Correlations among superconductivity, structural instability, and band filling in Nb1-xB2 at the critical point x=0.2

We performed an extensive investigation on the correlations among superconductivity, structural instability and band filling in Nb1-xB2 materials. Structural measurements reveal that a notable phase transformation occurs at x=0.2, corresponding to the Fermi level (EF) in the pseudogap with the minimum total density of states (DOS) as demonstrated by the first-principles calculations. Superconductivity in Nb1-xB2 generally becomes visible in the Nb-deficient materials with x=0.2. Electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) measurements on B K-edge directly demonstrated the presence of a chemical shift arising from the structural transformation. Our systematical experimental results in combination with theoretical analysis suggest that the emergence of hole states in the sigma-bands plays an important role for understanding the superconductivity and structural transition in Nb1-xB2.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figure

A study of manufacturing tubes with nano/ultrafine grain structure by stagger spinning

A new method of manufacturing tubes with nano/ultrafine grain structure by stagger spinning and recrystallization annealing is proposed in this study. Two methods of the stagger spinning process are developed, the corresponding macroforming quality, microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of the spun tubes made of ASTM 1020 steel are analysed. The results reveal that a good surface smoothness and an improved spin-formability of spun parts can be obtained by the process combining of 3-pass spinning followed by a 580 °C × 0.5 h static recrystallization and 2-pass spinning with a 580 °C × 1 h static recrystallization annealing under the severe thinning ratio of wall thickness reduction. The ferritic grains with an average initial size of 50 μm are refined to 500 nm after stagger spinning under the 87% thinning ratio of wall thickness reduction. The equiaxial ferritic grains with an average size of 600 nm are generated through re-nucleation and grain growth by subsequent recrystallization annealing at 580 °C for 1 h heat preservation. The tensile strength of spun tubes has been founded to be proportional to the reciprocal of layer spacing of pearlite (LSP), and the elongation is inversely proportional to the reciprocal of LSP. This study shows that the developed method of stagger power spinning has the potential to be used to manufacture bulk metal components with nano/ultrafine grain structure

Trace doping of multiple elements enables stable battery cycling of LiCoO2 at 4.6 V

LiCoO2 is a dominant cathode material for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries due to its high volumetric energy density, which could potentially be further improved by charging to high voltages. However, practical adoption of high-voltage charging is hindered by LiCoO2’s structural instability at the deeply delithiated state and the associated safety concerns. Here, we achieve stable cycling of LiCoO2 at 4.6 V (versus Li/Li+) through trace Ti–Mg–Al co-doping. Using state-of-the-art synchrotron X-ray imaging and spectroscopic techniques, we report the incorporation of Mg and Al into the LiCoO2 lattice, which inhibits the undesired phase transition at voltages above 4.5 V. We also show that, even in trace amounts, Ti segregates significantly at grain boundaries and on the surface, modifying the microstructure of the particles while stabilizing the surface oxygen at high voltages. These dopants contribute through different mechanisms and synergistically promote the cycle stability of LiCoO2 at 4.6 V

Influence of charge status on the stress safety properties of Li(Ni₁⁄₃Co₁⁄₃Mn₁⁄₃)O₂ cells

In order to improve safety management, the stress changes of Li(Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)O2 (NMC) cells are real-time monitored using non-destructive strain gauges, and the effects of gauge substrate, temperature and state-of-charge (SOC) have been investigated. The shell exhibits elastic deformation behaviour, and the strain-stress relationship is established. As the temperature increases from 25 to 80 °C, the stress of the NMC cells increases from 0 to 275 MPa, especially greatly at 70 °C and sharply at 80 °C after 18 h. The stress increases from 0 to 9.2 MPa when the potential increases from 2.8 to 4.3 V. However, the value rises from 10 to 55 MPa when the voltage increases from 4.6 to 5.0 V during the over-charge process. An obvious increase of stress appears when the cut-off voltage is below 0.6 V during over-discharge tests. The facile method is significant for non-destructive inspection and emergency management of batteries

Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Profiles of Tiamulin in an Experimental Intratracheal Infection Model of Mycoplasma gallisepticum

Mycoplasma gallisepticum is the most important pathogen in poultry among four pathogenic Mycoplasma species. Tiamulin is a pleuromutilin antibiotic that shows a great activity against M. gallisepticum and has been approved for use in veterinary medicine particularly for poultry. However, the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) profiles of tiamulin against M. gallisepticum are not well understood. Therefore, in the current studies, we investigated the in vivo PK/PD profiles of tiamulin using a well-established experimental intratracheal infection model of M. gallisepticum. The efficacy of tiamulin against M. gallisepticum was studied in 8-day-old chickens after intramuscular (i.m.) administration at 10 doses between 0-80 mg/kg. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to evaluate the PK parameters of tiamulin following i.m. administration at doses of 5, 40, and 80 mg/kg in Mycoplasma gallisepticum-infected neutropenic chickens. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was used for quantitative detection of M. gallisepticum. The MIC of tiamulin against M. gallisepticum strain S6 was 0.03 μg/mL. The PK/PD index, AUC24h/MIC, correlated well with the in vivo antibacterial efficacy. The in vivo data suggest that animal dosage regimens should supply AUC24h/MIC of tiamulin of 382.68 h for 2 log10 ccu equivalents M. gallisepticum reduction. To attain that goal, the administered dose is expected to be 45 mg/kg b.w. for treatment of M. gallisepticum infection with an MIC90 of 0.03 μg/mL