3D-structured carbon-coated MnO/graphene nanocomposites with exceptional electrochemical performance for Li-ion battery anodes

MnO has a high theoretical capacity, moderate discharge plateau, and low polarization when it is used as the anode material in lithium battery. However, the issues that limit its application are its poor conductivity and large volume changes, which can easily result in the collapse of electrode structure during long-term cycling. In the present work, a carbon-coated MnO/graphene 3D-network anode material is synthesized by an electrostatic adsorption of dispersed precipitates precipitation method. The MnO nanoparticles coated by carbon are uniformly distributed on the surface of graphene nanosheets and form a 3D sandwich-like nanostructure. A carbon layer is coated on the surface of MnO nanoparticles, which slows down the volume expansion in the process of lithium intercalation. The graphene nanosheets are cross-linked through carbons in this 3D nanostructure, which provides mechanical support and effective electron conduction pathways during the charge-discharge. The electrochemical tests indicate that the prepared 3D carbon-coated MnO/graphene electrode exhibits an excellent rate capacity of 1247.3 and 713.2 mAh g^?1 at 100 and 1000 mA g^?1, respectively. The capacity is 792.2 mAh g^?1 after long cycle at a current density of 1000 mA g^?1. The specific capacity is higher than that of MnO-based composite lithium anode materials currently reported. The superior rate and cycling performances are attributed to the unique 3D-network structure, which provides an effectively conductive network, buffers volume expansion, and prevents falling and aggregation of MnO in the charge and discharge process of the electrode materials. The 3D-structured carbon-coated MnO/graphene anode material will have an excellent application prospect.

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Graphical abstract Cyclic performance at 1 A g^?1 and SEM images (inset) of the 3D-structured carbon-coated MnO/graphene nanocomposite.

     

Low-temperature heat capacity and standard thermodynamic functions of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium lactate

The heat capacities of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium lactate ionic liquids ([C₄mim][Lact]) were measured with a highly accurate automatic adiabatic calorimeter over the temperature range from 79 to 406 K. And the experimental values of molar heat capacities were fitted to a polynomial equation using least square method in the appropriate temperature ranges. The standard molar heat capacity was determined to be 1734.46?±?5.12 J K^?1 mol^?1 at 298.15 K. The molar enthalpy and molar entropy of the transition were determined to be 15.575?±?0.045 and 64.44?±?0.14 J K^?1 mol^?1. Other thermodynamic properties, such as (H_T???H_298.15) and (S_T???S_298.15), were also calculated. Furthermore, when the temperature reaches 241.87 K, the strongest peaks appeared by analysis of the heat capacity curve. This phenomenon could be explained from the interionic interaction, which is the hydrogen bond between the anions and cations.     

Structural diversity of isothiocyanato Cd(II) and Zn(II) Girard’s T hydrazone complexes in solution and solid state: effect of H-bonding on coordination number and supramolecular assembly of Cd(II) complex in solid state

The isothiocyanato Zn(II) complex (1) and mixed isothiocyanato/thiocyanato Cd(II) complex (2) with the condensation product of 2-acetylpyridine and trimethylammoniumacetohydrazide chloride (Girard’s T reagent) (HLCl) were investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The crystal structures of both complexes showed tridentate N₂O coordination of hydrazine ligand. In complex 1 square-pyramidal coordination surrounding of Zn(II) consists of deprotonated hydrazone ligand and two isothiocyanato ligands, while in octahedral Cd(II) complex ligand is coordinated without deprotonation as a positively charged species and coordination geometry is completed with two N-coordinated and one S-coordinated NCS^? anions. NMR spectroscopy and molar conductivity results for Cd(II) and Zn(II) complexes indicated their instability in solution. DFT calculations were performed to explain coordination preference and stability of complexes 1 and 2 in solid state and in solution. The obtained Cd(II) complex is the first reported mononuclear pseudohalide/halide Cd(II) complex with quinoline-/pyridine-based hydrazone ligands possessing octahedral geometry in solid state. In this complex, H-bonding has significant impact on coordination number and supramolecular assembly in solid state.     

Biosensors containing acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase as recognition tools for detection of various compounds

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) are enzymes expressed in the human body under physiological conditions. AChE is an important part of the cholinergic nerves where it hydrolyses neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Both cholinesterases are sensitive to inhibitors acting as neurotoxic compounds. In analytical applications, the enzymes can serve as a biorecognition element in biosensors as well as simple disposable sensors (dipsticks) and be used for assaying the neurotoxic compounds. In the present review, the mechanism of AChE and BChE inhibition by disparate compounds is explained and methods for assaying the enzymes activity are shown. Optical, electrochemical, and piezoelectric biosensors are described. Attention is also given to the application of sol-gel techniques and quantum dots in the biosensors’ construction. Examples of the biosensors are provided and the pros and cons are discussed.     

