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.     

Piezoelectric properties of PVDF-conjugated polymer nanofibers

This study presents the development and characterization of PVDF-conjugated polymer nanofiber-based systems. Five different conducting polymers (CPs) were synthesized successfully and used to create the nanofiber systems. The CPs used are polyaniline (PANI), polypyrrole (PPY), polyindole (PIN), polyanthranilic acid (PANA), and polycarbazole (PCZ). Nanofiber systems were produced utilizing the Forcespinning® technique. The nanofiber systems were developed by mechanical stretching. No electrical field or post-process poling was used in the nanofiber systems. The morphology, structure, electrochemical and piezoelectric performance was characterized. All of the nanofiber PVDF/CP systems displayed higher piezoelectric performance than the fine fiber PVDF systems. The PVDF/PPY nanofiber system displays the highest piezoelectric performance of 15.56 V. The piezoelectric performance of the PVDF/CP nanofiber systems favors potential for an attractive source of energy where highly flexible membranes could be used in power actuators, sensors and portable, and wireless devices to mention some.     

Colorimetric quantification of aqueous hydrogen peroxide in the DC plasma-liquid system

The quantification of hydrogen peroxide(H_2O_2) generated in the plasma-liquid interactions is of great importance, since the H_2O_2 species is vital for the applications of the plasma-liquid system.Herein, we report on in situ quantification of the aqueous H_2O_2(H_2O_2 aq) using a colorimetric method for the DC plasma-liquid systems with liquid as either a cathode or an anode. The results show that the H_2O_2 aqyield is 8–12 times larger when the liquid acts as a cathode than when the liquid acts as an anode. The conversion rate of the gaseous OH radicals to H_2O_2 aqis 4–6 times greater in the former case. However, the concentrations of dissolved OH radicals for both liquid as cathode and anode are of the same order of tens of n M.     

基于α-FeOOH催化H2O2蒸气的低温烟气脱硝实验

针铁矿是分布广泛、储量丰富的铁氧化物，其主要成分为α-羟基氧化铁（α-FeOOH）。为了探究针铁矿在催化H₂O₂烟气脱硝反应中的性能，本文通过沉淀-水解法制备了α-FeOOH，并在自行搭建的实验台上开展了α-FeOOH催化H₂O₂的低温烟气脱硝实验研究，深入分析了H₂O₂流量、H₂O₂浓度、汽化温度、反应温度和共存气体浓度等工况参数对脱硝性能的影响。采用离子色谱（IC）分析了单独脱硝反应和同时脱硫脱硝反应后的含氧酸成分，结合各项表征分析技术考察了催化剂反应前后的理化特性和稳定性。实验结果显示，随着汽化温度和反应温度的升高，NO的脱除效率先增加后降低；增加H₂O₂浓度对脱硝效率有明显的促进作用。当汽化温度为140℃、反应温度为160℃时，以2.5mL/h注入10mol/L的H₂O₂脱硝效率达到80%。当SO₂浓度为1000μL/L时，脱硝效率提高至86.4%。离子色谱分析结果显示，单独脱硝反应和同时脱硫脱硝反应后含氧酸产物为HNO₃和H₂SO₄。反应前后催化剂的表征结果显示，α-FeOOH在脱硝反应后依然具有良好的稳定性，显示出针铁矿在低温烟气脱硝工艺中的潜在应用前景。     

Indoor boundary layer chemistry modeling

Ozone (O₃) chemistry is thought to dominate the oxidation of indoor surfaces. We consider the hypothesis that reactions taking place within indoor boundary layers result in greater than anticipated hydroxyl radical (OH) deposition rates. We develop models that account for boundary layer mass‐transfer phenomena, O₃‐terpene chemistry and OH formation, removal, and deposition; we solve these analytically and by applying numerical methods. For an O₃‐limonene system, we find that OH flux to a surface with an O₃ reaction probability of 10^?8 is 4.3 × 10^?5 molec/(cm² s) which is about 10 times greater than predicted by a traditional boundary layer theory. At very low air exchange rates the OH surface flux can be as much as 10% of that for O₃. This effect becomes less pronounced for more O₃‐reactive surfaces. Turbulence intensity does not strongly influence the OH concentration gradient except for surfaces with an O₃ reaction probability >10^?4. Although the O₃ flux dominates OH flux under most conditions, OH flux can be responsible for as much as 10% of total oxidant uptake to otherwise low‐reactivity surfaces. Further, OH chemistry differs from that for ozone; therefore, its deposition is important in understanding the chemical evolution of some indoor surfaces and surface films.     

Effects of hydroxyl radical induced oxidation on water holding capacity and protein structure of jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) mantle

Protein oxidation is considered as an important issue in food preservation process. In the present study, the potential influence of protein oxidation on water holding capacity and protein structure of jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) mantle was investigated. After the hydroxyl radical oxidation, it was found that the carbonyl, surface hydrophobicity and dityrosine content of myofibrillar protein significantly increased (P < 0.05), while the content of total sulphydryl decreased significantly (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the fluorescence intensity of squid was weakened, and the maximum absorption peak of fluorescence red shift as the H₂O₂ concentration increased. The sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed that not only the protein cross-linking but also degradation could have occurred. The content of α-helix decreased, the content of β-sheet, β-turn and the unordered structures increased after oxidation. In addition, oxidation resulted in a decrease in water holding capacity. Taken together, oxidation resulted in the damage of the myofibrillar structure, the increase in muscle loss rate and the decrease in water holding capacity.     

The effect of the exposed crystal plane on the antioxidant activity of nanoceria

Previous reports have noted that exposed crystal planes could affect the antioxidant activity of nanocerias, although the synthesized nanocerias used in those studies had different exposed crystal planes, as well as different sizes and morphologies. In order to better understand the effect of the crystal planes on the antioxidant activity of the materials, two types of nanocerias with similar morphology and size distribution but different crystal planes were synthesized using the hydrothermal method (CeO₂–H) and the ultrasonic template method (CeO₂–U). The antioxidant activities of the nanocerias were further explored within different ·OH concentrations in the reaction system. The experimental results showed that there is an obvious difference in the antioxidant activity of the two types of nanocerias in the lower free radical concentration system due to the effects of exposed crystal planes. CeO₂–U, with more active crystal planes (100), had stronger antioxidant activity. However, with the increase in the ·OH concentration in the reaction system, the difference in the antioxidant activity of the two nanocerias decreased. This research will increase our understanding of the antioxidant activity of the exposed crystal planes on nanocerias.