α-MnO2 Cathode with Oxygen Vacancies Accelerated Affinity Electrolyte for Dual-Ion Co-Encapsulated Aqueous Aluminum Ion Batteries

Aluminum batteries (ABs) are identified as one of the most promising candidates for the next generation of large-scale energy storage elements because of their efficient three-electron reaction. Compared to ionic electrolytes, aqueous aluminum-ion batteries (AAIBs) are considered safer, less costly, and more environmentally friendly. However, considerable cycling performance is a key issue limiting the development of AAIBs. Stable, efficient, and electrolyte-friendly cathodes are most desirable for AAIBs. Herein, a rod-shaped defect-rich α-MnO2 is designed as a cathode, which is capable to deliver high performance with stable cycling for 180 cycles at 500 mA g-1 and maintains a discharge specific capacity of ≈100 mAh g-1. In addition, the infiltrability simulation is effectively utilized to corroborate the rapid electrochemical reaction brought about by the defective mechanism. With the formation of oxygen vacancies, the dual embedding of protons and metal ions is activated. This work provides a brand-new design for the development and characterization of cathodes for AAIBs.

Heterostructures Assembled from Bi2O2CO3 and MXene for Boosted Potassium-Ion Storage by Arousing the Built-in Electric Field

Bismuth-based materials have been recognized as the appealing anodes for potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) due to their high theoretical capacity. However, the kinetics sluggishness and capacity decline induced by the structure distortion predominately retard their further development. Here, a heterostructure of polyaniline intercalated Bi2O2CO3/MXene (BOC-PA/MXene) hybrids is reported via simple self-assembly strategy. The ingenious design of heterointerface-rich architecture motivates significantly the interior self-built-in electric field (IEF) and high-density electron flow, thus accelerating the charge transfer and boosting ion diffusion. As a result, the hybrids realize a high reversible specific capacity, satisfying rate capability as well as long-term cycling stability. The in/ex situ characterizations further elucidate the stepwise intercalation-conversion-alloying reaction mechanism of BOC-PA/MXene. More encouragingly, the full cell investigation further highlights its competitive merits for practical application in further PIBs. The present work not only opens the way to the design of other electrodes with an appropriate working mechanism but also offers inspiration for built-in electric-field engineering toward high-performance energy storage devices.

In Situ Formed Robust Solid Electrolyte Interphase with Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Layer for Stable Zn Metal Anode

Stabilizing the Zn anode/electrolyte interface is critical for advancing aqueous zinc ion storage technologies. Addressing this challenge helps minimize parasitic reactions and controls the formation of Zn dendrites, which is fundamental to achieving highly reversible Zn electrochemistry. In this study, 2% by volume of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is introduced into the baseline zinc sulfate (ZS) electrolyte, which acts as an efficient regulator to form a robust solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) on the Zn anode. This innovative approach enables uniform Zn deposition and does not substantially modify the Zn2+ solvation structure. The Zn||Zn symmetric cell exhibits an extended cycle life of nearly one calendar year (>8500 h) at a current density of 0.5 mA cm-2 and an areal capacity of 0.5 mAh cm-2. Impressive full cell performance can be achieved. Specifically, the Zn||VS2 full cell achieves an areal capacity of 1.7 mAh cm-2, with a superior negative-to-positive capacity ratio of 2.5, and an electrolyte-to-capacity ratio of 101.4 µL mAh-1, displaying remarkable stability over 1000 cycles under a high mass loading of 11.0 mg cm-2 without significant degradation. This innovative approach in electrolyte engineering provides a new perspective on in situ SEI design and furthers the understanding of Zn anode stabilization.

[Interpretation of global lung cancer statistics]

Lung cancer remains one of the leading cause of global cancer-related mortality, posing a significant burden of disease. Tobacco exposure stands as the foremost risk factor for lung cancer. Since the 1960, global efforts have gradually been implemented to control tobacco exposure, consequently reducing tobacco exposure levels within populations. This shift in exposure levels may have altered the epidemiological characteristics of lung cancer globally. This study aims to describe global lung cancer incidence data across five dimensions: age, gender, region, stage at diagnosis, and survival status, using global cancer registry data and relevant research findings. The objective is to elucidate the current epidemiological features of lung cancer worldwide, providing a scientific basis for lung cancer prevention and control. Furthermore, this study offers corresponding measures and recommendations for lung cancer prevention and control, aligning with the three-tiered cancer prevention strategy. Findings indicate that the incidence and mortality burden of lung cancer is significantly higher among the elderly population (aged 65 years and above) compared to the working-age population (aged 15-64 years). The aged-standardized incidence rate of lung cancer remains higher in males than in females, but the overall aged-standardized incidence rate of lung cancer in males shows a declining trend, while that in females shows an increasing trend. Regions with high and very high human development index (HDI) exhibit a substantially higher incidence and mortality burden of lung cancer compared to regions with low and very low HDI. Japan ranks highest in the diagnosis of stage Ⅰ lung cancer, with a diagnosis rate of 38.6%. Its age-standardized 5-year net survival rate is relatively high at 32.9%. Despite improvements in the survival status of lung cancer in certain countries like China and Japan, the overall prognosis for lung cancer remains pessimistic. Given the current epidemiological characteristics of lung cancer, reinforcing tobacco control measures and reducing female-specific lung cancer risk factors stand as significant goals for primary prevention. Promoting low-dose computed tomography screening for high-risk population, minimizing false-positive rates in lung cancer screening, and promoting medical system reforms and standardized treatment constitute principal measures for secondary and tertiary lung cancer prevention, respectively.

Analytical Model of Optical-Field-Driven Subcycle Electron Tunneling Pulses from Two-Dimensional Materials

We develop analytical models of optical-field-driven electron tunneling from the edge and surface of free-standing two-dimensional (2D) materials. We discover a universal scaling between the tunneling current density (J) and the electric field near the barrier (F): In(J/|F|β) ∝ 1/|F| with β values of 3/2 and 1 for edge emission and vertical surface emission, respectively. At ultrahigh values of F, the current density exhibits an unexpected high-field saturation effect due to the reduced dimensionality of the 2D material, which is absent in the traditional bulk material. Our calculation reveals the dc bias as an efficient method for modulating the optical-field tunneling subcycle emission characteristics. Importantly, our model is in excellent agreement with a recent experiment on graphene. Our results offer a useful framework for understanding optical-field tunneling emission from 2D materials, which are helpful for the development of optoelectronics and emerging petahertz vacuum nanoelectronics.

Dual-Salt Mixed Electrolyte for High Performance Aqueous Aluminum Batteries

A dual-salt electrolyte with 5 M Al(OTF)3 and 0.5 M LiOTF is proposed for aqueous aluminum batteries, which can effectively prevent the corrosion caused by the hydrogen evolution reaction. With the addition of LiOTF in the electrolyte, the solvation phenomenon has changed with the coordination mode of Al3+ conversion from an all octahedral structure to a mixed octahedral and tetrahedral structure. This change can reduce the hydrogen bond between water molecules, which will minimize the occurrence of hydrogen evolution reactions. Moreover, the new electrolyte improves the cycle life of the battery. With MnO as the cathode, 2.1 V high charging platform and 1.5 V high discharge platform can be obtained. The electrochemical stability window (ESW) has been improved to 3.8 V. The first cycle capacity is up to 437 mAh g-1, which can be maintained at 103 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles. This work provides solutions for the future development of electrolyte for aqueous aluminum batteries.

