Additive manufacturing of alloys has enabled the creation of machine parts that meet the complex requirements needed to optimize performance in aerospace, automotive, and energy applications. Finding the ideal mix of elements to use in these parts when there are countless possible combinations available is a complicated process that has been accelerated by computational tools and artificial intelligence.

With large language models (LLM), such as ChatGPT, evolving to better understand natural languages, researchers in the materials science and engineering department at Carnegie Mellon University have pioneered the potential to train LLM to understand a novel alloy physics language in a similar manner. Led by assistant professor Mohadeseh Taheri- Mousavi, they have developed AlloyGPT, which recognizes the relationship between composition, structure, and properties in order to generate novel designs for additively manufacturable structural alloys.

The AlloyGPT model, detailed in a recent paper published in npj Computational Materials, is unique in that it has dual functionality. It can accurately predict multiple phase structures and properties based on given alloy compositions, and conversely, it can suggest a comprehensive list of alloy compositions that meet given desired design goals.

“We have created an architecture that has learned the physics of alloys in order to design enhanced alloys that have the desired qualities for mechanical performance and manufacturability in a variety of applications,” said Taheri- Mousavi.

Taheri-Mousavi’s group, which focuses on structural alloy design, built the autoregressive model by developing a language for the physics of alloys and training this generative AI model. Rather than analyzing words, the model examines compositions and structural features in a sentence format to understand how the composition, structure, and properties are connected.

Unlike conventional iterative methods which often face challenges in finding all possible solutions, AlloyGPT can provide a comprehensive list of elemental combinations to produce the desired material properties requested. This is especially useful for designing gradient composition additively manufactured alloys in which gradual changes in material properties exist across a single part.

“It’s exciting to build a model that can solve prediction and design tasks simultaneously,” said Bo Ni, a postdoctoral researcher at Taher-Mousavi’s group. “It’s even more interesting when we demonstrate that AlloyGPT can synergize accuracy, diversity and robustness in problem solving.”

This language model has the potential to lay the groundwork for similar models and to accelerate material design for alloys manufactured by both traditional and additive manufacturing.

“Our approach will enable scientists to quickly discover alloys with new or improved properties, and will ultimately help industry partners to improve the speed and reduce the cost of their alloy design for various manufacturing processes,” said Taheri-Mousavi.

A team of University of Adelaide researchers are exploring ways to create a safer and more sustainable battery for electric mobility and power grids. While lithium-ion batteries are currently the favored option by industry, the limitations associated with supply of the resource and environmental drawbacks are driving the search for more resilient alternatives.

Led by Professor Zaiping Guo, School of Chemical Engineering, the research group has been exploring the possibilities of rechargeable aqueous zinc batteries (AZB).

“An AZB will use water-based liquid, usually water with dissolved zinc salts as the electrolyte and zinc metal as the anode,” says Professor Guo.

“The liquid is water-based so it is not flammable, which makes it much safer than other batteries. They are also a promising alternative because of the abundance of zinc as a resource, its low environmental impact and the battery’s high volumetric capacity.”

However, AZBs have limited life cycles due to their narrow working temperature range, which has slowed down their practical use. The reactions between the zinc and electrolytes in AZBs are uncontrollable, which can cause hydrogen gas release and corrosion within the battery.

Professor Guo’s team has developed a decoupled dual-salt electrolyte (DDSE)—a battery electrolyte that uses two different zinc salts to enhance the performance of a liquid to control the behavior of ions. The research is published in the journal Nature Sustainability.

“One type of salt helps the battery work well in different temperatures and improves how fast the battery can charge, while the other type helps protect the zinc metal inside the battery, so it lasts much longer,” says first author Guanjie Li from School of Chemical Engineering.

“Together, they give the battery very good performance. It can charge quickly and work for many cycles, over a wide range of temperatures, and with very little energy loss when sitting unused.

“In our DDSE, the first salt-like zinc perchlorate, Zn(ClO₄)₂ stays mostly in the liquid and controls how the battery handles freezing and how fast ions move.

“The second salt-like zinc sulfate, ZnSO₄ sticks to the zinc metal surface and protects it from damage. Because each salt stays in its own area and does its own job, the battery works much better overall. We used lots of advanced tools to see this special distribution and to understand the deeper science behind how it works.”

Senior Research Fellow and co-author Dr. Shilin Zhang says the cells kept 93% of their capacity even after 900 charge-discharge cycles and worked from temperatures as cold as -40°C to as warm as +40°C.

