Stable Harsh-Temperature Lithium Metal Batteries Enabled by Tailoring Solvation Structure in Ether Electrolytes.

For lithium metal batteries (LMBs), the elevated operating temperature results in severe capacity fading and safety issues due to unstable electrode-electrolyte interphases and electrolyte solvation structures. Therefore, it is crucial to construct advanced electrolytes capable of tolerating harsh environments to ensure stable LMBs. Here, we proposed a stable localized high-concentration electrolyte (LHCE) by introducing the highly solvating power solvent diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (DGDME). Computational and experimental evidence discloses that the original DGDME-LHCE shows favorable features for high-temperature LMBs, including high Li+-binding stability, electro-oxidation resistance, thermal stability, and nonflammability. The tailored solvated sheath structure achieves the preferred decomposition of anions, inducing the stable (cathode and Li anode)/interphases simultaneously, which enables a homogeneous Li plating-stripping behavior on the anode side and a high-voltage tolerance on the cathode side. For the Li||Li cells coupled with DGDME-LHCE, they showcase outstanding reversibility (a long lifespan of exceeding 1900 h). We demonstrate exceptional cyclic stability (∼95.59%, 250 cycles), high Coulombic efficiency (>99.88%), and impressive high-voltage (4.5 V) and high-temperature (60 °C) performances in Li||NCM523 cells using DGDME-LHCE. Our advances shed light on an encouraging ether electrolyte tactic for the Li-metal batteries confronted with stringent high-temperature challenges.

Azobenzene-containing molecularly imprinted polymer microspheres with photo- and thermoresponsive template binding properties in pure aqueous media by atom transfer radical polymerization.

A facile, general, and highly efficient approach to obtain azobenzene (azo)-containing molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) microspheres with both photo- and thermoresponsive template binding properties in pure aqueous media is described for the first time, which involves the first synthesis of "living" azo-containing MIP microspheres with surface-immobilized alkyl halide groups via atom transfer radical precipitation polymerization (ATRPP) and their subsequent modification via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm). The successful grafting of poly(NIPAAm) (PNIPAAm) brushes onto the obtained MIP microspheres was confirmed by FT-IR, SEM, water dispersion stability and static contact angle studies, and template binding experiments. The introduction of PNIPAAm brushes onto the azo-containing MIP microspheres significantly improved their surface hydrophilicity and imparted thermoresponsive properties to them, leading to their pure water-compatible and thermoresponsive template binding properties. In addition, the binding affinity of the imprinted sites in the grafted azo-containing MIP microspheres was found to be photoresponsive toward the template in pure water, and this photoregulation process proved to be highly repeatable under photoswitching conditions.

Ultra-stable Li||LiFePO4 batteries via advanced designing of localized high concentration electrolyte.

The High-Performance Li-LiFePO4 batteries (Li||LFP) realized by highly compatible electrolytes are considered to be the breakthrough point to achieve the stability and high energy density of lithium-ion battery (LIB) systems. However, the current prevailing commercial electrolytes can hardly be compatible with both LFP cathode and lithium anode simultaneously to an ideal extent. On this very note, we designed an advanced ether-based localized high concentration electrolyte (abbreviated as "ADE"), which exhibits extreme compatibility with LFP-based lithium metal batteries (Fb-LMBs). Equipped with ADE-electrolyte, the Li||LFP coin cell system can carry out more than 4000 fast-charging/discharging (3C for charge and 6C for discharge, respectively) rigorously cycles. Each cycle can not only sacrifice just 0.145‱ capacity on average compared with the original value, but also cycle at elevated temp (>200 fast charging/discharging cycles under 60 °C). This performance remains rare in liquid electrolyte systems in previous reports. The significantly enhanced electrochemical performance can be ascribed to the stabilization of both LFP-cathode/electrolyte and Li-metal-anode/electrolyte interphases. In addition, due to its specific solvated sheath structure, its wettability and flame-retarding properties are superior to those of the control group. This work expands the space for designing a stable fast-charge LFP-based system and sheds light on the possibility of replacing the most popular graphite||LFP system with Li ||LFP configuration with high energy density and stable cyclic performance.

A flexible and highly sensitive nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on DVD-laser scribed graphene substrate.

