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The oxygen stacking of O3-type layered sodium transition metal oxides (O3-NaTMO2) changes dynamically upon topotactic Na extraction and reinsertion. While the phase transition from octahedral to prismatic Na coordination that occurs at intermediate desodiation by transition metal slab gliding is well understood, the structural evolution at high desodiation, crucial to achieve high reversible capacity, remains mostly uncharted. In this work, the phase transitions of O3-type layered NaTMO2 at high voltage are investigated by combining experimental and computational approaches. An OP2-type phase that consists of alternating octahedral and prismatic Na layers is directly observed by in situ X-ray diffraction and high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy. The origin of this peculiar phase is explained by atomic interactions involving Jahn–Teller active Fe4+ and distortion tolerant Ti4+ that stabilize the local Na environment. The path-dependent desodiation and resodiation pathways are also rationalized in this material through the different kinetics of the prismatic and octahedral layers, presenting a comprehensive picture about the structural stability of the layered materials upon Na intercalation.

This work investigates the electrochemical Na+/K+ ion exchange mechanism occurring in layered Na3Ni2SbO6. Structural characterizations using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy uncover a remarkable and rich phase evolution as K is inserted in partially desodiated NaxNi2SbO6. Rather than simple addition of K to the structure, we see significant Na rearrangement, with discrete Na phases traversing the full range of Na compositions, even though the overall Na content in the sample is not changed. At any given time as much as three distinct phases can be present in the sample, consistent with thermodynamic equilibrium rules. Using DFT computations we demonstrate that this remarkable phase behavior during ion exchange is due to the repulsion between Na+ and K+ which creates distinct phases of them. Our analysis should be applicable to other ion-exchange systems where the exchanged ions are not well miscible in the host structure.

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) using a solid electrolyte show potential for providing improved safety as well as higher energy and power density compared with conventional Li-ion batteries. However, two critical bottlenecks remain: the development of solid electrolytes with ionic conductivities comparable to or higher than those of conventional liquid electrolytes and the creation of stable interfaces between SSB components, including the active material, solid electrolyte and conductive additives. Although the first goal has been achieved in several solid ionic conductors, the high impedance at various solid/solid interfaces remains a challenge. Recently, computational models based on ab initio calculations have successfully predicted the stability of solid electrolytes in various systems. In addition, a large amount of experimental data has been accumulated for different interfaces in SSBs. In this Review, we summarize the experimental findings for various classes of solid electrolytes and relate them to computational predictions, with the aim of providing a deeper understanding of the interfacial reactions and insight for the future design and engineering of interfaces in SSBs. We find that, in general, the electrochemical stability and interfacial reaction products can be captured with a small set of chemical and physical principles.

The purpose of this study was to classify Korean readers into subgroups based on their reading achievement and to examine the relationships between these subgroups and a set of cognitive-linguistic variables. The reading achievement and cognitive-linguistic skills of 394 elementary school students were measured and the data were analyzed by disaggregating into primary grade level (i.e., Grades 1-3) and intermediate grade level (i.e., Grades 4-6). The main results are summarized as follows. First, three subgroups of readers were found based on the reading achievement for the primary grade level: "very poor word readers and poor comprehenders," "poor readers," and "average readers." Second, four subgroups of readers were found based on the reading achievement for the intermediate grade level: "very significantly poor readers," "very poor readers," "average word readers but poor comprehenders," and "average readers." Third, vocabulary, rapid naming, phonological memory, and phonological awareness were cognitive-linguistic variables that significantly differentiated "very poor readers" and "poor readers" from "average readers" for the primary grade level. Fourth, phonological memory, rapid naming, sentence repetition, and listening comprehension were cognitive-linguistic variables that significantly differentiated "very poor readers" and "poor readers" from "average readers" for the intermediate grade level. This article also discusses the limits of this research and the implications in practice. Finally, this article touches upon the direction of future studies.

