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Metals
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Feature Papers in Metallic Functional Materials
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Feature Papers in Metallic Functional Materials

A special issue of Metals (ISSN 2075-4701). This special issue belongs to the section "Metallic Functional Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2024 | Viewed by 10098

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Victorino Franco

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Guest Editor
Department of Condensed Matter Physics, University of Seville, 41080 Seville, Spain
Interests: magnetic materials for energy applications; soft magnetic materials; thermomagnetic phase transitions; caloric effects
Dr. João Horta Belo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The Institute of Physics for Advanced Materials Nanotechnology and Photonics (IFIMUP), Universidade do Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
Interests: magnetic materials; magnetocaloric materials; phase transitions; micro-nanostructuring; energy harvesting; thermomechanical applications; biomedical applications
Dr. Luis Miguel Moreno-Ramírez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Condensed Matter Physics, University of Seville, 41080 Seville, Spain
Interests: magnetic materials; amorphous, nanocrystalline and intermetallic alloys; magnetocaloric effect; thermomagnetic phase transitions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, which we invite papers for, contains a representative sample of some of the most relevant current topics in metallic functional materials.

The classification between structural and functional materials is usually made via exclusion. Structural materials are suitable for applications based on their load-bearing capacity and on their mechanical properties. Functional materials, on the other hand, have a more extended range of applications, since they encompass magnetic, electric, or optical properties (and often couplings between these), to mention just a few. In this sense, functional materials have a phenomenology that is much broader than that of structural materials, and the discovery of new applications would consequently expand the field, creating new subclasses. Therefore, the section of Metals ‘Metallic Functional Materials’, to which this Special Issue belongs, is open to a wide range of materials (with the obvious requirement of being metallic materials), an extended set of properties, and a diverse spectrum of applications.

From a compositional point of view, borderline cases in which functionality plays a relevant role are also of particular interest to us. Besides bulk or metallic materials with reduced dimensionality, metal-containing composites for functional applications would also fit this section, provided that the metallic fraction of the composite is responsible for the desired functional properties. From a property point of view, improving the mechanical performance of functional materials to enhance the reliability, durability, and sustainability of functional parts would also be appropriate for this section.

The focus of this Special Issue is on the development of new or optimized metallic functional materials, the advancement of modeling and simulation techniques that can predict their functional properties, experimental techniques related to the characterization of these properties, and novel applications that exploit the material’s functionalities.

Prof. Dr. Victorino Franco
Dr. João Horta Belo
Dr. Luis Miguel Moreno-Ramírez
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere. All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Metals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • magnetic properties
  • electric properties
  • optical properties
  • shape memory alloys
  • magnetovolume coupling
  • magnetocaloric effect
  • elastocaloric effect
  • multicaloric materials
  • metal–polymer composites
  • nanostructured metallic materials
  • functional thin films
  • modeling and simulation
  • advanced experimental techniques

