High Load Research Articles

Excellent tribocorrosion resistance in artificial seawater of high entropy alloy FeCrNiCoAl coating prepared by HVOF

In marine environments, steel friction pairs undergo significant degradation due to the combined effects of wear and corrosion, known as tribocorrosion. This study investigates the tribocorrosion behavior and mechanisms under high loads of a High Entropy Alloy (HEA) FeCrNiCoAl coating applied by HVOF spraying, as well as cast ingot FeCrNiCoAl and 304SS samples, in artificial seawater. The investigations were conducted using electrochemical methods and in situ wear- electrochemical techniques. The tribocorrosion rate of the HVOF coating is approximately 1/5 that of the HEA cast ingot and 304SS samples. This is attributed to the coating's high hardness and the supporting and isolating effects of its oxide layers between splats. An intriguing finding is that the Open-Circuit Potential (OCP) trough value of the HVOF coating coincides with the peak Coefficient of Friction (COF) value during tribocorrosion in artificial seawater. This is due to the exposure of fresh surfaces following the local peeling off of flattened particles. Furthermore, the coating exhibits high re-passivation capabilities during wear because of high oxygen content in the coating. In comparison to corrosion, wear-induced material loss was identified as the primary contributor (≥ 99.8 %) to mass loss in both HEA cast ingot and coating samples. Optimizing the quantity and morphology of the HVOF coating has the potential to further enhance its tribocorrosion resistance. This study lays the foundation for developing advanced tribocorrosion-resistant coatings for use in seawater environments.

Quadriceps Architectural Adaptations in Team Sports Players: A Meta-analysis.

Resistance training is the most effective strategy to modify muscle architecture, enhancing sport performance and reducing injury risk. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of high loads (HL) versus lower loads (LL), maximal versus submaximal efforts, and high frequency (HF) versus low frequency (LF) on quadriceps architectural adaptations in team sports players. Five databases were searched. Vastus lateralis thickness, fascicle length and pennation angle, and rectus femoris thickness were analyzed as main outcomes. Overall, resistance training significantly improved muscle thickness and pennation angle, but not fascicle length. LL led to greater fascicle length adaptations in the vastus lateralis compared to HL (p=0.01), while no substantial differences were found for other load comparisons. Degree of effort and training frequency did not show meaningful differences (p>0.05). In conclusion, LL lengthen the fascicle to a greater extent than HL, and training with LL twice a week could maximize architectural adaptations, whereas the degree of effort does not appear to be a determinant variable on quadriceps architectural adaptations.

Optimization of the full-load combustion schemes of n-butanol/biodiesel reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI) toward high-efficiency and low-emission engines

Biodiesel and n-butanol, as popular alternative fuels, can be used in advanced reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI) engines for efficient and clean combustion. However, the complex interactions between n-butanol and biodiesel, as well as the best combustion schemes at different loads, remain poorly understood. Given this, the objective of this paper is to identify optimal fuel organizations for n-butanol/biodiesel RCCI engines across different load scenarios by combining engine simulation with a global optimization algorithm, explore the potential synergies of control parameters, and analyze microscopic dual-fuel interactions based on the integrated average reaction path analysis. Results show that the optimal scheme at low load employs almost homogeneous fuel-air mixtures at elevated temperature atmosphere above 390 K, with n-butanol energy share exceeding 96% and optimal biodiesel injection timing between −70 and −50 °CA. Higher n-butanol ratio coupled with increased intake temperature improves engine performance. For mid load, biodiesel injection timing is retarded to −55 to −30 °CA, and biodiesel proportion is increased to introduce reactivity stratification, while maintaining its energy share below 20% to mitigate NOx emissions. Notably, biodiesel density is identified as the primary physical property influencing NOx formation. At high load, a split combustion scheme involving premixing and subsequent diffusion combustion is optimal. The physical effects of n-butanol addition minimally impact the low-temperature ignition of biodiesel, while its chemical effects significantly defer the low-temperature reactivity. The reaction path analysis reveals that n-butanol competes with biodiesel for OH radical consumption, with a large proportion of OH and HO2 consumed in the cyclic reactions of nC4H9OH and nC4H8OH. Adjusting the reactivity stratification affects the reaction state of n-butanol entrained by the biodiesel jets. Higher reactivity gradient intensifies biodiesel reactions to induce the pyrolysis of the involved n-butanol through nC4H8OH => 2C2H4 + OH, therefore resulting in more staged heat release.

