batterydata/paper-abstracts huggingface dataset:
The significant toxicity of selenium emphasizes the need to assess the health risk of various selenocompounds as nutritional supplements. Se-methylselenocysteine (SeMC) was recently reported to be more bioactive but the toxicological effects have not been sufficiently characterized. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of SeMC and provide the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for its use in human diet. Our results demonstrated that SeMC, with the Median Lethal Dose (LD50) of 12.6 and 9.26mg/kg BW in female and male mice, was of high potent of health hazard under acute oral exposure, but a battery of tests including Ames test, micronucleus assay and mouse sperm malformation assay suggested that SeMC was not genotoxic. The repeated dose study indicated little systemic toxicity of SeMC at supernutritional levels (0.5, 0.7, 0.9mg/kg BW/day) after 90-day oral exposure. Importantly, the 95% lower confidence value of Benchmark Dose (BMDL) was estimated as 0.34mg/kg BW/day according to the elevated relative liver weight. The ADI for human was established at 3.4μg/kg BW/day. The results suggested greater safety of SeMC as a nutritional selenium supplement, but health risk needs to be further evaluated when SeMC is applied beyond this level to achieve cancer chemoprevention.
Hollow carbon nanospheres embedded with ultrafine Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4@HCNS) were synthesized by using carboxyl functionalized polystyrene latexes as template and poly dopamine as carbon precursor. The ultrafine Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) had a small size of 3∼5nm and the HCNS had a thin shell thickness of 15nm in the Fe3O4@HCNS. As a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries, the Fe3O4@HCNS exhibited high reversible capacity, excellent cycling stability (1380mAhg−1 after 200 cycles at 1Ag−1) and high-rate capability (475mAhg−1 at 5Ag−1, 290mAhg−1 at 10Ag−1). The outstanding performance was attributed to the unique structure of the Fe3O4@HCNS, which greatly shorten the path of Li ions intercalation during charging and discharging.
Compensation of irreversible capacity losses is a mandatory task if high capacity alloy and conversion materials want to be used in tomorrow Li-ion batteries, thus enabling further increase of the cell energy. To that aim we here propose a new approach that is based on the use of blend cathodes containing morphologically optimized LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LMNO-O) and lithium-rich Li1+xNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LMNO-R) to compensate the irreversible losses of lithium-ion cells that employ Si-based anodes. The ratio between LMNO-O and LMNO-R determines the amount of extra lithium available in the electrodes and thus the use of blend electrodes allows fine tuning of the extra-charge within the cathode. Furthermore, the lithium rich phase converts to the standard electrochemically active spinel phase when all the extra lithium leaves the structure, thus not accounting for any inert weight in the cell. We demonstrate that the aforementioned approach leads not only to the full compensation of irreversible capacity losses, but it also improves the cells' cycling stability. Finally, our optimized cells show 25% more specific energy with respect to a reference Graphite|LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 cell.
Lithium cells based on NMC cathodes or graphite anodes and ionic liquid-based electrolyte mixtures are investigated. The electrode tapes, using water-soluble natural binders, as well as the ionic liquid materials, are prepared through eco-friendly routes involving H2O as the only processing solvent. The Li/NMC and Li/graphite half-cells are studied by cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy and galvanostatic cycling tests at different temperatures. The results herein reported, demonstrate the performance improvement in terms of cycling behavior and ageing resistance, granted by the ionic liquid mixtures with respect to the electrolytes reported in literature based on a single ionic liquid.
We developed hydrogen iodide (HI) reduction of rGO and surfactant-assisted chemical reaction- deposition method to form hybrid material of sulfur (S) encapsulated in reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets for rechargeable lithium batteries. The surfactant-assisted chemical reaction–deposition method strategy provides intimate contact between the S and graphene oxide. Chemical reduced rGO with high conductivity as carbon coating layer prevented the dissolution of polysulfide ions and improved the electron transfer. This novel core–shell structured S@rGO composites with high S content showed high reversible capacity, good discharge capacity retention and enhanced rate capability used as cathodes in rechargeable Li/S cells. We demonstrated here that an electrode prepared from a S@rGO with up to 85 wt% S maintains a stable discharge capacity of about 980 mAh g−1 at 0.05 C and 570 mAh g−1 at 1C after 200 cycles charge/discharge. These results emphasize the importance of rGO with high electrical conductivity after HI-reduced rGO homogeneously coating on the surface of S, therefore, effectively alleviating the shuttle phenomenon of polysulfides in organic electrolyte. Our surfactant-assisted chemical reaction-HI reduction approach should offer a new technique for the design and synthesis of battery electrodes based on highly conducting carbon materials.
