Effect of the Poly(ethylene glycol) Diacrylate (PEGDA) Molecular Weight on Ionic Conductivities in Solvent-Free Photo-Cross-Linked Solid Polymer Electrolytes.

To obtain safe, high-performance Li-ion batteries, the development of electrolytes with high impact resistance and high ionic conductivity is important. Ionic conductivity at room temperature has been improved by using poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) diacrylate (PEGDA) to form three-dimensional (3D) networks and solvated ionic liquids. However, the effects of the molecular weight of PEGDA on ionic conductivities and the relationship between ionic conductivities and network structures of cross-linked polymer electrolytes have not been discussed in detail. In this study, the dependence of the ionic conductivity of photo-cross-linked PEG solid electrolytes on the molecular weight of the PEGDA was evaluated. X-ray scattering (XRS) gave detailed information about the dimensions of 3D networks formed by the photo-cross-linking of PEGDA, and the effects of the network structures on the ionic conductivities were discussed.

Bifunctional rare metal-free electrocatalysts synthesized entirely from biomass resources.

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are important processes for various energy devices, including polymer electrolyte fuel cells, rechargeable metal-air batteries, and water electrolyzers. We herein report the preparation of a rare metal-free and highly efficient ORR/OER electrocatalyst by calcination of a mixture of blood meal and ascidian-derived cellulose nanofibers. The obtained carbon alloys showed high ORR/OER performances and proved to be promising electrocatalysts. The carbon alloys synthesized entirely from biomass resources not only lead to a new electrocatalyst fabrication process but also contribute to CO2 reduction and the realization of a good life-cycle assessment value in fabrication of a sustainable energy device.

Virtual Accessible Bilingual Conference Planning: The Parks Accessibility Conference.

Virtual events have become more popular recently, and while these events have the potential to be inclusive to a broader range of attendees, there is limited information available on how to plan and deliver a virtual, accessible, and bilingual event. The objective of this paper is to share how our team planned and delivered a virtual conference that was fully bilingual and accessible to individuals with disabilities by incorporating closed captions, sign language interpretation, language interpretation (audio), regularly scheduled breaks, and a multi-sensory experience. We describe our approaches to planning the conference, such as including individuals with disabilities in decision-making, selecting virtual conference platforms, captioners, and interpreters, and how we incorporated a multi-sensory experience. The paper also summarizes feedback we received from our attendees using a post-conference evaluation survey and our team's reflections on positive aspects of the conference and opportunities for improvement. We conclude by providing a set of practical recommendations that we feel may be helpful to others planning virtual accessible bilingual conferences in the future.

Increasing the ionic conductivity and lithium-ion transport of photo-cross-linked polymer with hexagonal arranged porous film hybrids.

High ionic conductivity, suitable mechanical strength, and electrochemical stability are the main requirements for high-performance poly(ethylene oxide)-based electrolytes. However, the low ionic conductivity owing to the crystallinity of the ethylene oxide chain that limits the discharge rate and low-temperature performance has restricted the development and commercialization of these electrolytes. Lithium electrolytes that combine high ionic conductivity with a high lithium transference number are rare and are essential for high-power batteries. Here, we report hexagonal arranged porous scaffolds for holding prototype polyethylene glycol-based composite electrolytes containing solvate ionic liquid. The appealing electrochemical and thermal properties indicate their potential as electrolytes for safer rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The porous scaffolds in the composite electrolytes ensure better electrochemical performance towing to their shortened pores (sizes of 3-14 µm), interconnected pathways, and improved lithium mobility. We demonstrate that both molecular design and porous microstructures are essential for improving performance in polymer electrolytes.

Aqueous dispersion and tuning surface charges of polytetrafluoroethylene particles by bioinspired polydopamine-polyethyleneimine coating via one-step method.

We propose a surface modification of poorly dispersive polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particles via bioinspired polydopamine-polyethyleneimine (PDA-PEI) which conferred PTFE particles a uniform dispersion in aqueous medium. With increasing dopamine concentration in the reaction solution, dispersity of PTFE particles improved and the surface charges of particles changed from negative to positive due to an increase of surface coverage of PDA-PEI layers. Simplicity of the method here outlines an attractive route for surface modification of inert surfaces useful for large-scale applications.

Biomimetic catechol-based adhesive polymers for dispersion of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) nanoparticles in an aqueous medium.

Biomimetic synthetic functional materials are valuable for a large number of practical applications with improved or tunable performance. In this paper, we present a series of mussel-inspired biomimetic catechol-containing copolymers synthesized from dopamine methacrylamide (DMA) and 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl acrylate (EEA) and abbreviated as poly(PDMA-PEEA). The successfully synthesized adhesive polymers allow adhering polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and were used for coating PTFE particles in organic solvent and re-dispersion in an aqueous medium. Adhesive polymer coated PTFE particles were efficiently used as a nanoreactor for generating silver (Ag) metal nanoparticles (NPs).