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.

Strain Regulation of Mixed-Halide Perovskites Enables High-Performance Wide-Bandgap Photovoltaics

Wide-bandgap mixed-halogen perovskite materials are widely used as top cells in tandem solar cells. However, serious open-circuit voltage (Voc ) loss restricts the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, it is shown that the resulting methylammonium vacancies induce lattice distortion in methylammonium chloride-assisted perovskite film, resulting in an inhomogeneous halogen distribution and low Voc . Thus, a lattice strain regulation strategy is reported to fabricate high-performance wide-bandgap PSCs. Rubidium (Rb) cations are introduced to fill the A-site vacancy caused by the methylammonium volatilization, which alleviates shrinkage strain of the perovskite crystal. The reduced lattice distortion and increased halide ion migration barrier result in a homogeneous mixed-halide perovskite film. Due to improved carrier transport and suppressed nonradiative recombination, the Rb-treated wide-bandgap PSC (1.68 eV) achieves an excellent PCE of 21.72%, accompanied by a high Voc of 1.22 V. The resulting device maintains more than 90% of its initial PCE after 1500 h under 1-sun illumination conditions.

Selective Shielding of the (002) Plane Enabling Vertically Oriented Zinc Plating for Dendrite-Free Zinc Anode

Uncontrolled growth of Zn dendrites hinders the future development of aqueous Zn-ion batteries. Despite that the (100) plane possesses better zincophilic ability and fast kinetics, dendrites are generally suppressed via (002) plane-oriented Zn deposition in previous reports; the ordered (100) plane-dominant Zn deposition, especially under high current density has not yet been realized. Herein, vertically-oriented Zn plating with preferential growth of (100) plane is reported using disodium lauryl phosphate (DLP) as an electrolyte additive. DLP is preferentially anchored on the Zn (002) crystal plane via the polar phosphate group, then the deposition of Zn atoms on the (002) plane is retarded by the long alkyl chain, finally promoting the preferred growth of the (100) plane. This unique growth pattern results in ultrastable Zn plating/stripping at a super-high current density of 50 mA cm-2 , with a cumulative capacity of 8500 mAh cm-2 . The Zn//Zn symmetric cell also cycles steadily for 700 h with a large areal capacity of 10 mAh cm-2 at a current density of 10 mA cm-2 . This study provides new insights into the realization of dendrite-free Zn anodes by crystal plane modulation.

A Self-Powered UV Photodetector With Ultrahigh Responsivity Based on 2D Perovskite Ferroelectric Films With Mixed Spacer Cations

Self-powered photodetectors (PDs) have the advantages of no external power requirement, wireless operation, and long life. Spontaneous ferroelectric polarizations can significantly increase built-in electric field intensity, showing great potential in self-powered photodetection. Moreover, ferroelectrics possess pyroelectric and piezoelectric properties, beneficial for enhancing self-powered PDs. 2D metal halide perovskites (MHPs), which have ferroelectric properties, are suitable for fabricating high-performance self-powered PDs. However, the research on 2D metal halide perovskites ferroelectrics focuses on growing bulk crystals. Herein, 2D ferroelectric perovskite films with mixed spacer cations for self-powered PDs are demonstrated by mixing Ruddlesden-Popper (RP)-type and Dion-Jacobson (DJ)-type perovskite. The (BDA0.7 (BA2 )0.3 )(EA)2 Pb3 Br10 film possesses, overall, the best film qualities with the best crystalline quality, lowest trap density, good phase purity, and obvious ferroelectricity. Based on the ferro-pyro-phototronic effect, the PD at 360 nm exhibits excellent photoelectric properties, with an ultrahigh peak responsivity greater than 93 A W-1 and a detectivity of 2.5 × 1015 Jones, together with excellent reproducibility and stability. The maximum responsivities can be modulated by piezo-phototronic effect with an effective enhancement ratio of 480%. This work will open up a new route of designing MHP ferroelectric films for high-performance PDs and offers the opportunity to utilize it for various optoelectronics applications.

Lattice Strain Regulation Enables High-Performance Formamidinium Perovskite Photovoltaics

Formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3 ) perovskite possesses an ideal optical bandgap and is a potential material for fabricating the most efficient single-junction perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Nevertheless, large formamidinium (FA) cations result in residual lattice strain, which reduces the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and operational stability of PSCs. Herein, the modulation of lattice strain in FAPbI3 crystals via a π-conjugated organic amine, i.e., 4-pyrene oxy butylamine (PYBA), is proposed. PYBA pairs at the grain boundary serve as a template for the crystallization of FAPbI3 perovskite, thereby inducing a highly oriented crystal and a pure α-phase film. The PYBA pairs with strong π-π interactions provide a solid fulcrum for external compression strain, thus compensating for the inherent tension strain of FAPbI3 crystals. The strain release elevates the valence band of the perovskite crystals, thereby decreasing the bandgap and trap density. Consequently, the PYBA-regulated FAPbI3 PSC achieves an excellent PCE of 24.76%. Moreover, the resulting device exhibits improves operational stability and maintains over 80% of its initial PCE after 1500 h under maximum power point tracking conditions.

