Polymer composite electrolytes (PCEs), i.e., materials combining the disciplines of polymer chemistry, inorganic and electrochemistry, have received tremendous attention within academia industry for lithium-based battery applications. While PCEs often comprise 3D micro- or nanoparticles, this review thoroughly summarizes prospects 2D layered inorganic, organic, hybrid nanomaterials as active (i...

For the first time, a method for sequential extraction of silicon (Si) from soils has been developed. This new method enables investigating different Si pools in soils and thus represents an important contribution to improve our understanding of biogeochemical Si-processes and global Si-cycling. The method fractionates and analyses various Si-pools, from the most mobile to immobile phases in so...

The effect of pressure on melt viscosity was investigated for five compositions along the join An(CaAl(2)Si(2)O(8))-Di(CaMgSi(2)O(6)) and four alkali silicates containing lithium, sodium, and potassium in constant ratio of approximately 1:1:1, but alkali-silica ratios are varying. The experiments were performed in an internally heated gas pressure vessel at pressures from 50 to 400 MPa in the v...

Alkaline solutions, such as sodium, potassium or lithium silicates, appear to be very promising as healing agents for the development of encapsulated self-healing concretes. However, the evolution of their mechanical and acoustic properties in time has not yet been completely clarified, especially regarding their behavior and related kinetics when they are used in the form of a thin layer in co...

Citation: Zeyen N, Benzerara K, Li J, Groleau A, Balan E, Robert J-L, Estève I, Tavera R, Moreira D and López-García P (2015) Formation of low-T hydrated silicates in modern microbialites from Mexico and implications for microbial fossilization. Front. Earth Sci. 3:64. doi: 10.3389/feart.2015.00064 Formation of low-T hydrated silicates in modern microbialites from Mexico and implications for mi...

The isotypic layered oxonitridosilicates Li(14)Ln(5)[Si(11)N(19)O(5)]O(2)F(2) (Ln = Ce, Nd) have been synthesized using Li as fluxing agent and crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Pmmn (Z = 2, Li(14)Ce(5)[Si(11)N(19)O(5)]O(2)F(2): a = 17.178(3), b = 7.6500(15), c = 10.116(2) Å, R1 = 0.0409, wR2 = 0.0896; Li(14)Nd(5)[Si(11)N(19)O(5)]O(2)F(2): a = 17.126(2), b = 7.6155(15), c = 10.123(2) ...

To meet the increasing demands of energy storage, particularly for transportation applications such as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, researchers will need to develop improved lithium-ion battery electrode materials that exhibit high energy density, high power, better safety, and longer cycle life. The acceleration of materials discovery, synthesis, and optimization will benefit from the com...

This case report describes the fabrication of monolithic all-ceramic restorations using zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate (ZLS) ceramics. The use of powder-free intraoral scanner, generative fabrication technology of the working model, and CAD/CAM of the restorations in the dental laboratory allows a completely digitized workflow. The newly introduced ZLS ceramics offer a unique combination ...