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Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) suffer from energy loss and safety hazards under high‐rate conditions, because of the sluggish electrochemical kinetics and unstable interfacial passivation. Herein, a PC‐based electrolyte using weakly solvated solvent ethyl trifluoroacetate is developed to improve interfacial kinetics and stability in LIBs. A microsolvating competition is revealed in the bulk electrolyte, forming a loose Li+ coordination configuration with benign Li+ affinity and high ionic conductivity. Furthermore, an inorganic‐rich interphase is constructed on a graphite anode, affording smooth Li+ desolvation and reliable passivation. Consequently, the NCM622/graphite cell in PC‐based electrolyte shows improved cycling stability (82.2% after 200 cycles) and rate capability (83% at 4C compared to 0.1C) at a high‐voltage of 4.5 V, much better than those of EC‐based electrolyte (76.2% after 200 cycles and 74% at 4C). Additionally, the PC‐based electrolyte affords reversible operation at –40 °C while the EC‐based electrolyte fails at –40 °C. This work highlights the potential of solvation structure engineering for low‐energy‐barrier electrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manganese hexacyanoferrate (MnHCF) is one of the most promising cathode materials for aqueous battery because of its non‐toxicity, high energy density, and low cost. But the phase transition from MnHCF to Zinc hexacyanoferrate (ZnHCF) and the larger Stokes radius of Zn2+ cause rapid capacity decay and poor rate performance in aqueous Zn battery. Hence, to overcome this challenge, a solvation structure of propylene carbonate (PC)‐trifluoromethanesulfonate (Otf)‐H2O is designed and constructed. A K+/Zn2+ hybrid battery is prepared using MnHCF as cathode, zinc metal as anode, KOTf/Zn(OTf)2 as the electrolyte, and PC as the co‐solvent. It is revealed that the addition of PC inhabits the phase transition from MnHCF to ZnHCF, broaden the electrochemical stability window, and inhibits the dendrite growth of zinc metal. Hence, the MnHCF/Zn hybrid co‐solvent battery exhibits a reversible capacity of 118 mAh g−1 and high cycling performance, with a capacity retention of 65.6% after 1000 cycles with condition of 1 A g−1. This work highlights the significance of rationally designing the solvation structure of the electrolyte and promotes the development of high‐energy‐density of aqueous hybrid ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate that an ionic liquid 1-ethyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide combined with propylene carbonate and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide yields a hybrid electrolyte that enables a wide operational temperature window (−20 °C to 60 °C). When integrated into a lithium titanate‖lithium cobalt oxide full-cell configuration, high-rate capability is achieved at −20 °C with >40% retention at a C/2 cycling rate, and negligible capacity fade is observed during rate capability tests and long-term cycling at 60 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new, eco-friendly process utilising the green solvent propylene carbonate (PC) has been developed to perform N-alkylation of N-, O- and/or S-containing heterocyclic compounds. PC in these reactions served as both the reagent and solvent. Importantly, no genotoxic alkyl halides were required. No auxiliary was necessary when using anhydrous PC. Product formation includes nucleophilic substitution with the concomitant loss of water and carbon dioxide. Substrates prepared, including the newly invented PROTAC drugs, are widely used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toward the end of the century, plastic waste treatment and recycling would be major issue to be addressed. Thus, to overcome the problem of polymer non-biodegradability, study and application of biodegradable polymers is important. Biodegradable polymers are those which can be broken down into smaller oligomers or monomers upon action of radiation, moisture, enzymes and chemicals. Poly(butylene) succinate (PBS) is one of the biodegradable polymers manufactured and studied for a long time. This review majorly focuses on its synthesis, blends, copolymers, composites, biodegradation studies, applications and processability. PBS copolymers are synthesized using multiple approaches such as monomer, polymer and application based. PBS blends are studied with PP, poly(propylene carbonate), Soy protein isolate and poly(lactic) acid. The PBS and its blends find its application in agricultural films, packaging, tableware, and biomedical applications. PBS composites were prepared using synthetic organic, inorganic fillers and bio-based fillers to improve its mechanical performance, flame retardancy, biodegradabilit,y etc., based on type of reinforcement. Biodegradability is one the property of PBS which will help in maintaining circular economy and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enrich the properties of polylactic acid (PLA)-based composite films and improve the base degradability, in this study, a certain amount of poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) was added to PLA-based composite films, and PLA/PPC-based composite films were prepared by melt blending and hot-press molding. The effects of the introduction of PPC on the composite films were analyzed through in-depth studies on mechanical properties, water vapor and oxygen transmission rates, thermal analysis, compost degradability, and bacterial inhibition properties of the composite films. When the introduction ratio coefficient of PPC was 30%, the tensile strength of the composite film increased by 19.68%, the water vapor transmission coefficient decreased by 14.43%, and the oxygen transmission coefficient decreased by 18.31% compared to that of the composite film without PPC, the cold crystallization temperature of the composite film increased gradually from 96.9 °C to 104.8 °C, and PPC improved the crystallization ability of composite film. The degradation rate of the composite film with PPC increased significantly compared to the previous one, and the degradation rate increased with the increase in the PPC content. The degradation rate was 49.85% and 46.22% faster on average than that of the composite film without PPC when the degradation was carried out over 40 and 80 days; the composite film had certain inhibition, and the maximum diameter of the inhibition circle was 2.42 cm. This study provides a strategy for the development of PLA-based biodegradable laminates, which can promote the application of PLA-based laminates in food packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural excitations that enable interbasin (IB) barrier crossings on a potential energy landscape are thought to play a facilitating role in the relaxation of liquids. Here, we show that the population of these excitations exhibits the same density scaling observed for α relaxation in propylene carbonate, even though they are heavily influenced by intramolecular modes. We also find that IB crossing modes exhibit a Gr u ̈ neisen parameter (γG) that is approximately equivalent to the density scaling parameter γTS. These observations suggest that the well-documented relationship between γG and γTS may be a direct result of the pressure dependence of the frequency of unstable (relaxation) modes associated with IB motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garnet‐based composite electrolytes show great potential in building high‐energy‐density solid lithium batteries. However, naturally formed Li2CO3 on garnets owing to air exposure hinders the Li‐ion transport and triggers undesirable performance deterioration. Based on the reaction between basic Li2CO3 and poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) with a product of propylene carbonate (PC), composite electrolytes with homogeneously distributed Li2CO3‐free garnets as well as