Effect of the atmosphere on chemical composition and electrochemical properties of solid electrolyte interface on electrodeposited Li metal

Many efforts have been paid to realize the superior anodes for future Li batteries in either the dry Ar atmosphere or the dry air atmosphere. In this work, in order to clarify the effects of such atmospheres, the most reactive anodes of Li were freshly electrodeposited under the dry Ar or under the dry air condition. The Solid Electrolyte Interface (SEI) formed during the electrodeposition of Li anodes is revealed to have a different chemical composition and protective feature. The Li deposited under the dry air was revealed to have longer cycle life in the electrolyte than that deposited in Ar, even in the electrolyte containing ionic liquid. From the XPS results, the SEI formed in dry air is proved to be different from that formed in Ar gas atmospheres, that is, the SEI formed in dry air consists of Li₂CO₃ and Li nitride. In order to improve the performance of the anodes, the atmosphere for the initial preparation of the anode/electrolyte interface should be tuned.     

One-pot hydrothermal synthesis of uniformly cubic Co3O4 nanocrystals

Cubic Co₃O₄ nanocrystals (NCs) were synthesized by a one-pot hydrothermal reaction in the presence of the oxidant KClO₃ and the capping reagent polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The as-prepared Co₃O₄ NCs were uniformly cubic with sharp edges and good crystallinity and showed flat surfaces with {100} facets. The capped PVP could be removed without losing cubic shape by heating the NCs at 300 °C.     

Incorporating a Polyethyleneglycol Linker to Enhance the Hydrophilicity of Mitochondria-Targeted Triphenylphosphonium Constructs

The targeting of bioactive molecules and probes to mitochondria can be achieved by coupling to the lipophilic triphenyl phosphonium (TPP) cation, which accumulates several hundred-fold within mitochondria in response to the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ_m). Typically, a simple alkane links the TPP to its “cargo”, increasing overall hydrophobicity. As it would be beneficial to enhance the water solubility of mitochondria-targeted compounds we explored the effects of replacing the alkyl linker with a polyethylene glycol (PEG). We found that the use of PEG led to compounds that were readily taken up by isolated mitochondria and by mitochondria inside cells. Within mitochondria the PEG linker greatly decreased adsorption of the TPP constructs to the matrix-facing face of the mitochondrial inner membrane. These findings will allow the distribution of mitochondria-targeted TPP compounds within mitochondria to be fine-tuned.     

Laser-induced shockwave chromatography: a separation and analysis method for nanometer-sized particles and molecules

A microscopic chromatography has been developed where nanometer-size molecules or particles are separated according to their size by the laser-induced shockwave in a water-filled capillary. As the shockwave passed through the mixture of molecules/particles in solution, they move to the direction of the propagation of the shockwave. The distance from the point of shockwave generation depends on the particle size or molecular weight. This technique has some advantages compared to conventional chromatography, in terms of quick analysis of molecular weight and applicability to sticky and adsorbing polymers. Experimental results obtained for proteins, their aggregates, and inorganic nanoparticles are presented.     

Diamond synthesis from methane-hydrogen-water mixed gas using a microwave plasma

Fine particles of diamond or diamond-like carbon were synthesized from methane-hydrogen-water mixed gas using a microwave plasma. The growth rate was several times as fast as that of methane-hydrogen mixed gas, which is the conventional method to prepare diamond from the gas phase. Promotion of the methane decomposition reaction and the removal reaction of byproduct graphite by OH radicals produced in the plasma were credited with enhancing the rate.     

Application of diamond films from CO-H2 plasma to tool blade coating

Diamond films were coated on WC-Co alloy tool blades using a microwave plasma of CO-H₂ mixed gas. Diamond film prepared at a CO concentration of 10% had good properties: Vickers hardness % 8500 kg mm^–2 and adhesion force 1.7 kg mm^–2. No peel-off of the diamond film was observed after a cutting test of an Al-Si alloy rod at a cutting speed of 450 m min^–1 for 0.5 h. It is thought that the high quality of the film originated from the selective etching of cobalt from the tool blade surface by CO-H₂ plasma.     

Heat transfer on tube bundles embedded horizontally in a liquid‐fluidized bed: 2nd report: On tube bundles of fundamental layouts including in‐line layouts

Heat transfer coefficients were measured on tube bundles of fundamental layouts including in‐line layouts embedded horizontally in a liquid‐fluidized bed. Tested tube layouts were single tubes, transverse single tube rows, longitudinal single tube rows, and in‐line arranged tube bundles. A total of 7 kinds of particles were used. Comparisons of the experimental data showed a good agreement with the heat transfer correlation developed for staggered layouts, when the average liquid velocity through each tube bundle was used as the reference velocity for the particle Reynolds number. Distribution of the local heat transfer coefficient was also investigated around tubes. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.20245     

Dehydrochlorination of poly(vinyl chloride) modified with titanium dioxide/poly(ethylene oxide) based paint photocatalysts

The dehydrochlorination of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) film samples modified with titanium dioxide (TiO₂)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) based paint photocatalysts [the addition of methyl linoleate (ML) or methyl oleate (MO)] was performed. After 24 h of UV photoirradiation, the sample with TiO₂/PEO showed that there existed a structure with the longest polyene length, whereas that with TiO₂/PEO/ML contained the most polyene structures. The chloroform‐soluble fraction of the sample with TiO₂/PEO contained a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) structure instead of a polyene one and showed a novel method of PVA production via PVC photodegradation. The molecular weight curve of the fraction shifted slightly to a lower molecular weight compared to that without the photocatalyst; this showed that slight polymer chain scission occurred. The ¹H‐NMR and ¹³C‐NMR spectra showed that the content of PVA units was about 20%, and the PVA sequence was blocky. The fraction of the sample with TiO₂/PEO/ML contained the highest methyl group content; this showed that the branch degree was highest as was the polyene content. These highest contents were due to the existence of the grafted ML. Pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy measurements suggested that there existed more polyene and graft units in the chloroform‐insoluble fractions of the samples with TiO₂/PEO, TiO₂/PEO/ML, and TiO₂/PEO/MO, respectively. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40760.     

Gd@C82 metallofullerenes for neutron capture therapy—fullerene solubilization by poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(2-(N,N-diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) and resultant efficacy in vitro

Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(2-(N,N-diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PEG-b-PAMA) was found to solubilize fullerenes such as C₆₀, and this technique was applied to metallofullerenes. Gd@C₈₂ was easily dissolved in water in the presence of PEG-b-PAMA without any covalent derivatization, forming a transparent complex about 20–30 nm in diameter. Low cytotoxicity was confirmed in vitro. Neutron irradiation of cultured cells (colon-26 adenocarcinoma) with Gd@C₈₂-PEG-b-PAMA-complexed nanoparticles showed effective cytotoxicity, indicating the effective emission of gamma rays and internal conversion electrons produced from the neutron capture reaction of Gd. This result suggests a potentially valuable approach to gadolinium-based neutron capture therapy.