Revealing the delithiation process of spent LiMn2O4 and LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 batteries during the biomass-assisted gasthermal and carbothermal reduction.

The utilization of biomass-assisted pyrolysis in the recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries has emerged as a promising and reliable process. This article furnishes theoretical underpinnings and analytical insights into this method, showcasing sawdust pyrolysis reduction as an efficient means to recycle spent LiMn2O4 and LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 batteries. Through advanced thermogravimetry-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis complemented by traditional thermodynamic demonstration, the synergistic effects of biomass pyrolysis reduction are elucidated, with minor autodecomposition and major carbothermal and gasthermal reduction pathways identified. The controlled manipulation of transition metals has demonstrated the capability to modulate surface pyrolysis gas catalytic reactions and facilitate the preparation of composite materials with diverse morphologies. Optimization of process conditions has culminated in recovery efficiency exceeding 99.0 % for LiMn2O4 and 99.5 % for LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2. Economic and environmental analyses underscore the advantages of biomass reduction and recycling for these two types of spent LIBs: low energy consumption, environmental compatibility, and high economic viability.

In-vitro and in-vivo evaluation of angiogenic potential of a novel lithium chloride loaded silk fibroin / alginate 3D porous scaffold with antibacterial activity, for promoting diabetic wound healing.

Healing diabetic ulcers with chronic inflammation is a major challenge for researchers and professionals, necessitating new strategies. To rapidly treat diabetic wounds in rat models, we have fabricated a composite scaffold composed of alginate (Alg) and silk fibroin (SF) as a wound dressing that is laden with molecules of lithium chloride (LC). The physicochemical, bioactivity, and biocompatibility properties of Alg-SF-LC scaffolds were investigated in contrast to those of Alg, SF, and Alg-SF ones. Afterward, full-thickness wounds were ulcerated in diabetic rats in order to evaluate the capacity of LC-laden scaffolds to regenerate skin. The characterization findings demonstrated that the composite scaffolds possessed favorable antibacterial properties, cell compatibility, high swelling, controlled degradability, and good uniformity in the interconnected pore microstructure. Additionally, in terms of wound contraction, re-epithelialization, and angiogenesis improvement, LC-laden scaffolds revealed better performance in diabetic wound healing than the other groups. This research indicates that utilizing lithium chloride molecules loaded in biological materials supports the best diabetic ulcer regeneration in vivo, and produces a skin replacement with a cellular structure comparable to native skin.

Engineering d-p Orbital Hybridization with P, S Co-Coordination Asymmetric Configuration of Single Atoms Toward High-Rate and Long-Cycling Lithium-Sulfur Battery.

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have been increasingly explored in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries to address the issues of severe polysulfide shuttle effects and sluggish redox kinetics. However, the structure-activity relationship between single-atom coordination structures and the performance of Li-S batteries remain unclear. In this study, a P, S co-coordination asymmetric configuration of single atoms is designed to enhance the catalytic activity of Co central atoms and promote d-p orbital hybridization between Co and S atoms, thereby limiting polysulfides and accelerating the bidirectional redox process of sulfur. The well-designed SACs enable Li-S batteries to demonstrate an ultralow capacity fading rate of 0.027% per cycle after 2000 cycles at a high rate of 5 C. Furthermore, they display excellent rate performance with a capacity of 619 mAh g-1 at an ultrahigh rate of 10 C due to the efficient catalysis of CoSA-N3PS. Importantly, the assembled pouch cell still retains a high discharge capacity of 660 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles at 0.2 C and provides a high areal capacity of 4.4 mAh cm-2 even with a high sulfur loading of 6 mg cm-2. This work demonstrates that regulating the coordination environment of SACs is of great significance for achieving state-of-the-art Li-S batteries.

Nonflammable All-Fluorinated Electrolyte Enabling High-Voltage and High-Safety Lithium-Ion Cells.

In this study, a nonflammable all-fluorinated electrolyte for lithium-ion cells with a Li(Ni0.8Mn0.1Co0.1)O2 cathode is investigated under high voltages. This electrolyte, named FT46, consists of fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) and bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) carbonate (TFEC) in a mass ratio of 4:6. Compared to a commercially available electrolyte and several other fluorinated electrolytes, cells containing FT46 demonstrate significantly better cycling performances under high voltage (3.0-4.5 V). This result may be ascribed to the generation of a stable, smooth, and thin passivation layer and the improved solvation structure formed by FT46. The LiF-rich passivation layer strengthens the electrode/electrolyte interface, inhibits the degradation of the electrode, and suppresses side reactions between the electrodes and electrolytes under high voltage. The solvation structure formed by FT46 is derived from anions, enabling an enhanced Li+ migration rate and inhibiting lithium plating generation. Additionally, due to the nonflammability of the electrolyte and the stable passivation layers, FT46 cells also demonstrate promising safety characteristics when exposed to typical abusive conditions, such as thermal abuse, mechanical abuse, and electrical abuse.

