Design Concept Research Articles

Leveraging metaphors in qualitative machine translators in the interpretation of emotion

The idea of emotions that is concealed in human language gives rise to metaphor. It is challenging to compute and develop a framework for emotions in people because of its detachment and diversity. Nonetheless, machine translation heavily relies on the modeling and computation of emotions. When emotion metaphors are calculated into machine translation, the language is significantly more colorful and satisfies translating criteria such as truthfulness, creativity and beauty. Emotional metaphor computation often uses artificial intelligence (AI) and the detection of patterns and it needs massive, superior samples in the emotion metaphor collection. To facilitate data-driven emotion metaphor processing through machine translation, the study constructs a bi-lingual database in both Chinese and English that contains extensive emotion metaphors. The fundamental steps involved in generating the emotion metaphor collection are demonstrated, comprising the basis of theory, design concepts, acquiring data, annotating information and index management. This study examines how well the emotion metaphor corpus functions in machine translation by proposing and testing a novel earthworm swarm-tunsed recurrent network (ES-RN) architecture in a Python tool. Additionally, the comparison study is carried out using machine translation datasets that already exist. The findings of this study demonstrated that emotion metaphors might be expressed in machine translation using the emotion metaphor database developed in this research.

Environmental impacts of drugs against parasitic vector-borne diseases and the need to integrate sustainability into their development and use

Background The current scientific discourse on environmental impacts of veterinary medicines mostly focuses on ectoparasiticides. Meanwhile, the environmental impacts of widely prescribed drugs for the treatment of human and animal parasitic vector-borne diseases (PVBD) remain largely unexplored. There is thus a need for evidence-based information to support guidelines and protocols for sustainable One Health PVBD drug development and use, while promoting greener research practices. Here, we reflect on the potential environmental impacts of PVBD drugs in current use, and the environmental impact of our research practices for developing new antiparasitics. Methods We conducted a survey of the membership of the “One Health drugs against parasitic vector borne diseases in Europe and beyond” Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action 21111 (OneHealth drugs) to assess the current appreciation of sustainable drug design concepts and the extent to which One Health and sustainability principles are integrated into PVBD drug discovery and development. The survey also explored which human, technical, and funding resources are currently used in Europe and neighbouring countries in PVBD drugs research. Results The survey was conducted and analysed by OneHealth drugs and garnered 89 respondents, representing a response rate of 66% from 32 countries, predominantly European. 87% of participating collaborators worked in Academia; research groups were small (60% with 1–4 researchers) and mostly consist of few researchers, mostly at early career stages (63% <35 years old). Collaborations were mostly between academics, and 60% collaborated with non-European researchers, while funding was mostly from national governments. Motivation for greener research practices was high but there was as yet low implementation of green strategies or the incorporation of ecotoxicological test in drug development workflows, due to cost and unfamiliarity. Conclusions We highlight the need for early-ecotoxicological testing of new drug candidates and suggest best practices as we move towards standardized protocols in developing safe and efficacious PVBD drugs.

Anion Modulation: Enabling Highly Conductive Stable Polymer Electrolytes for Solid‐State Li‐Metal Batteries

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are promising ionic conductors for developing high‐specific‐energy solid‐state lithium metal batteries. However, developing SPEs with both high ionic conductivity and interfacial compatibility remains a challenge. Here, we propose a design concept of an anion‐modulated polymer electrolyte (termed AMPE) for high‐voltage Li metal batteries. Specifically, we design the AMPE by incorporating high‐voltage‐resistant and high charge density units with an anion receptor unit. The high‐voltage‐resistant and high charge density segments contribute to achieving a decent voltage tolerance of the polymer chains and ensure sufficient carrier ions. The anion receptor, represented by a boron‐containing molecule, promotes the generation of free Li+ by dissociating anion‐cation pairs. More importantly, the strong interaction between the electron‐deficient B and the TFSI− in the matrix promotes the anion reduction to form a stable anion‐derived mosaic‐like solid electrolyte interphase on the Li‐metal anode. As a result, the AMPE exhibits a high Li+ conductivity of 3.80×10−4 S cm−1 and effectively suppresses lithium dendrites, enabling an all‐solid‐state Li|AMPE|LiCoO2 cell to achieve a cycle life of 700 cycles at an operating voltage of 4.40 V. This design concept would inspire efforts to develop high‐performance SPEs for high‐specific‐energy solid‐state lithium metal batteries.

