Tailored surface structure of LiFePO4/C nanofibers by phosphidation and their electrochemical superiority for lithium rechargeable batteries.

We offer a brand new strategy for enhancing Li ion transport at the surface of LiFePO4/C nanofibers through noble Li ion conducting pathways built along reduced carbon webs by phosphorus. Pristine LiFePO4/C nanofibers composed of 1-dimensional (1D) LiFePO4 nanofibers with thick carbon coating layers on the surfaces of the nanofibers were prepared by the electrospinning technique. These dense and thick carbon layers prevented not only electrolyte penetration into the inner LiFePO4 nanofibers but also facile Li ion transport at the electrode/electrolyte interface.

A nano-Si/FeSi2Ti hetero-structure with structural stability for highly reversible lithium storage.

A nano-Si/FeSi2Ti hetero-structure has been synthesized for highly reversible Li-ion batteries by using a simple melt-spinning method. We demonstrate that this composite has a very peculiar core/shell structure in which the FeSi2Ti alloy plays various pivotal roles as a mechanically supporting backbone and as an electronic pathway for the active Si attached to its surface, and is responsible for the altered electrochemical reactions with relatively small volume expansion routes. The FeSi2Ti matrix significantly contributes to not only the stabilization of cyclic retention, but also the enhancement of conductivity, as well as a high rate capability unprecedented in research on Si-based anodes.

α-MnO2 nanowire catalysts with ultra-high capacity and extremely low overpotential in lithium-air batteries through tailored surface arrangement.

We here report on very high capacity (11,000 mA h g(-1)), superb rate capability (4500 mA h g(-1) at 5000 mA g(-1)) and high reversibility of Li-air batteries using α-MnO2 NW catalysts mainly associated with their relatively large amount of Mn(3+) exposed on the NW surface and a unique mechanism for deposition of discharge products. Our findings of the unprecedentedly fast Li ion transport and reversible formation-decomposition of discharge products attributed to the modified surface arrangement of α-MnO2 NWs suggest a strategy for achieving high-power Li-air batteries in combination with nano-architecture tailoring.

Structurally and electronically designed TiO₂Nx nanofibers for lithium rechargeable batteries.

The morphology and electronic structure of metal oxides, including TiO(2) on the nanoscale, definitely determine their electronic or electrochemical properties, especially those relevant to application in energy devices. For this purpose, a concept for controlling the morphology and electrical conductivity in TiO(2), based on tuning by electrospinning, is proposed. We found that the 1D TiO(2) nanofibers surprisingly gave higher cyclic retention than 0D nanopowder, and nitrogen doping in the form of TiO(2)N(x) also caused further improvement.

Airways are more reactive to histamine than to methacholine in patients with mild airway hyperresponsiveness, regardless of atopy.

Background: The airway muscles from allergen-sensitized animals in vitro show a heightened response to histamine, but not to carbachol. This study investigated whether the airway responsiveness to histamine in vivo is comparable to that of methacholine in human subjects with varying degrees of atopy.

Methods: One-hundred-and-sixty-eight consecutive adult asthma patients or volunteers underwent bronchoprovocation tests to both histamine and methacholine after determining their blood eosinophil counts, serum total IgE levels and skin test reactivity to 10 common aeroallergens.

Effects of anti-asthma therapy on dyspnea perception in acute asthma patients.

Blunted perception of dyspnea may predispose patients to fatal asthma attacks. To examine whether this impaired perception of dyspnea in patients with acute asthma could be corrected by anti-asthma therapy, the medical records of 104 consecutive asthma patients who had been hospitalized as a result of asthma attacks were analyzed retrospectively. During the course of treatment with conventional asthma medications, the forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) and the Borg scale-based dyspnea perception scores during breathing through an inspiratory muscle trainer were measured at least twice.