A Dynamically Stable Sulfide Electrolyte Architecture for High-Performance All-Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries.

All-solid-state batteries employing sulfide solid electrolyte and Li metal anode are promising because of their high safety and energy densities. However, the interface between Li metal and sulfides suffers from catastrophic instability which stems the practical use. Here, a dynamically stable sulfide electrolyte architecture to construct the hierarchy of interface stability is reported. By rationally designing the multilayer structures of sulfide electrolytes, the dynamic decomposing-alloying process from MS4 (M = Ge or Sn) unit in sulfide interlayer can significantly prohibit Li dendrite penetration is revealed. The abundance of highly electronic insulating decompositions, such as Li2 S, at the sulfide interlayer interface helps to well constrain the dynamic decomposition process and preserve the long-term polarization stability is also highlighted. By using Li6 PS5 Cl||Li10 SnP2 S12 ||Li6 PS5 Cl electrolyte architecture, Li metal anode shows an unprecedented critical current density over 3 mA cm-2 and achieves the steady over-potential for ≈900 hours. Based upon the merits, the Li||LiNi0.8 Co0.1 Mn0.1 O2 battery delivers a remarkable 75.3% retention even after 600 cycles at 1 C (1C-0.95 mA cm-2 ) under a low stack pressure of 15 MPa.

Phase regulation enabling dense polymer-based composite electrolytes for solid-state lithium metal batteries.

Solid polymer electrolytes with large-scale processability and interfacial compatibility are promising candidates for solid-state lithium metal batteries. Among various systems, poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based polymer electrolytes with residual solvent are appealing for room-temperature battery operations. However, their porous structure and limited ionic conductivity hinder practical application. Herein, we propose a phase regulation strategy to disrupt the symmetry of poly(vinylidene fluoride) chains and obtain the dense composite electrolyte through the incorporation of MoSe2 sheets. The electrolyte with high dielectric constant can optimize the solvation structures to achieve high ionic conductivity and low activation energy. The in-situ reactions between MoSe2 and Li metal generate Li2Se fast conductor in solid electrolyte interphase, which improves the Coulombic efficiency and interfacial kinetics. The solid-state Li||Li cells achieve robust cycling at 1 mA cm-2, and the Li||LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 full cells show practical performance at high rate (3C), high loading (2.6 mAh cm-2) and in pouch cell.

Advanced inorganic lithium metasilicate binder for high-performance silicon anode.

Silicon (Si) is considered a high-capacity anode material with potential for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. However, the commercial application of Si anode is seriously hindered by huge volume variation (>300%) and limited Li+ diffusion ability. Herein, lithium metasilicate (LS), a novel inorganic binder, was innovatively developed to accommodate these challenges. Favorable compatibility is observed between the LS binder and Si nanoparticles (SiNPs) due to the existence of Si element within the LS skeleton. The interaction of the LS binder and SiNPs leads to a strong adhesion effect, enhancing the cycling stability of Si anode. The Si electrode with the LS binder presented an average discharge capacity of 2123 mAh/g at 0.84 A/g after 100 cycles. Furthermore, the presence of the Li+ transport channel within the LS binder enhances Li+ diffusion ability within Si anode. As a result, the average discharge capacity reaches 663 mAh/g at 8.4 A/g. This work thus explored new inorganic binder design approaches for Si anode, contributing to the advancement of high-performance Si anode.

Partially Carbonized Polymer Binder with Polymer Dots for Silicon Anodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Large-scale applications of conventional conductive binders for silicon (Si) anodes are challenging to accomplish due to their complex synthesis steps and high cost. Herein, a carbonized polymer dots-assisted polyvinyl alcohol-chitosan (PVA-CS-CPDs) binder is developed through a simple and low-cost hydrothermal method. Through rational design, the PVA-CS-CPDs binder retains rich polar groups while forming conjugated structures. The conjugated structure endows the PVA-CS-CPDs with high electronic conductivity, and the retained polar groups maintain strong binding strength. The proposed water-soluble binding system acts as both a binder and conductive additive, enabling stable cycling for high-Si-content (90 wt.%) anodes without any other conductive additives.

Impact of treatment modalities on prognosis of patients with metastatic renal collecting duct carcinoma.

