High-performance Alternatives Research Articles

Synthesis of poly(terphenyl-co-dibenzo-18-crown-6 methylimidazole) copolymers for high-performance high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

This study focuses on the development of high temperature polymer electrolyte membranes (HT-PEMs), which are essential components for HT-PEM fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs). While phosphoric acid (PA) doped polybenzimidazole (PBI) has been recognized as a successful HT-PEM, it faces several challenges, including the use of carcinogenic monomer, complex synthesis processes, and poor solubility in organic solvents. To produce more cost-effective, easily synthesized, and high-performance alternatives, this study utilizes a straightforward superacid-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts reaction to synthesize a series of poly(terphenyl-co-dibenzo-18-crown-6 methylimidazole) copolymers, referred to as Co-x%TP-y%CE-Im, using p-terphenyl, dibenzo-18-crown-6 and 1-methyl-1H-imidazole-2-formaldehyde as monomers. The copolymerized hydrophilic and bulky crown ether units introduce substantial free volume and multiple interaction sites with PA molecules, as indicated by theoretical calculations. Additionally, the formation of microphase separation structures, confirmed by atomic force microscope (AFM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), contributes to the enhanced performance of these membranes. For instance, after immersion in 85 wt% and 75 wt% PA solutions, the Co-90%TP-10%CE membrane achieves PA doping contents of 200 % and 169 %, achieving high conductivities of 0.092 S cm−1 and 0.054 S cm−1 at 180 °C, while maintaining tensile strengths of 6.5 MPa and 7.5 MPa at room temperature. Without the need for humidification or backpressure, the peak power density of an H2-O2 cell equipped with Co-90%TP-10%CE/169%PA membrane with a thickness of 79 μm reaches an impressive 1018 mW cm−2 at 210 °C. These results demonstrate new materials and insights for the development of high-performance HT-PEMs.

Modern Conversion Layers as High-Performance Alternatives to Aluminum Anodizing and Its Alloys

Modern Conversion Layers as High-Performance Alternatives to Aluminum Anodizing and Its Alloys

Versatile injector for inline renewable solid-phase extraction: Application to cyclodextrin-based bioaccessibility assessment in environmental solids

BackgroundSolid phase extraction (SPE) is a standard sample preparation technique in HPLC workflows. Inline cartridges are high-performance alternatives to manual or robotic systems but at long term, they suffer from irreversible sorption of matrix components and sorbent compaction. Bead injection (BI) is a niche fluidic technique that allows renewing a sorbent bed through the manipulation of its suspension. However, there is a need for a versatile and reliable tool in HPLC that can exchange the inline sorbent automatically, resorting to inexpensive and assorted bulk sorbents. ResultsWe present a new flow path for a liquid chromatographic injector to perform inline micro-solid phase extraction. The sample is processed at real time, trapping the analytes and discarding the matrix. Cleaning the matrix and injecting 10 μL of sample takes 70 s, comparable with the injection in commercial HPLC systems. If the aim is to preconcentrate the analytes, average enrichment factors of 250 have been obtained after processing sample volumes of 3200 μL in 16 min (interleavable with the chromatographic step), keeping the peak position and width independent of the injected volume (compared to large volume direct injection).The desired bed mass is automatically and pressure-driven manipulated in the valve, retained by an inline frit, and optionally, after the analysis, removed by forward flow.The chromatographic performance of the new design is compared to the standard 6-port, 2-position HPLC injector. As a case study, we have monitored the extraction kinetics of a cyclodextrin-based bioaccessibility extraction test of persistent organic contaminants in soil, by extracting several fractions in valve, process them with inline SPE with a balanced hydrophilic-hydrophobic reversed-phase sorbent, and inject the bioaccessible compounds into HPLC. Aiming at avoiding carryover, the sorbent bed (ca. 3 mg) is exchanged before every run. It should be noted that this contribution focuses on HPLC, but other non-separative techniques, such as Flow Injection Analysis, can equally benefit from this injection platform. SignificanceThis contribution reports the first use of inline BI-solid phase extraction in HPLC workflows, without heart-cut eluate injection, in which the sorbent can be exchanged automatically by forward flow. This performance is enabled by prototyping a valve that can autonomously swap sorbents in real-time for diverse samples, as a cartridge exchanger, but using cost-effective and environmentally friendlier bulk sorbents (bed masses from sub-mg to 5 mg) without requiring additional hardware.

