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.

Seamlessly Merging the Capacity of P into Sb at Same Voltage with Maintained Superior Cycle Stability and Low-temperature Performance for Li-ion Batteries

Among the alloying-type anodes,elemental Sb possesses the suitable yet safe plateau,simple lithiation pathway,small voltage polarization,high conductivity,and superior cycle stability.However,challenge is that its intrinsic capacity is rather low(660 mAh g^(-1)),<1/6 of silicon.Herein,we propose a seamless integration strategy by merging the voltage and capacity of phosphorus and antimony into a solid solution alloy.Interestingly,the enlistment of P is found greatly enlarge the capacity from 660 to 993 mAh g^(-1) for such Sb_(30)P_(30) solid solution,while maintaining a single and stable discharge plateau(~0.79 V)similar to elemental Sb.Various experimental characterizations including XPS,PDF,Raman,and EDS mapping reveal that in such a material the P and Sb atoms have interacted with each other to form a homogenous solid solution alloy,rather than a simple mixing of the two substances.Thus,the Sb_(30)P_(30) exhibits superior rate performances(807 mAh g^(-1) at 5000 mA g^(-1))and cyclability(821 mAh g^(-1) remained after 300 cycles).Furthermore,such Sb_(60-x)P_(x) alloys can even deliver 621 mAh g^(-1) at
30℃,which can be served as the alternative anode materials for high-energy and low-temperature batteries.This unique seamless integration strategy based on solid solution chemistry can be easily leveraged to manipulate the capacity of other electrode materials at similar voltage.

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.

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.

Effects of connected automated vehicle on stability and energy consumption of heterogeneous traffic flow system

With the development of intelligent and interconnected traffic system,a convergence of traffic stream is anticipated in the foreseeable future,where both connected automated vehicle(CAV)and human driven vehicle(HDV)will coexist.In order to examine the effect of CAV on the overall stability and energy consumption of such a heterogeneous traffic system,we first take into account the interrelated perception of distance and speed by CAV to establish a macroscopic dynamic model through utilizing the full velocity difference(FVD)model.Subsequently,adopting the linear stability theory,we propose the linear stability condition for the model through using the small perturbation method,and the validity of the heterogeneous model is verified by comparing with the FVD model.Through nonlinear theoretical analysis,we further derive the KdV-Burgers equation,which captures the propagation characteristics of traffic density waves.Finally,by numerical simulation experiments through utilizing a macroscopic model of heterogeneous traffic flow,the effect of CAV permeability on the stability of density wave in heterogeneous traffic flow and the energy consumption of the traffic system is investigated.Subsequent analysis reveals emergent traffic phenomena.The experimental findings demonstrate that as CAV permeability increases,the ability to dampen the propagation of fluctuations in heterogeneous traffic flow gradually intensifies when giving system perturbation,leading to enhanced stability of the traffic system.Furthermore,higher initial traffic density renders the traffic system more susceptible to congestion,resulting in local clustering effect and stop-and-go traffic phenomenon.Remarkably,the total energy consumption of the heterogeneous traffic system exhibits a gradual decline with CAV permeability increasing.Further evidence has demonstrated the positive influence of CAV on heterogeneous traffic flow.This research contributes to providing theoretical guidance for future CAV applications,aiming to enhance urban road traffic efficiency and alleviate congestion.

Enhanced High-Temperature Cycling Stability of Garnet-Based All Solid-State Lithium Battery Using a Multi-Functional Catholyte Buffer Layer

The pursuit of safer and high-performance lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)has triggered extensive research activities on solid-state batteries,while challenges related to the unstable electrode-electrolyte interface hinder their practical implementation.Polymer has been used extensively to improve the cathode-electrolyte interface in garnet-based all-solid-state LIBs(ASSLBs),while it introduces new concerns about thermal stability.In this study,we propose the incorporation of a multi-functional flame-retardant triphenyl phos-phate additive into poly(ethylene oxide),acting as a thin buffer layer between LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2)(NCM811)cathode and garnet electro-lyte.Through electrochemical stability tests,cycling performance evaluations,interfacial thermal stability analysis and flammability tests,improved thermal stability(capacity retention of 98.5%after 100 cycles at 60℃,and 89.6%after 50 cycles at 80℃)and safety characteristics(safe and stable cycling up to 100℃)are demonstrated.Based on various materials characterizations,the mechanism for the improved thermal stability of the interface is proposed.The results highlight the potential of multi-functional flame-retardant additives to address the challenges associated with the electrode-electrolyte interface in ASSLBs at high temperature.Efficient thermal modification in ASSLBs operating at elevated temperatures is also essential for enabling large-scale energy storage with safety being the primary concern.

