The development of energy‐storage devices has received increasing attention as a transformative technology to realize a low‐carbon economy and sustainable energy supply. Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) ...batteries are considered to be one of the most promising next‐generation energy‐storage devices due to their ultrahigh energy density. Despite the extraordinary progress in the last few years, the actual energy density of Li–S batteries is still far from satisfactory to meet the demand for practical applications. Considering the sulfur electrochemistry is highly dependent on solid‐liquid‐solid multi‐phase conversion, the electrolyte amount plays a primary role in the practical performances of Li–S cells. Therefore, a lean electrolyte volume with low electrolyte/sulfur ratio is essential for practical Li–S batteries, yet under these conditions it is highly challenging to achieve acceptable electrochemical performances regarding sulfur kinetics, discharge capacity, Coulombic efficiency, and cycling stability especially for high‐sulfur‐loading cathodes. In this Review, the impact of the electrolyte/sulfur ratio on the actual energy density and the economic cost of Li–S batteries is addressed. Challenges and recent progress are presented in terms of the sulfur electrochemical processes: the dissolution–precipitation conversion and the solid–solid multi‐phasic transition. Finally, prospects of future lean‐electrolyte Li–S battery design and engineering are discussed.
Lean on me: The challenges, recent progress, and perspectives for lean‐electrolyte Li–S batteries are discussed in terms of the two electrochemical processes for sulfur, that is, the dissolution–precipitation conversion and the solid–solid pathway.
Genomic studies of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) have advanced our understanding of the disease’s biology and accelerated targeted therapy. However, the proteomic characteristics of LUAD remain poorly ...understood. We carried out a comprehensive proteomics analysis of 103 cases of LUAD in Chinese patients. Integrative analysis of proteome, phosphoproteome, transcriptome, and whole-exome sequencing data revealed cancer-associated characteristics, such as tumor-associated protein variants, distinct proteomics features, and clinical outcomes in patients at an early stage or with EGFR and TP53 mutations. Proteome-based stratification of LUAD revealed three subtypes (S-I, S-II, and S-III) related to different clinical and molecular features. Further, we nominated potential drug targets and validated the plasma protein level of HSP 90β as a potential prognostic biomarker for LUAD in an independent cohort. Our integrative proteomics analysis enables a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular landscape of LUAD and offers an opportunity for more precise diagnosis and treatment.
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•Discovery of prognosis-associated proteins and pathways at early stage of LUAD•Proteomics revealed three subtypes related to clinical and molecular features•Identification of subtype-specific kinases and cancer-associated phosphoproteins•Identification of potential prognostic biomarkers and drug targets in LUAD
Integrative proteomic characterization of lung adenocarcinoma in 103 Chinese patients identifies three subtypes related to clinical and molecular features and nominates potential prognostic biomarkers and drug targets.
In materials showing reverse saturable absorption (RSA), optical transmittance decreases at intense laser irradiation. One approach to application of these materials is to protect the sensors or ...human eyes from laser damage. To date, research has mainly concentrated on thin films and suspensions of graphite and its nanostructure (including nanotubes, graphene, and graphene oxides), which are mainly used as an optical limiter for nanosecond laser pulses. Moreover, thin individual pieces of semiconductor usually exhibit increased transmittance due to saturable absorption when the laser energy (Elaser) is higher than the band gap (EB). Here, it is shown that indirect gap semiconductor WSe2 exhibits high RSA on exposure to a femtosecond laser under Elaser > EB near band gap excitation, which is attributed to the longitudinal optical phonon‐assisted anti‐Stokes transition by the annihilation of phonons and the absorption of photons. An optical limiting threshold (≈21.6 mJ cm−2) lower than those reported for other optical‐limiting materials currently for femtosecond laser at 800 nm is observed.