Pre-choice midbrain fluctuations affect self-control in food choice: A functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study.

Recent studies have shown that spontaneous pre-stimulus fluctuations in brain activity affect higher-order cognitive processes, including risky decision-making, cognitive flexibility, and aesthetic judgments. However, there is currently no direct evidence to suggest that pre-choice activity influences value-based decisions that require self-control. We examined the impact of fluctuations in pre-choice activity in key regions of the reward system on self-control in food choice. In the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner, 49 participants made 120 food choices that required self-control in high and low working memory load conditions. The task was designed to ensure that participants were cognitively engaged and not thinking about upcoming choices. We defined self-control success as choosing a food item that was healthier over one that was tastier. The brain regions of interest (ROIs) were the ventral tegmental area (VTA), putamen, nucleus accumbens (NAc), and caudate nucleus. For each participant and condition, we calculated the mean activity in the 3-s interval preceding the presentation of food stimuli in successful and failed self-control trials. These activities were then used as predictors of self-control success in a fixed-effects logistic regression model. The results indicate that increased pre-choice VTA activity was linked to a higher probability of self-control success in a subsequent food-choice task within the low-load condition, but not in the high-load condition. We posit that pre-choice fluctuations in VTA activity change the reference point for immediate (taste) reward evaluation, which may explain our finding. This suggests that the neural context of decisions may be a key factor influencing human behavior.

Optimizing NiFe-Modified Graphite for Enhanced Catalytic Performance in Alkaline Water Electrolysis: Influence of Substrate Geometry and Catalyst Loading.

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are critical processes in water splitting, yet achieving efficient performance with minimal overpotential remains a significant challenge. Although NiFe-based catalysts are widely studied, their performance can be further enhanced by optimizing the interaction between the catalyst and the substrate. Here, we present a detailed investigation of NiFe-modified graphite electrodes, comparing the effects of compressed and expanded graphite substrates on catalytic performance. Our study reveals that substrate geometry plays a pivotal role in catalyst distribution and activity, with expanded graphite facilitating more effective electron transfer and active site utilization. Additionally, we observe that increasing the NiFe loading leads to only modest gains in performance, due to catalyst agglomeration at higher loadings. The optimized NiFe-graphite composites exhibit superior stability and catalytic activity, achieving lower overpotentials and higher current densities, making them promising candidates for sustainable hydrogen production via alkaline electrolysis.

Comparison of non-premixed and premixed flamelets for ultra WET aero engine combustion conditions

The Water-Enhanced Turbofan (WET) is a future concept for aero engine applications being developed by MTU Aero Engines AG. Steam is injected into the combustion chamber to reduce temperature peaks and emission of pollutants. Depending on the steam content, the combustion process is modified. To analyze the effect of steam on the reaction kinetics and the temperature, detailed chemistry has to be employed. By comparing laminar flame speed and mole fraction distribution across the flame front, an appropriate chemical mechanism for the considered operating conditions including high steam loads was selected. Tabulated chemistry based on flamelets was employed, which enables the use of complex mechanisms in CFD analysis at reasonable computational costs. A comparison of premixed freely propagating flames and non-premixed counterflow diffusion flames to represent the manifolds was investigated. Various definitions of the progress variable are studied for ultra WET combustion considered under aero engine conditions. The manifolds from both model flames are compared from dry to ultra WET conditions with kerosene in an adapted Sandia Flame D large eddy simulation. While the premixed flamelets are generated efficiently, the results obtained with non-premixed flamelets are more reliable for the range of operating conditions investigated.

