This study develops a contact performance-driven method for skiving face gear drives using a single cutter,eliminating the traditional need for separate cutters to reduce production costs and time.First,the mathematic...This study develops a contact performance-driven method for skiving face gear drives using a single cutter,eliminating the traditional need for separate cutters to reduce production costs and time.First,the mathematical models of the tooth flanks for the face gear drives are established based on the gear skiving processes.Then,load tooth contact analysis(LTCA)model is established to calculate the contact performance data.Next,a two-stage optimization model is employed to determine the optimal parameters of the cutting edge with improved contact performances.The effectiveness of this method is validated through simulations and rolling tests.Compared with the traditional method,the proposed method can machine both the face gear and its mating pinion with a single cutter.Simulation results show that the proposed method avoids tooth surface edge contact,with the maximum tooth surface contact stress reduced by 31.7%,the contact ratio decreases by 21.5%,and the transmission error increases by 22.3%.Rolling tests verify the consistency of tooth surface contact patterns between simulations and experiments.The proposed method provides a reference for the cutting edge design of skiving cutters for face gear pairs.展开更多
MXene-based smart contact lenses demonstrate a cutting-edge advancement in wearable ophthalmic technology,combining real-time biosensing,therapeutic capabilities,and user comfort in a single platform.These devices tak...MXene-based smart contact lenses demonstrate a cutting-edge advancement in wearable ophthalmic technology,combining real-time biosensing,therapeutic capabilities,and user comfort in a single platform.These devices take the advantage of the exceptional electrical conductivity,mechanical flexibility,and biocompatibility of two-dimensional MXenes to enable noninvasive,tear-based monitoring of key physiological markers such as intraocular pressure and glucose levels.Recent developments focus on the integration of transparent MXene films into the conventional lens materials,allowing multifunctional performance including photothermal therapy,antimicrobial and anti-inflammation protection,and dehydration resistance.These innovations offer promising strategies for ocular disease management and eye protection.In addition to their multifunctionality,improvements in MXene synthesis and device engineering have enhanced the stability,transparency,and wearability of these lenses.Despite these advances,challenges remain in long-term biostability,scalable production,and integration with wireless communication systems.This review summarizes the current progress,key challenges,and future directions of MXene-based smart contact lenses,highlighting their transformative potential in next-generation digital healthcare and ophthalmic care.展开更多
The cold chain environment is an important route for the long⁃distance transmission of pathogenic micro⁃organisms.In this study,we explored the mechanisms of secondary propagation through surface contact on cold surfa...The cold chain environment is an important route for the long⁃distance transmission of pathogenic micro⁃organisms.In this study,we explored the mechanisms of secondary propagation through surface contact on cold surfaces.A quantitative statistical experimental method was adopted to study the surface⁃contact transmission of micro⁃organisms,wherein the transfer rate of surface contact was the dependent variable and Escherichia coli was used as the indicator bacterium.The effects of contact pressure(0.44,0.86,1.55,2.25,and 2.94 N/cm^(2)),contact time(0,15,30,45,and 60 s),contact angle(15°and 25°),and surface materials(rubber and cotton gloves)were measured at two storage temperatures:cold storage(5℃)and freezing(-18℃).The results showed that as temperature decreases,the transfer of micro⁃organisms through surface contact becomes less probable.The contact time did not significantly influence the transfer rate of micro⁃organisms when items were handled at cold⁃storage temperatures.Based on these results,we recommend placing items as flat as possible to minimize the tilt angle when handling them at cold⁃storage temperatures.Additionally,if the tilt angle cannot be avoided,rubber gloves should be used when handling items stored at large tilt angles,whereas cotton gloves may be used for items placed at smaller angles.展开更多
The self-assembled monolayer(SAM),functioning as a hole transport layer,holds the potential to substantially elevate the efficiency of perovskite and organic solar cells.Nevertheless,incomplete SAM coverage may result...The self-assembled monolayer(SAM),functioning as a hole transport layer,holds the potential to substantially elevate the efficiency of perovskite and organic solar cells.Nevertheless,incomplete SAM coverage may result in interface defects lurking between the photovoltaic layer and the electrode,thereby causing non-radiative recombination losses of interfacial charges.To tackle this issue,we introduced 4-bromobutyric acid to co-assemble with the SAM,yielding a more compact co-assembled monolayer(co-SAM)that effectively repairs these defective zones.Confocal laser scanning microscopy and Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy show that co-SAMs successfully mitigate interface defects in the previously uncovered electrode regions.Furthermore,the work function of the electrodes is elevated to 5.6 eV,facilitating efficient hole extraction.Consequently,devices incorporating co-SAMs exhibit notably reduced non-radiative recombination losses.The power conversion efficiency(PCE)of the devices is enhanced to 20.0% in binary organic solar cells,and an even more remarkable breakthrough PCE of 25.8% is achieved in perovskite/organic tandem devices.This study introduces a straightforward strategy to improve the hole-selective contact of electrodes,ultimately boosting the overall efficiency of the devices.展开更多
This paper quantitatively discusses the influence of well contact on single-event transient(SET)in sub-20 nm FinFET by two-photon absorption(TPA)pulse laser.Two groups of inverter chains were designed to investigate t...This paper quantitatively discusses the influence of well contact on single-event transient(SET)in sub-20 nm FinFET by two-photon absorption(TPA)pulse laser.Two groups of inverter chains were designed to investigate the impact of well contact distance on the FinFET process.The experimental results show that the SET pulse width has a bimodal symmetric distribution,which is different from that of a bulk planar CMOS device.To investigate the detailed mechanism of the phenomenon,a high-precision FinFET TCAD model was established,in which both Id-Vd and Id-Vg errors were less than 10%compared to the SPICE model provided by the commercial process.TCAD simulation under heavy ion injection showed the mechanism of the abnormal phenomenon,where the well contact plays a major role in charge collection at the near-well contact distance,while the source plays a major role at the far distance.This phenomenon is completely different from that of planar CMOS devices.This indicates that the SET mechanism becomes more complicated during the FinFET process.Therefore,more effective SET hardening methods should be investigated for FinFET.展开更多
Polar two-dimensional(2D)perovskites with their excellent semiconductor properties,intrinsic anisotropy,and bulk photovoltaic effect,have emerged as promising candidates for Self-driven polarization-sensitive photodet...Polar two-dimensional(2D)perovskites with their excellent semiconductor properties,intrinsic anisotropy,and bulk photovoltaic effect,have emerged as promising candidates for Self-driven polarization-sensitive photodetectors.However,these self-driven polarized detectors typically require fabrication along the spontaneous polarization direction to maintain the device’s operation in the self-driven mode,which imposes additional limitations.Herein,we demonstrate multidirectional self-driven polarization-sensitive photodetection by constructing 2D perovskite-based asymmetric contact devices,Ag/2D perovskite/C.The built-in electric field,originating from the difference in work functions,acts as the driving force for the separation and transport of photogenerated carriers.Notably,this approach does not necessitate a specific direction,thereby enabling multidirectional self-driven photodetection.Under excitation by linearly polarized light,our devices exhibit impressive polarization-sensitive discrimination in multiple directions,achieving polarization ratios of 3.3 and 3.1 along the a and baxes,respectively.Our work enriches the approaches enabling self-driven polarization-sensitive photodetection,free from the previous limitations.展开更多
