The effect of gallium on the oxide film structure and overall oxidation resistance of low melting point Sn–Bi–Zn alloys was investigated under air atmosphere using thermogravimetric analyses. The liquid alloys studied had a Ga content of 1–7 wt.%. The results showed that the growth rates of the surface scale formed on the Sn–Bi–Zn–Ga alloys conformed to the parabolic law. The oxidation resistance of Sn–Bi–Zn alloys was improved by Ga addition and the activation energies increased from 12.05 kJ∙mol⁻¹ to 22.20 kJ∙mol⁻¹. The structure and elemental distribution of the oxide film surface and cross-section were found to become more complicated and denser with Ga addition. Further, the results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction show that Ga elements accumulate on the surface of the liquid metal to form oxides, which significantly slowed the oxidation of the surface of the liquid alloy.

Harvesting environmental vibrations to power electronic components is an essential approach for addressing the power supply challenge in MEMS. However, conventional vibration energy harvesting systems frequently suffer from limited frequency bandwidth and high-frequency deficiencies. This paper proposes a novel up-frequency structure for piezoelectric vibration energy harvesting (VEH) that relies on both nonlinear magnetic force and piecewise linear force. The proposed VEH’s nonlinear dynamic characteristics are analyzed theoretically, and an experimental prototype machining and vibration test platform are constructed. Theoretical and experimental results are compared and analyzed by conducting basic experiments and key parameter optimization experiments. The research results demonstrate that the proposed VEH can efficiently harvest vibration energy in low-frequency and wide-band environments. Regarding the system parameters, higher vibration acceleration results in increased output voltage and wider working frequency bandwidth. Reducing the gap distance enhances piecewise linear vibration, which broadens the working frequency bandwidth. Furthermore, the proposed VEH’s ability to harvest low-frequency vibrations can be enhanced by reducing the magnet distance, thereby reducing the linear resonance frequency of the system. The findings of this study offer valuable insights for advancing the engineering application of MEMS self-power supply technology.

The specific heat capacity plays a crucial role in influencing the heat transfer efficiency of materials. Considering the relatively low specific heat capacity of metals, this study focuses on investigating the impact of second-phase nano Ni particles on the microstructure and thermophysical properties of the alloy matrix. The alloys’ phase compositions and microstructures were examined using X-ray diffraction phase analysis (XRD), electron probe micromorphology analysis (EPMA), and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). Furthermore, the thermophysical properties of the alloys were comprehensively analyzed through the employment of a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and the laser flash method (LFA). The addition of second-phase nanoparticles significantly increased the specific heat capacity of the alloy in the liquid state; however, the phenomenon of nanoparticle agglomeration diminishes this improvement. The analysis of the specific heat enhancement mechanism indicates that ordered states are formed between the second-phase solid nanoparticles and the melted metal in the liquid state. With the increase in temperature, the destruction of these ordered states requires additional heat, resulting in the increase of specific heat capacity.

In the fields of nuclear engineering and solar thermal utilization, low melting point alloys with excellent thermal conductivity and heat transfer performance have attracted extensive research as a new generation of heat transfer fluids, leading to many fundamental and important application issues. This study investigates the high-temperature corrosion behavior of Sn-50Bi-2Zn (wt.%) heat transfer alloy against 304 stainless steel (304), 310S heat-resistant steel (310S), and 20 carbon steel (20C) at 600 °C. Theoretical analysis, based on Fick’s diffusion law, and experimental measurements reveal significant differences in corrosion severity. After 473 h, 20 carbon steel exhibited the lowest corrosion layer thickness (0.07 mm), while 310S suffered the most severe corrosion (1.50 mm), exceeding 304SS (0.83 mm) by 81%. Diffusion coefficients derived from Sn penetration depths further quantified these trends: D310S = 2.51 × 10⁻⁷ mm²/s (6.8 × higher than 304: 3.7 × 10⁻⁸ mm²/s) and D20C = 2.87 × 10⁻¹⁰ mm²/s (128 × lower than 304SS). XRF analysis confirmed the dissolution of steel components into the molten alloy, with Fe, Cr, and Ni content increasing to 0.382 wt.%, 0.417 wt.%, and 0.694 wt.%, respectively, after 480 h. These results underscore the critical role of Ni content in accelerating Sn/Zn diffusion and pore formation, providing actionable insights for material selection in high-temperature heat transfer systems.