Biobased recyclable epoxy composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes for electromagnetic interference shielding and Joule heating

AbstractCurrent epoxy thermosets are facing various challenges such as resource scarcity, environmental concern, and limited functionalities. Here, we present a novel solvent free approach to fabricate multifunctional carbon nanotubes (CNTs) reinforced biobased and recyclable epoxy thermoset composites through precuring in an internal mixer followed by curing in an oven. The epoxy matrix, a covalent adaptable network (CAN) based on dynamic imine bonds, was synthesized from entirely biobased feedstocks, including glycerol triglycidyl ether, vanillin, and 1,10‐diaminodecane. The shear force during precuring facilitated dispersion of CNTs in CAN matrix, allowing for high CNTs loading (up to 20 wt%). The well‐dispersed CNTs not only reinforced mechanical properties of CAN but also introduced new functionalities like electrical conductivity, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding capacity, and Joule heating performance. The composite with 20% CNTs exhibited a tensile strength and Young's modulus of 78.1 MPa and 3.07 GPa, respectively, marking a 34.2% and 63.6% improvement over pristine CAN. It also demonstrated a high electrical conductivity of 35.3 S/m, resulting in a remarkable EMI shielding effectiveness (22.8 dB) and excellent Joule heating performance (reaching 131.7°C at 27 V input). Furthermore, these composites are thermally and chemically recyclable due to dynamic imine bonds, promoting sustainability and circular economy.

3D Tunnel Copper Tetrathiovanadate Nanocube Cathode Achieving Ultrafast Magnesium Storage Reactions through a Charge Delocalization and Displacement Mechanism.

Rechargeable magnesium batteries are attractive candidates for large-scale energy storage applications because of the low cost and high safety, but the scarcity and inferior performance of the cathode materials are hindering the development. In the present study, a kind of copper tetrathiovanadate (Cu3VS4) cathode is designed and developed with a comprehensive consideration of the chemical and electronic structures. The vanadium and sulfur atoms form chemical bonds with high covalent proportion, facilitating electron delocalization via the vanadium-sulfur bonds. This reduces the interaction with the bivalent magnesium cation and induces the coredox of vanadium and sulfur. The crystal structure of Cu3VS4 has interlaced 3D tunnels for solid-state magnesium cation transport. The Cu3VS4 cathode shows a high capacity of 350 mA h g-1 at 100 mA g-1, an outstanding rate performance of 67 mA h g-1 at 10 A g-1, and stable cycling for 1000 cycles at 5 A g-1 without obvious capacity fading. Prominently, a high areal mass load of 3.5 mg cm-2 could be achieved without obvious rate capability decay, which is quite favorable to pair with the high-capacity magnesium metal anode in practical application. The mechanism investigation and theoretical computation demonstrate that Cu3VS4 undergoes first a magnesium intercalation and then a displacement reaction, during which the crystal structure is maintained, assisting the reaction reversibility and cycling stability. All the copper, vanadium, and sulfur elements experience redox and contribute to the high capacity. Moreover, the weakened interaction with magnesium cations, well-kept 3D cation transport tunnels, and high electronic conductivity result in the superior rate performance and high areal active material loading. The present study develops a high-performance cathode for rechargeable magnesium batteries and reveal the design principle based on both of chemical and electronic structures.

Preliminary Study on The Characteristics of Effluent From A Cachoeiro de Itapemirim – ES and Analysis of Possible Biotechnological Treatments

