“Zero‑Strain” NiNb_(2)O_(6) Fibers for All‑Climate Lithium Storage

Niobates are promising all-climate Li^(+)-storage anode material due to their fast charge transport,large specific capacities,and resistance to electrolyte reaction.However,their moderate unit-cellvolume expansion(generally 5%–10%)during Li^(+)storage causes unsatisfactory long-term cyclability.Here,“zero-strain”NiNb_(2)O_(6) fibers are explored as a new anode material with comprehensively good electrochemical properties.During Li^(+)storage,the expansion of electrochemical inactive NiO_(6) octahedra almost fully offsets the shrinkage of active NbO_(6) octahedra through reversible O movement.Such superior volume-accommodation capability of the NiO_(6) layers guarantees the“zero-strain”behavior of NiNb_(2)O_(6) in a broad temperature range(0.53%//0.51%//0.74%at 25//−10//60℃),leading to the excellent cyclability of the NiNb_(2)O_(6) fibers(92.8%//99.2%//91.1%capacity retention after 1000//2000//1000 cycles at 10C and 25//−10//60℃).This NiNb_(2)O_(6) material further exhibits a large reversible capacity(300//184//318 mAh g−1 at 0.1C and 25//−10//60℃)and outstanding rate performance(10 to 0.5C capacity percentage of 64.3%//50.0%//65.4%at 25//−10//60℃).Therefore,the NiNb_(2)O_(6) fibers are especially suitable for large-capacity,fast-charging,long-life,and all-climate lithium-ion batteries.

IoT Empowered Early Warning of Transmission Line Galloping Based on Integrated Optical Fiber Sensing and Weather Forecast Time Series Data

Iced transmission line galloping poses a significant threat to the safety and reliability of power systems,leading directly to line tripping,disconnections,and power outages.Existing early warning methods of iced transmission line galloping suffer from issues such as reliance on a single data source,neglect of irregular time series,and lack of attention-based closed-loop feedback,resulting in high rates of missed and false alarms.To address these challenges,we propose an Internet of Things(IoT)empowered early warning method of transmission line galloping that integrates time series data from optical fiber sensing and weather forecast.Initially,the method applies a primary adaptive weighted fusion to the IoT empowered optical fiber real-time sensing data and weather forecast data,followed by a secondary fusion based on a Back Propagation(BP)neural network,and uses the K-medoids algorithm for clustering the fused data.Furthermore,an adaptive irregular time series perception adjustment module is introduced into the traditional Gated Recurrent Unit(GRU)network,and closed-loop feedback based on attentionmechanism is employed to update network parameters through gradient feedback of the loss function,enabling closed-loop training and time series data prediction of the GRU network model.Subsequently,considering various types of prediction data and the duration of icing,an iced transmission line galloping risk coefficient is established,and warnings are categorized based on this coefficient.Finally,using an IoT-driven realistic dataset of iced transmission line galloping,the effectiveness of the proposed method is validated through multi-dimensional simulation scenarios.

Wavelength-interval switchable Brillouin–Raman random fiber laser through Brillouin pump manipulation

A wavelength-interval switchable Brillouin–Raman random fiber laser(BRRFL) based on Brillouin pump(BP) manipulation is proposed in this paper. The proposed wavelength-interval switchable BRRFL has a full-open cavity configuration, featuring multiwavelength output with wavelength interval of double Brillouin frequency shifts. Through simultaneously injecting the BP light and its first-order stimulated Brillouin-scattered light into the cavity, the laser output exhibits a wavelength interval of single Brillouin frequency shift. The wavelength-interval switching effect can be manipulated by controlling the power of the first-order stimulated Brillouin scattering light. The experimental results show the multiwavelength output can be switched between double Brillouin frequency shift multiwavelength emission with a broad bandwidth of approximately 60 nm and single Brillouin frequency shift multiwavelength emission of 44 nm. The flexible optically controlled random fiber laser with switchable wavelength interval makes it useful for a wide range of applications and holds significant potential in the field of wavelength-division multiplexing optical communication.

