Dual functions of three-dimensional hierarchical architecture on improving the rate capability and cycle performance of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cathode material for lithium-ion battery

The main obstacles in lithium-ion battery are limited by rate performance and the rapid capacity fading of LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ (NCM811). Herein, a novel three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical coating material has been fabricated by in situ growing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the surfaces of Ni–Al double oxide (Ni–Al-LDO) sheets (named as LDO&CNT) with Ni–Al double hydroxide (Ni–Al-LDH) as both the substrate and catalyst precursor. The resultant LDO&CNT nanocomposites are uniformly coated on the surfaces of NCM811 by the physical mixing method. The rate capability of the resultant cathode material retains to 78.80% at a current rate of 3C. Its capacity retention increases by 6.7–14.42% compared with pristine NCM811 after 100 cycles within a potential range of 2.75–4.3 V at 0.5C. The improved rate capability and cycle performance of NCM811 are assigned to the synergistic effects between Ni–Al-LDO and CNTs. The hierarchical LDO&CNT nanocomposites coating on the surface of NCM811 avoids the aggregation of conductive CNTs and the stacking of Ni–Al-LDO nanosheets. Furthermore, it accelerates Li⁺ and electrons shuttle and reduces the reaction of Li₂O with H₂O and CO₂ in air, which results in Li₂CO₃ and LiOH alkali formation on the NCM811 surface.     

Cytotoxic Potential of a-Azepano- and 3-Amino-3,4-SeCo-Triterpenoids

Semi-synthetic triterpenoids, holding an amino substituted seven-membered A-ring (azepano-ring), which could be synthesized from triterpenic oximes through a Beckmann type rearrangement followed by a reduction of lactame fragment, are considered to be novel promising agents exhibiting anti-microbial, alpha-glucosidase, and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. In this study, in an attempt to develop new antitumor candidates, a series of A-ring azepano- and 3-amino-3,4-seco-derivatives of betulin, oleanolic, ursolic, and glycyrrhetinic acids were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against five human cancer cell lines and non-malignant mouse fibroblasts by means of a colorimetric sulforhodamine assay. Azepanoallobetulinic acid amide derivative 11 was the most cytotoxic compound of this series but showed little selectivity between the different human tumor cell lines. Flow cytometry experiments showed compound 11 to act mainly by apoptosis (44.3%) and late apoptosis (21.4%). The compounds were further screened at the National Cancer Institute towards a panel of 60 cancer cell lines. It was found that compounds 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, 19, and 20 showed growth inhibitory (GI₅₀) against the most sensitive cell lines at submicromolar concentrations (0.20–0.94 μM), and their cytotoxic activity (LC₅₀) was also high (1–6 μM). Derivatives 3, 8, 11, 15, and 16 demonstrated a certain selectivity profile at GI₅₀ level from 5.16 to 9.56 towards K-562, CCRF-CEM, HL-60(TB), and RPMI-8226 (Leukemia), HT29 (Colon cancer), and OVCAR-4 (Ovarian cancer) cell lines. Selectivity indexes of azepanoerythrodiol 3 at TGI level ranged from 5.93 (CNS cancer cell lines SF-539, SNB-19 and SNB-75) to 14.89 for HCT-116 (colon cancer) with SI 9.56 at GI₅₀ level for the leukemia cell line K-562. The present study highlighted the importance of A-azepano-ring in the triterpenic core for the development of novel antitumor agents, and a future aim to increase the selectivity profile will thus lie in the area of modifications of azepano-triterpenic acids at their carboxyl group.     

