batterydata/paper-abstracts huggingface dataset:
Anodes for a lithium secondary battery are prepared with synthetic graphite (meso-phase carbonaceous microbead: MCMB) which is coated with tin-oxide and copper by fluidised-bed chemical vapour deposition (FCVD). In the present study, three different samples was prepared, and their electrochemical characteristics are examined by using X-ray diffraction, electrochemical voltage spectroscopy (EVS), scanning electron micrography, ac impedance measurements, and galvanostatic charge–discharge experiments. The electrode coated with tin-oxide gives higher capacity than uncoated MCMB, but the capacity decreases with cycling. This is probably due to severe volume changes. The cycleability is improved, however, by coating copper on the surface of the carbonaceous material coated with tin-oxide. The copper plays an important role as an inactive matrix which provides a buffer against volume changes.
Physiological depletion of tryptophan, the precursor to serotonin has been shown to alter mood and cognition in both humans and rodents. Few studies have investigated the neurochemical and behavioural effects associated with tryptophan depletion in mice. Given that BALB/c and C57BL/6J mice differ in tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) functionality, serotonin levels and behavioural phenotype, we hypothesised that a differential strain response to chronic dietary tryptophan manipulations would be observed. Therefore, the effects of four chronic dietary tryptophan manipulations were investigated, the diets include a depleted diet (0% tryptophan, TRP−), a deficient diet (0.25% tryptophan, TRP−/+), an enhanced diet (1.25% tryptophan, TRP+) and a control diet (0.7%). Diet-induced alterations in peripheral and central tryptophan levels and brain serotonin turnover were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. In addition, dietary-induced alterations in behaviour were assessed in several commonly used tasks. Peripheral and central tryptophan levels and consequently central serotonergic turnover were significantly decreased by the TRP− diet in both strains, however, no effect of tryptophan supplementation was observed on tryptophan or serotonin levels. Dietary tryptophan manipulation induced pronounced behavioural effects, particularly in nesting behaviour where a reduction in nesting was observed following depletion and an increase in nesting behaviour was observed with enhanced tryptophan in both strains. Additionally, depletion produces an anxiolytic-like effect and did not impede locomotion. This study demonstrates significant alterations in the levels of tryptophan, serotonin turnover and behaviour following chronic dietary tryptophan depletion.
People with schizophrenia (PSZ) exhibit signs of reduced working memory (WM) capacity. However, this may reflect an impairment in managing its content, e.g. preventing irrelevant information from taking up available storage space, rather than a true capacity reduction. We tested the ability to eliminate and update WM content in 38 PSZ and 30 healthy control subjects (HCS). Images of real-world objects were presented consecutively, and a tone cued the item most likely to be tested for memory. On half the trials, randomly intermixed, a second tone occurred. Participants were informed that the item cued by the second tone was now the most likely to be tested, and the item cued by the first tone now the least likely, providing incentive to eliminate the first cued item from WM. Both HCS and PSZ displayed a robust performance advantage for cued items. Unexpectedly, PSZ more efficiently removed the no-longer-essential item from WM than HCS. The magnitude of the WM clearance of this first cued item correlated with memory performance for the newly prioritized second cued item in PSZ, indicating that it was adaptive. However, WM clearance was not associated with WM capacity, ruling out the need to budget limited resources as an explanation for greater clearance in PSZ. A robust correlation between WM clearance and poverty of speech in PSZ instead suggests that the propensity to rapidly clear non-essential information and minimize the number of items in WM may be the reflection of a negative symptom trait. This finding may reflect a more general tendency of PSZ to focus processing more narrowly than HCS.
The assumption of electrochemical equilibrium at membrane–electrolyte interfaces is frequently accepted in a mathematical simulation of multiple ion transport (MIT) across a single-layer perfluorinated sulfonated cation-selective membrane (CM). This assumption is obviously inaccurate at high electric current loads typical of industrial applications, e.g. brine electrolysis. An assessment of this problem is one of the main objectives of this contribution. For this purpose, a one-dimensional stationary Poisson–Nernst–Planck (PNP) model was employed to describe MIT across a CM. The model input parameters used correspond closely to industrial chlor-alkali electrolysis. The model results are compared with those of an equivalent model published earlier that considered the classical Nernst–Planck equation and Donnan equilibrium at the CM–electrolyte interfaces (denoted as the DNP model). Both the DNP and the PNP models provide identical results at low current loads. However, a comparison at high current loads close to ‘industrial scale’ was impossible due to convergence problems of the DNP model. The ion transport numbers and membrane permselectivity were estimated by means of the PNP model. This model predicts conditions at the membrane interfaces close to thermodynamic equilibrium even in a current density range up to 10,000 A m−2. Additionally, the PNP model takes into account the kinetics of water autoprotolysis. It was shown that a high flux of OH− ions across a CM effectively alkalizes the catholyte diffusion layer, ensuring a precipitation of alkaline earth cations outside the CM and thus minimizing internal CM blockage.