Purpose: The objective of this research was to organize and evaluate physical-chemical parameters of the industrial dairy effluent and to propose viable alternative treatments using biotechnological methods, aiming not only to prepare the effluent for disposal but also to generate value-added products Theoretical framework: With the growth of the population, the food industry sector expands exponentially. Brazil ranks among the top five milk producers globally, with the dairy industry being a significant producer of effluent, generating between 1.1 m³ and 6.8 m³ of effluent per cubic meter of processed milk. Dairy wastewater carries a high pollutant load and requires treatment prior to discharge into water bodies. There is an increasing demand for converting waste into raw materials, prompting research into biotechnological treatments that not only prepare effluent for disposal but also yield products from such waste. Method/design/approach: The data on wastewater characteristics were provided by the dairy itself, and the physicochemical aspects of the effluents over 19 months were interpreted, establishing relationships among key parameters, as well as the ratios BOD/COD, BOD: N and COD: N. The survey of biotechnological treatments was conducted through bibliographic research on Google Scholar, Scielo, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Results and conclusion: Through the analysis and correlations of the physicochemical characteristics of effluents from the Cachoeiro dairy, it is evident that this type of effluent is rich in low biodegradability organic matter, as the BOD5/COD ratio was less than 0.15 in over 79% of the samples, indicating that physical-chemical treatment is the most appropriate approach for this effluent. The linear correlation coefficient between BOD5 and COD was 0.6, suggesting a weak correlation that does not allow one parameter to be accurately predicted from the other. According to the literature, it is possible to derive biofuels, bioplastics, single cell protein, organic acids, polysaccharides, biosurfactants, and other products from dairy effluent, while also meeting environmental requirements Research implications: Evaluation of optimal treatments based on effluent characteristics and suggestion of alternative treatments aiming to utilize wastewater as a raw material for obtaining secondary products complementary to the industry's focus, in addition to compliance with current disposal regulations. Originality/value: Development of relationships to assist in evaluating effluent treatments and identification of treatments that can reuse this substantial volume of generated waste.

Preparation of a chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol-based dual-network hydrogel for use as a potential wound-healing material for the sustainable release of drugs

Treating chronic wounds poses significant challenges in clinical medicine due to bacterial infection, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and excessive inflammation. This study aimed to address these issues by developing a wound dressing with antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Chitosan was functionally modified with acrolein to covalently bind to epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), enabling a high EGCG load. Subsequently, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and EGCG-modified chitosan were crosslinked to prepare a new double-network hydrogel with added cysteine (CSAEC/P50). CSAEC/P50 demonstrated optimal mechanical properties (low swelling rate, high water retention, and optimal flexibility), low hemolysis, high coagulation properties, and antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Cell scratch tests indicated that CSAEC/P50 can promote NIH3T3 cell migration. Immunofluorescence results showed that CSAEC/P50 promoted the transformation of proinflammatory M1 macrophages to anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages. These findings suggest that CSAEC/P50 has significant potential for use in wound dressing applications.

Toxoplasma qPCR kinetics to guide pre-emptive treatment of toxoplasmosis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Recent ECIL-guidelines recommend a quantitative PCR (qPCR) guided pre-emptive treatment approach to toxoplasmosis in seropositive recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). While qPCR might serve as a sensitive tool for early Toxoplasma detection, its role in treatment follow-up remains unknown. We analyzed the qPCR kinetics of allo-HCT recipients experiencing either Toxoplasma infection (TI, n=71) or disease (TD, n=14) in relation to different parameters. We included 85 patients with available qPCR values expressed as quantitative cycle (Cq) from four large hematological centers from 2009 to 2023, and kinetic analysis was performed in a selection of 74 patients screened at least weekly with blood qPCR. Day 0 (D0) was the day of anti-Toxoplasma treatment start or (when untreated) day of diagnosis. Time to qPCR negativity was inversely proportional to the Cq value at D0 (p=0.0063). Not reaching negativity at D10 was associated with a significantly higher mortality at D30 (p=0.023). Patients with a high D0-parasitic load and patients with TD showed slower clearance (p<0.001, p=0.032). Time to negativity was not significantly different for patients started on prophylactic vs curative doses as first-line treatment regimen (p=0.16). This study underscores the predictive value of qPCR kinetics monitoring in allo-HCT patients with toxoplasmosis. With the aforementioned risk factors, clinicians can identify patients at high-risk for worse outcome. Our results support to consider a therapeutic change or reinforcement if the parasitic load does not decrease after 10 days, supplementing existing clinical guidelines.

