The Public Choice of Elder Abuse Law

This interdisciplinary study finds that the way laws are written and treated by state regulators measurably affects bureaucratic performance: the care taken by legislatures and state agencies in developing domestic elder abuse law affects how lower-level bureaucrats investigate and report abuse. Perhaps more interesting, however, are two robust findings about state law making. Both legislator characteristics (here, being middle-aged or slightly older) and lobbying by seemingly the most important group (here, the American Association of Retired Persons [AARP]) sometimes have an unexpected effect. We surmise that these legislators and lobbyists find other issues both more politically attractive and more pressing since elder abuse is almost exclusively confined to the very old and helpless. However, the presence of state AARP lobbyists does predict more concern for the elderly at the administrative level. The difference between legislative and regulatory lobbying may thus reflect the differing public scrutiny given to the two

The Public Choice of Elder Abuse Law

This interdisciplinary study finds that the way laws are written and treated by state regulators measurably affects bureaucratic performance: the care taken by legislatures and state agencies in developing domestic elder abuse law affects how lower-level bureaucrats investigate and report abuse. Perhaps more interesting, however, are two robust findings about state law making. Both legislator characteristics (here, being middle-aged or slightly older) and lobbying by seemingly the most important group (here, the American Association of Retired Persons [AARP]) sometimes have an unexpected effect. We surmise that these legislators and lobbyists find other issues both more politically attractive and more pressing since elder abuse is almost exclusively confined to the very old and helpless. However, the presence of state AARP lobbyists does predict more concern for the elderly at the administrative level. The difference between legislative and regulatory lobbying may thus reflect the differing public scrutiny given to the two

Enabling Aqueous Processing of Ni‐Rich Layered Oxide Cathode Materials by Addition of Lithium Sulfate

Aqueous processing of Ni-rich layered oxide cathode materials is a promising approach to simultaneously decrease electrode manufacturing costs, while bringing environmental benefits by substituting the state-of-the-art (often toxic and costly) organic processing solvents. However, an aqueous environment remains challenging due to the high reactivity of Ni-rich layered oxides towards moisture, leading to lithium leaching and Al current collector corrosion because of the resulting high pH value of the aqueous electrode paste. Herein, a facile method was developed to enable aqueous processing of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) by the addition of lithium sulfate (Li2SO4) during electrode paste dispersion. The aqueously processed electrodes retained 80 % of their initial capacity after 400 cycles in NCM811||graphite full cells, while electrodes processed without the addition of Li2SO4 reached 80 % of their capacity after only 200 cycles. Furthermore, with regard to electrochemical performance, aqueously processed electrodes using carbon-coated Al current collector outperformed reference electrodes based on state-of-the-art production processes involving N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone as processing solvent and fluorinated binders. The positive impact on cycle life by the addition of Li2SO4 stemmed from a formed sulfate coating as well as different surface species, protecting the NCM811 surface against degradation. Results reported herein open a new avenue for the processing of Ni-rich NCM electrodes using more sustainable aqueous routes.European Union http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000780European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programPeer Reviewe

Data-driven nonparametric Li-ion battery ageing model aiming at learning from real operation data – Part A : storage operation

Conventional Li-ion battery ageing models, such as electrochemical, semi-empirical and empirical models, require a significant amount of time and experimental resources to provide accurate predictions under realistic operating conditions. At the same time, there is significant interest from industry in the introduction of new data collection telemetry technology. This implies the forthcoming availability of a significant amount of real-world battery operation data. In this context, the development of ageing models able to learn from in-field battery operation data is an interesting solution to mitigate the need for exhaustive laboratory testing

Assessment on the Use of High Capacity “Sn4_{4}P3_{3}”/NHC Composite Electrodes for Sodium-Ion Batteries with Ether and Carbonate Electrolytes

