Surface Engineering Strategies of Layered LiCoO2 Cathode Material to Realize High‐Energy and High‐Voltage Li‐Ion Cells

Battery industries and research groups are further investigating LiCoO₂ to unravel the capacity at high‐voltages (>4.3 vs Li). The research trends are towards the surface modification of the LiCoO₂ and stabilize it structurally and chemically. In this report, the recent progress in the surface‐coating materials i.e., single‐element, binary, and ternary hybrid‐materials etc. and their coating methods are illustrated. Further, the importance of evaluating the surface‐coated LiCoO₂ in the Li‐ion full‐cell is highlighted with our recent results. Mg,P‐coated LiCoO₂ full‐cells exhibit excellent thermal stability, high‐temperature cycle and room‐temperature rate capabilities with high energy‐density of ≈1.4 W h cc^?1 at 10 C and 4.35 V. Besides, pouch‐type full‐cells with high‐loading (18 mg cm^?2) electrodes of layered‐Li(Ni,Mn)O₂ ‐coated LiCoO₂ not only deliver prolonged cycle‐life at room and elevated‐temperatures but also high energy‐density of ≈2 W h cc^?1 after 100 cycles at 25 °C and 4.47 V (vs natural graphite). The post‐mortem analyses and experimental results suggest enhanced electrochemical performances are attributed to the mechanistic behaviour of hybrid surface‐coating layers that can mitigate undesirable side reactions and micro‐crack formations on the surface of LiCoO₂ at the adverse conditions. Hence, the surface‐engineering of electrode materials could be a viable path to achieve the high‐energy Li‐ion cells for future applications.     

Exploiting High‐Performance Anode through Tuning the Character of Chemical Bonds for Li‐Ion Batteries and Capacitors

A high‐performance anode material, MnNCN, is synthesized through a facile and low‐cost method. The relationship between electrochemical properties and chemical composition is explored on the scientific considerations that can provide an insight on designing expected materials. MnNCN with the long bonding length of 2.262 Å in Mn? N and weak electronegativity of 3.04 Pauling units in N leads to a lower charge/discharge potential than that of MnO owing to the character of chemical bonds transformed to covalent dominating from ionic dominating in MnO. Covalent character increases the ratio of sharing electrons that decreases the migration energy of electrons in electrochemical reaction, which enhances the reactive reversibility and stability of electrode material. MnNCN delivered a reversibly specific capacity of 385 mA h g^?1 at 5 A g^?1 in a Li‐ion half cell. Besides, a Li‐ion hybrid capacitor with a high voltage of 4 V presents energy and power densities of respective 103 Wh kg^?1 and 8533 W kg^?1 and cycles at 5 A g^?1 without detectable degradation after 5000 cycles.     

Multifunctional 0D–2D Ni2P Nanocrystals–Black Phosphorus Heterostructure

0D transition metal phosphides (TMPs) nanocrystals (NCs)–2D ultrathin black phosphorus (BP) heterostructure (Ni₂P@BP) have been synthesized via a facile sonication‐assisted exfoliation followed by a solvothermal process. Compared with the bare BP, the specially designed Ni₂P@BP architecture can enhance the electrical conductivity (from 2.12 × 10² to 6.25 × 10⁴ S m^–1), tune the charge carrier concentration (from 1.25 × 10¹⁷ to 1.37 × 10²⁰ cm^–3), and reduce the thermal conductivity (from 44.5 to 7.69 W m^–1 K^–1) at 300 K, which can be considered for multiple applications. As a result, the Ni₂P@BP exhibits excellent Li storage properties and high hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalytic activities. The Ni₂P@BP shows improved Li diffusion kinetics (e.g., the Li ions diffusion coefficient increases from 1.14 × 10^–14 cm² s^–1 for pure BP nanosheets to 8.02 × 10^–13 cm² s^–1 for Ni₂P@BP). In addition, the Ni₂P@BP electrode sustains hydrogen production with almost unchanged activity over 3000 cycles, which indicates its good chemical stability when operating under strong reducing environment.     

