Binder-Free Anodes for Potassium-ion Batteries Comprising Antimony Nanoparticles on Carbon Nanotubes Obtained Using Electrophoretic Deposition.

Antimony has a high theoretical capacity and suitable alloying/dealloying potentials to make it a future anode for potassium-ion batteries (PIBs); however, substantial volumetric changes, severe pulverization, and active mass delamination from the Cu foil during potassiation/depotassiation need to be overcome. Herein, we present the use of electrophoretic deposition (EPD) to fabricate binder-free electrodes consisting of Sb nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in interconnected multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The anode architecture allows volume changes to be accommodated and prevents Sb delamination within the binder-free electrodes. The Sb mass ratio of the Sb/CNT nanocomposites was varied, with the optimized Sb/CNT nanocomposite delivering a high reversible capacity of 341.30 mA h g-1 (∼90% of the initial charge capacity) after 300 cycles at C/5 and 185.69 mA h g-1 after 300 cycles at 1C. Postcycling investigations reveal that the stable performance is due to the unique Sb/CNT nanocomposite structure, which can be retained over extended cycling, protecting Sb NPs from volume changes and retaining the integrity of the electrode. Our findings not only suggest a facile fabrication method for high-performance alloy-based anodes in PIBs but also encourage the development of alloying-based anodes for next-generation PIBs.

Marine waste derived carbon materials for use as sulfur hosts for Lithium-Sulfur batteries.

Lithium-sulfur batteries are a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries as they can potentially offer significantly increased capacities and energy densities. The ever-increasing global battery market demonstrates that there will be an ongoing demand for cost effective battery electrode materials. Materials derived from waste products can simultaneously address two of the greatest challenges of today, i.e., waste management and the requirement to develop sustainable materials. In this study, we detail the carbonisation of gelatin from blue shark and chitin from prawns, both of which are currently considered as waste biproducts of the seafood industry. The chemical and physical properties of the resulting carbons are compared through a correlation of results from structural characterisation techniques, including electron imaging, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and nitrogen gas adsorption. We investigated the application of the resulting carbons as sulfur-hosting electrode materials for use in lithium-sulfur batteries. Through comprehensive electrochemical characterisation, we demonstrate that value added porous carbons, derived from marine waste are promising electrode materials for lithium-sulfur batteries. Both samples demonstrated impressive capacity retention when galvanostatically cycled at a rate of C/5 for 500 cycles. This study highlights the importance of looking towards waste products as sustainable feeds for battery material production.

Structure-Property Correlations in CZTSe Domains within Semiconductor Nanocrystals as Photovoltaic Absorbers.

Semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) are promising materials for various applications. Two of four recently identified CuαZnßSnγSeδ (CZTSe) domains demonstrate metallic character, while the other two exhibit semiconductor character. The presence of both metallic and semiconductor domains in one NC can hugely benefit future applications. In contrast to traditional band gap studies in the NC community, this study emphasizes that NC domain interfaces also affect the electronic properties. Specifically, the measured band gap of a tetrapod-shaped CZTSe NC is demonstrated to originate from two specific domains (tetragonal I 4 ¯ $\bar 4$ and monoclinic P1c1 Cu2ZnSnSe4). The heterojunction between these two semiconductor domains exhibits a staggered type-II band alignment, facilitating the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Interestingly, tetrapod NCs have the potential to be efficient absorber materials with higher capacitance in photovoltaic applications due to the presence of both semiconductor/semiconductor interfaces and metal/semiconductor "Schottky"-junctions. For the two photo-absorbing domains, the calculated absorption spectra yield maximum photon-absorption coefficients of about 105 cm-1 in the visible and UV regions and a theoretical solar power conversion efficiency up to 20.8%. These insights into the structure-property relationships in CZTSe NCs will guide the design of more efficient advanced optical CZTSe materials for various applications.

Improved Compatibility of α-NaMnO2 Cathodes at the Interface with Ionic Liquid Electrolytes.

The behaviour and compatibility of monoclinic sodium manganite, α-NaMnO2, cathodes at the interface with electrolytes based on the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (EMIFSI) and N-trimethyl-N-butylammonium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (N1114FSI) ionic liquids is presented and discussed. The Na+ insertion process was analysed through cyclic voltammetry tests combined with impedance spectroscopy measurements and the cell performance was tested by charge-discharge cycles. XPS and FIB-SEM measurements allowed analysis of the surface composition and the morphology of post-mortem cathodes. Overall, the α-NaMnO2 cathode showed high reversibility in N1114FSI-based electrolyte, delivering 60 % of the initial capacity after 1200 cycles in conjunction with a Coulombic efficiency above 99 %. To our knowledge, these very promising results are the best result obtained till now for monolithic α-NaMnO2 cathodes, are ascribable to the formation of a stable passive layer onto the electrode surface, as confirmed by spectroscopic analysis.

