Tuning the End Alkyl Chain of the Ether Solvent to Stabilize the Electrode/Electrolyte Interfaces in the NCM-Li Battery.

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) combined with a high-voltage nickel-rich cathode show great potential in meeting the growing need for high energy density. The lack of advanced electrolytes has been a major obstacle in the commercialization of high-voltage lithium metal batteries (LMBs), as these electrolytes need to effectively support both a stable lithium metal anode (LMA) and a high-voltage cathode (>4 V vs Li+/Li). In this work, by extending the two terminal methyl groups in DIGDME and TEGDME to n-butyl groups, we design a new weakly solvating electrolyte (2 M LIFSI+TEGDBE) that enables the stable cycling of NMC83 (LiNi0.83Co0.12Mn0.05O2) cathodes. The NMC83 cell exhibits a high and stable Coulombic efficiency (CE) of over 99%, as well as capacity retention of approximately 99.8% after 100 cycles at 0.3 C. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis (XPS) and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) images revealed that the anion species decomposed first, resulting in the formation of a cathode-electrolyte interface (CEI) film predominantly consisting of decomposition products from the anions on the positive electrode surface. This work links the functional group of solvents with the solvation structure and electrochemical performance of ether-based electrolytes, providing a distinctive sight to design advanced electrolytes for high-energy-density LMBs.

A Critical Review on the Recycling Strategy of Lithium Iron Phosphate from Electric Vehicles.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are one of the most promising decarbonization solutions to develop a carbon-negative economy. The increasing global storage of EVs brings out a large number of power batteries requiring recycling. Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) is one of the first commercialized cathodes used in early EVs, and now gravimetric energy density improvement makes LFP with low cost and robustness popular again in the market. Developments in LFP recycling techniques are in demand to manage a large portion of the EV batteries retired both today and around ten years later. In this review, first the operation and degradation mechanisms of LFP are revisited aiming to identify entry points for LFP recycling. Then, the current LFP recycling methods, from the pretreatment of the retired batteries to the regeneration and recovery of the LFP cathode are summarized. The emerging direct recovery technology is highlighted, through which both raw material and the production cost of LFP can be recovered. In addition, the current issues limiting the development of the LIBs recycling industry are presented and some ideas for future research are proposed. This review provides the theoretical basis and insightful perspectives on developing new recycling strategies by outlining the whole-life process of LFP.

Regulating Surface Oxygen Activity by Perovskite-Coating-Stabilized Ultrahigh-Nickel Layered Oxide Cathodes.

Ultrahigh-Ni layered oxides are proposed as promising cathodes to fulfill the range demand of electric vehicles; yet, they are still haunted by compromised cyclability and thermal robustness. State-of-the-art surface coating has been applied to solve the instability via blocking the physical contact between the electrolyte and the highly active Ni4+ ions on the cathode surface, but it falls short in handling the chemo-physical mobility of the oxidized lattice oxygen ions in the cathode. Herein, a direct regulation strategy is proposed to accommodate the highly active anionic redox within the solid phase. By leveraging the stable oxygen vacancies/interstitials in a lithium and oxygen dual-ion conductor (layered perovskite La4 NiLiO8 ) coating layer, the reactivity of the surface lattice oxygen ion is dramatically restrained. As a result, the oxygen release from the lattice is suppressed, as well as the undesired irreversible phase transition and intergranular mechanical cracking. Meanwhile, the introduced dual-ion conductor can also facilitate lithium-ion diffusion kinetics and electronic conductivity on the particle surface. This work demonstrates that accommodating the anionic redox chemistry by dual-ion conductors is an effective strategy for capacity versus stability juggling of the high-energy cathodes.

Age-Related Sex Disparities in Esophageal Cancer Survival: A Population-Based Study in the United States.

