An Intermediate-Temperature Solid Oxide Iron–Air Redox Battery Operated on O^2–-Chemistry and Loaded with Pd-Catalyzed Iron-Based Energy Storage Material

The solid oxide iron–air redox battery (SOIARB) operated on high-temperature O^2–-chemistry is an emerging all-solid-state battery suitable for large-scale energy storage with strong advantages in rate capacity and safety. However, it faces a serious challenge, particularly at lower temperatures, in rechargeability controlled by sluggish reduction kinetics of iron oxide. This work demonstrates that the slow iron oxide reduction kinetics can be significantly enhanced by loading Pd nanoparticles into the Fe-based energy storage material, achieving high cycle efficiency at high energy and power density. A representative result shows that at 500 °C and <i>C</i>/5.3 (10 mA cm^–2, or 239.6 mA g^–1-Fe) rate, the battery delivers a discharge specific energy of 960.3 Wh kg^–1-Fe at 80% iron utilization (<i>U</i>_Fe) and ∼600 Wh kg^–1-Fe at <i>U</i>_Fe = 50% with an average cycle efficiency of 62.9% over 25 cycles

Role of CO₂ in Catalytic Ethane-to-Ethylene Conversion Using a High-Temperature CO₂ Transport Membrane Reactor

The noncatalytic, thermo-dehydrogenation-based steam cracking is a benchmark technology for ethylene production from ethane or naphtha. However, this technology is energy-and emission-intensive. Aiming to develop low-energy and low-emission ethylene production technology, this work explores a new way to make ethylene with CO2 directly captured by a membrane reactor operated on bi-ionic CO32–/O2– chemistry. The performance of such a combined CO2 capture and ethane conversion membrane reactor incorporated with a Cr2O3-ZSM-5 catalyst is promising. Through conversion studies under different conditions, we also unveil that the mechanisms of this membrane-based catalytic ethane-to-ethylene conversion are dominated by thermo-dehydrogenation of ethane, accompanied by concurrent reverse water gas shift (RWGS) and reverse Bouduoard (RB) reactions. With the catalyst, the active role of CO2 is to promote H2 removal via RWGS, thus the production of ethylene and suppress coking via RB

Additional file 1: of BS-Seeker3: ultrafast pipeline for bisulfite sequencing

Supplementary Information; supplementary materials to BS-Seeker3 project. (DOCX 1032 kb

Does Internet Entertainment Reduce the Cognitive Ability of Children? Evidence from the China Education Panel Survey

Internet technology has been assimilated into children’s educational system on an in-depth level. In particular, the number of children who use the internet for entertainment has been rapidly increasing. However, there has been a debate as to whether internet entertainment can have a detrimental impact on children’s cognitive ability. This paper investigates the effect of internet entertainment on the cognitive ability of children in the Chinese context. The results show no evidence of associations between internet entertainment and children’s cognitive ability. However, the additional analysis provides preliminary evidence suggesting that internet entertainment can be beneficial to children who use it for entertainment only on weekends but detrimental for those who spend leisure time online daily. In addition, the findings are robust in a variety of sensitivity tests. We also examine whether the effects of internet entertainment on children’s cognitive ability in different family environments are heterogeneous. The findings suggest that parents’ internet habits, parents’ internet supervision, parental relationship, family education and living area play a moderating role in the relationship between internet entertainment and children’s cognitive ability. This study offers useful insights into the current global debate on the nexus between internet entertainment and children’s cognitive ability and also provides suggestions for parents, children, regulators and policymakers

Atomic Layer Deposited Zirconia Overcoats as On-Board Strontium Getters for Improved Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Nanocomposite Cathode Durability

Here, a flow type atomic layer deposition (ALD) reactor was used to deposit 1–10 nm thick porous ZrO2 overcoats within the pores of conventional La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3–x (LSCF)-infiltrated Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 (GDC) solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) cathodes. Both coated and uncoated cathodes displayed initial 650 °C polarization resistance (Rp) values of 0.09 ± 0.03 Ω cm2. However, improved stability was observed for cells with zirconia overcoats ≤5 nm thick. Specifically, 1000 h, symmetric cell, open-circuit, 650 °C Rp degradation rates decreased from 45%/kh for uncoated LSCF-GDC nanocomposite cathodes (NCCs) to 28%/kh, 18%/kh, and 12%/kh for identical LSCF-GDC NCCs with 1, 2, and 5 nm of zirconia overcoat, respectively. In contrast, identical LSCF-GDC NCCs with 10 nm of zirconia overcoat displayed 650 °C Rp degradation rates of 87%/kh. Scanning electron microscopy and controlled atmosphere impedance tests showed no significant changes in the LSCF infiltrate particle size or microporosity gas concentration polarization resistance with 1000 h of 650 °C aging. Instead, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated that zirconia overcoats decreased the amount of “surface Sr” on the LSCF, and X-ray diffraction detected SrZrO3 in samples with 5 or 10 nm thick zirconia overcoats. Hence, the lower degradation rates of LSCF-GDC NCCs with 1–5 nm thick zirconia overcoats were attributed to “cleanup” of deleterious “surface Sr” from the LSCF surface via the formation of SrZrO3, while the higher degradation rates of LSCF-GDC NCCs with 10 nm thick zirconia overcoats were attributed to the accumulation of excessive amounts of SrZrO3 hindering oxygen incorporation into the LSCF