A new flexible all-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor with very high energy density has been fabricated by adopting a 3D heterogeneous composite based on polyaniline (PANI) and graphene and enlarging its operating voltage window. This novel supercapacitor is based on the 3D molybdenum oxide/graphene aerogel (MoO3/GF) composite as the negative electrode and the sandwich-type PANI decorated 3D porous manganese dioxide/reduced graphene oxide hybrid film (PANI/(MnO2−RGO)/PANI) as the positive electrode material. Polyvinyl alcohol/potassium hydroxide (PVA/KOH) was used as the gel electrolyte. The self-assembled 3D MoO3/GF was synthesized by hydrothermal route followed by heat treatment in a furnace. For the positive electrode, a facile novel 3D MnO2−RGO porous film was first fabricated by vacuum filtration of MnO2 and GO suspension, followed by hydrothermal chemical reduction. Then, PANI nanofibers were grown on top of the hybrid film. The fabrication steps show a facile formation of the 3D sandwich-type PANI/(MnO2−RGO)/PANI porous hybrid film. The asymmetric supercapacitor (MoO3/GF//PANI/(MnO2−RGO)/PANI) showed a high energy density of 51.91 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 0.838 kW kg−1. The asymmetric cells were flexible, and three cells connected in series could illuminate a green-LED for 62 s.
Nanoparticles with a core-shell structure of Si@SiO2 with an average size of about 50nm were obtained by plasma chemical synthesis through the decomposition of monosilane. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to study the behavior of anodes based on the composite Si@SiO2 during the cyclic charge/discharge. Based on the results of Si@SiO2 anodes studies by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) in conjunction with thermodynamic modeling (TM), assumptions were made about chemical and electrochemical processes occurring during prolonged cycling in the electrolyte 1M LiPF6 in ethylene carbonate/diethyl carbonate (1:1v/v).
In this paper we report a poly(ethylenglycol)dimethylether–lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (PEG500DME–LiTFSI) as high viscosity, safe electrolyte for lithium ion batteries. The high molecular weight of the end-capped ether solvent is reflected as low vapor pressure and excellent thermal stability of the electrolyte, as demonstrated by thermogravimetry, this resulting in remarkable safety content. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study of the electrolyte demonstrates a Li-transference number of 0.48, a conductivity of the order of 10−3 S cm−1, and a high interphase stability with the lithium metal, the linear sweep voltammetry indicates an electrochemical stability window extending up to 4.8 V vs. Li/Li+. Furthermore, promising electrochemical performances in terms of reversibility, cycling stability and low charge–discharge polarization are observed using the electrolyte in lithium and in lithium ion batteries using lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) as cathode and titanium dioxide (TiO2) as anode. Hence, this electrolyte is a promising candidate for applications in safe, high performance lithium ion batteries.
Internal short circuit (ISCr) detection of a battery is critical for preventing thermal runaway and enhancing electrical vehicle safety. In this paper, the electrical characteristics of the ISCr of a large format lithium ion battery are analyzed using the equivalent circuit model (ECM). An ISCr detection method is developed based on battery consistency within the battery pack. The ISCr detection method employs the recursive least square (RLS) algorithm based on the mean-difference model (MDM), which is derived from the ECMs consisting of the mean and difference value of cells' voltage and resistance. The algorithm first estimates the basic parameters of the MDM. Then the algorithm calculates the characteristic parameters, such as the differential of the voltage and the fluctuation function of the internal resistance, derived from the basic parameters of the MDM. These characteristic parameters obviously vary once ISCr occurs, thereby helping the battery management system to realize ISCr detection. The effectiveness of the ISCr detection method is validated through a series of experiments.
Voltage hysteresis plagues several important families of battery electrodes, yet our understanding of its thermochemical properties remains poor. Here, the authors use isothermal calorimetry to measure the thermal effects of voltage hysteresis in a lithium-rich layered cathode and propose a mechanism for oxygen redox.
Crystallographic and electrochemical characteristics of ball-milled Ti45Zr35Ni17Cu3 + xNi (x =0, 5, 10, 15 and 20mass%) composite powders have been investigated. The powders are composed of amorphous, I- and Ni-phases when x increases from 5 to 20. With increasing x, the amount of Ni-phase increases but the quasi-lattice constant decreases. The maximum discharge capacity first increases as x increases from 0 to 15 and then decreases when x increases further from 15 to 20. The high-rate dischargeability and cycling stability increase monotonically with increasing x. The improvement of the electrochemical characteristics is ascribed to the metallic nickel particles highly dispersed in the alloys, which improves the electrochemical kinetic properties and prevents the oxidation of the alloy electrodes, as well as to the mixed structure of amorphous and icosahedral quasicrystalline phases, which enhances the hydrogen diffusivity in the bulk of the alloy electrodes and efficiently inhibits the pulverization of the alloy particles.
