Daqiang Jiang

A Transforming Metal Nanocomposite with Large Elastic Strain, Low Modulus, and High Strength

S-T-R-E-T-C-H Me Most metals show elastic strain limits well below 1%, beyond which permanent plastic deformation occurs. Metal nanowires can be elastically stretched to much higher strains, on the order of 4 to 7%. However, when placed inside a metal matrix to form a composite, these nanowires can no longer be stretched to the same extent, even when the nanowires are well distributed and show good bonding with the matrix. Hao et al. (p. 1191; see the Perspective by Zhou) used a shape memory alloy as the matrix material to produce a much better (more elastic) composite. The use of a shape-memory metal alloy as a matrix better exploits the inherent elastic properties of niobium nanowires. [Also see Perspective by Zhou] Freestanding nanowires have ultrahigh elastic strain limits (4 to 7%) and yield strengths, but exploiting their intrinsic mechanical properties in bulk composites has proven to be difficult. We exploited the intrinsic mechanical properties of nanowires in a phase-transforming matrix based on the concept of elastic and transformation strain matching. By engineering the microstructure and residual stress to couple the true elasticity of Nb nanowires with the pseudoelasticity of a NiTi shape-memory alloy, we developed an in situ composite that possesses a large quasi-linear elastic strain of over 6%, a low Youngs modulus of ~28 gigapascals, and a high yield strength of ~1.65 gigapascals. Our elastic strain-matching approach allows the exceptional mechanical properties of nanowires to be exploited in bulk materials.

The ultrahigh mechanical energy-absorption capability evidenced in a high-strength NbTi/NiTi nanocomposite

A nanocomposite composed of NbTi nanowires uniformly embedded in NiTi matrices was fabricated, which exhibits an ultrahigh mechanical-damping capability. The absorption energy measured under an applied 8% strain is up to 54 MJ/m3, which is over three times higher than that (∼16 MJ/m3) found in the well-known Ni-Ti alloys. In-situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction reveals that a redistribution of stress between the nanowires and matrices was evidenced from an abrupt change in residual lattice strains. The ultrahigh mechanical-damping property is attributed to a combination of the strong interaction of nanowires and matrices and the plastic deformation occurring in NbTi nanowires during deformation causing large energy dissipation.

Phase-stress partition and stress-induced martensitic transformation in NbTi/NiTi nanocomposite

The phase-stress partition and stress-induced martensitic transformation in a NbTi/NiTi nanocomposite were investigated by employing in situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction during tensile cycling. The phase-stress partition behavior in the nanocomposite is significantly different from that previously reported in the metal-matrix composites. Beyond the initial elastic deformation, the stress carried by the NbTi nanowires increased significantly with increasing macroscopic strain, while the stress taken by the NiTi matrix decreased gradually. We also found that the stress-induced martensitic transformation of the NiTi matrix still proceeded even though the matrix carried decreasing stress rather than constant or increasing stress well known in binary NiTi alloys.

New route toward building active ruthenium nanoparticles on ordered mesoporous carbons with extremely high stability

Creating highly active and stable metal catalysts is a persistent goal in the field of heterogeneous catalysis. However, a real catalyst can rarely achieve both of these qualities simultaneously due to limitations in the design of the active site and support. One method to circumvent this problem is to fabricate firmly attached metal species onto the voids of a mesoporous support formed simultaneously. In this study, we developed a new type of ruthenium catalyst that was firmly confined by ordered mesoporous carbons through the fabrication of a cubic Ia3d chitosan-ruthenium-silica mesophase before pyrolysis and silica removal. This facile method generates fine ruthenium nanoparticles (ca. 1.7 nm) that are homogeneously dispersed on a mesoporous carbonaceous framework. This ruthenium catalyst can be recycled 22 times without any loss of reactivity, showing the highest stability of any metal catalysts; this catalyst displays a high activity (23.3 molLAh−1gmetal−1) during the catalytic hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA) when the metal loading is 6.1 wt%. Even at an ultralow loading (0.3 wt%), this catalyst still outperforms the most active known Ru/C catalyst. This work reveals new possibilities for designing and fabricating highly stable and active metal catalysts by creating metal sites and mesoporous supports simultaneously.

A biopolymer-like metal enabled hybrid material with exceptional mechanical prowess

The design principles for naturally occurring biological materials have inspired us to develop next-generation engineering materials with remarkable performance. Nacre, commonly referred to as natures armor, is renowned for its unusual combination of strength and toughness. Natures wisdom in nacre resides in its elaborate structural design and the judicious placement of a unique organic biopolymer with intelligent deformation features. However, up to now, it is still a challenge to transcribe the biopolymers deformation attributes into a stronger substitute in the design of new materials. In this study, we propose a new design strategy that employs shape memory alloy to transcribe the “J-curve” mechanical response and uniform molecular/atomic level deformation of the organic biopolymer in the design of high-performance hybrid materials. This design strategy is verified in a TiNi-Ti3Sn model material system. The model material demonstrates an exceptional combination of mechanical properties that are superior to other high-performance metal-based lamellar composites known to date. Our design strategy creates new opportunities for the development of high-performance bio-inspired materials.

In situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction study of deformation behavior and load transfer in a Ti2Ni-NiTi composite

The deformation behavior and load transfer of a dual-phase composite composed of martensite NiTi embedded in brittle Ti2Ni matrices were investigated by using in situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction during compression. The composite exhibits a stage-wise deformation feature and a double-yielding phenomenon, which were caused by the interaction between Ti2Ni and NiTi with alternative microscopic deformation mechanism. No load transfer occurs from the soft NiTi dendrites to the hard Ti2Ni matrices during the pseudoplastic deformation (detwinning) of NiTi, which is significantly different from that previously reported in bulk metallic glasses matrices composites. (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

A Novel Stretchable Coaxial NiTi‐Sheath/Cu‐Core Composite with High Strength and High Conductivity

Stretchable conductors have attracted broad attention recently because they play a key role in the development of stretchable electronics such as fl exible displays, stretchable circuits, functional electronic eyes, dielectric elastomeric actuators, and so on. [ 1–5 ] The major challenge towards stretchable conductors is the development of stretchable electrical wiring that is both conductive and stretchable. [ 6 ] To our knowledge, two strategies have been employed to achieve stretchable conductors: one is to fabricate wavy or net-shaped conductive structures by releasing a pre-strained rubber substrate with conductive materials lying on it, [ 7–11 ] and the other is to disperse the conductive material in a rubber matrix. [ 12–14 ] However, compared to common metal conductors, such as Cu, Ag, and Al, with good electrical conductivity ( ∼ 10 7 S m − 1 ), controllability, stability, and high strength, [ 15 ]

Revealing ultralarge and localized elastic lattice strains in Nb nanowires embedded in NiTi matrix

Freestanding nanowires have been found to exhibit ultra-large elastic strains (4 to 7%) and ultra-high strengths, but exploiting their intrinsic superior mechanical properties in bulk forms has proven to be difficult. A recent study has demonstrated that ultra-large elastic strains of ~6% can be achieved in Nb nanowires embedded in a NiTi matrix, on the principle of lattice strain matching. To verify this hypothesis, this study investigated the elastic deformation behavior of a Nb nanowire embedded in NiTi matrix by means of in situ transmission electron microscopic measurement during tensile deformation. The experimental work revealed that ultra-large local elastic lattice strains of up to 8% are induced in the Nb nanowire in regions adjacent to stress-induced martensite domains in the NiTi matrix, whilst other parts of the nanowires exhibit much reduced lattice strains when adjacent to the untransformed austenite in the NiTi matrix. These observations provide a direct evidence of the proposed mechanism of lattice strain matching, thus a novel approach to designing nanocomposites of superior mechanical properties.

Retaining Large and Adjustable Elastic Strains of Kilogram-Scale Nb Nanowires.

Individual metallic nanowires can sustain ultralarge elastic strains of 4-7%. However, achieving and retaining elastic strains of such magnitude in kilogram-scale nanowires are challenging. Here, we find that under active load, ∼ 5.6% elastic strain can be achieved in Nb nanowires embedded in a metallic matrix deforming by detwinning. Moreover, large tensile (2.8%) and compressive (-2.4%) elastic strains can be retained in kilogram-scale Nb nanowires when the external load was fully removed, and adjustable in magnitude by processing control. It is then demonstrated that the retained tensile elastic strains of Nb nanowires can increase their superconducting transition temperature and critical magnetic field, in comparison with the unstrained original material. This study opens new avenues for retaining large and tunable elastic strains in great quantities of nanowires and elastic-strain-engineering at industrial scale.

Locality and rapidity of the ultra-large elastic deformation of Nb nanowires in a NiTi phase-transforming matrix

This study investigated the elastic deformation behaviour of Nb nanowires embedded in a NiTi matrix. The Nb nanowires exhibited an ultra-large elastic deformation, which is found to be dictated by the martensitic transformation of the NiTi matrix, thus exhibiting unique characteristics of locality and rapidity. These are in clear contrast to our conventional observation of elastic deformations of crystalline solids, which is a homogeneous lattice distortion with a strain rate controlled by the applied strain. The Nb nanowires are also found to exhibit elastic-plastic deformation accompanying the martensitic transformation of the NiTi matrix in the case when the transformation strain of the matrix over-matches the elastic strain limit of the nanowires, or exhibit only elastic deformation in the case of under-matching. Such insight provides an important opportunity for elastic strain engineering and composite design.