High-performance imidazole-containing polymers for applications in high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

This work focuses on the development of high temperature polymer electrolyte membranes (HT-PEMs) as key materials for HT-PEM fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs). Recognizing the challenges associated with the phosphoric acid (PA) doped polybenzimidazole (PBI) membranes, including the use of carcinogenic monomers and complex synthesis procedures, this study aims to develop more cost-effective, readily synthesized, and high-performance alternatives. A series of superacid-catalyzed polyhydroxyalkylation reactions have been carefully designed between p-terphenyl and aldehydes bearing imidazole moieties, resulting in a new class of HT-PEMs. It is found that the chemical structure of aldehyde-substituted N-heterocycles significantly impacts the polymerization reaction. Specifically, the use of 1-methyl-2-imidazole-formaldehyde and 1H-imidazole-4-formaldehyde monomers leads to the formation of high-viscosity, rigid, and ether-free polymers, denoted as PTIm-a and PTIm-b. Membranes fabricated from these polymers, due to their pendent imidazole groups, exhibit an exceptional capacity for PA absorption. Notably, PTIm-a, carrying methylimidazole moieties, demonstrates a superior chemical stability by maintaining morphology and structural stability during 350 h of Fenton testing. After being immersed in 75 wt% PA at 40 °C, the PTIm-a membrane reaches a PA content of 152%, maintains a good tensile strength of 13.6 MPa, and exhibits a moderate conductivity of 50.2 mS cm−1 at 180 °C. Under H2/O2 operational conditions, a single cell based on the PTIm-a membrane attains a peak power density of 732 mW cm−2 at 180 °C without backpressure. Furthermore, the membrane demonstrates stable cycle stability over 173 h within 18 days at a current density of 200 mA cm−2, indicating its potential for practical application in HT-PEMFCs. This work highlights innovative strategies for the synthesis of advanced HT-PEMs, offering significant improvements in membrane properties and fuel cell performance, thus expanding the horizons of HT-PEMFC technology.

Eco-Friendly and High-Performance Bio-Polyurethane Adhesives from Vegetable Oils: A Review.

Current petrochemical-based adhesives adversely affect the environment through substantial volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions during production, contributing to air pollution and climate change. In contrast, vegetable oils extracted from bio-resources provide a compelling alternative owing to their renewability, abundance, and compatibility with adhesive formulation chemistry. This review aimed to critically examine and synthesize the existing scholarly literature on environmentally friendly, sustainable, and high-performance polyurethane adhesives (PUAs) developed from vegetable oils. The use of PUAs derived from vegetable oils promises to provide a long-term replacement while simultaneously maintaining or improving adhesive properties. This quality renders these adhesives appropriate for widespread use in various sectors, including construction, automotive manufacturing, packaging, textile, and footwear industries. This review intended to perform a comprehensive assessment and integration of the existing research, thereby identifying the raw materials, strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in knowledge concerning vegetable oil-based PUAs. In doing so, it responded to these gaps and proposes potential avenues for future research. Therefore, this review accomplishes more than merely evaluating the existing research; it fosters the advancement of greener PUA technologies by identifying areas for improvement and innovation towards more sustainable industrial practices by showcasing vegetable oil-based PUAs as viable, high-performance alternatives to their petroleum-based counterparts.

Analysis and Construction of Hardware Accelerators for Calculating the Shortest Path in Real-Time Robot Route Planning

This study introduces an optimization approach for calculating the shortest path in mobile robot route planning. The proposed solution targets real-time processing requirements by offering a high-performance alternative. This is achieved by embedding in the dedicated hardware an architecture which emphasizes parallelism. Through improvements in parallel exploration techniques, our solution aims to present not only a boost in performance but also a dynamic adaptation to graph changes, accommodating randomly occurring edge insertions or deletions as environmental conditions fluctuate. We present the developed architecture alongside its results. Our method efficiently updates obstacle matrices, resulting in a remarkable 120-fold improvement for 1024-node graphs. When utilizing a cost-effective device like the Cyclone IV E, it achieves approximately 12 times the performance of software applications.

Green lubricants in action: a comprehensive performance evaluation of groundnut oil-based cutting fluids in metal machining processes

As industries worldwide seek environmentally sustainable solutions, the metalworking sector faces a growing need for eco-friendly alternatives to traditional cutting fluids. This abstract introduces the concept of an innovative approach to cutting fluid technology—the use of groundnut oil as a base material for machining fluids. Derived from peanuts, groundnut oil presents a renewable and biodegradable alternative to petroleum-based counterparts, addressing concerns related to resource depletion and environmental impact. A comprehensive performance evaluation of groundnut oil- based cutting fluid has been carried out by series of critical tests such as separation testing, particle size and stability testing, frictional testing, corrosion testing and drilling testing. The results of these tests collectively contribute to a comprehensive understanding of groundnut oil-based cutting fluids, shedding light on their potential as sustainable and high-performance alternatives in metalworking. The zeta potential for the prepared green cutting fluid has been found to be 49.10 mV. The dimensions of the dispersed particles in a fluid of the cutting fluid have been found as 250–260 nm. The environmentally friendly cutting fluid exhibits favourable outcomes in corrosion resistance, frictional performance, and drilling efficacy during testing.

Local Entropy Generation Analysis of the Counter-Flow Dew-Point Evaporative Coolers

Abstract A comfortable indoor working circumstance can be accomplished by a ventilation and air conditioning system. There are several factors influencing the quality of indoor air, with the insufficiency of ventilation accounting for over 50% of the overall considerations. While traditional air conditioner is able to fulfill the needs of ventilation and indoor temperature control, low-efficiency and high energy consumption no longer align with the current sustainable and energy-efficiency goals. Thus, the development of energy-saving and high-efficiency air conditioning systems is crucial for realizing green and efficient building practices. Evaporative cooling technology, specifically dew-point evaporative cooling, has garnered extensive attention as an efficient cooling method and a candidate for environmentally friendly and high-performance alternatives to traditional air conditioning systems. This article investigates the thermodynamic losses involved in a dew-point evaporative cooling system using the counter-flow design. Detailed mathematical models for the evaporative cooler along with the entropy generation in the channels are developed. The model facilitates calculations of (1) the entropy generation distribution in different layers within the system and (2) the entropy generation of each layer and the whole system under various input conditions. Approaching the system from the second law of thermodynamics perspective, this model serves as a guide for selecting the optimal operating conditions, thus promoting the widespread application and commercialization of dew-point evaporative cooling systems with the counter-flow structure.

High Power Density Thermal Energy Storage With Phase Change Material in Enhanced Compact Heat Exchangers

Abstract Performance of a novel ultracompact thermal energy storage (TES) heat exchanger, designed as a microchannel finned-tube exchanger is presented. With water as the heating–cooling fluid in the microchannels, a salt hydrate phase change material (PCM), lithium nitrate trihydrate (LiNO3 · 3H2O), was encased on the fin side. To establish the hypothesis that small-length-scale encasement (<3 mm) of PCM substantially enhances heat transfer to yield very high power-density energy storage, heat exchanger designs with 10 and 24 fins/inch were considered. They were subjected to thermal cycling, or repeated heating (melting) and cooling (freezing), with inlet fluid flow mimicking diurnal variation between 42 °C and 25 °C (representing typical arid-region conditions) over an accelerated time period. By employing salt self-seeding to obviate subcooling during cooling or recrystallization, the TES was found to exhibit stable long-term (100 heating–cooling cycles) operation with very high PCM-side heat transfer coefficients (∼100–500 W/m2 K) and storage power density (∼160–175 kW/m3). In fact, with optimization of heating–cooling fluid flowrate for given charging–discharging time period and exchanger size, power density >300 kW/m3 can be achieved. The results clearly establish that highly compact heat exchangers used as TES units can provide very high-performance alternatives to conventional ones.

Analysis of biobased cooling lubricants in milling stainless steel for aerospace applications – A study of tribology and performance

Due to high thermomechanical loads, metal cutting processes generally require cooling and lubrication solutions to minimize friction between tool and workpiece. Nowadays, the standard in industry is the application of mineral-oil-based coolants, which represent a significant share of the CO2-footprint in production systems in terms of their extraction, fabrication and disposal. The demand for ecological innovations pushes the manufacturing sector to apply sustainable and health compatible coolant alternatives based on renewable vegetable oils for safer work environments and greener production systems. In this work, both mineral-oil-based cooling lubricants and several water-miscible emulsions based on vegetable oils were prepared and tested regarding their suitability for milling tasks of aircraft stainless steels. Therefore, comprehensive tribological investigations were carried out to determine the friction conditions in the contact zone between the tool cutting edge and the workpiece. Additionally, extensive experimental investigations were carried out to measure the process forces and the resulting tool wear as technical performance indicators of the cooling lubricants during machining. The study shows the significant potential of bio-based cooling lubricants as high-performance alternatives to conventional cooling lubricants when milling aircraft stainless steels, regarding the improvement of the tribological system of machining processes and the work environment.

