Nanostructured electrodes for lithium-ion and lithium-air batteries: the latest developments, challenges, and perspectives

The urgency for clean and secure energy has stimulated a global resurgence in searching for advanced electrical energy storage systems. For now and the foreseeable future, batteries remain the most promising electrical energy storage systems for many applications, from portable electronics to emerging technologies such as electric vehicles and smart grids, by potentially offering significantly improved performance, energy efficiencies, reliability, and energy security while also permitting a drastic reduction in fuel consumption and emissions. The energy and power storage characteristics of batteries critically impact the commercial viability of these emerging technologies. For example, the realization of electric vehicles hinges on the availability of batteries with significantly improved energy and power density, durability, and reduced cost. Further, the design, performance, portability, and innovation of many portable electronics are limited severely by the size, power, and cycle life of the existing batteries. Creation of nanostructured electrode materials represents one of the most attractive strategies to dramatically enhance battery performance, including capacity, rate capability, cycling life, and safety. This review aims at providing the reader with an understanding of the critical scientific challenges facing the development of advanced batteries, various unique attributes of nanostructures or nano-architectures applicable to lithium-ion and lithium-air batteries, the latest developments in novel synthesis and fabrication procedures, the unique capabilities of some powerful, in situ characterization techniques vital to unraveling the mechanisms of charge and mass transport processes associated with battery performance, and the outlook for future-generation batteries that exploit nanoscale materials for significantly improved performance to meet the ever-increasing demands of emerging technologies.     

Reverse engineering and identification in systems biology: strategies,perspectives and challenges

The interplay of mathematical modelling with experiments is one of the central elements in systems biology. The aim of reverse engineering is to infer, analyse and understand, through this interplay, the functional and regulatory mechanisms of biological systems. Reverse engineering is not exclusive of systems biology and has been studied in different areas, such as inverse problem theory, machine learning, nonlinear physics, (bio)chemical kinetics, control theory and optimization, among others. However, it seems that many of these areas have been relatively closed to outsiders. In this contribution, we aim to compare and highlight the different perspectives and contributions from these fields, with emphasis on two key questions: (i) why are reverse engineering problems so hard to solve, and (ii) what methods are available for the particular problems arising from systems biology?     

Heavy fermions: Typical phenomena and recent developments

A survey is given of typical phenomena, new materials and recent developments in heavy-fermion physics. In particular, the following topics are addressed: (i) YbNiAl, a new heavy-fermion local-moment antiferromagnet (LMM) with Néel temperature T_n = 3 K, (ii) non-Fermi-liquid behavior at the magnetic instability in two heavy-fermion systems with intact f-ion sublattice, i.e. orthorhombic CePt(Si_1–xGe_x) and tetragonal U(Cu_4+xAl_8–x), (iii) the low-temperature properties of the anisotropic Rondo insulator CeNiSn, and (iv) some of the most unusual observations made on low-carrier-density rare-earth systems like Sm₃Te₄ and Sm₃Se₄. While the exotic symmetry-broken (superconducting and magnetic) ground states of heavy-fermion metals are discussed in several other contributions to this volume, we focus in the remainder of this paper on the relationship between LMM ordering and heavy-fermion superconductivity: Firstly, the LMM ordered compound CeCu₂Ge₂ (T_n = 4.1K) is addressed which was recently found to become a non-magnetic heavy-fermion superconductor under high hydrostatic pressure, p 70 kbar (D. Jaccard et al., Phys. Lett. A163,475 (1992)). Point-contact spectroscopy is used to investigate in more detail the high-pressure superconducting phase of CeCu₂Ge₂. Secondly, we summarize high-pressure results on UPd₂Al₃, the first compound to show homogeneous coexistence between LMM ordering and heavy-fermion superconductivity.     

Introduction: recent developments in the study of gamma-ray bursts

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are immensely powerful explosions, originating at cosmological distances, whose outbursts persist for durations ranging from milliseconds to tens of seconds or more. In these brief moments, the explosions radiate more energy than the Sun will release in its entire 10Gyr lifetime. Current theories attribute these phenomena to the final collapse of a massive star, or the coalescence of a binary system induced by gravity wave emission. New results from Swift and related programmes offer fresh understanding of the physics of GRBs, and of the local environments and host galaxies of burst progenitors. Bursts found at very high red shifts are new tools for exploring the intergalactic medium, the first stars and the earliest stages of galaxy formation. This Royal Society Discussion Meeting has brought together leading figures in the field, together with young researchers and students, to discuss and review the latest results from NASA's Swift Gamma-ray Burst Observatory and elsewhere, and to examine their impact on current understanding of the observed phenomena.     