PC are fabricated in one step without the post‐treatment of garnet powders in both polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)‐based electrolytes. The formed PC component further decreases the crystallization of PEO and reduces the grain size of PVDF, leading to improved ion transport in PEO and the suppression of PVDF dehydrofluorination. Consequently, the PPC‐treated garnets enable high ionic conductivities of 3.40 × 10−4 and 1.75 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 30 °C, respectively, in PEO:garnet and PVDF:garnet electrolytes, as well as great electrochemical stability against Li‐metal with a lifespan over 1000 h in Li symmetrical cells at 0.1 mA cm−2. Superior stable cycles are thus realized in both LiFePO4|PEO:garnet|Li and LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2|PVDF:garnet|Li cells. These above results demonstrate that the one‐step treatment used here helps the enhancement of Li‐ion transport in composite electrolytes, thus essential for building high‐rate and long‐life solid lithium batteries (SLBs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel functional polycarbonate (PAGC), characterized by the presence of double bonds within its side chain, was successfully synthesized through a ternary copolymerization of propylene oxide (PO), allyl glycidyl ether (AGE), and carbon dioxide (CO2). Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes octamercaptopropyl (POSS-SH) was employed as a crosslinking agent, contributing to the formation of organic–inorganic hybrid materials. This incorporation was facilitated through thiol-ene click reactions, enabling effective interactions between the POSS molecules and the double bonds in the side chains of the polycarbonate. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed a homogeneous distribution of silicon (Si) and sulfur (S) in the polycarbonate matrix. The thiol-ene click reaction between POSS-SH and the polycarbonate led to a micro-crosslinked structure. This enhancement significantly increased the tensile strength of the polycarbonate to 42 MPa, a notable improvement over traditional poly (propylene carbonate) (PPC). Moreover, the cross-linked structure exhibited enhanced solvent resistance, expanding the potential applications of these polycarbonates in various plastic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA NPs) are versatile drug nanocarriers with a wide spectrum of applications owing to their extensive advantages, including biodegradability, non-toxic side effects, and low immunogenicity. Among the numerous nanoparticle preparation methods available for PLGA NPs (the hydrophobic polymer), one of the most extensively utilized preparations is the sonicated-emulsified solvent evaporation method, owing to its simplicity, speed, convenience, and cost-effectiveness. Nevertheless, several factors can influence the outcomes, such as the types of concentration of the surfactants and organic solvents, as well as the volume of the aqueous phase. The objective of this article is to explore the influence of these factors on the properties of PLGA NPs and their drug release behavior following encapsulation. Herein, PLGA NPs were fabricated using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a surfactant to investigate the impact of influencing factors, including different water-soluble organic solvents such as propylene carbonate (PC), ethyl acetate (PA), and dichloromethane (DCM). Notably, the size of PLGA NPs was smaller in the EA group compared to that in the DCM group. Moreover, PLGA NPs showed excellent stability, ascribed to the presence of the BSA surfactant. Furthermore, PLGA NPs were co-loaded with varying concentrations of hydrophilic drugs (doxorubicin hydrochloride) and hydrophobic drugs (celecoxib), and exhibited pH-sensitive drug release behavior in PBS with pH 7.4 and pH 5.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we present a 5,8-bis(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)quinoxaline monomer with two 4-(octyloxy)phenyl side chains (EDOTPQ) that can be electropolymerized on ITO glass in standard electrolytes containing lithium salts and propylene carbonate as solvent. The electrochemically deposited PEDOTPQ layers show very good adhesion and homogeneity on ITO. The green-colored polymer thin films exhibit promising electrochromic (EC) properties and are interesting for applications such as adaptive camouflage, as well as smart displays, labels, and sensors. Novel organic–inorganic (hybrid) EC cell configurations were realized with Prussian blue (PB) or titanium-vanadium oxide (TiVOx) as ion storage electrodes, showing a highly reversible and fast color change from green to light yellow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparative synthesis of some new quinazoline derivatives via tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) catalysed Suzuki‐Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction in "green" propylene carbonate (PC) and dimethoxyethane. Three haloquinazolines were synthesised for Suzuki‐cross‐coupling from 5‐bromoanthranilic acid. Sufficient and easy method for the elimination of PC is developed, thus the optimization of the synthesis of some quinazoline derivatives was carried out. Reactions with 2‐chloro‐6‐bromo‐3‐phenylquinazolin‐4(3H)‐one proceeded faster and with a higher yield in PC than in dimethoxyethane, thus for some reactants PC is a good choice for greener synthesis. Practical considerations for using PC include shorter reaction times, improved yields, and the elimination of unnecessary solvent distillation, leading to significant energy savings. This facilitates the execution of energy‐efficient reactions in a notably environmentally friendly solvent. In contrast to DME, the use of PC does not necessitate special pre‐treatments. Moreover, less PC is required due to its high boiling point and low volatility. Considering these properties, coupled with the consistent need for chromatographic purification, the use of PC in the Suzuki‐Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction emerges as a superior and greener alternative compared to DME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formic acid dehydrogenation (FADH) by molecular catalysts is often reported to depend on cocatalysts, which, purportedly, are involved in hydride-catalyst association during the catalytic cycle. Herein we present a study on the effect of externally added hydrides, using NaBH 4 , on HCOOH dehydrogenation by two homologous molecular catalysts, a Fe/PP3/Lg, and a Ru/PP3/Lg catalyst, in propylene carbonate. A systematic mapping of the solution potential, E h , of the catalytic solution system, in tandem with the catalytic H 2 production via FADH, reveals two distinct trends for the Fe- and Ru-catalysts: (i) introduction of NaBH 4 promotes FADH by the [Ru/PP3/Lg] catalyst achieving a boosting of TOF from of 39 h-1 to 876 h-1 while the activation energy barrier drastically decreases from 21.2 to 9.8 kJ/mol 1H NMR confirms that NaBH 4 strongly promotes formation of Ru-H species in the catalytic solution which is the rate-limiting step. (ii) In contrary, introduction of NaBH 4 has no-beneficial effect on FADH catalyzed by the [Fe/PP3/Lg] in conjunction with the finding that solution-hydrides considerably increase the activation energy barrier from 28.4 to 42.1 kJ/mol. All these data are discussed within a novel comprehensive frame in relation to the distinct requirement of a co-catalyst by [Ru/PP3/Lg] catalyst vs. the ability of [Fe/PP3/Lg] catalyst to operate as co-catalyst free, in FADH. The present study indicates the monitoring of the solution potential Eh, is a useful tool to parametrize and to understand the performance of molecular systems in this type of FADH catalysis. [Display omitted] • Solution hydrides boost HCOOH dehydrogenation by [Ru/PP3/Lg] catalyst, lowering the Activation Energy (E a) by 240 %. • Solution hydrides have no beneficial effect on [Fe/PP3/Lg] catalyst, instead they increase the E a by 180 %. • Solution potential E h is a key physicochemical tool for FADH catalysis to parametrize the performance of molecular catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin films of mixed MoO3 and WO3 were obtained using reactive magnetron sputtering onto ITO-covered glass, and the optimal composition was determined for the best electrochromic (EC) properties. A combinatorial material synthesis approach was applied throughout the deposition experiments, and the samples represented the full composition range of the binary MoO3/WO3 system. The electrochromic characteristics of the mixed oxide films were determined with simultaneous measurement of layer transmittance and applied electric current through the using organic propylene carbonate electrolyte cells in a conventional three-electrode configuration. Coloration efficiency data evaluated from the primary data plotted against the composition displayed a characteristic maximum at around 60% MoO3. Our combinatorial approach allows the localization of the maximum at 5% accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) is an emerging "carbon fixation" polymer that holds the potential to become a "biomaterial of choice" in healthcare owing to its good biocompatibility, tunable biodegradability and safe degradation products. However, the commercialization and wide application of PPC as a biomedical material are still hindered by its narrow processing temperature range, poor mechanical properties and hydrophobic nature. Over recent decades, several physical, chemical and biological modifications of PPC have been achieved by introducing biocompatible polymers, inorganic ions or small molecules, which can endow PPC with better cytocompatibility and desirable biodegradability, and thus enable various applications. Indeed, a variety of PPC-based degradable materials have been used in medical applications including medical masks, surgical gowns, drug carriers, wound dressings, implants and scaffolds. In this review, the molecular structure, catalysts for synthesis, properties and modifications of PPC are discussed. Recent biomedical applications of PPC-based biomaterials are highlighted and summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries are promising alternatives to lithium‐ion batteries due to their cost‐effectiveness and improved safety. However, several challenges, including corrosion, dendrites, and water decomposition at the Zn anode, hinder their performance. Herein, an approach is proposed, that deviates from the conventional design by adding water into a propylene carbonate‐based organic electrolyte to prepare a non‐flammable "water‐in‐organic" electrolyte. The chaotropic salt Zn(ClO4)2 exploits the Hofmeister effect to promote the miscibility of immiscible liquid phases. Interactions between propylene carbonate and water restrict water activity and mitigate unfavorable reactions. This electrolyte facilitates preferential Zn (002) deposition and the formation of solid electrolyte interphase. Consequently, the "water‐in‐organic" electrolyte achieves a 99.5% Coulombic efficiency at 1 mA cm−2 over 1000 cycles in Zn/Cu cells, and constant cycling over 1000 h in Zn/Zn symmetric cells. A Na0.33V2O5/Zn battery exhibits impressive cycling stability with a capacity of 175 mAh g−1 for 800 cycles at 2 A g−1. Additionally, this electrolyte enables sustainable cycling across a wide temperature range from −20 to 50 °C. The design of a "water‐in‐organic" electrolyte employing a chaotropic salt presents a potential strategy for high‐performance electrolytes in zinc‐ion batteries with a large stability window and a wide temperature range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

State-of-the-art Li batteries suffer from serious safety hazards caused by the reactivity of lithium and the flammable nature of liquid electrolytes. This work develops highly efficient solid-state electrolytes consisting of imidazolium-containing polyionic liquids (PILs) and lithium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI). By employing PIL/LiTFSI electrolyte membranes blended with poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC), we addressed the problem of combining ionic conductivity and mechanical properties in one material. It was found that PPC acts as a mechanically reinforcing component that does not reduce but even enhances the ionic conductivity. While pure PILs are liquids, the tricomponent PPC/PIL/LiTFSI blends are rubber-like materials with a Young's modulus in the range of 100 MPa. The high mechanical strength of the material enables fabrication of mechanically robust free-standing membranes. The tricomponent PPC/PIL/LiTFSI membranes have an ionic conductivity of 10−6 S·cm−1 at room temperature, exhibiting conductivity that is two orders of magnitude greater than bicomponent PPC/LiTFSI membranes. At 60 °C, the conductivity of PPC/PIL/LiTFSI membranes increases to 10−5 S·cm−1 and further increases to 10−3 S·cm−1 in the presence of plasticizers. Cyclic voltammetry measurements reveal good electrochemical stability of the tricomponent PIL/PPC/LiTFSI membrane that potentially ranges from 0 to 4.5 V vs. Li/Li+. The mechanically reinforced membranes developed in this work are promising electrolytes for potential applications in solid-state batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of anti‐solvent free, scalable, and printable perovskite film is crucial to realizing the low‐cost roll‐to‐roll development of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, large‐area perovskite film fabrication is explored using a spray‐assisted sequential deposition technique. How propylene carbonate (PC) solvent additive affects the transformation of lead halide (PbI2) into perovskite at room temperature is investigated. The result shows that PC‐modified perovskite films exhibit a uniform, pinhole‐free morphology with oriented grains compared with pristine perovskite films. The PC‐modified perovskite film also has a prolonged fluorescence lifetime that indicates lower carrier recombination. The champion PSC devices based on PC‐modified perovskite film realize a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.5% and 19.3% at an active area (A) of 0.09 cm2 and 1 cm2, respectively. The fabricated PSCs are stable and demonstrate ≥85% PCE retention following 60 days of exposure to ambient conditions. Furthermore, perovskite solar modules (A ≈ 13 cm2) that yield a PCE of 15.8% are fabricated. These results are among the best reported for the state‐of‐art spray‐coated PSCs. Spray deposition coupled with a PC additive is highly promising for economical and high‐output preparation of PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcrystalline cellulose (MC) with 50 wt.