Anion Modulation: Enabling Highly Conductive Stable Polymer Electrolytes for Solid-State Li-Metal Batteries.

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are promising ionic conductors for developing high-specific-energy solid-state lithium metal batteries. However, developing SPEs with both high ionic conductivity and interfacial compatibility remains a challenge. Here, we propose a design concept of an anion-modulated polymer electrolyte (termed AMPE) for high-voltage Li metal batteries. Specifically, we design the AMPE by incorporating high-voltage-resistant and high charge density units with an anion receptor unit. The high-voltage-resistant and high charge density segments contribute to achieving a decent voltage tolerance of the polymer chains and ensure sufficient carrier ions. The anion receptor, represented by a boron-containing molecule, promotes the generation of free Li+ by dissociating anion-cation pairs. More importantly, the strong interaction between the electron-deficient B and the TFSI- in the matrix promotes the anion reduction to form a stable anion-derived mosaic-like solid electrolyte interphase on the Li-metal anode. As a result, the AMPE exhibits a high Li+ conductivity of 3.80×10-4 S cm-1 and effectively suppresses lithium dendrites, enabling an all-solid-state Li|AMPE|LiCoO2 cell to achieve a cycle life of 700 cycles at an operating voltage of 4.40 V. This design concept would inspire efforts to develop high-performance SPEs for high-specific-energy solid-state lithium metal batteries.

STEWART PLATFORM MULTIDIMENSIONAL TRACKING CONTROL SYSTEM SYNTHESIS

Context. Creating guaranteed competitive motion control systems for complex multidimensional moving objects, including unstable ones, that operate under random controlled and uncontrolled disturbing factors, with minimal design costs, is one of the main requirements for achieving success in this class devices market. Additionally, to meet modern demands for the accuracy of motion control processes along a specified or programmed trajectory, it is essential to synthesize an optimal control system based on experimental data obtained under conditions closely approximating the real operating mode of the test object. Objective. The research presented in this article aims to synthesize an optimal tracking control system for the Stewart platform’s working surface motion, taking into account its multidimensional dynamic model. Method. The article employs a method of a multidimensional tracking control system structural transformation into an equivalent stabilization system for the motion of a multidimensional control object. It also utilizes an algorithm for synthesizing optimal stabilization systems for dynamic objects, whether stable or not, under stationary random external disturbances. The justified algorithm for synthesizing optimal stochastic stabilization systems is constructed using operations such as addition and multiplication of polynomial and fractional-rational matrices, Wiener factorization, Wiener separation of fractional-rational matrices, and the calculation of dispersion integrals. Results. As a result of the conducted research, the problem of defining the concept of analytical design for a Stewart platform’s optimal motion control system has been formalized. The results include the derived transformation equations from the tracking control system to the equivalent stabilization system of the Stewart platform’s working surface motion. Furthermore, the structure and parameters of the main controller transfer function matrix for of this control system have been determined. Conclusions. The justified use of the analytical design concept for the Stewart platform’s working surface optimal motion control system formalizes and significantly simplifies the solution to the problem of synthesizing complex dynamic systems, applying the developed technology presented in [1]. The obtained structure and parameters of the Stewart platform’s working surface motion control system main controller, which is divided into three components W1, W2, and W3, improve the tracking quality of the program signal vector, account for the cross-connections within the Stewart platform, and increase the accuracy of executing the specified trajectory by increasing the degrees of freedom in choosing the controller structure

Electrospun green fluorescent-highly anisotropic conductive Janus-type nanoribbon hydrogel array film for multiple stimulus response sensors