Innovations in Engineering and Technology of Worm-Type Gears

Relatively small changes in engineering and technology of traditional established products turn over time into a series of milestones that determine both technical characteristics and production methods, and as a consequence - the competitiveness of the final product. Accordingly, it is relevant to periodically look at the evolution of the accumulated solutions and make some conclusions on it. For this purpose, the paper reviews innovations in design and production of worm-type gears obtained in Izhevsk scientific school in the field of gears for the last two decades: spiroid gears operating at low rotational speeds and transmitting high loads, leading to plastic deformations due to compactness of gears; spiroid gears with small gear ratios (3...8) competing with more expensive in production bevel and hypoid ones; worm gears with steel hardened gearwheels with increased strength and manufacturability; planetary spiroid gears providing extremely high gear ratio, improved methods and techniques of design and preproduction of gear cutting. The paper presents the review of innovations in design of worm-type gears made in Izhevsk scientific school in the field of gears for the last two decades: spiroid gears for cases of low speeds and small gear ratios, worm gears with steel hardened gearwheels, planetary and spiroid gears, improved methods and techniques of design and preparation of gear cutting.

Damage to Special-Purpose Ring Wavy Springs under the Influence of Hydrogen Sulfide-Containing Media

Annular wavy springs are widely used in the oil and gas industry and most often serve either as compensators for temperature deformations or for mechanical seals of various joints in equipment transporting oil and gas media. These springs provide high load capacity with a relatively low draft, which ensures a compact design. Most often, such springs are made by stamping from sheet steel. When operating technological equipment that transport hydrogen sulfide-containing oil and gas media, hydrogen sulfide stress corrosion cracking occurs quite often, which can lead to failure of industrial equipment. In particular, damage to annular wavy springs can cause depressurization of elements of industrial equipment and cause significant harm not only to the environment, but also to maintenance personnel. The object of research was annular wavy springs made of steel type X15N7M2YU. The purpose of the study is to determine the resistance of the spring material to stress corrosion cracking. This article discusses the test results of special purpose annular wavy springs in an aggressive hydrogen sulfide-containing medium artificially prepared according to the recommendations of ANSI/NACE TM 0177. The results of hardness studies, strength calculations and metallographic studies of damage to a wavy spring are presented. The chemical composition of the metal of the spring fully corresponds to the steel type X15N7M2YU declared by the enterprise. According to the studies conducted in environments containing hydrogen sulfide, the wavy spring is not recommended for use in oil and gas equipment, since it is not resistant to hydrogen sulfide cracking under stress.

Adsorption of Carotenoids, Chloride, and Sulfate from Annatto Dye Agro-Industrial Effluent

&lt;p&gt;Natural dyes, such as annatto, are widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. However, the effluents from annatto dye production pose environmental challenges due to the presence of residual dye components, organic matter, and dissolved inorganic species (chloride and sulfate). This study, the first attempt in the literature to deal with real annatto dye effluent, aimed to evaluate the use of activated carbon for the removal of carotenoids (norbixin), chloride, and sulfate. A 2³ full-factorial design was employed to optimize the adsorption process parameters (temperature, pH, and adsorbent mass). The results showed that up to 90% of carotenoids and chloride could be removed under optimized conditions (low temperature and pH). Sulfate removal was more strongly influenced by the pH of the medium, with a maximum removal of 53%. The adsorption process was well-described by empirical models, though traditional isotherm models did not adequately represent the experimental data. Hypotheses that support isotherm models such as pore homogeneity, monolayer formation, constant internal diffusion were not satisfied. This study demonstrates the potential of activated carbon adsorption as a feasible method for treating food industry effluents containing high loads of carotenoids and inorganic salts.&lt;/p&gt;

