batterydata/paper-abstracts huggingface dataset:
Transition metal sulfides are emerging as promising electrode materials for energy storage and conversion. In this work, hierarchical FeS2/C nanospheres are synthesized through a controllable solvothermal method followed by the annealing process. Spherical FeS2 core is homogeneously coated by thin carbon shell. The hierarchical nanostructure and carbon coating can enhance electron transfer and accommodate the stress originated from the volume change as well as suppress the shuttle effect of polysulfide. Consequently, as the cathode material of lithium ion batteries (LIBs), the FeS2/C nanospheres exhibit high reversible capacity of 676 mAh g−1 and excellent cycling life with the capacity retention of 97.1% after 100 cycles. In addition, even at the high current density of 1.8 C, a reversible capacity of 437 mAh g−1 is obtained for the FeS2/C nanospheres, demonstrating its great prospect for practical applications in high-performance LIBs.
An oxidation behavior of propylene carbonate with 1.0 moldm−3 LiBF4 or LiPF6 was investigated using in situ Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with p- or s-polarized infrared beams to observe surface phenomena occurring on a LiCoO2 thin film electrode during anodic polarization beyond 4.0 V versus Li/Li+. The obtained FTIR spectra exhibited the formation of the same reaction products in two electrolytes during anodic polarization of the LiCoO2 thin film electrode. This result shows that the oxidation product of propylene carbonate is independent of the kind of electrolyte salt. On the other hand, the peak intensity in the FTIR spectra depended on the kind of electrolyte salt. This means that the decomposition rate of propylene carbonate is influenced by the kind of electrolyte salt. The oxidation of propylene carbonate with LiPF6 was more severe than that in propylene carbonate with LiBF4.
The major challenge to the large-scale commercialisation of hybrid electric vehicles is their high initial and operating costs, although a mild hybrid is generally cheaper than a full hybrid of the same performance. Hence, the average operating efficiency of the internal combustion engine of a parallel hybrid and the energy saved by its battery modules when running on urban roads have been key research subjects. In this paper, a method for maximising the performance of heavyweight hybrid vehicles is proposed. Because the manipulation of the thresholds of the state of charge window of the battery of a parallel hybrid affects the performance of the vehicle when using the commonly employed electric power-assist strategy, we developed a method for determining the optimal sizes of the vehicle components that afford the most feasible operations using the conventional and modified power-assist strategies. Furthermore, the performances of the vehicle in both modes were analysed for various urban driving conditions representative of those encountered in the USA, Europe, and India. The results showed that energy saving in the battery pack after a typical urban driving cycle was higher in India than in the USA and Europe. The saving in India was determined to be 3.34%, whereas those in the USA and Europe were 3.13% and 0.23%, respectively. The energy savings in the battery pack of the same vehicle under identical conditions were determined using a simple internal resistance battery model and a resistance–capacitance battery model. The performance of a typical parallel mild hybrid capable of operating in the modified power-assist mode was also compared with that of an equivalent internal combustion engine vehicle presently on the Indian market.
Layered sulfides, 2H-Li0.7NbS2 (s.g.: P63 /mmc) and 3R-NbS2 (s.g: R3m) were synthesized and characterized as electrode materials for a lithium-ion battery. 2H-NbS2 has been known as a poor electrode material for Li+-intercalation. However, both 2H-Li0.7NbS2 and 3R-NbS2 show reversible charge/discharge reactions based on the Nb(IV)/Nb(III) redox couple. They present distinctive differences in the voltage curves as a result of local structural differences. Galvanostatic charge/discharge tests between 1.0 and 3.0 V versus Li showed that discharge capacities were 169.5 mAh g−1 for 2H-Li x NbS2 and 169.0 mAh g−1 for 3R-Li x NbS2 at 0.05 C rate and room temperature. At 10 C rate, 2H-Li x NbS2 delivered a discharge capacity of 84.0 mAh g−1 while 3R-Li x NbS2 kept 74.9 mAh g−1. After 200 cycles at 1 C, 9% of capacity fade was observed for 2H-Li x NbS2 (from 141.5 to 129.4 mAh g−1) and 3R-Li x NbS2 showed 14% fade from 139.4 to 120.1 mAh g−1. The key to improvement of the electrochemical performance of the 2H-Li x NbS2 electrode is an initial synthesis of Li0.7NbS2.
