BMPRⅡ^(+)neural precursor cells isolated and characterized from organotypic neurospheres:an in vitro model of human fetal spinal cord development

Roof plate secretion of bone morphogenetic proteins(BMPs)directs the cellular fate of sensory neurons during spinal cord development,including the formation of the ascending sensory columns,though their biology is not well understood.Type-ⅡBMP receptor(BMPRⅡ),the cognate receptor,is expressed by neural precursor cells during embryogenesis;however,an in vitro method of enriching BMPRⅡ^(+)human neural precursor cells(hNPCs)from the fetal spinal cord is absent.Immunofluorescence was undertaken on intact second-trimester human fetal spinal cord using antibodies to BMPRⅡand leukemia inhibitory factor(LIF).Regions of highest BMPRⅡ^(+)immunofluorescence localized to sensory columns.Parenchymal and meningeal-associated BMPRⅡ^(+)vascular cells were identified in both intact fetal spinal cord and cortex by co-positivity with vascular lineage markers,CD34/CD39.LIF immunostaining identified a population of somas concentrated in dorsal and ventral horn interneurons,mirroring the expression of LIF receptor/CD118.A combination of LIF supplementation and high-density culture maintained culture growth beyond 10 passages,while synergistically increasing the proportion of neurospheres with a stratified,cytoarchitecture.These neurospheres were characterized by BMPRⅡ^(+)/MAP2ab^(+/–)/βⅢ-tubulin^(+)/nestin^(–)/vimentin^(–)/GFAP^(–)/NeuN^(–)surface hNPCs surrounding a heterogeneous core ofβⅢ-tubulin^(+)/nestin^(+)/vimentin^(+)/GFAP^(+)/MAP2ab^(–)/NeuN^(–)multipotent precursors.Dissociated cultures from tripotential neurospheres contained neuronal(βⅢ-tubulin^(+)),astrocytic(GFAP+),and oligodendrocytic(O4+)lineage cells.Fluorescence-activated cell sorting-sorted BMPRⅡ^(+)hNPCs were MAP2ab^(+/–)/βⅢ-tubulin^(+)/GFAP^(–)/O4^(–)in culture.This is the first isolation of BMPRⅡ^(+)hNPCs identified and characterized in human fetal spinal cords.Our data show that LIF combines synergistically with high-density reaggregate cultures to support the organotypic reorganization of neurospheres,characterized by surface BMPRⅡ^(+)hNPCs.Our study has provided a new methodology for an in vitro model capable of amplifying human fetal spinal cord cell numbers for>10 passages.Investigations of the role BMPRⅡplays in spinal cord development have primarily relied upon mouse and rat models,with interpolations to human development being derived through inference.Because of significant species differences between murine biology and human,including anatomical dissimilarities in central nervous system(CNS)structure,the findings made in murine models cannot be presumed to apply to human spinal cord development.For these reasons,our human in vitro model offers a novel tool to better understand neurodevelopmental pathways,including BMP signaling,as well as spinal cord injury research and testing drug therapies.

Understanding the oxidation chemistry of Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)(MXene)sheets and their catalytic performances

Transition metal carbides and nitrides(MXenes)nanosheets are attractive two-dimensional(2D)materials,but they suffer from oxidation/degradation issues during storage and/or applications due to their sensitivity to water and oxygen.Despite the great research progress,the exact oxidation kinetics of Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)(MXene)and their final products after oxidation are not fully understood.Herein,we systematically tracked the oxidation process of few-layer Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x) nanosheets in an aqueous solution at room temperature over several weeks.We also studied the oxidation effects on the electrocatalytic properties of Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x) for hydrogen evolution reaction and found that the overpotential to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm^(-2)increases from 0.435 to 0.877 V after three weeks of degradation,followed by improvement to stabilized values of around 0.40 V after eight weeks.These results suggest that severely oxidized MXene could be a promising candidate for designing efficient catalysts.According to our detailed experimental characterization and theoretical calculations,unlike previous studies,black titanium oxide is formed as the final product in addition to white Ti(IV)oxide and disordered carbons after the complete oxidation of Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x).This work presents significant advancements in better understanding of 2D Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)(MXene)oxidation and enhances the prospects of this material for various applications.

