In situ Observation of Evolving H2 and Solid Electrolyte Interphase Development at Potassium Insertion Materials within Highly Concentrated Aqueous Electrolytes

The solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) is key to stable, high voltage lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) as a protective barrier that prevents electrolyte decomposition. The SEI is thought to play a similar role in highly concentrated water-in-salt electrolytes (WISEs) for emerging aqueous batteries, but its properties remain unknown. In this work, we utilized advanced scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and operando electrochemical mass spectrometry (OEMS) techniques to gain deeper insight into the SEI that occurs within highly concentrated WISEs. As a model, we focus on a 55 mol/kg K(FSA)_0.6(OTf)_0.4 electrolyte and a 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic diimide negative electrode. For the first time, our work showed distinctly passivating structures with slow apparent electron transfer rates alike to the SEI found in LIBs. In situ analyses indicated stable passivating structures when PTCDI was stepped to low potentials (≈−1.3 V vs. Ag/AgCl). However, the observed SEI was discontinuous at the surface and H₂ evolution occurred as the electrode reached more extreme potentials. OEMS measurements further confirmed a shift in the evolution of detectable H₂ from −0.9 V to <−1.4 V vs. Ag/AgCl when changing from dilute to concentrated electrolytes. In all, our work shows a combined approach of traditional battery measurements with in situ analyses for improving characterization of other unknown SEI structures.     

Control of peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence by nitrogen-containing ligand quenching: turning off and on by ligand-metal ion host-guest interactions

The control of peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence (PO-CL) by the coordination of nitrogen-containing ligands and metal cations was investigated. Turning the CL off and on was done by PO-CL using 15-monoazacrown-5-tethered anthracene and alkali metal ions. CL quenching and regeneration was also observed in the separated molecular system of 15-monoazacrown-5 and the fluorophores. CL quenching by a number of ligands bearing dipicolylamino groups was evaluated by these PO-CL reactions and found to be closely related to their oxidation potentials, which is dependent on the Weller rate law for electron exchange and this provides strong support for the existence of the CIEEL PO-CL process. When Zn²⁺ or Cu²⁺ are added to the PO-CL system quenched by the ligand, N-[2-(2,2′-dipicolylamino)ethyl]aniline, CL was turned on because the electron donating ability of the ligands was modulated. This was controlled by the coordination of the studied metal ions and, therefore, this system results in CL because of host-guest interactions.     

Ultra-narrow interval angular control signal for holographic data storage system

Optical Review - A precise and fast method for controlling the reference-beam angle of an angular-multiplexed holographic data storage system (HDSS)—to achieve larger capacity and faster...     

Vinyl Polymerization. 418. Polymerization of Vinyl Monomer Initiated by Betaine-Type Polymers in Aqueous Solution

Abstract

Three kinds of betaine-type polymers, which are macromolecular amphoteric electrolytes, were found to be able to polymerize vinyl monomers in aqueous solution through a radical mechanism without any further initiator. Betain-type polymers form hydrophobic areas (HA) in water. Vinyl polymerization commenced in the HA. The effect of the pH of the aqueous solution on polymerization was investigated.     

Vinyl Polymerization. 431. Vinyl Polymerizations Initiated by Block and Random Poly(Styrene-co-Sodium Methacrylate)

Abstract

The polymerization of some kinds of vinyl monomer was found to occur without an ordinary initiator in aqueous solutions of AB-type block or random copolymers of sodium methacrylate with styrene as a so-called “uncatalyzed polymerization.” Although the spin trapping technique showed that the initiation mechanism by the block copolymer was the same as that by the random copolymer, the initiating ability of the block copolymer was lower than that of the random copolymer. Such results are attributable to the difference in the incorporating ability of monomer into the micelles formed by the block copolymer and into the hydrophobic areas formed by the random copolymer.     

Vinyl Polymerization. 436. Effect of Magnetic Field on Uncatalyzed Polymerization

The radical polymerization of vinyl monomers initiated with several kinds of hydrophilic macromolecule was carried out in a magnetic field. The magnetic field promoted the polymerization; the conversion of monomers and the molecular weight of the polymers obtained increased with increasing field strength in the range of 0–0.1 T. The dependence of the composition and tacticity of the mother polymer on the magnitude of the magnetic field was studied. Using graft or block copolymers, which consisted of hard and soft segments, the effect of a magnetic field was further investigated. The degree of hardness and tightness of the hydrophobic areas (reaction areas) formed by the mother polymer in the aqueous solution was found to affect the magnetic field effect on the uncatalyzed polymerization. The overall activation energy obtained in the magnetic field was almost equal to that obtained without a magnetic field.