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 2949 KiB  
Article
Structure, Microstructure and Magnetocaloric/Thermomagnetic Properties at the Early Sintering of MnFe(P,Si,B) Compounds
by Tvrgvn Qianbai, Hargen Yibole and Francois Guillou
Metals 2024, 14(4), 385; https://doi.org/10.3390/met14040385 - 26 Mar 2024
Viewed by 599
Abstract
Minimizing the sintering time while ensuring high performances is an important optimization step for the preparation of magnetocaloric or thermomagnetic materials produced by powder metallurgy. Here, we study the influence of sintering time on the properties of a Mn0.95Fe1P [...] Read more.
Minimizing the sintering time while ensuring high performances is an important optimization step for the preparation of magnetocaloric or thermomagnetic materials produced by powder metallurgy. Here, we study the influence of sintering time on the properties of a Mn0.95Fe1P0.56Si0.39B0.05 compound. In contrast to former reports investigating different annealing temperatures during heat treatments of several hours or days, we pay special attention to the earliest stages of sintering. After ball-milling and powder compaction, 2 min sintering at 1100 °C is found sufficient to form the desired Fe2P-type phase. Increasing the sintering time leads to a sharper first-order magnetic transition, a stronger latent heat, and usually to a larger isothermal entropy change, though not in all cases. As demonstrated by DSC or magnetization measurements, these parameters present dissimilar time evolutions, highlighting the existence of various underlying mechanisms. Chemical inhomogeneities are likely responsible for broadened transitions for the shortest sinterings. The development of strong latent heat requires longer sinterings than those for sharpening the magnetic transition. The microstructure may play a role as the average grain size progressively increases with the sintering time from 3.5 μm (2 min) to 30.1 μm (100 h). This systematic study has practical consequences for optimizing the preparation of MnFe(P,Si,B) compounds, but also raises intriguing questions on the influence of the microstructure and of the chemical homogeneity on magnetocaloric or thermomagnetic performances. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Metallic Functional Materials)
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14 pages, 3958 KiB  
Article
A Study of a Cryogenic CuAlMn Shape Memory Alloy
by Adelaide Nespoli, Francesca Passaretti, Davide Ninarello, Marcella Pani, Cristina Artini, Francesca Ferro and Carlo Fanciulli
Metals 2024, 14(3), 323; https://doi.org/10.3390/met14030323 - 11 Mar 2024
Viewed by 741
Abstract
In extreme temperature environments, a newly emerging engineering application involves both the active and passive control of structures using cryogenic shape memory alloys, which are smart materials able to recover high deformation below the freezing point. With the objective of carrying out new [...] Read more.
In extreme temperature environments, a newly emerging engineering application involves both the active and passive control of structures using cryogenic shape memory alloys, which are smart materials able to recover high deformation below the freezing point. With the objective of carrying out new advances in this area, the present work aims to investigate the Cu-7.5Al-13.5Mn (wt.%) shape memory alloy. Thermal, microstructural, and thermomechanical analyses of as-cast and hot-rolled specimens were performed, taking into account the effects of annealing and solubilization. It was observed that the phase transition occurs at temperatures below 120 K and changes according to the thermo-mechanical path. Specifically, hot-rolling lowers the phase transition temperature range with respect to the as-cast condition–from 34 K to 23 K for Mf, and from 89 K to 80 K for Af. Additionally, when the annealing temperature rises, the phase transformation temperature increases as well, and the alloy loses its cryogenic features when heat treated above 473 K. Finally, loss factors of 0.06 and 0.088, which were respectively found in dynamic and static settings, validate the material’s good damping response. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Metallic Functional Materials)
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15 pages, 2489 KiB  
Article
Applied Magnetic Field Increases Magnetic Anisotropy in HDDR-Processed Nd-Fe-B Alloy
by Zachary P. Tener, Xubo Liu, Ikenna C. Nlebedim, Matthew J. Kramer, Michael A. McGuire and Michael S. Kesler
Metals 2024, 14(3), 294; https://doi.org/10.3390/met14030294 - 01 Mar 2024
Viewed by 848
Abstract
We investigate the effect of an applied magnetic field on the entire HDDR process using a customized reactor vessel and a warm-bore superconducting magnet. We analyzed the resulting properties produced at both a 0 applied field and a 2 Tesla applied field. We [...] Read more.
We investigate the effect of an applied magnetic field on the entire HDDR process using a customized reactor vessel and a warm-bore superconducting magnet. We analyzed the resulting properties produced at both a 0 applied field and a 2 Tesla applied field. We show that the application of a magnetic field throughout the HDDR process results in powders that exhibit a greater level of anisotropy compared to their ambient field counterparts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Metallic Functional Materials)
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14 pages, 7656 KiB  
Article
Cobalt Oxide-Decorated on Carbon Derived from Onion Skin Biomass for Li-Ion Storage Application
by Yunan Liu, Ting Sun, Duygu Ege and Ali Reza Kamali
Metals 2024, 14(2), 191; https://doi.org/10.3390/met14020191 - 02 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 989
Abstract
Onion waste, particularly onion skin, is a widely generated waste material, and harnessing its potential for energy storage aligns with sustainable development goals. Despite the high specific surface area exhibited by biocarbon derived from onion skin, its Li-ion storage performance is not desirable. [...] Read more.
Onion waste, particularly onion skin, is a widely generated waste material, and harnessing its potential for energy storage aligns with sustainable development goals. Despite the high specific surface area exhibited by biocarbon derived from onion skin, its Li-ion storage performance is not desirable. In this study, biocarbon derived from purple onion skin serves as the substrate for accommodating cobalt oxide (Co3O4) through a hydrothermal method, employing Co(NO3)2·6H2O at various concentrations, and with and without prior activation using KOH treatment. The resulting samples undergo comprehensive analyses, including phase, morphological, surface, and electrochemical characterizations. The Co3O4 decoration on activated carbon derived from onion skin, synthesized using Co(NO3)2·6H2O at a concentration of 1 M, reveals a porous structure with a surface area of 702 m2/g, featuring predominant pore sizes of less than 5 nm. Significantly, the Li-ion storage performance of this sample surpasses that of alternative samples, demonstrating a remarkable reversible capacity of 451 mAh/g even after 500 cycles at an elevated current density of 2000 mAh/g. The charge transfer resistance of the sample (110.3 Ω) is found to be substantially lower than that of the sample prepared using carbonized onion skin biomass without activation. This research introduces an innovative approach leveraging onion skin waste as a template for Co3O4 decoration, thereby fabricating high-performance anodes for lithium-ion batteries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Metallic Functional Materials)
