We report recent advances in the experimental and theoretical study of grain size(GS)effects on the thermal and mechanical properties of nanostructured NiTi polycrystalline shape memory alloy(SMA).It is shown that whe...We report recent advances in the experimental and theoretical study of grain size(GS)effects on the thermal and mechanical properties of nanostructured NiTi polycrystalline shape memory alloy(SMA).It is shown that when GS<60 nm,the superelastic stress-strain hysteresis loop area(H)of the polycrystal decreases rapidly with GS and tends to vanish as GS approaches 10 nanometers.At the same time,the temperature dependence of the transition stress also decreases with GS and eventually approaches zero,leading to a wide superelastic temperature window and breakdown of the Clausius-Claperyon relationship.Rate dependence of the stress-strain responses is significantly reduced and the cyclic stability of the material is improved by the nanocrystallization.It is proposed that the emergence of such significant changes in the behavior of the material with GS reduction originate from the large increase in the area-to-volume ratios of the nanometer-thick interfaces(grain boundary and Austenite-Martensite(A-M)interface)in the polycrystal.In particular,with GS reduction,interfacial energy terms will gradually become dominant over the bulk energy of the crystallite,eventually bring fundamental changes in the phase transition responses of the material.Modelling strategy leading to the establishment of quantitative relationships among GS,grain boundary,A-M interfaces and the macroscopic responses of the material are outlined.展开更多
The heterogeneous multilayer interface of VN/Ag coatings and transition multilayer interface of VN/Ag coatings were prepared on Inconel 781 and Si(100),and the microstructures,mechanical and tribological properties we...The heterogeneous multilayer interface of VN/Ag coatings and transition multilayer interface of VN/Ag coatings were prepared on Inconel 781 and Si(100),and the microstructures,mechanical and tribological properties were investigated from 25 to 700℃.The results showed that the surface roughness and average grain size of VN/Ag coatings with transition multilayer interface are obviously larger than those of VN/Ag coatings with heterogeneous multilayer interface.The coatings with transition multilayer interface have higher adhesion force and hardness than the coatings with heterogeneous multilayer interface,and both coatings can effectively restrict the initiation and propagation of microcracks.Both coatings have excellent self-adaptive lubricating properties with a decrease of friction coefficient as the temperature increases,but their wear rates reveal a drastic increase.The phase composition of the worn area of both coatings was investigated,which indicates that a smooth Ag,Magnéli phase(V2O5)and bimetallic oxides(Ag3VO4 and AgVO3)can be responsible to the excellent lubricity of both coatings.To sum up,the coatings with transition multilayer interface have excellent adaptive lubricating properties and can properly control the diffusion rate and release rate of the lubricating phase,indicating that they have great potential in solving the problem of friction and wear of mechanical parts.展开更多
Ni-rich layered oxide cathodes have shown promise for high-energy lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)but are usually limited to mild environments because of their rapid performance degradation under extreme temperature condit...Ni-rich layered oxide cathodes have shown promise for high-energy lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)but are usually limited to mild environments because of their rapid performance degradation under extreme temperature conditions(below0°C and above 50 °C).Here,we report the design of F/Mo co-doped LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2)(FMNCM)cathode for high-performance LIBs from-20 to 60°C.F^(-) doping with high electronegativity into the cathode surface is found to enhance the stability of surface lattice structure and protect the interface from side reactions with the electrolyte by generating a LiF-rich surface layer.Concurrently,the Mo^(6+) doping suppresses phase transition,which blocks Li^(+)/Ni^(2+) mixing,and stabilizes lithium-ion diffusion pathway.Remarkably,the FMNCM cathode demonstrates excellent cycling stability at a high cutoff voltage of 4.4 V,even at 60°C,maintaining 90.6%capacity retention at 3 C after 150 cycles.Additionally,at temperatures as low as-20°C,it retains 77.1%of its room temperature capacity,achieving an impressive 97.5%capacity retention after 500 cycles.Such stable operation under wide temperatures has been further validated in practical Ah-level pouch-cells.This study sheds light on both fundamental mechanisms and practical implications for the design of advanced cathode materials for wide-temperature LIBs,presenting a promising path towards high-energy and long-cycling LIBs with temperatureadaptability.展开更多