Green and scalable electrochemical routes for cost‐effective mass production of MXenes for supercapacitor electrodes

One of the most unique properties of two-dimensional carbides and nitrides of transition metals(MXenes)is their excellent water dispersibility and yet possessing superior electrical conductivity but their industrial-scale application is limited by their costly chemical synthesis methods.In this work,the niche feature of MXenes was capitalized in the packed-bed electrochemical reactor to produce MXenes at an unprecedented reaction rate and yield with minimal chemical waste.A simple NH4F solution was employed as the green electrolyte,which could be used repeatedly without any loss in its efficacy.Surprisingly,both fluoride and ammonium were found to play critical roles in the electrochemical etching,functionalization,and expansion of the layered parent materials(MAXs)through which the liberation of ammonia gas was observed.The electrochemically produced MXenes with excellent conductivity,applied as supercapacitor electrodes,could deliver an ultrahigh volumetric capacity(1408 F cm^(−3))and a volumetric energy density(75.8 Wh L^(−1)).This revolutionary green,energy-efficient,and scalable electrochemical route will not only pave the way for industrial-scale production of MXenes but also open up a myriad of versatile electrochemical modifications for improved functional MXenes.

Application of Rice Husk Biochar for Achieving Sustainable Agriculture and Environment

This paper critically reviewed the current knowledge and challenges of rice husk biochar(RHB)production and its effects on soil properties,plant growth,immobilization of heavy metals,reduction of nutrient leaching and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.The characteristics of RHBs produced at various pyrolysis temperatures were discussed and compared to biochars derived from other agro-industrial wastes.RHBs produced at higher pyrolysis temperatures show lower hydrogen/carbon ratio,which suggests the presence of higher aromatic carbon compounds.The increase of pyrolysis temperature also results in production of RHBs with higher ash content,lower yield and higher surface area.RHB usually has higher silicon and ash contents and lower carbon content compared to biochars derived from other feedstocks at the same pyrolysis conditions.Although it depends on soil type,RHB application can improve soil organic carbon content,cation exchange capacity,available K concentration,bulk density and microbial activity.The effect of RHB on soil aggregation mainly depends on soil texture.The growth of different crops is also enhanced by application of RHB.RHB addition to soil can immobilize heavy metals and herbicides and reduce their bioavailability.RHB application shows a significant capacity in reduction of nitrate leaching,although its magnitude depends on the biochar application rate and soil biogeochemical characteristics.Use of RHB,especially in paddy fields,shows a promising mitigation effect on greenhouse gas(CH4,CO2 and N2O)emissions.Although RHB characteristics are also related to other factors such as pyrolysis heating rate and residence time,its performance for specific applications(e.g.carbon sequestration,pH amendment)can be manipulated by adjusting the pyrolysis temperature.More research is needed on long-term field applications of RHB to fully understand the advantages and disadvantages of RHB as a soil amendment.

Tuning the charge distribution and crystal field of iron single atoms via iron oxide integration for enhanced oxygen reduction reaction in zinc-air batteries

Metal-air batteries face a great challenge in developing efficient and durable low-cost oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)electrocatalysts.Single-atom iron catalysts embedded into nitrogen doped carbon(Fe-N-C)have emerged as attractive materials for potential replacement of Pt in ORR,but their catalytic performance was limited by the symmetrical electronic structure distribution around the single-atom Fe site.Here,we report our findings in significantly enhancing the ORR performance of Fe-N-C by moderate Fe_(2)O_(3) integration via the strong electronic interaction.Remarkably,the optimized catalyst(M-Fe_(2)O_(3)/Fe_(SA)@NC)exhibits excellent activity,durability and good tolerance to methanol,outperforming the benchmark Pt/C catalyst.When M-Fe_(2)O_(3)/Fe_(SA)@NC catalyst was used in a practical zinc-air battery assembly,peak power density of 155 mW cm^(-2)and specific capacity of 762 mA h g_(Zn)^(-1)were achieved and the battery assembly has shown superior cycling stability over a period of 200 h.More importantly,theoretical studies suggest that the introduction of Fe_(2)O_(3) can evoke the crystal field alteration and electron redistribution on single Fe atoms,which can break the symmetric charge distribution of Fe-N_(4) and thereby optimize the corresponding adsorption energy of intermediates to promote the O_(2)reduction.This study provides a new pathway to promote the catalytic performance of single-atom catalysts.

