Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) have attracted considerable attention for high energy solid‐state lithium metal batteries (LMBs). In this work, potentially ecofriendly, solid‐state ...poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL)‐based star polymer electrolytes with cross‐linked structures (xBt‐PCL) are introduced that robustly cycle against LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 (NMC622) composite cathodes, affording long‐term stability even at higher current densities. Their superior features allow for sufficient suppression of dendritic lithium deposits, as monitored by 7Li solid‐state NMR. Advantageous electrolyte|electrode interfacial properties derived from cathode impregnation with 1.5 wt% PCL enable decent cell performance until up to 500 cycles at rates of 1C (60 °C), illustrating the high potential of PCL‐based SPEs for application in high‐voltage LMBs.
A potentially ecofriendly, solid‐state poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐based star polymer electrolyte with cross‐linked structures is introduced that robustly cycles against LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 (NMC622) composite cathodes, affording long‐term stability even at higher current densities. Its superior features allow for sufficient suppression of dendritic lithium deposits, as monitored by 7Li solid‐state NMR.
To go beyond polyethylene oxide in lithium metal batteries, a hybrid polymer/oligomer cell design is presented, where an ester oligomer provides high ionic conductivity of 0.2 mS cm−1 at 40 °C within ...thicker composite cathodes with active mass loadings of up to 11 mg cm−2 (LiNbO3‐coated) LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2 (NMC622), while a 30 µm thin scaffold‐supported polymer electrolyte affords mechanical stability. Corresponding discharge capacities of the hybrid cells exceed 170 mAh g−1 (11 mg cm−2) or 160 mAh g−1 (6 mg cm−2) at rates of either 0.1 or 0.25 C. Multilayer pouch cells are projected to enable energy densities of 235 Wh L−1 (6 mg cm−2) and even up to 356 Wh L−1 (11 mg cm−2), clearly superior to other reported polymer‐based cell designs. Polyester electrolytes are environmentally benign and safer compared to common liquid electrolytes, while the straightforward synthesis and affordability of precursors render hybrid polyester electrolytes suitable candidates for future application in solid‐state lithium metal batteries.
A hybrid polymer/oligomer cell design for solid‐state lithium metal batteries, comprising NMC composite cathodes and scaffold‐supported polymer electrolytes, is introduced, exceeding discharge capacities of 160 mAh g−1 at rates of 0.25 C. The energy densities of corresponding multilayer pouch cells are projected to 356 Wh L−1 (11 mg cm−2), clearly demonstrating applicability of polymer‐based hybrid cell concepts.
This study intends to investigate factors affecting business employees' behavioral intentions to use the e-learning system. Combining the innovation diffusion theory (IDT) with the technology ...acceptance model (TAM), the present study proposes an extended technology acceptance model. The proposed model was tested with data collected from 552 business employees using the e-learning system in Taiwan. The results show that five perceptions of innovation characteristics significantly influenced employees' e-learning system behavioral intention. The effects of the compatibility, complexity, relative advantage, and trialability on the perceived usefulness are significant. In addition, the effective of the complexity, relative advantage, trialability, and complexity on the perceived ease of use have a significant influence. Empirical results also provide strong support for the integrative approach. The findings suggest an extended model of TAM for the acceptance of the e-learning system, which can help organization decision makers in planning, evaluating and executing the use of e-learning systems.
DITRA, acronym for deficiency of interleukin‐36 receptor antagonist (IL36RN), leads to unopposed pro‐inflammatory signalling which typically manifests as pustular psoriasis. In Asian patients, c.115 ...+ 6 T > C mutation is the most common and important single‐nucleotide variant in DITRA. We present the largest case series consisting of 58 DITRA patients carrying heterozygous or homozygous c.115 + 6 T > C mutation. The mean age of onset (±SD) was 20.74 (±20.86), and the median age of onset was 13 years old. Twelve patients (20.7%) had disease onset before the age of two. Twenty‐two patients (37.9%) had disease onset between the ages of 2–18. Main clinical phenotype was generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) with systemic symptoms (33 patients, 56.9%), followed by acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau (ACH) (16 patients, 27.6%). Nearly half of our patients (27 patients, 46.6%) ever had ACH, and only three of them are free of ACH currently, which indicates that the development of ACH is relatively persistent and irreversible. Thirty‐four patients (58.6%) had recurrent GPP and 29 patients (50%) have been admitted due to GPP flare. Compared to those with heterozygous (C/T) mutation, more patients carrying homozygous mutation (C/C) have recurrent episodes of GPP (C/T vs. C/C: 25.53 vs. 76.47%, p = 0.0367). Two patients with squamous cell carcinomas arising from the pustular psoriasis skin lesions were noted. Two patients had elevated serum IgG4 levels.
