Synthesis and Characterization of TiC Nanofibers Obtained via a Modified Carbothermal Process
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Small Ni particles supported on TiC(001) were shown to display a very high activity for the catalytic hydrogenation of CO 2 but the underlying chemistry is, to a large extent, unknown. Here, by means of periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations with the BEEF–vdW functional, we explore the adsorption and subsequent dissociation of CO 2 and H 2 on several Ni n clusters ( n = 4, 9, 13, and 16) supported on TiC(001) and compare the results to those obtained for the bare Ni(111) and TiC(001) surfaces using exactly the same computational approach. The calculations reveal that the Ni n /TiC system exhibits stronger adsorption energies and lower dissociation energy barriers for CO 2 and H 2 than the bare Ni(111) and TiC(001) surfaces. Furthermore, this is in line with the experimental finding evidencing that the Ni/TiC system has a catalytic activity higher than that of the separated Ni and TiC constituents. In addition, the calculated results show that two-dimensional (2D) supported clusters adsorb CO 2 and H 2 stronger than the three-dimensional (3D) supported clusters and also the 2D clusters exhibit lower energy barriers for CO 2 dissociation. Within the 2D supported clusters, larger particles feature slightly stronger adsorption energies and lower CO 2 dissociation energy barriers. Finally, H 2 dissociation proceeds with a very low energy barrier on all of the studied models, which makes these novel systems potential good candidates for hydrogenation reactions.
A metal matrix composite powder of molybdenum (Mo) + TiC was produced by mechanical alloying (MA) and used in additive manufacturing by electron beam powder bed fusion along with pure Mo powder to form sandwich structures. The Mo + TiC solid layers formed mixed structures of Mo with discrete TiC particles, eutectic Mo + TiC, and Mo dendrites. Thermodynamic modeling showed that the system contained an invariant eutectic reaction in the composition range used and indicated that the system was highly sensitive to changes in composition and temperature.
Plastic waste has been a major social and environmental problem. Chemical upcycling of plastic waste into transportation fuels or lubricant oil has emerged as an attractive and promising approach to convert plastic waste into valuable products. However, conventional catalyst systems often require high-pressure hydrogen, prolonged residence time, and the use of noble metal catalysts. Here, we present zero-valent nickel single atoms on Mo-based MXenes (Ni/Mo 2 TiC 2 T x ) for effective hydrogenation of polyolefins. In situ spectroscopic and microscopic characterizations demonstrate the formation of Ni–Mo and Ni–C bonds at a low Ni loading, resulting in the formation of dispersed intercalated Ni atoms. The catalysts were then employed to convert polyethylene into fuels and lubricant molecules under atmospheric hydrogen pressure, short vapor residence time (τ < 1 s), and mild reaction temperature (300 °C). We further demonstrated the possibility of tuning the Ni structure by changing the Ni loading, attributed to the strong metal–support interactions (MSIs) with the Mo 2 TiC 2 T x support. Under optimized conditions, 22.5 C% gasoline, 12.0 C% diesel, 19.2 C% jet fuel (JP-8), and 37.4 C% lubricant were produced over 0.5% Ni/Mo 2 TiC 2 T x . This work highlights the potential of utilizing MSIs of Mo 2 TiC 2 T x MXenes to synthesize single-atom catalysts (SACs) for upcycling plastic waste into higher-value products.
Aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) are designed to enhance the performance of conventional aluminum alloys for engineering applications at both room and elevated temperatures. However, the dynamic phase-specific deformation behavior and load-sharing mechanisms of AMCs at elevated temperatures have not been extensively studied and remain unclear. Here, in situ neutron diffraction experiments are employed to reveal the phase-specific structure evolution of additively manufactured Al6061+TiC composites under compressive loading at 250 °C. It is found that the addition of a small amount of nano-size TiC significantly alters the deformation behavior and increases the strength at 250 °C in comparison to the as-printed Al6061. Unlike the two-stage behavior observed in Al6061, the Al6061+TiC composites exhibit three stages during compression triggered by changes in the interphase stress states. Further analysis of Bragg peak intensity and broadening reveals that the presence of TiC alters the dislocation activity during deformation at 250 °C by influencing dislocation slip planes and promoting dislocation accumulation. These findings provide direct experimental observations of the phase-specific dynamic process in AMCs under deformation at an elevated temperature. The revealed mechanisms provide insights for the future design and optimization of high-performance AMCs.
