Spheroidization: The Impact of Precursor Morphology on Solid-State Lithiation Process for High-Quality Ultrahigh-Nickel Oxide Cathodes.

Layered oxides with ultrahigh nickel content are considered promising high energy cathode materials. However, their cycle stability is constrained by a series of heterogeneous structural transformations during the complex solid-state lithiation process. By in-depth investigation into the solid-state lithiation process of LiNiCoMnO, it is found that the protruded parts on the surface of precursor particles tend to be surrounded by locally excessive LiOH, which promotes the formation of a rigid and dense shell during the early stage of lithiation process.

Screening oral drugs for their interactions with the intestinal transportome via porcine tissue explants and machine learning.

In vitro systems that accurately model in vivo conditions in the gastrointestinal tract may aid the development of oral drugs with greater bioavailability. Here we show that the interaction profiles between drugs and intestinal drug transporters can be obtained by modulating transporter expression in intact porcine tissue explants via the ultrasound-mediated delivery of small interfering RNAs and that the interaction profiles can be classified via a random forest model trained on the drug-transporter relationships. For 24 drugs with well-characterized drug-transporter interactions, the model achieved 100% concordance.

High-Rate Organic Cathode Constructed by Iron-Hexaazatrinaphthalene Tricarboxylic Acid Coordination Polymer for Li-Ion Batteries.

The sluggish ion-transport in electrodes and low utilization of active materials are critical limitations of organic cathodes, which lead to the slow reaction dynamics and low specific capacity. In this study, the hierarchical tube is constructed by iron-hexaazatrinaphthalene tricarboxylic acid coordination polymer (Fe-HATNTA), using HATNTA as the self-engaged template to coordinate with Fe ions. This Fe-HATNTA tube with hierarchical porous structure ensures the sufficient contact between electrolyte and active materials, shortens the diffusion distance, and provides more favorable transport pathways for ions.

Enhanced rate capability and high-voltage cycling stability of single-crystal nickel-rich cathode by surface anchoring dielectric BaTiO.

The single-crystal Ni-rich Li(NiCoMn)O cathode (NCM) demonstrates better cycle performance, enhanced tap density and improved mechanical structure stability, compared with polycrystalline NCM.However, limited Li transports, (003) plane slips and microcracks in large single particles hinder rate capability and cycle performance. To overcome these shortcomings,single-crystal NCM cathodes have been modified by nanosized tetragonal BaTiO.

Functional polyethylene separator with impurity entrapment and faster Li ions transfer for superior lithium-ion batteries.

An organic/inorganic hybrid coating consisting of molecular sieve (MS)/sulfonated melamine formaldehyde condensate (SMF) is fabricated on the polyethylene (PE) separator by a simple dip-coating process. The MS/SMF coating with high polarity enhances the electrolyte uptake of PE separator, and therefore favors higher ionic conductivity and Li transference number of separators. By regulating the ratio of MS/SMF, much higher Li transference number up to 0.

Binary Network of Conductive Elastic Polymer Constraining Nanosilicon for a High-Performance Lithium-Ion Battery.

Silicon-based anodes are attracting more interest in both science and industry due to their high energy density. However, the traditional polymeric binder and carbon additive mixture cannot successfully accommodate the huge volume change and maintain good conductivity when cycling. Herein, we report a multifunctional polymeric binder (PPTU) synthesized by the cross-linking of conducting polymer (PEDOT:PSS) and stretchable polymer poly(ether-thioureas) (PETU).

Ultraviolet-cured polyethylene oxide-based composite electrolyte enabling stable cycling of lithium battery at low temperature.

The room and low-temperature performances of solid-state lithium batteries are crucial to expand their practical application. Polyethylene oxide (PEO) has received great attention as the most representative polymer electrolyte matrix. However, most PEO-based solid-state batteries need to operate at high temperature due to low room temperature ionic conductivity.

Evaporation and in-situ gelation induced porous hybrid film without template enhancing the performance of lithium ion battery separator.

The current commercialized polyethylene (PE) separator has poor wettability and thermal stability which will seriously restrict the electrochemical performance and affect the safety of lithium ion battery. Herein, a porous hybrid layer coated separator with high thermal stability, good electrochemical performance and improved wettability was prepared by a template-free method via the synergistic effect between tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and aramid nano fibers (ANFs) during the evaporation of solvent and the in-situ gelation of TEOS. The results show that the porous hybrid coating layers can enhance the thermal stability, wettability and electrolyte uptake of the separators.