MOFite: A High-Density Lithiophilic and Scalable Metal-Organic Framework Anode for Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery.

Developing an anode material that has better performance efficiency than commercial graphite while keeping the features of economic scalability and environmental safety is highly desirable yet challenging. MOFs are a promising addition to the ongoing efforts, however, the relatively poor performance, chemical instability, and large-scale economic production of efficiency-proven pristine MOFs restrict their utility in real-life energy storage applications. Furthermore, hierarchical porosity for lucid mass diffusion, high-density lithiophilic sites are some of the structural parameters for improving the electrode performance. Herein, we have demonstrated the potential of economically scalable salicylaldehydate 3D-conjugated-MOF (Fe-Tp) as a high-performance anode in Li-ion batteries: the anode-specific capacity achieved up to 1447 mA h g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 and 89% of cyclic stability after 500 cycles at 1.0 A g-1.for pristine MOF. More importantly, incorporating 10% Fe-Tp doping in commercial graphite (MOFite) significantly enhanced lithium storage, doubling capacitance after 400 cycles. It signifies the potential practical utility of Fe-Tp as a performance booster for commercial anode material.

Batch-Scale Synthesis and Interfacially Enhanced Stability of Silicon Suboxide-Based Anodes toward High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries.

SiOx anode materials are among the most promising candidates for next-generation high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, their commercial application is hindered by poor conductivity, low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE), and an unstable solid electrolyte interface. Developing cost-effective SiOx anodes with high electrochemical performance is crucial for advanced LIBs. To tackle these issues, this study utilized APTES as a silicon source and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as additives to prepare a T-SiOx/C/CNTs composite material with N doping and in situ carbon coating using a "molecular assembly combined with controlled pyrolysis" strategy under mild conditions. The in situ carbon coating, formed by the pyrolysis of organic groups on the molecular precursor, effectively protects the inner SiOx active material. The introduced CNTs enhance electron migration and improve the rigidity of the carbon coating layer. The prelithiated T-SiOx@C/CNTs electrode achieves an ICE of 91.6%, with a specific capacity of 622 mAh g-1 after 400 cycles at 1 A g-1 and 475.8 mAh g-1 after 800 cycles. Full cell tests with commercial NCM811 cathodes further demonstrate the potential of T-SiOx@C/CNTs as a highly promising anode material. This work provides some insights into the rational design of advanced anode materials for LIBs, paving the way for their future development and application.

Sequencing-Dependent Impact of Carbon Coating on Microstructure Evolution and Electrochemical Performance of Pre-lithiated SiO Anodes: Enhanced Efficiency and Stability via Pre-Coating Strategy.

Silicon monoxide (SiO) has attracted considerable interest as anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, their poor initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and conductivity limit large-scale applications. Prelithiation and carbon-coating are common and effective strategies in industry for enhancing the electrochemical performance of SiO. However, the involved heat-treatment processes inevitably lead to coarsening of active silicon phases, posing a significant challenge in industrial applications. Herein, the differences in microstructures and electrochemical performances between prelithiated SiO with a pre-coated carbon layer (SiO@C@PLi) and SiO subjected to carbon-coating after prelithiation (SiO@PLi@C) are investigated. A preliminary carbon layer on the surface of SiO before prelithiation is found that can suppress active Si phase coarsening effectively and regulate the post-prelithiation phase content. The strategic optimization of the sequence where prelithiation and carbon-coating processes of SiO exert a critical influence on its regulation of microstructure and electrochemical performances. As a result, SiO@C@PLi exhibits a higher ICE of 88.0%, better cycling performance and lower electrode expansion than SiO@PLi@C. The pouch-type full-cell tests demonstrate that SiO@C@PLi/Graphite||NCM811 delivers a superior capacity retention of 91% after 500 cycles. This work provides invaluable insights into industrial productions of SiO anodes through optimizing the microstructure of SiO in prelithiation and carbon-coating processes.