Robust and Corrosion-Resistant Overall Water Splitting Electrode Enabled by Additive Manufacturing

Electrolysis of water has emerged as a prominent area of research in recent years. As a promising catalyst support, copper foam is widely investigated for electrolytic water, yet the insufficient mechanical strength and corrosion resistance render it less suitable for harsh working conditions. To exploit high-performance catalyst supports, various metal supports are comprehensively evaluated, and Ti6 Al4 V (Ti64) support exhibited outstanding compression and corrosion resistance. With this in mind, a 3D porous Ti64 catalyst support is fabricated using the selective laser sintering (SLM) 3D printing technology, and a conductive layer of nickel (Ni) is coated to increase the electrical conductivity and facilitate the deposition of catalysts. Subsequently, Co0.8 Ni0.2 (CO3 )0.5 (OH)·0.11H2 O (CoNiCH) nanoneedles are deposited. The resulting porous Ti64/Ni/CoNiCH electrode displayed an impressive performance in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and reached 30 mA cm-2 at an overpotential of only 200 mV. Remarkably, even after being compressed at 15.04 MPa, no obvious structural deformation is observed, and the attenuation of its catalytic efficiency is negligible. Based on the computational analysis, the CoNiCH catalyst demonstrated superior catalytic activity at the Ni site in comparison to the Co site. Furthermore, the electrode reached 30 mA cm-2 at 1.75 V in full water splitting conditions and showed no significant performance degradation even after 60 h of continuous operation. This study presents an innovative approach to robust and corrosion-resistant catalyst design.

Rational Construction of 3D Self-Supported MOF-Derived Cobalt Phosphide-Based Hollow Nanowall Arrays for Efficient Overall Water Splitting At large Current Density

Developing efficient nonprecious bifunctional electrocatalysts for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER) in the same electrolyte with a low overpotential and large current density presents an appealing yet challenging goal for large-scale water electrolysis. Herein, a unique 3D self-branched hierarchical nanostructure composed of ultra-small cobalt phosphide (CoP) nanoparticles embedded into N, P-codoped carbon nanotubes knitted hollow nanowall arrays (CoPʘNPCNTs HNWAs) on carbon textiles (CTs) through a carbonization-phosphatization process is presented. Benefiting from the uniform protrusion distributions of CoP nanoparticles, the optimum CoPʘNPCNTs HNWAs composites with high abundant porosity exhibit superior electrocatalytic activity and excellent stability for OER in alkaline conditions, as well as for HER in both acidic and alkaline electrolytes, even under large current densities. Furthermore, the assembled CoPʘNPCNTs/CTs||CoPʘNPCNTs/CTs electrolyzer demonstrates exceptional performance, requiring an ultralow cell voltage of 1.50 V to deliver the current density of 10 mA cm-2 for overall water splitting (OWS) with favorable stability, even achieving a large current density of 200 mA cm-2 at a low cell voltage of 1.78 V. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation further reveals that all the C atoms between N and P atoms in CoPʘNPCNTs/CTs act as the most efficient active sites, significantly enhancing the electrocatalytic properties. This strategy, utilizing 2D MOF arrays as a structural and compositional material to create multifunctional composites/hybrids, opens new avenues for the exploration of highly efficient and robust non-noble-metal catalysts for energy-conversion reactions.

[Current status of global colorectal cancer prevalence, prevention and control]

Objective: This paper provides a brief overview of the epidemiology of colorectal cancer in China and around the world, and discusses how to prevent colorectal cancer to reduce its disease burden. Method: Using the official database of GLOBOCAN 2020, the China Cancer Registry Annual Report compiled by the National Cancer Center, and data from CONCORD-3.Data management was performed by Microsoft Excel 2016 and R 4.2.1 Relevant graphs were generated using the ggplot2 package for result visualization. Result: An estimated 1 931 590 people were diagnosed with colorectal cancer worldwide in 2020 with an age-standardized incidence rate of 19.5 per 100 000. There were about 935 173 deaths caused by colorectal cancer internationally, with an age-standardized mortality rate of 9.0 per 100 000. Overall, colorectal cancer was the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide in 2020. In China, the age-standardized incidence rate and mortality rate of colorectal cancer was 17.3 per 100 000 and 7.8 per 100 000, respectively. Gender differences in trends were observed, with a decreasing trend in incidence and mortality among females and an increasing trend in incidence and mortality among males. The primary risk factors for colorectal cancer include age, genetic factors, gastrointestinal disorders, dietary habits, and lifestyle et al. Conclusions: Colorectal cancer poses a significant burden globally and in China. The occurrence of colorectal cancer is closely related to physiology, genetics, behavioral habits, lifestyle, and disease factors. To better control the colorectal cancer burden with the lowest cost, specific measures should be taken to reduce exposure to established risk factors. By combining the disease prevention and control strategies of tertiary prevention in China with the characteristic factors of colorectal cancer, the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer may be effectively controlled.

Electrolyte Modulation Strategies for Low-Temperature Zn Batteries

Aqueous rechargeable Zn metal batteries (ARZBs) are extensively studied recently because of their low-cost, high-safety, long lifespan, and other unique merits. However, the terrible ion conductivity and insufficient interfacial redox dynamics at low temperatures restrict their extended applications under harsh environments such as polar inspections, deep sea exploration, and daily use in cold regions. Electrolyte modulation is considered to be an effective way to achieve low-temperature operation for ARZBs. In this review, first, the fundamentals of the liquid-solid transition of water at low temperatures are revealed, and an in-depth understanding of the critical factors for inferior performance at low temperatures is given. Furthermore, the electrolyte modulation strategies are categorized into anion/concentration regulation, organic co-solvent/additive introduction, anti-freezing hydrogels construction, and eutectic mixture design strategies, and emphasize the recent progress of these strategies in low-temperature Zn batteries. Finally, promising design principles for better electrolytes are recommended and future research directions about high-performance ARZBs at low temperatures are provided.

Synergetic Sn Incorporation-Zn Substitution in Copper-Based Sulfides Enabling Superior Na-Ion Storage

Transition-metal sulfides have been regarded as perspective anode candidates for high-energy Na-ion batteries. Their application, however, is precluded severely by either low charge storage or huge volumetric change along with sluggish reaction kinetics. Herein, an effective synergetic Sn incorporation-Zn substitution strategy is proposed based on copper-based sulfides. First, Na-ion storage capability of copper sulfide is significantly improved via incorporating an alloy-based Sn element. However, this process is accompanied by sacrifice of structural stability due to the high Na-ion uptake. Subsequently, to maintain the high Na-ion storage capacity, and concurrently improve cycling and rate capabilities, a Zn substitution strategy (taking partial Sn sites) is carried out, which could significantly promote Na-ion diffusion/reaction kinetics and relieve mechanical strain-stress within the crystal framework. The synergetic Sn incorporation and Zn substitution endow copper-based sulfides with high specific capacity (≈560 mAh g-1 at 0.5 A g-1 ), ultrastable cyclability (80 k cycles with ≈100% capacity retention), superior rate capability up to 200 A g-1 , and ultrafast charging feature (≈4 s per charging with ≈190 mAh g-1 input). This work provides in-depth insights for developing superior anode materials via synergetic multi-cation incorporation/substitution, aiming at solving their intrinsic issues of either low specific capacity or poor cyclability.

Oxygen Vacancies Boosted Proton Intercalation Kinetics for Aqueous Aluminum-Manganese Batteries

Aluminum-ion batteries have garnered an extensive amount of attention due to their superior electrochemical performance, low cost, and high safety. To address the limitation of battery performance, exploring new cathode materials and understanding the reaction mechanism for these batteries are of great significance. Among numerous candidates, multiple structures and valence states make manganese-based oxides the best choice for aqueous aluminum-ion batteries (AAIBs). In this work, a new cathode consists of γ-MnO2 with abundant oxygen vacancies. As a result, the electrode shows a high discharge capacity of 481.9 mAh g-1 at 0.2 A g-1 and a sustained reversible capacity of 128.6 mAh g-1 after 200 cycles at 0.4 A g-1. In particular, through density functional theory calculation and experimental comparison, the role of oxygen vacancies in accelerating the reaction kinetics of H+ has been verified. This study provides insights into the application of manganese dioxide materials in aqueous AAIBs.

