Tin/vanadium redox electrolyte for battery-like energy storage capacity combined with supercapacitor-like power handling

We introduce a high performance hybrid electrochemical energy storage system based on an aqueous electrolyte containing tin sulfate (SnSO4) and vanadyl sulfate (VOSO4) with nanoporous activated carbon. The energy storage mechanism of this system benefits from the unique synergy of concurrent electric double-layer formation, reversible tin redox reactions, and three-step redox reactions of vanadium. The hybrid system showed excellent electrochemical properties such as a promising energy capacity (ca. 75 W h kg−1, 30 W h L−1) and a maximum power of up to 1.5 kW kg−1 (600 W L−1, 250 W m−2), exhibiting capacitor-like galvanostatic cycling stability and a low level of self-discharging rate

Enhanced electrochemical energy storage by nanoscopic decoration of endohedral and exohedral carbon with vanadium oxide via atomic layer deposition

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a facile process to decorate carbon surfaces with redox-active nanolayers. This is a particularly attractive route to obtain hybrid electrode materials for high performance electrochemical energy storage applications. Using activated carbon and carbon onions as representatives of substrate materials with large internal or external surface area, respectively, we have studied the enhanced energy storage capacity of vanadium oxide coatings. While the internal porosity of activated carbon readily becomes blocked by obstructing nanopores, carbon onions enable the continued deposition of vanadia within their large interparticle voids. Electrochemical benchmarking in lithium perchlorate in acetonitrile (1 M LiClO4) showed a maximum capacity of 122 mAh/g when using vanadia coated activated carbon and 129 mAh/g for vanadia coated carbon onions. There is an optimum amount of vanadia between 50 and 65 wt % for both substrates that results in an ideal balance between redox-activity and electrical conductivity of the hybrid electrode. Assembling asymmetric (charge balanced) full-cells, a maximum specific energy of 38 Wh/kg and 29 Wh/kg was found for carbon onions and activated carbon, respectively. The stability of both systems is promising, with a capacity retention of ∼85–91% after 7000 cycles for full-cell measurements

Carbon onion / sulfur hybrid cathodes via inverse vulcanization for lithium sulfur batteries

A sulfur–1,3-diisopropenylbenzene copolymer was synthesized by ring-opening radical polymerization and hybridized with carbon onions at different loading levels. The carbon onion mixing was assisted by shear in a two-roll mill to capitalize on the softened state of the copolymer. The sulfur copolymer and the hybrids were thoroughly characterized in structure and chemical composition, and finally tested by electrochemical benchmarking. An enhancement of specific capacity was observed over 140 cycles at higher content of carbon onions in the hybrid electrodes. The copolymer hybrids demonstrate a maximum initial specific capacity of 1150 mA h gsulfur−1 (850 mA h gelectrode−1) and a low decay of capacity to reach 790 mA h gsulfur−1 (585 mA h gelectrode−1) after 140 charge/discharge cycles. All carbon onion/sulfur copolymer hybrid electrodes yielded high chemical stability, stable electrochemical performance superior to conventional melt-infiltrated reference samples having similar sulfur and carbon onion content. The amount of carbon onions embedded in the sulfur copolymer has a strong influence on the specific capacity, as they effectively stabilize the sulfur copolymer and sterically hinder the recombination of sulfur species to the S8 configuration

Impact of the electrical conductivity on the lithium capacity of polymer-derived silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) ceramics

Within this work, we systematically investigate the influence of the amount of free carbon phase on the electrical conductivity and the lithium storage capability of silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) materials. A series of SiOC ceramics comprised of free carbon content ranging from 8 to 54 wt.% is examined. The ability to reversibly host lithium ions is correlated with the elemental composition and the electrical conductivity. The materials with low carbon content up to ∼20 wt.% reveal conductivities lower than 3 10−5 S m−1 and initially high capacities of more than 1000 mAh g−1, which fade rapidly with continuous cycling. For the samples with higher amounts of free carbon phase, higher electrical conductivities ranging from 0.07 to 2.2 S m−1 are measured. In comparison to the carbon-poor materials, the carbon-rich samples demonstrate enhanced accessibility of Li-ion storing sites with capacities of more than 500 mAh g−1. Moreover, a linear dependence between a stable capacity after 60 cycles and free carbon content in the ceramic is found

