Kinetics and fracture resistance of lithiated silicon nanostructure pairs controlled by their mechanical interaction

Following an explosion of studies of silicon as a negative electrode for Li-ion batteries, the anomalous volumetric changes and fracture of lithiated single Si particles have attracted significant attention in various fields, including mechanics. However, in real batteries, lithiation occurs simultaneously in clusters of Si in a confined medium. Hence, understanding how the individual Si structures interact during lithiation in a closed space is necessary. Here, we demonstrate physical and mechanical interactions of swelling Si structures during lithiation using well-defined Si nanopillar pairs. Ex situ SEM and in situ TEM studies reveal that compressive stresses change the reaction kinetics so that preferential lithiation occurs at free surfaces when the pillars are mechanically clamped. Such mechanical interactions enhance the fracture resistance of lithiated Si by lessening the tensile stress concentrations in Si structures. This study will contribute to improved design of Si structures at the electrode level for high-performance Li-ion batteries.open1

Treatment with a corticotrophin releasing factor 2 receptor agonist modulates skeletal muscle mass and force production in aged and chronically ill animals

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Muscle weakness is associated with a variety of chronic disorders such as emphysema (EMP) and congestive heart failure (CHF) as well as aging. Therapies to treat muscle weakness associated with chronic disease or aging are lacking. Corticotrophin releasing factor 2 receptor (CRF2R) agonists have been shown to maintain skeletal muscle mass and force production in a variety of acute conditions that lead to skeletal muscle wasting.</p> <p>Hypothesis</p> <p>We hypothesize that treating animals with a CRF2R agonist will maintain skeletal muscle mass and force production in animals with chronic disease and in aged animals.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We utilized animal models of aging, CHF and EMP to evaluate the potential of CRF2R agonist treatment to maintain skeletal muscle mass and force production in aged animals and animals with CHF and EMP.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In aged rats, we demonstrate that treatment with a CRF2R agonist for up to 3 months results in greater extensor digitorum longus (EDL) force production, EDL mass, soleus mass and soleus force production compared to age matched untreated animals. In the hamster EMP model, we demonstrate that treatment with a CRF2R agonist for up to 5 months results in greater EDL force production in EMP hamsters when compared to vehicle treated EMP hamsters and greater EDL mass and force in normal hamsters when compared to vehicle treated normal hamsters. In the rat CHF model, we demonstrate that treatment with a CRF2R agonist for up to 3 months results in greater EDL and soleus muscle mass and force production in CHF rats and normal rats when compared to the corresponding vehicle treated animals.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These data demonstrate that the underlying physiological conditions associated with chronic diseases such as CHF and emphysema in addition to aging do not reduce the potential of CRF2R agonists to maintain skeletal muscle mass and force production.</p

Synthesis and electrical property study of La3Ni2MO9 (M=Nb and TA)

© 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Synthesis of La3Ni2NbO9 and La3Ni2TaO9 double perovskite materials was successfully carried out. Both isostructural niobates and tantalates exhibited a monoclinic structure. Sample preparation via solid state reaction yielded a single phase of La3Ni2NbO9, while samples with impurities were obtained when using the sol-gel process. Nb and Ta substitution in La3Ni2MO9 had effects on the sintering behavior. The electrical conductivity of La3Ni2NbO9 was found to significantly increase with increasing temperature, but the electrical conductivity of La3Ni2TaO9 decreased with temperature when the temperature was lower than 300°C then slightly increased again at higher temperature

Effect of Sr substituted La2-xSrxNiO4+δ (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8) on oxygen stoichiometry and oxygen transport properties

© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2015.Stoichiometry and oxygen diffusion properties of La2-xSrxNiO4±δ with x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 prepared via a sol-gel method were investigated in this study. Iodometric titration and thermogravimetric analysis were used to determine the oxygen non-stoichiometry. Over the entire compositional range, the samples exhibit oxygen hyperstoichiometry with the minimum value δ = 0.14 at x = 0.4. Mixed effects of reduction of oxygen excess and increasing valence of Ni were found to serve as charge compensation mechanisms; the former dominated at a low level of substitution, x < 0.4, while the latter dominated at higher levels of Sr (0.4 < x < 0.8). The highest oxygen diffusion coefficient was found for the minimum amount of Sr substitution, x = 0.2, continuously decreasing with x until x = 0.6. An unusual increase in D∗ was observed when the Sr content increased up to x = 0.8