Transient receptor potential channels and calcium dysregulation: a pathogenic duo in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease(PD) has a complex and multifactorial pathophysiology. Various studies, conducted both in pre-clinical models and PD patients, have reported a link between the disruption of calcium(Ca^(2+)) homeostasis and the subsequent development of PD. Ca^(2+) regulation is crucial for neuronal survival, differentiation,exocytosis at synapses,gene transcription,and proliferation.

Enhancing thermodynamic stability of single-crystal Ni-rich cathode material via a synergistic dual-substitution strategy

Nickel(Ni)-rich cathode materials have become promising candidates for the next-generation electrical vehicles due to their high specific capacity.However,the poor thermodynamic stability(including cyclic performance and safety performance or thermal stability)will restrain their wide commercial application.Herein,a single-crystal Ni-rich Li Ni_(0.83)Co_(0.12)Mn_(0.05)O_(2) cathode material is synthesized and modified by a dual-substitution strategy in which the high-valence doping element improves the structural stability by forming strong metal–oxygen binding forces,while the low-valence doping element eliminates high Li^(+)/Ni^(2+)mixing.As a result,this synergistic dual substitution can effectively suppress H2-H3 phase transition and generation of microcracks,thereby ultimately improving the thermodynamic stability of Ni-rich cathode material.Notably,the dual-doped Ni-rich cathode delivers an extremely high capacity retention of 81%after 250 cycles(vs.Li/Li+)in coin-type half cells and 87%after 1000 cycles(vs.graphite/Li^(+))in pouch-type full cells at a high temperature of 55℃.More impressively,the dual-doped sample exhibits excellent thermal stability,which demonstrates a higher thermal runaway temperature and a lower calorific value.The synergetic effects of this dual-substitution strategy pave a new pathway for addressing the critical challenges of Ni-rich cathode at high temperatures,which will significantly advance the high-energy-density and high-safety cathodes to the subsequent commercialization.

Systematic engineering of BiVO_(4)photoanode for efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation

BiVO_(4)is one of the most promising photoanode materials for photoelectrochemical(PEC)solar energy conversion,but it still suffers from poor photocurrent density due to insufficient light‐harvesting efficiency(LHE),weak photogenerated charge separation efficiency(Φ_(Sep)),and low water oxidation efficiency(Φ_(OX)).Herein,we tackle these challenges of the BiVO_(4)photoanodes using systematic engineering,including catalysis engineering,bandgap engineering,and morphology engineering.In particular,we deposit a NiCoO_(x)layer onto the BiVO_(4)photoanode as the oxygen evolution catalyst to enhance theΦ_(OX)of Fe‐g‐C_(3)N_(4)/BiVO_(4)for PEC water oxidation,and incorporate Fe‐doped graphite‐phase C_(3)N_(4)(Fe‐g‐C_(3)N_(4))into the BiVO_(4)photoanode to optimize the bandgap and surface areas to subsequently expand the light absorption range of the photoanode from 530 to 690 nm,increase the LHE andΦ_(Sep),and further improve the oxygen evolution reaction activity of the NiCoO_(x)catalytic layer.Consequently,the maximum photocurrent density of the as‐prepared NiCoO_(x)/Fe‐g‐C_(3)N_(4)/BiVO_(4)is remarkably boosted from 4.6 to 7.4 mA cm^(−2).This work suggests that the proposed systematic engineering strategy is exceptionally promising for improving LHE,Φ_(Sep),andΦ_(OX)of BiVO_(4)‐based photoanodes,which will substantially benefit the design,preparation,and large‐scale application of next‐generation high‐performance photoanodes.

