A novel caterpillar-with-eggs mesostructured iron sulfide as Li-ion battery anode displaying stable electrochemical performance

Emerging anodes are significant for high energy-density Li-ion batteries. Here, we present a mesostructured FeS2 composing of nanoparticles embedded in a nanoneedle-assembled nanotube, forming a novel caterpillar-with-eggs (CWE) structure. The...

Oxidation of pyrite (FeS2) and troilite (FeS) impurities in kaolinitic clays after calcination

Valorisation of locally available clays for producing blended cements is crucial for a widespread adoption of sustainable binders incorporating these materials. In some places, clays can be intermixed with small amounts of iron sulfides, which could eventually expand in the alkaline media of concrete and lead to cracking if clay particles are sufficiently fine. This study explored the stability of iron sulfides, namely troilite and pyrite, during calcination of clays and their influence in reactivity. It was found that both troilite and pyrite decompose and oxidize into hematite under typical calcination conditions for clays. Furthermore, there is no negative influence of the presence of iron sulfide phases on the reactivity of calcined clays. This shows that these clays are suitable for use in blended cements, provided that adequate quality control is conducted to ensure a complete decomposition of the iron sulfide phases.

Arctic transmission oil

The tasks of the development of the Far North, the Arctic and the Antarctic require ensuring the operability of equipment units in low temperatures. To solve this problem, it is necessary to develop lubricants using new synthetic oils, a distinctive feature of which are low pour points. On the basis of polyethylsiloxane fluid and petroleum oil, we have developed a gear oil for the Arctic latitudes, which is efficient at temperatures down to -75 ° C (TMarktic). It is shown TMarktic’s antifriction properties are better than those of TSgip helicopter tail gear oil. The combined use of XPS and IR-Fourier methods for the analysis of the friction surface made it possible to conclude that the formation of the boundary film involves both antiwear additive molecules, which are part of the modified oil, due to the P-O, P=O, S=O bonds, so and molecules of polyethylsiloxane liquid due to C-O and Si-O bonds. Secondary surface structures are formed by TMarctic oil on the surface of iron oxide and include hydrocarbon and siloxane fragments. The high antiwear and extreme pressure properties of TMarktic are due to free sulfur and bound in iron sulfide.