Structural Engineering of Anode Materials for Low-Temperature Lithium-Ion Batteries:Mechanisms,Strategies,and Prospects

The severe degradation of electrochemical performance for lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)at low temperatures poses a significant challenge to their practical applications.Consequently,extensive efforts have been contributed to explore novel anode materials with high electronic conductivity and rapid Li^(+)diffusion kinetics for achieving favorable low-temperature performance of LIBs.Herein,we try to review the recent reports on the synthesis and characterizations of low-temperature anode materials.First,we summarize the underlying mechanisms responsible for the performance degradation of anode materials at subzero temperatures.Second,detailed discussions concerning the key pathways(boosting electronic conductivity,enhancing Li^(+)diffusion kinetics,and inhibiting lithium dendrite)for improving the low-temperature performance of anode materials are presented.Third,several commonly used low-temperature anode materials are briefly introduced.Fourth,recent progress in the engineering of these low-temperature anode materials is summarized in terms of structural design,morphology control,surface&interface modifications,and multiphase materials.Finally,the challenges that remain to be solved in the field of low-temperature anode materials are discussed.This review was organized to offer valuable insights and guidance for next-generation LIBs with excellent low-temperature electrochemical performance.

Low-temperature characteristicsof rubbers and performance testsof type 120 emergencyvalve diaphragms

Purpose–The type 120 emergency valve is an essential braking component of railway freight trains,butcorresponding diaphragms consisting of natural rubber(NR)and chloroprene rubber(CR)exhibit insufficientaging resistance and low-temperature resistance,respectively.In order to develop type 120 emergency valverubber diaphragms with long-life and high-performance,low-temperatureresistant CR and NR were processed.Design/methodology/approach–The physical properties of the low-temperature-resistant CR and NRwere tested by low-temperature stretching,dynamic mechanical analysis,differential scanning calorimetryand thermogravimetric analysis.Single-valve and single-vehicle tests of type 120 emergency valves werecarried out for emergency diaphragms consisting of NR and CR.Findings–The low-temperature-resistant CR and NR exhibited excellent physical properties.The elasticityand low-temperature resistance of NR were superior to those of CR,whereas the mechanical properties of thetwo rubbers were similar in the temperature range of 0℃–150℃.The NR and CR emergency diaphragms metthe requirements of the single-valve test.In the low-temperature single-vehicle test,only the low-temperaturesensitivity test of the NR emergency diaphragm met the requirements.Originality/value–The innovation of this study is that it provides valuable data and experience for futuredevelopment of type 120 valve rubber diaphragms.

Boosting oxygen reduction activity and CO_(2) resistance on bismuth ferrite-based perovskite cathode for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells below 600℃

Developing efficient and stable cathodes for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells(LT-SOFCs) is of great importance for the practical commercialization.Herein,we propose a series of Sm-modified Bi_(0.7-x)Sm_xSr_(0.3)FeO_(3-δ) perovskites as highly-active catalysts for LT-SOFCs.Sm doping can significantly enhance the electrocata lytic activity and chemical stability of cathode.At 600℃,Bi_(0.675)Sm_(0.025)Sr_(0.3)FeO_(3-δ)(BSSF25) cathode has been found to be the optimum composition with a polarization resistance of 0.098 Ω cm^2,which is only around 22.8% of Bi_(0.7)Sr_(0.3)FeO_(3-δ)(BSF).A full cell utilizing BSSF25 displays an exceptional output density of 790 mW cm^(-2),which can operate continuously over100 h without obvious degradation.The remarkable electrochemical performance observed can be attributed to the improved O_(2) transport kinetics,superior surface oxygen adsorption capacity,as well as O_(2)p band centers in close proximity to the Fermi level.Moreover,larger average bonding energy(ABE) and the presence of highly acidic Bi,Sm,and Fe ions restrict the adsorption of CO_(2) on the cathode surface,resulting in excellent CO_(2) resistivity.This work provides valuable guidance for systematic design of efficient and durable catalysts for LT-SOFCs.

