Nowadays, linear-shaped batteries have received increasing attentions because the unique one-dimensional architecture offers an omni-directional flexibility. We developed a cable-type flexible rechargeable Zn microbattery based on a microscale MnO@carbon nanotube fiberlike composite cathode and Zn wire anode. The Zn-MnO cable microbattery exhibits a large specific capacity, good rate performance, and cyclic stability. The capacity of Zn-MnO cable batteries are 322 and 290 mAh/g based on MnO with aqueous and gel polymer electrolyte, corresponding to the specific energy of 437 and 360 Wh/kg, respectively. Besides, the Zn-MnO cable battery shows excellent flexibility, which can be folded into arbitrary shapes without sacrificing electrochemical performance. Furthermore, we studied electrochemical properties of Zn-MnO cable microbatteries with different Zn salt electrolytes, such as Zn salt with small anions (ZnSO or ZnCl, etc.) and Zn salt with bulky anions (Zn(CFSO), etc.). With the merits of impressive electrochemical performance and flexibility, this first flexible rechargeable Zn-MnO cable-like battery presents a new approach to develop high-performance power sources for portable and wearable electronics.

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Diaryliodonium(iii) salts, as highly active and versatile Lewis acid catalysts for the direct three component Mannich reaction under solvent free conditions, have been investigated.

The asymmetric intermolecular Stetter reaction is catalyzed by a novel triazolium salt derived N-heterocyclic carbene leading to 1,4-diketones in moderate to excellent yields (49-98%) and moderate to good enantioselectivities (56-78% ee), which could be enhanced by one recrystallization to excellent levels (90-99% ee).

a b s t r a c t Solar thermal utilization, especially the application of solar water heater technology, has developed rapidly in China in recent decades. Manufacturing and marketing developments have been especially strong in provinces such as Zhejiang, Shandong and Jiangsu. This paper takes Zhejiang, a relatively affluent province, as a case study area to assess the performance of solar water heater utilization in China. The study will focus on institutional setting, economic and technological performance, energy performance, and environmental and social impact. Results show that China has greatly increased solar water heater utilization, which has brought China great economic, environmental and social benefits. However, China is confronted with malfeasant market competition, technical flaws in solar water heater products and social conflict concerning solar water heater installation. For further development of the solar water heater, China should clarify the compulsory installation policy and include solar water heaters into the current ''Home Appliances Going to the Countryside'' project; most of the widely used vacuum tube products should be replaced by flat plate products, and the technology improvement should focus on anti-freezing and water saving; the resources of solar water heater market should be consolidated and most of the OEM manufacturers should evolve to ODM and OBM enterprises.

In this paper, we developed a novel Zn-ion hybrid cell based on a graphene-conducting polymer composite hydrogel (capacitor-type) cathode and a zinc metal (battery-type) anode. The pseudocapacitive-type cathode materials can effectively boost the capacity of Zn-ion hybrid cell compared to that of electrical double layer cathode materials. In particular, the composite hydrogel with rational designed three-dimensional (3D) nano-architecture combining 3D porous nanostructure with hydrogel, can significantly enlarge the active interfaces between the electrode and electrolyte. According to our experiments, the 3D graphene@PANI composite hydrogel electrode exhibits a large capacity of 154 mA h g-1, a superior rate capability and excellent capacity retention of 80.5% after 6000 charge-discharge cycles in a Zn-ion hybrid cell. The outstanding electrochemical properties demonstrate that the 3D nanostructure composite hydrogel materials can effectively promote the material utilization, transport of charges, and reduce the degradation of conducting polymers, leading to a highly efficient, fast and stable electrochemical process. Based on our results, Zn-ion hybrid cells based on a composite hydrogel electrode could be an extremely promising candidate for next generation electrochemical energy storage devices.

a b s t r a c tLarge amounts of small-scale bioenergy projects were carried out in China's rural areas in light of its national renewable energy policies. These projects applied pyrolysis gasification as the main technology, which turns biomass waste at low costs into biogas. This paper selects seven bioenergy projects in Shandong Province as a case and assesses these projects in terms of economy, technological performance and effectiveness. Results show that these projects have not achieved a satisfying performance after 10 years experience. Many projects have been discontinued. This failure is attributed to a complex of shortcomings in institutional structure, technical level, financial support and social factors. For a more successful future development of bioenergy in rural areas, China should reform its institutional structure, establish a renewable energy market and enhance the technological level of bioenergy projects.