Electrokinetic-mechanism of water and furfural oxidation on pulsed laser-interlaced Cu_(2)O and CoO on nickel foam

The electrocatalytic oxidation of biomass-derived furfural(FF)feedstocks into 2-furoic acid(FA)holds immense industrial potential in optics,cosmetics,polymers,and food.Herein,we fabricated Co O/Ni O/nickel foam(NF)and Cu_(2)O/Ni O/NF electrodes via in situ pulsed laser irradiation in liquids(PLIL)for the bifunctional electrocatalysis of oxygen evolution reaction(OER)and furfural oxidation reaction(FOR),respectively.Simultaneous oxidation of NF surface to NiO and deposition of CoO and/or Cu_(2)O on NF during PLIL offer distinct advantages for enhancing both the OER and FOR.CoO/NiO/NF electrocatalyst provides a consistently low overpotential of~359 m V(OER)at 10 m A/cm^(2),achieving the maximum FA yield(~16.37 m M)with 61.5%selectivity,79.5%carbon balance,and a remarkable Faradaic efficiency of~90.1%during 2 h of FOR at 1.43 V(vs.reversible hydrogen electrode).Mechanistic pathway via in situ electrochemical-Raman spectroscopy on CoO/NiO/NF reveals the involvement of phase transition intermediates(NiOOH and CoOOH)as surface-active centers during electrochemical oxidation.The carbonyl carbon in FF is attacked by hydroxyl groups to form unstable hydrates that subsequently undergo further oxidation to yield FA products.This method holds promise for large-scale applications,enabling simultaneous production of renewable building materials and fuel.

Pulsed laser interference patterning of transition-metal carbides for stable alkaline water electrolysis kinetics

We investigated the role of metal atomization and solvent decomposition into reductive species and carbon clusters in the phase formation of transition-metal carbides(TMCs;namely,Co_(3)C,Fe_(3)C,TiC,and MoC)by pulsed laser ablation of Co,Fe,Ti,and Mo metals in acetone.The interaction between carbon s-p-orbitals and metal d-orbitals causes a redistribution of valence structure through charge transfer,leading to the formation of surface defects as observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.These defects influence the evolved TMCs,making them effective for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions(HER and OER)in an alkaline medium.Co_(3)C with more oxygen affinity promoted CoO(OH)intermediates,and the electrochemical surface oxidation to Co_(3)O_(4)was captured via in situ/operando electrochemical Raman probes,increasing the number of active sites for OER activity.MoC with more d-vacancies exhibits strong hydrogen binding,promoting HER kinetics,whereas Fe_(3)C and TiC with more defect states to trap charge carriers may hinder both OER and HER activities.The results show that the assembled membrane-less electrolyzer with Co_(3)C∥Co_(3)C and MoC∥MoC electrodes requires~2.01 and 1.99 V,respectively,to deliver a 10 mA cm−2 with excellent electrochemical and structural stability.In addition,the ascertained pulsed laser synthesis mechanism and unit-cell packing relations will open up sustainable pathways for obtaining highly stable electrocatalysts for electrolyzers.

Anode surface engineering of zinc-ion batteries using tellurium nanobelt as a protective layer for enhancing energy storage performance

Over the years,zinc-ion batteries(ZIBs)have attracted attention as a promising next-generation energy storage technology because of their excellent safety,long cycling performance,eco-friendliness,and high-power density.However,issues,such as the corrosion and dissolution of the Zn anode,limited wet-tability,and lack of sufficient nucleation sites for Zn plating,have limited their practical application.The introduction of a protective layer comprising of tellurium(Te)nanobelts onto the surface of Zn anode has emerged as a promising approach to overcome these limitations and improve the electrochemical behav-ior by enhancing the safety and wettability of ZIBs,as well as providing numerous nucleation sites for Zn plating.In the presence of a Te-based protective layer,the energy power density of the surface-engineered Zn anode improved significantly(ranging from 310 to 144 W h kg^(-1),over a power density range of 270 to 1,800 W kg^(-1)),and the lifespan capability was extended.These results demonstrate that the proposed strategy of employing Te nanobelts as a protective layer holds great promise for enhancing the energy storage performance of zIBs,making them even more attractive as a viable energy storage solution forthefuture.

