Investigation of Electrochemical Performance and Gas Swelling Behavior on Li4Ti5O12/Activated Carbon Lithium-Ion Capacitor with Acetonitrile-Based and Ester-Based Electrolytes

Lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) have gained significant attention due to the combination on the advantages of electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) and lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, the LIC pouch cell was fabricated by an activated carbon (AC) cathode and a Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) anode. Two organic electrolytes (1 mol L−1 LiBF4/acetonitrile (AN) and 1 mol L−1 LiPF6/ ethylene carbonate (EC) + ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) + dimethyl carbonate (DMC)) were chosen and the gas swelling behavior was studied. Compared with the ester-based LIC, the AN-based LIC displays higher energy density of 13.31 Wh kg−1 at 11.4 W kg−1 and even provides a value of 9.1 Wh kg−1 at 1075 W kg−1. Because of the lower DC Resistance of 0.761 mΩ, the maximum power density of the AN-based LIC reaches 12.5 kW kg−1. The AN-based LIC delivers good stability with an energy retention of 88.3% after 900 cycles. It is discovered that the swelling behavior of AN-based LICs is more serious and the major component is H2. The difference of swelling behavior among the LICs, lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NCM)/LTO LIB and AC/AC EDLC is proposed to be caused by the AC electrode and the interfacial reaction of LTO.

Energy Retention in Thin Graphite Targets after Energetic Ion Impact

High energy ion irradiation is an important tool for nanoscale modification of materials. In the case of thin targets and 2D materials, which these energetic ions can pierce through, nanoscale modifications such as production of nanopores can open up pathways for new applications. However, materials modifications can be hindered because of subsequent energy release via electron emission. In this work, we follow energy dissipation after the impact of an energetic ion in thin graphite target using Geant4 code. Presented results show that significant amount of energy can be released from the target. Especially for thin targets and highest ion energies, almost 40% of deposited energy has been released. Therefore, retention of deposited energy can be significantly altered and this can profoundly affect ion track formation in thin targets. This finding could also have broader implications for radiation hardness of other nanomaterials such as nanowires and nanoparticles.

Synthesis and characteristic applications of silicon resins for the modifying agent in heat conduction

Heat energy retention and dissipation have become key points of global smart textiles in recent years. This study describes the designing of silicon resin by using a sol–gel process, which acts as the modifying agent for siloxane substrate. The modifying agent was effectively blocked by silicon resin mixed with the ethylene or aluminum bond group, to control the molecular weight. Advanced polymer chromatography confirmed that the number average molecular weight (Mn) of silicon resin is 41,301 g mol−1, the weight average molecular weight (Mw) is 47,982 g mol−1, and the molecular weight distribution is 1.1617, which is relatively narrow. When the addition of vinyl groups is 5%, the silicone resin Mn decreases to 18,906 g mol−1 and Mw decreases to 28,641 g mol−1. When the addition of aluminum bond groups is 5%, the silicone resin Mn decreases to 17,497 g mol−1 and Mw decreases to 27,114 g mol−1. The result of thermogravimetric analysis shows that the pyrolysis temperature rises from 265.43°C to 266.17°C after the ethylene is added to the silicon resin, and the index of heat tolerance increases from 179.14°C to 191.38°C. After the addition of aluminum bond groups, the pyrolysis temperature rises from 265.43°C to 309.37°C, and the index of heat tolerance increases from 179.14°C to 193.09°C, meaning the silicone resin has higher thermal stability.

Metabolism Energy and Performance of Several Local Cattle Breeds Fed Rice Straw and Concentrate

This study was conducted to examine the effect of different local cattle breeds on energy metabolism and performance fed on rice straw basal diet. Fourty local male cattle (2.5 years; initial BW 300.30±0.68) of Madura cattle (M), Sumba Ongole cattle (SO), Bali cattle (B), and Bali Timor cattle (BT) were used in this study, where types of local breed were used as treatments (10 animals/treatment). The study used a randomized block design (RBD) with cattle's initial body weight as a group. The cattle were fed on rice straw ad libitum and concentrate 2.5% BW (DM 86.53%). The variables measured were energy intake (EI), digestible energy intake (DEI), metaboloizable energy intake (MEI), energy retention (RE), RE to EI ratio, RE to DEI ratio, C2/C3 ratio, the efficiency of hexose conversion to VFA (ECH) and the average daily body weight gain (ADG). The results showed that the different breeds of local cattle had a significant effect (P<0.05) on EI, DEI, MEI, RE, RE to EI ratio, RE to DEI ratio, C2/C3 ratio, and ECH, but had no significant effect on ADG (P>0.05). M has the highest EI, DEI, MEI, and RE 139.52 MJ/day, 99.69 MJ/day, 65.84 MJ/day, and 98.45 MJ/day, respectively, but the highest RE to EI ratio at B, while for the best RE to DE ratio, C2/C3 ratio, ECH, and ADG, at SO were 99.24%, 28.85, 74.97%, and 1.24 kg, respectively. It can be concluded that the best local cattle in terms of performance and feed energy efficiency are Sumba Ongole cattle.

