Synchrotron radiation based operando characterization of battery materials

Synchrotron radiation based techniques are powerful tools for battery research and allow probing a wide range of length scales, with different depth sensitivities and spatial/temporal resolutions. Operando experiments enable characterization during functioning of the cell and are thus a precious tool to elucidate the reaction mechanisms taking place. In this perspective, the current state of the art for the most relevant techniques (scattering, spectroscopy, and imaging) is discussed together with the bottlenecks to address, either specific for application in the battery field or more generic. The former includes the improvement of cell designs, multi-modal characterization and development of protocols for automated or at least semi-automated data analysis to quickly process the huge amount of data resulting from operando experiments. Given the recent evolution in these areas, accelerated progress is expected in the years to come, which should in turn foster battery performance improvements.

Synchrotron radiation enables probing a wide range of length scales operando, hence being a powerful tool in battery research. Challenges ahead involve cell design (especially for multi-modal approaches) and protocols for automated data analysis.     

Measuring the refractive index of crude oil using a capillary tube interferometer

A method for measuring the refractive index of low-transparent crude oils using a capillary tube interferometer is described. The method is based on analyzing the resulting transverse interference fringe patterns in terms of their positions with respect to the lens/capillary tube interferometer. The refractive indices of seven blended crude oils of low transparency were measured with accuracy of up to six decimal digits and were related to the API gravity of the oils. The ray tracing inside the capillary tube is explained and the transverse bell-shaped interference fringes are interpreted.     

Spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of acetylacetone in aqueous solutions

A sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of trace amounts of acetylacetone in aqueous solution is carried out. In the presence of bicarbonate solution, diazotized anthranilic acid reagent reacts rapidly with acetylacetone to form a yellow-colored compound with maximum absorption at 330 nm, which is water-soluble and reasonably stable. Adherence to Beer's law is observed in the range 20–200 μg of acetylacetone/25 ml, with a molar absorptivity of 19.5 × 10³ liters mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹, a sensitivity index of 0.0051 μg cm⁻², relative to + 0.3 to −0.9%, and a relative standard deviation of 0.5–1.4%, depending on the concentration level.     

Effect of Ziziphus and Cordia Gums on Dough Properties and Baking Performance of Cookies

The influence of 2% and 5% Cordia (CG) and Ziziphus (ZG) gums on dough characteristics and cookie quality was investigated. Micro-DoughLab, a texture analyzer (TA), a rapid viscoanalyzer (RVA), and solvent retention capacity were used to examine the effect of CG and ZG gums on dough physicochemical parameters (SRC) and cookie quality. The diameter, thickness, spread, and sensory evaluation of cookies were evaluated. With the addition of CG and ZG, dough softness, mixing time, and mixing tolerance index (MTI) increased, whereas stability and water absorption decreased. TA data showed that adding gums resulted in softer and less sticky doughs than the control, whereas RVA data showed that adding CG resulted in a significant increase in peak viscosity, but no change in flour gel setback. In comparison to the control and CG samples, the ZG samples exhibited the most dough extensibility. The thickness and diameter of the cookies increased but the spread decreased, due to the added gums. The gum-containing cookies had a lower overall acceptability by panelists than the control, although only by a small margin. Gum-containing cookies, on the other hand, can deliver up to 5% soluble fiber.     

Multi-switching dual compound synchronization of chaotic systems

A novel multi-switching dual compound synchronization scheme is proposed for chaotic systems which has not been investigated so far. The goal is to design appropriate controllers by using Lyapunov stability theory and nonlinear control to establish the asymptotically stable synchronized state for six drive and two response systems. Multi-switching dual compound synchronization can be considered as an extension of multi-switching dual combination synchronization. An example is presented to elaborate the proposed scheme where Lorenz, Chen, Lu systems are considered as master systems and T system is considered as slave system. The results obtained by theoretical and graphical analysis are in excellent agreement.     

The intensity distribution of hollow Gaussian beams focused by a lens with spherical aberration

We developed an expression that describes the hollow Gaussian beams (HGBs) passing through a spherically aberrated lens by using the Collins formula. The radial intensity distribution in both spherical aberration SA free lens, lens that exhibits relatively large in both positive spherical aberration PSA, and negative spherical aberration NSA is calculated. Numerical calculations are made and the results show that the PSA and NSA have a strong influence on the intensity distribution especially at the focus. The study showed remarkable results for which there is no hollow Gaussian beam at a large NSA along the optical axis at the focus. In addition, we found that the DSS, and w_r of focused hollow Gaussian beams in the focal region depend not only on the beam radius, and beam order; but also on the spherical aberration.     

Optical model analysis of p+6He scattering over a wide range of energy

Optical-model analysis of proton elastic scattering from ⁶He has been carried out for eight sets of elastic scattering data at energies, 24.5, 25.0, 36.2, 38.3, 40.9, 41.6, 71.0 and 82.3 MeV/n respectively. The vector analyzing power and differential cross section for the elastic scattering of ⁶He nucleus from polarized protons at 71 MeV have been analyzed in the framework of the optical model potentials. The data are, first, analyzed in term of phenomenological potentials using the Woods-Saxon form for the real and imaginary parts supplemented by a spin-orbit potential of Thomas form. The analysis has been also performed using microscopic complex potentials.     

The Utility of 2-(5,6,7,8-Tetrahydrobenzo[b]thieno-[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yloxy) Acethydrazide in Heterocyclic Synthesis

Because of being a versatile synthon, the title compound 2 was utilized to construct different heterocyclic systems including pyrazol-4-carbonitrile 3, pyrazolone 4, triazole-5(4H)-thione 7, aminotriazole 9, oxadiazoles 10 and 12, thiazolidine 13, and oxatriazole 14. All new synthesized compounds were structurally confirmed by elemental analyses and spectroscopic data.     

Spring response to precipitation events using δ18O and δ2H in the Tanour catchment,NW Jordan

The Tanour spring is one of the several karst springs located in the northern part of Jordan. Water samples from the Tanour spring and precipitation were collected in the area of Ajloun in NW Jordan for the analysis of stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopes to evaluate the spring response to precipitation events. Rainwater and snow samples were collected from different elevations during winters of 2013–2014 and 2014–2015. In addition, spring samples were collected between December 2014 and March 2015. δ¹⁸O values in rainwater vary from ?3.26 to ?17.34?‰ (average: ?7.84?±?3.23?‰), while δ²H values range between ?4.4 and ?110.4?‰ (average: ?35.7?±?25.0?‰). Deuterium excess ranges from 17.8 to 34.1?‰ (average: 27.1?±?4.0?‰). The Local Meteoric Water Line for the study area was calculated to be δ²H?=?7.66*δ¹⁸O?+?24.43 (R²?=?0.98). Pre-event spring discharge showed variation in δ¹⁸O (range ?6.29 to ?7.17?‰; average ?6.58?±?0.19?‰) and δ²H values (range ?28.8 to ?32.7?‰; average: ?30.5?±?1.0?‰). In contrast, δ¹⁸O and δ²H rapidly changed to more negative values during rainfall and snowmelt events and persisted for several days before returning to background values. Spring water temperature, spring discharge, and turbidity followed the trend in isotopic composition during and after the precipitation events. The rapid change in the isotopic composition, spring discharge, water temperature, and turbidity in response to recharge events is related to fast water travel times and low storage capacity in the conduit system of the karst aquifer. Based on the changes in the isotopic composition of spring water after the precipitation events, the water travel time in the aquifer is in the order of 5–11 days.