A Semisolid Electrolyte for Flexible Zn-Ion Batteries

Mechanically strong, ionically conductive, and operationally safe electrolytes are of paramount importance to flexible and wearable electronics. Herein, we report a three-dimensional, double-cross-linked gelatin and sodium alginate hydrogel imbibed with ZnSO4 aqueous solution as an electrolyte membrane for flexible Zn-ion batteries. We show that the designed polymer electrolyte membrane exhibits superior properties in ionic conductivity, mechanical flexibility, electrochemical stability, and compatibility with the Zn anode. The resultant Zn-ion battery outperforms the baseline liquid counterpart in capacity, rate capability, and cycle stability, making it a promising electrolyte membrane candidate for flexible batteries for wearable electronics

High-Performance Co-production of Electricity and Light Olefins Enabled by Exsolved NiFe Alloy Nanoparticles from a Double-Perovskite Oxide Anode in Solid Oxide-Ion-Conducting Fuel Cells

Light olefins (LOs) such as ethylene and propylene are critical feedstocks for many vital chemicals that support our economy and daily life. LOs are currently mass produced via steam cracking of hydrocarbons, which is highly energy intensive and carbon polluting. Efficient, low-emission, and LO-selective conversion technologies are highly desirable. Electrochemical oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes in oxide-ion-conducting solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) reactors has been reported in recent years as a promising approach to produce LOs with high efficiency and yield while generating electricity. We report here an electrocatalyst that excels in the co-production. The efficient catalyst is NiFe alloy nanoparticles (NPs) exsolved from a Pr- and Ni-doped double perovskite Sr2Fe1.5Mo0.5O6 (Pr0.8Sr1.2Ni0.2Fe1.3Mo0.5O6‑δ, PSNFM) matrix during SOFC operation. We show evidence that Ni is first exsolved, which triggers the following Fe-exsolution, forming the NiFe NP alloy. At the same time as the NiFe exsolution, abundant oxygen vacancies are created at the NiFe/PSNFM interface, which promotes the oxygen mobility for oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (ODHP), coking resistance, and power generation. At 750 °C, the SOFC reactor with the PSNFM catalyst reaches a propane conversion of 71.40% and LO yield of 70.91% under a current density of 0.3 A cm–2 without coking. This level of performance is unmatchable by the current thermal catalytic reactors, demonstrating the great potential of electrochemical reactors for direct hydrocarbon conversion into value-added products

The nexus of foreign direct investment and agricultural productivity: does absorptive capacity matter?

Purpose: This study aims to examine the complex effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) on China’s agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) from 2005 to 2020. It also explores the role of absorptive capacity as a moderating factor during this period. Design/methodology/approach: Employing provincial panel data from China, this research measures agricultural TFP using the Stochastic Frontier Approach (SFA)-Malmquist method. The impact of FDI on agricultural productivity is further analyzed using a nondynamic panel threshold model. Findings: The results highlight technological progress as the main driver of agricultural TFP growth in China. Agricultural FDI (AFDI) seems to impede TFP development, whereas nonagricultural FDI (NAFDI) shows a distinct positive spillover effect. The study reveals a threshold in absorptive capacity that affects both the direct and spillover impacts of FDI. Provinces with higher absorptive capacity are less negatively impacted by AFDI and more likely to benefit from FDI spillovers (FDISs). Originality/value: This study provides new insights into the intricate relationship between FDI, absorptive capacity and agricultural productivity. It underscores the importance of optimizing technological progress and research and development (R&D) to enhance agricultural productivity in China

Supplementary Data from T-cell Activity against AML Improved by Dual-Targeted T Cells Stimulated through T-cell and IL7 Receptors

Supplementary Figures 1-7</p