Structural and electrical properties of ceramic Li-ion conductors based on Li1.3_{1.3}Al0.3_{0.3}Ti1.7_{1.7}(PO4_4)3_3-LiF

The work presents the investigations of Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3-xLiF Li-ion conducting ceramics with 0 < x < 0.3 by means of X-ray diffractometry (XRD), 7Li, 19F, 27Al and 31P Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (MAS NMR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetry (TG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), impedance spectroscopy (IS) and density method. It has been shown that the total ionic conductivity of both as-prepared and ceramic Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 is low due to a grain boundary phase exhibiting high electrical resistance. This phase consists mainly of berlinite crystalline phase as well as some amorphous phase containing Al3+ ions. The electrically resistant phases of the grain boundary decompose during sintering with LiF additive. The processes leading to microstructure changes and their effect on the ionic properties of the materials are discussed in the frame of the brick layer model (BLM). The highest total ionic conductivity at room temperature was measured for LATP-0.1LiF ceramic sintered at 800{\deg}C and was equal to {\sigma}tot = 1.1 x 10-4 Scm-1

Impact of Li2.9_{2.9}B0.9_{0.9}S0.1_{0.1}O3.1_{3.1} glass additive on the structure and electrical properties of the LATP-based ceramics

The existing solid electrolytes for lithium ion batteries suffer from low total ionic conductivity, which restricts its usefulness for the lithium-ion battery technology. Among them, the NASICON-based materials, such as Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 (LATP) exhibit low total ionic conductivity due to highly resistant grain boundary phase. One of the possible approaches to efficiently enhance their total ionic conductivity is the formation of a composite material. Herein, the Li2.9B0.9S0.1O3.1 glass, called LBSO hereafter, was chosen as an additive material to improve the ionic properties of the ceramic Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 base material. The properties of this Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3-xLi2.9B0.9S0.1O3.1 (0 < x < 0.3) system have been studied by means of high temperature X-ray diffractometry (HTXRD), 7Li, 11B, 27Al and 31P magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MAS NMR), thermogravimetry (TG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), impedance spectroscopy (IS) and density methods. We show here that the introduction of the foreign LBSO phase enhances their electric properties. This study reveals several interesting correlations between the apparent density, the microstructure, the composition, the sintering temperature and the ionic conductivity. Moreover, the electrical properties of the composites will be discussed in the terms of the brick-layer model (BLM). The highest value of {\sigma}tot = 1.5 x 10-4 Scm-1 has been obtained for LATP-0.1LBSO material sintered at 800{\deg}C

Polyanionic Lattice Modifications Leading to High‐Entropy Sodium Ion Conductors: Mathematical Solution of Accessible Compositions

Sodium zirconium double phosphate NaZr2(PO4)3 can be used as a starting point for investigations of high‐entropy materials. Apart from the frequently used approach of partial substitution with four or more different transition metal cations, this class of materials also allows multiple substitutions of the phosphate groups. Herein modifications of the polyanionic lattice are considered and high‐entropy compositions are numerically determined with up to eight elements on the central tetrahedral lattice site of the so‐called NaSICON structure. For this study, the chemical formula was fixed as Na3Zr2(EO4)3 with E=B, Al, Si, P, As, Sb, S, Se and Te. The number of compositions increases exponentially with the increasing number of elements involved and with decreasing equal step size for each element. The maximum number of 237258 compositions is found for Na3Zr2([B,Al,Si,P,As,Sb,S,Se]O4)3 with a step size of 0.1 mol/formula unit. Of this compositional landscape, 143744 compositions fulfil the definitions of high‐entropy materials. The highest entropy factor of ΔSconfig/R=‐2.0405 is attributed to the compositions Na3Zr2(B0.5Al0.6Si0.4P0.3As0.3Sb0.3S0.3Se0.3)O12 and Na3Zr2(B0.6Al0.5Si0.4P0.3As0.3Sb0.3S0.3Se0.3)O12

Living planktonic foraminifera in the Fram Strait (Arctic): absence of diel vertical migration during the midnight sun

The timing of vertical migration in planktonic foraminifera (ex. ontogenetic, diel) is still an open debate. This work aims to investigate the diel vertical migration (DVM) of Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (N. pachyderma) and Turborotalita quinqueloba (T. quinqueloba) in the Arctic during the midnight sun. N. pachyderma and T. quinqueloba dominate the total assemblage in the cold Polar Water and warmer North Atlantic Water masses, respectively. Foraminifera were collected at several depths along the Fram Strait. Afterwards sampling was performed at the same station for 24 h at continuous and discrete time intervals. Results show no evidence of planktonic foraminifera DVM since there was no significant variability in the abundance and size distribution during the 24-h collection period. This finding provides information to improve the interpretation of foraminifera in paleoclimatic works. This is especially relevant in the Fram Strait as paleoclimatic studies in this region are fundamental to investigating the history of the Atlantic water inflow into the Arctic Ocean

Effects of cranberry (Vaccinum macrocarpon) supplementation on iron status and inflammatory markers in rowers

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of supplementation with cranberry (Vaccinum macrocarpon) on the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, hepcidin and selected markers of iron metabolism in rowers subjected to exhaustive exercise. METHODS: This double-blind study included 16 members of the Polish Rowing Team. The subjects were randomly assigned to the supplemented group (n = 9), receiving 1200 mg of cranberry extract for 6 weeks, or to the placebo group (n = 7). The participants performed a 2000-m test on a rowing ergometer at the beginning and at the end of the preparatory camp. Blood samples were obtained from the antecubital vein prior to each exercise test, one minute after completing the test, and after a 24-h recovery period. The levels of hepcidin, interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), ferritin, iron, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and myoglobin were determined, along with total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), unbound iron-binding capacity (UIBC) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). RESULTS: Both prior and after the supplementation, a significant post-exercise increase in the concentration of IL-6 was observed in both groups. At the end of the study period, cranberry-supplemented athletes presented with significantly higher resting, post-exercise and post-recovery levels of TAC than the controls. However, a significant exercise-induced increase in the concentrations of TNF-alpha, myoglobin and hepcidin was observed solely in the control group. CONCLUSION: Supplementation with cranberry extract contributed to a significant strengthening of antioxidant potential in individuals exposed to strenuous physical exercise. However, supplementation did not exert direct effects on other analyzed parameters: inflammatory markers and indices of iron metabolism (TNF-alpha, hepcidin and myoglobin)