Reverse saturable absorption induced by photon‐assisted anti‐Stokes processes in indirect semiconductor WSe2 when the irradiation energy is higher than the bandgap, is achieved via the annihilation of phonons and the absorption of photons. An optical limiting threshold of ≈21.6 mJ cm−2 makes the indirect semiconductor WSe2 promising for femtosecond optical limiting applications.
Controlled morphology modulation of graphene carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) is successfully realized from bulk to 3D loose foam architecture via the blowing effect of a bubble, which can be controlled by ...heating rate. The loose foam network is comprised by spatially scaffolded few‐atom‐layer interconnected flakes with the large specific surface area, as supporters to prevent agglomeration and provide a pathway for electron/phonon transports. The photocatalytic performance of 3D foam strutted g‐C3N4 toward RhB decomposition and hydrogen evolution is significantly enhanced with the morphology optimization while its excellent optoelectronic properties are maintained simultaneously. Herein, the ultrathin, mono‐, and high‐quality foam g‐C3N4 interconnected flakes with controlled layer are facilely obtained through ultrasonic, thus overcoming the drawbacks of a traditional top–down approach, opening a wide horizon for diverse practical usages. Additionally, the layer control mechanism of 3D hierarchical structure has been explored by means of bubble growth kinetics analysis and the density functional theory calculations.
3D foam strutted g‐C3N4 synthesized upon bubble template shows effective photocatalytic activity as well as highly stable optoelectronic properties, overcoming the problem of its photoluminescence degradation when applied as a photocatalyst. Kinetic characterization and theoretical calculations reveal ultrathin foam growth and a layer control mechanism, which is crucial for the application of this promising class of materials.
Surface reactions constitute the foundation of various energy conversion/storage technologies, such as the lithium–sulfur (Li‐S) batteries. To expedite surface reactions for high‐rate battery ...applications demands in‐depth understanding of reaction kinetics and rational catalyst design. Now an in situ extrinsic‐metal etching strategy is used to activate an inert monometal nitride of hexagonal Ni3N through iron‐incorporated cubic Ni3FeN. In situ etched Ni3FeN regulates polysulfide‐involving surface reactions at high rates. Electron microscopy was used to unveil the mechanism of in situ catalyst transformation. The Li‐S batteries modified with Ni3FeN exhibited superb rate capability, remarkable cycling stability at a high sulfur loading of 4.8 mg cm−2, and lean‐electrolyte operability. This work opens up the exploration of multimetallic alloys and compounds as kinetic regulators for high‐rate Li‐S batteries and also elucidates catalytic surface reactions and the role of defect chemistry.
Inert hexagonal Ni3N can be activated by an extrinsic metal‐incorporating strategy with in situ etching that uses cubic Ni3FeN. Vacancy‐rich Ni3FeN catalysts kinetically regulate polysulfide‐involving reactions at high rates for use in advanced lithium–sulfur batteries.
Adding 2‐phenoxyethylamine (POEA) into a CH3NH3PbBr3 precursor solution can modulate the organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite structure from bulk to layered, with a photoluminescence and ...electroluminescence shift from green to blue. Meanwhile, POEA can passivate the CH3NH3PbBr3 surface and help to obtain a pure CH3NH3PbBr3 phase, leading to an improvement of the external quantum efficiency to nearly 3% in CH3NH3PbBr3 LED.
Perovskite photovoltaics are strong potential candidates to drive low‐power off‐grid electronics for indoor applications. Compared with rigid devices, flexible perovskite devices can provide a more ...suitable surface for indoor small electronic devices, enabling them have a broader indoor application prospect. However, the mechanical stability of flexible perovskite photovoltaics is an urgent issue solved. Herein, a kind of 3D crosslinking agent named borax is selected to carry out grain boundary penetration treatment on perovskite film to realize full‐dimensional stress release. This strategy improves the mechanical and phase stabilities of perovskite films subjected to external forces or large temperature changes. The fabricated perovskite photovoltaics deliver a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 21.63% under AM 1.5G illumination, which is the highest one to date. The merit of low trap states under weak light makes the devices present a superior indoor PCE of 31.85% under 1062 lux (LED, 2956 K), which is currently the best flexible perovskite indoor photovoltaic device. This work provides a full‐dimensional grain boundary stress release strategy for highly stable flexible perovskite indoor photovoltaics.
