Ag nanoparticles were deposited onto TiO₂ nanotubes and a ZnS layer was further fabricated on the surface of the TiO₂/Ag nanotubes at room temperature to form a self-powered UV photodetector.

The microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of a Ti-Al-Cr-Nb alloy prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS) at different temperatures and stresses were investigated in detail. Sintering temperature plays a key role in the densification process and phase transformation, which determines the microstructure. The mechanical properties of the sintered alloys depend on the microstructure caused by the sintering. Furthermore, the densification process and mechanism of TiAl-based metallic powders during SPS were studied based on experimental results and theoretical analysis, the results of which will help fabricate these kinds of intermetallic alloys using a powder metallurgy technique and accelerate their industrial applications.

TiBw/TA15 (TA15 alloy reinforced by TiB whiskers) composites with network microstructures were successfully prepared by current-assisted sintering at 1100 °C for 10 min. The influence of the sintering parameters on the microstructures of obtained composites was investigated. The sintering temperature was the main factor affecting the average aspect ratio of TiBw, and the average diameter of TiBw could be controlled for various sintering conditions. Yield strength, ultimate compressive strength, and plastic strain at ambient temperature are 1172.5 MPa, 1818.4 MPa, and 22.4% for the TiBw/TA15 composites, respectively. Moreover, yield strength of the composites at 600 °C is 616.3 MPa, which is 26.1% higher than that of the TA15 titanium alloy. The effect of the TiBw on the microstructure evolution for the alloy matrix was discussed in detail. The strengthening mechanism of the TiBw/TA15 composites with network microstructure was attributed to the microstructure modification induced by TiBw, load bearing effect, and dislocation strengthening effect of the TiBw.