Voltage Decay of Li-Rich Layered Oxides: Mechanism,Modification Strategies,and Perspectives

Li-rich layered oxides (LLOs) have been considered as the most promising cathode materials for achieving high energy density Li-ion batteries. However, they suffer from continuous voltage decay during cycling, which seriously shortens the lifespan of the battery in practical applications. This review comprehensively elaborates and summarizes the state-of-the-art of the research in this field. It is started from the proposed mechanism of voltage decay that refers to the phase transition, microscopic defects, and oxygen redox or release. Furthermore, several strategies to mitigate the voltage decay of LLOs from different scales, such as surface modification, elemental doping, regulation of components, control of defect, and morphology design are summarized. Finally, a systematic outlook on the real root of voltage decay is provided, and more importantly, a potential solution to voltage recovery from electrochemistry. Based on this progress, some effective strategies with multiple scales will be feasible to create the conditions for their commercialization in the future.     

测定外延层电阻率的面接触方法研究

评论了美国科学家C.C. Allen等于1966年发表的“测定外延层电阻率的点接触方法”之论文的局限性,从而提出了本方法。本方法从理论上解一维Poisson方程并与C.C。Allen法的公式相比较,获得某些公式。文中导出了面接触方法雪崩击穿电压V_(Ba)~∞(V)及点接触方法雪崩击穿电压V_(Bp)~∞(V)的比值为V_(Ba)~∞=0.456;同时还导出了点接触方法外延层耗尽层宽度为t_(min p)(μm)和面接触方法外延层耗尽层宽度t_(mina(μm)的比值为t_(minp)/t_(mina)=2.565。在实践上,为证实两种模型的功能,利用两种探针进行了对比测试。一种是通常被采用的点接触锇尖探针:另一种是利用φ0.8±0.1mm的银针,在银针顶上吸上φ0.4±0.1mm的汞球,以实现面接触。理论和实验吻合良好。     

A Glivenko-Cantelli lemma and weak convergence for empirical processes of associated sequences

Summary With the help of an extension of Hoeffding's equality, we develop a way for estimating the covariance structures for empirical functions of associated sequences in terms of covariances of the original random variables. Based on these estimations, a Glivenko-Cantelli lemma for associated sequences and weak convergence for empirical processes of stationary associated sequences are obtained, all under the conditions on covariances of the original random variables.This research has been supported partially by a scholarship from the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research of Carleton University, Ottawa, and by an NSERC Canada grant of M. Csörg     

Lifetimes of bacteriochlorophyll fluorescence in Rhodopseudomonas viridis and Heliobacterium chlorum at low temperatures

Fluorescence lifetimes of isolated membranes of Rhodopseudomonas viridis were measured in the temperature range of 77 K to 25 K. At room temperature, the main component of the fluorescence decay of bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) b had a time constant of 50 ps. In contrast to other purple bacteria, the emission at low temperature was spectrally homogeneous and showed essentially single lifetimes of 140 ps at 77 K and 180 ps at 25 K, with the primary electron donor in the oxidized state. Taking into account the relative fluorescence yields with open and closed reaction centers, we arrive at numbers of 125 ps and 215 ps, respectively, for open reaction centers. These numbers are significantly smaller than expected on the basis of measurements of the efficiency of charge separation, perhaps suggesting that the excitation decay in the absence of reaction centers is considerably faster at low temperature than at room temperature. At least four different spectral components with different lifetimes were observed at 25 K in the emission of Heliobacterium chlorum, a short-wavelength component of about 30 ps and three longer-wavelength components of about 100 ps, 300 ps, and 900 ps. This indicates a strong heterogeneity in the emitting pigment, BChl g-808. The component with the shortest lifetime does not appear to be affected by the redox state of the reaction center and might reflect energy transfer to BChl g species which are connected to the reaction center.     

A validated HPLC method with ultraviolet detection for the determination of buformin in plasma

A sensitive and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic assay is developed and validated for the determination of buformin in plasma. After addition of metformin as the internal standard, the analytes were deproteinated with acetonitrile, washed with dichloromethane, and the resulting supernatant injected. Chromatography was performed at ambient temperature by pumping a mobile phase of 0.03 m diammonium hydrogen phosphate buffer (pH 7, 250 mL) in methanol (750 mL) at a fl ow rate of 1 mL/min through a silica column. Buformin and metformin were detected at 236 nm, and eluted 9.8 and 15.4 min, respectively. No endogenous substances were found to interfere. Calibration curves were linear over the concentration range of 20-2000 ng/mL. The limit of quantitation was 20 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day relative standard deviation (RSD) was 8.3%, or less, and the accuracy was within 10.1% of the relative error (RE). The method is suitable in pharmacokinetic investigation of buformin.