In cation-disordered rocksalt Li-ion cathode materials, an excess of Li with respect to the transition metal content is necessary for the creation of percolating pathways for Li transport. Because of the lower amount of redox-active transition metal, a substantial part of the charge transfer must occur via less reversible oxygen redox. Fluorination can be used to minimize this dependence on oxygen redox by increasing the amount of low-valent transition metal in the compound, but it adds complexity to materials design. Here, we investigate the feasibility of using computationally constructed phase diagrams to facilitate the search for optimal oxyfluorides. We use the phase diagram of LiF-Li3NbO4-NiO to identify Li1.13Ni0.57Nb0.3O1.75F0.25 and Li1.19Ni0.59Nb0.22O1.46F0.54 as two promising compositions and demonstrate that they can be successfully synthesized. These compounds exhibit significantly reduced hysteresis and higher energy density than the previously reported Li1.3Ni0.27Nb0.43O2 compound in this space. Although we generally attribute the improved performance to the increased Ni content enabled by fluorination, a more nuanced relation between fluorination and the cycling behavior is revealed through electrochemical tests, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and density functional theory. We find that fluorination increases the voltage, improves cycle life, but reduces the accessibility of Ni redox. Consideration of these effects will facilitate the future design of optimized disordered-rocksalt oxyfluoride cathodes.

Structure plays a vital role in determining materials properties. In lithium ion cathode materials, the crystal structure defines the dimensionality and connectivity of interstitial sites, thus determining lithium ion diffusion kinetics. In most conventional cathode materials that are well-ordered, the average structure as seen in diffraction dictates the lithium ion diffusion pathways. Here, we show that this is not the case in a class of recently discovered high-capacity lithium-excess rocksalts. An average structure picture is no longer satisfactory to understand the performance of such disordered materials. Cation short-range order, hidden in diffraction, is not only ubiquitous in these long-range disordered materials, but fully controls the local and macroscopic environments for lithium ion transport. Our discovery identifies a crucial property that has previously been overlooked and provides guidelines for designing and engineering cation-disordered cathode materials.

The exploration of high-energy-density cathode materials is vital to the practical use of K-ion batteries. Layered K-metal oxides have too high a voltage slope due to their large K+–K+ interaction, resulting in low specific capacity and average voltage. In contrast, the 3D arrangement of K+, with polyanions separating them, reduces the strength of the effective K+-K+ repulsion, which in turn increases specific capacity and voltage. Here, stoichiometric KVPO4F for use as a high-energy-density K-ion cathode is developed. The KVPO4F cathode delivers a reversible capacity of ≈105 mAh g−1 with an average voltage of ≈4.3 V (vs K/K+), resulting in a gravimetric energy density of ≈450 Wh kg−1. During electrochemical cycling, the KxVPO4F cathode goes through various intermediate phases at x = 0.75, 0.625, and 0.5 upon K extraction and reinsertion, as determined by ex situ X-ray diffraction characterization and ab initio calculations. This work further explains the role of oxygen substitution in KVPO4+xF1−x: the oxygenation of KVPO4F leads to an anion-disordered structure which prevents the formation of K+/vacancy orderings without electrochemical plateaus and hence to a smoother voltage profile.

The development of rechargeable batteries using K ions as charge carriers has recently attracted considerable attention in the search for cost-effective and large-scale energy storage systems. In light of this trend, various materials for positive and negative electrodes are proposed and evaluated for application in K-ion batteries. Here, a comprehensive review of ongoing materials research on nonaqueous K-ion batteries is offered. Information on the status of new materials discovery and insights to help understand the K-storage mechanisms are provided. In addition, strategies to enhance the electrochemical properties of K-ion batteries and computational approaches to better understand their thermodynamic properties are included. Finally, K-ion batteries are compared to competing Li and Na systems and pragmatic opportunities and future research directions are discussed.

Novel and low-cost batteries are of considerable interest for application in large-scale energy storage systems, for which the cost per cycle becomes critical. Here, this study proposes K0.5 MnO2 as a potential cathode material for K-ion batteries as an alternative to Li technology. K0.5 MnO2 has a P3-type layered structure and delivers a reversible specific capacity of ≈100 mAh g-1 with good capacity retention. In situ X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the material undergoes a reversible phase transition upon K extraction and insertion. In addition, first-principles calculations indicate that this phase transition is driven by the relative phase stability of different oxygen stackings with respect to the K content.

