Al Impurity Upcycled High-Voltage Cathodes from Spent LiCoO2 Batteries.

Al impurity is among the most likely components to enter the spent lithium-ion battery (LIB) cathode powder due to the strong adhesion between the cathode material and the Al current collector. However, high-value metal elements tend to be lost during the deep removal of Al impurities to obtain high-purity metal salt products in the conventional hydrometallurgical process. In this work, the harmful Al impurity is designed as a beneficial ingredient to upcycle high-voltage LiCoO2 by incorporating robust Al-O covalent bonds into the bulk of the cathode assisted with Ti modification. Benefiting from the strong Al-O and Ti-O bonds in the bulk, the irreversible phase transitions of the upcycled R-LCO-AT have been significantly suppressed at high voltages, as revealed by in situ XRD. Moreover, a Li+-conductive Li2TiO3 protective layer is constructed on the surface of R-LCO-AT by pinning slow-diffusion Ti on the grain boundaries, resulting in improved Li+ diffusion kinetics and restrained interface side reactions. Consequently, the cycle stability and rate performance of R-LCO-AT were significantly enhanced at a high cutoff voltage of 4.6 V, with a discharge capacity of 189.5 mAhg-1 at 1 C and capacity retention of 92.9% over 100 cycles at 4.6 V. This study utilizes the detrimental impurity element to upcycle high-voltage LCO cathodes through an elaborate bulk/surface structural design, offering a strategy for the high-value utilization of spent LIBs.

Research on multiple effects of fixed-asset investment on energy consumption--by three strata of industry in China.

Fixed-asset investment directly affects energy consumption through purchasing and upgrading energy-saving equipment on the one hand, and indirectly affects energy consumption by expanding output scale on the other hand. This paper analyzes the multiple effects of fixed-asset investment on energy consumption by three strata of industry in China during 1991-2017. The econometric methods based on VAR model such as Johansen co-integration test and Granger causality test (linear Granger causality test and non-linear Granger causality test) are utilized to explore the long-run stable equilibrium relationships and causal interactions between fixed-asset investment and energy consumption. And the mediation test is performed by employing the bias-corrected non-parametric percentile bootstrap method combined with causal steps approach to obtain the direct and indirect effects of fixed-asset investment on energy consumption. Our study indicates that there are long-run stable equilibrium relationships between fixed-asset investment and energy consumption by three strata of industry. Bidirectional causalities exist in secondary and tertiary industries between fixed-asset investment and their respective energy consumption, and a unidirectional causality exists in primary industry from fixed-asset investment to energy consumption. The fixed-asset investment in primary industry directly suppresses its energy consumption, while indirectly promotes its energy consumption through its value added. And the fixed-asset investment in secondary industry not only directly promotes its energy consumption but also indirectly promotes its energy consumption through its value added.

Taxonomic note on Parnassia (Celastraceae): the identity of P. nubicola.

Based on examination of herbarium specimens (including types) and living plants, as well as analysis of protologues and distributions, Parnassia tibetana, P. nubicola subsp. occidentalis, and P. nubicola var. nana are reduced to synonyms of P. nubicola.

Taxonomic note of Parnassia (Celastraceae) in China: a reassessment of Subsect. Xiphosandra.

P.brevistyla, P.delavayi and P.leptophylla. belong to Celastraceae, ParnassiaL.,Sect.NectarotrilobosDrude,Subsect.Xiphosandra (Franch.) Ku. Due to lack of material, the reliability of their taxonomic characteristics remained unknown and all three species have been retained. Following extensive field investigations, population sampling and examination of specimens, we determined that the previously used characteristics to distinguish these three species, i.e. the shape of basal leaves and the depth of staminode lobes, vary continuously within populations and should not be used to distinguish separate species. Therefore, P.brevistyla and P.leptophylla are hereby designated as synonyms of P.delavayi.

Four new synonyms and a new combination in Parnassia (Celastraceae).

Parnassia yunnanensis had been previously described based on mixed specimens containing materials partially belonging to Parnassia cacuminum, which makes the application of Parnassia yunnanensis ambiguous. Therefore, we lectotypified Parnassia yunnanensis and meanwhile synonymized Parnassia lanceolata var. oblongipetala under it. Parnassia yunnanensis var. longistipitata was found more similar to Parnassia cacuminum rather than Parnassia yunnanensis, thus a new combination, Parnassia cacuminum var. longistipitata comb. nov. was proposed. Furthermore, other three names (Parnassia vevusta, Parnassia degeensis and Parnassia kangdingensis) were reduced to synonyms of Parnassia cacuminum too.