Hybrid Modular Redundancy: Exploring Modular Redundancy Approaches in RISC-V Multi-Core Computing Clusters for Reliable Processing in Space

Space Cyber-Physical Systems (S-CPS) such as spacecraft and satellites strongly rely on the reliability of onboard computers to guarantee the success of their missions. Relying solely on radiation-hardened technologies is extremely expensive, and developing inflexible architectural and microarchitectural modifications to introduce modular redundancy within a system leads to significant area increase and performance degradation. To mitigate the overheads of traditional radiation hardening and modular redundancy approaches, we present a novel Hybrid Modular Redundancy (HMR) approach, a redundancy scheme that features a cluster of RISC-V processors with a flexible on-demand dual-core and triple-core lockstep grouping of computing cores with runtime split-lock capabilities. Further, we propose two recovery approaches, software-based and hardware-based, trading off performance and area overhead. Running at 430MHz, our fault-tolerant cluster achieves up to 1160MOPS on a matrix multiplication benchmark when configured in non-redundant mode and 617 and 414 MOPS in dual and triple mode, respectively. A software-based recovery in triple mode requires 363 clock cycles and occupies 0.612 mm 2 , representing a 1.3% area overhead over a non-redundant 12-core RISC-V cluster. As a high-performance alternative, a new hardware-based method provides rapid fault recovery in just 24 clock cycles and occupies 0.660 mm 2 , namely ∼ 9.4% area overhead over the baseline non-redundant RISC-V cluster. The cluster is also enhanced with split-lock capabilities to enter one of the available redundant modes with minimum performance loss, allowing execution of a mission-critical portion of code when in independent mode, or a performance section when in a reliability mode, with <400 clock cycles overhead for entry and exit. The proposed system is the first to integrate these functionalities on an open-source RISC-V-based compute device, enabling finely tunable reliability vs. performance trade-offs.

Fatigue and Wear Performance of Autoclave-Processed and Vacuum-Infused Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer Gears

This study focuses on investigating the fatigue and wear behaviour of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) gears, which have shown promising potential as lightweight and high-performance alternatives to conventional gears. The gears were fabricated via an autoclave process using an 8-layer composite made of T300 plain weave carbon fabric and ET445 resin and were tested in pair with a 42CrMo4 steel pinion and under nominal tooth bending stress ranging from 60 to 150 MPa. In-situ temperature monitoring was performed, using an infrared camera, and wear rates were regularly assessed. The result of the wear test indicates adhesive wear and three-body abrasion wear mechanisms between the CFRP gears and the steel counterpart. A finite element analysis was performed to examine the in-mesh contact and root stress behaviour of both new and worn gears at various loads and a specified running time. The results point to a substantial divergence from ideal meshing and stress conditions as the wear level is increased. The fatigue results indicated that the CFRP gears exhibited superior performance compared to conventional plastic and composite short-fibrous polymer gears. The described composite gear material was additionally compared with two other composite configurations, including an autoclave-cured T700S plain weave prepreg with DT120 toughened resin and a vacuum-impregnated T300 spread plain weave carbon fabric with LG 900 UV resin. The study found that the use of the T700S-DT120 resulted in additional improvements.

Halloysite Reinforced Natural Esters for Energy Applications

Recently, environmentally friendly and sustainable materials are being developed, searching for biocompatible and efficient materials which could be incorporated into diverse industries and fields. Natural esters are investigated and have emerged as eco-friendly high-performance alternatives to mineral fluids. This research shows the evaluations on thermal transport and tribological properties of halloysite nanotubular structures (HNS) reinforcing natural ester lubricant at various filler fractions (0.01, 0.05, and 0.10 wt.%). Nanolubricant tribotestings were evaluated under two configurations, block-on-ring, and 4-balls, to obtain the coefficient of friction (COF) and wear scar diameter (WSD), respectively. Results indicated improvements, even at merely 0.01 wt.% HNS concentration, where COF and WSD were reduced by ~66% and 8%, respectively, when compared to pure natural ester. The maximum significant improvement was observed for the 0.05 wt.% concentration, which resulted in a reduction of 87% in COF and 37% in WSD. Thermal conductivity was analyzed under a temperature scan from room temperature up to 70 °C (343 K). Results indicate that thermal conductivity is improved as the HNS concentration and testing temperature are increased. Results revealed improvements for the nanolubricants in the range of 8–16% at 50 °C (323 K) and reached a maximum of 30% at 70 °C (343 K). Therefore, this research suggests that natural ester/HNS lubricants might be used in industrial applications as green lubricants.

Lignocellulosic Materials for the Production of Biofuels, Biochemicals and Biomaterials and Applications of Lignocellulose-Based Polyurethanes: A Review.

The present review is devoted to the description of the state-of-the-art techniques and procedures concerning treatments and modifications of lignocellulosic materials in order to use them as precursors for biomaterials, biochemicals and biofuels, with particular focus on lignin and lignin-based products. Four different main pretreatment types are outlined, i.e., thermal, mechanical, chemical and biological, with special emphasis on the biological action of fungi and bacteria. Therefore, by selecting a determined type of fungi or bacteria, some of the fractions may remain unaltered, while others may be decomposed. In this sense, the possibilities to obtain different final products are massive, depending on the type of microorganism and the biomass selected. Biofuels, biochemicals and biomaterials derived from lignocellulose are extensively described, covering those obtained from the lignocellulose as a whole, but also from the main biopolymers that comprise its structure, i.e., cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. In addition, special attention has been paid to the formulation of bio-polyurethanes from lignocellulosic materials, focusing more specifically on their applications in the lubricant, adhesive and cushioning material fields. High-performance alternatives to petroleum-derived products have been reported, such as adhesives that substantially exceed the adhesion performance of those commercially available in different surfaces, lubricating greases with tribological behaviour superior to those in lithium and calcium soap and elastomers with excellent static and dynamic performance.

Assessment of inter-IC sound microelectromechanical systems microphones for soundscape reporting

Acoustic parameters obtained from calibrated acoustic equipment are part of the minimum soundscape reporting requirements as stated in Annex A of ISO 12913-2. To dynamically monitor the acoustic environment of a large area, a large network of acoustic sensors could be deployed, albeit at significant cost. Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) microphones offer compact, low-cost and high-performance alternatives to traditional analog microphones. In particular, the use of Inter-IC Sound (IS) communication allows MEMS microphones to be conveniently used in concert with I2S output interfaces for sound actuation. The performance of several IS MEMS Microphones was compared to that of an IEC 61094-4:1996 WS2F microphone in an anechoic chamber and a series of digital filters was designed to compensate for the differences in frequency response. The noise floor, compensated frequency response, acoustic parameter accuracy of IS MEMS were evaluated and recommendations regarding the suitability of the IS MEMS were provided.

A review on the application of nanomaterials in improving microbial fuel cells

Materials at the nanoscale show exciting and different properties. In this review, the applications of nanomaterials for modifying the main components of microbial fuel cell (MFC) systems (i.e., electrodes and membranes) and their effect on cell performance are reviewed and critically discussed. Carbon and metal-based nanoparticles and conductive polymers could contribute to the growth of thick anodic and cathodic microbial biofilms, leading to enhanced electron transfer between the electrodes and the biofilm. Extending active surface area, increasing conductivity, and biocompatibility are among the significant attributes of promising nanomaterials used in MFC modifications. The application of nanomaterials in fabricating cathode catalysts (catalyzing oxygen reduction reaction) is also reviewed herein. Among the various nanocatalysts used on the cathode side, metal-based nanocatalysts such as metal oxides and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are regarded as inexpensive and high-performance alternatives to the conventionally used high-cost Pt. In addition, polymeric membranes modified with hydrophilic and antibacterial nanoparticles could lead to higher proton conductivity and mitigated biofouling compared to the conventionally used and expensive Nafion. These improvements could lead to more promising cell performance in power generation, wastewater treatment, and nanobiosensing. Future research efforts should also take into account decreasing the production cost of the nanomaterials and the environmental safety aspects of these compounds.

