Rechargeable Na metal batteries have gained great recognition as a promising candidate for nextgeneration battery systems, largely on the basis of the high theoretical specific capacity (1165 mAh g −1 ) and low redox potential (−2.71 V versus the standard hydrogen electrode) of Na metal, as well as the natural abundance of Na and the similarities between these batteries and lithium batteries. Much effort has been dedicated to improving the electrochemical performance of rechargeable Na batteries through the development of high-performance cathodes, anodes, and electrolytes. Nevertheless, the practical application of Na metal batteries is quite challenging because the high chemical and electrochemical reactivity of Na metal electrodes with organic liquid electrolytes leads to low Coulombic efficiencies and limited cycling performance. Severe electrolyte decomposition at the Na metal electrode results in the formation of a resistive and non-uniform surface film, leading to dendritic Na metal growth. To control the Na metal electrode-electrolyte interface for high performance Na metal batteries, considerable efforts have been made to find electrolyte systems that are stable at the Na metal electrode. Using fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) as an electrolyte additive for in situ formation of an artificial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer could stabilize the anodeelectrolyte interface. However, the FEC-derived SEI acted as a resistive layer, impeding the sodiation-desodiation process and reducing the reversible capacity of the anodes. Finding new electrolyte systems that are stable at the Na metal electrode and possess high oxidation durability at high-voltage cathodes is necessary for the development of high-performance Na metal batteries.Very recently, there are some papers which introduced significant breakthroughs in lithium battery electrolytes. It is reported that improving the cycling efficiency of lithium plating/stripping and suppressing the formation of dendritic lithium metal is possible by using highly concentrated electrolytes, even at high current densities. And it is also reported that highly concentrated electroltyes can inhibit the dissolution of transition metals out of the 5 V-class LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) electrode material and the corrosion of the Al current collector at high voltage conditions. After reading these papers, I thought that applying this highly concentrated electrolyte system to sodium metal batteries could be the solution for improvements in the electrochemical performance of Na metal anodes coupled with high-voltage cathodes.In this study, an ultraconcentrated electrolyte composed of 5 M sodium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide in 1,2-dimethoxyethane will be introduced for Na metal anodes coupled with high-voltage cathodes.Using this electrolyte, a very high Coulombic efficiency of 99.3% at the 120 th cycle for Na plating/stripping is obtained in Na/stainless steel (SS) cells, with highly reduced corrosivity toward Na metal and high oxidation durability (over 4.9 V versus Na/Na ...

A recent study has demonstrated the possible involvement of a leukotriene C4 synthase (LTC4S) gene polymorphism in ASA-intolerant asthma (AIA) in a Polish population, whereas no significant association was noted in other populations. To investigate the role of genetic polymorphism in AIA development, we screened single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the key enzymes involved in arachidonate metabolism, and the cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CYSLTR1) in a large Korean population with AIA: 93 AIA and 181 ASA-tolerant asthma (ATA) patients, and 123 normal controls. The single-base extension method was used to genotype SNPs in 5-lipoxygenase (ALOX5, -1708G→A, 21C→T, 270G→A, 1728G→A), ALOX5-activating protein (ALOX5AP, 218A→G), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2, COX2, -162C→G, 10T→G, R228H, V511A), LTC4S (-444A→C), and CYSLTR1 (927T→C). Haplotype analyses were undertaken for the SNPs in ALOX5. No significant differences in allele and genotype frequencies of single SNPs were observed between the patient groups (P>0.05). However, the frequency of the ALOX5-ht1 [G-C-G-A] haplotype in the AIA group was significantly higher than its frequency in the ATA group with a probability (P) of 0.01, odds ratio (OR) of 5.0, and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of 1.54-17.9, and in the normal controls (P=0.03, OR=4.5, 95%CI=1.1-18.4), by using a dominant model. These results suggest a lack of association between the ALOX5AP, PTGS2, LTC4S, and CYSLTR1 gene polymorphisms and the AIA phenotype in the Korean population. However, the possible involvement of ALOX5-ht1 [G-C-G-A] in AIA development is suggested.

Wound LiCoO 2 /graphite and Li [Ni 0.42 Mn 0.42 Co 0.16 ]O 2 /graphite cells with 1 M LiPF 6 in EC:EMC (3:7 by wt) electrolyte containing 2 wt% vinylene carbonate (VC) and/or lithium bis (trifluoromethanesulphonyl) imide (LiTFSI or 3M Fluorad Lithium HQ-115) were studied using the High Precision Charger at Dalhousie University, automated cycling/storage, AC impedance and long-term cycling at elevated temperature. The additive, VC, improves lifetime performance by increasing coulombic efficiency and decreasing charge and discharge end point capacity slippage, while the impact of HQ-115 alone on lifetime is minimal. However, HQ-115 reduces cell impedance when added to either control or VC-containing electrolyte. Therefore it serves as a useful additive for improving the rate capability of cells and capacity retention during high rate cycling at elevated temperature. It is our opinion that Li-ion cells incorporating VC can benefit from a simultaneous addition of HQ-115 due to a synergistic effect observed between HQ-115 and VC additives. This report is the first of two companion reports studying impedance reducing additives and their impact on cell lifetime.Lithium-ion batteries are commonly used in portable electronics as the energy, power and lifetime demands of small electronics can easily be met by current Li-ion technology. However, as new applications for Li-ion batteries, such as battery packs for electrified vehicles, emerge the requirements for energy and power density as well as lifetime continue to increase. Two main approaches to meeting these demands are the development of new electrode materials and new electrolyte additives. The focus of this study is on the salt lithium bis (trifluoromethanesulphonyl) imide (LiN(CF 3 SO 2 ) 2 , 3M Fluorad Lithium HQ-115) as an electrolyte additive and how it improves the performance of Li-ion cells. Although this is not a new salt, there have not been careful published studies that quantify the benefits it can impart to Li-ion cells.HQ-115 is a lithium salt that can be used with organic solvents as the electrolyte in Li-ion cells. It has better thermal stability than LiPF 6 due to the strong covalent bonding nature of the negative ion. 1,2 However, HQ-115 cannot be used as the only Li-salt in the cell as it severely corrodes the positive electrode aluminum current collector in organic solvents at potentials above ∼3.5 V vs. Li/Li + . 3 The corrosion is dramatically reduced by the addition of small amounts of LiPF 6 to an HQ-115 based electrolyte. In this study HQ-115 will be studied as an additive in a LiPF 6 -based electrolyte.The authors previously reported 4 on the use of HQ-115 and found that the combination of HQ-115 and vinylene carbonate (VC) (a commonly used electrolyte additive to improve cell lifetime 4-9 ) gave improved coulombic efficiency and charge end point capacity slippage in LiCoO 2 /graphite cells compared to other electrolyte formulations that were tested. This study provides a more detailed look at only HQ-115 and VC as additives to LiPF 6 -base...

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps is a major comorbid condition of AERD patients that is closely associated with severe asthmatic symptoms. Significant pathologic findings in nasal polyp tissues include intense eosinophilic inflammation, which is caused by elevated production of eosinophil-related cytokines and chemokines, specific immunoglobulin E responses to staphylococcal enterotoxins, and altered arachidonic acid metabolism. This could affect the current treatments and methodologies that are used to control asthma, leading to a more severe and intractable AERD phenotype.