Background: The association between sex and the survival of patients with esophageal cancer (EC) remains controversial. We sought to systematically investigate sex-based disparities in EC survival using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry data from the United States. Methods: Patients with EC diagnosed from 2004 to 2015 registered in the SEER database were selected. The association between sex and cancer-specific survival (CSS) was evaluated using survival analysis. The Inverse Probability Weighting (IPW) approach was applied to reduce the observed bias between males and females. Subgroup analyses were used to investigate the robustness of the sex-based disparity and to explore potential interaction effects with other variables. Results: Overall, 29,312 eligible EC patients were analyzed, of whom 5,781 were females, and 23,531 were males. Females had higher crude CSS compared to males (10-year CSS: 24.5 vs. 21.3%; P < 0.001). Similar results were obtained after adjusting for selection bias using the IPW approach and multivariate regression. Subgroup analyses confirmed the relative robustness of sex as a prognostic factor. However, significant interactions were observed between sex and other variables, such as age, race, tumor grade, histology, and treatment modality. In particular, there was no survival advantage for premenopausal females compared to their male counterparts, but the association between sex and EC survival was prominent in 46-55-year-old patients. Conclusions: Female EC patients had better long-term survival than males. The association between sex and EC survival vary according to age, race, tumor grade, histology, and treatment modality. Sex-based disparity in EC-specific survival was age-related in the United States population.

[Etiology of ascites in 165 children]. / 165ä¾‹å„¿ç«¥è ¹æ°´çš„ç— å› åˆ†æž.

OBJECTIVES: To study the etiology and clinical features of children with ascites, so as to provide a basis for the diagnosis and treatment of ascites in children. METHODS: The medical data of the children with ascites, who were hospitalized from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2019, were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Among the 165 children with ascites, the male/female ratio was 1.53:1, and the mean age of onset was (6±4) years. The causes of ascites included surgical acute abdomen (39 children, 23.6%), infectious diseases (39 children, 23.6%), neoplastic diseases (27 children, 16.4%), hepatogenic diseases (18 children, 10.9%), pancreatitis (10 children, 6.1%), cardiogenic diseases (8 children, 4.8%), rheumatic immune diseases (6 children, 3.6%), and nephrogenic diseases (5 children, 3.0%). According to the age of onset, there were 33 infants, 24 young children, 30 preschool children, 41 school-aged children, and 37 adolescents. Surgical acute abdomen and hepatogenic diseases were the main causes of ascites in infants (P<0.05). Neoplastic disease was the leading cause in young children (P<0.05). Infectious diseases were the most common cause in adolescents (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical acute abdomen, infectious diseases, neoplastic diseases, and hepatogenic diseases are the common causes of ascites in children, and there are some differences in the leading cause of ascites between different age groups.

Benefit of chemotherapy in stage III nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Analysis of the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database.

OBJECTIVES: Chemoradiotherapy is the standard treatment for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We aimed to reveal factors associated with chemotherapy use and evaluate chemotherapy's benefit in patients with stage III NPC stratified by lymph node status. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Overall, 1452 patients with stage III NPC who underwent radiotherapy with (n = 1361) or without (n = 91) chemotherapy were identified in the SEER database. We examined predictors for chemotherapy use using logistic regression analysis. We compared all-cause mortality (ACM) and cancer-specific mortality (CSM) using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression and competing risk analyses were used to evaluate the benefit of chemotherapy. The inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) approach was applied to reduce selection bias and adjust for competing risks. Subgroup analyses and interaction effects were explored. RESULTS: Factors including age, sex, insured status, tumor grade, and N category were associated with chemotherapy use. Chemotherapy was associated with decreased 5-year ACM (31.4% vs. 48.4%, p < 0.001) and CSM (25.5% vs. 35.8%; p = 0.017) in stage III NPC patients. The IPTW-adjusted hazard ratio for 5-year ACM was 0.57 (95% CI: 0.38-0.86, p = 0.008), whereas IPTW-adjusted sub-hazard ratio for 5-year CSM was 0.62 (95% CI: 0.42-0.93, p = 0.003). A significant interaction effect existed between lymph node status and treatment modality. Chemotherapy offered a significant survival benefit in node-positive stage III NPC. However, no chemotherapy benefit for the node-negative disease was observed. CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy adds survival benefit in stage III NPC, especially in patients with node-positive disease. The magnitude of chemotherapy benefit in node-negative stage III NPC warrants further investigation.

Simultaneous Coating and Doping of a Nickel-Rich Cathode by an Oxygen Ion Conductor for Enhanced Stability and Power of Lithium-Ion Batteries.

With the rapid development of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles, high-energy layered lithium nickel-rich oxides have received much attention, but there are still many challenges due to the inherent properties of materials. The poor cycling performance and initial capacity loss of the nickel-rich layered oxide are associated with the structural stability of the material and Li+/Ni2+ cation disorder. Moreover, the synergistic effect of the vacancy of Li and Ni in the delithiation process aggravates the instability of oxygen, eventually resulting in the release of oxygen. It can cause damage to the stability of the structure and even cause safety issues. In this work, we report that Ce0.8Dy0.2O1.9 solid electrolyte inhibits the release of oxygen and improves the structural stability and safety of the Ni-rich cathode material, which is rich in oxygen vacancies. Besides, Ni2+ could be oxidized to Ni3+ along with the strong oxidation of Ce4+ doping into the bulk structure, which suppresses the Li+/Ni2+ cation disorder and improves the initial Coulomb efficiency of the material. This study successfully designed a novel cathode material structure to provide a basis for the future development of layered lithium nickel-rich oxides, which can be used to improve the initial Coulomb efficiency and cycle life.

Seeding Iron Trifluoride Nanoparticles on Reduced Graphite Oxide for Lithium-Ion Batteries with Enhanced Loading and Stability.

Development of electric vehicles and portable electronic devices during the past decade calls for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with enhanced energy density and higher stability. Integration of FeF3 phases and carbon structures leads to promising cathode materials for LIBs with high voltage, capacity, and power. In this study, FeF3·0.33H2O nanoparticles were synthesized on reduced graphite oxide (rGO) nanosheets using an in situ approach. By chemically tuning the interfacial bonding between FeF3·0.33H2O and rGO, we successfully achieved high particle loading and enhanced cycling stability. Specifically, a discharge capacity of ∼208.3 mAh g-1 was observed at a current density of 0.5 C. The FeF3·0.33H2O/rGO nanocomposites also demonstrate great cycle capability with a reversible discharge capacity of 133.1 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles at 100 mA g-1; the capacity retention is about 97%. This study provides an alternative strategy to further improve the stability and performance of iron fluoride/carbon nanocomposite materials for LIB applications.

MiR-5100 targets TOB2 to drive epithelial-mesenchymal transition associated with activating smad2/3 in lung epithelial cells.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating disease and the pathogenesis of IPF remains unclear. Our previous study indicated that miR-5100 promotes the proliferation and metastasis of lung epithelial cells. In this study, we investigated the effect and mechanism of miR-5100 on bleomycin (BLM)-induced mouse lung fibrosis and transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß1) or epidermal growth factor (EGF) induced EMT-model in A549 and Beas-2B cells. The elevated level of miR-5100 was observed in both the mouse lung fibrosis tissues and EMT cell model. Furthermore, the exogenous expression of miR-5100 promoted the EMT-related changes, enhanced TGF-ß1 or EGF-induced EMT and activated the smad2/3 in lung epithelial cells, while silencing miR-5100 had the converse effects. In addition, transwell assay showed that miR-5100 can enhance cell migration. Using target prediction software and luciferase reporter assays, we identified TOB2 as a specific target of miR-5100 and miR-5100 can decrease the accumulation of endogenous TOB2 in A549 and Beas-2B cells. Moreover, the exogenous expression of TOB2 relieves the promotion of miR-5100 on EMT process and migration ability. Taken together, our results indicate that miR-5100 promotes the EMT process by targeting TOB2 associated with activating smad2/3 in lung epithlium cells. Our findings may provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of IPF.

Shrinking the malaria map in China: measuring the progress of the National Malaria Elimination Programme.

BACKGROUND: Remarkable progress has been made towards the elimination of malaria in China since the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) was launched in 2010. The incidence of locally-acquired malaria cases has declined rapidly and endemic areas have also dramatically shrunk. In total, 3 078 malaria cases were reported in 2014, but only 56 cases were indigenous. In order to further promote the elimination programme, we reviewed the progress of and experiences associated with malaria elimination in China, and identified the challenges and priorities for the next stage of the programme. METHODS: Data were collected from the web-based China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention, and the China Annual Report of Malaria Elimination. The progress towards the elimination of malaria from 2010 to 2014 was measured. RESULTS: During the implementation of the NMEP from 2010 to 2014, local malaria incidence has declined continuously, only remaining in the Yunnan Province and Tibet Autonomous Region in 2014. By the end of 2015, 75.6 % (1 636/2 163) of the malaria-endemic counties passed the sub-national elimination assessment. The main challenges are cases of border malaria and imported malaria from other countries. Sustainable support and investment from the government, the establishment of an effective surveillance and response system, and risk assessments for the potential reintroduction of malaria are priorities for the next stage of the elimination programme. CONCLUSIONS: The NMEP in China has been successfully implemented thus far and the malaria map has shrunk dramatically. The priorities for malaria elimination are interventions to block transmission at border areas, management of imported malaria cases, preventing malaria reintroduction, capacity building, and sustainability of malaria surveillance and response.

In Situ Analysis of Gas Generation in Lithium-Ion Batteries with Different Carbonate-Based Electrolytes.

Gas generation in lithium-ion batteries is one of the critical issues limiting their safety performance and lifetime. In this work, a set of 900 mAh pouch cells were applied to systematically compare the composition of gases generated from a serial of carbonate-based composite electrolytes, using a self-designed gas analyzing system. Among electrolytes used in this work, the composite γ-butyrolactone/ethyl methyl carbonate (GBL/EMC) exhibited remarkably less gassing because of the electrochemical stability of the GBL, which makes it a promising electrolyte for battery with advanced safety and lifetime.

The conservative cysteines in transmembrane domain of AtVKOR/LTO1 are critical for photosynthetic growth and photosystem II activity in Arabidopsis.

Thylakoid protein vitamin K epoxide reductase (AtVKOR/LTO1) is involved in oxidoreduction. The deficiency of this compound causes pleiotropic defects in Arabidopsis thaliana, such as severely stunted growth, smaller sized leaves, and delay of flowering. Transgenic complementation of wild-type AtVKOR (VKORWT) to vkor mutant lines ultimately demonstrates that the phenotype changes are due to this gene. However, whether AtVKOR functions in Arabidopsis through its protein oxidoreduction is unknown. To further study the redox-active sites of AtVKOR in vivo, a series of plasmids containing cysteine-mutant VKORs were constructed and transformed into vkor deficient lines. Compared with transgenic AtVKORWT plants, the size of the transgenic plants with a single conservative cysteine mutation (VKORC109A, VKORC116A, VKORC195A, and VKORC198A) were smaller, and two double-cysteine mutations (VKORC109AC116A and VKORC195AC198A) showed significantly stunted growth, similar with the vkor mutant line. However, mutations of two non-conservative cysteines (VKORC46A and VKORC230A) displayed little obvious changes in the phenotypes of Arabidopsis. Consistently, the maximum and actual efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) in double-cysteine mutation plants decreased significantly to the level similar to that of the vkor mutant line both under normal growth light and high light. A significantly decreased amount of D1 protein and increased accumulation of reactive oxygen species were observed in two double-cysteine mutations under high light. All of the results above indicated that the conservative cysteines in transmembrane domains were the functional sites of AtVKOR in Arabidopsis and that the oxidoreductase activities of AtVKOR were directly related to the autotrophic photosynthetic growth and PSII activity of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Antagonistic human FcγRIIB (CD32B) antibodies have anti-tumor activity and overcome resistance to antibody therapy in vivo.

Therapeutic antibodies have transformed cancer therapy, unlocking mechanisms of action by engaging the immune system. Unfortunately, cures rarely occur and patients display intrinsic or acquired resistance. Here, we demonstrate the therapeutic potential of targeting human (h) FcγRIIB (CD32B), a receptor implicated in immune cell desensitization and tumor cell resistance. FcγRIIB-blocking antibodies prevented internalization of the CD20-specific antibody rituximab, thereby maximizing cell surface accessibility and immune effector cell mediated antitumor activity. In hFcγRIIB-transgenic (Tg) mice, FcγRIIB-blocking antibodies effectively deleted target cells in combination with rituximab, and other therapeutic antibodies, from resistance-prone stromal compartments. Similar efficacy was seen in primary human tumor xenografts, including with cells from patients with relapsed/refractory disease. These data support the further development of hFcγRIIB antibodies for clinical assessment.

An obesity-like gene MdTLP7 from apple (Malus × domestica) enhances abiotic stress tolerance.

