Halite Research Articles

Effect of feeding guava agroindustrial waste on nutrient utilization, lamb performance and economic analysis

Abstract. Our study sought to investigate the impact of incorporating guava agroindustrial waste (GAW) at varying concentrations on nutrient utilization, lamb performance and economic viability. Forty non-castrated, 4-month-old Santa Inês lambs with an initial mean weight of 21.3 ± 2.18 kg were utilized in a confined setting. These lambs were allocated randomly to five treatment groups, each consisting of eight replicates, and were subjected to diets containing increasing levels of GAW (0 %, 7.5 %, 15 %, 22.5 % and 30 % based on dry matter). The feed formulation also included Tifton hay, corn, soybean and mineral salt. Throughout the trial period, parameters such as dry matter intake (DMI), nutrient digestibility and economic metrics were meticulously evaluated. Notably, the performance metrics among the different GAW treatments did not exhibit statistically significant differences (p > 0.05), with an average daily gain of 328 g d−1 observed across all the groups. However, there was a discernible positive effect on the intake of ether extract (p > 0.05). Regarding nutrient digestibility, only the crude protein digestibility demonstrated no significant variance (p > 0.001) among the treatments. Consequently, our findings suggest that GAW can be effectively integrated into sheep diets at levels of up to 30 % without compromising lamb performance. Moreover, from an economic standpoint, this incorporation proves to be the most financially viable and cost-effective option among the evaluated treatments.

ANÁLISE DO CASO BRASKEM EM MACEIÓ: UMA INVESTIGAÇÃO NO CONTEXTO DA CPI

This study analyzes the facts surrounding the rock salt extraction by Braskem in Maceió, Alagoas, within the context of investigations conducted by the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (PCI) on Braskem. The research employs an exploratory and descriptive qualitative approach, grounded in document analysis and literature review. The rock salt extraction, initiated in the 1970s, holds geological and economic relevance for the region, impacting neighborhoods in the city and presenting significant aspects for local development. The methodology follows the guidelines of Lakatos and Marconi (2010), structuring data collection through public documents, PCI reports, academic articles, and safety standards applicable to the mining sector. The analysis maps areas for improvement in operational and regulatory practices, categorizing them into three dimensions: documental, technical, and operational. The study draws comparisons with safety standards and practices exemplified by Codemin, a unit of Anglo American, which employs continuous monitoring systems and mine closure planning with environmental restoration. Based on these standards, the adoption of measures is suggested to contribute to operational safety and long-term sustainability, promoting practices aligned with responsible development.

Turning mine-tailing streams into sources of water and mineral salts in a membrane-sustained circular scenario

The discharge of wastewater from the mining industry has a critical ecological impact, potentially endangering both soil and marine ecosystems. Alternatively, recovering pure water and valuable materials from these hypersaline streams through a technologically efficient process, would help reduce the ecological impact of the waste, while providing a viable supply chain for raw materials such as magnesium, potassium and others, considered critical to the economy. In this context, this work aimed to simultaneously recover pure water and mineral salts from mine wastewater by membrane-assisted crystallization (MAC). A prior theoretical study based on thermodynamic parameters attempted to predict salts precipitation at different temperatures. MAC tests were then performed at specific thermal gradients and feed pretreatment conditions, achieving preferential precipitation of solids products of different composition containing large quantities of Ca or Mg/K minerals from the real mine tailing wastewater. The experiments also demonstrated the central impact of heterogeneous nucleation effects.