As the Holy Grail to a carbon-free hydrogen economy, photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting offers a promising path for sustainable production of hydrogen fuel from solar energy. Even though much ...progress has been made over the past decade, the effectiveness and robustness of PEC cells are still far from a mature phase that would allow for widespread deployment. This perspective discusses the key challenges facing the current level of PEC development and proposes experimental approaches and strategies that can be adopted to address the issues. Focuses are mainly placed on the employment of in situ and operando spectroscopic measurements, the introduction of alternative, high value-added oxidation reactions, and the creation of near infrared-responsive photoelectrodes. A brief outlook that may assist the future advancement of PEC technology is also presented.
Poor kinetics of hole transportation at the electrode/electrolyte interface is regarded as a primary cause for the mediocre performance of n-type TiO2 photoelectrodes. By adopting nanotubes as the ...electrode backbone, light absorption and carrier collection can be spatially decoupled, allowing n-type TiO2, with its short hole diffusion length, to maximize the use of the available photoexcited charge carriers during operation in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Here, we presented a delicate electrochemical anodization process for the preparation of quaternary Ti–Nb–Ta–Zr–O mixed-oxide (denoted as TNTZO) nanotube arrays and demonstrated their utility in PEC water splitting. The charge-transfer dynamics for the electrodes was investigated using time-resolved photoluminescence, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and the decay of open-circuit voltage analysis. Data reveal that the superior photoactivity of TNTZO over pristine TiO2 originated from the introduction of Nd, Ta, and Zr elements, which enhanced the amount of accessible charge carriers, modified the electronic structure, and improved the hole injection kinetics for expediting water splitting. By modulating the water content of the electrolyte employed in the anodization process, the wall thickness of the grown TNTZO nanotubes can be reduced to a size smaller than that of the depletion layer thickness, realizing a fully depleted state for charge carriers to further advance the PEC performance. Hydrogen evolution tests demonstrate the practical efficacy of TNTZO for realizing solar hydrogen production. Furthermore, with the composition complexity and fully depleted band structure, the present TNTZO nanotube arrays may offer a feasible and universal platform for the loading of other semiconductors to construct a sophisticated heterostructure photoelectrode paradigm, in which the photoexcited charge carriers can be entirely utilized for efficient solar-to-fuel conversion.
Interfaces play a decisive role in perovskite solar cells’ power conversion efficiency and their long‐term durability. Small‐molecule hole‐transporting materials (HTMs) have grabbed enormous ...attention due to their structural flexibility, material properties, and stabilities, allowing for improved operational durability in perovskite photovoltaics. This study synthesizes and investigates a new class of benzimidazole‐based small molecules, named YJS001 and YJS003, serving as the HTMs to enable high‐efficiency mixed‐cation mixed‐halide perovskite solar cells. The benzimidazole‐based materials are dopant‐free HTMs composed of donor and acceptor building blocks that are designed to engineer the energy level alignment near the HTM/perovskite interface. Mixed‐cation mixed‐halide perovskites can be grown uniformly on both HTMs with large crystalline grains. It is discovered that the donor‐rich YJS003‐based solar cell exhibits a high open‐circuit voltage of 1.09 V with a champion power conversion efficiency of over 20%. Power‐dependent current–voltage characteristics of the solar cells are analyzed, from which the high performance of YJS003's excellent hole mobility and well‐aligned energy level is attributed. This work introduces a new class of benzimidazole‐based small molecules as HTMs, that paves the path for dopant free interface material development for commercialization of perovskite solar cells.