A brief review on different plant parts used as immunity boosting agent

A strong immune system is essential to keep a person healthy. Every person should incorporate specific food items into their diet that can strengthen their immune system. Mother Nature has a bag full of plants and trees whose different parts contain different ingredients that can act as immune boosters. Tulsi is a small herb, found in many parts of India and can be grown in our homes too. The leaves of Tulsi have different properties like antimicrobial, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and many more. 5-6 leaves of Tulsi daily help to build our immune system. Giloy is an herbaceous vine found in the tropical regions of different Indian subcontinents. The heart-shaped leaves and reddish fruit of Giloy have many active ingredients like alkaloids, glycosides, phytosterols, etc. which help to attain anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antioxidant properties. 2-3 tablespoons of Giloy juice daily helps to boost our immune system and increase the ability of our body to fight various infectious diseases. Garlic is used in a variety of dishes we cook garlic bulb is a great supplement known to boost the immune system functioning. Active compound present in garlic helps to reduce blood pressure improve cholesterol levels and can also lower the risk of heart diseases. Garlic bulbs can also reduce cold and flu symptoms. The various vitamins present in garlic also add more effect to its immunity-boosting property. Citrus lemon is found primarily in the north-eastern part of India, China or Myanmar, Italy, Spain. It has various phytochemicals such as terpenes, tannins, polyphenols, etc. is considered a rich of all essential vitamins to enrich our immune system and also provide therapeutic benefit

A brief review on recent advancement of tablet coating technology

A tablet can be defined as a solid unit dosage form. There are several reasons for coating of solid dosage form, the most important reason is to control the release profile & also to control the bioavailability parameters of the APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients). Tablets containing active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) can be coated with thin polymer-based film for various advantages. Generally, horizontal rotating pans are used for coating purposes & coating solution can be spread through the spraying systems over the surface of tablets. Bitter taste masking, odor masking, physical and chemical protection, and also environmental protection are all benefits of the tablet coating. Despite that, Tablet coating also plays an important role in controlling the action site. Sugar-coating, film coating, and enteric coating are some of the conventional tablet coating processes. The primary objective for creating tablet coating technologies is to eliminate the numerous disadvantages of solvent-based coating. Coating solution preferentially applied on the surface of solid dosage forms without the need for any solvent in these novel technologies. This review article provides information regarding the techniques of conventional tablet coating, the recent advancement of tablet coating procedures, and tablet coating components

Carbon onion–sulfur hybrid cathodes for lithium–sulfur batteries

In this study, we explore carbon onions (diameter below 10 nm), for the first time, as a substrate material for lithium sulfur cathodes. We introduce several scalable synthesis routes to fabricate carbon onion–sulfur hybrids by adopting in situ and melt diffusion strategies with sulfur fractions up to 68 mass%. The conducting skeleton of agglomerated carbon onions proved to be responsible for keeping active sulfur always in close vicinity to the conducting matrix. Therefore, the hybrids are found to be efficient cathodes for Li–S batteries, yielding 97–98% Coulombic efficiency over 150 cycles with a slow fading of the specific capacity (ca. 660 mA h g−1 after 150 cycles) in long term cycle test and rate capability experiments

A Brief Review on Different Plant Parts Used as Immunity Boosting Agent

A strong immune system is essential to keep a person healthy. Every person should incorporate specific food items into their diet that can strengthen their immune system. Mother Nature has a bag full of plants and trees whose different parts contain different ingredients that can act as immune boosters. Tulsi is a small herb, found in many parts of India and can be grown in our homes too. The leaves of Tulsi have different properties like antimicrobial, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and many more. 5-6 leaves of Tulsi daily help to build our immune system. Giloy is an herbaceous vine found in the tropical regions of different Indian subcontinents. The heart-shaped leaves and reddish fruit of Giloy have many active ingredients like alkaloids, glycosides, phytosterols, etc. which help to attain anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antioxidant properties. 2-3 tablespoons of Giloy juice daily helps to boost our immune system and increase the ability of our body to fight various infectious diseases. Garlic is used in a variety of dishes we cook garlic bulb is a great supplement known to boost the immune system functioning. Active compound present in garlic helps to reduce blood pressure improve cholesterol levels and can also lower the risk of heart diseases. Garlic bulbs can also reduce cold and flu symptoms. The various vitamins present in garlic also add more effect to its immunity-boosting property. Citrus lemon is found primarily in the north-eastern part of India, China or Myanmar, Italy, Spain. It has various phytochemicals such as terpenes, tannins, polyphenols, etc. is considered a rich of all essential vitamins to enrich our immune system and also provide therapeutic benefit

Correction: Carbon onion/sulfur hybrid cathodes via inverse vulcanization for lithium : sulfur batteries

Correction for ‘Carbon onion/sulfur hybrid cathodes via inverse vulcanization for lithium–sulfur batteries’ by Soumyadip Choudhury et al., Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2018, 2, 133–146, DOI: 10.1039/C7SE00452D