% multi-walled carbon nanotube (MCNT) composites is obtained through extrusion, forming MC-MCNT fiber. In this study, we concentrate on three different electrolytes in propylene carbonate (PC) which have the same anions (TF−, trifluoro-methanesulfonate CF3SO3−) but different cations, EDMI+ (1-ethyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium), Li+ (lithium ion), and TBA+ (tetrabutylammonium). Cyclic voltammetry and square wave potential steps, in combination with linear actuation measurements in a potential range of 0.7 V to −0.2 V, were conducted. Our goal in this work was to establish a cation-selective actuator–sensor device capable of distinguishing different cations. The linear actuation of MC-MCNT fiber had its main expansion at discharge due to the incorporation of TF− in the MC-MCNT fiber with the cations. In the following order, TBA+ > EDMI+ > Li+ had the best stress, strain, charge density, diffusion coefficients, and long-term stability. Chronopotentiometric measurements revealed that the cations in the PC solvent can be differentiated by their ion sizes. Further characterization of the MC-MCNT fiber was completed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium ion batteries (CIBs) are considered as an important candidate for post‐lithium energy storage devices due to their abundance of resources and low cost. However, CIBs still suffer from slow kinetics due to the large solvation structure and high desolvation energy of Ca2+ ions. Here, a solvation regulation strategy based on donor number (DN) is reported to achieve easy‐desolvation and rapid storage of Ca2+ in sodium vanadate (Na2V6O16·2H2O, NVO). Specially, the solvent with a low DN, represented by propylene carbonate (PC), forms the first solvation shell of calcium ions with weak binding energy and small shell structure, which facilitates the migration of Ca2+ in the electrolyte. More importantly, the low DN solvent is preferentially desolvated at the cathode/electrolyte interface, promoting the insertion of Ca2+ into the NVO electrode. Mechanism studies further confirm the highly reversible uptake/release of Ca2+ in the NVO cathode, along with the VO distance change in the coordination structure. Therefore, the NVO cathode achieves high capacity (376 mAh g−1 at 0.3 A g−1) and high‐rate performance (151 mAh g−1 at 5 A g−1). The weak solvation effect strategy further improves the electrochemical performance and provides great importance for the design of the long‐term development of CIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating conductive and porous components as pillaring materials into the interlayers of two‐dimensional (2D) materials offers a solution to the restacking issue and enables the creation of multifunctional hetero‐superstructures. Here, multilayer MXene superlattices intercalated with monolayer mesoporous carbon frameworks (MMCFs) are synthesized by colloidal co‐assembly of MXene Ti3C2Tx nanosheets and Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The intercalated MMCFs not only increase interlayer spacing and create porous channels for fast mass transport but also act as conductive pillars to facilitate electron transfer along the z‐direction. These unique structural features allow for the full utilization of unilamellar MXene, making the resulting Ti3C2Tx/MMCF superlattices particularly suitable for capacitive energy storage in organic electrolytes containing bulky ions. As a demonstration, supercapacitors made from Ti3C2Tx/MMCFs exhibit a volumetric capacitance of 317 F cm−3 in a tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate/propylene carbonate electrolyte. Furthermore, on‐chip micro‐supercapacitors (MSCs) fabricated from Ti3C2Tx/MMCFs, using the ionic liquid 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate as an electrolyte, achieve an areal energy density of 0.10 mWh cm−2, surpassing that of most state‐of‐the‐art MXene‐based MSCs developed to date. This study not only highlights the significant potential of Ti3C2Tx/MMCFs for efficient capacitive energy storage in organic electrolytes but also introduces a new method for synthesizing 2D porous hetero‐superstructures for various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent and flexible vibrotactile actuators play an essential role in human–machine interaction applications by providing mechanical stimulations that can effectively convey haptic sensations. In the present study, we fabricated an electroactive, flexible, and transparent vibrotactile actuator with a dielectric layer including a dielectric elastomer and dielectric fluid mixture. The dielectric fluid mixture of propylene carbonate (PC) and acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC) was injected to obtain a transparent dielectric layer. To further improve the haptic performance, different weight ratios of dielectric fluid (PC: ATBC) were injected. The fabricated vibrotactile actuators based on a transparent dielectric layer were investigated for their electrical and electromechanical behavior. The proposed actuators generate a large vibrational intensity (~2.5 g) in the range of 200–250 Hz. Hence, the proposed actuators open up a new class of vibrotactile actuators for possible use in various domains, including robotics, smart textiles, teleoperation, and the metaverse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blends of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) are currently in the phase of intensive study due to their promising properties and environmentally friendly features. Intensive study and further commercialization of PPC-based polymers or their blends, as usual, will soon face the problem of their waste occurring in the environment, including soil. For this reason, it is worth comprehensively studying the degradation rate of these polymers over a long period of time in soil and, for comparison, in phosphate buffer to understand the difference in this process and evaluate the potential application of such materials toward agrochemical and agricultural purposes. The degradation rate of the samples was generally accompanied by weight loss and a decrease in molecular weight, which was facilitated by the presence of PPC. The incubation of the samples in the aqueous media yielded greater surface erosions compared to the degradation in soil, which was attributed to the leaching of the low molecular degradation species out of the foils. The phytotoxicity study confirmed the no toxic impact of the PPC on tested plants, indicating it as a "green" material, which is crucial information for further, more comprehensive study of this polymer toward any type of sustainable application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon and silicon-based materials are among the important modern materials with application in many fields of technology from electronics to energy materials. For some applications, for example the use of Si in Li-ion batteries, nanometer-sized dimensions are required. A cost-effective, environmentally sustainable, scalable, and versatile formation of functional Si films and materials is therefore of large interest. In this work, we report on the electrodeposition of amorphous silicon-based films onto planar and onto nanoporous copper substrates using different organic electrolytes. The morphology and composition of the Si-based coatings are dependent on the solvent used for electrodeposition. Acetonitrile, as a low viscosity solvent, leads to the faster formation of thicker, mostly metallic, and homogeneous electrodeposited Si films. Propylene carbonate, a higher-viscosity solvent generates thinner and more heterogeneous coatings. The Si electrodeposition presented in this work could be transferred onto other complex substrate morphologies, with potential applications in the fields of heterogeneous photocatalysis or energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New polyhydroxy ionic polymers were designed and prepared to heterogeneously catalyze CO2 cycloaddition reaction with complete chemoselectivity and up to 99 % yields. Using copolymer of 1‐(2‐hydroxyl‐ethyl)‐3‐vinyl‐imidazolium bromide ([HeVim][Br]) and styrene, the highest yield of propylene carbonate was obtained. And, it is significantly higher than that obtained with the same amount of hydroxy monomer [HeVim][Br] (only 24 % yield), thus showing the concerted promotion effect of polyhydoxyl groups during ring opening of epoxides. The catalyst presented excellent recycling performance (10 cycles). Various terminal cyclic carbonates were synthesized with above 95 % yields. A synergistic function of hydroxyl group as efficient hydrogen bonding donor and bromide anion as nucleophilic agent was put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Host–guest chemistry within the confined space of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) offers an almost unlimited myriad of possibilities, hardly accessible with other materials. Here we report the synthesis and physical characterization, with atomic resolution by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, of a novel water-stable tridimensional MOF, derived from the amino