Nanostructured Molybdenum-Oxide Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries: An Outstanding Increase in Capacity

This work aimed at synthesizing MoO3 and MoO2 by a facile and cost-effective method using extract of orange peel as a biological chelating and reducing agent for ammonium molybdate. Calcination of the precursor in air at 450 °C yielded the stochiometric MoO3 phase, while calcination in vacuum produced the reduced form MoO2 as evidenced by X-ray powder diffraction, Raman scattering spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy images showed different morphologies and sizes of MoOx particles. MoO3 formed platelet particles that were larger than those observed for MoO2. MoO3 showed stable thermal behavior until approximately 800 °C, whereas MoO2 showed weight gain at approximately 400 °C due to the fact of re-oxidation and oxygen uptake and, hence, conversion to stoichiometric MoO3. Electrochemically, traditional performance was observed for MoO3, which exhibited a high initial capacity with steady and continuous capacity fading upon cycling. On the contrary, MoO2 showed completely different electrochemical behavior with less initial capacity but an outstanding increase in capacity upon cycling, which reached 1600 mAh g−1 after 800 cycles. This outstanding electrochemical performance of MoO2 may be attributed to its higher surface area and better electrical conductivity as observed in surface area and impedance investigations.

On the possibility of introducing X-ray computed microtomography into the practice of biostratigraphic research

Currently, the techniques applied for extraction and study of conodonts from siliceous rocks are associated with a number of problems. This makes it difficult to solve many problems in the areas of development of the volcanic and volcanic-sedimentary rocks, where cherts, jaspers, and phtanites are the only sedimentary formations for dating these deposits. On X-ray computed microtomography it is possible to avoid some problems to obtain not only excellent 3-D images of conodonts, but sections in any direction too, as well as in video formats. It is shown that similar results are successful under the hollows after the dissolution of the conodonts. There is no problem in application of X-ray microcomputed tomography when conodonts have been already found on the surface or inside of the sample, or if the content of conodonts in the rock is obviously high. In such a case the scanning without preliminary search is ensured. In cases when conodonts are rare and not obvious, it is proposed the following technique of their discovery. The rock sample is cut into plates. The conodonts are search for on the surface of the plates, moistened with a mixture of glycerin and water under a binocular microscope. If it is necessary (when the rock is opaque), the result is checked by a chemical reaction: 5–10 % hydrochloric acid plus 1–2 crystals of ammonium molybdate are put on the surface of the sample. The appearance of a yellow sediment means the presence of phosphorus, to indicate the probability the detected object to be a conodont. Next, the sample should be washed from acid, its size should be decreased. Then the microtomographic study should be performed.

Pre-Sowing Seed Treatment with Bio Inoculants and Micronutrients on Growth, Yield and Yield Attributing Traits of Lentil

The field experiment entitled “Pre sowing seed treatment of bio inoculants and micronutrients on growth, yield and yield attributing traits of lentil (Lens culinaris L.)” var. Shekhar Masoor-2 was conducted during rabi at central reseach field of the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India during 2020 - 2021. The experiment consisted of 13 treatments which was laid in Randomized Block Design (RBD). Results revealed that seeds treated with T12 (Rhizobium + PSB + KMB + ZnSO4 + Ammonium molybdate) recorded maximum values in growth parameters viz., field emergence (%) 88.72%, plant height at 30, 60, 90 DAS with 6.97, 23.33, 45.2 cm Days to 50% flowering (72.67days), number of branches 5.07 branches per plant, number of pods per plant with 64.07 pods per plant, number of seeds per pod 1.85 seeds per pod. Similar results are observed in yield paramters where highest seed yield per plant was observed in T12 (Rhizobium + PSB + KMB + ZnSO4 + Ammonium molybdate) with 3.79 g and seed yield per plot 107.4 g.

ANALISIS KADAR VITAMIN C PADA KUBIS MERAH (Brassica oleracea L. var capitata) YANG DIBUAT JUS DENGAN VARIASI LAMA PENYIMPANAN

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that is contained in red cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var capitata). Generally, people store juice ingredients in the refrigerator. This research was carried out to determine the effect of storage time on vitamin C levels in juiced red cabbage. The variation of storage time used was 1, 4, and 7 days with a storage temperature of 5 oC. Qualitative test using iodine, Fehling, and ammonium molybdate reagent gave positive results containing vitamin C. The quantitative test was carried out by UV-Vis spectrophotometry at a maximum wavelength of 570.5 nm with operating time at 20 minutes after the test solution was added with H2SO4 and ammonium molybdate. The quantitative test results showed that the level of vitamin C on the first day was 63.92 mg / 100 g, on the fourth day was 63.32 mg / 100 g, on the seventh day was 62.52 mg / 100 g red cabbage with coefficients of variation 0.26%. The Tukey test resulted in a p value of more than ??0.05, ie 0.831, so that the levels of vitamin C red cabbage juice made on the 1st, 4th, and 7th days were not significantly different.

Molybdenum Carbide and Sulfide Nanoparticles as Selective Hydrotreating Catalysts for FCC Slurry Oil to Remove Olefins and Sulfur

As the two types of major impurities in FCC slurry oil (SLO), olefins and sulfur seriously deteriorate the preparation and quality of mesophase pitch or needle coke. The development of a hydrotreatment for SLO to remove olefins and sulfur selectively becomes imperative. This work presents the potentiality of dispersed Mo2C and MoS2 nanoparticles as selective hydrotreating catalysts of SLO. Mo2C was synthesized by the carbonization of citric acid, ammonium molybdate and KCl mixtures while MoS2 was prepared from the decomposition of precursors. These catalysts were characterized by XRD, HRTEM, XPS, BJH, BET, and applied to the hydrotreating of an SLO surrogate with defined components and real SLO. The conversion of olefins, dibenzothiophene and anthracene in the surrogate was detected by GC-MS. Elemental analysis, bromine number, diene value, 1H-NMR and spot test were used to characterize the changes of the real SLO. The results show that hydrotreating the SLO surrogate with a very small amount of Mo-based nanoparticles could selectively remove olefins and sulfur without the overhydrogenation of polyaromatics. Mo2C exhibited much better activity than MoS2, with 95% of olefins and dibenzothiophene in the surrogate removed while only 15% anthracene was hydrogenated. The stability of the real SLO was significantly improved. Its structural parameters changed subtly, proving the aromatic macromolecules had been preserved.