Cationic Defect-Modulated Li-Ion Migration in High-Voltage Li-Metal Batteries

Li metal exhibits high potential as an anode material for next-generation high-energy density batteries. However, the nonuniform transport of Li+ ions causes Li-dendrite growth at the metal electrode, leading to severe capacity decay and a short cycling life. In this study, negatively charged lithiophilic sites (such as cationic metal vacancies) were used as hosts to regulate the atomic-scale Li+-ion deposition in Li-metal batteries (LMBs). As a proof of concept, three-dimensional (3D) carbon nanofibers (CNFs) decorated with negatively charged TiNbO4 grains (labeled CNF/nc-TNO) were confirmed to be promising Li hosts. Cationic vacancies caused by the carbothermal reduction of Nb5+ and Ti4+ ions generated a negatively charged fiber surface and strong electrostatic interactions that guided the Li+-ion flux to the shadowed areas underneath the fiber and throughout the fibrous mat. Consequently, circumferential Li-metal plating was observed in the CNF/nc-TNO host, even at a high current density of 10 mA cm-2. Moreover, CNF/nc-TNO asymmetric cells delivered a significantly more robust and stable Coulombic efficiency (CE) (99.2% over 380 cycles) than cells comprising electrically neutral CNFs without cationic defects (which exhibits rapid failure after 20 cycles) or Cu foil (which exhibits rapid CE decay, with a CE of 87.1% after 100 cycles). Additionally, CNF/nc-TNO exhibited high stability and low-voltage hysteresis during repeated Li plating/stripping (for over 4000 h at 2 mA cm-2) with an areal capacity of 2 mAh cm-2. It was further paired with high-voltage LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1 (NCM811) cathodes, and the full cells showed long-term cycling (220 cycles) with a CE of 99.2% and a steady rate capability.

Co4S3 Nanoparticles Confined in an MnS Nanorod-Grafted N, S-Codoped Carbon Polyhedron for Highly Efficient Sodium-Ion Batteries

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) suffer from limited ion diffusion and structural expansion, generating the urgent demand for Na+ accommodable materials with promising architectures. In this work, the rational exploration for Co4S3 nanoparticles confined in an MnS nanorod-grafted N, S-codoped carbon polyhedron (Co-Mn-S@N-S-C) is achieved by the in situ growth of MOF on MnO2 nanorod along with the subsequent carbonization and sulfurization. Benefiting from the distinctive nanostructure, the Co-Mn-S@N-S-C anode delivers excellent structural stability, resulting in prolonged cycling stability with a capacity retention of 90.2% after 1000 cycles at 2 A g-1. Moreover, the reaction storage mechanism is clarified by the in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements. The results indicate that properly designed electrode materials have huge potential applications for highly efficient energy storage devices.

[Epidemiological characteristics and spatiotemporal distribution of schizophrenia in Ningbo, 2018-2022]

Objective: To explore the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of reported incidence of schizophrenia in Ningbo from 2018 to 2022 and to provide a scientific basis for rational allocation of mental health resources and comprehensive prevention and treatment of schizophrenia. Methods: The reported incidence data of schizophrenia from 2018 to 2022 were collected from Ningbo's mental health information management system, and the reported incidence was calculated by township. The spatial correlation analysis and the spatiotemporal scan analysis were used to study the spatiotemporal distribution of schizophrenia. Results: The reported incidence of schizophrenia decreased from 2018 to 2022, with 4 133 new cases reported, and the annual average reported incidence was 9.76/100 000. Global and local spatial autocorrelation analysis showed positive spatial correlations and hot spots in 2018-2020. The space-time scan analysis showed an incidence cluster in Dongqiao Town, Haishu District, during 2018-2019. The RR was 2.46, and the log-likelihood ratio was 256.89. Conclusions: The reported incidence of schizophrenia in Ningbo has obvious temporal and spatial aggregation, and the high incidence area explored can provide clues for further research on the correlation between environmental factors and the incidence of schizophrenia and has certain guiding significance for the rational allocation of mental health resources in Ningbo.

A review of metal-organic framework (MOF) materials as an effective photocatalyst for degradation of organic pollutants

Water plays a vital role in all aspects of life. Recently, water pollution has increased exponentially due to various organic and inorganic pollutants. Organic pollutants are hard to degrade; therefore, cost-effective and sustainable approaches are needed to degrade these pollutants. Organic dyes are the major source of organic pollutants from coloring industries. The photoactive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer an ultimate strategy for constructing photocatalysts to degrade pollutants present in wastewater. Therefore, tuning the metal ions/clusters and organic ligands for the better photocatalytic activity of MOFs is a tremendous approach for wastewater treatment. This review comprehensively reports various MOFs and their composites, especially POM-based MOF composites, for the enhanced photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in the aqueous phase. A brief discussion on various theoretical aspects such as density functional theory (DFT) and machine learning (ML) related to MOF and MOF composite-based photocatalysts has been presented. Thus, this article may eventually pave the way for applying different structural features to modulate novel porous materials for enhanced photodegradation properties toward organic pollutants.

Ultrahigh areal capacity and long cycling stability of sodium metal anodes boosted using a 3D-printed sodiophilic MXene/rGO microlattice aerogel

Sodium metal has emerged as a highly promising anode material for sodium-based batteries, owing to its intrinsic advantages, including its high theoretical capacity, low working plateau and low cost. However, the uncontrolled formation of sodium dendrites accompanied by unrestricted volume expansion severely limits its application. To tackle these issues, we propose an approach to address these issues by adopting a three-dimensional (3D) structure of Ti3C2Tx/reduced graphene oxide (Ti3C2Tx/rGO) constructed by a direct-ink writing (DIW) 3D printing technique as the Na metal anode host electrode. The combination of the 3D-printed rGO skeleton offering artificial porous structures and the incorporation of sodiophilic Ti3C2Tx nanosheets provides abundant nucleation sites and promotes uniform sodium metal deposition. This specially designed architecture significantly enhances the Na metal cycling stability by effectively inhibiting dendrite formation. The experimental results show that the designed Ti3C2Tx/rGO electrode can achieve a high coulombic efficiency (CE) of 99.91% after 1800 cycles (3600 h) at 2 mA cm-2 with 2 mA h cm-2. Notably, the adopted electrodes exhibit a long life span of more than 1400 h with a high CE over 99.93% when measured with an ultra-high capacity of 50 mA h cm-2 at 5 mA cm-2. Furthermore, a 3D-printed full cell consisting of a Na@Ti3C2Tx/rGO anode and a 3D-printed Na3V2(PO4)3C-rGO (NVP@C-rGO) cathode was successfully demonstrated. This 3D-printed cell could provide a notable capacity of 85.3 mA h g-1 at 100 mA g-1 after 500 cycles. The exceptional electrochemical performance achieved by the 3D-printed full cell paves the way for the development of practical sodium metal anodes.

Unusual Hybrid Magnesium Storage Mechanism in a New Type of Bi2O2CO3 Anode

Bismuth and bismuth-based compounds have been extensively studied as anodes as prospective candidates for rechargeable magnesium batteries (rMBs). However, the unsatisfactory magnesium-storage capability caused by the typical alloying reaction mechanism severely restricts the practical option for anodes in rMBs. Herein, polyaniline intercalated Bi2O2CO3 nanosheets are prepared by an effective interlayer engineering strategy to fine-tune the layer structure of Bi2O2CO3, achieving enhanced magnesium-storage capacity, rate performance, as well as long cycle life. Excitedly, a stepwise insertion-conversion-alloying reaction is aroused to stabilize the performance, which is elucidated by in/ex situ investigations. Moreover, first-principles calculations confirm that the coupling of Bi2O2CO3 and polyaniline not only increases the conductivity induced by the strong density of states and the interior self-built-in electric field but also significantly reduces the energy barrier of Mg shuttles. Our findings shed light on exploring new electrode materials with an appropriate working mechanism toward high-performance rechargeable batteries.