A grain boundary stress release strategy is proposed for high‐stability flexible perovskite indoor photovoltaics by the grain boundary penetration with borax 3D stretchable molecules. The full‐dimensional grain boundary stress release enables the flexible perovskite photovoltaics deliver a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 21.63% under AM 1.5G illumination and an indoor PCE of 31.85% under 1062 lux.
Direct measuring of CO2 flux remains challenging for global lakes. The traditional sampling and gas transfer models used to estimate lake CO2 fluxes are variable and uncertain, and ice‐covered ...periods are often excluded from the annual carbon budget. Here, the first longtime (2013−2017) direct measurement of CO2 flux by eddy covariance system over the largest saline lake (Qinghai lake) in the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (QTP) revealed that ice‐covered period draws large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere (−0.87 ± 0.38 g C m−2 d−1), a value more than twice the CO2 flux rate during the ice‐free period (−0.41 ± 0.35 g C m−2 d−1). The total CO2 uptake by all saline lakes on the QTP was estimated to −10.28 ± 1.65 Tg C yr−1, an equivalent to approximately one third of the net terrestrial ecosystems carbon sink in QTP. Our results indicate large sink for CO2 in winter is controlled by both seasonal hydrochemistry processes and lake ice absorption in saline lakes. This research also demonstrates decreasing CO2 uptake from the atmosphere by saline lakes on the QTP, which may turn carbon sinks to carbon sources with future warming.
The first direct measurement of CO2 flux over Qinghai lake revealed that significant winter CO2 uptake by saline lakes controlled by seasonal hydrochemistry processes and lake ice absorption on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (QTP). The finding highlights the importance of ice‐covered period for saline lakes in global carbon budge. All saline lakes on the QTP draw 10.28 ± 1.65 Tg C yr−1 CO2 from the atmosphere, an equivalent to approximately one‐third of the net terrestrial ecosystems carbon sink in the QTP. Increasing future climate warming may change saline lakes from carbon sinks to carbon sources by end‐2000s.
High‐performance non‐fullerene OSCs with PCEs of up to ca. 6.0% are demonstrated based on PBDTT‐F‐TT polymer and a molecular di‐PBI acceptor through comprehensive molecular, interfacial, and device ...engineering. Impressive PCEs can also be retained in devices with relatively thick BHJ layer and processed through non‐halogenated solvents, indicating these high‐performance non‐fullerene OSCs are promising for large‐area printing applications.
Metal halide perovskite semiconductors have demonstrated remarkable potentials in solution‐processed blue light‐emitting diodes (LEDs). However, the unsatisfied efficiency and spectral stability ...responsible for trap‐mediated non‐radiative losses and halide phase segregation remain the primary unsolved challenges for blue perovskite LEDs. In this study, it is reported that a fluorene‐based π‐conjugated cationic polymer can be blended with the perovskite semiconductor to control film formation and optoelectronic properties. As a result, sky‐blue and true‐blue perovskite LEDs with Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage coordinates of (0.08, 0.22) and (0.12, 0.13) at the record external quantum efficiencies of 11.2% and 8.0% were achieved. In addition, the mixed halide perovskites with the conjugated cationic polymer exhibit excellent spectral stability under external bias. This result illustrates that π‐conjugated cationic polymers have a great potential to realize efficient blue mixed‐halide perovskite LEDs with stable electroluminescence.
A fluorene‐based π‐conjugated cationic polymer as a multifunctional passivator to suppress non‐radiative processes, improve charge transport properties, and inhibit ion migration for blue mixed‐halide perovskite semiconductors, is reported. As a result, efficient and spectrally stable blue perovskite light‐emitting diodes with emission wavelengths from 485 to 458 nm are achieved.
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