α-MnO_(2) is a promising,inexpensive,and readily producible catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)in alkaline media,but its application is limited by low electronic conductivity.In this study,we enhance the ...α-MnO_(2) is a promising,inexpensive,and readily producible catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)in alkaline media,but its application is limited by low electronic conductivity.In this study,we enhance the performance ofα-MnO_(2) electrodes by systematically varying theα-MnO_(2)-to-Vulcan ratio within the catalyst layer.Electrodes are evaluated in a gas diffusion electrode(GDE)half-cell,where an optimized catalyst layer composition leads to significantly improved ORR performance.By finetuning both theα-MnO_(2)-to-Vulcan ratio and theα-MnO_(2) loading,the electrode outperforms a commercial MnO_(2)-based electrode and approaches the performance of the Pt/C benchmark.The improvement is attributed to the presence of a three-dimensional(3D)Vulcan network electronically connecting catalytically activeα-MnO_(2) sites with the substrate.Additionally,the optimized electrodes are employed in a prototype Al-O_(2) flow cell.Under constant oxygen flow,power densities exceed 250 mW cm^(-2),which is significantly higher than that of conventional Al-air batteries.Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy combined with distribution of relaxation times(DRT)analysis enables the separation of anode and cathode charge transfer impedances without the need for an additional reference electrode.The analysis reveals that the anode contributes more than twice as much impedance as the cathode,highlighting the need for further anode optimization.This work demonstrates a transferable approach for catalyst layer screening under technically relevant conditions in the GDE half-cell.Subsequent measurements in an Al-O_(2) flow cell validate the approach.The methodology is widely applicable to the development of advanced electrodes for a variety of metal-air battery technologies.展开更多
Background:The grazing behaviour of herbivores and their grazing personalities might in part be determined genetically,but there are few studies in beef cattle illustrating this.In this study,we investigated for first...Background:The grazing behaviour of herbivores and their grazing personalities might in part be determined genetically,but there are few studies in beef cattle illustrating this.In this study,we investigated for first time the genetic variation within a candidate‘grazing gene',the glutamate metabotropic receptor 5 gene(GRM5),and tested associations between variation in that gene and variation in grazing personality behaviours(GP-behaviours)displayed by free-ranging cows during winter grazing in the steep and rugged rangelands of New Zealand.Mature beef cows(n=303,from 3 to 10 years of age)were tracked with global positioning system(GPS)and,with 5-minutes(min)relocation frequency,various GP-behaviours were calculated.These included horizontal and vertical distances travelled,mean elevation,elevation range,elevation gain,slope,home range and movement tortuosity,variously calculated using daily relocation trajectories with repeated measurements(i.e.,7 to 24 days(d))and satellite-derived digital elevation models(DEM).The different GP-behaviours were fitted into mixed models to ascertain their associations with variant sequences and genotypes of GRM5.Results:We discovered three GRM5 variants(A,B and C)and identified the six possible genotypes in the cattle studied.The mixed models revealed that A was significantly associated with elevation range,home range and movement tortuosity.Similarly,GRM5 genotypes were associated(P<0.05)to home range and movement tortuosity,while trends suggesting association(P<0.1)were also revealed for elevation range and horizontal distance travelled.Most GP-behaviour models were improved by correcting for cow age-class as a fixed factor.The analysis of GP-behaviours averaged per cow age-class suggests that grazing personality is fully established as beef cows reached 4 years of age.Home range and movement tortuosity were not only associated with GRM5 variation,but also negatively correlated with each other(r=-0.27,P<0.001).Conclusions:There seems to be a genetically determined trade-off between home range and movement tortuosity that may be useful in beef cattle breeding programmes aiming to improve the grazing distribution and utilisation of steep and rugged rangelands.展开更多
Due to their inherent safety, low cost, and structural stability, TiO2 nanostructures represent a suitable choice as anode materials in sodiumion batteries. In the recent years, various hypotheses have been proposed r...Due to their inherent safety, low cost, and structural stability, TiO2 nanostructures represent a suitable choice as anode materials in sodiumion batteries. In the recent years, various hypotheses have been proposed regarding the actual mechanism of the reversible insertion of sodium ions in the TiO2 structure, and previous reports are often controversial in this respect. Interestingly, when tested as binder- and conducting additive-free electrodes in laboratory-scale sodium cells, amorphous and crystalline （anatase） TiO2 nanotubular arrays obtained by simple anodic oxidation exhibit peculiar and intrinsically different electrochemical responses. In particular, after the initial electrochemical activation, anatase TiO2 shows excellent rate capability and very stable long-term cycling performance with larger specific capacities, and thus a clearly superior response compared with the amorphous counterpart. To obtain deeper insight, the present materials are thoroughly characterized by scanning electron microscopy and ex situ X-ray diffraction, and the insertion of sodium ions in the TiO2 bulk phases is systematically modeled by density functional theory calculations. The present results may contribute to the development of more systematic screening approaches to identify suitable active materials for highly efficient sodium-based energy storage systems.展开更多