Benchmarking the Match of Porous Carbon Substrate Pore Volume on Silicon Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Silicon (Si) is one of the most promising anode materials for high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries. However, the huge volume expansion hinders its commercial application. Embedding amorphous Si nanoparticles in a porous carbon framework is an effective way to alleviate Si volume expansion, with the pore volume of the carbon substrates playing a pivotal role. This work demonstrates the impact of pore volume on the electrochemical performance of the silicon/carbon porous composites from two perspectives: 1) pore volume affects the loadings of Si particles; 2) pore volume affects the structural stability and mechanical properties. The smaller pore volume of the carbon substrate cannot support the high Si loadings, which results in forming a thick Si shell on the surface, thereby being detrimental to cycling stability and the diffusion of electrons and ions. On top of that, the carbon substrate with a larger pore volume has poor structural stability due to its fragility, which is also not conducive to realizing long cycle life and high rate performance. Achieving excellent electrochemical performances should match the proper pore volume with Si content. This study will provide important insights into the rational design of the silicon/carbon porous composites based on the pore volume of the carbon substrates.

Crack-Resistant Si-C Hybrid Microspheres for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes.

To effectively solve the challenges of rapid capacity decay and electrode crushing of silicon-carbon (Si-C) anodes, it is crucial to carefully optimize the structure of Si-C active materials and enhance their electron/ion transport dynamic in the electrode. Herein, a unique hybrid structure microsphere of Si/C/CNTs/Cu with surface wrinkles is prepared through a simple ultrasonic atomization pyrolysis and calcination method. Low-cost nanoscale Si waste is embedded into the pyrolysis carbon matrix, cleverly combined with the flexible electrical conductivity carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and copper (Cu) particles, enhancing both the crack resistance and transport kinetics of the entire electrode material. Remarkably, as a lithium-ion battery anode, the fabricated Si/C/CNTs/Cu electrode exhibits stable cycling for up to 2300 cycles even at a current of 2.0 A g-1, retaining a capacity of ≈700 mAh g-1, with a retention rate of 100% compared to the cycling started at a current of 2.0 A g-1. Additionally, when paired with an NCM523 cathode, the full cell exhibits a capacity of 135 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles at 1.0 C. Therefore, this synthesis strategy provides insights into the design of long-life, practical anode electrode materials with micro/nano-spherical hybrid structures.

Humic acid-mediated mechanism for efficient biodissolution of used lithium batteries.

Resource recovery of valuable metals from spent lithium batteries is an inevitable trend for sustainable development. In this study, external regulation was used to enhance the tolerance and stability of strains in the leaching of spent lithium batteries to radically improve the bioleaching efficiency. The leaching of Li, Ni, Co and Mn increased to 100 %, 85.06 %, 74.25 % and 69.44 % respectively after targeted cultivation with HA as compared to the undomesticated strain. In the process of microbial leaching of spent lithium batteries, the metabolites in the Ⅰ, Ⅳ, and Ⅴ regions of the metabolism of the undomesticated bacterial colony had a positive correlation to the dissolution of spent lithium batteries. The metabolites of Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅴ regions were directly affected by the HA domesticated flora on the dissolution of spent lithium batteries. The excess metabolism of protein substances can significantly promote the reduction of Ni, Co, Mn leaching, and at the same time in the role of a large number of humic substances complexed the toxic metal ions in the system, to ensure the activity of the bacterial colony. It can be seen that the bacteria were domesticated by humic acid, which promoted the bacteria's own metabolism, and the super-metabolised EPS promoted the solubilisation of spent lithium batteries.

First evidence of lithium toxicity in the cryptic species complex of the estuarine copepod Eurytemora affinis.

The development of renewable and low-carbon energy sources means that strategic elements such as lithium (Li) are increasingly being used. The data available on the effects of Li on aquatic organisms are relatively scarce. The copepod Eurytemora affinis, widely distributed in the brackish estuarine waters of the northern hemisphere, is a species of choice in ecotoxicology but in fact constitutes a cryptic species complex, composed of at least six cryptic species. Cryptic diversity can lead to misinterpretation and alter the reproducibility of routine ecotoxicological tests. In the present study, two cryptic species of the E. affinis complex from the Seine (European clade) and the St. Lawrence (North-Atlantic clade) estuaries were used to assess Li toxicity and to compare their differential sensitivity. Larvae were exposed to different concentrations of Li (0.4, 4.39, 35.36 and 80.83 mg L-1) under semi-static conditions for 96 h. Larval development stages were determined and log-logistic functions were fitted to evaluate mortality (LC50) and growth (EC50) parameters. After 96 h of exposure, the results showed that the European and North-Atlantic clades had LC50 values of 55.33 and 67.81 mg L-1 and EC50 values of 28.94 and 41.45 mg L-1, respectively. A moderate difference in sensitivity to Li between the European and North-Atlantic clades of the E. affinis complex was observed. Thus, the cryptic species diversity should be considered using E. affinis to avoid bias in the interpretation of the data. Despite environmental concentrations of Li are expected to increase over the next years, EC50 and LC50 found for E. affinis cryptic species are largely higher than Li environmental concentrations to provoke extreme effects.

