Unstable electrode/solid‐state electrolyte interfaces and internal lithium dendrite penetration hamper the applications of solid‐state lithium‐metal batteries (SSLMBs), and the underlying mechanisms ...are not well understood. Herein, in situ optical microscopy provides insights into the lithium plating/stripping processes in a gel polymer electrolyte and reveals its dynamic evolution. Spherical lithium deposits evolve into moss‐like and branch‐shaped lithium dendrites with increasing current densities. Remarkably, the on‐site‐formed solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) shell on the lithium dendrite is distinctly captured after lithium stripping. Inducing an on‐site‐formed SEI shell with an enhanced modulus to wrap the lithium precipitation densely and uniformly can regulate dendrite‐free behaviors. An in‐depth understanding of lithium dendrite evolution and its functional SEI shell will aid in the optimization of SSLMBs.
In situ optical microscopy combined with atomic force microscopy studies show that the on‐site‐formed solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) shells on deposited lithium can be distinctly captured in gel polymer electrolyte based, quasi‐solid‐state lithium‐metal batteries (SSLMBs). Direct visualization of interfacial evolution of the Li dendrites and their SEI shells provides deep insights into the surface degradation and optimization in SSLMBs.
As one of the common abiotic stresses, chilling stress has negative effects on rice growth and development. Minimization of these adverse effects through various ways is vital for the productivity of ...rice. Nanoparticles (NPs) serve as one of the effective alleviation methods against abiotic stresses. In our research, zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs were utilized as foliar sprays on rice leaves to explore the mechanism underlying the effect of NPs against the negative impact of chilling stress on rice seedlings. We revealed that foliar application of ZnO NPs significantly alleviated chilling stress in hydroponically grown rice seedlings, including improved plant height, root length, and dry biomass. Besides, ZnO NPs also restored chlorophyll accumulation and significantly ameliorated chilling-induced oxidative stress with reduced levels of H
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, MDA, proline, and increased activities of major antioxidative enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD). We further found that foliar application of ZnO NPs induced the chilling-induced gene expression of the antioxidative system (
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) in leaves of chilling-treated seedlings. Taken together, our results suggest that foliar application of ZnO NPs could alleviate chilling stress in rice via the mediation of the antioxidative system and chilling response transcription factors.
Single‐crystalline Ni‐rich cathode (SC‐NCM) has attracted increasing interest owing to its greater capacity retention in advanced solid‐state lithium batteries (SSLBs), while suffers from severe ...interfacial instability during cycling. Here, via atomic layer deposition, Li3PO4 is introduced to coat SC‐NCM (L‐NCM), to suppress undesired side reaction and enhance interfacial stability. The dynamic degradation and surface regulation of SC‐NCM are investigated inside a working SSLB by in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM). We directly observe the uneven cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) and surface defects on pristine SC‐NCM particle. Remarkably, the formed amorphous LiF‐rich CEI on L‐NCM maintains its initial structure upon cycling, and thus endows the battery with improved cycling stability and excellent rate capability. Such on‐site tracking provides deep insights into surface mechanism and structure–reactivity correlation of SC‐NCM, and thus benefits the optimizations of SSLBs.
Insights into the surface mechanism on the single‐crystalline LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 (SC‐NCM) cathode are disclosed by in situ atomic force microscopy in solid‐state batteries. Via atomic layer deposition, the Li3PO4 is introduced to coat SC‐NCM, leading to the uniform formation of LiF‐rich cathode electrolyte interphase and suppression of undesired side reaction, which endows batteries with enhanced interfacial stability, durability and dynamics.
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•Monoclinic-ZrO2@rGO and tetragonal-ZrO2@rGO obtained by controlling the triethanolamine usage.•Two nanocomposites with a remarkable selectivity for oxytetracycline among ...tetracyclines family.•Tetragonal-ZrO2@rGO with a higher adsorptive amount of oxytetracycline.•Sorption of oxytetracycline by two nanocomposites follows pseudo-second order and Langmuir models.•Sorption of oxytetracycline is endothermic and spontaneous in nature through multi-interactions.
Oxytetracycline (OTC), as one of widely applied veterinary antibiotic, has become a new environmental pollutant. To explore the feasibility of the nanocomposites of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with the ZrO2 nanoparticles for OTC removal, two nanocomposites of monoclinic-ZrO2@rGO and tetragonal-ZrO2@rGO through controlling the dosage of triethanolamine are prepared successfully and characterized. Detail investigation of the adsorption for the family of tetracycline antibiotics on the two nanocomposites has been assessed. For comparison, the tetragonal-ZrO2@rGO (198.4 mg g−1) exhibits a higher adsorptive amount than the monoclinic-ZrO2@rGO (177.9 mg g−1), whereas two nanocomposites demonstrate a remarkably selective uptake of OTC among the family of tetracycline antibiotics due to their higher affinity towards OTC. Adsorption of OTC by in 15 min can reach the equilibrium and is independent on pH in the range of 4–8. The adsorption of OTC by the two nanocomposites is well matched by both pseudo-second order and Langmuir models and exhibits a favorable, endothermic and spontaneous nature. Fourier transform infrared and XRD analysis reveal the interactions between OTC and the nanocomposites such as surface complexation, π-π and cation-π bonding interactions with a crucial role.
Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV) composed of high vinyl polybutadiene rubber (HVPB) and polypropylene (PP) have good thermal stability and damping properties. This work aims to apply a design of ...experiments (Taguchi L9 orthogonal array) to optimize the mixing parameters (rotor speed, temperature, and time) for the HVPB/PP TPV. The effects of these mixing parameters on its physical and mechanical properties of HVPB/PP TPV follow the order: rotor speed > temperature and time. In the case of the master batch process, the optimum mixing parameters are 60 rpm, 180°C and 8 min. Subsequently, four processes (master batch, static vulcanization, rubber‐plastic premixing, and two‐step processing) are compared using the same optimum mixing parameters. The master batch process turns out to be the best in terms of physical and mechanical properties.
Optimization of internal mixing process parameters and screening of processing methods.
Rechargeable lithium‐metal batteries (RLBs), which employ the Li‐metal anode to acquire notably boosted specific energy at cell level, represent the “Holy Grail” for “beyond Li‐ion” electrochemical ...energy storage technology. Currently, the practical use of RLBs is impeded by poor cycling and safety performance, which are derived from high chemical reactivity of metallic Li and uncontrollable formation and propagation of metal dendrites during repeated Li plating/stripping. In this study, a new strategy is demonstrated to stabilize the anode electrochemistry of RLBs by applying a Mg3N2‐decorated functional separator onto the Li‐metal surface. An in situ conversion‐alloying reaction occurring at Li‐separator interface assists formation of a mixed ion/electron conducting layer that consists mainly of Li3N and Li‐Mg solid‐solution. The inorganic interlayer effectively suppresses parasitic reactions at Li‐electrolyte interface while simultaneously homogenizes Li+/e‐ flux across the interface and therefore, contributes to dendrite‐free operation of Li‐metal anode. A Li||LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 battery based on the functional separator delivers a reversible capacity of 129 mAh g‐1 after 600 cycles at 0.5 C, which corresponds to a capacity retention of 75.9%. The preparation of functional separator is scalable and adaptive to battery manufacture, which brings new opportunities to realize high‐energy RLBs with long cycle life and improved safety.
A mixed ion/electron conducting layer is in situ formed at the interface between Li‐metal anode and Mg3N2‐supported functional separator, which enables fast Li+ diffusion, uniform Li plating, and inhibits interfacial parasitic reactions for dendrite‐free operation of high‐energy rechargeable Li‐metal batteries.
Hydrogen, as a clean energy, has broad prospects in renewable energy and environmental protect in the future. Mo2N is a promising candidate in electrocatalyzing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) ...due to its low-cost and resembled electronic properties. In this work, mesoporous Mo2N/NC composite catalysts are synthesized by polymerizing p-phenylenediamine (p-PDA) with ammonium heptamolybdate and following calcination under N2 atmosphere. These catalysts show excellent HER performance in 0.5M H2SO4 solution, allowing a low overpotential of 217mV to produce H2 at the electric current density of 10mAcm−2 with catalyst loading of 0.5mgcm−2. After 1000 cycles of acceleration degradation tests, Mo2N/NC remains negligible overpotential losses. These stable electrochemical properties are mainly related to the strong interaction of Mo2N and NC materials, which accelerates the electron transfer further for hydrogen evolution, besides the unique mesoporous structures benefitting to the transmission of the electrolyte. This work also reveals the importance of amine’s structure in synthesizing high-performance Mo2N anchored on N-doped carbon materials.
Dust deposition on solar photovoltaic panels dramatically weakens the panel working operation and service life. In this study, the formation and evolution process of dust deposition on solar ...photovoltaic panels are studied using a computational fluid dynamics–discrete element model (CFD–DEM) method. Moreover, the dust motion characteristics under different dominant forces are compared, and the factors influencing the dust dynamic behaviours and dust deposition laws are discussed. The results indicate that dust particles can be deposited on the panel owing to the coupled effects of deposition forces, such as gravity, van der Waals forces, liquid bridges, and electric field forces. Meanwhile, dust particles will leave the panel under the action of separation forces, including the contact and drag forces. The significant effect of the liquid bridge force can cause a local dead zone on the panel, thus greatly reducing the panel working performance. The relationships between the dust deposition density and air inlet velocity, initial particle concentration, particle charge density, particle diameter, and air relative humidity are described. These results provide an important theoretical direction for dust removal technologies in practical engineering.
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