Tubby-like proteins (TLPs) are found in a broad range of multicellular organisms. In mammals, genetic mutation of tubby or other TLPs can result in certain disease phenotypes related to animal specific characters: obesity, retinal degeneration, hearing loss, et al. Plants also harbor a large number of TLP genes, but the information in plants is far more limited. We identified a highly up-regulated obesity-like gene, MdTLP7, in our previous study of apple differential gene expression profile under chilling, indicating its possible role in plant abiotic stress tolerance. cDNA of MdTLP7 was amplified and expressed in Escherichia coli. In the solid and solution medium, the rate of growth and the quantity of the cell carrying MdTLP7 gene were significantly more than that of empty vector under salt and temperature stresses. To identify the functional region, serial deletion from both N-terminus and C-terminus of MdTLP7 was performed. In 415 amino acid polypeptide chain of MdTLP7, a middle conservative fragment (120-310 amino acid residues) played vital roles in stress tolerance. This fragment was involved in ß barrel of Tubby domain according to the model of Tubby domain. All above results suggested MdTLP7 confers stress-tolerance to E. coli cell against abiotic stresses.

A human ICAM-1 antibody isolated by a function-first approach has potent macrophage-dependent antimyeloma activity in vivo.

We isolated a tumor B-cell-targeting antibody, BI-505, from a highly diversified human phage-antibody library, using a pioneering "function-first" approach involving screening for (1) specificity for a tumor B cell surface receptor, (2) induction of tumor programmed cell death, and (3) enhanced in vivo antitumor activity compared to currently used treatments. BI-505 bound to intercellular adhesion molecule-1, identifying a previously unrecognized role for this receptor as a therapeutic target in cancer. The BI-505 epitope was strongly expressed on the surface of multiple myeloma cells from both newly diagnosed and relapsed patients. BI-505 had potent macrophage-dependent antimyeloma activity and conferred enhanced survival compared to currently used treatments in advanced experimental models of multiple myeloma.

Emodin, a naturally occurring anthraquinone, ameliorates experimental autoimmune myocarditis in rats.

Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the heart and a major cause of dilated cardiomyopathy that can lead to heart failure and sudden death in young adults. Giant cell myocarditis is a severe heart disease of unknown causes and is defined histopathologically as diffuse myocardial necrosis with multinucleated giant cells in the absence of sarcoid-like granulomata. Giant cell myocarditis is often studied using a model of experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) in rats. Emodin is an important component of traditional Chinese herb rhubarb, and has well-documented anti-inflammatory effect. The current study determined the potential efficacy of emodin using a rat model of EAM. Male Lewis rats (6 weeks of age) were immunized on days 0 and 7 with a porcine cardiac myosin at both footpads to induce EAM. Simultaneously with the immunization, rats received emodin (50 mg/kg/day) or distilled water by intragastric administration for 3 weeks (8 animals/group). Likewise, eight animals were immunized with adjuvant alone and treated with distilled water. The immunization significantly enlarged the hearts due to inflammatory lesions. Emodin treatment significantly improved left ventricular (LV) function and reduced the severity of myocarditis, as reflected by echocardiographic and histopathological examination. Emodin treatment decreased the serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1ß. Nuclear factor-κBp65 (NF-κBp65), a rapid-response transcription factor that regulates proinflammatory cytokines, in the myocardial tissue was also suppressed in the treated rats. In conclusion, emodin could ameliorate EAM, at least in part, by decreasing the production of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1ß.

Small-animal PET/CT assessment of bone microdamage in ovariectomized rats.

