Ultrathin Layered Hydroxide Cobalt Acetate Nanoplates Face‐to‐Face Anchored to Graphene Nanosheets for High‐Efficiency Lithium Storage

The dramatically increasing demand of high‐energy lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) urgently requires advanced substitution for graphite‐based anodes. Herein, inspired from the extra capacity of lithium storage in solid‐electrolyte interface (SEI) films, layered hydroxide cobalt acetates (LHCA, Co(Ac)_0.48(OH)_1.52·0.55H₂O) are introduced as novel and high‐efficiency anode materials. Furthermore, ultrathin LHCA nanoplates are face‐to‐face anchored on the surface of graphene nanosheets (GNS) through a facile solvothermal method to improve the electronic transport and avoid agglomeration during repeated cycles. Profiting from the parallel structure, LHCA//GNS nanosheets exhibit extraordinary long‐term and high‐rate performance. At the current densities of 1000 and 4000 mA g^?1, the reversible capacities maintain ≈1050 mAh g^?1 after 200 cycles and ≈780 mAh g^?1 after 300 cycles, respectively, much higher than the theoretical value of LHCA according to the conversion mechanism. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirms the conversion from acetate to acetaldehyde after lithiation. A reasonable mechanism is proposed to elucidate the lithium storage behaviors referring to the electrocatalytic conversion of OH groups with Co nanocatalysts. This work can help further understand the contribution of SEI components (especially LiOH and LiAc) to lithium storage. It is envisaged that layered transition metal hydroxides can be used as advanced materials for energy storage devices.     

Delayed release matrix pellet preparation containing an alkalizing pore-former agent

The aim of this study was to develop a delayed-release matrix pellet containing atenolol as active pharmaceutical ingredient. The matrix additionally contained trisodium phosphate dodecahydrate as alkalizing pore-former agent to enhance the dissolution of the atenolol at pH 6.8. The delayed release was ensured by coating with a gastro-resistant polymer. For this purpose, an acryl EZE MP aqueous dispersion was used, which is suggested in the literature for pellet coating. Before this functional film coating, a protective polymer layer was developed, to prevent direct contact between the alkalizing layer and the acryl EZE. The results of in vitro dissolution tests demonstrated that the double-coated pellet preparation is a delayed-release solid dosage form.     

Optimization of preparation of matrix pellets containing ethylcellulose

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the parameters of the spheronization and the nature of the wetting liquid on the properties of matrix pellets prepared by extrusion and spheronization. Ethylcellulose was used as a matrix former, microcrystalline cellulose as a filler, atenolol as a model active agent, and water and a water–ethanol mixture as liquids. The formation of the pellets and the interactions of the components were evaluated via mechanical, dissolution and morphological studies on the pellets. A factorial design was used to determine the effects of the evaluated factors. It was concluded that significant effects were exerted not only by the operational parameters, but also by the nature of the liquid. The breaking hardness and the dissolution revealed that the ethanol in the liquid caused changes in the wettability of the components and consequently in the matrix structure. This was explained by a comparison of the relative importance of the factors. The alterations induced by ethanol were preferable in the dissolution, because the possibility of the burst effect in the first phase of dissolution can then be avoided. However, it is not favourable as concerns the sphericity and the mechanical properties of the pellets.     

Simulations of passivation phenomena based on discrete lattice gas automata

We present simulation results for a simple lattice gas cellular automata model of passivation. The lattice sites representing the corrosion product are produced at the corroding surface and diffuse executing a random walk. Asymmetric simple exclusion rules of the random walk account for an attractive potential between the corrosion product particles. The particles can aggregate and when sufficiently numerous form a compact phase on the corroding surface. The model predicts a transition from the active to passive state when increasing the reactivity of the surface. The transition is characterized by a sudden increase in the surface coverage of the corrosion product interpreted as a passive layer formation. The layer blocks contact of the metal surface with the environment and reduces the corrosion rate. The model reproduces the known paradox of passivity—the surface must be reactive enough for the layer to form. A further increase in the bare reactivity reduces largely the observed reaction rate. The simulations yield information on the morphological changes of the surface layer before and after the transition. In terms of the corrosion current, the active state is described by the current increase with the polarizing potential according to the Tafel law while in the passive state the current is independent of the anodic potential. Our simple model reproduces principal features of passivation.     

Covalent Adaptable Microstructures via Combining Two-Photon Laser Printing and Alkoxyamine Chemistry: Toward Living 3D Microstructures

Manufacturing programmable materials, whose mechanical properties can be adapted on demand, is highly desired for their application in areas ranging from robotics, to biomedicine, or microfluidics. Herein, the inclusion of dynamic and living bonds, such as alkoxyamines, in a printable formulation suitable for two-photon 3D laser printing is exploited. On one hand, taking advantage of the dynamic covalent character of alkoxyamines, the nitroxide exchange reaction is investigated. As a consequence, a reduction of the Young´s Modulus by 50%, is measured by nanoindentation. On the other hand, due to its “living” characteristic, the chain extension becomes possible via nitroxide mediated polymerization. In particular, living nitroxide mediated polymerization of styrene results not only in a dramatic increase of the volume (≈8 times) of the 3D printed microstructure but also an increase of the Young's Modulus by two orders of magnitude (from 14 MPa to 2.7 GPa), while maintaining the shape including fine structural details. Thus, the approach introduces a new dimension by enabling to create microstructures with dynamically tunable size and mechanical properties.     

