Tracking cell-type-specific temporal dynamics in human and mouse brains.

Progenitor cells are critical in preserving organismal homeostasis, yet their diversity and dynamics in the aged brain remain underexplored. We introduced TrackerSci, a single-cell genomic method that combines newborn cell labeling and combinatorial indexing to characterize the transcriptome and chromatin landscape of proliferating progenitor cells in vivo. Using TrackerSci, we investigated the dynamics of newborn cells in mouse brains across various ages and in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Our dataset revealed diverse progenitor cell types in the brain and their epigenetic signatures. We further quantified aging-associated shifts in cell-type-specific proliferation and differentiation and deciphered the associated molecular programs. Extending our study to the progenitor cells in the aged human brain, we identified conserved genetic signatures across species and pinpointed region-specific cellular dynamics, such as the reduced oligodendrogenesis in the cerebellum. We anticipate that TrackerSci will be broadly applicable to unveil cell-type-specific temporal dynamics in diverse systems.

EndoQuad: a comprehensive genome-wide experimentally validated endogenous G-quadruplex database.

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are non-canonical four-stranded structures and are emerging as novel genetic regulatory elements. However, a comprehensive genomic annotation of endogenous G4s (eG4s) and systematic characterization of their regulatory network are still lacking, posing major challenges for eG4 research. Here, we present EndoQuad (https://EndoQuad.chenzxlab.cn/) to address these pressing issues by integrating high-throughput experimental data. First, based on high-quality genome-wide eG4s mapping datasets (human: 1181; mouse: 24; chicken: 2) generated by G4 ChIP-seq/CUT&Tag, we generate a reference set of genome-wide eG4s. Our multi-omics analyses show that most eG4s are identified in one or a few cell types. The eG4s with higher occurrences across samples are more structurally stable, evolutionarily conserved, enriched in promoter regions, mark highly expressed genes and associate with complex regulatory programs, demonstrating higher confidence level for further experiments. Finally, we integrate millions of functional genomic variants and prioritize eG4s with regulatory functions in disease and cancer contexts. These efforts have culminated in the comprehensive and interactive database of experimentally validated DNA eG4s. As such, EndoQuad enables users to easily access, download and repurpose these data for their own research. EndoQuad will become a one-stop resource for eG4 research and lay the foundation for future functional studies.

Nanofiber-Reinforced Composite Gel Enabling High Ionic Conductivity and Ultralong Cycle Life for Zn Ion Batteries.

Despite the impressive merits of gel electrolytes for aqueous Zn-ion batteries, it remains a significant challenge to design and develop the gel electrolyte with high ionic conductivity, excellent dimensional stability, and long cycle life. Herein, a composite electrolyte (PTP) with thermolastic polyurethane -poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide)  nanofiber-reinforced polyvinyl alcohol gel strategy is proposed for highly reversible Zn plating/stripping. Mechanically robust and ultrathin PTP contains functional groups for building ion migration channels and immobilizing water molecules, which accelerates Zn2+ migration and mitigates water-related side reactions. Thus, the Zn anodes exhibit excellent electrochemical performance involving high cycling stability (6500 h at 5 mA cm-2 , 5 mA h cm-2 ) and achieving an exceptional cumulative capacity of more than 16 000 mA h cm-2 . This enhancement is well maintained when combined with MnO2 cathode. This work provides a reasonable solution for stabilizing Zn anodes and also provides new ideas for the modification of nanofiber-reinforced gel electrolytes.

Tunable and Non-Invasive Printing of Transmissive Interference Colors with 2D Material Inks.

Interference colors hold significant importance in optics and arts. Current methods for printing interference colors entail complex procedures and large-scale printing systems for the scarcity of inks that exhibit both sensitivity and tunability to external fields. The production of highly transparent inks capable of rendering transmissive colors has presented ongoing challenges. Here, a type of paramagnetic ink based on 2D materials that exhibit polychrome in one magnetic field is invented. By precisely manipulating the doping ratio of magnetic elements within titanate nanosheets, the magneto-optical sensitivity named Cotton-Mouton coefficient is engineerable from 728 to a record high value of 3272 m-1 T-2, with negligible influence on its intrinsic wide optical bandgap. Combined with the sensitive and controllable magneto-responsiveness of the ink, modulate and non-invasively print transmissive interference colors using small permanent magnets are precised. This work paves the way for preparing transmissive interference colors in an energy-saving and damage-free manner, which can expand its use in widespread areas.