Spatiotemporal Evolution Mine Groundwater’s Hydrogeochemical Characteristics Under Influence of Mining and Grouting in Gubei Coal Mine, China

Geological conditions or human activities will affect the hydrochemical characteristics and formation mechanism of mine groundwater to varying degrees. The northern part of the Beiyi mining area of Gubei Coal Mine is taken as the research area in this study. Based on the data of 52 groups of limestone water (Taihui water) samples in the primary environment, in the mining stage and after grouting, the spatial and temporal variation trend of the chemical characteristics of Taihui water was studied by means of constant index mathematical statistics, a Piper diagram, total ionic salinity, correlation analysis, the ion ratio method and the saturation index. The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of special geological structures, mining activities and grouting treatment on the formation process of the chemical characteristics of Taihui water, and to provide a basis for the identification of water inrush sources and the resource utilization of deep mine water in this area. The results show that in the three stages, the order of cation concentration is Na+ + K+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+, and the order of anion concentration is changed from Cl− > SO42− > HCO3− to Cl− > HCO3− > SO42−. The hydrochemical type is the most abundant in the mining stage, and tends to be unified after grouting. The dissolution of carbonate minerals, gypsum, rock salt and silicate minerals; cation exchange; pyrite oxidation; and the mixing of grouting precipitation liquid mainly occur in the limestone water. These effects are enhanced or weakened due to the influence of pumping and drainage and grouting precipitation liquid. The results of this study may be beneficial to the sustainable utilization of deep groundwater resources in other similar mines, and promote the establishment of data management and identification mechanisms of water inrush sources in deep coal seams.

Use of zoohumus extracts in soybean cultivation under regulated agroecosystem conditions

A model experiment was conducted in the laboratory conditions of the climate chamber to study the effect of liquid extract of black soldier fly zoohumus prepared in different ways on the growth rates and germination of seeds of the early ripening soybean variety EN Argenta. The zoohumus suspension was used in all variants at a dose of 0.2% (2000 ppm). As an additional background, a complex fertilizer containing the necessary plant nutrients in the form of various mineral salts was added. Analysis of the experimental data showed that the highest percentage of plant germination was recorded in the variant with the introduced aqueous suspension of zoohumus without centrifugation and without sterilization, and amounted to 94%. Against the background of pure organic matter, an increase in shoot biomass by an average of 22% was recorded. However, here the variant with sterilization, but without centrifugation of the zoohumus suspension, stood out. Against the background of the organomineral environment, the weight and height of the plants were higher, but stagnation in growth was noted, probably due to oversaturation in the feeding regime and the formation of chelate complexes of prolonged absorption. Thus, an aqueous suspension of zoohumus obtained by sterilization without additional centrifugation is the best way to prepare samples of raw materials for further use in sterile experiments. Centrifugation reduces the amount of enzymes and nutritional compounds, which negatively affects the quality of the suspension, and additional sterilization releases an additional amount of low-molecular compounds into the environment, which can feed microorganisms.

Structure Prediction and Mechanical Properties of Tantalum Carbide (TaC) on ab initio Level

AbstractTantalum carbide (TaC) is an extremely hard, brittle, refractory ceramic material with excellent physical properties, which makes it a desirable material in e. g. aerospace industries. In order to explore the range of feasible modifications of TaC, we have executed a crystal structure prediction study of the TaC chemical system using a multi‐methodological approach, via enthalpy landscape explorations of pristine TaC at different pressures, supplemented by data mining searches in the ICSD database. Local structure relaxations have been accomplished by using Density Functional Theory (DFT). The global minimum is found to correspond to the equilibrium rock salt (NaCl) type modification. Additionally, eight new phases of tantalum carbide are predicted to be feasible: the WC‐type, the NiAs‐type, the 5‐5‐type, the ZnS‐type, the RingTaC‐type, the CsCl‐type, the OrthoTaC‐type, and the TetraTaC‐type. Furthermore, the elastic and mechanical properties of the predicted TaC modifications were explored on the DFT level of computation. The promising values of some of the mechanical properties of the proposed tantalum carbide modifications suggest that various scientific, industrial, and technological applications of TaC should be possible.

Influence of Annealing Temperature on the OER Activity of NiO(111) Nanosheets Prepared via Microwave and Solvothermal Synthesis Approaches.