Disordered Structure and Reversible Phase Transformation from K-Birnessite to Zn-Buserite Enable High-Performance Aqueous Zinc-lon Batteries

The layeredδ-MnO_(2)(dMO)is an excellent cathode material for rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries owing to its large interlayer distance(~0.7 nm),high capacity,and low cost;however,such cathodes suffer from structural degradation during the long-term cycling process,leading to capacity fading.In this study,a Co-doped dMO composite with reduced graphene oxide(GC-dMO)is developed using a simple cost-effective hydrothermal method.The degree of disorderness increases owing to the hetero-atom doping and graphene oxide composites.It is demonstrated that layered dMO and GC-dMO undergo a structural transition from K-birnessite to the Zn-buserite phase upon the first discharge,which enhances the intercalation of Zn^(2+)ions,H_(2)O molecules in the layered structure.The GC-dMO cathode exhibits an excellent capacity of 302 mAh g^(-1)at a current density of 100 mAg^(-1)after 100 cycles as compared with the dMO cathode(159 mAhg^(-1)).The excellent electrochemical performance of the GC-dMO cathode owing to Co-doping and graphene oxide sheets enhances the interlayer gap and disorderness,and maintains structural stability,which facilitates the easy reverse intercalation and de-intercalation of Zn^(2+)ions and H_(2)O molecules.Therefore,GC-dMO is a promising cathode material for large-scale aqueous ZIBs.

Sustainable Furfural Biomass Feedstocks Electrooxidation toward Value-Added Furoic Acid with Energy-Saving H_(2) Fuel Production Using Pt-Decorated Co_(3)O_(4) Nanospheres

Here,furfural oxidation was performed to replace the kinetically sluggish O_(2)evolution reaction(OER).Pt-Co_(3)O_(4)nanospheres were developed via pulsed laser ablation in liquid(PLAL)in a single step for the paired electrocatalysis of an H_(2)evolution reaction(HER)and furfural oxidation reaction(FOR).The FOR afforded a high furfural conversion(44.2%)with a major product of 2-furoic acid after a 2-h electrolysis at 1.55 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode in a 1.0-M KOH/50-mM furfural electrolyte.The Pt-Co_(3)O_(4)electrode exhibited a small overpotential of 290 mV at 10 mA cm^(-2).As an anode and cathode in an electrolyzer system,the Pt-Co_(3)O_(4)electrocatalyst required only a small applied cell voltage of~1.83 V to deliver 10 mA cm^(-2),compared with that of the pure water electrolyzer(OER||HER,~1.99 V).This study simultaneously realized the integrated production of energy-saving H_(2)fuel at the cathode and 2-furoic acid at the anode.

Methane Emission from Rice Fields:Necessity for Molecular Approach for Mitigation

Anthropogenic methane emissions are a leading cause of the increase in global averagetemperatures,often referred to as global warming.Flooded soils play a significant role in methaneproduction,where the anaerobic conditions promote the production of methane by methanogenicmicroorganisms.Rice fields contribute a considerable portion of agricultural methane emissions,as riceplants provide both factors that enhance and limit methane production.Rice plants harbor both methaneproducingand methane-oxidizing microorganisms.Exudates from rice roots provide source for methaneproduction,while oxygen delivered from the root aerenchyma enhances methane oxidation.Studies haveshown that the diversity of these microorganisms depends on rice cultivars with some genes characterizedas harboring specific groups of microorganisms related to methane emissions.However,there is still aneed for research to determine the balance between methane production and oxidation,as rice plantspossess the ability to regulate net methane production.Various agronomical practices,such as fertilizerand water management,have been employed to mitigate methane emissions.Nevertheless,studiescorrelating agronomic and chemical management of methane with productivity are limited.Moreover,evidences for breeding low-methane-emitting rice varieties are scattered largely due to the absence ofcoordinated breeding programs.Research has indicated that phenotypic characteristics,such as rootbiomass,shoot architecture,and aerenchyma,are highly correlated with methane emissions.This reviewdiscusses available studies that involve the correlation between plant characteristics and methaneemissions.It emphasizes the necessity and importance of breeding low-methane-emitting rice varieties inaddition to existing agronomic,biological,and chemical practices.The review also delves into the idealphenotypic and physiological characteristics of low-methane-emitting rice and potential breeding techniques,drawing from studies conducted with diverse varieties,mutants,and transgenic plants.

