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This paper focuses on the particle crushing mechanism of construction solid waste recycled aggregate (CWRA), particularly recycled concrete (RC) and recycled bricks (RB), using natural gravel (NG) as a control group. Compression tests, combined with the Weibull distribution, fractal dimension theory, and relative crushing rate, were conducted to investigate the crushing behavior of these materials under different loads. Results indicate that, under the same load, the crushing degree ranks from highest to lowest as RB, RC, and NG. The Weibull distribution effectively describes the crushing state, with "fragmentation" being the primary mode for most materials, while RC also exhibits "grinding." As the load increases, the relative crushing rate rises for all materials but slows beyond a certain load threshold, indicating greater difficulty in further crushing. The study identifies a load threshold of 400 kN, beyond which changes in void fraction and relative crushing rates become less significant, particularly in stronger aggregates. Highlights Identified that mortar attached to the RC surface is the primary cause of the increased particle crushing below 0.6 mm. Introduced Weibull distribution parameters a and b to accurately characterize the crushing state of RA particles. Revealed the errors between fractal dimension-based evaluations and the actual crushing state of RC particles. Proposed a two-stage crushing mode for RC. Determined the critical threshold value for the variation of crushing degree with load level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIB) are increasingly recognized as a promising next‐generation energy storage technology, prized for their affordability and high safety profile. Yet, their widespread adoption is challenged by complex reaction mechanisms and the evolving nature of both the electrode material and interfaces, which remain critical barriers. This review underscores the utility of in situ and operando characterization techniques in AZIB systems, offering invaluable tools for tracking these intricate processes and deepening understanding of energy storage mechanisms. This review presents an extensive overview of cutting‐edge in situ and operando methods, emphasizing their crucial role in structural investigations of materials and interfaces during electrochemical processes. This review particularly focuses on the synergistic application of various in situ techniques, delving into the nuances of experimental setups and data interpretation. Finally, it addresses current challenges in the field and proposes potential strategies, aiming to enhance the impact and broaden the application of these techniques for future advancements and mechanistic insights in AZIB research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The permeability performance made of recycled aggregate pervious concrete with macropores (M-RAPC) relates greatly to the macropore structure and seepage behaviors. However, the mechanism of the influence of pore structure on the permeability of M-RAPC is still unclear. Based on the high-resolution X-ray computer tomography (CT) and image processing technology, a three-dimensional (3D) pore structure model with macropore (>0.15 mm) was constructed, and the dimension of the representative elementary volume (REV) was determined to be 450×450×450 voxel3. Then, the quantitative characterization of the topological structure of macropore space and the simulation of pore flow were conducted. Finally, the relationship between macropore structure parameters and seepage behavior was discussed. The results showed that about 80% of macropores are in the range of 0.15–1 mm, and the pore coordination number is mostly concentrated within 20. The macropore distribution shows a great spatial heterogeneity, showing that the permeability anisotropy index is mainly larger than 1, and even up to 8. Besides, the permeability performance of M-RAPC is significantly correlated with macropore parameters (effective porosity, tortuosity, and fractal dimension). In summary, this study can better reveal the relationship between pore structure and seepage behaviors in M-RAPC and provide a reference for the skeleton structure and permeability performance optimization design of M-RAPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successful conversion of CO2 into C2 products requires the development of new catalysts that overcome the difficulties in efficient light harvesting and CO–CO coupling. Herein, density functional theory (DFT) is used to assess the photoreduction properties of nitrogen-doped black phosphorus. The geometric structure, redox potential, first step of hydrogenation activation, CO desorption, and CO–CO coupling are systematically calculated, based on which the diatomic nitrogen-doped black phosphorus (N2@BPV) stands out. The calculated results of the CO2RR pathway demonstrate that N2@BPV has excellent selectivity and high activity for CH3CH2OH production. The results of the time-dependent ab initio nonadiabatic molecular dynamics simulation show that the diatomic N active sites of N2@BPV facilitate charge separation and inhibit electron–hole recombination. In addition, the activation mechanism of CO2 is studied. The main reason for CO2 activation is attributed to the imbalance in electron transfer that destroys the symmetry of CO2. We expect that our study will offer some theoretical guidance in CO2 conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]