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10 pages, 2053 KiB  
Article
Hydrogen Production Properties of Aluminum–Magnesium Alloy Presenting β-Phase Al3Mg2
by Laurent Cuzacq, Chloé Polido, Jean-François Silvain and Jean-Louis Bobet
Metals 2023, 13(11), 1868; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13111868 - 09 Nov 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 878
Abstract
In this study, aluminum–magnesium (Al-Mg) bulk porous materials were fabricated by using uniaxial hot pressing to control the porosity rate of the material over a wide range (up to 50%). The fabricated materials were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The [...] Read more.
In this study, aluminum–magnesium (Al-Mg) bulk porous materials were fabricated by using uniaxial hot pressing to control the porosity rate of the material over a wide range (up to 50%). The fabricated materials were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results demonstrated the appearance of intermetallic (IM) phase Al3Mg2, and its quantity increased with the applied pressure. In the context of the decline of global fossil fuel reserves, the revalorization of these materials by hydrogen (H2) production was investigated. Hydrolysis of the Al-Mg materials was carried out in a simulated seawater solution (aqueous solution of sodium chloride 35 g/L). The results showed the role of the porosity rate in the H2 production properties of the fabricated materials; the increase of porosity rate from 10% to 50% cuts the reaction time in half. Finally, the role of IM phase Al3Mg2 in H2 production was highlighted through galvanic coupling. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Metallic Functional Materials)
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12 pages, 4645 KiB  
Article
Graphite/Epoxy-Coated Flaky FeSiCr Powders with Enhanced Microwave Absorption
by Haonan Zhang, Xichun Zhong, Jinwen Hu, Na He, Hanxing Xu, Xuefeng Liao, Qing Zhou, Zhongwu Liu and Raju V. Ramanujan
Metals 2023, 13(9), 1611; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13091611 - 18 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 771
Abstract
Flake-shaped FeSiCr (FFSC) material is expected to be a promising microwave absorbent due to its excellent magnetic properties and environmental resistance. By introducing carbon-based materials through suitable coatings, the electromagnetic parameters and energy loss can be tuned to improve the performance of FFSC. [...] Read more.
Flake-shaped FeSiCr (FFSC) material is expected to be a promising microwave absorbent due to its excellent magnetic properties and environmental resistance. By introducing carbon-based materials through suitable coatings, the electromagnetic parameters and energy loss can be tuned to improve the performance of FFSC. A facile solution-blending method was deployed to prepare graphite- and epoxy resin-encapsulated FFSC (FFSC@G/E) powders with a core–shell structure. FFSC@G2000/E showed excellent performance in the X band (8–12 GHz), a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −42.77 dB at a thickness of 3 mm and a maximum effective absorption bandwidth (EABmax, RL < −10 dB) that reached 4.55 GHz at a thickness of 2.7 mm. This work provides a route for the production of novel high-performance microwave absorbers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Metallic Functional Materials)
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14 pages, 5165 KiB  
Article
FeSiCr-Based Soft Magnetic Composites with SiO2 Insulation Coating Prepared Using the Elemental Silicon Powder Hydrolysis Method
by Chunlong Li, Hongya Yu, Guangze Han and Zhongwu Liu
Metals 2023, 13(8), 1444; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13081444 - 11 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1045
Abstract
In this work, FeSiCr powders were coated with a SiO2 insulation layer for soft magnetic composites (SMCs) through elemental silicon powder hydrolysis, without using any expensive precursors. The effects of the reaction temperature and ammonia concentration on the structure and performance of [...] Read more.
In this work, FeSiCr powders were coated with a SiO2 insulation layer for soft magnetic composites (SMCs) through elemental silicon powder hydrolysis, without using any expensive precursors. The effects of the reaction temperature and ammonia concentration on the structure and performance of SMCs were investigated. Through the elemental silicon powder hydrolysis process, the formation of an FeSiCr–SiO2 core-shell structure effectively reduced the core loss, increased resistivity, and improved the quality factor of SMCs. SMCs prepared with 0.10 mL/g ammonia concentration at 50 °C exhibited the best combination of properties, with saturation magnetization Ms = 169.40 emu/g, effective permeability μe = 40.46, resistivity ρ = 7.1 × 106 Ω·cm, quality factor Q = 57.07 at 1 MHz, and core loss Ps = 493.3 kW/m3 at 50 mT/100 kHz. Compared to the uncoated sample, SMCs with a SiO2 coating exhibit 23% reduction in Ps, with only 6.6% reduction in μe. Compared to SMCs fabricated using the traditional sol-gel method, the sample prepared through hydrolysis of elemental silicon powder has higher permeability and lower core loss. In particular, this new approach gives an effective coat solution for the mass production of high-temperature-resistant SMCs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Metallic Functional Materials)
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12 pages, 1966 KiB  
Article
Effect of Magnetic Field and Hydrostatic Pressure on Metamagnetic Isostructural Phase Transition and Multicaloric Response of Fe49Rh51 Alloy
by Alexander P. Kamantsev, Abdulkarim A. Amirov, Vladislav D. Zaporozhets, Igor F. Gribanov, Aleksay V. Golovchan, Victor I. Valkov, Oksana O. Pavlukhina, Vladimir V. Sokolovskiy, Vasiliy D. Buchelnikov, Akhmed M. Aliev and Victor V. Koledov
Metals 2023, 13(5), 956; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13050956 - 15 May 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1262
Abstract
The effect of a high magnetic field up to 12 T and a high hydrostatic pressure up to 12 kbar on the stability of the metamagnetic isostructural phase transition and the multicaloric effect of Fe49Rh51 alloy has been studied. The [...] Read more.
The effect of a high magnetic field up to 12 T and a high hydrostatic pressure up to 12 kbar on the stability of the metamagnetic isostructural phase transition and the multicaloric effect of Fe49Rh51 alloy has been studied. The phase transition temperature shifts under the magnetic field and the hydrostatic pressure on with the rates of dTm/μ0dH = −9.2 K/T and dTm/dP = 3.4 K/kbar, respectively. The magnetocaloric and multicaloric (under two external fields) effects were studied via indirect method using Maxwell relations. The maximum of the entropy change is increasing toward the high temperature region from ∆S~2.5 J/(kg K) at 305 K to ∆S~2.7 J/(kg K) at 344 K under simultaneously applied magnetic field of 0.97 T and hydrostatic pressure of 12 kbar. The obtained results were explained using the first-principle calculations of Gibbs energies and the phonon spectra of the ferromagnetic and the antiferromagnetic phases. Taking into account the low concentration of antisite defects in the calculation cells allows us to reproduce the experimental dTm/dP coefficient. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Metallic Functional Materials)
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Review