A new strategy aimed at significantly enhancing the anisotropic conductivity of hydrogel materials, along with a simple construction technology and design concept, are proposed. Anisotropic conductive hydrogel materials have attracted much attention from researchers in the field of flexible electronics for their inherent excellent properties. However, the anisotropic conductivity of the existing conductive hydrogels is not high and the preparation methods are complex. Herein, fluorescent-highly conductive anisotropic Janus-type nanoribbon hydrogel array film (named JNHAF) is successfully prepared using a combination of parallel electrospinning and post-polymerization as an example of the study. Highly oriented [2,7-dibromo-9-fluorenone (DF)/gelatin (GE)]//[carbon black (CB)/GE] Janus-type nanoribbon is used as the building block. The composition as well as the arrangement of Janus-type nanoribbons are microscopically designed and regulated to effectively separate the conductive and insulating materials, so that the samples can achieve highly anisotropic conductivity and obvious green fluorescence. When the mass ratio of GE to CB is 1:0.1, the conductive anisotropy ratio of JNHAF can reach 1.12 × 105. The degree of anisotropic conductivity of JNHAF is significantly improved compared with existing reported anisotropic conductive hydrogels, and the preparation method is simple. JNHAF responds quickly to light, tensile strain, and temperature, making it suitable for assembling multi-stimulus responsive sensors. JNHAF has excellent flexibility, degradability, mechanical properties and a certain degree of sensitivity (gauge factor of 4.29), and is used for human joint motion detection with an obvious response signal. The design idea and construction technology of this hydrogel breaks through the technical bottleneck of the low degree of anisotropy of conductive hydrogels, which will lead and expand the scientific frontiers of anisotropic conductive hydrogel materials, and provide novel design ideas and theoretical values for new hydrogel materials.

A novel cobweb-like sub-grain structured Al-Cu-Mg alloy with high strength-plasticity synergy

Al-Cu-Mg alloys, as the most widely used lightweight structural materials, have been recognized as promising candidates in the transportation field for a low-carbon economy. However, the tensile strength and plasticity of alloys cannot be simultaneously improved to satisfy the requirements of continuously upgraded transportation vehicles. In this work, inspired by high-tensile strength and high plasticity of cobweb structure, a novel cobweb-like sub-grain structure was developed in Al-Cu-Mg alloys by a successive solution, high-strain-rate rolling (4.4 s-1), cryogenic treatment (–196°C) and aging process (SRCA). Notably, the tensile strength and plasticity of this alloy were superior to those reported in the current study. An ultrahigh Vickers hardness and tensile strength value of 206.2 Hv and 619.6 MPa, which were 39.8% and 31.8% higher than those of traditional T6 heat-treated Al-Cu-Mg alloys, were obtained after SRCA. Meanwhile, an increase in the elongation of this alloy from 4.31% to 8.23% (increase of 90.9%) was also achieved. More importantly, the high strength-plasticity (“double high”) Al-Cu-Mg alloy was attributed to a cobweb-like sub-grain structure, which was proposed for the first time by utilizing reverse thinking to enhance plasticity through elevating dislocations, due to the formation of high-density dislocations from high-strain-rate rolling and rearrangement effect of dislocations from cryogenic treatment. Furthermore, the strength-plasticity mechanism was verified using in-situ tensile electron back scatter diffraction (EBSD), molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and crystal plasticity (CP) models. The results indicated that the cobweb-like sub-grain structure, resembling countless walls, formed barriers that hindered dislocation migration towards high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) and absorbed them, thereby reducing the occurrence of stress concentration zones, i.e., the dislocation absorption and stress-strain sharing mechanisms. Additionally, the strengthening mechanism was associated with synergistic strengthening by multiscale microstructures, including micron-sized grains, micron-sized high-density dislocation lattices, and nanosized Al2CuMg phases, which were activated by successive deformation processes. Consequently, the concept of biomimetic structure design, which may serve as an effective method for achieving structural materials with high strength-plasticity synergy, can be extended to transportation fields, such as railway tracks and body structure design.

