All‐solid‐state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) are considered as the next generation electrochemical energy storage devices because of their high safety and energy density, simple packaging, and wide ...operable temperature range. The critical component in ASSLBs is the solid‐state electrolyte. Among all solid‐state electrolytes, the sulfide electrolytes have the highest ionic conductivity and favorable interface compatibility with sulfur‐based cathodes. The ionic conductivity of sulfide electrolytes is comparable with or even higher than that of the commercial organic liquid electrolytes. However, several critical challenges for sulfide electrolytes still remain to be solved, including their narrow electrochemical stability window, the unstable interface between the electrolyte and the electrodes, as well as lithium dendrite formation in the electrolytes. Herein, the emerging sulfide electrolytes and preparation methods are reviewed. In particular, the required properties of the sulfide electrolytes, such as the electrochemical stabilities of the electrolytes and the compatible electrode/electrolyte interfaces are highlighted. The opportunities for sulfide‐based ASSLBs are also discussed.
All‐solid‐state lithium batteries are considered to be next‐generation devices for electrochemical energy storages due to their superiority in high safety and energy density. Sulfide electrolytes have become one of the most promising ion conductors due to their high ionic conductivities. At the same time, the favorable interface compatibility of sulfide electrolytes with sulfide‐based cathodes delivers bright prospect of all‐solid‐state lithium batteries.
Increasing CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is believed to have a profound impact on the global climate. To reverse the impact would necessitate not only curbing the reliance on fossil fuels but ...also developing effective strategies capture and utilize CO2 from the atmosphere. Among several available strategies, CO2 reduction via the electrochemical or photochemical approach is particularly attractive since the required energy input can be potentially supplied from renewable sources such as solar energy. In this Review, an overview on these two different but inherently connected approaches is provided and recent progress on the development, engineering, and understanding of CO2 reduction electrocatalysts and photocatalysts is summarized. First, the basic principles that govern electrocatalytic or photocatalytic CO2 reduction and their important performance metrics are discussed. Then, a detailed discussion on different CO2 reduction electrocatalysts and photocatalysts as well as their generally designing strategies is provided. At the end of this Review, perspectives on the opportunities and possible directions for future development of this field are presented.
CO2 reduction to useful chemical fuels via the electrochemical or photochemical approach represents promising directions to convert and utilize this greenhouse gas molecule. The Review summarizes recent progress on the development, engineering, and understanding of CO2 reduction electrocatalysts and photocatalysts.
Electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction to formate is desirable but challenging. Current attention is mostly focused on tin-based materials, which, unfortunately, often suffer from limited Faradaic ...efficiency. The potential of bismuth in carbon dioxide reduction has been suggested but remained understudied. Here, we report that ultrathin bismuth nanosheets are prepared from the in situ topotactic transformation of bismuth oxyiodide nanosheets. They process single crystallinity and enlarged surface areas. Such an advantageous nanostructure affords the material with excellent electrocatalytic performance for carbon dioxide reduction to formate. High selectivity (~100%) and large current density are measured over a broad potential, as well as excellent durability for >10 h. Its selectivity for formate is also understood by density functional theory calculations. In addition, bismuth nanosheets were coupled with an iridium-based oxygen evolution electrocatalyst to achieve efficient full-cell electrolysis. When powered by two AA-size alkaline batteries, the full cell exhibits impressive Faradaic efficiency and electricity-to-formate conversion efficiency.
The diversity of T and B cells in terms of their receptor sequences is huge in the vertebrate’s immune system and provides broad protection against the vast diversity of pathogens. Immune repertoire ...is defined as the sum of T cell receptors and B cell receptors (also named immunoglobulin) that makes the organism’s adaptive immune system. Before the emergence of high-throughput sequencing, the studies on immune repertoire were limited by the underdeveloped methodologies, since it was impossible to capture the whole picture by the low-throughput tools. The massive paralleled sequencing technology suits perfectly the researches on immune repertoire. In this article, we review the history of immune repertoire studies, in terms of technologies and research applications. Particularly, we discuss several aspects of challenges in this field and highlight the efforts to develop potential solutions, in the era of high-throughput sequencing of the immune repertoire.
