Residual alkali-evoked cross-linked polymer layer for anti-air-sensitivity LiNi_(0.89)Co_(0.06)Mn_(0.05)O_(2)cathode

High-energy density lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)with layered high-nickel oxide cathodes(LiNi_(x)Co_(y)Mn_(1-x-y)O_(2),x≥0.8)show great promise in consumer electronics and vehicular applications.However,LiNi_(x)Co_(y)Mn_(1-x-y)O_(2)faces challenges related to capacity decay caused by residual alkalis owing to high sensitivity to air.To address this issue,we propose a hazardous substances upcycling method that fundamentally mitigates alkali content and concurrently induces the emergence of an anti-air-sensitive layer on the cathode surface.Through the neutralization of polyacrylic acid(PAA)with residual alkalis and then coupling it with 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane(KH550),a stable and ion-conductive cross-linked polymer layer is in situ integrated into the LiNi_(0.89)Co_(0.06)Mn_(0.05)O_(2)(NCM)cathode.Our characterization and measurements demonstrate its effectiveness.The NCM material exhibits impressive cycling performance,retaining 88.4%of its capacity after 200 cycles at 5 C and achieving an extraordinary specific capacity of 170.0 mA h g^(-1) at 10 C.Importantly,this layer on the NCM efficiently suppresses unfavorable phase transitions,severe electrolyte degradation,and CO_(2)gas evolution,while maintaining commendable resistance to air exposure.This surface modification strategy shows widespread potential for creating air-stable LiNi_(x)Co_(y)Mn_(1-x-y)O_(2)cathodes,thereby advancing high-performance LIBs.

Alkali Tolerance of Concrete Internal Curing Agent Based on Sodium Carboxymethyl Starch

Internal curing agents (ICA) based on super absorbent polymer have poor alkali tolerance and reduce the early strength of concrete.An alkali tolerate internal curing agent (CAA-ICA) was designed and prepared by using sodium carboxymethyl starch (CMS) with high hydrophilicity,acrylic acid (AA) containing anionic carboxylic group and acrylamide (AM) containing non-ionic amide group as the main raw materials.The results show that the ratio of CAA-ICA alkali absorption solution is higher than that existing ICA,which solves the low water absorption ratio of the ICA in alkali environment.The water absorption ratio of CAA-ICA in saturated Ca(OH)_(2) solution is 95.8 g·g^(-1),and the alkali tolerance coefficient is 3.4.The application of CAA-ICA in cement-based materials can increase the internal relative humidity and miniaturize the pore structure.The compressive strength of mortar increases up to 12.95%at 28 d,which provids a solution to overcome the reduction of the early strength.

Response of Rice Growth and Nutrient Absorption in a SalineAlkali Paddy to Different Nitrogen Fertilizer Applications

Nitrogen(N),phosphorus(P)and carbon(C)are essential nutrients for rice growth and development,but the response of nutrient absorption by rice plants to different types of nitrogen fertilizer(N-fertilizer)under saline-alkali conditions is unclear.This study conducted a 147-day field-scale experiment to evaluate rice biomass and nutrient absorption capacity with five N-fertilizer applications.The results showed that the biomass.

Oxidation inhibition of sulfite in dual alkali flue gas desulfurization system

A laboratory-scale well-mixed thermostatic reactor with continuously blasting air was used to investigate the oxidation inhibition of sulfite in dual alkali flue gas desulfurization （FGD） system. The effects of operating parameters such as pH value and catalyst concentration on the oxidation were studied. Sodium thiosulfate was used in the system, and was found that it significantly inhabited the sulfite oxidation. In the absence of catalyst, sodium thiosulfate at 12.67 mmol/L had an inhibition efficiency of approximately 98%. While in the presence of catalyst, sodium thiosulfate at 26.72 mmol/L had an inhibition efficiency less than 85.0%. The oxidation reaction order of sulfite in the sodium thiosulfate was determined to be -1.90 and 4）.55 in the absence and presence of the catalyst, respectively. Apparent activation energy of oxidation inhibition was calculated to be 53.9 kJ/mol. Pilot tests showed that the consumption rate of thiosulfate agreed well with the laboratory-scale experimental results.

