Abstract. Melt encasement (fluxing) and drop-tube techniques have been used to solidify a Ni-25 at.% Si alloy under conditions of high undercooling and high cooling rates respectively. During undercooling experiments a eutectic structure was observed, comprising alternating lamellae of single phase γ(Ni 31 Si 12 ) and Ni-rich lamellae containing of a fine (200-400 nm) dispersion of β 1 -Ni 3 Si and α-Ni. This is contrary to the equilibrium phase diagram from which direct solidification to β-Ni 3 Si would be expected for undercoolings in excess of 53 K. Conversely, during drop-tube experiments a fine (50 nm) lamellar structure comprising alternating lamellae of the metastable phase Ni 25 Si 9 and 1 -Ni 3 Si is observed. This is also thought to be the result of primary eutectic solidification. Both observations would be consistent with the formation of the high temperature form of the -phase ( 2 / 3 ) being suppressed from the melt.

A novel multi-functional counteranion of methacryloyloxyethyl isocyanate grafting poly(styrene sulfonate-co-2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) [MOI-P(SS-HEA)] for PEDOT was designed to improve the humidity stability and water resistance of PEDOT:PSS-based conductive films.

Mould casting and drop-tube techniques were used to solidify a AlCoCrFeNi2.1 eutectic high-entropy alloy under conditions of high cooling rate. The samples obtained from two different methods present the same phase constituent, FCC and B2 phases. During mould casting experiments the alloy almost solidified into the eutectic structure consisting of lamellar and anomalous morphology, with a tiny fraction of cellular and dendrite morphology being observed at certain sites of the sample surface due to the corresponding high cooling rate. Instead, during drop-tube experiments a typical, coarse dendrite structure of FCC single phase was formed across the entire 106-150 μm particle. The cellular structure can also be formed directly from the melt. The rest region solidified into the general eutectic morphology as was observed in the casting rods. The results clearly indicate the transition from coupled eutectic growth to single-phase dendrite growth with increasing departures from equilibrium for the multi-component AlCoCrFeNi2.1 eutectic high-entropy alloy.

This paper elaborates Ni0.8-Cu0.2-coated YSZ material prepared with the hard template method and the polyol method, with the composition and microstructure being analyzed with X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). With YSZ as electrolyte material, LSM as cathode material and Ni0.8Cu0.2Oxprepared with sol-gel method and partially-tubular YSZ material coated with Ni0.8-Cu0.2as anode material, electrolyte-supported cells were prepared, and with methane as fuel gas, the electrical properties of cells were determined. It was indicated that Ni and Cu prepared with traditional sol-gel method and YSZ were granular structure, and the contact area was small relatively. The new material prepared was a mixture of Ni, Cu and YSZ, where the YSZ was of partial fiber-tubular structure and the Ni and Cu granules were applied to the interior and exterior surfaces of the structure. It was able to effectively increase the contact surface of catalytic metal and electrolyte, which added to the three phase boundary of the SOFC anode and lead to power performance 80% higher than the former.