Origin of the Disparity between the Stability of Transmutated Mix-Cation and Mix-Anion Compounds

Transmutation is an efficient approach for material design. For example, ternary compound CuGaSe_(2) in chalcopyrite structure is a promising material for novel optoelectronic and thermoelectric device applications. It can be considered as formed from the binary host compound ZnSe in zinc-blende structure by cation transmutation(i.e., replacing two Zn atoms by one Cu and one Ga). While cation-transmutated materials are common, aniontransmutated ternary materials are rare, for example, Zn_(2)As Br(i.e., replacing two Se atoms by one As and one Br)is not reported. The physical origin for this puzzling disparity is unclear. In this work, we employ first-principles calculations to address this issue, and find that the distinct differences in stability between cation-transmutated(mix-cation) and anion-transmutated(mix-anion) compounds originate from their different trends of ionic radii as functions of their ionic state, i.e., for cations, the radius decreases with the increasing ionic state, whereas for anions, the radius increases with the increasing absolute ionic state. Therefore, for mix-cation compounds,the strain energy and Coulomb energy can be simultaneously optimized to make these materials stable. In contrast, for mix-anion systems, minimization of Coulomb energy will increase the strain energy, thus the system becomes unstable or less stable. Thus, the trend of decreasing strain energy and Coulomb energy is consistent in mix-cation compounds, while it is opposite in mix-anion compounds. Furthermore, the study suggests that the stability strategy for mix-anion compounds can be controlled by the ratio of ionic radii r3/r1, with a smaller ratio indicating greater stability. Our work, thus, elucidates the intrinsic stability trend of transmutated materials and provides guidelines for the design of novel ternary materials for various device applications.

Rainfall-triggered waste dump instability analysis based on surface 3D deformation in physical model test

Landslide is the second largest natural disaster after earthquake. It is of significance to study the evolution laws and failure mechanism of landslides based on its surface 3D deformation information. Based on the rainfall-triggered waste dump instability model test, we studied the failure mechanisms of the waste dump by integrating surface deformation and internal slope stress and proposed novel parameters for identifying landslide stability. We developed a noncontact measurement device, which can obtain millimeter-level 3D deformation data for surface scene in physical model test;Then we developed the similar materials and established a test model for a waste dump. Based on the failure characteristics of slope surface, internal stress of slope body and displacement contours during the whole process, we divided the slope instability process in model test into four stages: rainfall infiltration and surface erosion, shallow sliding, deep sliding, and overall instability. Based on the obtained surface deformation data, we calculated the volume change during slope instability process and compared it with the point displacement on slope surface. The results showed that the volume change can not only reflect the slow-ultra acceleration process of slope failure, but also fully reflect the above four stages and reduce the fluctuations caused by random factors. Finally, this paper proposed two stability identification parameters: the volume change rate above the slip surface and the relative velocity of volume change rate. According to the calculation of these two parameters in model test, they can be used for study the deformation and failure mechanism of slope stability.

Functional nanolayers favor the stability of solid-electrolyteinterphase in rechargeable batteries

Rechargeable batteries have brought us lots of convenience and changed the way we live.However,the demand for higher energy density,longer cycle life,and more fast charging ability urges researchers to develop advanced battery material and chemistry[1,2].

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.

Significantly enhanced thermal stability of HMX by phase-transition lysozyme coating

A new robust bio-inspired route by using lysozyme aqueous solution for surface modification on 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane(HMX)was described in this paper.HMX crystals were coated by in situ phase transition of lysozyme(PTL)molecules.The HMX decorated by PTL was characterized by SEM,XRD,FTIR and XPS,demonstrating a dense core-shell coating layer.The coverage of lysozyme on HMX crystal was calculated by the ratio of sulfur content.The surface coverage increased from 60.5% to 93.5% when the content of PTL was changed from 0.5 wt% to 2.0 wt%,indicating efficient coating.The thermal stability of HMX was investigated by in situ XRD and DSC.The thermal phase transition temperature of HMX(β to δ phase)was delayed by 42℃ with 2.0 wt% PTL coating,which prevented HMX from thermal damage and sensitivity by the effect of PTL coating.After heating at 215℃,large cracks appeared in the naked HMX crystal,while the PTL coated HMX still maintained intact,with the impact energy of HMX dropped dramatically from 5 J to 2 J.However,the impact energy of HMX with 1.0 wt% and 2.0 wt% coating content(HMX@PTL-1.0 and HMX@PTL-2.0)was unchanged(5 J).Present results potentially enable large-scale fabrication of polymorphic energetic materials with outstanding thermal stability by novel lysozyme coating.

