The effect of remittances and FDI inflows on income distribution in developing economies

This study aims to examine empirically the effect of remittance inflows, FDI, and economic growth on income inequality. We include financial development and trade openness as potential determinants of income inequality. We utilise annual data from 1980 to 2016 and consider a sample of 20 major remittance–receiving developing economies. The empirical results from the panel cointegration models confirm the presence of a long-run equilibrium relationship among the variables. Our results on long-run elasticities suggest that increase in FDI inflows and remittances raise income inequality, while economic growth reduces. The findings also establish unidirectional causality from economic growth to income inequality. Given these findings, we suggest that policy makers frame appropriate policies for the effective use of remittances and FDI inflows to reduce income inequality in developing economies

Improved Sufur/Lithium Suflide Nano-composite Electrodes for Next-Generation Lithium Cells

A new generation of batteries with a capability of at least 400 Wh/kg is urgently needed since current lithium ion cells are reaching their maximum energy storage capability (~200 Wh/kg). The lithium/sulfur cell, with a theoretical specific energy of 2680 Wh/kg, is an attractive candidate. However, its rapid capacity decay owing to polysulfide dissolution requires good protection of the cathode materials before it can be commercialized. In our research, we are working on improving the performance of the Li/S cell by modifying the active material structure, electrolyte and binder. For the sulfur electrode, graphene oxide and other carbon materials with various surface functional groups are used as a component of nanostructured composite electrode materials. With the help of these functional groups as well as a new binder, nanostructured sulfur can be retained during cell cycling. The latest results show that the new C-S materials are exhibiting a capacity higher than 800 mAh/g(sulfur) even after cycling for 1000 times. For Li2S as the starting material, structured nanoparticles that contain carbon or other conductive materials are under evaluation. Recent results show that the capacity fading of Li2S electrodes can be alleviated using carbon. In addition to these experiments, simulations of the Li/S cell are being performed. The computational model includes a description of electrochemical kinetics, mass and charge transport in the electrolyte as well as the formation of solid phases. Different reaction mechanisms can be chosen to represent the operation of Li/S cells. Simulated results include charge and discharge curves, concentrations of dissolved ions and polysulfides, volumes of solid and liquid phases in different regions of the cell as well as electrochemical impedance spectra. These results facilitate the interpretation of experimental results. The refinement and validation of the model based on our most recent data is the subject of ongoing studies

A Long-Life, High-Rate Lithium/Sulfur Cell: A Multifaceted Approach to Enhancing Cell Performance

Lithium/sulfur (Li/S) cells are receiving significant attention as an alternative power source for zero-emission vehicles and advanced electronic devices due to the very high theoretical specific capacity (1675 mA·h/g) of the sulfur cathode. However, the poor cycle life and rate capability have remained a grand challenge, preventing the practical application of this attractive technology. Here, we report that a Li/S cell employing a cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB)-modified sulfur-graphene oxide (S-GO) nanocomposite cathode can be discharged at rates as high as 6C (1C = 1.675 A/g of sulfur) and charged at rates as high as 3C while still maintaining high specific capacity (~ 800 mA·h/g of sulfur at 6C), with a long cycle life exceeding 1500 cycles and an extremely low decay rate (0.039% per cycle), perhaps the best performance demonstrated so far for a Li/S cell. The initial estimated cell-level specific energy of our cell was ~ 500 W·h/kg, which is much higher than that of current Li-ion cells (~ 200 W·h/kg). Even after 1500 cycles, we demonstrate a very high specific capacity (~ 740 mA·h/g of sulfur), which corresponds to ~ 414 mA·h/g of electrode: still higher than state-of-the-art Li-ion cells. Moreover, these Li/S cells with lithium metal electrodes can be cycled with an excellent Coulombic efficiency of 96.3% after 1500 cycles, which was enabled by our new formulation of the ionic liquid-based electrolyte. The performance we demonstrate herein suggests that Li/S cells may already be suitable for high-power applications such as power tools. Li/S cells may now provide a substantial opportunity for the development of zero-emission vehicles with a driving range similar to that of gasoline vehicles

Venture Capital and Chinese Firms’ Technological Innovation Capability: Effective Evaluation and Mechanism Verification

Making the financial industry a solider mainstay of the real economy is of great concern for China in the midst of economic reform. For China, leveraging venture capital (VC) to enhance a firm’s technological innovation capability (TIC) is an important means of actualising its innovation and development strategy, as well as a must-do to realise sustainable development. In this study, firms that went public from 2010 to 2020 on the A-stock market were used as samples to study the effects of VC on TIC and the relevant mechanism based on the difference-in-differences (DID) method. As research findings show, VC can improve TIC through the medium of the internal incentive and external constraint easing effects. The contributory role of VC in TIC varies with firm size, ownership, and industry type. A range of robustness tests, including the PSM, variable substitution, and instrumental variable methods, further strengthened the reliability of the conclusions. This study can enlighten policymakers on how to implement comprehensive resource factor market reform to build a favourable innovation environment that materialises the role of marketisation

A long-life, high-rate lithium/sulfur cell: a multifaceted approach to enhancing cell performance.