Distinct Features Based on Partitioning of the Endophytic Fungi of Cereals and Other Grasses

Endophytic fungi form a significant part of the plant mycobiome. Defining core members is crucial to understanding the assembly mechanism of fungal endophytic communities (FECs) and identifying functionally important community members. We conducted a meta-analysis of FECs in stems of wheat and five wild cereal species and generated a landscape of the fungal endophytic assemblages in this group of plants. The analysis revealed that several Ascomycota members and basidiomycetous yeasts formed an important compartment of the FECs in these plants. We observed a weak spatial autocorrelation at the regional scale and high intrahost variations in the FECs, suggesting a space-related heterogeneity. Accordingly, we propose that the heterogeneity among subcommunities should be a criterion to define the core endophytic members. Analysis of the subcommunities and meta-communities showed that the core and noncore members had distinct roles in various assembly processes, such as stochasticity, universal dynamics, and network characteristics, within each host. The distinct features identified between the community partitions of endophytes aid in understanding the principles that govern the assembly and function of natural communities. These findings can assist in designing synthetic microbiomes. IMPORTANCE This study proposes a novel method for diagnosing core microbiotas based on prevalence of community members in a meta-community, which could be determined and supported statistically. Using this approach, the study found stratification in community assembly processes within fungal endophyte communities (FECs) in the stems of wheat and cereal-related wild species. The core and noncore partitions of the FECs exhibited certain degrees of determinism from different aspects. Further analysis revealed abundant and consistent interactions between rare taxa, which might contribute to the determinism process in noncore partitions. Despite minor differences in FEC compositions, wheat FECs showed distinct patterns in community assembly processes compared to wild species, suggesting the effects of domestication on FECs. Overall, our study provided a new approach for identifying core microbiota and provides insights into the community assembly processes within FECs in wheat and related wild species.

Investigation of carbon and energy metabolic mechanism of mixotrophy in Chromochloris zofingiensis

BACKGROUND

Mixotrophy can confer a higher growth rate than the sum of photoautotrophy and heterotrophy in many microalgal species. Thus, it has been applied to biodiesel production and wastewater utilization. However, its carbon and energy metabolic mechanism is currently poorly understood.

RESULTS

To elucidate underlying carbon and energy metabolic mechanism of mixotrophy, Chromochloris zofingiensis was employed in the present study. Photosynthesis and glucose metabolism were found to operate in a dynamic balance during mixotrophic cultivation, the enhancement of one led to the lowering of the other. Furthermore, compared with photoautotrophy, non-photochemical quenching and photorespiration, considered by many as energy dissipation processes, were significantly reduced under mixotrophy. Comparative transcriptome analysis suggested that the intermediates of glycolysis could directly enter the chloroplast and replace RuBisCO-fixed CO₂ to provide carbon sources for chloroplast organic carbon metabolism under mixotrophy. Therefore, the photosynthesis rate-limiting enzyme, RuBisCO, was skipped, allowing for more efficient utilization of photoreaction-derived energy. Besides, compared with heterotrophy, photoreaction-derived ATP reduced the need for TCA-derived ATP, so the glucose decomposition was reduced, which led to higher biomass yield on glucose. Based on these results, a mixotrophic metabolic mechanism was identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that the intermediates of glycolysis could directly enter the chloroplast and replace RuBisCO-fixed CO₂ to provide carbon for photosynthesis in mixotrophy. Therefore, the photosynthesis rate-limiting enzyme, RuBisCO, was skipped in mixotrophy, which could reduce energy waste of photosynthesis while promote cell growth. This finding provides a foundation for future studies on mixotrophic biomass production and photosynthetic metabolism.

Traceable metallic antigen release for enhanced cancer immunotherapy

Tumor vaccine has shown outstanding advantages and good therapeutic effects in tumor immunotherapy. However, antigens in tumor vaccines can be easily cleared by the reticuloendothelium system in advance, which leads to poor therapeutic effect of tumor vaccines. Moreover, it was still hard to monitor the fate and distribution of antigens. To address these limitations, we synthesized a traceable nanovaccine based on gold nanocluster-labeled antigens and upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) for the treatment of melanoma in this study. PH-sensitive Schiff base bond is introduced between UCNPs and gold nanocluster-labeled ovalbumin antigens for monitoring antigens release. Our studies demonstrated that UCNPs conjugated metallic antigen showed excellent biocompatibility, pH-sensitive and therapeutic effect.

Interplay Effect of Temperature and Excitation Intensity on the Photoluminescence Characteristics of InGaAs/GaAs Surface Quantum Dots

We investigate the optical properties of InGaAs surface quantum dots (SQDs) in a composite nanostructure with a layer of similarly grown buried quantum dots (BQDs) separated by a thick GaAs spacer, but with varied areal densities of SQDs controlled by using different growth temperatures. Such SQDs behave differently from the BQDs, depending on the surface morphology. Dedicated photoluminescence (PL) measurements for the SQDs grown at 505 °C reveal that the SQD emission follows different relaxation channels while exhibiting abnormal thermal quenching. The PL intensity ratio between the SQDs and BQDs demonstrates interplay between excitation intensity and temperature. These observations suggest a strong dependence on the surface for carrier dynamics of the SQDs, depending on the temperature and excitation intensity.