Maximum Energy Research Articles

Investigation of generalised uncertainty principle effects on FRW cosmology

Based on the entropy-area relation from Nouicer's generalised uncertainty principle (GUP), we derive the GUP modified Friedmann equations from the first law of thermodynamics at apparent horizon. We find a minimum apparent horizon due to the minimal length notion of GUP. We show that the energy density of universe has a maximum and finite value at the minimum apparent horizon. Both minimum apparent horizon and maximum energy density imply the absence of the Big Bang singularity. Moreover, we investigate the GUP effects on the deceleration parameter for flat case. Finally, we examine the validity of generalised second law (GSL) of thermodynamics. We show that GSL always holds in a region enclosed by apparent horizon for the GUP effects. We also investigate the GSL in ΛCDM cosmology and find that the total entropy change of universe has a maximum value in the presence of GUP effects. To better grasp the effects of Nouicer's GUP on cosmology, we compare our results with those obtained from quadratic GUP (QGUP).

Electrical power output potential of different solar photovoltaic systems in Tanzania

This study examines the photovoltaic (PV) energy output and levelized cost of energy (LCOE) in seven regions of Tanzania across five different tilt adjustments of 1 MW PV systems. The one-diode model equations and the PVsyst 7.2 software were used in the simulation. The results reveal variations in energy output and LCOE among the regions and tilt adjustments indicating a strong correlation between PV energy output and solar irradiance incident on the PV panel. For horizontal mounting, the annual energy output ranges from 1229 MWh/year in Kilimanjaro to 1977 MWh/year in Iringa. Among the three optimal tilt adjustments, annually, monthly and seasonal, the last two are predicted to yield larger energy outputs, whereas the two axis tracking configuration consistently provides the maximal energy output in all regions, ranging from 1533 MWh/year in Kilimanjaro to 2762 MWh/year in Iringa. The LCOE analysis demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of solar PV systems compared to grid-connected and isolated mini-grid tariffs. The LCOE values across the regions and tilt adjustments range from $0.07/kWh to $0.16/kWh. In comparison, the tariff for grid-connected solar PV is $0.165/kWh, while for isolated mini-grids; it is $0.181/kWh. The monthly optimal tilt configuration proves to be the most cost-effective option for energy generation in multiple regions, as it consistently exhibits the lowest energy cost compared to the other four configurations. The results provide valuable insights into the performance and economic feasibility of various system setups. Through meticulous simulation and data analysis, we have gained a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing energy generation and costs in the context of solar photovoltaic systems.

The Kondo effect in the quantum XX spin chain

We investigate the boundary phenomena that arise in a finite-size XX spin chain interacting through an XX interaction with a spin −12 impurity located at its edge. Upon Jordan–Wigner transformation, the model is described by a quadratic Fermionic Hamiltonian. Our work displays, within this ostensibly simple model, the emergence of the Kondo effect, a quintessential hallmark of strongly correlated physics. We also show how the Kondo cloud shrinks and turns into a single particle bound state as the impurity coupling increases beyond a critical value. In more detail, using both Bethe Ansatz and exact diagonalization techniques, we show that the local moment of the impurity is screened by different mechanisms depending on the ratio of the boundary and bulk coupling JimpJ . When the ratio falls below the critical value 2 , the impurity is screened via the Kondo effect. However, when the ratio between the coupling exceeds the critical value 2 an exponentially localized bound mode is formed at the impurity site which screens the spin of the impurity in the ground state. We show that the boundary phase transition is reflected in local ground state properties by calculating the spinon density of states, the magnetization at the impurity site in the presence of a global magnetic field, and the finite temperature susceptibility of the impurity. We find that the spinon density of states in the Kondo phase has the characteristic Lorentzian peak that moves from the Fermi level to the maximum energy of the spinon as the impurity coupling is increased and becomes a localized bound mode in the bound mode phase. Moreover, the impurity magnetization and the finite temperature impurity susceptibility behave differently in the two phases. When the boundary coupling Jimp exceeds the critical value 2J , the model is no longer boundary conformal invariant as a massive bound mode appears at the impurity site.