Exploring the Roles of Single Atom in Hydrogen Peroxide Photosynthesis

This comprehensive review provides a deep exploration of the unique roles of single atom catalysts(SACs)in photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2))production.SACs offer multiple benefits over traditional catalysts such as improved efficiency,selectivity,and flexibility due to their distinct electronic structure and unique properties.The review discusses the critical elements in the design of SACs,including the choice of metal atom,host material,and coordination environment,and how these elements impact the catalytic activity.The role of single atoms in photocatalytic H_(2)O_(2)production is also analysed,focusing on enhancing light absorption and charge generation,improving the migration and separation of charge carriers,and lowering the energy barrier of adsorption and activation of reactants.Despite these advantages,several challenges,including H_(2)O_(2)decomposition,stability of SACs,unclear mechanism,and low selectivity,need to be overcome.Looking towards the future,the review suggests promising research directions such as direct utilization of H_(2)O_(2),high-throughput synthesis and screening,the creation of dual active sites,and employing density functional theory for investigating the mechanisms of SACs in H_(2)O_(2)photosynthesis.This review provides valuable insights into the potential of single atom catalysts for advancing the field of photocatalytic H_(2)O_(2)production.

Simulated perturbation in the sea-to-air flux of dimethylsulfi de and the impact on polar climate

Marine biogenic emission of dimethylsulfi de(DMS)has been well recognized as the main natural source of reduced sulfur to the remote marine atmosphere and has the potential to aff ect climate,especially in the polar regions.We used a global climate model(GCM)to investigate the impact on atmospheric chemistry from a change to the contemporary DMS fl ux to that which has been projected for the late 21 st century.The perturbed simulation corresponded to conditions that pertained to a tripling of equivalent CO 2,which was estimated to occur by year 2090 based on current worst-case greenhouse gas emission scenarios.The changes in zonal mean DMS fl ux were applied to 50°S–70°S Antarctic(ANT)and 65°N–80°N Arctic(ARC)regions.The results indicate that there are clearly diff erent impacts after perturbation in the southern and northern polar regions.Most quantities related to the sulfur cycle show a higher increase in ANT.However,most sulfur compounds have higher peaks in ARC.The perturbation in DMS fl ux leads to an increase of atmospheric DMS of about 45%in ANT and 33.6%in ARC.The sulfur dioxide(SO 2)vertical integral increases around 43%in ANT and 7.5%in ARC.Sulfate(SO 4)vertical integral increases by 17%in ANT and increases around 6%in ARC.Sulfur emissions increases by 21%in ANT and increases by 9.7%in ARC.However,oxidation of DMS by OH increases by 38.2%in ARC and by 15.17%in ANT.Aerosol optical depth(AOD)increases by 4%in the ARC and by 17.5%in the ANT,and increases by 22.8%in austral summer.The importance of the perturbation of the biogenic source to future aerosol burden in polar regions leads to a cooling in surface temperature of 1 K in the ANT and 0.8 K in the ARC.Generally,polar regions in the Antarctic Ocean will have a higher off setting eff ect on warming after DMS fl ux perturbation.

DFT‑Guided Design and Fabrication of Carbon‑Nitride‑Based Materials for Energy Storage Devices:A Review

Carbon nitrides(including CN,C2N,C3N,C3N4,C4N,and C5N)are a unique family of nitrogen-rich carbon materials with multiple beneficial properties in crystalline structures,morphologies,and electronic configurations.In this review,we provide a comprehensive review on these materials properties,theoretical advantages,the synthesis and modification strategies of different carbon nitride-based materials(CNBMs)and their application in existing and emerging rechargeable battery systems,such as lithium-ion batteries,sodium and potassium-ion batteries,lithium sulfur batteries,lithium oxygen batteries,lithium metal batteries,zinc-ion batteries,and solid-state batteries.The central theme of this review is to apply the theoretical and computational design to guide the experimental synthesis of CNBMs for energy storage,i.e.,facilitate the application of first-principle studies and density functional theory for electrode material design,synthesis,and characterization of different CNBMs for the aforementioned rechargeable batteries.At last,we conclude with the challenges,and prospects of CNBMs,and propose future perspectives and strategies for further advancement of CNBMs for rechargeable batteries.

