy achieves topological transformations of two-dimensional polymeric cellular microstructures in a reversible and temporally controllable manner through exposure to different liquids.
- Shucong Li
- , Bolei Deng
- & Joanna Aizenberg