Nanodiamond-Assisted High Performance Lithium and Sodium Ions Co-Storage

While lithium resources are scarce for high energy-dense lithium-ion batteries(LIBs),sodium-ion batteries(SIBs),serving as an alternative,inherently suffer from low capacity and the high-cost use of non-graphite anodes.Combining Li-and Na-ions within a single battery system is expected to mitigate the shortcomings of both systems while leveraging their respective advantages.In this study,we developed and assembled a nanodiamonds(NDs)-assisted co-Li/Na-ion battery(ND–LSIB).This innovative battery system comprised a commercial graphite anode,an ND-modified polypropylene(DPP)separator,a hybrid lithium/sodium-based electrolyte,and a cathode.It is theoretically and experimentally demonstrated that the ND/Li co-insertion can serve as an ion-drill opening graphite layers and reconstructing graphite anodes into few-layered graphene with expanding interlayer space,achieving highly efficient Li/Na storage and the theoretical maximum of LiC_(6)for Li storage in graphite.In addition,ND is helpful for creating a LiF-/NaF-rich hybrid solid electrolyte interface with improved ionic mobility,mechanical strength,and reversibility.Consequently,ND–LSIBs have higher specific capacities~1.4 times the theoretical value of LIBs and show long-term cycling stability.This study proposes and realizes the concept of Li/Na co-storage in one ion battery with compatible high-performance,cost-effectiveness,and industrial prospects.

Structural variations of a new fertility restorer gene,Rf20,underlie the restoration of wild abortive-type cytoplasmic male sterility in rice

The discovery of a wild abortive-type(WA)cytoplasmic male sterile(CMS)line and breeding its restorer line have led to the commercialization of three-line hybrid rice,contributing considerably to global food security.However,the molecular mechanisms underlyingfertility abortion and the restoration of CMs-WA lines remain largely elusive.In this study,we cloned a restorer gene,Rf2o,following a genome-wide association study analysis of the core parent lines of three-line hybrid rice.We found that Rf20 was present in all core parental lines,but different haplotypes and structural variants of its gene resulted in differences in Rf2o expression levels between sterileand restored lines.Rf20 could restorepollen fertility in the CMS-WA line and was found to be responsible for fertility restoration in some CMs lines under high temperatures.In addition,we found that Rf20 encodes a pentatricopeptide repeat protein that competes with WA352 for binding with COX11.This interaction enhances Cox11's function as a scavenger of reactive oxygen species,which in turn restores pollenfertility.Collectively,ourstudysuggestsanewactionmodeforpentatricopeptide repeatproteins inthe fertilityrestorationofCMs lines,providing an essential theoretical basisforbreedingrobustrestorer lines and for overcoming high temperature-induced fertility recovery of some CMS lines.