Enhancing Cycle Life of Rechargeable Zinc Hybrid Batteries in a Low-Cost, Nonfluorinated Dual-Cation Electrolyte.

Rechargeable zinc batteries (RZBs) are highly attractive as energy storage solutions due to their low cost and sustainability. Nevertheless, the use of fluorine-free zinc electrolyte systems to create affordable, ecofriendly, and safe RZBs has been largely overlooked in the battery community. Previously, we showcased the utilization of a fluorine-free, nonaqueous electrolyte comprising zinc dicyanamide (Zn(dca)) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to enable the electrochemical cycling of zinc.

Understanding Polymerized Ionic Liquids as Solid Polymer Electrolytes for Sodium Batteries.

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) have emerged as promising candidates for sodium-based batteries due to their cost-effectiveness and excellent flexibility. However, achieving high ionic conductivity and desirable mechanical properties in SPEs remains a challenge. In this study, we investigated an AB diblock copolymer, PS-PEA(BuImTFSI), as a potential SPE for sodium batteries.

Investigating the effect of synthesis selection on O3-sodium layered oxide structural changes and electrochemical properties.

Transition metal (TM) layered oxides constitute a promising family of materials for use in Na-ion battery cathodes. Here O3-Na (NiMnFe) O was synthesised using optimised sol-gel and solid-state routes, and the physico- and electrochemical natures of the resulting materials were thoroughly studied. Significant differences in electrochemical behaviour were observed, and the use of in operando XRD determined this stemmed from the suppression of the P3 phase in the sol-gel material during cycling.

Task-Specific Phosphonium Iongels by Fast UV-Photopolymerization for Solid-State Sodium Metal Batteries.

Sodium metal batteries are an emerging technology that shows promise in terms of materials availability with respect to lithium batteries. Solid electrolytes are needed to tackle the safety issues related to sodium metal. In this work, a simple method to prepare a mechanically robust and efficient soft solid electrolyte for sodium batteries is demonstrated.

Chloride-attachment atmospheric pressure photoionisation for the determination of short-chain chlorinated paraffins by gas chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry.

In this work, a new gas chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) method based on atmospheric pressure photoionisation (APPI) has been developed for the accurate determination of short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) as a reliable alternative to the established methods. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time these compounds has been analysed by GC-MS using atmospheric pressure photoionisation (APPI). Efficient ionisation of SCCPs was achieved using the new GC-APPI source by the formation of [M+Cl] adduct ions in negative ion mode using dopant-assisted APPI with a mixture of acetone/CCl (3:1, v/v).

Formation of new disinfection by-products of priority substances (Directive 2013/39/UE and Watch List) in drinking water treatment.

The degradation of priority substances (Directive 2013/39/UE and Watch List) by chlorine dioxide (ClO) and the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in a drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) located near Barcelona (NE Spain) were investigated. For the first time, the reactivity with ClO of several compounds frequently found at the entrance of the DWTP such as erythromycin, clarithromycin, chlorpyrifos, and imidacloprid was evaluated in both simulated and real conditions. To identify potential DBPs, experiments were performed at laboratory scale by simulating the operational disinfection conditions in the DWTP.

Desorption electrospray ionization-high resolution mass spectrometry for the analysis of unknown materials: The phytosanitary product case.

In this work, we tested the potential of desorption electrospray ionization-high resolution mass spectrometry (DESI-HRMS) for the analysis of unknown materials. To this end, our study focused on analyzing an unknown complex sample suspected of being an adulterated phytosanitary product or a fraud. A simple and fast sample manipulation procedure (filter paper impregnated with the sample) was used for the chemical characterization of the phytosanitary product by DESI-HRMS(/MS).

Metabolomic analysis of the effects of cadmium and copper treatment in Oryza sativa L. using untargeted liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry and all-ion fragmentation.

While the knowledge of plant metabolomes has increased in the last few years, their response to the presence of toxicants is still poorly understood. Here, we analyse the metabolomic changes in Japanese rice (Oryza sativa var. Japonica) upon exposure to heavy metals (Cd(ii) and Cu(ii)) in concentrations from 10 to 1000 μM.