In rock engineering,natural cracks in rock masses subjected to external loads tend to initiate and propagate,leading to potential safety hazards.To investigate the effect of cracking behavior on the mechanical propert...In rock engineering,natural cracks in rock masses subjected to external loads tend to initiate and propagate,leading to potential safety hazards.To investigate the effect of cracking behavior on the mechanical properties of rocks,the cracking processes of pre-cracked rocks have been extensively studied using numerical modeling methods.The peridynamics(PD)exhibits advantages over other numerical methods due to the absence of the requirements for remeshing and external crack growth criterion.However,for modeling pre-cracked rock cracking processes under impact,current PD implementations lack generally applicable rock constitutive models and impact contact models,which leads to difficulties in determining rock material parameters and efficiently calculating impact loads.This paper proposes a non-ordinary state-based peridynamics(NOSBPD)modeling method integrating the Drucker-Prager(DP)plasticity model and an efficient contact model to address the above problems.In the proposed method,the Drucker-Prager plasticity model is integrated into the NOSBPD,thereby equipping NOSBPD with the capability to accurately characterize the nonlinear stress-strain relationship inherent in rocks.An efficient contact model between particles and meshes is designed to calculate the impact loads,which is essentially a coupling method of PD with the finite element method(FEM).The effectiveness of the proposed NOSBPD modeling method is verified by comparison with other numerical methods and experiments.Experimental results indicate that the proposed method can effectively and accurately predict the 3D cracking processes of pre-cracked cracks under impact loading,and the maximum principal stress is the key driver behind wing crack formation in pre-cracked rocks.展开更多
This study explores the dynamic contact response of a viscoelastic functionally graded material(FGM)-coated half-plane under a rigid flat punch subjected to a time-harmonic vertical force.The elastic modulus and mass ...This study explores the dynamic contact response of a viscoelastic functionally graded material(FGM)-coated half-plane under a rigid flat punch subjected to a time-harmonic vertical force.The elastic modulus and mass density of the FGM coating vary exponentially along the thickness direction.The FGM coating and the homogeneous half-plane possess viscoelastic properties,which are described by a linearly hysteretic damping model.By applying the asymptotic method and the Fourier integral transform technique,the contact problem is converted into a Cauchy singular integral equation.The effects of excitation frequency,gradient index,damping factor ratio,and punch width on the vertical impedance and dynamic contact stress are analyzed.The results indicate that adjusting the gradient index of the FGM coating can significantly affect the contact stress and vertical impedance.展开更多
The interfacial properties of Schottky contacts crucially affect the performance of power devices. While a few studies have explored the impact of fluorine on Schottky contacts, a comprehensive theoretical explanation...The interfacial properties of Schottky contacts crucially affect the performance of power devices. While a few studies have explored the impact of fluorine on Schottky contacts, a comprehensive theoretical explanation supported by experimental evidence remains lacking. This work investigates the effects of fluorine incorporation and electrothermal annealing(ETA) on the current transport process at Ni/β-Ga_(2)O_(3) Schottky contacts. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and first-principles calculations confirm the presence of fluorine substitutions for oxygen and oxygen vacancies and their lowering effect on the Schottky barrier heights. Additionally, accurate electrothermal hybrid TCAD simulations validates the extremely short-duration high temperatures(683 K) induced by ETA, which facilitates lattice rearrangement and reduces interface trap states. The interface trap states are quantitatively resolved through frequency-dependent conductance technique, showing the trap density(DT)reduction from(0.88-2.48) × 10^(11) cm^(-2)·eV^(-1) to(0.46-2.09) × 10^(11) cm^(-2)·eV^(-1). This investigation offers critical insights into the β-Ga_(2)O_(3) contacts with the collaborative treatment and solids the promotion of high-performance β-Ga_(2)O_(3) power devices.展开更多
Doping is essential for modulating semiconductor conductivity,forming p-n junctions,and reducing contact resistance[1].Notably,as organic semiconductors(OSCs)advance toward high performance,flexibility,and miniaturiza...Doping is essential for modulating semiconductor conductivity,forming p-n junctions,and reducing contact resistance[1].Notably,as organic semiconductors(OSCs)advance toward high performance,flexibility,and miniaturization,achieving precise regionally selective doping becomes critical for building complex,highly integrated devices[2].In inorganic semiconductors(e.g.,silicon),sub-100-nanometer regional doping is achievable through photolithography and ion implantation—techniques foundational to modern complementary metaloxide-semiconductor(CMOS)technology[3].展开更多
In order to explore the mechanism of improving the surface wettability of low-energy polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE)by new extended surfactants,five kinds of extended anionic surfactants with different numbers of oxypro...In order to explore the mechanism of improving the surface wettability of low-energy polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE)by new extended surfactants,five kinds of extended anionic surfactants with different numbers of oxypropylene(PO)and oxyethylene(EO),octadecyl-(PO)_(m)-(EO)_(n)-sodium carboxylate(C_(18)PO_(m)EO_(n)C,m=5,10,15,n=5,10,15),were studied.The surface tension and contact angle of C_(18)PO_(m)EO_(n)C solution with different concentrations were measured,and the adhesion tension,PTFE-water interfacial tension,and adhesion work were calculated.It was found that the extended surfactant molecules adsorb on the surface of the solution and the PTFE-liquid interface simultaneously when the concentration is lower than the critical micelle concentration(cmc),and there was a linear relationship between surface tension and adhesion tension.The adsorption amount of C_(18)PO_(m)EO_(n)C at the PTFE-water interface was significantly lower than that on the surface of the solution.As the concentration increases above cmc,semi-micelle aggregates on the surface of PTFE are formed by C_(18)PO_(m)EO_(n)C molecules through hydrophobic interaction,and the hydrophilic group faces the solution to modify the surface of PTFE with high efficiency.展开更多
The contact problem of deformed rough surfaces exists widely in complex engineering structures.How to reveal the influence mechanism of surface deformation on the contact properties is a key issue in evaluating the in...The contact problem of deformed rough surfaces exists widely in complex engineering structures.How to reveal the influence mechanism of surface deformation on the contact properties is a key issue in evaluating the interface performances of the engineering structures.In this paper,a contact model is established,which is suitable for tensile and bending deformed contact surfaces.Four contact forms of asperities are proposed,and their distribution characteristics are analyzed.This model reveals the mechanism of friction generation from the perspective of the force balance of asperity.The results show the contact behaviors of the deformed contact surface are significantly different from that of the plane contact,which is mainly reflected in the change in the number of contact asperities and the real contact area.This study suggests that the real contact area of the interface can be altered by applying tensile and bending strains,thereby regulating its contact mechanics and conductive behavior.展开更多
