Screening chloride Li-ion conductors using high-throughput force-field molecular dynamics

The realization of high-energy-density all-solid-state Li-ion batteries requires materials exhibiting both high Li-ion conductivity and high deformability, as exemplified by Li₃MCl₆-type chlorides. Herein, we optimized the classical force-field (FF) parameters for 36 Li- and Cl-containing compounds to reproduce the results of high-precision first-principles calculations and performed rapid FF molecular dynamics (MD) calculations to determine their Li-ion conductivities. In addition, shear moduli were evaluated by first-principles calculations and used as a deformability index. Li₄Mn₃Cl₁₀ was selected based on its Li-ion conductivity, stiffness, and thermodynamic stability. In accordance with the low calculated shear modulus (11.7 GPa), the cold-pressed compact had a high relative density of 98%, which indicated good deformability. The room-temperature conductivity (3.9 mS cm⁻¹) was similar to that (1.6 mS cm⁻¹) obtained by high-precision first-principles MD calculations. The Li-ion conductivity of synthesized Li₄Mn₃Cl₁₀ (18 µS cm⁻¹) was relatively rather high compared to those of known chloride materials but much lower than the calculated value, which was ascribed to the fact that calculations were performed for the high-temperature phase, whereas synthesis yielded the low-temperature phase. The material screening method greatly increases the speed of material exploration and expands the application possibilities of chloride materials for all-solid-state batteries.     

Underwater Blasting Work by an Electromagnetic Firing Method

There are many difficulties and dangers when carrying out underwater blasting in a rapid stream. The electromagnetic firing method is a special type of the remote control firing method and has a distinct advantage to the underwater blasting. The principle of this method is based on electromagnetic phenomena, the induced electromotive force by the coil which is set into the electromagnetic field is applied to fire the detonation cap. In this paper, the authors discuss the fundamental theory of the electromagnetic field caused by the exciting loop, and the effect of the conductive medium. As an example, they present the procedure and results of an actual underwater blasting work which is the first application of this technique.     

Influence of the impregnating property on mechanical properties of commingled yarn composites

Three types of glass/nylon 6 intermediate material forms-film stacking, uncommingled yarn, and commingled yarm-were selected study the correlations between the impregnating property and mechanical properties. The size of the glass fiber block to be filled with matrix and the porosity in glass fiber bundles by spearing out the fiber bundle was different in these materials. Unidirectional glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites were fabricated by compression molding. The being test was performed by using the three-point loading system, and the fracture behavior and the degree of impregnation were observed to examine the influence of processing conditions on the bending properties, relative to the form of the intermediate material. Bending strength increased, in accordance with the impregnating property, least in the film stacking form, second most in uncommingled yarn, and most in commingled yarn. The impregnating property was affected by the size of fiber blocks and the porosity in fiber bundles, because bending strength was improved by spreading out the fiber bundles. Commingled yarn is an excellent intermediate materials, which has both the fineness of matrix/fiber mixing and large porosity in fiber bundles.     

Automatic parameter learning method for agent activation spreading network by evolutionary computation

Artificial Life and Robotics - A variety of planning research is being actively conducted in multiple research fields. The focus of these studies is to flexibly utilize both immediate and...