The effect of Ca and Bi addition on the mechanical strength, corrosion resistance, and Rechargeability of Pb1.5Sn alloy for the positive grid of lead-acid batteries.

Lead-acid batteries need to evolve to keep up with the electrification of vehicles and not lose ground to other technologies. The grid designed using a lead alloy thus plays a very important role in the performance of the battery, as, in the course of the various cycles, this component undergoes a natural corrosion process at positive potential, while immersed in a sulfuric acid solution. The aim of this study is therefore to examine the effect of the addition of calcium and bismuth on the microstructure, mechanical behavior and corrosion resistance of the Pb1.5%Sn alloy, with a view to using this in the positive grid of lead-acid batteries. The alloys developed during this study were evaluated using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Mechanical properties were investigated using universal tensile and hardness tests. Electrochemical tests of cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were carried out in a 5M sulfuric acid solution at 25 °C to simulate the behavior of the alloy when in operation. The composition of the corrosion products formed were subsequently characterized by morphological analysis using scanning electron microscopy and the composition was determined using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The results indicate that the Pb1.5Sn0.12Bi alloy presented better corrosion resistance characteristics than the Pb1.5Sn0.05Ca alloy, making it suitable for inclusion in the composition of the positive electrode of a lead-acid battery. Further investment is however required to compensate for the shortcomings in relation to the mechanical properties of the material.

A Low-Acidity Chloride Electrolyte Enables Exceptional Reversibility and Stability in Aqueous Tin Metal Batteries.

Tin (Sn) metal has emerged as a promising anode for aqueous batteries, due to its high capacity, non-toxicity, and cost-effectiveness. However, Sn metal has often been coupled with strong and corrosive sulfuric acids (2-3 M), leading to severe electrode corrosion and hydrogen evolution issues. Although high efficiency and long cycling were reported, the results were achieved using high currents to kinetically mask electrode-electrolyte side reactions. Herein, we introduce a low-acidity tin chloride electrolyte (pH=1.09) as a more viable option, which eliminates the need of strong acids and enables a reversible dendrite-free Sn plating chemistry. Remarkably, the plating efficiency approaches unity (99.97 %) under standard testing conditions (1 mA cm-2 for 1 mAh cm-2), which maintains high at 99.23-99.93 % across various aggressive conditions, including low current (0.1-0.25 mA cm-2), high capacity (5-10 mAh cm-2), and extended resting time (24-72 hours). The battery calendar life is further prolonged to 3064 hours, significantly surpassing literature reports. Additionally, we presented an effective method to mitigate the potential Sn2+ oxidization issue on the cathode, demonstrating long-cycling Sn||LiMn2O4 hybrid batteries. This work offers critical insights for developing highly reversible Sn metal batteries.

Fulgide Derivatives as Photo-Switchable Coatings for Cathodes of Lithium Ion Batteries - A DFT Study.

Photo-switchable coatings for lithium ion batteries (LIB) can offer the possibility to control the diffusion processes from the electrode materials to the electrolyte and thus, for example, reducing the energy loss in the fully charged state. Fulgide derivatives, as known photo-switches, are investigated concerning their use as coating for vanadium pentoxide, a potential cathode material for LIB. With the help of Density Functional Theory calculations, two fulgide derivatives are characterized with respect to their photophysics, their aggregation behaviour on the cathode material and the ability to form self-assembled monolayers (SAM). Furthermore, the two states of the photo-switchable coating are tested with respect to lithium diffusion from the cathode material, passing the SAM and entering the electrolyte. We found a difference for the energy barriers depending on the state of the photo-switch, preferring its closed form. This behaviour can be used to prevent the loss of charge in batteries of portable devices.

Challenges and Recent Progress on Solid-State Batteries and Electrolytes, using Qualitative Systematic Analysis. A Short Review.

The rise in the energy demand, the need to decrease the use of fossil fuels, expanding investments in renewable energy and boosting the electric vehicle market, opens the door to new technologies in clean energy accumulators. Lithium-ion batteries are the most advanced technology in the market but have safety concerns due to the flammability of the electrolyte, which opens the door to innovations. One of these innovations is the solid-state batteries (SSB), which, by using solid electrolytes, do not have the flammable risk, bringing safety to users while reaching similar energy and power densities. This work presents a review about SSB, based on qualitative and exploratory research, using the Web of Science (WoS) platform. Keywords used to gather information from the database were "solid state batteries" and "electrolytes". Only publications from 2018 to 2023 were selected. The main research focus is to solve the challenges posed by the different physical-chemical phenomena of the SSB. This work focuses on the general comprehension of the SSB batteries, what are the factors that can affect it and the main solutions presented in the literature the last five years.

