Autoimmunity affects 10% of the population. Within this umbrella, autoantibody-mediated diseases targeting one autoantigen provide a unique opportunity to comprehensively understand the developmental pathway of disease-causing B cells and autoantibodies. While such autoreactivities are believed to be generated during germinal centre reactions, the roles of earlier immune checkpoints in autoantigen-specific B cell tolerance are poorly understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHollandite-type α-MnO exhibits exceptional promise in current industrial applications and in advancing next-generation green energy technologies, such as multivalent (Mg, Ca, and Zn) ion battery cathodes and aerobic oxidation catalysts. Considering the slow diffusion of multivalent cations within α-MnO tunnels and the catalytic activity at edge surfaces, ultrasmall α-MnO particles with a lower aspect ratio are expected to unlock the full potential. In this study, ultrasmall α-MnO (<10 nm) with a low aspect ratio (c/a ≈ 2) is synthesized using a newly developed alcohol solution process.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe development of next-generation battery technologies needs to consider their environmental impact throughout the whole cycle life, which has brought new chemistries based on earth-abundant elements into the spotlight. Rechargeable calcium batteries are such an emerging technology, which shows the potential to provide high cell voltage and high energy density close to lithium-ion batteries. Additionally, the use of Ca as a charge carrier renders significant sustainable values.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRechargeable magnesium batteries (RMBs) have the potential to provide a sustainable and long-term solution for large-scale energy storage due to high theoretical capacity of magnesium (Mg) metal as an anode, its competitive redox potential (Mg/Mg:-2.37 V vs. SHE) and high natural abundance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPotassium-ion batteries (KIBs) can offer high energy density, cyclability, and operational safety while being economical due to the natural abundance of potassium. Utilizing graphite as an anode, suitable cathodes can realize full cells. Searching for potential cathodes, this work introduces P3-type KNiMnO layered oxide as a potential candidate synthesized by a simple solid-state method.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLayered oxides constitute one of the most promising cathode materials classes for large-scale sodium-ion batteries because of their high specific capacity, scalable synthesis, and low cost. However, their practical use is limited by their low energy density, physicochemical instability, and poor cycling stability. Aiming to mitigate these shortcomings, in this work, we synthesized polycrystalline (PC) and single-crystal (SC) P2-type NaMnNiO (NMNO) cathode materials through a solid-state route and evaluated their physicochemical and electrochemical performance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIgG4 subclass antibodies represent the rarest subclass of IgG antibodies, comprising only 3-5% of antibodies circulating in the bloodstream. These antibodies possess unique structural features, notably their ability to undergo a process known as fragment-antigen binding (Fab)-arm exchange, wherein they exchange half-molecules with other IgG4 antibodies. Functionally, IgG4 antibodies primarily block and exert immunomodulatory effects, particularly in the context of IgE isotype-mediated hypersensitivity reactions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe development of competitive rechargeable Mg batteries is hindered by the poor mobility of divalent Mg ions in cathode host materials. In this work, we explore the dual cation co-intercalation strategy to mitigate the sluggishness of Mg in model TiS material. The strategy involves pairing Mg with Li or Na in dual-salt electrolytes in order to exploit the faster mobility of the latter with the aim to reach better electrochemical performance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFP2-type cobalt-free MnNi-based layered oxides are promising cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their high reversible capacity and well chemical stability. However, the phase transformations during repeated (dis)charge steps lead to rapid capacity decay and deteriorated Na diffusion kinetics. Moreover, the electrode manufacturing based on polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) binder system has been reported with severely defluorination issue as well as the energy intensive and expensive process due to the use of toxic and volatile N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) solvent.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSolid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy is a powerful technique for characterizing the local structure and dynamics of battery and other materials. It has been widely used to investigate bulk electrode compounds, electrolytes, and interfaces. Beside common ex situ investigations, in situ and operando techniques have gained considerable importance for understanding the reaction mechanisms and cell degradation of electrochemical cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNanomaterials (Basel)
December 2023
The investigation into intercalation mechanisms in vanadium pentoxide has garnered significant attention within the realm of research, primarily propelled by its remarkable theoretical capacity for energy storage. This comprehensive review delves into the latest advancements that have enriched our understanding of these intricate mechanisms. Notwithstanding its exceptional storage capacity, the compound grapples with challenges arising from inherent structural instability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe demand for high-performance lithium-ion batteries and thus efficient cathode materials is steadily increasing. In addition to a high energy density and long lifetime, these should also be cost-effective and environmentally benign. Manganese-based materials have particular potential because manganese is available in sufficient quantities and can be supplied at a comparatively low cost.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAngew Chem Int Ed Engl
February 2024
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries form a key post-Li-ion batteries to cater the rising demand for grid storage. Fe-based compounds can be used as economical cathodes for zinc-ion batteries. Herein, we explored iron-based flourophosphate as a potential polyanionic cathode.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Appl Mater Interfaces
August 2023
The high ionic conductivity and good oxidation stability of halide-based solid electrolytes evoke strong interest in this class of materials. Nonetheless, the superior oxidative stability compared to sulfides comes at the expense of limited stability toward reduction and instability against metallic lithium anodes, which hinders their practical use. In this context, the gradual fluorination of LiZrClF (0 ≤ ≤ 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCalcium (Ca) batteries are attractive post-lithium battery technologies, due to their potential to provide high-voltage and high-energy systems in a sustainable manner. We investigated herein 1,5-poly(anthraquinonylsulfide) (PAQS) for Ca-ion storage with calcium tetrakis(hexafluoroisopropyloxy)borate Ca[B(hfip) ] [hfip=OCH(CF ) ] electrolytes. It is demonstrated that PAQS could be synthesized in a cost-effective approach and be processed environmentally friendly into the electrodes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDevelopment of highly efficient, earth-abundant, and stable bifunctional electrocatalysts is pivotal for designing viable next-generation metal-air batteries. Cobalt-based phosphates provide a treasure house to design electrocatalysts, with a wide range of cation substitutions to further enhance their electrocatalytic activity. In particular, phosphates with distorted geometry show favorable binding efficiency toward water molecules with low overpotential.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe BAFF/APRIL-system with the two cytokines BAFF and APRIL and their three receptors, transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI), BAFF receptor, and B-cell maturation Ag, is important for B cell maintenance. The BAFF/APRIL system is a therapeutic target in B cell-derived malignancies and autoimmune diseases. However, unexpected outcomes of clinical trials with atacicept (TACI-Fc) underline our incomplete understanding of this system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain cancer that typically results in death in the first 15 months after diagnosis. There have been limited advances in finding new treatments for GBM. In this study, we investigated molecular differences between patients with extremely short (≤ 9 months, Short term survivors, STS) and long survival (≥ 36 months, Long term survivors, LTS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Appl Mater Interfaces
December 2022
Calcium (Ca) batteries represent an attractive option for electrochemical energy storage due to physicochemical and economic reasons. The standard reduction potential of Ca (-2.87 V) is close to Li and promises a wide voltage window for Ca full batteries, while the high abundance of Ca in the earth's crust implicates low material costs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPorphyrin derivatives represent an emerging class of redox-active materials for sustainable electrochemical energy storage. However, their structure-performance relationship is poorly understood, which confines their rational design and thus limits access to their full potential. To gain such understanding, we here focus on the role of the metal ion within porphyrin molecules.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF