Dominant Ion Research Articles

Geogenic and anthropogenic factors influencing groundwater quality for irrigation purposes from a volcano-sedimentary aquifer in the Puebla State, Mexico.

This study investigates the hydrogeochemical characteristics and water quality of the Puebla Valley aquifer, a volcano-sedimentary system predominantly influenced by water-rock interactions and ion exchange processes. The research assesses the suitability of groundwater for agricultural irrigation by applying various water quality indices, including salinity and sodicity indices and Wilcox diagrams and USSL. Seventy-one water samples were analyzed to determine key physicochemical parameters and dominant ion concentrations, revealing that the primary hydrogeochemical facies are HCO -Mg and HCO -Ca. The results indicate a heightened risk of salinization, particularly in agricultural and urban areas, underscoring the need for ongoing monitoring. Natural processes such as water-rock interaction and ion exchange are the main factors influencing groundwater quality. However, anthropogenic activities, particularly the use of fertilizers and irrigation return flows from the Atoyac River, exacerbate groundwater quality degradation. This study emphasizes the necessity of sustainable water resource management to ensure the long-term viability of the aquifer.

Improved Astrophysical and Computational Oscillator Strengths for Ultraviolet P ii Lines

Abundance measurements for the volatile element phosphorus are important for measuring the metallicity in interstellar and circumgalactic gas, where their accuracies are limited by uncertainties in the oscillator strengths. We report updated oscillator strength values for two resonant transitions of the dominant ion P II, the transitions at 961.041 and 963.801 Å, which have historically shown large uncertainties. Using a combination of observational measurements and highly accurate quasi-relativistic Hartree–Fock theoretical calculations, we present an updated oscillator strength of f = 0.147 ± 0.021 for the poorly constrained P II resonant transition at 961.401 Å, which arises from the ground electronic state 3s 23p 2 3P0 to the excited level 3s 23p3d 3D 1o . This result utilizes archival optical spectra obtained with the Very Large Telescope for the quasar PKS 0528–250, which has a damped Lyα absorber at z = 2.811. We calculate a theoretical f-value = 0.153 for 961.401 Å consistent with our empirically derived value, and calculate a theoretical f-value = 1.79 for 963.801 Å. We also present theoretical oscillator strengths for the P II resonant transitions at 972.779, 1124.945, 1152.818, 1301.874, and 1532.533 Å, as well as for multiple P II fine-structure and excited-level transitions. The updated f-value for the P II 961 Å transition will be useful in future studies of P abundances, especially in sight lines where the 1152 Å line is saturated.

Investigation of hydrochemical characteristic, water quality and associated health risks of metals and metalloids in water resources in the vicinity of Akamkpa quarry district, southeastern, Nigeria

Quarrying of rock aggregates generates produced water that, if not handled properly will be a source of pollution for nearby water bodies, thus affecting the chemistry of the water. This study examined the chemistry, impact of quarrying activities on water resources and the health consequences/risks posed by ingestion of the water by humans in the Akamkpa quarry region in southeastern Nigeria. Thirty (30) water samples consisting of pond water, stream water, hand dug wells, and borehole samples were collected and analyzed for their physicochemical parameters using standard methods. The results obtained from the analyses indicated that the water was moderately acidic, fresh, and not salty, with many parameters below the recommended standards with Ca2+, and HCO3− being the dominant ions present in the water resources. Rock weathering processes including silicate weathering as illustrated by hydrochemical facies, cross plots, and Gibbs diagrams are the dominant mechanisms influencing the quality and major ions chemistry of the water resources with minor contributions from dissolution, anthropogenic activities, and ion exchange. Ca-Mg-SO4-Cl and Na–K-HCO3− are the most important water types. Although the water quality index shows that the water is suitable for human use and irrigation, the mean values of As, Cd, Pb, and Se are above the acceptable limits. Additionally, the calculated contamination factor revealed the water resources are moderate to highly contaminated by As, Cd, Cr, Mo, Pb, Sb, and Se, and are therefore unsuitable for consumption with regards to these parameters. However, the residual sodium carbonate and water hazard index (WHI) values showed that 38% to 90% of sites in the quarry area were unsuitable for cultivation, 10–30% were in the low to medium impact category, and 60% were classified as risky and are from high to very high impact category. A non-cancer study of inhabitants living in the vicinity of the quarry area indicated that 6.7% of the sites have values greater than one, indicating that it may endanger the health of the people. Therefore, constant monitoring of the water quality is recommended as long-term use of contaminated water can harm humans, plants, and soils.

