Scientific issues of zinc-bromine flow batteries and mitigation strategies.

Zinc-bromine flow batteries (ZBFBs) are promising candidates for the large-scale stationary energy storage application due to their inherent scalability and flexibility, low cost, green, and environmentally friendly characteristics. ZBFBs have been commercially available for several years in both grid scale and residential energy storage applications. Nevertheless, their continued development still presents challenges associated with electrodes, separators, electrolyte, as well as their operational chemistry. Therefore, rational design of these components in ZBFBs is of utmost importance to further improve the overall device performance. In this review, the focus is on the scientific understanding of the fundamental electrochemistry and functional components of ZBFBs, with an emphasis on the technical challenges of reaction chemistry, development of functional materials, and their application in ZBFBs. Current limitations of ZBFBs with future research directions in the development of high performance ZBFBs are suggested.

An audit of oxygen therapy on a respiratory ward.

UNLABELLED: Oxygen therapy can be a life-saving intervention, which is widely available and commonly prescribed by medical staff. Patients often receive oxygen therapy in hospital but, like any other drug, oxygen can be dangerous when given in the wrong concentration. AIMS: To review the current literature. To examine current prescribing practice plus methods of oxygen delivery on a respiratory ward. METHOD: A prospective audit was conducted on patients receiving oxygen therapy over a 4-week period. The ward was audited pre- and post-education sessions. Education was on oxygen prescribing and oxygen therapy. RESULTS: The literature revealed that oxygen was often poorly prescribed by doctors and at times poorly administered by nurses. Of the 55 patients audited pre-education, only 5% of patients had a prescription. This increased to 20% post-education (P=0.042). The initial audit uncovered 14 issues surrounding oxygen delivery. This fell to one post-education (P<0.001). Reassuringly, all patients had arterial oxygen saturation recorded. CONCLUSION: Current rates of oxygen prescribing remain unsatisfactory despite doctors being made aware of the audit findings. Education on oxygen therapy improved the delivery of oxygen therapy to patients on a respiratory ward.