Microstructures

Latest Issues

Volume 3, Issue 2 (in progress)

Volume 3, Issue 1

Volume 2, Issue 4

A critical review of the mechanical properties of CoCrNi-based medium-entropy alloys

Dingfeng Xu, ... Yiping Lu

Review|Published on: 13 Jan 2022
Design of super-elastic freestanding ferroelectric thin films guided by phase-field simulations

Changqing Guo, Houbing Huang

Review|Published on: 13 Oct 2022

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Announcement

Improving advanced materials characterisation using EBSD pattern matching techniques

Speaker: Dr. Patrick Trimby,Oxford Instruments Nanoanalysis, High Wycombe, United Kingdom.
3D Printing of Biomimetic Biomaterials

Speaker: Professor Chengtie Wu, State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
Computational Modeling of Flexoelectric Energy Harvesters

Speaker: Professor Timon Rabczuk, Institute of Structural Mechanics, Bauhaus-University Weimar, Germany.

Accepted Manuscripts

A review on pitting corrosion and environmentally assisted cracking on duplex stainless steel

Menghao Liu, Cuiwei Du, Zhiyong Liu, Li Wang, Rui Zhong, Xiaojie Cheng, Jiawei Ao, Teng Duan, Yuetong Zhu, Xiaogang Li

Review

Articles

Formation of strong and ductile FeNiCoCrB network-structured high-entropy alloys by fluxing

Huiqiang Ying, ... Si Lan

Microstructures 2023;3:2023018. DOI: 10.20517/microstructures.2022.47

Abstract
A series of [(FeNiCo)_0.85Cr_0.15]_100-_xB_x (x = 12, 15, 17) high-entropy alloys with network-like microstructures (N-HEAs) ... MORE

A series of [(FeNiCo)_0.85Cr_0.15]_100-_xB_x (x = 12, 15, 17) high-entropy alloys with network-like microstructures (N-HEAs) and a wavelength of 3-5 μm was prepared using the fluxing method. The novel N-HEAs exhibited higher strength and ductility compared with samples obtained by suction casting. Neutron diffraction and scanning electron microscopy measurements showed that the network-like structure contained soft face-centered cubic (FCC) and hard tetragonal Cr₂B-type sub-networks. The network-like structure was formed during the solidification of the molten alloy from a deeply undercooled state, achieved by removing impurities and most metallic oxides through B₂O₃ fluxing. The mechanical properties could be tuned by modifying the composition to change the volume fractions of the different sub-networks. When x decreased from 17 to 12, the compressive yield strength decreased from 1.6 to 1.1 GPa, while the compressive strain increased from ~20% to ~70%. The N-HEA samples with x = 12 and 15 also exhibited a good tensile ductility of 19% and 14%, respectively. In situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction results revealed an inhomogeneous deformation behavior, i.e., the soft FCC phase yielded prior to the hard Cr₂B-type phase, which bore more stress in the initial stage of the plastic deformation. In the later stage of the plastic deformation, the ductility of the sample was provided by the FCC phase, together with some contributions from the Cr₂B-type phase. LESS Full article

Research Article|Published on: 24 Mar 2023

Full-Text | PDF-4.1M
Microstructural constructing 2D tin allotropes on Al(111): from quasi-periodic lattice to square-like lattice

Haifeng Feng, ... Shi Xue Dou

Microstructures 2023;3:2023017. DOI: 10.20517/microstructures.2023.01

Abstract
The lattice arrangement and degree of buckling have been playing vital roles in the structure ... MORE

The lattice arrangement and degree of buckling have been playing vital roles in the structure stability, bonding configuration, and electronic band structures of two-dimensional (2D) single-layer materials. Here, we fabricate two tin allotropes beyond honeycomb stanene by epitaxial growth method on Al(111). Sn-I phase with quasi-periodic lattice and Sn-II phase with square-like lattice have been identified by scanning tunneling microscopy. Combined with scanning tunneling spectroscopy, it is revealed that Sn-II phase with four-coordinate tin atoms exhibits enhanced decoupling effects due to their saturated bonds. In this study, the discovery of new lattice arrangements with well-defined atomic structures beyond honeycomb lattice provides an appealing approach to searching 2D elemental single layers and novel physical properties. LESS Full article

Research Article|Published on: 14 Mar 2023

Full-Text | PDF-2.5M
Commentary on “Heterogenous nature of enhanced piezoelectricity in relaxor-ferroelectric crystals”

D. Viehland

Microstructures 2023;3:2023016. DOI: 10.20517/microstructures.2023.10

Commentery|Published on: 9 Mar 2023

Full-Text | PDF-1.1M
Novel casting CoCrNiAl eutectic high entropy alloys with high strength and good ductility

Ning Xu, ... Yan-dong Wang

Microstructures 2023;3:2023015. DOI: 10.20517/microstructures.2022.40

Abstract
Eutectic high-entropy alloys (EHEAs) have drawn increasing interest due to their fine castability as well ... MORE

Eutectic high-entropy alloys (EHEAs) have drawn increasing interest due to their fine castability as well as appealing properties in recent years. In this work, two bulk-casting Co_20-x/3Cr_20-x/3Ni_50-x/3Al_10+x (x = 8 and 9) EHEAs with regular L1₂/B2 lamellar morphologies were successfully fabricated and studied. Both EHEAs show high ultimate strength of ~1200 MPa combined with good uniform ductility (> 9%). Post-deformation transmission electron microscopy results indicated a high density of dislocations and stacking faults in the L1₂ lamellae, while no obvious dislocation in the B2 phases. This work can broaden the optimization of composition design in EHEAs and provide useful guidance for further development of CoCrNiAl EHEAs. LESS Full article

