Multi-walled carbon-nanotube-decorated tungsten ditelluride nanostars as anode material for lithium-ion batteries.

Multi-walled carbon-nanotube (MWCNT)-decorated WTe nanostars (WTe@CNT nanocomposites) are to be employed for the first time as anode candidates in the development of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. WTe@CNT nanocomposites deliver a high discharge capacity of 1097, 475, 439, 408, 395 and 381 mA h g with an increasing current density of 100, 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 mA g, respectively, while WTe nanostars exhibit a reversible capacity of 655, 402, 400, 362, 290 and 197 mA h g with the aforementioned current densities. Furthermore, WTe@CNT nanocomposites exhibit a superior reversible capacity of 592 mA h g at 500 mA g with a capacity retention of 100% achieved over 500 cycles, while bare WTe nanostars deliver ∼85 mA h g over 350 cycles.

Health and Hunger: Disease, Energy Needs, and the Indian Calorie Consumption Puzzle.

India's experience presents a puzzle at odds with a basic fact of household economics: amidst unprecedented economic growth, average daily calorie consumption has declined in recent decades. Does an improving disease environment explain the calorie decline? A diminished burden of infectious disease could lower energy needs by increasing absorption and effective use of calories. We document a robust effect of disease exposure - measured as infant mortality and as poor sanitation - on calorie consumption.

Characterization of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs emitted from two woodchip boilers in Taiwan.

This study investigates the formation and removal of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in two woodchips boilers during different operating periods. Results indicate that combustion condition affects PCDD/F and dl-PCB formation within the woodchip combustion process. PCDD/F and dl-PCB concentrations during the start-up period are much higher than those measured during normal operation and shut-down periods due to unstable combustion.

Promoting catalytic ozonation of phenol over graphene through nitrogenation and CoO compositing.

Catalytic ozonation is progressively becoming an attractive technique for quick water purification but efficient and stable catalysts remains elusive. Here we solvothermally synthesized highly-dispersed CoO nanocrystals over microscale nitrogen-doping graphene (NG) nanosheets and tested it as a synthetic catalyst in the ozonation of phenol in aqueous solutions. Transmission electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to determine its morphology, crystallinity, elemental composition and molecular bonds, respectively.

Fluorination Induced the Surface Segregation of High Voltage Spinel on Lithium-Rich Layered Cathodes for Enhanced Rate Capability in Lithium Ion Batteries.

This study is aimed to explore the effect of fluoride doping and the associated structural transformation on lithium-rich layered cathode materials. The polymeric fluoride source is first adopted for synthesizing lithium intercalated oxide through a newly developed organic precipitation process. A heterostructured spinel/layered composite cathode material is obtained after appreciable fluorination and a superior rate capability is successfully achieved.