Columnar Lithium Metal Anodes

The rechargeable lithium metal anode is of utmost importance for high‐energy‐density batteries. Regulating the deposition/dissolution characteristics of Li metal is critical in both fundamental researches and practical applications. In contrast to gray Li deposits featured with dendritic and mossy morphologies, columnar and uniform Li is herein plated on lithium‐fluoride (LiF)‐protected copper (Cu) current collectors. The electrochemical properties strongly depended on the microscale morphologies of deposited Li, which were further embodied as macroscale colors. The as‐obtained ultrathin and columnar Li anodes contributed to stable cycling in working batteries with a dendrite‐free feature. This work deepens the fundamental understanding of the role of LiF in the nucleation/growth of Li and provides emerging approaches to stabilize rechargeable Li metal anodes.     

Über eine kristallisationskinetische Anomalie in Mischungen aus Polyethylen und Polyoxymethylen

Zusammenfassung Es wird über thermoanalytische und polarisationsmikroskopische Untersuchungen zur Kristallisationskinetik unterschiedlich präparierter Mischungen aus Polyethylen und Polyoxymethylen (POM) berichtet. Im DSC-Experiment zeigt sich bei extrudiertem Material ein zusätzlicher Kristallisationspeak, der einer verzögert kristallisierenden POM-Fraktion zuzuordnen ist. Es wird gezeigt, daß die Beobachtung auf eine zusätzliche, durch die Phasengrenzfläche induzierte inhomogene Keimbildung und Kristallisation zurückzuführen ist. Dies ist genau dann möglich, wenn in entmischten Systemen die präparativ einstellbare Anzahl der Partikel der dispersen Fraktion die materialbedingte Anzahl der Fremdkeime übersteigt.Die Untersuchungen wurden von der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Industrieller Forschungsvereinigungen (AIF) gefördert.     

A Single Spherical Assembly of Protein Amyloid Fibrils Formed by Laser Trapping

Protein amyloids have received much attention owing to their correlation with serious diseases and to their promising mechanical and optical properties as future materials. Amyloid formation has been conducted by tuning temperature and chemical conditions, so that its nucleation and the following growth are analyzed as ensemble dynamics. A single spherical assembly of amyloid fibrils of cytochrome c domain‐swapped dimer was successfully generated upon laser trapping. The amyloid fibrillar structure was confirmed by fluorescence characterization and electron microscopy. The prepared spheres were further manipulated individually in solution to fabricate a three‐dimensional microstructure and a line pattern. Amyloid formation dynamics and amyloid‐based microstructure fabrication are demonstrated based on direct observation of a single spherical assembly, which foresees a new approach in amyloid studies.