A new, highly conductive (4.1 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 30 °C), highly deformable, and dry‐air‐stable glass 0.4LiI‐0.6Li4SnS4 is prepared using a homogeneous methanol solution. The solution process enables ...the wetting of any exposed surface of the active materials with highly conductive solidified electrolytes (0.4LiI‐0.6Li4SnS4), resulting in considerable improvements in the electrochemical performance of these electrodes over conventional mixture electrodes.
Na‐ion batteries are an attractive alternative to Li‐ion batteries for large‐scale energy storage systems because of their low cost and the abundant Na resources. This Review provides a comprehensive ...overview of selected anode materials with high reversible capacities that can increase the energy density of Na‐ion batteries. Moreover, we discuss the reaction and failure mechanisms of those anode materials with a view to suggesting promising strategies for improving their electrochemical performance.
Anode materials with high reversible capacities that can increase the energy density of Na‐ion batteries are the focus of this Minireview. Moreover, the reaction and failure mechanisms of those anode materials are discussed with the aim of targeting promising strategies for improving their electrochemical performance.
It is known that dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) can be induced to differentiate into vasculogenic endothelial (VE) cells. However, the process that results in sprouting and anastomosis of ...DPSC-derived vessels remains unclear. Here, we performed studies to understand the mechanisms underpinning the anastomosis of the host vasculature with blood vessels generated by DPSCs (a model for mesenchymal stem cells). VE-cadherin–silenced primary human DPSCs seeded in tooth slice/scaffolds and transplanted into the subcutaneous space of immunodeficient mice generated fewer functional blood vessels (i.e., anastomosed with the host vasculature) than control DPSCs transduced with scrambled sequences. Both VE-cadherin–silenced and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MEK1)–silenced cells showed a decrease in the number of capillary sprouts in vitro. Interestingly, DPSC stably transduced with a VE-cadherin reporter demonstrated that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces VE-cadherin expression in sprouting DPSCs undergoing anastomosis, but not in quiescent DPSCs. To begin to understand the mechanisms regulating VE-cadherin, we stably silenced MEK1 and observed that VEGF was no longer able to induce VE-cadherin expression and capillary sprout formation. Notably ERG, a transcriptional factor downstream from MEK/ERK, binds to the promoter region of VE-cadherin (chip assay) and is induced by VEGF in DPSCs. Collectively, these data defined a signaling pathway triggered by VEGF that results in phosphorylation of MEK1/ERK and activation of ERG leading to expression of VE-cadherin, which is required for anastomosis of DPSC-derived blood vessels. In conclusion, these results unveiled a signaling pathway that enables the generation of functional blood vessels upon vasculogenic differentiation of DPSCs.
An amorphous red phosphorus/carbon composite is obtained through a facile and simple ball milling process, and its electrochemical performance as an anode material for Na ion batteries is evaluated. ...The composite shows excellent electrochemical performance including a high specific capacity of 1890 mA h g−1, negligible capacity fading over 30 cycles, an ideal redox potential (0.4 V vs. Na/Na+), and an excellent rate performance, thus making it a promising candidate for Na ion batteries.
Contact angle hysteresis is an important physical phenomenon. It is omnipresent in nature and also plays a crucial role in various industrial processes. Despite its relevance, there is a lack of ...consensus on how to incorporate a description of contact angle hysteresis into physical models. To clarify this, starting from the basic definition of contact angle hysteresis, we introduce the formalism and models for implementing contact angle hysteresis into relevant physical phenomena. Furthermore, we explain the influence of the contact angle hysteresis in physical phenomena relevant for industrial applications such as sliding drops, coffee stain phenomenon (in general evaporative self-assembly), and curtain and wire coating techniques.
Whether and how persistent firing in lateral entorhinal cortex layer III (LEC III) supports temporal associative learning is still unknown. In this study, persistent firing was evoked in vitro from ...LEC III neurons from young and aged rats that were behaviorally naive or trained on trace eyeblink conditioning. Persistent firing ability from neurons from behaviorally naive aged rats was lower compared to neurons from young rats. Neurons from learning impaired aged animals also exhibited reduced persistent firing capacity, which may contribute to aging-related learning impairments. Successful acquisition of the trace eyeblink task, however, increased persistent firing ability in both young and aged rats. These changes in persistent firing ability are due to changes to the afterdepolarization, which may in turn be modulated by the postburst afterhyperpolarization. Together, these data indicate that successful learning increases persistent firing ability and decreases in persistent firing ability contribute to learning impairments in aging.
Sn4P3 is introduced for the first time as an anode material for Na‐ion batteries. Sn4P3 delivers a high reversible capacity of 718 mA h g−1, and shows very stable cycle performance with negligible ...capacity fading over 100 cycles, which is attributed to the confinement effect of Sn nanocrystallites in the amorphous phosphorus matrix during cycling.
All‐solid‐state sodium‐ion batteries that operate at room temperature are attractive candidates for use in large‐scale energy storage systems. However, materials innovation in solid electrolytes is ...imperative to fulfill multiple requirements, including high conductivity, functional synthesis protocols for achieving intimate ionic contact with active materials, and air stability. A new, highly conductive (1.1 mS cm−1 at 25 °C, Ea=0.20 eV) and dry air stable sodium superionic conductor, tetragonal Na3SbS4, is described. Importantly, Na3SbS4 can be prepared by scalable solution processes using methanol or water, and it exhibits high conductivities of 0.1–0.3 mS cm−1. The solution‐processed, highly conductive solidified Na3SbS4 electrolyte coated on an active material (NaCrO2) demonstrates dramatically improved electrochemical performance in all‐solid‐state batteries.
Dissolve and solidify: A new and highly conductive (1.1 mS cm−1), dry air‐stable sodium superionic conductor, tetragonal Na3SbS4, was developed. Importantly, its solution processability using methanol or water allows direct coating onto active materials. The solution‐processed highly conductive (0.1–0.3 mS cm−1) solidified Na3SbS4 coating on NaCrO2 solves the poor ionic contact problem in all‐solid‐state sodium‐ion batteries.
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