Synergistic Effect of Binary Electrolyte on Enhancement of the Energy Density in Li-O2 Batteries.

Enhancement of the discharge capacity of lithium-oxygen batteries (LOBs) while maintaining a high cell voltage is an important challenge to overcome to achieve an ideal energy density. Both the cell voltage and discharge capacity of an LOB could be controlled by employing a binary solvent electrolyte composed of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and acetonitrile (MeCN), whereby an energy density 3.2 times higher than that of the 100 vol % DMSO electrolyte was obtained with an electrolyte containing 50 vol % of DMSO. The difference in the solvent species that preferentially solvates Li+ and that which controls the adsorption-desorption equilibrium of the discharge reaction intermediate, LiO2, on the cathode/electrolyte interface provides these unique properties of the binary solvent electrolyte. Combined spectroscopic and electrochemical analysis have revealed that the solvated complex of Li+ and the environment of the cathode/electrolyte interface were the determinants of the cell voltage and discharge capacity, respectively.

Successful Outcome in an Adult Patient with Influenza-associated Hemorrhagic Shock and Encephalopathy Syndrome.

A 50-year-old woman presented with coma and hemorrhagic shock. A rapid influenza antigen test revealed influenza A infection; other laboratory examinations ruled out any other suspected infections. She was diagnosed with hemorrhagic shock and encephalopathy syndrome (HSES) induced by influenza A. She was administered methylprednisolone pulse therapy and peramivir. Subsequently, she was discharged without any sequelae. Only a few cases of influenza-induced HSES have been reported, and the clinical outcomes were very poor. We herein report a successfully treated adult case of influenza-induced HSES and review this rare syndrome.

Publisher Correction: Negative differential resistance as a critical indicator for the discharge capacity of lithium-oxygen batteries.

The original version of this Article contained an error in the title, which was previously incorrectly given as 'Negative differential resistance as a critical indicator for the discharge capacity of lithium-oxygene batteries'. The correct version states 'lithium-oxygen' in place of 'lithium-oxygene'. This has been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.

Negative differential resistance as a critical indicator for the discharge capacity of lithium-oxygene batteries.

In non-aqueous lithium-oxygen batteries, the one-electron reduction of oxygen and subsequent lithium oxide formation both occur during discharge. This lithium oxide can be converted to insulating lithium peroxide via two different pathways: a second reduction at the cathode surface or disproportionation in solution. The latter process is known to be advantageous with regard to increasing the discharge capacity and is promoted by a high donor number electrolyte because of the stability of lithium oxide in media of this type. Herein, we report that the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction during discharge typically exhibits negative differential resistance. Importantly, the magnitude of negative differential resistance, which varies with the system component, and the position of the cathode potential relative to the negative differential resistance determined the reaction pathway and the discharge capacity. This result implies that the stability of lithium oxide on the cathode also contributes to the determination of the reaction pathway.