Up-to-date quality survey and evaluation of neonatal screening programs in China.

AIMS: To thoroughly evaluate the quality of the entire process of neonatal screening (NBS) in China. METHODS: We collected survey questionnaires from 54.4% (135/248) of NBS institutions in China and conducted on-site visits to 20 of these facilities to validate the data. The quality performance of the institutions was evaluated, and differences across various factors were analysed. RESULTS: Merely 62.5% of the provinces had acceptable performance in neonatal screening. Institutions with limited staff were more prone to organizational management shortcomings. Institutions in provinces with a per capita GDP below 10,000 USD exhibited lower quality control levels than those with a per capita GDP between 10,000 and 15,000 USD. Obstetrics departments have a lower awareness of quality control compared to other blood collection facilities. CONCLUSIONS: A nationwide, comprehensive quality control system for continuous enhancements in quality management, screening, diagnosis, and treatment is imperative to ensure prompt diagnosis and intervention.

Combined effects of toxic Microcystis aeruginosa and high pH on antioxidant responses, immune responses, and apoptosis of the edible freshwater bivalve Corbicula fluminea.

Due to increasing anthropogenic perturbation and water eutrophication, cyanobacterial blooms (CYBs) have become a global ecological and environmental problem. Toxic CYBs and elevated pH are considered to be the two key stressors associated with eutrophication in natural waters, particularly in the event of CO2 depletion induced by dense blooms. However, previous research has been focused on investigating the impacts of toxic CYBs or pH changes in isolation, whereas the interactive effects of such stressors on edible bivalves that inhabit CYB waters still lack information. In this study, the combined effects of toxic Microcystis aeruginosa and pH shifts on the antioxidant responses, immune responses, and apoptosis of the edible freshwater bivalve Corbicula fluminea were explored. The results showed that the activity of antioxidant enzymes was significantly impacted by the interactive effects between toxic M. aeruginosa exposure and time course, yet pH shifts showed no significant effects on the activities of these antioxidant enzymes, implying that the antioxidant response in C. fluminea was mainly triggered by toxic M. aeruginosa exposure. Toxic M. aeruginosa also induced an increased production of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde in treated clams, particularly under high pH settings. The elevated lysosomal enzyme activity helped C. fluminea defend against toxic M. aeruginosa exposure under high pH conditions. The principal component analysis (PCA) and the integrated biomarker response (IBR) results suggested that the treated clams were subjected to the elevated toxicity of toxic M. aeruginosa in conditions of high pH. The heat shock proteins-related genes might be triggered to resist the oxidative damage in treated clams. Moreover, the upregulation of TNF and casp8 genes indicated the potential activation of the caspase8-mediated apoptotic pathway through TNF receptor interaction, potentially resulting in apoptosis. The TUNEL assay results further confirmed that apoptosis appeared in treated clams. These findings improve our understanding of the combined toxicological effects of harmful algae and pH shifts on bivalves, which will provide insights into a comprehensive ecological risk assessment of toxic CYBs to edible bivalve species.

Stable and Active Au Catalyst Supported on CeMnO3 Perovskite for Selective Oxidation of Glycerol.

The selective oxidation of glycerol holds promise to transform glycerol into value-added chemicals. However, it remains a big challenge to achieve satisfactory selectivity toward the specific product at high conversion due to the multiple reaction pathways. Here, we prepare a hybrid catalyst via supporting Au nanoparticles on CeMnO3 perovskite with a modest surface area, achieving promoted conversion of glycerol (90.1%) and selectivity of glyceric acid (78.5%), which are much higher than those of CeMnOx solid-solution-supported Au catalysts with larger surface area and other Ce-based or Mn-based Au catalysts. The strong interaction between Au and CeMnO3 perovskite facilitates the electron transfer from the B-site metal (Mn) in the CeMnO3 perovskite to Au and stabilizes Au nanoparticles, which results in the enhanced catalytic activity and stability for glycerol oxidation. Valence band photoemission spectral analysis reveals that the uplifted d-band center of Au/CeMnO3 promotes the adsorption of the glyceraldehyde intermediate on the catalyst surface, which benefits further oxidation of glyceraldehyde into glyceric acid. The flexibility of the perovskite support provides a promising strategy for the rational design of high-performance glycerol oxidation catalysts.

