Fluorocyanoesters as Additives for Lithium-Ion Battery Electrolytes.

A range of methyl 2-fluorocyanoester derivatives were synthesized from dimethyl 2-fluoromalonate ester, and their efficacy as additives in lithium-ion battery (LIB) electrolytes was determined. The role played by the 2-fluorocyanoester additives on battery performance was explored by linear sweep cyclic voltammetry, NMR, GCMS, and XPS techniques. For all fluorocyanoester additives studied, initial reduction of the carbonyl group occurs which is then followed by formation of the corresponding radical anion.

High current DC negative ion source for cyclotron.

A filament driven multi-cusp negative ion source has been developed for proton cyclotrons in medical applications. In Cs-free operation, continuous H(-) beam of 10 mA and D(-) beam of 3.3 mA were obtained stably at an arc-discharge power of 3 kW and 2.

Competitive adsorption on graphite investigated using frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy: interfacial liquid structure controlled by the competition of adsorbed species.

The competitive adsorption of long-chain (C18 and C24) carboxylic acids versus n-decanol on graphite was investigated using frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy. A long-range-ordered monolayer of the solute (stearic acid or lignoceric acid) developed in saturated decanol solution, whereas an ordered decanol monolayer was deposited from dilute solutions. The piconewton-order tip-surface force was observed in solutions as a function of the vertical and lateral coordinates, together with the topography of the monolayers.

Hydration of hydrophilic thiolate monolayers visualized by atomic force microscopy.

Monolayers of mercaptoundecanol and mercaptoundecanoic acid were prepared on Au(111) films, immersed in aqueous solutions, and probed by frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy. The pN-order tip-surface force was observed over the monolayers as a function of vertical and lateral coordinates, together with the topography of the monolayers. The observed force distribution was modulated between adjacent OH endgroups in the mercaptoundecanol monolayer, as opposed to on top of COOH and COO(-) endgroups in the mercaptoundecanoic acid monolayer.

FM-AFM imaging of a commercial polyethylene film immersed in n-dodecane.

The subnanometer topography of a partially crystalline polyethylene film was observed in liquid n-dodecane using a frequency-modulation atomic force microscope. Locally ordered structures were found and assigned to a (100) facet of crystalline domains.