Nature-Derived Cellulose-Based Composite Separator for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are emerging power sources for the replacement of lithium-ion batteries. Recent studies have focused on the development of electrodes and electrolytes, with thick glass fiber separators (~380 μm) generally adopted. In this work, we introduce a new thin (~50 μm) cellulose-polyacrylonitrile-alumina composite as a separator for SIBs.

Enhanced thermal stability and lithium ion conductivity of polyethylene separator by coating colloidal SiO nanoparticles with porous shell.

Electric vehicles have very strict requirements for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). However, the commercial polyethylene (PE) separators cannot meet the demands of high safety and electrochemical performance for LIBs. This work aims to enhance the electrochemical and safety performance of LIBs by coating the separator with multifunctional particles.

Gel Polymer Electrolyte with High Li Transference Number Enhancing the Cycling Stability of Lithium Anodes.

Lithium anodes suffer from severe safety problems in liquid electrolyte systems that result from an unstable Li plating/stripping process and Li dendrite growth, leading to rapid degradation of Li metal batteries. A polyethylene (PE)-supported gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) with excellent electrolyte uptake/retention capability was simply prepared in this paper by the construction of cross-linked polymer networks (PNs) on the surface of a poly(ethylenimine)-primed PE separator to stabilize the lithium anode. The highly delocalized negative charge of p-styrene sulfonate groups on PNs plays a role in regulating the Li and anion transport, giving rise to a high Li transference number.

High-Performance Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Colloid-Solution Deposition Planarized Fluorine-Doped Tin Oxide Substrates.

The transmittance and conductivity of fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) conductive glasses are the critical factors limiting the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Here, the transmittance and conductivity of commercial FTO glasses were improved via a colloid-solution deposition planarization (CSDP) process. The process includes two steps.

In Situ Synthesis of Tungsten-Doped SnO and Graphene Nanocomposites for High-Performance Anode Materials of Lithium-Ion Batteries.

The composite of tungsten-doped SnO and reduced graphene oxide was synthesized through a simple one-pot hydrothermal method. According to the structural characterization of the composite, tungsten ions were doped in the unit cells of tin dioxide rather than simply attaching to the surface. Tungsten-doped SnO was in situ grown on the surface of graphene sheet to form a three-dimensional conductive network that enhanced the electron transportation and lithium-ion diffusion effectively.

Fence Constructed at a Semiconductor/Electrolyte Interface Improving the Electron Collection Efficiency of the Photoelectrode for a Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell.

Charge recombination and transfer at the TiO/dye/electrolyte interface play a crucial role in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Here, a fine-controlled gold nanoparticle (Au NP) via electrodeposition incorporated into a porous TiO photoanode and dodecanethiol molecules as an assembled monolayer capping on Au NPs was designed and prepared. The "fence-like" structure of gold thiol molecules at the TiO/dye/electrolyte interface can not only insulate the electrolyte to suppress recombination but also make full use of the plasmon-enhanced light absorption of Au NPs.

Porous cellulose diacetate-SiO2 composite coating on polyethylene separator for high-performance lithium-ion battery.

The developments of high-performance lithium ion battery are eager to the separators with high ionic conductivity and thermal stability. In this work, a new way to adjust the comprehensive properties of inorganic-organic composite separator was investigated. The cellulose diacetate (CDA)-SiO2 composite coating is beneficial for improving the electrolyte wettability and the thermal stability of separators.

Fluorine-Doped Tin Oxide Nanocrystal/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composites as Lithium Ion Battery Anode Material with High Capacity and Cycling Stability.

Tin oxide (SnO2) is a kind of anode material with high theoretical capacity. However, the volume expansion and fast capability fading during cycling have prevented its practical application in lithium ion batteries. Herein, we report that the nanocomposite of fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) is an ideal anode material with high capacity, high rate capability, and high stability.

Impact of Radio Frequency, Microwaving, and High Hydrostatic Pressure at Elevated Temperature on the Nutritional and Antinutritional Components in Black Soybeans.

In this study, the effects of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) at elevated temperature (60 °C) and 2 dielectric heating (DH) methods (radio frequency [RF], and microwaving [MW]) on the nutritional compositions and removal of antinutritional factors in black soybeans were studied. Each treatment caused <2% reduction in protein, and 3.3% to 7.

Layer-by-Layer Deposition of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Multilayer on Microporous Polyethylene Separator to Enhance the Electrochemical Performance of Lithium-Ion Battery.

