Enhanced Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen Targeting by Precision Control of DNA Scaffolded Nanoparticle Ligand Presentation.

Targeted nanoparticles have been extensively explored for their ability to deliver their payload to a selective cell population while reducing off-target side effects. The design of actively targeted nanoparticles requires the grafting of a ligand that specifically binds to a highly expressed receptor on the surface of the targeted cell population. Optimizing the interactions between the targeting ligand and the receptor can maximize the cellular uptake of the nanoparticles and subsequently improve their activity. Here, we evaluated how the density and presentation of the targeting ligands dictate the cellular uptake of nanoparticles. To do so, we used a DNA-scaffolded PLGA nanoparticle system to achieve efficient and tunable ligand conjugation. A prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expressing a prostate cancer cell line was used as a model. The density and presentation of PSMA targeting ligand ACUPA were precisely tuned on the DNA-scaffolded nanoparticle surface, and their impact on cellular uptake was evaluated. It was found that matching the ligand density with the cell receptor density achieved the maximum cellular uptake and specificity. Furthermore, DNA hybridization-mediated targeting chain rigidity of the DNA-scaffolded nanoparticle offered ∼3 times higher cellular uptake compared to the ACUPA-terminated PLGA nanoparticle. Our findings also indicated a ∼ 3.7-fold reduction in the cellular uptake for the DNA hybridization of the non-targeting chain. We showed that nanoparticle uptake is energy-dependent and follows a clathrin-mediated pathway. Finally, we validated the preferential tumor targeting of the nanoparticles in a bilateral tumor xenograft model. Our results provide a rational guideline for designing actively targeted nanoparticles and highlight the application of DNA-scaffolded nanoparticles as an efficient active targeting platform.

Study on the Separation Performance of a Two Cylindrical Section Hydrocyclone under Various Height Ratios.

Two cylindrical section hydrocyclones can suppress particle misplacement by regulating the circulation flow, but few researchers have investigated the effect of the cylindrical height ratio. In this paper, numerical simulations and physical tests were conducted to investigate the effect of height ratio on the particle motion behavior and separation performance of the two cylindrical section hydrocyclone. According to the numerical simulation results, with increasing height ratio, the separation cut size decreased, the separation accuracy and recovery rate of medium and coarse particles in the underflow increased, the coarse particle misplacement in overflow decreased significantly, and the proportion of medium particle circulation flow gradually increased. According to the test results, the number of misplaced fine particles in underflow could be effectively reduced when H1/H0 = 0.30. With increasing height ratio, the number of misplaced coarse particles in the overflow decreased and the classification efficiency of fine particles increased. The maximum separation efficiencies of medium and coarse particles could be obtained at H1/H0 values of 0.47 and 0.17, respectively. Therefore, increasing the height ratio could inhibit coarse particle misplacement in overflow and improve the separation performance of two cylindrical section hydrocyclones.

TFAM is an autophagy receptor that limits inflammation by binding to cytoplasmic mitochondrial DNA.

When cells are stressed, DNA from energy-producing mitochondria can leak out and drive inflammatory immune responses if not cleared. Cells employ a quality control system called autophagy to specifically degrade damaged components. We discovered that mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM)-a protein that binds mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)-helps to eliminate leaked mtDNA by interacting with the autophagy protein LC3 through an autolysosomal pathway (we term this nucleoid-phagy). TFAM contains a molecular zip code called the LC3 interacting region (LIR) motif that enables this binding. Although mutating TFAM's LIR motif did not affect its normal mitochondrial functions, more mtDNA accumulated in the cell cytoplasm, activating inflammatory signalling pathways. Thus, TFAM mediates autophagic removal of leaked mtDNA to restrict inflammation. Identifying this mechanism advances understanding of how cells exploit autophagy machinery to selectively target and degrade inflammatory mtDNA. These findings could inform research on diseases involving mitochondrial damage and inflammation.

A locally solvent-tethered polymer electrolyte for long-life lithium metal batteries.

Solid polymer electrolytes exhibit enhanced Li+ conductivity when plasticized with highly dielectric solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). However, the application of DMF-containing electrolytes in solid-state batteries is hindered by poor cycle life caused by continuous DMF degradation at the anode surface and the resulting unstable solid-electrolyte interphase. Here we report a composite polymer electrolyte with a rationally designed Hofmann-DMF coordination complex to address this issue. DMF is engineered on Hofmann frameworks as tethered ligands to construct a locally DMF-rich interface which promotes Li+ conduction through a ligand-assisted transport mechanism. A high ionic conductivity of 6.5 × 10-4 S cm-1 is achieved at room temperature. We demonstrate that the composite electrolyte effectively reduces the free shuttling and subsequent decomposition of DMF. The locally solvent-tethered electrolyte cycles stably for over 6000 h at 0.1 mA cm-2 in Li | |Li symmetric cell. When paired with sulfurized polyacrylonitrile cathodes, the full cell exhibits a prolonged cycle life of 1000 cycles at 1 C. This work will facilitate the development of practical polymer-based electrolytes with high ionic conductivity and long cycle life.