Study of Pb-based and Pb-free perovskite solar cells using Cu-doped Ni1-xO thin films as hole transport material

SCAPS solar cell simulation program was applied to model an inverted structure of perovskite solar cells using Cu-doped Ni_1-xO thin films as hole transport layer. The Cu-doped Ni_1-xO film were made by co-sputtering deposition under different deposition conditions. By increasing the amount of the Cu-dopant, the film crystallinity enhanced whereas the bandgap energy decreased. The transmittance of the thin films decreased significantly by increasing the sputtering power of copper. High quality, uniform, compact, and pin-hole free films with low surface roughness were achieved. The structural, chemical, surface morphology, optical, electrical, and electronic properties of the Cu doped Ni_1-xO films were used as input parameters in the simulation of Pb-based (MAPbI_3-xCl_x) and Pb-free (MAGeI₃) perovskite solar cells. Simulation results showed that the performance of both Pb-based and Pb-free perovskite solar cell devices significantly enhanced with Cu-doped Ni_1-xO film. The highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) for the Pb-free perovskite solar cell is 8.9% which is lower than the highest PCE of 17.5% for the Pb-based perovskite solar cell.     

Microstructures and properties of nickel-titanium carbide composites fabricated by laser cladding

In this work, Ni/TiC composites were synthesized by the laser cladding technique (LCT). A scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), microhardness meter, electrochemical workstation, and friction and wear tester examined the microstructure, surface morphology, phase structure, microhardness, wear, and corrosion resistances of the Ni/TiC composites. These results indicated the Ni/40TiC composite contained finer equiaxed crystals than the Ni and Ni/20TiC composites. In addition, numerous TiC particles in the Ni/40TiC composite impeded growth of the nickel crystals, which resulted in the fine microstructure of the Ni/40TiC composite. The Ni, Ni/20TiC, and Ni/40TiC composites exhibited face-centered cubic (f c c) lattices. The average microhardness values of the Ni/20TiC and Ni/40TiC composites were approximately 748 HV and 851 HV, respectively. The Ni/40TiC composite had the lowest friction coefficient (0.43) among all three coatings, and only some shallow scratches appeared on the surface of the Ni/40TiC composite. The corrosion potential (E) of Ni/40TiC exceeded the Ni/20TiC composite, and both were larger than the Ni composite, which indicated the Ni/40TiC composite had outstanding corrosion resistance and the Ni composite had poor corrosion resistance. The corrosion current densities (i) of Ni, Ni/20TiC, and Ni/40TiC composites were 5.912, 4.405, and 3.248 μA/cm², respectively.     

Effect of impact angle on wear behavior of Mo2NiB2–Ni cermets with different Ni content

Herein, the influence of the impact angle and Ni content on the wear behavior of Mo₂NiB₂–Ni cermets was studied using an erodent-carrying slurry comprising artificial seawater and SiO₂ sands. The results reveal that the material loss may be attributed to the wear damage caused by SiO₂ sands because cermets are expected to exhibit good corrosion resistance in artificial seawater. The relative density of cermets markedly influences their resistance to wear damage, and the material loss experienced by cermets with poor relative density is 2–4 times higher than that of cermets with good relative density; this occurs because a higher relative density can markedly enhance the mechanical properties and reduce the defects in the cermets. Moreover, the results indicate that as the impact angle increases from 0° to 60°, the manifestation of the wear mechanism changes from damaging the Ni binder phase (caused by single cutting wear) to damaging both the Mo₂NiB₂ ceramic and Ni binder phases due to the combination of cutting wear and impact wear. The wear damage is dominated by the cutting wear and impact wear from SiO₂ sand at the low and high impact angles, respectively. Furthermore, the severe deterioration of the single ceramic skeleton at high impact angles indicates that the synergistic influence of the Mo₂NiB₂ ceramic and Ni binder phases on enhancing the wear resistance of the cermets intensifies at high impact angles.     

Hit to Leads with Cytotoxic Effect in Leukemic Cells: Total Synthesis Intermediates as a Molecule Treasure Chest

A previously designed and developed 12-step total synthesis that includes [1,1′-biphenyl]-2-amine and carbazole intermediates and that ultimately produces the carbazole alkaloid carbazomycin G was exploited as a screening compound library with the goal of identifying potential lead compound(s) with cytotoxic effect. These compounds were investigated by using in-vitro tests involving the two human cell lines HL-60 and MOLM-13, which both model acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). The in-vitro biological test results were used together with the molecular structures of the various intermediates in a concise SAR analysis. Several of the intermediates revealed cytotoxicity (IC₅₀<10⁻⁴ M), although the final natural product carbazomycin G did not reveal cytotoxicity versus the two said human cell lines.     