Self-Assembled 2D VS2 /Ti3 C2 Tx MXene Nanostructures with Ultrafast Kinetics for Superior Electrochemical Sodium-Ion Storage

Constructing nanostructures with high structural stability and ultrafast electrochemical reaction kinetics as anodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) is a big challenge. Herein, the robust 2D VS2 / Ti3 C2 Tx MXene nanostructures with the strong Ti─S covalent bond synthesized by a one-pot self-assembly approach are developed. The strong interfacial interaction renders the material of good structural durability and enhanced reaction kinetics. Meanwhile, the enlarged and few-layered MXene nanosheets can be easily obtained according to this interaction, providing a conductive network for sufficient electrolyte penetration and rapid charge transfer. As predicted, the VS2 /MXene nanostructures exhibit an extremely low sodium diffusion barrier confirmed by DFT calculations and small charge transfer impedance evidenced by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis. Therefore, the SIBs based on the VS2 /MXene electrode present first-class electrochemical performance with the ultrahigh average initial columbic efficiency of 95.08% and excellent sodium-ion storage capacity of 424.6 mAh g-1 even at 10 A g-1 . It also shows an outstanding sodium-ion storage capacity of 514.2 mAh g-1 at 1 A g-1 with a capacity retention of nearly 100% within 500 times high-rate cycling. Such impressive performance demonstrates the successful synthesis strategy and the great potential of interfacial interactions for high-performance energy storage devices.

Dynamic Regulation of the Interfacial pH for Highly Reversible Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries

An electrolyte additive, with convenient operation and remarkable functions, has been regarded as an effective strategy for prolonging the cycle life of aqueous zinc ion batteries. However, it is still difficult to dynamically regulate the unstable Zn interface during long-term cycling. Herein, tricine was introduced as an efficient regulator to achieve a pH-stable and byproduct-free interface. The functional zwitterion of tricine not only inhibits interfacial pH perturbation and parasitic reactions by the trapping effect of an anionic group (-COO-) but also simultaneously creates a uniform electric field by the electrostatic shielding effect of a cationic group (-NH2+). Such synergy accordingly eliminates dendrite formation and creates a chemical equilibrium in the electrolyte, endowing the Zn||Zn cell with long-term Zn plating/stripping for 2060 h at 5 mA cm-2 and 720 h at 10 mA cm-2. As a result, the Zn||VS2 full cell under a high cathodic loading mass (8.6 mg cm-2) exhibits exceptional capacity retention of 93% after 1000 cycles.

A mini review on metal-organic framework-based electrode materials for capacitive deionization

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is an electrochemical method of extracting ions from solution at potentials below electrolysis. It has various applications ranging from water remediation and desalination to heavy metal removal and selective resource recovery. A CDI device applies an electrical charge across two porous electrodes to attract and remove ions without producing waste products. It is generally considered environmentally friendly and promising for sustainability, yet ion removal efficiency still falls short of more established filtration methods. Commercially available activated carbon is typically used for CDI, and its ion adsorption capacity is low at approximately 20-30 mg g-1. Recently, much interest has been in the highly porous and well-structured family of materials known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Most MOFs are poor conductors of electricity and cannot be directly used to make electrodes. A common workaround is to pyrolyze the MOF to convert its organic components to carbon while maintaining its underlying microstructure. However, most MOF-derived materials only retain partial microstructure after pyrolysis and cannot inherit the robust porosity of the parent MOFs. This review provides a systematic breakdown of structure-performance relationships between a MOF-derived material and its CDI performance based on recent works. This review also serves as a starting point for researchers interested in developing MOF-derived materials for CDI applications.

Core-Shell Tandem Catalysis Coupled with Interface Engineering For High-Performance Room-Temperature Na-S Batteries

The sluggish redox kinetics and shuttle effect seriously impede the large application of room-temperature sodium-sulfur (RT Na-S) batteries. Designing effective catalysts into cathode material is a promising approach to overcome the above issues. However, considering the multistep and multiphase transformations of sulfur redox process, it is impractical to achieve the effective catalysis of the entire S8 →Na2 Sx →Na2 S conversion through applying a single catalyst. Herein, this work fabricates a nitrogen-doped core-shell carbon nanosphere integrated with two different catalysts (ZnS-NC@Ni-N4 ), where isolated Ni-N4 sites and ZnS nanocrystals are distributed in the shell and core, respectively. ZnS nanocrystals ensure the rapid reduction of S8 into Na2 Sx (4 < x ≤ 8), while Ni-N4 sites realize the efficient conversion of Na2 Sx into Na2 S, bridged by the diffusion of Na2 Sx from the core to shell. Besides, Ni-N4 sites on the shell can also induce an inorganic-rich cathode-electrolyte interface (CEI) on ZnS-NC@Ni-N4 to further inhibit the shuttle effect. As a result, ZnS-NC@Ni-N4 /S cathode exhibits an excellent rate-performance (650 mAh g-1 at 5 A g-1 ) and ultralong cycling stability for 2000 cycles with a low capacity-decay rate of 0.011% per cycle. This work will guide the rational design of multicatalysts for high-performance RT Na-S batteries.

Double-Transition-Metal MXene Films Promoting Deeply Rechargeable Magnesium Metal Batteries

Magnesium metal batteries are promising candidates for next-generation high-energy-density and low-cost energy storage systems. Their application, however, is precluded by infinite relative volume changes and inevitable side reactions of Mg metal anodes. These issues become more pronounced at large areal capacities that are required for practical batteries. Herein, for the first time, double-transition-metal MXene films are developed to promote deeply rechargeable magnesium metal batteries using Mo2 Ti2 C3 as a representative example. The freestanding Mo2 Ti2 C3 films, which are prepared using a simple vacuum filtration method, possess good electronic conductivity, unique surface chemistry, and high mechanical modulus. These superior electro-chemo-mechanical merits of Mo2 Ti2 C3 films help to accelerate electrons/ions transfer, suppress electrolyte decomposition and dead Mg formation, as well as maintain electrode structural integrity during long-term and large-capacity operation. As a result, the as-developed Mo2 Ti2 C3 films exhibit reversible Mg plating/stripping with high Coulombic efficiency of 99.3% at a record-high capacity of 15 mAh cm-2 . This work not only sheds innovative insights into current collector design for deeply cyclable Mg metal anodes, but also paves the way for the application of double-transition-metal MXene materials in other alkali and alkaline earth metal batteries.

Predicting adsorption capacity of pharmaceuticals and personal care products on long-term aged microplastics using machine learning

We investigated the adsorption mechanism of 66 coexisting pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) on microplastics treated with potassium persulfate, potassium hydroxide, and Fenton reagent for 54, 110, and 500 days. The total adsorption capacity (q_e) of 66 PPCPs on 15 original microplastics was 171.8 - 1043.7 μg/g, far below that of 177 long-term aged microplastics (7114.0 - 13,114.4 μg/g). Around 69.8% of q_e was primarily influenced by the total energy, energy of the highest occupied molecular orbital, and energy gap of PPCPs, calculated using the B3LYP/6-31 G* level. Furthermore, 111 aged microplastics exhibited similar total q_e values. Additionally, we developed predictive models based on attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to predict the individual and total q_e on 192 microplastics. These models, including the maximal information coefficient and gradient boosting decision tree regression, exhibited high accuracy with R_training² values of 0.9772 and 0.9661, respectively, and p-values below 0.001. Spectroscopic analysis and machine learning models highlighted surface functional group alterations and the importance of the 1528-1700 cm^-1 spectral region and carbon skeleton in the adsorption process. In summary, our findings contribute to understanding the adsorption of PPCPs on microplastics, particularly in the context of long-term aging effects.