Magnesium and its alloys have gained relevance for their light-weight combined with a high value of strength-to-weight ratio,which makes them useful in fields such as aerospace,automotive as well as biomedical enginee...Magnesium and its alloys have gained relevance for their light-weight combined with a high value of strength-to-weight ratio,which makes them useful in fields such as aerospace,automotive as well as biomedical engineering.Unfortunately,the poor corrosion resistance of Mg-alloys limits their wide acceptance.Advanced composite coatings which are self-healing,superhydrophobic anti corrosive,and wear resistant are new synthetic materials for abating these challenges.The superimposed superhydrophobic surfaces help in minimizing their water contact,thus slowing down the electrochemical reactions on the surface of the alloys,while their self-healing characteristics autonomously aid in the repair of any induced micro-crack,defect or damage towards ensuring the metal's long-term protection.In addition,the integration of wear-resistant materials further improves the durability of coatings under mechanical stress.The most recent research efforts have been directed towards the preparation of multifunctional composites,with an emphasis on nanomaterials,functional polymers,and state-of-the-art fabrication techniques in order to take advantage of their synergistic effects.Some of the methods that have so far exhibited promising potentials in fabricating these materials include the sol-gel method,layer-by-layer assembly,and plasma treatments.However,most of the fabricated products are still faced with significant challenges ranging from long-term stability to homogeneous adhesion of the coatings and their scalability for industrial applications.This review discusses the recent progress and the relationship between corrosion inhibition and self-healing efficiencies of wear resistant polymer nanocomposite coatings.Some challenges related to optimizing coating performance were also discussed.In addition,future directions ranging from the consideration of bioinspired designs,novel hybrid nanocomposite materials,and environmentally sustainable solutions integrated with smart protective coatings were also proposed as new wave technologies that can potentially revolutionize the corrosion protection offered by Mg alloys while opening up prospects for improved performance and sustainability.展开更多
The influence of ramps on the transient rolling contact characteristics and damage mechanisms of switch rails remains unclear,presenting substantial challenges to the safety of railway operations.To this end,this pape...The influence of ramps on the transient rolling contact characteristics and damage mechanisms of switch rails remains unclear,presenting substantial challenges to the safety of railway operations.To this end,this paper constructs a transient rolling contact finite element model of the wheel-rail in switch under different ramps using ANSYS/LSDYNA method,and analyzes the tribology and damage characteristics when the wheel passes through the switch at a uniform speed.Our research findings reveal that the vibration induced in the switch rail during the wheel load transfer process leads to a step-like increase in the contact force.Moreover,the interaction between the wheel and the rail primarily involves slip contact,which may significantly contribute to the formation of corrugations on the switch rail.Additionally,the presence of large ramps exacerbates switch rail wear and rolling contact fatigue,resulting in a notable 13.2%increase in switch rail damage under 40‰ramp conditions compared to flat(0‰ramp)conditions.Furthermore,the large ramps can alter the direction of crack propagation,ultimately causing surface spalling of the rail.Therefore,large ramps intensify the dynamic interactions during the wheel load transfer process,further aggravating the crack and spalling damage to the switch rails.展开更多
The models constructed by particle flow simulation method can effectively simulate the heterogeneous substance characteristics and failure behaviors of rocks.However,existing contact models overlook the rock cracks,an...The models constructed by particle flow simulation method can effectively simulate the heterogeneous substance characteristics and failure behaviors of rocks.However,existing contact models overlook the rock cracks,and the various simulation methods that do consider cracks still exhibit certain limitations.In this paper,based on Flat-Joint model and Linear Parallel Bond model,a crack contact model considering linked substance in the crack is proposed by splitting the crack contact into two portions:linked portion and unlinked portion for calculation.The new contact model considers the influence of crack closure on the contact force-displacement law.And a better compressive tensile strength ratio(UCS/T)was obtained by limiting the failure of the contact bond to be solely controlled by the contact force and moment of the linked portion.Then,by employing the FISH Model tool within the Particle Flow Code,the contact model was constructed and verified through contact force–displacement experiments and loading-unloading tests with cracked model.Finally,the contact model was tested through simulations of rock mechanics experiments.The results indicate that the contact model can effectively simulate the axial and lateral strain laws of rocks simultaneously and has a relatively good reproduction of the bi-modularity of rocks.展开更多
This research aimed to overcome challenges such as high costs,lengthy optimization time,and low efficiency in resolving issues related to wheel-rail contact,rail wear,and vehicle dynamics.Based on the wheel-rail conta...This research aimed to overcome challenges such as high costs,lengthy optimization time,and low efficiency in resolving issues related to wheel-rail contact,rail wear,and vehicle dynamics.Based on the wheel-rail contact parameters,an optimal design method for rail grinding target profile is proposed from wear profile measurement to grinding profile design according to the actual railway track and vehicle operating conditions.We utilized Isight to create a simulation test and developed an RBF proxy model that incorporated both mechanical and geometric aspects of wheel-rail contact.By integrating rail modeling,wheel-rail contact analysis,and multi-objective optimization,we established a rail grinding optimization model that was solved using the NSGA-II algorithm.After optimization,the study achieved a 31.863%reduction in average contact stress,a 70.5%reduction in matching wear work,and a 100.391%increase in the difference in rolling radius between the wheel and rail.展开更多
Rolling contact fatigue performance is among the most important issues for applications of bearing steels.In this work,a recently developed surface modification technique,surface mechanical rolling treatment,was appli...Rolling contact fatigue performance is among the most important issues for applications of bearing steels.In this work,a recently developed surface modification technique,surface mechanical rolling treatment,was applied on a rare-earth addition bearing steel.And rolling contact fatigue behavior of treated samples was compared with that of as-received counterparts at different contacting stresses.The results demonstrated that a 700μm-thick gradient nanostructured surface layer is produced on samples by surface mechanical rolling treatment.The grain size decreases while the microhardness increases gradually with decreasing depth,reaching~23 nm and~10.2 GPa,respectively,at the top surface.Consequently,the rolling contact fatigue property is significantly enhanced.The characteristic life of treated samples is~3.2 times that of untreated counterparts according to Weibull curves at 5.6 GPa.Analyses of fatigue mechanisms demonstrated that the gradient nanostructured surface layer might not only retard material degradation and microcrack formation,but also prolong the steady-state elastic response stage under rolling contact fatigue.展开更多
All-solid-state lithium batteries(ASSLBs)are strongly considered as the next-generation energy storage devices for their high energy density and intrinsic safety.The solid-solid contact between lithium metal and solid...All-solid-state lithium batteries(ASSLBs)are strongly considered as the next-generation energy storage devices for their high energy density and intrinsic safety.The solid-solid contact between lithium metal and solid electrolyte plays a vital role in the performance of working ASSLBs,which is challenging to investigate quantitatively by experimental approach.This work proposed a quantitative model based on the finite element method for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy simulation of different solid-solid contact states in ASSLBs.With the assistance of an equivalent circuit model and distribution of relaxation times,it is discovered that as the number of voids and the sharpness of cracks increase,the contact resistance Rcgrows and ultimately dominates the battery impedance.Through accurate fitting,inverse proportional relations between contact resistance Rcand(1-porosity)as well as crack angle was disclosed.This contribution affords a fresh insight into clarifying solid-solid contact states in ASSLBs.展开更多
