Nanoengineering of Cathode Catalysts for Li-O2 Batteries.

Lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) batteries have obtained widespread attention as next-generation energy storage systems due to their extremely high energy density. However, the high charge overpotential, attributed to the insulating property of Li2O2, significantly limits the energy efficiency and triggers solvent degradation. The high electrochemical activities of oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) and oxygen evolution reactions (OER) on the cathode are crucial for alleviating the high charging polarizations and enhancing the lifetime of Li-O2 batteries, which are also top challenges of state-of-art research. In this review, the scientific challenges and the proposed solutions in the development of cathode catalysts have been summarized. The recent research advancements on the nanoengineering of cathode catalysts for Li-O2 batteries have been comprehensively discussed, and the perspectives on the structure optimization are presented. Meanwhile, we have elucidated the structure-performance relationship between the electronic state and performance of the cathode catalysts at the nanoscale level. This review intends to provide guidelines for the design and construction of cathode catalysts in advanced Li-O2 batteries.

Inhibiting the self-discharging process of quantum batteries in non-Markovian noises.

One of the main challenges in developing high-performance quantum batteries is the self-discharging process, where energy is dissipated from a quantum battery into the environment. In this work, we investigate the influence of non-Markovian noises on the performance of a quantum battery. Our results demonstrate that adding auxiliary qubits to a quantum battery system can effectively suppress the self-discharging process, leading to an improvement in both the steady-state energy and extractable work. We reveal that the physical mechanism inhibiting the self-discharging process is the formation of system-environment bound states, rather than an increase in non-Markovianity. Our results could be of both theoretical and experimental interest in exploring the ability of quantum batteries to maintain long stored energy in the environment.

Intra-thyroid esophageal duplication cyst: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cysts are relatively rare in clinical practice, with most of the literature comprising case reports. Esophageal cysts protruding into the thyroid gland are easily misdiagnosed as thyroid tumors. No such cases have been reported so far. CASE SUMMARY: This article reports the case of a 31-year-old adult male diagnosed with thyroid nodules before admission. The patient underwent left thyroidectomy and isthmusectomy. During the surgery, esophageal cysts were identified in the esophageal muscle and thyroid glands. The pathology results confirmed a nodular goiter combined with esophageal cysts. Postoperatively, the patient developed a neck infection and underwent another operation and broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment for recovery. CONCLUSION: We report the first clinical case of an esophageal cyst located within the thyroid gland that was successfully treated surgically. Esophageal cyst located within the thyroid gland cause difficulties in diagnosis. In the present study, the contents of the esophageal cysts were calcified foci, and a small amount of fluid mixture, which were easily misdiagnosed as thyroid nodules and misled the surgical methods.

[Simultaneous determination of eight organic amines in desulfurization solution by ion chromatography].

The applications of organic-amine desulfurization have steadily increased owing to its high efficiency, low cost, and low energy consumption. Different proportions of organic amines exert different effects on sulfur dioxide removal. Therefore, the accurate determination of different organic amines in the desulfurization solution is of great importance. The ion-chromatographic method for the detection of organic amines does not require a derivatization step, has simple pretreatment procedures, and allows for the simultaneous determination of many types of organic amines. In this study, a method based on ion chromatography was developed for the simultaneous determination of ethanolamine (MEA), diethylethanolamine (DEEA), n-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP), hydroxyethylethylenediamine (AEEA), piperazine (PZ), n-hydroxyethylpiperazine (HEPZ), and diethylenetriamine (DETA). The separation efficiency of the eight organic amines in different types of columns, leaching solutions, and column temperatures were compared. The determination was performed using an IonPac CS17 column with column temperature of 35 ℃ and gradient leaching with methyl sulfonic acid (MSA) solution via the inhibition conductance method. Samples of the desulfurization solution were analyzed using ultrapure water filtered through a 0.22 µm nylon microporous filter membrane and an OnGuard Ⅱ RP column; thus, the pretreatment steps are simple. The eight organic amines showed a good linear relationship within a certain concentration range, and the coefficient of determinations (R2) were greater than 0.998. The limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) were determined from the mass concentrations of the organic amines corresponding to signal-to-noise ratios (S/N) of 3 and 10, respectively. LODs of 0.02-0.08 mg/L and LOQs of 0.07-0.27 mg/L were determined from a 1.0 µL sample injection. The actual recoveries ranged from 93.0% to 111%, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs, n=5) ranged from 0.31% to 1.2%. The results indicated that the proposed method has good accuracy and precision; thus, it is suitable for the determination of various organic amines in desulfurization solution.