Structural Design of Electrocatalyst-Decorated MXenes on Sulfur Spheres for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are known to be potential next-generation energy storage devices. Recently, our group reported an LSB cathode made using sulfur spheres that has been spherically templated by MXene nanosheets decorated with CoSe₂ nanoparticles, forming a "loose-templating" configuration. It was postulated that the minimal restacking of the outer nanoparticle-decorated MXene layer helps to enable facile ionic transport. However, as the nanosheets do not adhere conformally to the internal sphere's surface, such a configuration can be controversial, thus requiring a more systematic understanding. In this work, we report and quantify for the first time the independent and dependent variables involved in this morphology, allowing us to identify that having smaller nanoparticles resulted in better Li⁺ ion transport and enhanced electrochemical performances. The optimized cathode structure exhibited an initial specific capacity of 1274 mAh/g and a 0.06% decay rate per cycle at 0.5 C over 1000 cycles in LSBs.

Low-Temperature Resistant Stretchable Micro-Supercapacitor Based on 3D Printed Octet-Truss Design

Recently, stretchable micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) that can be easily integrated into electronic devices have attracted research and industrial attentions. In this work, three-dimensional (3D) stretchable MSCs with an octet-truss electrode (OTE) design have been demonstrated by a rapid digital light processing (DLP) process. The 3D-printed electrode structure is beneficial for electrode-electrolyte interface formation and consequently increases the number of ions adsorbed on the electrode surface. The designed MSCs can achieve a high capacitance as ≈74.76 mF cm^-3 under 1 mA cm^-3 at room temperature even under a high mechanical deformation, and can achieve 19.53 mF cm^-3 under 0.1 mA cm^-3 at a low temperature (-30 °C). Moreover, finite element analysis (FEA) reveals the OTE structure provides 8 times more contact area per unit volume at the electrode-electrolyte interface compared to the traditional interdigital electrode (IDE). This work combines structural design and 3D printing techniques, which provides new insights into highly stretchable MSCs for next-generation electronic devices.

Low-Coordinated Zn-N2 Sites as Bidirectional Atomic Catalysis for Room-Temperature Na-S Batteries

The rational design of advanced catalysts for sodium-sulfur (Na-S) batteries is important but remains challenging due to the limited understanding of sulfur catalytic mechanisms. Here, we propose an efficient sulfur host consisting of atomic low-coordinated Zn-N₂ sites dispersed on N-rich microporous graphene (Zn-N₂@NG), which realizes state-of-the-art sodium-storage performance with a high sulfur content of 66 wt %, high-rate capability (467 mA h g^-1 at 5 A g^-1), and long cycling stability for 6500 cycles with an ultralow capacity decay rate of 0.0062% per cycle. Ex situ methods combined with theoretical calculations demonstrate the superior bidirectional catalysis of Zn-N₂ sites on sulfur conversion (S₈ ↔ Na₂S). Furthermore, in situ transmission electron microscopy was applied to visualize the microscopic S redox evolution under the catalysis of Zn-N₂ sites without liquid electrolytes. During the sodiation process, both surface S nanoparticles and S molecules in the mircopores of Zn-N₂@NG quickly convert into Na₂S nanograins. During the following desodiation process, only a small part of the above Na₂S can be oxidized into Na₂S_x. These results reveal that, without liquid electrolytes, Na₂S is difficult to be decomposed even with the assistance of Zn-N₂ sites. This conclusion emphasizes the critical role of liquid electrolytes in the catalytic oxidation of Na₂S, which was usually ignored by previous works.

Role of magnetic substances in adsorption removal of ciprofloxacin by gamma ferric oxide and ferrites co-modified carbon nanotubes

Antibiotics have been considered an evolving environmental challenge in the last few decades due to their mutagenic and persistent effects. Herein, we synthesized γ-Fe₂O₃ and ferrites nanocomposites co-modified carbon nanotubes (γ-Fe₂O₃/MFe₂O₄/CNTs, M: Co, Cu, and Mn) with high crystallinity, thermostability, and magnetization for the adsorption removal of ciprofloxacin. The experimental equilibrium adsorption capacities of ciprofloxacin on γ-Fe₂O₃/MFe₂O₄/CNTs were 44.54 (Co), 41.13 (Cu), and 41.53 (Mn) mg/g, respectively. The adsorption behaviors followed the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-first-order models. Density functional theory calculations revealed that the active sites preferentially appeared on the oxygen of the carboxyl group in ciprofloxacin, and the calculated adsorption energies of ciprofloxacin on CNTs, γ-Fe₂O₃, CoFe₂O₄, CuFe₂O₄, and MnFe₂O₄ were -4.82, -1.08, -2.49, -0.60, and 5.69 eV, respectively. The addition of γ-Fe₂O₃ changed the adsorption mechanism of ciprofloxacin on MFe₂O₄/CNTs and γ-Fe₂O₃/MFe₂O₄/CNTs. CNTs and CoFe₂O₄ controlled the cobalt system of γ-Fe₂O₃/CoFe₂O₄/CNTs, while CNTs and γ-Fe₂O₃ ruled the adsorption interaction and capacity of copper and manganese systems. This work reveals the role of magnetic substances, which is beneficial to the preparation and environmental application of similar adsorbents.

Mechanisms of interfacial catalysis and mass transfer in a flow-through electro-peroxone process

To investigate the catalytic mechanism and mass transfer efficiency in the removal of amitriptyline using an electro-peroxide process, a CuFe₂O₄-modified carbon cloth cathode was prepared and utilized in a reaction unit. The results demonstrated a remarkable efficacy of the system, achieving 91.0% amitriptyline removal, 68.3% mineralization, 41.2% mineralization current efficiency, and 0.24 kWh/m³ energy consumption within just five minutes of treatment. The study revealed that the exposed Fe atoms of the ferrite nanoparticles, with a size of 22.7 nm and 89.7% crystallinity, functioned as mediators to bind the adsorbed O atoms. The 3d_xy, 3d_xz, and 3d²_z orbitals of Fe atoms interacted with the 2p_z orbital of O atoms of H₂O₂ and O₃ to form σ and π bonds, facilitating the adsorption-activation of H₂O₂ and O₃ into hydroxyl radicals. These hydroxyl radicals (∼ 1.15 × 10¹³ mol/L) were distributed at the cathode-solution interface and rapidly consumed along the direction of liquid flow. The flow-through cathode design improved the mass transfer of aqueous O₃ and in-situ generated H₂O₂, leading to an increased yield of hydroxyl radicals, as well as the contact time and space between hydroxyl radicals and amitriptyline. Ultimately, this resulted in a higher degradation efficiency of the system.

