Nature inspires breakthrough achievement: hazard-free production of fluorochemicals

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

 

IMAGE: AN ARTISTIC ILLUSTRATION OF THE BALL-MILLING PROCESS BEHIND THE NEWLY DEVELOPED METHOD FOR GENERATING FLUOROCHEMICALS. IMAGE: CALUM PATEL. view more 

CREDIT: AN ARTISTIC ILLUSTRATION OF THE BALL-MILLING PROCESS BEHIND THE NEWLY DEVELOPED METHOD FOR GENERATING FLUOROCHEMICALS. IMAGE: CALUM PATEL.

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• For the first time, Oxford chemists have generated fluorochemicals – critical for many industries – without the use of hazardous hydrogen fluoride gas.
• The innovative method was inspired by the biomineralization process that forms our teeth and bones.
• The results are published today in the leading journal Science.

A team of chemists have developed an entirely new method for generating critically important fluorochemicals that bypasses the hazardous product hydrogen fluoride (HF) gas. The findings, published today in Science, could achieve an immense impact in improving the safety and carbon footprint of a growing global industry.

Fluorochemicals are a group of chemicals that have a wide range of important applications – including polymers, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and the lithium-ion batteries in smartphones and electric cars – with a $21.4 billion global market in 2018. Currently all fluorochemicals are generated from the toxic and corrosive gas hydrogen fluoride (HF) in a highly energy-intensive process. Despite stringent safety regulations, HF spills have occurred numerous times in the last decades, sometimes with fatal accidents and detrimental environmental effects.  

To develop a safer approach, a team of chemists at the University of Oxford alongside colleagues in Oxford spin-out FluoRok, University College London, and Colorado State University, took inspiration from the natural biomineralization process that forms teeth and bones. Normally, HF itself is produced by reacting a crystalline mineral called fluorspar (CaF2) with sulfuric acid under harsh conditions, before it is used to make fluorochemicals. In the new method, fluorochemicals are made directly from CaF2, completely bypassing the production of HF: an achievement that chemists have sought for decades.

In the novel method, solid-state CaF2 is activated by a biomineralization‑inspired process, which mimics the way that calcium phosphate minerals form biologically in teeth and bones. The team ground CaF2 with powdered potassium phosphate salt in a ball-mill machine for several hours, using a mechanochemical process that has evolved from the traditional way that we grind spices with a pestle and mortar.

The resulting powdered product, called Fluoromix, enabled the synthesis of over 50 different fluorochemicals directly from CaF2 , with up to 98% yield. The method developed has the potential to streamline the current supply chain and decrease energy requirements, helping to meet future sustainability targets and lower the carbon footprint of the industry.

Excitingly, the solid-state process developed was just as effective with acid grade fluorspar (> 97%, CaF2) as it was with synthetic reagent grade CaF2. The process represents a paradigm shift for the manufacturing of fluorochemicals across the globe and has led to the creation of FluoRok, a spin‑out company focusing on the commercialisation of this technology and the development of safe, sustainable, and cost-effective fluorinations. The researchers hope that this study will encourage scientists around the world to provide disruptive solutions to challenging chemical problems, with the prospect of societal benefit.

Calum Patel, from the Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, and one of the lead authors of the study, says:

‘Mechanochemical activation of CaF2 with a phosphate salt was an exciting invention because this seemingly simple process represents a highly effective solution to a complex problem; however, big questions on how this reaction worked remained. Collaboration was key to answering these questions and advancing our understanding of this new, unexplored area of fluorine chemistry. Successful solutions to big challenges come from multidisciplinary approaches and expertise, I think the work really captures the importance of that.’ 

Lead author Professor Véronique Gouverneur FRS, from the Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, who conceived and led this study says:

‘The direct use of CaF2 for fluorination is a holy grail in the field, and a solution to this problem has been sought for decades. The transition to sustainable methods for the manufacturing of chemicals, with reduced or no detrimental impact on the environment, is today a high-priority goal that can be accelerated with ambitious programs and a total re-think of current manufacturing processes. This study represents an important step in this direction because the method developed in Oxford has the potential to be implemented anywhere in academia and industry, minimise carbon emissions e.g. by shortening supply chains, and offer increased reliability in light of the fragility of global supply chains.’