acid S-methyl- L -cysteine, {SrZn6[(S,S)-Mecysmox]3(OH)2(H2O)}·9H2O (1), and its application as a robust and efficient solid catalyst for the cycloaddition reaction of ethylene/propylene oxide with CO2 to afford ethylene/propylene carbonate with yields of up to 95% and selectivity of up to 100%. These results nicely illustrate the great potential of MOFs to be game changers for the selective synthesis of industrially relevant products, representing a powerful alternative to the current heterogeneous catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inexpensive dyes available at the industrial scale, namely, rhodamine B (RhB), rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) and methylene blue (MB), were investigated as organocatalysts for the cycloaddition of CO2 to styrene oxide to yield styrene carbonate under solvent-free conditions (80 °C, 10 bar CO2, 24 h). Each of these dyes consists of a bulky cation, and a chloride anion that can act as a nucleophilic catalytic species in the target reaction. In order to prepare additional catalysts, the Cl− containing dyes were ion-exchanged with KX (X = Br, I) to afford their counterparts with Br− or I− as the anion. Among this set of nine organocatalysts (three dyes, each with three types of halide), the highest yield of styrene carbonate was obtained with Rh6G-I, and trends were identified based on the nature of the organic cation and halide, with the latter having a much larger impact on the activity (I− > Br− > Cl−). Additionally, we explored the effect of adding H2O as a green, inexpensive hydrogen bond donor acting as a co-catalyst, further optimising the styrene carbonate yield (96% with RhB-I and Rh6G-I in the presence of 50 mg H2O). However, the activity of these organocatalysts was only modest if the reaction temperature was decreased to 45 °C. To tackle this limitation, we designed a tailored yet straightforward modification of RhB-I to synthesise a bifunctional organocatalyst bearing a hydrogen bond donor in proximity of the iodide anion (RhB-EtOH-I). This strategy proved successful and the RhB-EtOH-I catalyst achieved a major increase in styrene carbonate yield (29% after 18 h at 45 °C, 10 bar CO2) compared to the RhB-I/H2O catalytic system (7%). The RhB-EtOH-I catalyst was also versatile and promoted the conversion of a broad scope of epoxides with good to high cyclic carbonate yields under relatively mild reaction conditions (60 °C, 10 bar, 24 h). Although these dye organocatalysts were homogeneous, RhB-EtOH-I could be easily recovered by precipitation with diethyl ether and reused without any loss of catalytic activity. Additionally, we demonstrated that nanofiltration was an effective technique for removing the dye organocatalysts from the cyclic carbonate, affording a high purity product (≤0.1 ppm of RhB in propylene carbonate). The metal-free nature of the optimum organocatalyst (RhB-EtOH-I), its facile preparation and the low cost and commercial availability of its precursors, its promising activity under mild reaction conditions and its reusability are all assets in the context of green chemistry and for potential large-scale applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stimulated by the growing interest in sustainable polymers, the past few decades have seen intensive research in the field of CO2-based polycarbonates. Within this research, the catalysts for the ring-opening copolymerization of epoxides and CO2 developed from early heterogeneous complexes to a wide variety of homogeneous catalysts. These complexes are continuously improved to meet growing expectations regarding activity and selectivity. Simultaneously, the range of epoxide monomers has steadily expanded due to the growing interest in biobased starting materials for polymers. The potential of the resulting aliphatic polycarbonates is evident in their thermal and mechanical properties, where they exhibit a wide range from soft to brittle and from low to high glass transition temperatures. Although the biodegradability of CO2-based polycarbonates has not yet been extensively researched, it has already been possible to gain knowledge about poly(propylene carbonate) and its compostability. The entire potential of aliphatic polycarbonates is still far from being fully discovered, and with constant development of new catalysts and monomer feedstocks, the chance of a CO2- and biobased polymer achieving greater industrial relevance is increasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, fluorinated compounds based on sulfolane, cyclopentanone, and gamma-butyrolactone are studied computationally, focusing on their applicability in electrochemical devices and acid–base-related studies. Candidates for solvents with (1) high polarity, (2) good electrochemical stability, and (3) low basicity were searched for. Some of the compounds are studied here for the first time. Electrochemical stabilities, dielectric constants, boiling points, basicities, and lipophilicities were estimated using DFT and COSMO-RS methods with empirical corrections. The effect of fluorination on these properties as well as the bond parameters was studied. The possible synthesis routes of the proposed compounds are outlined. Some molecules display a combination of estimated properties favorable for a solvent, although none of the studied compounds are expected to surpass acetonitrile and propylene carbonate by the width of the electrochemical stability window. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LiAl Catalysts were prepared by precipitation method using Li as the main active component. The LiAl catalysts were modified by introducing different metal elements (Mg, La, Ce and Y), and the catalysts were also characterised by XRD, TG-DTG, CO2-TPD and BET. The effects of LiAl molar ratio and roasting temperature on the reaction activity of methanol and propylene carbonate (PC) ester exchange for the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) were investigated. The results showed that the catalysts had the highest reactivity when the catalyst LiAl molar ratio was 3:1 and the roasting temperature was 500 °C. In particular, the LiYAl catalyst reacted for 2 h at a reaction condition of 65 °C, an alcoholester molar ratio of 10: 1 between methanol and PC and a catalyst dosage of 2%, and the yield of DMC was 59.2%, which was still high after four times of reuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conductivity of LiAsF6 solutions in the propylene carbonate–dimethylsulfoxide mixed solvent with the ionophore molality from 0.2 to 1.4 mol/kg is measured over wide temperature range (Т = 253.15, 263.15, 273.15, 283.15, 293.15, 303.15, 313.15, 323.15, and 333.15 К) at the dimethylsulfoxide content in the mixed solvent changing from 0.2 to 0.75 molar fraction. The conductivity of LiAsF6 solutions in dimethylsulfoxide is studied over the 293.15–333.15 К temperature range. The concentration dependences of the studied solutions' conductivity obey the Casteel–Amis equation. With the using of the transition state theory, the solvent and ionophore contributions into the ionic conductance activation energy were determined. The LiAsF6 solutions in the propylene carbonate–dimethylsulfoxide mixed solvent are shown to have a narrower electrochemical window as compared with the ionophore solutions in the propylene carbonate and dimethylsulfoxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many organic solvents have excellent solution properties, but fail to serve as lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) electrolyte solvents, due to their electrochemical incompatibility with graphite anodes. Herein, a new strategy is proposed to address this issue by introducing a surface‐adsorbed molecular layer to regulate the interfacial solvation structure without the alteration of electrolyte composition and properties. As a proof‐of‐concept study, it is demonstrated for the first time that the intrinsically incompatible propylene carbonate (PC)‐based electrolyte becomes completely compatible with graphite anodes by introducing a layer of adsorbed hexafluorobenzene (HFB) molecules to weaken the Li+‐PC coordination strength and facilitate the interfacial desolvation process. As a consequence, the graphite/ NCM811 pouch cells using the PC‐based electrolyte containing only 1 vol.