[Background and purposes]Proton exchange membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs),which convert hydrogen energy directly into electrical energy and water,have received overwhelming attention,owing to their potential to significant...[Background and purposes]Proton exchange membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs),which convert hydrogen energy directly into electrical energy and water,have received overwhelming attention,owing to their potential to significantly reduce energy consumption,pollution emissions and reliance on fossil fuels.Bipolar plates are the major part and key component of PEMFCs stack,which provide mechanical strength,collect and conduct current segregate oxidants and reduce agents.They contribute 70-80%weight and 20-30%cost of a whole stack,while significantly affecting the power density.There are three types plates,including metal bipolar plate,graphite bipolar plate and composite bipolar plate.Stainless steel bipolar plates,as one of metal bipolar plate,exhibit promising manufacturability,competitive cost and durability among various metal materials.However,stainless steel would be corroded in the harsh acid(pH 2-5)and humid PEMFCs environment,whereas the leached ions will contaminate the membrane.In addition,the passivated film formed on the surface will increase the interfacial contact resistance(ICR).In order to improve the corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity of steel bipolar plates,surface coatings are essential.Metal nitride coatings,metal carbide coatings,polymer coatings and carbon-based coatings have been introduced in recent years.Carbon-based coatings,mainly including a-C(amorphous Carbon),Ta-C(Tetrahedral amorphous carbon)and DLC(diamond-like carbon),have attracted considerable attention from both academia and industry,owing to their superior performance,such as chemical inertness,mechanical hardness and electrical conductivity.However,Ta-C films as protective coating of PEMFCs have been rarely reported,due to the difficulty in production for industrial application.In this paper,multi-layer Ta-C composite films were produced by using customized industrial-scale vacuum equipment to address those issues.[Methods]Multiple layered Ta-C coatings were prepared by using PIS624 equipment,which assembled filtered cathodic arc evaporation,ion beam and magnetron sputtering into one equipment,while SS304 and silicon specimens were used as substrate for testing and analysis.Adhesion layer and intermediate layer were deposited by using magnetron sputtering at deposition temperature of 150℃and pressure of 3×10^(−1) Pa,while the sputtering current was set to be 5 A and bias power to be 300 V.The Ta-C layer was coated at arc current of 80-100 A,bias voltage of 1500 V and gas flow of 75 sccm.A scanning electron microscope(CIQTEK SEM3200)was used to characterize surface morphology,coating structure and cross-section profile of the coatings.Raman spectrometer(LabRam HR Evolution,HORIBA JOBIN YVON)was used to identify the bonding valence states.Electrochemical tests were performed by using an electrochemical work station(CHI760,Shanghai Chenhua Instrument Co.,Ltd.),with the traditional three electrode system,where saturated Ag/AgCl and platinum mesh were used as the reference electrode and counter electrode,respectively.All samples were mounted in plastic tube and sealed with epoxy resin,with an exposure area of 2.25 cm^(2),serving as the working electrode.Electrochemical measurements were carried out in simulated PEMFCs cathode environment in 0.5 mol·L^(−1) H_(2)SO_(4)+5 ppm F−solution,at operating temperature of 70℃.As the cathode environment was harsher than the anode environment,all the samples are stabilized at the open-circuit potential(OCP)for approximately 30 min before the EIS measurements.ICR between bipolar plates and GDL was a key parameter affecting performance of the PEMFCs stack.The test sample sandwiched between 2 pieces of carbon paper(simulate gas diffusion layer,GDL)was placed between 2 gold-plated copper electrodes at a compaction pressure of 1.4 MPa,which was considered to be the conventional compaction pressure in the PEMFCs.Under the same conditions,the resistance of a single carbon paper was measured as well.The ICR was calculated according to the formula ICR=1/2(R2−R1)×S,where S was the contact area between GDL and coated stainless steel BPPs.All data of ICR were measured three times for averaging.[Results]The coatings deposited by filtered cathodic arc technology were compact and smooth,which reduced coating porosity and favorable to corrosion resistance.The coating thickness of adhesion and intermediate layers were 180 nm,while the protective Ta-C coating thickness was about 300 nm,forming multiple coating to provide stronger protection for metal bipolar plates.Cr,Ti,Nb and Ta coatings were selected as adhesion layers for comparison.According to electrochemical test,Ta and Nb coatings have higher corrosion resistance.However,Ta and Nb materials would be costly when they are used for mass production.Relatively,Cr and Ti materials were cost effective.Hence,a comprehensive assessment was indispensable to decide the materials to be selected as adhesion layer.Ta-TiN and Ti-TiN combined adhesion and intermediate layer exhibited stronger corrosion resistance,with the corrosion current to be less than 10^(−6) A·cm^(−2).Ta-C protective coating deposited by using filtered cathodic arc technology indicated displayed higher corrosion resistance,with the average corrosion density to be about 1.26×10^(−7) A·cm^(−2).Ta-C coating also shown larger contact angle,with the highest hydrophobicity,which was one of the important advantages for Ta-C,in terms of corrosion resistance.According to Raman spectroscopy,the I(D)/I(G)=549.8/1126.7=0.487,with the estimated fraction of sp^(3) bonding to be in the range of 5154%.The intermediate layer TiN has higher conductivity than the CrN layer.Considering cost,corrosion performance and ICR result,the Ti-TiN layer combination is recommended for industrial scale application.[Conclusions]Multiple layer coating structure of Ta-C film had stronger corrosion resistance;with more than 50%sp^(3) content,while it also had larger water contact angle and higher corrosion resistance than DLC film.The filtered arcing deposition technology was able to make the film to be more consistent and stable than normal arcing technology in terms of the preparation of Ta-C.The coating displayed corrosion density of 1.26×10^(−7) A·cm^(−2) and ICR of less than 5 mΩ·cm^(2),far beyond technical target of 2025 DOE(US Department of Energy).This indicated that the mass-production scale coating technology for PEMFC bipolar plates is highly possible.展开更多
基金Project(2024YFB3410402)supported by the National Key R&D Program of ChinaProject(52075558)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China+2 种基金Project(2021RC3012)supported by the Science and Technology Innovation Program of Hunan Province,ChinaProject(2023CXQD050)supported by the Central South University Innovation-Driven Research Program,ChinaProject(CX20230255)supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China。
文摘This study develops a contact performance-driven method for skiving face gear drives using a single cutter,eliminating the traditional need for separate cutters to reduce production costs and time.First,the mathematical models of the tooth flanks for the face gear drives are established based on the gear skiving processes.Then,load tooth contact analysis(LTCA)model is established to calculate the contact performance data.Next,a two-stage optimization model is employed to determine the optimal parameters of the cutting edge with improved contact performances.The effectiveness of this method is validated through simulations and rolling tests.Compared with the traditional method,the proposed method can machine both the face gear and its mating pinion with a single cutter.Simulation results show that the proposed method avoids tooth surface edge contact,with the maximum tooth surface contact stress reduced by 31.7%,the contact ratio decreases by 21.5%,and the transmission error increases by 22.3%.Rolling tests verify the consistency of tooth surface contact patterns between simulations and experiments.The proposed method provides a reference for the cutting edge design of skiving cutters for face gear pairs.
