Boundary-Free Metal–Organic Framework Glasses Enable Highly Stable All-Solid-State Lithium–Oxygen Battery

Rechargeable lithium–oxygen batteries (LOBs) are considered to be one of the most promising energy storage systems. However, the use of reactive lithium (Li) metal and the formation of Li dendrites during battery operation would lead to serious safety concerns, especially when flammable liquid electrolytes are utilized. Herein, superior metal–organic framework (MOF) glass-based solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) is developed for stable all-solid-state LOBs (SSLOBs). These non-flammable and boundary-free MOF glass SSEs are capable of suppressing the dendrite growth and exhibiting long-term Li stripping/plating stability, contributing to superior Li⁺ conductivity (5 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at 20 °C), high Li⁺ transference number (0.86), and good electrochemical stability. It is discovered that discharge product deposition behavior in the solid-solid interface can be well regulated by the ion/electron mixed conducted cathode fabricated with MOF glass SSEs and electronic conductive polymers. As a result, the SSLOBs can be stably recharged for 400 cycles with a low polarization gap and deliver a high capacity of 13552 mAh g⁻¹. The development of this proposed MOF glass displays great application potential in energy storage systems with good safety and high energy density.     

Inhibition of NAD biosynthesis by paraquat in Escherichia coli

Niacin significantly reduced the bacteristatic effect of 1 mM paraquat for Escherichia coli. Without niacin (an intermediate in the salvage pathway for pyridine nucleotide coenzyme biosynthesis), the NAD concentration was decreased rapidly and significantly in E. coli during paraquat poisoning. Niacin prevented the decline in NAD in paraquat-poisoned cells; quinolinate (an intermediate in de novo NAD biosynthesis prior to the entry point of niacin) did not. These data suggest that paraquat poisons the de novo pathway of pyridine nucleotide coenzyme biosynthesis. Similar consequences have been reported to result from hyperbaric oxygen poisoning of E. coli; thus, there is growing evidence for a common mechanism of toxicity for hyperoxia and paraquat.     

A Force-Assisted Li−O2 Battery Based on Piezoelectric Catalysis and Band Bending of MoS2/Pd Cathode

The high overpotential caused by the slow kinetics of oxygen reduction (ORR) and oxygen evolution (OER) has greatly limited the practical application of lithium-oxygen (Li−O₂) batteries. The adoption of force-field-assisted system based on a newly developed piezocatalysis is promising in reducing the overpotential. Herein, a force-assisted Li−O₂ battery is first established by employing MoS₂/Pd nanocomposite cathode, in which the piezoelectric polarization as well as built-in electric field are formed in MoS₂ piezoelectric catalyst under ultrasound activation, leading to the continuously separated electrons and holes to enhance the ORR and OER kinetics. Moreover, the introduction of Pd can promote the electrons transfer and further inhibit the complexation of electron–hole pairs, contributing to enhanced catalytic activity in the decomposition/generation of discharge products, resulting in reduced discharge/charge overpotentials. Thus, the force-assisted MoS₂/Pd-based Li−O₂ battery is capable of adjusting the output and input energies by the assisted ultrasonic wave. An ultra-low charging platform of 2.86 V and a high discharging platform of 2.77 V are achieved. The proposed unique force-assisted strategy can also be applied to lithium carbon dioxide battery system through the effective reduction and separation of CO₂ and CO₃²⁻, providing significant insights in achieving efficient energy conversion for metal−air batteries.     

具有中空贯通管结构的磷酸钙骨水泥的制备研究

目前,磷酸钙骨水泥因其具有优良的生物性能已被广泛用于骨组织工程,但它自固化后只是形成具有微孔和封闭气孔的致密块体,其孔径尺寸和连通性仍远达不到骨组织工程的最佳要求.本研究采用α-TCP为原料,以过氧化氢作为发泡剂,使用模具插针法制得一种具有大孔径和中空管的多孔磷酸钙骨水泥材料.孔径达到900μm,孔隙率为50.67%,抗折强度达到5.84MPa.通过扫描电镜照片观察和分析微观结构.结果表明,通过这种方法可以制得具有理想孔径尺寸和连通性的多孔磷酸钙骨水泥,可以说,这为制备用于骨组织工程的多孔磷酸钙骨水泥创造了一种新的方法.