Construction of Smart Clothing Service System for the Health and Well-Being of the Aging Community in a Sustainable Society

Objective: The phenomenon of global aging is becoming more and more severe, and security services such as nursing and guardianship for the elderly have become the focus of social attention. According to the data released by the World Health Organization, by 2030, one out of every six people will be over 60 years old. By 2050, the world population will be 2.1 billion over 60 years old, and the number of people over 80 years old will reach 460 million. This paper aims to monitor the health and services of aging clothing intelligently for the health and well-being of the aging community in a sustainable society, starting from the physiological and psychological needs of the new elderly. Theoretical Framework: In the age-appropriate smart clothing service system, the critical link is to construct the human-computer interaction mode of clothing and wearable devices, establish a design paradigm from single interaction to multi-interaction, and form a service terminal based on smart wearable. Method: This paper designs an aging smart clothing design system using field research, questionnaires, interviews, etc., analyzes the aging smart wearable clothing evaluation system, and constructs aging smart clothing that meets the actual needs of health and well-being for the elderly in a sustainable society. Results and Discussion: In this research, The results obtained sustainable design theories and methods combined with interdisciplinary research tools as the basis of data analysis from the aging intelligent clothing product design system, age-appropriate smart clothing service system, and age-appropriate smart clothing evaluation system. Research Implications: Population aging has been the basic national condition of our country for quite a long time in the future, and "healthy aging" is a strategic measure put forward by the government around the intelligent care service system for the elderly, communities, and institutions. Important direction. Among them, how to build an age-appropriate smart wearable product service system has become the main development content. Therefore, its intelligence and synergistic combination with terminals such as communities, caregivers, and hospitals will become the trend of smart elderly care. Originality/Value: This study contributes to Construct a systematic design of a new intelligent wearable clothing service system for the elderly, which is a great of significance for improving the service quality index of the health and well-being of the elderly. At the same time, it is of great value to expand and deepen the concept of sustainable design.

TouchMark: Partial Tactile Feedback Design for Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Virtual Reality.

The use of Virtual Reality (VR) technology, especially in medical rehabilitation, has expanded to include tactile cues along with visual stimuli. For patients with upper limb hemiplegia, tangible handles with haptic stimuli could improve their ability to perform daily activities. Traditional VR controllers are unsuitable for patient rehabilitation in VR, necessitating the design of specialized tangible handles with integrated tracking devices. Besides, matching tactile stimulation with corresponding virtual visuals could strengthen users' embodiment (i.e., owning and controlling virtual bodies) in VR, which is crucial for patients' training with virtual hands. Haptic stimuli have been shown to amplify the embodiment in VR, whereas the effect of partial tactile stimulation from tangible handles on embodiment remains to be clarified. This research, including three experiments, aims to investigate how partial tactile feedback of tangible handles impacts users' embodiment, and we proposed a design concept called TouchMark for partial tactile stimuli that could help users quickly connect the physical and virtual worlds. To evaluate users' tactile and comfort perceptions when grasping tangible handles in a non-VR setting, various handles with three partial tactile factors were manipulated in Study 1. In Study 2, we explored the effects of partial feedback using three forms of TouchMark on the embodiment of healthy users in VR, with various tangible handles, while Study 3 focused on similar investigations with patients. These handles were utilized to complete virtual food preparation tasks. The tactile and comfort perceptions of tangible handles and users' embodiment were evaluated in this research using questionnaires and interviews. The results indicate that TouchMark with haptic line and ring forms over no stimulation would significantly enhance users' embodiment, especially for patients. The low-cost and innovative TouchMark approach may assist users, particularly those with limited VR experience, in achieving the embodiment and enhancing their virtual interactive experience.

Bismuth-based material with alveolar-like structure as advanced anode for superior potassium storage

Bismuth (Bi)-based anodes have a promising application in potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) due to their high theoretical capacity. However, Bi-based materials undergo unavoidable and drastic volume expansion during charging/discharging. In addition to this, the problem of poor reaction kinetics severely hinders its development. To solve these problems, we designed Bi2O3-Bi/Carbon hollow nanospheres (Bi2O3-Bi@CHNSs) inspired by the structure of alveoli and its contraction/expansion respiration mechanism. Bi2O3-Bi@CHNSs have an alveolus-like hollow core–shell structure and alveolus respiration-like reversible contraction/expansion mechanism for potassium storage, which provides good structural stability. In situ characterizations confirm that the Bi2O3 and Bi hybrid structures synergistically store potassium through a conversion/alloying mechanism. Bi2O3-Bi@CHNSs exhibited excellent rate performance as anode with a capacity of up to 270.4 mAh g−1 at a current density of 40 A g−1. Assembled as a full cell, the capacity reached 106.5 mAh g−1 at a current density of 30 A g−1, which is superior to most of the reported intact PIBs. This work utilized biomimetic design concepts to elaborate a bionic alveolar structure. It provides a new perspective for optimizing the volume expansion of Bi-based anodes and developing high-performance PIBs.

