Co-synthesis and Electrochemical Investigation of the Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Layer with Metallic Nano Beads on the SiO Anode for Lithium Secondary Batteries.

The high theoretical capacity (∼2000 mAh g) of silicon suboxide (SiO, with 1 < < 2) can solve the energy density issue of the graphite anode in Li-ion batteries. In addition, it has an advantage in terms of volume expansion or side reactions compared to pure Si or Li metals, which are considered as next-generation anode materials. However, the loading content of SiO is limited in commercial anodes because of its low cycle stability and initial coulombic efficiency.

Optimal non-thermal inactivation methods by study of the microbial control effect in laver ( sp.).

Laver ( sp.) containing vitamins and minerals has a high total number of bacteria of 6-7 log CFU/g. Changes in microbial count in dried laver by light pulse, ultrahigh pressure, electron beam, and superheated steam treatment were compared.

Aqueous Quaternary Polymer Binder Enabling Long-Life Lithium-Sulfur Batteries by Multifunctional Physicochemical Properties.

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) have been considered promising candidates for application in high-density energy storage systems owing to their high gravimetric and volumetric energy densities. However, LSB technology faces many barriers from the intrinsic properties of active materials that need to be solved to realize high-performance LSBs. Herein, an aqueous binder, that is, PPCP, based on polyethyleneimine (PEI), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), citric acid (CA), and polyethylene oxide (PEO), was developed.

Novel inactivation methods of (fermented soybean paste) by high pressure and ohmic heating.

The changes of the total cell number in (Korean traditional fermented soybean paste) by conventional conduction heating, high pressure non-thermal treatment, and ohmic heating were compared. A total of (10-10) CFU/g cells were decreased by heating at (100-105) °C for 10 min. The inactivation rate was improved when heated to a temperature higher than 110 °C, but the taste, color of were severely changed.

spores: a review of their properties and inactivation processing technologies.

Many factors determine the resistance properties of a spore to heat, chemical and physical processing, including thick proteinaceous coats, peptidoglycan cortex and low water content, high levels of dipicolinic acid (DPA), and divalent cations in the spore core. Recently, attention has been focused on non-thermal inactivation methods based on high pressure, ultrasonic, high voltage electric fields and cold plasmas for inactivating spores associated with deterioration in quality and safety. The important chemical sporicides are glutaraldehyde, chorine-releasing agents, peroxygens, and ethylene oxide.

Improving the quality of vegetable foodstuffs by microwave inactivation.

With the aim of improving the loss of quality in retorted vegetables, experiments on pretreatment inactivation using microwaves were carried out to allow the heating intensity to be reduced during retorting. Microwave heating reduced the bacteria level by 10 CFU/g, and was a more effective method considering the short processing time of 3 min and the required energy being 70-80% of that when using steam. The inactivation effect was due to dielectric heat generation by the high-frequency microwaves.

Enabling reversible redox reactions in electrochemical cells using protected LiAl intermetallics as lithium metal anodes.

Rechargeable electrochemical cells with metallic anodes are of increasing scientific and technological interest. The complex composition, poorly defined morphology, heterogeneous chemistry, and unpredictable mechanics of interphases formed spontaneously on the anodes are often examined but rarely controlled. Here, we couple computational studies with experimental analysis of well-defined LiAl electrodes in realistic electrochemical environments to design anodes and interphases of known composition.

Carbon Nitride Phosphorus as an Effective Lithium Polysulfide Adsorbent for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are attracting substantial attention because of their high-energy densities and potential applications in portable electronics. However, an intrinsic property of Li-S systems, that is, the solubility of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs), hinders the commercialization of Li-S batteries. Herein, a new material, that is, carbon nitride phosphorus (CNP), is designed and synthesized as a superior LiPS adsorbent to overcome the issues of Li-S batteries.

Two-Dimensional WS@Nitrogen-Doped Graphite for High-Performance Lithium Ion Batteries: Experiments and Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

As promising candidates for anode materials in lithium ion batteries (LIB), two-dimensional tungsten disulfide (WS) and WS@(N-doped) graphite composites were synthesized, and their electrochemical properties were comprehensibly studied in conjunction with calculations. The WS nanosheets, WS@graphite, and WS@N-doped graphite (N-graphite) exhibit outstanding cycling performance with capacities of 633, 780, and 963 mA h g, respectively. To understand their lithium storage mechanism, first-principles calculations involving a series of ab initio NVT- NPT molecular dynamics simulations were conducted.

Antimicrobial effect of a combination of herb extract and organic acid against spores.

The sporicidal activities of the herbs were investigated to screen for novel antimicrobial substances against spores. The bacterial inactivation effects of ethanol extracts of coriander, caraway, mace at concentrations of 0.5% (w/v) and 1.

Arsenic for high-capacity lithium- and sodium-ion batteries.

We report arsenic (As) as a promising alternative to graphite anode materials in lithium- and sodium-ion batteries (LIBs and SIBs). The electrochemical properties of the As/carbon nanocomposite for both LIBs and SIBs were investigated using experimental and theoretical approaches. The LIBs showed excellent cycling performance, with a reversible capacity of 1306 mA h g-1 (after 100 cycles), which is much higher than that of Li3As (1072 mA h g-1).

Synthesis of graphitic ordered mesoporous carbon with cubic symmetry and its application in lithium-sulfur batteries.

The lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery faces a couple of major problems in practical applications, including the low conductivity of sulfur and the dissolution of polysulfides. A cathode constructed using a composite of sulfur and ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) is a promising solution to both problems, as OMCs can have high conductivity and a complex pore structure to trap polysulfides. In this work, we demonstrate that performance of the Li-S battery can be significantly enhanced by using an OMC with a high degree of graphitization and a pore network with cubic symmetry.