Cassiterite (SnO2) precipitates over a wide physicochemical range during magmatic-hydrothermal processes. Significant variations in chemical and Sn isotopic compositions of cassiterite have been ...increasingly reported from hydrothermal deposits worldwide. However, the mechanisms responsible for such notable changes in cassiterite geochemistry remain to be fully addressed. Toward this end, we investigated the chemical and Sn isotopic compositions of distinct generations of cassiterite from a highly-evolved magmatic-hydrothermal-metallogenic system (Xianghualing Sn polymetallic deposit, South China). Cassiterite is widespread in the albite granite, greisen, skarn, and sulfide ore of this deposit, covering most of the known cassiterite-bearing rock/ore types. Based on distinct morphologies and mineral paragenesis, three generations of the Xianghualing cassiterite are identified: (1) Cst 1 occurs in albite granite and greisen; (2) Cst 2 occurs in skarn; and (3) Cst 3 is present in sulfide ore. A lattice strain model indicates that inter-element compositional differences of cassiterite are dual-controlled by cassiterite element partition coefficients and melt/fluid compositions for sufficient and deficient elements, respectively. The variations in Zr, Hf, Nb, and Ta elements in cassiterite are recognized as thermo-indicators of the melt/fluid physicochemical conditions. Their concentrations are influenced by pre- and syn-precipitated Zr-Hf-Nb-Ta-enriched minerals that have a wide crystallization temperature range. Due to differentiations of multiple cationic valences, concentrations and interelement ratios of Sb, Fe, V, and U can be utilized to monitor the relative melt/fluid redox state of different cassiterite generations. Tin stable isotopic compositions are notably fractionated in the Xianghualing cassiterite samples, with δamuSn values relative to standard NIST 3161a ranging from −0.16‰ to 0.19‰. By comparison with compiled Sn isotopes of other hydrothermal deposits, kinetic disequilibrium fractionation is proposed as the main control on cassiterite Sn isotopes fractionation. A Rayleigh fractionation model generates fractionation factors of 1.00010–1.00025, consistent with fractionation factors predicted by first principles calculations (1.00013 to 1.00037). Thus, progressive precipitation of Sn-enriched minerals due to the change of physicochemical conditions during magmatic-hydrothermal processes will cause lighter Sn isotopic compositions in residual melt/fluid. This study highlights that cassiterite chemical and Sn stable isotopes are novel indicators to magmatic-hydrothermal processes.
•A mathematic method is proposed to normalize varied expressions of Sn isotopic data.•Lattice strain model predicts inter-elemental compositional differences of cassiterite.•Cassiterite chemical compositions could trace physicochemical conditions of melt/fluid.•Cassiterite Sn isotope fractionation mainly caused by kinetic disequilibrium fractionation.
Reversible electrochemical storage of alkali metal ions is the basis of many secondary batteries. Over years, various electrode materials are developed and optimized for a specific type of alkali ...metal ions (Li+, Na+, or K+), yet there are very few (if not none) candidates that can serve as a universal host material for all of them. Herein, a facile solvothermal method is developed to prepare VS2 nanosheet assemblies. Individual nanosheets are featured with a few atomic layer thickness, and they are hierarchically arranged with minimized stacking. Electrochemical measurements show that VS2 nanosheet assemblies enable the rapid and durable storage of Li+, Na+, or K+ ions. Most remarkably, the large reversible specific capacity and great cycling stability observed for both Na+ and K+ are extraordinary and superior to most existing electrode materials. The experimental results of this study are further supported by density functional theory calculations showing that the layered structure of VS2 has large adsorption energy and low diffusion barriers for the intercalation of alkali metal ions.
Hierarchical VS2 nanosheet assemblies featuring a few atomic‐layer nanosheet thickness are prepared by a facile solvothermal method in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone. They can serve as a universal host material for the reversible electrochemical storage of Li+, Na+, or K+ ions with large capacity, great rate capability, and satisfactory cycling stability.