Carbon-coated Si-Cu3Si-Al2O3 nanocomposites have been synthesized via a facile mechanochemical reaction and employed as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Combined X-ray and microscopic studies show that the nanocomposites are composed of agglomerated nanostructured particles with uniform distribution of crystalline silicon, Cu3Si, and amorphous Al2O3. Electrochemical characterization reveals that the in situ incorporation of both the conductive Cu3Si and electrochemically stable Al2O3 phases results in a dramatic improvement of cyclability and rate capability, while the specific capacity decreases with increasing amount of Cu3Si. By controlling the Cu3Si content, the composite with a high tap density of ∼1.2 g cm−3 delivers a high reversible capacity of 841 mA h g−1, excellent cyclability, and good rate performance up to 3.2 A g−1 in half cells. Full-cell test coupled with a commercial spinel cathode also displays a high average operating voltage of >3.5 V, a relatively good capacity retention of ∼77.2% after 50 cycles with a high initial efficiency of ∼86.3%. The enhanced electrochemical performance is mainly attributed to the presence of the conductive Cu3Si buffer phase that mitigates structural degradation and offers high conductivity.
Metal foams are routinely used in structures to enhance stiffness and reduce weight over a range of platforms. In direct methanol fuel cells, the controlled porosity and high electrical conductivity of metal foams provide additional benefits. Performance studies were conducted with direct methanol fuel cells incorporating metal foams as the flow field. The influence of the foam pore size and density on cell performance was investigated. The performance of similar density metal foams but with different pore sizes was non-monotonic due to the opposing trends of electrical contact and CO2 removal with pore size. In contrast, for metal foams with the same in-plane pore size, the performance improved with increasing density. Because the cell operates in a diffusion-dominated regime, its performance showed a strong dependence on methanol concentration and a moderate dependence on methanol flow rate. The feasibility of using metal foams as a gas diffusion layer (GDL) was also explored.
The use of batteries in combination with PV systems in single homes is expected to become a widely applied energy storage solution. Since PV system cost is decreasing and the electricity market is constantly evolving there is marked interest in understanding the performance and economic benefits of adding battery systems to PV generation under different retail tariffs. The performance of lead-acid (PbA) and lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery systems in combination with PV generation for a single home in Switzerland is studied using a time-dependant analysis. Firstly, the economic benefits of the two battery types are analysed for three different types of tariffs, i.e. a dynamic tariff based on the wholesale market (one price per hour for every day of the year), a flat rate and time-of-use tariff with two periods. Secondly, the reduction of battery capacity and annual discharge throughout the battery lifetime are simulated for PbA and Li-ion batteries. It was found that despite the levelised value of battery systems reaches up to 28% higher values with the dynamic tariff compared to the flat rate tariff, the levelised cost increases by 94% for the dynamic tariff, resulting in lower profitability. The main reason for this is the reduction of equivalent full cycles performed with by battery systems with the dynamic tariff. Economic benefits also depend on the regulatory context and Li-ion battery systems were able to achieve internal rate of return (IRR) up to 0.8% and 4.3% in the region of Jura (Switzerland) and Germany due to higher retail electricity prices (0.25CHF/kWh and 0.35CHF/kWh respectively) compared to Geneva (0.22CHF/kWh) where the maximum IRR was equal to −0.2%.