Theory of defects in Si and Ge: Past, present and recent developments

Over the past few decades, considerable progress has been achieved in the theoretical predictions of a wide range of properties of defects in semiconductors. In addition to structures, energetics, spin and charge densities, theory now routinely predicts accurate vibrational properties of defects, and thus connects to the optical characterization of light impurities. However, the positions of gap levels have yet to be predicted with systemically reliable accuracy. Today, supercells much larger than in the past are being used to describe defect centers from first principles. Systems large enough to study the dynamics of extended defects can be handled near the first-principles level. This paper contains a brief review of the key developments that have rendered theory quantitatively useful to experimentalists and an overview of the current ‘state-of-the-art’ and ongoing developments. Some of the remaining challenges are discussed, with examples in Si and Ge.     

Review on photocatalytic and electrocatalytic artificial nitrogen fixation for ammonia synthesis at mild conditions: Advances,challenges and perspectives

The ammonia synthesis from nitrogen and water under ambient conditions is one of the most inviting but challenging reaction routes. Although nitrogen is abundant in the atmosphere and the ammonia synthesis reaction is exothermic on the thermodynamics, the conversion of N₂ to ammonia is actually hard to proceed owing to the chemical inertness and stability of N₂ molecules. In industry, ammonia synthesis is carried out by the Haber-Bosch process under harsh conditions (300–500 °C, 20–30 MPa) associated with the requirement of substantial energy input and the enormous emission of greenhouse gases (e.g., CO₂). Recently, a growing number of studies on photo(electro)catalytic and electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) in aqueous solution have attracted extensive attention, which holds great promise for nitrogen fixation under room temperature and atmospheric pressure. However, the very low efficiency and ambiguous mechanism still remain as the major hurdles for the development of photochemical and electrochemical NRR systems. Here we provide an overview of the latest progresses, remaining challenges and future prospects in photocatalytic and electrocatalytic nitrogen fixation. Moreover, this review offers a helpful guidance for the reasonable design of photocatalysts and electrocatalysts towards NRR by combining theory predictions and experiment results. We hope this review can stimulate more research interests in the relatively understudied but highly promising research field of NRR.

     

Magnetic nanoparticles: recent developments in drug delivery system

Nanostructured functional materials have demonstrated their great potentials in medical applications, attracting increasing attention because of the opportunities in cancer therapy and the treatment of other ailments. This article reviews the problems and recent advances in the development of magnetic NPs for drug delivery.     

Recent developments in inorganically filled carbon nanotubes: successes and challenges

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are a unique class of nanomaterials that can be imagined as rolled graphene sheets. The inner hollow of a CNT provides an extremely small, one-dimensional space for storage of materials. In the last decade, enormous effort has been spent to produce filled CNTs that combine the properties of both the host CNT and the guest filling material. CNTs filled with various inorganic materials such as metals, alloys, semiconductors and insulators have been obtained using different synthesis approaches including capillary filling and chemical vapor deposition. Recently, several potential applications have emerged for these materials, such as the measurement of temperature at the nanoscale, nano-spot welding, and the storage and delivery of extremely small quantities of materials. A clear distinction between this class of materials and other nanostructures is the existence of an enormous interfacial area between the CNT and the filling matter. Theoretical investigations have shown that the lattice mismatch and strong exchange interaction of CNTs with the guest material across the interface should result in reordering of the guest crystal structure and passivation of the surface dangling bonds and thus yielding new and interesting physical properties. Despite preliminary successes, there remain many challenges in realizing applications of CNTs filled with inorganic materials, such as a comprehensive understanding of their growth and physical properties and control of their structural parameters. In this article, we overview research on filled CNT nanomaterials with special emphasis on recent progress and key achievements. We also discuss the future scope and the key challenges emerging out of a decade of intensive research on these fascinating materials.     