Plasmoid drift and first wall heat deposition during ITER H-mode dual-SPIs in JOREK simulations

The heat flux mitigation during the thermal quench (TQ) by the shattered pellet injection (SPI) is one of the major elements of disruption mitigation strategy for ITER. It’s efficiency greatly depends on the SPI and the target plasma parameters, and is ultimately characterised by the heat deposition on to the plasma facing components. To investigate such heat deposition, JOREK simulations of neon-mixed dual-SPIs into ITER baseline H-mode and a ‘degraded H-mode’ with and without good injector synchronization are performed with focus on the first wall heat flux and its energy impact. It is found that low neon fraction SPIs into the baseline H-mode plasmas exhibit strong major radial plasmoid drift as the fragments arrive at the pedestal, accompanied by edge stochasticity. Significant density expulsion and outgoing heat flux occurs as a result, reducing the mitigation efficiency. Such drift motion could be mitigated by injecting higher neon fraction pellets, or by considering the pre-disruption confinement degradation, thus improving the radiation fraction. The radiation heat flux is found to peak in the vicinity of the fragment injection location in the early injection phase, while it relaxes later on due to parallel impurity transport. The overall radiation asymmetry could be significantly mitigated by good synchronization. Time integration of the local heat flux is carried out to provide its energy impact for wall heat damage assessment. For the baseline H-mode case with full pellet injection, melting of the stainless steel armour of the diagnostic port could occur near the injection port, which is acceptable, without any melting of the first wall tungsten tiles. For the degraded H-mode cases with quarter-pellet SPIs, which have 1/4 total volume of a full pellet, the maximum energy impact approaches the tolerable limit of the stainless steel with un-synchronized SPIs, and stays well below such limit for the perfectly synchronized ones.

Effect of Crop Establishment Methods and Weed Management Practices on Productivity and Bioenergetics of Rice

Background: SRI and aerobic rice are one of the techniques of growing rice under water scarcity areas where meeting water requirement is becoming a global threat. Weeds are another threat to yield of rice irrespective of different establishment methods. Until checked, it can decline rice yield and quality up to more than 70%. SRI and aerobic rice have different densities of weeds and integrated weed management can be applied to suppress the weeds. Considering the current scenario, research was conducted to investigate growth, yield and bioenergetics of rice under different establishment methods and weed management. Methods: The experiment entitled “Effect of crop establishment methods and weed management practices on productivity and bioenergetics of rice” was carried out in split plot design with main plots, viz., M1- aerobic rice (AR) and M2- system of rice intensification (SRI) and five subplots W1- pre-emergence (pendimethalin @1 kg a.i ha-1) fb post-emergence (bispyribac-sodium @20g a.i ha-1) (PE+POE), W2- pre-emergence (pendimethalin @1 kg a.i ha-1) fb cono weeding at 15, 30, and 45 DAT/ DAS (PE+CW), W3- weed free (WF), W4- weedy check (WC), W5- stale seedbed followed by post-emergence herbicide (bispyribac-sodium 10% SC 20 g a.i ha-1) (SSB+POE) in split plot design with three replications taking the variety ‘Pusa Basmati-1121’ as a test crop. Result: Among the establishment methods, SRI recorded significantly higher growth attributes like plant height and dry matter production and yield attributes like number of panicles per hill, panicle length, number of grains per panicle, test weight, grain yield, straw yield, biological yield, and harvest index. Among the weed management treatments, WF recorded significantly higher growth attributes like plant height, number of tillers per hill, dry matter production and yield attributes like number of panicles per hill, panicle length, number of grains per panicle, test weight, grain yield, straw yield, biological yield, and harvest index that was followed by treatment PE+CW. Maximum net return and B:C ratio was observed in the treatment combinations M2W2- SRI + (PE+CW). The maximum total energy input was found in the treatment combination M1W1- AR+ (PE+POE) and the maximum total energy output was found in the treatment combination M2W3- SRI + WF. The energy intensiveness was observed to be maximum in the treatment combination M1W4- AR + WC and the maximum energy efficiency index was observed in the treatment combination M2W3- SRI+WF.

Beam characterization of mid-infrared free electron laser to drive high-harmonic generation

Abstract The maximum energy of photons from high-harmonic generation (HHG) increases with the wavelength of the driving laser. A free electron laser (FEL) is a continuously tunable light source in the mid-infrared wavelength range and it is useful for investigating the extension of the accessible photon energy in HHG. Recently, the undulator magnets of the infrared FEL at the Laboratory for Electron Beam Research and Application (LEBRA), Nihon University, have been replaced, and then the output power of the FEL has increased. Here, we evaluate the pulse duration and focal beam size of the FEL and show that the LEBRA FEL with 2-μm and 3-μm laser wavelengths under a 44-MHz bunch repetition mode can drive HHG.

