Buffer Space Research Articles

Improving Cell Resistance and Cycle Life with Solvate/Thiophosphate Hybrid Electrolytes in Lithium Metal and Lithium Sulfur Batteries

Solid electrolytes (SEs) have become a practical option for lithium ion and lithium metal batteries due to their improved safety over commercially available ionic liquids. The most promising of the SEs are the thiophosphates whose excellent ionic conductivities at room temperature are comparable to those of the commercially-utilized ionic liquids. Hybrid solid-liquid electrolytes exhibit higher ionic conductivities than their bare solid electrolyte counterparts due to decreased grain boundary resistance, enhanced interfacial contact with electrodes, and decreased degradation at the interface.In this study, we evaluate a series of hybrid electrolytes made from a ‘solvate’ electrolyte in both Li-Li symmetric cells and in a full cell with a Li2S cathode relative to their bare Li/SE/Li counterparts. Interestingly, hybrid electrolytes made by combining HFE-modified solvates and SE exhibit all the benefits of the interlayer modified SEs, without the necessity of pellet manufacture. The solvate-integrated cathode layer is additionally beneficial for achieving high active material utilization, maintaining intimate interfacial contact, and providing buffer space for volume contraction and expansion. The hybrid Li2S cell exhibited superior cycling performance compared to the solid-state cells in terms of Li2S loading, Li2S utilization, and cycling stability. Finally, we discuss the use of hybrid and high concentration electrolytes to enable other cathode chemistries, particularly those involving conversion.

Typology of courtyards in apartment block development based on planning openness and permeability

In the Russian Federation, the problem of creating a comfortable urban environment is of a national nature. The authors suggest paying attention to the courtyard in apartment block development as this area is one of the most important elements of the urban environment – a buffer space between the apartment and the city. As an important criterion for a comfortable environment is its safety, therefore, it is necessary to understand which courtyards form a sense of security in people, and which do not. The formation of a sense of security of residents is influenced by many different factors. Courtyards, having a different planning arrangement, create different conditions for the comfort of living inhabitants and the degree of use by other people. The authors propose the development of a typology of courtyard spaces based on a sense of comfort and security. As basic characteristics they propose to use: planning openness of the yard, which characterizes the degree of built perimeter of the yard, as well as the permeability of the territory, indicating the accessibility of this area for other residents and their activity. This typology will be the basis for further determining how each type affects the formation of a sense of security among residents and what measures from an architectural point of view can be applied to ensure the formation of this feeling.

Learning automata based energy efficient and reliable data delivery routing mechanism in wireless sensor networks

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) emerged as major data gathering paradigm due to its wide variety of applications. Achieving energy efficient reliable data delivery is an important concern in WSNs. In a network, packet loss reduces the reliable data transmission rate. Retransmissions are required to increase the reliable data transmission rate. However, number of retransmissions also increase the network energy consumptions and packet delivery delay. Packet loss rate can be reduced by selecting a best successor node in a routing path. In this work, a Learning Automata based Routing mechanism is proposed for wireless sensor networks to achieve energy efficiency and reliable data delivery. In this paper, learning automata has been adopted to calculate next node’s selection probability in a routing path using node’s score, quality of link and previous selection probability. Further, an energy efficient reliable routing mechanism is proposed using combination of learning automata and A-star search algorithm. The proposed mechanism determines energy efficient and reliable routing paths in WSNs by favoring highest residual energy, good quality of link , more free buffer space and less distance. Finally, simulation results indicate that the proposed algorithm reduces the energy consumptions, data delivery delay, data transmissions and increases the network lifetime.