A Brief Review of MoO3 and MoO3-Based Materials and Recent Technological Applications in Gas Sensors, Lithium-Ion Batteries, Adsorption, and Photocatalysis.

Molybdenum trioxide is an abundant natural, low-cost, and environmentally friendly material that has gained considerable attention from many researchers in a variety of high-impact applications. It is an attractive inorganic oxide that has been widely studied because of its layered structure, which results in intercalation ability through tetrahedral/octahedral holes and extension channels and leads to superior charge transfer. Shape-related properties such as high specific capacities, the presence of exposed active sites on the oxygen-rich structure, and its natural tendency to oxygen vacancy that leads to a high ionic conductivity are also attractive to technological applications. Due to its chemistry with multiple valence states, high thermal and chemical stability, high reduction potential, and electrochemical activity, many studies have focused on the development of molybdenum oxide-based systems in the last few years. Thus, this article aims to briefly review the latest advances in technological applications of MoO3 and MoO3-based materials in gas sensors, lithium-ion batteries, and water pollution treatment using adsorption and photocatalysis techniques, presenting the most relevant and new information on heterostructures, metal doping, and non-stoichiometric MoO3-x.

Green Energy Storage: Chitosan-Avocado Starch Hydrogels for a Novel Generation of Zinc Battery Electrolytes.

Meeting the ever-increasing global energy demands through sustainable and environmentally friendly means is a paramount challenge. In response to this imperative, this study is dedicated to the development of biopolymer electrolytes, which hold promise for improving the efficiency, safety, and biodegradability of energy systems. The present study aims to evaluate hydrogels synthesized from chitosan biopolymer and starch from avocado seed residues in different ratios, and dried using freeze-thawing and freeze-drying techniques. Epichlorohydrin was used as a chemical crosslinker to create a suitable degree of swelling using an ionic solution. Physical freezing crosslinking strategies such as freezing-thawing and freezing-drying were performed to generate a denser porous structure in the polymer matrix. Subsequently, synthesized electrolytes were immersed in 12 M KOH solution to improve their electrochemical properties. The effect of the different ratios of starch in the hydrogels on the structural properties of the materials was evaluated using characterization techniques such as FTIR and XRD, which allowed to confirm the crosslinking between chitosan and starch. The electrochemical performance of the hydrogels is assessed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. A maximum conductivity value of 0.61 S·cm-1 was achieved at room temperature. The designed materials were tested in prototype zinc-air batteries; their specific capacity value was 1618 mA h·g-1, and their obtained power density was 90 mW·cm-2. These substantial findings unequivocally underscore the potential of the synthesized hydrogels as highly promising electrolytes for the application in zinc-air battery systems.

Lithium Iron Phosphate/Carbon (LFP/C) Composite Using Nanocellulose as a Reducing Agent and Carbon Source.

Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4, LFP) is the most promising cathode material for use in safe electric vehicles (EVs), due to its long cycle stability, low cost, and low toxicity, but it suffers from low conductivity and ion diffusion. In this work, we present a simple method to obtain LFP/carbon (LFP/C) composites with different types of NC: cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) and cellulose nanofiber (CNF). Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis was used to obtain LFP with nanocellulose inside the vessel, and the final LFP/C composite was achieved by heating the mixture under a N2 atmosphere. The resulting LFP/C indicated that the NC in the reaction medium not only acts as the reducing agent that aqueous iron solutions need (avoiding the use of other chemicals), but also as a stabiliser of the nanoparticles produced in the hydrothermal synthesis, obtaining fewer agglomerated particles compared to synthesis without NC. The sample with the best coating-and, therefore, the best electrochemical response-was the sample with 12.6% carbon derived from CNF in the composite instead of CNC, due to its homogeneous coating. The utilisation of CNF in the reaction medium could be a promising method to obtain LFP/C in a simple, rapid, and low-cost way, avoiding the waste of unnecessary chemicals.

Switching Regulator Based on a Non-Inverting Step-Down/Up DC-DC Converter for Lithium-Ion Battery Applications.