Highly sensitive plasmonic paper substrate fabricated via amphiphilic polymer self-assembly in microdroplet for detection of emerging pharmaceutical pollutants.

We report an innovative and facile approach to fabricating an ultrasensitive plasmonic paper substrate for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The approach exploits the self-assembling capability of poly(styrene-b-2-vinyl pyridine) block copolymers to form a thin film at the air-liquid interface within the single microdroplet scale for the first time and the subsequent in situ growth of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The concentration of the block copolymer was found to play an essential role in stabilizing the droplets during the mass transfer phase and formation of silver nanoparticles, thus influencing the SERS signals. SEM analysis of the morphology of the plasmonic paper substrates revealed the formation of spherical AgNPs evenly distributed across the surface of the formed copolymer film with a size distribution of 47.5 nm. The resultant enhancement factor was calculated to be 1.2 × 107, and the detection limit of rhodamine 6G was as low as 48.9 pM. The nanohybridized plasmonic paper was successfully applied to detect two emerging pollutants-sildenafil and flibanserin-with LODs as low as 1.48 nM and 3.45 nM, respectively. Thus, this study offers new prospects for designing an affordable and readily available, yet highly sensitive, paper-based SERS substrate with the potential for development as a lab-on-a-chip device.

High-Fluidity/High-Strength Dual-Layer Gel Electrolytes Enable Ultra-Flexible and Dendrite-Free Fiber-Shaped Aqueous Zinc Metal Battery.

Fiber-shaped aqueous zinc-ion batteries (FAZIBs) with intrinsic safety, highcapacity, and superb omnidirectional flexibility hold promise for wearable energy-supply devices. However, the interfacial separation of fiber-shaped electrodes and electrolytes caused by Zinc (Zn) stripping process and severe Zn dendrites occurring at the folded area under bending condition seriously restricts FAZIBs' practical application. Here, an advanced confinement encapsulation strategy is originally reported to construct dual-layer gel electrolyte consisting of high-fluidity polyvinyl alcohol-Zn acetate inner layer and high-strength Zn alginate outer layer for fiber-shaped Zn anode. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of inner-outer gel electrolyte and the formation of solid electrolyte interphase on Zn anode surface by lysine additive, the resulting fiber-shaped Zn-Zn symmetric cell delivers long cycling life over 800 h at 1 mA cm-2 with dynamic bending frequency of 0.1 Hz. The finite element simulation further confirms that dual-layer gel electrolyte can effectively suppress the interfacial separation arising from the Zn stripping and bending process. More importantly, a robust twisted fiber-shaped Zn/zinc hexacyanoferrate battery based on dual-layer gel electrolyte is successfully assembled, achieving a remarkable capacity retention of 97.7% after bending 500 cycles. Therefore, such novel dual-layer gel electrolyte design paves the way for the development of long-life fiber-shaped aqueous metal batteries.

Investigation on the construction of teaching case base in medical genetics.

Medical genetics is a basic medical course that discusses the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases in relation with genetic factors. This course requires students who have abilities of strong logical thinking, independent thinking, problem analyzing and solving. Single "cramming" teaching is difficult to mobilize students' autonomous learning, and hardly achieves teaching effect of medical genetics. Teaching of case-based discussion breaks passive teaching mode in traditional class. The teacher throws out typically clinical cases. The students prepare materials around relevant problems of cases, and carry out class discussion. Then, key and difficult points of the course are integrated in teaching and learning interaction, which reaches a remarkable effect of teaching. Since 2013, the teaching and research group has carried out teaching of case-based discussion in undergraduates majoring in clinical medicine. In this paper, we screen and sort clinical cases on the basis of course teaching plan and case-based discussion in the teaching of medical genetics. The cases are summarized into 8 chapters in teaching case base, which basically cover the teaching of disease genetics and clinical genetics.The construction of teaching case base in medical genetics has realized the deep integration of clinical cases and teaching. Students can understand and master important and difficult points of teaching in a more intuitive way, which is helpful to stimulate students' innovative thinking, improve students' learning interest and class participation.

Molecular Engineering Enables Hydrogel Electrolyte with Ionic Hopping Migration and Self-Healability toward Dendrite-Free Zinc-Metal Anodes.

