Olivine-structure LiFePO₄ is considered as promising cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. However, the material always sustains poor electron conductivity, severely hindering its further commercial application. In this work, zinc oxide and carbon co-modified LiFePO₄ nanomaterials (LFP/C-ZnO) were prepared by an inorganic-based hydrothermal route, which vastly boosts its performance. The sample of LFP/C-xZnO (x = 3 wt%) exhibited well-dispersed spherical particles and remarkable cycling stability (initial discharge capacities of 138.7 mAh/g at 0.1 C, maintained 94.8% of the initial capacity after 50 cycles at 0.1 C). In addition, the cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) disclose the reduced charge transfer resistance from 296 to 102 Ω. These suggest that zinc oxide and carbon modification could effectively minimize charge transfer resistance, improve contact area, and buffer the diffusion barrier, including electron conductivity and the electrochemical property. Our study provides a simple and efficient strategy to design and optimize promising olivine-structural cathodes for lithium-ion batteries.

As-cast in-situ nanoparticle reinforced CuSn10Zn2Fe1.5Co0.5 (wt-%) alloy was selected as base metal (BM) and filler for welding. Butt joints were obtained by tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding. Microstructure of weld metal was characterised. Nanoparticles with an average diameter of about 5 nm are uniformly dispersed in the primary copper matrix in size of micro or nano scales for weld metal. A large number of nano grains with size of about 20 nm can be found in the weld metal as well. Mechanical properties of weld metal were comparable to those of heat-treated BM. Strengthening and toughening strategies for the weld metal were discussed through fabricating in-situ nanoparticles and nano grains in the weld metal.

The exceptional mechanical properties of advanced high-strength steels make them highly attractive for armor protection applications. Advancing the use of 45Si2MnCr2Mo ultra-high strength steel (UHSS) in armor systems requires a thorough understanding of its dynamic mechanical response. This work employed a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) to perform dynamic compressive tests on 45Si2MnCr2Mo UHSS processed under various tempering conditions. The investigation focused on how tempering temperature influences the UHSS’s dynamic compressive strength, overall mechanical behavior, and energy absorption upon fracture. Experimental findings reveal a progressive decline in dynamic compressive strength with rising tempering temperature. In contrast, the quasi-static yield strength first increases, then decreases, and subsequently increases again with rising tempering temperature. The quasi-static yield strength reaches a peak value of approximately 2000 MPa at a tempering temperature of 220°C. At this specific tempering condition, the material demonstrates a dynamic compressive strength of roughly 2500 MPa, a maximum strain of 0.15, and a fracture energy absorption of 414 J/mm ³ . These results suggest a favorable combination of strength and toughness, indicating excellent comprehensive mechanical properties. The variation trend of fracture absorption energy is consistent with that of the dynamic critical fracture strain, implying a positive correlation between fracture absorption energy and dynamic critical fracture strain.