The study Fluorochemicals from fluorspar via a phosphate-enabled mechanochemical process that bypasses HF will be published in Science online at 14:00 US Eastern Time (19:00 BST) on Thursday 20 July 2023, and in print on Friday 21 July 2023: http://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adi1557

To view a copy of the paper under embargo, please contact scipak@aaas.org.

Media outlets can contact the authors at:

Calum Patel: calum.patel@chem.ox.ac.uk +44 (0)7934 051678

Véronique Gouverneur: veronique.gouverneur@chem.ox.ac.uk +44(0)7545636436

Gabriele Pupo: gabriele.pupo@fluorok.com +44(0)7452932023

For all other press queries please contact Dr Thomas Player (Communications Officer, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford) on chemistry-news@chem.ox.ac.uk.

Using high precision techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, the researchers unlocked key insights into the composition of Fluoromix and structures of the fluorinating species. The diagram shows structures of crystalline constituents of Fluoromix, which serve as fluorinating reagents. Image: Prof. Michael Hayward.

About the team

Calum Patel completed his Master’s degree in Chemistry at Imperial College London, and has worked at the University of British Columbia and at F. Hoffmann La Roche in Basel on late-stage fluorination. He has a keen interest in the development of novel fluorination methods as part of the Gouverneur research group at the University of Oxford.

Prof Véronique Gouverneur FRS is the Waynflete Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford. She obtained a PhD in chemistry at the Université Catholique de Louvain (LLN, Belgium) and completed a postdoctoral position at the Scripps Research Institute (California, USA). She then held a position at the University Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg (France) and started her independent research career at the University of Oxford in 1998. She has received numerous prizes and distinctions for her research (Arthur C. Cope Award 2022, Moissan Prize 2021, International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences) and has over 220 peer-reviewed publications and 15 patents.

Prof Michael Hayward is a Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and Tutorial Fellow at Somerville College. He completed his D.Phil. in Oxford in 1999 and after completing a period of post‑doctoral research at Princeton University he returned to Oxford in 2002, initially as a Royal Society University Research Fellow and JRF at Merton College, before being appointed to a fellowship Somerville College in 2004. His research focuses on the synthesis and characterisation of novel solid-state compounds.

About the University of Oxford

Oxford University has been placed number 1 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the seventh year running, and number 2 in the QS World Rankings 2022. At the heart of this success are the twin-pillars of our ground-breaking research and innovation and our distinctive educational offer.

Oxford is world-famous for research and teaching excellence and home to some of the most talented people from across the globe. Our work helps the lives of millions, solving real-world problems through a huge network of partnerships and collaborations. The breadth and interdisciplinary nature of our research alongside our personalised approach to teaching sparks imaginative and inventive insights and solutions.

Through its research commercialisation arm, Oxford University Innovation, Oxford is the highest university patent filer in the UK and is ranked first in the UK for university spinouts, having created more than 200 new companies since 1988. Over a third of these companies have been created in the past three years. The university is a catalyst for prosperity in Oxfordshire and the United Kingdom, contributing £15.7 billion to the UK economy in 2018/19, and supports more than 28,000 full time jobs.

About FluoRok

FluoRok is a start-up company based in Oxford, UK and focused on fluorochemical R&D, manufacturing and licensing. It develops novel and transformational technologies to access fluorochemicals in an efficient, safe and sustainable way. Founded in 2022, the company builds on decades of research in the laboratories of Professor Véronique Gouverneur at the University of Oxford. FluoRok’s proprietary technology directly employs fluorinated waste material or naturally occurring fluorite mineral as a source, to access high-value compounds that are key to the world’s energy transition, our global food supply, and our health. Its innovative solution reduces energy requirements, lowers CO2 emissions and enables reshoring of fluorochemical manufacturing due to intrinsic process safety. FluoRok is backed by Oxford Science Enterprises, an independent, billion-pound investment company, that funds transformational businesses via its unique partnership with the University of Oxford.