AGRICULTURAL WORKERS AND BURDEN OF MORBIDITY: A COMMUNITY-BASED CROSSSECTIONAL STUDY IN A RURAL BLOCK OF WEST BENGAL

Objective: Agriculture is one of the most hazardous occupations in developing and industrialized countries. Most agricultural workers in developing countries have poor housing conditions and an inadequate diet and are exposed to both general and occupational diseases. The study was undertaken to find out the prevalence of occupational morbidity and its associated risk factors among agricultural workers in a rural Block of West Bengal. Methods: The study was conducted among agriculture workers of Habra Block-I of the state of West Bengal. Multistage random sampling method was followed to select a total of 302 individuals who were distributed among the four villages according to the Probability Proportional to Size (PPS) method. Results: The majority of workers (58.6%) were suffering from nutritional pallor/anemia and dental carries/dental stains were 45.4%. Among other morbidities, 42% of workers were suffering from respiratory morbidity, 26.8% of workers were suffering from cardiovascular diseases, and 26.5% were suffering from hypertension. Duration of work (more than 8 h/day) was significantly associated with morbidity also other covariates such as age, sex, type of family, smoking status, and alcohol consumption had significant effects on morbidity among agriculture workers in both bivariate and multivariable linear regression. Conclusion: This research revealed not only the high prevalence of morbidities among the study population but also the occurrence of a large population with modifiable risk factors such as alcohol consumption, smoking, high load and long duration of work, poor personal hygiene, and non-use of personal protection equipment; the latter, if taken care, will reduce the morbidities of the agriculture workers.

Simultaneous Reduction and Methylation of Nanoparticulate Mercury: The Critical Role of Extracellular Electron Transfer.

Mercury nanoparticles are abundant in natural environments. Yet, understanding their contribution to global biogeochemical cycling of mercury remains elusive. Here, we show that microbial transformation of nanoparticulate divalent mercury can be an important source of elemental and methylmercury.Geobacter sulfurreducensPCA, a model bacterium predominant in anoxic environments (e.g., paddy soils), simultaneously reduces and methylates nanoparticulate Hg(II). Moreover, the relative prevalence of these two competing processes and the dominant transformation pathways differ markedly between nanoparticulate Hg(II) and its dissolved and bulk-sized counterparts. Notably, even when intracellular reduction of Hg(II) nanoparticles is constrained by cross-membrane transport (a rate-limiting step that also regulates methylation), the overall Hg(0) formation remains substantial due to extracellular electron transfer. With multiple lines of evidence based on microscopic and electrochemical analyses, gene knockout experiments, and theoretical calculations, we show that nanoparticulate Hg(II) is preferentially associated with c-type cytochromes on cell membranes and has a higher propensity for accepting electrons from the heme groups than adsorbed ionic Hg(II), which explains the surprisingly larger extent of reduction of nanoparticles than dissolved Hg(II) at relatively high mercury loadings. These findings have important implications for the assessment of global mercury budgets as well as the bioavailability of nanominerals and mineral nanoparticles.

Impact of Viruses on Prokaryotic Communities and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Agricultural Soils.

Viruses are abundant and ubiquitous in soil, but their importance in modulating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in terrestrial ecosystems remains largely unknown. Here, various loads of viral communities are introduced into paddy soils with different fertilization histories via a reciprocal transplant approach to study the role of viruses in regulating greenhouse gas emissions and prokaryotic communities. The results showed that the addition of viruses has a strong impact on methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and, to a minor extent, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, along with dissolved carbon and nitrogen pools, depending on soil fertilization history. The addition of a high viral load resulted in a decrease in microbial biomass carbon (MBC) by 31.4%, with changes in the relative abundance of 16.6% of dominant amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) in comparison to control treatments. More specifically, large effects of viral pressure are observed on some specific microbial communities with decreased relative abundance of prokaryotes that dissimilate sulfur compounds and increased relative abundance of Nanoarchaea. Structural equation modeling further highlighted the differential direct and indirect effects of viruses on CO2, N2O, and CH4 emissions. These findings underpin the understanding of the complex microbe-virus interactions and advance current knowledge on soil virusecology.