In the last decade, reacting Li ion electrodes in situ using vacuum based methods such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has become prevalent for assessing their reaction pathways. However, the vast majority of these studies do not perform electrochemical reactions at potentials relevant to batteries and/or characterize electrolytic reactions. Here we demonstrate a simple and flexible approach combining the benefits of solid and liquid electrolytes to enable diverse in situ characterization methods, including optical imaging, electrical measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. This work demonstrates these methods applied to the novel cell during electrolytic lithiation of the conversion anode ZnO at electrochemically relevant potentials.
At present, building energy consumption is growing rapidly in China and it accounts for about 30% of the total energy consumption. Solar energy, as a type of renewable energy, will greatly alleviate the pressure of the building energy consumption if it is widely used in residential buildings. Firstly, this paper briefly introduced the characteristics and distribution of solar energy resources in China. Secondly, this paper summarized the three types of solar energy utilization: light-gathering utilization, solar energy photo-thermal utilization and photovoltaic utilization. Among them, photo-thermal technology is suitable for solar-powered residential buildings (SPRBs) in terms of current technology and economy. Thirdly, authors analyzed the passive SPRBs and active SPRBs, where the active SPRBs are more intelligent due to its flexibility and controllability. Based on the above analysis, to realize the harmony between solar technologies and building appearance, authors put forward building integrated solar energy (BISE) design in the consideration of technology and aesthetics. The development and application of solar technologies in residential buildings embodies the concepts of energy conservation, environmental protection and sustainable development, and it will promote the development of building energy efficiency.
The toxic potential of four disinfectant agents (chlorine, ozone, peracetic acid and UV radiation), used in the disinfection of urban wastewater, was evaluated with respect to four aquatic organisms. Disinfection assays were carried out with wastewater from the city of Araraquara (São Paulo State, Brazil), and subsequently, toxicity bioassays were applied in order to verify possible adverse effects to the cladocerans (Ceriodaphnia silvestrii and Daphnia similis), midge larvae Chironomus xanthus and fish (Danio rerio). Under the experimental conditions tested, all the disinfectants were capable of producing harmful effects on the test organisms, except for C. xanthus. The toxicity of the effluent to C. silvestrii was observed to increase significantly as a result of disinfection using 2.5 mg L−1 chlorine and 29.9 mg L−1 ozone. Ozonation and chlorination significantly affected the survival of D. similis and D. rerio, causing mortality of 60 to 100 % in comparison to the non-disinfected effluent. In experiments with effluent treated with peracetic acid (PAA) and UV radiation, a statistically significant decrease in survival was only detected for D. rerio. This investigation suggested that the study of the ideal concentrations of disinfectants is a research need for ecologically safe options for the treatment of wastewater.
This paper describes the fabrication and testing of LiFePO4 cathodes for hybrid vehicle applications. The cathodes contained combinations of three different carbon conductivity additives: vapor-grown carbon fibers (CF), carbon black (CB) and graphite (GR). Cells of different carbon composition and active-material loading were tested with 10s charge and discharge pulses and found under certain conditions to meet the HEV power goals for the U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium. With all other factors held constant, cathodes with a mixture of CF+CB were found to have the best power-performance, followed by cells containing CF only and then by CB+GR. Thus, the use of carbon fibers as conductive additive was found to improve the power performance of cells compared to the baseline (CB+GR). The enhanced electrode performance due to the fibers also allows an increase in energy density while still meeting power goals. The best specific-power performance for each of the compositions investigated was found to occur around an active material loading of 1mAhcm−2. About one-third of the available energy was lost to irreversible processes when cells were pulse-charged or discharged at the maximum rate allowed by voltage-cutoff constraints.