Revisiting sustainable resources in combustion products of alumina-rich coal: Critical metal (Li, Ga, Nb, and REY) potential of ash from the Togtoh Power Plant, Inner Mongolia.

Coal fly ash has gained much attention as a potential alternative source for extracting critical metals such as Li, Ga, Nb, and lanthanides and yttrium (REY). This study investigates their distribution characteristics and modes of occurrence in alumina-rich fly ashes from the Togtoh Power Plant in Inner Mongolia, using various analytical methods. The objective was to provide a reference for the pre-enrichment of critical metals in fly ash. Lithium is primarily present in the glass phase, and its concentration is extremely low in the crystalline phases. Lithium is mainly concentrated in "pure" aluminosilicate glass, and is present but at a low level in Ca-rich aluminosilicate glass. Gallium is primarily present in the glass phase and in corundum, while Nb mainly exists in submicron zircon particles surrounded by Si-Al-Ca glass. Lanthanides and yttrium primarily occur in the glass phase and in crystalline phases, including an intermediate phase composed of the three end-member minerals of the gorceixite-crandallite-florencite series, as well as in monazite, crystalline forms of iron oxides and REY oxides. The Li concentrations in the Al-rich fly ashes range from 562 to 894 µg/g for Li2O, from 43.9 to 81.9 µg/g for Ga, from 58.7 to 70.6 µg/g for Nb2O5, and from 258 to 450 µg/g for REY oxides, respectively, indicating their substantial potential for resource recovery. Especially, the 2nd row fly ash has the highest contents of these metals, allowing for direct extraction without the necessity for complex pre-processing. Physical separation can further enrich Li, Ga, Nb, and REY in the fly ash. In particular, particle size separation enriches these elements in the <20 µm size range and magnetic separation enriches Li, Ga, Nb, and REY (except Ce) in the non-magnetic fraction. However, Ce was significantly enriched in the magnetic fraction compared to the original fly ash.

Immobilization and Catalytic Conversion of Polysulfide by In-Situ Generated Nickel in Hollow Carbon Fibers for High-Rate Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are considered promising energy-storage systems because of their high theoretical energy density, low cost, and eco-friendliness. However, problems such as the shuttle effect can result in the loss of active materials, poor cyclability, and rapid capacity degradation. The utilization of a structural configuration that enhances electrochemical performance via dual adsorption-catalysis strategies can overcome the limitations of Li-S batteries. In this study, an integrated interlayer structure, in which hollow carbon fibers (HCFs) were modified with in-situ-generated Ni nanoparticles, was prepared by scalable one-step carbonization. Highly hierarchically porous HCFs act as the carbon skeleton and provide a continuous three-dimensional conductive network that enhances ion/electron diffusion. Ni nanoparticles with superior anchoring and catalytic abilities can prevent the shuttle effect and increase the conversion rate, thereby promoting the electrochemical performance. This synergistic effect resulted in a high capacity retention of 582 mAh g-1 at 1 C after 100 cycles, providing an excellent rate capability of up to 3 C. The novel structure, wherein Ni nanoparticles are embedded in cotton-tissue-derived HCFs, provides a new avenue for enhancing electrochemical performance at high C rates. This results in a low-cost, sustainable, and high-performance hybrid material for the development of practical Li-S batteries.

Retrospective Review of Postpartum Lithium Use Including During Lactation.

