Assessing the Application-Specific Substitutability of Lithium-Ion Battery Cathode Chemistries Based on Material Criticality, Performance, and Price

The material use of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is widely discussed in public and scientific discourse. Cathodes of state-of-the-art LIBs are partially comprised of high-priced raw materials mined under alarming ecological and social circumstances. Moreover, battery manufacturers are searching for cathode chemistries that represent a trade-off between low costs and an acceptable material criticality of the comprised elements while fulfilling the performance requirements for the respective application of the LIB. This article provides an assessment of the substitutability of common LIB cathode chemistries (NMC 111, −532, −622, −811, NCA 3%, −9%, LMO, LFP, and LCO) for five major fields of application (traction batteries, stationary energy storage systems, consumer electronics, power-/garden tools, and domestic appliances). Therefore, we provide a tailored methodology for evaluating the substitutability of products or components and critically reflect on the results. Outcomes show that LFP is the preferable cathode chemistry while LCO obtains the worst rating for all fields of application under the assumptions made (as well as the weighting of the considered categories derived from an expert survey). The ranking based on the substitutability score of the other cathode chemistries varies per field of application. NMC 532, −811, −111, and LMO are named recommendable types of cathodes

The (perceived) quality of agricultural technology and its adoption: Experimental evidence from Uganda

Recently, issues related to the (perceived) quality of inputs and technologies have been proposed as an important constraint to their adoption by smallholder farmers in low income countries. Taking maize seed embodying genetic gain as a case, we train random agro-dealers to test whether under-adoption by farmers is caused by low quality due to sellers' lack of knowledge about proper storage and handling. In a second hypothesis, we randomly introduce an information clearinghouse similar to popular crowd-sourced review platforms such as yelp.com or trustpilot.com to test whether information asymmetries crowd out quality seed. We find that the information clearinghouse treatment improves outcomes for both agro-dealers and farmers, with agro-dealers receiving more customers and reporting higher revenues from maize seed sales, and farmers reporting significantly higher use of improved maize seed varieties obtained from agro-dealers, leading to higher maize productivity after two seasons. The primary mechanisms behind this impact appear to be an increased effort to signal quality by agro-dealers and a general restoration of trust in the market for improved seed. The agro-dealer training does not have a clear impact on agro-dealers, nor on farmers in associated catchment areas. However, we do find that the information clearinghouse increases agro-dealer knowledge about proper seed storage and handling. Upon exploring interaction effects between the training and the clearinghouse treatment, we also find that the training becomes effective for agro-dealers that are also in the clearinghouse treatment group. This underscores the importance of incentives to make supply side interventions such as trainings effective

Miracle seeds: Biased expectations, complementary input use, and the dynamics of smallholder technology adoption

To fully benefit from new agricultural technologies like improved seed varieties, significant investment in complementary inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides, and practices such as systematic planting, irrigation, and weeding are also required. Farmers may fail to recognize the importance of these complements, leading to unsatisfactory crop yields and outputs and, eventually, dis-adoption of the variety. We provide a simple model of biased expectations, complementary input use and technology adoption and test its predictions using a field experiment among smallholder maize farmers in eastern Uganda. We find that pointing out the importance of complementary investments using a short, engaging video effectively deters some farmers from using commercial improved varieties. Consistent with the theoretical model, we find some evidence that this behavior change emanates from increased knowledge and expectations that are more in line with realized outcomes

Potenziale der schwachen künstlichen Intelligenz für die betriebliche Ressourceneffizienz

POTENZIALE DER SCHWACHEN KÜNSTLICHEN INTELLIGENZ FÜR DIE BETRIEBLICHE RESSOURCENEFFIZIENZ Potenziale der schwachen künstlichen Intelligenz für die betriebliche Ressourceneffizienz / Friedrich, Robert (Rights reserved) ( -

Language endangerment and language documentation in Africa

Non peer reviewe

African Linguistics in Central and Eastern Europe, and in the Nordic Countries

Non peer reviewe

Integriertes Schadstoffmanagement

Der Vortrag führt die relevanten rechtlichen Forderungen nach REACH (EC 1907/2006) und RoHS (EU 2002/95/EG, RoHS II 2011/65/EU) an und geht auf die Herausforderungen in Unternehmen ein, welche bei einer Umsetzung dieser rechtlichen Forderungen entstehen können. Es wird das Vorgehen zum Erkennen möglicher rechtlicher oder normativ geregelter Schadstoffe in einzelnen Werkstoffen, Bauteilen und Produkten anhand eines Prozesses in zehn Schritten beschrieben. Dazu werden die Organisationseinheiten und Werkzeuge, welche zur Umsetzung eines solchen Schadstoffmanagementprozesses im Unternehmen benötigt werden beschrieben

Methodik zur Quantifizierung der nachhaltigen Wertschöpfung von Produktionssystemen an der ökonomisch-ökologischen Schnittstelle anhand ausgewählter Umweltprobleme

Adding value sustainably is essential for a future green economy. An adequate alignment of manufacturing systems heavily depends on specific measurement. This thesis provides a categorically objective interpretation of combined economic and ecologic value added in dependence on the philosophies of Immanuel Kant and Hans Jonas. The here presented concept broadens classic operational value added accounting for manufacturing systems with regards to socio-ecologic concequences. The eco²-value-added considers both economic and ecologic impact of technological actions in industrial enterprises on a solely monetary basis. An application in organisations enables a review of social legitimation, an anticipation of business risks and an adjustment of the socio-technical system towards the omnipresent challenge of equity. Likewise, the concept provides basic principles for a potential regulative utilization via tailored tax systems

Entwicklung eines integrierten Schadstoffmanagementkonzepts auf Basis der DIN EN 50581

Der Vortrag führt die relevanten rechtlichen Forderungen nach RoHS II (2011/65/EU) und REACH (EC 1907/2006) an und geht auf die Herausforderungen in Unternehmen ein, welche bei einer Umsetzung dieser rechtlichen Forderungen entstehen können. Es wird das Vorgehen zum Erkennen möglicher rechtlicher oder normativ geregelter Schadstoffe in einzelnen Werkstoffen, Bauteilen und Produkten anhand eines Prozesses in 13 Schritten beschrieben. Dazu werden die Organisationseinheiten und Werkzeuge, welche zur Umsetzung eines solchen Schadstoffmanagementprozesses im Unternehmen benötigt werden, beschrieben

Die Biologische Transformation

Wenn die Digitale auf die Biologische Transformation trifft, können die technischen Voraussetzungen geschaffen werden, um die dringenden Probleme der Gesellschaft tatsächlich zu lösen. Nahezu alle industriellen und gesellschaftlichen Bereiche und auch entsprechende Forschungsinstitutionen werden sich in einer biointelligenten Wertschöpfung massiv verändern. Die Vision der Biologischen Transformation, wie sie hier detailliert vorgestellt wird, ist bereits dabei, Realität zu werden