文摘MXene-based smart contact lenses demonstrate a cutting-edge advancement in wearable ophthalmic technology,combining real-time biosensing,therapeutic capabilities,and user comfort in a single platform.These devices take the advantage of the exceptional electrical conductivity,mechanical flexibility,and biocompatibility of two-dimensional MXenes to enable noninvasive,tear-based monitoring of key physiological markers such as intraocular pressure and glucose levels.Recent developments focus on the integration of transparent MXene films into the conventional lens materials,allowing multifunctional performance including photothermal therapy,antimicrobial and anti-inflammation protection,and dehydration resistance.These innovations offer promising strategies for ocular disease management and eye protection.In addition to their multifunctionality,improvements in MXene synthesis and device engineering have enhanced the stability,transparency,and wearability of these lenses.Despite these advances,challenges remain in long-term biostability,scalable production,and integration with wireless communication systems.This review summarizes the current progress,key challenges,and future directions of MXene-based smart contact lenses,highlighting their transformative potential in next-generation digital healthcare and ophthalmic care.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52278121).
文摘The cold chain environment is an important route for the long⁃distance transmission of pathogenic micro⁃organisms.In this study,we explored the mechanisms of secondary propagation through surface contact on cold surfaces.A quantitative statistical experimental method was adopted to study the surface⁃contact transmission of micro⁃organisms,wherein the transfer rate of surface contact was the dependent variable and Escherichia coli was used as the indicator bacterium.The effects of contact pressure(0.44,0.86,1.55,2.25,and 2.94 N/cm^(2)),contact time(0,15,30,45,and 60 s),contact angle(15°and 25°),and surface materials(rubber and cotton gloves)were measured at two storage temperatures:cold storage(5℃)and freezing(-18℃).The results showed that as temperature decreases,the transfer of micro⁃organisms through surface contact becomes less probable.The contact time did not significantly influence the transfer rate of micro⁃organisms when items were handled at cold⁃storage temperatures.Based on these results,we recommend placing items as flat as possible to minimize the tilt angle when handling them at cold⁃storage temperatures.Additionally,if the tilt angle cannot be avoided,rubber gloves should be used when handling items stored at large tilt angles,whereas cotton gloves may be used for items placed at smaller angles.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52303239,51933001,22475114)the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(ZR2022QB141,2023HWYQ-087)+1 种基金the Shanghai Pujiang Program(23PJ1409700)the Hubei Province Key Research Program(2023BAB109)。
文摘The self-assembled monolayer(SAM),functioning as a hole transport layer,holds the potential to substantially elevate the efficiency of perovskite and organic solar cells.Nevertheless,incomplete SAM coverage may result in interface defects lurking between the photovoltaic layer and the electrode,thereby causing non-radiative recombination losses of interfacial charges.To tackle this issue,we introduced 4-bromobutyric acid to co-assemble with the SAM,yielding a more compact co-assembled monolayer(co-SAM)that effectively repairs these defective zones.Confocal laser scanning microscopy and Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy show that co-SAMs successfully mitigate interface defects in the previously uncovered electrode regions.Furthermore,the work function of the electrodes is elevated to 5.6 eV,facilitating efficient hole extraction.Consequently,devices incorporating co-SAMs exhibit notably reduced non-radiative recombination losses.The power conversion efficiency(PCE)of the devices is enhanced to 20.0% in binary organic solar cells,and an even more remarkable breakthrough PCE of 25.8% is achieved in perovskite/organic tandem devices.This study introduces a straightforward strategy to improve the hole-selective contact of electrodes,ultimately boosting the overall efficiency of the devices.
基金supported by Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.62174180 and 62304258)National Key R&D Program of China(No.2023YFA1609000)。
文摘This paper quantitatively discusses the influence of well contact on single-event transient(SET)in sub-20 nm FinFET by two-photon absorption(TPA)pulse laser.Two groups of inverter chains were designed to investigate the impact of well contact distance on the FinFET process.The experimental results show that the SET pulse width has a bimodal symmetric distribution,which is different from that of a bulk planar CMOS device.To investigate the detailed mechanism of the phenomenon,a high-precision FinFET TCAD model was established,in which both Id-Vd and Id-Vg errors were less than 10%compared to the SPICE model provided by the commercial process.TCAD simulation under heavy ion injection showed the mechanism of the abnormal phenomenon,where the well contact plays a major role in charge collection at the near-well contact distance,while the source plays a major role at the far distance.This phenomenon is completely different from that of planar CMOS devices.This indicates that the SET mechanism becomes more complicated during the FinFET process.Therefore,more effective SET hardening methods should be investigated for FinFET.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22435005,22193042,52202194,21833010,21921001,22175177,21971238,22201284)the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province(2023J05076)+1 种基金the Key Research Program of Frontier Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(ZDBS-LY-SLH024)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2022M713152,2023M733501,2023T160646)。
文摘Polar two-dimensional(2D)perovskites with their excellent semiconductor properties,intrinsic anisotropy,and bulk photovoltaic effect,have emerged as promising candidates for Self-driven polarization-sensitive photodetectors.However,these self-driven polarized detectors typically require fabrication along the spontaneous polarization direction to maintain the device’s operation in the self-driven mode,which imposes additional limitations.Herein,we demonstrate multidirectional self-driven polarization-sensitive photodetection by constructing 2D perovskite-based asymmetric contact devices,Ag/2D perovskite/C.The built-in electric field,originating from the difference in work functions,acts as the driving force for the separation and transport of photogenerated carriers.Notably,this approach does not necessitate a specific direction,thereby enabling multidirectional self-driven photodetection.Under excitation by linearly polarized light,our devices exhibit impressive polarization-sensitive discrimination in multiple directions,achieving polarization ratios of 3.3 and 3.1 along the a and baxes,respectively.Our work enriches the approaches enabling self-driven polarization-sensitive photodetection,free from the previous limitations.