基金part of the ALU-STORE project(Aluminum Metal as Energy Carrier for Seasonal Energy Storage)funded by the KIT Future Fieldsthe research performed at CELEST(Center for Electrochemical Energy Storage Ulm-Karlsruhe)+1 种基金funding from the German Federal Ministry of Research,Technology and Space(BMFTR)in the Nano Mat Futur program(03XP0423)basic funding from the Helmholtz Association。
文摘α-MnO_(2) is a promising,inexpensive,and readily producible catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)in alkaline media,but its application is limited by low electronic conductivity.In this study,we enhance the performance ofα-MnO_(2) electrodes by systematically varying theα-MnO_(2)-to-Vulcan ratio within the catalyst layer.Electrodes are evaluated in a gas diffusion electrode(GDE)half-cell,where an optimized catalyst layer composition leads to significantly improved ORR performance.By finetuning both theα-MnO_(2)-to-Vulcan ratio and theα-MnO_(2) loading,the electrode outperforms a commercial MnO_(2)-based electrode and approaches the performance of the Pt/C benchmark.The improvement is attributed to the presence of a three-dimensional(3D)Vulcan network electronically connecting catalytically activeα-MnO_(2) sites with the substrate.Additionally,the optimized electrodes are employed in a prototype Al-O_(2) flow cell.Under constant oxygen flow,power densities exceed 250 mW cm^(-2),which is significantly higher than that of conventional Al-air batteries.Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy combined with distribution of relaxation times(DRT)analysis enables the separation of anode and cathode charge transfer impedances without the need for an additional reference electrode.The analysis reveals that the anode contributes more than twice as much impedance as the cathode,highlighting the need for further anode optimization.This work demonstrates a transferable approach for catalyst layer screening under technically relevant conditions in the GDE half-cell.Subsequent measurements in an Al-O_(2) flow cell validate the approach.The methodology is widely applicable to the development of advanced electrodes for a variety of metal-air battery technologies.
基金CAMG was funded with a Lincoln University Ph D scholarship(Lincoln University Centennial Trust,New Zealand)with research funding from the New Zealand Hereford Association(NZHA)the Hellaby Grasslands Trust。
文摘Background:The grazing behaviour of herbivores and their grazing personalities might in part be determined genetically,but there are few studies in beef cattle illustrating this.In this study,we investigated for first time the genetic variation within a candidate‘grazing gene',the glutamate metabotropic receptor 5 gene(GRM5),and tested associations between variation in that gene and variation in grazing personality behaviours(GP-behaviours)displayed by free-ranging cows during winter grazing in the steep and rugged rangelands of New Zealand.Mature beef cows(n=303,from 3 to 10 years of age)were tracked with global positioning system(GPS)and,with 5-minutes(min)relocation frequency,various GP-behaviours were calculated.These included horizontal and vertical distances travelled,mean elevation,elevation range,elevation gain,slope,home range and movement tortuosity,variously calculated using daily relocation trajectories with repeated measurements(i.e.,7 to 24 days(d))and satellite-derived digital elevation models(DEM).The different GP-behaviours were fitted into mixed models to ascertain their associations with variant sequences and genotypes of GRM5.Results:We discovered three GRM5 variants(A,B and C)and identified the six possible genotypes in the cattle studied.The mixed models revealed that A was significantly associated with elevation range,home range and movement tortuosity.Similarly,GRM5 genotypes were associated(P<0.05)to home range and movement tortuosity,while trends suggesting association(P<0.1)were also revealed for elevation range and horizontal distance travelled.Most GP-behaviour models were improved by correcting for cow age-class as a fixed factor.The analysis of GP-behaviours averaged per cow age-class suggests that grazing personality is fully established as beef cows reached 4 years of age.Home range and movement tortuosity were not only associated with GRM5 variation,but also negatively correlated with each other(r=-0.27,P<0.001).Conclusions:There seems to be a genetically determined trade-off between home range and movement tortuosity that may be useful in beef cattle breeding programmes aiming to improve the grazing distribution and utilisation of steep and rugged rangelands.
文摘Due to their inherent safety, low cost, and structural stability, TiO2 nanostructures represent a suitable choice as anode materials in sodiumion batteries. In the recent years, various hypotheses have been proposed regarding the actual mechanism of the reversible insertion of sodium ions in the TiO2 structure, and previous reports are often controversial in this respect. Interestingly, when tested as binder- and conducting additive-free electrodes in laboratory-scale sodium cells, amorphous and crystalline （anatase） TiO2 nanotubular arrays obtained by simple anodic oxidation exhibit peculiar and intrinsically different electrochemical responses. In particular, after the initial electrochemical activation, anatase TiO2 shows excellent rate capability and very stable long-term cycling performance with larger specific capacities, and thus a clearly superior response compared with the amorphous counterpart. To obtain deeper insight, the present materials are thoroughly characterized by scanning electron microscopy and ex situ X-ray diffraction, and the insertion of sodium ions in the TiO2 bulk phases is systematically modeled by density functional theory calculations. The present results may contribute to the development of more systematic screening approaches to identify suitable active materials for highly efficient sodium-based energy storage systems.
