Superhydrophobic surfaces (SHS), characterized by low surface energy and minimal adhesion to liquids, have attracted extensive attention for applications such as self-cleaning, waterproofing, dust resistance, and corrosion protection. Beyond these traditional functions, the de-icing and anti-icing capabilities of SHS have recently garnered significant interest due to their inherent passive ice-shedding behavior. However, a comprehensive, mechanistic understanding of icing phenomena on SHS, along with effective strategies for improving ice-phobic performance, remains inadequately established. This review presents a systematic evaluation of passive and hybrid active–passive anti-icing and de... More >

Thermal cracking poses a significant threat to the structural integrity and service life of mass concrete. The starch-based Temperature Rise Inhibitor (TRI) emerges as a sustainable and efficient bio-based solution that directly addresses the root cause - the intense heat release during early-age cement hydration. Unlike conventional chemical admixtures, TRI features a special "controlled dissolution" mechanism in the high-pH environment of cement paste. This characteristic ensures a continuous release of organic molecules that selectively inhibit the nucleation of calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H) gel, the primary hydrates of cement hydration. Consequently, TRI significantly slow down the h... More >

Amid global warming, energy shortages, and the increasing frequency of extreme climate events, the development of sustainable and intelligent underground infrastructure has become a critical strategy for addressing major societal challenges. Unlike surface structures, underground infrastructures are subjected to high stress, dynamic loading, and groundwater erosion. Under such conditions, traditional cement-based materials are prone to strength degradation, fatigue damage, and permeability failure, which significantly limits the service life and operational safety of underground constructions. Incorporating short carbon fibers into cement-based materials not only enhances their mechanical st... More >

Intermetallic compounds including TiAl and NiAl suffer from an abrupt brittle-ductile transition at a critical temperature, limiting their higher temperature applications. Conventional viewpoints attribute this transition to thermally activated dislocation actions or dynamic recrystallization. Here, we discover a novel brittle-ductile transition mechanism in polysynthetic twinned TiAl, driven by lamellar degradation, which significantly deviates from the conventional mechanisms. The results demonstrate that the lamellar degradation is primarily caused by the \( \alpha_2 \rightarrow \gamma \) phase transformation at the brittle-ductile transition temperature, which stems from a non-monotonic... More >

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are considered one of the most promising candidates for next-generation energy storage systems, owing to the high safety, low cost, high theoretical capacity (820 mAh g\(^{-1}\)), and environmental compatibility. However, the practical implementation of zinc metal anodes still faces challenges such as dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution reaction, and corrosion, which significantly restrict the cycling life and practical usability. To address these issues, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with tunable pore structures and ultrahigh specific surface areas have been widely employed for protecting zinc anodes. Therefore, this review systematically summarizes the... More >

Traditional hydrogels often exhibit disordered molecular structures, resulting in limited mechanical strength, toughness, and functionality, which restrict their practical applications. Here, we engineer an anisotropic $\mathrm{Zr^{4+}}$-crosslinked P(DMA-AA)-CMC hydrogel via pre-stretching to mimic muscle-like alignment. This strategy enhances mechanical strength (5.6 MPa along orientation axis, $1.8\times$ higher than perpendicular) and directional sensitivity through $\mathrm{Zr^{4+}}$-stabilized microstructural ordering. The sensor achieves 303\% $\Delta R/R_0$ at 100\% strain with $2.2\times$ higher sensitivity parallel to pre-stretch direction, enabling precise movement/orientation tra... More >

In solid-state laser systems with nanosecond repetition rates and high energy, amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) and parasitic oscillation (PO) produced by the gain material can significantly impact the laser output. A well-designed cladding composite structure is an effective solution to absorb ASE and suppress PO. In this work, 5 at.% Sm:LuAG transparent ceramics, a promising cladding material for suppressors of PO at 1064 nm of Nd:LuAG lasers, have been prepared by solid-state reactive sintering at 1825 °C followed by hot isostatic pressing (HIP) post-treatment at 1750 °C. The influences of TEOS (tetraethyl orthosilicate) content on microstructure evolution, in-line transmittance of... More >

This editorial introduces the inaugural issue of the Journal of Advanced Materials Research and presents its vision, scope, and mission in advancing sustainable and innovative materials research. More >