2 research outputs found
Interfacial Activity of Starch-Based Nanoparticles at the Oil–Water Interface
Understanding the interfacial activity
of polysaccharide nanoparticles adsorbed at oil–water interfaces
is essential and important for the application of these nanoparticles
as Pickering stabilizers. The interfacial properties of starch-based
nanospheres (SNPs) at the interface of an <i>n</i>-hexane–water
system were investigated by monitoring the interfacial tension at
different bulk concentrations. The three-phase contact angle (θ)
and the adsorption energy (Δ<i>E</i>) increased with
increasing size and degree of substitution with octenyl succinic groups
(OSA) in the particles. Compared with the OSA-modified starch (OSA-S)
macromolecule, the SNPs effectively reduced the interfacial tension
of the <i>n</i>-hexane–water system at a relatively
higher concentration. These results and the method reported herein
are useful for selecting and preparing polysaccharide nanoparticles
as Pickering stabilizers for oil–water emulsions
Rational Design of Vinylene Carbonate-Inspired 1,3-Dimethyl‑1<i>H</i>‑imidazol-2(3<i>H</i>)‑one Additives to Stabilize High-Voltage Lithium Metal Batteries
Lithium
metal batteries (LMBs) employing high-voltage nickel-rich
cathodes represent a promising strategy to enable higher energy density
storage systems. However, instability at the electrolyte–electrode
interfaces (EEIs) currently impedes the translation of these advanced
systems into practical applications. Herein, 1,3-dimethyl-1H-imidazol-2(3H)-one (DMIO), integrating
structural features of vinylene carbonate (VC) while substituting
oxygen with electron-donating nitrogen, has been synthesized and validated
as a multifunctional electrolyte additive for high-voltage LMBs. Theoretical
calculations and experimental results demonstrate that the potent
electron-donating nitrogen in DMIO enables preferential DMIO oxidation
at the cathode while preserving its carbon–carbon double bond
for a concomitant reduction on the anode. Thereby, robust DMIO-derived
EEIs are generated, reinforcing cycling in the full cells. Additionally,
DMIO leverages Lewis acid-based interactions to coordinate and sequester
protons from acidic LiPF6 decomposition byproducts, concurrently
retarding LiPF6 hydrolysis while attenuating parasitic
consumption of EEIs by acidic species. Consequently, incorporating
DMIO into conventional carbonate electrolytes enables an improved
capacity retention of Li||NCM622 cells to 81% versus 26% in the baseline
electrolyte after 600 cycles. Similarly, DMIO improves Li anode cycling
performance, displaying extended life spans over 200 h in Li||Li symmetric
cells and enhancing Coulombic efficiency from 76% to 88% in Li||Cu
cells. The synergistic effects of DMIO on both the cathode and anode
lead to substantially improved cell lifetime. This rationally designed,
multifunctional electrolyte additive paradigm provides vital insights
that can be translatable to further electrolyte molecular engineering
strategies