Novel and low-cost batteries are of considerable interest for application in large-scale energy storage systems, for which the cost per cycle becomes critical. Here, this study proposes K0.5 MnO2 as a potential cathode material for K-ion batteries as an alternative to Li technology. K0.5 MnO2 has a P3-type layered structure and delivers a reversible specific capacity of ≈100 mAh g-1 with good capacity retention. In situ X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the material undergoes a reversible phase transition upon K extraction and insertion. In addition, first-principles calculations indicate that this phase transition is driven by the relative phase stability of different oxygen stackings with respect to the K content.

K-ion batteries are a potentially exciting and new energy storage technology that can combine high specific energy, cycle life, and good power capability, all while using abundant potassium resources. The discovery of novel cathodes is a critical step toward realizing K-ion batteries (KIBs). In this work, a layered P2-type K0.6CoO2 cathode is developed and highly reversible K ion intercalation is demonstrated. In situ X-ray diffraction combined with electrochemical titration reveals that P2-type K0.6CoO2 can store and release a considerable amount of K ions via a topotactic reaction. Despite the large amount of phase transitions as function of K content, the cathode operates highly reversibly and with good rate capability. The practical feasibility of KIBs is further demonstrated by constructing full cells with a graphite anode. This work highlights the potential of KIBs as viable alternatives for Li-ion and Na-ion batteries and provides new insights and directions for the development of next-generation energy storage systems.

The electrochemical properties of NaNi0.5Co0.5O2 and NaNi0.5Fe0.5O2 and their structural transitions as a function of Na extraction associated with redox reactions are investigated in this work. Synthesized in the O3-type layered structure, both materials show reasonable electrochemical activities at room temperature, delivering approximately 0.5 Na per formula unit at C/10 discharge. More Na can be reversibly cycled in NaNi0.5Co0.5O2 at elevated temperature and/or in an extended voltage window, while NaNi0.5Fe0.5O2 shows significant capacity fading at a high voltage cutoff which is likely due to Fe4+ migration. In situ X-ray diffraction shows that the structural changes in the two materials upon desodiation are very different. NaNi0.5Co0.5O2 goes through many different two-phase reactions including three different O3-type and three different P3-type structures during cycling, producing a voltage profile with multiple plateau-like features. In contrast, NaNi0.5Fe0.5O2 has a smooth voltage profile and shows the typical O3-P3 phase transition without lattice distortion seen in other materials. This different structural evolution upon desodiation and re-sodiation can be explained by the electronic structure of the mixed transition metals and how it perturbs the ordering between Na ions differently.

NaTi0.25Fe0.25Co0.25Ni0.25O2 is explored as a cathode material for Na-ion batteries. Synthesized by a solid-state reaction, the compound is phase-pure with the O3-type layered structure and consists of Ti4+, Fe3+, Co3+, and Ni2+ according to X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The cathode delivers 163 mAh/g and 504 Wh/kg at C/20 in the first discharge with 89% capacity retention after 20 cycles and demonstrates superior rate capability with micron sized particles, in which discharge capacity at 30 C is 80mAh/g. Our results indicate that the Ti-containing quaternary material can be a potential cathode composition for Na-ion batteries.

Remarkable success has been achieved in the discovery of ceramic alkali superionic conductors as electrolytes in solid-state batteries; however, obtaining a stable interface between these electrolytes and electrodes is difficult. Only limited studies on the compatibility between electrodes and solid electrolytes have been reported, partially because of the need for expensive instrumentation and special cell designs. Without simple yet powerful tools, these compatibility issues cannot be systematically investigated, thus hindering the generalization of design rules for the integration of solid-state battery components. Herein, we present a methodology that combines density functional theory calculations and simple experimental techniques such as X-ray diffraction, simultaneous differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analysis, and electrochemistry to efficiently screen the compatibility of numerous electrode/electrolyte pairs. We systemically distinguish between the electrochemical stability of the solid-state conductor, which is relevant wherever the electrolyte contacts an electron pathway, and the electrochemical stability of the electrode/electrolyte interfaces. For the solid electrolyte, we are able to computationally derive an absolute thermodynamic stability voltage window, which is small for Na3PS4 and Na3PSe4, and a larger voltage window which can be kinetically stabilized. The experimental stability, when measured with reliable techniques, falls between these thermodynamic and kinetic limits. Employing a Na solid-state system as an example, we demonstrate the efficiency of our method by finding the most stable system (NaCrO2Na3PS4Na-Sn) within a selected chemical space (more than 20 different combinations of electrodes and electrolytes). Important selection criteria for the cathode, electrolyte, and anode in solid-state batteries are also derived from this study. The current method not only provides an essential guide for integrating all-solid-state battery components but can also significantly accelerate the expansion of the electrolyte/electrode compatibility data.

