batterydata/paper-abstracts huggingface dataset:
Sodium tetrahydroborate NaBH4 is considered as being a promising energy/hydrogen carrier. NaBH4 is not a new compound. It has been discovered in 1940s by Prof. H.C. Brown, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry in 1979. NaBH4 has thus a history and this history distinguishes the NaBH4 utilisation as hydrogen carrier from that as energy carrier. In fact, the history of NaBH4 (for both utilisations) can be divided into three periods, each period being characterised by specific societal challenges. Whereas during the first period the challenges were military and political, the challenges in the third period (i.e. at present) are energetic, environmental, civilian, social and political. The second period was rather calm for NaBH4 even if it was intensively used as a reducing agent in organic chemistry.
This paper reports a new type of nanocomposite of poly(nile blue A) with single-walled carbon nanotubes (PNb–SWNTs). This nanocomposite was fabricated by the functionalization of SWNTs with poly(nile blue A), which was formed by electropolymerizing an Nb monomer through the use of cyclic voltammetry. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to characterize the PNb–SWNTs. The cyclic voltammetric results indicated that PNb–SWNTs were able to electrocatalyze the oxidation of NADH at a very low potential (ca. −80mV versus SCE) and lead to a substantial decrease in the overpotential by more than 700mV compared with the bare glassy carbon (GC) electrode. A biosensor, ADH–PNb–SWNT/GC, was developed by immobilizing alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) onto the PNb–SWNT/GC electrode surface. The biosensor showed electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of ethanol with a good stability, reproducibility, and higher biological affinity. Under optimal conditions, the electrochemical response to detect ethanol has the typical characteristics of Michaelis–Menten kinetics with an apparent Michaelis–Menten constant of K M app ∼6.30mM, and depends linearly on the concentration of ethanol from 0.1 to 3.0mM (with a correlation coefficient of 0.998), with a detection limit of ∼50μM (at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3). The facile procedure of immobilizing ADH used in the present work can promote the development of electrochemical research for enzymes (proteins), biosensors, biofuel cells and other bioelectrochemical devices.
An Autonomous Microbial Sampler (AMS) is described that will obtain uncontaminated and exogenous DNA-free microbial samples from most marine, freshwater and hydrothermal ecosystems. Sampling with the AMS may be conducted using manned submersibles, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), or when tethered to a hydrowire during hydrocast operations on research vessels. The modular device consists of a titanium nozzle for sampling in potentially hot environments (>350°C) and fluid-handling components for the collection of six independent filtered or unfiltered samples. An onboard microcomputer permits sampling to be controlled by the investigator, by external devices (e.g., AUV computer), or by internal programming. Temperature, volume pumped and other parameters are recorded during sampling. Complete protection of samples from microbial contamination was observed in tests simulating deployment of the AMS in coastal seawater, where the sampling nozzle was exposed to seawater containing 1×106 cellsml−1 of a red pigmented tracer organism, Serratia marinorubra. Field testing of the AMS at a hydrothermal vent field was successfully undertaken in 2000. Results of DNA destruction studies have revealed that exposure of samples of the Eukaryote Euglena and the bacterium S. marinorubra to 0.5N sulfuric acid at 23°C for 1h was sufficient to remove polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifiable DNA. Studies assessing the suitability of hydrogen peroxide as a sterilizing and DNA-destroying agent showed that 20% or 30% hydrogen peroxide sterilized samples of Serratia in 1h and destroyed the DNA of Serratia in 3h, but not 1 or 2h. DNA AWAY™ killed Serratia and destroyed the DNA of both Serratia and the vent microbe (GB-D) of the genus Pyrococcus in 1h.
