Measuring Parasitic Heat Flow in LiFePO4/Graphite Cells Using Isothermal Microcalorimetry

Isothermal microcalorimetry has previously been used to probe parasitic reactions in Li-ion batteries, primarily studying Li[NixMnyCo1-x-y]O2 (NMC) positive electrode materials. Here, isothermal microcalorimetry techniques are adopted to study parasitic reactions in LiFePO4 (LFP)/graphite cells. Features in the heat flow from graphite staging transitions were identified, and the associated heat flow was calculated using simple lattice-gas mean-field theory arguments, finding good agreement with experimentally measured values. Parasitic heat flow was measured in LFP/graphite pouch cells with different electrolyte additives. In an electrolyte without additives, a massive parasitic heat flow was measured suggesting a shuttle reaction unique to the LFP/graphite system. In cells containing electrolyte additives, parasitic heat flow agreed well with long-term cycling results, confirming the value of this technique to rank the lifetime of LFP/graphite cells with different electrolyte additives. Finally, comparing cells with and without unwanted water contamination, it was found that the parasitic heat flow was similar or slightly higher in cells where water was intentionally removed before cycling, seemingly contradicting long-term cycling results. It is concluded that the presence of water (at the 500 ppm level) may slightly reduce parasitic reactions, but at the expense of a more resistive SEI layer.

Applicability of gas-jet MPCVD polycrystalline diamond films on silicon with NV centers in quantum magnetometry

Polycrystalline diamond film optical and electrical properties are investigated after the growth on <001> and <111> Si substrate by gas-jet MPCVD deposition in the presence of nitrogen in the gas mixture. Negatively charged NV− center formation was observed at the ~1.0 ppm level with the substitutional nitrogen concentration of 70 ppm. A comparison with the IIa type monocrystalline diamond plates with implanted and annealed nitrogen atoms at the 90 ppm concentration shows three times higher NV center formation efficiency by gas-jet MPCVD deposition than by ion implantation. CW optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) demonstrates the NV contented polycrystalline film application in a quantum magnetometry.

Fundamentals on Polyaniline based Composites

The background of work carried out highlighting on polyaniline, N-substituted polyaniline and acid-doped polyaniline. The problems associated with this polymer and promises it hold are also discussed. It also provides introduction to the nanocomposites of polyaniline/nanoclays, and polyaniline/polyacrylic acid. As well, we have described the polymer stabilized intrinsically conducting polymer composites. The state of the art polymer stabilised intrinsically conducting composites have been reviewed. At last, we have reviewed on the CH4 gas sensing since it has been recognized as one of the inflammable gas sensors. The main problem on the CH4 gas sensor lies on its room temperature operation and detection of low ppm level concentration.

The challenges of beam polarization and keV-scale centre-of-mass energy calibration at the FCC-ee

The capability to determine the FCC-ee centre-of-mass energies (ECM) at the ppm level using resonant depolarization of the beams is essential for the Z line shape measurements, the W mass and the possible observation of the Higgs boson s-channel production. A first analysis (Blondel A et al Polarization and centre-of-mass energy calibration at FCC-ee. arXiv:1909.12245) demonstrated the feasibility of this programme, conditional to careful preparation and a number of further developments. The existing simulation codes must be unified; the analysis and design of the instrumentation must be developed; and a detailed planning must be developed for the simultaneous and coordinated operation of the accelerator, of the continuous polarization and depolarization measurements, and of the beam monitoring devices, ensuring a precise extrapolation from beam energies to centre-of-mass energy and energy spread.

Highly Selective Anion Recognition, Extraction and Deep Removal Using a Superphane

Highly selective anion recognition and extraction are critical and challenging to deep removal of pollutants from the environment and effective recovery of valuable chemicals from low–content (at sub–ppm or ppb level) sources. Herein, we detail the gram–scale synthesis of a superphane 2, a new supramolecular host that was found capable of encapsulating ReO4– with high selectivity, as suggested by the single–crystal structures, NMR spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. Under solid–liquid extraction condidtions, 2 proved able to extract perrhenate from the solid mixture containing trace ReO4– (as low as 200 ppb) with near 100% selectivity over other 7 competing anions. Under liquid–liquid extraction conditions, using 2 as the supramolecular extractant, over 99.99% of ReO4– could be separated from the complex simulated aqueous waste streams containing ppm–level perrhenate and large excess of competing ions. Notably, after extraction, 2 could be recycled and reused by simple treatment with NaHCO3. This study opens up the door to development of superphane–based advanced materials for deep elimination of pollutants from the envirenment and purification of chemicals of interest with high efficiency and selectivity.

Allergen Risk Assessment for Specific Allergy to Small Ruminant's Milk: Development of Sensitive Immunoassays to Detect Goat's and Sheep's Milk Contaminations in Dairy Food Matrices

Despite a high level of sequence identity between cow's, goat's, and sheep's milk (CM, GM, and SM, respectively) proteins, some patients tolerant to CM are allergic to GM and SM. In most cases, this specificity is due to the presence of IgE antibodies that bind only to caprine and ovine caseins. The patients may then develop severe allergic reactions after ingestion of CM products contaminated with low amounts of GM or SM. We thus aimed to develop an assay able to detect traces of caprine/ovine β-caseins in different food matrices, irrespective of the presence of the bovine homolog. We produced monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific to caprine caseins in mice tolerized to the bovine whole casein then sensitized to the caprine whole casein. In order to develop a two-site immunometric assay, we selected mAbs that could discriminate the caprine β-casein from its bovine homolog. Characteristics and performances of two tests were determined with various dairy products. Results were analyzed in relation with the IgE-immunoreactivity of the food matrices, thanks to sera from CM, GM/SM allergic patients. Our two-site immunometric assays demonstrated a high sensitivity with a detection limit of 1.6–3.2 ng/mL of caprine and ovine β-caseins. The tests were able to detect contaminations of GM in CM at the ppm level. Heat-treatment, ripening and coagulation processes, usually applied to dairy products that exhibit a very high IgE-immunoreactivity, did not impair the test sensitivity. These quantitative assays could then be useful for the risk assessment of food products potentially contaminated with GM and SM in order to prevent adverse reactions in patients specifically allergic to these milks.