Changes in structural plasticity of hippocampal neurons in an animal model of multiple sclerosis

Structural plasticity is critical for the functional diversity of neurons in the brain.Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis(EAE)is the most commonly used model for multiple sclerosis(MS),successfully mimicking its key pathological features(inflammation,demyelination,axonal loss,and gliosis)and clinical symptoms(motor and non-motordysfunctions).Recentstudieshave demonstrated the importance of synaptic plasticity in EAE pathogenesis.In the present study,we investigated the features of behavioral alteration and hippocampal structural plasticity in EAE-affected mice in the early phase(11 days post-immunization,DPI)and chronic phase(28DPI).EAE-affected mice exhibited hippocampus-related behavioral dysfunction in the open field test during both early and chronic phases.Dendritic complexity was largely affected in the cornu ammonis 1(CA1)and CA3 apical and dentate gyrus(DG)subregions of the hippocampus during the chronic phase,while this effect was only noted in the CA1 apical subregion in the early phase.Moreover,dendritic spine density was reduced in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 apical/basal and DG subregions in the early phase of EAE,but only reduced in the DG subregion during the chronic phase.Furthermore,mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines(Il1β,Tnfα,and Ifnγ)and glial cell markers(Gfap and Cd68)were significantly increased,whereas the expression of activity-regulated cytoskeletonassociated protein(ARC)was reduced during the chronic phase.Similarly,exposure to the aforementioned cytokines in primary cultures of hippocampal neurons reduced dendritic complexity and ARC expression.Primary cultures of hippocampal neurons also showed significantly reduced extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)phosphorylation upon treatment with proinflammatory cytokines.Collectively,these results suggest that autoimmune neuroinflammation alters structural plasticity in the hippocampus,possibly through the ERK-ARC pathway,indicating that this alteration may be associated with hippocampal dysfunctions in EAE.

Neuralgic amyotrophy with hourglass-like constrictions:A case report

BACKGROUND Neuralgic amyotrophy(NA)is a rare disease with sudden upper limb pain followed by affected muscle weakness.The most commonly affected area in NA is the upper part of the brachial plexus,and the paraspinal muscles are rarely affected(1.5%),making these cases difficult to distinguish from cervical radiculopathy.CASE SUMMARY A 76-year-old male presented to the emergency department with left hip pain post-fall.After undergoing left femoral neck fracture surgery,he experienced sudden left shoulder pain for 10 days with subsequent left arm weakness.Cervical spine computed tomography revealed mild right asymmetric intervertebral disc bulging with a decreased C5-6disc space.Three weeks later,an electrodiagnostic study confirmed brachial plexopathy findings involving the cervical root.Magnetic resonance neurography was performed for a differential diagnosis.Contrast enhancement was identified at the upper trunk of the brachial plexus,including the C5 nerve root.A suprascapular nerve hourglass-like focal constriction(HLFC)was also identified,confirming NA.After being diagnosed with NA,the patient received 15 mg prednisolone,twice daily,for 3 weeks.Physical therapy was initiated,including left arm strengthening exercises and electrical stimulation therapy.Left shoulder muscle strength significantly improved one CONCLUSION NA's unique features like HLFC and paraspinal involvement are crucial for accurate diagnosis,avoiding confusion with cervical radiculopathy.

Factors Influencing Compliance with Safe Handling Requirements of Anticancer Agents by Nurses in a Tertiary Hospital-A Secondary Publication

Purpose:This research aimed to identify leading factors that affect nurses’compliance with the safe handling of anticancer agents.Methods:Data were collected from 114 nurses working in the university hospital and were analyzed through independent t-test,one-way ANOVA,Pearson’s correlation coefficient,and multiple regression analysis using SPSS25.0.Results:The average level of compliance with the safe handling of anticancer agents was 3.73±0.33 out of 5 points.Workplace safety culture(β=0.40,P<0.001)and knowledge of safe handling(β=0.18,P=0.030)had significant influences on nurses’compliance with the safe handling of anticancer agents.The explained variance for compliance was 28.3%.Conclusion:To enhance the implementation of safety management for anticancer agents,each institution should strive to support human and material resources and enhance specialization in the workplace safety culture through system improvement.Based on the results of this study,we suggest research for the development of a training program for anticancer agent safety management.