Multiresidue analysis of 24 Water Framework Directive priority substances by on-line solid phase extraction-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in environmental waters.

This paper reports the development of a fully multiresidue and automated on-line solid phase extraction (SPE) - liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the determination of 24 priority substances (PS) belonging to different classes (pesticides, hormones or pharmaceuticals) included in the Directive 2013/39/UE and the recent Watch List (Decision 2015/495) in water samples (drinking water, surface water, and effluent wastewaters). LC-MS/MS conditions and on-line SPE parameters such as sorbent type, sample and wash volumes were optimized. The developed method is highly sensitive (limits of detection between 0.

Furan in commercial baby foods from the Spanish market: estimation of daily intake and risk assessment.

The occurrence of furan in commercial baby food samples from the Spanish market was evaluated using an automated headspace solid-phase microextraction method coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). A total of 76 baby food samples including infant formula, baby cereals, fruit in cans and/or jars, vegetables, meat, and fish, were surveyed for furan content. The lowest concentration of this compound was found in infant formula (<0.

Investigation of sodium insertion-extraction in olivine NaxFePO4 (0 ≤x≤ 1) using first-principles calculations.

Olivine NaFePO4 has recently attracted the attention of the scientific community as a promising cathode material for Na-ion batteries. In this work we combine density functional theory (DFT) calculations and high resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) experiments to study the phase stability of NaxFePO4 along the whole range of sodium compositions (0 ≤x≤ 1). DFT calculations reveal the existence of two intermediate structures governing the phase stability at x = 2/3 and x = 5/6.

Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling of ionic liquid stimuli unveils enhanced secondary metabolism in Aspergillus nidulans.

Background: The inherent potential of filamentous fungi, especially of Ascomycota, for producing diverse bioactive metabolites remains largely silent under standard laboratory culture conditions. Innumerable strategies have been described to trigger their production, one of the simplest being manipulation of the growth media composition. Supplementing media with ionic liquids surprisingly enhanced the diversity of extracellular metabolites generated by penicillia.

Ion-molecule adduct formation in tandem mass spectrometry.

Nowadays most LC-MS methods rely on tandem mass spectrometry not only for quantitation and confirmation of compounds by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM), but also for the identification of unknowns from their product ion spectra. However, gas-phase reactions between charged and neutral species inside the mass analyzer can occur, yielding product ions at m/z values higher than that of the precursor ion, or at m/z values difficult to explain by logical losses, which complicate mass spectral interpretation. In this work, the formation of adduct ions in the mass analyzer was studied using several mass spectrometers with different mass analyzers (ion trap, triple quadrupole, and quadrupole-Orbitrap).

Aggregation behavior of fullerenes in aqueous solutions: a capillary electrophoresis and asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation study.

In this work, the electrophoretic behavior of hydrophobic fullerenes [buckminsterfullerene (C60), C70, and N-methyl-fulleropyrrolidine (C60-pyrr)] and water-soluble fullerenes [fullerol (C60(OH)24); polyhydroxy small gap fullerene, hydrated (C120(OH)30); C60 pyrrolidine tris acid (C60-pyrr tris acid); and (1,2-methanofullerene C60)-61-carboxylic acid (C60CHCOOH)] in micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) was evaluated. The aggregation behavior of the water-soluble compounds in MECC at different buffer and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentrations and pH values of the background electrolyte (BGE) was studied by monitoring the changes observed in the electrophoretic pattern of the peaks. Broad and distorted peaks that can be attributed to fullerene aggregation were obtained in MECC which became narrower and more symmetric by working at low buffer and SDS concentrations (below the critical micelle concentration, capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) conditions).

Characterization of aggregates of surface modified fullerenes by asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation with multi-angle light scattering detection.

Fullerenes are carbon nanoparticles with widespread biomedical, commercial and industrial applications. Attributes such as their tendency to aggregate and aggregate size and shape impact their ability to be transported into and through the environment and living tissues. Knowledge of these properties is therefore valuable for their human and environmental risk assessment as well as to control their synthesis and manufacture.

Desorption electrospray ionization-high resolution mass spectrometry for the screening of veterinary drugs in cross-contaminated feedstuffs.