Enhancement of the therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA), a common joint disorder with articular cartilage degradation as the main pathological change, is the major source of pain and disability worldwide. Despite current treatments, the overall treatment outcome is unsatisfactory. Thus, patients with severe OA often require joint replacement surgery. In recent years, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic option for preclinical and clinical palliation of OA. MSC-derived exosomes (MSC-Exos) carrying bioactive molecules of the parental cells, including non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and proteins, have demonstrated a significant impact on the modulation of various physiological behaviors of cells in the joint cavity, making them promising candidates for cell-free therapy for OA. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the biosynthesis and composition of MSC-Exos and their mechanisms of action in OA. We also discussed the potential of MSC-Exos as a therapeutic tool for modulating intercellular communication in OA. Additionally, we explored bioengineering approaches to enhance MSC-Exos' therapeutic potential, which may help to overcome challenges and achieve clinically meaningful OA therapies.

Integrating regular and transcriptomic analyses reveal resistance mechanisms in Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774) in response to toxic Microcystis aeruginosa exposure.

The frequent occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms (CYBs) caused by toxic Microcystis aeruginosa poses a great threat to aquatic organisms. Although freshwater benthic bivalves have proven to be capable of uptake high levels of microcystins (MCs) due to their filter-feeding habits, there is a paucity of information concerning their systemic resistance mechanisms to MCs. In this study, the resistance mechanisms in Corbicula fluminea (O. F. Müller, 1774) in response to the exposure of toxic M. aeruginosa were explored through transcriptional analysis combined with histopathological and biochemical phenotypic analysis. Toxic M. aeruginosa exposure caused dose-dependent histological damage in the hepatopancreas. The conjugation reaction catalyzed by glutathione S-transferases was vulnerable to being activated by high concentrations of M. aeruginosa (10 ×105 cells mL-1). Additionally, reactive oxygen species scavenging processes mediated by superoxide dismutase and catalase were active in the initial stage of toxic M. aeruginosa exposure. The results of the integrated biomarker response index suggested that the biotransformation and antioxidant defense system in C. fluminea could be continuously activated after acute exposure to the high concentration of toxic M. aeruginosa. The eggNOG and GO analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) indicated that DEGs were significantly enriched in transporter activity, oxidant detoxification and response to oxidative stress categories, which were consistent with the alterations of biochemical indices. Besides, DEGs were significantly annotated in a few KEGG pathways involved in biotransformation (oxidation, cooxidation and conjugation) and immunoreaction (lysosome and phagosome responses), which could be responsible for the tolerance of C. fluminea to toxic M. aeruginosa. These findings improve our understanding of potential resistance mechanisms of freshwater bivalves to MCs.

[Risk Factors of Rapidly Progressive Interstitial Lung Disease in Patients With Anti-Melanoma Differentiation-Associated Gene 5 Antibody-Positive Dermatomyositis].

Objective: To investigate the conditions of patients with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibody-positive dermatomyositis combined with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RPILD), and to analyze the risk factors. Methods: A total of 145 patients diagnosed with anti-MDA5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis at West China Hospital, Sichuan University between January 2018 and September 2021 were selected, and their general and clinical data were collected. The patients were divided into two groups, a RPILD group of patients with comorbid RPILD and a non-RPILD group of those who did not have comorbid RPILD. Factors that might affect whether patients with anti-MDA5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis also had comorbid RPILD were screened out and binary logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: Among the 145 patients with anti-MDA5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis, 32 (22.07%) patients had comorbid RPILD, while the remaining 113 (77.93%) did not have comorbid RPILD. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that lactate dehydrogenase≥370 IU/L (compared with <370 IU/L, OR=4.066, 95% CI: 1.616-10.230) and carcinoembryo antigen≥5 ng/mL (compared with <5 ng/mL, OR=6.070, 95% CI: 2.013-18.303) were risk factors for comorbid RPILD in patients with anti-MDA5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis ( ß>0, OR>1, P<0.05). Conclusion: It is recommended that close attention be given to changes in high-resolution chest CT and pulmonary functions in patients with lactate dehydrogenase≥370 IU/L and carcinoembryo antigen≥5 ng/mL. If rapid progression of lung disease is detected, it is necessary to strengthen the treatment of the lung disease, thereby improving the prognosis of patients.