Real-Time TEM Observation of the Role of Defects on Nickel Silicide Propagation in Silicon Nanowires.

Metal silicides have received significant attention due to their high process compatibility, low resistivity, and structural stability. In nanowire (NW) form, they have been widely prepared using metal diffusion into preformed Si NWs, enabling compositionally controlled high-quality metal silicide nanostructures. However, unlocking the full potential of metal silicide NWs for next-generation nanodevices requires an increased level of mechanistic understanding of this diffusion-driven transformation. Herein, using in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we investigated the defect-controlled silicide formation dynamics in one-dimensional NWs. A solution-based synthetic route was developed to form Si NWs anchored to Ni NW stems as an optimal platform for in situ TEM studies of metal silicide formation. Multiple in situ annealing experiments led to Ni diffusion from the Ni NW stem into the Si NW, forming a nickel silicide. We observed the dynamics of Ni propagation in straight and kinked Si NWs, with some regions of the NWs acting as Ni sinks. In NWs with high defect distribution, we obtained direct evidence of nonuniform Ni diffusion and silicide retardation. The findings of this study provide insights into metal diffusion and silicide formation in complex NW structures, which are crucial from fundamental and application perspectives.

Revealing Seed-Mediated Structural Evolution of Copper-Silicide Nanostructures: Generating Structured Current Collectors for Rechargeable Batteries.

Metal silicide thin films and nanostructures typically employed in electronics have recently gained significant attention in battery technology, where they are used as active or inactive materials. However, unlike thin films, the science behind the evolution of silicide nanostructures, especially 1D nanowires (NWs), is a key missing aspect. CuxSiy nanostructures synthesized by solvent vapor growth technique are studied as a model system to gain insights into metal silicide formation. The temperature-dependent phase evolution of CuxSiy structures proceeds from Cu>Cu0.83Si0.17>Cu5Si>Cu15Si4. The role of Cu diffusion kinetics on the morphological progression of Cu silicides is studied, revealing that the growth of 1D metal silicide NWs proceeds through an in situ formed, Cu seed-mediated, self-catalytic process. The different CuxSiy morphologies synthesized are utilized as structured current collectors for K-ion battery anodes. Sb deposited by thermal evaporation upon Cu15Si4 tripod NWs and cube architectures exhibit reversible alloying capacities of 477.3 and 477.6 mAh g-1 at a C/5 rate. Furthermore, Sb deposited Cu15Si4 tripod NWs anode tested in Li-ion and Na-ion batteries demonstrate reversible capacities of ≈518 and 495 mAh g-1.

Binder-free germanium nanoparticle decorated multi-wall carbon nanotube anodes prepared via two-step electrophoretic deposition for high capacity Li-ion batteries.

Germanium (Ge) has a high theoretical specific capacity (1384 mA h g-1) and fast lithium-ion diffusivity, which makes it an attractive anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, large volume changes during lithiation can lead to poor capacity retention and rate capability. Here, electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is used as a facile strategy to prepare Ge nanoparticle carbon-nanotube (Ge/CNT) electrodes. The Ge and CNT mass ratio in the Ge/CNT nanocomposites can be controlled by varying the deposition time, voltage, and concentration of the Ge NP dispersion in the EPD process. The optimized Ge/CNT nanocomposite exhibited long-term cyclic stability, with a capacity of 819 mA h g-1 after 1000 cycles at C/5 and a reversible capacity of 686 mA h g-1 after 350 cycles (with a minuscule capacity loss of 0.07% per cycle) at 1C. The Ge/CNT nanocomposite electrodes delivered dramatically improved cycling stability compared to control Ge nanoparticles. This can be attributed to the synergistic effects of implanting Ge into a 3D interconnected CNT network which acts as a buffer layer to accommodate the volume expansion of Ge NPs during lithiation/delithiation, limiting cracking and/or crumbling, to retain the integrity of the Ge/CNT nanocomposite electrodes.

Resolving Multielement Semiconductor Nanocrystals at the Atomic Level: Complete Deciphering of Domains and Order in Complex CuαZnßSnγSeδ (CZTSe) Tetrapods.

Semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) with high elemental and structural complexity can be engineered to tailor for electronic, photovoltaic, thermoelectric, and battery applications etc. However, this greater complexity causes ambiguity in the atomic structure understanding. This in turn hinders the mechanistic studies of nucleation and growth, the theoretical calculations of functional properties, and the capability to extend functional design across complementary semiconductor nanocrystals. Herein, we successfully deciphered the atomic arrangements of 4 different nanocrystal domains in CuαZnßSnγSeδ (CZTSe) nanocrystals using crucial zone axis analysis on multiple crystals in different orientations. The results show that the essence of crystallographic progression from binary to multielemental semiconductors is actually the change of theoretical periodicity. This transition is caused by decreased symmetry in the crystal instead of previously assumed crystal deformation. We further reveal that these highly complex crystalline entities have highly ordered element arrangements as opposed to the previous understanding that their elemental orderings are random.

Highly Efficient Inverted Light-Emitting Diodes Based on Vertically Aligned CdSe/CdS Nanorod Layers Fabricated by Electrophoretic Deposition.

Inverted colloidal-nanocrystal-based LEDs (NC-LEDs) are highly interesting and invaluable for large-scale display technology and flexible electronics. Semiconductor nanorods (NRs), in addition to the tunable wavelengths of the emitted light (achieved, for example, by the variation of the NR diameter or the diameter of core in a core-shell configuration), also exhibit linearly polarized emission, a larger Stokes shift, faster radiative decay, and slower bleaching kinetics than quantum dots (QDs). Despite these advantages, it is difficult to achieve void-free active NR layers using simple spin-coating techniques. Herein, we employ electrophoretic deposition (EPD) to make closely packed, vertically aligned CdSe/CdS core/shell nanorods (NRs) as the emissive layer. Following an inverted architecture, the device fabricated yields an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 6.3% and a maximum luminance of 4320 cd/m2 at 11 V. This good performance can be attributed to the vertically aligned NR layer, enhancing the charge transport by reducing the resistance of carrier passage, which is supported by our finite element simulations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time vertically aligned NR layers made by EPD have been reported for the fabrication of NC-LEDs and the device performance is one of the best for inverted red NR-LEDs. The findings presented in this work bring forth a simple and effective technique for making vertically aligned NRs, and the mechanism behind the NR-LED device with enhanced performance using these NRs is illustrated. This technique may prove useful to the development of a vast class of nanocrystal-based optoelectronics, including solar cells and laser devices.

Solution processable Si/Ge heterostructure NWs enabling anode mass reduction for practical full-cell Li-ion batteries.

Here, we report the solution phase synthesis of axial heterostructure Si and Ge (hSG) nanowires (NWs). The NWs were grown in a high boiling point solvent from a low-cost Sn powder to achieve a powder form product which represents an attractive route from lab-scale to commercial application. Slurry processed anodes of the NWs were investigated in half-cell (versus Li-foil) and full-cell (versus NMC811) configurations of a lithium ion battery (LIB). The hSG NW anodes yielded capacities of 1040 mA h g-1 after 150 cycles which corresponds to a 2.8 times increase compared to a standard graphite (372 mA h g-1) anode. Given the impressive specific and areal capacities of the hSG anodes, a full-cell test against a high areal capacity NMC811 cathode was examined. In full-cell configuration, use of the hSG anode resulted in a massive anode mass reduction of 50.7% compared to a standard graphite anode. The structural evolution of the hSG NW anodes into an alloyed SiGe porous mesh network was also investigated using STEM, EDX and Raman spectroscopy as a function of cycle number to fully elucidate the lithiation/delithiation mechanism of the promising anode material.

Lysosome damage triggers direct ATG8 conjugation and ATG2 engagement via non-canonical autophagy.

Cells harness multiple pathways to maintain lysosome integrity, a central homeostatic process. Damaged lysosomes can be repaired or targeted for degradation by lysophagy, a selective autophagy process involving ATG8/LC3. Here, we describe a parallel ATG8/LC3 response to lysosome damage, mechanistically distinct from lysophagy. Using a comprehensive series of biochemical, pharmacological, and genetic approaches, we show that lysosome damage induces non-canonical autophagy and Conjugation of ATG8s to Single Membranes (CASM). Following damage, ATG8s are rapidly and directly conjugated onto lysosome membranes, independently of ATG13/WIPI2, lipidating to PS (and PE), a molecular hallmark of CASM. Lysosome damage drives V-ATPase V0-V1 association, direct recruitment of ATG16L1 via its WD40-domain/K490A, and is sensitive to Salmonella SopF. Lysosome damage-induced CASM is associated with formation of dynamic, LC3A-positive tubules, and promotes robust LC3A engagement with ATG2, a lipid transfer protein central to lysosome repair. Together, our data identify direct ATG8 conjugation as a rapid response to lysosome damage, with important links to lipid transfer and dynamics.