In this study, a desorption electrospray ionization-high resolution mass spectrometry (DESI-HRMS) screening method was developed for fast identification of veterinary drugs in cross-contaminated feedstuffs. The reliable detection was performed working at high resolution (70,000 full width half maximum, FWHM) using an orbitrap mass analyzer. Among the optimized DESI parameters, the solvent (acetonitrile/water, 80:20, v/v) and the sample substrate (poly-tetrafluoroethylene, PTFE) were critical to obtain the best sensitivity.

Characterisation and determination of fullerenes: A critical review.

A prominent sector of nanotechnology is occupied by a class of carbon-based nanoparticles known as fullerenes. Fullerene particle size and shape impact in how easily these particles are transported into and throughout the environment and living tissues. Currently, there is a lack of adequate methodology for their size and shape characterisation, identification and quantitative detection in environmental and biological samples.

Wide-range screening of psychoactive substances by FIA-HRMS: identification strategies.

Recreational drugs (illicit drugs, human and veterinary medicines, legal highs, etc.) often contain lacing agents and adulterants which are not related to the main active ingredient. Serious side effects and even the death of the consumer have been related to the consumption of mixtures of psychoactive substances and/or adulterants, so it is important to know the actual composition of recreational drugs.

Understanding fungal functional biodiversity during the mitigation of environmentally dispersed pentachlorophenol in cork oak forest soils.

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is globally dispersed and contamination of soil with this biocide adversely affects its functional biodiversity, particularly of fungi - key colonizers. Their functional role as a community is poorly understood, although a few pathways have been already elucidated in pure cultures. This constitutes here our main challenge - elucidate how fungi influence the pollutant mitigation processes in forest soils.

Increased levels of dioxin-like substances in adipose tissue in patients with deep infiltrating endometriosis.

Study Question: Are the levels of biologically active and the most toxic dioxin-like substances in adipose tissue of patients with deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) higher than in a control group without endometriosis?

Summary Answer: DIE patients have higher levels of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in adipose tissue compared with controls without endometriosis.

What Is Known Already: Some studies have investigated the levels of dioxin-like substances, in serum samples, in patients with endometriosis, with inconsistent results.

Study Design, Size, Duration: Case-control study including two groups of patients.

Analysis of C60-fullerene derivatives and pristine fullerenes in environmental samples by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure photoionization-mass spectrometry.

In this work, a method is proposed for the simultaneous analysis of several pristine fullerenes (C60, C70, C76, C78, and C84) and three C60-fullerene derivatives (N-methyl fulleropyrrolidine, [6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester and [6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid butyl ester) in environmental samples. The method involves the use of ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled to atmospheric pressure photoionization mass spectrometry (UHPLC-APPI-MS) and allowed the chromatographic separation in less than 4.5min.

Mixed-mode liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry for the analysis of aminoglycosides in meat.

A novel LC-MS/MS method has been developed for the determination of 13 aminoglycoside antibiotics in meat products. Among the chromatographic columns tested, the mixed-mode Obelisc R provided the best performance. Electrospray has been used for the coupling of the LC and the effect of temperature on the ionization has been evaluated.

Survey of the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in Spanish finished drinking waters.

Fifty samples of finished drinking waters (FDWs) from Spain covering 12 million inhabitants were tested for 53 pharmaceuticals pertaining to 12 different Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system codes. The studied compounds are a combination of most commonly consumed pharmaceuticals with other barely reported in the literature. Five compounds, azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, sulfamethoxazole, and ibuprofen were tentatively identified by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in some samples (2 to 15 %), but only ibuprofen and azithromycin could be confirmed when analyzed by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) with a quadrupole-Orbitrap instrument.

The mechanism of NaFePO₄ (de)sodiation determined by in situ X-ray diffraction.

The reaction mechanism occurring during the (de)intercalation of sodium into the host olivine FePO4 structure is thoroughly analysed through a combination of structural and electrochemical methods. In situ XRD experiments have confirmed that the charge and discharge reaction mechanisms are different and have revealed the existence of a solid solution domain from 1 < x < 2/3 in Na(x)FePO4 upon charge. The second part of the charge proceeds through a 2-phase reaction between Na(2/3)FePO4 and FePO4 with strongly varying solubility limits.