Numerical simulation analysis on multi-layer low-temperature heating method of asphalt pavement in hot in-place recycling

Asphalt mixture pavement reheating is one of the important steps in hot in-place recycling(HIR).To improve the heating speed of asphalt pavement in HIR,based on the numerical analysis model of asphalt mixture heating process,a new multi-layer low-temperature heating method(MLHM)was proposed.Considering input heat flux,the thermal capacity and thermal resistance of asphalt mixture,the heat transfer model was established based on energy conservation law.By heating the asphalt mixture in layers,it changes the situation that the heat energy can only be input from the upper surface of the asphalt mixture pavement.Through the simulation of the heating method of asphalt mixture in the existing technology,the result shows that the existing heating methods lead to serious aging or charring of the asphalt mixture.By MLHM,the upper and the bottom of the asphalt mixture are heated at the same time,and the heating temperature is lower than other heat methods,which not only reduces the heating thickness and increases the heating area of the asphalt mixture pavement,but also improves the heating speed,saves the energy resource and ensures the heating quality.Especially,by MLHM,the heating uniformity is better and speed is faster.

Advances in sodium-ion batteries at low-temperature: Challenges and strategies

With the continuing boost in the demand for energy storage,there is an increasing requirement for batteries to be capable of operation in extreme environmental conditions.Sodium-ion batteries(SIBs) have emerged as a highly promising energy storage solution due to their promising performance over a wide range of temperatures and the abundance of sodium resources in the earth's crust.Compared to lithiumion batteries(LIBs),although sodium ions possess a larger ionic radius,they are more easily desolvated than lithium ions.Fu rthermore,SIBs have a smaller Stokes radius than lithium ions,resulting in improved sodium-ion mobility in the electrolyte.Nevertheless,SIBs demonstrate a significant decrease in performance at low temperatures(LT),which constrains their operation in harsh weather conditions.Despite the increasing interest in SIBs,there is a notable scarcity of research focusing specifically on their mechanism under LT conditions.This review explores recent research that considers the thermal tolerance of SIBs from an inner chemistry process perspective,spanning a wide temperature spectrum(-70 to100℃),particularly at LT conditions.In addition,the enhancement of electrochemical performance in LT SIBs is based on improvements in reaction kinetics and cycling stability achieved through the utilization of effective electrode materials and electrolyte components.Furthermore,the safety concerns associated with SIBs are addressed and effective strategies are proposed for mitigating these issues.Finally,prospects conducted to extend the environmental frontiers of commercial SIBs are discussed mainly from three viewpoints including innovations in materials,development and research of relevant theoretical mechanisms,and intelligent safety management system establishment for larger-scale energy storage SIBs.

Temperature inversion enables superior stability for low-temperature Zn-ion batteries

It is challenging for aqueous Zn-ion batteries(ZIBs)to achieve comparable low-temperature(low-T)performance due to the easy-frozen electrolyte and severe Zn dendrites.Herein,an aqueous electrolyte with a low freezing point and high ionic conductivity is proposed.Combined with molecular dynamics simulation and multi-scale interface analysis(time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry threedimensional mapping and in-situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy method),the temperature independence of the V_(2)O_(5)cathode and Zn anode is observed to be opposite.Surprisingly,dominated by the solvent structure of the designed electrolyte at low temperatures,vanadium dissolution/shuttle is significantly inhibited,and the zinc dendrites caused by this electrochemical crosstalk are greatly relieved,thus showing an abnormal temperature inversion effect.Through the disclosure and improvement of the above phenomena,the designed Zn||V_(2)O_(5)full cell delivers superior low-T performance,maintaining almost 99%capacity retention after 9500 cycles(working more than 2500 h)at-20°C.This work proposes a kind of electrolyte suitable for low-T ZIBs and reveals the inverse temperature dependence of the Zn anode,which might offer a novel perspective for the investigation of low-T aqueous battery systems.

