Shell isolated nanoparticles for enhanced Raman spectroscopy studies in lithium-oxygen cells

A critical and detailed assessment of using Shell Isolated Nanoparticles for Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SHINERS) on different electrode substrates was carried out, providing relative enhancement factors, as well as an evaluation of the distribution of shell-isolated nanoparticles upon the electrode surfaces. The chemical makeup of surface layers formed upon lithium metal electrodes and the mechanism of the oxygen reduction reaction on carbon substrates relevant to lithium–oxygen cells are studied with the employment of the SHINERS technique. SHINERS enhanced the Raman signal at these surfaces showing a predominant Li2O based layer on lithium metal in a variety of electrolytes. The formation of LiO2and Li2O2, as well as degradation reactions forming Li2CO3, upon planar carbon electrode interfaces and upon composite carbon black electrodes were followed under potential control during the reduction of oxygen in a non-aqueous electrolyte based on dimethyl sulfoxide.</p

Kerr gated Raman spectroscopy of LiPF6 salt and LiPF6-based organic carbonate electrolyte for Li-ion batteries

Fluorescent species are formed during cycling of lithium ion batteries as a result of electrolyte decomposition due to the instability of the non-aqueous electrolytes and side reactions that occur at the electrode surface. The increase in the background fluorescence due to the presence of these components makes it harder to analyse data due to the spectroscopic overlap of Raman scattering and fluorescence. Herein, Kerr gated Raman spectroscopy was shown to be an effective technique for the isolation of the scattering effect from the fluorescence enabling the collection of the Raman spectra of LiPF6 salt and LiPF6-based organic carbonate electrolyte, without the interference of the fluorescence component. Kerr gated Raman was able to identify POF3 on the LiPF6 particle surface, after the addition of trace water

CIBERER : Spanish national network for research on rare diseases: A highly productive collaborative initiative

Altres ajuts: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.CIBER (Center for Biomedical Network Research; Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red) is a public national consortium created in 2006 under the umbrella of the Spanish National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII). This innovative research structure comprises 11 different specific areas dedicated to the main public health priorities in the National Health System. CIBERER, the thematic area of CIBER focused on rare diseases (RDs) currently consists of 75 research groups belonging to universities, research centers, and hospitals of the entire country. CIBERER's mission is to be a center prioritizing and favoring collaboration and cooperation between biomedical and clinical research groups, with special emphasis on the aspects of genetic, molecular, biochemical, and cellular research of RDs. This research is the basis for providing new tools for the diagnosis and therapy of low-prevalence diseases, in line with the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC) objectives, thus favoring translational research between the scientific environment of the laboratory and the clinical setting of health centers. In this article, we intend to review CIBERER's 15-year journey and summarize the main results obtained in terms of internationalization, scientific production, contributions toward the discovery of new therapies and novel genes associated to diseases, cooperation with patients' associations and many other topics related to RD research

In situ Raman spectroscopy of carbon-coated ZnFe2O4 anode material in Li-ion batteries - investigation of SEI growth

Solid electrolyte interphase products are detected on carbon-coated ZnFe2O4 by Raman due to temporary surface enhancement effect of zinc nanoparticles.</p

An Active Retirement Programme, a Randomized Controlled Trial of a Sensorimotor Training Programme for Older Adults: A Study Protocol

Research shows that exercise training programmes lead to several improvements in older adults’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and well-being. This study will examine the effects of an active retirement programme on Portuguese older adults, investigating its effects on body composition, physical fitness, HRQoL, and physical activity level (PAL). Therefore, a parallel-group randomised controlled trial will be conducted, including body composition (height and body weight), physical fitness (strength, flexibility, agility, postural control, and gait), HRQoL, and PAL assessments before and after the application of the programme. The programme will be carried out for six months, two days per week (45 min), plus a year of follow-up. The programme will consist of six circuits with eight physical exercises each. The circuits will change at the end of the four weeks (one monthly circuit). The exercises’ difficulty will increase throughout the programme, with alternatives for all the participants. If the effectiveness of the programme is demonstrated, implementation in different services and municipalities could be advised, as the actors involved in health and social services should promote the well-being of their citizens through, among others, health-related physical activity and the prevention of diseases associated with inactivity

Na_0.35MnO₂ as an ionic conductor with randomly distributed nano-sized layers

Here we show that through a straightforward synthesis it is possible to create a bulk material, Na0.35MnO2, with isolated sheets. Due to such arrangement of the oxide layers, this ionic conductor was found to be genuinely pseudocapacitive, with charge storage not limited by diffusion of ions between stacked layers, resulting in capacitance values of 190 F g-1 under exceptionally high current rates of up to 200 A g-1