The Portland cement concrete pavement(PCCP)often suffers from different environmental distresses and vehicle load failure,resulting in slab corner fractures,potholes,and other diseases.Rapid repair has become one of t...The Portland cement concrete pavement(PCCP)often suffers from different environmental distresses and vehicle load failure,resulting in slab corner fractures,potholes,and other diseases.Rapid repair has become one of the effective ways to open traffic rapidly.In this study,a novel type of rapid repair material,basalt fiber reinforced polymer modified magnesium phosphate cement(BFPMPC),is used to rapidly repair PCCP.Notably,the mechanical properties and characteristics of the repair interfaces which are named interfacial transition zones(ITZs)formed by BFPMPC and cement concrete are focused on as a decisive factor for the performance of the rapid repair.The changing trend of the elastic moduli was studied by nanoindentation experiments in the ITZs with the deconvolution analysis that the elastic moduli of certain kinds of substances can be determined.The experimental results show that the elastic modulus of ITZ-1 with a width of about20μm can be regarded as 0.098 times of the aggregate,and 0.51 times of the ordinary Portland cement(OPC)mortar.The BFPMPC-OPC mortar ITZ has roughly the same mechanical properties as the ITZ between aggregate and BFPMPC.A multi-scale representative two-dimensional model was established by random aggregate and a two-dimensional extended finite element method(XFEM)to study the mechanical properties of the repair interface.The simulation results show that the ITZ formed by the interface of BFPMPC and OPC mortar and basalt aggregate is the most vulnerable to failure,which is consistent with the nano-indentation experimental results.展开更多
The deformation incompatibility of components is a bottleneck restricting the exaltation of the strength and ductility of composites.Herein,the coherent transition interface was designed and produced in hexagonal boro...The deformation incompatibility of components is a bottleneck restricting the exaltation of the strength and ductility of composites.Herein,the coherent transition interface was designed and produced in hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets(BNNSs)/Al composites by reaction sintering route,expecting to re-lieve the deformation incompatibility between BNNSs and Al.It is demonstrated that with the sintering temperature for composites raising from 600℃ to 650℃,700℃ and 750℃,different interface bonding characteristics,which involve nucleation and growth of AlN continuous nanolayer,were confirmed.Fur-thermore,first-principles calculations show that the generation of the coherent transition interface im-proved the interfacial bonding strength of BNNSs/Al composites through covalent bonds.The composites with coherent transition interface exhibit excellent strength-toughness combination in tensile and impact tests.The finite element simulation and in-situ approach under tensile tests were applied to investigate the influence of transition interface structure on deformation behavior of BNNSs/Al composite.It is found that the generation of the transition interface can not only weaken the stress partitioning behavior in the elastic stage,but also constrain the crack initiation and propagation behavior in the elastic-plastic stage and plastic stage,thereby improving the deformation compatibility between BNNSs and Al.The present work provides a novel view into the breakthrough for the trade-offrelationship of strength and ductility by coherent transition interface design in nanocomposites.展开更多
The oxygen evolution reaction(OER) with slow kinetics is the rate-limiting step of electrochemical water splitting.A reasonable construction of interface nanostructures is the key to improving the OER efficiency and d...The oxygen evolution reaction(OER) with slow kinetics is the rate-limiting step of electrochemical water splitting.A reasonable construction of interface nanostructures is the key to improving the OER efficiency and durability of non-noble metal electrocatalysts.In this study,a FeOOH/NiCo_(2)S_(4) core-shell nanorod array with abundant heterogeneous interfaces and high density of active sites was successfully prepared by a microwave-as sis ted method.Experimental research and theoretical calculations show that the abundant strong coupling Ni/Co-S-Fe interface helps in adjusting the electronic structure of the material surface,optimizing the adsorption energy of the intermediate,and realizing an efficient catalytic process.The as-synthesized FeOOH/NiCo_(2)S_(4)/NF composite electrode exhibited lower overpotential(198 mV) and Tafel slope(62 mV·dec^(-1)) at a current density of 10 mA·cm^(-2)and excellent stability(approximately 100% retention after100 h) than the NiCo_(2)S_(4)/nickel foam(NF).In conclusion,constructing heterojunctions with complementary active materials is an effective strategy to design efficient and robust OER electrocatalysts.展开更多
Two-dimensional(2D)transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDCs)are emerging as promising building blocks of high-performance photocatalysts for visible-light-driven water splitting because of their unique physical,chemical...Two-dimensional(2D)transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDCs)are emerging as promising building blocks of high-performance photocatalysts for visible-light-driven water splitting because of their unique physical,chemical,electronic,and optical properties.This review focuses on the fundamentals of 2D TMDC-based mixed-dimensional heterostructures and their unique properties as visible-light-driven photocatalysts from the perspective of dimensionality and interface engineering.First,we discuss the approaches and advantages of surface modification and functionalization of 2D TMDCs for photocatalytic water splitting under visible-light illumination.We then classify the strategies for improving the photocatalytic activity of 2D TMDCs via combination with various low-dimensional nanomaterials to form mixed-dimensional heterostructures.Further,we highlight recent advances in the use of these mixed-dimensional heterostructures as high-efficiency visible-light-driven photocatalysts,particularly focusing on synthesis routes,modification approaches,and physiochemical mechanisms for improving their photoactivity.Finally,we provide our perspectives on future opportunities and challenges in promoting real-world photocatalytic applications of 2D TMDC-based heterostructures.展开更多