Ultrastable Organic Anode Enabled by Electrochemically Active MXene Binder toward Advanced Potassium Ion Storage.

Conjugated carbonyl compounds are regarded as promising organic anode materials for potassium ion batteries (PIBs) due to their rich redox sites, excellent reversibility, and structural tunability, but their low electrical conductivity and severe solubility in organic electrolytes have substantially restricted their practical application. Herein, 2D MXene is utilized as an electrochemically active binder to fabricate perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) electrodes for high-performance PIBs. MXene, coupled with Super-P particles, served as a binder and conductive matrix to facilitate rapid ion and electron transport, restrain the solubility of PTCDA, promote potassium adsorption, and alleviate the volume expansion of PTCDA during potassiation. Consequently, the PTCDA electrode bonded by the MXene/Super-P system delivers excellent potassium storage performance in terms of a high capacity of 462 mAh g-1 at 50 mA g-1, superior rate capability of 116.3 mAh g-1 at 2000 mA g-1, and stable cycle performance over 3000 cycles with a low capacity decay rate of ∼0.0033% per cycle. When configured with the PTCDA@450 cathode, an all-PTCDA potassium ion full cell delivers a maximum energy density of 179.5 Wh kg-1, indicating the superiority of MXene as an electrochemically active binder to promote the practical application of organic anodes for PIBs.

Effect of heat treatment on AlSi10Mg composite 3D printed energy absorption structures

To enhance the energy absorption characteristics of the energy-absorbing structure in metal alloy 3D printing, various heat treatment conditions were studied on the 3D printed hourglass multi-cellular energy-absorbing structure (HTMEAS). The results reveal that as the annealing temperature rises, the structural morphology of the α-Al+Si phase in AlSi10Mg alloy undergoes alterations, particularly when the annealing temperature remains below 300°C. After heat treatment, the HTMEAS can contract layer by layer along the gradient and undergo controllable and orderly deformation. The maximum energy absorption, displacement, and peak force reached 758 J, 30 mm, and 30 kN, respectively.These values represent a significant enhancement of 146.8 %, 157.8 %, and 50 % compared to those without heat treatment, showcasing commendable mechanical properties. This advancement establishes a solid theoretical framework and assurance for the future development and refinement of 3D printing energy-absorbing structures.

Lithiated Graphene Current Collector for Stable Anode‐Free and Anode‐Less Lithium Metal Batteries

Anode‐free and anode‐less lithium (Li) metal batteries provide cell safety and afford maximum energy density. However, their practical application is hampered by poor cycling performances. In this study, a composite of LiC6 phase in highly reduced graphene (HrGO, LC‐HrGO) is proposed as a current collector for Li metal plating. LC‐HrGO provided homogenous plating sites and favorable conductivity, which facilitated Li metal plating with reduced nucleation barrier. The LiC6 in composite is not easily delithiated, and the HrGO is not easily lithiated. The obtained anode‐free batteries based on the LC‐HrGO current collector showed a capacity retention of 60% after 100 cycles, and the corresponding anode‐less batteries indicated a stable specific capacity of 134.5 mAh g−1 after 250 cycles and a remarkable rate capacity of 130.1 mA h g–1 at 5 C. This work provides valuable concepts for fabricating promising current collectors towards Li metal batteries and beyond for high‐level services.

The Potential of Spot Size Control in Shaping the Thickness Distribution in Ultrashort Laser Deposition.

The availability of new-generation femtosecond lasers capable of delivering pulses with energies in the hundreds of mJ, or even in the joules range, has called for a revision of the effect of scaling spot size on the material distribution within the plasma plume. Employing a state-of-the-art Szatmári-type hybrid dye-excimer laser system emitting 248 nm pulses with a maximum energy of 20 mJ and duration of 600 fs, copper films were grown in the classical pulsed laser deposition geometry. The exceptionally clean temporal profile of the laser pulses yielded a femtosecond component of 4.18 ± 0.19 mJ, accompanied by a 0.22 ± 0.01 mJ ASE pedestal on the target surface. While varying the spot sizes, the plasma plume consistently exhibited an extremely forward-peaked distribution. Deposition rates, defined as peak thickness per number of pulses, ranged from 0.030 to 0.114 nm/pulse, with a gradual narrowing of the thickness distribution as the spot area increased from 0.085 to 1.01 mm2 while keeping the pulse energy constant. The material distribution on the silicon substrates was characterized using the f(Θ) = AcoskΘ + (1 - A)cospΘ formalism, revealing exponents characterizing the forward-peaked component of the thickness profile of the film material along the axes, ranging from k = 15 up to exceptionally high values exceeding 50, as the spot area increased. Consequently, spot size control and outstanding beam quality ensured that majority of the ablated material was confined to the central region of the plume, indicating the potential of PLD (pulsed laser deposition) for highly efficient localized deposition of exotic materials.