Hydrochemical Characteristics and Variation in Karst Groundwater in the Baiquan Spring Area of Xingtai Over the Last 30 Years

To elucidate the variation patterns in the hydrochemical characteristics of karst groundwater in the Baiquan Spring area of Xingtai over the past 30 years, an integrated approach utilizing mathematical statistics, Piper trilinear diagrams, Gibbs diagrams, and ion ratio analyses was employed. Comparative analysis was conducted on 62 sets of karst water samples collected during the dry seasons of 1991 and 2020. The findings indicated that the groundwater in the spring area was generally weakly alkaline with a low salinization degree, predominantly characterized by Ca2+ and HCO3- as the dominant ions. Compared to that in 1991, the alkalinity of groundwater in 2020 had intensified, with a general increase in the concentration of various indicators. The hydrochemical types had shifted from the relatively concentrated HCO3-Ca and HCO3-Ca·Mg types to a broader spectrum of types, gradually exhibiting a salinization trend. The distribution characteristics of exceeding components such as TDS, Na++K+, SO42-, and F- showed significant spatial differences. Rock weathering played a pivotal role in the changes observed in the hydrochemical components of groundwater, with enhanced cation exchange and evaporation processes further influencing the hydrochemical characteristics and their spatial distribution.

(Invited) Experimentally Measuring the Role of Ion-Phonon and Ion-Electron Correlations in Solid-State Li Ion Conductors

In superionic conductors, ion hopping involves a complex interplay of ion-phonon, ion-electron, and ion-ion correlations that is challenging to measure experimentally. In this presentation, we present a new experimental technique that can directly measure ultrafast ion hopping on its inherent picosecond and longer timescale. The technique works by measuring the time-resolved perturbation to a GHz impedance signal when potential ion-coupling interactions are driven with UV to THz irradiation. High-bandwidth, real-time electronics allow synchronization of the impedance measurement to ultrafast laser pulses for varying carrier frequencies. The result of the measurement is the relative strength of different correlations in the many-body ion hopping Hamiltonian. We demonstrate the technique on Li0.5La0.5TiO3 (LLTO) and single crystalline Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO), both solid-state Li+ conductors. The ultrafast laser-driven impedance measurements reveal that the dominant ion hopping mechanism in LLTO is through a coupled phonon-ion THz rocking mode. Although this higher frequency mode is less than one-quarter of the overall phonon density of states, it leads to the majority of ion hops as compared to other optical and acoustic phonon modes. Metastable states lasting tens of minutes were also measured for ion-electron perturbations. Further work on extending the technique to measure ion-ion correlations is currently underway. In general, the new technique applies to any complex ion conducting system such as polymers, fuel cells, supercapacitors, and membranes.

Soft ionization mechanisms in flexible µ-tube plasma—elucidation of He-, Ar-, Kr-, and Xe-FµTP

The soft ionization mechanism of helium-based plasma seems to be understood while it still remains challenging in argon-based plasma, although many studies have used argon plasmas as a soft ionization source with good ionization efficiencies. In this study, helium, argon, krypton, and xenon were fed into the same discharge geometry, a flexible micro-tube plasma (FµTP), to determine the ionization mechanisms. The FµTPs operated with the named noble gases obtained comparable ionization efficiencies by MS measurements. The optical emission results showed that N2+ were the dominant ions within the helium-FµTP and noble gas ions were dominant for the other plasmas. These ions support the development of excitation and eventually stop at the end of the capillary. Therefore, Penning ionization and charge transfer between plasma and ambient air/analytes in the open atmosphere have been proven not to be the primary soft ionization mechanism. Furthermore, it was found that photoionization played a minor role in soft ionization. Using helium as a diagnosis gas in front of the discharge capillary nozzle of the FµTP, where the sample is usually positioned, shows that helium can be ignited by all of these FµTPs. This demonstrates that the excitation of a diagnosis gas as well as the ionization of analytes is independent of the type of the discharge gas. An alternative mechanism that a transient potential created by the ions is responsible for the soft ionization is subsequently proposed.

Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Fogwater Chemistry in Alsace

For the current article, forty-two fogwater samples are collected at four sites in Alsace (Strasbourg, Geispolsheim, Erstein, and Cronenbourg) between 2015 and 2021, except 2019 and 2020. Spatio-temporal evolution is studied for their inorganic fraction (ions and heavy metals), and physico-chemical properties (pH, conductivity (K), liquid water content (LWC), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC)). The analyses show a remarkable shifting in pH from acidic to basic mainly due to the significant decrease in sulfate and nitrate levels. The calculated median LWC is somehow low (37.8–69.5 g m3) in fog samples, preventing the collection of large fog volumes. The median DOC varies between 14.3 and 24.4 ppm, whereas the median conductivity varies from 97.8 to 169.8 µS cm−1. Total ionic concentration (TIC) varies from 1338.3 to 1952.4 µEq L−1, whereas the total concentration of metals varies in the range of 1547.2 and 2860.3 µg L−1. The marine contribution is found to be negligible at all sites for the investigated elements. NH4+, in most samples, is capable alone to neutralize the acidity. On one hand, NH4+, Ca2+, NO3−, and SO42− are the dominant ions found in all samples, accounting for more than 80% of the TIC. On the other hand, Zn and Ni are the dominant metals accounting for more than 78% of the total elemental concentration. Heavy metals are found to primarily originate from crust as well as human-made activities. The median concentrations of individual elements either decrease or increase over the sampling period due to the wet deposition phenomenon or weather conditions. A Pearson analysis proves some of the suggested pollutant sources due to the presence of strong and significant correlations between elements.

Exploring seasonal variability in water quality of Nyabarongo River in Rwanda via water quality indices and DPSIR modelling.

Understanding seasonal variations in water quality is crucial for effective management of freshwater rivers amidst changing environmental conditions. This study employed water quality index (WQI), metal index (MI), and pollution indices (PI) to comprehensively assess water quality and pollution levels in Nyabarongo River of Rwanda. A dynamic driver-pressure-state-impact-response model was used to identify factors influencing quality management. Over 4years (2018-2021), 69 samples were collected on a monthly basis from each of the six monitoring stations across the Nyabarongo River throughout the four different seasons. Maximum WQI values were observed during dry long (52.90), dry short (21.478), long rain (93.66), and short rain (37.4) seasons, classified according to CCME 2001 guidelines. Ion concentrations exceeded WHO standards, with dominant ions being and . Variations in water quality were influenced by factors such as calcium bicarbonate dominance in dry seasons and sodium sulfate dominance in rainy seasons. Evaporation and precipitation processes primarily influenced ionic composition. Metal indices (MI) exhibited wide ranges: long dry (0.2-433.0), short dry (0.1-174.3), long rain (0.1-223.7), and short rain (0.3-252.5). The hazard index values for Cu2+, Mn4+, Zn2+, and Cr3+ were below 1, ranging from 8.89E - 08 to 7.68E - 07 for adults and 2.30E - 07 to 5.02E - 06 for children through oral ingestion, and from 6.68E - 10 to 5.07E - 07 for adults and 6.61E - 09 to 2.54E - 06 for children through dermal contact. With a total carcinogenic risk of less than 1 for both ingestion and dermal contact, indicating no significant health risks yet send strong signals to Governmental management of the Nyabarongo River. Overall water quality was classified as marginal in long dry, poor in short dry, good in long rain, and poor again in short rain seasons.