Synergetic photocatalytic and thermocatalytic reforming of methanol for hydrogen production based on Pt@TiO_(2) catalyst

In order to efficiently produce H_(2),conventional methanol‐water thermocatalytic(TC)reforming requires a very high temperature due to high Gibbs free energy,while the energy conversion efficiency of methanol‐water photocatalytic(PC)reforming is far from satisfaction because of the kinetic limitation.To address these issues,herein,we incorporate PC and TC processes together in a specially designed reactor and realize simultaneous photocatalytic/thermocatalytic(PC‐TC)reforming of methanol in an aqueous phase.Such a design facilitates the synergetic effect of the PC and TC process for H_(2) production due to a lower energy barrier and faster reaction kinetics.The methanol‐water reforming based on the optimized 0.05%Pt@TiO_(2) catalyst delivers an outstanding H_(2) production rate in the PC‐TC process(5.66μmol H_(2)·g^(‒1) catalyst·s^(‒1)),which is about 3 and 7 times than those of the TC process(1.89μmol H_(2)·g^(‒1) catalyst·s^(‒1))and the PC process(0.80μmol H_(2)·g^(‒1) catalyst·s^(‒1)),respectively.Isotope tracer experiments,active intermediate trapping experiments,and theoretical calculations demonstrate that the photo‐generated holes and hydroxyl radicals could enhance the methanol dehydrogenation,water molecule splitting,and water‐gas shift reaction,while high temperature accelerates reaction kinetics.The proposed PC‐TC reforming of methanol for hydrogen production can be a promising technology to solve the energy and environmental issue in the closed‐loop hydrogen economy in the near future.

The role of electrolyte acid concentration in the electrochemical exfoliation of graphite:Mechanism and synthesis of electrochemical graphene oxide

Electrochemistry has emerged as a major route for graphene and graphene oxide synthesis from graphite.Anodic graphite oxidation is commonly used with dilute mineral acid or aqueous salt electrolytes.In this system,the electrolyte acid concentration appears to be a critical parameter.However,the effect of the acid concentration,particularly at low concentrations,is still not fully understood.To address this issue,we used a packed bed electrochemical reactor to synthesize seven different electrochemical graphite oxide(EGO)products in 2–16M sulfuric acid.Detailed XRD,XPS,Raman,conductivity and optical microscopy analysis of the products was carried out.We found dilute acid(<10 M)graphite oxides were less crystalline and less oxidized than those produced in stronger acids.The oxygen evolution reaction at the graphite surface appears to affect the structural changes,oxidation mechanism,and electrochemical corrosion of the anode.EGO conductivity is also strongly affected by the electrolyte’s acidity.We show that well oxidized,yet reasonably conductive,single layer graphene oxide can be produced from 7.1M acid.These results broaden our understanding of graphite electrochemistry and will serve to inform future electrochemical graphene synthesis efforts.

Low-strain Co-free Li-rich layered cathode with excellent voltage and capacity stability

Owing to the inherent advantages of low cost and high capacity,cobalt(Co)-free lithium(Li)-rich layered oxides have become one of the most promising cathodes for next-generation high-energy lithium-ion batteries.However,these familial cathodes suffer from serious voltage decay due to many reasons,such as oxygen release and transition metal(TM)migration,which are closely related to nanoscale strain evolution.Here,by combining the synergistic effects of surface integration,bulk doping,and concentration gradient,we successfully construct a Co-free Li-rich layered cathode with a very small volumetric strain(1.05%)between 2.0 and 4.8 V,approaching the critical value of zero strain.Various characterizations indicate that the constructed zero-strain cathode can significantly suppress the TM migration,interfacial reactions,and structural degradation including cracks,lattice defects,phase evolution,and nanovoids,leading to improved voltage stability of Co-free Li-rich layered oxides during the prolonged cycles.This work provides a strategy to eliminate the lattice strain of Li-rich layered cathodes and facilitates the up-scaled application of the as-prepared cathode materials.

