Potassium escaping balances the degree of graphitization and pore channel structure in hard carbon to boost plateau sodium storage capacity.

Biomass holds significant potential for large-scale synthesis of hard carbon (HC), and HC is seen as the most promising anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, designing a HC anode with a rich pore structure, moderate graphitization and synthesis through a simple process using a cost-effective precursor to advance SIBs has long been a formidable challenge. This is primarily because high temperatures necessary for pore regulation invariably lead to excessive graphitization.

Synergistic effects enabled efficient photocatalytic removal of ofloxacin antibiotic in wastewater by layered double hydroxides loaded lignin-derived carbon fibers.

The environmental problems caused by the abuse of antibiotics are raising serious attention, and the removal of antibiotics in wastewater is meaningful yet challenging. In this work, lignin-derived carbon fibers loaded layered double hydroxides (LDH@LCF) has been prepared for the removal of ofloxacin (OFX) from wastewater via photocatalysis, which exhibit a high degradation efficiency of 96 % under visible light and maintained 90 % after five reuses. The effects of Zn/Fe in the samples and other parameters affecting the photocatalytic efficiency of OFX have been systematically investigated.

Challenges and Prospects of Low-Temperature Rechargeable Batteries: Electrolytes, Interfaces, and Electrodes.

Rechargeable batteries have been indispensable for various portable devices, electric vehicles, and energy storage stations. The operation of rechargeable batteries at low temperatures has been challenging due to increasing electrolyte viscosity and rising electrode resistance, which lead to sluggish ion transfer and large voltage hysteresis. Advanced electrolyte design and feasible electrode engineering to achieve desirable performance at low temperatures are crucial for the practical application of rechargeable batteries.

Structural Engineering of Prussian Blue Analogues Enabling All-Climate and Ultralong Cycling Sodium-Ion Batteries.

The development of cost-efficient, long-lifespan, and all-climate sodium-ion batteries is of great importance for advancing large-scale energy storage but is plagued by the lack of suitable cathode materials. Here, we report low-cost Na-rich Mn-based Prussian blue analogues with superior rate capability and ultralong cycling stability over 10,000 cycles via structural optimization with electrochemically inert Ni atoms. Their thermal stability, all-climate properties, and potential in full cells are investigated in detail.

Understanding the charge transfer effects of single atoms for boosting the performance of Na-S batteries.

The effective flow of electrons through bulk electrodes is crucial for achieving high-performance batteries, although the poor conductivity of homocyclic sulfur molecules results in high barriers against the passage of electrons through electrode structures. This phenomenon causes incomplete reactions and the formation of metastable products. To enhance the performance of the electrode, it is important to place substitutable electrification units to accelerate the cleavage of sulfur molecules and increase the selectivity of stable products during charging and discharging.

Electronic Spin Alignment within Homologous NiS/NiSe Heterostructures to Promote Sulfur Redox Kinetics in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

The catalytic activation of the Li-S reaction is fundamental to maximize the capacity and stability of Li-S batteries (LSBs). Current research on Li-S catalysts mainly focuses on optimizing the energy levels to promote adsorption and catalytic conversion, while frequently overlooking the electronic spin state influence on charge transfer and orbital interactions. Here, hollow NiS/NiSe heterostructures encapsulated in a nitrogen-doped carbon matrix (NiS/NiSe@NC) are synthesized and used as a catalytic additive in sulfur cathodes.

Increased Apolipoprotein A1 Expression Correlates with Tumor-Associated Neutrophils and T Lymphocytes in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.

An increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a poor prognostic biomarker in various types of cancer, because it reflects the inhibition of lymphocytes in the circulation and tumors. In urologic cancers, upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is known for its aggressive features and lack of T cell infiltration; however, the association between neutrophils and suppressed T lymphocytes in UTUC is largely unknown. In this study, we examined the relationship between UTUC-derived factors and tumor-associated neutrophils or T lymphocytes.

Electrochemical coupling in subnanometer pores/channels for rechargeable batteries.

Subnanometer pores/channels (SNPCs) play crucial roles in regulating electrochemical redox reactions for rechargeable batteries. The delicately designed and tailored porous structure of SNPCs not only provides ample space for ion storage but also facilitates efficient ion diffusion within the electrodes in batteries, which can greatly improve the electrochemical performance. However, due to current technological limitations, it is challenging to synthesize and control the quality, storage, and transport of nanopores at the subnanometer scale, as well as to understand the relationship between SNPCs and performances.

Linearly Interlinked Fe-N-Fe Single Atoms Catalyze High-Rate Sodium-Sulfur Batteries.

Linearly interlinked single atoms offer unprecedented physiochemical properties, but their synthesis for practical applications still poses significant challenges. Herein, linearly interlinked iron single-atom catalysts that are loaded onto interconnected carbon channels as cathodic sulfur hosts for room-temperature sodium-sulfur batteries are presented. The interlinked iron single-atom exhibits unique metallic iron bonds that facilitate the transfer of electrons to the sulfur cathode, thereby accelerating the reaction kinetics.

Lithium-Ion Charged Polymer Channels Flattening Lithium Metal Anode.

The concentration difference in the near-surface region of lithium metal is the main cause of lithium dendrite growth. Resolving this issue will be key to achieving high-performance lithium metal batteries (LMBs). Herein, we construct a lithium nitrate (LiNO)-implanted electroactive β phase polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) crystalline polymorph layer (PHL).

Sequential co-reduction of nitrate and carbon dioxide enables selective urea electrosynthesis.

