Tuning the End Alkyl Chain of the Ether Solvent to Stabilize the Electrode/Electrolyte Interfaces in the NCM-Li Battery.

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) combined with a high-voltage nickel-rich cathode show great potential in meeting the growing need for high energy density. The lack of advanced electrolytes has been a major obstacle in the commercialization of high-voltage lithium metal batteries (LMBs), as these electrolytes need to effectively support both a stable lithium metal anode (LMA) and a high-voltage cathode (>4 V vs Li+/Li). In this work, by extending the two terminal methyl groups in DIGDME and TEGDME to n-butyl groups, we design a new weakly solvating electrolyte (2 M LIFSI+TEGDBE) that enables the stable cycling of NMC83 (LiNi0.83Co0.12Mn0.05O2) cathodes. The NMC83 cell exhibits a high and stable Coulombic efficiency (CE) of over 99%, as well as capacity retention of approximately 99.8% after 100 cycles at 0.3 C. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis (XPS) and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) images revealed that the anion species decomposed first, resulting in the formation of a cathode-electrolyte interface (CEI) film predominantly consisting of decomposition products from the anions on the positive electrode surface. This work links the functional group of solvents with the solvation structure and electrochemical performance of ether-based electrolytes, providing a distinctive sight to design advanced electrolytes for high-energy-density LMBs.

The study of Yangyinyiqi mixture anti bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis on rats by intervening matrix metalloproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitors of matrix metallopreoteinases-1 / El estudio de la mezcla Yangyinyiqi en fibrosis pulmonar inducida por anti-bleomicina en ratas por intervención en la matriz metaloproteinasa-9 e inhibidores de tejido de matriz metaloproteinasa-1

To investigate effectsof Yangyinyiqi Mixture on pulmonary fibrosis caused by bleomycin. SD ratswere divided randomly into: model group(distilled water,1 mL·0.1 kg-1), dexamethasone acetate group (dexamethasone acetate, the dosage was reduced gradually), low-dose group (Yangyinyiqi Mixture, 11 g·kg-1), moderate-dose group (Yangyinyiqi Mixture, 22 g·kg-1), high-dose group (Yangyinyiqi Mixture, 44 g·kg-1) and control group (distilled water, 1 mL·0.1 kg-1). Yangyinyiqi Mixture and dexamethasone acetate were intragastrically administrated. Lung tissue was collected for histopathological examination. Compared with control group, collagen markedly increased and HYP content significantly increased on 7th day in model group (p<0.01). On 28th day, collagen was diffusely deposited, alveolar was destroyed, and HYP content significantly increased (p<0.01). Compared with model group, bleomycin-induced suffering injury caused MMP-9 expression levels to rapidly increase (7and 14 days, p<0.01). TIMP-1 markedly increased (7and 14 days, p<0.01) and stayed at a high level to28th day. Yangyinyiqi Mixture exerted an effect against pulmonary fibrosis, which could involved prevention of collagen deposition through inhibitingMMP-9 and TIMP-1 expression.

El trabajo investiga los efectos de la mezcla Yangyinyiqi sobre la fibrosis pulmonary causada por bleomicina. Ratas SD se dividieron aleatoriamente en: grupo modelo (agua destilada, 1 mL·0.1 kg-1), grupo acetate de dexametasona (acetate de dexametasona, la dosis se redujo gradualmente), grupo de dosis baja (mezcla Yangyinyiqi, 11 g·kg-1), grupo de dosis moderada (mezcla Yangyinyiqi, 22 g·kg-1), grupo de dosis alta (mezcla Yangyinyiqi, 44 g·kg-1) y grupo control (agua destilada, 1 Ml·0.1 kg-1). La mezcla de Yangyinyiqi y el acetate de dexametasona se administraron por vía intragástrica. Se recolectó tejido pulmonary para examen histopatológico. En comparación con el grupo control, el colágeno aumentó notablemente y el contenido de HYP aumentó significativamente el séptimo día en el grupo modelo (p<0.01). El día 28, el colágeno se depositó difusamente, se produjo destrucción alveolar y el contenido de HYP aumento significativamente (p<0.01). En comparación con el grupo modelo, la lesión inducida por bleomicina causó que los niveles de expression de MMP-9 aumentaron rápidamente (7 y 14 días, p<0.01). TIMP-1 aumentó notablemente (7 y 14 días, p<0.01) y se mantuvo en un nivel alto hasta el día 28. La mezcla Yangyinyiqi ejerció un efecto contra la fibrosis pulmonary, lo que podría implicar la prevención del deposito de colágenio mediante la inhibición de la expression de MMP-9 y TIMP-1.