The capacitive behavior of activated carbons with different pore structures in two kinds of electrolytes, Bu4NBF4 and Et4NBF4 in propylene carbonate (PC) was studied using three kinds of cell configuration. The correlations between adsorbed ion size and pore size on the positive and negative electrodes were investigated. The matching of pore size and cation size was more predominant in the capacitor unit, especially for the electrode materials with less developed porosity. The asymmetric capacitance distribution of 7Fg−1 in the negative electrode and 113Fg−1 in the positive electrode occurred for electrode materials with less developed porosity. This could be ascribed to the surface saturation of the negative electrode by electrolyte ions, limiting the overall capacitance and working voltage of device. However, very developed porosity could not profit from the sufficient unitization of surface area, due to a weakened interaction between ions and pores wall. The specific area capacitance experienced a significant decrease from 11.3 to 6.7μFcm−2 with the pore volume increasing. Since the different pore sizes were required for different electrolytes ion on the negative and positive electrodes, the optimal matching between pores size and ions dimension with respect to each electrode should be considered for the maximum capacitance value of the capacitor unit.
The impact of photovoltaic (PV) array size, orientation, inclination, load profile, electricity buying price, feed-in tariffs, PV/inverter sizing ratio (‘sizing ratio’) and PV/inverter cost ratio (‘cost ratio’) on the economic viability of a grid-connected PV system was investigated using a validated TRNSYS simulation model. The results showed that the fractional load met directly by a PV system depends on matching between PV supply and building load profile, sizing ratio and PV inclination. The profitability of a grid-connected PV system increases if the PV system is sized to reduce excess PV electrical energy fed to the grid when the feed-in tariff is lower than electricity buying price. The effect of feed-in tariffs on PV saving for selected European countries has been shown. The cost of the PV electricity depends on sizing ratio, PV and inverter lifetimes, cost ratio, PV inclination and financial parameters. The effect of cost ratio on the optimum PV/inverter sizing ratio is less significant when the cost ratio lies within 7–11. The minimum PV electricity cost at low and high insolation conditions were obtained for sizing ratios of 1.6 and 1.2, respectively. The lowest PV electricity cost was found for surface slopes within 30–40° for the selected European locations. The PV electricity cost for cost ratio of 5 and 13 varied from 0.44–0.85€kWh−1 to 0.38–0.76€kWh−1, respectively within high to low insolation conditions when the PV module unit cost, market discount rate, PV size, PV lifetime and inverter lifetime were assumed to be 6.5€Wp −1, 3%, 13kWp, 20 years and 10 years, respectively.
Thin films of orthorhombic V2O5 have been prepared by sol electrophoretic deposition (EPD) followed by post-treatment at 500°C. Their electrochemical and optical performances have been investigated for possible applications in electrochemical/electrochromic devices. Li+-intercalation properties of the films have been explored in two voltage ranges: 0.4 to −1.1V and 0.4 to −1.6V versus Ag/Ag+, respectively. High capacities of over 300mAh/g are acquired in the wider voltage range at a current density of 50μA/cm2 and moderate capacities of 140 and 110mAh/g are obtained in the narrower voltage range at a current density of 25 and 50μA/cm2, respectively. Electrochemical measurements have shown that the films demonstrate good cyclability in both voltage ranges. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and optical spectra have been used to examine the changes in crystallinity, microstructure, morphology and transmittance of the films during cycling. Films cycled to a deeper voltage of −1.6V versus Ag/Ag+ deliver higher capacity with appreciable morphological change, while films cycled in the narrower voltage range show moderate capacity and maintain the morphology, optical responses and crystalline structure. Voltage range can be optimized in between to acquire both high capacity and stability in structure, electrochemical and optical properties. High Li+-intercalation capacity and good cyclic stability are attributed to the porous structure of V2O5 films prepared by EPD.