For more information see: https://www.chem.ox.ac.uk/article/fluorok-the-future-of-fluorination

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JOURNAL

Science

DOI

10.1126/science.adi1557 

ARTICLE TITLE

Fluorochemicals from fluorspar via a phosphate-enabled mechanochemical process that bypasses HF

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

20-Jul-2023

 

Current thinking on batteries overturned by cathode oxidation research

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

Scientists have made a significant breakthrough in understanding and overcoming the challenges associated with Ni-rich cathode materials used in lithium-ion batteries.

These materials have the potential to achieve both high voltages and capacities, but their practical applications have been hindered by structural instabilities and loss of oxygen.

Their study revealed that ‘oxygen hole’ formation – where an oxygen ion loses an electron -- plays a crucial role in the degradation of LiNiO2 cathodes accelerating the release of oxygen which can then further degrade the cathode material.

Using a set of state-of-the-art computational techniques on UK regional supercomputers, the researchers examined the behaviour of LiNiO2 cathodes as they are charged. They found that during charging the oxygen in the material undergoes changes while the nickel charge remains essentially unchanged.

Co-author Prof Andrew J. Morris, from the University of Birmingham, commented: “We found that the charge of the nickel ions remains around +2, regardless of whether it's in its charged or discharged form. At the same time the charge of the oxygen varies from -1.5 to about -1.

“This is unusual, the conventional model assumes that the oxygen remains at -2 throughout charging, but these changes show that the oxygen is not very stable, and we have found a pathway for it to leave the nickel-rich cathode.”

The researchers compared their calculations with experimental data and found that their results aligned well with what was observed. They proposed a mechanism for how oxygen is lost during this process, involving the combination of oxygen radicals to form a peroxide ion, which is then converted into oxygen gas, leaving vacancies in the material. This process releases energy and forms singlet oxygen, a highly reactive form of oxygen.

 “Potentially, by adding dopants that reduce oxygen redox, while promoting transition-metal redox particularly at the surface, mitigating the generation of singlet oxygen, we can enhance the stability and longevity of these type of lithium-ion batteries, paving the way for more efficient and reliable energy storage systems,” first author Dr Annalena Genreith-Schriever from the University of Cambridge adds.

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used for various applications because of their high energy density and rechargeability, but challenges associated with the stability of cathode materials have hindered their overall performance and lifespan.

Researchers from the Universities of Birmingham, Cambridge, Warwick as well as The Faraday Institution, Didcot, published their findings today (19 Jul) in Joule.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions, its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 8,000 international students from over 150 countries.
• Oxygen Hole Formation Controls Stability in LiNiO2 Cathodes: DFT Studies of Oxygen Loss and Singlet Oxygen Formation in Li-Ion Batteries - Genreith-Schriever, Morris et al is published by Joule.

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JOURNAL

Joule

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Oxygen Hole Formation Controls Stability in LiNiO2 Cathodes: DFT Studies of Oxygen Loss and Singlet Oxygen Formation in Li-Ion Batteries

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

19-Jul-2023

 

New catalysts for solar hydrogen production

Peer-Reviewed Publication

VIENNA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

 

IMAGE: GROUP LEADER PROF. DOMINIK EDER (LEFT) AND FIRST AUTHOR OF THE STUDY PABLO AYALA (RIGHT). view more 

CREDIT: TU WIEN

Finding sustainable and clean fuels is crucial in today’s global energy and climate crisis. One promising candidate that is increasingly gaining relevance is hydrogen. However, today’s industrial hydrogen production still has a considerable CO2 footprint, especially considering processes like steam reforming or non-sustainable electrolysis.

A team led by Prof. Dominik Eder from the Institute of Materials Chemistry (TU Wien) is therefore focusing on the development of environmentally friendly processes for obtaining hydrogen, for example by photocatalysis. This process enables the conversion of water molecules to hydrogen aided by nothing but light and a catalyst. Through this process, the sun’s abundant and clean energy can be stored in the chemical bonds of this so-called solar fuel. Recently, the results have been published in the scientific journal „Advanced Energy Materials”.

Novel photocatalysts

When producing green hydrogen by photocatalysis, the catalyst plays a crucial role. In contrast to industrial catalysts, a photocatalyst utilizes the energy of light to facilitate the splitting of water at room temperature and ambient pressures. Among the most promising candidates are metal-organic frameworks, so called MOFs. They are made up of molecular inorganic building units held together by organic linker molecules. Together, they form highly porous 3D networks that have an exceptionally large surface area and excellent charge separation properties.