Candidate mechanisms for physiological aging include free radical production and resulting oxidative damage, progressive erosion of telomeres and cellular senescence, age-dependent trade-offs in hormone signaling pathways, and immunosenescence, leading to an increased risk of infection, autoimmune disease, and cancer. These mechanisms are inter-related, not mutually exclusive, and probably all contribute to the aging phenotype. To date, most studies on mechanisms of aging are based on cell culture or lab animals, but interest in comparative studies is growing rapidly. Compared to mammals, birds have long life spans for their body sizes. Birds also appear to have lower rates of free radical production and oxidative damage than mammals, despite higher levels of oxidative metabolism. High levels of the antioxidant, uric acid, in birds may help protect against oxidative damage. Cultured bird cells are more resistant to oxidative damage than mammal cells, and membrane phospholipids of birds are less susceptible to peroxidation than those of mammals of the same size, but show a similar susceptibility as those of mammals with the same life span. In birds, telomeres shorten with age, and the rate of shortening is proportional to life span. Telomerase has a higher activity in long-lived than in short-lived species. Within a species, short telomeres correlate with reduced survival. Birds have higher plasma glucose than mammals, but lower levels of protein glycation, which contributes to aging damage. Immunosenescence is linked to both oxidative damage and telomere shortening. Patterns of cellular and humoral immunosenescence differ among species in birds. The rate of decline in cell-mediated immune function is inversely correlated with life span. Comparative studies on mechanisms underlying senescence in birds will continue to provide us with valuable information on how aging mechanisms have evolved.
Theory of mind (ToM), the ability to attribute mental states to others, is associated with medial prefrontal cortical (mPFC) activity and is impaired in schizophrenia. Olanzapine or clozapine but not typical antipsychotics or risperidone preferentially affect c-fos expression in mPFC in animals. We tested the hypothesis that schizophrenic patients treated with different antipsychotics would perform differently on ToM tasks. Groups receiving Typicals (n =23), Clozapine (n =18), Olanzapine (n =20) or Risperidone (n =23) and a Control group of healthy volunteers (n =24) were matched for age, gender, handedness and education. ToM functioning was assessed with picture sequence, second-order belief and faux-pas tests. Schizophrenic groups performed similarly to controls on non-ToM conditions. The Olanzapine and Clozapine groups performed similarly to Controls on ToM tasks. The Typicals and Risperidone groups performed worse than the other groups on ToM tasks. We concluded that ToM performance of schizophrenic patients is influenced by the antipsychotic they are taking. Our results suggest that olanzapine or clozapine but not typicals or risperidone may improve or protect ToM ability.
The mode of the cytotoxic activity of three benzo(c)fluorene derivatives was characterized. The observed morphological changes of lysosomes or variations of mitochondrial activity are assumed to be the consequence of cell protection against oxidative damage and/or the part of the damage process. To establish the relationship between the quantity of superoxide (O2 • −) generated and the degree of damage resulting from O2 • −, a simple system based on measurement of 3-(4-iodophenyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyltetrazolium chloride (INT) reductase activity in the presence of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was used. The functionality of the chosen battery of in vitro tests was proved using several known superoxide inducers: cyclosporin A (CsA) and benzo(a)pyrene (BP), as well as noninducers: citrinin (CT) and cycloheximide (CH). From the results followed that the cell growth tests are much better indices of toxicity than the other tests. The model system for the evaluation of the protective capacity of antioxidants against superoxide-induced cytotoxicity included simultaneous exposure of HeLa cells to cytotoxic drugs and to quercetin (Qe), an antioxidant of plant origin. The complete abolishment of the inhibition of cell proliferation and clonogenic survival was concluded to be due to the protective effect of the antioxidant. These observations correlated with the decrease of superoxide content as estimated by the INT-reductase assay in the presence of SOD using the same model system, as well as with the increase of intracellular SOD content and its activity.
Cyclic voltammograms (CVs) of the Pb electrode were obtained in Na2SO4 solutions as a function of starting potential, electrolyte concentration, voltage range and voltage scanning rate. The shape of the voltammograms was found to depend on the starting potential as well on the sweep number. This is probably due to changes in the activation state of the electrode surface. In the first sweep, the anodic portion of the voltammograms is characterized by a shoulder and three peaks as a result of the formation of PbSO4, PbO, PbO2 and transformation of PbSO4 to PbO2, respectively, on the electrode surface before the evolution of oxygen. On the other hand, in the second and later sweeps, an additional anodic peak appeared which may be due to the formation of intermediate oxides. The cathodic portion shows the occurrence of three peaks corresponding to the reduction of PbO2 to PbSO4, PbO2 to PbO and the latter with PbSO4 to spongy lead, respectively, followed by the formation of PbH2 before evolution of hydrogen. A correlation was made between the anodic peaks and their corresponding cathodic ones. Increasing the sulfate anion concentration increased the highest of the peak currents and shifted the anodic peak potentials towards more negative values. A linear relationship was obtained between the logarithm of the anodic peak current densities and the logarithm of SO4 2− anion concentration. An increase in the scan rate enhanced the current density of both the anodic and cathodic branches. Also, the anodic potentials are shifted towards more positive values, whereas the cathodic peaks are shifted in the negative direction, indicating irreversible formation of the passive film on the electrode surface.