Ionospheric irregularities at Jupiter observed by JWST

Jupiter’s upper atmosphere is composed of a neutral thermosphere and charged ionosphere. In the latter, the dominant molecular ion H3+ emits in the near-infrared, allowing for the remote exploration of the physical properties of the upper atmosphere. However, the Jovian low-latitude ionosphere remains largely unexplored because H3+ emissions from this region are faint and spectrally entangled with bright neutral species, such as CH4. Here, we present James Webb Space Telescope H3+ observations of Jupiter’s low-latitude ionosphere in the region of the Great Red Spot, showing unexpected small-scale intensity features such as arcs, bands and spots. Our observations may imply that the low-latitude ionosphere of Jupiter is strongly coupled to the lower atmosphere via gravity waves that superimpose to produce this complex and intricate morphology.

Study of dielectric and interfacial properties of functional biopolymer-based electrolyte with enhanced conductivity for energy storage application

This study investigates sodium (Na+) ion-conductive biopolymer blend electrolytes with glycerol as a plasticizer for energy storage. Through FTIR, impedance spectroscopy, transference number measurement (TNM), and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), we identify an optimal film for electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) application. Glycerol induces notable changes in polymer-salt interaction, evidenced by FTIR band shifts reflecting increased free ions. Impedance measurements show reduced bulk resistance with optimal plasticizer content, emphasizing the system's suitability for energy storage. The system exhibits high real permittivity relative to imaginary at lower frequencies, attributing to glycerol's dielectric constant and small bulk resistance. Loss tangent (tanδ) and Argand plots reveal the dominant ion conduction mechanism. Electrochemical assessments support the suitability of the film for EDLC applications, featuring a favorable transference number (tion = 0.94) and high decomposition voltage (2.6V). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) curves demonstrate effective EDLC device design with significant capacitance adaptability across varying scan rates (5.946 F/g to 24.074 F/g).

A comparative study on the spectral characteristics of nanosecond pulsed discharges in atmospheric He and a He+2.3%H2O mixture

Nanosecond pulsed discharges at atmospheric pressure in a pin-to-pin electrode configuration are well reproducible in time and space, which is beneficial to the fundamentals and applications of low-temperature plasmas. In this experiment, the discharges in helium (He) and He with 2.3% water vapor (H2O) are driven by a series of 10 ns overvoltage pulses (~13 kV). Special attention is paid to the spectral characteristics obtained in the center of discharges by time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy. It is found that in helium, the emission of atomic and molecular helium during the afterglow is more intense than that in the active discharge, while in the He+2.3%H2O mixture, helium emission is only observed during the discharge pulse and the molecular helium emission disappears. In addition, the emissions of OH(A-X) and Hα present similar behavior that increases sharply during the falling edge of the voltage pulse as the electrons cool down rapidly. The gas temperature is set to remain low at 540 K by fitting the OH(A-X) band. A comparative study on the emission of radiative species (He, He2, OH and H) is performed between these two discharge cases to derive their main production mechanisms. In both cases, the dominant primary ion is He+ at the onset of discharges, but their He+ charge transfer processes are quite different. Based on these experimental data and a qualitative discussion on the discharge kinetics, with regard to the present discharge conditions, it is shown that the electron-assisted three-body recombination processes appear to be the significant sources of radiative OH and H species in high-density plasmas.

Dynamic characteristics and evolution laws of underground brine in Mahai salt lake of Qaidam Basin during mining process

In the late stage of underground brine mining in salt lakes, the method of injecting fresh water is often used to extract the salt from the brine storage medium. This method of freshwater displacement breaks the original water–rock equilibrium and changes the evolution process of the original underground brine. To explore the mechanism of salt release in saline water-bearing media under conditions of relatively fresh lake water dissolution, this paper analyzes the changes in the chemical parameters of brine from 168 sampling points in the Mahai salt lake in the Qaidam Basin at three stages (before exploitation, during exploitation, and late exploitation) by correlation analysis, ion ratio analysis, and other methods and investigate the variations in porosity and the evolution laws of brine. The results show that the changes in the main ion content and brine mineralization during the exploitation process are small. The changes in Ca2+ content are significant due to the low solubility of calcium minerals, the precipitation of gypsum during the mixing process, and the adsorption of cations by alternating with Ca2+. Primary intergranular pore skeletons are easily corroded to form secondary pores, which increase the geological porosity. Na+ and Cl- are the dominant ions in the brine in the study area, but the concentration of Ca2 + decreased significantly under the influence of mining, by 41.7% in the middle period and 24.5% in the late period. The correlation between Ca2+ and salinity changes significantly in different mining stages, and the reason for the decrease of Ca2+ may be due to the influence of mineral dissolution, mixing, and anion-cation exchange. The porosity of the layer in the study area showed the opposite trend of Ca2+, and the porosity increased first and then decreased. The innovation of this paper lies in analyzing the reasons and mechanisms of the disturbance of artificial dissolution mining on stratum structure by comparing the hydrochemical characteristics and porosity of underground brine storage media in three different mining stages. The research in this paper provides a theoretical basis for the calculation of brine resource reserves and the sustainable development of underground brine in salt lake areas.

Comparative Study of Groundwater Quality for Drinking and Irrigation Purposes in Selected Villages of Manipur, India

A comparative study was done to monitor the groundwater qualities, both for drinking as well as irrigation purposes in some villages of Imphal East district, Manipur, in the period of pre-monsoon and monsoon of 2021. Totally, fifteen (15) groundwater samples were collected and examined for some important parameters like temperature, pH, TDS, TH, TA, Mg2+, K+, HCO3-, Ca2+, CO32-, Na+, Cl-, NO3- and SO42-. The results revealed that all the groundwaters were slightly alkaline in nature and fall under freshwater category. In both the seasons, majority of the parameters for various groundwaters have found their values/ concentrations below its acceptable limits, as given by BIS and WHO. In pre-monsoon, 73.33% of groundwaters were found as ‘moderately hard water’ and 26.67% (hard water) whereas in monsoon, 60% (moderately hard water) and 40% (hard water). Dominant ions in both seasons were Na+ (sodium) and HCO3- (bicarbonate) for cations and anions respectively. In most of the samples of monsoon, values and concentrations of the studied parameters were observed to be greater/higher as compared to that of pre-monsoon. It was mainly due to the leaching out of the soluble salts in the earth’s crust by rainwaters and finally mingled with the groundwater bodies in the aquifers in monsoon season. WQI values showed that in pre-monsoon, 26.67% of groundwaters were found as excellent water, 66.67% (good) and 6.66% (poor) while in monsoon, 60% (good) and 40% (poor). For irrigation water qualities, the indices (RSC, SAR, %Na, PI and KR) were examined. In the overall, all the samples can be utilized for irrigation (agriculture) purposes in both seasons. Correlation co-efficient (r) values showed that in both the seasons, the TH of various groundwaters was mainly because of dissolved sulphates of Ca2+ along with Mg2+.

Assessment of groundwater quality for drinking purposes of Malda District, India: Using WQI and GIS technique

AbstractWater, an essential life‐sustaining resource, holds global significance. Groundwater, a crucial component, provides substantial benefits to communities worldwide. This study focuses on evaluating the quality and suitability of groundwater for drinking purposes in the Malda district, employing methodologies that include the water quality index and geographic information systems. The data collected from West Bengal's groundwater yearbook for March 2020–2021 form the basis of this investigation. Following World Health Organization and Bureau of Indian Standards standard procedures, the study examines physicochemical characteristics and identifies hazardous elements such as potential of hydrogen, electrical conductivity, total hardness, Ca+, Na+, HCO3, F, Fe, SO4, K+, total dissolved solids, NO3, and Mg+. The findings reveal an alkaline nature in the groundwater of the Malda district, with dominant ions including HCO3−, F−, SO4−, and Cl−. Major cation chemistry is observed in Mg+, Ca+, and K+. Using the water quality index method, the results indicate 39% falling within the “excellent” category, 13% in “good” water quality, 34% considered “unsuitable,” 8% categorized as “poor,” and 4% falling into the “very poor” water quality bracket. The study's correlation and cluster analyses reveal complex relationships and distinct groupings among various parameters, emphasizing the need for comprehensive groundwater management. The study underscores the necessity for appropriate remediation measures to address high concentrations of trace metals in groundwater, posing potential health risks for domestic use. The incorporation of geographic information systems methodologies enhances the spatial understanding of these findings. This research contributes valuable insights for sustainable water resource management in the Malda district.

State-selective dissociative double ionization of CH3I and CH2I2 via I 4d core-hole states studied by multi-electron-ion coincidence spectroscopy.

The dissociative double ionization of CH3I and CH2I2 irradiated with extreme ultraviolet light at hv = 100eV is investigated by multi-electron-ion coincidence spectroscopy using a magnetic bottle type electron spectrometer. The spin-orbit state-resolved Auger electron spectra for the I 4d core-hole states, (I 4d3/2)-1 and (I 4d5/2)-1, provide clear identifications of electronic states of CH3I2+ and CH2I22+. The dominant ion species produced after the double ionization correlate with the Auger electron energy, showing that different fragmentation pathways are open depending on the electronic states populated by the Auger decay. Theoretical calculations are performed to understand the fragmentation from the doubly charged states and the observed spin-orbit specificity in the Auger decay.

Valorization of waste engine oil to mono- and di-rhamnolipid in a sustainable approach to circular bioeconomy.

This study aims to valorize waste engine oil (WEO) for synthesizing economically viable biosurfactants (rhamnolipids) to strengthen the circular bioeconomy concept. It specifically focuses on investigating the influence of key bioprocess parameters, viz. agitation and aeration rates, on enhancing rhamnolipid yield in a fed-batch fermentation mode. The methodology involves conducting experiments in a stirred tank bioreactor (3 L) using Pseudomonas aeruginosa gi |KP 163922| as the test organism. Central composite design and response surface methodology (CCD-RSM) are employed to design the experiments and analyze the effects of agitation and aeration rates on various parameters, including dry cell biomass (DCBM), surface tension, tensoactivity, and rhamnolipid yield. It is also essential to determine the mechanistic pathway of biosurfactant production followed by the strain using complex hydrophobic substrates such as WEO. The study reveals that optimal agitation and aeration rates of 200rpm and 1 Lpm result in the highest biosurfactant yield of 29.76g/L with minimal surface tension (28 mN/m). Biosurfactant characterization using FTIR, 1H NMR, and UPLC-MS/MS confirm the presence of dominant molecular ion peaks m/z 543.9 and 675.1. This suggests that the biosurfactant is a mixture of mono- and di-rhamnolipids (RhaC10C10, RhaRhaC10C12:1, RhaRhaC12:1C10). The findings present a sustainable approach for biosurfactant production in a fed-batch bioreactor. This research opens the possibility of exploring the use of pilot or large-scale bioreactors for biosurfactant production in future investigations.

Insight into the Critical Role of Oxygen Vacancies and V=O Bonds Length in V2O5 for Advanced Zinc Ion Storage.

Due to the larger sizes and stronger positive polarity of Zn2+ than dominant univalent ions, Zn2+ sluggish diffusion within V2O5 host electrodes is an essential issue in developing aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) of higher energy densities. Herein, a high-performance V2O5 cathode was developed through subtly synthesizing and tuning V2O5 with oxygen vacancies-enriched and elongated apical V=O1 bond by altering the gradient concentration of hydrazine hydrate in the gas-solid reaction system. This strategy can enhance both intrinsic and extrinsic conductivity to a large extent. The electrochemical testing demonstrated the oxygen vacancies-enriched and elongated apical V=O1 bond can not only increase the intrinsic electronic conductivity of V2O5, but also induce additional pseudocapacitance to enhance the Zn2+ diffusion kinetics. We used infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy to characterize the change in the bond length structure of V2O5. Simultaneously, the long-term cyclability (capacity retention of 76.9 % after 1200 cycles at 4.0 A g-1) and rate capabilities (218 mAh g-1 at 4.0 A g-1) are promoted as well. We believe that our work might shed light on the bond length engineering of V2O5 and provide insights for the reasonable designing of novel cathodes for practical rechargeable ZIBs.

Separation of indium and tin from ITO powders with short-chain dicarboxylic acid-ChCl deep eutectic solvents: Indium tin leaching and splitting mechanism

The substitution of corrosive mineral acids with green deep eutectic solvents (DESs) for extracting rare and precious metals from discarded electronic devices has a sustained appeal for developing clean hydrometallurgical processes. However, the dissolution mechanism of DESs on specific metals still requires an exhaustive understanding. In this work, short-chain dicarboxylic acid-choline chloride DESs were used to dissolve indium tin oxide (ITO) to achieve the separation of indium and tin. Kinetic and thermodynamic studies have shown that the leaching of indium and tin was considered a mixed control of diffusion and chemical reaction, with low activation energies (Ea(In) = 39.93 kJ/mol, Ea(Sn) = 39.52 kJ/mol). The electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) analysis of the leaching solution and molecular orbital calculations revealed that tin was leached in the main form of [Sn4+(OH−)3(H2O)]+ cation as well as slight [Sn4+MA2−(Cl−)3]− anion, while the dominant ions of indium were [In3+(Cl−)4]− ligand as well as small amounts of [In3+MAH−(Cl−)4]2−, [In3+(MA2−)3]3− and [In3+MA2−(Cl−)2]−. The tin-containing species in the leaching solution can be completely precipitated in the form of cassiterite SnO2 through water dilution and hydrothermal treatment, in which amorphous indium-containing substances were mixed. Most of the indium was retained in the form of [In3+(Cl−)4]− in the liquid. After adjusting the pH of the solution, over 99% of the indium precipitated out as In(OH)3, and after calcination at 600 °C in air for 1 hour, In2O3 was obtained. This study unveiled the leaching mechanism of short-chain dicarboxylic acid-choline chloride DESs on ITO powders. It developed a green, simple, and mild process for potentially recovering ITO-based materials.

Multispecies Ion Acceleration in 3D Magnetic Reconnection with Hybrid-Kinetic Simulations.

Magnetic reconnection drives multispecies particle acceleration broadly in space and astrophysics. We perform the first 3D hybrid simulations (fluid electrons, kinetic ions) that contain sufficient scale separation to produce nonthermal heavy-ion acceleration, with fragmented flux ropes critical for accelerating all species. We demonstrate the acceleration of all ion species (up to Fe) into power-law spectra with similar indices, by a common Fermi acceleration mechanism. The upstream ion velocities influence the first Fermi reflection for injection. The subsequent onsets of Fermi acceleration are delayed for ions with lower charge-mass ratios (Q/M), until growing flux ropes magnetize them. This leads to a species-dependent maximum energy/nucleon ∝(Q/M)^{α}. These findings are consistent with insitu observations in reconnection regions, suggesting Fermi acceleration as the dominant multispecies ion acceleration mechanism.

Dominant Solvent-Separated Ion Pairs in Electrolytes Enable Superhigh Conductivity for Fast-Charging and Low-Temperature Lithium Ion Batteries.

The low ionic conductivities of aprotic electrolytes hinder the development of extreme fast charging technologies and applications at low temperatures for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, we present an electrolyte with LiFSI in acetone (DMK). In DMK electrolytes, the solvation number is three, and solvent-separated ion pairs (SSIPs) are the dominant structure, which is largely different from other linear aprotic electrolytes where salts primarily exist as contact ion pairs (CIPs). With incompact solvation structures due to the weak solvation ability of DMK with Li+, the ionic conductivity reaches 45 mS/cm at room temperature. The percentage of SSIPs increases as temperatures decrease in DMK electrolytes, which is totally different from the carbonate-based electrolytes but greatly beneficial to low-temperature ionic conductivity. With the appropriate addition of VC and FEC, DMK-based electrolytes still exhibit a superhigh ionic conductivity. Even at -40 °C, the ionic conductivity is greater than 10 mS/cm. With DMK-based electrolytes, LIBs with thick LiFePO4 electrodes can be cycled at high rates and at low temperatures.