基金support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42277161 and 42230709).
文摘In rock engineering,natural cracks in rock masses subjected to external loads tend to initiate and propagate,leading to potential safety hazards.To investigate the effect of cracking behavior on the mechanical properties of rocks,the cracking processes of pre-cracked rocks have been extensively studied using numerical modeling methods.The peridynamics(PD)exhibits advantages over other numerical methods due to the absence of the requirements for remeshing and external crack growth criterion.However,for modeling pre-cracked rock cracking processes under impact,current PD implementations lack generally applicable rock constitutive models and impact contact models,which leads to difficulties in determining rock material parameters and efficiently calculating impact loads.This paper proposes a non-ordinary state-based peridynamics(NOSBPD)modeling method integrating the Drucker-Prager(DP)plasticity model and an efficient contact model to address the above problems.In the proposed method,the Drucker-Prager plasticity model is integrated into the NOSBPD,thereby equipping NOSBPD with the capability to accurately characterize the nonlinear stress-strain relationship inherent in rocks.An efficient contact model between particles and meshes is designed to calculate the impact loads,which is essentially a coupling method of PD with the finite element method(FEM).The effectiveness of the proposed NOSBPD modeling method is verified by comparison with other numerical methods and experiments.Experimental results indicate that the proposed method can effectively and accurately predict the 3D cracking processes of pre-cracked cracks under impact loading,and the maximum principal stress is the key driver behind wing crack formation in pre-cracked rocks.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.12021002,12192212,and 12462007)。
文摘This study explores the dynamic contact response of a viscoelastic functionally graded material(FGM)-coated half-plane under a rigid flat punch subjected to a time-harmonic vertical force.The elastic modulus and mass density of the FGM coating vary exponentially along the thickness direction.The FGM coating and the homogeneous half-plane possess viscoelastic properties,which are described by a linearly hysteretic damping model.By applying the asymptotic method and the Fourier integral transform technique,the contact problem is converted into a Cauchy singular integral equation.The effects of excitation frequency,gradient index,damping factor ratio,and punch width on the vertical impedance and dynamic contact stress are analyzed.The results indicate that adjusting the gradient index of the FGM coating can significantly affect the contact stress and vertical impedance.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 62174019, 52302046, L2424216)the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (Grant No. 2024A1515012139)+2 种基金the Major Program (JD) of Hubei Province (Grant No. 2023BAA009)the Knowledge Innovation Program of Wuhan-Shuguang Project (Grant No. 2023010201020262)the Basic Research Program of Jiangsu (Grant No. BK20230268)。
文摘The interfacial properties of Schottky contacts crucially affect the performance of power devices. While a few studies have explored the impact of fluorine on Schottky contacts, a comprehensive theoretical explanation supported by experimental evidence remains lacking. This work investigates the effects of fluorine incorporation and electrothermal annealing(ETA) on the current transport process at Ni/β-Ga_(2)O_(3) Schottky contacts. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and first-principles calculations confirm the presence of fluorine substitutions for oxygen and oxygen vacancies and their lowering effect on the Schottky barrier heights. Additionally, accurate electrothermal hybrid TCAD simulations validates the extremely short-duration high temperatures(683 K) induced by ETA, which facilitates lattice rearrangement and reduces interface trap states. The interface trap states are quantitatively resolved through frequency-dependent conductance technique, showing the trap density(DT)reduction from(0.88-2.48) × 10^(11) cm^(-2)·eV^(-1) to(0.46-2.09) × 10^(11) cm^(-2)·eV^(-1). This investigation offers critical insights into the β-Ga_(2)O_(3) contacts with the collaborative treatment and solids the promotion of high-performance β-Ga_(2)O_(3) power devices.
文摘Doping is essential for modulating semiconductor conductivity,forming p-n junctions,and reducing contact resistance[1].Notably,as organic semiconductors(OSCs)advance toward high performance,flexibility,and miniaturization,achieving precise regionally selective doping becomes critical for building complex,highly integrated devices[2].In inorganic semiconductors(e.g.,silicon),sub-100-nanometer regional doping is achievable through photolithography and ion implantation—techniques foundational to modern complementary metaloxide-semiconductor(CMOS)technology[3].
文摘In order to explore the mechanism of improving the surface wettability of low-energy polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE)by new extended surfactants,five kinds of extended anionic surfactants with different numbers of oxypropylene(PO)and oxyethylene(EO),octadecyl-(PO)_(m)-(EO)_(n)-sodium carboxylate(C_(18)PO_(m)EO_(n)C,m=5,10,15,n=5,10,15),were studied.The surface tension and contact angle of C_(18)PO_(m)EO_(n)C solution with different concentrations were measured,and the adhesion tension,PTFE-water interfacial tension,and adhesion work were calculated.It was found that the extended surfactant molecules adsorb on the surface of the solution and the PTFE-liquid interface simultaneously when the concentration is lower than the critical micelle concentration(cmc),and there was a linear relationship between surface tension and adhesion tension.The adsorption amount of C_(18)PO_(m)EO_(n)C at the PTFE-water interface was significantly lower than that on the surface of the solution.As the concentration increases above cmc,semi-micelle aggregates on the surface of PTFE are formed by C_(18)PO_(m)EO_(n)C molecules through hydrophobic interaction,and the hydrophilic group faces the solution to modify the surface of PTFE with high efficiency.
基金This work are supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China General Program(Grant No.12272157)the Natural Science Foundation of China Major Program(Grant No.12327901)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.lzujbky-2023-ey05)the 111 Project(Grant No.B14044).
文摘The contact problem of deformed rough surfaces exists widely in complex engineering structures.How to reveal the influence mechanism of surface deformation on the contact properties is a key issue in evaluating the interface performances of the engineering structures.In this paper,a contact model is established,which is suitable for tensile and bending deformed contact surfaces.Four contact forms of asperities are proposed,and their distribution characteristics are analyzed.This model reveals the mechanism of friction generation from the perspective of the force balance of asperity.The results show the contact behaviors of the deformed contact surface are significantly different from that of the plane contact,which is mainly reflected in the change in the number of contact asperities and the real contact area.This study suggests that the real contact area of the interface can be altered by applying tensile and bending strains,thereby regulating its contact mechanics and conductive behavior.