Cycle-dependent morphology and surface potential of germanium nanowire anode electrodes.

Germanium nanowire (GeNW) electrodes have shown great promise as high-power, fast-charging alternatives to silicon-based electrodes, owing to their vastly improved Li ion diffusion, electron mobility and ionic conductivity. Formation of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on the anode surface is critical to electrode performance and stability but is not completely understood for NW anodes. Here, a systematic study characterizing pristine and cycled GeNWs in charged and discharged states with SEI layer present and removed is performed using Kelvin probe force microscopy in air. Correlating changes in the morphology of the GeNW anodes with contact potential difference mapping at different cycles provides insight into SEI layer formation and growth, and the effect of the SEI on battery performance.

Colloidal Synthesis of Multinary Alkali-Metal Chalcogenides Containing Bi and Sb: An Emerging Class of I-V-VI2 Nanocrystals with Tunable Composition and Interesting Properties.

The growth mechanism and synthetic controls for colloidal multinary metal chalcogenide nanocrystals (NCs) involving alkali metals and the pnictogen metals Sb and Bi are unknown. Sb and Bi are prone to form metallic nanocrystals that stay as impurities in the final product. Herein, we synthesize colloidal NaBi1-xSbxSe2-ySy NCs using amine-thiol-Se chemistry. We find that ternary NaBiSe2 NCs initiate with Bi0 nuclei and an amorphous intermediate nanoparticle formation that gradually transforms into NaBiSe2 upon Se addition. Furthermore, we extend our methods to substitute Sb in place of Bi and S in place of Se. Our findings show the initial quasi-cubic morphology transforms into a spherical shape upon increased Sb substitution, and the S incorporation promotes elongation along the <111> direction. We further investigate the thermoelectric transport properties of the Sb-substituted material displaying very low thermal conductivity and n-type transport behavior. Notably, the NaBi0.75Sb0.25Se2 material exhibits an ultralow thermal conductivity of 0.25 W·m-1·K-1 at 596 K with an average thermal conductivity of 0.35 W·m-1·K-1 between 358 and 596 K and a ZTmax of 0.24.

LRRK2 phosphorylation status and kinase activity regulate (macro)autophagy in a Rab8a/Rab10-dependent manner.

Mutations in the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene are the most common genetic cause of Parkinson's disease (PD), with growing importance also for Crohn's disease and cancer. LRRK2 is a large and complex protein possessing both GTPase and kinase activity. Moreover, LRRK2 activity and function can be influenced by its phosphorylation status. In this regard, many LRRK2 PD-associated mutants display decreased phosphorylation of the constitutive phosphorylation cluster S910/S935/S955/S973, but the role of these changes in phosphorylation status with respect to LRRK2 physiological functions remains unknown. Here, we propose that the S910/S935/S955/S973 phosphorylation sites act as key regulators of LRRK2-mediated autophagy under both basal and starvation conditions. We show that quadruple LRRK2 phosphomutant cells (4xSA; S910A/S935A/S955A/S973A) have impaired lysosomal functionality and fail to induce and proceed with autophagy during starvation. In contrast, treatment with the specific LRRK2 kinase inhibitors MLi-2 (100 nM) or PF-06447475 (150 nM), which also led to decreased LRRK2 phosphorylation of S910/S935/S955/S973, did not affect autophagy. In explanation, we demonstrate that the autophagy impairment due to the 4xSA LRRK2 phospho-dead mutant is driven by its enhanced LRRK2 kinase activity. We show mechanistically that this involves increased phosphorylation of LRRK2 downstream targets Rab8a and Rab10, as the autophagy impairment in 4xSA LRRK2 cells is counteracted by expression of phosphorylation-deficient mutants T72A Rab8a and T73A Rab10. Similarly, reduced autophagy and decreased LRRK2 phosphorylation at the constitutive sites were observed in cells expressing the pathological R1441C LRRK2 PD mutant, which also displays increased kinase activity. These data underscore the relation between LRRK2 phosphorylation at its constitutive sites and the importance of increased LRRK2 kinase activity in autophagy regulation and PD pathology.