The surface treatment for a polymer‐ceramic composite is additionally performed in advanced material industries. To prepare the composite without a surface treatment, the simplest way to manufacture an advanced ceramic‐particle is devised. The method is the formation of a nanocrystalline composite layer through the simple liquid‐phase sintering. Using magnesia (MgO) which shows hydrophilicity, a nanocrystalline surface layer is realized by liquid‐phase sintering. The amorphous matrix of nanocrystalline composite layer makes MgO hydrophobic and ensures miscibility with polymers, and the nanocrystalline MgO ensures high thermal conductivity. In addition, the liquid phase removes the open pores and makes the surface morphology smooth MgO with smooth surface (MgO‐SM). Thermal interface materials (TIM) prepared with MgO‐SM and epoxy show a high thermal conductivity of ≈7.5 W m−1K−1, which is significantly higher than 4.5 W m−1K−1 of pure MgO TIM. Consequently, the formation process of a nanocrystalline surface layer utilizing simple liquid‐phase sintering is proposed as a fabrication method for a next‐generation ceramic‐filler. In addition, it is fundamentally identified that the thermal conductivity of MgO depends on the Mg deficiency, and therefore a poly‐crystal MgO‐SM (produced at a low temperature) has a higher thermal conductivity than a single‐crystal MgO (produced at a high temperature). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to build a comprehensive deep-learning model for the prediction of radiation pneumonitis using chest computed tomography (CT), clinical, dosimetric, and laboratory data. Introduction: Radiation therapy is an effective tool for treating patients with lung cancer. Despite its effectiveness, the risk of radiation pneumonitis limits its application. Although several studies have demonstrated models to predict radiation pneumonitis, no reliable model has been developed yet. Herein, we developed prediction models using pretreatment chest CT and various clinical data to assess the likelihood of radiation pneumonitis in lung cancer patients. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 3-dimensional (3D) lung volume data from chest CT scans and 27 features including dosimetric, clinical, and laboratory data from 548 patients who were treated at our institution between 2010 and 2021. We developed a neural network, named MergeNet, which processes lung 3D CT, clinical, dosimetric, and laboratory data. The MergeNet integrates a convolutional neural network with subsequent fully connected layers. A support vector machine (SVM) and light gradient boosting machine (LGBM) model were also implemented for comparison. For comparison, the convolution-only neural network was implemented as well. Three-dimensional Resnet-10 network and 4-fold cross-validation were used. Results: Classification performance was quantified by using the area under the receiver operative characteristic curve (AUC) metrics. MergeNet showed the AUC of 0.689. SVM, LGBM, and convolution-only networks showed AUCs of 0.525, 0.541, and 0.550, respectively. Application of DeLong test to pairs of receiver operating characteristic curves respectively yielded P values of.001 for the MergeNet–SVM pair and 0.001 for the MergeNet–LGBM pair. Conclusion: The MergeNet model, which incorporates chest CT, clinical, dosimetric, and laboratory data, demonstrated superior performance compared to other models. However, since its prediction performance has not yet reached an efficient level for clinical application, further research is required. Contribution: This study showed that MergeNet may be an effective means to predict radiation pneumonitis. Various predictive factors can be used together for the radiation pneumonitis prediction task via the MergeNet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium-ion batteries are emerging as candidates for large-scale energy storage due to their low cost and the wide variety of cathode materials available. As battery size and adoption in critical applications increases, safety concerns are resurfacing due to the inherent flammability of organic electrolytes currently in use in both lithium and sodium battery chemistries. Development of solid-state batteries with ionic electrolytes eliminates this concern, while also allowing novel device architectures and potentially improving cycle life. Here we report the computation-assisted discovery and synthesis of a high-performance solid-state electrolyte material: Na10SnP2S12, with room temperature ionic conductivity of 0.4 mS cm(-1) rivalling the conductivity of the best sodium sulfide solid electrolytes to date. We also computationally investigate the variants of this compound where tin is substituted by germanium or silicon and find that the latter may achieve even higher conductivity.

