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FeNiCoCu high-entropy alloys (HEAs) demonstrate promising potential for widespread use in structural and functional applications. However, a thorough understanding of dynamic deformation processes in FeNiCoCu HEA is limited due to technological constraints in detecting real-time microstructural developments at the atomic level. This study examines the shock-induced plastic deformations in the equiatomic FeNiCoCu HEA, focusing on crystallographic orientation and particle velocity, using nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. We obtained the P−V/V0, P−T, P−Up, and Us−Up Hugoniot relations and evaluated their anisotropy. The shock velocity, stress, and shear stress exhibit orientation dependence due to the differences in the plastic deformation mechanism. For shock loading along [100] orientations, dislocation dominates at lower shock intensities. However, a phase transition from face-centered-cubic (FCC) to body-centered-cubic becomes the primary plastic deformation at high shock intensity. For shock loading along [ 11 2 ¯ ] and [111] orientations, the generation of disordered structures and dislocation activities is revealed to play an important role in the development of localized plastic deformation. Moreover, the competition of disordered and hexagonal-close-packed (HCP) atoms is observed. The transition from FCC to disordered atoms provides nucleation sites for dislocations, and the slip of dislocations around disordered atoms leads to the formation of HCP structures. These findings are very helpful for learning the dynamic deformation behavior of FeNCoCu HEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molybdenum (Mo) is a strategic metal for the manufacture of aerospace equipment, satellite components, and vehicle armor. Thus, understanding its behaviors under harsh conditions like shock compression is crucial for its practical utilization. Through molecular dynamic simulations, we have explored the mechanical responses and microstructural evolutions of nano-polycrystalline (NPC) Mo under different shock intensities, with grain sizes ranging from 5 to 33 nm. Our study reveals that grain size considerably influences the Hugoniot data and waveform of NPC Mo. NPC Mo with a smaller grain size exhibits higher compressibility and lower Hugoniot shear stress. As the grain size increases, the presence of a double-wave structure becomes more pronounced. Additionally, with the increase in shock intensity, there is a reduction in the shock front width. Significantly, when the shock stress ranges from approximately 60 to 100 GPa, twinning structures are detected in samples with grain sizes ranging from 10 to 33 nm. Moreover, the elevated temperature behind the shock wave further promotes detwinning reactions. When the shock stresses exceed 100 GPa, twinning–detwinning as well as amorphization-recrystallization become the predominant deformation mechanisms, almost unaffected by grain size. As the shock stress exceeds 250 GPa, the atoms in the samples become completely disordered. These findings provide new insights into the mechanical responses as well as the microstructural evolutions of NPC Mo under shock compression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] Facing the global issue of “carbon peak and carbon neutrality”, this study aimed to predict and simulate carbon emissions from energy consumption, explore the feasibility of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality time, and provide theoretical basis for promoting emission reduction. [Methods] In this study, the carbon emission coefficient method was used to calculate the carbon emissions from energy consumption in China from 1986 to 2019. Considering factors from the five aspects of economy, society, environment, energy, and technology, an indicator system including 18 variables was established, and five main factors were screened out by Lasso regression. Based on three machine learning methods and Lasso regression, six carbon emission prediction models including support vector regression (SVR), random forest (RF), back propagation neural network (BP), Lasso-SVR, Lasso-RF, and Lasso-BP were constructed. The models were evaluated based on the mean squared error (MSE) and mean average error (MAE). Combined with the scenario analysis method to set four scenarios of new normalization, green low-carbon, 2 ℃ target, and 1.5 ℃ target, the best prediction model was selected to simulate and analyze China’s energy consumption carbon emissions from 2020 to 2060 under the four scenarios. [Results] Under the four scenarios, with the intensification of emission reduction efforts, China’s carbon peaking platform period is shortened. The time points of carbon peak during the platform period in China are 2035, 2030, 2026, and 2025 respectively, and the peak values are 9.580, 7.448, 6.723 and 6.523 Gt CO2e. Under the 2 ℃ and 1.5 ℃ scenarios, China can achieve carbon neutrality as scheduled. Under all four scenarios China may achieve the 2 ℃ temperature rise target, but under the first two scenarios China will not achieve the 1.5 ℃ target. [Conclusion] Under the four scenarios, the peak value and peak time of China’s energy consumption carbon emissions are different, and the possibility of achieving carbon neutrality is also different. In order to achieve the goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality as soon as possible, China must promote the optimization of industrial structure and energy system structure, increase investment in green assets, and help the development of emission reduction with technological progress.

Membraneless microfluidic fuel cells (MFCs) have garnered tremendous interest as micropower devices, which exploit the colaminar nature of two aqueous electrolytes to separate the anode and cathode and avoid the membrane usually used in a fuel cell. Our previous research shows that the performance of FeCl3-based MFCs with catalyst-free cathodes is mainly limited by the cathode. To improve the power output of these MFCs, we activated the carbon paper cathode by an electrochemical method in the three solutions (Na2SO4, NaOH, and H2SO4) to improve the electrochemical characteristics of the carbon paper cathode. The surface functionalities and defects, reduction activation of iron ions as the oxidant, cathode resistance, and performance of FeCl3-based MFCs were measured and compared. Our work shows that the electrochemical activation of the carbon paper in different solutions is a simple and effective method to enhance the electrochemical characteristics of the carbon paper cathode and improve the performance of the FeCl3-based MFC. Also, the MFC with the carbon paper cathode activated in the H2SO4 solution reaches the optimum performance: 235.6 mW cm-3 in volumetric power density and 1063.33 mA cm-3 in volumetric limiting current density, which are 1.58 and 1.52 times as much as that of a MFC with an untreated carbon paper cathode, respectively. This best performance can be attributed to the cathode activated in the H2SO4 solution with the largest number of oxygen-containing functional groups, the largest electrochemical active surface area, strongest reduction of iron ions, and least resistance of the cathode.