A regulator based on a converter with step-down/up characteristics is discussed in this paper, which is suitable for processing energy from a lithium-ion battery pack, where the voltage fluctuates from above or below the nominal value. However, this regulator can also be used for applications such as unregulated line rectifiers and renewable energy sources, among others. The converter consists of a non-cascaded interconnection of boost and buck-boost converters such that part of the input energy is transferred directly to the output without reprocessing. Furthermore, it has a non-pulsating input current and a non-inverting output voltage, making it easier to feed the power to other devices. For control purposes, non-linear and linear converter models are derived. The transfer functions of the linear model are used to implement the regulator using a current-mode control scheme. Finally, experimental results for a nominal output voltage of 48 V at 500 W are obtained for the converter in open-loop and closed-loop tests.

Life Cycle Analysis of a Green Solvothermal Synthesis of LFP Nanoplates for Enhanced LIBs in Chile.

Despite the structural and electrochemical advantages of LiFePO4 (LFP) as a cathode material, the solid-state reaction commonly used as a method to produce it at the industrial level has known disadvantages associated with high energy and fossil fuel consumption. On the other hand, solution-based synthesis methods present a more efficient way to produce LFP and have advantages such as controlled crystal growth, homogeneous morphology, and better control of pollutant emissions because the reaction occurs within a closed system. From an environmental point of view, different impacts associated with each synthesis method have not been studied extensively. The use of less polluting precursors during synthesis, as well as efficient use of energy and water, can provide new insights into the advantages of each cathode material for more environmentally friendly batteries. In this work, a solvothermal method is compared to a solid-state synthesis method commonly used to elaborate LFPs at the commercial level in order to evaluate differences in the environmental impacts of both processes. The solvothermal method used was developed considering the reutilization of solvent, water reflux, and a low thermal treatment to reduce pollutant emissions. As a result, a single high crystallinity olivine phase LFP was successfully synthesized. The use of ethylene glycol (EG) as a reaction medium enabled the formation of crystalline LFP at a low temperature (600 °C) with a nano-plate-like shape. The developed synthesis method was evaluated using life cycle analysis (LCA) to compare its environmental impact against the conventional production method. LCA demonstrated that the alternative green synthesis process represents 60% and 45% of the Resource Depletion impact category (water and fossil fuels, respectively) of the conventional method. At the same time, in the Climate change and Particular matter impact categories, the values correspond to 49 and 38% of the conventional method, respectively.

Interchangeable Biomass Fuels for Paper-Based Microfluidic Fuel Cells: Finding Their Power Density Limits.

Paper batteries are self-pumping emerging tools for powering portable analytical systems. These disposable energy converters must be low-cost and must achieve enough energy to power electronic devices. The challenge is reaching high energy while keeping the low cost. Here, for the first time, we report a paper-based microfluidic fuel cell (PµFC) equipped with Pt/C on a carbon paper (CP) anode and a metal-free CP cathode fed by biomass-derived fuels to deliver high power. The cells were engineered in a mixed-media configuration, where methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, or glycerol is electro-oxidized in an alkaline medium, while Na2S2O8 is reduced in an acidic medium. This strategy allows for optimizing each half-cell reaction independently. The colaminar channel of the cellulose paper was chemically investigated by mapping the composition, which reveals a majority of elements from the catholyte and anolyte on each respective side and a mixture of both at the interface, assuring the existing colaminar system. Moreover, the colaminar flow was studied by investigating the flow rate by considering recorded videos for the first time. All PµFCs show 150-200 s to build a stable colaminar flow, which matches the time to reach a stable open circuit voltage. The flow rate is similar for different concentrations of methanol and ethanol, but it decreases with the increase in ethylene glycol and glycerol concentrations, suggesting a longer residence time for the reactants. The cells perform differently for the different concentrations, and their limiting power densities are composed of a balance among anode poisoning, residence time, and viscosity of the liquids. The sustainable PµFCs can be interchangeably fed by the four biomass-derived fuels to deliver ∼2.2-3.9 mW cm-2. This allows choosing the proper fuel due to their availability. The unprecedented PµFC fed by ethylene glycol delivered 6.76 mW cm-2, which is the benchmark output power for a paper battery fed by alcohol.