Hydrogel electrolytes (HEs), characterized by intrinsic safety, mechanical stability, and biocompatibility, can promote the development of flexible aqueous zinc-ion batteries (FAZIBs). However, current FAZIB technology is severely restricted by the uncontrollable dendrite growth arising from undesirable reactions between the HEs with sluggish ionic conductivity and Zn metal. To overcome this challenge, this work proposes a molecular engineering strategy, which involves the introduction of oxygen-rich poly(urea-urethane) (OR-PUU) into polyacrylamide (PAM)-based HEs. The OR-PUU/PAM HEs facilitate rapid ion transfer through their ionic hopping migration mechanism, resulting in uniform and orderly Zn2+ deposition. The abundant polar groups on the OR-PUU molecules in OR-PUU/PAM HEs break the inherent H-bond network, tune the solvation structure of hydrated Zn2+, and inhibit the occurrence of side reactions. Moreover, the interaction of hierarchical H-bonds in the OR-PUU/PAM HEs endows them with self-healability, enabling in situ repair of cracks induced by plating/stripping. Consequently, Zn symmetric cells incorporating the novel OR-PUU/PAM HEs exhibit a long cycling life of 2000 h. The resulting Zn-MnO2 battery displays a low capacity decay rate of 0.009% over 2000 cycles at 2000 mA g-1. Overall, this work provides valuable insights to facilitate the realization of dendrite-free Zn-metal anodes through the molecular engineering of HEs.

Myeloid Cell-Triggered In Situ Cell Engineering for Robust Vaccine-Based Cancer Treatment.

Following the success of the dendritic cell (DC) vaccine, the cell-based tumor vaccine shows its promise as a vaccination strategy. Except for DC cells, targeting other immune cells, especially myeloid cells, is expected to address currently unmet clinical needs (e.g., tumor types, safety issues such as cytokine storms, and therapeutic benefits). Here, it is shown that an in situ injected macroporous myeloid cell adoptive scaffold (MAS) not only actively delivers antigens (Ags) that are triggered by scaffold-infiltrating cell surface thiol groups but also releases granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and other adjuvant combos. Consequently, this promotes cell differentiation, activation, and migration from the produced monocyte and DC vaccines (MASVax) to stimulate antitumor T-cell immunity. Neoantigen-based MASVax combined with immune checkpoint blockade induces rejection of established tumors and long-term immune protection. The combined depletion of immunosuppressive myeloid cells further enhances the efficacy of MASVax, indicating the potential of myeloid cell-based therapies for immune enhancement and normalization treatment of cancer.

New Emerging Fast Charging Microscale Electrode Materials.

Fast charging lithium (Li)-ion batteries are intensively pursued for next-generation energy storage devices, whose electrochemical performance is largely determined by their constituent electrode materials. While nanosizing of electrode materials enhances high-rate capability in academic research, it presents practical limitations like volumetric packing density and high synthetic cost. As an alternative to nanosizing, microscale electrode materials cannot only effectively overcome the limitations of the nanosizing strategy but also satisfy the requirement of fast-charging batteries. Therefore, this review summarizes the new emerging microscale electrode materials for fast charging from the commercialization perspective. First, the fundamental theory of electronic/ionic motion in both individual active particles and the whole electrode is proposed. Then, based on these theories, the corresponding optimization strategies are summarized toward fast-charging microscale electrode materials. In addition, advanced functional design to tackle the mechanical degradation problems related to next generation high capacity alloy- and conversion-type electrode materials (Li, S, Si et al.) for achieving fast charging and stable cycling batteries. Finally, general conclusions and the future perspective on the potential research directions of microscale electrode materials are proposed. It is anticipated that this review will provide the basic guidelines for both fundamental research and practical applications of fast-charging batteries.

Dietary Copper Intake and Risk of Parkinson's Disease: a Cross-sectional Study.

