Lithiophilic Multichannel Layer to Simultaneously Control the Li-Ion Flux and Li Nucleation for Stable Lithium Metal Batteries.

Although the Li metal has been gaining attention as a promising anode material for the next-generation high-energy-density rechargeable batteries owing to its high theoretical specific capacity (3860 mAh g-1), its practical use remains challenging owing to inherent issues related to Li nucleation and growth. This paper reports the fabrication of a lithiophilic multichannel layer (LML) that enables the simultaneous control of Li nucleation and growth in Li-metal batteries. The LML, composed of lithiophilic ceramic composite nanoparticles (Ag-plated Al2O3 particles), is fabricated using the electroless plating method. This LML provides numerous channels for a uniform Li-ion diffusion on a nonwoven separator. Furthermore, the lithiophilic Ag on the Li metal anode surface facing the LML induces a low overpotential during Li nucleation, resulting in a dense Li deposition. The LML enables the LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2|| Li cells to maintain a capacity higher than 75% after 100 cycles, even at high charge/discharge rates of 5.0 C at a cutoff voltage of 4.4 V, and achieve an ultrahigh energy density of 1164 Wh kg-1. These results demonstrate that the LML is a promising solution enabling the application of Li metal as an anode material in the next-generation Li-ion batteries.

Characteristics of 210Po in Asian overbite clam (Potamocorbula laevis) from the coastal area at Thai Binh province, Vietnam.

210Po concentration in the edible muscle tissue and digestive diverticulum organs of Asian overbite clam at the near-shore Thai Binh, Vietnam was analyzed using alpha detectors. The 210Po activity in muscle tissue and digestive diverticulum organs ranged from 5 ± 1 to 178 ± 10 and from 118 ± 7 to 812 ± 12 Bq.kg-1 with the average value of 25 and 324 Bq.kg-1, respectively. Results showed that 210Po activity in the digestive diverticulum was significantly higher than in the muscle tissue. There was a slightly inverse correlation between 210Po activity in muscle tissue, digestive diverticulum, and clam weight and size. The annual committed effective dose was calculated from 210Po due to the consumption of Asian overbite clam for adults in the study area was higher than the guideline value of 0.2 - 1 mSv.y-1.

Long-term follow-up of convalescent pigs and their offspring after an outbreak of acute African swine fever in Vietnam.

African swine fever (ASF) is a contagious haemorrhagic disease in pigs and has become endemic in several Vietnam provinces since the first outbreak in 2019. The presence of carriers and the recurrence of disease in the surviving swine herd after an ASF outbreak has not previously been properly evaluated. In this study, pigs naturally infected with an acute form of ASF were allowed to recover from the disease. A serological follow-up was conducted for more than 14 months with 14 convalescent gilts and their offspring. All convalescent animals had long lasting high serum antibody levels without persistent viremia. They also did not excrete virus via nasal discharge post-recovery. These convalescent pigs could partially perform as replacement gilts despite the fact that ASF affected reproductive performance. Here, we confirmed that there were neither the carriers of nor recurrence of disease in the convalescent pigs and their offspring following the outbreak of acute ASF. These findings may facilitate efforts to design a new farming model in ASF endemic provinces in Vietnam where there is a lack of a repopulation strategy due to the limited funding received from the local regulatory authorities.