The rapid development of aero-engines has raised higher requirements for the performance of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). The solid-solution mechanism of Yb and Sc doping in Gd₂Zr₂O₇ (GZO) was investigated using first-principles calculations, and 11.76 at.% Yb and 5.88 at.% Sc co-doped GZO (GYbSc) was optimized. Experiments have shown that GYbSc remains phase-stable after 300 h heat treatment at 1400 °C, with a thermal conductivity as low as 0.935 W·m^-1·K^-1, a coefficient of thermal expansion reaching 11.059 × 10^-6 K^-1, and superior CMAS corrosion resistance. The findings of this study provide an efficient strategy for novel TBC materials.

Thermal barrier coatings for aeroengines are facing a severe challenge of premature failure due to CMAS molten salt corrosion. This study innovatively designs a Zr-Ta-O/YSZ double-layer structure and prepares a core-shell eutectic Zr-Ta-O (ZTO) top layer (with a porosity of only 2.0%) by atmospheric plasma spraying. This layer achieves a compressive strain of over 30% and a yield strength of 4.5 GPa, effectively blocking the penetration of CMAS at 1250°C through dynamic sealing and self-removal dual mechanisms, protecting the underlying YSZ. This technology significantly extends the coating's lifespan and provides a key protective solution for the next generation of high thrust-to-weight ratio engines.

Silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) is an excellent candidate for engineering ceramics; however, its toughness and hardness are fundamentally limited by the inherent incompatibility between the hard α-phase and the tough β-phase. Si₃N₄ ceramics with a columnar-cluster microstructure are reported, achieving combination of toughness of 10.2 ± 0.3 MPa·m^1/2and 20.1 ± 0.3 GPa hardness. Those values represent the state-of-the-art among Si₃N₄ ceramics fabricated via liquid-phase sintering reported to date. The formation of the columnar clusters is driven by a high-pressure-induced coarsening process. The metastable growth mechanism may open a new pathway for preparing a new generation of Si₃N₄ ceramics with superior performance.

In the realm of pulse power capacitors, dielectric energy storage materials are undeniably the "heart." As global demand surges for rapid charge-discharge capabilities, high operating voltages, and long service lives, these materials play a pivotal role in sectors ranging from hybrid electric vehicles to high-energy weapon ignition systems.

However, Barium Titanate (BaTiO₃, or BT), the poster child for lead-free ferroelectrics, faces a classic trade-off. While blessed with high polarization strength, it has long been plagued by a "shortcoming": low breakdown strength (typically E_b<1000 kV cm⁻¹).

It is akin to a "seesaw" dilemma: achieving high energy storage density often comes at the expense of breakdown strength, while striving for high voltage tolerance can lead to insufficient polarization. Consequently, the key scientific hurdle for researchers is how to actively construct functional nanodomain structures within the BT system while maintaining its high polarization performance.

Researchers at Shaanxi Normal University have developed a flexible electrode with atomically tuned the composition of Ti_xCr_1−xN solid-solution nanoparticles for lithium-sulfur batteries. Such cathode enhances polysulfide trapping and conversion via d-band electronic regulation, achieving high-rate capacity (801 mAh g⁻¹ at 3 C) and ultralow capacity decay (0.012% per cycle at 2 C). This work provides a practical strategy for the preparation of composite cathode in high-energy Li-S batteries.