Hydroxyl and amino co-modified imidazole based ionic liquid functionalized TS-1 molecular sieve for efficient CO2 capture

Herein, an integrative solid adsorbent of [AHOPMIm]Cl with hydroxyl and amino groups functional sites modified TS-1 molecular sieve is designed and fabricated for efficient CO2 adsorption. The optimal [AHOPMIm]Cl/TS-1 exhibits 73% enhancement in CO2 adsorption capacity compared with the TS-1 molecular sieve, even outperforming other state of the art adsorbent systems. The greatly improved CO2 adsorption capacity is mainly attributed to the strong adsorption of amino groups on the ionic liquids surface, which can form low-temperature stable amino ester species. Moreover, it is preserved that the hydroxyl groups on the surface of ionic liquids can form stable hydrogen bonds with oxygen atoms in CO2, and coordinate with amino groups to capture CO2 from different directions based on in situ DRIFTS and DFT. The porous TS-1 molecular sieve provides a structural basis for the uniform dispersion, effective support, and enhanced CO2 adsorption capacity of ionic liquids. A new design concept for constructing ionic liquid-based composite adsorbent with dual functional sites using TS-1 molecular sieve as a carrier is provided, and the avenues for efficient CO2 adsorption are paved.

Research Progress on Pole-Climbing Robots: A Review

Background: Pole-climbing robots are a type of application robot commonly used for quality inspection, cleaning, and maintenance of utility poles, high voltage lines, bridge cables, transmission pipelines, and other important facilities with a certain height. The working conditions are often harsh and dangerous, making manual participation unsafe. The pole-climbing robot can provide a platform for maintenance and cleaning work. Remote control operation of the pole-climbing robot is achieved through communication and control technology. It has been created to improve efficiency and reduce personnel accidents greatly. At the same time, the continuous development of science and technology has led to the expansion of robot design concepts. It has also brought about great changes and growth in the development of pole-climbing robots. Objective: The purpose of this paper is to report the latest progress in the research of pole-climbing robots from bionic and non-bionic perspectives and to provide a research reference for researchers in this field. Method: By analyzing academic theses and published patents, this paper presents a new classification of pole-climbing robots from the perspective of bionic and non-bionic. By summarizing the literature, the structural characteristics of various pole-climbing robots and their differences and applications are summarized. Results: The performance of the pole-climbing robots is analyzed from the viewpoint of structural characteristics and action execution methods. In turn, the characteristics of various types of pole-climbing robots are summarized. Finally, based on the above discussion, the future problems and development directions of pole-climbing robots are predicted. Conclusion: The pole-climbing robots can be divided into two categories, bionic and non-bionic, based on the analysis of design features. Both bionic and non-bionic pole-climbing robots have good development and applications in their respective directions. Also, bionic and non-bionic pole-climbing robots have different detailed classifications based on material, structure, and other perspectives. They have different advantages and disadvantages in terms of the performance of pole-climbing action execution. It provides a research reference for future researchers in this field.

Designing for the chemical conversion coating on AZ91 magnesium alloy by equalising interface potential difference

The formation of intermetallic compounds leads to heterogeneous chemical compositions and galvanic corrosion in alloy materials, which are widely recognised as primary contributors to non-uniform conversion coatings and poor corrosion resistance. This study implements a strategy aimed at regulating surface chemical composition and equalising interfacial potential differences to develop an Al-Mg-V chemical conversion coating on AZ91 magnesium alloy. The surface characteristics and corrosion resistance of the coating are investigated. The results demonstrate that the coating integrates the discretely distributed intermetallic compounds (Mg17Al12) into a continuous and stable cathode phase. The framework structure composed of Mg and Al effectively equalises the interfacial potential differences, reducing the potential difference from 300mV to 40mV. The coating enhances the polarization resistance of the AZ91 substrate by approximately 400 times and reduces the self-corrosion current density by three orders of magnitude. After a 186-hour neutral salt spray test, no corrosion is observed. The corrosion inhibiting structure formed by V hydroxides/oxides fill the pores and acts as a passivator on the surface, and imparts self-repair capabilities to the coating. The design concept of this chemical conversion coating is expected to be applied to other alloy materials.