Research Article|Published on: 27 Feb 2023

Full-Text | PDF-5.6M
The effect of chromium content on the corrosion behavior of ultrafine-grained Cr_xMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloys in sulfuric acid solution

Tian Wan, ... Fuzeng Ren

Microstructures 2023;3:2023014. DOI: 10.20517/microstructures.2022.36

Abstract
Chromium (Cr) plays a critical role in the corrosion resistance of conventional alloys via the ... MORE

Chromium (Cr) plays a critical role in the corrosion resistance of conventional alloys via the formation of a dense Cr oxide-based passive film. However, the exact role of Cr in the corrosion of high-entropy alloys (HEAs) remains unclear. The effect of Cr content on the corrosion behavior of the ultrafine-grained Cr_xMnFeCoNi (x = 0, 0.6, 1, and 1.5) HEAs in the sulfuric acid solution (0.5 M H₂SO₄) was investigated. These HEAs were fabricated using a combination of mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering. The electrochemical tests show that the passive film was more compact and thicker at higher Cr concentration, but the corrosion rate first increased and then decreased, due to the presence of the nanocrystalline-amorphous phase boundaries in the passive film. Long-time immersion tests show that the corrosion rate increased exponentially with the Cr content, due to the gradual accumulation of the galvanic corrosion. LESS Full article

Research Article|Published on: 22 Feb 2023

Full-Text | PDF-7.8M
Recent progress on alloy-based anode materials for potassium-ion batteries

Qiuran Yang, ... Jiazhao Wang

Microstructures 2023;3:2023013. DOI: 10.20517/microstructures.2022.30

Abstract
Potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) are considered as promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries due to the abundant ... MORE

Potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) are considered as promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries due to the abundant potassium resources in the Earth’s crust. Establishing high-performance anode materials for PIBs is essential to the development of PIBs. Recently, significant research effort has been devoted to developing novel anode materials for PIBs. Alloy-based anode materials that undergo alloying reactions and feature combined conversion and alloying reactions are attractive candidates due to their high theoretical capacities. In this review, the current understanding of the mechanisms of alloy-based anode materials for PIBs is presented. The modification strategies and recent research progress of alloy-based anodes and their composites for potassium storage are summarized and discussed. The corresponding challenges and future perspectives of these materials are also proposed. LESS Full article

Review|Published on: 22 Feb 2023

Full-Text | PDF-11.1M

About The Journal

ISSN

2770-2995 (Online)

Publisher

OAE Publishing Inc.

Article Processing Charges

$1200
Editor-in-Chief

Shujun Zhang

Publishing Model

Gold Open Access

Copyright

Copyright is retained by author(s)
Publication Frequency

Quarterly

Indexing

Google Scholar

Dimensions

Lens

Journal Data Analysis

Total publications: 46

Total article views: 55,727

Total article downloads: 17,565

Aims and Scope

Microstructure, which is the nature, quantity and distribution of structural elements or phases that make up materials, determines the properties of materials. Understanding microstructure–properties relationships is critical for the design of materials. With the increase of demand and investment in new materials around the globe, there has been a great deal of interest in the exploration and manipulation of microstructure in materials science and engineering.

The journal of Microstructures publishes peer-reviewed articles that present a full spectrum of research topics in microstructure-oriented research and development. Papers involve all aspects of microstructures, including the design, fabrication, modelling, characterization, testing, and evaluation of the end-user-oriented applications, from the microscale to the atomic scale. Contents are written at a general level aiming at a broad audience. The journal publishes articles covering new research and developments, perspectives, and reviews related to the microstructures of materials, including, but not limited to metals and alloys, ceramics, polymers, composites, crystals, glasses, biomaterials, interfaces and nanomaterials.

Microstructures serves the interdisciplinary community of physicists, chemists, engineers, biologists, and engineers in related disciplines, delivering high-quality, original research focusing on design–fabrication–microstructure–property–application relationships in materials.

The journal provides scientists and engineers with cutting-edge information on topics that are closely linked to microstructures of all types of materials. These include but are not limited to:

Microstructure characterization
Microstructural evolution under external stimulations
Synthesis/processing–microstructure–properties relationships
Prediction and design of microstructures
Computational modelling of microstructure and its relationships with processing condition and properties
Multifunction and emerging coupling phenomena in microstructures
Applications of structure-manipulated materials
Advances in microstructure characterization techniques

Announcement of Microstructures 2022 Best Paper Awards, Best Reviewer Awards, Best Editor Award & Best Youth Scholar Award

We are pleased to announce the Microstructures annual awards- Best Paper Awards (Table 1), Best Reviewer Awards (Table 2), Best Editor Award and Best Youth Scholar Award (Table 3) ...

Published on: 7 Feb 2023
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of Microstructures in 2022

A rigorous and impartial peer-review process is essential for publication, which can help authors revise their papers in a timely manner and maintain a sound academic environment.

Published on: 30 Dec 2022
Congratulations on the Success of AM&ST 22 Co-sponsored by Microstructures

International Symposium Advanced Materials and Sustainable Technologies 2022 (AM&ST 22) was successfully held from 30th November to 2nd December 2022 in Cairns, Australia.

Published on: 14 Dec 2022
Microstructures is Now a Member of the Committee on Publication Ethics

We are pleased to announce that Microstructures is now a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Published on: 17 May 2022
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of Microstructures

A rigorous and impartial peer-review process is essential for the publication on a full scale, which can help authors revise their papers timely and maintain a sound academic environment.

Published on: 5 Jan 2022