Search

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a common and complex disorder resulting from repetitive alcohol drinking. The mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) system, originating from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in the midbrain, is involved in the rewarding effect of ethanol. The γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons in VTA appear to be key substrates of acute and chronic ethanol, which regulates DA neurotransmission indirectly in the mesocorticolimbic system. Despite significant research on the relationship between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and reduced alcohol consumption in male rats involving tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB), the mechanisms of BDNF-TrkB regulating alcohol behavior remain scarce. K

In this study, we report a portable kit consisting of a portable workstation, gold screen-printed electrode (SPE), 0.45 μm filter membrane, phosphate buffer solution (PBS), and acetic acid (1%) for point-of-use (POU) analysis of nicotine in tobacco. The activated-screen-printed electrode (A-SPE) displayed superior electron transmission efficiency, and the A-SPE without modification was employed for high-performance analysis of nicotine in actual tobacco after simple sample pretreatment. Remarkably, the fabricated nicotine sensor exhibited a broad working range of 10-100 μg g

Iron is one of the essential trace elements in the human body. It plays an important role in human biology and pathology. Deregulation of iron levels in cells is associated with disease development. In this work, we synthesized a novel near-infrared intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) based ratiometric fluorescent probe to detect Fe2+, by using naphthalimide and indole moieties as building blocks. Our work showed that the radiometric probe has excellent selectivity, sensitivity and rapid response. Moreover, we could successfully perform real-time monitoring of Fe2+ in HeLa cells and C. elegans.

Three-dimensional (3D) olivine LiMn 0.8 Fe 0.2 PO 4 nanoflowers constructed by two-dimensional (2D) nanoflakes have been successfully synthesized through an easy liquid phase method. Hierarchical LiMn 0.8 Fe 0.2 PO 4 /C could be easily formed via a liquid coating technology and subsequent calcination treatment. When acting as cathode materials for lithium ion batteries, the LiMn 0.8 Fe 0.2 PO 4 /C nanoflowers show excellent rate performance and cycle stability. The unique flower-like hierarchical structured LiMn 0.8 Fe 0.2 PO 4 and thin carbon coating outside make this composite a promising candidate as cathode materials for lithium ion batteries.

Manganese oxide-based cathodes are one of the most promising lithium-ion battery (LIB) cathode materials due to their cost-effectiveness, high discharge voltage plateau (above 4.0 V vs. Li/Li+), superior rate capability, and environmental benignity. However, these batteries using conventional LiPF6-based electrolytes suffer from Mn dissolution and poor cyclic capability at elevated temperature. In this paper, the ionic liquid (IL)-based electrolytes, consisting of 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfon)imidate (PYR1,4-TFSI), propylene carbonate (PC), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfon)imide (LiTFSI), and lithium oxalyldifluoroborate (LiDFOB) additive, were explored for improving the high temperature performance of the LiMn2O4 batteries. It was demonstrated that LiTFSI-ILs/PC electrolyte associated with LiDFOB addition possessed less Mn dissolution and Al corrosion at the elevated temperature in LiMn2O4/Li batteries. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy implied that this kind of electrolyte also contributed to the formation of a highly stable solid electrolyte interface (SEI), which was in accordance with the polarization measurement and the Li deposition morphology of the symmetric lithium metal cell, thus beneficial for improving the cycling performance of the LiMn2O4 batteries at the elevated temperature. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy implied that the cells using this kind of electrolyte exhibited better interfacial stability, which was further verified by the polarization measurement and the Li deposition morphology of the symmetric lithium metal cell, thus beneficial for improving the cycling performance of the LiMn2O4 batteries at the elevated temperature. These unique characteristics would endow this kind of electrolyte a very promising candidate for the manganese oxide-based batteries.

