Single‐crystalline cathode materials have attracted intensive interest in offering greater capacity retention than their polycrystalline counterparts by reducing material surfaces and phase ...boundaries. However, the single‐crystalline LiCoO2 suffers severe structural instability and capacity fading when charged to high voltages (4.6 V) due to Co element dissolution and O loss, crack formation, and subsequent electrolyte penetration. Herein, by forming a robust cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) in an all‐fluorinated electrolyte, reversible planar gliding along the (003) plane in a single‐crystalline LiCoO2 cathode is protected due to the prevention of element dissolution and electrolyte penetration. The robust CEI effectively controls the performance fading issue of the single‐crystalline cathode at a high operating voltage of 4.6 V, providing new insights for improved electrolyte design of high‐energy‐density battery cathode materials.
Single‐crystalline cathode materials have attracted intensive interest. However, the single‐crystalline LiCoO2 suffers severe structural instability and capacity fading when charged to high voltages (4.6 V vs Li/Li+) due to Co and O element dissolution, crack formation, and electrolyte penetration. In this work, the above problems are inhibited by forming a robust cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) on the surface of LiCoO2.
Realizing solid‐state lithium batteries with higher energy density and enhanced safety compared to the conventional liquid lithium‐ion batteries is one of the primary research and development goals ...set for next‐generation batteries in this decade. In this regard, polymer electrolytes have been widely researched as solid electrolytes due to their excellent processability, flexibility, and low weight. With high cationic transference numbers (tLi+ close to 1), single‐ion conducting polymer electrolytes (SICPEs) have tremendous advantages compared to polymer electrolyte systems (tLi+ < 0.4) because of their potential to reduce the buildup of ion concentration gradients and suppress growth of lithium dendrites. The current review covers the fundamentals of SICPEs, including anionic unit synthesis, polymer structure design, and film fabrication, along with simulation and experimental results in solid‐state lithium–metal battery applications. A perspective on current challenges, possible solutions, and potential research directions of SICPEs is also discussed to provide the research community with the critical technical aspects that may advance SICPEs as solid electrolytes in next‐generation energy storage systems.
This review covers the fundamentals of single‐ion conducting polymer electrolytes (SICPEs), including anionic unit synthesis, structure design, and film fabrication, along with simulation and experimental results in solid‐state lithium‐metal batteries. A perspective on current challenges, possible solutions, and research directions of SICPEs is also discussed to provide critical aspects that may advance SICPEs as solid electrolytes in lithium‐metal batteries.
Immune system evasion, distance tumor metastases, and increased cell proliferation are the main reasons for the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the death of NSCLC patients. ...Dysregulation of circular RNAs plays a critical role in the progression of NSCLC; therefore, further understanding the biological mechanisms of abnormally expressed circRNAs is critical to discovering novel, promising therapeutic targets for NSCLC treatment.
The expression of circular RNA fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (circFGFR1) in NSCLC tissues, paired nontumor tissues, and cell lines was detected by RT-qPCR. The role of circFGFR1 in NSCLC progression was assessed both in vitro by CCK-8, clonal formation, wound healing, and Matrigel Transwell assays and in vivo by a subcutaneous tumor mouse assay. In vivo circRNA precipitation, RNA immunoprecipitation, and luciferase reporter assays were performed to explore the interaction between circFGFR1 and miR-381-3p.
Here, we report that circFGFR1 is upregulated in NSCLC tissues, and circFGFR1 expression is associated with deleterious clinicopathological characteristics and poor prognoses for NSCLC patients. Forced circFGFR1 expression promoted the migration, invasion, proliferation, and immune evasion of NSCLC cells. Mechanistically, circFGFR1 could directly interact with miR-381-3p and subsequently act as a miRNA sponge to upregulate the expression of the miR-381-3p target gene C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), which promoted NSCLC progression and resistance to anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)- based therapy.
Taken together, our results suggest the critical role of circFGFR1 in the proliferation, migration, invasion, and immune evasion abilities of NSCLC cells and provide a new perspective on circRNAs during NSCLC progression.
Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) are still confronted with several major challenges, including low energy and power densities, short‐term cycle life, and poor low‐temperature performance, which severely ...hinder their practical applications. Here, a high‐voltage cathode composed of Na3V2(PO4)2O2F nano‐tetraprisms (NVPF‐NTP) is proposed to enhance the energy density of SIBs. The prepared NVPF‐NTP exhibits two high working plateaux at about 4.01 and 3.60 V versus the Na+/Na with a specific capacity of 127.8 mA h g−1. The energy density of NVPF‐NTP reaches up to 486 W h kg−1, which is higher than the majority of other cathode materials previously reported for SIBs. Moreover, due to the low strain (≈2.56% volumetric variation) and superior Na transport kinetics in Na intercalation/extraction processes, as demonstrated by in situ X‐ray diffraction, galvanostatic intermittent titration technique, and cyclic voltammetry at varied scan rates, the NVPF‐NTP shows long‐term cycle life, superior low‐temperature performance, and outstanding high‐rate capabilities. The comparison of Ragone plots further discloses that NVPF‐NTP presents the best power performance among the state‐of‐the‐art cathode materials for SIBs. More importantly, when coupled with an Sb‐based anode, the fabricated sodium‐ion full‐cells also exhibit excellent rate and cycling performances, thus providing a preview of their practical application.