Earth-abundant transition metal oxides are promising alternatives to precious metal oxides as electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and are intensively investigated for alkaline water electrolysis. OER electrocatalysis, like most other catalytic reactions, is surface-initiated, and the catalyst performance is fundamentally determined by the surface properties. Most transition metal oxide catalysts show OER activities that depend on the predominantly exposed crystal facets/surface structure. Therefore, the design of synthetic strategies to obtain the most active crystal facets is of significant research interest. In this work, rock salt NiO OER catalysts with (111) predominantly exposed facets were synthesized by a solvothermal (ST) method either heated under supercritical or microwave-assisted (MW) conditions. Particular emphasis was placed on the influence of the post annealing temperature on the structural configuration and OER activity to compare their catalytic performances. The as-prepared electrocatalysts are pure α-Ni hydroxides which were converted to rock salt NiO (111) nanosheets with hexagonal pores after heat treatment at different temperatures. The OER activity of the electrodes has been evaluated in 0.1 M KOH using geometric and intrinsic current densities via normalization by the disk area and BET area, respectively. The lowest overpotential at a geometric current density of 10 mA/cm2 is found for samples pretreated by heating between 400 and 500 °C with a catalyst loading of 115 μg/cm2. Despite the very similar nature of the catalysts obtained from the two methods, the ST electrodes show a higher geometric and intrinsic current density for 500 °C pretreatment. The MW electrodes, however, achieve an optimal geometric current density for 400 °C pretreatment, while their intrinsic current density requires pretreatment over 600 °C. Interestingly, pretreated electrodes show consistently higher OER activity as compared to the poorly crystalline/less ordered hydroxide as-prepared electrocatalysts. Thus, our study highlights the importance of the synthesis method and pretreatment at an optimal temperature.

Impact of Electrolyte Additives on the Lifetime of High Voltage NMC Lithium-Ion Pouch Cells

Abstract This work involves improving the lifetime of lithium-ion cells during high voltage cycling using electrolyte additives. Three generations of electrolyte additives were investigated and screened in NMC442/graphite pouch cells using a 24 h voltage-hold protocol at 40°C to accelerate oxidative reactions occurring at 4.4 V. Once promising additives and combinations were identified, they were then tested in cobalt-free NMC640/graphite cells for long-term cycling to upper cutoff voltages of 4.3, 4.4, and 4.5 V at temperatures of 20, 40, and 55°C. Degradation mechanisms were probed using dV/dQ analysis, micro-X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The primary failure mode of cells held at high voltages is due to increase in cell impedance, which is correlated to the dissolution of transition metals, specifically manganese, originating from the positive electrode. We believe this dissolution is presumably due to the formation of a high impedance rock salt surface layer on the NMC positive electrode particles. Such deleterious outcomes can be limited by selecting an appropriate electrolyte additive package. It is hoped that this paper can provide a starting point for developing NMC Li-ion cells that can operate to voltages as high as 4.4 V and still display long lifetimes.

Temperature-dependent properties of wurtzite and rock salt ScxAl1-xN for applications in BAW resonators

Abstract Scandium aluminum nitride (AlxSc1-xN) is known for its tremendous enhancement of piezoelectric properties. This material can improve the energy efficiency of a wide range of applications, for example bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonators. Such devices heat up during operation and are thus sensitive to temperature-dependent material properties. As a result, device characteristics change with temperature, causing undesirable shifts in achievable frequency and performance. These shifts are well known for AlN-based resonators, where the frequency shifts are compensated without increasing the bandwidth of the frequency filter. For the ternary alloy AlxSc1-xN, many temperature-dependent structural, mechanical and piezoelectric properties have not or have been insufficiently investigated. This review provides an overview of relevant temperature dependent properties of hexagonal wurtzite (x < 0.5) and cubic rock salt AlxSc1-xN (x > 0.5) crystals up to 2000 K. The properties studied are the thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) α, the elastic tensor C ij, the piezoelectric coefficient d 33, the piezoelectric stress coefficient e 33 and the permittivity ε33. Based on these material properties, the derived characteristics for BAW resonators are determined from 0 to 1400 K, which are the resonance frequency f R and the electromechanical coupling coefficient k t 2.