Understanding the Uncertainty in the Technical Performance Level Assessment for Wave Energy

The design of wave energy converters (WECs) has been explored with interest, with varying design concepts emerging across both research and industry. One critical element that governs the speed of adoption is the performance of a WEC concept. WEC performance has been assessed using the Technology Performance Level (TPL) assessment, which provides designers with a quantitative score, situating a grid-scale WEC concept on a scale from 1-9. The TPL assessment is designed to be used during design iteration, when a WEC concept is fully ideated, to enable designers to consider potential means of improving the downstream performance of the concept. One concern that may be slowing developers’ adoption of TPL is the inherent uncertainty in the assessment, and how uncertainty in the individual questions may contribute to the final score. In this work, we quantify the uncertainty present in the assessment using both traditional mathematical operations and a Monte Carlo simulation. Results show areas of improvement of the TPL assessment, enabling TPL practitioners and users to understand with more accuracy those design elements that can be improved to impact device performance.

Design of an aluminum can pressing machine using a lead screw mechanism with a microcontroller-based monitoring system

The beverage industry is experiencing significant growth; however, the handling and management of can waste, particularly aluminum can waste, still rely on manual processes, such as stepping on or striking the can with a tool to reduce its volume. Therefore, there is a need for innovation to design and create a small-scale can pressing machine. The development of this machine employs the Ulrich method, which encompasses the identification of machine requirements, concept selection, and design embodiment. Based on the results obtained using the Ulrich method, design concept 2 was selected. Subsequently, planning, calculations, and analyses were conducted to identify the core and supporting components necessary for constructing the machine. The next stage involved creating detailed drawings of the machine, followed by fabrication and testing. During testing, the can pressing machine demonstrated the ability to exert a maximum load of 20,110.5 N, with a torque of 220.990 Nm and a power output of 0.5 HP (356.95 watts). The PZEM-004T microcontroller was utilized to monitor the operational control of the electric motor. The machine successfully reduced the volume of cans by 56.5%, decreasing their initial height from 345 mm to 150 mm, and it is capable of processing 75 cans per minute.

In Situ Experimental Analysis and Performance Evaluation of Airport Precast Concrete Pavement System Subjected to Environmental and Moving Airplane Loads

The behavior of airport precast concrete pavement (APCP) involving new design and construction concepts was experimentally analyzed under environmental and moving airplane loads, and the long-term performance of the APCP was evaluated using fatigue failure analysis. The strain characteristics and curling behavior of the APCP under environmental loads were comprehensively analyzed. The APCP slabs exhibited a pronounced curling phenomenon similar to conventional concrete pavement slabs. The dynamic response of the APCP subjected to impact loads was analyzed by performing heavy weight deflectometer tests. The test results confirmed that the vertical deformation of the APCP was small and within the typical range of vertical deformation of conventional concrete pavement. The dynamic strain response of the APCP under moving airplane loads was then analyzed and the strain variation during day and night times was compared. The strains during the day were found to be significantly larger than those at night under airplane loads because of the curling phenomenon of the APCP slabs. Finally, the long-term performance of the APCP was evaluated using fatigue failure analysis based on the obtained behavior. Even using the most conservative fatigue failure prediction model, the service life of the APCP was ascertained to be more than 30 years. Based on the overall results of this study, it is concluded that the APCP, which is designed to reduce slab thickness by placing reinforcing bars in the slabs via reinforced concrete structural design, exhibits typical behavior of concrete pavements and can be successfully applied to airport pavement rehabilitation.