The wind and solar energy are omnipresent, freely available, and environmental friendly. The wind energy systems may not be technically viable at all sites because of low wind speeds and being more unpredictable than solar energy. The combined utilization of these renewable energy sources are therefore becoming increasingly attractive and are being widely used as alternative of oil-produced energy. Economic aspects of these renewable energy technologies are sufficiently promising to include them for rising power generation capability in developing countries. A renewable hybrid energy system consists of two or more energy sources, a power conditioning equipment, a controller and an optional energy storage system. These hybrid energy systems are becoming popular in remote area power generation applications due to advancements in renewable energy technologies and substantial rise in prices of petroleum products. Research and development efforts in solar, wind, and other renewable energy technologies are required to continue for, improving their performance, establishing techniques for accurately predicting their output and reliably integrating them with other conventional generating sources. The aim of this paper is to review the current state of the design, operation and control requirement of the stand-alone PV solar–wind hybrid energy systems with conventional backup source i.e. diesel or grid. This Paper also highlights the future developments, which have the potential to increase the economic attractiveness of such systems and their acceptance by the user.
The surgical insertion of Ventilation Tubes (VTs) for the management of persistent bilateral Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) in children remains a contentious issue due to the varying opinions regarding the risks and benefits of this procedure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the economic impact of VTs insertion for the management of persistent bilateral OME in children, providing an additional perspective on the management of one of the commonest medical conditions of childhood.
Polysulfides shuttle, although is not the only one, but definitely the most prominent problem which hinders the commercialization of lithium-sulfur cells. Herein, a functionally designed SiO2 tethered 1-methyl-1-propylpiperidinium chloride (SiO2-PPCl) ionic liquid nanoparticle is adopted as a bridgebuilder between the carbon carrier and lithium polysulfides (LPS) to modulate shuttle issues. The SiO2-PPCl exerts effective adhesion to both polar LPS and nonpolar carbon carrier material by its special function groups, which make it act as a bridge between them, therefore, the dissolved LPS are prevented from migrating to lithium anode effectively, and the corresponding LPS shuttle is controllable by simply tuning the ratio of SiO2-PPCl to sulfur. This strategy is demonstrated in a lithium sulfur suspension flow cell in which the shuttle effect is more serious because large quantity of electrolyte is adopted, and over 1000 cycles is achieved with high coulombic efficiency of 99%. Verified in a laboratory flow cell equipment, the approach of exploiting polysulfides bridgebuilder to control LPS shuttle manifests its feasibility and offers a new direction to develop lithium-sulfur batteries.
Few studies have examined the effect of anti-dementia drugs (i.e., acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonists) on gait performance. Past studies have focused on the stride time (i.e., gait cycle duration) but not on the mental imagery of gait.
Inferior cycling stability and rate performance respectively caused by rigorous volume change and poor electrical conductivity were the main challenge of state-of-the-art Silicon-based electrode. In this work, silylated functionalized exfoliated graphite oxide (EGO)/silicon@amorphous carbon (3-APTS-EGO/Si@C) was synthesized by adopting silane as intermediate to connect Si particles with EGO sheets followed by introduction of amorphous carbon. The result suggested that 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilan connected the EGO sheets and Si nanoparticles via covalent bonds. Owing to the strong covalent interaction and the synergistic effect between the silicon, EGO sheets and amorphous carbon, 3-APTS-EGO/Si@C composite possessed a high capacity of 774 mAh g−1 even after 450 cycles at 0.4 A g−1 with the retention capacity of 97%. This work also provided an effective strategy to improve the long cycling life performance of Si-based electrode.
Developing vaccines for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease poses unique challenges. Success for a vaccine approach aimed at endogenous targets relies on the ability to break immune tolerance and generate a humoral antibody response against the desired epitopes. AN1792 was created using a synthetic full-length Aβ1–42 peptide. Nineteen percent of patients in the trial generated anti-Aβ antibody responses and showed improved memory and decreased levels of tau protein in the CSF. Postmortem pathology examination of former AN1792 patients showed that the vaccine had markedly cleared plaques from the brain. Vaccine candidates such as CAD106 and UB-311 use selective epitopes and were developed to avoid the undesirable inflammatory effects that were seen with AN1792. Studies of recent and current amyloid targeting immunotherapies (18 therapeutics) and vaccine therapeutics (8) illustrate lessons learned regarding patient selection, clinical and biomarker outcomes, dosing regimens and assessment of antibody response. A meta-analysis of 13 RCT of amyloid-based immunotherapies in AD showed statistically significant improvement in ADAS-cog (p<0.01) on drug. Solanezumab and AN1792 showed the largest effect sizes and safest profiles, but the rates of ARIA-E were significantly higher with monoclonal antibodies. Positive ADAS-cog effect sizes were seen for AN1792, Solanezumab EXPEDITION 3, BAN2401 and Aducanumab ENGAGE. Earlier EXPEDITION studies also included moderate disease, with substantially lower effect sizes.