% HFB demonstrate excellent long‐term cycling stabilities over 1150 cycles. This strategy is also proved to be applicable to other ethylene carbonate (EC)–free electrolytes, thus providing a new avenue for developing advanced LIB electrolytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As environmental pollution continues to rise, the demand for biodegradable materials, particularly biodegradable foams, is steadily increasing. We prepared high-density foam using extended poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (E-PBAT) and poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC), with basalt fiber (BF) serving as the filler, through an extrusion process. We conducted a detailed study to investigate the impact of PPC and BF content on the foaming of E-PBAT. We conducted a detailed study on how PPC and BF content influence the foaming of E-PBAT. This investigation revealed the formation of various phase morphologies within the composites, including "island-sea," "quasi-co-continuous," and "co-continuous" structures, which, in turn, altered the cellular morphology. The BF network played a crucial role as a structural backbone, enhancing the composite material's modulus, yield strength, and rheological complex viscosity (|η*|). Additionally, fiber networks can also serve as nucleation sites to promote cell nucleation and increase cell density. A higher cell density allows for more effective force transfer when the foam experiences external pressures, thereby enhancing its mechanical properties. We also summarized the mechanisms behind the changes in phase structure and fiber content on cell morphology. This summary provides valuable guidance for research on the extrusion foaming of biodegradable materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of cation-exchange membranes as electrolytes for lithium metal batteries can prevent the formation of lithium dendrites during extended cycling and guarantee safe battery operation. In our study, the Nafion-212 membrane in lithium form solvated by a mixture of ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate (EC-PC) was used as an electrolyte in a lithium metal battery with the LiFePO4 cathode. The Nafion-212-EC-PC electrolyte is electrochemically stable up to 6 V, indicating its suitability for high-energy density batteries. It has an ionic conductivity of 1.9 × 10−4 S/cm at 25 °C and a high lithium transference number. The symmetric Li|Nafion-212-EC-PC|Li cell shows a very low overvoltage of ~0.3 V at a current density of ±0.1 mA/cm2. At 25 °C, the LiFePO4|Nafion-212-EC-PC|Li battery exhibits a capacity of 141, 136, 125, and 100 mAh/g at 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 1C rates, respectively. It maintains a capacity of 120 mAh/g at 0 °C and 0.1C with stable performance for 50 charge/discharge cycles. The mechanism of conductivity and capacity retention at low temperatures is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density and viscosity measurements were carried out at 25 °C (298.15 K) on six binary di(or tri)glyme/organic carbonate (dimethylcarbonate, ethylene carbonate or propylene carbonate) systems and on multicomponent systems containing di(or tri)glyme/ organic carbonate mixtures. The effect of the organic carbonate composition on the excess weight volume (VwE), the deviation viscosity ( Δ η ), the partial weight and apparent weight volumes of glymes is interpreted in terms of competitive interactions and/or of differences in size or shape between glymes and organic carbonates. In addition, a model, based on viscosity data, is developed for the first time to determine the hydrodynamic volumes of glymes. The comparison of hydrodynamic volumes with Van der Waals volumes makes it possible to highlight and quantify the possible interactions between glymes and pure organic carbonates, and the association of triglyme molecules in organic carbonate EC/PC mixtures. The effect of LiPF6 and NaPF6 salts at 1 mol⋅L−1 in the glyme/organic carbonate mixtures appears to significantly reduce the volumes of glymes. By this, the strong interactions between salts and glymes are shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To discuss the effect of ganoderic acid A (GAA) on the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration ability of the PC-9 cells, and to clarify its mechanism. Methods The non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) PC-9 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into control group (without GAA), low dose of GAA group (0.1 mmol·L-1 GAA), and high dose of GAA group (0.5 mmol·L-1 GAA). MTT method was used to detect the proliferation rates of the PC-9 cells in various groups； flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptotic rates of the PC-9 cells in various groups； scratch wound healing assay was used to detect the scratch healing rates of the PC-9 cells in various groups； Transwell chamber assay was used to detect the migration abilities of PC-9 cells in various groups； the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) mRNA and protein in the PC9 cells in various groups were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting methods. Results The MTT assay results showed that compared with control group, the proliferation rate of the cells in low dose of GAA group was decreased after treated for 48 and 72 h (P<0.05)； after treated for 24, 48, and 72 h, the proliferation rate of the cells in high dose of GAA group was decreased (P<0.05)； compared with low dose of GAA group, the proliferation rate of the cells in high dose of GAA group was decreased after treated for 24, 48, and 72 h (P<0.05).The flow cytometry results showed that compared with control group and low dose of GAA group, the apoptotic rate of the cells in high dose of GAA group was increased (P<0.05). The cell scratch wound healing assay results showed that compared with control group and low dose of GAA group, the scratch wound healing rate of the cells in high dose of GAA group was decreased (P<0.05). The Transwell chamber assay results showed that compared with control group and low dose of GAA group, the number of migration cells in high dose of GAA group was decreased (P<0.05). The RT-qPCR and Western blotting results showed that compared with control group and low dose of GAA group, the expression levels of HIF-1α and VEGF mRNA and proteins in the cells in high dose of GAA group were decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion High dose of GAA can inhibit the proliferation of the PC-9 cells and promote the apoptosis, and its mechanism may be related to regulating the expressions of VEGF and HIF-1α mRNA and proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBH) has gained significant attention because of its biodegradability and sustainability. However, its expanded application in some fields is limited by the brittleness and low melt viscoelasticity. In this work, poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) was introduced into PHBH/poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) blends via melt compounding with the aim of obtaining a good balance of properties. Dynamic mechanical analysis results suggested that PPC and PHBH were immiscible. PVAc was miscible with both a PHBH matrix and PPC phase, while it showed better miscibility with PHBH than with PPC. Therefore, PVAc was selectively localized in a PHBH matrix, reducing interfacial tension and refining dispersed phase morphology. The crystallization rate of PHBH slowed down, and the degree of crystallinity decreased with the introduction of PPC and PVAc. Moreover, the PVAc phase