Rechargeable Aqueous Microdroplet.

Monitoring picoliter sessile microdroplet dynamics shows that size does not matter.

We monitor the dissolution of arrayed picoliter-size sessile microdroplets of the aqueous phase in oil, generated using a recently developed fluidic device. Initial pinning of the microdroplet perimeter leads to a nearly constant contact diameter, thus contraction proceeds via microdroplet (micrometer-diameter) height and contact angle reductions. This confirms that picoliter microdroplets cont...

Effect of Junction Geometry on Monodispersed Microdroplet Generation in Microfluidic Aqueous Two-Phase Systems

Concentrating solutes and nanoparticles within individual aqueous microdroplets.

This paper describes a method to concentrate solutes and colloidal entities, from small ions and molecules to proteins and nanoparticles, within individual aqueous microdroplets in oil. The mechanism lies in the entrapment of the solutes within an aqueous microdroplet, while the water molecules from the droplet slowly dissolve into the organic phase. Because the rate of change in concentration ...

Recent Research Progress on Non-aqueous Lithium-Air Batteries from Argonne National Laboratory

Rechargeable non-aqueous Li-air battery technology offers potential advantages over other existing battery systems in terms of specific energy and energy density, which could enable the driving range of an electric vehicle to be comparable to that of gasoline vehicles. Development of efficient cathode catalysts and stable electrolytes for the Li-air battery has been intensively investigated for...

Deposition of ZnO on bismuth species towards a rechargeable Zn-based aqueous battery.

Zn aqueous batteries typically suffer from poor cycle life because water soluble zincate ions are formed during the oxidation of Zn. When Zn is oxidized, most of the Zn2+ ions detach from the current collector and become electrochemically inactive, leaving the battery non-rechargeable. Numerous reports demonstrate the use of Bi2O3 as an electrode additive to enhance electrochemical performance ...