Controllable large-scale processing of temperature regulating sheath-core fibers with high-enthalpy for thermal management

Temperature regulating fibers(TRF_(s)) with high enthalpy and high form stability are the key factors for thermal management. However, the enthalpies of most TRFsare not high, and the preparation methods are still at the laboratory scale. It remains a great challenge to use industrial spinning equipment to achieve continuous processing of TRF_(s) with excellent thermal and mechanical properties. Here, polyamide 6(PA6) based TRF_(s) with a sheath-core structure were prepared by bicomponent melt-spinning. The sheath-core TRF(TRF_(sc)) are composed of PA6 as sheath and functional PA6 as core, which are filled with the shape stable phase change materials(ssPCM),dendritic silica@polyethylene glycol(SiO_(2)@PEG). With the aid of the sheath structure, the filling content of SiO_(2)@PEG can reach 30 %, so that the enthalpy of the TRF_(s) can be as high as 21.3 J/g. The ultra-high enthalpy guarantees the temperature regulation ability during the alternating process of cooling and heating. In hot environment, the temperature regulation time is 6.59 min, and the temperature difference is 12.93℃. In addition, the mechanical strength of the prepared TRF_(sc) reaches 2.26 cN/dtex, which can fully meet its application in the field of thermal management textiles and devices to manage the temperature regulation of the human body or precision equipment, etc.

Seeing at a distance with multicore fibers

Images and videos provide a wealth of information for people in production and life.Although most digital information is transmitted via optical fiber,the image acquisition and transmission processes still rely heavily on electronic circuits.The development of all-optical transmission networks and optical computing frameworks has pointed to the direction for the next generation of data transmission and information processing.Here,we propose a high-speed,low-cost,multiplexed parallel and one-piece all-fiber architecture for image acquisition,encoding,and transmission,called the Multicore Fiber Acquisition and Transmission Image System(MFAT).Based on different spatial and modal channels of the multicore fiber,fiber-coupled self-encoding,and digital aperture decoding technology,scenes can be observed directly from up to 1 km away.The expansion of capacity provides the possibility of parallel coded transmission of multimodal high-quality data.MFAT requires no additional signal transmitting and receiving equipment.The all-fiber processing saves the time traditionally spent on signal conversion and image pre-processing(compression,encoding,and modulation).Additionally,it provides an effective solution for 2D information acquisition and transmission tasks in extreme environments such as high temperatures and electromagnetic interference.

Genetic improvement of fiber quality in tetraploid cotton:an overview of major QTLs and genes involved in and edited for the quality of cotton fibers

Cotton,an important industrial crop cultivated in more than 70 countries,plays a major role in the livelihood of millions of farmers and industrialists.Cotton is mainly grown for its fiber,an economic component that can be differentiated from its epidermal cells in the outer integument of a developing seed.Fiber length,fiber strength,and fiber fineness are three main attributes that contribute to the quality of cotton fibers.Recent advancements in genomics have identified key genes,which are the most important factors that govern these three traits,can be introduced into cultivars of interest via gene editing,marker-assisted selection,and transgenics,thus the narrow genetic background of cotton can be addressed and its fiber quality traits can be enhanced.Over the past two decades,quantitative trait loci(QTLs)have been mapped for different fiber traits,approximately 1850 QTLs have been mapped for fiber length,fiber strength,and fineness among which a few genes have been edited for quality improvement in cotton.In this background,the current review covers the development and the factors that influence these traits,along with the reported genes,QTLs,and the edited genomes for trait improvement.