Spontaneous Formation of Lead-Free Cs3 Cu2 I5 Quantum Dots in Metal-Organic-Frameworks with Deep-Blue Emission.

All-inorganic lead-free Cs3 Cu2 I5  perovskite-derivant quantum dots (QDs) have attracted tremendous attention due to their nontoxicity and unique optoelectronic properties. However, the traditional hot-injection method requires high temperatures and multiple ligands to confine the growth of QDs. Herein, a strategy is reported to spontaneously synthesize ultrasmall Cs3 Cu2 I5  QDs within metal-organic-frameworks (MOFs) MOF-74 at room temperature (RT) with an average diameter of 4.33 nm. The obtained Cs3 Cu2 I5  QDs exhibit an evident deep-blue emission with Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage coordinates of (0.17, 0.07), owing to the strong quantum confinement effect. Due to the protection of MOF-74, the Cs3 Cu2 I5  QDs demonstrate superior stability, and the photoluminescence quantum yield retains 89% of the initial value after the storage of 1440 h under the environment with relative humidity exceeding 70%. Besides, triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion emission is observed within the composite of Cs3 Cu2 I5 @MOF-74, which brings out apparent temperature-dependent photoluminescence. This study reveals a facile method for fabricating ultrasmall lead-free perovskite-derivant QDs at RT without multiple ligands. Besides, the temperature-dependent photoluminescence of Cs3 Cu2 I5 @MOF-74 may open up a new way to develop the applications of temperature sensors or other related optoelectronic devices.

Self-Limiting Synthesis of Ultrathin Ge(110) Single Crystal via Liquid Metal.

Germanium, the prime applied semiconductor, is widely used in solid-state electronics and photoelectronics. Unfortunately, since the 3D diamond-like structure with strong covalent bonds impedes the 2D anisotropic growth, only the examples of ultrathin Ge along the (111) plane have been investigated, much less to the controllable synthesis along another crystal surface. Meanwhile, Ge(111) flakes are limited in semiconductor applications because of their gapless property. Here, ultrathin Ge(110) single crystal is synthesized with semiconductive property via gallium-associated self-limiting growth. The obtained ultrathin Ge(110) single crystal exhibits anisotropic honeycomb structure, uniformly incremental lattice, wide tunable direct-bandgap, blue-shifted photoluminescence emission, and unique phonon modes, which are consistent with the previous theoretical predictions. It also confirms excellent second harmonic generation and high hole mobility of 724 cm2 V-1 s-1 . The realization of ultrathin Ge(110) single crystal will provide an excellent candidate for application in electronics and optoelectronics.

Porous engineering of CoS2/N-doped carbon polyhedra anode for durable lithium-ion battery.

In this work, the porous CoS2/N-doped carbon polyhedra (P-CoS2/CP) has been developed by employing ZIF-67 as the template for durable lithium-ion battery anode. The as-prepared P-CoS2/CP exhibits the novel dodecahedron structure filling with nanopores and CoS2nanoparticles. As compared to CoS2/CP (122 m2g-1), the P-CoS2/CP possesses the higher specific surface area of 367 m2g-1, which benefits to enlarge the electrode-electrolyte contact area and promote the Li+diffusion dynamics at high current density. On the other hand, the CoS2nanoparticles are firmly wrapped by the carbon skeleton which can effectively suppresses the volume expansion of CoS2during the charging/discharging process. Besides, the N-doping enable to improve the conductivity of CP. As a result, the initial discharge capacity of P-CoS2/CP at 0.1 A g-1is 1484.7 mAh g-1with the coulombic efficiency of 48.9%. After 100 cycles, the reversible capacity stabilized at 726.2 mAh g-1. Even the current density increases to 2.0 A g-1, a high reversible capacity of 353.7 mAh g-1can still be achieved, realizing the good rate capability. The superior Li+performance of P-CoS2/CP is attributed to the synergistic effect of the unique multi-space structure and the high chemical activity of CoS2. Moreover, the Li+diffusion coefficient of P-CoS2/CP is 4.52 × 10-6 to 1.98 × 10-11cm2s-1, which is higher than that of CoS2/CP (1.45 × 10-9 to 5.23 × 10-11cm2s-1), highlighting the significance of porous engineering.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is a predictive marker for anti-MDA5 positive dermatomyositis.