“This is the first time such a well-balanced performance has been achieved in our field,” says Dr. Zhang.

“Unlike conventional ‘lean-water’ designs by high-concentration or organic-aqueous hybrid electrolytes, our decoupling strategy results in a non-flammable, affordable, and sustainable electrolyte formula, retaining the intrinsic merits of aqueous systems.

“This approach provides a clear path toward the practical deployment of AZBs in smart grids and electric vehicles, which, in turn, offers nations safer and more sustainable energy.

“Our next step is to try this electrolyte in more practical battery systems. We want to fine-tune the recipe and also improve other battery parts, so we can build a real battery prototype that has a long-life, high-energy density, and low cost.”

Things get extremely complicated when it comes to the many iterations of USB 3.0. Because all the branding has become inconsistent and unhelpful, we recommend ignoring these labels altogether and just searching for the actual speed ratings. The good news is that many USB hub and docking station manufacturers have started to give up on names, labels, and symbols, too. These days, you’ll often see the maximum speed next to ports directly to sidestep the names, which is the quickest way to ensure you know what you’re getting.

When it comes to evaluating a USB-A port, just remember that 20 Gbps is the top speed you’ll ever get. Whether it’s called USB 3.2 Gen 2 or USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, it’s all the same speed: 20 Gbps. Meanwhile, 10-Gbps speeds will be labeled USB 3.1 Gen 2 or SuperSpeed Plus, and 5-Gbps speeds will be USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Gen 1, or SuperSpeed.

So, if you’re using older storage devices or accessories, you may want to look up the specific generation of USB if speed matters to you. A device marketed as “USB 3.0” several years ago, and a device marketed as “USB 3.2” today, could potentially have identical transfer speeds if the manufacturer is less than forthcoming with generation names or transfer speed ratings. You may even run into the 25-year-old USB 2.0 standard on older accessories, which had a maximum data transfer speed of 480 Mbps (megabits per second).

What Is USB Power Delivery (or USB-PD)?

Power Delivery, often written as USB-PD, is a fast-charging technology used to power or charge peripherals over USB, which is something we all use every day to charge our phones and other devices. But these days, USB-PD has greatly expanded its capabilities. Instead of carrying a charger for every single device you own, you might opt for a charging adapter that can juice up multiple devices via several USB-C Power Delivery (USB-C PD) ports. With USB-PD 3.1, as seen in Thunderbolt 5, it can even support up to 240 watts of power. You’ll find these kinds of ports on USB hubs as well, sometimes referred to as “pass-through charging,” though that’s not an official term.

Make sure the wattage of a USB-C port on a charging adapter or hub can handle what your device needs. A MacBook Pro typically needs 96 watts during intense workloads (though you can still charge it at lower wattage), so you’d probably need a 100-watt USB-C port on the charging adapter or USB hub for the best charging experience, which is supported in USB4.

How USB DisplayPort Alternate Mode Works

Similar to power delivery, USB-C has also brought in another important feature: DisplayPort Alternate Mode, often labeled as DP Alt Mode or with a “D” DisplayPort logo. Most commonly, this is used to connect a laptop to a monitor over a single USB-C cable rather than HDMI or DisplayPort. Importantly, DP Alt Mode delivers both audio and video over that single connection.

DP Alt Mode has been around since the introduction of USB-C, but the amount of data that can be sent over this one cable depends on the generation of DisplayPort being employed. USB 3.2, for example, uses DisplayPort 1.4 for its DP Alt Mode, whereas USB4 makes DP Alt Mode a requirement and uses DisplayPort 2.0 for higher resolutions and refresh rates. For example, DisplayPort 2.0 supports three 4K HDR displays at 144 Hz, while DisplayPort 1.4a could only support two 4K HDR displays at 60 Hz.

Thunderbolt vs. USB

Not only are USB standards notoriously confusing, but guaranteeing those speeds and features in actual products is even messier. USB standards are always in ranges; just because you see a USB4 port on something doesn’t guarantee it’ll hit those max speeds. Not by a long shot.

That’s where Thunderbolt comes in. It’s an Intel-owned standard made in collaboration with Apple that uses the same USB-C connector as typical USB devices. It usually appears in higher-end devices featuring Intel chips or MacBooks. Due to some recent licensing changes, even some premium AMD laptops now feature Thunderbolt 4 ports.