A Two-step Design Method for Shaft Work Targeting on Low-temperature Process

In low-temperature processes, there are interactions between heat exchanger network(HEN) and refrigeration system. The modification on HEN of the chilling train for increasing energy recovery does not always coordinate with the minimum shaft work consumption of the corresponding refrigeration system. In this paper, a systematic approach for optimizing low-temperature system is presented through mathematical method and exergy analysis. The possibility of "pockets", which appears as right nose section in the grand composite curve(EGCC) of the process, is first optimized. The EGCC with the pockets cutting down is designed as a separate part. A case study is used to illustrate the application of the approach for a HEN of a chilling train with propylene and ethylene refrigerant system in an ethylene production process.

Modulating the Electrolyte Inner Solvation Structure via Low Polarity Co-solvent for Low-Temperature Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries are regarded as the promising candidates for large-scale energy storage systems owing to low cost and high safety;however,their applications are restricted by their poor low-temperature performance.Herein,a low-temperature electrolyte for low-temperature aqueous zinc-ion batteries is designed by introducing low-polarity diglyme into an aqueous solution of Zn(ClO_(4))_(2).The diglyme disrupts the hydrogenbonding network of water and lowers the freezing point of the electrolyte to-105℃.The designed electrolyte achieves ionic conductivity up to16.18 mS cm^(-1)at-45℃.The diglyme and ClO_(4)^(-)reconfigure the solvated structure of Zn^(2+),which is more favorable for the desolvation of Zn^(2+)at low temperatures.In addition,the diglyme effectively suppresses the dendrites,hydrogen evolution reaction,and by-products of the zinc anode,improving the cycle stability of the battery.At-20℃,a Zn‖Zn symmetrical cell is cycled for 5200 h at 1 mA cm^(-2)and 1 mA h cm^(-2),and a Zn‖polyaniline battery achieves an ultra-long cycle life of 10000 times.This study sheds light on the future design of electrolytes with high ionic conductivity and easy desolvation at low temperatures for rechargeable batteries.

Low-temperature heat conduction characteristics of diamond/Cu composite by pressure infiltration method

In this paper,diamond/CuCr and diamond/CuB composites were prepared using the pressure infiltration method.The physical property measurement system(PPMS)was adopted to evaluate the thermal conductivity of diamond/Cu and MoCu composites within the range of100–350 K,and a scanning electron microscope(SEM)was utilized to analyze the microstructure and fracture appearance of the materials.The research indicates that the thermal conductivity of diamond/Cu composite within the range of100–350 K is 2.5–3.0 times that of the existing MoCu material,and the low-temperature thermal conductivity of diamond/Cu composite presents an exponential relationship with the temperature.If B element was added to a Cu matrix and a low-temperature binder was used for prefabricated elements,favorable interfacial adhesion,relatively high interfacial thermal conductivity,and favorable low-temperature heat conduction characteristics would be apparent.

Finger capacitance of a terahertz photomixer in low-temperature-grown GaAs using the finite element method

Interdigitated finger capacitance of a continuous-wave terahertz photomixer is calculated using the finite element method.For the frequently used electrode width（0.2 μm） and gap width（1.8 μm）,the finger capacitance increases quasi-quadratically with the number of electrodes increasing.The quasi-quadratic dependence can be explained by a sequence of lumped capacitors connected in parallel.For a photomixer composed of 10 electrodes and 9 photoconductive gaps,the finger capacitance increases as the gap width increases at a small electrode width,and follows the reverse trend at a large electrode width.For a constant electrode width,the finger capacitance first decreases and then slightly increases as the gap broadens until the smallest finger capacitance is formed.We also investigate the finger capacitances at different electrode and gap configurations with the 8 μm × 8 μm photomixer commonly used in previous studies.These calculations lead to a better understanding of the finger capacitance affected by the finger parameters,and should lead to terahertz photomixer optimization.