Chemical and structural evolution in battery materials influences properties relevant to ionic and electronic transport and ultimately impacts the battery performance. Although chemical and structural gradients have been observed in several cathode materials, the origin(s) of these phenomena are poorly understood. Via high-throughput core-level spectroscopies {i.e., X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), depth-profiled X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS)}, as well as scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), the present study seeks to achieve mechanistic understanding for these phenomena in a stoichiometric Rm layered cathode material (e.g., LiNixMnxCo1−2xO2, NMC). We observed that the surfaces of particles in the composite electrode are complicated by the presence of a surface reaction layer resulting from electrolyte decomposition. In large particle ensembles, the global nickel oxidation state switches between Ni2+ and Ni2+x (x = 1–2) during charging/discharging processes, and hole states are also created at the O2p level due to the TM3d–O2p hybridization states. In primary particles, the surface is less oxidized than the bulk counterpart of the same particle whenever the particle has been cycled. This is partially attributed to the reconstruction from an Rm structure to an Fmm structure at the surfaces of NMC particles. This work provides a unique insight into correlating crystal structures with charge compensation mechanisms and performance fading in stoichiometric layered cathode materials.
The effect of lignin, which is an important additive for the negative electrode in lead–acid batteries, is studied on lead electrodes in sulfuric acid by means of potentiostatic transient measurements and in situ electrochemical atomic force microscope (EC-AFM) observations. During oxidation of the electrodes, it is confirmed that the current transition in electrolyte with 20ppm lignin gives a broad, hill-like curve, while that in electrolyte without lignin is a sharp peak. Nevertheless, there is little difference in electrode capacity in each electrolyte throughout the whole oxidation. In electrolyte with lignin, in situ EC-AFM examination reveals a uniform deposition of lead sulfate crystals after oxidation of the electrode. These results suggest that lignin adsorbs on the electrode surface and promotes uniform diffusion of lead ions near the surface during oxidation.
In mobile crowdsensing, users have a central role providing sensed data using their portable devices. Mobile crowdsensing applications have become quite popular nowadays. However, these applications can be bandwidth eager, big battery drainers, and may demand intensive network usage, which could exceed the allowance of users' mobile data plan. All these aspects may prevent users to contribute sensed data and also get valuable information from the service, which can impact the sustainability of the system. The Device-to-Device (D2D) communication paradigm arises as an approach to relieve data traffic generated by these applications, helping to let the system more sustainable. For instance, devices with a more reliable network connection can offload the network by disseminating data to other devices through D2D communication. However, mobile crowdsensing and D2D communication assume that users cooperate and allow their portable devices to be used for sensing and communication. In this work, we address the cooperation problem in the context of D2D communication to enhance mobile crowdsensing platforms. We first discuss how D2D communication can enhance mobile crowdsensing. Next, we propose and evaluate a general framework joining mobile crowdsensing and D2D communication. This framework abstracts applications defined by the sensing platforms, it decides the communication mode – whether infrastructure or D2D – and which incentive mechanisms must be used to engage participants to cooperate. We show evidence that this new approach could lead to a more sustainable mobile crowdsensing usage.
The possibility of introducing a co-generation system with a direct internal reforming-molten carbonate fuel cell (DIR-MCFC) for residential use is examined by a feasibility study. First, the structure of a system, which can maintain the cell temperature (650°C) without the heat supply, is constructed by calculating heat and material balances among the system components. Secondly, a model family, which might use the co-generation system with a DIR-MCFC, is constructed from the results of a questionnaire on room layout, number of family members, and the number of electric appliances and consumption of electric power in Osaka. Thirdly, calculating the electric power and hot-water demand supply balance optimizes the scale of the co-generation system with a DIR-MCFC for residential use. Finally, the running costs of this optimum system using city gas or propane gas are considered. As a result, the optimum scale of a co-generation system a with DIR-MCFC and using city gas is 3kW, while it is 6kW for the case using propane gas. The co-generation system using city gas is suitable for a house. On the other hand, the system using propane gas is suitable for an apartment.
Natural abundance 17O NMR measurements were conducted on electrolyte solutions consisting of Li[CF3SO2NSO2CF3] (LiTFSI) dissolved in the solvents of ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC), and their mixtures at various concentrations. It was observed that 17O chemical shifts of solvent molecules change with the concentration of LiTFSI. The chemical shift displacements of carbonyl oxygen are evidently greater than those of ethereal oxygen, strongly indicating that Li+ ion is coordinated with carbonyl oxygen rather than ethereal oxygen. To understand the detailed molecular interaction, computational modeling of 17O chemical shifts was carried out on proposed solvation structures. By comparing the predicted chemical shifts with the experimental values, it is found that a Li+ ion is coordinated with four double bond oxygen atoms from EC, PC, EMC and TFSI− anion. In the case of excessive amount of solvents of EC, PC and EMC the Li+ coordinated solvent molecules are undergoing quick exchange with bulk solvent molecules, resulting in average 17O chemical shifts. Several kinds of solvation structures are identified, where the proportion of each structure in the liquid electrolytes investigated depends on the concentration of LiTFSI.
