Single versus poly-crystalline layered oxide cathode materials for solid-state battery applications - a short review article

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.     

Jute stick extract assisted hydrothermal synthesis of zinc oxide nanoflakes and their enhanced photocatalytic and antibacterial efficacy

In this paper, we used green and hydrothermal methodology to prepare zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoflakes (NFs) with jute stick extract (J–ZnO NFs) as growth substrate. The prepared materials were characterized using different analytical techniques including ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The characteristic absorption peak for ZnO NFs and J–ZnO NFs were observed from the UV–vis spectrum at 373 and 368 nm respectively. The hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure of ZnO NFs and J–ZnO NFs was confirmed by XRD analysis. FESEM and TEM analyses of synthesized J–ZnO NFs confirmed their NFs shape and collectively flower-like structure formation by the assembly of NFs of J–ZnO on cellulose of jute stick extract substrate. The FTIR analysis revealed the functional groups of jute stick extract biomolecules, mainly cellulose, are responsible for the formation of collectivel flower like J–ZnO NFs structure. The XPS analysis revealed the surface and chemical compositions (Zn, C, and O) of J–ZnO NFs. The photocatalytic performance of ZnO NFs and J–ZnO NFs samples was carried out by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye solution under UV light irradiation. The degradation efficiency of ZnO NFs and J–ZnO NFs was obtained 79 % and 89 %, respectively, for 5 h. Notably, the degradation efficiency of the J–ZnO NFs was 98 % after 8 h of irradiation, which is very inspiring. The both NFs exhibited first-order kinetics with MB photodegradation. We also examined the possible antibacterial activity of both samples against Escherichia coli (E. coli) pathogens, which demonstrated a significant result with a 17 mm and 19 mm zone of inhibition by ZnO NFs and J–ZnO NFs respectively.     

磁性Co/TiB2室温高效催化氨硼烷产氢及串联降解有机污染物

通过熔盐法制备TiB₂载体,并采用简单的沉淀-沉积法制备了Co/TiB₂磁性可回收纳米催化剂,用于室温催化氨硼烷（NH₃BH₃）溶液产氢及串联降解对硝基苯酚（4-NP）及偶氮染料酸性橙7（AO7）、酸性红1（AR1）和甲基橙（MO）等有机污染物。采用X射线衍射、扫描电子显微镜、透射电子显微镜、X射线光电子能谱、振动样品磁强计等表征方法对催化剂的微观形貌和结构等进行分析。结果表明,Co纳米粒子均匀地分布在TiB₂载体表面,晶粒尺寸约为40 nm,并且被TiB₂载体包覆,具有典型的金属-载体强相互作用。Co/TiB₂表现出优异的室温催化NH₃BH₃溶液产氢活性,产氢速率为565.8 mol_H2·mol_cat^-1·h^-1。在串联降解有机污染物反应中,Co/TiB₂在7 min内催化4-NP氨基化的转化率接近100%,反应速率常数高达0.72 min^-1;降解AO7的反应速率常数在3种偶氮染料中最高（0.34 min^-1）。通过EPR-DMPO（EPR=电子顺磁共振,DMPO=5,5-二甲基-1-吡咯啉-N-氧化物）自由基捕获实验检测出Co/TiB₂+NH₃BH₃催化体系中产生大量的氢自由基（·H）。得益于·H的强还原性,Co/TiB₂+NH₃BH₃催化体系能够将4-NP氨基化为具有更高价值的对氨基苯酚（4-AP）,同时能够还原偶氮染料分子中的显色基团偶氮基（—N=N—）。     

基于DFT密度泛函理论的聚酯热降解反应机理研究

本文应用密度泛函理论（DFT）研究钛系催化剂催化聚酯热降解的反应机理。分别以Ti(OEt)4化合物以及Ti(OEt)3 阳离子化合物为催化剂,探讨了二苯甲酸乙二酯（EDB）解聚反应的Lewis酸催化热降解反应机理（M1机理）和烷氧基配位催化热降解反应机理（M2机理）。结果表明,Lewis酸催化热降解反应机理在两种催化剂下的解聚反应能垒与无催化剂反应非常相似,未表现出明显促进作用;Ti(OEt)3 催化剂在M2机理中明显降低了解聚反应能垒,是聚酯热降解反应的催化活性中心。经轨道相互作用分析发现,阳离子催化剂和反应物EDB之间存在较为明显的轨道相互作用。     

新型暂堵酸化用自降解暂堵剂的制备及现场应用

针对传统暂堵酸化用暂堵剂颗粒耐酸性差、降解性差和除堵工艺复杂等问题,本研究通过水溶液自由基聚合法制备了一种新型的自降解暂堵剂CQZDJ。考察了单体加量、交联剂加量、引发剂加量对CQZDJ凝胶强度和降解性的影响;通过FT-IR、TGA、SEM对其结构进行表征;并对其降解机理进行了探讨;最后在长8区块的环平81-8实验井进行了现场实践。结果表明：CQZDJ凝胶强度及降解时间与单体加量、交联剂加量、引发剂加量成正比关系,且降解时间可控;降解性实验表明CQZDJ在(1%~10%)HCl溶液、水、（2%~10%）NaCl溶液中均可在4 d内完全降解,具备良好的降解性能,对地层伤害小;SEM照片显示CQZDJ的降解过程是从初始三维网状结构逐渐崩解为层状结构,最终降解为无规则线性小分子链的过程;暂堵后现场流压上升6.3 MPa,日产油由3.87 t/d增产至5.22 t/d,实现了储层的有效改造,增产效果显著。     