Galvanostatic Fast Charging of Alkali-Ion Battery Materials at the Single-Particle Level: A Map-Driven Diagnosis.

In this work, we develop a new tool to provide a diagnostic map for alkali-ion intercalation materials under galvanostatic conditions. These representations, stated in the form of capacity level diagrams, are built from hundreds of numerical simulations representing different experimental conditions, summarized in two dimensionless parameters: a kinetic parameter denominated Ξ and a finite diffusion parameter l. To lay the theoretical and methodological foundations, a general model is used here. This model can be adapted to the thermodynamic and kinetic framework of specific systems. We provide two representative examples.

Efficiency Fluctuations in a Quantum Battery Charged by a Repeated Interaction Process.

A repeated interaction process assisted by auxiliary thermal systems charges a quantum battery. The charging energy is supplied by switching on and off the interaction between the battery and the thermal systems. The charged state is an equilibrium state for the repeated interaction process, and the ergotropy characterizes its charge. The working cycle consists in extracting the ergotropy and charging the battery again. We discuss the fluctuating efficiency of the process, among other fluctuating properties. These fluctuations are dominated by the equilibrium distribution and depend weakly on other process properties.

State of Charge Estimation of Battery Based on Neural Networks and Adaptive Strategies with Correntropy.

Nowadays, electric vehicles have gained great popularity due to their performance and efficiency. Investment in the development of this new technology is justified by increased consciousness of the environmental impacts caused by combustion vehicles such as greenhouse gas emissions, which have contributed to global warming as well as the depletion of non-oil renewable energy source. The lithium-ion battery is an appropriate choice for electric vehicles (EVs) due to its promising features of high voltage, high energy density, low self-discharge, and long life cycles. In this context, State of Charge (SoC) is one of the vital parameters of the battery management system (BMS). Nevertheless, because the discharge and charging of battery cells requires complicated chemical operations, it is therefore hard to determine the state of charge of the battery cell. This paper analyses the application of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) in the estimation of the SoC of lithium batteries using the NASA's research center dataset. Normally, the learning of these networks is performed by some method based on a gradient, having the mean squared error as a cost function. This paper evaluates the substitution of this traditional function by a measure of similarity of the Information Theory, called the Maximum Correntropy Criterion (MCC). This measure of similarity allows statistical moments of a higher order to be considered during the training process. For this reason, it becomes more appropriate for non-Gaussian error distributions and makes training less sensitive to the presence of outliers. However, this can only be achieved by properly adjusting the width of the Gaussian kernel of the correntropy. The proper tuning of this parameter is done using adaptive strategies and genetic algorithms. The proposed identification model was developed using information for training and validation, using a dataset made available in a online repository maintained by NASA's research center. The obtained results demonstrate that the use of correntropy, as a cost function in the error backpropagation algorithm, makes the identification procedure using ANN networks more robust when compared to the traditional Mean Squared Error.

Battery Charging in Collision Models with Bayesian Risk Strategies.

We constructed a collision model where measurements in the system, together with a Bayesian decision rule, are used to classify the incoming ancillas as having either high or low ergotropy (maximum extractable work). The former are allowed to leave, while the latter are redirected for further processing, aimed at increasing their ergotropy further. The ancillas play the role of a quantum battery, and the collision model, therefore, implements a Maxwell demon. To make the process autonomous and with a well-defined limit cycle, the information collected by the demon is reset after each collision by means of a cold heat bath.

Nanocomposite Polymer Electrolytes for Zinc and Magnesium Batteries: From Synthetic to Biopolymers.

The diversification of current forms of energy storage and the reduction of fossil fuel consumption are issues of high importance for reducing environmental pollution. Zinc and magnesium are multivalent ions suitable for the development of environmentally friendly rechargeable batteries. Nanocomposite polymer electrolytes (NCPEs) are currently being researched as part of electrochemical devices because of the advantages of dispersed fillers. This article aims to review and compile the trends of different types of the latest NCPEs. It briefly summarizes the desirable properties the electrolytes should possess to be considered for later uses. The first section is devoted to NCPEs composed of poly(vinylidene Fluoride-co-Hexafluoropropylene). The second section centers its attention on discussing the electrolytes composed of poly(ethylene oxide). The third section reviews the studies of NCPEs based on different synthetic polymers. The fourth section discusses the results of electrolytes based on biopolymers. The addition of nanofillers improves both the mechanical performance and the ionic conductivity; key points to be explored in the production of batteries. These results set an essential path for upcoming studies in the field. These attempts need to be further developed to get practical applications for industry in large-scale polymer-based electrolyte batteries.