There is a great deal of individual variability in outcome in second language learning, the sources of which are still poorly understood. We hypothesized that individual differences in auditory processing may account for some variability in second language learning. We tested this hypothesis by examining psychoacoustic thresholds, auditory-motor temporal integration, and auditory neural encoding in adult native Polish speakers living in the UK. We found that precise English vowel perception and accurate English grammatical judgment were linked to lower psychoacoustic thresholds, better auditory-motor integration, and more consistent frequency-following responses to sound. Psychoacoustic thresholds and neural sound encoding explained independent variance in vowel perception, suggesting that they are dissociable indexes of sound processing. These results suggest that individual differences in second language acquisition success stem at least in part from domain-general difficulties with auditory perception, and that auditory training could help facilitate language learning in some individuals with specific auditory impairments.
The intercalation and de-intercalation behavior of lithium in graphite was investigated with respect to the formation of lithium graphite intercalation compounds (Li-GICs) using a combination of XRD measurements and metallography. Microstructural features and the evolution of phases and structural details of Li-GICs during Li uptake and release are correlated for the first time, giving new insight into the formation of Li-GICs. Lithium evaporation loss during annealing was exploited for studying the phase evolution during lithium de-intercalation, whereas phase formation during lithium uptake was studied in a sample exhibiting a lithium concentration gradient. The experiments indicate that growth and dissolution of the compound LiC6 do not occur by an inverse mechanism, as shown by the formation of different intermediate phases. The compound LiC12 was found to be a non-stoichiometric solid solution. LiC6 can be clearly identified in micrographs by the color and distinct phase boundaries, while LiC12 is situated in the vicinity of the LiC6 phase with varying coloration depending on the Li content.
Fe2O3/ordered mesoporous carbons (OMCs) have been synthesized by a facile one-pot hydrothermal method via self-assembly process. The combination of OMCs and anchored Fe2O3 nanoparticles shows a synergistic effect which results in a kind of anode materials with enhanced electrochemical performance for lithium ion batteries. OMCs with highly porous mesostructure and good conductivity not only alleviate the problem of volume variation and agglomeration of Fe2O3, but shorten the diffusion pathway of Li+ ions, which efficiently overcomes the problem of rapid capacity loss of iron oxide. Moreover, appropriate loading amount of Fe2O3 nanoparticles is believed to be a key factor to enhance the capacity of anode materials. The materials deliver an excellent reversible capacity of 789 mAh g−1 at a current density of 100 mA g−1 after 120 cycles.
In this work, sugarapple-like N-doped TiO2@N-doped carbon (NTiO2@NC) core-shell spheres have been synthesized with a facile and effective preparation process using polypyrrole (PPy) as carbon and nitrogen sources. Conductive N-doped carbon with slit pores uniformly coated on the TiO2 spheres surface. Benefiting from the N-doping and carbon shell, NTiO2@NC demonstrates superior long-term cycling stability and high-rate performance as anode materials for lithium ion batteries. Even tested at a current density of 5000 mA g−1, the NTiO2@NC composites can deliver a reversible capacity of 232.7 mAh g−1 after 2000 cycles. This new strategy may shed light on preparing metal oxides@NC core-shell composites for Li-ion batteries and other energy storage applications.
