CuO/ZnO/Al₂O₃ Catalyst Prepared by Mechanical-Force-Driven Solid-State Ion Exchange and Its Excellent Catalytic Activity under Internal Cooling Condition

CuO/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalysts were prepared by a mechanical-force-driven solid-state ion-exchange method, and their catalytic performance for methanol synthesis was investigated in a manufactured reactor with an internal cooling system. With the increasing of milling speed during ball-milling, the ion exchange between Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ in catalyst precursors is enhanced. After calcination, CuO nanoparticles are neighboring to ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO nanoparticles serve as spacers to prevent the agglomeration of CuO nanoparticles, leading to a cross-distribution of CuO and ZnO in catalysts. The as-prepared catalysts exhibit excellent catalytic activities, and the highest CO₂ conversion and CH₃OH yield at 240 °C and 4 MPa can reach 59.5% and 43.7%, respectively. The extraordinary catalytic performance can be attributed to both the cross-distribution of CuO and ZnO nanoparticles caused by solid-state ion exchange and the promotion of reversible CO₂ hydrogenation reaction toward methanol synthesis by the internal cooling system

Flame Retardant and Stable Li_1.5Al_0.5Ge_1.5(PO₄)₃‑Supported Ionic Liquid Gel Polymer Electrolytes for High Safety Rechargeable Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries

Recently, poor security in conventional liquid electrolytes and high interfacial resistance at the electrode/electrolyte interface are the most challenging barriers for the expanded application of lithium batteries. In this regard, easy processing and flexible composite ionic liquid gel polymer electrolytes (ILGPEs) supported by Li_1.5Al_0.5­Ge_1.5­(PO₄)₃ (LAGP) are fabricated and investigated. The electrolyte is effectively combined with good electrochemical performances and thermal safety. Among these, the effects of different types of fillers such as the inert filler-SiO₂ and the active filler-LAGP on the ionic conductivity were studied in detail. LAGP particles can not only effectively reduce the crystallinity of the polymer matrix but also provide lithium ions and act as the lithium-ion conductor leading to higher ionic conductivity and Li⁺ ion transference number. Especially, the electrolyte shows good compatibility and no dendrite with the Li metal anode, significantly improving cyclic stability of LiFe­PO₄/Li batteries. The results indicate that the ILGPE-10%LAGP is a potential alternative electrolyte for high safety rechargeable solid-state lithium metal batteries

Benchmarking the Safety Performance of Organic Electrolytes for Rechargeable Lithium Batteries: A Thermochemical Perspective

Developing nonflammable organic electrolytes has been regarded as one of the most valuable strategies for tackling the safety issues of rechargeable lithium batteries. However, a quantitative and precise evaluation of electrolyte safety remains challenging mostly because of the inconsistent measurement conditions and the lack of a basic reference system. In this work, we performed a benchmark study on the safety of organic electrolytes by characterizing with cone calorimetry the thermochemistry of various types of single-solvent electrolytes. An intrinsically safe organic electrolyte should show simultaneous low total heat release, low maximum heat release rate, long time to ignition, and short self-extinguishing time. Experimentally, a “cocktail” therapy combining polyfluorinated solvents and high-boiling point solvents is found to be the optimal choice for composing nonflammable electrolytes. Our results help to identify promising electrolyte components and shed light on the reasonable design of high-safety organic electrolytes for advanced rechargeable batteries

Nanowire Magnetoscope Reveals a Cellular Torque with Left–Right Bias

Cellular force regulates many types of cell mechanics and the associated physiological behaviors. Recent evidence suggested that cell motion with left–right (LR) bias may be the origin of LR asymmetry in tissue architecture. As actomyosin activity was found essential in the process, it predicts a type of cellular force that coordinates the development of LR asymmetry in tissue formation. However, due to the lack of appropriate platform, cellular force with LR bias has not yet been found. Here we report a nanowire magnetoscope that reveals a rotating forcetorqueexerted by cells. Ferromagnetic nanowires were deposited and internalized by micropatterned cells. Within a uniform, horizontal magnetic field, the nanowires that initially aligned with the magnetic field were subsequently rotated due to the cellular torque. We found that the torque is LR-biased depending on cell types. While NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and human vascular endothelial cells exhibited counterclockwise torque, C2C12 myoblasts showed torque with slight clockwise bias. Moreover, an actin ring composed of transverse arcs and radial fibers was identified as a major factor determining the LR bias of cellular torque, since the disruption of actin ring by biochemical inhibitors or elongated cell shape abrogated the counterclockwise bias of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. Our finding reveals a LR-biased torque of single cells and a fundamental origin of cytoskeletal chirality. More broadly, we anticipate that our method will provide a different perspective on mechanics-related cell physiology and force transmission necessary for LR propagation in tissue formation