Stability and melting behavior of boron phosphide under high pressure

Boron phosphide(BP)has gained significant research attention due to its unique photoelectric and mechanical properties.In this work,we investigated the stability of BP under high pressure using x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope.The phase diagram of BP was explored in both B-rich and P-rich environments,revealing crucial insight into its behavior at 5.0 GPa.Additionally,we measured the melting curve of BP from 8.0 GPa to 15.0 GPa.Our findings indicate that the stability of BP under high pressure is improved within B-rich and P-rich environments.Furthermore,we report a remarkable observation of melting curve frustration at 10.0 GPa.This study will enhance our understanding of stability of BP under high pressure,shedding light on its potential application in semiconductor,thermal,and light-transmitting devices.

Slope stability of reclaimed coal mines through a new water filling index

A common reclamation practice for closed coal surface mines is filling them with water to form pit lakes.The creation and sustainability of these lakes are significantly affected by the stability of the corresponding slopes.The present study provides a general framework for analyzing the water filling’s effect on slope stability based on a new water filling index,which can indirectly consider the factors affecting the process and efficiently quantify the filling speed’s influence.The assumptions of the proposed approach are thoroughly discussed,and the range of the water filling index is identified.Furthermore,the safety factor is calculated using the finite element method with the shear strength reduction technique during the filling process for various conditions(soil properties,slope geometry,hydraulic conditions,and water filling speed).Results are presented as normalized stability charts for practical use.During the water filling,the stability gradually decreases until the reservoir reaches a critical level of 10%e40%of the total height;it then increases to even more stable conditions than the initial one.Overall,the present analysis allows for the preliminary stability evaluation of a coal mine during the formation of a pit lake and the appropriate quantification of the water filling’s effect.

Effects of layer interactions on instantaneous stability of finite Stokes flows

The stability analysis of a finite Stokes layer is of practical importance in flow control. In the present work, the instantaneous stability of a finite Stokes layer with layer interactions is studied via a linear stability analysis of the frozen phases of the base flow. The oscillations of two plates can have different velocity amplitudes, initial phases, and frequencies. The effects of the Stokes-layer interactions on the stability when two plates oscillate synchronously are analyzed. The growth rates of two most unstable modes when δ < 0.12 are almost equal, and δ = δ*/h*, where δ*and h*are the Stokes-layer thickness and the half height of the channel, respectively. However, their vorticities are different. The vorticity of the most unstable mode is symmetric, while the other is asymmetric. The Stokes-layer interactions have a destabilizing effect on the most unstable mode when δ < 0.68, and have a stabilizing effect when δ > 0.68. However, the interactions always have a stabilizing effect on the other unstable mode. It is explained that one of the two unstable modes has much higher dissipation than the other one when the Stokes-layer interactions are strong. We also find that the stability of the Stokes layer is closely related to the inflectional points of the base-flow velocity profile. The effects of inconsistent velocity-amplitude, initial phase, and frequency of the oscillations on the stability are analyzed. The energy of the most unstable eigenvector is mainly distributed near the plate of higher velocity amplitude or higher oscillation frequency. The effects of the initial phase difference are complicated because the base-flow velocity is extremely sensitive to the initial phase.

A positive trend in the stability of global offshore wind energy

The recognition on the trend of wind energy stability is still extremely rare,although it is closely related to acquisition efficiency,grid connection,equipment lifetime,and costs of wind energy utilization.Using the 40-year(1979–2018)ERA-Interim data from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts,this study presented the spatial-temporal distribution and climatic trend of the stability of global offshore wind energy as well as the abrupt phenomenon of wind energy stability in key regions over the past 40 years with the climatic analysis method and Mann-Kendall(M-K)test.The results show the following 5 points.(1)According to the coefficient of variation(C_(v))of the wind power density,there are six permanent stable zones of global offshore wind energy:the southeast and northeast trade wind zones in the Indian,Pacific and Atlantic oceans,the Southern Hemisphere westerly,and a semi-permanent stable zone(North Indian Ocean).(2)There are six lowvalue zones for both seasonal variability index(S_(v))and monthly variability index(M_(v))globally,with a similar spatial distribution as that of the six permanent stable zones.M_(v) and S_(v) in the Arabian Sea are the highest in the world.(3)After C_(v),M_(v) and S_(v) are comprehensively considered,the six permanent stable zones have an obvious advantage in the stability of wind energy over other sea areas,with C_(v) below 0.8,M_(v) within 1.0,and S_(v) within 0.7 all the year round.(4)The global stability of offshore wind energy shows a positive climatic trend for the past four decades.C_(v),M_(v) and S_(v) have not changed significantly or decreased in most of the global ocean during 1979 to2018.That is,wind energy is flat or more stable,while the monthly and seasonal variabilities tend to shrink/smooth,which is beneficial for wind energy utilization.(5)C_(v) in the low-latitude Pacific and M_(v) and S_(v) in both the North Indian Ocean and the low-latitude Pacific have an obvious abrupt phenomenon at the end of the20th century.