However, most MOFs are only active under UV light irradiation, which is why the community alters the organic compounds to make them capable of absorbing visible light. However, these modifications have a negative influence on the mobility of the electrons. Another limitation concerns charge extraction, where the electrons are released from the material: „While MOFs are indeed great at separating charge carriers at the organic-inorganic interfaces, their efficient extraction for catalytic use remains a challenge”, Dominik Eder explains.

Recently, MOFs with layered structures have caught a lot of attention for use in optoelectronic applications, as they exhibit greatly improved charge extraction properties. „You can picture these layered structures as a Manner Schnitte, where the waffle is the inorganic part and the chocolate is the organic ligand holding them together”, Pablo Ayala, lead-author of the study, illustrates. „You just need to make the waffle part conductive.”

Challenges in water splitting

In contrast to 3D-MOFs a layered MOF is usually non-porous, which reduces the catalytically active area to the external surface of the particles. „Hence, we had to find a way to make these particles as small as possible”, Eder explains. However, nanostructuring of materials is often accompanied by the introduction of structural defects. These can act as charge traps and slow down the extraction of charges. „Nobody likes a Manner Schnitte with missing chocolate”, Ayala proceeds with his comparison. "In the case of photocatalysis, we also need the best possible material that can be produced."

Therefore, Dominik Eder's team developed a new synthesis route in which even the smallest crystalline structures can be produced free of defects. This was achieved in collaboration with local and international universities. The novel, layered MOFs are based on titanium and have a cubic shape of just a few nanometers in size. The material has already been able to achieve record values in photocatalytic hydrogen production under the influence of visible light.

Aided by computer simulations carried out at Technion in Israel, the team was able to unravel the underlying reaction mechanism and demonstrated two things: First, that the layered nature of the MOF is indeed key to efficient charge separation and extraction. Second, that missing-ligand defects act as unwanted charge traps that need to be avoided as much as possible to enhance the material’s photocatalytic performance.

The research group is currently designing new layered MOFs and exploring them for various energy applications.

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JOURNAL

Advanced Energy Materials

DOI

10.1002/aenm.202300961 

ARTICLE TITLE

The Emergence of 2D Building Units in Metal-Organic Frameworks for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution: A Case Study with COK-47

 Acetalization: A feasible and sustainable strategy for biomass valorization

Peer-Reviewed Publication

INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY & MATERIALS

 

IMAGE: REPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLES OF APPLICATION OF ACETALIZATION STRATEGY IN BIOMASS VALORIZATION view more 

CREDIT: CHANGZHI LI, DALIAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.

Biomass, mainly composed of lignocellulose and vegetable oil, has been acclaimed as one of the most promising sustainable sources of raw carbon material for the synthesis of transport fuels and value-added chemicals. The catalytic conversion of lignocellulose/vegetable oil and their related derivatives has attracted great attention in biomass valorization. Many elegant methods including hydrolysis, dehydration, hydrogenation, hydrogenolysis, oxidation, etherification, esterification, amination, aldol condensation, Diels–Alder, Knoevenagel condensation, and acetalization have been developed for the valorization of lignocellulose/vegetable oil derivatives toward value-added chemicals and biofuels.

In particular, acetalization is advocated as an appealing approach in biomass valorization because it serves as both a synthesis tool for renewable acetal fuel additives and a protection strategy to improve product selectivity. A team of scientists summarized the latest progresses about the application of acetalization strategy in biomass valorization. Their work is published in Industrial Chemistry & Materials on Jun 28, 2023.

"The development of efficient and selective strategies is crucial for valorizing lignocellulose/vegetable oil derivatives," said Changzhi Li, a Professor at Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, "In this review, we systematically discussed the recent advancement of the application of acetalization strategy in biomass valorization. The latest progresses in the development of catalytic systems for the acetalization of biobased furanic compounds and biogenic ethylene glycol/glycerol are systematically summarized and discussed, with an emphasis on the reaction pathway, relationship between catalyst structures and their performance, and relevant catalytic mechanism. Moreover, the application of the acetalization strategy for protecting carbonyl groups/diol structure functionalities to improve the target products' selectivity in lignin depolymerization, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation, sorbitol dehydration, and xylose hydrogenation is highlighted. We also provided an outlook on the remaining challenges to this field."