A simple layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly process of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and ZrO2 was applied to construct functional ultrathin multilayers on polyethylene (PE) separators without sacrificing the excellent porous structure of separators. Such PAA/ZrO2 LbL-modified PE separators possess good electrolyte wettability, excellent electrolyte uptake, high ionic conductivity and large Li(+) transference number. More importantly, the top layer of LbL self-assembly would affect the dissociation of electrolyte and the formation of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer in half-cells.

Self-assembly of PEI/SiO2 on polyethylene separators for Li-ion batteries with enhanced rate capability.

A simple and environmentally friendly self-assembly process of oppositely charged polymer PEI and inorganic oxide SiO2 was demonstrated for the construction of an ultrathin layer on the surface of PE separator. The XPS, FT-IR, SEM, and EDS characterizations give clear evidence of the successful self-assembly of PEI and SiO2 without significantly increasing the thickness and sacrificing the pristine porous structure of PE separator. This process improves a variety of crucial properties of PE separator such as the electrolyte wetting, the electrolyte uptake, the thermal stability, the ionic conductivity, Li+ transference number, the electrochemical stability and the compatibility with lithium electrode, endowing lithium-ion battery (Li as anode and LiCoO2 as cathode) with excellent capacity retention at high C-rates and superior cycling performance.

Hydrothermal synthesis and humidity sensing properties of size-controlled Zirconium Oxide (ZrO2) nanorods.

Size-controlled ZrO2 nanorods were prepared via a facile hydrothermal treatment approach in the presence of NH4F as mineralizer. The effects of the type and concentration of mineralizers on the particle size and dispersibility of ZrO2 nanorods were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N2 adsorption-desorption measurements (BET), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), confirming the essential role of F(-) in tuning the particle size. Humidity sensors based on ZrO2 nanorods with different sizes exhibit different sensitivity depending on their proportion of surface adsorbed oxygen.

Molecular-scale interface engineering of metal nanoparticles for plasmon-enhanced dye sensitized solar cells.

A molecular surface chemical treatment is introduced into a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) incorporating metal nanoparticles to suppress the charge recombination. Dodecanethiol molecules as a surface treatment agent are successfully anchored onto the exposed Au nanoparticle sites of the ZnO nanorods/Au nanoparticles/N719 photoanode. ATR-FTIR and Raman measurements are conducted to understand the adsorptions of different molecules (dodecanethiol, N719) on the ZnO nanorods and Au nanoparticles surface.

The sol-gel template synthesis of porous TiO2 for a high performance humidity sensor.

This research develops a simple template assisted sol-gel process for preparing porous TiO2 for a high performance humidity sensor. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as a template was directly introduced into TiO2 sol formed by the hydrolysis and condensation of titanium alkoxide; the following calcination led to the formation of TiO2-SiO2 composite, and the selective removal of SiO2 by dilute HF solution led to the formation of porous structure in TiO2. The resulting porous TiO2-based sensor exhibits high sensitivity and linear response in the wide relative humidity (RH) range of 11%-95%, with an impedance variation of four orders of magnitude to humidity change.

Solvothermal synthesis of crystalline phase and shape controlled Sn(4+)-doped TiO2 nanocrystals: effects of reaction solvent.

The Sn(4+)-doped TiO(2) nanocrystals with controlled crystalline phase and morphology had been successfully prepared through easily adjusting the solvent system from the peroxo-metal-complex precursor by solvothermal method. The Sn(4+)-doped TiO(2) nanocrystals were characterized by XRD, Raman, TEM, HRTEM, XPS, ICP-AES, BET, and UV-vis. The experimental results indicated that the Sn(4+)-doped TiO(2) nanocrystals prepared in the pure water or predominant water system trend to form rodlike rutile, whereas the cubic-shaped anatase Sn(4+)-doped TiO(2) nanocrystals can be obtained in the alcohol system.

Photodegradation of rhodamine B under visible light by bimetal codoped TiO2 nanocrystals.

In the search for efficient photocatalysts working under visible light, we have investigated the effect of metal ions (Bi/Co, Fe/Co) codoping on the photocatalytic activity of TiO(2) prepared by stearic acid gel method. UV-vis spectra revealed that doped Co enhanced the absorbency of TiO(2) under visible light, and Bi/Co codoped TiO(2) showed higher absorbance than Fe/Co codoped TiO(2). The photoreaction based on the prepared samples for photodegradation of 20mg/l rhodamine B solution was examined.