Flexible and implantable glucose biosensors are emerging technologies for continuous monitoring of blood-glucose of diabetes. Developing a flexible conductive substrates with high active surface area is critical for advancing the technology. Here, we successfully fabricate a flexible and highly sensitive nonenzymatic glucose by using DVD-laser scribed graphene (LSG) as a flexible conductively substrate. Copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) are electrodeposited as the catalyst. The LSG/Cu-NPs sensor demonstrates excellent catalytic activity toward glucose oxidation and exhibits a linear glucose detection range from 1 µM to 4.54 mM with high sensitivity (1.518 mA mM-1 cm-2) and low limit of detection (0.35 µM). Moreover, the LSG/Cu-NPs sensor shows excellent reproducibility and long-term stability. It is also highly selective toward glucose oxidation under the presence of various interfering species. Excellent flexing stability is also demonstrated by the LSG/Cu-NPs sensor, which is capable of maintaining 83.9% of its initial current after being bent against a 4-mm diameter rod for 180 times. The LSG/Cu-NPs sensor shows great potential for practical application as a nonenzymatic glucose biosensor. Meanwhile, the LSG conductive substrate provides a platform for the developing next-generation flexible and potentially implantable bioelectronics and biosensors.

Asthma status is an independent risk factor for herpes zoster in children: a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUNDS: Literatures regarding the effects of childhood asthma on the risk of herpes zoster (HZ) is very limited. The aim of this study is to investigate the risks of children developing HZ with asthma. METHODS: From the National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified 300,649 patients who had asthma between 2000 and 2007 as an asthma cohort. We identified another matched non-asthma cohort. All subjects were followed until the end of 2008. A Cox model was used to estimate the association of asthma on the risk of HZ. RESULTS: Asthma cohort had significantly higher risk of developing HZ than the comparison cohort (HR=1.15; 95 % CI =1.06-1.26). However, compared to those without regular controller, asthma cohort with regular inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) treatment had slightly increased risk for HZ (HR=1.14; 95% CI=1.01-1.27) but decreased risk for HZ in those with regular combined ICS and Montelukast (HR=0.83; 95% CI=0.69-0.98). Uncontrolled asthma with more than 3-4 times ED visits and admissions per year had 3.72 (CI =1.86-7.47) and 20.5 (CI =10.2-41.2) greater risks for HZ than those without asthma, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Asthma poses an increased risk of zoster, therefore control of asthma is important to minimize risk of HZ.

Layered-MnO2 Nanosheet Grown on Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Template as a Composite Cathode for Flexible Solid-State Asymmetric Supercapacitor.

Flexible solid-state supercapacitors provide a promising energy-storage alternative for the rapidly growing flexible and wearable electronic industry. Further improving device energy density and developing a cheap flexible current collector are two major challenges in pushing the technology forward. In this work, we synthesize a nitrogen-doped graphene/MnO2 nanosheet (NGMn) composite by a simple hydrothermal method. Nitrogen-doped graphene acts as a template to induce the growth of layered δ-MnO2 and improves the electronic conductivity of the composite. The NGMn composite exhibits a large specific capacitance of about 305 F g(-1) at a scan rate of 5 mV s(-1). We also create a cheap and highly conductive flexible current collector using Scotch tape. Flexible solid-state asymmetric supercapacitors are fabricated with NGMn cathode, activated carbon anode, and PVA-LiCl gel electrolyte. The device can achieve a high operation voltage of 1.8 V and exhibits a maximum energy density of 3.5 mWh cm(-3) at a power density of 0.019 W cm(-3). Moreover, it retains >90% of its initial capacitance after 1500 cycles. Because of its flexibility, high energy density, and good cycle life, NGMn-based flexible solid state asymmetric supercapacitors have great potential for application in next-generation portable and wearable electronics.

[The effect of treating obstructive disease of lacrimal passage by lacrimal plastic operation with Nd:YAG laser].

OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic effects of Nd:YAG laser on obstructive diseases of the lacrimal passage. METHODS: 693 eyes in 603 cases with obstructive diseases of lacrimal passage, including obstruction of lacrimal puncta (23 eyes), lacrimal duct (192 eyes), nasolacrimal duct (227 eyes), chronic dacryocystitis (231 eyes), and traumatic laceration of lacrimal canaliculus (20 eyes), were treated by lacrimal plastic operation with Nd:YAG laser and the therapeutic effects were compared among the groups. RESULTS: The cure rates and effective rates of the five diseases were 86.9% and 95.7%, 89.1% and 93.8%, 93.0% and 96.0%, 78.4% and 82.7%, 40.0% and 65.0%, respectively. By Ridit analysis, R +/- S(R) values for each group were 0.921 +/- 0.023, 0.914 +/- 0.009, 0.927 +/- 0.007, 0.856 +/- 0.013, 0.749 +/- 0.055. CONCLUSIONS: The therapeutic effect on chronic dacryocystitis is less than those of obstruction of nasolacrimal duct and lacrimal duct (P < 0.05). The therapeutic effect on traumatic laceration of lacrimal canaliculus is less than that of the other four groups (P < 0.05). Therefore, it should be restricted on indication for the cases of chronic dacryocystitis and traumatic laceration of lacrimal canaliculus.