Perfluorooctanoic acid(PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid(PFOS) concentrations in the South Korean agricultural environment: A national survey

Research on the occurrence of perfluorochemicals （PFCs） such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid （PFOS） and perfluorooctanoic acid （PFOA） in the agricultural environment is lacking, in spite of their potential risk via food chain transfer from aquatic and soil-plant systems to animals and/or humans. In the present study, for the first time, soil and water samples collected from 243 different agricultural sites adjacent to waste water treatment plants （WWTPs） belonging to 81 cities and 5 provinces with different levels of industrialization in South Korea were monitored for concentrations of PFOS and PFOA by use of solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy （LC-MS/MS）. Significant mean concentrations of PFOA （0.001-0.007 tJg L-1 water and 〈0.05-1.573 tJg kg-1 soil） and PFOS （0.001-0.22 tJg L-1 water and 〈0.05-0.741 pg kg-1 soil） were found in all samples. Concentrations of PFCs in soils were high, highlighting that soil is an important sink for PFCs in the agricultural environment. Samples from near WWTPs in Gyeongsang Province contained the highest concentrations of PFOS and PFOA, reflecting the concentration of heavy industry in the province. The concentrations of PFCs in agricultural water （most samples 〈0.05 pg L-~） and soils （most samples 〈1 IJg kg-~） from South Korea were less than acceptable guideline values, indicating that South Korea is not a hotspot of PFOS and PFOA contamination and that there is negligible risk to human and ecological health from these chemicals. However, further studies investigating the seasonal variation in PFOA, PFOS and other perfluorochemical concentrations in the agricultural environment are needed.

A comprehensive review of pre-lithiation/sodiation additives for Li-ion and Na-ion batteries

Lithium/Sodium-ion batteries(LIB/SIB)have attracted enormous attention as a promising electrochemical energy storage system due to their high energy density and long cycle life.One of the major hurdles is the initial irreversible capacity loss during the first few cycles owing to forming the solid electrolyte interphase layer(SEI).This process consumes a profusion of lithium/sodium,which reduces the overall energy density and cycle life.Thus,a suitable approach to compensate for the irreversible capacity loss must be developed to improve the energy density and cycle life.Pre-lithiation/sodiation is a widely accepted process to compensate for the irreversible capacity loss during the initial cycles.Various strategies such as physical,chemical,and electrochemical pre-lithiation/sodiation have been explored;however,these approaches add an extra step to the current manufacturing process.Alternative to these strategies,pre-lithiation/sodiation additives have attracted enormous attention due to their easy adaptability and compatibility with the current battery manufacturing process.In this review,we consolidate recent developments and emphasize the importance of using pre-lithiation/sodiation additives(anode and cathode)to overcome the irreversible capacity loss during the initial cycles in lithium/sodium-ion batteries.This review also addresses the technical and scientific challenges of using pre-lithiation/sodiation additives and offers the insights to boost the energy density and cycle life with their possible commercial exploration.The most important prerequisites for designing effective pre-lithiation/sodiation additives have been explored and the future directions have been discussed.

Chemical surface tuning of zinc metal anode toward stable,dendrite-less aqueous zinc-ion batteries

The commercialization of Zn batteries is confronted with urgent challenges in the metal anode,such as dendrite formation,capacity loss,and cracking or dissolution.Here,surface interfacial engineering of the Zn anode is introduced for achieving safety and dendritic-free cycling for high-performance aqueous Zn batteries through a simple but highly effective chemical etching-substitution method.The chemical modification induces a rough peak-valley surface with a thin fluorine-rich interfacial layer on the Zn anode surface,which regulates the growth orientation via guiding uniform Zn plating/stripping,significantly enhances accessibility to aqueous electrolytes and improves wettability by reducing surface energy.As a result,such a synergetic surface effect enables uniform Zn plating/stripping with low polarization of 29 m V at a current density of 0.5 m A cm^(-2) with stable cyclic performance up to 1000 h.Further,a full cell composed of a fluorine-substituted Zn anode coupled with aβ-MnO_(2)or Ba-V_(6)O_(13)cathode demonstrates improved capacity retention to 1000 cycles compared to the pristine-Zn cells.The proposed valley deposition model provides the practical direction of surface-modified interfacial chemistries for improving the electrochemical properties of multivalent metal anodes via surface tuning.