Impact of Low-temperature Storage on Volatile Flavor Compounds in Prepared Pork Products

[Objectives]This study was conducted to explore the dynamic changes of volatile flavor compounds in prepared pork during storage at different low-temperature conditions.[Methods]Prepared pork was stored at 4,-4 and-18℃.The volatile flavor compounds of prepared pork were determined by solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(SPME-GC-MS)at days 0,7,14,21 and 28,and relative odor activity value(OAV),principal component analysis(PCA)and cluster analysis(CA)were combined to analyze changes in volatile flavor compounds of prepared pork during storage.[Results]The total number of volatile flavor compounds gradually decreased with the prolongation of the storage period,and OAV analysis identified 22 key flavor compounds(OAV≥1).The results of PCA and CA showed that 2-methyl-1-butanol,1-octen-3-ol,linalool,cineole,hexanal and nonanal were the main key flavor components,and the degree of flavor degradation was low under both superchilling and freezing conditions.After 28 days of storage,the alcohol content in the chilling group was significantly higher than other two groups,and the overall content of volatile flavor compounds was also significantly higher than other two groups,indicating that the-4℃chilling storage was more favorable for maintaining the overall flavor of prepared pork.[Conclusions]This study provides a theoretical basis for finding a better storage method for prepared meat products.

Enhancing performance of low-temperature processed CsPbI2Br all-inorganic perovskite solar cells using polyethylene oxide-modified TiO_(2)

CsPbX_(3)-based(X=I,Br,Cl)inorganic perovskite solar cells(PSCs)prepared by low-temperature process have attracted much attention because of their low cost and excellent thermal stability.However,the high trap state density and serious charge recombination between low-temperature processed TiO_(2)film and inorganic perovskite layer interface seriously restrict the performance of all-inorganic PSCs.Here a thin polyethylene oxide(PEO)layer is employed to modify TiO_(2)film to passivate traps and promote carrier collection.The impacts of PEO layer on microstructure and photoelectric characteristics of TiO_(2)film and related devices are systematically studied.Characterization results suggest that PEO modification can reduce the surface roughness of TiO_(2)film,decrease its average surface potential,and passivate trap states.At optimal conditions,the champion efficiency of CsPbI_(2)Br PSCs with PEO-modified TiO_(2)(PEO-PSCs)has been improved to 11.24%from 9.03%of reference PSCs.Moreover,the hysteresis behavior and charge recombination have been suppressed in PEO-PSCs.

Ca and Sr co-doping induced oxygen vacancies in 3DOM La_(2-x)Sr_(x)Ce_(2-y)CayO_(7-δ)catalysts for boosting low-temperature oxidative coupling of methane

It is urgent to develop catalysts with application potential for oxidative coupling of methane(OCM)at relatively lower temperature.Herein,three-dimensional ordered macro porous(3 DOM)La_(2-x)Sr_(x)Ce_(2-y)CayO_(7-δ)(A_(2)B_(2)O_(7)-type)catalysts with disordered defective cubic fluorite phased structure were successfully prepared by a colloidal crystal template method.3DOM structure promotes the accessibility of the gaseous reactants(O2and CH4)to the active sites.The co-doping of Ca and Sr ions in La_(2-x)Sr_(x)Ce_(2-y)CayO_(7-δ)catalysts improved the formation of oxygen vacancies,thereby leading to increased density of surface-active oxygen species(O_(2)^(-))for the activation of CH4and the formation of C2products(C2H6and C2H4).3DOM La_(2-x)Sr_(x)Ce_(2-y)CayO_(7-δ)catalysts exhibit high catalytic activity for OCM at low temperature.3DOM La1.7Sr0.3Ce1.7Ca0.3O7-δcatalyst with the highest density of O_(2)^(-)species exhibited the highest catalytic activity for low-temperature OCM,i.e.,its CH4conversion,selectivity and yield of C2products at 650℃are 32.2%,66.1%and 21.3%,respectively.The mechanism was proposed that the increase in surface oxygen vacancies induced by the co-doping of Ca and Sr ions boosts the key step of C-H bond breaking and C-C bond coupling in catalyzing low-temperature OCM.It is meaningful for the development of the low-temperature and high-efficient catalysts for OCM reaction in practical application.