Hierarchical Mesoporous Iron Fluoride and Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite as Cathode Materials for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Sodium-ion batteries have been considered as one of ideal power sources for energy storage system. However, the choice of cathode material with good cycling stability and high capacity is limited. Herein, a nanocomposite of hierarchical mesoporous iron fluoride and reduced graphene oxide is prepared by an in situ approach. The as-prepared nanocomposite exhibits remarkably high discharge specific capacity of 227.5 mAh/g at 0.1C. Specifically, the discharge specific capacity of the sample still remains 87.5 mAh/g at a high rate of 15C after the 100th cycle. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) measurements show that the addition of reduced graphene oxide can effectively reduce the charge transfer resistance and enhance the Na+ diffusion rate in the FeF3·0.33H2O nanoparticles. The structural changes of FeF3·0.33H2O is further investigated by ex-situ XRD, XPS, and ex situ high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.

Hierarchical Mesoporous Iron Fluoride with Superior Rate Performance for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Monodispersed mesoporous iron fluorides were synthesized by a low-cost reversed micelle method. The as-prepared materials with hierarchical mesoporous structure exhibit excellent rate capability (115.6 mAh g-1 at 2000 mA g-1) which is superior to many other carbon-free iron fluorides. In addition, a high reversible capacity of 143.2 mAh g-1 can be retained after 100 cycles at 1000 mA g-1. The outstanding electrochemical features can be attributed to the particular hierarchical mesoporous structure, facilitating electrolyte penetration as well as rapid electronic and ionic transportation.

Ternary Platinum-Copper-Nickel Nanoparticles Anchored to Hierarchical Carbon Supports as Free-Standing Hydrogen Evolution Electrodes.

Developing cost-effective and efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts for hydrogen production is of paramount importance to attain a sustainable energy future. Reported herein is a novel three-dimensional hierarchical architectured electrocatalyst, consisting of platinum-copper-nickel nanoparticles-decorated carbon nanofiber arrays, which are conformally assembled on carbon felt fabrics (PtCuNi/CNF@CF) by an ambient-pressure chemical vapor deposition coupled with a spontaneous galvanic replacement reaction. The free-standing PtCuNi/CNF@CF monolith exhibits high porosities, a well-defined geometry shape, outstanding electron conductivity, and a unique characteristic of localizing platinum-copper-nickel nanoparticles in the tips of carbon nanofibers. Such features render PtCuNi/CNF@CF as an ideal binder-free HER electrode for hydrogen production. Electrochemical measurements demonstrate that the PtCuNi/CNF@CF possesses superior intrinsic activity as well as mass-specific activity in comparison with the state-of-the-art Pt/C catalysts, both in acidic and alkaline solutions. With well-tuned composition of active nanoparticles, Pt42Cu57Ni1/CNF@CF showed excellent durability. The synthesis strategy reported in this work is likely to pave a new route for fabricating free-standing hierarchical electrodes for electrochemical devices.

Properties investigation of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)/polyacrylonitrile acid-base blend membrane for vanadium redox flow battery application.

Acid-base blend membrane prepared from sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was detailedly evaluated for vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) application. SPEEK/PAN blend membrane exhibited dense and homogeneous cross-section morphology as scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy images show. The acid-base interaction of ionic cross-linking and hydrogen bonding between SPEEK and PAN could effectively reduce water uptake, swelling ratio, and vanadium ion permeability, and improve the performance and stability of blend membrane. Because of the good balance of proton conductivity and vanadium ion permeability, blend membrane with 20 wt % PAN (S/PAN-20%) showed higher Coulombic efficiency (96.2% vs 91.1%) and energy efficiency (83.5% vs 78.4%) than Nafion 117 membrane at current density of 80 mA cm(-2) when they were used in VRFB single cell. Besides, S/PAN-20% membrane kept a stable performance during 150 cycles at current density of 80 mA cm(-2) in the cycle life test. Hence the SPEEK/PAN acid-base blend membrane could be used as promising candidate for VRFB application.

Nonmuscle Myosin II helps regulate synaptic vesicle mobility at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.

BACKGROUND: Although the mechanistic details of the vesicle transport process from the cell body to the nerve terminal are well described, the mechanisms underlying vesicle traffic within nerve terminal boutons is relatively unknown. The actin cytoskeleton has been implicated but exactly how actin or actin-binding proteins participate in vesicle movement is not clear. RESULTS: In the present study we have identified Nonmuscle Myosin II as a candidate molecule important for synaptic vesicle traffic within Drosophila larval neuromuscular boutons. Nonmuscle Myosin II was found to be localized at the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction; genetics and pharmacology combined with the time-lapse imaging technique FRAP were used to reveal a contribution of Nonmuscle Myosin II to synaptic vesicle movement. FRAP analysis showed that vesicle dynamics were highly dependent on the expression level of Nonmuscle Myosin II. CONCLUSION: Our results provide evidence that Nonmuscle Myosin II is present presynaptically, is important for synaptic vesicle mobility and suggests a role for Nonmuscle Myosin II in shuttling vesicles at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction. This work begins to reveal the process by which synaptic vesicles traverse within the bouton.