Transcriptome analysis reveals the effects of alkali stress on root system architecture and endogenous hormones in apple rootstocks

Soil alkalinity is a major factor that restricts the growth of apple roots.To analyze the response of apple roots to alkali stress, the root structure and endogenous hormones of two apple rootstocks, Malus prunifolia (alkali-tolerant) and Malus hupehensis (alkali-sensitive), were compared. To understand alkali tolerance of M. prunifolia at the molecular level, transcriptome analysis was performed. When plants were cultured in alkaline conditions for 15 d, the root growth of M. hupehensis with weak alkali tolerance decreased significantly. Analysis of endogenous hormone levels showed that the concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and zeatin riboside (ZR) in M. hupehensis under alkali stress were lower than those in the control. However, the trend for IAA and ZR in M. prunifolia was the opposite. The concentration of abscisic acid (ABA) in the roots of the two apple rootstocks under alkali stress increased, but the concentration of ABA in the roots of M. prunifolia was higher than that in M. hupehensis. The expression of IAA-related genes ARF5, GH3.6, SAUR36, and SAUR32 and the Cytokinin (CTK)-related gene IPT5 in M. prunifolia was higher than those in the control, but the expression of these genes in M. hupehensis was lower than those in the control. The expression of ABA-related genes CIPK1 and AHK1 increased in the two apple rootstocks under alkali stress, but the expression of CIPK1 and AHK1 in M. prunifolia was higher than in M. hupehensis. These results demonstrated that under alkali stress, the increase of IAA, ZR, and ABA in roots and the increase of the expression of related genes promoted the growth of roots and improved the alkali tolerance of apple rootstocks.

Interfacial properties of Daqing crude oil-alkaline system

The oil/water interfacial properties of crude oil emulsions formed by alkaline/surfactant/ polymer（ASP） flooding in the Daqing Oilfield were investigated in this paper by the measurement of interfacial tension,interfacial shear viscosity and Zeta potential of the oil/water system.The result showed that both NaOH and Na_2CO_3 could react with acid substances in the crude oil to produce interfacially active components,which are adsorbed on the interfaces between the aqueous phase and oil phase, resulting in a decrease of the interfacial tension,negatively charging the surface of oil droplets,but making little change in the interfacial shear viscosity.For the same ionic strength of NaOH and Na_2CO_3, the interfacial tension of NaOH solution-crude oil system is lower,but the interfacial shear viscosity of NaOH solution-crude oil system is higher,than that of Na_2CO_3 solution-crude oil system.The negative value of the Zeta potential on the surface of the oil droplets is large.Accordingly,the O/W emulsion of NaOH solution-crude oil system is more stable than that of Na_2CO_3 solution-crude oil system.

Bio-amelioration of alkali soils through agroforestry systems in central Indo-Gangetic plains of India

A long-term field study was initiated during 1995 at Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Lucknow （26047＇58＂ N and 80°46＇24＂ E） to analyze the effect of agroforestry systems on amelioration of alkali soils. Three agroforestry systems （pas- toral, silvipastoral and silvicultural） were compared with the control where no agroforestry system was introduced. Tree-based silvicultural and silvipastoral systems were characterized by tree species Prosopis juliflora and Acacia nilotica along with grass species Leptochloafusca, Panicum maximum, Trifolium alexandrium and Chloris gayana. Growth of ten-year-old Prosopis juliflora and Acacia nilotica planted in combi- nation with grasses was significantly higher over the silviculture system with the same species. Tree biomass yields of P. juliflora （77.20 t·ha-1） and A. nilotica （63.20 t·ha-1） planted under silvipastoral system were significantly higher than the sole plantation of （64.50 t·ha-1 and 52.75 t·ha-1）. Fodder yield under the pastoral system was significantly higher than the silvipastoral system during initial years but it was at par with that of silvipastoral systems after eight years of plantation. The microbial biomass carbon in the soils of silvipastoral systems was significantly higher than in soils under sole plantation of trees and control systems. The Prosopis-based silvipastoral system proved more effective in reduc- ing soil pH, displacing Na＋ from the exchange complex, increasing or- ganic carbon and available N, P and K. Improvement in soil physical properties such as bulk density, porosity, soil moisture and infiltration rate was higher in the Prosopis-based silvipastoral system than in the silviculture system or control On the basis of biomass production and improvement in soil health due to tree ＋ grass systems, silvipastoral agroforestry system could be adopted for sustainable reclamation ofhighly alkali soils.

Biological improvement of saline alkali soil reference system:A review

This work presents a reference system overview to improve the efficiency of biological improvement of saline-alkali soil developed during the last thirty years, ranging from connotation, general methods and species, soil desalination, soil structure, soil organic content, microbial flora, enzyme activity, yield and economic benefits. The reference system presented is divided into three main groups: suitable varieties, suitable cultivation measures, and a comprehensive evaluation system.There has been a lot of research on biological improvement of saline alkali soil, but these studies are very fragmented and lack a comprehensive standard system. Also, there is a lack of practical significance, particularly with regard to optimal species, densities and times of sowing for particular regions. On the other hand, the corresponding cultivation measure is very important. Therefore, a reference system plays an important role to the effect of biological improvement of saline alkali soil.