Although patients with renal collecting duct carcinoma (CDC) benefit from surgery, the value of cytoreductive nephrectomy (CNx) for the prognosis of patients with metastatic CDC remains unclear. Hence, in this study, we used data from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry to investigate the prognostic factors and the impact of CNx on the outcomes in patients with metastatic CDC. Data of 521 patients, diagnosed with CDC between 2000 and 2018, were retrieved from the SEER database. Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank tests were used to compare the survival differences between the CNx group and non-surgical group. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors associated with overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) for patients with metastatic CDC. Moreover, multivariate Cox regression analysis guided by directed acyclic graphs (DAG) was used to unfold the impact of CNx and chemotherapy on OS and CSS. 86 patients were identified to have metastatic CDC. The median OS and CSS time were 5 and 6 months, respectively. The OS rates at 1-, 2- and 5-years were 24.4%, 15.1% and 2.3%, respectively. Whereas, the CSS rates at 1-, 2- and 5-years were 27.0%, 17.9% and 2.8%, respectively. Old patients and those receiving CNx or chemotherapy exhibited better survival outcomes. The multivariate regression model identified non-surgical treatment as the only independent prognostic factor for both, OS and CSS. However, DAG-guided multivariate Cox regression model showed that both, CNx and chemotherapy, were associated with both, OS and CSS. Patients with metastatic CDC exhibited worse clinical outcomes. However, CNx improved the prognosis of patients with metastatic CDC. Additionally, surgical resection of visible lesions and suitable chemotherapy were identified as alternative treatment strategies.

In situ synthesis of iron sulfide embedded porous carbon hollow spheres for sodium ion batteries.

Iron sulfide embedded porous carbon hollow spheres (FeSx@CS) have been successfully synthesized through a facile and environment friendly in situ synthetic method. Using this method, a porous carbon matrix and uniformly dispersed iron sulfide nanoparticles were formed simultaneously and assembled into hollow spheres. The as-synthesized FeSx@CS material showed high reversible capacity, outstanding cycle performance, and excellent rate capability when it was applied as an anode material for sodium ion batteries. It delivered a remarkable charge capacity of 656.75 mA h g-1 in the first cycle and a capacity retention of 97% after 100 cycles. When the current density was increased from 50 mA g-1 to 1000 and 2000 mA g-1, high capacity retention of 76.3% and 62.5% was achieved, respectively.

Novel Silicon Doped Tin Oxide-Carbon Microspheres as Anode Material for Lithium Ion Batteries: The Multiple Effects Exerted by Doped Si.

Silicon doped tin oxide embedded porous carbon microspheres (Siy Sn1-y Ox @C) are synthesized. It is found that the doped Si not only improves the reversibility of lithiation/delithiation reactions, but also prevents Sn from aggregation. In addition, the doped Si introduces extra defects into the carbon matrix and produces Li+ conductive Li4 SiO4 , which accelerates Li+ diffusion. Together with the conductive, porous carbon matrix that provides void space to accommodate the volume change of Sn during charge/discharge cycling, the novel Siy Sn1-y Ox @C exhibits excellent electrochemical performance. It shows a high initial columbic efficiency of 75.9%. A charge (delithiation) capacity of 880.32 mA h g-1 is retained after 150 cycles, i.e., 91% of the initial capacity. These results indicate that the as-synthesized Siy Sn1-y Ox @C is a promising anode material for lithium ion batteries.

Macronutrient Intake and Risk of Crohn's Disease: Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Epidemiological Studies.

Dietary intake is potentially associated with the onset of Crohn's disease (CD), but evidence from epidemiological studies has remained unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the role of macronutrient intake in the development of CD. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science to identify all relevant studies, and the role of macronutrients in the development of CD was quantitatively assessed by dose-response meta-analysis. Four case-control studies (a total of 311 CD cases and 660 controls) and five prospective cohort studies (238,887 participants and 482 cases) were identified. The pooled relative risks (RR) for per 10 g increment/day were 0.991 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.978-1.004) for total carbohydrate intake, 1.018 (95% CI: 0.969-1.069) for total fat intake, and 1.029 (95% CI: 0.955-1.109) for total protein intake. Fiber intake was inversely associated with CD risk (RR for per 10 g increment/day: 0.853, 95% CI: 0.762-0.955), but the association was influenced by study design and smoking adjustment. In subtypes, sucrose intake was positively related with CD risk (RR for per 10 g increment/day: 1.088, 95% CI: 1.020-1.160). Non-linear dose-response association was also found between fiber and sucrose intake and CD risk. In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggested a lack of association between total carbohydrate, fat or protein intake and the risk of CD, while high fiber intake might decrease the risk. In subtypes, high sucrose intake might increase the risk of CD.