Introduction: Lithium remains a gold standard treatment for bipolar disorder including during peripartum. Historically, guidelines advised against breastfeeding while taking lithium though recent data suggest it is acceptable for a healthy infant. Lack of awareness of acceptability contributes to decreased patient and clinician comfort and low breastfeeding rates. We report current breastfeeding rates, monitoring practices, and infant outcomes with lithium exposure in breastmilk at our institution. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted at a single academic medical center using records from 2013 to 2023. Electronic medical records were queried to identify patients prescribed lithium postpartum. Data were collected on timing of lithium initiation, lithium dose and concentration, breastfeeding status, and infant outcomes. Results: A total of 18 cases of lithium use in the postpartum period were identified. A total of 39% (n = 7) of patients taking lithium postpartum breastfed. Most patients, 61% (n = 11), initiated lithium prior to pregnancy, 11% (n = 2) initiated during pregnancy and 27% (n = 5) started postpartum. Four infant charts were reviewed with no reports of adverse events. Of these infants,;average maternal lithium dose was 750 mg daily, with an average maternal serum lithium concentration of 0.62 mmol/L and average infant serum lithium concentration of 0.16 mmol/L. Conclusion: Our data demonstrate most patients using lithium postpartum have been taking lithium long-term and are not breastfeeding. Lithium exposure in breastmilk appears to be tolerated by healthy infants. There is a need for ongoing research and education on acceptability and infant monitoring recommendations to support patients who would like to breastfeed while on lithium.

Intercepting Dendrite Growth With a Heterogeneous Solid Electrolyte for Long-Life All-Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries.

The application of lithium metal anode in all-solid-state batteries has the potential to achieve both high energy density and safety performance. However, the presence of serious dendrite issues hinders this potential. Here, the ion transport pathways and orientation of dendrite growth are regulated by utilizing the differences of ionic conductivity in heterogeneous electrolytes. The in situ formed Li-Ge alloy phases from the spontaneous reaction between Li10GeP2S12 and the attracted dendrites greatly enhance the ability to resist dendrite growth. As an outcome, the heterogeneous electrolyte achieves a high critical current density of 2.1 mA cm-2 and long-term stable symmetrical battery operation (0.3 mA cm-2 for 17 000 h and 1.0 mA cm-2 for 2000 h). Besides, due to the superior interfacial stability and low interface impedance between the heterogeneous electrolyte and lithium anode, the Li||LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 full battery exhibits great cycling stability (80.5% after 500 cycles at 1.0 mA cm-2) and rate performance (125.4 mAh g at 2.0 mA cm-2). This work provides a unique strategy of interface regulation via heterogeneous electrolytes design, offering insights into the development of state-of the-art all-solid-state batteries.

Colloid Electrolyte Containing Li3P Nanoparticles for Highly Stable 4.7 V Lithium Metal Batteries.

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) with LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) cathodes have garnered significant interest as next-generation energy storage devices due to their high energy density. However, the instability of their electrode/electrolyte interfaces in regular carbonate electrolytes (RCEs) results in a rapid capacity decay. To address this, a colloid electrolyte consisting of Li3P nanoparticles uniformly dispersed in the RCE is developed by a one-step synthesis. This design concurrently creates stable cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) and solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on both electrode surfaces. The cathode interface derived from this colloid electrolyte significantly facilitates the decomposition of Li salts (LiPF6 and LiDFOB) on the cathode surface by weakening the P-F and B-F bonds. This in situ formed P/LiF-rich CEI effectively protects the NCM811 cathode from side reactions. Furthermore, the Li3P embedded in the SEI optimizes and homogenizes the Li-ion transport, enabling dendrite-free Li deposition. Compared to the RCE, the designed colloid electrolyte enables robust cathode and anode interfaces in NCM811||Li full cells, minimizing gas and dendrite formation, and delivering a superior capacity retention of 82% over 120 cycles at a 4.7 V cutoff voltage. This approach offers different insights into electrolyte regulation and explores alternative electrolyte shapes and formulations.

Solid-State Electrolytes: Probing Interface Regulation from Multiple Perspectives.

Solid-state electrolytes (SSEs), as the heart of all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs), are recognized as the next-generation energy storage solution, offering high safety, extended cycle life, and superior energy density. SSEs play a pivotal role in ion transport and electron separation. Nonetheless, interface compatibility and stability issues pose significant obstacles to further enhancing ASSB performance. Extensive research has demonstrated that interface control methods can effectively elevate ASSB performance. This review delves into the advancements and recent progress of SSEs in interfacial engineering over the past years. We discuss the detailed effects of various regulation strategies and directions on performance, encompassing enhancing Li+ mobility, reducing energy barriers, immobilizing anions, introducing interlayers, and constructing unique structures. This review offers fresh perspectives on the development of high-performance lithium-metal ASSBs.

Electrochemical Atomic Force Microscopy of Black Phosphorus Composite Anodes: Electrode Destabilization and Degradation Mechanisms in Alkali-Ion Batteries.