Effects of carbon black on the electrochemical performances of SiOx anode for lithium-ion capacitors

Lithium-ion capacitor (LIC) is a power-type energy storage device, possessing the advantages of high energy density, high power density, long cycle life and wide working temperature range. Silicon-based anode materials for LICs have ultrahigh theoretical specific capacities, about 5–10 times higher than traditional graphite anode. However, since silicon-based materials are semiconductors and the electrical conductivity is limited, the imbalance in reaction kinetics between the rapid non-Faradaic capacitive cathode and sluggish Faradaic redox anode is one of the main barrier to high-performance LICs. In this work, the effects of carbon conductive additive on the electrochemical performances of SiOx anode have been studied. Carbon black (CB, Super C45) shows good electrical conductivity and moderate initial coulombic efficiency, suitable for the conductive additive of SiOx anode. Due to the conducting network and the buffer space for volume expansion/contraction during lithiation/de-lithiation, the combination of CB and SiOx particles play a synergetic effect on improving rate capability and cycling stability of SiOx anode. The reversible specific capacity of SiOx anode containing 30 wt% CB can reach 1549 mAh g−1 in the voltage range of 0.01–2.0 V. It remains no capacity decay after 500 cycles in the shallow voltage range of 0.1–0.6 V, indicating that SiOx is a very promising anode material for LICs.

A Highly Effective Route for Real-Time Traffic Using an IoT Smart Algorithm for Tele-Surgery Using 5G Networks

Nowadays, networks use many different paths to exchange data. However, our research will construct a reliable path in the networks among a huge number of nodes for use in tele-surgery using medical applications such as healthcare tracking applications, including tele-surgery which lead to optimizing medical quality of service (m-QoS) during the COVID-19 situation. Many people could not travel due to the current issues, for fear of spreading the covid-19 virus. Therefore, our paper will provide a very trusted and reliable method of communication between a doctor and his patient so that the latter can do his operation even from a far distance. The communication between the doctor and his/her patient will be monitored by our proposed algorithm to make sure that the data will be received without delay. We test how we can invest buffer space that can be used efficiently to reduce delays between source and destination, avoiding loss of high-priority data packets. The results are presented in three stages. First, we show how to obtain the greatest possible reduction in rate variability when the surgeon begins an operation using live streaming. Second, the proposed algorithm reduces congestion on the determined path used for the online surgery. Third, we have evaluated the affection of optimal smoothing algorithm on the network parameters such as peak-to-mean ratio and delay to optimize m-QoS. We propose a new Smart-Rout Control algorithm (s-RCA) for creating a virtual smart path between source and destination to transfer the required data traffic between them, considering the number of hops and link delay. This provides a reliable connection that can be used in healthcare surgery to guarantee that all instructions are received without any delay, to be executed instantly. This idea can improve m-QoS in distance surgery, with trusted paths. The new s-RCA can be adapted with an existing routing protocol to track the primary path and monitor emergency packets received in node buffers, for direct forwarding via the demand path, with extended features.

Experimental and numerical analysis on the influence of glazed balconies on energy consumption and indoor environment of communist-era flats in Romania

The purpose of the article is to study the impact of buildings balconies on the energy consumption and indoor parameters. Using both experimental and numerical approach multiple insights were found. The first part is focused on the analysis of 75 block of flats and the influence of closing the balconies on the energy efficiency. It was found out that most of the apartment’s owners have individually closed their balconies (approx. 60%) proofing that this a desired solution with multiple advantages on the energy consumption reduction. The second part of the article is meant to show using experimental measurements the impact of glazed balconies on the indoor parameters – temperature and humidity. The measurements showed that the difference between the outdoor temperature and the balcony temperature being around 15 °C for glazed balconies. This is translated by a heating energy demand reduction of up to 70% for the rooms adjacent to these buffer spaces.

Fast-MICDTN: a new decentralized control mechanism for content-centric disruption tolerant networks

Information-Centric Networking (ICN) emerges as a promising architecture for the future Internet to keep up with the tremendous growth of Internet users and the explosive increase of mobile data traffic. ICN can be coupled with Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN) to overcome the limitations of the current Internet architecture in some challenging environments where we cannot establish a network connection, and also lighten the load on the Internet backhaul. Unfortunately, resources constraints, such as energy and buffer space, are among the most serious issues in Mobile Information-Centric Disruption Tolerant Networking (MICDTN). In this paper, we introduce an opportunistic DTN-based forwarding mechanism of Interest and Data for ICN, named Fast-MICDTN. The propagation of the content have been modeled using Markov-Decision Process (MDP). Hence, we characterize the living period in transit of the content to reach the maximum possible number of mobiles. Through extensive simulations based on synthetic mobility model and real-world traces, we prove the efficiency of the new approach in sharing content within a large number of users under a low cost.