Strategies for Sustainable Production of Hydrogen Peroxide via Oxygen Reduction Reaction:From Catalyst Design to Device Setup

An environmentally benign,sustainable,and cost-effective supply of H_(2)O_(2)as a rapidly expanding consumption raw material is highly desired for chemical industries,medical treatment,and household disinfection.The electrocatalytic production route via electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)offers a sustainable avenue for the onsite production of H_(2)O_(2)from O2 and H2O.The most crucial and innovative part of such technology lies in the availability of suitable electrocatalysts that promote two-electron(2e^(–))ORR.In recent years,tremendous progress has been achieved in designing efficient,robust,and cost-effective catalyst materials,including noble metals and their alloys,metalfree carbon-based materials,single-atom catalysts,and molecular catalysts.Meanwhile,innovative cell designs have significantly advanced electrochemical applications at the industrial level.This review summarizes fundamental basics and recent advances in H_(2)O_(2)production via 2e^(–)-ORR,including catalyst design,mechanistic explorations,theoretical computations,experimental evaluations,and electrochemical cell designs.Perspectives on addressing remaining challenges are also presented with an emphasis on the large-scale synthesis of H_(2)O_(2)via the electrochemical route.

A hydrophilic poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic acid) polymer as a green, universal, and dual-functional binder for high-performance silicon anode and sulfur cathode

Binders could play crucial or even decisive roles in the fabrication of low-cost, stable and high-capacity electrodes. This is especially the case for the silicon (Si) anodes and sulfur (S) cathodes that undergo large volume change and active material loss in lithium-ion batteries during prolonged cycles. Herein, a hydrophilic polymer poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic acid) (PMVEMA) was explored as a dual-functional aqueous binder for the preparation of high-performance silicon anode and sulfur cathode. Benefiting from the dual functions of PMVEMA, i.e., the excellent dispersion ability and strong binding forces, the as-prepared electrodes exhibit improved capacity, rate capability and long-term cycling performance. In particular, the as-prepared Si electrode delivers a high initial discharge capacity of 1346.5 mAh g^(−1) at a high rate of 8.4 A/g and maintains 834.5 mAh g^(−1) after 300 cycles at 4.2 A/g, while the as-prepared S cathode exhibits enhanced cycling performance with high remaining discharge capacities of 663.4 mAh g^(−1) after 100 cycles at 0.2 C and 487.07 mAh g^(−1) after 300 cycles at 1 C, respectively. These encouraging results suggest that PMVEMA could be a universal binder to facilitate the green manufacture of both anode and cathode for high-capacity energy storage systems.

Functional additives for solid polymer electrolytes in flexible and high-energy-density solid-state lithium-ion batteries

Solid polymer electrolytes(SPEs)have become increasingly attractive in solid-state lithium-ion batteries(SSLIBs)in recent years because of their inherent properties of flexibility,processability,and interfacial compatibility.However,the commercialization of SPEs remains challenging for flexible and high-energy-density LIBs.The incorporation of functional additives into SPEs could significantly improve the electrochemical and mechanical properties of SPEs and has created some historical milestones in boosting the development of SPEs.In this study,we review the roles of additives in SPEs,highlighting the working mechanisms and functionalities of the additives.The additives could afford significant advantages in boosting ionic conductivity,increasing ion transference number,improving high-voltage stability,enhancing mechanical strength,inhibiting lithium dendrite,and reducing flammability.Moreover,the application of functional additives in high-voltage cathodes,lithium-sulfur batteries,and flexible lithiumion batteries is summarized.Finally,future research perspectives are proposed to overcome the unresolved technical hurdles and critical issues in additives of SPEs,such as facile fabrication process,interfacial compatibility,investigation of the working mechanism,and special functionalities.