Photocatalytic removal of tetracycline by a Z-scheme heterojunction of bismuth oxyiodide/exfoliated g-C3N4: performance,mechanism, and degradation pathway

Antibiotics, once being released into the environment, become recalcitrant organic pollutants, which pose a potential risk to ecological balance and human health. In this study, a Z-scheme heterojunction of bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI)/exfoliated g-C₃N₄ (BiOI/ECN hereafter) was synthesized by the combination of thermal exfoliation of g-C₃N₄ and chemical precipitation of BiOI for efficient photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline in aqueous solutions under visible light irradiation. The optimized BiOI/ECN delivered an outstanding degradation rate at circa 0.0705 min^?1, which was 10 times higher than that of the bulk g-C₃N₄. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of tetracycline remained almost unchanged in a pH range of 3–11, and the BiOI/ECN displayed an excellent photostability upon recycled usage. The photocatalytic mechanism of tetracycline was ascribed to the main reactive oxidation species of photogenerated holes and superoxide radicals. In addition, the possible degradation pathways of tetracycline were investigated by HPLC-MS to identify intermediates. The toxicity of photocatalytic-generated intermediates of tetracycline was found significantly alleviated according to the calculation of quantitative structure–activity relationship prediction. This work not only provides an attractive photocatalyst for the removal of tetracycline but also opens a new avenue for rational design of Z-scheme heterojunction composites for tetracycline degradation.     

Facile synthesis of ZnO and Co3O4 nanoparticles by thermal decomposition of novel Schiff base complexes: Studying biological and catalytic properties

In this paper, a novel Zn(II) and Co(II) Schiff base complexes were synthesized by template method via refluxing 2,3-Naphthalenedicarboxaldehyde, Metal(II) chloride (Metal = Zn or Co), and L-phenylalanine. ZnO and Co₃O₄ nanoparticles were synthesized by thermal decomposition of Zn(II) and Co(II) complexes, respectively. The products were characterized using different instruments such as CHN, Conductivity, FT-IR, XRD, HR-TEM, and UV–Vis spectrophotometer. The experimental results of elemental analysis for Zn(II) and Co(II) complexes, agree with the calculated results, indicating that the Zn(II) and Co(II) complexes have 1:1 ligand/metal ratios. The molar conductance of the Zn(II) and Co(II) complexes, is less than 5 Ω^?1cm^?1mol^?1, confirming the non-electrolytic nature of the synthesized complexes. The average crystallite diameter of the ZnO and Co₃O₄ samples is 39.64 and 30.38 nm, respectively. The optical energy gap of the ZnO and Co₃O₄ samples are 2.75 and 3.25 eV, respectively. Methylene blue dye was utilized to examine the photocatalytic properties of the synthesized nanoparticles using UV irradiations in the absence and presence of hydrogen peroxide. The % degradation of the methylene blue dye in the presence of hydrogen peroxide using ZnO and Co₃O₄ samples after 40 min is 94.55 and 98.98, respectively. Six pathogenic microbes were utilized to examine the antimicrobial properties of the synthesized Schiff base complexes and their nanoparticles: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus species, Aspergillus species, and Candida species. Zn(II) and Co(II) complexes display inhibition towards all the studied microbes. Besides, ZnO and Co₃O₄ nanoparticles exhibit less inhibition towards Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Streptococcus species. Moreover, ZnO and Co₃O₄ nanoparticles have no activity towards Aspergillus and Candida species.     

Development and validation of high-performance liquid chromatography method for analysis of β-CCT and its related substances

Compound 2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-chlorophenyl)tropane (β-CCT) is a key intermediate for the synthesis of some clinical dopamine transporter (DAT) imaging agents. Potential impurities from synthesis process of β-CCT and degradation during storage might have detrimental effect on the final imaging agents. Thus, it is necessary to guarantee the quality of β-CCT. In this study, a rapid, sensitive and accurate high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed and validated for the analysis of β-CCT and its related substances. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a reverse-phase phenomenex? Gemini C18 column with an isocratic mobile phase consisted of methanol, water and TFA (30:70:0.1 v/v/v). The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min at 30 °C and samples were monitored at 220 nm. The method was validated concerning system suitability, linearity, accuracy, precision, specificity, robustness and stability. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) of β-CCT were 0.5 and 1.5 μg/mL, respectively. The linearity range of β-CCT was 1.5–450 μg/mL with a good linear correlation coefficient (R² = 0.9999) between the peak response and concentration. Specificity investigation through forced degradation experiments displayed that β-CCT was stable in acidic, thermal and photolytic degradation conditions, but significantly unstable in alkaline and oxidative conditions. With the developed chromatographic method, possible impurity α-CCT from synthetic process and potential degradation products could be well separated from β-CCT. Good recovery and precision were manifested in the assay method. These results indicated that the present method would be suitable for not only the quality assurance of β-CCT in regular production sample assays but also the monitoring and determination of its related substances.