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a pain syndrome, the mechanisms and predictors of which are still unclear. We have earlier validated a set of FM-symptom questions for detecting possible FM in an epidemiological survey and thereby identified a cluster with “possible FM”. This study explores prospectively predictors for membership of that FM-symptom cluster.
The microalga Euglena was selected as a bioindicator for determining genotoxicity potencies of organic pollutants in Meiliang Bay of Taihu Lake, Jiangsu, China among seasons in 2008. Several methods, including the comet assay to determine breaks in DNA and quantification of antioxidant enzymes were applied to characterize genotoxic effects of organic extracts of water from Taihu Lake on the flagellated, microalga Euglena gracilis. Contents of photosynthetic pigments, including Chl a, Chl b and carotenoid pigments were inversely proportion to concentrations of organic extracts to which E. gracilis was exposed. Organic extracts of Taihu Lake water also affected activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) of E. gracilis. There were no statistically significant differences in SOD activities among seasons except in June but significant differences in POD activities were observed among all seasons. The metrics of DNA fragmentation in the alkaline unwinding assay (Comet assay), olive tail moment (OTM) and tail moment (TM), used as measurement endpoints during the genotoxicity assay were both greater when E. gracilis was exposed to organic of water collected from Taihu Lake among four seasons. It is indicated that the comet assay was useful for determining effects of constituents of organic extracts of water on E. gracilis and this assay was effective as an early warning to organic pollutants.
Biological pacing is a disruptive technology that aims first to improve upon, then to supplement and, eventually, to replace electronic pacingBiological pacing utilizes the tools of gene and cell therapy to introduce pacemaker function to preselected regions of the heartGene therapy focuses on delivery via viral vectors; whereas cell therapy uses either mesenchymal stem cells as delivery systems or cells with sinoatrial node-like properties derived from pluripotent stem cellsProof-of-concept has been achieved in studies of large animals in complete heart block and, in some instances, sinoatrial node dysfunctionSubstantial barriers remain to be overcome before clinical trials of biological pacing can be begun, but the field is advancing steadily towards this goal
Attempts to diagnose heart rhythm disorders and to treat them with electrical therapy go back hundreds of years. In the latter half of the 20th century, electronic therapy came fully of age with the arrival of the electronic pacemaker. Advances in the field have been impressive and yet important shortcomings exist such that, during the past decade, investigators have focused on building an alternative therapy. This research has been facilitated by our understanding of the genetic determinants of ion channel function and the availability of gene and cell therapies. In the following pages, we review the major achievements in the field of biological pacing, using lessons learned from normal cardiac pacemaker tissues such as the sinoatrial node (SAN) to divine their potential application to a novel biological approach.
A very small wind turbine system for multi-purposes was developed and its performance was reported in this paper. The rotor diameter of the turbine is 500mm. The tests of the energy output, turbine speed, power coefficient, and torque of turbine were carried out for a wide rage of free stream velocity. The flow around the wind turbine and the influence of the turbulence were investigated with a particle image velocimetry. Experimentally obtained power coefficient was 0.4 in maximum and 0.36 in the rated running condition, respectively. The tip speed ratio corresponding to the optimum driving condition was 2.7. Comparing with the other commercial turbines, the performance was excellent at a slow turbine speed. By the flow visualization and PIV measurement around the wind turbine, the approaching flow velocity and the accelerated flow field passing the blade tip was obtained. It was confirmed that the actual flow passed through the blades was about 20% slower than the ideal flow. Tip vortex shed from the blade tip was also visualized clearly.
In nature, self-healing can be induced by sunlight for damage and wound repair, and this phenomenon is very important to living species for prolonging their lives. This self-repairing feature is obviously highly desirable for non-biological materials and manmade systems. In this paper, we demonstrate, for the first time, that battery electrodes can be self-repaired when exposed to sunlight. Here, we show that the optical, and photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties can be controlled by varying structural and compositional parameters of copper selenide nanocrystals (NCs). Cation to anion ratio in copper selenide (Cu2±xSe) NCs can be controlled over a wide range of 1.3–2.7 by simply changing the reaction temperature and impurity. Light-induced self-repairable behavior is demonstrated with electrochemical (EC) and PEC performances of electrodes made with stoichiometric copper selenide NCs. This nature-inspired, self-repairing behavior can be applied to batteries, supercapacitors, and photo-electrochemical fuel generators.
The sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) have been one of the bottlenecks hindering the commercial application of rechargeable metal-air batteries. This report describes the viability of synthesis of self-supported Au-based alloy (AuCuCo) by a facile one-pot hydrothermal method and their use as highly efficient catalysts for ORR and OER. The obtained AuCuCo exhibits comparable electrocatalytic activity and better stability toward both the ORR and OER in alkaline media as compared with commercial Pt/C and IrO2/C catalyst. The improved electrocatalytic activity of AuCuCo is attributed to its unique three-dimensional nanostructure, the abundance of twin crystals, and change in the electronic structure of Au by alloying.
Substance flow analysis is an analytical tool in the scientific field of industrial ecology, a possible operationalisation of the concept of industrial metabolism. 1 In this concept, an analogy is drawn between the economy and environment on a material level: the economy's “metabolism”, in terms of materials mobilisation, use and excretion to create “technomass”, is compared to the use of materials in the biosphere to create biomass. The economy is viewed only in terms of its material flow. The policy area most closely related to this concept is integrated chain management. Economic chains from cradle to grave are the subjects of regulation. This paper presents the implementation of substance flow analysis in the Flemish region of Belgium. In Belgium, there exists up to now relatively little or no experience with the use of substance flow analysis. In this context, the Flemish Government, more specific the competent Flemish minister for the Science and technological innovation policy supported a project regarding substance flow analysis on heavy metals.
Long term cyclability of a composite Li-ion anode electrode comprised of 82 wt.% Si/C lithium ion active material along with 8 wt.% polymeric binder and 10 wt.% Super P conductive carbon black has been studied utilizing polymeric binders exhibiting different elastic/tensile moduli and tensile yield strengths. Accordingly, electrochemically active Si/C composite synthesized by high energy mechanical milling (HEMM), exhibiting reversible specific capacities of ∼780 mAh/g and ∼600 mAh/g at charge/discharge rates of ∼50 mA/g and ∼200 mA/g, respectively were selected as the Li-ion active anode. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and purified guar gum (PGG) with reported elastic moduli ∼1000 MPa and ∼3200 MPa, respectively were selected as the binders. Results show that the composite electrode (Si/C + binder + conducting carbon) comprising the higher elastic modulus binder (PGG) exhibits better long term cyclability contrasted with PVDF. 1H-NMR analysis of the polymer before and after cycling shows structural degradation/deformation of the low elastic modulus PVDF, whereas the high elastic modulus PGG binder shows no permanent structural deformation or damage. The results presented herein thus suggest that PGG based polymers exhibiting high elastic modulus are a promising class of binders with the desired mechanical integrity needed for enduring the colossal volume expansion stresses of Si/C based composite anodes.
In the present study, K2S and Bi2S3 were used as additives in electrolytes and electrodes, respectively. The effects of these additives on the electrochemical properties of nano-sized Fe2O3-loaded carbon electrodes were investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic cycling performance and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), along with electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results showed that both K2S and Bi2S3 significantly reduced hydrogen evolution and benefited the Fe2O3-loaded carbon electrode, such as by retarding passivation and improving the discharge capacity. The effects of metal sulfide additives depended on the carbon used. For Bi2S3 additive, all carbons provided larger capacities than acetylene black (AB) while AB gave greater capacity than other carbons when K2S was used.
To enhance our understanding of how aquatic endotherms respond thermally to their environment, we present two new designs for recording heat flux (HF) and skin temperature (T s) from the dorsal fins of free-ranging dolphins. The first package, held on by a series of small suction cups, was designed for short-term deployments on the order of hours. The second package, a long-term attachment, was held on via two 5.0-mm -Delrin® pins and was designed for deployments on the order of days. The former version was configured to release remotely, by way of a galvanic linkage, removing the need to re-capture tagged dolphins. The latter was designed to be removed after re-capture of the individual but also included a fail–safe galvanic release. One of the major advances of our approach is that it allows both convective and conductive pathways of heat loss to be dynamically recorded from free-swimming wild dolphins, whereas previous approaches have recorded primarily conductive heat loss from trained captive or restrained wild dolphins. The short-term, re-usable package has been field-tested on 55 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Sarasota Bay, Florida and the long-term device on two spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata) in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. By also incorporating into each package a time–depth–velocity recorder we were able to examine patterns of heat flux in relation to changing behavioural states of the tagged individual. Heat flux recorded at the dorsal fin was found to be individually variable and dynamic. Water temperature (T w) had a profound effect on patterns of heat loss in both species with HF increasing with even minor decreases in T w. This device significantly improves our ability to understand the thermal biology of dolphins as they move about in their natural environment.