Electrospinning Meets Heterostructures in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are recognized as a most promising energy storage technology for their high theoretical energy density, abundant sulfur resources, and environmental friendliness. Nonetheless, practical applications of Li-S batteries are currently hindered by obstacles such as the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs), sluggish reaction kinetics, and the formation of Li dendrites. Heterostructured electrocatalysts can achieve synergistic adsorption-catalysis for LiPSs by regulating the component composition to accelerate sulfur electrochemical reaction and guide the uniform deposition of Li.

Acorn cotyledons are larger than their seedlings' need: evidence from artificial cutting experiments.

Although the consequences of cotyledon removal have been widely studied in oaks producing large acorns, we have little knowledge of at what level cotyledons can be removed without affecting acorn survival and seedling development. In this study, we aimed to test the hypothesis that the amount of energy reserves in cotyledons is more than the demands of seedlings and that large acorns can tolerate seed predation and/or attract seed predators for seed dispersal. Acorn germination rates were not affected even when 60% of cotyledons were cut off at the basal end, suggesting that the energy reserves contained in cotyledons are not essential for acorn survival.

Retention of cotyledons is crucial for resprouting of clipped oak seedlings.

Although resprouting plays an important role in facilitating persistence of damaged seedlings, the functional attributes of cotyledons and taproots during resprouting of 1-year oak seedlings are not well explored. In this study, cotyledons were removed from Quercus mongolica seedlings to explore resprouting in response to simulated disturbance as a function of shoot clipping, and to examine the resprouting ability in relation to timing of clipping and cotyledon removal. Isotope labeling experiments were also performed to evaluate contribution of the cotyledons and taproots to resprouting.