Updated insights into 3D architecture electrodes for micropower sources

Microbatteries (MBs) and microsupercapacitors (MSCs) are primary on-chip micropower sources that drive autonomous and stand-alone microelectronic devices for implementation of the Internet of Things (IoT). However, the performance of conventional MBs and MSCs is restricted by their 2D thin-film electrode design, and these devices struggle to satisfy the increasing IoT energy demands for high energy density, high power density, and long lifespan. The energy densities of MBs and MSCs can be improved significantly through adoption of a 2D thick-film electrode design; however, their power densities and lifespans deteriorate with increased electrode thickness. In contrast, 3D architecture electrodes offer remarkable opportunities to simultaneously improve MB and MSC energy density, power density, and lifespan. To date, various 3D architecture electrodes have been designed, fabricated, and investigated for MBs and MSCs. This review provides an update on the principal superiorities of 3D architecture electrodes over 2D thick-film electrodes in the context of improved MB and MSC energy density, power density, and lifespan. In addition, the most recent and representative progress in 3D architecture electrode development for MBs and MSCs is highlighted. Finally, present challenges are discussed and key perspectives for future research in this field are outlined

Tautomerism unveils a self-inhibition mechanism of crystallization

Modifiers are commonly used in natural, biological, and synthetic crystallization to tailor the growth of diverse materials. Here, we identify tautomers as a new class of modifiers where the dynamic interconversion between solute and its corresponding tautomer(s) produces native crystal growth inhibitors. The macroscopic and microscopic effects imposed by inhibitor-crystal interactions reveal dual mechanisms of inhibition where tautomer occlusion within crystals that leads to natural bending, tunes elastic modulus, and selectively alters the rate of crystal dissolution. Our study focuses on ammonium urate crystallization and shows that the keto-enol form of urate, which exists as a minor tautomer, is a potent inhibitor that nearly suppresses crystal growth at select solution alkalinity and supersaturation. The generalizability of this phenomenon is demonstrated for two additional tautomers with relevance to biological systems and pharmaceuticals. These findings offer potential routes in crystal engineering to strategically control the mechanical or physicochemical properties of tautomeric materials

A Cognitively Inspired System Architecture for the Mengshi Cognitive Vehicle

This paper introduces the functional system architecture of the Mengshi intelligent vehicle, winner of the 2018 World Intelligent Driving Challenge (WIDC). Different from traditional smart vehicles, a cognitive module is introduced in the system architecture to realise the transition from perception to decision-making. This is shown to enhance the practical utility of the smart vehicle, enabling safe and robust driving in different scenes. The collaborative work of hardware and software systems is achieved through multi-sensor fusion and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, including novel use of deep machine learning and context-aware scene analysis to select optimal driving strategies. Experimental results using both robustness tests and road tests confirm that the Mengshi intelligent vehicle is reliable and robust in challenging environments. This paper describes the major components of this cognitively inspired architecture and discusses the results of the 2018 WIDC

Anode materials for potassium‐ion batteries: Current status and prospects

Abstract Potassium‐ion batteries (KIBs) as one of the most promising alternatives to lithium‐ion batteries have been highly valued in recent years. However, progress in KIBs is largely restricted by the sluggish development in anode materials. Therefore, it is imperative to systematically outline and evaluate the recent research advances in the field of anode materials for KIBs toward promoting the development of high‐performance anode materials for KIBs. In this review, the recent achievements in anode materials for KIBs are summarized. The electrochemical properties (ie. charge storage mechanism, capacity, rate performance, and cycling stability) of these reported anode materials, as well as their advantages/disadvantages, are discerned and analyzed, enabling high‐performance KIBs to meet the requirements for practical applications. Finally, technological developments, scientific challenges, and future research opportunities of anode materials for KIBs are briefly reviewed

Closed-Shell Ion Pairs: Cation and Aggregate Dynamics of Tetraalkylammonium Salts in an Ion-Pairing Solvent

Tetrabutylammonium ion (1) forms tight ion pairs with small anions (Cl-, BH4-) in CDCl3solution. These ion pairs aggregate as a response to increasing solution concentration with little temperature dependence. Maximum aggregate size is approximately four ion pairs, as measured by comparing self-diffusion coefficients of the aggregates with that of an internal nonaggregating standard of the same shape and nominal size, tetrabutylsilane (2). The magnitudes of steady state interionic 1H{1H} NOEs observed between 1 and the BH4- anion in CDCl3 as a function of temperature in solutions of fixed concentration are well fit to the standard theoretical expression by assuming a single aggregate size that is independent of temperature. A simplified model-free analysis was applied to steady state 15N{1H} NOE and15N T1 measured at several magnetic field strengths, using 15N-labeled 1 to obtain estimates for reorientational correlation times for the ion aggregates. A similar analysis of 13C{1H} NOE and 13C T1 gives local effective correlation times for C−H bond vectors of the 1-CH2 carbon of1 and order parameters relating the local motion to overall cation motion. Comparison of these correlation times with those obtained from analysis of 29Si{1H} NOE, 13C{1H} NOE, and13C T1 for silane 2 provides an estimate of aggregate size which is independent of that obtained by diffusion, with good agreement between the different approaches

A Reported “New Synthesis of Lysergic Acid” Yields Only The Derailment Product: Methyl 5-Methoxy-4,5-dihydroindolo[4,3-<i>f,g</i>]quinoline-9-carboxylate

The treatment of ethyl 6-formyl-5-(1<i>H</i>-indol-4-yl)pyridine-3-carboxylate (<b>2</b>) with NaOMe or NaOH in methanol solution at room temperature under the reported reaction conditions afforded solely product <b>4</b> in 80% yield, rather than anticipated product <b>3</b>

MOESM1 of Genetic engineering of Arabidopsis to overproduce disinapoyl esters, potential lignin modification molecules

Additional file 1: Figure S1. UV spectra (a) and MS spectra under ESI (-) mode (b) of 1,2-DSG and compound 1