文摘Magnesium and its alloys have gained relevance for their light-weight combined with a high value of strength-to-weight ratio,which makes them useful in fields such as aerospace,automotive as well as biomedical engineering.Unfortunately,the poor corrosion resistance of Mg-alloys limits their wide acceptance.Advanced composite coatings which are self-healing,superhydrophobic anti corrosive,and wear resistant are new synthetic materials for abating these challenges.The superimposed superhydrophobic surfaces help in minimizing their water contact,thus slowing down the electrochemical reactions on the surface of the alloys,while their self-healing characteristics autonomously aid in the repair of any induced micro-crack,defect or damage towards ensuring the metal's long-term protection.In addition,the integration of wear-resistant materials further improves the durability of coatings under mechanical stress.The most recent research efforts have been directed towards the preparation of multifunctional composites,with an emphasis on nanomaterials,functional polymers,and state-of-the-art fabrication techniques in order to take advantage of their synergistic effects.Some of the methods that have so far exhibited promising potentials in fabricating these materials include the sol-gel method,layer-by-layer assembly,and plasma treatments.However,most of the fabricated products are still faced with significant challenges ranging from long-term stability to homogeneous adhesion of the coatings and their scalability for industrial applications.This review discusses the recent progress and the relationship between corrosion inhibition and self-healing efficiencies of wear resistant polymer nanocomposite coatings.Some challenges related to optimizing coating performance were also discussed.In addition,future directions ranging from the consideration of bioinspired designs,novel hybrid nanocomposite materials,and environmentally sustainable solutions integrated with smart protective coatings were also proposed as new wave technologies that can potentially revolutionize the corrosion protection offered by Mg alloys while opening up prospects for improved performance and sustainability.
基金Project(2023YFB2604304)supported by the National Key R&D Program of ChinaProjects(52122810,51978586,51778542,U23A20666,52472458)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China+1 种基金Project(K2022G034)supported by the Technology Research and Development Program of China National Railway Group Co.Ltd.Projects(2020JDJQ0033,2023NSFSC0884)supported by Sichuan Province Science and Technology Support Program,China。
文摘The influence of ramps on the transient rolling contact characteristics and damage mechanisms of switch rails remains unclear,presenting substantial challenges to the safety of railway operations.To this end,this paper constructs a transient rolling contact finite element model of the wheel-rail in switch under different ramps using ANSYS/LSDYNA method,and analyzes the tribology and damage characteristics when the wheel passes through the switch at a uniform speed.Our research findings reveal that the vibration induced in the switch rail during the wheel load transfer process leads to a step-like increase in the contact force.Moreover,the interaction between the wheel and the rail primarily involves slip contact,which may significantly contribute to the formation of corrugations on the switch rail.Additionally,the presence of large ramps exacerbates switch rail wear and rolling contact fatigue,resulting in a notable 13.2%increase in switch rail damage under 40‰ramp conditions compared to flat(0‰ramp)conditions.Furthermore,the large ramps can alter the direction of crack propagation,ultimately causing surface spalling of the rail.Therefore,large ramps intensify the dynamic interactions during the wheel load transfer process,further aggravating the crack and spalling damage to the switch rails.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province(No.ZD2021E006)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52174075 and 52074110).
文摘The models constructed by particle flow simulation method can effectively simulate the heterogeneous substance characteristics and failure behaviors of rocks.However,existing contact models overlook the rock cracks,and the various simulation methods that do consider cracks still exhibit certain limitations.In this paper,based on Flat-Joint model and Linear Parallel Bond model,a crack contact model considering linked substance in the crack is proposed by splitting the crack contact into two portions:linked portion and unlinked portion for calculation.The new contact model considers the influence of crack closure on the contact force-displacement law.And a better compressive tensile strength ratio(UCS/T)was obtained by limiting the failure of the contact bond to be solely controlled by the contact force and moment of the linked portion.Then,by employing the FISH Model tool within the Particle Flow Code,the contact model was constructed and verified through contact force–displacement experiments and loading-unloading tests with cracked model.Finally,the contact model was tested through simulations of rock mechanics experiments.The results indicate that the contact model can effectively simulate the axial and lateral strain laws of rocks simultaneously and has a relatively good reproduction of the bi-modularity of rocks.
基金Supported by Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.2019JBM050).
文摘This research aimed to overcome challenges such as high costs,lengthy optimization time,and low efficiency in resolving issues related to wheel-rail contact,rail wear,and vehicle dynamics.Based on the wheel-rail contact parameters,an optimal design method for rail grinding target profile is proposed from wear profile measurement to grinding profile design according to the actual railway track and vehicle operating conditions.We utilized Isight to create a simulation test and developed an RBF proxy model that incorporated both mechanical and geometric aspects of wheel-rail contact.By integrating rail modeling,wheel-rail contact analysis,and multi-objective optimization,we established a rail grinding optimization model that was solved using the NSGA-II algorithm.After optimization,the study achieved a 31.863%reduction in average contact stress,a 70.5%reduction in matching wear work,and a 100.391%increase in the difference in rolling radius between the wheel and rail.
基金The financial supports by the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Nos.XDC04030300 and XDB0510303)CAS-HK Joint Laboratory of Nanomaterials and MechanicsShenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science are acknowledged.
文摘Rolling contact fatigue performance is among the most important issues for applications of bearing steels.In this work,a recently developed surface modification technique,surface mechanical rolling treatment,was applied on a rare-earth addition bearing steel.And rolling contact fatigue behavior of treated samples was compared with that of as-received counterparts at different contacting stresses.The results demonstrated that a 700μm-thick gradient nanostructured surface layer is produced on samples by surface mechanical rolling treatment.The grain size decreases while the microhardness increases gradually with decreasing depth,reaching~23 nm and~10.2 GPa,respectively,at the top surface.Consequently,the rolling contact fatigue property is significantly enhanced.The characteristic life of treated samples is~3.2 times that of untreated counterparts according to Weibull curves at 5.6 GPa.Analyses of fatigue mechanisms demonstrated that the gradient nanostructured surface layer might not only retard material degradation and microcrack formation,but also prolong the steady-state elastic response stage under rolling contact fatigue.
基金supported by the Beijing Natural Science Foundation(Z200011,L233004)the National Key Research and Development Program(2021YFB2500300)+3 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52394170,52394171,22109011,22393900,and 22108151)the Tsinghua-Jiangyin Innovation Special Fund(TJISF)(2022JYTH0101)the S&T Program of Hebei(22344402D)the Tsinghua University Initiative Scientific Research Program.