BiHC,a T-Cell–Engaging Bispecific Recombinant Antibody,Has Potent Cytotoxic Activity Against Her2 Tumor Cells

Among different cancer immunotherapy approaches, bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) are of great interest due to their ability to recruit immune cells to kill tumor cells directly. Various BsAbs against Her2 tumor cells have been proposed with potent cytotoxic activities. However, most of these formats require extensive processing to obtain heterodimeric bispecific antibodies. In this study, we describe a bispecific antibody, BiHC (bispecific Her2-CD3 antibody), constructed with a single-domain anti-Her2 and a single-chain Fv (variable fragment) of anti-CD3 in an IgG-like format. In contrast to most IgG-like BsAbs, the two arms in BiHC have different molecular weights, making it easier to separate hetero- or homodimers. BiHC can be expressed in Escherichia coli and purified via Protein A affinity chromatography. The purified BiHC can recruit T cells and induce specific cytotoxicity of Her2-expressing tumor cells in vitro. The BiHC can also efficiently inhibit the tumor growth in vivo. Thus, BiHC is a promising candidate for the treatment of Her2-positive cancers.     

Dual Functional Mesoporous Silicon Nanoparticles Enhance the Radiosensitivity of VPA in Glioblastoma

Radiotherapy is a critical strategy and standard adjuvant approach to glioblastoma treatment. One of the major challenges facing radiotherapy is to minimize radiation damage to normal tissue without compromising therapeutic effects on cancer cells. Various agents and numerous approaches have been developed to improve the therapeutic index of radiotherapy. Among them, radiosensitizers have attracted much attention because they selectively increase susceptibility of cancer cells to radiation and thus enhance biological effectiveness of radiotherapy. However, clinical translation of radiosensitizers has been severely limited by their potential toxicity to normal tissue. Recent advances in nanomedicine offer an opportunity to overcome this hindrance. In this study, a dual functional mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) formulation of the valproic acid (VPA) radiosensitizer was developed, which specifically recognized folic acid–overexpressing cancer cells and released VPA conditionally in acidic turmeric microenvironment. The efficacy of this targeted and pH-responsive VPA nanocarrier was evaluated as compared to VPA treatment approach in two cell lines: rat glioma cells C6 and human glioma U87. Compared to VPA treatment, targeted VPA-MSNs not only potentiated the toxic effects of radiation and led to a higher rate of cell death but also enhanced inhibition on clonogenic assay. More interestingly, these effects were further accentuated by VPA-MSNs at low pH values. Western blot analysis showed that the effects were mediated via enhanced apoptosis-inducing effects. Our results suggest that the adjunctive use of VPA-MSNs may enhance the effectiveness of radiotherapy in glioma treatment by lowering the radiation doses required to kill cancer cells and thereby minimize collateral damage to healthy adjacent tissue.     

独龙虾脊兰（兰科）的合格发表

通过补充拉丁文描述和指定模式,本文合格发表了独龙虾脊兰Calanthe dulongensis H. Li, R. Li & Z. L. Dao。该种因其唇瓣中裂片上有3个具短柄的金黄色球状附属物而有别于本属的其他类群。本种在体态上与疏花虾脊兰C. henryi Rolfe和车前虾脊兰C. plantaginea Lindl.相近,不同之处在于本种的根状茎明显,花瓣倒卵状披针形 ,中萼片无毛;本种在体态上也与三褶虾脊兰C. triplicata (Willem.) Ames相近,区别在于本种的唇     

Thalassomonhystera traesti n.sp., Eumonhystera andrassyi and three Monhystrella species (Monhysteridae: Nematoda) from Li River, China

A new Thalassomonhystera species, i.e. T. traesti n.sp., and a new subspecies, Monhystrella lepidura chinensis n. subsp., together with Eumonhystera andrassyi (Biró, 1969) Andrássy, 1981, Monhystrella macrura (de Man, 1880) Andrássy, 1981 and Monhystrella iranica Schiemer, 1965 are described from Li River at Guiling, China. Thalassomonhystera traesti n.sp. is characterised by a combination of the following characters: expanded lip region, large and anteriorly situated amphids, prominent inner labial sensilla, and slender spicules and tube-like gubernaculum in males. Monhystrella lepidura chinensis n. subsp. belongs to Monhystrella lepidura (Andrássy, 1963) Andrássy, 1968 but differs from the three hitherto described subspecies in its possession of a pharynx that posteriorly expands into a double bulb. Monhystrella macrura, M. iranica and Eumonhystera andrassyiare reported here for the first time from China.