Ultra-high-temperature ceramics (UHTCs), including TiC, Ti 11 B₂, and Zr 11 B₂, show great potential for plasma-facing components due to their excellent high-temperature properties prior to irradiation. However, their response to neutron irradiation remains insufficiently understood, limiting robust assessment of their viability for fusion energy applications. Here, this study examines the thermal conductivity, dimensional stability and microstructure of TiC, TiB₂, and ZrB₂ following neutron irradiation at temperatures of 200–1000 °C and fast neutron fluences of 2.0 × 10 25 to 1.1 × 10 26 n/m 2 (E > 0.1 MeV). Lattice swelling measured by synchrotron X-ray diffraction in all three UHTCs was maximized at 200 °C and decreased with increasing irradiation temperature, with no evidence of amorphization observed at 200 °C. Above 600 °C, significant macroscopic volume swelling was observed in irradiated Ti 11 B₂ and Zr 11 B₂, but not in TiC, likely due to cavity formation in the diborides. The post-irradiation thermal conductivity, measured at the irradiation temperature, ranged from 28 to 45 W/m·K, representing a 34–45% reduction relative to the unirradiated material. Notably, neutron-irradiated UHTCs exhibit recoverable thermal conductivity at elevated temperatures, comparable to ferritic–martensitic steels and potentially superior to W when transmutation effects are considered, highlighting promise for shielding or armor plasma-facing components. At 600 °C, both thermal conductivity degradation and lattice swelling saturated at doses exceeding 2–4 dpa.
Metals supported on transition metal carbides are known to exhibit good catalytic activity and selectivity, which is interpreted in terms of electron polarization induced by the support. In the present work we go one step further and investigate the effect that a titanium carbide (TiC) support has on the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of a series of Ni nanoparticles of increasing size exhibiting a two- or three-dimensional morphology. Furthermore, the obtained results show that three-dimensional nanoparticles are more stable and easier to form than their homologous two-dimensional counterparts. Also, comparison to previous results indicates that, when used as the support, transition metal carbides have a marked different chemical activity with respect to oxides. The analysis of the magnetic moments of the supported nanoparticles evidences a considerable quenching of the magnetic moment that affects mainly the Ni atoms in close contact with the TiC substrate indicating that these atoms are likely to be responsible for the catalytic activity reported for these systems. Overall, the analysis of the electronic structure reveals the existence of chemical interactions between the Ni nanoparticles and the TiC support, even if the net charge transfer between both systems is negligible.
Metal matrix composites (MMCs), combining metal matrix and ceramic particles, exhibit high mechanical strength and stiffness compared to conventional metallic materials. During fusion-based additive manufacturing (AM), MMCs undergo a rapid heating and cooling thermal history, which affects the interfacial bonding, thermal misfit stress and mechanical load transfer behavior between the metal matrix and particles, thus impacting the bulk mechanical performance. Here, we investigate the deformation dynamics and phase-specific load transfer in fusion-based AMed Al6061 +TiC MMCs through in-situ neutron diffraction. By calculating the phase-specific lattice strains, a multi-stage load transfer and deformation behavior during uniaxial compression is revealed: (1) elastic deformation in Stage I for both phases; (2) sudden stress rebalance between two phases in Stage II, evidenced by a sudden decrease in Al lattice strain and increase in TiC; (3) active load carrying by both phases in Stage III, with both phases experiencing an increase in lattice strains. Further, the deformation mechanism of each stage is deducted by correlating the evolutions of the interphase stresses and peaks’ broadening and intensity of the Al matrix. The local plastic deformation of the Al matrix near the phase interface is triggered and leads to stress rebalancing in Stage II. The global plastic deformation subsequently propagates throughout the Al matrix in Stage III, and the composite is further hardened through both dislocation multiplication and load transfer. The findings offer valuable insights into deformation and load-sharing behavior in AMed MMCs.
The V-4Cr-4Ti (V44) alloys have been proposed as the prime candidate structural material for self-cooled liquid Li blanket and other designs for fusion energy applications. However, the applications of the V44 alloy are limited to a narrow operation temperature window, due to reduction in creep strength at or above 700 °C and susceptibility to irradiation hardening and embrittlement when irradiated below 400 °C. Here, in this work, we explore the feasibility of designing a novel V alloy to form a high number density of TiC nanoprecipitates, in order to simultaneously improve creep strength and provide defect sinks to mitigate irradiation hardening. Computational thermodynamics was used to design a new alloy (V44C) to achieve our goal of high TiC nanoprecipitates density within the alloy V44 matrix. To ensure scalability, the new alloy was made through arc-melting and ingot-casting followed by hot forging, cold rolling and heat treatments of homogenization and precipitation aging. The microstructure was characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD and APT, confirming the existence of nanoprecipitates predicted in the thermodynamic calculations. In addition to microstructural evaluation tensile properties at room temperature and 700 °C, and Charpy impact energy at room temperature were measured. The microstructure and mechanical properties were then compared with those from a historic reference V44 alloy. The tensile strength improvement in V44C was rationalized based on particle and solid solution strengthening mechanism. The fracture behavior was discussed based on the fractography results and necking deformation behavior.
Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides and nitrides known as MXenes have shown attractive functionalities such as high electronic conductivity, a wide range of optical properties, versatile transition metal and surface chemistry, and solution processability. Although extensively studied computationally, the magnetic properties of this large family of 2D materials await experimental exploration. 2D magnetic materials have recently attracted significant interest as model systems to understand low-dimensional magnetism and for potential spintronic applications. Here, we report on synthesis of Cr 2 TiC 2 T x MXene and a detailed study of its magnetic as well as electronic properties. Using a combination of magnetometry, synchrotron X-ray linear dichroism, and field- and angular-dependent magnetoresistance measurements, we find clear evidence of a magnetic transition in Cr 2 TiC 2 T x at approximately 30 K, which is not present in its bulk layered carbide counterpart (Cr 2 TiAlC 2 MAX phase). Overall, this work presents the first experimental evidence of a magnetic transition in a MXene material and provides an exciting opportunity to explore magnetism in this large family of 2D materials.
