Ceria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Ce-TZP) has exceptional fracture toughness and flaw tolerance due to facile t‒m phase transformation toughening. However, its wider-range applications are limited by its relatively low strength due to its large grain size and low transformation stress, which results in yield-like failure. Here, we combined additive manufacturing (AM), pressureless two-step sintering, and hot isostatic pressing (HIP), and addressed the challenging grain size refinement problem in Ce-TZPs. We successfully produced dense ultrafine-grained Ce-TZP ceramics with an average grain size below 500 nm, a three-point bending strength above 800 MPa, and a single-edge-notch-beam fracture toughness in the range of 11‒12 MPa·m^1/2. The critical roles of processing design, mixed Ce valences, and under- vs. over-stabilization of tetragonal polymorphs were noted. Our work offers insights and strategies for the future development of stronger and tougher Ce-TZP ceramics that can compete with tetragonal yttria-stabilized zirconia in various applications, including additive manufacturing.

Memristors are playing an increasingly important role in developing in-memory computing. Versatile memristors which offer both volatile and non-volatile performances can be employed as both memories and selectors, displaying unique advantages for developing novel electronic circuits. Herein, the remarkable multifunctional memristor with switchable operating modes between volatile and non-volatile by regulating compliance currents is implemented in Ag/CIPS/Au (CIPS: CuInP₂S₆) device. Diode-like volatile memristor performances with the rectification ratio of 10³ and an endurance of 500 switching cycles were obtained. Meanwhile, significant non-volatile memory performances with on/off ratio of 10³ and retention up to 10⁴ s were also developed, which enables it to be utilized as selectors and memories simultaneously. Moreover, such versatile memristor can emulate the short-term plasticity (STP) and long-term plasticity (LTP) of artificial synapse, demonstrating its advantages in neuromorphic computing applications.

Compared with the versatility in metal industry, application of laser on oxide ceramics is quite limited due to the intrinsic features of ceramics and limited understanding in laser-ceramic interaction mechanism, especially for high-energy laser that causes melting of materials. In this research, a study into general behaviors of several oxide ceramics melted by laser under inert atmosphere is presented. Key factors in determining state transformation, chemical reduction and phase structure are summarized, with further investigation into the evolution in microstructure at multiscale and the corresponding novelty and metastability. It is found that laser melting does show great potential in introducing deep reduction, unique microstructure, and notable increase in structure complexity and total entropy, and those features could contribute to some unconventional functional performance with brand-new structure-property relationship.