With the rapid consumption of fossil fuels and the resulting environmental problems,researchers are working to find sustainable alternative energy and energy storage and conversion methods.Transition metal sulfur comp...With the rapid consumption of fossil fuels and the resulting environmental problems,researchers are working to find sustainable alternative energy and energy storage and conversion methods.Transition metal sulfur compounds have attracted extensive attention due to their excellent electrical conductivity,low cost,adjustable components and good electrocatalytic performance.As an alternative to noble metal catalysts,they have emerged as a promising electrocatalyst.However,their low catalytic activity and poor stability limit their large-scale practical applications.Rare earth elements,known as industrial vitamins,are widely used in various fields due to their special redox properties,oxygen affinity and electronic structure.Therefore,the construction of rare earth promoted transition metal sulfides is of far-reaching significance for the development of catalysts.Here,we review the applications of various rare earth promoted transition metal sulfides in energy storage and conversion in recent years,which focuses on three ways in rare earth promoted transition metal sulfide,including doping,interfacial modification engineering and structural facilitation.As well,these materials are used in electrochemical reactions such as OER,HER,ORR,CO_(2)RR,and so on,in order to explore the important role of rare earth in the field of electrocatalysis,the future challenges and opportunities.展开更多
The temperature gradients that arise in the paraelectric-ferroelectric interface dynamics induced by the latent heat transfer are studied from the point of view that a ferroelectric phase transition is a stationary, t...The temperature gradients that arise in the paraelectric-ferroelectric interface dynamics induced by the latent heat transfer are studied from the point of view that a ferroelectric phase transition is a stationary, thermal-electric coupled transport process. The local entropy production is derived for a ferroelectric phase transition system from the Gibbs equation. Three types of regions in the system are described well by using the Onsager relations and the principle of minimum entropy production. The theoretical results coincides with the experimental ones.展开更多
The interface morphologies and microstruetures of the directionally solidified Ni-5wt-% Cu alloy during dendrite-to-cell transition at high growth rates have been investigated with a newly developed apparatus for unid...The interface morphologies and microstruetures of the directionally solidified Ni-5wt-% Cu alloy during dendrite-to-cell transition at high growth rates have been investigated with a newly developed apparatus for unidirectional solidification with the temperature gradient at the solid/liquid interface higher than 1000 K/cm.The results show that in the vicinity of dendrite-to-cell transition point,the well developed sidebranches become shrivelled with the increase of growth rate and disappear at the dendrite-to-cell transition,and the primary spacing decreases simultaneously.Moreover,the length of mushy zone decreases greatly dur- ing the dendrite-to-cell transition.Cells obtained at high growth rates have very similar morphologies to those at low growth rates,but with much smaller cell spacings and unsmoothed cell walls which may be attributed to the different stability conditions of the cell walls at low and high growth rates respectively.展开更多
基金supported by the Hong Kong Research Grant Council(RGC)(Grant No.619113)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11128204)the State Key Lab of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering of WHU,China
文摘We report recent advances in the experimental and theoretical study of grain size(GS)effects on the thermal and mechanical properties of nanostructured NiTi polycrystalline shape memory alloy(SMA).It is shown that when GS<60 nm,the superelastic stress-strain hysteresis loop area(H)of the polycrystal decreases rapidly with GS and tends to vanish as GS approaches 10 nanometers.At the same time,the temperature dependence of the transition stress also decreases with GS and eventually approaches zero,leading to a wide superelastic temperature window and breakdown of the Clausius-Claperyon relationship.Rate dependence of the stress-strain responses is significantly reduced and the cyclic stability of the material is improved by the nanocrystallization.It is proposed that the emergence of such significant changes in the behavior of the material with GS reduction originate from the large increase in the area-to-volume ratios of the nanometer-thick interfaces(grain boundary and Austenite-Martensite(A-M)interface)in the polycrystal.In particular,with GS reduction,interfacial energy terms will gradually become dominant over the bulk energy of the crystallite,eventually bring fundamental changes in the phase transition responses of the material.Modelling strategy leading to the establishment of quantitative relationships among GS,grain boundary,A-M interfaces and the macroscopic responses of the material are outlined.