Enhanced pseudocapacitive Li+ charge storage on lithium-rich disordered rock salt vanadium oxide nanocrystalline

Cation disordered rock-salt (DRS) metal compounds, featuring a three-dimensional percolation network for Li+ transportation, have attracted extensive attention as novel anode candidates for high-power lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and capacitors (LICs). However, their low capacity and poor conductivity remain bottlenecks for their wide-scale usage, especially for high-energy applications. Here, we report a nanocrystal DRS Li3V2O5 (a-DRS-LVO) achieved by an electrochemically induced transformation on amorphous V2O5. The nanocrystalline phase of a-DRS-LVO can provide large active sites for Li+, leading to a surface-controlled solid-state Li+ diffusion behavior. In particular, the specific capacity for a-DRS-LVO reaches 716.8mAh g−1 at 0.1 A/g, exceeding that of DRS-LVO achieved by electrochemically induced transformation on well-crystallized V2O5. Further, a-DRS-LVO can work stably over 1,200 charge–discharge cycles with negligible capacity decay, due to the highly structural integrity stability, no phase change and limited volume change (∼8.2 %). A LIC with this a-DRS-LVO anode yields both high energy density (183 Wh kg−1) and power density (50,000 W kg−1), which are much higher than that of the state-of-art LICs based on graphite and other pseudocapacitive anodes, such as niobium and titanium oxides.

Effect of Al and Zn on Oxygen Evolution Reaction of (FeCoNiMnCu)3O3.2

AbstractBecause of its low cost and abundant sources, hydrogen serves as a clean energy alternative capable of successfully substituting fossil fuels. A highly efficient method for generating hydrogen energy currently is by the electrolysis of water. The oxygen‐extraction reaction (OER), a component of water electrolysis, requires a complex chemical pathway that involves multiproton and multielectron interactions. To enhance reaction efficiency in the OER process, catalysts are crucial; thus, the search for high‐performance, cost‐effective catalysts is underway. This experimental study involved the enhancement of the five‐membered high‐entropy oxide (FeCoNiMnCu)3O3.2 by incorporating a sixth group element (Zn, Al). The organization, morphology, and OER properties were analyzed following the preparation utilizing a mechanical ball milling process. A series of rock salt‐type hexagonal high entropy oxides with differing ball milling durations were synthesized to investigate the influence of the production method on the surface shape and catalytic properties of high entropy oxides. The results indicated that the single‐phase rock salt structure of (FeCoNiMnCuAl)3O3.5, a high‐entropy oxide, exhibited significantly altered diffraction peaks, hence improving OER performance. Optimization of the preparation technique revealed that a 72‐h ball milling duration resulted in an overpotential of merely 293 mV and an electrochemically active surface area approximately double that of the other milling durations.

Unveiling six novel bacterial strains for fipronil and thiobencarb biodegradation: efficacy, metabolic pathways, and bioaugmentation potential in paddy soil.

Soil bacteria offer a promising approach to bioremediate pesticide contamination in agricultural ecosystems. This study investigated the potential of bacteria isolated from rice paddy soil for bioremediating fipronil and thiobencarb, common agricultural pesticides. Bacterial isolates capable of degrading fipronil and thiobencarb were enriched in a mineral salt medium. A response surface methodology with a Box-Behnken design was utilized to optimize pesticide degradation with the isolated bacteria. Bioaugmentation tests were performed in paddy soils with varying conditions. Six strains, including single isolates and their mixture, efficiently degraded these pesticides at high concentrations (up to 800 µg/mL). Enterobacter sp., Brucella sp. (alone and combined), and a mixture of Stenotrophomonas sp., Bordetella sp., and Citrobacter sp. effectively degraded fipronil and thiobencarb, respectively. Notably, a single Pseudomonas sp. strain degraded a mixture of both pesticides. Optimal degradation conditions were identified as a slightly acidic pH (6-7), moderate pesticide concentrations (20-50 µg/mL), and a specific inoculum size. Bioaugmentation assays in real-world paddy soils (sterile/non-sterile, varying moisture) demonstrated that these bacteria significantly increased degradation rates (up to 14.15-fold for fipronil and 5.13-fold for thiobencarb). The study identifies these novel bacterial strains as promising tools for bioremediation and bioaugmentation strategies to tackle fipronil and thiobencarb contamination in paddy ecosystems.

