This contribution presents an optofluidic droplet router which is able to route and steer microdroplets using optically induced forces created solely by the bulk photovoltaic effect on a nonlinear substrate. The combination of microfluidic tools with the properties of a photorefractive crystal allows for the generation of dielectrophoretic forces that can be either repulsive, leading to virtual barriers, or attractive, creating virtual rails. The sign of these forces is solely determined by the electrical properties of the liquid medium under investigation. Moreover, the induced structures on the bottom of the microfluidic channel are optically reconfigurable, so that the same device can easily be adopted for different purposes. Appropriate droplet‐generating devices are fabricated by UV illumination of SU‐8 and polydimethylsiloxane replica molding of the master structures. The bottom of the channels is formed by an iron‐doped lithium niobate crystal, whose internal electric fields are induced by structured illumination patterns and exert dielectrophoretic forces on droplets in the microfluidic section.
Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) have broad applications in a wide variety of a fields pertaining to energy storage devices. In line with the increasing demand in emerging areas such as long-range electric vehicles and smart grids, there is a continuous effort to achieve high energy by maximizing the reversible capacity of electrode materials, particularly cathode materials. However, in recent years, with the continuous enhancement of battery energy density, safety issues have increasingly attracted the attention of researchers, becoming a non-negligible factor in determining whether the electric vehicle industry has a foothold. The key issue in the development of battery systems with high specific energies is the intrinsic instability of the cathode, with the accompanying question of safety. The failure mechanism and stability of high-specific-capacity cathode materials for the next generation of LIBs, including nickel-rich cathodes, high-voltage spinel cathodes, and lithium-rich layered cathodes, have attracted extensive research attention. Systematic studies related to the intrinsic physical and chemical properties of different cathodes are crucial to elucidate the instability mechanisms of positive active materials. Factors that these studies must address include the stability under extended electrochemical cycles with respect to dissolution of metal ions in LiPF6-based electrolytes due to HF corrosion of the electrode; cation mixing due to the similarity in radius between Li+ and Ni2+; oxygen evolution when the cathode is charged to a high voltage; the origin of cracks generated during repeated charge/discharge processes arising from the anisotropy of the cell parameters; and electrolyte decomposition when traces of water are present. Regulating the surface nanostructure and bulk crystal lattice of electrode materials is an effective way to meet the demand for cathode materials with high energy density and outstanding stability. Surface modification treatment of positive active materials can slow side reactions and the loss of active material, thereby extending the life of the cathode material and improving the safety of the battery. This review is targeted at the failure mechanisms related to the electrochemical cycle, and a synthetic strategy to ameliorate the properties of cathode surface locations, with the electrochemical performance optimized by accurate surface control. From the perspective of the main stability and safety issues of high-energy cathode materials during the electrochemical cycle, a detailed discussion is presented on the current understanding of the mechanism of performance failure. It is crucial to seek out favorable strategies in response to the failures. Considering the surface structure of the cathode in relation to the stability issue, a newly developed protocol, known as surface-localized doping, which can exist in different states to modify the surface properties of high-energy cathodes, is discussed as a means of ensuring significantly improved stability and safety. Finally, we envision the future challenges and possible research directions related to the stability control of next-generation high-energy cathode materials. 相似文献
Polymer electrolytes have attracted great interest for next-generation lithium-based batteries on account of safety and high energy density. In this review, we assess recent progress on the design of poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO)-based solid polymer electrolytes in high voltage lithium batteries and identify possible side reactions between PEO-based electrolytes and existing cathodes. We provide an overview of the ways to enhance high voltage resistance of PEO-based electrolytes. Those include components blend, molecular design and interface modification. With these efforts, we want to present new insights into rational design of PEO-based electrolytes to develop solid-state lithium batteries for advanced performance. 相似文献
The recent developments in the application of single-crystalline (SC) cathode materials in solid-state batteries are discussed in this mini-review. The characteristics of SC and poly-crystalline (PC) cathode materials are explored, with emphasis on the kinetic and mechanical properties. The critical factors influencing their performance in liquid electrolyte and solid-state battery cells are investigated. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of both morphologies are discussed and considerations to ensure a fair comparison between SC and PC cathodes in different systems are raised. 相似文献
As the energy density of state-of-the-art lithium (Li)-ion batteries (LIBs) increases, the safety concern of LIBs using liquid electrolytes is drawing increasing attention. Flammability of electrolytes is a critical link of the overall safety performance of LIBs and Li metal batteries. For this reason, intensive efforts have been devoted to suppressing the flammability of liquid electrolytes. In this short review, the common approaches to reduce the flammability of the nonaqueous liquid electrolytes will be summarized. The advantages and limitations of these approaches will also be discussed. 相似文献
MgO doped lithium alumino phosphate glasses (PLA: P2O5+Li2O+Al2O3+MgO) were prepared by melt quenching technique. Raman spectra display three significant peaks at 698, 1164 and 1383 cm−1 attributed to: symmetric stretching vibrations of the bridging oxygen (BO) in the P–O–P chains, symmetric stretching vibrations of the PO2 groups, and the asymmetric vibrations vas(PO2) of the non-bridging oxygen (NBO) atoms, respectively. Also, the density, molar volumes and ion concentration have been discussed and correlated with the structural changes within the glassy matrix. Some optical constants such as refractive index and dispersion parameters (Eo: single-oscillator energy and Ed: dispersive energy) of the glasses were determined. Finally, the values of the optical band gap for direct and indirect allowed transitions have been determined from the absorption edge studies. It is deduced that the values of Eopt increase with increasing MgO content. It was assigned to structural changes induced from the formation of non-bridging oxygen. The Urbach energy (ΔE) was found to decrease from 0.578 to 0.339 eV with increasing MgO content from 0.5 to 2 mol. 相似文献