Direct Precursor Route for the Fabrication of LLZO Composite Cathodes for Solid-State Batteries.

Solid-state batteries based on LiLaZrO (LLZO) garnet electrolyte are a robust and safe alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries. However, the large-scale implementation of ceramic composite cathodes is still challenging due to a complex multistep manufacturing process. A new one-step route for the direct synthesis of LLZO during the manufacturing of LLZO/LiCoO (LCO) composite cathodes based on cheap precursors and utilizing the industrially established tape casting process is presented.

Enabling High-Performance Hybrid Solid-State Batteries by Improving the Microstructure of Free-Standing LATP/LFP Composite Cathodes.

The phosphate lithium-ion conductor LiAlTi(PO) (LATP) is an economically attractive solid electrolyte for the fabrication of safe and robust solid-state batteries, but high sintering temperatures pose a material engineering challenge for the fabrication of cell components. In particular, the high surface roughness of composite cathodes resulting from enhanced crystal growth is detrimental to their integration into cells with practical energy density. In this work, we demonstrate that efficient free-standing ceramic cathodes of LATP and LiFePO (LFP) can be produced by using a scalable tape casting process.

Bare Eye Detection of Bacterial Enzymes of with Polymer Modified Nanoporous Silicon Rugate Filters.

The fabrication, characterization and application of a nanoporous Silicon Rugate Filter (pSiRF) loaded with an enzymatically degradable polymer is reported as a bare eye detection optical sensor for enzymes of pathogenic bacteria, which is devoid of any dyes. The nanopores of pSiRF were filled with poly(lactic acid) (PLA), which, upon enzymatic degradation, resulted in a change in the effective refractive index of the pSiRF film, leading to a readily discernible color change of the sensor. The shifts in the characteristic fringe patterns before and after the enzymatic reaction were analyzed quantitatively by Reflectometric Interference Spectroscopy (RIfS) to estimate the apparent kinetics and its dependence on enzyme concentration.

Biomarkers of endothelial activation/dysfunction distinguish sub-groups of Ugandan patients with sepsis and differing mortality risks.

Background: Sepsis is a complex clinical syndrome with substantial heterogeneity. We sought to identify patterns of serum biomarkers of endothelial activation and dysfunction in individuals with sepsis and evaluate subgroup-specific differences in mortality.

Methods: Adult patients with sepsis (n=426) were consecutively recruited from two hospitals in Uganda.