Improvement of cyclability of silicon-containing carbon nanofiber anodes for lithium-ion batteries by employing succinic anhydride as an electrolyte additive

Si/C composite nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning and carbonization using polyacrylonitrile as the spinning medium and carbon precursor. The effect of electrolyte additive succinic anhydride (SA) on the electrochemical performance of Si/C composite nanofiber anodes was investigated. Results show that after 50 cycles, the discharge capacity of Si/C composite nanofiber anode with the SA-added electrolyte is 34 % higher than that with additive-free electrolyte. At 150th cycle, the capacity retention of Si/C composite nanofiber anode with SA-added electrolyte is 82 % under 70 % state-of-charge. It is demonstrated that adding additive SA in the electrolyte is an effective and economic way to improve the cyclability of high-capacity Si/C composite nanofibers for next-generation high-energy lithium-ion batteries.     

Skew normal measurement error models

In this paper we define a class of skew normal measurement error models, extending usual symmetric normal models in order to avoid data transformation. The likelihood function of the observed data is obtained, which can be maximized by using existing statistical software. Inference on the parameters of interest can be approached by using the observed information matrix, which can also be computed by using existing statistical software, such as the Ox program. Bayesian inference is also discussed for the family of asymmetric models in terms of invariance with respect to the symmetric normal distribution showing that early results obtained for the normal distribution also holds for the asymmetric family. Results of a simulation study and an analysis of a real data set analysis are provided.     

On Homotopy Groups of Real Algebraic Varieties and their Complexifications

Let X ₀ be a topological component of a nonsingular real algebraic variety and i:X → X _C is a nonsingular projective complexification of X. In this paper, we will study the homomorphism on homotopy groups induced by the inclusion map i:X ₀ → X _C and obtain several results using rational homotopy theory and other standard tools of homotopy theory.     

A new multiobjective simulated annealing algorithm

A new multiobjective simulated annealing algorithm for continuous optimization problems is presented. The algorithm has an adaptive cooling schedule and uses a population of fitness functions to accurately generate the Pareto front. Whenever an improvement with a fitness function is encountered, the trial point is accepted, and the temperature parameters associated with the improving fitness functions are cooled. Beside well known linear fitness functions, special elliptic and ellipsoidal fitness functions, suitable for the generation on non-convex fronts, are presented. The effectiveness of the algorithm is shown through five test problems. The parametric study presented shows that more fitness functions as well as more iteration gives more non-dominated points closer to the actual front. The study also compares the linear and elliptic fitness functions. The success of the algorithm is also demonstrated by comparing the quality metrics obtained to those obtained for a well-known evolutionary multiobjective algorithm.     

3-Hydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-6H-benzo[c]chromen-6-one and 3-hydroxy-6H-benzo[c]chromen-6-one act as on-off selective fluorescent sensors for Iron (III) under in vitro and ex vivo conditions

Regarding the abundant use of metals for different purposes, it becomes more critical from various scientific and technological perspectives to discover novel agents as selective probes for the detection of specific metals. In our previous studies, we have shown that aqueous solutions of natural urolithins (i.e., hydroxyl-substituted benzo[c]chromen-6-one derivatives) are selective Iron (III) sensors in fluorescence assays. In this study, we have extrapolated these findings to another coumarine compound (i.e., 3-Hydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-6H-benzo[c]chromen-6-one) and compared the selective metal binding properties with Urolithin B (i.e., 3-Hydroxy-6H-benzo[c]chromen-6-one). Following the synthesis and structure identification studies, the fluorometric studies pointed out that the lactam group in the structure still persists to be the important scaffold for maintaining selective on-off sensor capacity that renders the compound a selective Iron (III) binding probe. Moreover, for the first time, fluorescence cellular imaging studies concomitant to cytotoxicity assays with the title compounds were also performed and the results displayed the cell-penetrative, safe, and fluorescent detectable characteristics of the compounds in neuroblastoma and glioblastoma cells through servings as intracellular Iron (III) on-off sensors.     

Band structure and optical properties of antimony-sulfobromide: density functional calculation

The electronic structure, linear, and non-linear optical properties of ferroelectric-semiconductor SbSBr are investigated in the non-polar (paraelectric) and polar (ferroelectric) phase, using the density functional methods in the generalized gradient approximation. The electronic band structure obtained shows that SbSBr has an indirect forbidden gap of 2.16 and 2.21 eV in the paraelectric and ferroelectric phase, respectively. The linear photon-energy dependent dielectric functions and some optical functions, such as absorption and extinction coefficients, refractive index, energy-loss function, reflectivity, and optical conductivity in both phases and photon-energy dependent second-order susceptibilities in the ferroelectric phase are calculated. Moreover, some important optical parameters, such as the effective number of valence electrons and the effective optical dielectric constant, are calculated in both phases.      

