Fluorine Substitution Promotes Air-Stability of P'2-Type Layered Cathodes for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

As one of the most promising cathode materials in sodium-ion batteries, manganese-based layered oxides have aroused wide attention due to their high specific capacity and plentiful reserves. However, they are plagued by poor air stability rooting in water/Na+ exchange and adverse structural reconstruction, hindering their practical applications. Herein, it is demonstrated that utilizing fluorine to substitute oxygen atoms can narrow the interlayer spacing of novel P'2-Na0.67 MnO1.97 F0.03 (NMOF) cathode material, which resists the attack of water molecules, significantly prolonging exposure time in air. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation results indicate that fluorine substitution alleviates the insertion of water molecules and spontaneous extraction of Na+ effectively. Benefiting from the structural modulation, NMOF can deliver a high specific capacity of 227.1 mAh g-1 at 20 mA g-1 and a promising capacity retention of 84.0% after 100 cycles at 200 mA g-1 . This facile and available strategy provides a feasible way to strengthen the air-stability and expands the scope of practical applications of layered oxide cathodes.

Inorganic Electrolyte for Low-Temperature Aqueous Sodium Ion Batteries.

Aqueous sodium ion batteries have received widespread attention due to their great application potential and high safety. However, the serious capacity fading under low temperature dramatically restricts their practical application. Compared to flammable and toxic organic antifreezing additives, addition of common cheap inorganic inert additives to improve low-temperature performance is of interest scientifically. Herein, low-cost calcium chloride is served as antifreezing additive in 1 m NaClO4 aqueous electrolyte due to its strong interaction with water molecules. The freezing point of the optimized electrolyte is significantly reduced to below -50 °C with an ultrahigh ionic conductivity (7.13 mS cm-1 ) at -50 °C. All pure inorganic composition of the full battery delivers a high capacity of 74.5 mAh g-1 under 1 C (1 C = 150 mA g-1 ) at -30 °C. More importantly, when tested under 10 C at -30 °C, the battery can achieve an ultralong cycling stability of 6000 cycles with no obvious capacity decay, indicating fast Na+ transport under low temperature. Significantly, this work provides an easy-to-operate strategy by adding cheap inorganic salt to develop high-performance low-temperature aqueous batteries.

Fluorination Treatment of Conjugated Protonated Polyanilines for High-Performance Sodium Dual-Ion Batteries.

The overall performance of dual-ion batteries (DIBs) is strongly linked to anions storage properties of cathodes. Whereas high energy/power densities and stabilities for DIBs are limited by cathodes. To overcome these barriers, we have designed a novel fluoridized-polyaniline-H+ /carbon nanotubes (FPHC) as cathode for high-efficiency PF6 - storage. F- in PF6 - is easy to form covalent bond with H on -NH- in FPHC, so that PF6 - can stably coordinate with FPHC, showing a symmetrical structure. FPHC cathode shows a highly reversible capacity of 73 mAh g-1 at 2 A g-1 after 2000 cycles, which provides a solid base for the advanced sodium dual-ion batteries (SDIBs) (310 Wh kg-1 /7720 W kg-1 ). Besides, the relative pouch-type SDIB can drive a vacuum cleaner model with an electric machine. This work may shed light on an up-and-coming strategy of robust cathodes for SDIBs.

A review of linc00673 as a novel lncRNA for tumor regulation.

Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) act as regulators and play important roles in a variety of biological processes. These regulators constitute a huge information network among genes and participate in the pathophysiological process of human diseases. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that LncRNA, as an oncogene or tumor suppressor gene, is closely related to the occurrence and development of tumors. Linc00673 is a recently discovered LncRNA molecule that is dysregulated in several solid tumors. Moreover, its genetic polymorphism is believed to affect the susceptibility of a population to the corresponding cancer species. This article summarizes the role of Linc00673 in different human cancers and its molecular mechanisms with a focus on the characteristics of Linc00673 and the existing literature on it while highlighting the future research directions for Linc00673. Linc00673 has the potential to become a feasible clinical diagnostic and prognostic marker toward providing a new molecular therapeutic target for cancer patients.

