Self-Supported Fibrous Sn/SnO2@C Nanocomposite as Superior Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Low-cost and simple methods are constantly chased in order to produce less expensive lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) while possibly increasing the energy and power density as well as the volumetric capacity in order to boost a rapid decarbonization of the transport sector. Li alloys and tin-carbon composites are promising candidates as anode materials for LIBs both in terms of capacity and cycle life. In the present paper, electrospinning was employed in the preparation of Sn/SnOx@C composites, where tin and tin oxides were homogeneously dispersed in a carbonaceous matrix of carbon nanofibers. The resulting self-standing and light electrode showed a greatly enhanced performance compared to a conventional electrode based on the same starting materials that are simply mixed to obtain a slurry then deposited on a Cu foil. Fast kinetics were achieved with more than 90% of the reaction that resulted being surface-controlled, and stable capacities of about 300 mAh/g over 500 cycles were obtained at a current density of 0.5 A/g.

Novel MIPs-Parabens based SPE Stationary Phases Characterization and Application.

In this work, the synthesis, characterization, and application of novel parabens imprinted polymers as highly selective solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbents have been reported. The imprinted polymers were created using sol-gel molecular imprinting process. All the seven parabens were considered herein in order to check the phase selectivity. By means of a validated HPLC-photodiode array detector (PDA) method all seven parabens were resolved in a single chromatographic run of 25 min. These SPE sorbents, in-house packed in SPE empty cartridges, were first characterized in terms of extraction capability, breakthrough volume, retention volume, hold-up volume, number of theoretical plates, and retention factor. Finally, the device was applied to a real urine sample to check the method feasibility on a very complex matrix. The new paraben imprinted SPE sorbents, not yet present in the literature, potentially encourage the development of novel molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) to enhance the extraction efficiency, and consequently the overall analytical performances, when the trace quantification is required.

Electrospun Carbon/Cu x O Nanocomposite material as Sustainable and High Performance Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

The increase in energy density of the next generation of battery materials to meet the new challenges of the electrical vehicles era calls for innovative and easily scalable materials with sustainable processes. An innovative Cu x O/C nanocomposite material, characterized by a highly conductive 3D-framework, with Cu x O/Cu-metal contiguous nanodomains is prepared by electrospinning. The electrode processing is made using a polyacrylic acid binder. The nanocomposite has been fully characterized and the electrochemical performance shows high specific capacity values over 450 galvanostatic cycles at 500 mAg-1 specific current with capacity retention values over 80 %. In addition, the composite shows remarkable high rate performance and highly stable interface, which has been studied by impedance spectroscopy.

Comparison between Exhaustive and Equilibrium Extraction Using Different SPE Sorbents and Sol-Gel Carbowax 20M Coated FPSE Media.

This paper reports the performance comparison between the exhaustive and equilibrium extraction using classical Avantor C18 solid phase extraction (SPE) sorbent, hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) SPE sorbent, Sep-Pak C18 SPE sorbent, novel sol-gel Carbowax 20M (sol-gel CW 20M) SPE sorbent, and sol-gel CW 20M coated fabric phase sorptive extraction (FPSE) media for the simultaneous extraction and analysis of three inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) drugs that possess logP values (polarity) ranging from 1.66 for cortisone, 2.30 for ciprofloxacin, and 2.92 for sulfasalazine. Both the commercial SPE phases and in-house synthesized sol-gel CW 20M SPE phases were loaded in SPE cartridges and the extractions were carried out under an exhaustive extraction mode. FPSE was carried out under an equilibrium extraction mode. The drug compounds were resolved using a Luna C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm; 5 m particle size) in gradient elution mode within 20 min and the method was validated in compliance with international guidelines for the bioanalytical method validation. Novel in-house synthesized and loaded sol-gel CW 20M SPE sorbent cartridges were characterized in terms of their extraction capability, breakthrough volume, retention volume, hold-up volume, number of the theoretical plate, and the retention factor.

Gel Polymer Electrolytes Based on Silica-Added Poly(ethylene oxide) Electrospun Membranes for Lithium Batteries.

Solid polymer electrolytes, in the form of membranes, offering high chemical and mechanical stability, while maintaining good ionic conductivity, are envisaged as a possible solution to improve performances and safety in different lithium cell configurations. In this work, we designed and prepared systems formed using innovative nanocomposite polymer membranes, based on high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and silica nanopowders, produced by the electrospinning technique. These membranes were subsequently gelled with solutions based on aprotic ionic liquid, carbonate solvents, and lithium salt. The addition of polysulfide species to the electrolyte solution was also considered, in view of potential applications in lithium-sulfur cells. The morphology of the electrospun pristine membranes was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. Stability and thermal properties of pristine and gelled systems were investigated uisng differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analysis. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to determine the conductivity of both swelling solutions and gelled membranes, allowing insight into the ion transport mechanism within the proposed composite electrolytes.

Immobilization and delivery of biologically active Lipoxin A4 using electrospinning technology.

Lipoxin (LX)A4 is a lipoxygenase-formed arachidonic acid metabolite with potent anti-inflammatory, pro-resolution properties. Its therapeutic efficacy has been largely demonstrated in a variety of cellular, preclinical and clinical models. Among these, periodontal disease, where LXA4 promotes tissue repair, also by modulating functions of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs). As medicated biomembranes may be particularly useful in clinical settings, where local stimulation of tissue repair is needed, we used electrospinning to embed LXA4 in membranes made of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(d,l-lactide) (PDLLA). These membranes were fully characterized by scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and biocompatibility with hPDLSCs. Here, we report that LXA4 is retained in these membranes and that ∼15-20% of the total LXA4 amount added to the reaction can be eluted from the membranes using an aqueous buffered medium. The eluted LXA4 fully retained its capability to stimulate hPDLSC proliferation. A similar effect was obtained by adding directly the LXA4-containing membranes to cells. These results demonstrate for the first time that LXA4 can be incorporated into biomembranes, which may be useful to combat local inflammation and promote tissue repair in selected clinical settings.

Analytical methods for the endocrine disruptor compounds determination in environmental water samples.

The potential risk of exposure to different xenobiotics, which can modulate the endocrine system and represent a treat for the wellness of an increasing number of people, has recently drawn the attention of international environmental and health agencies. Several agents, characterized by structural diversity, may interfer with the normal endocrine functions that regulate cell growth, homeostasis and development. Substances such as pesticides, herbicides, plasticizers, metals, etc. having endocrine activity (EDCs) are used in agriculture and industry and are also used as drugs for humans and animals. A difficulty in the analytical determination of these substances is the complexity of the matrix in which they are present. In fact, the samples most frequently analyzed consist of groundwater and surface water, including influent and effluent of wastewater treatment plants and drinking water. In this review, several sample pretreatment protocols, assays and different instrumental techniques recently used in the EDCs determination have been considered. This review concludes with a paragraph in which the most recent hyphenated-instrument techniques are treated, highlighting their sensitivity and selectivity for the analyses of environmental water samples.