Yi Cui

Bio: Yi Cui is an academic researcher from Stanford University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Anode & Lithium. The author has an hindex of 220, co-authored 1015 publications receiving 199725 citations. Previous affiliations of Yi Cui include KAIST & University of California, Berkeley.

Surface Coating Constraint Induced Self-Discharging of Silicon Nanoparticles as Anodes for Lithium Ion Batteries.

Abstract: One of the key challenges of Si-based anodes for lithium ion batteries is the large volume change upon lithiation and delithiation, which commonly leads to electrochemi-mechanical degradation and subsequent fast capacity fading. Recent studies have shown that applying nanometer-thick coating layers on Si nanoparticle (SiNPs) enhances cyclability and capacity retention. However, it is far from clear how the coating layer function from the point of view of both surface chemistry and electrochemi-mechanical effect. Herein, we use in situ transmission electron microscopy to investigate the lithiation/delithiation kinetics of SiNPs coated with a conductive polymer, polypyrrole (PPy). We discovered that this coating layer can lead to “self-delithiation” or “self-discharging” at different stages of lithiation. We rationalized that the self-discharging is driven by the internal compressive stress generated inside the lithiated SiNPs due to the constraint effect of the coating layer. We also noticed that the criti...

Evolution of the Solid–Electrolyte Interphase on Carbonaceous Anodes Visualized by Atomic-Resolution Cryogenic Electron Microscopy

Abstract: The stability of modern lithium-ion batteries depends critically on an effective solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI), a passivation layer that forms on the carbonaceous negative electrode as a result of electrolyte reduction. However, a nanoscopic understanding of how the SEI evolves with battery aging remains limited due to the difficulty in characterizing the structural and chemical properties of this sensitive interphase. In this work, we image the SEI on carbon black negative electrodes using cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and track its evolution during cycling. We find that a thin, primarily amorphous SEI nucleates on the first cycle, which further evolves into one of two distinct SEI morphologies upon further cycling: (1) a compact SEI, with a high concentration of inorganic components that effectively passivates the negative electrode; and (2) an extended SEI spanning hundreds of nanometers. This extended SEI grows on particles that lack a compact SEI and consists primarily of alkyl carbonates. The diversity in observed SEI morphologies suggests that SEI growth is a highly heterogeneous process. The simultaneous emergence of these distinct SEI morphologies highlights the necessity of effective passivation by the SEI, as large-scale extended SEI growths negatively impact lithium-ion transport, contribute to capacity loss, and may accelerate battery failure.

Understanding Phase Transformation in Crystalline Ge Anodes for Li- Ion Batteries

Abstract: Lithium-ion batteries using germanium as the anode material are attracting attention because of their high-capacity, higher conductivity, and lithium-ion diffusivity relative to silicon Despite recent studies on Ge electrode reactions, there is still limited understanding of the reaction mechanisms governing crystalline Ge and the transformations into intermediate amorphous phases that form during the electrochemical charge and discharge process In this work, we carry out in operando X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) studies on Ge anodes during the initial cycles to better understand these processes These two probes track both crystalline (XRD) and amorphous (XAS) phase transformations with potential, which allows detailed information on the Ge anode to be obtained We find that crystalline Ge lithiates inhomogeneously, first forming amorphous Li9Ge4 during the beginning stage of lithiation, followed by the conversion of the remaining crystalline Ge to amorphous Ge The li

Magnetic doping and kondo effect in bi(2)se(3) nanoribbons.