Two new hole‐transporting materials (HTMs) with acceptor‐rich (YJS001) and donor‐rich (YJS003) are synthesized and characterized for hybrid perovskite photovoltaics applications. Under similar conditions, the efficiency of HTM YJS001 and YJS003‐based devices is 17.43% and 20.81%, respectively. The superior performance of YJS003 over YJS001 is attributed to higher open‐circuit voltage and fill factor from good hole transport, lower trap density, and lower electric resistance of cells.
In this work, we demonstrated the practical use of Au@Cu2O core–shell and Au@Cu2Se yolk–shell nanocrystals as photocatalysts in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting and photocatalytic hydrogen ...(H2) production. The samples were prepared by conducting a sequential ion-exchange reaction on a Au@Cu2O core–shell nanocrystal template. Au@Cu2O and Au@Cu2Se displayed enhanced charge separation as the Au core and yolk can attract photoexcited electrons from the Cu2O and Cu2Se shells. The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of Au, on the other hand, can facilitate additional charge carrier generation for Cu2O and Cu2Se. Finite-difference time-domain simulations were carried out to explore the amplification of the localized electromagnetic field induced by the LSPR of Au. The charge transfer dynamics and band alignment of the samples were examined with time-resolved photoluminescence and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. As a result of the improved interfacial charge transfer, Au@Cu2O and Au@Cu2Se exhibited a substantially larger photocurrent of water reduction and higher photocatalytic activity of H2 production than the corresponding pure counterpart samples. Incident photon-to-current efficiency measurements were conducted to evaluate the contribution of the plasmonic effect of Au to the enhanced photoactivity. Relative to Au@Cu2O, Au@Cu2Se was more suited for PEC water splitting and photocatalytic H2 production by virtue of the structural advantages of yolk–shell architectures. The demonstrations from the present work may shed light on the rational design of sophisticated metal–semiconductor yolk–shell nanocrystals, especially those comprising metal selenides, for superior photocatalytic applications.
Humans perceive a stable average intensity image without flicker artifacts when a television or monitor updates at a sufficiently fast rate. This rate, known as the critical flicker fusion rate, has ...been studied for both spatially uniform lights, and spatio-temporal displays. These studies have included both stabilized and unstablized retinal images, and report the maximum observable rate as 50-90 Hz. A separate line of research has reported that fast eye movements known as saccades allow simple modulated LEDs to be observed at very high rates. Here we show that humans perceive visual flicker artifacts at rates over 500 Hz when a display includes high frequency spatial edges. This rate is many times higher than previously reported. As a result, modern display designs which use complex spatio-temporal coding need to update much faster than conventional TVs, which traditionally presented a simple sequence of natural images.
Lophatherum gracile Brongn. (L. gracile) has been long used in traditional herbal medicine to clinically clear heat, disinhibit dampness, and treat inflammation. However, the effect of L. gracile on ...the activation of human neutrophils remains unclear.
The aim of current study is to investigate the anti-inflammatory properties of L. gracile extract (LGE) in N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLF)-induced activation of human neutrophils.
Superoxide anion generation and elastase release were estimated by spectrophotometry. A series of signaling pathways including mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and protein kinase B (Akt), as well as calcium mobilization were studied by Western blot analysis and spectrofluorometry.
Our experimental results indicated that the nontoxic dosage of LGE does-dependently inhibited the fMLF-induced superoxide anion (O2•−) generation, elastase release, CD11b expression, adhesion, and chemotactic migration in human neutrophils. LGE selectively inhibited the fMLF-induced phosphorylation of JNK but not p38, ERK, or Akt in human neutrophils. LGE also decreased the intracellular Ca2+ levels (Ca2+i) in fMLF-activated human neutrophils. However, a specific JNK inhibitor inhibited the fMLF-induced O2•− generation and CD11b expression, but it had no effect on Ca2+i in human neutrophils.
LGE exhibited anti-inflammatory activities in fMLF-activated human neutrophils. The pharmacological mechanisms of LGE-repressed neutrophilic inflammation were through two independent pathways, JNK signaling and calcium mobilization. Our results suggested that LGE holds the potential to be developed as an anti-inflammatory botanical medicine.
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