"Acetalization, a well-known reversible reaction between carbonyl compounds and alcohols, usually need excess of one of the reactant to compel reversible acetalization completion," Li said, "Nevertheless, studies on the recovery of excess reactant after the reaction are scarce. Moreover, the separation and purification of cyclic acetals/ketals deserve much attention. Expectedly, rectification or designing a suitable biphasic reaction system for this transformation may probably realize the recovery of the surplus substrate and/or separation of the acetals product."

"A five-membered-ring acetal (i.e., 1,3-dioxolane) and a six-membered-ring acetal (i.e., 1,3-dioxane) are available from the acetalization of furanic compounds and glycerol," Li said, "However, it is still a significant challenge to achieve the selective synthesis of 1,3-dioxolane or 1,3-dioxane. Designing structurally adjustable catalysts or choosing suitable solvents may provide an opportunity for achieving the selective synthesis of 1,3-dioxolane or 1,3-dioxane. In addition, the use of crude glycerol, stemming from biodiesel production, for acetalization is more economically viable, and the influence of impurities on the acetalization reaction needs to be investigated."

At present, the available researches for getting insights into detailed catalytic mechanisms for the acetalization of furanic compounds and ethylene glycol/glycerol are limited. More effort should therefore be devoted to the fundamental understanding of the catalytic mechanism via in situ spectroscopic measurements and density functional theory calculation.

"The synthesis of a single product with high selectivity during the valorization of biomass derivatives is very challenging due to the presence of multiple functional groups (e.g., C=O, C=C, and C-O) in biomass molecules," Li said, "Taking advantages of the fact that acetalization is a reversible reaction and the formed cyclic acetals/ketals are stable/low reactivity in basic media, acetalization as a protection strategy of the carbonyl group is worth further promotion in biomass valorization such as exclusive hydrogenation of C=C in biobased multifunctional compounds while leaving the C=O group unreduced."

"In this review, our main goal is to provide readers with timely and accurate latest research progress on the application of acetalization strategy in biomass valorization," Li said.

The research team includes Jian He, Li Bai, Huazhong Yu and Shima Liu from Jishou University in China; and Qian Qiang, Wentao Su and Changzhi Li from Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

This research is funded by the National Key R&D Program of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China and Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China.

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Industrial Chemistry & Materials is a peer-reviewed interdisciplinary academic journal published by Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) with APCs currently waived. Icm publishes significant innovative research and major technological breakthroughs in all aspects of industrial chemistry and materials, especially the important innovation of the low-carbon chemical industry, energy, and functional materials.

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JOURNAL

Industrial Chemistry and Materials

DOI

10.1039/D3IM00050H 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Literature review

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Acetalization strategy in biomass valorization: a review

 

Collecting energy from raindrops using solar panel technology

Peer-Reviewed Publication

TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY PRESS

 

IMAGE: THIS DIAGRAM SHOWS WHAT THESE D-TENG PANELS MIGHT LOOK LIKE. IT ALSO ILLUSTRATES HOW THE BRIDGE STRUCTURE, WHEN COMBINED WITH THE LOWER ELECTRODES, CAN LEAD TO IMPROVED ENERGY STORAGE. view more 

CREDIT: IENERGY, TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY PRESS

When raindrops fall from the sky, they can produce a small amount of energy that can be harvested and turned into electricity. It is a small-scale version of hydropower, which uses the kinetic energy of moving water to produce electricity. Researchers have proposed that the energy collected from raindrops could be a potential source of clean, renewable power. However, this technology has been difficult to develop on a large scale, which has limited its practical application.

 

To collect raindrop energy, a device called a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), which uses liquid-solid contact electrification, has been shown to successfully harvest the electricity from raindrops. This technology also successfully harvests energy from waves and other forms of liquid-solid triboelectric power generation. However, droplet-based TENG (D-TENGs) have a technical limitation from connecting more than one of these panels together, which reduces overall power output. A recently published paper outlines how modeling D-TENG panels after solar panel arrays makes harvesting raindrop energy more efficient, broadening its application.