Abstract: A simple surface band structure and a large bulk band gap have allowed Bi2Se3 to become a reference material for the newly discovered three-dimensional topological insulators, which exhibit topologically protected conducting surface states that reside inside the bulk band gap. Studying topological insulators such as Bi2Se3 in nanostructures is advantageous because of the high surface-to-volume ratio, which enhances effects from the surface states; recently reported Aharonov-Bohm oscillation in topological insulator nanoribbons by some of us is a good example. Theoretically, introducing magnetic impurities in topological insulators is predicted to open a small gap in the surface states by breaking time-reversal symmetry. Here, we present synthesis of magnetically doped Bi2Se3 nanoribbons by vapor-liquid-solid growth using magnetic metal thin films as catalysts. Although the doping concentration is less than approximately 2%, low-temperature transport measurements of the Fe-doped Bi2Se3 nanoribbon devices show a clear Kondo effect at temperatures below 30 K, confirming the presence of magnetic impurities in the Bi2Se3 nanoribbons. The capability to dope topological insulator nanostructures magnetically opens up exciting opportunities for spintronics.

In situ nanotomography and operando transmission X-ray microscopy of micron-sized Ge particles

Abstract: To design an inexpensive, non-toxic, practical replacement to the internal combustion engine, significant advances in battery technology are required. Germanium anodes offer more than four times larger capacity than presently used graphite anodes. Yet large volume changes during operation severely limit their lifetime. To understand the origin, dynamics, and failure mechanisms of these and other electrode materials, it is essential to image batteries under operating conditions. Using transmission X-ray microscopy the morphology and electron density changes in Ge anode particles are tracked during operation. We observe significant size dependence on the cycling characteristics of Ge particles. Only Ge particles with diameters larger than a few microns display cracks during cycling. Small Ge particles experience volume expansion and cracking before their larger counterparts, but rapidly lose electrical contact. With in situ nanotomography, we demonstrate unambiguously for the first time the fracturing of alloying anode materials into completely unconnected pieces. Moreover, we show that the density changes due to lithiation are consistent with partial transformation into a Li15Ge4-like phase. Our results demonstrate the significant value in linking electrochemical performance studies with morphological evolution to understand failure mechanisms and encourage more systematic searches for a viable high capacity anode material.

I and i

Abstract: There is, I think, something ethereal about i —the square root of minus one. I remember first hearing about it at school. It seemed an odd beast at that time—an intruder hovering on the edge of reality. Usually familiarity dulls this sense of the bizarre, but in the case of i it was the reverse: over the years the sense of its surreal nature intensified. It seemed that it was impossible to write mathematics that described the real world in …

Fast parallel algorithms for short-range molecular dynamics

Abstract: Three parallel algorithms for classical molecular dynamics are presented. The first assigns each processor a fixed subset of atoms; the second assigns each a fixed subset of inter-atomic forces to compute; the third assigns each a fixed spatial region. The algorithms are suitable for molecular dynamics models which can be difficult to parallelize efficiently—those with short-range forces where the neighbors of each atom change rapidly. They can be implemented on any distributed-memory parallel machine which allows for message-passing of data between independently executing processors. The algorithms are tested on a standard Lennard-Jones benchmark problem for system sizes ranging from 500 to 100,000,000 atoms on several parallel supercomputers--the nCUBE 2, Intel iPSC/860 and Paragon, and Cray T3D. Comparing the results to the fastest reported vectorized Cray Y-MP and C90 algorithm shows that the current generation of parallel machines is competitive with conventional vector supercomputers even for small problems. For large problems, the spatial algorithm achieves parallel efficiencies of 90% and a 1840-node Intel Paragon performs up to 165 faster than a single Cray C9O processor. Trade-offs between the three algorithms and guidelines for adapting them to more complex molecular dynamics simulations are also discussed.

疟原虫var基因转换速率变化导致抗原变异[英]／Paul H, Robert P, Christodoulou Z, et al//Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Abstract: 抗原变异可使得多种致病微生物易于逃避宿主免疫应答。表达在感染红细胞表面的恶性疟原虫红细胞表面蛋白1（PfPMP1）与感染红细胞、内皮细胞、树突状细胞以及胎盘的单个或多个受体作用，在黏附及免疫逃避中起关键的作用。每个单倍体基因组var基因家族编码约60种成员，通过启动转录不同的var基因变异体为抗原变异提供了分子基础。