Scaling Energy Transfer in Ball Mills: A Scale-Agnostic Approach through a Universal Scaling Constant

Ball mills are widely used for size reduction in mineral processing, but effective scaling from laboratory to industrial scale remains challenging. This study introduces a novel scaling constant approach to replicate energy transfer to ore during milling across different scales by adjusting rotational speed and grinding medium size distribution. The scaling constant encapsulates parameters like the number of balls per working area, rotational speed, and an average ball’s maximum potential and kinetic energies. Experiments were conducted using a laboratory ball mill with interchangeable drum sizes (300, 400, and 500 mm) and a Design of Experiments methodology. Statistical analysis revealed that the scaling constant was more effective at maintaining consistent specific energy and energy per rotation across scales than size reduction, especially in dry milling. Wet milling results showed no significant differences in all metrics across scales. The dominant charge motion shifted from centrifuging to cascading as the mill diameter increased, highlighting the complex scaling dynamics. While the scaling constant shows promise for maintaining energy utilization, additional factors like charge motion and particle breakage mechanisms should be considered. The findings provide insights for improving ball mill design and optimization in mineral processing.

Synergistic effect of hydrogen induction on the performance, combustion and emission phenomenon of dual-fuel CI engine with Chlorella vulgaris algae oil and its methyl ester

The present work aims to investigate the cumulative effect of hydrogen enrichment with the fuels of diesel, Neat chlorella vulgaris oil (NCVO), and Chlorella vulgaris methyl ester (CVME) in a mono-cylinder CI engine. The performance, combustion, and emission parameters of diesel, NCVO, and CVME are analyzed and compared to the findings obtained with hydrogen induction in the intake manifold under dual fuel configuration. With the effect of hydrogen infusion, the metrics of performance, combustion and emission parameters are improved. Under maximum load condition, the induction of hydrogen escalates the BTE from 32.74%, 28.01%, and 23.02%–35.39%, 31.40%, and 28.12% with diesel, CVME, and NCVO at maximal hydrogen share energy of 14.38%, 11.50% and 9.61% respectively. Alongside, the enrichment of hydrogen declines the carbon monoxide (CO) from 4.13, 10.38, and 19.24 g/kWh to 3.16, 8.02, and 15.26 g/kWh, unburned hydrocarbons (UHC) from 0.51, 0.71, and 2.02 g/kWh to 0.36, 0.50, and 1.64 g/kWh, smoke opacity from 55%, 75%, and 85%–43%, 67%, and 71% with diesel, CVME, and NCVO respectively. However, the hydrogen's significant flame velocity and immense calorific value confect to an elevated combustion temperature and subsequent rise in heat release rate (HRR) to, cylinder pressure, and emission of nitrogen oxide (NO). Among the tested fuels, diesel posses maximum HRR and cylinder pressure of 80.46 J/0CA and 88.67 bar respectively. Maximum specific NO emission was observed with CVME having 10.80 g/kWh, whereas diesel and NCVO has 9.49 g/kWh and 4.93 g/kWh respectively.

Comparative analysis of energy, exergy, emission, and sustainability aspects of third generation microalgae biodiesels in a diesel engine

Third-generation biodiesel produced from various microalgae species is being researched for its production, conversion, compatibility, sustainability, and environment-friendly behaviour for the diesel engine as a replacement of conventional diesel fuel. The present work is conducted with the objective of analysing a clean, green, and sustainable microalgae biodiesel for energy, exergy, emission, and sustainability assessment in a diesel engine system, along with the evaluation of air quality in terms of emission analysis for assessing its impact on climate. The fuel samples from diesel and the three microalgae species, viz., Chlorella emersonii, Euglena sanguinea, and Spirulina, are designated as DF100, CE100, ES100, and SP100, respectively. The engine behaviour is assessed and compared at 1500 rpm under 17.5 compression ratio with 25–100 % engine load. DF100 achieves the maximum energy and energy efficiency of 32.76 % and 30.74 %, respectively, and a varied range of 27.32–30.37 % and 25.28–28.10 % with microalgae biodiesels. The air quality is improved with the reduction of PM emissions by 15.82–27.09 % at the cost of improved nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 11.03–15.55 %. The sustainability index is highest for DF100 (1.247–1.444), and among biodiesel fuel samples, it is highest for SP100 (1.233–1.391) at all engine loads. These results point to the possibility of microalgae-derived biodiesel blends as feasible diesel fuel substitutes, providing environmentally friendly and effective solutions for internal combustion engines.