RNA Extraction from Herba Violae Roots with Low-temperature Sectioning Method

[ Objective ] This study aimed to investigate the optimal method for extracting RNA from roots of medicinal plant herba violae by comparing the effects of liquid nitrogen grinding method and low-temperature sectioning method on RNA extraction. [ Method] Roots of herba violae were respectively crushed by using liquid nitrogen grinding method and low-temperature sectioning method to extract RNA. The extraction effects of these two methods were compared based on detec- tion of RNA concentration, purity and integrity and amplification of GAPDH gene by RT-PCR. [Result] The concentration of RNA extracted by liquid nitrogen grinding method and low-temperature sectioning method was 1.21 and 3.57 p^g/~, respectively. Both RNA extracted by these two methods showed two distinct bands after agarose gel electrophoresis. The ratio of brightness of the 28S rRNA to the 18S rRNA bands was greater than 1. PCR amplification showed that the length of GAPDH gene was about 230 bp, which was consistent with the expected result. [ Conclusion ] The experimental results indicated that using low-tempera ture sectioning method to crush the roots of herba violae can meet the needs of most molecular biological experiments including gene cloning and expression analysis, which is an effective and simple method for extracting RNA from plant roots.

Frost heaving and crack initiation characteristics of tunnel rock mass in cold regions under low-temperature degradation

Water freezing in rock fractures causes volumetric expansion and fracture development through frost heaving.This study introduces a novel analytical model to investigate how uneven freezing force and surrounding rock pressure influence fracture initiation,based on mass conservation,elasticity,and water-ice phase transition principles.A model for rock fracture initiation considering freezing temperature,uneven freezing expansion,in-situ stress,and lateral pressure was proposed based on fracture mechanics.Equations for stress intensity factors were developed and validated using the phase field method.The effects of rock elastic modulus anisotropy and critical fracture energy density on fracture initiation were also discussed.The results show that the values of KI and KII exhibit an upward trend as the freezing temperature,uneven expansion,in-situ stress,and lateral pressure increase.The uneven freezing expansion has the most significant influence on KI and KII values among these parameters.As the uneven freezing expansion coefficient increases to 0.5,the fracture initiation mode shifts from tensile fracture to shear fracture.As the lateral pressure coefficient increases to 1,the fracture initiation mode shifts from tensile fracture to shear fracture.Rock elastic modulus anisotropy causes fractures to propagate in a clockwise direction,forming a'butterfly'pattern.Critical fracture energy density an isotropy causes counterclockwise deviation in propagation direction,resulting in branching paths and an'H'-shaped pattern.

Insight Into the Separation-of-Variable Methods for the Closed-Form Solutions of Free Vibration of Rectangular Thin Plates

The separation-of-variable(SOV)methods,such as the improved SOV method,the variational SOV method,and the extended SOV method,have been proposed by the present authors and coworkers to obtain the closed-form analytical solutions for free vibration and eigenbuckling of rectangular plates and circular cylindrical shells.By taking the free vibration of rectangular thin plates as an example,this work presents the theoretical framework of the SOV methods in an instructive way,and the bisection–based solution procedures for a group of nonlinear eigenvalue equations.Besides,the explicit equations of nodal lines of the SOV methods are presented,and the relations of nodal line patterns and frequency orders are investigated.It is concluded that the highly accurate SOV methods have the same accuracy for all frequencies,the mode shapes about repeated frequencies can also be precisely captured,and the SOV methods do not have the problem of missing roots as well.

Structural Modal Parameter Recognition and Related Damage Identification Methods under Environmental Excitations: A Review

Modal parameters can accurately characterize the structural dynamic properties and assess the physical state of the structure.Therefore,it is particularly significant to identify the structural modal parameters according to the monitoring data information in the structural health monitoring(SHM)system,so as to provide a scientific basis for structural damage identification and dynamic model modification.In view of this,this paper reviews methods for identifying structural modal parameters under environmental excitation and briefly describes how to identify structural damages based on the derived modal parameters.The paper primarily introduces data-driven modal parameter recognition methods(e.g.,time-domain,frequency-domain,and time-frequency-domain methods,etc.),briefly describes damage identification methods based on the variations of modal parameters(e.g.,natural frequency,modal shapes,and curvature modal shapes,etc.)and modal validation methods(e.g.,Stability Diagram and Modal Assurance Criterion,etc.).The current status of the application of artificial intelligence(AI)methods in the direction of modal parameter recognition and damage identification is further discussed.Based on the pre-vious analysis,the main development trends of structural modal parameter recognition and damage identification methods are given to provide scientific references for the optimized design and functional upgrading of SHM systems.