 

The paper was published in iEnergy on June 29.

 

“Although D-TENGs have ultra-high instantaneous output power, it is still difficult for a single D-TENG to continuously supply power for megawatt-level electrical equipment. Therefore, it is very important to realize the simultaneous utilization of multiple D-TENGs,” said Zong Li, a professor at the Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School at Tsinghua University in Shenzhen, China. “Referring to the design of solar panels in which multiple solar power generation units are connected in parallel to supply the load, we are proposing a simple and effective method for raindrop energy harvesting.”  

 

When multiple D-TENGs are connected, there is unintended coupling capacitance between the panels’ upper electrode and lower electrode. This unintended coupling capacitance reduces the power output of the D-TENG arrays. To reduce the effect of this problem, researchers proposed bridge array generators, which use array lower electrodes to reduce the influence of the capacitance.

 

When raindrops fall on the surface of the panel, a process called triboelectrification produces and stores the energy from the rain. When the droplet falls on the surface of the panel, called the FEP surface, the droplet becomes positively charged, and the FEP surface negatively charged. “The amount of charge generated by each droplet is small and the surface charge on the FEP will gradually dissipate. After a long time on the surface, the charges on the FEP surface will gradually accumulate to saturation,” said Li. “At this point, the dissipation rate of the FEP’s surface charge is balanced with the amount of charge generated by each impact of the droplet.”  

 

In order to demonstrate the success of the bridge array generators with the array lower electrodes, the conventional D-TENG was compared to the bridge array generators. Researchers also compared the performance of the bridge array generators with different sizes of sub-electrodes. The thickness of the panels was also studied to see if that had an effect on any power loss. Increasing the FEP surface thickness lead to decreased coupling capacitance while maintaining the surface charge density, both of which could improve the performance of the bridge array generator.

 

When bridge array generators were developed for raindrop energy collection and utilized array lower electrodes and bridge reflux structures, the raindrop collection panels could be independent of each other. This means that unintended power loss could be reduced. “The peak power output of the bridge array generators is nearly 5 times higher than that of the conventional large-area raindrop energy with the same size, reaching 200 watts per square meter, which fully shows its advantages in large-area raindrop energy harvesting. The results of this study will provide a feasible scheme for large-area raindrop energy harvesting,” said Li.

 

Other contributors include Bin Cao and Liming Wang of the Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School at Tsinghua University; Zhonghao Zhang of the China Electric Power Research Institute in Beijing; and Zhong Lin Wang of the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing.

 

The National Natural Science Foundation of China (52007095) funded this research.

 

##

 

About iEnergy 

 

iEnergy (Published by Tsinghua University Press), has multiple meanings, intelligent energy, innovation for energy, internet of energy, and electrical energy due to “i” is the symbol of current. iEnergy, publishing quarterly, is a cross disciplinary journal aimed at disseminating frontiers of technologies and solutions of power and energy. The journal publishes original research on exploring all aspects of power and energy, including any kind of technologies and applications from power generation, transmission, distribution, to conversion, utilization, and storage. iEnergy provides a platform for delivering cutting-edge advancements of sciences and technologies for the future-generation power and energy systems.

 

About Tsinghua University Press

 

Established in 1980, belonging to Tsinghua University, Tsinghua University Press (TUP) is a leading comprehensive higher education and professional publisher in China. Committed to building a top-level global cultural brand, after 42 years of development, TUP has established an outstanding managerial system and enterprise structure, and delivered multimedia and multi-dimensional publications covering books, audio, video, electronic products, journals and digital publications. In addition, TUP actively carries out its strategic transformation from educational publishing to content development and service for teaching & learning and was named First-class National Publisher for achieving remarkable results.

 

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JOURNAL

iEnergy

DOI

10.23919/IEN.2023.0015 

ARTICLE TITLE

Rational TENG arrays as a panel for harvesting large-scale raindrop energy

 

Unlocking the puzzle: New study highlights complexity in accessing benefits for low-income individuals

Peer-Reviewed Publication

THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM

A newly published article introduces a conceptual framework for analyzing passported benefits shedding light on the challenges that individuals face when accessing these additional cash or in-kind benefits. The article, based on a case study from Israel, identifies five key dimensions of passported benefits and explores the administrative burden associated with each dimension. The research highlights the pressing need for simplification, automation, and improved coordination to reduce the administrative burden and ensure that passported benefits serve as a streamlined pathway to social rights.