MANAGEMENT OF KUIN RIVER USING THE ECO-HYDRAULIC APPROACH

River management using the eco-hydraulic approach is aimed at preserving the ecological components in the river environment through hydraulic engineering. This study aims to identify the existing conditions on Kuin River border, analyze the relationship and influence of community activities on the banks of Kuin River on the water quality of Kuin River, and study the river development pattern with the concept of eco-hydraulic on Kuin River. Data were collected based on the results of field surveys and laboratory tests for water and soil. The results showed that the current condition of the riverbank of Kuin River has not fulfilled its function as a buffer space between the river and the mainland, due to the large number of community settlements rather than vegetation that functions to protect the river. Kuin River is polluted because several ecological indicators such as pH, Fe, BOD, and COD have exceeded the maximum allowable limits. This occurs due to social activities and development along the river, which have an impact on biotic and abiotic aspects of the river. The type of soil on the banks of the Kuin River is silt mixed with clay with moderate to high plasticity. Based on this condition, there is an assumption that the cliffs on the banks of Kuin River have the potential for landslides. Therefore, a pattern for developing cliff protection using riverbank vegetation components is recommended

An Adaptive Buffer tradeoff, energy-aware Congestion Control protocol in WSN

In a Wireless sensor network, network lifetime plays a vital role, wherein regular communication and sensor nodes are positioned at different points. Nodes energy depletion may lead to communication interruption due to unlimited data flow from one point to another; for adequate communication, Nodes energy should be maximized by arranging cutting-edge techniques such as adaptive buffer switching and congestion control significant role. When the incoming data is more wide-ranging than available resources, a congestion situation arises. It results in energy consumption, loss of packets, buffer overflow, and raises end-to-end delay. In this paper, adaptive buffer switching and Congestion Control management are done effectively. Simultaneously, congestion detects based on residual energy, residual buffer space, and sensor nodes conviction level. This methodology shows based on the evaluation of cost, which selects main and spare buffers adaptively. Dynamic buffer switching and swapping are used to enhance the outcome of congestion. Result of the ABETCC approach is compared with the protocol like TCEER and TFCC compared to the data loss ratio and energy consumption

Useful design of custom-made mouthguard for athletes undergoing orthodontic treatment with brackets and wires

Background/purposeCustom-made mouthguards (MGs) are strongly recommended for athletes during sports activities to prevent dental injuries. Athletes undergoing orthodontic treatment and wearing brackets require specially designed MGs for better protection and to create more space that will not hinder the planned orthodontic tooth movement. The purpose of this study was to fabricate effective, specially designed, custom-made MGs for patients or athletes with ongoing orthodontic treatment and to evaluate the shock absorption abilities of these MGs by an in vitro comparison of three different designs. Materials and methodsThree different types of specially designed, double-layered MGs, (i) creating inter bracket space inside the MG, (ii) embedding silicon wax inside the MG, and (iii) creating a buffer space with additional hard insertion, were fabricated from a simulated bracket attached model. Impact test was performed using a free-falling object on a vertical rod, and the strain-gauge system was used to assess the strain on the dentition with the MGs for the comparison of the shock absorption abilities of the three types. Analysis of variance at a significance level of 5% and multiple comparisons were performed for statistical analysis. ResultsThe strains on the dentition with the MG creating buffer space with hard insertion were significantly lower than those with the other two types of MG (P < 0.001). ConclusionInsertion of a hard material and ensuring buffer space between the MG and the teeth and/or appliance was more effective than other methods of fabricating custom-made MGs to prevent sports-related traumatic dental injuries in athletes undergoing orthodontic treatment.