Guía de Práctica Clínica de cuerpo extraño gastrointestinal en niños / Clinical practice guideline of gastrointestinal foreign bodies in children

La ingestión de un cuerpo extraño es un tipo de lesión no intencionada muy frecuente en la infancia, particularmente en lactantes mayores de 6 meses y preescolares. El propósito deseado con la publicación de esta guía es contar con herramientas actualizadas en el diagnóstico y tratamiento de esta afección que permitan sistematizar la conducta y mejorar la calidad de la asistencia médica. Dentro de los cuerpos extraños más frecuentes tenemos: monedas, imanes, baterías, juguetes pequeños, plásticos, joyas, botones, huesos e impactaciones alimentarias en los niños mayores. La sintomatología varía según la naturaleza del cuerpo extraño, el lugar donde se impacte, que casi siempre es en las estrecheces anatómicas o adquiridas del tubo digestivo o por la presencia de complicaciones. Para confirmar el diagnóstico son necesarios diferentes estudios imagenológicos y endoscópicos, estos últimos con un valor terapéutico. El tratamiento depende de factores como la edad, el tiempo de ingerido, la localización, la presencia de complicaciones, la naturaleza del cuerpo extraño, su número y el potencial lacerante, tóxico o corrosivo. En la mayoría de los casos los cuerpos extraños son expulsados de forma espontánea y tienen un pronóstico favorable, pero queda un grupo de pacientes donde es necesario un tratamiento quirúrgico. Después de realizar una búsqueda de revisiones sistemáticas de calidad y tomando en cuenta la experiencia del Servicio de Cirugía Pediátrica de Matanzas en el tratamiento de estos pacientes se elaboró esta guía que fue discutida y aprobada en el IV Simposio Nacional de Cirugía Pediátrica. La publicación de esta guía permitiría a los servicios de Cirugía Pediátrica emplearla como referencia y aplicarla en sus propias instituciones con el consecuente beneficio para los pacientes(AU)

Ingestion of a foreign body is a very common type of unintentional injury in childhood, particularly in infants older than 6 months and preschoolers. The desired purpose with the publication of this guideline is to have up-to-date tools in the diagnosis and treatment of this condition that allow to systematize the behavior and improve the quality of medical care. Within the most frequent foreign bodies we have: coins, magnets, batteries, small toys, plastics, jewelry, buttons, bones and food impactations in older children. Symptomatology varies depending on the nature of the foreign body, the place where it impacted, which is almost always in anatomical or acquired narrowness of the digestive tract, or by the presence of complications. To confirm the diagnosis, different imaging and endoscopic studies are necessary, the latter with a therapeutic value. Treatment depends on factors such as age, ingestion time, location, presence of complications, the nature of the foreign body, the amount and the lacerating, toxic or corrosive potential. In most cases foreign bodies are expelled spontaneously and have a favorable prognosis, but there is a group of patients left for whom surgical treatment is necessary. After conducting a search for quality systematic reviews and taking into account the experience of Matanzas province's Pediatric Surgery Service in the treatment of these patients, this guideline was created and it was discussed and approved at the IV National Symposium of Pediatric Surgery. The publication of this guideline would allow Pediatric Surgery services to use it as a reference and apply it in their own institutions with the consequent benefit for patients(AU)

Small hollow nanostructures as a new morphology to improve stability of LiMn2O4cathodes in Li-ion batteries.

Spinel LiMn2O4is a promising cathode material for lithium-ion batteries. However, bulk LiMn2O4commonly suffers from capacity fading due to the dissolution of Mn into the electrolyte during cycling. Moreover, bulk LiMn2O4exhibits a low Li+diffusion coefficient that limits the volume available to Li+storage. Herein, we report the synthesis of small hollow porous LiMn2O4nanostructures with a mean size of 51 nm exhibiting exposed (111) planes, assembled by nanoparticles of about 6 nm in size. The morphological features of these nanostructures ensure a large contact area between the material and the electrolyte, shorten the pathways for Li+diffusion and provide effective accommodation of the volume change during cycling. Therefore, these hollow nanostructures exhibit improved discharge capacity retention (nearly 82% after 200 cycles) and a greater Li+diffusion coefficient (3.46 × 10-7cm s-1) compared with that of bulk LiMn2O4.

