Improvement in the Performance of Composite Cathode via Solid Electrolyte for High Electrochemical Performance of Li–S Battery

Commercialization of Li–S in present scenario is obstructed by poor performance of cathode and its compatibility with electrolyte used. Here in this work, in order to improve the electrochemical performance all solid state Li–S battery, solid electrolyte (SE) formed by composition of lithium sulfide (Li₂S) and phosphorus pentasulfide (P₂S₅) combinedly called LPS is used. The modified carbon in the form of graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as additive is used to provide better electron conduction pathway. High conductivity of the order 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ of prepared LPS overcomes the major drawback of insulating nature of sulfur. The coin cells are fabricated by using above mentioned material as a cathode material, LPS as SE, and lithium foil as anode. The prepared nanocomposites are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to study structural and morphological properties. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) images of the cathode surface confirms the uniform spreading of material. The electrochemical performance of coin cell is studied by Galvanostatic charge-discharge plot at 0.1 C to check the compatibility of composite and electrolyte prepared. The cells having additive material GO and rGO with host sulfur show better results as compared to the cell having pristine sulfur.     

Preparation of highly dispersed RhPt alloy catalysts in mesoporous silica using supercritical carbon dioxide and selective synthesis of ethane in butane hydrogenolysis

RhPt alloy catalysts were prepared in mesoporous silica using supercritical carbon dioxide in impregnation to achieve high dispersion with controlled morphology; catalytic activity and ethane selectivity are enhanced in butane hydrogenolysis.     

EXAFS/FT-IR characterization of tetra-iridium carbonyl clusters bound to tris-(hydroxymethyl)phosphine grafted silica surface catalytically active for propene oxidation to acetone

Structure and catalytic activity of Ir₄(CO)₁₂ bound to tris-(hydroxymethyl)phosphine (THP) grafted silica (THP/SiO₂) was investigated by means of EXAFS, FT-IR and kinetic studies. It was found that Ir₄(CO)₁₂ was uniformly attached on THP/SiO₂ by substitution of CO by THP (Ir₄/THP/SiO₂). The tetra-iridium carbonyl cluster framework was remained during the substitution of THP ligands and two THP ligands coordinated to the iridium carbonyl clusters to form Ir₄(CO)₁₀(THP/SiO₂)₂. species. When Ir₄/THP/SiO₂ was evacuated at 373 K, bridge CO was desorbed and Debye-Waller factor of Ir---Ir contribution derived from EXAFS analysis was increased which suggested that the cluster framework was distorted by the evacuation at 373 K. The resulting sample evacuated at 373 K was an active catalyst for hydroformylation of ethene and partial oxidation of propene, while the Ir₄/THP/SiO₂ without evacuation exhibited poor catalytic activities. The propene oxidation reaction proceed on the Ir₄/THP/SiO₂ evacuated at 323–353 K under subatmospheric pressures to give acetone as a product in high selectivity. The ethene hydroformylation proceed on the evacuated Ir₄/THP/SiO₂ at lower temperatures compared with other conventional iridium catalysts. EXAFS characterization and kinetic studies suggested that the catalytic activities were associated with the structural distortion of the iridium cluster framework due to surface attachment by the bidentate phosphine substitution.     

Nuclear spin maser and experimental search for 129 Xe atomic EDM

The present status of an active spin maser which is being developed for an experimental search for ¹²⁹Xe atomic electric dipole moment (EDM) is presented. In order to realize the long term stability of maser frequency, systematic effects for the spin maser operation were investigated. The correlations in the maser frequency with the solenoid current, the environmental field and the cell temperature were found. With the solenoid current and environmental field being stabilized and the cell temperature lowered, a frequency precision of 7.9 nHz has been achieved for the maser operation.     

Estimate of the maximum range achievable by non-radiating wireless power transfer or near-field communication systems

Models relating the coupling coefficient of coupled circuits to their physical layout and separation are essentially empirical in nature and have, until very recently, been available exclusively for inductive systems. In this work, we propose elementary models for representing the evolution, with distance, of the coupling coefficient between two dipoles arranged in different configurations. Both the electric and magnetic coupling cases are examined. We demonstrate that in the case of electrically coupled dipoles, with due consideration for specific practical constraints, the coupling coefficient is optimal when the dipoles are asymmetrical and arranged in an axial configuration. We show that the rate of fall of coupling coefficient increases with the relative separation between the dipoles. Finally, a simple formula for estimating the range of all non-radiating resonant power transport devices is proposed.     

Permeability Studies of Redox-Sensitive Nitroxyl Spin Probes Through Lipid Membranes Using an L-Band ESR Spectrometer

Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies were carried out for 2 mM ¹⁴N-labeled deuterated 3-methoxycarbonyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-pyrrolidine-1-oxyl (MC-PROXYL) and 3-carboxy-2,2,5,5,-tetramethyl-pyrrolidin-1-oxyl (carboxy-PROXYL) in pure water and various concentrations of liposomal solution by using an L-band ESR spectrometer. The ESR parameters, such as the line width, hyperfine coupling constant, g-factor, rotational correlation time and partition parameter, were reported for the samples. The changes in the line width were observed for ¹⁴N-labeled deuterated MC-PROXYL and carboxy-PROXYL in liposomal solution. The hyperfine coupling constant was observed for both nitroxyl spin probes. The permeable and impermeable nature of nitroxyl radicals was demonstrated using the ESR L-band spectra. The rotational correlation time increases with increasing concentration of liposome. The partition parameter for ¹⁴N-labeled deuterated MC-PROXYL in liposomal solution increases with increasing concentration of liposome, which reveals that the nitroxyl spin probe permeates into lipid membrane. The lipid peaks were observed for 2 mM ¹⁴N-labeled deuterated MC-PROXYL in 200, 300 and 400 mM liposomal concentration. The lipid peaks were not observed for ¹⁴N-labeled deuterated carboxy-PROXYL. These results indicate the permeable and impermeable nature of ¹⁴N-labeled deuterated nitroxyl spin probe.