Estimation of cancer cell migration in biomimetic random/oriented collagen fiber microenvironments

Increasing data indicate that cancer cell migration is regulated by extracellular matrixes and their surrounding biochemical microenvironment,playing a crucial role in pathological processes such as tumor invasion and metastasis.However,conventional two-dimensional cell culture and animal models have limitations in studying the influence of tumor microenvironment on cancer cell migration.Fortunately,the further development of microfluidic technology has provided solutions for the study of such questions.We utilize microfluidic chip to build a random collagen fiber microenvironment(RFM)model and an oriented collagen fiber microenvironment(OFM)model that resemble early stage and late stage breast cancer microenvironments,respectively.By combining cell culture,biochemical concentration gradient construction,and microscopic imaging techniques,we investigate the impact of different collagen fiber biochemical microenvironments on the migration of breast cancer MDA-MB-231-RFP cells.The results show that MDA-MB-231-RFP cells migrate further in the OFM model compared to the RFM model,with significant differences observed.Furthermore,we establish concentration gradients of the anticancer drug paclitaxel in both the RFM and OFM models and find that paclitaxel significantly inhibits the migration of MDA-MB-231-RFP cells in the RFM model,with stronger inhibition on the high concentration side compared to the low concentration side.However,the inhibitory effect of paclitaxel on the migration of MDA-MB-231-RFP cells in the OFM model is weak.These findings suggest that the oriented collagen fiber microenvironment resembling the late-stage tumor microenvironment is more favorable for cancer cell migration and that the effectiveness of anticancer drugs is diminished.The RFM and OFM models constructed in this study not only provide a platform for studying the mechanism of cancer development,but also serve as a tool for the initial measurement of drug screening.

Increasing dietary fiber intake for type 2 diabetes mellitus management: A systematic review

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes is a chronic,non-communicable disease with a substantial global impact,affecting a significant number of individuals.Its etiology is closely tied to imbalanced dietary practices and sedentary lifestyles.Conversely,increasing die-tary fiber(DF)intake has consistently demonstrated health benefits in numerous studies,including improvements in glycemic control and weight management.AIM To investigate the efficacy of DF interventions in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).METHODS A systematic literature review was conducted to explore the association between DF intake and the management of T2DM.Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria,a total of 26 studies were included in this review.RESULTS The main strategies implied to increased DF intake were:High DF diet plus acarbose(2 studies);DF supplements(14 studies);and high DF diets(10 studies).Overall,most studies indicated that increased DF intake resulted in im-provements in glycemic control and weight management in T2DM patients.CONCLUSION DF represents a valuable strategy in the treatment of type 2 diabetes,improving health outcomes.DF intake offers the potential to improve quality of life and reduce complications and mortality associated with diabetes.Likewise,through supplements or enriched foods,DF contributes significantly to the control of several markers such as HbA1c,blood glucose,triglycerides,low-density lipoprotein,and body weight.

Progress in the application of polymer fibers in solid electrolytes for lithium metal batteries

Solid state lithium metal batteries(SSLMBs)are considered to be one of the most promising battery systems for achieving high energy density and excellent safety for energy storage in the future.However,current existed solid-state electrolytes(SSEs)are still difficult to meet the practical application requirements of SSLMBs.In this review,based on the analysis of main problems and challenges faced by the development of SSEs,the ingenious application and latest progresses including specific suggestions of various polymer fibers and their membrane products in solving these issues are emphatically reviewed.Firstly,the inherent defects of inorganic and organic electrolytes are pointed out.Then,the application strategies of polymer fibers/fiber membranes in strengthening strength,reducing thickness,enhancing thermal stability,increasing the film formability,improving ion conductivity and optimizing interface stability are discussed in detail from two aspects of improving physical structure properties and electrochemical performances.Finally,the researches and development trends of the intelligent applications of high-performance polymer fibers in SSEs is prospected.This review intends to provide timely and important guidance for the design and development of polymer fiber composite SSEs for SSLMBs.