Operational experience and recent developments at the National Medical Cyclotron, Sydney

The National Medical Cyclotron, Sydney, Australia commenced operation in mid 1991, with a mission to provide PET and SPECT radionuclides throughout Australia. The realization of the present production capacity has been synonymous with the development of the facility's industrial cyclotron (IBA Cyclone 30). The choice of cyclotron was based on the Cyclone 30's virtues as a compact, user-friendly, energy efficient cyclotron, offering the beam quality characteristic of negative ion technology. Development of the cyclotron has improved reliability and increased beam capacity, while improvements to targetry have increased production reliability. More recently, the installation and commissioning of a new solid target irradiation facility has provided much needed redundancy. This paper describes the major cyclotron and targetry developments carried out to date.     

Taste masking technologies in oral pharmaceuticals: recent developments and approaches

Taste is one of the most important parameters governing patient compliance. Undesirable taste is one of several important formulation problems that are encountered with certain drugs. Oral administration of bitter drugs with an acceptable degree of palatability is a key issue for health care providers, especially for pediatric patients. Several oral pharmaceuticals, numerous food and beverage products, and bulking agents have unpleasant, bitter-tasting components. So, any pharmaceutical formulation with a pleasing taste would definitely be preferred over a competitor's product and would translate into better compliance and therapeutic value for the patient and more business and profits for the company. The desire of improved palatability in these products has prompted the development of numerous formulations with improved performance and acceptability. This article reviews the earlier applications and methodologies of taste masking and discusses the most recent developments and approaches of bitterness reduction and inhibition for oral pharmaceuticals.     

Otic drug delivery systems: formulation principles and recent developments

Disorders of the ear severely impact the quality of life of millions of people, but the treatment of these disorders is an ongoing, but often overlooked challenge particularly in terms of formulation design and product development. The prevalence of ear disorders has spurred significant efforts to develop new therapeutic agents, but perhaps less innovation has been applied to new drug delivery systems to improve the efficacy of ear disease treatments. This review provides a brief overview of physiology, major diseases, and current therapies used via the otic route of administration. The primary focuses are on the various administration routes and their formulation principles. The article also presents recent advances in otic drug deliveries as well as potential limitations. Otic drug delivery technology will likely evolve in the next decade and more efficient or specific treatments for ear disease will arise from the development of less invasive drug delivery methods, safe and highly controlled drug delivery systems, and biotechnology targeting therapies.     

Moisture losses from perishable commodities: recent research and developments

Moisture loss from stored perishable commodities has been a subject considerable research interest in recent years, both from the standpoint of improved design of refrigerated storages and measurement of transpiration coefficients. This Paper presents a review of recent literature on the subject.     

Inspection procedures in manufacturing processes: recent studies and research perspectives

Quality inspections are performed in almost every production system to prevent nonconforming products from reaching final customers or end users. Quality inspections are typically performed referring to specific inspection procedures, depending on the production process. Two general inspection paradigms may be identified: online inspection and offline inspection. These are differentiated by the way in which inspections are made. The paper presents a recent survey on new studies on inspection procedures for both paradigms. The main novelty of the study is the identification of new research perspectives in such a highly explored field. New schemes of analysis allow highlighting the research areas which are not adequately covered by the literature. A brief examination of some bibliometric aspects is also proposed.     

Review of the recent developments in cellulose nanocomposite processing

This review addresses the recent developments of the processing of cellulose nanocomposites, focusing on the most used techniques, including solution casting, melt-processing of thermoplastic cellulose nanocomposites and resin impregnation of cellulose nanopapers using thermoset resins. Important techniques, such as partially dissolved cellulose nanocomposites, nanocomposite foams reinforced with nanocellulose, as well as long continuous fibers or filaments, are also addressed. It is shown how the research on cellulose nanocomposites has rapidly increased during the last 10 years, and manufacturing techniques have been developed from simple casting to these more sophisticated methods. To produce cellulose nanocomposites for commercial use, the processing of these materials must be developed from laboratory to industrially viable methods.     

Sedimentation and suspension flows: Historical perspective and some recent developments

Sedimentation and suspension flows play an important role in modern technology. This special issue joins nine recent contributions to the mathematics of these processes. The Guest Editors provide a concise account of the contributions to research in sedimentation and thickening that were made during the 20th century with a focus on the different steps of progress that were made in understanding batch sedimentation and continuous thickening processes in mineral processing. A major breakthrough was Kynch's kinematic sedimentation theory published in 1952. Mathematically, this theory gives rise to a nonlinear first-order scalar conservation law for the local solids concentration. Extensions of this theory to continuous sedimentation, flocculent and polydisperse suspensions, vessels with varying cross-section, centrifuges and several space dimensions, as well as its current applications are reviewed.