Mechanical and electrochemical stability are key issues for large-scale production of solid state Li-ion batteries. Polymer electrolytes can provide good ionic conductivity, but mechanical strength needs to be improved. In this study, we investigate the correlation of mechanical and electrical properties of poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based solid electrolytes for Li-ion batteries. The influence of alumina and LiClO₄ addition are investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is used to study the thermal behavior of salt-free and salt-containing samples and to identify the melting temperature. Dynamic mechanical analysis reveals the elastic properties as a function of temperature. Electrochemical properties are investigated using impedance spectroscopy. It is found that addition of alumina increases mechanical strength, while LiClO₄ decreases it. Addition of LiClO₄ and Al₂O₃ increases ionic conductivity and improves mechanical properties. However, there is no overlapping window of high mechanical strength and high ionic conductivity.

Bacterial bone infections after revision surgeries and diseases, like osteomyelitis, are still a challenge with regard to surgical treatments. Local bone infections were treated with antibiotics directly or by controlled drug-releasing scaffolds, like polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) spheres, which have to be removed at a later stage, but there is a risk of a bacterial contamination during the removement. Therefore, biomaterials loaded with antibiotics for controlled release could be the method of choice: The biomaterials degrade during the drug release, therefore, there is no need for a second surgery to remove the drug eluting agent. Even non-resorbable bone materials are available (e.g., hydroxyapatite (HA)) or resorbable bone graft materials (e.g., beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP)) that will be replaced by newly formed bone. Composite materials with organic additives (e.g., collagen) supports the handling during surgery and enhances the drug loading capacity, as well as the drug releasing time. The purpose of this study was to investigate the loading capacity and the release rate of Vancomycin and Gentamicin on TCP and HA granules in the shape of a degradable scaffold compared to composite materials from TCP mixed with porcine collagen. Its antibacterial efficacy to a more elementary drug with eluting in aqueous solution was examined. The loading capacity of the biomaterials was measured and compared according to the Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) and the Minimum Biofilm Eradication Concentration (MBEC) of a bacterial biofilm after 24 h aging. Antibiotic elution and concentration of gentamycin and vancomycin, as well as inhibition zones, were measured by using the Quantitative Microparticle Systems (QMS) immunoassays. The antibiotic concentration was determined by the automated Beckman Coulter (BC) chemistry device. For examination of the antibacterial activity, inhibition zone diameters were measured. Generally, the antibiotic release is more pronounced during the first couple of days than later. Both TCP granules and HA granules experienced a significantly decline of antibiotics release during the first three days. After the fourth day and beyond, the antibiotic release was below the detection threshold. The antibiotic release of the composite material TCP and porcine collagen declined less drastically and was still in the frame of the specification during the first nine days. There was no significant evidence of interaction effect between antibiotic and material, i.e., the fitted lines for Gentamycin and Vancomycin are almost parallel. During this first in vitro study, β-TCP-Collagen composites shows a significantly higher loading capacity and a steadily release of the antibiotics Gentamycin and Vancomycin, compared to the also used TCP and HA Granules.

Aufbauend auf der Vorausberechnung der Kirchenmitglieder, welche die Verfasser des vorliegenden Beitrags für die evangelische und katholische Kirche in Deutschland erstellt haben, wird für jede der 27 römisch-katholischen Diözesen und 20 evangelischen Landeskirchen die langfristige Entwicklung des Kirchensteueraufkommens bis zum Jahr 2060 projiziert. Das Kirchensteueraufkommen der beiden großen Kirchen liegt 2060 nominal um 2 Prozent höher als 2017. Dies entspricht einem Rückgang der Kirchensteuerkaufkraft von 49 Prozent. In fünf Szenarien wird der Einfluss von Änderungen steuerrechtlicher und ökonomischer Parameter sowie veränderter Mitgliederentwicklung auf die Ergebnisse vorgestellt und diskutiert.

All-solid-state batteries have great potential for both improvement of cell safety and increase of energy density. Safety improvements are obviously attained by removing the flammable liquid electrolyte. For the energy density, values up to 400Wh/kg are often claimed. Results of theoretical calculations reveal that specific energies beyond 400 Wh/kg and energy densities of more than 1200 Wh/L can be reached with all solid state Li-ion cells. Great challenges remain in manufacturing of the components and the cell stack. All-solid battery cells as presented here typically consist of a lithium metal anode, a thin all-solid separator and a composite cathode. While the Lithium metal anode and the separator can probably be single-phase, the composite cathode requires a much more complex structure to ensure both good electrical and ionic conductivity. In addition, the contact resistance at the components’ interfaces needs to be minimized. Such cathodes ideally consist of evenly dispersed particles in solid electrolyte, with no remaining porosity. In this work, a practical approach for manufacturing of all-solid composite cathodes is presented. The impact of different compositions and manufacturing technologies on the electrode structure and conductivity is shown. Composite cathodes comprising active material, polymer based electrolytes and conductive agents are manufactured by dry mixing, hot pressing and extrusion, respectively. SEM and TGA-DSC analysis reveal the structure of the resulting electrodes. Results of density and porosity measurements are also shown. Ionic and electrical conductivities are measured as well. In conclusion, the impact of composition and processing on the quality of all-solid state composite cathodes is shown and discussed in this work. Recommendations towards improved manufacturing routes are derived. Figure 1