Synthesis and Electrochemical Properties of Lithium Titanate Anode Materials Powders by Solid State Reaction of Li and Spherical TiO2 Powders

Li4Ti5O12 powders were synthesized by solid state reaction of Li2CO3 and spherical composite powders of carbon and TiO2 (denoted as C/TiO2). C/TiO2 powders were synthesized by spray pyrolysis of using lactic acid aqueous solution. The particle characteristics of Li4Ti5O12 powders were determined by SEM, XRD and DTA-TG. DTA-TG showed that the carbon content was around 8 wt% in Li4Ti5O12 powders. XRD revealed that the spinel structure (Fd3m) was obtained by heating at 750 °C under N2 atmosphere. The first rechargeable capacity of Li4Ti5O12 anode was about 160 mAh/g at 1 C. That of Li4Ti5O12 anode decreased to 90 mAh/g at 20 C. The rechargeable capacity of Li4Ti5O12 anode decreased with increasing the rechargeable rate, but 81% of initial discharge capacity of Li4Ti5O12 anode was retained after 200 cycles at 1C

Synthesis and Electrochemical Properties of C/LiMnPO4 CathodeMaterials by Complex Polymerized Method

C/LiMnPO4 materials were synthesized by the complex polymerized method. An orthorhombic olivine type structure was obtained by calcination at temperatures over 973 K under an argon/hydrogen (5%) atmosphere. Differential thermogravimetric analysis showed that the carbon content of C/LiMnPO4 was about 65 wt%. The initial discharge capacity of C/LiMnPO4 calcined at 973 K was 135 mAh/g at 0.1 C and 60 mAh/g at 1 C

Synthesis and Electrochemical Properties of C/LiMnPO4 CathodeMaterials by Complex Polymerized Method

C/LiMnPO4 materials were synthesized by the complex polymerized method. An orthorhombic olivine type structure was obtained by calcination at temperatures over 973 K under an argon/hydrogen (5%) atmosphere. Differential thermogravimetric analysis showed that the carbon content of C/LiMnPO4 was about 65 wt%. The initial discharge capacity of C/LiMnPO4 calcined at 973 K was 135 mAh/g at 0.1 C and 60 mAh/g at 1 C

High-speed atomic force microscopy

The technology of high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) has reached maturity. HS-AFM enables us to directly visualize the structure and dynamics of biological molecules in physiological solutions at subsecond to sub-100 ms temporal resolution. By this microscopy, dynamically acting molecules such as myosin V walking on an actin filament and bacteriorhodopsin in response to light are successfully visualized. Highresolution molecular movies reveal the dynamic behavior of molecules in action in great detail. Inferences no longer have to be made from static snapshots of molecular structures and from the dynamic behavior of optical markers attached to biomolecules. In this review, we first describe theoretical considerations for the highest possible imaging rate, then summarize techniques involved in HS-AFM and highlight recent imaging studies. Finally, we briefly discuss future challenges to explore. © 2012 The Japan Society of Applied Physics

Video-rate high-speed atomic force microscopy for biological sciences

金沢大学理工研究域数物科学系The atomic force microscope (AFM) is unique in its capability to capture high-resolution images of biological samples in liquids. This capability becomes more valuable to biological sciences if AFM additionally acquires an ability of high-speed imaging. "Direct and real-time visualization" is a straightforward and powerful means of understanding biomolecular processes. With conventional AFM, it takes more than a minute to capture an image, while biomolecular processes generally occur on a millisecond timescale. In order to fill this large gap,various efforts have been carried out in the past decade. Here, we review these past efforts, describe the current state of the capability and limitations of our high-speed AFM, and discuss possibilities that may break the limitations, leading to an innovative high-speed bioAFM

Proteomic Analysis of Anti-inflammatory Effects of a Kampo (Japanese Herbal) Medicine “Shoseiryuto (Xiao-Qing-Long-Tang)” on Airway Inflammation in a Mouse Model

Effects of a Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine “shoseiryuto (SST, xiao-qing-long-tang in Chinese)”, which has been used for the treatment of allergic bronchial asthma clinically, were examined on ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized allergic airway inflammation model (i.e., bronchial asthma) in a mouse. When SST was orally administered at 0.5 g kg−1 day−1 from day 1 to 6 after OVA inhalation, SST reduced the inflammation in lung tissue, the number of eosinophils and the OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody titer in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids at 7 days after the OVA inhalation. SST also reduced the airway hyperreactivity at 6 days after the OVA inhalation. Proteomic analysis with the agarose two-dimensional electrophoresis showed that the expression of spectrin α2 was reduced in the lung tissue of OVA-sensitized mice and SST recovered the expression. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses of lung tissue also confirmed this result. When prednisolone was orally administered at 3 mg kg−1 day−1 from day 1 to 6 after OVA inhalation, the inflammation in lung tissue, the number of eosinophils in BAL fluids and airway hyperreactivity were reduced in the OVA-sensitized mice. However, prednisolone did not reduce the OVA-specific IgE antibody titer in BAL fluids and did not recover the expression of spectrin α2 in lung tissue. These results suggest that at least a part of action mechanism of SST against OVA-sensitized allergic airway inflammation in a mouse model is different from that of prednisolone

High resonance frequency force microscope scanner using inertia balance support.

金沢大学 理工研究域 数物科学系We have developed the atomic force microscope scanner with the high resonance frequency of 540 kHz in the z axis using a piezosupport mechanism "inertia balance support." In the method, a cubic piezoactuator is supported at the four sides perpendicular to the extension axis, by which the resonance frequency of the scanner remains as high as that of the actuator in the free vibration. The scanner allows driving at low voltage ±15 V for the practical z scan range of 330 nm. We demonstrate the applicability of the scanner to the true-atomic-resolution imaging of mica in liquid. © 2008 American Institute of Physics

Tip-sample distance control using photothermal actuation of a small cantilever for high-speed atomic force microscopy

金沢大学 理工研究域 数物科学系We have applied photothermal bending of a cantilever induced by an intensity-modulated infrared laser to control the tip-surface distance in atomic force microscopy. The slow response of the photothermal expansion effect is eliminated by inverse transfer function compensation. By regulating the laser power and regulating the cantilever deflection, the tip-sample distance is controlled; this enables much faster imaging than that in the conventional piezoactuator-based z scanners because of the considerably higher resonant frequency of small cantilevers. Using this control together with other devices optimized for high-speed scanning, video-rate imaging of protein molecules in liquids is achieved. © 2007 American Institute of Physics