Manifolding active sites and in situ/operando electrochemical-Raman spectroscopic studies of single-metal nanoparticle-decorated CuO nanorods in furfural biomass valorization to H_(2) and 2-furoic acid

Here,CuO nanorods fabricated via pulsed laser ablation in liquids were decorated with Ir,Pd,and Ru NPs(loading~7 wt%) through pulsed laser irradiation in the liquids process.The resulting NPs-decorated CuO nanorods were characterized spectroscopically and employed as multifunctional electrocatalysts in OER,HER,and the furfural oxidation reactions(FOR).Ir-CuO nanorods afford the lowest overpotential of~345 mV(HER) and 414 mV(OER) at 10 mA cm^(-2),provide the highest 2-furoic acid yield(~10.85 mM) with 64.9% selectivity,and the best Faradaic efficiency~72.7% in 2 h of FOR at 1.58 V(vs.RHE).In situ electrochemical-Raman analysis of the Ir-CuO detects the formation of the crucial intermediates,such as Cu(Ⅲ)-oxide,Cu(OH)_(2),and Ir_x(OH)_y,on the electrode-electrolyte surface,which act as a promoter for HER and OER.The Ir-CuO ‖ Ir-CuO in a coupled HER and FOR-electrolyzer operates at~200 mV lower voltage,compared with the conventional electrolyzer and embodies the dual advantage of energy-saving H_(2) and 2-furoic acid production.

Thyroid storm in a pregnant woman with COVID-19 infection: A case report and review of literatures

BACKGROUND The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2) has been found to be responsible for the recent global pandemic known as coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 infections not only result in significant respiratory symptoms but also cause several extrapulmonary manifestations, such as thrombotic complications, myocardial dysfunction and arrhythmia, thyroid dysfunction, acute kidney injury, gastrointestinal symptoms, neurological symptoms, ocular symptoms, and dermatological complications. We present the first documented case of thyroid storm in a pregnant woman precipitated by SARS-CoV-2.CASE SUMMARY A 42-year-old multiparous woman at 35 + 2 wk of gestation visited the emergency room(ER) with altered mentation, seizures, tachycardia, and high fever. The patient showed no remarkable events in the prenatal examination, and the nasopharyngeal COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction(PCR) test was positive two days before the ER visit. The results of laboratory tests, such as liver function test,serum electrolytes, blood glucose, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine, were all within the normal ranges. However, the thyroid function test showed hyperthyroidism, and the nasopharyngeal COVID-19 PCR test was positive, as expected. No specific findings were observed on the brain computed tomography,and there were no signs of lateralization on neurological examination. Fetal heartbeat and movement were good, and there were no significant uterine contractions. The initial impression was atypical eclampsia. However, the patient’s condition worsened, and a cesarean section was performed under general anesthesia;a healthy boy was delivered, and 12 h after delivery, the patient’s seizures disappeared and consciousness was restored. The patient was referred to an endocrinologist for hyperthyroidism, and a thyroid storm with Graves’ disease was diagnosed. Here, SARS-CoV-2 was believed to be the trigger for the thyroid storm, considering that the patient tested positive for COVID-19 two days before the seizures.CONCLUSION In pregnant women presenting with seizures or changes in consciousness, the possibility of a thyroid storm should be considered. There are various causes for a thyroid storm, but given the recent pandemic, it is necessary to bear in mind that the thyroid storm may be precipitated by COVID-19.

Easy to Calibrate:Marker-Less Calibration of Multiview Azure Kinect

Reconstructing a three-dimensional(3D)environment is an indispensable technique to make augmented reality and augmented virtuality feasible.A Kinect device is an efficient tool for reconstructing 3D environments,and using multiple Kinect devices enables the enhancement of reconstruction density and expansion of virtual spaces.To employ multiple devices simultaneously,Kinect devices need to be calibrated with respect to each other.There are several schemes available that calibrate 3D images generated frommultiple Kinect devices,including themarker detection method.In this study,we introduce a markerless calibration technique for Azure Kinect devices that avoids the drawbacks of marker detection,which directly affects calibration accuracy;it offers superior userfriendliness,efficiency,and accuracy.Further,we applied a joint tracking algorithm to approximate the calibration.Traditional methods require the information of multiple joints for calibration;however,Azure Kinect,the latest version of Kinect,requires the information of only one joint.The obtained result was further refined using the iterative closest point algorithm.We conducted several experimental tests that confirmed the enhanced efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method for multiple Kinect devices when compared to the conventional markerbased calibration.