A g-C3N4 self-templated preparation of N-doped carbon nanosheets@Co-Co3O4/Carbon nanotubes as high-rate lithium-ion batteries’ anode materials

A novel N-doped graphene-like carbon nanosheets (CNs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-encapsulated Co-Co3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) (CN@Co-Co3O4/CNTs) were synthesized successfully by a simple hydrothermal and annealing method with graphite carbon nitride (g-C3N4) as self-template. By annealing Co2+/g-C3N4 under N2 atmosphere, g-C3N4 was transformed into CN/CNTs, and Co2+ was reduced into CoNPs which were embedded in CNs. Further annealing in air, a shell of Co3O4 was formed around CoNPs. The amount of CNs, CNTs, and CoNPs can be adjusted by changing the ratio of Co2+ in Co2+/g-C3N4. The graphene-like CNs provided a large number of active sites and a large specific surface area for loading lots of small CoNPs uniformly. The CNTs with a diameter of 100 nm could not only improve the conductivity but also provide a buffer space for the aggregation and volume expansion of Co3O4. CNTs also enlarged the interlayer distance of CNs, which prevented the re-stacking of CNs and provided great convince for the intercalation and de-intercalation of Li+. When applied for anode material of lithium-ion batteries, CN@Co-Co3O4/CNTs exhibited a high discharge capacity of 460.0 mAh g−1 at 5000 mA g−1 after 300 cycles with a Coulombic efficiency of 98% and excellent higher-rate capacity (401.0 mAh g−1 at 2000 mA g−1 and 329.0 mAh g−1 at 5000 mA g−1).

Green space, air pollution, traffic noise and saliva cortisol in children: The PIAMA study.

At age 12 years, 1,027 participants of the Dutch PIAMA birth cohort collected three saliva samples during 1 day. We estimated residential exposure to green space (i.e., the average Normalized Difference Vegetation Index [NDVI] and percentages of green space in circular buffers of 300 m and 3,000 m), air pollution, and traffic noise. Associations of these exposures with the diurnal cortisol slope (in nmol/L per hour) were assessed by multiple linear regression, adjusting for potential confounders. Higher average NDVI and total percentage of green space in a 3,000 m buffer were associated with a larger diurnal decrease in cortisol levels (adjusted difference [95% confidence interval] = -0.11 nmol/L/hr [-0.21, 0.00 nmol/L/hr] per interquartile range increase in the average NDVI; -0.13 nmol/L/hr [-0.26, 0.00 nmol/L/hr] per interquartile range increase in the total percentage of green space). These associations were largely driven by associations with the percentage of agricultural green space and by associations in children living in nonurban areas. We observed no relationships between air pollution or traffic noise and the diurnal cortisol slope. Residential exposure to green space in a buffer of 3,000 m may be associated with lower stress levels in children 12 years of age.

Can collaborative buffering strategies reduce distribution costs while improving product returns?: A case of an Asian e-retailer

PurposeIn order to achieve competitive advantage over the physical marketplace, the e-retailers are insisted on endowing with lenient return policies. The piece-wise returns-and-reordering process incurs excessive buffering and unwanted logistics costs which raises overall fulfillment charges. The objective of this study is to re-design e-retail distribution policy by providing temporal storage at logistics service provides' (LSP) location. The impact of recurrent returns on pricing and profit margins are also investigated over time continuum.Design/methodology/approachA framework is developed to reduce the non-value added (NVA) storage and distribution efforts by providing collaborative buffering between LSP and e-retailer. The knapsack based buffering approach is tested and compared with traditional e-retail distribution practices. The revenue sharing concept is mathematically modelled and implemented in GAMS, which finally validated through multiple return scenarios.FindingsThe proposed model outperforms the existing one under all scenarios with different configuration settings of re-ordering, profit margins, and buffer time windows. The distribution cost is found, linearly related to the necessary product buffering space. The findings help to re-design sustainable return policies for individual products so that maximum customer value can be yield with minimum costs.Research limitations/implicationsThis study helps to determine the NVA efforts incurred while storing and delivering multi-time returned products to ensure desired service levels. The revenue sharing model provides pricing strategies for e-retail practitioners deciding which product should store in what quantity for how much time at the shipping agency location so that it fulfils the re-ordering at least waiting and sufficient buffering.Originality/valueThe proposed model extends the role of LPSs as temporary buffer providers to reduce returns-and-reordering fulfilment efforts in the e-retail network. This Collaborative framework offers an opportunity to amend the distribution contracts and policies time by time that enhances e-retailer's performance and customer satisfaction.