Cuprous Oxide Cubic Particles with Strong and Tunable Mie Resonances for Use as Nanoantennas

The ability of plasmonic metal nanostructures (PMNs), such as silver and gold nanoparticles, to manipulate and concentrate electromagnetic fields at the nanoscale is the foundation for wide range of applications, including nanoscale optics, solar energy harvesting, and photocatalysis. However, there are inherent problems associated with plasmonic metals, such as high Ohmic losses and poorer compatibility with the conventional complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) microfabrication processes. These limitations inhibit the broader use of PMNs in practical applications. Herein, we report submicrometer cuprous oxide (Cu2O) cubic particles can exhibit strong electric and magnetic Mie resonances with extinction/scattering cross sections comparable to or slightly exceeding those of Ag particles. Using size- and shape-controlling particle synthesis techniques, optical spectroscopy, and finite-difference time-domain simulations, we show that the Mie resonance wavelengths are size- and shape-dependent and tunable in the visible to near-infrared regions. Therefore, submicrometer Cu2O cubic particles may potentially emerge as high-performance alternatives to PMNs. The strong electric and magnetic Mie-resonance-mediated nanoantenna attribute of the Cu2O cubic particles can be potentially used in a wide range of applications, including nanoscale optics, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy, photocatalysis, and photovoltaics.

Rapid fabrication of precise high-throughput filters from membrane protein nanosheets

Biological membranes are ideal for separations as they provide high permeability while maintaining high solute selectivity due to the presence of specialized membrane protein (MP) channels. However, successful integration of MPs into manufactured membranes has remained a significant challenge. Here, we demonstrate a two-hour organic solvent method to develop 2D crystals and nanosheets of highly packed pore-forming MPs in block copolymers (BCPs). We then integrate these hybrid materials into scalable MP-BCP biomimetic membranes. These MP-BCP nanosheet membranes maintain the molecular selectivity of the three types of β-barrel MP channels used, with pore sizes of 0.8 nm, 1.3 nm, and 1.5 nm. These biomimetic membranes demonstrate water permeability that is 20-1,000 times greater than that of commercial membranes and 1.5-45 times greater than that of the latest research membranes with comparable molecular exclusion ratings. This approach could provide high performance alternatives in the challenging sub-nanometre to few-nanometre size range.

Dual-functional interfaces for highly stable Ni-rich layered cathodes in sulfide all-solid-state batteries

All-solid-state lithium-ion batteries (ASSLIBs) are expected as safe and high-performance alternatives to replace the conventional liquid-based lithium-ion batteries. However, the incompatible interface between the most cathode materials and sulfide-based solid electrolytes is still challenging the stable delivery of electrochemical performance for ASSLIBs. Herein, a dual-functional Li3PO4 (LPO) modification is designed for Ni-rich layered oxide cathodes in sulfide-based ASSLIBs to realize the high performance. The modified cathode demonstrates a significantly improved initial capacity of 170.6 ​mAh g-1 at 0.1C, better rate capability, and reduced polarization compared to the bare cathode. More importantly, a stable long-term cycling is achieved with a low capacity degradation rate of 0.22 ​mAh g-1 per cycle for 300 cycles at 0.2C. The detailed surface chemical and structural evolutions are studied via X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The results indicate that the LPO modification not only significantly suppresses the side-reactions with sulfide electrolyte but also helps to alleviate the deterioration of the microstructural cracks during the electrochemical reactions. This work provides an ideal and controllable interfacial design for realizing high performance sulfide-based ASSLIBs, which is readily applicable to other solid-state battery systems.

CycleGAN With a Blur Kernel for Deconvolution Microscopy: Optimal Transport Geometry

Deconvolution microscopy has been extensively used to improve the resolution of the wide-field fluorescent microscopy, but the performance of classical approaches critically depends on the accuracy of a model and optimization algorithms. Recently, the convolutional neural network (CNN) approaches have been studied as a fast and high performance alternative. Unfortunately, the CNN approaches usually require matched high resolution images for supervised training. In this article, we present a novel unsupervised cycle-consistent generative adversarial network (cycleGAN) with a linear blur kernel, which can be used for both blind- and non-blind image deconvolution. In contrast to the conventional cycleGAN approaches that require two deep generators, the proposed cycleGAN approach needs only a single deep generator and a linear blur kernel, which significantly improves the robustness and efficiency of network training. We show that the proposed architecture is indeed a dual formulation of an optimal transport problem that uses a special form of the penalized least squares cost as a transport cost. Experimental results using simulated and real experimental data confirm the efficacy of the algorithm.