A high‐voltage sodium‐super‐ion‐conductor‐type cathode significantly enhances the energy density of sodium‐ion batteries. Its low‐strain crystal lattice during the successive (de‐)sodiation and superior Na transport kinetics promise high‐rate capabilities, long‐term cycle life, superior low‐temperature performance, and excellent full‐cell performance, providing a preview of their practical applications.
Self‐healable elastomers are extremely attractive due to their ability to prolong product lifetime. An additional function that could further expand their applications is strong adhesion force to ...clean and dusty surfaces. This study reports a series of autonomous self‐healable and highly adhesive elastomers (ASHA‐Elastomer) that are fabricated via a simple, efficient, and scalable process. The obtained elastomers exhibit outstanding mechanical properties with elongation at break up to 2102% and toughness (modulus of toughness) of 1.73 MJ m–3. The damaged ASHA‐Elastomer can autonomously self‐heal with full recovery of functionalities, and the healing process is not affected by the presence of water. The elastomers are found to possess an ultrahigh adhesion force up to 3488 N m−1, greatly outperforming previously reported self‐healing adhesive elastomers. Furthermore, the adhesion force of the ASHA‐Elastomer is negligibly affected by dust on the surface, in stark contrast with regular adhesive polymers that have adhesion strengths extremely sensitive to dust. The successful development of high‐toughness, autonomous self‐healable, and ultra‐adhesive elastomers will enable a wide range of applications with enhanced longevity and versatility, including their use in sealants, adhesives, and stretchable devices.
A series of self‐healing adhesive elastomers are fabricated via a simple, efficient, and scalable process. The obtained elastomers exhibit outstanding mechanical properties (extensibility 2102%, toughness 1.73 MJ m–3), and the damaged areas can autonomously self‐heal with full recovery. They also possess an ultrahigh adhesion force (3488 N m−1), greatly exceeding the reported self‐healing adhesive elastomers.
Dysregulation of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) plays important roles in carcinogenesis and tumor progression, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Small nucleolar RNA host gene 3 (SNHG3) has ...been considered as an lncRNA to be associated with a poor prognosis in patients with HCC. Here, we reported that SNHG3 expression was significantly higher in the highly metastatic HCC (HCCLM3) cells compared with the lowly metastatic HCC cells (Hep3B and PLC/PRF/5). Furthermore, forced expression of SNHG3 promoted cell invasion, epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), and sorafenib resistance in HCC. Moreover, SNHG3 overexpression induced HCC cells EMT via miR‐128/CD151 cascade activation. Clinically, our data revealed that increased SNHG3 expression is correlated with poor HCC survival outcomes and sorafenib response. These data suggest that SNHG3 may be a novel therapeutic target and a biomarker for predicting response to sorafenib treatment of HCC.
Here, our data revealed that increase in small nucleolar RNA host gene 3 (SNHG3) expression is correlated with poor hepatocellular carcinoma survival outcomes and sorafenib response. These data suggest that SNHG3 may be a novel therapeutic target and a biomarker for predicting response to sorafenib treatment of HCC.
P2‐type layered oxides suffer from an ordered Na+/vacancy arrangement and P2→O2/OP4 phase transitions, leading them to exhibit multiple voltage plateaus upon Na+ extraction/insertion. The deficient ...sodium in the P2‐type cathode easily induces the bad structural stability at deep desodiation states and limited reversible capacity during Na+ de/insertion. These drawbacks cause poor rate capability and fast capacity decay in most P2‐type layered oxides. To address these challenges, a novel high sodium content (0.85) and plateau‐free P2‐type cathode‐Na0.85Li0.12Ni0.22Mn0.66O2 (P2‐NLNMO) was developed. The complete solid‐solution reaction over a wide voltage range ensures both fast Na+ mobility (10−11 to 10−10 cm2 s−1) and small volume variation (1.7 %). The high sodium content P2‐NLNMO exhibits a higher reversible capacity of 123.4 mA h g−1, superior rate capability of 79.3 mA h g−1 at 20 C, and 85.4 % capacity retention after 500 cycles at 5 C. The sufficient Na and complete solid‐solution reaction are critical to realizing high‐performance P2‐type cathodes for sodium‐ion batteries.
