Mixed-phase enabled high-rate copper niobate anodes for lithium-ion batteries.

The advancement of rapid-response grid energy storage systems and the widespread adoption of electric vehicles are significantly hindered by the charging times and energy densities associated with current lithium-ion battery technology. In state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries, graphite is employed as the standard negative electrode material. However, graphite suffers from polarization and deteriorating side-reactions at the high currents needed for fast charging.

γ-Stearolactone ring-opening by zeolites for the production of branched saturated fatty acids.

C branched saturated fatty acids (BSFA) are used as ingredients in cosmetics and lubricants and are produced the hydrogenation of C branched unsaturated fatty acids (BUFA). Industrial-grade C BUFA contain the odorous by-product γ-stearolactone (GSL), which must be removed by acid-catalysed ring-opening of GSL into oleic acid. Zeolites such as Y and beta can facilitate the ring-opening, but due to the dimensions of GSL the activity is expected to be limited by diffusion into the micropores.

Encoding CO Adsorption in Sodium Zirconate by Neutron Diffraction.

Recent research into sodium zirconate as a high-temperature CO sorbent has been extensive, but detailed knowledge of the material's crystal structure during synthesis and carbon dioxide uptake remains limited. This study employs neutron diffraction (ND), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to explore these aspects. An improved synthesis method, involving the pre-drying and ball milling of raw materials, produced pure samples with average crystal sizes of 37-48 nm in the monoclinic phase.

Alloying and Doping Control in the Layered Metal Phosphide Thermoelectric CaCuP.

We recently identified CaCuP as a potential low cost, low density thermoelectric material, achieving = 0.5 at 792 K. Its performance is limited by a large lattice thermal conductivity, , and by intrinsically large p-type doping levels.

Oxygen Migration Pathways in Layered LnBaCoO (Ln = La - Y) Perovskites.

Layered LnBaCoO perovskites are important mixed ionic-electronic conductors, exhibiting outstanding catalytic properties for the oxygen evolution/reduction reaction. These phases exhibit considerable structural complexity, in particular, near room temperature, where a number of oxygen vacancy ordered superstructures are found. This study uses bond valence site energy calculations to demonstrate the key underlying structural features that favor facile ionic migration.

IgM anti-GM2 antibodies in patients with multifocal motor neuropathy target Schwann cells and are associated with early onset.

Background: Multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) is a rare, chronic immune-mediated polyneuropathy characterized by asymmetric distal limb weakness. An important feature of MMN is the presence of IgM antibodies against gangliosides, in particular GM1 and less often GM2. Antibodies against GM1 bind to motor neurons (MNs) and cause damage through complement activation.

A 21-bp deletion in the complement regulator CD55 promotor region is associated with multifocal motor neuropathy and its disease course.

Background And Aims: To further substantiate the role of antibody-mediated complement activation in multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) immunopathology, we investigated the distribution of promotor polymorphisms of genes encoding the membrane-bound complement regulators CD46, CD55, and CD59 in patients with MMN and controls, and evaluated their association with disease course.

Methods: We used Sanger sequencing to genotype five common polymorphisms in the promotor regions of CD46, CD55, and CD59 in 133 patients with MMN and 380 controls. We correlated each polymorphism to clinical parameters.

Revisiting Solid-Solid Phase Transitions in Sodium and Potassium Tetrafluoroborate for Thermal Energy Storage.

In situ synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) study was conducted on sodium and potassium tetrafluoroborate (NaBF and KBF) to elucidate structural changes across solid-solid phase transitions over multiple heating-cooling cycles. The phase transition temperatures from diffraction measurements are consistent with the differential scanning calorimetry data (∼240 °C for NaBF and ∼290 °C for KBF). The crystal structure of the high-temperature (HT) NaBF phase was determined from synchrotron PXRD data.

Multifocal motor neuropathy is not associated with altered innate immune responses to endotoxin.