This work reports the facile synthesis of a Sn–P composite combined with nitrogen doped hard carbon (NHC) obtained by ball-milling and its use as electrode material for sodium ion batteries (SIBs). The “Sn$_{4}$P$_{3}$”/NHC electrode (with nominal composition “Sn$_{4}$P$_{3}$”:NHC = 75:25 wt%) when coupled with a diglyme-based electrolyte rather than the most commonly employed carbonate-based systems, exhibits a reversible capacity of 550 mAh g$_{electrode}$$^{−1}$ at 50 mA g$^{−1}$ and 440 mAh g$_{electrode}$$^{−1}$ over 500 cycles (83% capacity retention). Morphology and solid electrolyte interphase formation of cycled “Sn$_{4}$P$_{3}$”/NHC electrodes is studied via electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The expansion of the electrode upon sodiation (300 mAh g$_{electrode}$$^{−1}$) is only about 12–14% as determined by in situ electrochemical dilatometry, giving a reasonable explanation for the excellent cycle life despite the conversion-type storage mechanism. In situ X-ray diffraction shows that the discharge product is Na$_{15}$Sn$_{4}$. The formation of mostly amorphous Na$_{3}$P is derived from the overall (electro)chemical reactions. Upon charge the formation of Sn is observed while amorphous P is derived, which are reversibly alloying with Na in the subsequent cycles. However, the formation of Sn$_{4}$P$_{3}$ can be certainly excluded

Enabling Aqueous Processing of Ni Rich Layered Oxide Cathode Materials by Addition of Lithium Sulphate

Aqueous processing of Ni rich layered oxide cathode materials is a promising approach to simultaneously decrease electrode manufacturing costs, while bringing environmental benefits by substituting the state of the art often toxic and costly organic processing solvents. However, an aqueous environment remains challenging due to the high reactivity of Ni rich layered oxides towards moisture, leading to lithium leaching and Al current collector corrosion because of the resulting high pH value of the aqueous electrode paste. Herein, a facile method was developed to enable aqueous processing of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 NCM811 by the addition of lithium sulfate Li2SO4 during electrode paste dispersion. The aqueously processed electrodes retained 80 amp; 8201; of their initial capacity after 400 cycles in NCM811 graphite full cells, while electrodes processed without the addition of Li2SO4 reached 80 amp; 8201; of their capacity after only 200 cycles. Furthermore, with regard to electrochemical performance, aqueously processed electrodes using carbon coated Al current collector outperformed reference electrodes based on state of the art production processes involving N methyl 2 pyrrolidone as processing solvent and fluorinated binders. The positive impact on cycle life by the addition of Li2SO4 stemmed from a formed sulfate coating as well as different surface species, protecting the NCM811 surface against degradation. Results reported herein open a new avenue for the processing of Ni rich NCM electrodes using more sustainable aqueous route

Assessment on the use of high capacity “Sn 4 P 3 ”/NHC composite electrodes for sodium‐ion batteries with ether and carbonate electrolytes

This work reports the facile synthesis of a Sn–P composite combined with nitrogen doped hard carbon (NHC) obtained by ball-milling and its use as electrode material for sodium ion batteries (SIBs). The “Sn4P3”/NHC electrode (with nominal composition “Sn4P3”:NHC = 75:25 wt%) when coupled with a diglyme-based electrolyte rather than the most commonly employed carbonate-based systems, exhibits a reversible capacity of 550 mAh gelectrode−1 at 50 mA g−1 and 440 mAh gelectrode−1 over 500 cycles (83% capacity retention). Morphology and solid electrolyte interphase formation of cycled “Sn4P3”/NHC electrodes is studied via electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The expansion of the electrode upon sodiation (300 mAh gelectrode−1) is only about 12–14% as determined by in situ electrochemical dilatometry, giving a reasonable explanation for the excellent cycle life despite the conversion-type storage mechanism. In situ X-ray diffraction shows that the discharge product is Na15Sn4. The formation of mostly amorphous Na3P is derived from the overall (electro)chemical reactions. Upon charge the formation of Sn is observed while amorphous P is derived, which are reversibly alloying with Na in the subsequent cycles. However, the formation of Sn4P3 can be certainly excluded