LiMn 0.8 Fe 0.2 PO 4 /C rectangular prism nanorods with a short b -axis are successfully synthesized via solvothermal method by means of the in-situ polymerization of resorcinol–formaldehyde followed with further annealing process. In this process, PVP has significant effect on the nanorod morphology. Physicochemical characterizations and electrochemical measurements results demonstrate that the short b -axis of nanorod can contribute to shortening the lithium ion diffusion distance. Relatively thin and uniform carbon layers can improve the electronic conductivity. Furthermore, LiMn 0.8 Fe 0.2 PO 4 /C nanorod delivers a reversible discharge capacity of 140 mA h g −1 at 0.1 C, and remarkable rate capability is exhibited with 78.6% capacity retention at a 4 C rate. Meanwhile, it shows stable cycling stability and capacity retention of 98.1% is still maintained after 100 cycles at 1 C. The excellent electrochemical properties can be attributed to the structure superiority of nanorod.

Lithium ion capacitors (LICs), which bridge the gap between lithium ion battery and electric double layer capacitor, have recently attracted considerable attention. Herein, we first propose the possible utilization of nitrogen-doped carbonized polyimide microsphere (CPIMS) as a novel anode material of LICs. The structures and lithium intercalation properties of CPIMS treated at different temperatures are investigated. It is demonstrated that some of nitrogen atoms are kept in the CPIMS, which is helpful for improving the electrochemical performances. The CPIMS900 (900 is the carbonization temperature) can deliver specific capacities of 328.3 and 48.2 mAh g −1 at 10 mA g −1 and 10 A g −1 , respectively. When the pre-lithiated CPIMS900 is coupled with an activated carbon cathode, an energy density of 28.5 Wh kg −1 at 348 W kg −1 is obtained based on the weight of both electrode materials. Even at 6940 W kg −1 , the energy density still remains 13.1 Wh kg −1 . After 5000 cycles at 500 mA g −1 , the capacity retention ratio is as high as 97.1%. The present work offers an opportunity to utilize the CPIMS material in LIC with high energy density, high power density and promising cycle life.

In order to overcome severe capacity fading of Ni-rich layered oxides Li[Ni1-x-yCoxMny]O2 cathode of lithium-ion battery at elevated voltage, a composite membrane consisting of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) nonwoven fabric incorporated with poly(ethyl α-cyanoacrylate) was investigated as polymer matrix of gel polymer electrolyte (GPE). The ionic conductivity of the GPE based on this composite membrane saturated with a liquid electrolyte (LE) of 1 M LiPF6 in carbonate solvents is 2.54 mS cm−1 at room temperature, and the stable electrochemical voltage window can be up to 4.7 V. Its electrochemical performance is evaluated by using full cell with Li[Ni0.5Co0.2Mn0.3]O2 as cathode and graphite as anode. These results demonstrate that the as-prepared GPE remarkably improves the cyclability at the high cut-off voltage compared to the commercial liquid electrolyte. Keywords: Lithium-ion battery, High voltage, Polymer electrolyte, Poly(ethyl α-cyanoacrylate)

Nickel disulfide-graphene nanosheets (NiS2-GNS) composites were successfully synthesized via a simple and mild hydrothermal method. It was revealed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images that the spherical NiS2 nanoparticles with a diameter of 200-300 nm were uniformly dispersed on graphene nanosheets. Na(+) electrochemical storage properties including cycling performance and high-rate capability of NiS2-GNS composites were investigated, demonstrating a superior reversible capacity of 407 mAh g(-1) with the capacity retention of 77% over 200 cycles at a current density of 0.1 C. Furthermore, even at a large current density of 2 C, a high capacity of 168 mAh g(-1) can still remain, which is much higher than that of pristine NiS2 materials. The enhancement in electrochemical properties might be attributed to the synergetic effect endowed by high conductivity of graphene and novel structure of the electrode material. Combined with the advantages of low cost and environmental benignity, NiS2-GNS composite would be a potential anode material for sodium ion batteries.

Mathematical analysis of continuous variable crown (CVC) roll contour used in CSP production line was conducted and the roll contour function of CVC roll was obtained. The validation with actual CVC roll contour shows that the calculation values of the roll contour function and the actual roll contour parameters given by equipment provider are the same, which proves that the roll contour function of CVC rolls given in this article is correct. The nonlinear relationship between the roll crown of CVC rolls and roll shift amounts was deduced. The concept of crown extremum was given.