Towards High Performance Chemical Vapour Deposition V2O5 Cathodes for Batteries Employing Aqueous Media

The need for clean and efficient energy storage has become the center of attention due to the eminent global energy crisis and growing ecological concerns. A key component in this effort is the ultra-high performance battery, which will play a major role in the energy industry. To meet the demands in portable electronic devices, electric vehicles, and large-scale energy storage systems, it is necessary to prepare advanced batteries with high safety, fast charge ratios, and discharge capabilities at a low cost. Cathode materials play a significant role in determining the performance of batteries. Among the possible electrode materials is vanadium pentoxide, which will be discussed in this review, due to its low cost and high theoretical capacity. Additionally, aqueous electrolytes, which are environmentally safe, provide an alternative approach compared to organic media for safe, cost-effective, and scalable energy storage. In this review, we will reveal the industrial potential of competitive methods to grow cathodes with excellent stability and enhanced electrochemical performance in aqueous media and lay the foundation for the large-scale production of electrode materials.     

The inverse conductivity problem via the calculus of functions of bounded variation

In this work, a novel approach for the solution of the inverse conductivity problem from one and multiple boundary measurements has been developed on the basis of the implication of the framework of $BV$ functions. The space of the functions of bounded variation is recommended here as the most appropriate functional space hosting the conductivity profile under reconstruction. For the numerical investigation of the inversion of the inclusion problem, we propose and implement a suitable minimization scheme of an enriched—constructed herein—functional, by exploiting the inner structure of $BV$ space. Finally, we validate and illustrate our theoretical results with numerical experiments.     

Counter-current gas–liquid flow in a vertical narrow channel—Liquid film characteristics and flooding phenomena

Results are reported of an experimental investigation of gas–liquid counter-current flow in a vertical rectangular channel with 10 mm gap, at rather short distances from liquid entry. Flooding experiments are carried out using air and various liquids (i.e., water, 1.5% and 2.5% aqueous butanol solutions) at liquid Reynolds numbers Re_L < 350. Visual observations and fast recordings suggest that the onset of flooding at low Re_L (<250) is associated with liquid entrainment from isolated waves, whereas “local bridging” is dominant at the higher Re_L examined in this study. Significant reduction of flooding velocities is observed with decreasing interfacial tension, as expected. Instantaneous film thickness measurements show that under conditions approaching flooding, a sharp increase of the mean film thickness, of mean wave amplitude and of the corresponding RMS values takes place. Film thickness power spectra provide evidence that by increasing gas flow the wave structure is significantly affected; e.g., the dominant wave frequency is drastically reduced. These data are complemented by similar statistical information from instantaneous wall shear stress measurements made with an electrochemical technique. Power spectra of film thickness and of shear stress display similarities indicative of the strong effect of waves on wall stress; additional evidence of the drastic changes in the liquid flow field near the wall due to the imposed gas flow, even at conditions below flooding, is provided by the RMS values of the wall stress. A simple model is presented for predicting the mean film thickness and mean wall shear stress under counter-current gas–liquid flow, below critical flooding velocities.     

Chromeno[2,3-c]pyrroles by one-pot multicomponent domino addition–amination reaction

A new aspect concerning chromone chemistry leading to the one-pot synthesis of chromeno[2,3-c]pyrroles is described. The synthesis involves a multicomponent reaction of 3-formylchromones with isocyanides and azodicarboxylates, whereupon novel chromeno[2,3-c]pyrrole derivatives were formed in good yields. The structures of the products were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR experiments and were unambiguously confirmed by the use of crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Full assignment of all ¹H and ¹³C NMR chemical shifts has been achieved. A plausible mechanistic scheme is proposed.     

Boron‐Catalyzed Regioselective Deoxygenation of Terminal 1,2‐Diols to 2‐Alkanols Enabled by the Strategic Formation of a Cyclic Siloxane Intermediate

The selective deoxygenation of polyols is a frontier in our ability to harness the stereochemical and structural complexity of natural and synthetic feedstocks. Herein, we describe a highly active and selective boron‐based catalytic system for the selective deoxygenation of terminal 1,2‐diols at the primary position, a process that is enabled by the transient formation of a cyclic siloxane. The method provides an ideal complement to well‐known catalytic asymmetric reactions to prepare synthetically challenging chiral 2‐alkanols in nearly perfect enantiomeric excess, as illustrated in a short synthesis of the anti‐inflammatory drug (R)‐lisofylline.