A molecular dynamics study of a fully zwitterionic copolymer/ionic liquid-based electrolyte: Li+ transport mechanisms and ionic interactions.

The development of polymer electrolytes (PEs) is crucial for advancing safe, high-energy density batteries, such as lithium-metal and other beyond lithium-ion chemistries. However, reaching the optimum balance between mechanical stiffness and ionic conductivity is not a straightforward task. Zwitterionic (ZI) gel electrolytes comprising lithium salt and ionic liquid (IL) solutions within a fully ZI polymer network can, in this context, provide useful properties. Although such materials have shown compatibility with lithium metal in batteries, several fundamental structure-dynamic relationships regarding ionic transport and the Li+ coordination environment remain unclear. To better resolve such issues, molecular dynamics simulations were carried out for two IL-based electrolyte systems, N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([BMP][TFSI]) with 1 M LiTFSI salt and a ZI gel electrolyte containing the IL and a ZI copolymer: poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine-co-sulfobetaine vinylimidazole), poly(MPC-co-SBVI). The addition of ZI polymer decreases the [TFSI]- -[Li]+ interactions and increases the IL ion diffusivities, and consequently, the overall ZI gel ionic conductivity. The structural analyses showed a large preference for lithium-ion interactions with the polymer phosphonate groups, while the [TFSI]- anions interact directly with the sulfonate group and the [BMP]+ cations only display secondary interactions with the polymer. In contrast to previous experimental data on the same system, the simulated transference numbers showed smaller [Li]+ contributions to the overall ionic conductivities, mainly due to negatively charged lithium aggregates and the strong lithium-ion interactions in the systems.

Role of the solvent in the activation of Li2S as cathode material: a DFT study.

Lithium-sulfur batteries are considered one of the possible next-generation energy-storage solutions, but to be commercially available many drawbacks have yet to be solved. One solution with great potentiality is the use of lithium sulfide as cathode material since it can be coupled to Li-free anodes, such as graphite, Si or Sn. Nevertheless, Li2S, like sulfur, is electronically and ionically insulating, with a high activation potential for its initial oxidation step. To overcome this issue, different strategies have been explored, one of them being the use of catalytic surfaces. In the present article, we study using first principles calculations the effect of the dielectric constant of the solvent on the activation energy of the cleavage reaction of Li2S on different catalytic surfaces. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that such a study is undertaken. We find that the effect of the solvent should be twofold: on one side, it should decrease the interaction between the Li2S molecule and the surface. On the other side, since the species arising in the dissociation reaction are charged, the solvent should decrease the activation barrier for the dissociation of the Li2S molecule, when compared with the reaction in vacuum. These theoretical findings are discussed in connection with experimental results from the literature, where the behaviour of the Li-S cathode is studied in different solvents.

Role of model organisms and nanocompounds in human health risk assessment.

Safeguarding the environment is one of the most serious modern challenges, as increasing amounts of chemical compounds are produced and released into the environment, causing a serious threat to the future health of the Earth as well as organisms and humans on a global scale. Ecotoxicology is an integrative science involving different physical, chemical, biological, and social aspects concerned with the study of toxic effects caused by natural or synthetic pollutants on any constituents of ecosystems, including animals (including humans), plants, or microorganisms, in an integral context. In recent decades, this science has undergone considerable development by addressing environmental risk assessments through the biomonitoring of indicator species using biomarkers, model organisms, and nanocompounds in toxicological assays. Since a single taxon cannot be representative of complex ecotoxicological effects and mechanisms of action of a chemical, the use of test batteries is widely accepted in ecotoxicology. Test batteries include properly chosen organisms that are easy to breed, adapt easily to laboratory conditions, and are representative of the environmental compartment under consideration. One of the main issues of toxicological and ecotoxicological research is to gain a deeper understanding of how data should be obtained through laboratory and field approaches using experimental models and how they could be extrapolated to humans. There is a tendency to replace animal tests with in vitro systems and to perform them according to standardized analytical methods and the rules of the so-called good laboratory practice (GLP). This paper aims to review this topic to stimulate both efforts to understand the toxicological and ecotoxicological properties of natural and synthetic chemicals and the possible use of such data for application to humans.