Hydrogen Gas Phase and Electrochemical Hydriding of LaNi5-xMx (M = Sn, Co, Al) Alloys.

Hydriding/dehydriding properties of a series of LaNi5 based alloys were compared by applying both hydrogen gas phase and electrochemical hydrogen charge/discharge methods. The highest hydrogen absorption capacity of 1.4 wt.% H2 was found for LaNi4.3Co0.4Al0.3, although LaNi4.8Sn0.2 also reveals comparable hydrogen capacity (>1.3%). A significant difference in the hydriding kinetics was observed for all studied alloys before and after activation. The activated alloys (5 cycles at 65 °C, 40 atm. H2) reach their maximum capacities after less than a minute, whereas the pure LaNi5 alloy needs several minutes for complete hydriding. The electrochemical hydriding/dehydriding behavior of the alloys reveals superior performance of LaNi4.3Co0.4Al0.3 and LaNi4.8Sn0.2 compared to the other compositions studied, as the capacity of LaNi4.8Sn0.2 decreases by only 10% for 60 charge/discharge cycles at a current density of 100 mA/g. Good agreement between the hydrogen sorption kinetics of the alloys obtained electrochemically and from hydrogen gas phase has also been observed.

Enhanced cellular uptake of platinum by a tetracationic Pt(II) nanocapsule and its implications to cancer treatment.

Despite the known limitations of cisplatin chemotherapy, the treatment of cancer by platinum-based drugs remains the method of choice for many oncologists. The advancement in drug delivery formulations and protocols of combined treatments provided effective tools to ameliorate the side effects of platinum-based therapies. Another approach to improve the pharmacological profiles of anticancer platinum drugs is to properly modify their structure and composition, which has produced numerous platinum complexes with improved therapeutic effect. Recently, we have demonstrated the strong anticancer potency of supramolecular nanocapsules that form by self-assembly of four bis-anthracene ligands with two metal ions, either Pt(II) or Pd(II). Herein, we focus our study on the Pt(II) nanocapsule and its uptake by two types of cancer cells, suspension cultures of HL-60 cells and the adherent cancer cells HT-29. Comparison of the platinum uptake by cancer cells treated with the nanocapsule and with cisplatin evidenced superior uptake of platinum caused by the nanocapsule, which in HT-29 and HL-60 cells prevails by 21 and 31 times, respectively. Morphological changes in the HL-60 cells induced by the Pt(II) nanocapsule were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) which provided plausible explanation of the uptake results. These data corroborate also with the known nanocapsule's very high cytotoxicity, better selectivity, and lack of cross-resistance with cisplatin. Additionally, our estimations of the drug-drug interactions in combined treatments established the propensity of the nanocapsule to exert supra-additive cytotoxicity in combination with cisplatin against the bladder cancer T-24 cells. All these findings define the scope for more detailed pharmacological characterization of the presented Pt(II) nanocapsule.

Layered P3-NaxCo1/3Ni1/3Mn1/3O2 versus Spinel Li4Ti5O12 as a Positive and a Negative Electrode in a Full Sodium-Lithium Cell.

The development of lithium and sodium ion batteries without using lithium and sodium metal as anodes gives the impetus for elaboration of low-cost and environmentally friendly energy storage devices. In this contribution we demonstrate the design and construction of a new type of hybrid sodium-lithium ion cell by using unique electrode combination (Li4Ti5O12 spinel as a negative electrode and layered Na3/4Co1/3Ni1/3Mn1/3O2 as a positive electrode) and conventional lithium electrolyte (LiPF6 salt dissolved in EC/DMC). The cell operates at an average potential of 2.35 V by delivering a reversible capacity of about 100 mAh/g. The mechanism of the electrochemical reaction in the full sodium-lithium ion cell is studied by means of postmortem analysis, as well as ex situ X-ray diffraction analysis, HR-TEM, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR). The changes in the surface composition of electrodes are examined by ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

P3-Type Layered Sodium-Deficient Nickel-Manganese Oxides: A Flexible Structural Matrix for Reversible Sodium and Lithium Intercalation.

Sodium-deficient nickel-manganese oxides exhibit a layered structure, which is flexible enough to acquire different layer stacking. The effect of layer stacking on the intercalation properties of P3-Nax Ni0.5 Mn0.5 O2 (x=0.50, 0.67) and P2-Na2/3 Ni1/3 Mn2/3 O2 , for use as cathodes in sodium- and lithium-ion batteries, is examined. For P3-Na0.67 Ni0.5 Mn0.5 O2 , a large trigonal superstructure with 2√3 a×2√3 a×2 c is observed, whereas for P2-Na2/3 Ni1/3 Mn2/3 O2 there is a superstructure with reduced lattice parameters. In sodium cells, P3 and P2 phases intercalate sodium reversibly at a well-expressed voltage plateau. Preservation of the P3-type structure during sodium intercalation determines improving cycling stability of the P3 phase within an extended potential range, in comparison with that for the P2 phase, for which a P2-O2 phase transformation has been found. Between 2.0 and 4.0 V, P3 and P2 phases display an excellent rate capability. In lithium cells, the P3 phase intercalates lithium, accompanied by a P3-O3 structural transformation. The in situ generated O3 phase, containing lithium and sodium simultaneously, determines the specific voltage profile of P3-Nax Ni0.5 Mn0.5 O2 . The P2 phase does not display any reversible lithium intercalation. The P3 phase demonstrates a higher capacity at lower rates in lithium cells, whereas in sodium cells P3-Nax Ni0.5 Mn0.5 O2 operates better at higher rates. These findings reveal the unique ability of sodium-deficient nickel-manganese oxides with a P3-type structure for application as low-cost electrode materials in both sodium- and lithium-ion batteries.