Passported benefits are supplementary benefits provided to individuals who already receive direct cash benefits, aiming to provide extra support without bureaucratic processes. However, the article highlights that accessing these benefits can be challenging, leading to low take-up. To better understand these challenges, the study employs the concept of administrative burden, referring to the burdensome experiences individuals encounter when navigating bureaucratic processes.

The research finds that passported benefits in Israel are complex and decentralized, with diverse eligibility tracks and implementation. The study identifies five dimensions that shape passported benefits: the role of primary cash benefits in determining eligibility, level of automation, legal status, type of service delivery, and degree of decentralization. Each dimension contributes to the administrative burden experienced by individuals.

Eligibility for passported benefits in Israel goes beyond a simple connection to primary benefits, introducing additional conditions and distinctions. Automation plays a crucial role in determining eligibility, with some benefits being automated while others require active application from claimants. The legal status of these benefits varies and affects their stability and potential for policy changes. Service delivery methods range from in-kind services to cash assistance and tax breaks. The decentralization of passported benefits involves multiple entities, adding complexity to the claiming process.

The study emphasizes that the complexity and administrative burden associated with passported benefits can lead to low take-up rates of the benefits.  It highlights the need for simplification, automation, and flexibility in the processes to reduce burden and improve access. Unifying take-up processes and developing assessment tools are also recommended to manage the administrative burden effectively.

The research draws attention to the importance of academic scrutiny and theoretical understanding of passported benefits, which have historically received less attention compared to primary benefits in the welfare state. The study calls for further research to better understand and address the intensity of administrative burden in passported benefits.

Research Team: Noam Tarshish, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, The University of Haifa; Prof. John Gal, Prof. Roni Holler and Prof. Avishai Benish School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Prof. Momi Dahan, School of Public Policy, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The article, titled "Understanding Administrative Burden and Complexity in Passported Benefits: A Case Study from Israel," is published in Cambridge University Press and is available https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047279423000326 .

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JOURNAL

Journal of Social Policy

DOI

10.1017/S0047279423000326 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Case study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

A Fast Track to Social Rights? Passported Benefits and Administrative Burden

 

AI must not worsen health inequalities for ethnic minority populations

Peer-Reviewed Publication

SAGE

Scientists are urging caution before artificial intelligence (AI) models such as ChatGPT are used in healthcare for ethnic minority populations. Writing in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, epidemiologists at the University of Leicester and University of Cambridge say that existing inequalities for ethnic minorities may become more entrenched due to systemic biases in the data used by healthcare AI tools.

AI models need to be ‘trained’ using data scraped from different sources such as healthcare websites and scientific research. However, evidence shows that ethnicity data are often missing from healthcare research. Ethnic minorities are also less represented in research trials.

Mohammad Ali, PhD Fellow in Epidemiology at the College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, says: “This disproportionately lower representation of ethnic minorities in research has evidence of causing harm, for example by creating ineffective drug treatments or treatment guidelines which could be regarded as racist.”

“If the published literature already contains biases and less precision, it is logical that future AI models will maintain and further exacerbate them.”

The researchers are also concerned that health inequalities could worsen in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). AI models are primarily developed in wealthier nations like the USA and Europe and a significant disparity in research and development exists between high- and low-income countries.

The researchers point out that most published research does not prioritise the needs of those in the LMICs with their unique health challenges, particularly around healthcare provision. AI models, they say, may provide advised based on data on populations wholly different from those in LMICs.

While crucial to acknowledge these potential difficulties, say the researchers, it is equally important to focus on solutions. “We must exercise caution, acknowledging we cannot and should not stem the flow of progress,” says Mr Ali.

The researchers suggest ways to overcome potentially exacerbating health inequalities, starting with the need for AI models to clearly describe the data used in their development. They also say work is needed to address ethnic health inequalities in research, including improving recruitment and recording of ethnicity information. Data used to train AI models should be adequately representative, with key actors such as ethnicity, age, sex and socioeconomic factors considered. Further research is also required to understand the use of AI models in the context of ethnically diverse populations.