基金Project(51505100)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China
文摘The heterogeneous multilayer interface of VN/Ag coatings and transition multilayer interface of VN/Ag coatings were prepared on Inconel 781 and Si(100),and the microstructures,mechanical and tribological properties were investigated from 25 to 700℃.The results showed that the surface roughness and average grain size of VN/Ag coatings with transition multilayer interface are obviously larger than those of VN/Ag coatings with heterogeneous multilayer interface.The coatings with transition multilayer interface have higher adhesion force and hardness than the coatings with heterogeneous multilayer interface,and both coatings can effectively restrict the initiation and propagation of microcracks.Both coatings have excellent self-adaptive lubricating properties with a decrease of friction coefficient as the temperature increases,but their wear rates reveal a drastic increase.The phase composition of the worn area of both coatings was investigated,which indicates that a smooth Ag,Magnéli phase(V2O5)and bimetallic oxides(Ag3VO4 and AgVO3)can be responsible to the excellent lubricity of both coatings.To sum up,the coatings with transition multilayer interface have excellent adaptive lubricating properties and can properly control the diffusion rate and release rate of the lubricating phase,indicating that they have great potential in solving the problem of friction and wear of mechanical parts.
基金the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51972156,52072378,52102054 and 51927803)the National Key R&D Program of China(2022YFB3803400,2021YFB3800301)+2 种基金the Shenyang Science and Technology Program(22-322-3-19)the Youth Fund of the Education Department of Liaoning Province(LJKQZ20222324)the Outstanding Youth Fund of University of Science and Technology Liaoning(2023YQ11).
文摘Ni-rich layered oxide cathodes have shown promise for high-energy lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)but are usually limited to mild environments because of their rapid performance degradation under extreme temperature conditions(below0°C and above 50 °C).Here,we report the design of F/Mo co-doped LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2)(FMNCM)cathode for high-performance LIBs from-20 to 60°C.F^(-) doping with high electronegativity into the cathode surface is found to enhance the stability of surface lattice structure and protect the interface from side reactions with the electrolyte by generating a LiF-rich surface layer.Concurrently,the Mo^(6+) doping suppresses phase transition,which blocks Li^(+)/Ni^(2+) mixing,and stabilizes lithium-ion diffusion pathway.Remarkably,the FMNCM cathode demonstrates excellent cycling stability at a high cutoff voltage of 4.4 V,even at 60°C,maintaining 90.6%capacity retention at 3 C after 150 cycles.Additionally,at temperatures as low as-20°C,it retains 77.1%of its room temperature capacity,achieving an impressive 97.5%capacity retention after 500 cycles.Such stable operation under wide temperatures has been further validated in practical Ah-level pouch-cells.This study sheds light on both fundamental mechanisms and practical implications for the design of advanced cathode materials for wide-temperature LIBs,presenting a promising path towards high-energy and long-cycling LIBs with temperatureadaptability.