BACKGROUND: NLR is a systemic inflammatory marker that have been associated with overall survival in patients with some rapidly progressive disease. There are few data about the diagnostic and predictive value of NLR in autoimmune diseases, and it has not been described in anti-MDA5 positive DM. We try to correlate neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with fatality from dermatomyositis in anti-MDA5 positive patients. METHOD: A retrospective study in which 195 patients were enrolled was conducted. Clinical and laboratory information was collated and ratios of neutrophil to lymphocyte counts (NLR) calculated. The primary end point was all-cause death. RESULT: Of the 195 patients studied, all had interstitial lung disease, including 140 survivors and 55 non-survivors. An optimal NLR cut-off value of 4.86 for mortality prediction was identified. The NLR of non-survivors was significantly higher than that of survivors (p < 0.001). Plasma levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and C-reactive protein were significantly increased when NLR was greater than 4.86. Results of multivariate analysis established that NLR > 4.86 was an independent predictor of mortality (HR: 2.52; 95%CI: 1.33-4.78; p = 0.005). Abstinence from smoking (HR: 2.66; 95%CI: 1.33-4.78; p = 0.003), emergence of rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RPILD; HR: 4.38; 95%CI: 2.37-8.08; p < 0.001), low plasma LDH (HR: 3.82; 95%CI: 2.06-7.11; p < 0.001) and presentation with dyspnea (HR: 2.17; 95%CI: 1.22-3.86; p = 0.009) were all protective factors predictive of survival. CONCLUSION: NLR is a cost-effective and widely accessible biomarker with utility for risk stratification in patients with anti-MDA5 + dermatomyositis.

Relationships between Dark Triad and negative emotions during COVID-19 lockdown: The chain mediating roles of negative coping and state boredom.

Personality is distal vulnerability of negative emotions and vital to mental health. Dark Triad was significantly correlated with negative emotions, whereas the mechanisms beneath the relationships were less clear. Based on life history strategy theory (LHS) and cognitive vulnerability-transactional stress model, the study explored the relationships between Dark Triad and negative emotions and investigated the roles of negative coping style and state boredom in the relationships aforementioned during the strict period of COVID-19 lockdown in China. 464 participants (M age = 36.78 years; SD = 10.53) finished a package of measurements online including Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Short Dark Triad (SD3), Multidimensional State Boredom Scale (MSBS), and Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ). The results showed there were positive relationships between Dark Triad and depression, anxiety and stress. Moreover, the relationships between Dark Triad and negative emotions were sequentially mediated by negative coping style and state boredom. The present study offered fascinating perspectives in the relationships between Dark Triad and negative emotions, and revealed how Dark Triad affected depression, anxiety and stress during the initial phase of COVID-19 pandemic and strict lockdown among Chinese population. The present results may provide important implications for the prevention and intervention of depression, anxiety and stress during COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. Specifically, the intervention strategies that focus on reducing Dark Triad, negative coping and boredom may help offset occurrence of negative emotional states.

Engineering of a bowl-like Si@rGO architecture for an improved lithium ion battery via a synergistic effect.

In this work we propose a facile template-sacrificing method to prepare bowl-like silicon@reduced graphene oxide (Si@rGO) hybrids as a high-performance anode for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Uniform SiO2 spheres were initially synthesized and wrapped by GO, forming a three-dimensional (3D) skeleton. After reduction and etching, Si nanoparticles were obtained and evenly distributed on the flexible rGO layer, resulting in a bowl-like nanoarchitecture. A benefit of this novel structure is that the volume change of Si can be confined during the charge-discharge process. As a result, the Si@rGO anode exhibited a high first discharge capacity of ∼1890 mAh  g-1 with a Coulombic efficiency of 90.79% at a current density of 0.1 A  g-1. After 100 cycles, a stable specific capacity of 450 mAh  g-1 was achieved, which is twice that of pure Si nanospheres (208 mAh  g-1) and rGO (260 mAh  g-1). Moreover, when the current density increased to 1 A g-1, the specific capacity of Si@rGO was 100 mAh  g-1, whereas it was 34 mAh  g-1 for Si nanospheres, demonstrating the advantage of Si@rGO. By analyzing the electrochemical behavior, it is found that the outstanding LIB performance of Si@rGO can be ascribed to the involvement of rGO which constructs the 3D nanoarchitecture that acts as a buffer layer to stabilize the Si and promotes Li+ diffusion as well as the conductivity of the electrodes. This work highlights the significance of the microstructure for lithium ion storage performance of Si-based nanocomposites.