Reinforcement learning-based fuzzy geocast routing protocol for opportunistic networks

In a communication environment like opportunistic networks (OppNets) where there is no stable path, the message routing is a challenge. In this sense, using a deep learning approach that focuses on utilizing the agents in the environment to fulfill the message routing task has proven to be effective. This paper proposes a novel routing scheme for OppNets called Reinforcement Learning-based Fuzzy Geocast Routing Protocol (RLFGRP) for OppNets, in which a fuzzy controller makes use of the node’s Q-value, reward value and remaining buffer space as input parameters to determine the likelihood of that node to be selected as suitable forwarder of a message from source towards its destination. Through simulations using real mobility traces, the proposed RLFGRP protocol is shown to outperform the established Geocast Fuzzy-Based Check-and-Spray routing (FCSG) [4] and the Fuzzy logic-based Q-learning routing (FQLRP) [9] protocols in terms of overhead ratio, delivery ratio and average latency.

3D CNTs networks enable core-shell structured Si@Ni nanoparticle anodes with enhanced reversible capacity and cyclic performance for lithium ion batteries

Silicon, to be a potential anode material of LIBs, possesses a pretty high lithium storage capacity. However, the structural integrity can be destructed by its huge volume expansion through cycles, which results in a large capacity attenuation. Meanwhile, the poor electrochemical performance of silicon-based anodes can be attributed to its poor conductance which reduces the reaction kinetics. According to the above challenges, core-shell structured silicon-nickel nanoparticles have been dispersed on 3D intertwined carbon nanotube networks (Si@Ni-NP/CNTs) via nitric acid pre-treatment and amino functionalization. The nickel-plated shell outside silicon core nanoparticles (Si@Ni-NP) can play a certain supporting role to prevent the volume expansion of silicon, which finally brings down the degree of powdering. Especially, the 3D framework composed of intertwined carbon nanotubes can efficiently provide not only an ample buffer space during intercalation/deintercalation but also a more stable conductive network to increase ion/electron transfer rate. Due to the above improvements in structural stability and reaction kinetics, Si@Ni-NP/CNTs reveal a reversible capacity of 1008 mAh g−1 with a 98% capacity retention over 100 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g−1. Under different current densities in rate test, the specific capacity recovery rate can reach 92%. The novel structure enables Si@Ni-NP/CNTs excellent stability under cycles and various rates, as a promising anode material of LIBs.

Novel antimony phosphate loaded on grid-like N, S-doped carbon for facilitating sodium-ion storage

The mesh-like hard carbon loaded SbPO4 (SbPO4/NTC) was harvested and employed as anode material for sodium ion batteries. Profiting from prominent capacitance, porous structure, and sufficient buffering space, the composite realizes high electrochemical kinetics for sodium ion storage. The SbPO4/NTC composite gains impressive battery properties, such as high discharge capacity of 413.7 mAh g−1 under 0.5 A g−1 after 200 cycles and conspicuous rate performance of 365.7 mAh g−1 even at 6 A g−1. In addition, the composite demonstrates a wide operation-temperature window with favorable capacities of 194.3–397.6 mAh g−1 from −10 °C to 60 °C at 0.1 A g−1. The phase transition and sodium storage mechanism are elucidated by density functional theory (DFT) calculation. Therefore, the SbPO4/NTC composite has a great potential for high-efficient sodium ion storage.

Effects of annealing temperature on electrochemical performance of SnSx embedded in hierarchical porous carbon with N-carbon coating by in-situ structural phase transformation as anodes for lithium ion batteries

Tuned tin chalcogenides rooted in hierarchical porous carbon (HPC) with N-carbon coating layers are prepared by thermal shock under various temperatures (denoted as HPC-SnS2-PAN-Various T). With the increase of annealing temperature, the morphology and phase structure of SnS2, as well as the cyclization degree of polyacrylonitrile (PAN), are significantly changed, which leads to the formation of rod-like SnS and ordered structure of conductive N-carbon layer. By combining HPC, N-carbon coating derived from the cyclization of PAN, with 1D SnS nanorods generated from structural phase transformation of SnS2, the optimized composite (HPC-SnS2-PAN-500) as anode for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) provides buffer space for volume changes during alloying/dealloying process, builds a highly conductive network as well as decreases irreversible capacity from solid electrolyte interphase and enhances the ion/electron transport. Attributed to the above merits from composition regulation and architecture modification by sulfur depletion and PAN cyclization, this target anode exhibits an extraordinary cycling stability with a high specific capacity of 652.5 mA h/g at 0.5 A/g after 900 cycles. It suggests that rod-like SnS embedded in HPC with cyclized PAN layers by thermal treatment approach renders a potential structural design of anode materials for LIBs.