Synthesis, characterization, and synergistic effects of CuS/MnO2 nanocomposite electrodes for high-performance supercapacitors

Metal oxides, metal sulfides, and their derivatives exhibit impressive electrochemical capabilities, offering potential for the creation of novel electrodes with superior performance in supercapacitors. In this study, we introduce a novel binary composite consisting of copper sulfide and manganese oxide (CuS/MnO2). This composite is designed with specific CuS and MnO2 ratios (80 % and 20 %, respectively) to explore their electrochemical behavior and optimize the performance of these nanostructures. According to morphological and structural analysis, it was observed that the synthesis process yielded high-purity nanoparticles and nanorods of CuS and MnO2. Notably, no byproducts were detected, indicating a successful synthesis process. Through a rapid pseudocapacitive charge storage mechanism, the electrochemical investigations reveal that all electrodes in a three-electrode setup tested in 3 M KOH electrolyte solution and the novel CuS/MnO2 electrode exhibit typical capacitive behavior in the potential of 0.0–0.5 V, with good reversibility and charge storage properties (specific capacitance: 451 F g−1, low resistance: 1.21 Ω, cyclic stability: 98.33 % at 4 A g−1 continuously 2000 cycles). Surprisingly, the CuS/MnO2 nanocomposite (NC) exposed high power density is about 1997 W kg−1 and a maximum energy density of 28.19 W h kg−1exceptionally is achieved. The significance of additional transition metal oxide-based electrodes in achieving noticeably better performance is demonstrated by these results.

Enhanced lithium battery cathode performance via mechanical grinding of CFx_MnO2 hybrid materials for space-grade applications: Unveiling synergistic effects

CFx_MnO2 hybrid cathode materials are prepared from a (C2F)n-type graphite fluoride (CFx) and industrial MnO2. Because of its physicochemical (insulating behavior, low content of CF2 and CF3 groups, no or a few remaining sp2 carbon atoms) and electrochemical properties (flat plateau on galvanostatic curve and theoretical capacity of 623 mAh/g, higher than other conventional cathodes for primary lithium battery), graphite fluoride of (C2F)n-type is selected to evidence synergetic effects with MnO2 that occur at the fluoride/oxide and electrolyte/ electrode interfaces. Both materials are mixed by mechanical ball-milling using different sets of parameters. The hybrid material presents very good electrochemical properties with a maximum energy density of about 1600 Wh per kg of active material. Notably, it shows a considerable improvement in voltage plateau and voltage delay compared to CFx. The parameters applied during ball-milling also shape the electrochemical performance of the new hybrid material. Ball milling increases the average discharge voltage plateau, and the power density of the battery, and avoids ohmic drop which may cause a battery to be eliminated as soon as it begins to discharge. More finely, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy shows that pushed grinding leads to more homogeneous but more polarized material-electrolyte interfaces so better diffusion and capacity but lower discharge potential.

Joint Resource Allocation for Maximizing Energy Efficiency in mmWave-Based Wireless-Powered Communication Networks

Joint Resource Allocation for Maximizing Energy Efficiency in mmWave-Based Wireless-Powered Communication Networks

Molecular dynamics study on nanodust removal strategies from nanotrench structures

The process of removing nanodust adhering to nanostructured surfaces is important for improving yield and sustainability in manufacturing fields that utilize the structural characteristics of patterns. In this study, we computationally proposed a method to remove nanodust from a trench-shaped Si substrate using an atomic force microscopy tip. A molecular system is thus constructed in which a Si substrate with a trench structure, a cylindrical C tip, and a spherical Cu nanoparticle coexist. By moving the C tip in a specific direction and pushing it into direct contact with the Cu nanoparticle, the interaction force between the Cu and the sidewall of the Si substrate can be substantially reduced. In particular, moving the C tip in a direction parallel to the pattern can effectively push nanodust away while minimizing damage to the Si substrate. The damage experienced by the substrate during the process was comprehensively evaluated using the von Mises stress, adhesion energy, contact area, and strain energy density developed by the axial stress components. The suitability of this method was systematically evaluated based on the diameter of the Cu nanoparticle and its position relative to the C tip. For each case, the maximum strain energy experienced at the edge of the trench structure was quantified, which suggests appropriate nanoparticle removal process conditions from a structural perspective. The strategy can be potentially used as a repair method for semiconductor production components, such as pellicles and hard masks.