Comparison of hydrothermal,hydrotropic and organosolv pretreatment for improving the enzymatic digestibility of bamboo

Pretreatment is the crucial step to disrupt the recalcitrant structure of lignocellulosic biomass for improving the enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency. Typically, hydrothermal, organosolv and hydrotropic pretreatments are environmentally benign and effective methods. In this work, effects of hydrothermal, organosolv and hydrotropic pretreatments on improving enzymatic hydrolysis of bamboo were comprehensively compared. Hydrotropic pretreatment was more effective in removal lignin and xylose from bamboo fiber cell wall. However, the surface coverage by lignin and extractives were dramatically displaced during organosolv pretreatment as investigation by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. After pretreatments, the crystallinity of cellulose in pretreated substrates has a significant reduction, and pores were exposed on fiber surface. The residual content of acetyl and phenolic groups in hydrotropic pretreated substrates is lower than organosolv pretreated substrates. In order to deeply assess the delignification of pretreatments, the isolated lignins obtaining from pretreatments process were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy also. It was revealed that hydrotropic lignin contained more phenolic hydroxyl group and syringyl units than organosolv lignin. Compared to hydrothermal and organosolv pretreatment, cellulase adsorption capacity of pretreated substrates was notably improved by hydrotropic pretreatment, which indicating the better enzyme accessibility of cellulose. Eventually, the maximum glucose yield was obtained from hydrotropic pretreated substrates.     

Magnetic,Electrical and Thermal Studies of Polypyrrole-Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> Nanocomposites

This research paper comprises of the synthesis of polypyrrole (PPy)-Fe₂O₃ nanocomposites by employing the in situ chemical oxidative polymerization method. The concentration of the filler material was adjusted between 10–50 wt % of PPy. The synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Magnetic analysis and DC electrical conductivity of the samples were carried out using vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and two probe DC conductivity method, point towards magnetically active and electrically conductive samples. The magnetic parameters under applied magnetic field demonstrated that the values of coercivity (H _c ), saturation magnetization (M _s ) and remanence (M _r ) can be tailored by carefully controlling the amount of dopant material into the nanocomposites indicating their suitability for controllable switching devices and microwave absorption applications. The DC electrical conductivity showed an increase up to 20 wt % of filler material and thereafter a decrease in the conductivity of nanocomposites with increase in filler content is observed. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed an increase in thermal stability with an increase in ferrite content in nanocomposites.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Fluorescent Study of Bis(2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzimidazolate)zinc with Ethanol Solvate

Abstract  The zinc(II) complex with 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzimidazole, namely [Zn(2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzimidazolate)₂]·C₂H₅OH (1 · C₂H₅OH) has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography and photoluminescent analysis. The complex crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2₁/c with cell parameters a = 10.156(1) ?, b = 25.771(3) ?, c = 9.674(1) ?, α = 90°, β = 103.641(2)°, γ = 90°, Z = 4, V = 2460.4(4) ?³. The central Zn(II) is four-coordinate and has a tetrahedral geometry. The steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescent spectra for the title compound have also been studied. The emission property can be ascribed to ligand-centered charge-transfer transition (LCCT) with π → π* property. Index Abstract   A new co-crystal of Zn(II) complex of 2-(2-hydroxylphenyl)benzimidazole with ethanol solvate has been prepared, characterized by X-ray crystallography and fluorescent studies.      

On damping coefficient due to phase transformation

The damping coefficient of capillary waves due to the evaporation-condensation process at the interface of the two phases of a fluid is evaluated. To highlight the mechanism of the effect of heat and mass transfer across the interface between regions of liquid and vapor, potential flow of incompressible fluids are assumed. Thus other mechanisms of damping are neglected. To fascilitate the analysis, the method of multiple-scale is employed in the analysis, even though the problem is linear.     

Safety margin criterion of nonlinear unbalance elastic axle system

IntroductionAtpresentanewanddevelopingsubject—chaoticdynamicsstartsabroadprospectforanalysisofnonlinearsystem[1～ 5 ].Largerotatingmachineryisatypicalnonlinearnon_autonomoussystem .Thesaferunofrotorsystemisofgreatsignificancetosociallifeandeconomicdevelopment.Thestabilityisthekeytosafeoperation .Thesafestabilityanalysisandcontrolforlargesystemisnotonlyamajorbasicresearchbutalsoisveryimportanttosolvethesafeproblemsinlifeandproduction[6 ,7].Soar,althoughmanymathematicians,mechanistsandengineer…     

Flow properties of a dusty-gas point source in a supersonic free stream

By using Lagrangian method, the flow properties of a dusty-gas point source in a supersonic free stream were studied and the particle parameters in the near-symmetry-axis region were obtained . It is demonstrated that fairly inertial particles travel along oscillating and intersecting trajectories between the bow and termination shock waves . In this region, formation of " mufti- layer structure" in panicle distribution with alternating low- and high density layers is revealed. Moreover, sharp accumulation of particles occurs near the envelopes of particle trajectories .