Based on the provincial panel data from 2003 to 2015, this paper empirically investigates the impact of technological innovation on environmental pollution, and explores the moderating role of ...Internet development in this impact. It is found that technological innovation has a significant inhibitory effect on regional environmental pollution. The development level of the Internet has a significant regulating effect on the process of technological innovation affecting environmental pollution, which is manifested in that the improvement of the Internet development level can further enhance the inhibiting effect of technological innovation on environmental pollution and promote regional energy conservation and emission reduction. Based on the above analysis, this paper puts forward the corresponding countermeasures and suggestions.
Urea electrolysis is a promising route to utilize urea-rich wastewater as an energy source to produce hydrogen on the cathode or generate electricity through a direct urea fuel cell, which offers ...great potential for simultaneous water remediation and energy recovery. Here, we report a scalable synthetic strategy to prepare NiCo layer double hydroxide (NiCo LDH) as an efficient catalyst for urea electrooxidation. NiCo LDH with NO3 – intercalant exhibited the best electrocatalytic performance and selectivity toward urea oxidation with a low onset potential, high faradaic efficiency, and high durability. The interlayer spacing in the LDH structure was found to play a pivotal role in the urea oxidation electrocatalysis with higher activity/selectivity under larger spacings. Further analysis of the urea oxidation product could potentially enable selective urine treatment into environmentalally friendly products.
The Alxa Tectonic Belt (ATB) is located in the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), and its tectonic affinity and evolutionary history related to the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean are not ...fully understood. To refine our understanding of these issues, an investigation that includes petrographic observations, whole-rock geochemistry, zircon UPb dating and Hf isotopic analyses was carried out on four felsic intrusions in the Zongnaishan–Shalazha Zone (ZSZ) and the Nuoergong–Honggueryulin Zone (NHZ) within this region. Despite their lithological differences, the four intrusions are identified as metaluminous, calc-alkaline to high-K calc-alkaline I-type granitoids that were derived from partial melting of heterogeneous crustal basement without significant fractional crystallization and crustal contamination. Zircon LA-ICP-MS UPb dating results suggest that they were emplaced from the late Permian to the early Triassic (i.e., 247.7 ± 0.7 Ma for the Shalazha granite, 253.2 ± 0.9 Ma for the Shalazha granodiorite, 253.3 ± 0.6 Ma for the Nuoergong granite, and 251.6 ± 0.9 Ma for the Nuoergong tonalite). Geochemically, these granitoids show typical signatures of arc magma, such as enrichments in Rb, Th, K, and Pb, depletions in Zr, Nb, and Ta, and low Sr/Y and (La/Yb)N values. On tectonic discriminant diagrams, they plot in volcanic arc to post-collisional fields, indicating a tectonic transition from oceanic subduction to closure in the late Permian to early Triassic. Interestingly, granitoids from the ZSZ have positive εHf(t) values ranging from +1 to +7.9 with young two-stage crustal ages (TDMC) of 781–1209 Ma, in sharp contrast to the extremely negative εHf(t) values (−15.8 to −8.7) and old TDMC ages (1831–2272 Ma) of the granitoids in the NHZ. In addition, the zircon Hf isotopes of the ZSZ and NHZ granitoids show similarities to those of the magmatic rocks in the southern CAOB and western North China Craton, respectively, implying that the northern and southern ATB have different tectonic affinities. Thus, we propose that the Paleo-Asian Ocean lasted subduction in the late Permian and may close in the early Triassic, with subsequent accretion of the northern juvenile exotic microcontinent (ZSZ) to the southern old crustal basement (NHZ).
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•Four felsic intrusions in the Alxa Tectonic Belt are dated between 253 and 248 Ma.•The four felsic intrusions are metaluminous and calc-alkaline I-type granitoids.•They were derived from partial melting of heterogeneous crustal basements.•The subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean lasted until the late Permian.•The northern and southern Alxa Tectonic Belt have different tectonic affinities.
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