Synergistic barium titanate/MXene composite as a high-performance piezo-photocatalyst for efficient dye degradation.

Piezo-photocatalysis combines photocatalysis and piezoelectric effects to enhance catalytic efficiency by creating an internal electric field in the photocatalyst, improving carrier separation and overall performance. This study presents a high-performance piezo-photocatalyst for efficient dye degradation using a synergistic barium titanate (BTO)-MXene composite. The composite was synthesized via a facile method, combining the unique properties of BTO nanoparticles with the high conductivity of MXene. The structural and morphological analysis confirmed the successful formation of the composite, with well-dispersed BTO nanoparticles on the MXene surface. The piezo-photocatalytic activity of the composite was evaluated using a typical dye solution (Rhodamine B: RhB) under ultraviolet irradiation and mechanical agitation. The results revealed a remarkable enhancement in dye degradation (90 % in 15 min for piezo-photocatalysis) compared to individual stimuli (58.2 % for photocatalysis and 95.8 % in 90 min for piezocatalysis), highlighting the synergistic effects between BTO and MXene. The enhanced catalytic performance was attributed to the efficient charge separation and transfer facilitated by the composite's structure, leading to increased reactive species generation and dye molecule degradation. Furthermore, the composite exhibited excellent stability and reusability, showcasing its potential for practical applications in wastewater treatment. Overall, this work represents a promising strategy for designing high-performance synergistic catalysts, addressing the pressing need for sustainable solutions in environmental remediation.

Stabilizing High-Voltage Performance of Nickel-Rich Cathodes via Facile Solvothermally Synthesized Niobium-Doped Strontium Titanate.

Ni-rich layered ternary cathodes are promising candidates thanks to their low toxic Co-content and high energy density (∼800 Wh/kg). However, a critical challenge in developing Ni-rich cathodes is to improve cyclic stability, especially under high voltage (>4.3 V), which directly affects the performance and lifespan of the battery. In this study, niobium-doped strontium titanate (Nb-STO) is successfully synthesized via a facile solvothermal method and used as a surface modification layer onto the LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) cathode. The results exhibited that the Nb-STO modification significantly improved the cycling stability of the cathode material even under high-voltage (4.5 V) operational conditions. In particular, the best sample in our work could provide a high discharge capacity of ∼190 mAh/g after 100 cycles under 1 C with capacity retention over 84% in the voltage range of 3.0-4.5 V, superior to the pristine NCM811 (∼61%) and pure STO modified STO-811-600 (∼76%) samples under the same conditions. The improved electrochemical performance and stability of NCM811 under high voltage should be attributed to not only preventing the dissolution of the transition metals, further reducing the electrolyte's degradation by the end of charge, but also alleviating the internal resistance growth from uncontrollable cathode-electrolyte interface (CEI) evolution. These findings suggest that the as-synthesized STO with an optimized Nb-doping ratio could be a promising candidate for stabilizing Ni-rich cathode materials to facilitate the widespread commercialization of Ni-rich cathodes in modern LIBs.

Shared genetic architecture and causal relationship between liver and heart disease.

This study investigates the relationship and genetic mechanisms of liver and heart diseases, focusing on the liver-heart axis (LHA) as a fundamental biological basis. Through genome-wide association study analysis, we explore shared genes and pathways related to LHA. Shared genetic factors are found in 8 out of 20 pairs, indicating genetic correlations. The analysis reveals 53 loci with pleiotropic effects, including 8 loci exhibiting shared causality across multiple traits. Based on SNP-p level tissue-specific multi-marker analysis of genomic annotation (MAGMA) analysis demonstrates significant enrichment of pleiotropy in liver and heart diseases within different cardiovascular tissues and female reproductive appendages. Gene-specific MAGMA analysis identifies 343 pleiotropic genes associated with various traits; these genes show tissue-specific enrichment primarily in the liver, cardiovascular system, and other tissues. Shared risk loci between immune cells and both liver and cardiovascular diseases are also discovered. Mendelian randomization analyses provide support for causal relationships among the investigated trait pairs.