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In this work, we successfully achieved an exceptional strength-ductility synergy in the brittle Ni 0.6 CoFe 1.4 medium-entropy alloy (MEA) via in situ formation of a heterogeneous structure by doping with Si. The newly developed Ni 0.6 CoFe 1.4 Si x ( x = 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) MEAs exhibited a multi-phase heterogeneous structure consisting of face-centered cubic (FCC), body-centered cubic (BCC) and NiSi phases, with some B2 nanoparticles precipitated inside the BCC matrix. This multi-phase heterogeneous structure combined with precipitation hardening resulted in a dual enhancement in the strength and ductility of the alloys. Notably, the tensile strength and strain of the Ni 0.6 CoFe 1.4 Si 0.3 MEA were significantly increased to 1096.9 ± 39.0 MPa and 31.7 ± 0.3%, respectively, which were about 39.9% and 456.1% higher than those of the Ni 0.6 CoFe 1.4 base alloy. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) results indicated that the charge redistribution caused by the addition of Si led to the presence of local charge enrichment and depletion regions, which facilitate plastic deformation and increase the ductility. The current study would provide valuable guidance to produce low-cost yet high-performance BCC-structured MEAs.

The development of bifunctional electrocatalysts with excellent performance in both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and sulfide oxidation reaction (SOR) remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we experimentally synthesize a NiO/RuO 2 p-n heterojunction nanofoam that exhibits highly desirable electrocatalytic properties for both the HER and the SOR. We further design an electrolytic cell by pairing alkaline HER with SOR utilizing the NiO/RuO 2 heterojunction nanofoam as both the anode and the cathode, which demands a low applied voltage of 0.846 V to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm -2 . Density functional theory calculations confirm that the formation of the NiO/RuO 2 p-n heterojunction nanofoam effectively regulates the electronic structure, thereby boosting the electrocatalytic performances for both HER and SOR. This work not only provides a novel strategy to prepare an efficient and stable nanofoam electrocatalyst for hydrogen production but also highlights the potential application of oxide heterojunction electrocatalysts in treating sulfur-containing waste liquid.

Siraitia grosvenorii (Swingle) C. Jeffrey ( S. grosvenorii ), a perennial indigenous liana from the Cucurbitaceae family, has historically played a significant role in southern China's traditional remedies for various ailments. Its dual classification by the Chinese Ministry of Health for both medicinal and food utility underscores its has the potential of versatile applications. Recent research has shed light on the chemical composition, pharmacological effects, and toxicity of S. grosvenorii . Its active ingredients include triterpenoids, flavonoids, amino acids, volatile oils, polysaccharides, minerals, vitamins, and other microconstituents. Apart from being a natural sweetener, S. grosvenorii has been found to have numerous pharmacological effects, including alleviating cough and phlegm, preventing dental caries, exerting anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects, anti-aging and anti-oxidative, hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering, anti-depression, anti-fatigue, anti-schizophrenic, anti-Parkinson, anti-fibrotic, and anti-tumor activities. Despite its versatile potential, there is still a lack of systematic research on S. grosvenorii to date. This paper aims to address this gap by providing an overview of the main active components, pharmacological efficacy, toxicity, current status of development and application, development dilemmas, and strategies for intensive exploitation and utilization of S. grosvenorii . This paper aims to serve as a guide for researchers and practitioners committed to exploiting the biological resources of S. grosvenorii and further exploring its interdisciplinary potential., Competing Interests: Authors HH, ZP, SZ, WL, DL, SH were employed by Hunan Huacheng Biotech, Inc. Authors HH, ZP, SZ, WL, DL, SH were employed by Hunan Natural Sweetener Engineering Technology Research Center. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Huang, Peng, Zhan, Li, Liu, Huang, Zhu and Wang.)