Multi-Yolk-Shell MnO@Carbon Nanopomegranates with Internal Buffer Space as a Lithium Ion Battery Anode.

Multi-yolk-shell MnO@mesoporous carbon (MnO@m-carbon) nanopomegranates, featuring MnO nanoparticles within cavities of m-carbon with internal space between the MnO nanoparticle and a cavity carbon shell, were subtly constructed. Moreover, the buffer space was well controlled by means of regulating the size of the cavity in m-carbon or the content of MnO. The results of electrochemical measurements demonstrated that MnO(10)@m-carbon(22) nanopomegranates (MnO nanoparticle, 15 nm; cavity size, 22 nm) had the best cycling and rate performance for lithium ion storage. The pomegranate-like MnO@m-carbon nanostructures have shown several advantages for their excellent performance: the nanocavity in m-carbon can restrict the growth and agglomeration of MnO nanoparticles; the well-interconnected mesoporous carbon matrix provides a "highway" for electrons and lithium ion transport; the voids between the MnO nanoparticle and cavity shell can alleviate the volume expansion.

Si Swarf Wrapped by Graphite Sheets for Li-Ion Battery Electrodes with Improved Overvoltage and Cyclability

Composites of flake-shaped Si nanopowder from swarf treated as an industrial waste and ultrathin graphite sheets (GSs) (Si:C = 5:1 wt) are used in Li-ion battery electrodes. Si nanopowder is dispersed and wrapped between GSs fabricated from expanded graphite. The delithiation capacity of the Si/GS composite electrode during 300 cycles is 1.69 ∼ 0.83 mAh cm−2 (0.5 C), while that of the electrode with C-coated Si nanopowder (Si:C = 10:1 wt) fabricated in C2H4 is 1.55 ∼ 0.72 mAh cm−2. The series resistances (Rs) for the Si/GS electrode are a half and two-thirds of those for the C-coated Si electrode at the 6th and 300th cycles, respectively. The charge transfer resistance (Rct) for the Si/GS electrode is two-thirds of that for the C-coated Si electrode at the 300th cycle. GS bridges are formed across cracks, and suppress cracking and peeling-off of Si. Agglomerated GSs wrap Si/GS composites, and work as stable frameworks that secure electrolyte paths and buffer spaces for Si volume change. In the C-coated Si electrodes, Si frameworks fuse after the 300th cycle, leading to low delithiation capacities. The delithiation capacity of 4 mAh cm−2 for more than 75 cycles is achieved by the Si/GS electrode at the current density of 5 mA cm−2 with delithiation limitation at 1200 mAh g−1.

NiO nanoflakes decorated needle-like MnCo2O4 hierarchical structure on nickle foam as an additive-free and high performance supercapacitor electrode

Although many researches have been made in the construction and fabrication of electrode materials for supercapacitors, it remains a difficult task to realize the application of the supercapacitor with high energy density. The binary MnCo2O4@NiO hierarchical electrode has been successfully fabricated on nickel foam (NF) without any binder or additives by simple hydrothermal methods and corresponding annealing processes. By virtue of constructing hierarchical core–shell structure with different morphologies and forming additive-free electrode, the composite electrode not only possesses abundant surface active sites for electrochemical reaction as well as large buffering space for volume deformation in the charging-discharging processes, but also shows the improved contacting area and electric conductivity between active substance and metal collector. The synthetic MnCo2O4@NiO/NF electrode presented higher specific capacitance (1186 F g−1 under 1 A g−1) and long cycle lifespan (maintain 91% of the original capacitance over 5000 cycles) under a high current density of 10 A g−1. Further, the asymmetric supercapacitor with MnCo2O4@NiO/NF electrode shows higher energy density of 42.2 Wh kg−1 under a power density of 748.2 W kg−1. These results demonstrate that the binary MnCo2O4@NiO hierarchical structure is the hopeful candidate material for high performance supercapacitor electrode.