Copper is an essential trace element for the human body. The epidemiological evidence for the association of dietary intake of copper with the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD) is limited. We conducted an evaluation of the cross-sectional data gathered from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys spanning from 2007 to 2018, which comprised a total of 17,948 participants. To discern the distinct characteristics of the participants, we performed a univariate analysis and utilized a 1:2 ratio propensity score matching method to minimize the effects of selection bias. We employed weighted univariate as well as three multivariate logistic regression models both prior to and following matching, with the aim of examining the association between dietary copper intake and PD risk. Finally, we used the restricted cubic spline (RCS) methodology in order to investigate possible non-linear relationships. Furthermore, subgroup analysis was undertaken to elicit further understanding concerning the association between copper intake and PD. A negative correlation resulted between dietary copper intake and PD risk in both univariate and multivariate logistic regression models, prior to and following matching. Our findings demonstrate that there is a nonlinear, dose-dependent relationship between copper intake and PD, according to our RCS analysis. In subgroup analysis, copper intake was identified as an important protective factor for individuals who were non-Hispanic White, unmarried, and had completed higher education. Dietary copper intake was associated with the risk of PD. Supplementation of dietary copper may have potentially beneficial effects.

Reliable lateral Zn deposition along (002) plane by oxidized PAN separator for zinc-ion batteries.

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) are the promising candidate for energy storage where safety and low cost are the major concerns. However, the uneven and random electrodeposition of Zn has become a serious impediment to the deep recharging of AZIBs. Conventional modifications on zinc substrate can promote homogenous zinc deposition initially, but not sustainably. Here, an oxidized polyacrylonitrile (OPAN) membrane with a conjugated planar structure is proposed as a zinc ion battery separator. This separator can continuously regulate the growth of Zn with (002) texture to inhibit dendrites. In addition, the separator has a fast Zn2+ ion transfer, which can spontaneously repel SO42- and relieve side reactions. As a result, the Zn-symmetric batteries show cycle lifetime of more than 1300 hours at 1 mA cm-2 and 1 mA h cm-2, and kept stable for more than 160 hours even at 65% high discharge of depth (DOD). The MnO2//Zn full celled assembled with an OPAN separator had very little decay for 5000 cycles at 2 A g-1. This work provides a new method for realizing the continuous and uniform deposition of Zn metals, which also provides a new route for batteries with metallic anodes.

In Situ Etching of Multifunctional Three-Dimensional Interfacial Layers for the Construction of Porous Zn Anodes with Enhanced Surface Textures.

Aqueous Zn-ion batteries offer the advantages of greater security and lower fabrication costs over their lithium-ion counterparts. However, their further advancement and practical application are hindered by the drastic decay in their performance due to the uncontrollable dendrite growth on Zn anodes. In this study, we fabricated a versatile three-dimensional (3D) interfacial layer (3D PVDF-Zn(TFO)2 (PVDF: poly(vinylidene fluoride); TFO: trifluoromethanesulfonate), which simultaneously formed porous Zn-metal anodes (PZn) with an enhanced (002) texture, via a in situ etching scheme. The 3D PVDF-Zn(TFO)2@PZn symmetrical cells leverage the advantages of surface coating and 3D porous architectures to yield extra-long cyclic lifetimes of over 5300 h (0.1 mA cm-2). The fabricated anodes were found to be compatible with MnO2 cathodes, and the resulting full batteries delivered an outstanding capacity of 336 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 and exhibited impressive long-term reversibility with a capacity retention of 78.7% for 2000 cycles. The proposed coating strategy is viable for developing porous structures with cutting-edge designs and for textured surface engineering.

Elevated visceral adiposity index linked to improved cognitive function in middle-aged and elderly Chinese: evidence from the China health and retirement longitudinal study.

Object: Cognitive decline and obesity are major global public health issues, and their association has been widely acknowledged. The link between the visceral adiposity index (VAI) and cognitive function in the Chinese population remains uncertain. This study aims to investigate the effects of VAI levels on cognitive function in the Chinese middle-aged and elderly population. Methods: We analyzed longitudinal data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) collected in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018. VAI levels were divided into three tertiles. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to explore the relationships between VAI levels and cognitive function, including overall cognitive scores, episodic memory, and mental status. Adjustments were made for potential confounders. Results: The study consisted of 2,677 participants. Contrary to expectations, higher VAI levels were associated with higher overall cognitive scores and improved episodic memory scores, while no significant effect was observed on mental status. The GEE models consistently indicated that higher VAI levels were associated with higher overall cognitive scores, primarily due to their association with episodic memory. Stratified analyses revealed that the VAI was associated with better cognitive function primarily in males, individuals under 60 years old, those with lower education levels, rural residents, and married individuals, mainly in relation to episodic memory. No significant interactions were observed between VAI and demographic factors. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that higher visceral adiposity is associated with slower cognitive decline in the Chinese middle-aged and elderly population, especially in its association with episodic memory. These results underline the need to further investigate the potential protective role of visceral fat in cognitive function, potentially offering new insights for interventions to enhance cognitive function and prevent dementia in this population.