Objective: Antibody- and complement-mediated peripheral nerve inflammation are central in the pathogenesis of MMN. Here, we studied innate immune responses to endotoxin in patients with MMN and controls to further our understanding of MMN risk factors and disease modifiers.

Methods: We stimulated whole blood of 52 patients with MMN and 24 controls with endotoxin and collected plasma.

Mechanistic Insights into the Formation of Thermoelectric TiNiSn from In Situ Neutron Powder Diffraction.

Half-Heusler alloys are leading contenders for application in thermoelectric generators. However, reproducible synthesis of these materials remains challenging. Here, we have used in situ neutron powder diffraction to monitor the synthesis of TiNiSn from elemental powders, including the impact of intentional excess Ni.

Europium-Magnesium-Aluminum-Based Mixed-Metal Oxides as Highly Active Methane Oxychlorination Catalysts.

Methane oxychlorination (MOC) is a promising reaction for the production of liquefied methane derivatives. Even though catalyst design is still in its early stages, the general trend is that benchmark catalyst materials have a redox-active site, with, e.g.

New sustainable ternary copper phosphide thermoelectrics.

The thermoelectric performance of ACuP (A = Mg and Ca) with abundant elements and low gravimetric density is reported. Both systems are p-type doped by intrinsic Cu vacancy defects, have large power factors and promising figures of merit, reaching = 0.5 at 800 K.

A Correlative Study of Interfacial Segregation in a Cu-Doped TiNiSn Thermoelectric half-Heusler Alloy.

The performance of thermoelectric materials depends on both their atomic-scale chemistry and the nature of microstructural details such as grain boundaries and inclusions. Here, the elemental distribution throughout a TiNiCuSn thermoelectric material has been examined in a correlative study deploying atom-probe tomography (APT) and electron microscopies and spectroscopies. Elemental mapping and electron diffraction reveal two distinct types of grain boundary that are either topologically rough and meandering in profile or more regular and geometric.

Insights into Oxygen Migration in LaBaCoO Perovskites from Neutron Powder Diffraction and Bond Valence Site Energy Calculations.

Layered cobalt oxide perovskites are important mixed ionic and electronic conductors. Here, we investigate LaBaCoO using neutron powder diffraction. This composition is unique because it can be prepared in cubic, layered, and vacancy-ordered forms.

Anti-C2 Antibody ARGX-117 Inhibits Complement in a Disease Model for Multifocal Motor Neuropathy.

Background And Objectives: To determine the role of complement in the disease pathology of multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN), we investigated complement activation, and inhibition, on binding of MMN patient-derived immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies in an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived motor neuron (MN) model for MMN.

Methods: iPSC-derived MNs were characterized for the expression of complement receptors and membrane-bound regulators, for the binding of circulating IgM anti-GM1 from patients with MMN, and for subsequent fixation of C4 and C3 on incubation with fresh serum. The potency of ARGX-117, a novel inhibitory monoclonal antibody targeting C2, to inhibit fixation of complement was assessed.

BaBiCoRuO (0.0 ≤ ≤ 0.6) Hexagonal Double-Perovskite-Type Oxides as Promising p-Type Thermoelectric Materials.

A new series of BaBiCoRuO (0.0 ≤ ≤ 0.6) hexagonal double perovskite oxides have been synthesized by a solid-state reaction method by substituting Ba with Bi.

Atom Probe Tomography of a Cu-Doped TiNiSn Thermoelectric Material: Nanoscale Structure and Optimization of Analysis Conditions.

Cu-doping and crystallographic site occupations within the half-Heusler (HH) TiNiSn, a promising thermoelectric material, have been examined by atom probe tomography. In particular, this investigation aims to better understand the influence of atom probe analysis conditions on the measured chemical composition. Under a voltage-pulsing mode, atomic planes are clearly resolved and suggest an arrangement of elements in-line with the expected HH (F-43m space group) crystal structure.

Duplications Are Associated With Progressive Muscular Atrophy, but Not With Multifocal Motor Neuropathy and Primary Lateral Sclerosis.