significantly improved the melt viscoelasticity of ternary blends. The most interesting result was that the remarkable enhancement of toughness for PHBH/PPC blends was obtained by adding PVAc without sacrificing the strength markedly. Compared with the PHBH/PPC blend, the elongation at the break and yield strength of the PHBH/PPC/10PVAc blend increased by 1145% and 7.9%, respectively. The combination of high melt viscoelasticity, toughness and strength is important for the promotion of the practical application of biological PHBH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formic acid is considered as a promising hydrogen storage material in the context of a green hydrogen economy. In this work, we present a series of aminophosphino and imidazolylamino Mo3S4 cuboidal clusters which are active and selective for formic acid dehydrogenation (FAD). Best results are obtained with the new [Mo3S4Cl3(ediprp)3](BPh4) (4(BPh4)) (ediprp=(2‐(diisopropylphosphino)ethylamine)) cluster, which is prepared through a simple ligand exchange process from the Mo3S4Cl4(PPh3)3(H2O)2 precursor. Under the conditions investigated, complex 4+ showed significantly improved performance (TOF=4048 h−1 and 3743 h−1 at 120 °C in propylene carbonate using N,N‐dimethyloctylamine as base after 10 min and 15 min, respectively) compared to the other reported molybdenum compounds. Mechanistic investigations based on stoichiometric and catalytic experiments show that cluster 4+ reacts with formic acid in the presence of a base to form formate substituted species [Mo3S4Cl3‐x(OCOH)x(ediprp)3]+ (x=1–3) from which the catalytic cycle starts. Subsequently, formate decarboxylation of the partially substituted [Mo3S4Cl3‐x(OCOH)x(ediprp)3]+ (x=1, 2, 3) catalyst through a β‐hydride transfer to the metal generates the trinuclear Mo3S4 cluster hydride. Dehydrogenation takes place through protonation by HCOOH to form Mo−H⋅⋅⋅HCOOH dihydrogen adducts, with regeneration of the Mo3S4 formate cluster. This proposal has been validated by DFT calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new phosphonate‐based anionic bimetallic organic framework, with the general formula of A4−Zn−DOBDP (wherein A is Li+ or Na+, and DOBDP6− is the 2,5‐dioxido‐1,4‐benzenediphosphate ligand) is prepared and characterized for energy storage applications. With four alkali cations per formula unit, the A4−Zn−DOBDP MOF is found to be the first example of non‐solvated cation conducting MOF with measured conductivities of 5.4×10−8 S cm−1 and 3.4×10−8 S cm−1 for Li4‐ and Na4‐ phases, indicating phase and composition effects of Li+ and Na+ shuttling through the channels. Three orders of magnitude increase in ionic conductivity is further attained upon solvation with propylene carbonate, placing this system among the best MOF ionic conductors at room temperature. As positive electrode material, Li4−Zn−DOBDP delivers a specific capacity of 140 mAh g−1 at a high average discharge potential of 3.2 V (vs. Li+/Li) with 90 % of capacity retention over 100 cycles. The significance of this research extends from the development of a new family of electroactive phosphonate‐based MOFs with inherent ionic conductivity and reversible cation storage, to providing elementary insights into the development of highly sought yet still evasive MOFs with mixed‐ion and electron conduction for energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new phosphonate‐based anionic bimetallic organic framework, with the general formula of A4−Zn−DOBDP (wherein A is Li+ or Na+, and DOBDP6− is the 2,5‐dioxido‐1,4‐benzenediphosphate ligand) is prepared and characterized for energy storage applications. With four alkali cations per formula unit, the A4−Zn−DOBDP MOF is found to be the first example of non‐solvated cation conducting MOF with measured conductivities of 5.4×10−8 S cm−1 and 3.4×10−8 S cm−1 for Li4‐ and Na4‐ phases, indicating phase and composition effects of Li+ and Na+ shuttling through the channels. Three orders of magnitude increase in ionic conductivity is further attained upon solvation with propylene carbonate, placing this system among the best MOF ionic conductors at room temperature. As positive electrode material, Li4−Zn−DOBDP delivers a specific capacity of 140 mAh g−1 at a high average discharge potential of 3.2 V (vs. Li+/Li) with 90 % of capacity retention over 100 cycles. The significance of this research extends from the development of a new family of electroactive phosphonate‐based MOFs with inherent ionic conductivity and reversible cation storage, to providing elementary insights into the development of highly sought yet still evasive MOFs with mixed‐ion and electron conduction for energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lignin-based gel prepared by the chemical crosslinking of hardwood acetic acid lignin (AL) with poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether has been reported to shrink in water and organic solvents but swell specifically in aqueous binary solutions. In this study, the AL-based gel was also found to swell in lithium-salt-containing organic solvents, namely, liquid electrolytes. The uptake of salt solutions reached five times the dry weight of the gel. The ionic conductivity of the gel swollen with 1 M LiBF4 in propylene carbonate or a mixed solution (1:1, v/v) of ethylene carbonate and dimethyl carbonate exceeded 1 mS cm−1 at room temperature (25 °C), suggesting that this gel can be applied as a gel electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). A prototype LIB was assembled with the AL-based gel electrolyte and LiCoO2/graphite-based electrodes and exhibited low bulk and charge transfer resistances of 4.1 and 9.7 Ω, respectively. Moreover, its initial specific capacity reached 104 mAh g−1 at a current density of 28 mA g−1, which is comparable to that of a reference LIB assembled using a commercial polyethylene separator. These results indicate the significant potential of this lignin-based gel for application in energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, an efficient eco-friendly protocol is reported for the continuous synthesis of enaminones using a microreactor device in the presence of a catalytic amount of cerium (III) trichloride (1 mol%) in Propylene carbonate (PC) as a non-toxic solvent. Moreover, continuous separation of the corresponding product, and recycling of the catalyst-solvent system with water is another promising advantage of this technique. Indeed, the separation of the product by water allows any required catalyst and solvent to be reapplied in the next run. In addition, this microfluidic system enabled turnover frequency (TOF) of up to 2940 h−1 for the corresponding products. The employment of these environment friendly facilitates produce the products with an excellent isolated yield up to 98%. This method performs efficiently, and would extent future applications of continuous organic, inorganic and biochemical reactions in green chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The removal of acid gas impurities from synthesis gas or natural gas can be achieved using several physical solvents. Examples of solvents applied on a commercial scale include methanol (Rectisol), poly(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ethers (Selexol), n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (Purisol), and propylene carbonate (Fluor solvent). Continuous Fractional Component Monte Carlo (CFCMC) simulations in the osmotic ensemble were used to compute the Henry coefficients of the pure gases CO 2 , CH 4 , C 2 H 6 , CO, H 2 , N 2 , N 2 O, and H 2 S in the aforementioned solvents. The predicted Henry coefficients are in good agreement with the experimental results. The Monte Carlo method correctly predicts the gas solubility trend in these physical solvents, which obeys the following order: H 2 S > CO 2 > C 2 H 6 > CH 4 > CO > N 2 > H 2 . The gas separation selectivities for the precombustion process and the natural gas