Polyanion-type cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries.

Room-temperature sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are regarded as promising candidates for smart grids and large-scale energy storage systems (EESs) due to their significant benefits of abundant and low-cost sodium resource. Among the previously reported cathode materials for SIBs, layered transition-metal oxides and polyanion-type materials are considered to be the most attractive options. Although many layered transition-metal oxides can provide high capacity due to their small molecular weight, their further application is hindered by low output voltage (mostly lower than 3.5 V), irreversible phase transition as well as storage instability. Comparatively, polyanion-type materials exhibit higher operating potentials due to the inductive effect of polyanion groups. Their robust 3D framework significantly decreases the structural variations during sodium ion de/intercalation. Moreover, the effect of strong X-O (X = S, P, Si, etc.) covalent bonds can effectively inhibit oxygen evolution. These advantages contribute to the superior cycle stability and high safety of polyanion-type materials. However, low electronic conductivity and limited capacity still restrict their further application. This review summarizes the recent progress of polyanion-type materials for SIBs, which include phosphates, fluorophosphates, pyrophosphates, mixed phosphates, sulfates, and silicates. We also discuss the remaining challenges and corresponding strategies for polyanion-type materials. We hope this review can provide some insights into the development of polyanionic materials.

High-Energy Aqueous Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Water-in-salt electrolytes (WISE) have largely widened the electrochemical stability window (ESW) of aqueous electrolytes by formation of passivating solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on anode and also absorption of the hydrophobic anion-rich double layer on cathode. However, the cathodic limiting potential of WISE is still too high for most high-capacity anodes in aqueous sodium-ion batteries (ASIBs), and the cost of WISE is also too high for practical application. Herein, a low-cost 19 m (m: mol kg-1 ) bi-salts WISE with a wide ESW of 2.8 V was designed, where the low-cost 17 m NaClO4 extends the anodic limiting potential to 4.4 V, while the fluorine-containing salt (2 m NaOTF) extends the cathodic limiting potential to 1.6 V by forming the NaF-Na2 O-NaOH SEI on anode. The 19 m NaClO4 -NaOTF-H2 O electrolyte enables a 1.75 V Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 ∥Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 full cell to deliver an appreciable energy density of 70 Wh kg-1 at 1 C with a capacity retention of 87.5 % after 100 cycles.

Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of PD-1/PD-L1 axis expression in patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is more aggressive than other head and neck tumors, and the prognosis for patients with advanced TSCC is poor. At present, comprehensive treatment based on surgery as the main method is not effective for patients with advanced TSCC. The application of PD-1/PD-L1 immunocheckpoint inhibitor alone in patients with TSCC has not been reported. To explore the role of PD-1/PD-L1, we investigated the expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 in TSCC and analyzed the relationship between the expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 and the related clinicopathological parameters and survival prognosis. The expression of PD-1 was significantly associated with palindromia (p = .015) and maximum diameter (p = .043). The expression of PD-L1 in tumor cells was significantly associated with N stage (P = .024), chemotherapy (p = .032), and clinical stage (p = .019). The expression of PD-L1 in infiltrating lymphocytes was significantly associated with palindromia (p = .030). Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses for prognoses of patients showed significant prognostic factors of overall survival and relapse-free survival. The high expression of PD-L1 on infiltrating lymphocytes for OS and RFS was an independent protective factor for patients with TSCC. The high expression of PD-1 on infiltrating lymphocytes and clinical stage for OS and RFS were independent risk factors for patients with TSCC. The data provide a reference for clinical treatment of TSCC with immunotherapy.