Interface Engineering of CoS/CoO@N‑Doped Graphene Nanocomposite for High‑Performance Rechargeable Zn–Air Batteries

Low cost and green fabrication of high-performance electrocatalysts with earth-abundant resources for oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)and oxygen evolution reaction(OER)are crucial for the large-scale application of rechargeable Zn-air batteries(ZABs).In this work,our density functional theory calculations on the electrocatalyst suggest that the rational construction of interfacial structure can induce local charge redistribution,improve the electronic conductivity and enhance the catalyst stability.In order to realize such a structure,we spatially immobilize heterogeneous CoS/CoO nanocrystals onto N-doped graphene to synthesize a bifunctional electrocatalyst(CoS/CoO@NGNs).The optimization of the composition,interfacial structure and conductivity of the electrocatalyst is conducted to achieve bifunctional catalytic activity and deliver outstanding efficiency and stability for both ORR and OER.The aqueous ZAB with the as-prepared CoS/CoO@NGNs cathode displays a high maximum power density of 137.8 mW cm^−2,a specific capacity of 723.9 mAh g^−1 and excellent cycling stability(continuous operating for 100 h)with a high round-trip efficiency.In addition,the assembled quasi-solid-state ZAB also exhibits outstanding mechanical flexibility besides high battery performances,showing great potential for applications in flexible and wearable electronic devices.

Cyclohexanedodecol-Assisted Interfacial Engineering for Robust and High-Performance Zinc Metal Anode

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries(AZIBs)can be one of the most promising electrochemical energy storage devices for being non-flammable,low-cost,and sustainable.However,the challenges of AZIBs,including dendrite growth,hydrogen evolution,corrosion,and passivation of zinc anode during charging and discharging processes,must be overcome to achieve high cycling performance and stability in practical applications.In this work,we utilize a dual-func-tional organic additive cyclohexanedodecol(CHD)to firstly establish[Zn(H2O)5(CHD)]2+complex ion in an aqueous Zn electrolyte and secondly build a robust protection layer on the Zn surface to overcome these dilemmas.Systematic experiments and theoretical calculations are carried out to interpret the working mechanism of CHD.At a very low concentration of 0.1 mg mL^(−1) CHD,long-term reversible Zn plating/stripping could be achieved up to 2200 h at 2 mA cm^(−2),1000 h at 5 mA cm^(−2),and 650 h at 10 mA cm^(−2) at the fixed capacity of 1 mAh cm^(−2).When matched with V_(2)O_(5) cathode,the resultant AZIBs full cell with the CHD-modified electrolyte presents a high capacity of 175 mAh g^(−1) with the capacity retention of 92%after 2000 cycles under 2 A g^(−1).Such a performance could enable the commercialization of AZIBs for applications in grid energy storage and industrial energy storage.

Honeycomb-like carbon materials derived from coffee extract via a “salty” thermal treatment for high-performance Li-I2 batteries

Sustainable,conductive,and porous carbon materials are ideal for energy storage materials.In this study,honeycomb-like carbon materials(HCM)are synthesized via a“salty”thermal treatment of abundant and sustainable coffee extract.Systematic materials characterization indicates that the as-prepared HCM consists of heteroatoms(N and O,etc.)doped ultra-thin carbon framework,possesses remarkable specific surface area,and excellent electrical conductivity.Such properties bestow HCM outstanding materials to be the blocking layer for Li-I2 battery,significantly eliminating the dissolution of I2 in the cathode region and stopping the I2 from shutting to anode compartment.Furthermore,our electrochemical investigation suggests that HCM could incur surface pseudo-capacitive iodine-ions charge storage and contribute additional energy storage capacity.As a result,the resultant Li-I2 battery achieves a robust and highly reversible capacity of 224.5 mAh·g−1 at the rate of 10 C.Even under a high rate of 50 C,the remarkable capacity of the as-prepared Li-I2 battery can still be maintained at 120.2 mAh·g−1 after 4000 cycles.