Enhanced electrochemical performance of a ZnO-MnO composite as an anode material for lithium ion batteries.

A ZnO-MnO composite was synthesized using a simple solvothermal method combined with a high-temperature treatment. To observe the phase change during the heating process, in situ high-temperature XRD analysis was performed under vacuum conditions. The results indicated that ZnMn2O4 transformed into the ZnO-MnO composite phase starting from 500 °C and that this composite structure was retained until 700 °C.

Sporicidal Activities of Various Surfactant Components against Bacillus subtilis Spores.

The sporicidal activities against Bacillus subtilis spores of surfactant components with hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties that can lead to the denaturation of various proteins comprising the spore structure were investigated. The reduction in spore numbers by each of the surfactant components bornyl acetate, geranyl acetate, pinene, p-cymene, camphene, citral, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran, polylysine, and thiamine dilaurylsulfate at 1% was estimated at 1 to 2 log CFU/ml. The average hydrophilelipophile balance value of surfactants with sporicidal activity causing a reduction of 1 to 2 log CFU/ml was 9.

The study of heat penetration of kimchi soup on stationary and rotary retorts.

The aim of this study was to determine the heat-penetration characteristics using stationary and rotary retorts to manufacture Kimchi soup. Both heat-penetration tests and computer simulation based on mathematical modeling were performed. The sterility was measured at five different positions in the pouch.

Determination of Li(+) diffusion coefficients in the LixV2O5 (x = 0 - 1) nanocrystals of composite film cathodes.

The Li(+) ion diffusion coefficients (DLi+) in V2O5 (2.12 × 10(-12) cm(2) s(-1)) and in the intermediate α-, ε-, and δ-LixV2O5 phases (1.6 × 10(-14), 8.

Tetragonal phase germanium nanocrystals in lithium ion batteries.

Various germanium-based nanostructures have recently demonstrated outstanding lithium ion storage ability and are being considered as the most promising candidates to substitute current carbonaceous anodes of lithium ion batteries. However, there is limited understanding of their structure and phase evolution during discharge/charge cycles. Furthermore, the theoretical model of lithium insertion still remains a challenging issue.

Sulfur/graphitic hollow carbon sphere nano-composite as a cathode material for high-power lithium-sulfur battery.

The intrinsic low conductivity of sulfur which leads to a low performance at a high current rate is one of the most limiting factors for the commercialization of lithium-sulfur battery. Here, we present an easy and convenient method to synthesize a mono-dispersed hollow carbon sphere with a thin graphitic wall which can be utilized as a support with a good electrical conductivity for the preparation of sulfur/carbon nano-composite cathode. The hollow carbon sphere was prepared from the pyrolysis of the homogenous mixture of the mono-dispersed spherical silica and Fe-phthalocyanine powder in elevated temperature.

Sulfur-infiltrated micro- and mesoporous silicon carbide-derived carbon cathode for high-performance lithium sulfur batteries.

Novel nanostructured sulfur (S)-carbide derived carbon (CDC) composites with ordered mesopores and high S content are successfully prepared for lithium sulfur batteries. The tunable pore-size distribution and high pore volume of CDC allow for an excellent electrochemical performance of the composites at high current densities. A higher electrolyte molarity is found to enhance the capacity utilization dramatically and reduce S dissolution in S-CDC composite cathodes during cycling.

Germanium-tin alloy nanocrystals for high-performance lithium ion batteries.

Germanium-tin (Ge(1-x)Sn(x)) alloy nanocrystals were synthesized using a gas-phase laser photolysis reaction of tetramethyl germanium and tetramethyl tin. A composition tuning was achieved using the partial pressure of precursors in a closed reactor. For x < 0.

Germanium sulfide(II and IV) nanoparticles for enhanced performance of lithium ion batteries.

Germanium sulfide (GeS and GeS2) nanoparticles were synthesized by novel gas-phase laser photolysis and subsequent thermal annealing. They showed excellent cycling performance for lithium ion batteries, with a maximum capacity of 1010 mA h g(-1) after 100 cycles. Metastable tetragonal phase Ge nanoparticles were suggested as active materials for a reversible lithium insertion-extraction process.

Effect of multilayer structure on cyclic performance of Si/Fe anode electrode in lithium-ion secondary batteries.

A buffer-strengthened Si/Fe multilayer film, consisting of amorphous silicon layers and polycrystalline Fe layers, is investigated as the anode for Li-ion batteries. This film can achieve a stable cycle-life performance with a high capacity. Decreasing the thickness of the Fe layer can lead to a higher capacity, which is related to the fast transport of the Li ion, but the cyclic performance deteriorates with repeated cycling.

Polysulfide dissolution control: the common ion effect.

A Li-sulfur cell with a high discharge capacity of over 1300 mAh g(-1) at a C/10 rate, and a controlled overcharge amount less than 1%, was manufactured by synthesizing a carbon-sulfur nano-composite via a wet milling process, and suppressing polysulfide dissolution using an electrolyte with a highly concentrated lithium salt.

Li electroactivity of iron (II) tungstate nanorods.

We herein report the first application of a divalent iron tungstate (FeWO(4)) nanostructured material, with a wolframite structure, to a Li-ion battery anode. The FeWO(4) nanospheres and nanorods were synthesized at 180 °C without any surfactants or templates via a facile hydrothermal process by simply adjusting the pH. The resulting nanopowders were characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) measurements.