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33 pages, 5606 KiB  
Review
Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles under Microwave Irradiation: Get Much with Less Energy
by Leonid Kustov and Kseniia Vikanova
Metals 2023, 13(10), 1714; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13101714 - 08 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2088
Abstract
Microwave irradiation is widely used to intensify various chemical processes, including in the synthesis of nanomaterials. The purpose of this review is to present recent trends in the application of microwave heating for the preparation of monometallic, bimetallic, and more complicated metal nanoparticles. [...] Read more.
Microwave irradiation is widely used to intensify various chemical processes, including in the synthesis of nanomaterials. The purpose of this review is to present recent trends in the application of microwave heating for the preparation of monometallic, bimetallic, and more complicated metal nanoparticles. The advantages and drawbacks behind the use of microwave irradiation in the synthesis of unsupported and supported metal nanoparticles are summarized. Such metals as Ag, Au, Pt, Pd, Rh, Ir, Cu, Ni, Co, etc. are considered. Illustrative examples have been presented of the positive effects of microwave treatments, including the preparation of particles of different shapes and particles of immiscible metals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Metallic Functional Materials)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles under the Microwave Irradiation: Get Much with Less Energy
Authors: Leonid Kustov; Elena Finashina; Alexander Kustov
Affiliation: Chemistry Department, Moscow State University; N.D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences; National University of Science and Technology MISiS
Abstract: Very recent literature (2018-2023) has been reviewed with a focus on the preparation of free or supported metal nanoparticles by using microwave (MW) irradiation. The MW heating results, as a rule, in a very narrow distribution of metal nanoparticles shifted toward a smaller median size compared to the thermal preparation. Further advantages of the use of MW in the synthesis of metal nanoparticles are related to the decrease of energy consumption, reduction of the time required for the synthesis, as well as the possibility of using green solvents and stabilizing agents. The synthesis of transition metals (Co, Ni, Ag, Au, Fe) and noble metals (Pt, Pd, Rh) and some bimetallic compositions has bee discussed in more detail.

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