Mechanical behaviour of fiber-reinforced grout in rock bolt reinforcement

Grouted rock bolts subject to axial loading in the field exhibit various failure modes,among which the most predominant one is the bolt-grout interface failure.Thus,mechanical characterization of the grout is essential for understanding its performance in ground support.To date,few studies have been conducted to characterize the mechanical behaviour of fiber-reinforced grout(FRG)in rock bolt reinforcement.Here we experimentally studied the mechanical behaviour of FRG under uniaxial compression,indirect tension,and direct shear loading conditions.We also conducted a series of pullout tests of rebar bolt encapsulated with different grouts including conventional cementitious grout and FRG.FRG was developed using 15%silica fume(SF)replacement of cement(by weight)and steel fiber to achieve highstrength and crack-resistance to overcome drawbacks of the conventional grout.Two types of steel fibers including straight and wavy steel fibers were further added to enhance the grout quality.The effect of fiber shape and fiber volume proportion on the grout mechanical properties were examined.Our experimental results showed that the addition of SF and steel fiber by 1.5%fiber volume proportion could lead to the highest compressive,tensile,and shear strengths of the grout.The minimum volume of fiber that could improve the mechanical properties of grout was found at 0.5%.The scanning electron microscopy(SEM)analysis demonstrated that steel fibers act as an excellent bridge to prevent the cracks from propagating at the interfacial region and hence to aid in maintaining the integrity of the cementitious grout.Our laboratory pullout tests further confirmed that FRG could prevent the cylindrical grout annulus from radial crack and hence improve the rebar’s load carrying capacity.Therefore,FRG has a potential to be utilized in civil and mining applications where high-strength and crack-resistance support is required.

Preparation and Properties of Self-Crimping Polyamide-Based Side-by-Side Bicomponent Elastic Fibers

Side-by-side bicomponent fibers have a spring-like three-dimensional spiral crimp structure and are widely used in elastic fabric.The difference in thermal shrinkage between different polymers can produce an unbalanced stress during the cooling process,and this unbalanced stress can be exploited to prepare naturally crimped fibers by spinning design.In this work,different types of polyamides(PAs)were selected for fabrication of the PA-based side-by-side bicomponent elastic fibers using melt spinning,and the structure development and performance of such bicomponent elastic fibers were studied.Meanwhile,thermoplastic PA elastomer(TPAE)with intrinsic elasticity was also used as one of the comparative materials.The block structure of the PA segment and the polyether segment in the TPAE molecule is the key to providing thermal shrinkage differences and forming a good interface structure.As a result,the crimp ratio of PA6/TPAE bicomponent elastic fiber is 7.23%,which is better than that of the currently commercialized T400 fiber(6.72%).The excellent crimp performance of PA6/TPAE bicomponent elastic fibers comes from the asymmetric distribution of the stress along the radial direction of the fibers during the cooling process,which is caused by the difference in thermal shrinkage between PA6 and TPAE.In addition,the crimp formability of the PA-based bicomponent elastic fibers could be improved by expanding the shrinkage stress through wet-heat treatment.The crimp ratio of PA6/TPAE bicomponent elastic fibers reaches the maximum(33.08%)after treatment at 100℃.At the same time,the fabric made of PA6/TPAE bicomponent elastic fibers has the excellent air and water vapor permeability,with an air permeability of 272.76 mm/s and a water vapor transmission rate of 406.71 g/(m^(2)·h).

Effects of cement content, polypropylene fiber length and dosage on fluidity and mechanical properties of fiber-toughened cemented aeolian sand backfill