Use of a digital contact tracing system in Singapore to mitigate COVID-19 spread.

BACKGROUND: Contact tracing has been essential to reducing spread of COVID-19. Singapore leveraged technology to assist with contact tracing efforts using a Bluetooth-based app and token platform called 'TraceTogether'. METHODS: We reviewed the impact of this system during the country's Delta and Omicron waves (24 August 2021 to 17 February 2022) to identify differences in number of close contacts and time savings between full automation using TraceTogether alone as compared to manual contact tracing supplemented by TraceTogether. Characteristics of digital contact tracing app or token users were reviewed. Thereafter, the number of close contacts identified by manual and digital contact tracing methods, and the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases among contacts were analysed. The difference in time taken for identification of close contacts was also determined. FINDINGS: Adoption rate for TraceTogether was high, with 93.3% of cases having a registered device. There was a 9.8 h (34.9%) reduction in time savings for close contacts to be informed using TraceTogether alone compared to manual contact tracing supplemented by TraceTogether. The proportion of close contacts automatically identified through TraceTogether alone and turned positive was 3.6%. For those identified through manual contact tracing supplemented by TraceTogether, this proportion was 12.5% and 6.2% for those served quarantine orders and health risk warnings respectively. INTERPRETATION: The high adoption rate of 'TraceTogether' suggest that digital solutions remain a promising option to improve contact tracing in future epidemics. This may have been through its concurrent use with vaccine differentiated public health measures and policies which engender public trust. There is future potential for utilising such technology in managing communicable diseases to achieve good public health outcomes.

Sintilimab-induced inflammatory myopathy in a patient with esophageal cancer: a case report.

The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has shown remarkable efficacy in the treatment of various malignancies, significantly reshaping cancer treatment. However, as a result of the widespread use of ICIs, several immune-related adverse events (iRAEs) have emerged, some of which can be rare and potentially fatal. In this paper, we reported the earliest case of Sintilimab used in the treatment of esophageal cancer with severe inflammatory myopathy (involving the cardiac, respiratory, and skeletal muscles)in China. This patient was an elderly female who presented to our institution with progressive limb weakness and ptosis. Prior to the onset of symptoms, the patient had undergone a radical esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, experienced several cycles of of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, as well as two doses of Sintilimab treatment. Shortly after initiating immunotherapy, the patient developed symptoms including bilateral ptosis, limb weakness, and difficulty swallowing and breathing. The levels of creatine kinase and troponin I in the patient's blood were significantly elevated, and positive results were observed for anti-skeletal and anti-cardiac muscle antibodies, indicating that the patient might be developing ICIs-related inflammatory myopathy. Fortunately, the patient responded well to treatment including corticosteroids, plasmapheresis, intravenous immunoglobulin, and other supportive therapies. Here, we discuss the incidence, mechanisms, and management strategies of fatal iRAEs. Early detection and timely intervention may be critical in reducing the incidence and mortality rates of iRAEs and improving patient outcomes.

Electrolyte and Interphase Engineering of Aqueous Batteries Beyond "Water-in-Salt" Strategy.

Aqueous batteries are promising alternatives to non-aqueous lithium-ion batteries due to their safety, environmental impact, and cost-effectiveness. However, their energy density is limited by the narrow electrochemical stability window (ESW) of water. The "Water-in-salts" (WIS) strategy is an effective method to broaden the ESW by reducing the "free water" in the electrolyte, but the drawbacks (high cost, high viscosity, poor low-temperature performance, etc.) also compromise these inherent superiorities. In this review, electrolyte and interphase engineering of aqueous batteries to overcome the drawbacks of the WIS strategy are summarized, including the developments of electrolytes, electrode-electrolyte interphases, and electrodes. First, the main challenges of aqueous batteries and the problems of the WIS strategy are comprehensively introduced. Second, the electrochemical functions of various electrolyte components (e.g., additives and solvents) are summarized and compared. Gel electrolytes are also investigated as a special form of electrolyte. Third, the formation and modification of the electrolyte-induced interphase on the electrode are discussed. Specifically, the modification and contribution of electrode materials toward improving the WIS strategy are also introduced. Finally, the challenges of aqueous batteries and the prospects of electrolyte and interphase engineering beyond the WIS strategy are outlined for the practical applications of aqueous batteries.

