We conducted a long-term cycling test of a commercial 18650-type lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 3100 mA • h at room temperature and investigated the degradation mechanism of the battery's LiNi 0.82 Co 0.15 Al 0.03 O 2 positive electrode. Sphericalaberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (Cs-STEM) revealed the presence of a thick degraded surface layer on the surface of the positive active material after the cycling test, and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) revealed that the degraded surface layer continuously evolved from a LiNiO 2 layered structure to a NiO structure, in the direction from the bulk toward the surface. Hard X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (HX-PES) indicated that the majority of low-valence Ni existed on the surface of the positive active material, which was charged after the cycling test, and that the degraded surface layer was inactive against charge reaction. The results suggest that the degraded surface layer was responsible for battery degradation during the cycling test. X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) indicated that Li 2 CO 3 increased on the surface of the positive electrode after the cycling test. The phenomena would contribute to the formation of the degraded surface layer on the surface of the positive active material.

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Abstract:Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in seawater can be defined as the fraction of organic matter that passes through a filter of sub micron pore size. In this study, we have examined the effect of DOM of deep seawater (DSW) from Pacific Ocean on platelet aggregation and atherosclerosis progression. DSW was passed through a series of filters and then through an Octadecyl C18 filter; the retained substance in ethanol was designated as C18 extractable DOM (C18-DOM). Our studies showed that C18-DOM treatment inhibited platelet aggregation, P-selectin expression and activity of COX-1 significantly. C18-DOM increased the expression of anti-atherogenic molecule namely heme oxygenase-1 in endothelial cells and all these data showed that C18-DOM is exhibiting aspirin-like effects. Moreover our in vivo studies showed that C18-DOM feeding slowed remarkably the progression of atherosclerosis. Our study demonstrated a novel biological effect of oceanic DOM, which has several important implications, including a possible therapeutic strategy for atherosclerosis. Keywords:Deep seawater; Dissolved organic matter; Atherosclerosis; Cyclooxygenase-1 Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease of arteries, characterized by accumulation of lipids and fibrous elements and is responsible for up to 50% of deaths in the modern society [1].In the history of drug discovery, so far terrestrial resources have been targeted which led to the creation of various medicines. Recently, the trend has been switched on to the oceans, which is considered as a potential source for the next generation of drugs. In this study we have focussed on the dissolved organic matter (DOM) from deep seawater (DSW). DSW was collected from depths beyond 374 meters off (mesopelagic zone) the Cape of Muroto, facing the north-east Pacific Ocean, (Latitude 33.5º N and Longitude 134.10º E) using a DSW-drawing system, where intense up welling of DSW occurs due to the movement of ocean currents. Surface seawater was also collected from depth 5 meters off at the same location. The purpose of this research is to examine the effect and the mechanism of action of DOM in DSW on the progression of atherosclerosis. Materials and methodsPreparation of dissolved organic matter. We isolated DOM using a solid phase extraction method in which 1500 l of original SW was passed through a series of filters of size 50, 5 and 0.2 µm pore sizes, respectively (Y. S. Filter Japan) and then through an 3M Empore TM Octadecyl (C18) FF disc (90 mm) to retain the organic substance. The filtered DOM was dissolved in 25 ml of ethanol and was designated as C18-DOM. To prepare desalinated DSW, original DSW was passed through 50, 5µm filters, and then desalinated twice by a reverse osmosis membrane module using HR3155PI (Element Rabbit balloon injury model. Japanese Male White Rabbits (JMWRs) weighing 3-3.2 kg (Japan SLC, Inc., Shizuoka, Japan) were used in this study. All animal experimental protocols were followed in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals published by th...

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