A high sodium content (0.85) and plateau‐free P2‐type cathode, Na0.85Li0.12Ni0.22Mn0.66O2, is developed for sodium‐ion batteries. The sodium content promises a large specific capacity of 123.4 mA h g−1 with an average working voltage as high as 3.5 V. The complete solid‐solution reaction over a wide voltage range ensures small volume variation (1.7 %) and fast Na+ kinetics (10−10 to 10−11 cm2 s−1), contributing to both excellent cycling stability and rate capability.
The layer‐structured MoS2 is a typical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalyst but it possesses poor activity for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this work, a cobalt covalent doping ...approach capable of inducing HER and OER bifunctionality into MoS2 for efficient overall water splitting is reported. The results demonstrate that covalently doping cobalt into MoS2 can lead to dramatically enhanced HER activity while simultaneously inducing remarkable OER activity. The catalyst with optimal cobalt doping density can readily achieve HER and OER onset potentials of −0.02 and 1.45 V (vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)) in 1.0 m KOH. Importantly, it can deliver high current densities of 10, 100, and 200 mA cm−2 at low HER and OER overpotentials of 48, 132, 165 mV and 260, 350, 390 mV, respectively. The reported catalyst activation approach can be adapted for bifunctionalization of other transition metal dichalcogenides.
A cobalt covalent doping catalyst activation approach to induce hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) bifunctionality of MoS2 is proposed and experimentally validated, demonstrating superior bifunctional electrocatalytic activities with great application potential for overall water splitting in alkaline media.
Natural killer (NK) cells play a critical role in the innate antitumor immune response. Recently, NK cell dysfunction has been verified in various malignant tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma ...(HCC). However, the molecular biological mechanisms of NK cell dysfunction in human HCC are still obscure.
The expression of circular ubiquitin-like with PHD and ring finger domain 1 RNA (circUHRF1) in HCC tissues, exosomes, and cell lines was detected by qRT-PCR. Exosomes were isolated from the culture medium of HCC cells and plasma of HCC patients using an ultracentrifugation method and the ExoQuick Exosome Precipitation Solution kit and then characterized by transmission electronic microscopy, NanoSight and western blotting. The role of circUHRF1 in NK cell dysfunction was assessed by ELISA. In vivo circRNA precipitation, RNA immunoprecipitation, and luciferase reporter assays were performed to explore the molecular mechanisms of circUHRF1 in NK cells. In a retrospective study, the clinical characteristics and prognostic significance of circUHRF1 were determined in HCC tissues.
Here, we report that the expression of circUHRF1 is higher in human HCC tissues than in matched adjacent nontumor tissues. Increased levels of circUHRF1 indicate poor clinical prognosis and NK cell dysfunction in patients with HCC. In HCC patient plasma, circUHRF1 is predominantly secreted by HCC cells in an exosomal manner, and circUHRF1 inhibits NK cell-derived IFN-γ and TNF-α secretion. A high level of plasma exosomal circUHRF1 is associated with a decreased NK cell proportion and decreased NK cell tumor infiltration. Moreover, circUHRF1 inhibits NK cell function by upregulating the expression of TIM-3 via degradation of miR-449c-5p. Finally, we show that circUHRF1 may drive resistance to anti-PD1 immunotherapy in HCC patients.
Exosomal circUHRF1 is predominantly secreted by HCC cells and contributes to immunosuppression by inducing NK cell dysfunction in HCC. CircUHRF1 may drive resistance to anti-PD1 immunotherapy, providing a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with HCC.
Switchable materials play an invaluable role in signal processing and encryption of smart devices. The development of multifunctional materials that exhibit switching characteristics in multiple ...physical channels has attracted widespread attention. Now, two chiral thermochromic ferroelastic crystals (S‐CTA)2CuCl4 and (R‐CTA)2CuCl4 (CTA=3‐chloro‐2‐hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium) have been prepared with switchable properties in dielectricity, conductivity, second harmonic generation (SHG), piezoelectricity, ferroelasticity, chiral, and thermochromic properties. Compared with traditional phase‐transition materials with switching features, thermochromism brings additional spectral encryption possibilities for future information processing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first chiral thermochromic ferroelastic that exhibits switching properties in seven physical channels. This work is expected to promote further exploration of multifunctional molecular switchable materials.
Seven switches: A pair of chiral thermochromic ferroelastics (R‐CTA)2CuCl4 and (S‐CTA)2CuCl4 (CTA=3‐chloro‐2‐hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium) exhibit switching properties in seven physical channels of dielectricity, conductivity, SHG, piezoelectric, ferroelastic, chiral, and thermochromic properties.
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