Photochemical reactions of chromium hexacarbonyl with tetraalkyldiphosphine disulfides

New complexes [Cr(CO)₄(R₂P(S)P(S)R₂)] and [Cr₂(CO)₁₀(-R₂P(S)P(S)R₂)] (R = Me, Et, Pr ⁿ , Bu ⁿ ), (1a)–(1d) and (2a)–(2d) [(1a), R = Me; (1b), R = Et; (1c), R = Pr ⁿ ; (1d), R = Bu ⁿ ; (2a), R = Me; (2b), R = Et; (2c), R = Pr ⁿ ; (2d), R = Bu ⁿ ] have been prepared by the photochemical reaction of Cr(CO)₆ with R₂P(S)P(S)R₂ (R = Me, Et, Pr ⁿ and Bu ⁿ ) and characterized by elemental analyses, FT-i.r., ³¹P-[¹H]-n.m.r. spectroscopy and FAB-mass spectrometry. The spectroscopic data suggest cis-chelate bidentate coordination of the ligand in [Cr(CO)₄(R₂P(S)P(S)R₂)] and cis-bridging bidentate coordination of the ligand between two metals in [Cr₂(CO)₁₀(-R₂P(S)P(S)R₂)] (R = Me, Et, Pr ⁿ and Bu ⁿ ).     

Optimization of the mineral content in polymeric gels: The effect of calcium to phosphate molar ratio

The influence of calcium to phosphate (Ca/P) molar ratio on the extent of mineralization in a model (poly)acrylamide gel was investigated under simulated physiological conditions. We hypothesized that the optimal growth of hydroxyapatite crystals will take place at the stoichiometric Ca/P molar ratio of 1.67. Phosphate ions were incorporated during the polymerization of the gel and mineralization was initiated by submersion of the gel in calcium acetate solution. Ca/P molar ratios were varied in the range of 0.5–5.0. The mineralized gel was characterized by Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mineral weight fraction analysis via ashing. Raman spectra captured across the bulk of the gels indicated the presence of mineral at the core section. The phosphate symmetric stretching peak was observed in the range of 955–960 cm⁻¹ which is characteristic of hydroxyapatite. SEM images showed that crystals formed at Ca/P=2.0 were denser and larger in size than at other molar ratios. In agreement with SEM images, the dry weight fraction of mineral reached the maximum at the molar ratio of 2.0 and the extent of mineralization rapidly declined as the molar ratio diverged from 2.0. Also, the crystallinity of the mineral was optimum at the molar ratio of 2.0. Thus it appears that for effective mineralization, the molar ratio of the two ions needs to be in excess of the stoichiometric requirement, suggesting that ions are expended in processes other than the formation and growth of hydroxyapatite crystals. Therefore, the optimal level of mineralization in biomimetic-based growth of calcium phosphate crystals in sol–gel environment requires consideration of a range of molar ratios as opposed to using the molar ratios corresponding to that of the crystal species intended to grow.     

Photochemical reactions of [(η 5-C5H5)Mn(CO)3] with Ph2P(S)(CH2) n P(S)Ph2 [n=1, dppm(S)2; 2, dppe(S)2; 3, dppp(S)2]

Six new complexes, Mn(CO)( ⁵-C₅H₅){Ph₂P(S)(CH₂) _n P(S)Ph₂}] (1a–3a) [(1a), n=1; (2a), n=2; (3a), n=3] and [Mn₂(CO)₄( ⁵-C₅H₅)₂(cis--Ph₂P(S)(CH₂) _n P(S)Ph₂)] (1b–3b) [(1b), n=1; (2b), n=2; (3b), n=3] have been synthesized by the photochemical reaction of [( ⁵-C₅H₅)Mn(CO)₃] with Ph₂P(S)(CH₂) _n P(S)Ph₂ [n=1, dppm(S)₂; 2, dppe(S)₂; 3, dppp(S)₂]. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectroscopy, f.t.-i.r. and ³¹P–[¹H]-n.m.r. spectroscopy. The spectroscopic studies reveal that coordination of the ligand iscis-chelate bidentate in [Mn(CO)( ⁵-C₅H₅){Ph₂P(S)(CH₂) _n P(S)Ph₂}] (1a–3a) and cis-bridging bidentate between two metals in [Mn₂(CO)₄( ⁵-C₅H₅)₂(cis--Ph₂P(S)(CH₂) _n P(S)Ph₂)] (1b–3b).