Metal-Organic-Framework-Derived 3D Hierarchical Matrixes for High-Performance Flexible Li-S Batteries

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have shown exceptional theoretical energy densities, making them a promising candidate for next-generation energy storage systems. However, their practical application is limited by several challenging issues, such as uncontrollable Li dendrite growth, sluggish electrochemical kinetics, and the shuttling effect of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs). To overcome these issues, we designed and synthesized hierarchical matrixes on carbon cloth (CC) by using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). ZnO nanosheet arrays were used as anode hosts (CC-ZnO) to enable stable Li plating and stripping. The symmetric cell with CC-ZnO@Li was demonstrated to have enhanced cycling stability, with a voltage hysteresis of ∼25 mV for over 800 h at 1 mA cm^-2 and 1 mAh cm^-2. To address the cathode challenges, we developed a multifunctional CC-NC-Co cathode host with physical confinement, chemical anchoring, and excellent electrocatalysis. The full cells with CC-ZnO@Li anodes and CC-NC-Co@S cathodes exhibited excellent electrochemical performance, with long cycling life (0.02% and 0.03% capacity decay per cycle when cycling 900 times at 0.5 C and 600 times at 1 C, respectively) and outstanding rate performance (793 mAh g^-1 at 4 C). Additionally, the pouch cell based on the flexible CC-ZnO@Li anode and CC-NC-Co@S cathode showed good stability in different bending states. Overall, our study presents an effective strategy for preparing flexible Li and S hosts with hierarchical structures derived from MOF, which can pave the way for high-performance Li-S batteries.

Understanding the Highly Reversible Potassium Storage of Hollow Ternary (Bi-Sb)2S3@N-C Nanocube

Metal sulfide anodes have aroused much attention in potassium ion batteries (PIBs) owing to their high theoretical capacities, but the sluggish kinetics and inferior cycling performance caused by severe volumetric change and particle pulverization greatly hinder their further development. Herein, robust hollow structure design together with phase structure engineering endow (Bi-Sb)₂S₃@N-C anode with superior (de)potassiation kinetics and excellent electrochemical performances in PIBs. Specifically, in situ X-ray diffraction combined with density functional theory calculations and ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses indicated a fresh reaction mechanism of (Bi-Sb)₂S₃ anode with a distinctive multistep (de)potassiation route along (003) plane of (Bi,Sb) alloy thanks to the Bi-Sb phase regulation in (Bi-Sb)₂S₃ anode, ensuring it with superior reaction kinetics. Moreover, in situ TEM characterization revealed the advantages of the hollow nanostructure with carbon shell, facilitating fast ion transport kinetics and high tolerance of volume change as well as enabling the structural integrity of electrode material during (de)potassiation. As a result, the (Bi-Sb)₂S₃ hollow nanocube with N-doped carbon shell ((Bi-Sb)₂S₃@N-C) delivers a high initial Coulombic efficiency of 66.3%, a great rate performance of 289 mAh g^-1 at 2.0 A g^-1, and an ultralong cycling life (89% retention after 220 cycles at 0.1 A g^-1 and 85% retention after 1600 cycles at 2.0 A g^-1) in PIBs. Furthermore, the full cell of (Bi-Sb)₂S₃@N-C//PTCDA affords a high reversible capacity of 281 mA h g^-1 at 1.0 A g^-1 after 300 cycles. This work combines structural design and in situ techniques, proving a successful nanostructure engineering strategy to rationalize alloy-type electrode materials for PIBs.

Cobalt-nickel bimetallic sulfide (NiS2/CoS2) based dual-carbon framework for super sodium ion storage

Design hybrid metal sulfides-based anode materials is one of the most effective approaches to improve the performance of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, owing to the huge volume expansion, the capacity of sulfide-based anode will decay significantly after repeated charge/discharge processes. Herein, we reported the successful demonstration of anode material based on concaved NiS₂@CoS₂ nanocube (NCSC) via a chemical etching strategy, which was derived from etching and sulfidation of Ni-Co coordination polymers (NiCoCP) precursor. The obtained NCSC anode materials deliver a high specific sodium storage capacity of 848 mAh g^-1 at 0.1 A g^-1 and a stable cyclability of 572 mAh g^-1 at 5 A g^-1 after 830 cycles. This special etching strategy exploit a novel way for the design and preparation of high-performance anode materials for SIBs.

Multimaterial Three-Dimensional Printing of Ultraviolet-Curable Ionic Conductive Elastomers with Diverse Polymers for Multifunctional Flexible Electronics

Ionic conductive elastomers (ICEs) are emerging stretchable and ionic conductive materials that are solvent-free and thus demonstrate excellent thermal stability. Three-dimensional (3D) printing that creates complex 3D structures in free forms is considered as an ideal approach to manufacture sophisticated ICE-based devices. However, the current technologies constrain 3D printed ICE structures in a single material, which greatly limits functionality and performance of ICE-based devices and machines. Here, we report a digital light processing (DLP)-based multimaterial 3D printing capability to seemly integrate ultraviolet-curable ICE (UV-ICE) with nonconductive materials to create ionic flexible electronic devices in 3D forms with enhanced performance. This unique capability allows us to readily manufacture various 3D flexible electronic devices. To demonstrate this, we printed UV-ICE circuits into polymer substrates with different mechanical properties to create resistive strain and force sensors; we printed flexible capacitive sensors with high sensitivity (2 kPa^-1) and a wide range of measured pressures (from 5 Pa to 550 kPa) by creating a complex microstructure in the dielectric layer; we even realized ionic conductor-activated four-dimensional (4D) printing by printing a UV-ICE circuit into a shape memory polymer substrate. The proposed approach paves a new efficient way to realize multifunctional flexible devices and machines by bonding ICEs with other polymers in 3D forms.

[Epidemiological investigation on the local epidemic situation in Zhengzhou High-Tech Zone caused by SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant]

This study collected epidemic data of COVID-19 in Zhengzhou from January 1 to January 20 in 2022. The epidemiological characteristics of the local epidemic in Zhengzhou High-tech Zone caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant were analyzed through epidemiological survey and big data analysis, which could provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of the Delta variant. In detail, a total of 276 close contacts and 599 secondary close contacts were found in this study. The attack rate of close contacts and secondary close contacts was 5.43% (15/276) and 0.17% (1/599), respectively. There were 10 confirmed cases associated with the chain of transmission. Among them, the attack rates in close contacts of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth generation cases were 20.00% (5/25), 17.86% (5/28), 0.72% (1/139) and 14.81% (4/27), 0 (0/57), respectively. The attack rates in close contacts after sharing rooms/beds, having meals, having neighbor contacts, sharing vehicles with the patients, having same space contacts, and having work contacts were 26.67%, 9.10%, 8.33%, 4.55%, 1.43%, and 0 respectively. Collectively, the local epidemic situation in Zhengzhou High-tech Zone has an obvious family cluster. Prevention and control work should focus on decreasing family clusters of cases and community transmission.

Surface characteristics of polystyrene microplastics mainly determine their coagulation performances

In this study, polyaluminum sulfate (PAS) coagulant was selected to evaluate the coagulation performance of polystyrene microplastics. Overall, polystyrene removal efficiency was 90.4 % at the optimal dosage of 7.5 g/L of PAS. In addition to the type of coagulants (e.g. polyaluminum chloride, iron(III) chloride, and polyferric sulfate), surface characteristics such as densities, particle sizes, morphologies, adsorbed substances, and functional groups can also significantly impact the coagulation performance. The coagulation ratios are reduced to (2.6 ± 0.1)% when the densities of microplastics decrease. Aging treatments involving NaOH, H₂SO₄, NaClO, CH₃OH, and O₃ promoted coagulation, whereas UV and Na₂S₂O₃ treatments inhibited (64.1 ± 9.7)% and (79.3 ± 8.0)% of polystyrene removals, respectively. In contrast, Fe(NO₃)₃ treatment did not affect the removal ratio. Further characterization of polystyrene before and after coagulation exemplified that the functional groups (CO, CO, and CH) and the rough surfaces of PAS provided adsorption and interception sites for hydrolysis products of the PAS.