The xNa2S·(100 − x)P2S5 (mol%; x = 67, 70, 75 and 80) glasses were prepared by mechanochemical processing. Composition dependence of local structure, thermal behavior and electrical conductivity of the prepared glasses were examined. NMR and Raman spectroscopic studies revealed that the xNa2S·(100 − x)P2S5 glasses were composed of the thiophosphate units corresponding to their nominal compositions. The room temperature conductivities of the glasses increased with an increase in the Na2S content and attained a maximum at the x = 80 composition; the highest conductivity is 1 × 10−5 S cm−1. The xNa2S·(100 − x)P2S5 glass–ceramics were obtained by heating the glasses beyond their crystallization temperatures. The relationship between conductivity and crystalline phase was studied for the glass–ceramics. The glass–ceramics at the compositions of x = 70 and 75 exhibited higher conductivities than those of corresponding glasses due to the precipitation of the superionic cubic Na3PS4 crystal. In particular, the x = 75 glass–ceramic showed the highest conductivity of 2 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 25 °C and the lowest activation energy of 27 kJ mol−1. In addition, the x = 75 glass–ceramic was electrochemically stable against sodium deposition and dissolution. The 75Na2S·25P2S5 glass–ceramic electrolyte with high conductivity and high electrochemical stability is suitable for all-solid-state sodium rechargeable batteries.
Accidental falls of our elderly, and physical injuries resulting, represent a major health and economic problem. Falls are the most common cause of serious injuries and are a major health threat in the stratum of older population. Early detection of a fall is a key factor when trying to provide adequate care to elderly person who has suffered an accident at home. Therefore, the detection of falls in the elderly remains a major challenge in the field of public health. Specific actions aimed at the fall detection can provide urgent care which allows, on the other hand, drastically reduce the cost of medical care, and improve primary care service. In this paper, we present a support system for detecting falls of an elder person by the combination of a wearable wireless sensor node based on an accelerometer and a static wireless non-intrusive sensory infrastructure based on heterogeneous sensor nodes. This previous infrastructure called DIA (Dispositivo Inteligente de Alarma, in Spanish) is an AAL (Ambient Assisted Living) system that allows to infer a potential fall. This inference is reinforced for prompt attention by a specific sensorisation at portable node sensor in order to help distinguish between falls and daily activities of assisted person. The wearable node will not determine a falling situation, it will advice the reasoner layer about specific acceleration patterns that could, eventually, imply a falling. Is at the higher layer where the falling is determined from the whole context produced by mesh of fixed nodes. Experimental results have shown that the proposed system obtains high reliability and sensitivity in the detection of the fall.
We establish a comprehensive space-charge treatment that includes electrochemomechanical effects to physically describe the equilibrium and transport properties of charged interfaces in ion-conducting solids. The theory is consistent with the laws of thermodynamics and Maxwell's equations and naturally includes the free energy contributions of the chemical, electrical, and mechanical fields at and in the vicinity of homo- and heterointerfaces. In the dilute limit, and in the absence of chemomechanical stresses, the theory reduces to the classic, well-established Gouy–Chapman description. In the strong substitution limit, the model naturally predicts the appearance of a Mott–Schottky-type layer and reproduces the well known experimentally observed behavior, including grain boundary solute segregation. We demonstrate the validity of this theory for polycrystalline GdyCe1−yO2−y/2, GCO. In the low substitution limit, electrochemical and chemomechanically-induced stresses favor the segregation of  which locally expands the crystalline lattice, and thus promotes the formation of a wide depletion zone of oxygen vacancies in front of the interface, negatively impacting the macroscopic ionic conductivity. For high gadolinia substitution, interface segregation induces compressive stresses of 45 to 700 MPa and a weakly tensile region in the vicinity of the GCO homointerface, as a result of coupled, long range, electrochemomechanical interactions. The accumulation of gadolinium defects at the grain boundary locks-in oxygen vacancies, which in turn suppresses the depletion zone from the extended immediate neighborhood and decreases its macroscopic ionic conductivity. This is the first model where the grain boundary core explicitly includes chemomechanical effects.
In course of anodic oxidation of lead in chloride–nitrate melt it has been formed β-PbO either in the form of nanopowder with the average size of the particles 20–70nm or in the form of nanofibers with the thickness of 20 nanometers and length 500nm. Synthesis is easily reproduced and can become a basis of industrial production lead nano-oxide. Lead oxide nanopowders and nanofibers tested in a course of potentiodynamic cycling in working conditions of a positive electrode of the acid lead battery, have shown good reproducibility of results and high values of currents density that can be unequivocally connected with increase in the true area of a surface of active mass of electrodes.