Despite the recent achievements in urea electrosynthesis from co-reduction of nitrogen wastes (such as NO) and CO, the product selectivity remains fairly mediocre due to the competing nature of the two parallel reduction reactions. Here we report a catalyst design that affords high selectivity to urea by sequentially reducing NO and CO at a dynamic catalytic centre, which not only alleviates the competition issue but also facilitates C-N coupling. We exemplify this strategy on a nitrogen-doped carbon catalyst, where a spontaneous switch between NO and CO reduction paths is enabled by reversible hydrogenation on the nitrogen functional groups.

Design and Synthesis of Novel Chalcone Derivatives: Anti-Breast Cancer Activity Evaluation and Docking Study.

Chalcone is a common simple fragment of natural products with anticancer activity. In a previous study, the research group discovered a series of chalcone derivatives with stronger anticancer activities. To find better anticancer drugs, novel chalcone derivatives -, - have continuously been designed and synthesized.

Insight into the Role of Fluoroethylene Carbonate on the Stability of Sb||Graphite Dual-Ion Batteries in Propylene Carbonate-Based Electrolyte.

Sodium dual-ion batteries (Na-DIBs) have attracted increasing attention due to their high operative voltages and low-cost raw materials. However, the practical applications of Na-DIBs are still hindered by the issues, such as low capacity and poor Coulombic efficiency, which is highly correlated with the compatibility between electrode and electrolyte but rarely investigated. Herein, fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) is introduced into the electrolyte to regulate cation/anion solvation structure and the stability of cathode/anode-electrolyte interphase of Na-DIBs.

Ir-Sn pair-site triggers key oxygen radical intermediate for efficient acidic water oxidation.

The anode corrosion induced by the harsh acidic and oxidative environment greatly restricts the lifespan of catalysts. Here, we propose an antioxidation strategy to mitigate Ir dissolution by triggering strong electronic interaction via elaborately constructing a heterostructured Ir-Sn pair-site catalyst. The formation of Ir-Sn dual-site at the heterointerface and the resulting strong electronic interactions considerably reduce -band holes of Ir species during both the synthesis and the oxygen evolution reaction processes and suppress their overoxidation, enabling the catalyst with substantially boosted corrosion resistance.

Net zero emission goals demand worldwide cooperation.

This perspective emphasizes the need for global cooperation and decisive action to address the urgent threat of climate change and achieve the net zero emissions goal before 2050.

Achieving All-Plateau and High-Capacity Sodium Insertion in Topological Graphitized Carbon.

Hard carbon anodes with all-plateau capacities below 0.1 V are prerequisites to achieve high-energy-density sodium-ion storage, which holds promise for future sustainable energy technologies. However, challenges in removing defects and improving the insertion of sodium ions head off the development of hard carbon to achieve this goal.

Sustainable and High-Rate Electrosynthesis of Nitrogen Fertilizer.

The conventional industrial production of nitrogen-containing fertilizers, such as urea and ammonia, relies heavily on energy-intensive processes, accounting for approximately 3 % of global annual CO emissions. Herein, we report a sustainable electrocatalytic approach that realizes direct and selective synthesis of urea and ammonia from co-reduction of CO and nitrates under ambient conditions. With the assistance of a copper (Cu)-based salphen organic catalyst, outstanding urea (3.

Direct Oxygen-Oxygen Cleavage through Optimizing Interatomic Distances in Dual Single-atom Electrocatalysts for Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on transition single-atom catalysts (SACs) is sustainable in energy-conversion devices. However, the atomically controllable fabrication of single-atom sites and the sluggish kinetics of ORR have remained challenging. Here, we accelerate the kinetics of acid ORR through a direct O-O cleavage pathway through using a bi-functional ligand-assisted strategy to pre-control the distance of hetero-metal atoms.

Anode optimization strategies for aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

Zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have received much research attention due to their advantages of safety, non-toxicity, simple manufacture, and element abundance. Nevertheless, serious problems still remain for their anodes, such as dendrite development, corrosion, passivation, and the parasitic hydrogen evolution reaction due to their unique aqueous electrolyte system constituting the main issues that must be addressed, which are blocking the further advancement of anodes for Zn-ion batteries. Herein, we conduct an in-depth analysis of the problems that exist for the zinc anode, summarize the main failure types and mechanisms of the zinc anode, and review the main modification strategies for the anode from the three aspects of the electrolyte, anode surface, and anode host.

Atomically Dispersed Dual-Site Cathode with a Record High Sulfur Mass Loading for High-Performance Room-Temperature Sodium-Sulfur Batteries.

Room-temperature sodium-sulfur (RT-Na/S) batteries possess high potential for grid-scale stationary energy storage due to their low cost and high energy density. However, the issues arising from the low S mass loading and poor cycling stability caused by the shuttle effect of polysulfides seriously limit their operating capacity and cycling capability. Herein, sulfur-doped graphene frameworks supporting atomically dispersed 2H-MoS and Mo (S@MoS -Mo /SGF) with a record high sulfur mass loading of 80.

Early phase oncology clinical trials in Malaysia: current status and future perspectives.

Historically, the majority of oncology clinical trials are conducted in Western Europe and North America. Globalization of drug development has resulted in sponsors shifting their focus to the Asia-Pacific region. In Malaysia, implementation of various government policies to promote clinical trials has been initiated over a decade ago and includes the establishment of Clinical Research Malaysia, which functions as a facilitator and enabler of industry-sponsored clinical trials on a nationwide basis.

Reforming Magnet Waste to Prussian Blue for Sustainable Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Increasing generation of permanent magnet waste has resulted in an urgent need to preserve finite resources. Reforming these wastes as feedstock to produce renewables is an ideal strategy for addressing waste and energy challenges. Herein, our work reports a smart and sustainable strategy to convert iron in magnet wastes into Prussian blue analogues that can serve as cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries.