Anisotropic Electric Field Research Articles

Ultra-high rate and long cycle life sodium-based dual-ion batteries enabled by Li2TiO3-modified cathode-electrolyte-interphase

Sodium-based dual-ion batteries (SDIBs) have received widespread attention due to their high voltage, low cost, safety, and eco-friendliness. Nevertheless, the irregular spherical graphite cathodes are limited by the mass transfer non-uniformity and sluggish reaction kinetics due to uneven anion migration through the highly tortuous pathways and the inductive anisotropic electric fields. Herein, we report a facile dissolution-precipitation-carbonation optimized modification strategy to synthesize a series of nano-Li2TiO3/C-modified graphite flake (GF-LTx, x = 1, 2.5, and 5) as cathode for SDIBs. The Li2TiO3-C-Cathode Electrolyte Interphase (Li2TiO3-C-CEI) trinity layer by in situ reactions shows good cycling performance. The intrinsic mechanism of Li2TiO3-C-CEI was further explored by DFT molecular orbital theory and distribution relaxation time (DRT) analysis. Notably, the GF-LT2.5 achieves 10,000 stable cycles at 3–5.2 V (vs. Na/Na+) with a initial capacity of 91.1 mAh g−1 and a decay rate of only 0.00217 % per cycle. Furthermore, GF-LT2.5 demonstrates an ultra-high rate performance of 100C with only 30 s for a single charge and 86 % capacity for low current density. Infrared thermography confirms the good thermal stability and safety of the gel-based flexible pouch cells. This work provides new insights into the design of high-rate performance, long-cycle stability, and high-safety energy storage systems.

Three-Dimensional MT Conductive Anisotropic and Magnetic Modeling Using A − ϕ Potentials Employing a Mixed Nodal and Edge-Based Element Method

Magnetotelluric (MT) sounding is a geophysical technique widely utilized in mineral resource surveys, where conductivity and magnetic permeability serve as essential physical parameters for forward modeling and inversion. However, the effects of conductive anisotropy and non-zero magnetic susceptibility are usually ignored. In this study, we present a three-dimensional (3D) MT modeling algorithm using Coulomb-gauged electromagnetic potentials, incorporating a mixed nodal and edge-based finite element method capable of simulating MT responses for conductive anisotropic and magnetic anomalies. Subsequently, the algorithm’s accuracy was validated in two steps: first, it was compared with analytical solutions for a 1D magnetic model; then, a comparison was made with previously published numerical results for a 3D generalized conductive anisotropic model. The results of two tests show that the maximum relative error is below 0.5% for both models. Furthermore, representative models were computed to comprehensively analyze the responses of MT. The findings illustrate the relationship between anisotropic parameters and electric fields and emphasize the significance of considering the impact of magnetic susceptibility in magnetite-rich regions.

Three-Dimensional Direct-Implicit Particle-in-Cell Model Using Trilinear Anisotropic Immersed-Finite-Element for Plasma Propulsion

Efficiently and accurately calculating the plasma transport process is one of the difficulties in aerospace plasma application simulation, especially in the magnetic sail spacecraft applications that have a huge size. This paper develops a three-dimensional trilinear anisotropic immersed-finite-element direct-implicit particle-in-cell (IFE-DIPIC) model to solve the problem of large-scale, long-term evolution plasma with complex interfaces. The model uses the DIPIC method to track the motion of particles in the plasma while simulating the anisotropic electric field containing an interface by using a modified trilinear anisotropic IFE method. Compared to the previous models, the developed model in this paper allows for the use of larger spatial and time steps in the Cartesian meshes without inducing numerical divergence. Using an interface-independent mesh avoids redundant interpolation in the PIC method, further improving efficiency. These advantages significantly improve the efficiency in solving actual complex three-dimensional plasma physics problems. The accuracy, efficiency, stability, and applicability of the proposed model are proved through numerical examples and the application in magnetic sail. The simulation results indicate that the developed model can efficiently simulate the actual working conditions of magnetic sails. The performance is significantly influenced by both the direction and magnitude of the magnetic moment.

Electric field control of magnetic anisotropy and model for oriented Co/graphene design

Electric field controlled magnetic devices have attracted interest in the area of magnetic recording research, owing to their lower power consumption and high stability. While heterostructures composed of Co and carbon materials exhibit unique properties, our understanding of the magnetic properties of Co on graphene with a wavelike structure and related electric field-controlled phenomena remains limited. Here, we demonstrate the preparation of a customized Co/graphene structure, in which the controllability of the coercive force is enhanced. Taking the coercive force and geometric factor of Co into consideration, a shape-dependent magnetic anisotropy is proposed, which sufficiently explains the correlation between the coercive force and the aspect ratios of the Co stripes. For the magnetic field perpendicular to the bottom lines of canyons, the adjustment capability of the coercive force is enhanced under conditions of a more negatively charged surface. Based on the large electric field and related magnetic anisotropy energy, a ferro-ionic control (FeIC) model is proposed, which describes the relationship between the electric potential and coercive force in electrified conditions. Based on a FeIC model with a preferred orientation, we propose a design of an integrated FeIC inductor with field tunability that could strongly impact the field of integrated-circuit design, resulting in wider applications and functionalities of chips.

High-Performance Gel-Free and Label-Free Size Fractionation of Extracellular Vesicles with Two-Dimensional Electrophoresis in a Microfluidic Artificial Sieve.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived particles that exhibit diverse sizes, molecular contents, and clinical implications for various diseases depending on their specific subpopulations. However, fractionation of EV subpopulations with high resolution, efficiency, purity, and yield remains an elusive goal due to their diminutive sizes. In this study, we introduce a novel strategy that effectively separates EV subpopulations in a gel-free and label-free manner, using two-dimensional (2D) electrophoresis in a microfluidic artificial sieve. The microfabricated artificial sieve consists of periodically arranged micro-slit-well structures in a 2D array and generates an anisotropic electric field pattern to size fractionate EVs into discrete streams and steer the subpopulations into designated outlets for collection within a minute. Along with fractionating EV subpopulations, contaminants such as free proteins and short nucleic acids can be simultaneously directed to waste outlets, thus accomplishing both size fractionation and purification of EVs with high performance. Our platform offers a simple, rapid, and versatile solution for EV subpopulation isolation, which can potentially facilitate the discovery of biomarkers for specific EV subtypes and the development of EV-based therapeutics.

Directional guiding of mass and charge transfer via vertically aligned graphite nanosheets for high-rate and ultralong lifespan Dual-ion batteries

Cathode materials based on graphite for dual-ion batteries (DIBs) demonstrate multifarious merits, such as abundant resources and high anion interaction potential etc. However, the traditional irregular spherical graphite cathodes suffer from uneven anion migration through the highly tortuous pathways and the inductive anisotropic electric fields, leading to mass transfer non-uniformity and sluggish reaction kinetics. Simultaneously, large-sized anions and solvent co-intercalation restrict the anion intercalation behavior and cause severe intercalation volume expansion. To address these challenges, the vertical graphite nanosheets (VGNs) were designed to guide the anion transport directionally for the first time. The perpendicular open structures of VGNs regulate the uniform ion gradient and electric field for rapid anion diffusion by the directional and shortened ion channels with low electrode tortuosity. Meanwhile, the ordered tunnels buffer the intercalation volume expansion, enhancing the structural stability. Consequently, the DIBs with the VGNs as cathodes deliver an impressive discharge specific capacity of ∼ 220 mAh/g at 300 mA g−1, superior rate capability of up to 2000 mA g−1, and excellent cycling stability without obvious degradation after 2000 cycles, which surpasses those of reported DIBs based on anion intercalation cathodes significantly. This investigation on vertically aligned graphite nanosheets provides insights for the development of highly efficient nanomaterials for energy storage systems.

Potential Working Principle for a Static Charge and Static Magnetic Motor

The document describes a potential (potential, it may never work) way to generate perpetual motion using static charge and static magnets. The magnets have to be manufactured in such a way to generate anisotropic magnetic field. The crux of the whole principle is whether anisotropic electric fields and anisotropic magnetic fields exists and whether that can be used to generate perpetual motion. In anisotropic fields, the energy you get out is greater than the energy you put in (that is the author’s prediction. He might be wrong about it). The author does not have the ability nor the infrastructure to test the idea. He wishes someone will do it for him. If the reader of this document thinks the idea is significant, please cite the author as a contributor of the idea. The author would like to be included as a co-author in such a work. The author would be surprised if it is a significant idea because so many people might have already thought about it and tried it.

Characterization of Anisotropic Electric Field Effects on Grain Boundary Structures in Oxide Ceramics.

Characterization of Anisotropic Electric Field Effects on Grain Boundary Structures in Oxide Ceramics.

Crystalline electric field and magnetic anisotropy in Dy-based icosahedral quasicrystal and approximant

Crystalline electric field and magnetic anisotropy in Dy-based icosahedral quasicrystal and approximant

Determination of lethal electric field threshold for pulsed field ablation in ex vivo perfused porcine and human hearts.

Pulsed field ablation is an emerging modality for catheter-based cardiac ablation. The main mechanism of action is irreversible electroporation (IRE), a threshold-based phenomenon in which cells die after exposure to intense pulsed electric fields. Lethal electric field threshold for IRE is a tissue property that determines treatment feasibility and enables the development of new devices and therapeutic applications, but it is greatly dependent on the number of pulses and their duration. In the study, lesions were generated by applying IRE in porcine and human left ventricles using a pair of parallel needle electrodes at different voltages (500-1500 V) and two different pulse waveforms: a proprietary biphasic waveform (Medtronic) and monophasic 48 × 100 μs pulses. The lethal electric field threshold, anisotropy ratio, and conductivity increase by electroporation were determined by numerical modeling, comparing the model outputs with segmented lesion images. The median threshold was 535V/cm in porcine ((N = 51 lesions in n = 6 hearts) and 416V/cm in the human donor hearts ((N = 21 lesions in n = 3 hearts) for the biphasic waveform. The median threshold value was 368V/cm in porcine hearts ((N = 35 lesions in n = 9 hearts) cm for 48 × 100 μs pulses. The values obtained are compared with an extensive literature review of published lethal electric field thresholds in other tissues and were found to be lower than most other tissues, except for skeletal muscle. These findings, albeit preliminary, from a limited number of hearts suggest that treatments in humans with parameters optimized in pigs should result in equal or greater lesions.

Reversible Transformation between Isolated Skyrmions and Bimerons.

Skyrmions and bimerons are versatile topological spin textures that can be used as information bits for both classical and quantum computing. The transformation between isolated skyrmions and bimerons is an essential operation for computing architecture based on multiple different topological bits. Here we report the creation of isolated skyrmions and their subsequent transformation to bimerons by harnessing the electric current-induced Oersted field and temperature-induced perpendicular magnetic anisotropy variation. The transformation between skyrmions and bimerons is reversible, which is controlled by the current amplitude and scanning direction. Both skyrmions and bimerons can be created in the same system through the skyrmion-bimeron transformation and magnetization switching. Deformed skyrmion bubbles and chiral labyrinth domains are found as nontrivial intermediate transition states. Our results may provide a unique way for building advanced information-processing devices using different types of topological spin textures in the same system.

Effect of charge and anisotropic diffusivity on ion exchange kinetics in nuclear waste form materials

Motifs of radionuclide absorption particles (absorbers or fillers) for the nuclear waste treatment usually have crystal structures with nano-sized tunnels for fast ion diffusion. On the other hand, the accumulation of ions generates an electric field which affects the ion diffusion. Therefore, the strong anisotropic kinetic properties and the electric field affect ion exchange kinetics, especially in an assembly of these particles which may block the fast diffusion tunnels for each other. In this work, we developed a mesoscale model to describe the effect of anisotropic kinetic properties and electric field on ion exchange kinetics. With the model we simulated the effect of anisotropic diffusivity, electrochemical potential, particle morphology, size and aggregation on ion exchange kinetics during batch experiments. It is found that (1) ion exchange results in charge accumulation inside the particle because different ions have different diffusivities and different diffusion driving forces. The electric neutrality is not preserved; (2) the electric field speeds up the slower diffusion ions (either uptake or release) and slows down the faster diffusion ions to reduce charge accumulation and maintains charge neutrality; (3) the ion exchange becomes very slow at the later stages because (a) diffusion driving force (electrochemical gradient, Cs+ concentration in the solution and Na+ inside the particle) continuously decreases, as observed in batch experiments; and (b) the diffusivity decreases due to the Cs+ concentration dependence of ion diffusivity. This can explain the observed experimental phenomena that the radionuclide capacity usually cannot be reached; (4) for needle-like particle and their clusters, both surface area and diffusion distance along the direction with the fastest diffusivities have significant impact on the ion exchange kinetics.

3D edge-based and nodal finite element modeling of magnetotelluric in general anisotropic media

Research on the magnetotelluric (MT) forward modeling response in anisotropic media has been important since the discovery of anisotropic electric fields in the Earth's interior. In this study, we presented an edge-based and nodal finite-element method (FEM) for three-dimensional (3D) MT forward modeling problems in general anisotropic media. Partial differential equations are derived using the Coulomb-gauged approach from Maxwell's equation and discretized by the edge-based and nodal FEM. The magnetic vector A was discretized by an edge-based FEM and the electric scalar ψ was discretized by nodal FEM. The computational domain was refined using a hexahedral mesh. The Galerkin variant of the weighted residuals method was used to obtain a sparse linear system for magnetic vector A and electric scalar ψ. Three models were designed to validate and analyze our forward modeling code by comparing it with a one-dimensional analytical solution and with the results from codes developed by other scholars. A direct solver and iterative solvers with preprocessors were used to evaluate the performance of our code. Numerical experiments showed that our forward modeling code is accurate and robust and converges faster. In addition, the stiffness matrix assembled by our algorithm was smaller than that assembled by the nodal FEM, which further demonstrates the advantage of our algorithm in terms of computational memory.