Decomposition of Polythene by Bacteria Isolated from Waste Disposal Sites in Gusau City

The accumulation of polythene can be hazardous and can cause various environmental problems. This work was aimed at studying the biodegradation of polythene by bacteria isolated from waste disposal areas in North West, (Zamfara state) Nigeria. A total of twenty soil samples were collected from four different locations, such as waste disposal areas, hospitals, roadsides, and petrol pumps station. Spread plate method was carried out on Nutrient agar for the growth of bacteria. A total of 13 bacteria were isolated from different areas. The total bacteria count in hospital ranged from 80 × 10-4 - 248 × 10-4 cfu/mL, roadsides ranged from 116 × 10-4 - 208 × 10-4 cfu/mL, petrol pump ranged from 88 × 10-4 - 184 × 10-4 cfu/mL and waste disposal areas ranged from 116 × 10-4 - 264 × 10-4 cfu/mL. The microbial species associated with the polythene materials were identified as Pseudomonas sp, Bacillus sp, Staphylococcus aureus, Providencia stuartii, Clostridium perfringes, Corynebacterium diphtheria, Listeria monocytogen. The bacteria isolates were screened for polyethylene degradation using mineral salt medium containing polyethylene as sole source of carbon and nitrogen for their ability to degrade polyethylene for the period of 2 months. The efficacy of the microbes in the degradation of polythene were analyzed using liquid culture method, among the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa degraded 75% of polythene, Bacillus subtilis 71.4% in a period of 2 months.

Hydrogeochemical Characteristics and Sulfate Source of Groundwater in Sangu Spring Basin, China

The Sangu Spring Basin is located in an important economic area, and groundwater is the main source of water for local life and industry. Understanding the sources of chemical components in groundwater is important for the development and utilization of groundwater. In this paper, we analyzed the origin of the chemical components of groundwater and their evolution in the Sangu Spring Basin using statistical analysis, Piper diagrams, Gibbs diagrams, ion ratios, and combined hydrochemistry–isotope analyses. The results show that the groundwater in the Sangu Spring Basin is mainly derived from atmospheric precipitation, that the groundwater in stagnant and confined environment zones was formed under colder climatic conditions, and that the surface water (SW) has a close hydraulic relation with the groundwater. Water–rock interaction is the main factor controlling the composition of groundwater. The compositions of groundwater are mainly derived from carbonate weathering, silicate weathering, and dissolution of gypsum. Na+ and K+ in groundwater mainly come from the dissolution of albite and potassium feldspar, rather than rock salt. Ion exchange occurs in karst groundwater (KGW) and fissure groundwater (FGW), and ion exchange is dominated by the exchange of Mg2+ and Ca2+ in the groundwater with Na+ and K+ in the rock or soil. Sulfate in groundwater is derived from dissolution of gypsum, infiltration of atmospheric precipitation, and leakage of SW. Groundwaters with the highest sulfate content are located in the vicinity of SW, as a result of receiving recharge from SW seepage. Groundwaters with higher sulfate contents are located in the stagnant and deeply buried zones, where sulfate is mainly derived from the dissolution of gypsum. SW seepage recharges groundwater, resulting in increased levels of Cl−, NO3− and SO42− in groundwater. These insights can provide assistance in the protection and effective management of groundwater.

Identification of Catabolic Genes Involved in the Degradation of Used Engine Lubricant- Contaminated Soil by Lysinibacillus odysseyi and Bacillus sp. (in: firmicutes)

