The Aluminum-Ion Battery: A Sustainable and Seminal Concept?

The expansion of renewable energy and the growing number of electric vehicles and mobile devices are demanding improved and low-cost electrochemical energy storage. In order to meet the future needs for energy storage, novel material systems with high energy densities, readily available raw materials, and safety are required. Currently, lithium and lead mainly dominate the battery market, but apart from cobalt and phosphorous, lithium may show substantial supply challenges prospectively, as well. Therefore, the search for new chemistries will become increasingly important in the future, to diversify battery technologies. But which materials seem promising? Using a selection algorithm for the evaluation of suitable materials, the concept of a rechargeable, high-valent all-solid-state aluminum-ion battery appears promising, in which metallic aluminum is used as the negative electrode. On the one hand, this offers the advantage of a volumetric capacity four times higher (theoretically) compared to lithium analog. On the other hand, aluminum is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust. There is a mature industry and recycling infrastructure, making aluminum very cost efficient. This would make the aluminum-ion battery an important contribution to the energy transition process, which has already started globally. So far, it has not been possible to exploit this technological potential, as suitable positive electrodes and electrolyte materials are still lacking. The discovery of inorganic materials with high aluminum-ion mobility—usable as solid electrolytes or intercalation electrodes—is an innovative and required leap forward in the field of rechargeable high-valent ion batteries. In this review article, the constraints for a sustainable and seminal battery chemistry are described, and we present an assessment of the chemical elements in terms of negative electrodes, comprehensively motivate utilizing aluminum, categorize the aluminum battery field, critically review the existing positive electrodes and solid electrolytes, present a promising path for the accelerated development of novel materials and address problems of scientific communication in this field

Efficacy and safety of intratumoral thermotherapy using magnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles combined with external beam radiotherapy on patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme

Therapy options at the time of recurrence of glioblastoma multiforme are often limited. We investigated whether treatment with a new intratumoral thermotherapy procedure using magnetic nanoparticles improves survival outcome. In a single-arm study in two centers, 66 patients (59 with recurrent glioblastoma) received neuronavigationally controlled intratumoral instillation of an aqueous dispersion of iron-oxide (magnetite) nanoparticles and subsequent heating of the particles in an alternating magnetic field. Treatment was combined with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy. A median dose of 30 Gy using a fractionation of 5 × 2 Gy/week was applied. The primary study endpoint was overall survival following diagnosis of first tumor recurrence (OS-2), while the secondary endpoint was overall survival after primary tumor diagnosis (OS-1). Survival times were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Analyses were by intention to treat. The median overall survival from diagnosis of the first tumor recurrence among the 59 patients with recurrent glioblastoma was 13.4 months (95% CI: 10.6–16.2 months). Median OS-1 was 23.2 months while the median time interval between primary diagnosis and first tumor recurrence was 8.0 months. Only tumor volume at study entry was significantly correlated with ensuing survival (P < 0.01). No other variables predicting longer survival could be determined. The side effects of the new therapeutic approach were moderate, and no serious complications were observed. Thermotherapy using magnetic nanoparticles in conjunction with a reduced radiation dose is safe and effective and leads to longer OS-2 compared to conventional therapies in the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma

Rickets guidance: part I—diagnostic workup

Rickets is a disease of the growing child arising from alterations in calcium and phosphate homeostasis resulting in impaired apoptosis of hypertrophic chondrocytes in the growth plate. Its symptoms depend on the patients' age, duration of disease, and underlying disorder. Common features include thickened wrists and ankles due to widened metaphyses, growth failure, bone pain, muscle weakness, waddling gait, and leg bowing. Affected infants often show delayed closure of the fontanelles, frontal bossing, and craniotabes. The diagnosis of rickets is based on the presence of these typical clinical symptoms and radiological findings on X-rays of the wrist or knee, showing metaphyseal fraying and widening of growth plates, in conjunction with elevated serum levels of alkaline phosphatase. Nutritional rickets due to vitamin D deficiency and/or dietary calcium deficiency is the most common cause of rickets. Currently, more than 20 acquired or hereditary causes of rickets are known. The latter are due to mutations in genes involved in vitamin D metabolism or action, renal phosphate reabsorption, or synthesis, or degradation of the phosphaturic hormone fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23). There is a substantial overlap in the clinical features between the various entities, requiring a thorough workup using biochemical analyses and, if necessary, genetic tests. Part I of this review focuses on the etiology, pathophysiology and clinical findings of rickets followed by the presentation of a diagnostic approach for correct diagnosis. Part II focuses on the management of rickets, including new therapeutic approaches based on recent clinical practice guidelines

Integration in sheet metal structures

The direct integration of piezoceramic foil transducers into fiber-reinforced structures can be adapted to generate a highly efficient production process for active sheet metal parts with integrated piezoceramic sensors and actuators. The basic idea is the integration of piezomodules in a semifinished part in a way that allows a subsequent forming without loss of its functionality. Therefore, a relative movement between piezomodule and sheet metals has to be ensured during the forming operation. Forming operations induce strains in the sheet metal. A fixed joint between piezomodule and sheet metal would lead to a damage of the piezoceramic fibers. For forming operations with a double curvature of lower radii, a test of the macrofiber composite (MFC) functionality is required. The elastic material properties of MFC can be retrieved in a homogenization step. The inelastic behavior can be evaluated with tension tests

Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Energiewandlung von thermischer Energie in elektrische Energie

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Vorrichtung (20, 21, 46, 47, 48) und ein Verfahren zur Umwandlung von thermischer Energie in elektrische Energie, wobei die Vorrichtung (20) zumindest eine Anordnung (19, 39, 41, 42) umfasst, die zumindest enthält - ein erstes elektrisch leitfähiges Kontaktelement (31), - ein zweites elektrisch leitfähiges Kontaktelement (32), - ein zwischen den beiden elektrischen Kontaktelementen (31, 32) befindliches Material (4), - einen ersten thermischen Energieträger (1) mit hoher Temperatur Th, - einen zweiten thermischen Energieträger (2) mit vorgegebener niedriger Temperatur Tt, wobei der erste thermische Energieträger (1) zumindest in Verbindung mit dem ersten elektrisch leitfähigen Kontaktelement (31) und der zweite thermische Energieträger (2) zumindest in Verbindung mit dem zweiten elektrisch leitfähigen Kontaktelement (32) stehen.; Dabei ist als Material (4) ein Material mit ionischem oder zumindest kovalentem Bindungscharakter eingesetzt ist, wobei das Material (4) innerhalb seines Volumens (22) mindestens eine Art von Defektspezies (12, 13) aufweist, wobei durch einen eingestellten Temperaturgradienten [Delta]T, ggf. um eine Temperatur (11) mit Tc eines existierenden Defektlöslichkeits-Phasensprungs (3), zwischen einer hohen Temperatur Th im ersten thermischen Energieträger (1) und einer vorgegebenen niedrigen Temperatur Tt im zweiten thermischen Energieträger (2) eine Umlagerung der Defektspezies im Volumen (6, 7) vorhanden ist, wobei ein erster Teil (6) des Volumens (22) des Materials (4) eine hohe Temperatur Th, ggf. oberhalb der Temperatur (11) Tc des Defektlöslichkeits-Phasensprungs (3), und ein zweiter Teil (7) des Volumens (22) des Materials (4) eine niedrige Temperatur Tt, ggf.; unterhalb der Temperatur (11) Tc des Defektlöslichkeits-Phasensprunges (3), aufweisen, so dass mittels des Temperaturgradienten [Delta]T eine Umlagerung der vorhandenen Defektspezies (12, 13) und ggf. ein Dipolmoment erreicht wird, wobei nach Beendigung der Umlagerung infolge des Aufhebens des eingestellten Temperaturgradienten [Delta]T eine Rückdiffusion der Defektspezies (12, 13), bedingt durch den aufgebauten Konzentrationsgradienten und ggf. ein aufgebautes elektrisches Feld, und somit eine elektromotorische Kraft zur Abnahme von gespeicherter elektrischer Energie aus dem Material (4) vorhanden ist

Highly-integrated lab-on-chip system for point-of-care multiparameter analysis

A novel innovative approach towards a marketable lab-on-chip system for point-of-care in vitro diagnostics is reported. In a consortium of seven Fraunhofer Institutes a lab-on-chip system called "Fraunhofer ivD-platform" has been established which opens up the possibility for an on-site analysis at low costs. The system features a high degree of modularity and integration. Modularity allows the adaption of common and established assay types of various formats. Integration lets the system move from the laboratory to the point-of-need. By making use of the microarray format the lab-on-chip system also addresses new trends in biomedicine. Research topics such as personalized medicine or companion diagnostics show that multiparameter analyses are an added value for diagnostics, therapy as well as therapy control. These goals are addressed with a low-cost and self-contained cartridge, since reagents, microfluidic actuators and various sensors are integrated within the cartridge. In combination with a fully automated instrumentation (read-out and processing unit) a diagnostic assay can be performed in about 15 min. Via a user-friendly interface the read-out unit itself performs the assay protocol, data acquisition and data analysis. So far, example assays for nucleic acids (detection of different pathogens) and protein markers (such as CRP and PSA) have been established using an electrochemical read-out based on redoxcycling or an optical read-out based on total internal reflectance fluorescence (TIRF). It could be shown that the assay performance within the cartridge is similar to that found for the same assay in a microtiter plate. Furthermore, recent developments are the integration of sample preparation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on-chip. Hence, the instrument is capable of providing heating-and-cooling cycles necessary for DNA-amplification. In addition to scientific aspects also the production of such a lab-on-chip system was part of the development since this heavily affects the success of a later market launch. In summary, the Fraunhofer ivD-platform covers the whole value chain ranging from microfluidics, material and polymer sciences, assay and sensor development to the production and assembly design. In this consortium the gap between diagnostic needs and available technologies can be closed