Research Progress on the Mechanism of Acupuncture in the Prevention and Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis.

Objective: To research the mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion in treating and preventing allergic rhinitis. Methods: We searched PubMed; Google Scholar; Semantic Scholar; Academic Keys; Citation; Dimensions; EuroPub; Index (A & HCI); Compendex; Conference Proceedings Citation; and Science Citation Index. We reviewed the mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion in the prevention and treatment of allergic rhinitis from the perspectives of Th1/Th2 balance regulation, IgE level reduction, lowering of inflammatory cell infiltration in the nasal mucosa, regulation of nasal neuropeptide (substance P) level, inhibition of Toll-like receptors, and NFκB protein expression. Results: Acupuncture can play a therapeutic role in AR. Combining different aspects such as the influence on Th1 and Th2 subsets of cells, regulation of Th1/Th2 balance, reduction of IgE level, reduction of inflammatory cell infiltration in the nasal mucosa, regulation of nasal neuropeptide (substance P) level, inhibition of Toll-like receptor, and NFκB protein expression, the mechanism of action of acupuncture for AR can be elucidated more comprehensively. Conclusion: Acupuncture and moxibustion can be used to treat allergic rhinitis in several ways.

Whole-exome sequencing enables rapid and prenatal diagnosis of inherited skin disorders.

BACKGROUND: Genodermatoses are a broad group of disorders with specific or non-specific skin-based phenotypes, most of which are monogenic disorders. However, it's a great challenge to make a precise molecular diagnosis because of the clinical heterogeneity. The genetic and clinical heterogeneity brings great challenges for diagnosis in dermatology. The whole exome sequencing (WES) not only expedites the discovery of the genetic variations, but also contributes to genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Followed by the initial clinical and pathological diagnosis, genetic variations were identified by WES. The pathogenicity of the copy number variations (CNVs) and single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) were evaluated according to ACMG guidelines. Candidate pathogenic SNVs were confirmed by Sanger sequencing in the proband and the family members. RESULTS: Totally 25 cases were recruited. Nine novel variations, including c.5546G > C and c.1457delC in NF1, c.6110G > T in COL7A1, c.2127delG in TSC1, c.1445 C > A and c.1265G > A in TYR, Xp22.31 deletion in STS, c.908 C > T in ATP2A2, c.1371insC in IKBKG, and nine known ones were identified in 16 cases (64%). Prenatal diagnosis was applied in 6 pregnant women by amniocentesis, two of whom carried positive findings. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlighted the value of WES as a first-tier genetic test in determining the molecular diagnosis. We also discovered the distribution of genodermatoses in this district, which provided a novel clinical dataset for dermatologists.

Insights into Electrode Architectures and Lithium-Ion Transport in Polycrystalline V2 O5 Cathodes of Solid-State Batteries.

Polymer-based solid-state batteries (SSBs) have received increasing attentions due to the absence of interfacial problems in sulfide/oxide-type SSBs, but the lower oxidation potential of polymer-based electrolytes greatly limits the application of conventional high-voltage cathode such as LiNix Coy Mnz O2 (NCM) and lithium-rich NCM. Herein, this study reports on a lithium-free V2 O5 cathode that enables the applications of polymer-based solid-state electrolyte (SSE) with high energy density due to the microstructured transport channels and suitable operational voltage. Using a synergistic combination of structural inspection and non-destructive X-ray computed tomography (X-CT), it interprets the chemo-mechanical behavior that determines the electrochemical performance of the V2 O5 cathode. Through detailed kinetic analyses such as differential capacity and galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT), it is elucidated that the hierarchical V2 O5 constructed through microstructural engineering exhibits smaller electrochemical polarization and faster Li-ion diffusion rates in polymer-based SSBs than those in the liquid lithium batteries (LLBs). By the hierarchical ion transport channels created by the nanoparticles against each other, superior cycling stability (≈91.7% capacity retention after 100 cycles at 1 C) is achieved at 60 °C in polyoxyethylene (PEO)-based SSBs. The results highlight the crucial role of microstructure engineering in designing Li-free cathodes for polymer-based SSBs.