Isolated reports indicate the efficacy of infrared thermography for monitoring wound healing and septic complications, but no long-term analysis has ever been performed on this, and there are no data on the telethermographic patterns of surgical site healing after uncomplicated total hip prosthesis and after knee prosthesis.
The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) as a low price photovoltaic technology has attracted widespread attention in recent years. During its progress to practical application, replacement of the liquid electrolytes by solid-state ones has been found to be necessary. Alternative solid-state electrolytes have thus been developed. This review deals with the recent progress of different solid-state electrolytes on DSCs. In particular, representative examples are highlighted with the results of our solid-state composite electrolytes based on addition compounds.
Natural sources display a high potential for the production of sustainable materials because of their exceptional structural and physical features, nontoxicity, biocompatibility, availability and cost-effectiveness. Nanostructured systems show high surface/volume ratio, and unusual electrical, mechanical, surface and magnetic properties. The preparation of heterogeneous nanocatalysts from natural resources has recently become increasingly attractive for researchers. The present overview discuses extensively and comprehensively the main natural sources used to prepare the new generation of safer and cheaper catalytic nanosystems. We place a significant emphasis on both the different synthetic strategies for the preparation of the Nature-inspired nanocatalyst and the role of the natural materials over the structural and morphological properties of the resulting nanocatalysts. The catalytic applications of nature-inspired materials were finally featured, highlighting the advantages of using nanotechnology and environmental resources as well as their potential towards the production of alternative energies.
SnO2–graphite nanocomposites are prepared by urea-mediated homogeneous hydrolysis of SnCl4. Heating in a CEM Discover microwave reactor (Sn–C-1), in a household microwave oven (Sn–C-2), or by a conventional conduction method (Sn–C-3) are used to decompose the urea and release hydroxide ions for SnCl4 hydrolysis. The nanocomposites are characterized by XRD, ICP, FE-SEM, SEM and TEM/SAED and used as the material for negative electrodes (anodes) in Li-ion batteries. The SnO2 particles in Sn–C-1 are the smallest and have the narrowest size distribution (1–3nm, mean: 2.1nm, standard deviation: 0.3nm) compared with those in Sn–C-2 (2–5nm, mean: 3.8nm, standard deviation: 0.5nm) and Sn–C-3 (3–9nm, mean: 6.4nm, standard deviation: 0.9nm). The microwave preparation allows smaller SnO2 particles to be produced and more homogenously dispersed in the graphite. This results in improved electrochemical performance as a lithium storage compound. The specific capacities decrease in the order: Sn–C-1>Sn–C-2>Sn–C-3. For the 14.2wt.% SnO2–graphite composite (Sn–C-1), the initial specific capacity was 465mAhg−1 and 80% of the initial specific capacity, or 372mAhg−1 can still be obtained after 60 charge and discharge cycles.
The layered structure stability of bulk vanadyl phosphate dihydrate (VOPO4·2H2O) is investigated by using a deintercalation-intercalation reaction process involving short-range swelling, its basal spacing can be reversibility controlled and the layered structure can be maintained to above 400°C. By using delaminated vanadyl phosphate (VOPO4) nanosheets in 2-propanol, VOPO4/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) hybrid electrode materials for supercapacitor with different mass ratios of VOPO4 nanosheets to graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets have been prepared based on a nanosheet reassembling reaction between the exfoliated VOPO4 nanosheets and GO nanosheets and followed by calcinating in a tubular furnace at 400°C for 3 h under N2 atmosphere, and their electrochemical properties are systematically investigated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge in 0.5M K2SO4 electrolyte. The VOPO4/RGO hybrid electrode with a mass ratio of VOPO4/RGO=1 exhibits a high specific capacitance of 378Fg−1 at a scan rate of 5mVs−1 with a good rate capability. This method broadens the application filed of VOPO4 nanosheets, and also supplies promising electrode candidates for supercapacitor.