UNLABELLED: Microdamage in bone contributes to bone fragility in postmenopausal women. Therefore, it is important to find a noninvasive method to detect microdamage in living bone. PET with (18)F-fluoride has been used for skeletal imaging in clinical studies. However, few studies are undertaken to investigate bone microdamage associated with osteoporosis in vivo using noninvasive means. The aim of our study was to analyze the impact of osteoporosis due to estrogen deficiency on the occurrence of microdamage by observing the change in the uptake of (18)F-fluoride in the tibiae of ovariectomized rats after fatigue loading with small-animal PET/CT. We also explored the feasibility of noninvasive detection of bone microdamage in vivo using a small-animal PET/CT scanner specially designed for rodent study. METHODS: Rats were randomized into 2 groups: ovariectomy and sham surgery. These rats were imaged using a dedicated small-animal PET scanner with (18)F-fluoride after the left tibiae were loaded cyclically under the axial compression. The fluoride uptake values were quantified in the tibial mid shafts, and the tibia was obtained for histomorphometric measurements of bone microdamage and osteocyte density. Bone mineral density at the fourth lumbar vertebra and right femur were measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: PET image intensity was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the loaded tibia of the ovariectomy group, compared with that of the sham group. Histomorphometry showed that both crack density and crack length in the loaded tibia were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in ovariectomized rats than in sham rats. The PET image intensity in the loaded tibia was significantly positively correlated with crack length and crack density (which show in histomorphometric measurement) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both small-animal PET/CT and histomorphometric measurement provided evidence that bone microdamage is significantly increased after estrogen depletion. The strong correlation between these 2 measurements suggests that small-animal PET/CT is a useful noninvasive means to detect bone microdamage in vivo.

Surgical treatment of scoliosis associated with Marfan syndrome by using posterior-only instrumentation.

Surgical treatment of scoliosis associated with Marfan syndrome poses a challenge to spine surgeons. This retrospective study was undertaken to determine whether posterior-only surgery with instrumented fixation and fusion addresses the correction of scoliosis and maintains curve correction. Twelve consecutive patients with Marfan syndrome were treated between 2002 and 2007 for scoliosis by posterior segmental instrumentation using pedicle screws or hybrid thoracic-hook and lumbar-screw constructs. Their preoperative Cobb angle averaged 66 ± 10° (range: 55-90°). The average operation time was 252 ± 36 min (range: 200-300 min) and the average blood loss was 690 ± 117 ml (range: 550-920 ml). No significant complications were found. All the patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years (range: 2.4-6.8 years). The average Cobb angle was corrected to 23 ± 8° (range: 13-35°) immediately after surgery and 28 ± 9° (range: 14-43°) with a correction rate of 58 ± 13% at final follow-up. The results indicate that posterior-only surgery with instrumented fixation and fusion is effective and safe for the treatment of scoliosis in selected patients with Marfan syndrome.

Multiphoton microscopy with near infrared contrast agents.

While multiphoton microscopy (MPM) has been performed with a wide range of excitation wavelengths, fluorescence emission has been limited to the visible spectrum. We introduce a paradigm for MPM of near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent molecular probes via nonlinear excitation at 1550 nm. This all-NIR system expands the range of available MPM fluorophores, virtually eliminates background autofluorescence, and allows for use of fiber-based, turnkey ultrafast lasers developed for telecommunications.

The electrically conductive function of high-molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) in polymer gel electrolytes used for dye-sensitized solar cells.

The electrically conductive function of high-molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) (M(w) = 2 x 10(6) g mol(-1)) was investigated when it was used to gelate liquid electrolyte to fabricate a series of polymer gel electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). With the PEO weight ratio increasing from 2.5 to 15.0% (vs. liquid electrolyte), rheological behavior measurement showed that the viscosity of the polymer gel electrolytes increased ca 465 times. However, it was observed by steady-state voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) measurements that the diffusion coefficient of I(3)(-)/I(-) decreased constantly while the conductivity of the polymer gel electrolytes increased initially and then decreased. These two inconsistent behaviours showed that the mobility of Li(+) was enhanced by PEO. EIS measurement revealed that the internal resistance of the DSCs were reduced since the enhanced mobility of Li(+) was helpful for the transport of electrons within the TiO(2) film through an ambipolar diffusion mechanism. When these polymer gel electrolytes were used to assemble DSCs, the conversion efficiency of DSCs increased continuously until it reached its maximum as the PEO weight ratio increased from 2.5 to 10.0%. By optimizing the dye adsorbing time and the thickness of the TiO(2) film, a quasi-solid DSC based on a polymer gel electrolyte with a PEO weight ratio of 10.0% showed a considerable conversion efficiency, 6.12 and 10.11% under 100 and 30 mW cm(-2) illumination, respectively. Finally, a stability test indicated that the more PEO was added into the polymer gel electrolytes, the better stability was obtained for the corresponding DSCs.