Facile electrodeposition of high-density CuCo2O4 nanosheets as a high-performance Li-ion battery anode material

High-density CuCo2O4 nanosheets are grown on Ni foam using electrodeposition followed by air annealing for a Li-ion battery anode. The anode exhibits a high discharge capacity of 1244 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g (82% coulombic efficiency) and excellent high-rate performance with 95% capacity retention (1100 mAh/g after 200 cycles at 1 A/g). The outstanding battery performance of the CuCo2O4 anode is attributed to its binder-free direct contact to the current collector and high-density nanosheet morphology. The present experimental findings demonstrate that the electrodeposited binder-free CuCo2O4 material may serve as a safe, low-cost, long-cycle life anode for Li-ion batteries

Column study using modified banana pseudo stem as adsorbent for removal of Pb (II)

Eco-friendly adsorbents such as banana pseudo stem play a fundamental role in the removal of heavy metal elements from the wastewater. Key water resources and chemical industries have been encountering difficulties in removing heavy metal elements using existing conventional methods. The lead-removal process is currently a challenging task for environmental scientists and engineers in terms of cost, effluent disposal, and safety concerns. Hence, this work demonstrates the adsorption of Pb (II) onto modified banana pseudo stem (MBPS) powder as a potential adsorbent to treat different effluents. A characterization of modified banana pseudo-stem powder was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy which confirms the material. Experiments carried out using a column process for the removal of lead (II) from an aqueous solution at a fixed concentration of 50 ppm, pH 6 and contact time 120 min. The BET surface area of MBPS was found to be 7.27 m2/g. The results showed that the column studies explain better performance for the removal of Pb (II) and the maximum removal was found to be 49% at lower flow rate (5 mL/min) of fixed initial concentration of 50 ppm

Market responsiveness versus political responsiveness: change and conflict in an Australian government agency

Considerable attention has recently been given to possible contradictions between public sector reform initiatives aimed at making agencies more responsive to political institutions and publics, and initiatives designed to make them more responsive to markets. This article reports on a study that demonstrates ways in which tensions and conflict can arise within a government agency when the aims of political responsiveness and market responsiveness are pursued simultaneously. The study also shows that conflict arises not only from contradictions between political and market responsiveness, but also from failures in organizational structure and change implementation strategies. Despite this, it is possible that the contradictions between the reforms need not be fatal if integrative structures are adopted and if conditions are created for effective participation and collaboratio