miR-29c-3p Increases Cell Viability and Suppresses Apoptosis by Regulating the TNFAIP1/NF-κB Signaling Pathway via TNFAIP1 in Aß-Treated Neuroblastoma Cells.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia among older people in worldwide. miR-29c-3p was reported to play a role in AD development. However, the detail function of miR-29c-3p in AD remains unclear. The aim of this research is to analyze the functional mechanism of miR-29c-3p in AD. The RNA levels of miR-29c-3p and Tumor necrosis factor-α-inducible protein-1 (TNFAIP1) were detected by Quantitative real time polymerase chain (qRT-PCR) reaction. Western blot assay was carried out to examine the protein levels of TNFAIP1, Bax, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Cleaved caspase 3, and Nuclear factor-k-gene binding (NF-κB). The interaction between miR-29c-3p and TNFAIP1 was predicted by online tool TargrtScan and verified using the dual luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation RIP (RIP) assay. Besides, cell proliferation and apoptosis rate were determined by 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. Aß treatment decreased miR-29c-3p expression and increased TNFAIP1 expression. Overexpression of miR-29c-3p mitigated the effects of Aß on proliferation and apoptosis. Similarly, knockdown of TNFAIP1 also reversed the effects of Aß on cell progression. Interestingly, miR-29c-3p suppressed the expression of TNFAIP1 via binding to 3'UTR of TNFAIP1 mRNA. As expected, overexpression of TNFAIP1 reversed the effects of miR-29c-3p on Aß-mediated cell progression. Besides, we also confirmed that miR-29c-3p affected Aß-mediated cell progression by regulating TNFAIP1/NF-κB signaling pathway. In conclusion, our findings confirmed that miR-29c-3p attenuated Aß-induced neurotoxicity through regulation of NF-κB signaling pathway by directly targeting TNFAIP1, providing the potential value for the treatment of AD patients.

Realizing Complete Solid-Solution Reaction in High Sodium Content P2-Type Cathode for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries.

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-Na0.85 Li0.12 Ni0.22 Mn0.66 O2 (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.

[Study on effect and mechanism of cinnabaris and realgar in promoting awake of endotoxin-induced brain injury rat applied with Angong Niuhuang Wan].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect and mechanism of cinnabaris and realgar in promoting awake effect of endotoxin- induced brain injury rat applied with Angong Niuhuang Wan. METHOD: Normal rats implanted cortical electrode in advance were divided into 6 groups: control, model, the Angong Niuhuang Wan (AGNH, 0.4, 0.2 g · kg(-1)), the Angong Niuhuang Wan without cinnabaris and realgar (QZX-AGNH, 0.32, 0.16 g · kg(-1)). Rats in the control and model groups were given distilled water. After three days of intragastric administration, the brain injury model was injected with endotoxin through tail vein. Then trace electro-corticogram (EcoG) 1-6 h after LPS injection, and compare the power and relative power of beta (ß) and delta-waves (δ) at 6 h of these groups. The content of acetylcholine (Ach) and the affinity of M-receptor (M-R) in cortex and brainstem were detected by alkaline hydroxylamine colorimetric method and radioactive ligand binding assay, respectively. RESULT: AGNH (0.4, 0.2 g · kg(-1)) could increase the power and relative power of ß and AGNH (0.4 g · kg(-1)) showed better action on brain electrical activation. QZX-AGNH showed weak effect on it. AGNH (0.4 g · kg(-1)) could increase the affinity of M-R in cortex and the content of Ach in brainstem. The action of QZX-AGNH was not obvious. CONCLUSION: In endotoxin-induced brain injury rats, AGNH can raise the cholinergic system function of cortex, and strengthen the uplink of cortex activation of brainstem cholinergic system, improve the level of cortical activity and enhance the activation of EcoG to promote the body's awakening. QZX-AGNH show weak effect. Cinnabaris and realgar play an important role in promoting awake effect in endotoxin-induced brain injury applied with Angong Niuhuang Wan. The mechanism may be related to cortical and brainstem cholinergic system function.

Exploring the key factors of schizophrenia relapse by integrating LC-MS/1H NMR metabolomics and weighted correlation network analysis.