In this study, soluble redox couples were used as active materials for an electrode using a newly designed two-compartment cell. In this cell, liquid electrolyte was separated by a solid electrolyte diaphragm, which prevents dissolved active materials from reaching the counter electrode. To balance the apparent current density and the apparent energy density, a porous sheet made of carbon paper as a current collector was set on the side of the positive electrode with an active material impregnated into it, and Li foil was set on the side of the negative electrode. Some soluble benzoquinone derivatives were examined by charge/discharge cycling for use as active materials of the positive electrode in lithium secondary batteries. Some of them showed specific capacities close to the theoretical values, assuming two-electron reduction. Among them, 2,5-dipropoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (DPBQ) could be cycled regardless of whether the amount used exceeded the solubility (with precipitate in the electrolyte) or not (all is dissolved). This implies that the active material reacts at the surface of the current collector in the dissolved state, and the precipitated fraction also participates by dissolution into the electrolyte. The results also suggest that a good cycle performance using our two-compartment cell requires an active material with relatively high solubility.
The Metropolitan Region of São Paulo (MRSP), Brazil, is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world (population 17 million, approx.) and relies heavily on alcohol-based fuels for automobiles. It is estimated that about 40% of the total volume of fuel is ethanol with some vehicles using pure ethanol and others a gasoline/ethanol blend. As such, São Paulo is an excellent example of an oxygenates-dominated airshed of mobile sources and is most likely indicative of the future in heavily populated areas in the US such as Los Angeles where “oxy-fuels” are becoming an important replacement for the conventional pure petroleum-based fuels. In this work, we surveyed the ambient air to identify and quantify the organic compounds associated with the evaporative and exhaust emissions of these fuels and to begin to understand the potential for human exposure. Because this was an initial test without detailed prior knowledge of the airshed of the area, we applied two different air sampling methods for various time periods to assess the ambient concentrations of a variety of polar and nonpolar volatile organic compounds (VOCs). For quality assurance (QA), we collected all the samples in duplicate (whole-air samples in Summa canisters and adsorbent-based samples on Perkin-Elmer Air Toxics tubes) at various flow rates to test performance. All samples were collected over identical time frames, typically for 1-, 2-, and 4-h periods per day at six different locations over a period of 1 week. Overall São Paulo results demonstrate that mean concentrations of single-ring aromatics are 2–3 times higher, volatile aldehydes are 5–10 times higher, and simple alcohols 10–100 times higher as compared to results of a recent study performed by EPA in the Los Angeles basin. C4–C11 n-alkanes were only slightly elevated in São Paulo.
The effects of adding sodium (Na) ion into lithium (Li) ion containing organic electrolyte on the cycle behaviors of Li deposition–stripping on Li22Sn5 substrate are investigated. The functions and mechanism of Na+ addition to the electrolyte are evaluated through scanning electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry, element mapping, energy dispersive spectrometer, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry analyses. The results show that Li–Na co–deposition and co–stripping processes occur during cycles. Utilizing Li–Na co–deposition/stripping reactions to replace the reactions of single Li in organic electrolyte is an effective way to inhibit Li dendrite growth and improve the cycling performance of Li anode in Li metal batteries.
Standalone photovoltaic power system is one of the feasible solutions in rural electrification. However, due to the intermittent nature of solar energy and significant demand variations due to small load size, energy storage devices are needed to ensure power quality and reliability. Lead-acid battery bank has been widely used in such systems to act as the intermediate buffer to compensate the power mismatch between generation and demand, despite the poor lifetime characteristics and relatively short service life compared to other energy storage devices. Most charge controllers only provide basic battery charging functionality and prevent the battery bank from overcharging and deep-discharging. While other notable aging factors such as frequent charge-discharge transition, high C-rate and surge power are often neglected. This paper presents a smart hybrid energy storage plug-in module that aims to enhance the service life of Lead-acid battery in standalone photovoltaic-battery power systems by mitigating life-limiting factors such as current fluctuations and surge current. This module is designed as a plug-in module that can be adopted directly in existing infrastructure in installed standalone PV-battery power system. The effectiveness of the proposed plug-in module in mitigating battery stresses is simulated in Matlab Simulink with actual solar irradiance data and estimated load profile for a rural community in Sarawak Malaysia. The simulation results are validated experimentally with the scaled-down photovoltaic-battery power system. The effectiveness in mitigating battery stress is quantitatively evaluated with battery health cost function, while the reduction in overall battery cost is analyzed and discussed.