Effect of active species in crude oil on the interfacial tension behavior of alkali/synthetic surfactants/crude oil systems

The effect of active species present in crude oil on the interfacial tension （IFT） behavior of alkali/synthetic surfactants/crude oil systems was studied. The system consisted of heavy alkyl benzene sulfonate, sodium chloride, sodium hydrate and Daqing crude oil. Experimental results indicated that active species would diffuse from oil/aqueous interface to aqueous phase and finally an equilibrium could be reached in the system with increasing contact time. Moreover, the minimum IFT and equilibrium IFT values increased with increasing contact time and a linear relationship existed between dynamic IFT and f^-1/2 when IFT value approaching the minimum and after the minimum IFT was reached. This indicated that the dynamic IFT-time behavior was diffusion controlled. The oil and aqueous phases were analyzed by infrared （IR） spectroscopy. IR spectra of oil and aqueous phases illustrated that the content of active species in the oil phase decreased, but the content of active species in the aqueous phase increased after alkali reacted with crude oil. This indicated that the active species present in oil played an important role in reducing IFT.

Calculation of Interaction Parameters from Immiscible Phase Diagram of Alkali Metal or Alkali Earth Metal-Halide System by Means of Subregular Solution Model

In this paper, the interaction parameters in the subregular solution model, λ1 and λ2, are regarded as a linear function of temperature, T. Therefore, the molar excess Gibbs energy of A-B binary system may be reexpressed as follows:Gm^E=xAxB[(λ11+λ12T)+(λ21+λ22T)xB]The calculation of the model parameters, λ11, λ12, λ21and λ22, was carried out numerically from the phase diagrams for 11 alkali metal-alkali halide or alkali earth metal-halide systems. In addition, artificial neural network trained by known data has been used to predict the values of these model parameters. The predicted results are in good agreement with the .calculated ones. The applicability of the subregular solution model to the alkali metal-alkali halide or alkali earth metal-halide systems were tested by comparing the available experimental composition along the boundary of miscibility gap with the calculated ones which were obtained by using genetic algorithm. The good agreement between the calculated and experimental results across the entire liquidus is valid evidence in support of the model.

Effects of biochar-amended alkali-activated slag on the stabilization of coral sand in coastal areas

Coral sand is widely encountered in coastal areas of tropical and subtropical regions.Compared with silica sand,it usually exhibits weaker performance from the perspective of engineering geology.To improve the geomechanical performance of coral sand and meet the requirement of foundation construction in coastal areas,a novel alkali activation-based sustainable binder was developed.The alkaliactivated slag(AAS)binder material was composed of ground granulated blast-furnace slag(GGBS)and hydrated lime with the amendment of biochar,an agricultural waste-derived material.The biocharamended AAS stabilized coral sand was subjected to a series of laboratory tests to determine its mechanical,physicochemical,and microstructural characteristics.Results show that adding a moderate amount of biochar in AAS could improve soil strength,elastic modulus,and water holding capacity by up to 20%,70%,and 30%,respectively.Moreover,the addition of biochar in AAS had a marginal effect on the sulfate resistance of the stabilized sand,especially at high biochar content.However,the resistance of the AAS stabilized sand to wet-dry cycles slightly deteriorated with the addition of biochar.Based on these observations,a conceptual model showing biochar-AAS-sand interactions was proposed,in which biochar served as an internal curing agent,micro-reinforcer,and mechanically weak point.

Influence of alkali mixed effect on the mixing enthalpy in 0.75B_2O_3-0.25[xNa_2O-(1-x)K_2O]glass system

The mixed alkali effect was investigated in the glass system 0.75B2O3-0.25[xNa2O-（1 -x）K20] through thermodynamic properties. The calorimetric measurements were performed in HF solution calorimetry at 298 K. The mixing enthalpy values show non-linear behaviour upon substitution of one alkali ion by another. This thermodynamic non-ideality is caused by the slight variations of distance between metallic cations, the macromolecular structure being unchanged. It can be explained, at least qualitatively, using electrolyte theory based on the Coulombic interactions of charged species originally developed by Debye and Hückel.

Studies on Transport Properties of Fe³⁺: Li₂O-K₂O-CdO-B₂O₃Glass System: An Evidence of Mixed Alkali Effect

The glasses of the type (30 一 x)Li2O 一 xK2O 一 10CdO 一 59B2O3 doped with 1 mol% of Fe2O3 were prepared by melt quench technique and their non-crystallinility has been established by XRD studies. The glasses were investigated for room temperature density and electrical conductivity in the temperature range 300 - 523 K and in the frequency range 102 to 105 Hz. The frequency and temperature dependence of conductivity as dielectric constant are presented.