BACKGROUND: Lack of comprehending key factors of schizophrenia relapse has impeded its effective treatment, indicating that the mechanism clarification and available intervention of schizophrenia relapse required further amelioration. METHOD: Based on the integration of LC-MS and 1H NMR metabolomics, a weighted correlation network was established to screen pivotal factors of accelerating schizophrenia relapse. Then, the cluster most correlated with schizophrenia relapse was explored, and the biological function of cluster was investigated. Next, the key biomarker related to schizophrenia relapse was obtained through multiple algorithms. Moreover, the Lilikoi algorithm and correlation analysis were implemented to reveal the association between key biomarker and schizophrenia relapse. RESULT: Results showed that 458 different forms of metabolites were identified for structuring the weighted correlation network. The module-trait correlation indicated that the turquoise module was the most highly correlated with schizophrenia relapse. Further, network analysis revealed that, in turquoise module, cluster 1 composed of 139 metabolites (involved in lipid metabolism and energy metabolism) was the most important subnetwork relevant to schizophrenia relapse. Finally, phenylalanylphenylalanine was recommended as the key biomarker related to schizophrenia relapse. Moreover, the correlation analysis indicated that phenylalanylphenylalanine might affect the progression of schizophrenia by intervening in energy metabolism. CONCLUSION: In summary, critical factors of schizophrenia relapse have been revealed in our research, expounding the schizophrenia progression more systemically, which could shed some light on improving the intervention of schizophrenia relapse.

Synergistic Effect of 3D Flexible Framework with Sodiophilic Mesoporous SnO2 Nanosheet Arrays on Dendrite-Free Sodium Metal Batteries.

Although tremendous efforts have been dedicated to promote the electrochemical stability of sodium metal batteries (SMBs), the uncontrollable dendrites growth and inevitable side reactions at the sodium (Na) anode/electrolyte interface have not been effectively resolved. In this work, a flexible and functionalized 3D framework with mesoporous SnO2 nanosheet arrays (SnO2@CC-12) is fabricated to serve as a sodiophilic matrix toward dendrite-free Na metal anode. The mesoporous SnO2 nanosheet arrays provide abundant sodiophilic sites and sufficient internal voids, which can not only accelerate electron transport to reduce the local current density of Na anode surface but also manipulate the Na+ flux deposition to suppress the growth of Na dendrites. Therefore, the SnO2@CC-12-Na symmetric cell exhibits an ultralow overpotential of 9 mV and superior Na plating/stripping stability over 2200 h at 1.0 mA cm-2. Moreover, the full cells using Na3V2(PO4)3 cathode show favorable high-rate performance and impressive long cycling stability with 95.1% capacity retention over 1000 cycles at 500 mA g-1. This work may provide a new insight into the design of functionalized interface layer with high sodiophilicity toward dendrite-free SMBs.

An integrated pathological research for precise diagnosis of schizophrenia combining LC-MS/1H NMR metabolomics and transcriptomics.

BACKGROUND: Lack of clinically specific biomarkers has impeded the precise diagnosis of schizophrenia, meanwhile, limited comprehending of pathogenesis for schizophrenia has restricted the effective treatment. METHOD: An integrated multi-omic approach, combining metabolomic platform (LC-MS and 1H NMR) and transcriptomic platform, was established to differentiate healthy subjects from schizophrenia patients. Based on filtered metabolites and genes, characteristic spectrums were further built. Then, representative metabolites and genes were screened out through Boruta algorithm. Moreover, characteristic diagnostic formulas were established via LASSO regression analysis. RESULT: As a result, 86 differential metabolites (in line with amino acid metabolism, etc.) and 189 differential expression genes (involving in amino acid metabolic process, etc.) were obtained as potential biomarkers for schizophrenia. The latent interaction between metabolites with genes, such as HMGCLL1 with energy metabolism, etc., was further studied through the analysis of pathway-based integration. Moreover, fine predictive ability was attributed to characteristic metabolomic/transcriptomic diagnostic spectrums/formulas. CONCLUSION: The functional relationships of filtered metabolites and genes were studied, which could elaborate the pathological process of schizophrenia more systemically, supplying more precise information on mechanism description and diagnostic evidence of schizophrenia.