Optimising the Economic Feasibility of High-Speed Maglev Systems: A Simulation-Based Approach for Variable and Parameter Analysis

This study introduces an advanced software platform and process for the quantitative national economic evaluation of high-speed maglev systems, overcoming limitations of traditional methods through parameter variation experiments and automated solution search. Utilising the adapted German standardised evaluation, this research demonstrates how integrated modelling, evaluation and optimisation software can deeply analyse the impact of various variables and parameters on economic outcomes. By employing an optimisation algorithm, the software not only determines critical evaluation parameters to ensure benefits exceed costs but also deduces optimised model variables. The macroeconomic benefit-cost ratio guides the optimal design concept, with the research finding a critical value for ensuring economic feasibility. The proposed solution achieves a 22% improvement in this ratio (1.106 vs. 0.909) compared to the existing Hefei-Wuhu route, highlighting its potential for large-scale maglev implementation. Future development directions include integration with micro-simulation systems, support for random behaviour, sensitivity analysis, data-driven machine learning and enhanced user interface design for broader applicability. The findings underscore the software’s capability to provide robust, data-driven insights for economic feasibility studies of high-speed maglev systems, presenting a significant step forward in infrastructure project evaluation.

From Synthesis to Energy Storage, The Microchemistry of MXene and MBene

AbstractMXene and MBene, with diverse and adjustable surface and bulk structures, show many unique chemical properties and are applied in various energy storage technologies, and the latest developments for them are reviewed respectively. However, the current reports on the synthesis of the two materials and the application of related devices are still separate and limited to the macro details. In this review, the microscopic chemistry of synthesis strategies for MXene and MBene and the differences in synthesis strategies caused by the structure differences between them are elucidated. Later, the impact of synthesis strategies on their overall morphologies and subsequent material property differences are discussed, and key considerations in the field of energy storage are described. Next, it is elaborated on how the surface and bulk phases of MXene and MBene utilize these properties to participate in electrochemical reactions individually or synergistically. Unlike previous reviews, MXene and MBene are incorporated into a unified framework from a microscopic perspective for discussion, and the relationship of synthesis‐structure/properties‐function is elucidated. Finally, the “skipping strategy” and “joint devices” as the next‐generation design concepts of MXene in the synthesis and application fields, and the development template for MBene materials are proposed.

Innovative Anode Design to Enhance Both Volumetric and Gravimetric Energy Densities of LiCoO2||Graphite Pouch Cells

AbstractThe ratio of the anode (negative electrode) and cathode (positive electrode) areal capacities (N/P ratio), is an important parameter for Lithium‐ion batteries. Considering the manufacturing tolerance and battery safety, almost all of the batteries keep the N/P ratio > 1. Deviating from this ratio can lead to lithium precipitation on the anode surface, which poses significant risks. Here, by using a gradient structured graphite (Gr) anode, a new design concept is proposed that the N/P ratio could be less than 1, which can effectively achieve higher energy density without sacrificing the battery safety. This is achieved by incorporating a small quantity of silver (Ag) nanoparticles into the bottom layer of the anode (Gr‐Agx), which effectively modulates the concentration polarization of lithium ions along the thickness of the electrode. Moreover, the volumetric energy density of 4 Ah LiCoO2||Gr‐Ag0.5 (N/P = 0.8) pouch cell increases by 14.5% compared with LiCoO2||Gr (N/P = 1.1). Furthermore, the universal applicability and efficacy of the N/P < 1 design paradigm in LiFePO4||Gr cells are validated.

Design of Quasi‐Metal–Organic Frameworks for Solid Polymer Electrolytes Enabling an Ultra‐Stable Interface with Li Metal Anode

AbstractSolid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are crucial in the development of lithium metal batteries. Recently, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with open metal sites (OMSs) have shown promise as solid fillers to improve the performance of SPEs. However, the number of OMS‐containing MOFs is quite limited, comprising less than 5% of the total MOFs. When considering yield, cost, and processability, the commonly used OMS‐containing MOFs are no more than 10 types, causing great limitations. Herein, we reported a simple and universal methodology that converted OMS‐free MOFs to OMS‐rich quasi‐MOFs for developing high‐performance SPEs, and explored the underlying mechanism. The “OMS‐polymer” and “OMS‐ion” interactions were investigated in detail to elucidate the role of quasi‐MOFs on battery performance. It was found that quasi‐MOFs, functioning as ion sieves, can effectively regulate ion migration, thus promoting uniform Li deposition and enabling an ultra‐stable interface. As a result, the Li symmetric cell stably ran over 3000 h at 0.3 mA cm−2, while the full cell retained 85 % of its initial capacity after 1500 cycles at 1.0 C. Finally, universal testing was performed using other MOFs, confirming the generalizability and effectiveness of our design concept.