文摘All-solid-state lithium batteries(ASSLBs)are strongly considered as the next-generation energy storage devices for their high energy density and intrinsic safety.The solid-solid contact between lithium metal and solid electrolyte plays a vital role in the performance of working ASSLBs,which is challenging to investigate quantitatively by experimental approach.This work proposed a quantitative model based on the finite element method for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy simulation of different solid-solid contact states in ASSLBs.With the assistance of an equivalent circuit model and distribution of relaxation times,it is discovered that as the number of voids and the sharpness of cracks increase,the contact resistance Rcgrows and ultimately dominates the battery impedance.Through accurate fitting,inverse proportional relations between contact resistance Rcand(1-porosity)as well as crack angle was disclosed.This contribution affords a fresh insight into clarifying solid-solid contact states in ASSLBs.
基金Major Science and technology projects of Anhui Province (202103a05020003)。
文摘[Background and purposes]Proton exchange membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs),which convert hydrogen energy directly into electrical energy and water,have received overwhelming attention,owing to their potential to significantly reduce energy consumption,pollution emissions and reliance on fossil fuels.Bipolar plates are the major part and key component of PEMFCs stack,which provide mechanical strength,collect and conduct current segregate oxidants and reduce agents.They contribute 70-80%weight and 20-30%cost of a whole stack,while significantly affecting the power density.There are three types plates,including metal bipolar plate,graphite bipolar plate and composite bipolar plate.Stainless steel bipolar plates,as one of metal bipolar plate,exhibit promising manufacturability,competitive cost and durability among various metal materials.However,stainless steel would be corroded in the harsh acid(pH 2-5)and humid PEMFCs environment,whereas the leached ions will contaminate the membrane.In addition,the passivated film formed on the surface will increase the interfacial contact resistance(ICR).In order to improve the corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity of steel bipolar plates,surface coatings are essential.Metal nitride coatings,metal carbide coatings,polymer coatings and carbon-based coatings have been introduced in recent years.Carbon-based coatings,mainly including a-C(amorphous Carbon),Ta-C(Tetrahedral amorphous carbon)and DLC(diamond-like carbon),have attracted considerable attention from both academia and industry,owing to their superior performance,such as chemical inertness,mechanical hardness and electrical conductivity.However,Ta-C films as protective coating of PEMFCs have been rarely reported,due to the difficulty in production for industrial application.In this paper,multi-layer Ta-C composite films were produced by using customized industrial-scale vacuum equipment to address those issues.[Methods]Multiple layered Ta-C coatings were prepared by using PIS624 equipment,which assembled filtered cathodic arc evaporation,ion beam and magnetron sputtering into one equipment,while SS304 and silicon specimens were used as substrate for testing and analysis.Adhesion layer and intermediate layer were deposited by using magnetron sputtering at deposition temperature of 150℃and pressure of 3×10^(−1) Pa,while the sputtering current was set to be 5 A and bias power to be 300 V.The Ta-C layer was coated at arc current of 80-100 A,bias voltage of 1500 V and gas flow of 75 sccm.A scanning electron microscope(CIQTEK SEM3200)was used to characterize surface morphology,coating structure and cross-section profile of the coatings.Raman spectrometer(LabRam HR Evolution,HORIBA JOBIN YVON)was used to identify the bonding valence states.Electrochemical tests were performed by using an electrochemical work station(CHI760,Shanghai Chenhua Instrument Co.,Ltd.),with the traditional three electrode system,where saturated Ag/AgCl and platinum mesh were used as the reference electrode and counter electrode,respectively.All samples were mounted in plastic tube and sealed with epoxy resin,with an exposure area of 2.25 cm^(2),serving as the working electrode.Electrochemical measurements were carried out in simulated PEMFCs cathode environment in 0.5 mol·L^(−1) H_(2)SO_(4)+5 ppm F−solution,at operating temperature of 70℃.As the cathode environment was harsher than the anode environment,all the samples are stabilized at the open-circuit potential(OCP)for approximately 30 min before the EIS measurements.ICR between bipolar plates and GDL was a key parameter affecting performance of the PEMFCs stack.The test sample sandwiched between 2 pieces of carbon paper(simulate gas diffusion layer,GDL)was placed between 2 gold-plated copper electrodes at a compaction pressure of 1.4 MPa,which was considered to be the conventional compaction pressure in the PEMFCs.Under the same conditions,the resistance of a single carbon paper was measured as well.The ICR was calculated according to the formula ICR=1/2(R2−R1)×S,where S was the contact area between GDL and coated stainless steel BPPs.All data of ICR were measured three times for averaging.[Results]The coatings deposited by filtered cathodic arc technology were compact and smooth,which reduced coating porosity and favorable to corrosion resistance.The coating thickness of adhesion and intermediate layers were 180 nm,while the protective Ta-C coating thickness was about 300 nm,forming multiple coating to provide stronger protection for metal bipolar plates.Cr,Ti,Nb and Ta coatings were selected as adhesion layers for comparison.According to electrochemical test,Ta and Nb coatings have higher corrosion resistance.However,Ta and Nb materials would be costly when they are used for mass production.Relatively,Cr and Ti materials were cost effective.Hence,a comprehensive assessment was indispensable to decide the materials to be selected as adhesion layer.Ta-TiN and Ti-TiN combined adhesion and intermediate layer exhibited stronger corrosion resistance,with the corrosion current to be less than 10^(−6) A·cm^(−2).Ta-C protective coating deposited by using filtered cathodic arc technology indicated displayed higher corrosion resistance,with the average corrosion density to be about 1.26×10^(−7) A·cm^(−2).Ta-C coating also shown larger contact angle,with the highest hydrophobicity,which was one of the important advantages for Ta-C,in terms of corrosion resistance.According to Raman spectroscopy,the I(D)/I(G)=549.8/1126.7=0.487,with the estimated fraction of sp^(3) bonding to be in the range of 5154%.The intermediate layer TiN has higher conductivity than the CrN layer.Considering cost,corrosion performance and ICR result,the Ti-TiN layer combination is recommended for industrial scale application.[Conclusions]Multiple layer coating structure of Ta-C film had stronger corrosion resistance;with more than 50%sp^(3) content,while it also had larger water contact angle and higher corrosion resistance than DLC film.The filtered arcing deposition technology was able to make the film to be more consistent and stable than normal arcing technology in terms of the preparation of Ta-C.The coating displayed corrosion density of 1.26×10^(−7) A·cm^(−2) and ICR of less than 5 mΩ·cm^(2),far beyond technical target of 2025 DOE(US Department of Energy).This indicated that the mass-production scale coating technology for PEMFC bipolar plates is highly possible.