Construction of a lncRNA-mRNA Co-Expression Network for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) widely regulate gene expression and play important roles in the pathogenesis of human diseases, including malignant tumors. However, the functions of most lncRNAs remain to be elucidated. In order to study and screen novel lncRNAs with important functions in the carcinogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), we constructed a lncRNA expression profile of 10 NPC tissues and 6 controls through a gene microarray. We identified 1,276 lncRNAs, of which most are unknown, with different expression levels in the healthy and NPC tissues. In order to shed light on the functions of these unknown lncRNAs, we first constructed a co-expression network of lncRNAs and mRNAs using bioinformatics and systematic biological approach. Moreover, mRNAs were clustered and enriched by their biological functions, and those lncRNAs have similar expression trends with mRNAs were defined as functional molecules with potential biological significance. The module may help identify key lncRNAs in the carcinogenesis of NPC and provide clues for in-depth study of their functions and associated signaling pathways. We suggest the newly identified lncRNAs may have clinic value as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for NPC diagnosis and treatment.

Thioredoxin-1 mediates neuroprotection of Schisanhenol against MPP+-induced apoptosis via suppression of ASK1-P38-NF-κB pathway in SH-SY5Y cells.

Oxidative stress-induced dopaminergic neuronal loss and apoptosis play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), and as a vital antioxidant protein, thioredoxin (Trx) exerts neuroprotection against PD. In this study, we investigated the effect of Schisanhenol (Sal), an active component from a traditional Chinese herb Schisandra rubriflora (Franch.), on MPP+-induced apoptosis and its association with thioredoxin-1 (Trx1) in SH-SY5Y cells. The protein levels of Trx1 and apoptosis-related proteins were detected by Western blot, the expression of Trx1 mRNA by real time qPCR, and apoptosis was detected by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Pretreatment with Sal (1 µM, 10 µM, and 50 µM) dose-dependently ameliorated MPP+-induced neuronal injury, confirmed by the improvement of the viability and morphological changes. Sal decreased the apoptosis rate of cells, suppressed the production of DNA ladder and sub-G1 peak, inhibited the Caspase-3 activity and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Sal enhanced the expression of Trx1 both in the protein and mRNA levels. However, the Trx1 inhibitor PX-12 suppressed the protective effects of Sal. In addition, Sal inhibited NF-κB translocation and activation. These results suggest that Sal has a protective effect against MPP+-induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells via up-regulation of Trx1 expression and suppression of ASK1-P38-NF-κB pathway.

Bioinformatics Analysis of the Signaling Pathways and Genes of Gossypol Induce Death of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells.

Gossypol has been reported to exhibit antitumor effects against several human cancers. However, the anticancer effects of gossypol on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) have not been investigated. Against this backdrop, the present study was designed to evaluate the anticancer effects of gossypol against NPC cells and to identify the signaling pathways involved through bioinformatic analysis. Gossypol-inhibited death of NPC cells is concentration-dependent. To explore the underlying mechanism for gossypol's antitumor effect, microarray of gossypol-treated and -untreated NPC cells was performed. A total of 836 differentially expressing genes (DEGs) were identified in gossypol-treated NPC cells, of which 461 genes were upregulated and 375 genes were downregulated. The cellular components, molecular functions, biological processes, and signal pathways, in which the DEGs were involved, were identified by gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). The Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) predicted upstream transcription factors (TF) ETS2 and E2F1 that regulate DEGs. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was performed to identify a class of modules and genes related to DNA repair and cell cycle. TNFRSF10B, a receptor for death in NPC cells, was knocked down. The results suggested that the ability of NPC cells to resist gossypol killing was enhanced. In addition, to further investigate the possible molecular mechanisms, we constructed a transcriptional regulatory network of TNFRSF10B containing 109 miRNAs and 47 TFs. Taken together, our results demonstrated that gossypol triggered antitumor effects against NPC cells, indicating its applicability for the management of NPC.