Identification of small molecular inhibitors of SIRT3 by computational and biochemical approaches a potential target of breast cancer

Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) belongs to the Sirtuin protein family, which consists of NAD+-dependent lysine deacylase, involved in the regulation of various cellular activities. Dysregulation of SIRT3 activity has been linked to several types of cancer, including breast cancer. Because of its ability to stimulate adaptive metabolic pathways, it can aid in the survival and proliferation of breast cancer cells. Finding new chemical compounds targeted towards SIRT3 was the primary goal of the current investigation. Virtual screening of ~ 800 compounds using molecular docking techniques yielded 8 active hits with favorable binding affinities and poses. Docking studies verified that the final eight compounds formed stable contacts with the catalytic domain of SIRT3. Those compounds have good pharmacokinetic/dynamic properties and gastrointestinal absorption. Based on excellent pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, two compounds (MI-44 and MI-217) were subjected to MD simulation. Upon drug interaction, molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate mild alterations in the structure of proteins and stability. Binding free energy calculations revealed that compounds MI-44 (− 45.61 ± 0.064 kcal/mol) and MI-217 (− 41.65 ± 0.089 kcal/mol) showed the maximum energy, suggesting an intense preference for the SIRT3 catalytic site for attachment. The in-vitro MTT assay on breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) and an apoptotic assay for these potential compounds (MI-44/MI-217) was also performed, with flow cytometry to determine the compound’s ability to cause apoptosis in breast cancer cells. The percentage of apoptotic cells (including early and late apoptotic cells) increased from 1.94% in control to 79.37% for MI-44 and 85.37% for MI-217 at 15 μM. Apoptotic cell death was effectively induced by these two compounds in a flow cytometry assay indicating them as a good inhibitor of human SIRT3. Based on our findings, MI-44 and MI-217 merit additional investigation as possible breast cancer therapeutics.

Synthesis of polythiophene with zigzag morphology on pencil graphite electrode and investigation of energy storage properties in supercapacitors

AbstractHerein, polythiophene-based supercapacitor electrode materials were successfully synthesized by the electropolymerization method. Thymol blue, bromothymol blue, and bromophenol blue were added to the polythiophene polymerization medium as dopants, and the energy storage properties of the thiophene-based electrode material were investigated. Polythiophene/bromothymol blue (PTh/BTB) gave the polythiophene an interesting zigzag morphology, which is unique in the literature (specific surface area of PTh/BTB and PTh: 32.629 m2 g−1 and 13.812 m2 g−1). The electrode performance of PTh/BTB shows a maximum specific capacitance of 443.5 F g−1 at 5 mV s−1. The symmetrical supercapacitor achieved a maximum energy density of 9.7 Wh kg−1 and a maximum power density of 5000 W kg−1. The capacitance retention value exhibited a steady state of 79.2% up to 10,000 cycles. Graphical abstract

Thiosalicylic-Acid-Mediated Coordination Structure of Nickel Center via Thermodynamic Modulation for Aqueous Ni-Zn Batteries.

Uniquely functional nanocomplexes with rich coordination environments are critical in energy storage. However, the construction of structurally versatile nanocomplexes remains challenging. In this study, a nickel-based complex with structural variations is designed via thermodynamic modulation using a dual-ligand synthesis strategy. A Ni-based nanomaterial (NiSA-SSA-160) with a large specific surface area is synthesized around the competing coordination of the host and guest molecules that differ in terms of the chemical properties of the O and S elements. Concurrently, the coordination environment of NiSA-SSA-160 is investigated via X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. The thiol functional groups synergistically induced an electron-rich Ni structure, thus increasing the electron density of the central atom. The electrochemical performance of an assembled NiSA-SSA-160//Zn@CC battery is shown to improve significantly, with a maximum energy density of 0.54 mWh cm-2 and a peak power density of 49.49mW cm-2. This study provides a new perspective regarding coordination transformations and offers an idea for the design of functionally rich nanomaterials. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.