2D-DOD and 2D-DOA Estimation for a Mixture of Circular and Strictly Noncircular Sources Based on L-Shaped MIMO Radar.

In this paper, a joint diagonalization based two dimensional (2D) direction of departure (DOD) and 2D direction of arrival (DOA) estimation method for a mixture of circular and strictly noncircular (NC) sources is proposed based on an L-shaped bistatic multiple input multiple output (MIMO) radar. By making full use of the L-shaped MIMO array structure to obtain an extended virtual array at the receive array, we first combine the received data vector and its conjugated counterpart to construct a new data vector, and then an estimating signal parameter via rotational invariance techniques (ESPRIT)-like method is adopted to estimate the DODs and DOAs by joint diagonalization of the NC-based direction matrices, which can automatically pair the four dimensional (4D) angle parameters and solve the angle ambiguity problem with common one-dimensional (1D) DODs and DOAs. In addition, the asymptotic performance of the proposed algorithm is analyzed and the closed-form stochastic Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) expression is derived. As demonstrated by simulation results, the proposed algorithm has outperformed the existing one, with a result close to the theoretical benchmark.

Supramolecular Amphiphilic Assembly Formed by the Complexation of Calixpyridinium with Alimta.

In this work, the host-guest interaction between calixpyridinium and anionic anticancer drug Alimta was studied in aqueous media. Spherical supramolecular amphiphilic assembly rather than simple complex was accidentally fabricated by the complexation of calixpyridinium with Alimta. It is the third kind of anionic guest to be discovered to form the higher-order assembly by the complexation of calixpyridinium besides polyanionic guest and anionic gemini surfactant guest. The finding of this assembly approach supplies a new idea to construct various self-assembly architectures in water via the complexation of calixpyridinium with anionic drugs. The resulting calixpyridinium-drug assemblies may also have the potential to adjust the effects of drugs.

A facile strategy to prepare (N, Ni, P) tri-doped echinus-like porous carbon spheres as advanced anode for lithium ion batteries.

Heteroatom doped carbon nanomaterials are often employed as advanced anodes for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) because of their stable structure, high capacity and low cost. In this work, we proposed a novel strategy to synthesize high density (N, Ni, P) tri-doped echinus-like porous carbon spheres (PCS) by carbonizing a metal-organophosphine framework (MOPF) directly. The MOPF employs riboflavin sodium phosphate (C17H20N4NaO9P) as an organic ligand as well as a nitrogen and phosphorus source to conjugate with Ni(NO3)2 · 6H2O. As an anode for LIBs, PCS was demonstrated with discharge capacities that were able to reach 386.5 mAh · g-1 after 100 cycles at a current density of 0.05 A · g-1. Besides, the stable reversible capacities were obtained from ∼459 mAh · g-1 to ∼91.8 mAh · g-1 when the current density was varied from 0.05 to 1 A · g-1. The good anode performance is attributed to the unique structure of PCS and (N, Ni, P) tri-doping which introduces the additional capacities due to the presence of the 'reservoir effect'. Moreover, the electrochemical analysis implied that the surface-limited capacitive behavior dominantly contributes to the lithium ion storage capacity of the PCS anode.

Two-dimensional LiTi2(PO4)3 flakes for enhanced lithium ions battery anode.

In this work, the LiTi2(PO4)3 (LTP) flakes have been prepared by employing a template method for lithium-ion batteries with high capacity. The 2D layered structure of LTP offers large aspect ratio and rich active sites, which not only create the large contact area between the electrolyte and electrode, but also promote the diffusion kinetics of Li+. As a result, the Li+ diffusion coefficient of lamellar LTP anode is 3.12 × 10-8 cm2 s-1, while it is only 5.01 × 10-10 cm2 s-1 for granular LTP anode. Further, the lamellar LTP anode delivers a high initial discharge capacity of 986.8 mAh·g-1 at 0.1 A g-1, and remains at 231.1 mAh·g-1 after 100 cycles, which is higher than that of the granular LTP anode (340.5 mAh·g-1 at 1st cycle, 169.3 mAh·g-1 at 100th cycles). Thus, the lamellar LTP should be recommended as a potential anode for high-performance LIBs due to the fast charge-discharge performance and superior cycling stability.