Genome-wide analysis of soybean DnaJA-family genes and functional characterization of GmDnaJA6 responses to saline and alkaline stress

Plant Dna JA proteins act as molecular chaperones in response to environmental stressors.The purpose of this study was to characterize the function and regulatory mechanisms of Dna JA genes in soybean.Gene expression profiles in various soybean tissues at various stages of development indicated that Gm Dna JAs function in the coordination of stress and plant hormone responses.Gm Dna JA6 was identified as a candidate regulator of saline and alkaline stress resistance and Gm Dna JA6 overexpression lines showed increased soybean saline and alkaline tolerance.Dna J interacted with Hsp70,and Gm Hsp70 increased the saline and alkaline tolerance of plants with chimeric soybean hairy roots.

Theoretical study on the morphology of cobalt nanoparticles modulated by alkali metal promoters

Cobalt nanoparticles(NPs)catalysts are extensively used in heterogeneous catalytic reactions,and the addition of alkali metal promoters is a common method to modulate the catalytic performance because the catalyst's surface structures and morphologies are sensitive to the addition of promoters.However,the underlying modulation trend remains unclear.Herein,the adsorption of alkali metal promoters(Na and K)on the surfaces of face-centered-cubic(FCC)and hexagonal-closest packed(HCP)polymorphous cobalt was systematically investigated using density functional theory.Furthermore,the effect of alkali promoters on surface energies and nanoparticle morphologies was revealed on the basis of Wulff theory.For FCC-Co,the exposed area of the(111)facet in the nanoparticle increases with the adsorption coverage of alkali metal oxide.Meanwhile,the(311),(110),and(100)facets would disappear under the higher adsorption coverage of alkali metals.For HCPCo,the Wulff morphology is dominated by the(0001)and(1011)facets and is independent of the alkali metal adsorption coverage.This work provides insights into morphology modulation by alkali metal promoters for the rational design and synthesis of cobalt-based nanomaterials with desired facets and morphologies.

Emerging Carbon Nanotube-Based Nanomaterials for Stable and Dendrite-Free Alkali Metal Anodes:Challenges,Strategies,and Perspectives

Alkali metals(Li,Na,and K)are promising candidates for high-performance rechargeable alkali metal battery anodes due to their high theoretical specific capacity and low electrochemical potential.However,the actual application of alkali metal anodes is impeded by the challenges of alkali metals,including their high chemical reactivity,uncontrolled dendrite growth,unstable solid electrolyte interphase,and infinite volume expansion during cycling processes.Introducing carbon nanotube-based nanomaterials in alkali metal anodesis an effective solution to these issues.These nanomaterials have attracted widespread attention owing to their unique properties,such as their high specific surface area,superior electronic conductivity,and excellent mechanical stability.Considering the rapidly growing research enthusiasm for this topic in the last several years,we review recent progress on the application of carbon nanotube-based nanomaterials in stable and dendrite-free alkali metal anodes.The merits and issues of alkali metal anodes,as well as their stabilizing strategies are summarized.Furthermore,the relationships among methods of synthesis,nano-or microstructures,and electrochemical properties of carbon nanotube-based alkali metal anodes are systematically discussed.In addition,advanced characterization technologies on the reaction mechanism of carbon nanotube-based nanomaterials in alkali metal anodes are also reviewed.Finally,the challenges and prospects for future study and applications of carbon nanotube-based AMAs in high-performance alkali metal batteries are discussed.

Orientational Separation of Sulfur in Petroleum Coke by Alkali Calcining and Reflux Washing

The application of high-sulfur petroleum coke after desulfurization in aluminum electrolysis anodes is an important development trend. However, removing sulfur from high-sulfur petroleum coke is still a significant challenge.This study proposes alkali calcining and reflux washing to examine the impacts of temperature, particle size, the mass ratio of Na_(2)CO_(3) to NaOH, and total sodium addition on the desulfurization efficiency and mechanism. The results show that the desulfurization rate increases with increasing temperature, increasing total sodium content, and decreasing particle size. The addition of alkali can significantly reduce the opening-ring reaction temperature of thiophene and convert organic sulfur into inorganic sulfur(Na_(2)S). Three washing methods were compared, and reflux washing was selected to separate inorganic sulfur(Na_(2)S) from calcined petroleum coke. The sulfur content in petroleum coke decreased from 7.29% to 1.90%, with a desulfurization rate of 80.13% under optimal conditions. The petroleum coke was analyzed before and after desulfurization using X-Ray diffraction(XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM), Infrared Spectroscopy(IR), Thermogravimetric Analysis and Differential Scanning Calorimetry(TG-DSC), Gaschromatography-mass Spectrometry(GC-MS). The results show that thiophene and benzothiophene in petroleum coke are decomposed and converted into octane and ethyl cyclohexane. These new observations are expected to provide further understanding and guidance for the utilization of highsulfur petroleum coke.