In 2012 there was approximately 2400 electric vehicle DC Fast Charging stations sold globally. According to Pike Research (Jerram and Gartner, 2012), it is anticipated that by 2020 there will be approximately 460,000 of them installed worldwide. A typical public DC fast charger delivers a maximum power output of 50 kW which allows a typical passenger vehicle to be 80% charged in 10–15 min, compared with 6–8 h for a 6.6 kW AC level 2 charging unit. While DC fast chargers offer users the convenience of being able to rapidly charge their vehicle, the unit's high power demand has the potential to put sudden strain on the electricity network, and incur significant demand charges. Depending on the utility rate structure, a DC fast charger can experience annual demand charges of several thousand dollars. Therefore in these cases there is an opportunity to mitigate or even avoid the demand charges incurred by coupling the unit with an appropriately sized energy storage system and coordinating the way in which it integrates. This paper explores the technical and economical suitability of coupling a ground energy storage system with a DC fast charge unit for mitigation or avoidance of demand charges and lessening the impact on the local electricity network. This paper also discusses the concept of having the system participate in demand response programs in order to provide grid support and to further improve the economic suitability of an energy storage system.
Corn stalk was pretreated by aqueous tetrabutylammonium hydroxide to enhance enzymatic hydrolysis process. The effects of temperature (20–80 °C), concentration of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (10–40 wt%), time (5–60 min) and ratio of solid to liquid (1:4–1:8, wt/wt) were investigated to find the optimal operational condition, which was determined as 20 °C, 30 wt%, 20 min and 1:5 respectively. This was a quite mild pretreatment condition resulting in 68.17% enzymatic hydrolysis sugar yield and the removal rate of hemicelluloses and lignin were 23.5% and 31.5% respectively. Besides, the microstructure and crystal structure changes of raw material and pretreated samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction respectively. Finally, a possible mechanism of pretreatment process was put forward based on the comprehensive analysis.
Non-graphitizable carbon (hard carbon) as a negative electrode material for lithium-ion batteries is investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HX-PES). HX-PES spectra have peaks of both the solid electrolyte interphase on the hard carbon surface and the hard carbon itself. The change in spectrum with state of charge is observed by HX-PES. Hard carbon has two types of lithium insertion site; between graphene sheets and into nano-scale voids. These spectroscopic results are consistent with the lithium insertion mechanism into hard carbon.
is Project Manager in the Chassis/Overall  Vehicle sector of ZF Friedrichshafen AG  Corporate Research and Development at Friedrichshafen  (Germany).
Introduction Studies of developmental deficits in face recognition, or developmental prosopagnosia, have shown that individuals who have not suffered brain damage can show face recognition impairments coupled with normal object recognition (Duchaine and Nakayama, 2005; Duchaine et al., 2006; Nunn et al., 2001). However, no developmental cases with the opposite dissociation – normal face recognition with impaired object recognition – have been reported. The existence of a case of non-face developmental visual agnosia would indicate that the development of normal face recognition mechanisms does not rely on the development of normal object recognition mechanisms. Methods To see whether a developmental variant of non-face visual object agnosia exists, we conducted a series of web-based object and face recognition tests to screen for individuals showing object recognition memory impairments but not face recognition impairments. Through this screening process, we identified AW, an otherwise normal 19-year-old female, who was then tested in the lab on face and object recognition tests. Results AW’s performance was impaired in within-class visual recognition memory across six different visual categories (guns, horses, scenes, tools, doors, and cars). In contrast, she scored normally on seven tests of face recognition, tests of memory for two other object categories (houses and glasses), and tests of recall memory for visual shapes. Testing confirmed that her impairment was not related to a general deficit in lower-level perception, object perception, basic-level recognition, or memory. Discussion AW’s results provide the first neuropsychological evidence that recognition memory for non-face visual object categories can be selectively impaired in individuals without brain damage or other memory impairment. These results indicate that the development of recognition memory for faces does not depend on intact object recognition memory and provide further evidence for category-specific dissociations in visual recognition.