Research Progress of circRNAs in Head and Neck Cancers.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel type of non-coding RNAs. Because of their characteristics of a closed loop structure, disease- and tissue-specificity, and high conservation and stability, circRNAs have the potential to be biomarkers for disease diagnosis. Head and neck cancers are one of the most common malignant tumors with high incidence rates globally. Affected patients are often diagnosed at the advanced stage with poor prognosis, owing to the concealment of anatomic sites. The characteristics, functions, and specific mechanisms of circRNAs in head and neck cancers are increasingly being discovered, and they have important clinical significance for the early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis evaluation of patients with cancer. In this study, the generation, characteristics, and functions of circRNAs, along with their regulatory mechanisms in head and neck cancers have been summarized. We report that circRNAs interact with molecules such as transcription and growth factors to influence specific pathways involved in tumorigenesis. We conclude that circRNAs have an important role to play in the proliferation, invasion, metastasis, energy and substance metabolism, and treatment resistance in cancers.

AFAP1-AS1: a rising star among oncogenic long non-coding RNAs.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have become a hotspot in biomedical research. This interest reflects their extensive involvement in the regulation of the expression of other genes, and their influence on the occurrence and development of a variety of human diseases. Actin filament associated protein 1-Antisense RNA 1(AFAP1-AS1) is a recently discovered oncogenic lncRNA. It is highly expressed in a variety of solid tumors, and regulates the expression of downstream genes and signaling pathways through adsorption and competing microRNAs, or by the direct binding to other proteins. Ultimately, AFAP1-AS1 promotes proliferation, chemotherapy resistance, and resistance to apoptosis, maintains stemness, and enhances invasion and migration of tumor cells. This paper summarizes the research concerning AFAP1-AS1 in malignant tumors, including the clinical application prospects of AFAP1-AS1 as a potential molecular marker and therapeutic target of malignant tumors. We also discuss the limitations in the knowledge of AFAP1-AS1 and directions of further research. AFAP1-AS1 is expected to provide an example for studies of other lncRNA molecules.

Epstein-Barr Virus-Encoded Circular RNA CircBART2.2 Promotes Immune Escape of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma by Regulating PD-L1.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is an established cause of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and is involved in a variety of malignant phenotypes, including tumor immune escape. EBV can encode a variety of circular RNAs (circRNA), however, little is known regarding the biological functions of these circRNAs in NPC. In this study, EBV-encoded circBART2.2 was found to be highly expressed in NPC where it upregulated PD-L1 expression and inhibited T-cell function in vitro and in vivo. circBART2.2 promoted transcription of PD-L1 by binding the helicase domain of RIG-I and activating transcription factors IRF3 and NF-κB, resulting in tumor immune escape. These results elucidate the biological function of circBART2.2, explain a novel mechanism of immune escape caused by EBV infection, and provide a new immunotherapy target for treating NPC. SIGNIFICANCE: This work demonstrates that circBART2.2 binding to RIG-I is essential for the regulation of PD-L1 and subsequent immune escape in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

High-Performance Aqueous Zinc-Manganese Battery with Reversible Mn2+/Mn4+ Double Redox Achieved by Carbon Coated MnOx Nanoparticles.

There is an urgent need for low-cost, high-energy-density, environmentally friendly energy storage devices to fulfill the rapidly increasing need for electrical energy storage. Multi-electron redox is considerably crucial for the development of high-energy-density cathodes. Here we present high-performance aqueous zinc-manganese batteries with reversible Mn2+/Mn4+ double redox. The active Mn4+ is generated in situ from the Mn2+-containing MnOx nanoparticles and electrolyte. Benefitting from the low crystallinity of the birnessite-type MnO2 as well as the electrolyte with Mn2+ additive, the MnOx cathode achieves an ultrahigh energy density with a peak of 845.1 Wh kg-1 and an ultralong lifespan of 1500 cycles. The combination of electrochemical measurements and material characterization reveals the reversible Mn2+/Mn4+ double redox (birnessite-type MnO2 ↔ monoclinic MnOOH and spinel ZnMn2O4 ↔ Mn2+ ions). The reversible Mn2+/Mn4+ double redox electrode reaction mechanism offers new opportunities for the design of low-cost, high-energy-density cathodes for advanced rechargeable aqueous batteries.