This study aimed to identify selected catabolic genes in two indigenous hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria involved in the biodegradation of used engine lubricant-contaminated soil. Used engine lubricant-contaminated and uncontaminated soil samples were collected, and their physicochemical characteristics were evaluated. The results indicated that water holding capacity, potassium, nitrogen, and phosphate were higher in used lubricant-uncontaminated soil than in used lubricant-contaminated soil but vice versa for pH, total carbon, cation exchange, organic carbon, nickel, and lead levels. Culturable heterotrophic and hydrocarbon-utilizing bacterial counts were carried out on both Nutrient agar and Mineral Salt Medium (MSM) amended with used engine lubricant. The counts for heterotrophic bacteria (3.8×108±0.21 cfu/gm) were higher than that of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria (2.2×108±0.15 cfu/gm). All isolated bacteria (16) underwent screening for hydrocarbon degradation potential. Lysinibacillus odysseyi and Bacillus sp (in: firmicutes) emerged as the best oil degraders. Further screening of the chromosomal and plasmid DNA of the two bacteria was done to determine the presence and location of some selected catabolic genes (NidA, AlkB, NahH, NahAC, and Alma). The presence of Alkane monooxygenase (AlkB) and Naphthalene dioxygenase (NahAC) genes was confirmed in both isolates, while Pyrene dioxygenase (NidA) was confirmed in Bacillus sp. (in: firmicutes) only. The location of AlkB was confirmed to be both plasmid and chromosome, while NidA and NahAC genes were confirmed to be the plasmid. In conclusion, the soil contaminated with used engine lubricant contained indigenous bacteria, Lysinibacillus odysseyi, and Bacillus sp. (in: firmicutes), the two bacteria with the highest degradation potential, contained catabolic genes, monooxygenase (AlkB), NidA, and dioxygenase (NahAC). Therefore, they are effectively used as engine lubricant degraders, and the possibility of horizontal gene transfer can be used in important industrial applications and is recommended for the bioremediation of petroleum compounds.

The Effect of Biochar Particle Size on the Leaching of Organic Molecules and Macro- and Microelements

Biochar is a carbon-rich material that has recently received attention due to its increasing agronomical potential. The agricultural utilization of biochar relates to its potential to act in the soil as a soil conditioner; nevertheless, complex information on the direct dependence of biochar’s physical properties (texture, particle size) and corresponding leaching and availability of organic molecules (e.g., the polycyclic and heterocyclic organic compounds) and inorganic mineral salts (based on micro- and macroelements) is still inconsistent. Multi-elemental analysis by using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) was used to assess the information on the contents and availability of macro- and microelements in studied commercial biochar samples. The results showed a statistically significant indirect relation between an increase in the size fraction of biochar and the content of aqueous-extractable K and Na and the direct relation with the aqueous-extractable Ca, Mg, and P. Compared to the macroelements, the detected contents of aqueous-extractable microelements were almost three orders lower, and the dependence on fraction size was not consistent or statistically significant. In addition, gas chromatography (GC) coupled with mass spectroscopy (MS) was further used to reveal the concentrations of available polycyclic aromatic and heterocyclic compounds in biochar samples. The detected concentrations of these types of organic compounds were far below the certified limits, and a statistically significant indirect correlation with particle size was also observed for all the studied biochar samples. The proposed methodological concept could provide the necessary insights into the description of biochar mineral content and its connection to biochar texture, the physicochemical properties, and the potential of biochar to release nutrients into the soil. These findings could help in the further assessment of biochar as a soil conditioner in modern agriculture.

Molecular Fractionation of Ancient Organic Compounds in Deeply Buried Halite Crystals.

The molecular fractionation of organic compounds through adsorption in minerals has wide implications, including tracing the origins of life, carbon sequestration, and climate change. Here we present the first in situ examination of molecular fractionation within individual crystals via optical-photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy. Our study focuses on a unique inclusion trail within deeply buried halite crystals, characterized by a distinctive orange-to-blue fluorescence gradient, providing primary evidence of molecular variation in ancient carbon-based fluids within the inclusion trail. The findings reveal a trend in the CH2/C=O and CH3/C=O ratios, conforming with a consistent decrease from the blue fluorescence region to the orange fluorescence region. The chemically influenced fluorescent behavior of these ancient liquid carbon-based compounds is attributed to the fractionation of fluids in the inclusions as a result of microfractures within the crystal acting as chromatography capillaries. These capillaries facilitated interactions between specific organic compounds, serving as adsorbates, and the halite mineral, representing the adsorbent. Our study provides insights into the fluid-solid physicochemical interactions within extreme environments and extends our understanding of molecular processes in such settings.