Sulfur-doped hard carbon hybrid anodes with dual lithium-ion/metal storage bifunctionality for high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries

Bifunctional hybrid anodes(BHAs),which are both a high-performance active host material for lithium-ion storage as well as a guiding agent for homogeneous lithium metal nucleation and growth,exhibit significant potential as anodes for next-generation high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries(LIBs).In this study,sulfur-doped hard carbon nanosphere assemblies(S-HCNAs)were prepared through a hydrothermal treatment of a liquid organic precursor,followed by high-temperature thermal annealing with elemental sulfur for application as BHAs for LIBs.In a carbonate-based electrolyte containing fluoroethylene carbonate additive,the S-HCNAs showed high lithium-ion storage capacities in sloping as well as plateau voltage sections,good rate capabilities,and stable cyclabilities.In addition,high average Coulombic efficiencies(CEs)of~96.9%were achieved for dual lithium-ion and lithium metal storage cycles.In the LIB full-cell tests with typical NCM811 cathodes,the S-HCNA-based BHAs containing~400 mA h g^(−1) of excess lithium led to high energy and power densities of~500Wh kg^(−1) and~1695Wkg^(−1),respectively,and a stable cycling performance with~100%CEs was achieved.

T/myeloid mixed-phenotype acute leukemia treated with venetoclax and decitabine:A case report

BACKGROUND Mixed-phenotype acute leukemia(MPAL)is characterized by acute undifferentiated leukemia with blasts co-expressing myeloid and lymphoid antigens.However,consensus regarding the ideal management strategy for MPAL is yet to be established,owing to its rarity.CASE SUMMARY A 55-year-old male was diagnosed with T/myeloid MPAL.Vincristine,prednisolone,daunorubicin,and L-asparaginase were administered as induction chemotherapy.Septic shock occurred 10 days after induction,and bone marrow examination following recovery from sepsis revealed refractory disease.Venetoclax and decitabine were administered as chemotherapy-free induction therapy to reduce the infection risk.There were no serious infections,including febrile neutropenia,at the end of the treatment.After receiving two additional cycles of venetoclax/decitabine,the patient underwent haploidentical peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation and achieved complete response(CR)to treatment.CONCLUSION CR was maintained in a patient with MPAL who underwent haploidentical peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation after additional venetoclax/decitabine cycles.

Conformable fractional heat equation with fractional translation symmetry in both time and space

We investigate the fractional heat equation with fractional translation in both time and position with different fractional orders.As examples,we consider a rod and anα-disk with an initial constant temperature and discuss their cooling processes in the examined formalism.

关于BL-代数的模糊滤子与模糊理想(英文)

在BL-代数中引入模糊超滤子和模糊固执滤子的概念,证明了如下条件对于BL-代数的非常数模糊滤子f来说是等价的:(1)f是布尔的和素的,(2)f是蕴涵的和素的,(3)f是超的,(4)f是固执的。应用模糊正蕴涵滤子给出G-代数的若干特征性质。提出BL-代数模糊理想的概念,给出一些重要例子,并通过例子说明在BL-代数中模糊理想一般不能由模糊滤子导出。同时,从模糊理想出发构造了商BL-代数,并建立了相应的同态基本定理。最后,研究了BL-代数的几类模糊理想及其相互关系,给出模糊布尔理想、模糊素理想、模糊超理想的特征性质。

Synthesis of nanostructured Li_2FeSiO_4/C cathode for lithium-ion battery by solution method

Nanosphere-like Li2FeSiO4/C was synthesized via a solution method using sucrose as carbon sources under a mild condition of time-saving and energy-saving, followed by sintering at high temperatures for crystallization. The amount of carbon in the composite is less than 10% （mass fraction）, and the X-ray diffraction result confirms that the sample is of pure single phase indexed with the orthorhombic Pmn21 space group. The particle size of the Li2FeSiO4/C synthesized at 700 °C for 9 h is very fine and spherical-like with a size of 200 nm. The electrochemical performance of this material, including reversible capacity, cycle number, and charge-discharge characteristics, were tested. The cell of this sample can deliver a discharge capacity of 166 mA-h/g at C/20 rate in the first three cycles. After 30 cycles, the capacity decreases to 158 mA-h/g, and the capacity retention is up to 95%. The results show that this method can prepare nanosphere-like Li2FeSiO4/C composite with good electrochemical performance.