No basalt accumulation and segregation atop the 660-km discontinuity beneath the Sea of Okhotsk

Recent seismic evidence shows that basalt accumulation is widespread in the mantle transition zone(MTZ),yet its ubiquity or sporadic nature remains uncertain.To investigate this phenomenon further,we characterized the velocity structure across the 660-km discontinuity that separates the upper mantle from the lower mantle beneath the Sea of Okhotsk by modeling the waveform of the S660P phase,a downgoing S wave converting into a P wave at the 660-km interface.These waves were excited by two regional>410-km-deep events and were recorded by stations in central Asia.Our findings showed no need to introduce velocity anomalies at the base of the MTZ to explain the S660P waveforms because the IASP91 model adequately reproduced the waveforms.This finding indicates that the basalt accumulation has not affected the bottom of the MTZ in the study area.Instead,this discontinuity is primarily controlled by temperature or water content variations,or both.Thus,we argue that the basalt accumulation at the base of the MTZ is sporadic,not ubiquitous,reflecting its heterogeneous distribution.

Three-Dimensional Self-assembled Hairball-Like VS4 as High-Capacity Anodes for Sodium-Ion Batteries

Sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)are considered to be attractive candidates for large-scale energy storage systems because of their rich earth abundance and consistent performance.However,there are still challenges in developing desirable anode materials that can accommodate rapid and stable insertion/extraction of Na+and can exhibit excellent electrochemical performance.Herein,the self-assembled hairball-like VS4 as anodes of SIBs exhibits high discharge capacity(660 and 589 mAh g−1 at 1 and 3 A g−1,respectively)and excellent rate property(about 100%retention at 10 and 20 A g−1 after 1000 cycles)at room temperature.Moreover,the VS4 can also exhibit 591 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 after 600 cycles at 0°C.An unlike traditional mechanism of VS4 for Na+storage was proposed according to the dates of ex situ characterization,cyclic voltammetry,and electrochemical kinetic analysis.The capacities of the final stabilization stage are provided by the reactions of reversible transformation between Na2S and S,which were considered the reaction mechanisms of Na–S batteries.This work can provide a basis for the synthesis and application of sulfur-rich compounds in fields of batteries,semiconductor devices,and catalysts.