ZK60镁合金表面滚压强化试验研究

试验研究了ZK60镁合金表面滚压加工中工艺参数对试件表面粗糙度、表面形貌、表面残余应力和表层显微硬度的影响,结果表明滚压力和重复滚压次数对试件的表面粗糙度、表面形貌以及表面残余应力和表层硬度影响程度较大,滚压速度影响较小。对精车ZK60镁合金试件进行滚压加工,试件表面粗糙度R a、R z最大减小了50.3%和48.1%;残余压应力最大可达-54.55 MPa;显微硬度从试件表层到内部基体材料逐渐降低,表层硬度值最大为92.83 HV 0.25,比基体材料硬度提高了15.32%。     

Fabrication of 3D Ni nanosheet array on Crofer22APU interconnect and NiO-YSZ anode support to sinter with small-size Ag nanoparticles for low-temperature sealing SOFCs

A novel low-temperature sealing method was developed to seal solid oxide fuel cells. The 3D Ni nanosheet array was pre-fabricated on faying surfaces of Crofer22APU interconnect and NiO-YSZ anode-support. Then it was covered with Au film without changing its morphology. This special nanostructure improved sintering efficiency between Ag nanoparticles and substrates. A dense joint was obtained at the low-temperature between 250 °C–300 °C. This method effectively avoided the oxidation of interconnect during sealing. When joints were sealed at 300 °C, the shear strength reached 16 MPa. The fracture was mainly located in the central Ag layer, presenting a significant plastic deformation. Due to the effective protection of Ni layer, joints also possessed excellent oxidation resistance in oxidizing atmosphere at 800 °C for 400 h. After high-temperature oxidation, the shear strength was increased to 23 MPa, revealing an increasement of 43.8% compared with the as-sealed condition (16 MPa). This sealing method has great potential in sealing solid oxide fuel cells. It also can be extended to seal other energy-conversion devices.     

Developing high-performance laminated Cu/TiC composites through melt infiltration of Ni-doped freeze-cast preforms

Nacre-inspired laminated composites have been proven to possess a unique combination of strength and toughness. In this study, we fabricated nacre-mimetic Cu/TiC composites via unidirectional freezing of aqueous TiC slurries containing different amounts of NiO additives, followed by ice sublimation, carbothermal reduction of NiO to Ni during sintering and then gas-pressure infiltration of the Cu melt. The introduction of Ni greatly facilitated the densification of ceramic lamellae and enhanced the interfacial bonding between Cu and TiC. The resultant composites displayed outstanding damage tolerance and anisotropic electrical conductivities. Specifically, for an ～31?vol% TiC–Cu composite containing 24?wt% Ni in the ceramic lamellae (based on the TiC content), a fracture toughness (K_Jc) of 72.5?±?1.0?MPa·m^1/2, work of fracture of 53.4?±?3.5?kJ/m², bending strength of 725?±?11?MPa and longitudinal electrical conductivity of 22.7?MS/m (～60% of the Cu matrix) were achieved, which were approx. 81%, 536%, 122% and 97% higher than those of the Ni-free composite, respectively. Noticeable toughening was demonstrated to be a consequence of multiple cracking, plastic deformation and uncracked-ligament bridging of the metal layers, as well as crack deflection and blunting. On the other hand, significant strengthening resulted from tailoring the microstructures in the ceramic layers and at the Cu/TiC interface as a result of Ni doping. We believe that the facile strategy adopted herein provides an effective way to solve the problems of wetting and bonding related to metal infiltration and can be readily extended to the preparation of other nacre-inspired metal?ceramic composites.