基金financially supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(DUT20JC50,DUT17RC(3)006)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51508137)the Research Center of Civil Aviation Airport Safety and Operation Engineering Technology(KFKT2021-01)。
文摘The Portland cement concrete pavement(PCCP)often suffers from different environmental distresses and vehicle load failure,resulting in slab corner fractures,potholes,and other diseases.Rapid repair has become one of the effective ways to open traffic rapidly.In this study,a novel type of rapid repair material,basalt fiber reinforced polymer modified magnesium phosphate cement(BFPMPC),is used to rapidly repair PCCP.Notably,the mechanical properties and characteristics of the repair interfaces which are named interfacial transition zones(ITZs)formed by BFPMPC and cement concrete are focused on as a decisive factor for the performance of the rapid repair.The changing trend of the elastic moduli was studied by nanoindentation experiments in the ITZs with the deconvolution analysis that the elastic moduli of certain kinds of substances can be determined.The experimental results show that the elastic modulus of ITZ-1 with a width of about20μm can be regarded as 0.098 times of the aggregate,and 0.51 times of the ordinary Portland cement(OPC)mortar.The BFPMPC-OPC mortar ITZ has roughly the same mechanical properties as the ITZ between aggregate and BFPMPC.A multi-scale representative two-dimensional model was established by random aggregate and a two-dimensional extended finite element method(XFEM)to study the mechanical properties of the repair interface.The simulation results show that the ITZ formed by the interface of BFPMPC and OPC mortar and basalt aggregate is the most vulnerable to failure,which is consistent with the nano-indentation experimental results.
基金This work was financially supported by the Chinese Na-tional Natural Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars(No.52025015)the Chinese National Natural Science Foundation Nos.51771130,52071230 and 52101181)+2 种基金the Tianjin Youth Tal-ent Support Program,the Tianjin Natural Science Funds for Dis-tinguished Young Scholars(No.17JCJQJC44300)the Tianjin Sci-ence and Technology Support Project(No.17ZXCLGX00060)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Nos.2020M670648 and 2021T140505).
文摘The deformation incompatibility of components is a bottleneck restricting the exaltation of the strength and ductility of composites.Herein,the coherent transition interface was designed and produced in hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets(BNNSs)/Al composites by reaction sintering route,expecting to re-lieve the deformation incompatibility between BNNSs and Al.It is demonstrated that with the sintering temperature for composites raising from 600℃ to 650℃,700℃ and 750℃,different interface bonding characteristics,which involve nucleation and growth of AlN continuous nanolayer,were confirmed.Fur-thermore,first-principles calculations show that the generation of the coherent transition interface im-proved the interfacial bonding strength of BNNSs/Al composites through covalent bonds.The composites with coherent transition interface exhibit excellent strength-toughness combination in tensile and impact tests.The finite element simulation and in-situ approach under tensile tests were applied to investigate the influence of transition interface structure on deformation behavior of BNNSs/Al composite.It is found that the generation of the transition interface can not only weaken the stress partitioning behavior in the elastic stage,but also constrain the crack initiation and propagation behavior in the elastic-plastic stage and plastic stage,thereby improving the deformation compatibility between BNNSs and Al.The present work provides a novel view into the breakthrough for the trade-offrelationship of strength and ductility by coherent transition interface design in nanocomposites.
基金financially supported by Hainan Province Clinical Medical Center,the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.81860373,51862006,81902154 and 82060386)Hainan Province Science and Technology Special Fund (Nos.ZDKJ2021029 and ZDYF2021SHFZ068)。
文摘The oxygen evolution reaction(OER) with slow kinetics is the rate-limiting step of electrochemical water splitting.A reasonable construction of interface nanostructures is the key to improving the OER efficiency and durability of non-noble metal electrocatalysts.In this study,a FeOOH/NiCo_(2)S_(4) core-shell nanorod array with abundant heterogeneous interfaces and high density of active sites was successfully prepared by a microwave-as sis ted method.Experimental research and theoretical calculations show that the abundant strong coupling Ni/Co-S-Fe interface helps in adjusting the electronic structure of the material surface,optimizing the adsorption energy of the intermediate,and realizing an efficient catalytic process.The as-synthesized FeOOH/NiCo_(2)S_(4)/NF composite electrode exhibited lower overpotential(198 mV) and Tafel slope(62 mV·dec^(-1)) at a current density of 10 mA·cm^(-2)and excellent stability(approximately 100% retention after100 h) than the NiCo_(2)S_(4)/nickel foam(NF).In conclusion,constructing heterojunctions with complementary active materials is an effective strategy to design efficient and robust OER electrocatalysts.