Spherical Templating of CoSe2 Nanoparticle-Decorated MXenes for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Two-dimensional MXenes produce competitive performances when incorporated into lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs), solving key problems such as the poor electronic conductivity of sulfur and dissolution of its polysulfide intermediates. However, MXene nanosheets are known to easily aggregate and restack during electrode fabrication, filtration, or water removal, limiting their practical applicability. Furthermore, in complex electrocatalytic reactions like the multistep sulfur reduction process in LSBs, MXene alone is insufficient to ensure an optimal reaction pathway. In this work, we demonstrate for the first time a loose templating of sulfur spheres using Ti₃C₂T_x MXene nanosheets decorated with polymorphic CoSe₂ nanoparticles. This work shows that the templating of sulfur spheres using nanoparticle-decorated MXene nanosheets can prevent nanosheet aggregation and exert a strong electrocatalytic effect, thereby enabling improved reaction kinetics and battery performance. The S@MXene-CoSe₂ cathode demonstrated a long cycle life of 1000 cycles and a low capacity decay rate of 0.06% per cycle in LSBs.

A Flexible Vertical-Section Wood/MXene Electrode with Excellent Performance Fabricated by Building a Highly Accessible Bonding Interface

Cross-section wood (CW) is generally used as a host for free-standing electrodes, as the abundant opened pores can provide large space for loading guest materials with high electrical conductivity and electrochemical activity. However, there is still a challenge for CW to be used in flexible supercapacitors (SCs) because of its low mechanical strength. Herein, as an alternative to CW, vertical-section wood (VW) with excellent mechanical strength and good flexibility is developed and used as a free-standing and flexible electrode by using Ti₃C₂T_x (MXene) with ultrahigh conductivity and good electrochemical activity as a guest material. In particular, the highly accessible bonding interface for Ti₃C₂T_x is first built by delignification on VW to generate abundant pores for continuously absorbing Ti₃C₂T_x and to expose cellulose with abundant oxygen-containing groups for stable combination with Ti₃C₂T_x. Then, cyclic pressing is used to form negative pressure to pump the Ti₃C₂T_x suspension into VW, combining with a preheating process to trigger layer-by-layer self-assembly of Ti₃C₂T_x nanosheets onto a wood cell wall by evaporating water in the suspension. As a result, the free-standing electrode has a large Ti₃C₂T_x loading mass proportion of 33 wt %, a high conductivity of 3.14 S cm^-1, and good flexibility with much higher mechanical strength of 15.1 MPa than 0.4 MPa of CW. The symmetric SC delivers a good specific capacitance of 805 mF cm^-2 at 0.5 mA cm^-2, a remarkably high rate capability of 84% to 10 mA cm^-2, and an energy density of 13.85 μW h cm^-2 at 87.5 μW cm^-2. Additionally, this SC shows a long lifespan of 90.5% after 10,000th charge and discharge cycles even at a constant bending angle of 90°, suggesting promising potential in flexible devices.

Double-Enhanced Core-Shell-Shell Sb2S3/Sb@TiO2@C Nanorod Composites for Lithium- and Sodium-Ion Batteries

For most alloying- and conversion-type anode materials, a huge volume expansion and structure degradation of the electrodes always hinder their applications. In this work, a novel core-shell-shell Sb2S3/Sb@TiO2@C nanorod composite has been designed layer by layer, which includes an inner Sb2S3/Sb heterostructure core protected by an oxygen-deficient TiO2 shell and a conductive carbon shell. It is interesting to observe that, during the carbothermic reduction process, the previous Sb2S3 nanorod cores are partially reduced into a metallic Sb phase and the reduced TiO2 also creates many oxygen vacancies, which can greatly enhance the conductivity of the semiconductor Sb2S3. Thanks to the double effects of the TiO2 middle shell and carbon outer shell, the unique double-shelled structure design creates an enhanced dual protection, which can better accommodate the volume-expansive deformation and preserve the structural integrity of the active Sb2S3/Sb core. Especially, the TiO2 middle layer is self-assembled by numerous nanoparticles acting as a nanopillar backbone, which supports between the nanorod core and outer carbon shell to better buffer the volume changes. As a result, the core-shell-shell Sb2S3/Sb@TiO2@C anode shows lithium and sodium storage performances superior to those of the pristine Sb2S3 and core-shell Sb2S3@TiO2 electrodes. For lithium-ion batteries, the Sb2S3/Sb@TiO2@C nanorod composite achieves an initial discharge/recharge capacity of 1244.9/1005.1 mAh g-1 with an initial Coulombic efficiency of about 80.7%, an enhanced rate capability with a capacity of 593.2 mA h g-1 at 5.0 A g-1, and prolonged cycling life for 500 cycles with a reversible capacity of 495.8 mAh g-1 at 0.5 A g-1. For sodium-ion batteries, the nanorodalso exhibits an improved performance with an initial discharge/recharge capacity of 781.4/574.0 mAh g-1 (initial Coulombic efficiency of about 73.46%) and cycling for 400 cycles with a reversible capacity of 422.6 mAh g-1 at 0.8 A g-1. This research sheds light upon double-shell structure designs with an effective middle shell to enhance the energy storage performance of electrode materials.

3D-Printed Sodiophilic V2CTx/rGO-CNT MXene Microgrid Aerogel for Stable Na Metal Anode with High Areal Capacity

Featuring a high theoretical capacity, low cost, and abundant resources, sodium metal has emerged as an ideal anode material for sodium ion batteries. However, the real feasibility of sodium metal anodes is still hampered by the uncontrolled sodium dendrite problems. Herein, an artificial three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical porous sodiophilic V₂CT_x/rGO-CNT microgrid aerogel is fabricated by a direct-ink writing 3D printing technology and further adopted as the matrix of Na metal to deliver a Na@V₂CT_x/rGO-CNT sodium metal anode. Upon cycling, the V₂CT_x/rGO-CNT electrode can yield a superior cycling life of more than 3000 h (2 mA cm^-2, 10 mAh cm^-2) with an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.54%. More attractively, it can even sustain a stable operation over 900 h at 5 mA cm^-2 with an ultrahigh areal capacity of 50 mAh cm^-2. In situ and ex situ characterizations and density functional theory simulation analyses prove that V₂CT_x with abundant sodiophilic functional groups can effectively guide the sodium metal nucleation and uniform deposition, thus enabling a dendrite-free morphology. Moreover, a full cell pairing a Na@V₂CT_x/rGO-CNT anode with a Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃@C-rGO cathode can deliver a high reversible capacity of 86.27 mAh g^-1 after 400 cycles at 100 mA g^-1. This work not only clarifies the superior Na deposition chemistry on the sodiophilic V₂CT_x/rGO-CNT microgrid aerogel electrode but also offers an approach for fabricating advanced Na metal anodes via a 3D printing method.

[Perioperative management and complication control of Le Fort Ⅲ osteotomy in children with syndromic craniosynostosis]

Objective: To summarize the preliminary efficacy, perioperative management and complications of Le Fort Ⅲ osteotomy and midface distraction in patients with syndromic craniosynostosis by retrospective analysis, and to provide clinical experience for reference. Methods: From October 2017 to January 2020, 20 patients with syndromic craniosynostosis underwent Le Fort Ⅲ osteotomy and distraction in The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of Peking University International Hospital, including 11 males and 9 females, were involved. The median age was 7 years (1.5 to 15 years). Preoperative risk prevention plan was put forward by multidisciplinary evaluation, and preoperative intervention was carried out. The diagnostic data of SNA, airway volume, polysomnography (PSG), ophthalmology and occlusal relationship were obtained through specialized examination, and osteotomy and distraction surgical plan was formulated through virtual surgical planning. CT was taken 1 week and 3, 6, 12 months after operation, PSG and eye protrudence examination were conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effect, syndrome type, multiple disciplinary treatment (MDT) intervention, occurrence and outcome of complications were summarized. Results: There were 15 cases of Crouzon syndrome and 5 cases of Pfeiffer syndrome. Sleep apnea was the first complaint in 18 cases and exophthalmia in 2 cases. Preoperative interventional therapy included 4 cases of adenoid surgery, 2 cases of continuous positive airway pressure and 2 cases of maxillary expansion. The most common surgical complications were accidental fracture (14/20 cases, 70%), cerebrospinal fluid fistula (2 cases), internal carotid cavernous sinus fistula (1 case), postoperative hyponatraemia (5 cases), crying syndrome (2 cases), wound infection (2 cases), trichiasis of lower eyelid (4 cases), and nasal malformation (1 case). Three cases underwent unplanned secondary surgery. SNA, airway volume and mean percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation (SpO₂) six months after operation were significantly higher than those before operation (F=10.09, P=0.001; F=5.13, P<0.001; F=10.78, P=0.001), and the protrusion and apnea hypopnea index were significantly lower than those before surgery (F=6.73, P=0.010; F=18.47, P<0.001). There were no significant differences in SNA, airway volume, mean SpO₂, ophthalmology between 6 months after surgery and 1 year after surgery (P>0.05). Conclusions: Perioperative safety assessment and early intervention of MDT is an effective diagnosis and treatment model of Le Fort Ⅲ osteotomy and distraction for syndromic craniosynosis. The operative complications are mainly local, and systemic complications are controllable.