Trajectory planning for multi-robot coordinated towing system based on stability

Given the unconstrained characteristics of the multi-robot coordinated towing system,the rope can only provide a unidirectional constraint force to the suspended object,which leads to the weak ability of the system to resist external disturbances and makes it difficult to control the trajectory of the suspended object.Based on the kinematics and statics of the multi-robot coordinated towing system with fixed base,the dynamic model of the system is established by using the Newton-Euler equations and the Udwadia-Kalaba equations.To plan the trajectories with high stability and strong control,trajectory planning is performed by combining the dynamics and stability of the towing system.Based on the dynamic stability of the motion trajectory of the suspended object,the stability of the suspended object is effectively improved through online real-time planning and offline manual adjustment.The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by comparing the motion stability of the suspended object before and after planning.The results provide a foundation for the motion planning and coordinated control of the towing system.

Mechanical Modeling and Analysis of Stability Deterioration of Production Well During Marine Hydrate Depressurization Production

Different from oil and gas production,hydrate reservoirs are shallow and unconsolidated,whose mechanical properties deteriorate with hydrate decomposition.Therefore,the formations will undergo significant subsidence during depressurization,which will destroy the original force state of the production well.However,existing research on the stability of oil and gas production wells assumes the formation to be stable,and lacks consideration of the force exerted on the hydrate production well by formation subsidence caused by hydrate decomposition during production.To fill this gap,this paper proposes an analytical method for the dynamic evolution of the stability of hydrate production well considering the effects of hydrate decomposition.Based on the mechanical model of the production well,the basis for stability analysis has been proposed.A multi-field coupling model of the force state of the production well considering the effect of hydrate decomposition and formation subsidence is established,and a solver is developed.The analytical approach is verified by its good agreement with the results from the numerical method.A case study found that the decomposition of hydrate will increase the pulling-down force and reduce the supporting force,which is the main reason for the stability deterioration.The higher the initial hydrate saturation,the larger the reservoir thickness,and the lower the production pressure,the worse the stability or even instability.This work can provide a theoretical reference for the stability maintaining of the production well.

Finite Element Method Simulation of Wellbore Stability under Different Operating and Geomechanical Conditions

The variation of the principal stress of formations with the working and geo-mechanical conditions can trigger wellbore instabilities and adversely affect the well completion.A finite element model,based on the theory of poro-elasticity and the Mohr-Coulomb rock damage criterion,is used here to analyze such a risk.The changes in wellbore stability before and after reservoir acidification are simulated for different pressure differences.The results indicate that the risk of wellbore instability grows with an increase in the production-pressure difference regardless of whether acidification is completed or not;the same is true for the instability area.After acidizing,the changes in the main geomechanical parameters(i.e.,elastic modulus,Poisson’s ratio,and rock strength)cause the maximum wellbore instability coefficient to increase.

Stability of the Stratification of Water Bodies in the North Passage of the Yangtze River Estuary Based on the EFDC Model

To study the stratified stability of a water column in the North Passage of the Yangtze River Estuary,a numerical model of the hydrodynamics of this estuary is established using the EFDC model.On the basis of EFDC results,this paper derives and pro-vides the discriminative index of water body stability caused by salinity and analyzes the along-range variation in water body strati-fication stability in the North Passage of the Yangtze River Estuary and the periodic variation at a key location(bend area)based on the simulation results of the numerical model.This work shows that the water body in the bend area varies between mixed and strati-fied types,and the vertical average flow velocity has a good negative correlation with the differential velocity between the surface and bottom layers of the water body.The model simulation results validate the formulae for the stratified stability discriminant during spring tides.