sweetening process are calculated from the pure gas Henry coefficients. The CO 2 /N 2 O analogy is verified for the solubility in these solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the implementation of an electrochromic device (10 cm × 10 cm in size) for energy saving applications has been presented. As electrochromic system has been used with an electrochromic solution (ECsol) made by ethyl viologen diperchlorate [EV(ClO4)2], 1,1′-diethyl ferrocene (DEFc) and propylene carbonate (PC), as solvent. The final system has been obtained by mixing the ECsol, described above, with a polymeric system made by Bisphenol-A glycerolate (1 glycerol/phenol) diacrylate (BPA) and 2,2-Dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone (Irgacure 651) in a weight percentage equal to 60:40% w/w, respectively. Lithography has been used to make a spacer pattern with a thickness of about 15–20 µm between the two substrates. Micro-Raman spectroscopy confirmed the presence of the EV•+ as justified by the blue color of the electrochromic device in the ON state. Electrochemical and optical properties of the electrochromic device have been studied. The device shows reversible electrochromic behavior as confirmed by cyclic color variation due to the reduction and oxidation process of the EV2+/EV•+ couple. The electrochromic device shows a variation of the % transmittance in the visible region at 400 nm of 59.6% in the OFF state and 0.48% at 3.0 V. At 606 nm the transmittance in the bleached state is 84.58% in the OFF state and then decreases to 1.01% when it is fully colored at 3.0 V. In the NIR region at 890 nm, the device shows a transmittance of 74.3% in the OFF state and 23.7% at 3.0 V while at 1165 nm the values of the transmittance changed from 83.21% in the OFF state to 1.58% in the ON state at 3.0 V. The electrochromic device shows high values of CCR% and exhibits excellent values of CE in both visible and near-infrared regions when switched between OFF/ON states. In the NIR region at 890 nm, electrochromic devices can be used for the energy-saving of buildings with a promising CE of 120.9 cm2/C and 420.1 cm2/C at 1165 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have devised the unified redox scale EabsH2O, which is valid for all solvents. The necessary single ion Gibbs transfer energy between two different solvents, which only can be determined with extra‐thermodynamic assumptions so far, must clearly satisfy two essential conditions: First, the sum of the independent cation and anion values must give the Gibbs transfer energy of the salt they form. The latter is an observable and measurable without extra‐thermodynamic assumptions. Second, the values must be consistent for different solvent combinations. With this work, potentiometric measurements on silver ions and on chloride ions show that both conditions are fulfilled using a salt bridge filled with the ionic liquid [N2225][NTf2]: if compared to the values resulting from known pKL values, the silver and chloride single ion magnitudes combine within a uncertainty of 1.5 kJ mol−1 to the directly measurable transfer magnitudes of the salt AgCl from water to the solvents acetonitrile, propylene carbonate, dimethylformamide, ethanol, and methanol. The resulting values are used to further develop the consistent unified redox potential scale EabsH2O that now allows to assess and compare redox potentials in and over six different solvents. We elaborate on its implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid-state synthesis of novel electrode materials of P2-type layered oxides Na0.67Ni0.33-xVxMn0.67O2 (where x = 0, 0.05, and 0.11) for the application as cathode materials in rechargeable non-aqueous sodium-ion batteries is reported. Na0.67Ni0.22V0.11Mn0.67O2 electrode delivers significantly improved capacity retention than the pristine P2-Na0.67Ni0.33Mn0.67O2 when cycled between 1.5 and 4.3 V. The effect of organic ester electrolytes with 1.0 M NaClO4 shows diverse effects in the cathode material. The best capacity retention for V-substituted electrodes is observed in ethylene carbonate (EC): propylene carbonate (PC): dimethyl carbonate (DMC) (0.45: 0.45: 0.1) with 1.0 M NaClO4 salt at a C-rate of 0.2C among four different ester electrolytes investigated [PC, EC: PC (1: 1), EC: DEC (1: 1), and EC: PC: DMC (0.45: 0.45: 0.1)]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The capacitance of the electrical double layer was measured in situ on a renewable Pb electrode in solutions of Bu 4 NClO 4 in propylene carbonate (PC). The results and published data were analyzed using correlational relationships between the zero charge potentials (E σ=0) of Hg, Pb, Sn, and Ga electrodes in solutions of surface-inactive electrolytes in PC, acetonitrile, and water on the one hand and the electron work functions of these metals (W e) on the other hand. It was concluded that Pb electrodes interacted weakly with the molecules of these solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Properties of solid–liquid interfaces and surface charge characteristics mediate ionic and molecular transport through porous systems, affecting many processes such as separations. Herein, we report experiments designed to probe the electrochemical properties of solid–liquid interfaces using a model system of a single polyethylene terephthalate (PET) pore in contact with aqueous and propylene carbonate solutions of LiClO4. First, the existence and polarity of surface charges were inferred from current–voltage curves recorded when a pore was placed in contact with a LiClO4 concentration gradient. Second, the electro-osmotic transport of uncharged polystyrene particles through the PET pore provided information on the polarity and the magnitude of the pore walls' zeta potential. Our experiments show that the PET pores become effectively positively charged when in contact with LiClO4 solutions in propylene carbonate, even though in aqueous LiClO4, the same pores are negatively charged. Additionally, the electro-osmotic velocity of the particles revealed a significantly higher magnitude of the positive zeta potential of the pores in propylene carbonate compared to the magnitude of the negative zeta potential in water. The presented methods of probing the properties of solid–liquid interfaces are expected to be applicable to a wide variety of solid and liquid systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we examined the effect of finite size and wettability on the structural dynamics and the molecular arrangement of the propylene carbonate derivative, (S)-(−)-4-methoxymethyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (assigned as s-methoxy-PC), incorporated into alumina and silica porous templates of pore diameters d = 4 nm–10 nm using Raman and broadband dielectric spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and x-ray diffraction. It was demonstrated that only subtle changes in the molecular organization and short-range order of confined s-methoxy-PC molecules were detected. Yet, a significant deviation of the structural dynamics and depression of the glass transition temperatures, Tg, was found for all confined samples with respect to the bulk material. Interestingly, these changes correlate with neither the finite size effects nor the interfacial energy but seem to vary with wettability, generally. Nevertheless, for s-methoxy-PC infiltrated into native (more hydrophilic) and modified (more hydrophobic) silica templates of the same nanochannel size (d = 4 nm), a change in the dynamics and Tg was negligible despite a significant variation in wettability. These results indicated that although wettability might be a suitable variable to predict alteration of the structural dynamics and depression of the glass transition temperature, other factors, i.e., surface roughness and the density packing, might also have a strong contribution to the observed confinement effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]