Lithium/sulfur (Li/S) cells are receiving significant attention as an alternative power source for zero-emission vehicles and advanced electronic devices due to the very high theoretical specific capacity (1675 mA·h/g) of the sulfur cathode. However, the poor cycle life and rate capability have remained a grand challenge, preventing the practical application of this attractive technology. Here, we report that a Li/S cell employing a cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB)-modified sulfur-graphene oxide (S-GO) nanocomposite cathode can be discharged at rates as high as 6C (1C = 1.675 A/g of sulfur) and charged at rates as high as 3C while still maintaining high specific capacity (~ 800 mA·h/g of sulfur at 6C), with a long cycle life exceeding 1500 cycles and an extremely low decay rate (0.039% per cycle), perhaps the best performance demonstrated so far for a Li/S cell. The initial estimated cell-level specific energy of our cell was ~ 500 W·h/kg, which is much higher than that of current Li-ion cells (~ 200 W·h/kg). Even after 1500 cycles, we demonstrate a very high specific capacity (~ 740 mA·h/g of sulfur), which corresponds to ~ 414 mA·h/g of electrode: still higher than state-of-the-art Li-ion cells. Moreover, these Li/S cells with lithium metal electrodes can be cycled with an excellent Coulombic efficiency of 96.3% after 1500 cycles, which was enabled by our new formulation of the ionic liquid-based electrolyte. The performance we demonstrate herein suggests that Li/S cells may already be suitable for high-power applications such as power tools. Li/S cells may now provide a substantial opportunity for the development of zero-emission vehicles with a driving range similar to that of gasoline vehicles

Economic Policy Uncertainty, Outward Foreign Direct Investments, and Green Total Factor Productivity: Evidence from Firm-Level Data in China

This paper uses Chinese firm-level data to investigate the effect of China’s outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) on green total factor productivity (GTFP) under economic policy uncertainties (EPU). We found a significant positive impact of OFDI on GTFP. Moreover, an increase in EPU was shown to decrease GTFP. We also found that OFDI positively contributes to GTFP for private firms and foreign-invested firms in China. Technology-seeking OFDI contributes greater to GTFP than resource-seeking OFDI and market-seeking OFDI. These results remain robust when considering OFDI from firms in Central and East China as well as Western China. The findings are also robust with green labor productivity (GLP) substituting for GTFP using different econometric techniques. We also discuss potential implications in enhancing green innovation performance and sustainable industrial development in China

A Long-Life, High-Rate Lithium/Sulfur Cell: A Multifaceted Approach to Enhancing Cell Performance

Lithium/sulfur (Li/S) cells are receiving significant attention as an alternative power source for zero-emission vehicles and advanced electronic devices due to the very high theoretical specific capacity (1675 mA·h/g) of the sulfur cathode. However, the poor cycle life and rate capability have remained a grand challenge, preventing the practical application of this attractive technology. Here, we report that a Li/S cell employing a cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB)-modified sulfur-graphene oxide (S–GO) nanocomposite cathode can be discharged at rates as high as 6C (1C = 1.675 A/g of sulfur) and charged at rates as high as 3C while still maintaining high specific capacity (∼800 mA·h/g of sulfur at 6C), with a long cycle life exceeding 1500 cycles and an extremely low decay rate (0.039% per cycle), perhaps the best performance demonstrated so far for a Li/S cell. The initial estimated cell-level specific energy of our cell was ∼500 W·h/kg, which is much higher than that of current Li-ion cells (∼200 W·h/kg). Even after 1500 cycles, we demonstrate a very high specific capacity (∼740 mA·h/g of sulfur), which corresponds to ∼414 mA·h/g of electrode: still higher than state-of-the-art Li-ion cells. Moreover, these Li/S cells with lithium metal electrodes can be cycled with an excellent Coulombic efficiency of 96.3% after 1500 cycles, which was enabled by our new formulation of the ionic liquid-based electrolyte. The performance we demonstrate herein suggests that Li/S cells may already be suitable for high-power applications such as power tools. Li/S cells may now provide a substantial opportunity for the development of zero-emission vehicles with a driving range similar to that of gasoline vehicles