Physiological responses of the Asian green mussel (&lt;i&gt;Perna viridis&lt;/i&gt;) in highly turbid waters

In order to simulate conditions induced by climate change, the filtration rates and pseudofaeces production of Perna viridis from two distinct size categories were investigated at progressively increasing total suspended solid concentrations. Filtration rates of smaller mussels increased with increasing total suspended solid concentration. For larger mussels, filtration rates increased with increased concentration up to 800 mg L–1, after which filtration rate dropped sharply. Pseudofaeces production also increased with increasing total suspended solid concentration up to 600 mg L–1, beyond which no further significant increase was observed for large mussels, and there was a considerable decline for small mussels. The results show that the mussels of different sizes have different filtration rates with smaller mussels ranging from 0.11 to 2.62 mg min–1 and in larger mussels from 0.21 to 4.83 mg min–1. Pseudofaeces production ranged from 0.08 to 0.67 mg min–1 for small mussels and from 0.02 to 1.42 mg min–1 for larger mussels. These results may imply that smaller mussels are more vulnerable to siltation and high sediment load compared to larger individuals. In the natural environment, this situation can be caused by more frequent and severe typhoons resulting from climate change.

Enable Rechargeable Carbon Fluoride Batteries with Unprecedented High Rate and Long Life by Oxygen Doping and Electrolyte Formulation.

Here, a rechargeable carbon fluoride battery is demonstrated with unprecedented high rate and long life by oxygen doping and electrolyte formulation. The introductions of Mn2+-O catalyst and porous structure during the oxidation process of CFx cathode can promote the splitting of Li-F during charging. By further modulating the electrolyte with triphenylantimony chloride (TSbCl) as anion acceptor and CsF as product modulator, the more readily dissociable CsLiF2 product instead of LiF is preferentially formed, and the TSbCl-salt protection interface is constructed to confine Li-F based products and reduce fluoride loss at cathode side. These effects endow Li-CFx batteries with durable reversible conversion reaction (for at least 600 cycles), ultrahigh rate performance (e.g., 364 mAhg-1 at 20 Ag-1) and low charging plateau voltage down to 3.2V. The cathode exhibits the maximum power density of 38342Wkg-1 and energy density of 1012Whkg-1. Furthermore, this Li-CFx system demonstrates the promising prospects for applications in view of its low temperature operation (e.g., 280 mAhg-1 at -20°C), low self-discharge ability, large-scale pouch cell fabrication and high cathode loading (5-6mgcm-2), enabling it to move beyond previous role as primary battery and into new role as fast-charging rechargeable battery with high energy density.

Diffusion coefficients of Al&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;Cl&lt;sub&gt;7&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;–&lt;/sup&gt; in low temperature chloroaluminate melt based on triethylamine hydrochloride

With the growing demand for renewable energy sources, much of the research in the battery industry is focused on creating safe and high-capacity energy storage systems that can handle high current loads using inexpensive and readily available materials. The aluminum-ion batteries (AIB) are considered as one of the most promising systems. Such materials as aluminum metal, carbon materials and chloroaluminate ionic liquids are used as anode, cathode and electrolyte, respectively. A low-temperature chloroaluminate melt based on triethylamine hydrochloride (Et3NHCl) is promising and inexpensive electrolytes for AIBs. This melt has the ability to reversibly precipitate/dissolve aluminum metal due to the presence of the Al2Cl7– ion in it. However, the diffusion of Al2Cl7– ions in the Et3NHCl–AlCl3 system has not been studied previously. In the presented work, the concentration dependence of the diffusion coefficients of the Al2Cl7– anion was studied using chronopotentiometry in the concentration range N = 1.3–1.95 (where N is the molar ratio of aluminum chloride to organic salt). It was shown that diffusion coefficients increase with aluminum chloride content growth in the studied melt: from 1.71·10–7 (N = 1.3) to 4.50·10–7 cm2·s–1 (N = 1.95). This behavior can be caused by the viscosity decrease of the melts with Al2Cl7– concentration growth. Based on the obtained results it can be concluded that Et3NHCl–AlCl3 with N = 1.95 is the most suitable electrolyte for AIB. Moreover, it was established that the electrochemical reduction of the Al2Cl7– on the surface of the aluminum electrode is complicated by the nucleation process, which has the lowest overvoltage at N = 1.95.