Conductive and Catalytic Triple‐Phase Interfaces Enabling Uniform Nucleation in High‐Rate Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Rechargeable lithium–sulfur batteries have attracted tremendous scientific attention owing to their superior energy density. However, the sulfur electrochemistry involves multielectron redox reactions and complicated phase transformations, while the final morphology of solid‐phase Li₂S precipitates largely dominate the battery's performance. Herein, a triple‐phase interface among electrolyte/CoSe₂/G is proposed to afford strong chemisorption, high electrical conductivity, and superb electrocatalysis of polysulfide redox reactions in a working lithium–sulfur battery. The triple‐phase interface effectively enhances the kinetic behaviors of soluble lithium polysulfides and regulates the uniform nucleation and controllable growth of solid Li₂S precipitates at large current density. Therefore, the cell with the CoSe₂/G functional separator delivers an ultrahigh rate cycle at 6.0 C with an initial capacity of 916 mAh g^?1 and a capacity retention of 459 mAh g^?1 after 500 cycles, and a stable operation of high sulfur loading electrode (2.69–4.35 mg cm^?2). This work opens up a new insight into the energy chemistry at interfaces to rationally regulate the electrochemical redox reactions, and also inspires the exploration of related energy storage and conversion systems based on multielectron redox reactions.     

Highly Solvating Electrolytes for Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

There is a critical need to evaluate lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries with practically relevant high sulfur loadings and minimal electrolyte. Under such conditions, the concentration of soluble polysulfide intermediates in the electrolyte drastically increases, which can alter the fundamental nature of the solution‐mediated discharge and thereby the total sulfur utilization. In this work, an investigation into various high donor number (DN) electrolytes that allow for increased polysulfide dissolution is presented, and the way in which this property may in fact be necessary for increasing sulfur utilization at low electrolyte and high loading conditions is demonstrated. The solvents dimethylacetamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and 1‐methylimidazole are holistically evaluated against dimethoxyethane as electrolyte co‐solvents in Li–S cells, and they are used to investigate chemical and electrochemical properties of polysulfide species at both dilute and practically relevant conditions. The nature of speciation exhibited by lithium polysulfides is found to vary significantly between these concentrations, particularly with regard to the S₃^?? species. Furthermore, the extent of the instability in conventional electrolyte solvents and high DN solvents with both lithium metal and polysulfides is thoroughly investigated. These studies establish a basis for future efforts into rationally designing an optimal electrolyte for a lean electrolyte, high energy density Li–S battery.     

From food‐dependent statistics to metabolic parameters,a practical guide to the use of dynamic energy budget theory

The standard model of the dynamic energy budget theory for metabolic organisation has variables and parameters that can be quantified using indirect methods only. We present new methods (and software) to extract food‐independent parameter values of the energy budget from food‐dependent quantities that are easy to observe, and so facilitate the practical application of the theory to enhance predictability and extrapolation. A natural sequence of 10 steps is discussed to obtain some compound parameters first, then the primary parameters, then the composition parameters and finally the thermodynamic parameters; this sequence matches a sequence of required data of increasing complexity which is discussed in detail. Many applications do not require knowledge of all parameters, and we discuss methods to extrapolate parameters from one species to another. The conversion of mass, volume and energy measures of biomass is discussed; these conversions are not trivial because biomass can change in chemical composition in particular ways thanks to different forms of homeostasis. We solve problems like “What would be the ultimate reproduction rate and the von Bertalanffy growth rate at a specific food level, given that we have measured these statistics at abundant food?” and “What would be the maximum incubation time, given the parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth curve?”. We propose a new non‐destructive method for quantifying the chemical potential and entropy of living reserve and structure, that can potentially change our ideas on the thermodynamic properties of life. We illustrate the methods using data on daphnids and molluscs.     

Muscle hypertrophy and fast fiber type conversions in heavy resistance-trained women

Twenty-four women completed a 20-week heavy-resistance weight training program for the lower extremity. Workouts were twice a week and consisted of warm-up exercises followed by three sets each of full squats, vertical leg presses, leg extensions, and leg curls. All exercises were performed to failure using 6-8 RM (repetition maximum). Weight training caused a significant increase in maximal isotonic strength (1 RM) for each exercise. After training, there was a decrease in body fat percentage (p less than 0.05), and an increase in lean body mass (p less than 0.05) with no overall change in thigh girth. Biopsies were obtained before and after training from the superficial portion of the vastus lateralis muscle. Sections were prepared for histological and histochemical examination. Six fiber types (I, IC, IIC, IIA, IIAB, and IIB) were distinguished following routine myofibrillar adenosine triphosphatase histochemistry. Areas were determined for fiber types I, IIA, and IIAB + IIB. The heavy-resistance training resulted in significant hypertrophy of all three groups: I (15%), IIA (45%), and IIAB + IIB (57%). These data are similar to those in men and suggest considerable hypertrophy of all major fiber types is also possible in women if exercise intensity and duration are sufficient. In addition, the training resulted in a significant decrease in the percentage of IIB with a concomitant increase in IIA fibers, suggesting that strength training may lead to fiber conversions.     