Using aeolian sand(AS)for goaf backfilling allows coordination of green mining and AS control.Cemented AS backfill(CASB)exhibits brittle fracture.Polypropylene(PP)fibers are good toughening materials.When the toughening effect of fibers is analyzed,their influence on the slurry conveying performance should also be considered.Additionally,cement affects the interactions among the hydration products,fibers,and aggregates.In this study,the effects of cement content(8wt%,9wt%,and 10wt%)and PP fiber length(6,9,and 12 mm)and dosage(0.05wt%,0.1wt%,0.15wt%,0.2wt%,and 0.25wt%)on fluidity and mechanical properties of the fibertoughened CASB(FCASB)were analyzed.The results indicated that with increases in the three aforementioned factors,the slump flow decreased,while the rheological parameters increased.Uniaxial compressive strength(UCS)increased with the increase of cement content and fiber length,and with an increase in fiber dosage,it first increased and then decreased.The strain increased with the increase of fiber dosage and length.The effect of PP fibers became more pronounced with the increase of cement content.Digital image correlation(DIC)test results showed that the addition of fibers can restrain the peeling of blocks and the expansion of fissure,and reduce the stress concentration of the FCASB.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)test indicated that the functional mechanisms of fibers mainly involved the interactions of fibers with the hydration products and matrix and the spatial distribution of fibers.On the basis of single-factor analysis,the response surface method(RSM)was used to analyze the effects of the three aforementioned factors and their interaction terms on the UCS.The influence surface of the two-factor interaction terms and the three-dimensional scatter plot of the three-factor coupling were established.In conclusion,the response law of the FCASB properties under the effects of cement and PP fibers were obtained,which provides theoretical and engineering guidance for FCASB filling.

Influence of Sugarcane Bagasse Fibers on the Mechanical Strength and Porosity of Concrete Made with Forspak 42.5 N Cement in the Republic of Congo

The concrete mixed to sugarcane bagasse fibers and polypropylene fibers prepared with varied conditions were presented. The aim of our study is to formulate a concrete mixed with sugarcane bagasse fibers, which will gradually replace the conventional polypropylene fibers often used. We formulated all our concretes using the dreux gorisse method. We used an oven calibrated at 105˚C to dry the washed fibers. We also carried out tensile splitting and compression tests, at 28 and 112 days of age. The reinforcement mechanisms of sugarcane bagasse fibers and polypropylene fibers concretes were subjected to tensile splitting and compression tests after total immersion of the specimens in tap water at 28 and 112 days. Porosity at 28 days, mass loss and drying shrinkage at 80 days were also studied. The curing processes of concretes containing 0.10, 0.15, 0.17, 0.23 and 0.25% bagasse fibers were compared with those of ordinary concretes containing no fiber. The results showed that the addition of bagasse fibers reduces mechanical strength and porosity. In summary, specimens SBC-0.15 and SBC-0.17 showed the best results for all fibers. We plan to do the same work, but this time with raffia or palm nut fibers.

Comparison of the Clinical Effect of Prefabricated Fiber Post and Plastic Fiber Post in Oral Repair

Objective:To observe and analyze the clinical effect of prefabricated fiber posts and plastic fiber posts in oral repair.Methods:A total of 128 patients admitted to our hospital from January 2023 to June 2024 underwent oral prosthesis treatment,of which the control group(n=64)was treated with prefabricated fiber posts and the observation group(n=64)with plastic fiber posts.The efficacy,retention rate,and complication rate of the two groups were compared.Results:The total effective rate of the observation group was 96.88%,which was significantly higher than that of the control group(84.38%)(P<0.05).The restoration retention rate in the observation group was 95.31%,which was significantly higher than that in the control group(85.94%)(P<0.05).The incidence of postoperative complications in the observation group was 4.69%,which was significantly lower than that in the control group(15.63%)(P<0.05).Conclusion:For patients with oral prostheses,the use of plastic fiber posts for treatment shows better clinical effects,effectively improving the retention rate of the prosthesis and reducing the incidence of complications.Thus,it is worthy of popularization and application.