Colloidal synthesis of the mixed ionic-electronic conducting NaSbS2 nanocrystals.

Solution-based synthesis of mixed ionic and electronic conductors (MIECs) has enabled the development of novel inorganic materials with implications for a wide range of energy storage applications. However, many technologically relevant MIECs contain toxic elements (Pb) or are prepared by using traditional high-temperature solid-state synthesis. Here, we provide a simple, low-temperature and size-tunable (50-90 nm) colloidal hot injection approach for the synthesis of NaSbS2 based MIECs using widely available and non-toxic precursors. Key synthetic parameters (cationic precursor, reaction temperature, and ligand) are examined to regulate the shape and size of the NaSbS2 nanocrystals (NCs). FTIR studies revealed that ligands with carboxylate functionality are coordinated to the surface of the synthesized NaSbS2 NCs. The synthesized NaSbS2 nanocrystals have electronic and ionic conductivities of 3.31 × 10-10 (e-) and 1.9 × 10-5 (Na+) S cm-1 respectively, which are competitive with the ionic and electrical conductivities of perovskite materials generated by solid-state reactions. This research gives a mechanistic understanding and post-synthetic evaluation of parameters influencing the formation of sodium antimony chalcogenides materials.

Molecular Oncology and the EACR: new partners in communicating and supporting cancer research.

The formation of organisations and societies within all areas of scientific research facilitates the bringing together of researchers in a given field and serves to aid communication, collaboration, progress of science and career development. Even greater gain can be attained when individual organisations form partnerships to complement each other's activities and to increase the scope of their endeavours. Within this editorial, we highlight the key points of a new partnership formed between two non-profit bodies within cancer research, the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) and Molecular Oncology, a journal wholly owned by the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS).

Autophagy and autophagy-related pathways in cancer.

Maintenance of protein homeostasis and organelle integrity and function is critical for cellular homeostasis and cell viability. Autophagy is the principal mechanism that mediates the delivery of various cellular cargoes to lysosomes for degradation and recycling. A myriad of studies demonstrate important protective roles for autophagy against disease. However, in cancer, seemingly opposing roles of autophagy are observed in the prevention of early tumour development versus the maintenance and metabolic adaptation of established and metastasizing tumours. Recent studies have addressed not only the tumour cell intrinsic functions of autophagy, but also the roles of autophagy in the tumour microenvironment and associated immune cells. In addition, various autophagy-related pathways have been described, which are distinct from classical autophagy, that utilize parts of the autophagic machinery and can potentially contribute to malignant disease. Growing evidence on how autophagy and related processes affect cancer development and progression has helped guide efforts to design anticancer treatments based on inhibition or promotion of autophagy. In this Review, we discuss and dissect these different functions of autophagy and autophagy-related processes during tumour development, maintenance and progression. We outline recent findings regarding the role of these processes in both the tumour cells and the tumour microenvironment and describe advances in therapy aimed at autophagy processes in cancer.

Cu Current Collector with Binder-Free Lithiophilic Nanowire Coating for High Energy Density Lithium Metal Batteries.

Despite significant efforts to fabricate high energy density (ED) lithium (Li) metal anodes, problems such as dendrite formation and the need for excess Li (leading to low N/P ratios) have hampered Li metal battery (LMB) development. Here, the use of germanium (Ge) nanowires (NWs) directly grown on copper (Cu) substrates (Cu-Ge) to induce lithiophilicity and subsequently guide Li ions for uniform Li metal deposition/stripping during electrochemical cycling is reported. The NW morphology along with the formation of the Li15 Ge4 phase promotes uniform Li-ion flux and fast charge kinetic, resulting in the Cu-Ge substrate demonstrating low nucleation overpotentials of 10 mV (four times lower than planar Cu) and high Columbic efficiency (CE) efficiency during Li plating/stripping. Within a full-cell configuration, the Cu-Ge@Li - NMC cell delivered a 63.6% weight reduction at the anode level compared to a standard graphite-based anode, with impressive capacity retention and average CE of over 86.5% and 99.2% respectively. The Cu-Ge anodes are also paired with high specific capacity sulfur (S) cathodes, further demonstrating the benefits of developing surface-modified lithiophilic Cu current collectors, which can easily be integrated at the industrial scale.