Modeling cell membrane electrodeformation by alternating electric fields.

With the aim of characterizing and gaining insight into the frequency response of cells suspended in a fluid medium and deformed with a controlled alternating electric field, a continuum-based analysis is presented for modeling electrodeformation (ED) via Maxwell stress tensor (MST) calculation. Our purpose here is to apply this approach to explain the fact that the electric field anisotropy and electrical conductivity ratio Λof the cytoplasm and the extracellular medium significantly impact the MST exerted on the cytoplasm-membrane interface. One important finding is that the modulation of electrical cues and MST force by the frequency of the applied electric field provides an extremely rich tool kit for manipulating cells. We show the extreme sensitivity of proximity-induced capacitive coupling arising concomitantly when the magnitude of the MST increases as the distance between cells is decreased and the spatial anisotropy becomes important. Moreover, our model highlights the strongly localized character of the electrostatic field effect emanating from neighboring cells and suggests the possibility of exploiting cell distribution as a powerful tool to engineer the functional performance of cell assemblies by controlling ED and capacitive coupling. We furthermore show that frequency has a significant impact on the attenuation-amplification transition of MST, suggesting that shape anisotropy has a much weaker influence on ED of the cell membrane compared to the anisotropy induced by the orientation angle itself.

Experimental and theoretical analysis of magnetocaloric behavior ofDy1−xErxNi2intermetallics(x=0.25,0.5,0.75)and their composites for low-temperature refrigerators performing an Ericsson cycle

In the present work, the structural, magnetic, and thermodynamic properties of ${\mathrm{Dy}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Er}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}$ $(x=0.25,\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}0.5,\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}0.75)$ Laves-phase intermetallics, being continuous solid solutions in the ${\mathrm{DyNi}}_{2}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{\mathrm{ErNi}}_{2}$ system, synthesized by arc melting, are experimentally studied and analyzed in accordance with mutual substitution within the rare-earth sublattice. The existence of Laves-phase superstructure (space group $F\overline{4}3m$) in the substituted ${\mathrm{Dy}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Er}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}$ compounds was found by x-ray diffraction analysis. Low-temperature magnetic studies showed the ferromagnetic behavior of the compounds; their Curie temperatures correlate with the erbium content; namely, they decrease from 16.8 K for ${\mathrm{Dy}}_{0.75}{\mathrm{Er}}_{0.25}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}$ to 10.0 K for ${\mathrm{Dy}}_{0.25}{\mathrm{Er}}_{0.75}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}$. Heat capacity measurements performed in magnetic fields of 1 and 2 T allowed us to estimate the isothermal magnetic entropy and adiabatic temperature changes for ${\mathrm{Dy}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Er}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}$. Independently, a theoretical analysis was performed for a polycrystalline sample in the frame of a model Hamiltonian taking into account the Zeeman exchange interaction and crystal electric field anisotropy and was expanded to experimental results. Composites with optimum proportions of the individual ${\mathrm{Dy}}_{0.75}{\mathrm{Er}}_{0.25}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}$, ${\mathrm{Dy}}_{0.5}{\mathrm{Er}}_{0.5}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}$, and ${\mathrm{Dy}}_{0.25}{\mathrm{Er}}_{0.75}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}$ components were theoretically determined. The results indicate that the proposed composites are good candidates to be used as the refrigerant material in a magnetic refrigerator performing an Ericsson cycle at low temperatures. The relative cooling power RCP, refrigerant capacity RC, temperature averaged entropy change TEC, and the changes of emitted or absorbed quantity of heat \ensuremath{\Delta}Q were calculated for investigated samples. Direct measurements of the adiabatic temperature change in the vicinity of the magnetic transition temperature were carried out in magnetic fields up to 14 T. The regularities found are discussed in terms of Landau's theory of second-order magnetic phase transitions.

Supra-Binary Polarization in a Ferroelectric Nanowire.