We report the discovery of TOI 694 b and TIC 220568520 b, two low-mass stellar companions in eccentric orbits around metal-rich Sun-like stars, first detected by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). TOI 694 b has an orbital period of 48.05131 ± 0.00019 days and eccentricity of 0.51946 ± 0.00081, and we derive a mass of 89.0 ± 5.3 M{sub Jup} (0.0849 ± 0.0051 M{sub ⊙}) and radius of 1.111 ± 0.017 R{sub Jup} (0.1142 ± 0.0017 R{sub ⊙}). TIC 220568520 b has an orbital period of 18.55769 ± 0.00039 days and eccentricity of 0.0964 ± 0.0032, and we derive a mass of 107.2 ± 5.2 M{sub Jup} (0.1023 ± 0.0050 M{sub ⊙}) and radius of 1.248 ± 0.018 R{sub Jup} (0.1282 ± 0.0019 R{sub ⊙}). Both binary companions lie close to and above the hydrogen-burning mass threshold that separates brown dwarfs and the lowest-mass stars, with TOI 694 b being 2σ above the canonical mass threshold of 0.075 M{sub ⊙}. The relatively long periods of the systems mean that the magnetic fields of the low-mass companions are not expected to inhibit convection and inflate the radius, which according to one leading theory is common in similar objects residing in short-period tidally synchronized binary systems. Indeed we do not find radius inflation for these two objects when compared to theoretical isochrones. These two new objects add to the short but growing list of low-mass stars with well-measured masses and radii, and highlight the potential of the TESS mission for detecting such rare objects orbiting bright stars.
The orbital parameters of warm Jupiters serve as a record of their formation history, providing constraints on formation scenarios for giant planets on close and intermediate orbits. Here, we report the discovery of TIC 237913194b, detected in full-frame images from Sectors 1 and 2 of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), ground-based photometry (Chilean–Hungarian Automated Telescope, Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope), and Fiber-fed Extended Range Optical Spectrograph radial velocity time series. We constrain its mass to M P = 1.942 -0.091 +0.091 M J and its radius to R P = 1.117 -0.047 +0.054 R J , implying a bulk density similar to Neptune’s. It orbits a G-type star (M ∗ = 1.026 -0.055 +0.057 M ⊙ , V = 12.1 mag) with a period of 15.17 days on one of the most eccentric orbits of all known warm giants (e ≈ 0.58). This extreme dynamical state points to a past interaction with an additional, undetected massive companion. A tidal evolution analysis showed a large tidal dissipation timescale, suggesting that the planet is not a progenitor for a hot Jupiter caught during its high-eccentricity migration. TIC 237913194b further represents an attractive opportunity to study the energy deposition and redistribution in the atmosphere of a warm Jupiter with high eccentricity.
We report the discovery of a sextuply eclipsing sextuple star system from TESS data, TIC 168789840, also known as TYC 7037-89-1, the first known sextuple system consisting of three eclipsing binaries. The target was observed in Sectors 4 and 5 during Cycle 1, with lightcurves extracted from TESS Full Frame Image data. It was also previously observed by the WASP survey and ASAS-SN. The system consists of three gravitationally bound eclipsing binaries in a hierarchical structure of an inner quadruple system with an outer binary subsystem. Follow-up observations from several different observatories were conducted as a means of determining additional parameters. The system was resolved by speckle interferometry with a 0.″42 separation between the inner quadruple and outer binary, inferring an estimated outer period of ∼2 kyr. It was determined that the fainter of the two resolved components is an 8.217 day eclipsing binary, which orbits the inner quadruple that contains two eclipsing binaries with periods of 1.570 days and 1.306 days. Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) analysis of the stellar parameters has shown that the three binaries of TIC 168789840 are “triplets,” as each binary is quite similar to the others in terms of mass, radius, and T {sub eff}. As a consequence of its rare composition, structure, and orientation, this object can provide important new insight into the formation, dynamics, and evolution of multiple star systems. Future observations could reveal if the intermediate and outer orbital planes are all aligned with the planes of the three inner eclipsing binaries.
TiC is Halite, Rock Salt structured and crystallizes in the cubic Fm-3m space group. The structure is three-dimensional. Ti4+ is bonded to six equivalent C4- atoms to form a mixture of corner and edge-sharing TiC6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles are 0°. All Ti–C bond lengths are 2.17 Å. C4- is bonded to six equivalent Ti4+ atoms to form a mixture of corner and edge-sharing CTi6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles are 0°.
Zn 0.5 Ge 0.5 P shows superior crystal and band structure as anode material for lithium-ion batteries, and Zn 0.5 Ge 0.5 P–TiC–C exhibits excellent electrochemical performance.
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