Novel spironolactone-analogs as impurities in spironolactone

Six novel spironolactone-analogs steroids (3-8) were isolated from spironolactone by using various chromatographic methods. Their structures were elucidated by spectrometric analysis. Two of the analogs (3 and 7) were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The A-ring of compounds 3-7 is opened at C-2C-3 bond, and compound 7 is an organic polysulfide, which has a rare, nine-membered ring with a five sulfur atom bridge.     

A Metal Organic Framework Derived Solid Electrolyte for Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) are currently considered as promising candidates for next‐generation energy storage technologies. However, their practical application is hindered by the critical issue of the polysulfide‐shuttle. Herein, a metal organic framework (MOF)‐derived solid electrolyte is presented to address it. The MOF solid electrolyte is developed based on a Universitetet i Oslo (UIO) structure. By grafting a lithium sulfonate (‐SO₃Li) group to the UIO ligand, both the ionic conductivity and the polysulfide‐suppression capability of the resulting ‐SO₃Li grafted UIO (UIOSLi) solid electrolyte are greatly improved. After integrating a Li‐based ionic liquid (Li‐IL), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide in 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, the resulting Li‐IL/UIOSLi solid electrolyte exhibits an ionic conductivity of 3.3 × 10^?4 S cm^?1 at room temperature. Based on its unique structure, the Li‐IL/UIOSLi solid electrolyte effectively restrains the polysulfide shuttle and suppresses lithium dendritic growth. Lithium–sulfur cells with the Li‐IL/UIOSLi solid electrolyte and a Li₂S₆ catholyte show stable cycling performance that preserves 84% of the initial capacity after 250 cycles with a capacity‐fade rate of 0.06% per cycle.     

Polysulfide Confinement and Highly Efficient Conversion on Hierarchical Mesoporous Carbon Nanosheets for Li–S Batteries

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries have attracted increasing attention due to their extremely high theoretical specific capacity and a promising power density. However, practical applications of Li–S batteries are still limited by the relatively low performance, owing to poor conductivity of sulfur itself and discharge products (Li₂S/Li₂S₂) as well as the shuttle effect of the intermediate polysulfide. Herein, honeycomb‐like mesoporous Co, N‐doped carbon nanosheets (MC‐NS) with a high specific surface area and abundant defects are developed which, simultaneously enable polysulfide confinement and highly efficient conversion. Moreover, density functional theory calculations and experiments show that the Co‐N‐C catalytic site as well as defects on the carbon skeleton of the MC‐NS facilitate high efficiency in suppressing the shuttle effect of polysulfides. In situ Raman spectra further demonstrate the enhancement of adsorption ability and conversion efficiency of polysulfides on this host. As a result, the MC‐NS enables much increased specific capacity and cycling stability of Li–S batteries. This work provides a useful strategy for realizing practical applications of high‐performance Li–S batteries.     

Mesoporous Hybrid Electrolyte for Simultaneously Inhibiting Lithium Dendrites and Polysulfide Shuttle in Li–S Batteries

A bifunctional hybrid electrolyte composed of mesoporous silica nanosheets and liquid electrolyte is achieved for lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. This hybrid electrolyte possesses abundant mesopores (2.8 nm), thin feature (20 µm), and high ionic conductivity (1.17 × 10^?1 mS cm^?1) as well as a low interfacial resistance with electrodes. Such unique features not only enable the efficient inhibition of the growth of lithium dendrites, but also significantly prevents polysulfide shuttling. Consequently, a Li–S battery with this hybrid electrolyte exhibits a relatively high reversible capacity and good capacity retention.     

The effectivity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from high input conventional and organic grassland and grass-arable rotations

The effectivity of arbuscular mycorrhizal spores in promoting growth of Allium ameloprasum L. cv. Musselburgh and Trifolium repens L. cv. Menna was tested for inocula from three soil series under long term organic or intensive, conventional grass and grass-arable rotations. For two soil series, Allium responses to inocula from soils recently converted to organic fanning were also assessed. Finally, Trifolium root fragments were used to inoculate Allium so as to evaluate responses to this inoculation procedure. Plants were sown into previously sterilised, matched soils from organic farms with no nutrient input. Mycorrhizal treatments generally increased growth for Allium. However, for Trifolium, infection decreased growth in the most fertile soil and gave an increase only in the least fertile. In the least fertile soil, inocula from organic farms were more effective than those from conventional farms. For Trifolium (all soils) and for Allium (least fertile soil), there was evidence of more efficient uptake of phosphorus in plants inoculated with spores from organic farms. The pattern of Allium response to inoculation with spores from conventional, conversion and organic sources was not consistent between soil type, but there was evidence of lower root infection for conversion compared with organic inocula and of a trend towards higher infectivity as the time period under organic management increased. Inoculating Allium with AMF root fragments produced a plant response similar to that obtained when spores were used, confirming that spore viability was not the sole factor influencing AMF effectivity in earlier experiments. Intensive farming practices may reduce the effectiveness of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal populations, particularly where fertiliser inputs are high and inherent fertility is low. This could have practical implications where high input farms are converted to organic management.