The substitutional doping approach has been shown to be an effective strategy to improve ZT of Bi₂Te₃-based thermoelectric raw materials. We herein report the Fe-doping effects on electronic and thermal transport properties of polycrystalline bulks of p-type Bi_0.48Sb_1.52Te₃. After a small amount of Fe-doping on Bi/Sb-sites, the power factor could be enhanced due to the optimization of carrier concentration. Additionally, lattice thermal conductivity was reduced by the intensified point-defect phonon scattering originating from the mass difference between the host atoms (Bi/Sb) and dopants (Fe). An enhanced ZT of 1.09 at 300 K was obtained in 1.0 at% Fe-doped Bi_0.48Sb_1.52Te₃ by these synergetic effects.

Anode‐free Li‐ion batteries (AFLBs) and Li‐metal batteries (LMBs) offer superior energy densities compared to conventional Li‐ion batteries with graphite anodes. However, they degrade faster owing to their lower Coulombic efficiency, primarily caused by uneven Li deposition on the current collector (CC) in AFLBs or the Li‐metal anode (LMA) in LMBs. Coating CCs and LMAs has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance the CE. Coating CCs and LMAs with PtTe₂, PdTe₂, and NiTe₂—metallic 2D transition metal dichalcogenides—reveals the critical factors for achieving uniform Li plating. The PtTe₂ coating facilitates rapid Li surface diffusivity, while the PdTe₂ and NiTe₂ coatings provide shorter diffusion paths for Li adatoms on the CCs and LMAs. In addition, Li₂Te, formed as a byproduct of the decomposition of PdTe₂ and NiTe₂ during Li plating, reduces the critical nucleus size by minimizing the interfacial energy between the electrolyte and the plated Li. PtTe₂ more effectively enhances the AFLB cycling performance, whereas PdTe₂ and NiTe₂ are more advantageous for LMBs. Notably, a 5‐nm‐thick PdTe₂ coating on the LMA achieves 80% capacity retention after 450 cycles using a LiFePO₄ cathode (3 mAh cm⁻²) at a 0.5 C‐rate.

This study demonstrates the feasibility of a novel casting process called tailored additive casting (TAC). The TAC process involves injecting the melt several times to fabricate a single component, with a few seconds of holding between successive injections. Using TAC, we can successfully produce commercial-grade automotive steering knuckles with a tensile strength of 383 ± 3 MPa and an elongation percentage of 10.7 ± 1.1%, from Al 6061 alloys. To produce steering knuckles with sufficient mechanical strength, the composition of an Al 6061 alloy is optimized with the addition of Zr, Zn, and Cu as minor elements. These minor elements influence the thermal properties of the melt and alloy, such as their thermal stress, strain rate, shrinkage volume, and porosity. Optimal conditions for heat treatment before and after forging further improve the mechanical strength of the steering knuckles produced by TAC followed by forging.

Redesigning anode structures in Li‐ion batteries (LIBs) has been a focus of research aimed at surpassing the energy density of conventional LIBs. Although anode‐free LIBs present a promising architecture, their low Coulombic efficiency is a major drawback. This paper introduces a novel hybrid anode that integrates the current collector (CC) and active materials into a single, cohesive porous structure, which supports both de/intercalation and de/plating reactions. The hybrid anode consists of a porous Cu matrix with embedded ZrO₂ powders and graphite; the quantity of graphite is only a third of that present in a traditional graphite anode. The porous structure and additives enhance the electrochemical performance of the hybrid anode by minimizing the Li–electrolyte interactions, forming a stable solid–electrolyte interface and Li₄Zr₃O₈ passivation layer, and reducing the nucleation overpotential. Especially, the unique surface morphology, characterized by a negative curvature between sintered Cu particles, lowers the diffusion potential, which further reduces the nucleation overpotential. Additionally, the periodic mesh‐imprinted top surface, created via screen printing, promotes uniform Li plating. The results demonstrate that the cycling performance and energy density offered by the fabricated hybrid anode are superior to those of conventional graphite anodes.