宏观过程的方向与限度——可逆性判据(Ⅱ)

本文从平衡判据的普遍规律--克劳修斯不等式出发,按照不同的过程条件,分别讨论了熵判据、亥氏函数和吉氏函数判据以及相变化和化学变化的可逆性判据.同时指出了这些平衡判据所包含的物理意义及它们间的一些内在联系.     

基于数值模拟的定向连续铸造固液界面位置人工神经网络模型的研究

基于人工神经网络原理及数值模拟技术，对定向凝固连续铸造过程中控制参数的选取进行了研究。利用自行设计的上引式定向凝固连铸机，结合数值模拟，提取了引晶速率、熔体温度、结晶器温度、冷却水温度、冷却水流量、冷却距离等控制参数值及相应目标参数值的固液界面位置。通过归一化处理所得数据，采用BP算法训练网络，对定向凝固连铸控制参数与固液界面位置之间的映射关系进行了函数逼近，建立了固液界面位置神经网络模型，依据该模型，可定量预测定向凝固连铸过程的工艺状态，并可为将来的定向凝固连铸神经网络控制提供可行的控制模型。     

Microwave irradiation under different pH conditions induced a decrease in β-lactoglobulin antigenicity

Whey proteins adjusted at pH values 2, 4.6, 9 and at the natural milk pH (pH 6.8) were subjected to microwave irradiation at 300 W for 20 min or 700 W for 10 min. The protein composition of treated and native whey proteins were evaluated by Lowry’s method and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The ability of treated whey to bind IgG polyclonal antibody was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using sera obtained from rabbit immunized to β-Lactoglobulin (β-Lg). Significantly higher losses in soluble protein concentrations were observed for microwave irradiated whey proteins at pH value 4.6 (35.6% at 300 W and 44.33% at 700 W) (P < 0.0001) compared with those irradiated at the natural milk pH (26% at 300 or 700 W). The electrophoretic patterns of these proteins revealed a considerable decrease in intensity of the band corresponding to α-lactalbumin but only a slight modification was observed for the electrophoretic profiles of β-lactoglobulin. The data obtained with a rabbit anti-β-lactoglobulin immunoglobulin indicated a low antigenic response for microwave-irradiated whey proteins at the natural milk pH (up to 29.32% as well as 300–700 W) (P < 0.001). The lowest antigenicity was observed for samples adjusted to pH 4.6 followed by microwave irradiation at 300 or 700 W (46.99% at 300 W and 41.16% at 700 W) (P < 0.0001).     

GaAs-based materials for heterojunction bipolar transistor's: reliability results and MMIC applications

This paper reports the present status of GaAs based-heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) under development at Thales. We have developed a complete GaInP/GaAs-based technological process from material studies to discrete devices and microwave monolithic integrated circuits (MMIC) realisations. This know-how has been transferred recently to Thales/United monolithic semi-conductors. Discrete devices with output power over 1 W and power added efficiency (PAE) over 50% have been obtained at 10 GHz in CW. 8 W MMIC amplifiers have been fabricated using the same unit cells. The first reliability results are promising: more than 6000 h without failure for devices stressed up to 210°C and 40 kA cm⁻². However, it seems that these results can still be improved. Some physical properties of the GaInP/GaAs HBT structures are suspected to have a major impact on the device reliability. The role of key parameters such as hydrogen incorporation in the GaAs base layer or residual strain in the GaInP/GaAs HBT structure has been investigated and its effects on the device characteristics identified. However, the major reliability improvement came from a novel way to passivate the extrinsic base surface. A comparison of the obtained results (device performance and reliability) with some of the best reported values in the literature (HP, TI, Daimler-Benz, etc.) is presented.     

Fabrication of evacuated glazing at low temperature

An indium-based seal augmented with an adhesive, developed to maintain a vacuum between two sheets of glass, avoids the high temperatures required to produce a seal in evacuated glazings to date. An experimentally-validated three-dimensional transient model has been used to predict heat transfer for an indium/adhesive sealed 1 m² area evacuated window with a highly insulating frame. An overall heat loss coefficient of 0.9 W m⁻² K⁻¹, with a midplane value of 0.36 W m⁻² K⁻¹, can be achieved with 0.72 visible transmittance for two 6 mm panes separated by 0.2 mm diameter pillars 40 mm apart. The conduction through a 3 mm edge-seal was 1.14 W m⁻² K⁻¹. Detailed three-dimensional isothermal contour plots through the system are presented.