Objective: To assess the association between copy number (CN) variation in the survival motor neuron () locus and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN), progressive muscular atrophy (PMA), and primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) susceptibility and to determine the association of and CN with MMN, PMA, and PLS disease course.

Methods: In this monocenter study, we used multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification to determine and CN in Dutch patients with MMN, PMA, and PLS and controls. We stratified clinical parameters for and CN.

Decoupling Lattice and Magnetic Instabilities in Frustrated CuMnO.

The AMnO delafossites (A = Na, Cu) are model frustrated antiferromagnets, with triangular layers of Mn spins. At low temperatures ( = 65 K), a 2/ → 1̅ transition is found in CuMnO, which breaks frustration and establishes magnetic order. In contrast to this clean transition, A = Na only shows short-range distortions at .

High-resolution mapping identifies HLA class II associations with multifocal motor neuropathy.

Objective: To gain further insight in the immunopathology underlying multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) by exploring the association between MMN and the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II DRB1, DQB1, and DQA loci in depth and by correlating associated haplotypes to detailed clinical and anti-ganglioside antibody data.

Methods: We performed high-resolution HLA-class II typing for the DRB1, DQB1, and DQA1 loci in 126 well-characterized MMN patients and assessed disease associations with haplotypes. We used a cohort of 1305 random individuals as a reference for haplotype distribution in the Dutch population.

Effect of light scattering on upconversion photoluminescence quantum yield in microscale-to-nanoscale materials.

Scattering affects excitation power density, penetration depth and upconversion emission self-absorption, resulting in particle size -dependent modifications of the external photoluminescence quantum yield (ePLQY) and net emission. Micron-size NaYF:Yb, Er encapsulated phosphors (∼4.2 µm) showed ePLQY enhancements of >402%, with particle-media refractive index disparity (Δn): 0.

Spin-chain correlations in the frustrated triangular lattice material CuMnO.

The Ising triangular lattice remains the classic test-case for frustrated magnetism. Here we report neutron scattering measurements of short range magnetic order in CuMnO, which consists of a distorted lattice of Mnspins with single-ion anisotropy. Physical property measurements on CuMnOare consistent with 1D correlations caused by anisotropic orbital occupation.

Toward New Thermoelectrics: Tin Selenide/Modified Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites.

New nanocomposites have been prepared by combining tin selenide (SnSe) with graphene oxide (GO) in a simple aqueous solution process followed by ice templating (freeze casting). The resulting integration of SnSe within the GO matrix leads to modifications of electrical transport properties and the possibility of influencing the power factor ( σ). Moreover, these transport properties can then be further improved (, σ increased) by functionalization of the GO surface to form modified nanocomposites (SnSe/GO) with enhanced power factors in comparison to unmodified nanocomposites (SnSe/GO) and "bare" SnSe itself.

Biallelic variants in POLR3GL cause endosteal hyperostosis and oligodontia.

RNA polymerase III (Pol III) is an essential 17-subunit complex responsible for the transcription of small housekeeping RNAs such as transfer RNAs and 5S ribosomal RNA. Biallelic variants in four genes (POLR3A, POLR3B, and POLR1C and POLR3K) encoding Pol III subunits have previously been found in individuals with (neuro-) developmental disorders. In this report, we describe three individuals with biallelic variants in POLR3GL, a gene encoding a Pol III subunit that has not been associated with disease before.

Topotactic anion-exchange in thermoelectric nanostructured layered tin chalcogenides with reduced selenium content.

Anion exchange has been performed with nanoplates of tin sulfide (SnS) "soft chemical" organic-free solution syntheses to yield layered pseudo-ternary tin chalcogenides on a 10 g-scale. SnS undergoes a topotactic transformation to form a series of S-substituted tin selenide (SnSe) nano/micro-plates with tuneable chalcogenide composition. SnSSe nanoplates were spark plasma sintered into phase-pure, textured, dense pellets, the of which has been significantly enhanced to ≈1.