Random fiber laser using a cascaded fiber loop mirror

Random fiber lasers(RFLs)have attracted extensive attention due to their rich physical properties and wide applications.Here,a RFL using a cascaded fiber loop mirror(CFLM)is proposed and presented.A CFLM with 10 fiber loop mirrors(FLMs)is simulated by the transfer matrix method and used to provide random feedback.Multiple spikes are observed in both the simulated and measured reflection spectra.The RFL operates in a single longitudinal mode near the threshold and a time-varying multilongitudinal mode at higher pump powers.The RFL exhibits a time-varying radio-frequency spectrum.The Lévy–Gaussian distribution transition is observed,as in many RFLs.The operation mechanism of the lasing longitudinal modes and the impact of complex mode competition and mode hopping on the output characteristics are discussed through experimental and theoretical results.In this study,we unveil an artificial random feedback structure and pave another way for the realization of RFLs,which should be a platform for multidisciplinary studies in complex systems.

Thermo-hydro-poro-mechanical responses of a reservoir-induced landslide tracked by high-resolution fiber optic sensing nerves

Thermo-poro-mechanical responses along sliding zone/surface have been extensively studied.However,it has not been recognized that the potential contribution of other crucial engineering geological interfaces beyond the slip surface to progressive failure.Here,we aim to investigate the subsurface multiphysics of reservoir landslides under two extreme hydrologic conditions(i.e.wet and dry),particularly within sliding masses.Based on ultra-weak fiber Bragg grating(UWFBG)technology,we employ specialpurpose fiber optic sensing cables that can be implanted into boreholes as“nerves of the Earth”to collect data on soil temperature,water content,pore water pressure,and strain.The Xinpu landslide in the middle reach of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area in China was selected as a case study to establish a paradigm for in situ thermo-hydro-poro-mechanical monitoring.These UWFBG-based sensing cables were vertically buried in a 31 m-deep borehole at the foot of the landslide,with a resolution of 1 m except for the pressure sensor.We reported field measurements covering the period 2021 and 2022 and produced the spatiotemporal profiles throughout the borehole.Results show that wet years are more likely to motivate landslide motions than dry years.The annual thermally active layer of the landslide has a critical depth of roughly 9 m and might move downward in warmer years.The dynamic groundwater table is located at depths of 9e15 m,where the peaked strain undergoes a periodical response of leap and withdrawal to annual hydrometeorological cycles.These interface behaviors may support the interpretation of the contribution of reservoir regulation to slope stability,allowing us to correlate them to local damage events and potential global destabilization.This paper also offers a natural framework for interpreting thermo-hydro-poro-mechanical signatures from creeping reservoir bank slopes,which may form the basis for a landslide monitoring and early warning system.

Strigolactones modulate cotton fiber elongation and secondary cell wall thickening

Cotton is one of the most important economic crops in the world,and it is a major source of fiber in the textile industry.Strigolactones(SLs)are a class of carotenoid-derived plant hormones involved in many processes of plant growth and development,although the functions of SL in fiber development remain largely unknown.Here,we found that the endogenous SLs were significantly higher in fibers at 20 days post-anthesis(DPA).Exogenous SLs significantly increased fiber length and cell wall thickness.Furthermore,we cloned three key SL biosynthetic genes,namely GhD27,GhMAX3,and GhMAX4,which were highly expressed in fibers,and subcellular localization analyses revealed that GhD27,GhMAX3,and GhMAX4 were localized in the chloroplast.The exogenous expression of GhD27,GhMAX3,and GhMAX4 complemented the physiological phenotypes of d27,max3,and max4 mutations in Arabidopsis,respectively.Knockdown of GhD27,GhMAX3,and GhMAX4 in cotton resulted in increased numbers of axillary buds and leaves,reduced fiber length,and significantly reduced fiber thickness.These findings revealed that SLs participate in plant growth,fiber elongation,and secondary cell wall formation in cotton.These results provide new and effective genetic resources for improving cotton fiber yield and plant architecture.

