Lei Miao

Bio: Lei Miao is an academic researcher from Guilin University of Electronic Technology. The author has contributed to research in topics: Thermoelectric effect & Thin film. The author has an hindex of 37, co-authored 218 publications receiving 4497 citations. Previous affiliations of Lei Miao include Foshan University & Nagoya Institute of Technology.

High-entropy ceramics: Present status, challenges, and a look forward

Abstract: High-entropy ceramics (HECs) are solid solutions of inorganic compounds with one or more Wyckoff sites shared by equal or near-equal atomic ratios of multi-principal elements. Although in the infant stage, the emerging of this new family of materials has brought new opportunities for material design and property tailoring. Distinct from metals, the diversity in crystal structure and electronic structure of ceramics provides huge space for properties tuning through band structure engineering and phonon engineering. Aside from strengthening, hardening, and low thermal conductivity that have already been found in high-entropy alloys, new properties like colossal dielectric constant, super ionic conductivity, severe anisotropic thermal expansion coefficient, strong electromagnetic wave absorption, etc., have been discovered in HECs. As a response to the rapid development in this nascent field, this article gives a comprehensive review on the structure features, theoretical methods for stability and property prediction, processing routes, novel properties, and prospective applications of HECs. The challenges on processing, characterization, and property predictions are also emphasized. Finally, future directions for new material exploration, novel processing, fundamental understanding, in-depth characterization, and database assessments are given.

The emergence of solar thermal utilization: Solar-driven steam generation

Abstract: Solar-driven steam generation not only has a long history of application demand, but is also a new research topic due to the progress in nano-material science. Conventional solar-driven steam generation suffers from low efficiency and high cost in practical applications. A new type of steam generation system based on plasmonic absorption of nano-materials with a good cost-efficiency balance has emerged in the last few years. For the first time, studies on various plasmonic solar-driven steam generation systems are summarized and discussed in this review based on the types of materials used. Throughout this article, the basic concept, classification, mechanism and development of plasmonic solar-steam generation systems, as well as the factors that influence these novel systems, are clearly presented. This review provides unique insight into this rapidly developing field and sheds light on the potential of research into plasmonic solar-driven steam generation systems.

Development and Evolution of the System Structure for Highly Efficient Solar Steam Generation from Zero to Three Dimensions

Abstract: © 2019 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim 1903255 (1 of 20) Direct solar steam generation (DSSG) offers a promising, sustainable, and environmentally friendly solution to the energy and water crisis. In the past decades, DSSG has gained tremendous attention due to its potential applications for clean water production, desalination, wastewater treatment, and electric energy harvesting. Even though the solar–thermal conversion efficiency has approached 100% under 1 sun illumination (1 kW m−2) using various photothermal materials and systems, the optimization of the materials and system structure remains unclear because of the lack of evaluation methods in unity for the output efficiency. In this review, a few key concerns about different dimensional materials and systems that determine the characteristics of DSSG are explored. Quantitative analysis, including calculations and methods for the solar–thermal conversion efficiency, evaporation rate, and energy loss, is employed to evaluate the materials and systems from the point of view of ultimate utilization. This article focuses on the relationship between the system dimension and energy efficiency and notes opportunities for future system design and commercialization of DSSG.