基金the financial support from the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong(No.15304519)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.11904306)+2 种基金the Hong Kong Polytechnic University(No.1-ZVH9)The authors also thank the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Nos.2019B02414 and 2019B44214)PAPD,and Open Foundation of Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering,MOE(No.KLIEEE-18-02).
文摘Two-dimensional(2D)transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDCs)are emerging as promising building blocks of high-performance photocatalysts for visible-light-driven water splitting because of their unique physical,chemical,electronic,and optical properties.This review focuses on the fundamentals of 2D TMDC-based mixed-dimensional heterostructures and their unique properties as visible-light-driven photocatalysts from the perspective of dimensionality and interface engineering.First,we discuss the approaches and advantages of surface modification and functionalization of 2D TMDCs for photocatalytic water splitting under visible-light illumination.We then classify the strategies for improving the photocatalytic activity of 2D TMDCs via combination with various low-dimensional nanomaterials to form mixed-dimensional heterostructures.Further,we highlight recent advances in the use of these mixed-dimensional heterostructures as high-efficiency visible-light-driven photocatalysts,particularly focusing on synthesis routes,modification approaches,and physiochemical mechanisms for improving their photoactivity.Finally,we provide our perspectives on future opportunities and challenges in promoting real-world photocatalytic applications of 2D TMDC-based heterostructures.
基金support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.21922105,21931001 and 22271124)the National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFA1501101)+2 种基金Special Fund Project of Guiding Scientific and Technological Innovation Development of Gansu Province(2019zX-04)the 111 Project(B20027)support by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(lzujbky-2021-pd04,Izujbky-2021-it12 and Izujbky-2021-37).
文摘With the rapid consumption of fossil fuels and the resulting environmental problems,researchers are working to find sustainable alternative energy and energy storage and conversion methods.Transition metal sulfur compounds have attracted extensive attention due to their excellent electrical conductivity,low cost,adjustable components and good electrocatalytic performance.As an alternative to noble metal catalysts,they have emerged as a promising electrocatalyst.However,their low catalytic activity and poor stability limit their large-scale practical applications.Rare earth elements,known as industrial vitamins,are widely used in various fields due to their special redox properties,oxygen affinity and electronic structure.Therefore,the construction of rare earth promoted transition metal sulfides is of far-reaching significance for the development of catalysts.Here,we review the applications of various rare earth promoted transition metal sulfides in energy storage and conversion in recent years,which focuses on three ways in rare earth promoted transition metal sulfide,including doping,interfacial modification engineering and structural facilitation.As well,these materials are used in electrochemical reactions such as OER,HER,ORR,CO_(2)RR,and so on,in order to explore the important role of rare earth in the field of electrocatalysis,the future challenges and opportunities.
文摘The temperature gradients that arise in the paraelectric-ferroelectric interface dynamics induced by the latent heat transfer are studied from the point of view that a ferroelectric phase transition is a stationary, thermal-electric coupled transport process. The local entropy production is derived for a ferroelectric phase transition system from the Gibbs equation. Three types of regions in the system are described well by using the Onsager relations and the principle of minimum entropy production. The theoretical results coincides with the experimental ones.
文摘The interface morphologies and microstruetures of the directionally solidified Ni-5wt-% Cu alloy during dendrite-to-cell transition at high growth rates have been investigated with a newly developed apparatus for unidirectional solidification with the temperature gradient at the solid/liquid interface higher than 1000 K/cm.The results show that in the vicinity of dendrite-to-cell transition point,the well developed sidebranches become shrivelled with the increase of growth rate and disappear at the dendrite-to-cell transition,and the primary spacing decreases simultaneously.Moreover,the length of mushy zone decreases greatly dur- ing the dendrite-to-cell transition.Cells obtained at high growth rates have very similar morphologies to those at low growth rates,but with much smaller cell spacings and unsmoothed cell walls which may be attributed to the different stability conditions of the cell walls at low and high growth rates respectively.
