In this paper, the mechanism of neutron absorption and common reinforced particles is introduced, and recent research progress on different types of neutron-shielding materials (borated stainless steels, B/Al Alloy, B₄C/Al composites, polymer-based composites, and shielding concrete) for transportation and wet or dry storage of spent fuel is elaborated, and critical performance is summarized and compared. In particular, the most widely studied and used borated stainless steel and B₄C/Al composite neutron-absorption materials in the field of spent fuel are discussed at length. The problems and solutions in the preparation and application of different types of neutron-shielding materials for spent fuel transportation and storage are discussed, and their research priorities and development trends are proposed.

High entropy alloy attracts great attention for its high thermal stability and corrosion resistance. A CoCrFeNiMn high-entropy alloy coating was deposited on grey cast iron through plasma transfer arc cladding. It formed fine acicular martensite near the grey cast iron, with columnar grains perpendicular to the interface between the grey cast iron substrate and the cladding layer as well as dendrite in the middle part of the coatings. Simple FCC solid solutions present in the coatings which were similar to the powder’s structure. The coating had a microhardness of 300 ± 21.5 HV_0.2 when the cladding current was 80 A for the solid solution strengthening. The HEA coating had the highest corrosion potential of −0.253 V when the plasma current was 60 A, which was much higher than the grey cast iron’s corrosion potential of −0.708 V. Meanwhile, the coating had a much lower corrosion current density of 9.075 × 10⁻⁷ mA/cm² than the grey cast iron’s 2.4825 × 10⁻⁶ mA/cm², which reflected that the CoCrFeNiMn HEA coating had much better corrosion resistance and lower corrosion rate than the grey cast iron for single FCC solid solution phase and a relatively higher concentration of Cr in the grain boundaries than in the grains and this could lead to corrosion protection effects.

As advanced structural materials, titanium alloys have found extensive applications in aerospace, medical devices, and precision electronics industries, serving as critical components for achieving lightweight designs in high-end equipment. In aerospace applications, titanium alloy components are frequently subjected to complex thermo-mechanical loading conditions involving varying temperature levels and multiaxial stress states, which may induce progressive fatigue damage accumulation and ultimately lead to premature fracture failures. This study conducts a systematic investigation into the fatigue damage mechanisms of aerospace-grade titanium alloys under service conditions, with particular emphasis on elucidating the synergistic effects of microstructural characteristics, surface integrity parameters, and operational temperature variations on fatigue behavior. Through comprehensive analysis, the research reveals that surface modification techniques, including shot peening (SP), ultrasonic surface polling process (USRP), and laser shock peening (LSP), significantly enhance fatigue performance through two primary mechanisms: (1) the generated residual compressive stress fields effectively inhibit crack initiation and retard propagation rates; (2) improved surface integrity characteristics, such as reduced roughness and work-hardened layers, contribute to enhanced oxidation resistance thereby preserving structural integrity.

In this study, we synthesized spinel high-entropy oxide (HEO) (Cr_0.2Mn_0.2Co_0.2Ni_0.2Zn_0.2)₃O₄ nanoparticles by a simple solution combustion method. These particles were investigated for their performance as anodes in lithium-ion batteries. The reversible capacity is 132 mAh·g⁻¹ after 100 cycles at a current density of 100 mA·g⁻¹, 107 mAh·g⁻¹ after 1000 cycles at a current density of 1 A g⁻¹, and 96 mAh·g⁻¹ rate capacity at a high current density of 2 A g⁻¹. The outstanding cycle stability under high current densities and remarkable rate performance can be attributed to the stable structure originating from the high entropy of the material.