Brine exploitation at Cacica (Romania): An application of radial model of salt supplying

Drawing on ethnoarchaeological field research conducted in Romania's Outer Carpathian region between 2007 and 2015, an ethnographic radial model for the supply of brine, recrystallized salt, and rock salt was developed. This paper aims to apply this model to prehistoric contexts, specifically the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Bronze Age periods, in relation to the brine sources at Cacica. The selection of this area is grounded in several factors: the presence of multiple brine sources, the use of the briquetage technique (a method for producing salt cakes in ceramic containers) during a specific phase of the Chalcolithic, extensive documentation from ethnographic and ethnohistorical studies, and a rich database on prehistoric settlement patterns.At Cacica, two distinct methods of brine exploitation were identified: the production of salt cakes and the direct use of brine without human intervention, primarily for human and animal consumption. The authors utilized the Radial Model of Salt Supply to analyse these two methods of exploitation and suggest that this dual model could offer valuable insights into the understanding of inland briquetage sites across worldwide.

Insights into the Deterioration Mechanism of Charging Ability during Calendar Aging and Cycling Aging of High-Voltage Co-Poor NCM Cathode-Graphite Full Battery.

Lithium-ion battery (LIB) has gained significant recognition for the power cell market owing to its impressive energy density and appealing cost benefit. Among various cathodes, a high-voltage cobalt-poor lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide cathode (Co-poor NCM cathode) has been considered as a promising strategy to enhance its energy density. Despite these advantages, high-voltage Co-poor NCM cathode-graphite full battery usually suffers from poor rate performance. However, fast charging has been a key indicator for widespread application of power batteries. Although many efforts have been made to improve the charging performance of fresh batteries, few works investigate the charging ability during calendar aging and cycling aging of high-voltage Co-poor NCM cathode-graphite full battery. In this work, we found that the charging ability becomes worse during calendar aging and cycling aging. Results showed that the increasing charge transfer resistance from the cathode is the major obstacle to achieving fast charging during the aging process. To address the problem, high-voltage Al2O3-coated Co-poor NCM cathode successfully prepared via a simple atomic layer deposition (ALD) method has been developed to reduce the decay of charging performance during calendar aging and cycling aging. Al2O3-coated NCM cathode can effectively reduce the growth rate of the resistance of cathode, which is benefiting from the conversion of Al2O3 into LiAlO2 with high ionic conductivity and the restriction formation of rock salt phase. Benefiting from the decreased charge transfer resistance of the NCM cathode, the mismatch of the lithium-ion reaction kinetics is well alleviated, thus effectively reducing the polarization under fast charging. As a result, Al2O3-coated NCM cathode-graphite full battery shows the slow deterioration of charging performance during the aging process. This work provides a promising strategy for constructing fast-charging batteries during calendar aging and cycling aging.

Local structure maturation in high entropy oxide (Mg,Co,Ni,Cu,Zn)1‐x(Cr,Mn)xO thin films

AbstractHigh entropy oxides (HEOs) have garnered much interest due to their available high degree of tunability. Here, we study the local structure of (MgNiCuCoZn)0.167(MnCr)0.083O, a composition based on the parent HEO (MgNiCuCoZn)0.2O. We synthesized a series of thin films via pulsed laser deposition at incremental oxygen partial pressures. X‐ray diffraction shows lattice parameters to decrease with increased pO2 pressures until the onset of phase separation. X‐ray absorption fine structure shows that specific atomic species in the composition dictate the global structure of the material as Cr, Co, and Mn shift to energetically favorable coordination with increasing pressure. Transmission electron microscopy analysis on a lower‐pressure sample exhibits a rock salt structure, but the higher‐pressure sample reveals reflections reminiscent of the spinel structure. In all, these findings give a more complete picture of how (MgNiCuCoZn)0.167(MnCr)0.083O forms with varying initial conditions and advances fundamental knowledge of cation behavior in high entropy oxides.