Synthesis and electrochemical performance of the Li-rich cathode material Li<Subscript>1.17</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>0.12</Subscript>Co<Subscript>0.13</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>0.58</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> for lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-riched cathode material for lithium-ion batteries, Li_1.17Ni_0.12Co_0.13Mn_0.58O₂, was synthesized via crystallization from a solution of metal acetates, followed by a thermal treatment of the material obtained as a powder. The phase, elemental, and granulometric compositions of the material were examined, as well as the morphology of the powder particles obtained. The discharge capacity of the material in relation to the charging voltage was found from the results of electrochemical tests, and endurance tests were performed. The discharge capacity upon 85 charge/discharge cycles at voltages in the range 2.8–4.8 and a current of 0.1C was about 180 mA h g^–1.     

Cyclic stability of the anode material based on tin(IV) oxide for thin-film current sources

The cyclic stability of thin films (~40 nm) of an anode material based on tin dioxide at charging voltages of 2.5, 1.5, and 0.8 V was studied. The electrodes were prepared on a Picosun R-150 installation using tetraethyltin and remote inductively coupled oxygen plasma.     

Low-temperature deposition of tin(IV) oxide films for thin-film power sources

Thin films of tin(IV) oxide were deposited in a Picosun R-150 installation from tetraethyltin using remote inductively coupled plasma at temperatures lower than 200°C with the aim of developing a material for thin-film current sources. The thickness and morphology of the films were studied by spectral ellipsometry and scanning electron microscopy. Both the thickness and roughness of the films considerably decrease with an increase in the synthesis temperature in the interval 100–180°C. The films are X-ray amorphous. As shown by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, tin in the films is in oxidation state +4.     

The Petroleum Industry Surfactants Synthesized from Fish Oils

Biodegradable surfactants for the petroleum industry have been synthesized by the sulfurization of fish oils. A qualitative composition analysis of surfactants was conducted by FTIR spectroscopy that showed the presence of sulfonic acid groups in the samples. Previously, several samples of the technical fish oils (fish processing waste) have been studied with regard to their use for the synthesis of biodegradable surfactants. It has been shown by gas–liquid chromatography, FTIR spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry method that samples under study contain a large amount of saturated and nonsaturated fatty acids with hydrocarbon radicals comprising from 16 to 22 carbon atoms. The results reveal that the concentration of oleic acid approaches to 15 wt%. Fish oils with a high content of free fatty acids were used as the basis for the synthesis of technical, environmentally friendly surfactants that can be applied in the petroleum industry.     

Recent advances in enzyme-mediated peptide ligation

Artificial synthesis and site-specific modification of peptides and proteins have evolved into an indispensable tool for protein engineers and chemical biologists. Chemical and enzymatic approaches to peptide ligation are important alternatives of recombinant DNA technology for protein synthesis and modification. In the past decades, several natural peptide ligases have been discovered. Additionally, protein engineering for improving the ligation efficiencies of the natural peptide ligase and reversing the functionality of protease have provided more powerful peptide ligases. Herein, we briefly summarized the advances of enzyme-mediated peptide ligation and their application in protein synthesis and modification.     

High-temperature transnitrilation of 2-bromocaproic acid

Chromato-mass spectrometry and IR and PMR spectroscopy were used to study the high-temperature reaction of 2-bromocaproic, 2-iodocaproic, and 2-bromo-2-phenylacetic acids with acetonitrile. The formation of anomalous transnitrilation products (capronitrile and benzyl cyanide) is a consequence of the initial conversion of 2-halo-substituted caproic and phenylacetic acids to caproic and phenylacetic acids, respectively.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1682–1684, July, 1990.     

High-power 20-channel neodymium glass laser and combined laser and beam heating of a plasma

A high-power 20-channel neodymium-glass laser is described (energy i kJ, pulse duration 2 nsec). It is part of the Flora facility intended for combined simultaneous heating of a plasma by powerful laser radiation (PLR) and by a relativistic electron beam (REB) produced in a facility of the plasma focus type. The paper deals theoretically with the processes of combined interaction of PLR and REB with a current plasma and a solid target.Translated from Trudy Ordena Lenina Fizicheskogo Instituta im. P. N. Lebedeva, Vol. 103, pp. 202–230, 1978.     

Structural characteristics of different types of nanoparticles synthesised in mesomorphic metal alkanoates

The class of thermotropic ionic liquid crystals (LCs) of the metal alkanoates possesses a number of unique properties, such as intrinsic ionic conductivity, high dissolving ability and ability to form time-stable mesomorphic glasses. These ionic LCs can be used as nanoreactors for the synthesis and stabilisation of different types of nanoparticles (NPs). Thus, some semiconductors, metals and core/shell NPs were chemically synthesised in the thermotropic ionic liquid crystalline phase (smectic A) of the cadmium octanoate (CdC₈) and of the cobalt octanoate (CoC₈). By applying the scanning electron microscopy, the cadmium and cobalt octanoate composites containing CdS, Au, Ag and core/shell Au/CdS NPs have been studied. NPs’ sizes and dispersion distribution of the NPs’ size in the nanocomposites have been obtained.