By addressing these considerations, say the researchers, the power of AI models can be harnessed to drive positive change in healthcare while promoting fairness and inclusivity.

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JOURNAL

Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine

DOI

10.1177/01410768231187734 

ARTICLE TITLE

Addressing ethnic and global health inequalities in the era of artificial intelligence healthcare models: a call for responsible implementation

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

20-Jul-2023

 

Streets recognized by CMS as legitimate locale to deliver health care

Move will allow providers like USC’s Street Medicine team to be reimbursed for care they provide to people who are unhoused

Business Announcement

KECK SCHOOL OF MEDICINE OF USC

 

IMAGE: CORINNE FELDMAN AND BRETT FELDMAN, USC STREET MEDICINE TEAM view more 

CREDIT: PHOTO: USC

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) officially recognized that medical care can be delivered on the street, making it possible for providers like USC’s Street Medicine team to be reimbursed for services provided to people who are currently unhoused. 

The decision, which was announced on June 28, 2023, was the result of a multi-year effort on the part of leaders of USC Street Medicine and the Street Medicine Institute to have CMS create a place of service (POS) code for the street. As a result of this designation, street medicine providers nationwide will be able to be reimbursed for their services effective October 1, 2023. 

“This is an important decision for the street medicine providers, but also for our patients,” said Brett Feldman, director and co-founder of USC Street Medicine and an assistant professor of family medicine at Keck School of Medicine of USC. “Our patients rely on street medicine to survive and so by recognizing the street as a legitimate place to deliver health care, it recognizes their right to life.”

Code removes roadblock to services 

The lack of a POS code has caused numerous obstacles for the medical professionals who deliver care to patients outside of the walls of a typical health care facility. According to Feldman, who led an effort in 2018 to survey street medicine providers across the country, more than 70% of the nation’s street medicine teams do not attempt to be reimbursed for services due to the lack of this code. 

In addition, patients have often been unable to get additional services because insurers could not process their claims without a POS code. Because their claims went unprocessed, Feldman noted that patients were frequently denied the opportunity to see specialists, had difficulty obtaining medications and couldn’t get access to devices like walkers or wheelchairs.

Prior to this decision, the only insurers that reimbursed care given by street medicine providers were the state Medicaid programs in California and Hawaii. This decision helped to streamline the process of submitting claims and allowed providers to order additional services for their patients in those states. 

The new code will also make it possible for researchers to identify street medicine visits and patients, allowing them to collect data to gain a better understanding of the needs of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. This type of research could lead to the creation of a more equitable care model.

Potential turning point for street medicine

Feldman first began researching this issue in 2015 when he was leading a street medicine team in Pennsylvania. When he joined the board of the Street Medicine Institute in 2017, he conducted additional research, including surveying members about billing practices.

Feldman’s research ultimately led the USC Street Medicine team, the Street Medicine Institute and other partners to submit a formal proposal to CMS to have the street designated as a legitimate place to deliver health care services. 

Street medicine, he noted, is still a relatively young field of medicine, which may help explain why CMS had not designated a POS code for the street. Street medicine is growing, however and there are now street medicine teams active in more than 100 cities in the U.S. 

This change could represent a major turning point for the delivery of street medicine across the country. Feldman said that while some street medicine teams get grants or philanthropic support to provide care, many are small and unfunded. 

“Most street medicine programs fight to exist and survive right now,” said Feldman. “This recognition by CMS helps makes street medicine sustainable and scalable and could really help these programs to grow and thrive.”

About Keck School of Medicine of USC

Founded in 1885, the Keck School of Medicine of USC is one of the nation’s leading medical institutions, known for innovative patient care, scientific discovery, education and community service. Medical and graduate students work closely with world-renowned faculty and receive hands-on training in one of the nation’s most diverse communities. They participate in cutting-edge research as they develop into tomorrow’s health leaders. The Keck School faculty are key participants in training of 1200 resident physicians across 70 specialty and subspecialty programs, thus playing a major role in the education of physicians practicing in Southern California.