Low-Temperature Formation of a WO₃Thin Film by the Sol-Gel Method Using Photo-Irradiation and Fabrication of a Flexible Hydrogen Sensor

Hydrogen has been recently attracted much attention with respect to high energy-conversion efficiency and low environmental burden. However, hydrogen gas is dangerous due to an explosive gas and a fast combustion rate. Therefore, the development of hydrogen sensor with high accuracy and reliability that can detect hydrogen easily is required. Especially, a flexible hydrogen sensor is useful because it has a high degree of freedom with respect to the shape of location in which the sensor is to be located. A flexible hydrogen sensor—namely, a WO3 thin film formed on a PET film by the sol-gel method using photo irradiation—based on gasochromism of WO3 was developed. By irradiating a thin film, which was prepared by using WO3 precursor solution synthesized by the sol-gel method, with ultraviolet rays, a high-purity WO3 film could be prepared on PET at low temperature. The sensor was structured as a polystyrene (PS) film containing palladium (Pd) laminated on a WO3 film. The WO3 layer was porous, so the PS containing Pd atoms solution penetrated the WO3 layer. WO3 reacted with hydrogen gas and instantly turned blue as the transmittance of the WO3 layer changed. The sensor showed high reactivity even for hydrogen concentration below 4% (1%, 0.5%, 0.25%, and 0.1%), which was the lower limit of hydrogen ignition, and a linear relationship between hydrogen concentration and change in transmittance was found. Moreover, the resistance of the WO3 film significantly and instantaneously changed due to hydrogen-gas exposure, and the hydrogen concentration and resistance change showed a linear relationship. It is therefore possible to quantitatively detect low concentrations of hydrogen by using changes in transmittance and resistance as indices. Since these changes occur selectively under hydrogen at room temperature and normal pressure, they form the basis of a highly sensitive hydrogen sensor. Since the developed sensor is flexible, it has a high degree of freedom with respect to the shape of location in which the sensor is to be

Preparation of α-Bi_2O_3 from bismuth powders through low-temperature oxidation

α-Bi2O3 powders were prepared from nanometer Bi powders through low-temperature oxidation at less than 873.15 K. XRD, SEM, TEM and HRTEM were used to characterize the structure and morphology of Bi powders and Bi2O3 particles. Kinetic studies on the bismuth oxidation at low-temperatures were carried out by TGA method. The results show that bismuth beads should be reunited and oxidized to become irregular Bi2O3 powders. The bismuth oxidation follows shrinking core model, and its controlling mechanism varies at different reaction time. Within 0-10 min, the kinetics is controlled by chemical reaction, after that it is controlled by O2 diffusion in the solid α-Bi2O3 layer. The apparent activation energy is determined as 55.19 kJ/mol in liquid-phase oxidation.

Low-temperature catalytic oxidation of formaldehyde over Co_3O_4catalysts prepared using various precipitants

Co3O4 catalysts prepared with different precipitants（NH3·H2O,KOH,NH4HCO3,K2CO3 and KHCO3）were investigated for the oxidation of formaldehyde（HCHO）.Among these,KHCO3-precipitated Co3O4（KHCO3-Co） was the most active low-temperature catalyst,and was able to completely oxidize HCHO at the 100-ppm level to CO2 at 90℃.In situ diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy demonstrated that hydroxyl groups on the catalyst surface were regenerated by K~＋ and CO3^（2-）,thus promoting the oxidation of HCHO.Moreover,H2-temperature programmed reduction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that employing KHCO3 as the precipitant increased the Co^3＋/Co^2＋molar ratio on the surface of the Co3O4 catalyst,thus further promoting oxidation.Structural characterization revealed that catalysts precipitated with carbonate or bicarbonate reagents exhibited greater specific surface areas and pore volumes.Overall,these data suggest that the high activity observed during the Co3O4 catalyzed oxidation of HCHO can be primarily attributed to the presence of K~＋ and CO3^（2-） on the Co3O4 surface and the favorable Co^3＋/Co^2＋ ratio.