Promotion effects of alkali metals on iron molybdate catalysts for CO_(2)catalytic hydrogenation

CO_(2)hydrogenation is an attractive way to store and utilize carbon dioxide generated by industrial processes,as well as to produce valuable chemicals from renewable and abundant resources.Iron catalysts are commonly used for the hydrogenation of carbon oxides to hydrocarbons.Iron-molybdenum catalysts have found numerous applications in catalysis,but have been never evaluated in the CO_(2)hydrogenation.In this work,the structural properties of iron-molybdenum catalysts without and with a promoting alkali metal(Li,Na,K,Rb,or Cs)were characterized using X-ray diffraction,hydrogen temperatureprogrammed reduction,CO_(2)temperature-programmed desorption,in-situ^(57)Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy and operando X-ray adsorption spectroscopy.Their catalytic performance was evaluated in the CO_(2)hydrogenation.During the reaction conditions,the catalysts undergo the formation of an iron(Ⅱ)molybdate structure,accompanied by a partial reduction of molybdenum and carbidization of iron.The rate of CO_(2)conversion and product selectivity strongly depend on the promoting alkali metals,and electronegativity was identified as an important factor affecting the catalytic performance.Higher CO_(2)conversion rates were observed with the promoters having higher electronegativity,while low electronegativity of alkali metals favors higher light olefin selectivity.

Quantitative Extraction of p-Coumaric Acid and Ferulic Acid in Different Gramineous Materials and Structural Changes of Residual Alkali Lignin

Ferulic acid(FA)and p-coumaric acid(pCA)in bagasse,wheat straw,corn straw,and corncob were extracted by alkaline hydrolysis and characterized by gas chromatography(GC)and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS).It was found that the FA and most of the pCA in gramineous biomass could be dissociated and released after being treated with 1 M NaOH at 100℃for 4 h.The yields of pCA/FA in bagasse,wheat straw,corn straw,and corncob determined by GC-FID are 39.8/11.5,13.7/11.0,28.0/11.0,and 35.1/14.5 mg/g,respectively.The raw materials and the treated solid residues were characterized by gel-state 2D Heteronuclear Single Quantum Coherence Nuclear Magnetic Resonance(2D HSQC NMR).It was found that only a small amount of lignin was detected in the residue after alkali treatment,indicating that the alkali treatment conditions can effectively cleave the FA and pCA.Additionally,the lignin in the alkali solution was recovered and characterized by 2D HSQC NMR.The FA was not able to be detected by NMR,whereas a small amount of pCA remained in the alkali lignin.This study reveals the structural change of residual lignins during the quantitative isolation of FA and pCA,which is essential for the selective isolation of pCA/FA and valorization of residual alkali lignin.

Adaptive strategy of Nitraria sibirica to transient salt,alkali and osmotic stresses via the alteration of Na+/K+fluxes around root tips

Nitraria sibirica Pall.is an important shrub with a strong salt-alkali tolerance,but the mechanism underlying this tolerance remains obscure.In this study,N.sibirica,with salt-sensitive Vigna radiata(Linn.)Wilczek as the control,was subjected to transient salt stress(100 mM NaCl),alkali stress(50 mM Na_(2)CO_(3)),and osmotic stress(175 mM mannitol).The ionic fluxes of Na^(+)and K^(+)in the root apical region were measured.Results show that,under salt and alkali stress,N.sibirica roots exhibited higher capacities to limit Na+influx and reduce K+efflux,thereby resulting in lower Na^(+)/K^(+)ratios compared with V.radiata roots.Alkali stress induced stronger Na^(+)influx and K+efflux in the root salt stress treatment;Na^(+)influx was mainly observed in the root cap,while K^(+)efflux was mainly observed in the elongation zone.While under osmotic stress,N.sibirica roots showed stronger Na+efflux and weaker K+efflux than V.radiata roots.Na+efflux was mainly observed in the root elongation zone,while K+efflux was in the root cap.These results reveal the ionic strategy of N.sibirica in response to transient salt,alkali,and osmotic stresses through the regulation of Na+/K+flux homeostasis.