In this investigation, chromium (Cr) was adopted as an alloying element on a nickel substrate, and the alloying process was materialized via high-current pulsed electron beam (HCPEB) irradiation. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were also conducted for microstructure characterization. The results showed that after HCPEB irradiation a nanocrystalline Cr-Ni alloying layer was formed and numerous dislocations were generated, resulting in a great deal of diffusion paths for Cr elements. Moreover, properties including hardness, wear and electrochemical performance were significantly improved after HCPEB irradiation, which was mainly due to the formation of the nanocrystalline Cr–Ni alloying layer. In addition, each strengthening mechanism that contributed to the hardness of the HCPEB-irradiated sample was mathematically analyzed, and solid solution strengthening was found to be of great importance.

Atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) crystals have piqued the curiosity of researchers due to their unique features and potential applications, such as catalysis and ion batteries. One essential and desirable aspect of 2D materials is that they have a large photoreactive contact surface for optical absorption. Here, a 2D crystal is proposed that possesses a moderate adjustable indirect band gap of 1.95 eV (HSE06) and exhibits ultrahigh visible light harvesting with a absorption coefficient of up to 10⁸ cm⁻¹ in the ∼380 to 800 nm range of the visible light spectrum. Besides that, the indirect band gap can be converted to a direct one under biaxial strain. By means of density functional theory, the 2D Al₂Te₅ monolayer displays great stability and promise of experimental fabrication. These advantages will provide considerable application potential for future photovoltaics (PV) devices.

In this work, a TiN/TiCN/Al₂O₃/TiN coating deposited onto cemented carbide matrix by chemical vapor deposition was irradiated by high-current pulsed electron beam (HCPEB). The influence of pulse times on the phase composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties of the coating investigated. The results showed that no new phase was produced, the grain size of the coating surface was refined, the surface became flat, and the surface roughness decreased after HCPEB treatment. The TiN/TiCN/Al₂O₃/TiN coating presented a smooth surface with good mechanical performance after HCPEB. A maximum hardness was obtained after 15 pulses, and the 15-pulse irradiated coating showed better wear resistance. The improvement in the coating’s performance after irradiation was mainly attributed to the formation of grain refinement and crystal defects, as well as the change of stress field inside the coating. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of HCPEB modification in the preparation of high-performance coating by analyzing the microstructure and property of coating under different pulses.

Due to their long-distance spin transport and long spin lifetime, p-electron-induced spintronic materials have been attracting increasing attention. As the most common d-electron-free elements, carbon allotropes present many excellent properties. However, pure three-dimensional carbon spintronics material has not been reported so far. Here, we proposed a superhard (HV = 60 GPa) carbon material named half-metal (HM)-C21, which presents multi-stable magnetic states and unexpected properties, such as those of half-metal, half-semiconductor, bipolar magnetic semiconductor, and asymmetric antiferromagnetic semiconductors. The mechanical, dynamical, and thermodynamical stabilities of HM-C21 are confirmed. Moreover, HM-C21 is considered to be a promising candidate for an unidentified cubic-form carbon reported in previous experiments. Hence, the present work holds great promise for discovering spintronic materials in pure three-dimensional carbon.

In this paper, a Cu–Mo alloying layer with improved properties was fabricated by high current pulsed electron beam (HCPEB) irradiation. The microstructure of the modified layer was investigated by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The microhardness and friction properties were also measured. After HCPEB irradiation, nano Mo particles, solid solution, and long-period superlattice structures were generated on the surface of Cu–Mo alloys, together with the formation of defect structures. These microstructures led to a significant increase in the surface hardness. The results of sliding wear tests indicated that the HCPEB-irradiated samples exhibited better properties compared with the initial one, which was attributed to the ultrafine Mo particles and the hardened surface.