血清4型禽腺病毒Fiber-1蛋白截短表达及多克隆抗体制备

目的:制备血清4型禽腺病毒(FAdV-4)Fiber-1基因截短蛋白多克隆抗体,为FAdV-4病的诊断、检测及致病机制研究奠定基础。方法:对FAdV-4的CH/AHMC/2015分离株Fiber-1基因序列(MG148335.1:30459-31754)进行信号肽、疏水性和抗原决定簇分析,截取具有较高免疫原性的片段,设计合成特异性引物,以CH/AHMC/2015分离株基因组DNA为模板进行PCR扩增,获得截短Fiber-1(sFiber-1)基因片段,将其连接至原核表达载体pET-32a,验证后转化至大肠杆菌BL21感受态中,诱导表达sFiber-1蛋白。纯化后的蛋白与佐剂乳化后免疫SD大鼠,制备多克隆抗体,并测定多克隆抗体效价。用Western-blot检测抗体免疫原性。结果:成功构建了sFiber-1的原核表达载体,获得FAdV-4的sFiber-1重组蛋白,经SDS-PAGE鉴定,重组sFiber-1蛋白大小约为52 kDa,主要以包涵体形式表达;间接ELISA法测得sFiber-1多克隆抗体效价为1∶2^(13);Western blot结果显示制备的多克隆抗体能特异性识别出重组sFiber-1蛋白。结论:本研究成功表达了FAdV-4的重组sFiber-1蛋白,制备了具有较高免疫活性的sFiber-1多克隆抗体,可为FAdV-4的检测及诊断奠定基础。

Hyphae-mediated bioassembly of carbon fibers derivatives for advanced battery energy storage

Ingenious design and fabrication of advanced carbon-based sulfur cathodes are extremely important to the development of high-energy lithium-sulfur batteries,which hold promise as the next-generation power source.Herein,for the first time,we report a novel versatile hyphae-mediated biological assembly technology to achieve scale production of hyphae carbon fibers(HCFs)derivatives,in which different components including carbon,metal compounds,and semiconductors can be homogeneously assembled with HCFs to form composite networks.The mechanism of biological adsorption assembly is also proposed.As a representative,reduced graphene oxides(rGOs)decorated with hollow carbon spheres(HCSs)successfully co-assemble with HCFs to form HCSs@rGOs/HCFs hosts for sulfur cathodes.In this unique architecture,not only large accommodation space for sulfur but also restrained volume expansion and fast charge transport paths are realized.Meanwhile,multiscale physical barriers plus chemisorption sites are simultaneously established to anchor soluble lithium polysulfides.Accordingly,the designed HCSs@rGOs/HCFs-S cathodes deliver a high capacity(1189 mA h g^(-1)at 0.1 C)and good high-rate capability(686 mA h g^(-1)at 5 C).Our work provides a new approach for the preparation of high-performance carbon-based electrodes for energy storage devices.

Hyperbranched polymer hollow-fiber-composite membranes for pervaporation separation of aromatic/aliphatic hydrocarbon mixtures

The separation of aromatic/aliphatic hydrocarbon mixtures is crucial in the petrochemical industry.Pervaporation is regarded as a promising approach for the separation of aromatic compounds from alkanes. Developing membrane materials with efficient separation performance is still the main task since the membrane should provide chemical stability, high permeation flux, and selectivity. In this study, the hyperbranched polymer(HBP) was deposited on the outer surface of a polyvinylidene fluoride(PVDF)hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membrane by a facile dip-coating method. The dip-coating rate, HBP concentration, and thermal cross-linking temperature were regulated to optimize the membrane structure.The obtained HBP/PVDF hollow-fiber-composite membrane had a good separation performance for aromatic/aliphatic hydrocarbon mixtures. For the 50%/50%(mass) toluene/n-heptane mixture, the permeation flux of optimized composite membranes could reach 1766 g·m^(-2)·h^(-1), with a separation factor of 4.1 at 60℃. Therefore, the HBP/PVDF hollow-fiber-composite membrane has great application prospects in the pervaporation separation of aromatic/aliphatic hydrocarbon mixtures.