We have demonstrated a chloride-promoted direct arylation of 6,6′-dibromo-N,N′-(2-ethylhexyl)isoindigo, ID, with 4.0 equivalent of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene, EDOT, giving a small band gap donor-acceptor oligomer, 6,6′-bisEDOT-N,N′-(2-ethylhexyl)isoindigo, BEDOTID in 97% yield. The polymerization of BEDOTID was performed by following two approaches; (1) electro-oxidative (homo-coupling) reaction in dichloromethane and (2) Pd-catalyzed oxidative (homo-coupling) reaction in chloroform. These approaches afforded insoluble poly[bis-EDOT-isoindigo], PBDOTID. Characterization of PBEDOTID was performed with the film prepared by electro-oxidative polymerization, which showed low optical and electrochemical band gap properties (1.33 and 1.28 eV, respectively) based on the electron-donating EDOT and electron-accepting isoindigo units. The measurement of the current density on scan rate justified that the obtained PBEDOTID film was uniform.

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Silicon monoxide (SiO) is utilized as an anode material in Li-ion batteries. The electrochemical properties of the SiO anodes are investigated. The SiO exhibits a high initial capacity of ∼2083 mAh g⁻¹, while it has poor cycling stability. Thermal properties of SiO electrodes in mixing with or without the electrolyte are investigated by using DSC for the first time. Both lithiated and delithiated SiO electrodes show exothermic peaks in DSC curves, presumably due to the decomposition of electrodes. By changing the ratio between the cycled electrodes to the electrolytes, thermal behavior of the mixtures is studied in detail. The dominant exothermic peak at around 290°C is attributed to the reactions between lithiated electrode and electrolyte after the thermal breakdown of the SEI. Li in the electrodes and electrolytes should be responsible for the thermal risk in application of SiO batteries. The heat value of SiO based on capacity is estimated to be 1.85 J mAh⁻¹, which is much smaller than that of graphite (5.11 J mAh⁻¹). Hence, the SiO can be thermally safer than graphite.

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The effect of fumed silica (F-SiO₂) density on the performance of valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries, including the conductivity of H⁺ ions and the diffusion of HSO₄⁻ ions in the gel electrolyte, the redox capacity of lead, and the evolution of hydrogen and oxygen, have been studied over a wide range of F-SiO₂ densities. The results show that the influence of F-SiO₂ density is not monotonous and always yields a maximum (or inflection) effect at c. 5 to 6 wt% silica, before and after which the effect of F-SiO₂ differ. At lower F-SiO₂ densities, in general, gel formation favours an improvement of the electrochemical behaviour. However, it may produce an adverse effect on the electrochemical properties if F-SiO₂ density further increases. Battery tests at a range between 1 to 3 wt% silica support this observation, in which the discharge capacity, the utilisation of active materials, and the charge efficiency are all enhanced.

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Interaction of thiosulfate with Alloy 800 was systematically investigated to obtain the kinetics in a neutral simulated steam generator crevice solution. Cyclic polarization showed that the pitting potential in a thiosulfate-chloride solution was much lower than in either a chloride solution or a sulphate-chloride solution, and thiosulfate selectively and distinguishably degraded the oxide film on Alloy 800. The donor density of oxide film formed in a thiosulfate-chloride solution was slightly higher than in either a chloride-only solution or a sulphate-chloride solution. Even in the passivity range the material was degraded due to the slow interaction with S₂O₃²⁻ with oxide, especially when the applied potential was close to the pitting potential. The UV-visible absorption spectra showed that thiosulfate formed a stable complex with Cu²⁺, and their product was soluble in aqueous solution, which is possible evidence to indicate that thiosulfate assists Cu²⁺ in dissolving from an oxide film into solution. Also, due to the complexity of the reaction, thiosulfate decreased the oxidation potential of Cu⁰ to Cu²⁺. Since the Cu, an impurity in Alloy 800, normally accumulates at the grain boundary, especially at the triple points, thiosulfate induced corrosion is in the form of pitting or intergranular attack.

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Although Li₂MnTiO₄ has a large theoretical capacity (295 mAh g⁻¹), the cathode utilization is limited due to the mixed cation occupation in the disordered rocksalt structure. In this study, we have attempted to prepare single-phase Li_2+2xMn_1−xTi_1−xO₄ compositions (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) with Li excess to further improve the cathode properties of Li₂MnTiO₄. The rechargeable capacity of the synthesized Li_2.4Mn_0.8Ti_0.8O₄ composition was above 220 mAh g⁻¹, which is larger than those of other disordered Li₂MTiO₄ (M = Ni, Co, Mn and Fe) series. Moreover, the discharge capacity of Li_2.4Mn_0.8Ti_0.8O₄ was ca. 190 mAh g⁻¹ after the 15th cycle, and its capacity retention was 82%.

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The AC impedance of the LiFePO₄ type lithium-ion secondary cells was initially measured, and charge/discharge cycling was constantly repeated at 10, 23, and 45°C to understand their electrochemical characteristics. The decrease in the impedance for the charge transfer was observed at each temperature even though the SOC was set in 50%. We assumed from the impedance changing and discharge trend that the negative electrode performed as a “lithium-ion reservoir” by cycles.

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