We employed graphene flakes as an air-cathode material for Li-O2 batteries and investigated their electrochemical properties in the dimethyl ether electrolyte. Graphene flakes were prepared by microwave-assisted reduction of graphene oxide, and their electrochemical properties were compared with those of Ketjen Black and carbon nanotubes. The catalytic effect of the prepared graphene flake-air cathode was demonstrated using cyclic voltammetry and discharge-charge testing performed under a limited discharge capacity. The catalytic effect of graphene flakes was also supported by morphological and spectroscopic analysis of the discharge-charge products formed on the graphene surface. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that Li2O2, Li2O, and Li2CO3 were the main discharge products on all carbon-air cathode surfaces. Raman spectroscopy revealed that LiRCO3 was additionally formed on Ketjen Black and carbon nanotubes during the first discharge; however, its formation was not observed on the graphene flakes. The catalytic effect of the graphene flakes and the absence of LiRCO3 in the discharge product could explain the higher Coulombic efficiency in the discharge-charge tests.

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A major challenge of lithium-oxygen batteries is to develop a stable electrolyte not only to suppress solvent evaporation and lithium dendrite growth, but also to resist the attack by superoxide anion radical formed at the positive electrode. The present study demonstrates the enhancement of cycling stability by addressing the above challenges through the use of three-dimensional semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) composite gel polymer electrolyte when fabricating the lithium-oxygen cell. The semi-IPN composite gel electrolyte synthesized from poly(methyl methacrylate), divinylbenzene, and vinyl-functionalized silica effectively encapsulated electrolyte solution and exhibited stable interfacial characteristics toward lithium electrodes. Matrix polymers in the semi-IPN composite gel electrolyte also retained high stability without any decomposition by superoxide anion radicals during cycling. The lithium-oxygen cell employing semi-IPN composite gel polymer electrolyte was shown to cycle with good capacity retention at 0.25 mAh cm. The semi-IPN composite gel electrolyte is one of the promising electrolytes for the stable lithium-oxygen battery with high energy density.

A total of 20 agricultural organic materials including inorganic compounds, plant oils and plant extracts were used in the study for assessing the control efficacy on pepper diseases. Among inorganic compounds, only copper hydroxide showed inhibitory effect on both Phytophthora capsici causing Phytophthora blight and Colletotrichum acutatum causing anthracnose. Phosphorous acid inhibited the growth of P. capsici on PDA, and Sulfur/quicklime had it on that of C. acutatum. Plant essential oil, rosemary oil, and rapeseed oil among plant oils and plant extract of Japanese apricot/ginkgo nut inhibited the mycelial growth of the two pathogens. In the screening using pepper plant seedlings, the control efficacy on Phytophthora blight in 6-leaf stage of seedling was superior to that in 4-leaf stage of seedling. A protective effect on Phytophthora blight was displayed by copper hydroxide, sulfur/quicklime, water soluble calcium, phosphorous acid, plant essential oil, and cloves extract. When C. acutatum was inoculated by the non-wound method, copper hydroxide and rapeseed oil showed excellent protective activities with control values of 91.3% and 82.6%, respectively. However, copper hydroxide did not show any activity, when C. acutatum was inoculated after wounding pepper fruits. All organic materials never showed the curative effect on Phytophthora blight and anthracnose in pepper seedling assay and fruit assay.