Effect of Lysine Supplementation in Commercial Feed on Energy Retention and Feed Conversion Ratio of Carp (Osphronemus gouramy)

The long period of raising carp (Osphronemus gouramy) causes the need for excessive feed. One way that can accelerate the growth of this fish in order to shorten the maintenance period is by the addition of essential amino acids, such as lysine. However, this certainly gives its own influence on energy retention. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the influences of addition of lysine in feed on energy retention and feed conversion ratio of carp. The research method used an experimental method with a completely randomized design consisting of five treatments and four replications. The treatments used were the addition of Lysine 0%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, and 2.5% to the feed. The present experiment was conducted for a year. The results showed that the addition of lysine as much as 2% in commercial feed can increase the energy retention of carp (Osphronemus gouramy). Moreover, the addition of lysine by giving up to 2.5% cannot reduce the feed conversion ratio in carp (Osphronemus gourami) rearing. It can be concluded that the use of lysine has different effects related to the increase in retention and decrease conversion ratio in carp.

Soft Jumping Robot Using Soft Morphing and the Yield Point of Magnetic Force

In this paper, soft-morphing, deformation control by fabric structures and soft-jumping mechanisms using magnetic yield points are studied. The durability and adaptability of existing rigid-base jumping mechanisms are improved by a soft-morphing process that employs the residual stress of a polymer. Although rigid body-based jumping mechanisms are used, they are driven by multiple components and complex structures. Therefore, they have drawbacks in terms of shock durability and fatigue accumulation. To improve these problems, soft-jumping mechanisms are designed using soft polymer materials and soft-morphing techniques with excellent shock resistance and environmental adaptability. To this end, a soft jumping mechanism is designed to store energy using the air pressure inside the structure, and the thickness of the polymer layer is adjusted based on the method applied for controlling the polymer freedom and residual stress deformation. The soft jumping mechanism can transfer energy more efficiently and stably using an energy storage and release mechanism and the rounded ankle structure designed using soft morphing. Therefore, the soft morphing and mechanisms of energy retention and release were applied to fabricate a soft robot prototype that can move in the desired direction and jump; the performance experiment was carried out.

Retained Free Energy with Enhanced Nucleation during Electrostatic Levitation of Undercooled Fe-Co Alloys

Double recalescence in many ferrous alloy systems involves rapid solidification of metastable ferrite from the undercooled melt with subsequent transformation to stable austenite. Containerless processing is used to monitor the process using pyrometry and high-speed cinematography such that delay behavior can be predicted based on the application of the retained damage model (RDM). When comparing Fe-Cr-Ni alloys to Fe-Co alloys, the cluster attachment rate is enhanced while free energy retention is reduced. These trends are tied to specific alloy properties. A retained free energy criterion is proposed based on the ratio of thermophysical properties used to define the transformation driving force such that the thermodynamic limit for energy retention may be predicted. Surprisingly, at long delay times, healing occurs such that much of the retained free energy is not available to enhance the transition from metastable to stable phases. At delay times less than one second, no healing is observed and the RDM correctly predicts transformation delay behavior over a wide range of alloy compositions.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii CNCM I-1079 supplementation in finishing male pigs helps to cope with heat stress through feeding behavior and gut microbiota modulation

Pigs subjected to heat stress (HS) decrease their feed intake and growth. The objectives of the experiment were to determine the effects of live yeast (LY) supplementation (Saccharomyces cerevisiae var boulardii CNCM I-1079) on feeding behavior, energy metabolism and fecal microbiota composition of finishing boars (n=10) housed in respiration chamber at thermoneutrality (seven days at 22°C) or during HS (seven plus six days at 28°C). Dietary LY supplementation increased dry matter intake (P = 0.01), whatever the ambient temperature, whereas HS decreased feed intake whatever dietary supplementation (P = 0.01). Dietary LY supplementation increased the number of meals (P = 0.02). Energy retention was higher with dietary LY supplementation (P < 0.01) but decreased during HS (P < 0.01). The skin temperature of the supplemented pigs was lower at thermoneutrality and increased during HS to a lesser extent than that of non-supplemented pigs (P < 0.01). Fecal microbiota composition was determined using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Treponema, Christensenellaceae R-7, Ruminococcaceae UCG-002, Rikenellaceae RC9, Clostridium sensu stricto 1 and Romboutsia genera and some bacteria belonging to Alloprevotella, Oxalobacter and Anaeroplasma genera were more abundant under HS. LY supplementation attenuated HS effects on Romboutsia abundance, while decreasing the abundance of some bacteria from Ruminoccocus, Coprococcus, Peptococcus and Oxalobacter genera and increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria from Lactococcus and Subdoligranulum genera. Our results suggest that higher level of the keystone species Ruminococcus Bromii at thermoneutrality may be one of the cause for higher energy retention observed under subsequent HS.

Conversion of Slaughterhouse Wastes to Solid Fuel Using Hydrothermal Carbonization

In this study, cattle and pig slaughterhouse wastes (SHWs) were hydrothermally carbonized at 150–300 °C, and the properties of SHW-derived hydrochar were evaluated for its use as a solid fuel. The results demonstrated that increasing the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) treatment temperature improved the energy-related properties (i.e., fuel ratio, higher heating value, and coalification degree) of both the cattle and pig SHW-derived hydrochars. However, the improvements of cattle SHW-derived hydrochars were not as dramatic as that of pig SHW-derived hydrochars, due to the lipid-rich components that do not participate in the HTC reaction. In this regard, there was no merit of using HTC treatment on cattle SHW for the production of hydrochar or using the hydrochar as a solid fuel in terms of energy retention efficiency. On the other hand, a mild HTC treatment at approximately 200 °C was deemed suitable for converting pig SHW to value-added solid fuel. The findings of this study suggest that the conversion of SHWs to hydrochar using HTC can provide an environmentally benign method for waste treatment and energy recovery from abandoned biomass. However, the efficiency of energy recovery varies depending on the chemical composition of the raw feedstock.