All-solid-state Na-ion batteries that operate at or close to room temperature are a promising next-generation battery technology with enhanced safety and reduced manufacturing cost. An indispensable component of this technology is the solid-state electrolyte that allows rapid shuttling of the mobile cation (i.e., Na+) between the cathode and anode. However, there are very few fast Na-ion conductors with ionic conductivity approaching that of the liquid counterparts (i.e., 1 mS cm-1). In this work, we present the synthesis and characterization of a fast Na-ion conductor, cubic Na3PSe4. This material possesses a room-temperature ionic conductivity exceeding 0.1 mS cm-1 and does not require high-temperature sintering to minimize grain boundary resistance, making it a promising solid-state electrolyte candidate for all-solid-state Na-ion battery applications. On the basis of density functional theory, nudged elastic band, and molecular dynamics investigations, we demonstrate that the framework of cubic Na3PSe4 only permits rapid Na+ diffusion with the presence of defects, and that the formation of the Na vacancy (charge-balanced by slight Se2- oxidation) is more energetically favorable among the various defects considered. This finding provides important guidelines to further improve Na-ion conductivity in this class of materials.

We investigate an energy-efficient synthesis that merges the bio-templated technique and solid-state reactions to produce nano-structured lithiated polyanions. With the aid of bio-templates based on an M13 virus, the thermal budget of an annealing process can be reduced, and the nano-structured characteristics of the precursors are preserved in the product. This method enables us to successfully prepare monoclinic LiMnBO3 with an average particle size of 20 nm in a 1 h annealing process, showing improved electrochemical properties compared with the conventionally synthesized one. Thus, we consider that this bio-facilitated method can open up an environmentally-friendly pathway to produce nano-structured electrode materials with an enhanced performance.

Recent theoretical work has uncovered that a body-centered-cubic (bcc) anion arrangement leads to high ionic conductivity in a number of fast lithium-ion conducting materials. Using this structural feature as a screening criterion, we find that the I4 material LiZnPS4 contains such a framework and has the potential for very high ionic conductivity. In this work, we apply ab initio computational techniques to investigate in detail the ionic conductivity and defect properties of this material. We find that while the stoichiometric structure has poor ionic conductivity, engineering of its composition to introduce interstitial lithium defects is able to exploit the low migration barrier of the bcc anion framework. Our calculations predict a solid-solution regime extending to x = 0.5 in Li1+2xZn1-xPS4, and yield a new ionic conductor with exceptionally high lithium-ion conductivity, potentially exceeding 50 mS cm-1 at room temperature.

Li9S3N (LSN) is investigated as a new lithium ion conductor and barrier coating between an electrolyte and Li metal anode in all solid state lithium ion batteries. LSN is an intriguing material since it has a 3-dimensional conduction channel, high lithium content, and is expected to be stable against lithium metal. The conductivity of LSN is measured with impedance spectroscopy as 8.3 × 10-7 S cm-1 at room temperature with an activation energy of 0.52 eV. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) scans showed reversible Li plating and striping. First principles calculations of stability, nudged elastic band (NEB) calculations, and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations support these experimental results. Substitution as a means to enhance conductivity is also investigated. First-principles calculations predict that divalent cation substituents displace a lithium from a tetrahedral site along the migration pathway, and reduce the migration energy for the lithium ions in the vicinity of the substituent. A percolating path with low migration energies (∼0.3 eV) can be formed throughout the crystal structure at a concentration of Li8.5M0.25S3N (M = Ca2+, Zn2+, or Mg2+), resulting in predicted conductivities as high as σ300 K = 2.3 mS cm-1 at this concentration. However, the enhanced conductivity comes at the expense of relatively large substitution energy. Halide substitution, such as Cl on a S site (in Kröger-Vink notation), has a relatively low energy cost, but only provides a modest improvement in conductivity.