Despite their higher capacity compared to common intercalation- and conversion-type anodes, black phosphorus (BP) based anodes suffer from significant capacity fading attributed to the large volume expansion (∼300%) during lithiation. Downsizing BP into nanosheets has been proposed to mitigate this issue, and various methods, particularly mechanical mixing with graphitic materials (BP-C), have been explored to enhance electrochemical performance. However, the understanding of BP-C hybridization is hindered by the lack of studies focusing on fundamental degradation mechanisms within operational battery environments. Here we address this challenge by employing electrochemical atomic force microscopy (EC-AFM) to study the morphological and mechanical evolution of BP-C composite anodes during lithiation. The results reveal that BP-C binding interactions alone are insufficient to withstand the structural reorganization of BP during its alloying reaction with lithium. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the critical role of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and BP-C interface evolution in determining the long-term performance of these composites, shedding light on the disparity in final electrode morphologies between binder-inclusive and binder-free BP-C composites. These findings provide crucial insights into the challenges associated with BP-based anodes and underscore the need for a deeper understanding of the dynamic behavior within operating cells for the development of stable and high-performance battery materials.

Does the internal surface treatment technique for enhanced bonding affect the color, transparency, and surface roughness of ultra-transparent zirconia?

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of different surface treatments and thicknesses on the color, transparency, and surface roughness of ultra-transparent zirconia. METHODS: A total of 120 Katana ultra-translucent multi-layered zirconia specimens were divided into 12 groups according to the thickness (0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 mm) and surface treatment (control, airborne particle abrasion [APA], lithium disilicate coating, and glaze on). Color difference (ΔE00) and relative translucency parameter (RTP00) were calculated using a digital spectrophotometer. The surface roughness (Ra, Rq, Sa, and Sq) was measured using a non-contact profile scanner. The surface morphologies and microstructures of the samples were observed using a tungsten filament scanning electron microscope. Statistical analyses were performed by one-way and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post hoc multiple comparisons and Pearson's correlation (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The results showed that the surface treatment, ceramic thickness, and their interactions had significant effects on ΔE00 and RTP00 (p < 0.001). The surface treatment significantly altered the micromorphology and increased the surface roughness of the ceramic samples. APA exhibited the lowest transparency, largest color difference, and highest surface roughness. Zirconia with 0.3 mm and 0.7 mm thicknesses showed strong negative correlations between Sa and RTP00. CONCLUSIONS: The three internal surface treatments significantly altered the surface roughness, color difference, and transparency of ultra-transparent zirconia. As the thickness increased, the influence of the inner surface treatment on the color difference and transparency of zirconia decreased. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: For new zirconia internal surface treatment technologies, in addition to considering the enhancement effect on the bonding properties, the potential effects on the color and translucency of high-transparency zirconia should also be considered. Appropriately increasing the thickness of zirconia restorations helps minimize the effect of surface treatment on the optical properties.

Fabrication of A Multi-functional Separator Incorporating Crown ether- Polyoxometalate Supramolecular Compound for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Recently, research on polyoxometalates (POMs) has gained significant momentum. Owing to their properties as electronic sponges, POMs catalyst harbor substantial potential in lithium-sulfur battery research. However, POMs undergo a transformation into reduced heteropoly blue (HPB) during electrochemical reactions, which then dissolve into the electrolyte, resulting in catalyst loss. In this research, we amalgamated 18-crown-6 (CR6) with K3PW12O40, (KPW), synthesized a novel POM-based supramolecular compound, and integrated it with graphene oxide (GO) to fabricate a multi-functional composite polypropylene (PP) separator KPW-CR6/GO/PP. The crown ether array was employed to immobilize POM and construct ion transport channels, thereby enhancing the Li+ migration rate and capturing polysulfides. Subsequently, leveraging the stable structure and redox properties of POM, the polysulfide is catalyzed to transform and inhibit the shuttle effect, thereby protecting the Li anode. The lithium-sulfur batteries with the Crown ether-POM supramolecular compound separators, exhibit enhanced capacity and stability (1073.3 mAh g-1 at 1.0 C, and 81.5% retention rate after 250 cycles). The battery (S loading: 3.2 mg cm-2) presents an initial specific discharge capacity of 543.4 mAh g-1 at 0.5 C, with 89.8% of the capacity retained after 160 cycles. This underlines the practical application potential of Crown ether-POM supramolecular materials in Li-S batteries.