Breaking the strength limit: Negative-excess-energy interfaces push Ni alloys toward theoretical strength

Fenghui Duan; Zhen Yu; Hanzheng Xing; Jian Lu

doi:10.1016/j.fmre.2026.02.003

Breaking the strength limit: Negative-excess-energy interfaces push Ni alloys toward theoretical strength

Fenghui Duan
, Zhen Yu
, Hanzheng Xing
, Jian Lu^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

Abstract

The pursuit of metallic materials approaching their theoretical strength has long been hindered by interface instability at the nanoscale. A recent study by Li et al., writing in Science, reveals that introducing coherent interfaces with negative excess energy in Ni–Mo alloys enables sustained strengthening down to sub-nanometer scales. These energetically favorable interfaces enable the material to achieve near-theoretical strength (∼5 GPa), marking a new paradigm in atomic-scale interface engineering for ultrahigh-performance metals. © 2026 The Authors.

Original language	English
Number of pages	3
Journal	Fundamental Research
Online published	18 Feb 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fmre.2026.02.003
Publication status	Online published - 18 Feb 2026

Funding

J.L. gratefully acknowledges the support of National Key Research and Development Program of China (2024YFA1208004); Hong Kong JLFS - RGC-Joint Laboratory Funding Scheme (JLFS/E-102/24); Guangdong Province Science and Technology Plan Project 2023B1212120008; Shenzhen Science and Technology Project (ZDSYS201602291653165). J. Lu thanks for the IMR-CityU Joint Laboratory of Nanomaterials & Nanomechanics and Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Modern Surface Engineering Technology.

Research Keywords

Interfaces engineering
Nanocrystalline alloys
Negative excess energy
Theoretical strength

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10.1016/j.fmre.2026.02.003

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title = "Breaking the strength limit: Negative-excess-energy interfaces push Ni alloys toward theoretical strength",

abstract = "The pursuit of metallic materials approaching their theoretical strength has long been hindered by interface instability at the nanoscale. A recent study by Li et al., writing in Science, reveals that introducing coherent interfaces with negative excess energy in Ni–Mo alloys enables sustained strengthening down to sub-nanometer scales. These energetically favorable interfaces enable the material to achieve near-theoretical strength (∼5 GPa), marking a new paradigm in atomic-scale interface engineering for ultrahigh-performance metals. {\textcopyright} 2026 The Authors.",

keywords = "Interfaces engineering, Nanocrystalline alloys, Negative excess energy, Theoretical strength",

author = "Fenghui Duan and Zhen Yu and Hanzheng Xing and Jian Lu",

year = "2026",

month = feb,

day = "18",

doi = "10.1016/j.fmre.2026.02.003",

language = "English",

journal = "Fundamental Research",

issn = "2096-9457",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Breaking the strength limit

T2 - Negative-excess-energy interfaces push Ni alloys toward theoretical strength

AU - Duan, Fenghui

AU - Yu, Zhen

AU - Xing, Hanzheng

AU - Lu, Jian

PY - 2026/2/18

Y1 - 2026/2/18

N2 - The pursuit of metallic materials approaching their theoretical strength has long been hindered by interface instability at the nanoscale. A recent study by Li et al., writing in Science, reveals that introducing coherent interfaces with negative excess energy in Ni–Mo alloys enables sustained strengthening down to sub-nanometer scales. These energetically favorable interfaces enable the material to achieve near-theoretical strength (∼5 GPa), marking a new paradigm in atomic-scale interface engineering for ultrahigh-performance metals. © 2026 The Authors.

AB - The pursuit of metallic materials approaching their theoretical strength has long been hindered by interface instability at the nanoscale. A recent study by Li et al., writing in Science, reveals that introducing coherent interfaces with negative excess energy in Ni–Mo alloys enables sustained strengthening down to sub-nanometer scales. These energetically favorable interfaces enable the material to achieve near-theoretical strength (∼5 GPa), marking a new paradigm in atomic-scale interface engineering for ultrahigh-performance metals. © 2026 The Authors.

KW - Interfaces engineering

KW - Nanocrystalline alloys

KW - Negative excess energy

KW - Theoretical strength

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105031860228

UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105031860228&origin=recordpage

U2 - 10.1016/j.fmre.2026.02.003

DO - 10.1016/j.fmre.2026.02.003

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 2096-9457

JO - Fundamental Research

JF - Fundamental Research

ER -

Breaking the strength limit: Negative-excess-energy interfaces push Ni alloys toward theoretical strength

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Research Keywords

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