Topotactic Epitaxy Self-Assembly of Potassium Manganese Hexacyanoferrate Superstructures for Highly Reversible Sodium-Ion Batteries

The cycle stability and voltage retention of a Na₂Mn[Fe(CN)₆] (NMF) cathode for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) has been impeded by the huge distortion from NaMn^II[Fe^III(CN)₆] to Mn^III[Fe^III(CN)₆] caused by the Jahn-Teller (JT) effect of Mn³⁺. Herein, we propose a topotactic epitaxy process to generate K₂Mn[Fe(CN)₆] (KMF) submicron octahedra and assemble them into octahedral superstructures (OSs) by tuning the kinetics of topotactic transformation. As the SIB cathode, the self-assembly behavior of KMF improves the structural stability and decreases the contact area with the electrolyte, thereby inhibiting the transition metal in the KMF cathode from dissolving in the electrolyte. More importantly, the KMF partly transforms into NMF with Na⁺ de/intercalation, and the existing KMF acts as a stabilizer to disrupt the long-range JT order of NMF, thereby suppressing the overall JT distortion. As a result, the electrochemical performances of KMF cathodes outperform NMF with a highly reversible phase transition and outstanding cycling performance, and 80% capacity retention after 1500/1300 cycles at 0.1/0.5 A g^-1. This work not only promotes creative synthetic methodologies but also promotes to explore the relationship between Jahn-Teller structural deformation and cycle stability.

Ladder Mechanisms of Ion Transport in Prussian Blue Analogues

Prussian blue (PB) and its analogues (PBAs) are drawing attention as promising materials for sodium-ion batteries and other applications, such as desalination of water. Because of the possibilities to explore many analogous materials with engineered, defect-rich environments, computational optimization of ion-transport mechanisms that are key to the device performance could facilitate real-world applications. In this work, we have applied a multiscale approach involving quantum chemistry, self-consistent mean-field theory, and finite-element modeling to investigate ion transport in PBAs. We identify a cyanide-mediated ladder mechanism as the primary process of ion transport. Defects are found to be impermissible to diffusion, and a random distribution model accurately predicts the impact of defect concentrations. Notably, the inclusion of intermediary local minima in the models is key for predicting a realistic diffusion constant. Furthermore, the intermediary landscape is found to be an essential difference between both the intercalating species and the type of cation doping in PBAs. We also show that the ladder mechanism, when employed in multiscale computations, properly predicts the macroscopic charging performance based on atomistic results. In conclusion, the findings in this work may suggest the guiding principles for the design of new and effective PBAs for different applications.

A minireview on chemical vapor deposition growth of wafer-scale monolayer h-BN single crystals

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), with its excellent stability, flat surface, and large bandgap, plays a role in a variety of fundamental science and technology fields. The past few years have witnessed significant development in the scaled growth of h-BN single crystals. Currently, the size of h-BN crystal can be reached up to wafer-scale, paving the way towards industrial production and commercial applications. In this minireview, recent academic breakthroughs regarding the controlled growth of large-sized h-BN single crystals via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) are presented. The as-developed technique in terms of growth parameters, choice of catalysts, and the mechanism is fully emphasized, offering a guideline in enhancing the size and quality of h-BN. Several typical metal catalysts have been used in shaping scaled h-BN single crystals, of which the metal Cu substrate has drawn the most intensive attention. The significant advances in expanding the size of h-BN single crystals will largely push forward the way to h-BN industrialization and commercialization. The past few years have witnessed significant development in the scaled growth of h-BN single crystals. Currently, the size of h-BN crystal can be reached up to wafer-scale, paving the way towards industrial production and commercial applications. In this minireview, recent academic breakthroughs regarding controlled growth of large-sized h-BN single crystals via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) are present. The as-developed technique in terms of growth parameters, choice of catalysts and mechanism is fully emphasized, offering a guideline in enhancing size and quality of h-BN. Several typical metal catalysts are exhibited in shaping scaled h-BN single crystals, of which the metal Cu substrate has drawn the most intensive attentions.

Defect-Engineered 3D hierarchical NiMo3S4 nanoflowers as bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting

The design and construction of bifunctional electrocatalysts with high activity and durability is essential for overall water splitting. Herein, a unique 3D hierarchical NiMo₃S₄ nanoflowers with abundant defects and reactive sites were grown directly on carbon textiles (NiMo₃S₄/CTs) using a facile hydrothermal synthesis method. The defect-rich NiMo₃S₄ nanoflakes, prepared by doping Ni²⁺ in the lattice of Mo-S, displays extended d-spacing of (002) crystal plane, resulting in the electrocatalytic activity of hydrogen evolution and oxygen evolution reaction (HER and OER) was improved under alkaline conditions. The self-supported NiMo₃S₄/CTs electrode delivers a small overpotential of 149.5 mV for HER and 126.2 mV for OER at 10 mA cm^-2, respectively. Based on detailed structure analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the excellent HER and OER activities can be attributed to the unique structure of the nanoflowers, where the metallic characteristics for Ni-doped Mo-S lead to the enhancement of intrinsic conductivity and the rich abundance of Ni³⁺ active sites. As a result, the NiMo₃S₄/CTs as efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water-splitting was performed in alkaline electrolyte, where the system required only 1.55, 1.66 and 1.76 V to deliver current densities of 10, 50 and 100 mA cm^-2, respectively. This study provides a new method for improving the electrocatalysis properties of transition metal sulfides by metal-ion doping to generate more active defect sites, thus promoting the development of non-noble-metal electrocatalysts for overall water splitting.

ZnSe Modified Zinc Metal Anodes: Toward Enhanced Zincophilicity and Ionic Diffusion

Zinc metal is an ideal candidate for aqueous rechargeable batteries due to its high theoretical capacity and natural abundance. However, its commercialization is inevitably challenged by several critical factors such as dendrite growth and parasitic side-reactions, leading to low coulombic efficiency and a limited lifespan. Herein, a modified Zn foil with a zincophilic ZnSe layer deposited by a simple selenization process is proposed. An order of magnitude stronger adsorption capability toward Zn²⁺ ions and uniform ion diffusion tunnels of ZnSe enables lower nucleation energy barrier and faster ion-diffusion kinetics. Meanwhile, detrimental Zn corrosion in aqueous system is also effectively mitigated. As a result, ZnSe@Zn anode shows reversible Zn plating/stripping (1700 h at 1 mA cm^-2 ) with ultra-low voltage hysteresis (41 mV), contributing to exceptional cycling stability over 500 cycles with negligible capacity fading for the ZnSe@Zn/MnO₂ full cell.