The prediction and observation of supra-binary polarization in a ferroelectric nanowire (FNW) covered with a semicylindrical gate that provides an anisotropic electric field in the FNW are reported. There are gate-voltage-driven transitions between four polarization states in the FNW's cross-section, dubbed vertical-up, vertical-down, radial-in, and radial-out. They are determined by the interplay between the spatial depolarization energy and the free energy induced by an anisotropic external electric field, in clear distinction from the conventional film-based binary ferroelectricity. When the FNW is mounted on a biased graphene nanoribbon (GNR), these transitions induce exotic current-voltage hysteresis in the FNW-GNR transistor. This discovery suggests new operating mechanisms of ferroelectric devices. In particular, it enables intrinsic quaternary-digit information manipulation in parallel to the bit manipulation employed in conventional data storage.

Tug-of-War-Inspired Bio-Based Air Filters with Advanced Filtration Performance.

Integrating nanostructured active materials, antimicrobial components, and rational porous structures is one of the promising approaches for simultaneously boosting removal efficiency, antimicrobial capacity, mechanical property, hydrophobic performance, and air permeability of air filters. However, realizing these performances of an air filter still remains a big challenge. Herein, a multifunctional air filter zNFs-Ag@PT, which is composed of a unique substrate prepared from Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs)-paper towel (PT) microfibers and an upper layer formed from aligned zein nanofibers (zNFs) inspired by a "tug-of-war" repulsion force, is reported. The Ag@PT substrate is fabricated via in situ reduction; and zNFs are prepared by electrospinning a well-prepared zein Pickering emulsion onto a specially designed collector. The innovative collector is a partially conductive design composed of an insulative middle section and two conductive ends. It is demonstrated that the introduction of AgNPs not only endows the zNFs-Ag@PT filter with an effective antimicrobial activity but also provides the substrate with an anisotropic electric field to achieve stretched and aligned zein fibers forming thinner nanofibers than that without AgNPs. As a result, the filtration performances of a zNFs-Ag@PT filter are enhanced. This study initiates an effective way to fabricate bio-based multifunctional air filters with antimicrobial and filtration performances via combining nano- and biotechnology.

Magnetothermal properties of [formula omitted] ([formula omitted] 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75)

We describe magnetic, thermal, and magnetocaloric properties of rare earth intermetallic compounds TmxDy1−xAl2 with x= 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75. Using model Hamiltonian we consider contributions of the crystalline electric field anisotropy in both Tm and Dy magnetic sublattices, disorder in exchange interactions among Tm-Tm, Dy-Dy and Tm-Dy magnetic ions, and the Zeeman effect. Employing earlier reported and new experimental measurements, we first determine a single free variable – the intersublattice magnetic exchange parameter – to properly model the temperature and magnetic field dependencies of heat capacity and magnetization, and then use the modeling results to explain the emergence of an anomalous spin reorientation transition and its influence on the magnetocaloric effect in the title compounds. Theoretical results agree with experimental data reasonably well.

Tuning the crystalline electric field and magnetic anisotropy along the CeCuBi2−xSbx series

We have performed X-ray powder diffraction, magnetization, electrical resistivity, heat capacity and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) to investigate the physical properties of the intermetallic series of compounds CeCuBi$_{2-x}$Sb$_{x}$. These compounds crystallize in a tetragonal structure with space group $P4/nmm$ and present antiferromagnetic transition temperatures ranging from 3.6 K to 16 K. Remarkably, the magnetization easy axis changes along the series, which is closely related to the variations of the tetragonal crystalline electric field (CEF) parameters. This evolution was analyzed using a mean field model, which included anisotropic nearest-neighbor interactions and the tetragonal CEF Hamiltonian. The CEF parameters were obtained by fitting the magnetic susceptibility data with the constraints given by the INS measurements. Finally, we discuss how this CEF evolution can affect the Kondo physics and the search for a superconducting state in this family.

Flexoelectric and dielectric effects in uniform lying helix cholesteric liquid crystals

ABSTRACT Both flexoelectric effect and dielectric effect affect the director of uniform lying helix (ULH) cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs). By using a finite-difference iterative method to solve the numerical solution of the Euler equations, we investigate the polar angle and the tilt angle of the director affected by the coupling of flexoelectric effect and dielectric effect. We find that flexoelectric effect and dielectric effect can be quantitatively analysed, and dielectric effect makes the director changes nonuniformly in the helix plane and inclines unevenly with respect to the helix plane. We conclude that the tilt angle is not affected by the dielectric effect under one-constant approximation. In nonequal elastic constants, the influence of dielectric effect on tilt angle is different. Under the same electric field and dielectric anisotropy, the decrease of K 33 or K 22 can increase the title angle, and K 33 has more influence on the title angle than K 22. Remarkably, our method provides a more accurate theory basis for the rotation of the optic axis in ULH CLCs.