A Large-Scale Fabrication of Flexible, Ultrathin, and Robust Solid Electrolyte for Solid-State Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

All-solid-state lithium metal batteries (ASSLMBs) are considered as the most promising candidates for the next-generation high-safety batteries. To achieve high energy density in ASSLMBs, it is essential that the solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) are lightweight, thin, and possess superior electrochemical stability. In this study, a feasible and scalable fabrication approach to construct 3D supporting skeleton using an electro-blown spinning technique is proposed. This skeleton not only enhances the mechanical strength but also hinders the migration of Li-salt anions, improving the lithium-ion transference number of the SSE. This provides a homogeneous distribution of Li-ion flux and local current density, promoting uniform Li deposition. As a result, based on the mechanically robust and thin SSEs, the Li symmetric cells show outstanding Li plating/stripping reversibility. Besides, a stable interface contact between SSE and Li anode has been established with the formation of an F-enriched solid electrolyte interface layer. The solid-state Li|sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (Li|SPAN) cell achieves a capacity retention ratio of 94.0% after 350 cycles at 0.5 C. Also, the high-voltage Li|LCO cell shows a capacity retention of 92.4% at 0.5 C after 500 cycles. This fabrication approach for SSEs is applicable for commercially large-scale production and application in high-energy-density and high-safety ASSLMBs.

Chlorine bridge bond-enabled binuclear copper complex for electrocatalyzing lithium-sulfur reactions.

Engineering atom-scale sites are crucial to the mitigation of polysulfide shuttle, promotion of sulfur redox, and regulation of lithium deposition in lithium-sulfur batteries. Herein, a homonuclear copper dual-atom catalyst with a proximal distance of 3.5 Å is developed for lithium-sulfur batteries, wherein two adjacent copper atoms are linked by a pair of symmetrical chlorine bridge bonds. Benefiting from the proximal copper atoms and their unique coordination, the copper dual-atom catalyst with the increased active interface concentration synchronously guide the evolutions of sulfur and lithium species. Such a delicate design breaks through the activity limitation of mononuclear metal center and represents a catalyst concept for lithium-sulfur battery realm. Therefore, a remarkable areal capacity of 7.8 mA h cm-2 is achieved under the scenario of sulfur content of 60 wt.%, mass loading of 7.7 mg cm-2 and electrolyte dosage of 4.8 µL mg-1.

Total knee arthroplasty in patients with Klippel Trenaunay syndrome and knee osteoarthritis: A case report and a literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Klippel Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is a rare congenital disorder characterized by wine staining, varicose veins, bone hypertrophy, and soft tissue hyperplasia. KTS usually occurs at birth, early infancy or childhood. The rarity of disease makes it difficult to calculate its incidence rate. However, few studies report the incidence rate of 2 to 5 cases per 100 thousand. Furthermore, evidence demonstrates that KTS is more prevalent among males compared to females. CASE PRESENTATION: An elderly male aged 67, was admitted to the hospital for chronic pain in his left knee. An outpatient physical examination reveals a significantly thicker left lower limb accompanied by multiple varicose veins. The right lower limb was 2 cm short on the opposite side, and the right foot was stunted with high arch deformity. The entire body was covered in a red grape globus, which faded after pressing. He was diagnosed with KTS. We performed TKA for him after blood coagulation examination. The patient recovered well after the operation. He was followed up for 1 year, The patient is in good condition and satisfied with the operation. CONCLUSION: For patients with KTS, total knee arthroplasty is an effective surgical procedure to treat arthritis. However, some risks must be considered, and appropriate surgical preparation must be undertaken.

Accuracy of the Cage Placement in Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion and its Effects on the Radiological Outcome in Lumbar Degenerative Disease.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to check how accurately cages were inserted and how they affected the radiological results in oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) at L2-L5. METHODS: A total of 137 patients diagnosed with lumbar degenerative disease, 184 intervertebral discs were included. We used a new cage deviation classification system on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine cage insertion accuracy. Cage deviation angles (CDA) were classified into four groups based on the angle formed by the long axis of the cage and the horizontal axis of the vertebral body. Other radiological parameters on plain radiographs and MRI were compared based on this classification. RESULTS: Among 183 cages, 19 were in zone Ⅰ-Ⅱ (10.32%), 163 were in zone II-III (88.59%), and two were in zone III-IV (1.09%). The median cage deviation was 4.97°. No significant differences (H = 2.479, P = .290 > .05) of CDA were found among different segments. Posterior cage deviation accounted 94.57%. The minimal, mild, moderate, and severe cage deviation was 89 (48.4%), 51 (27.7%), 30 (16.3%), and 14 (7.6%) respectively. No differences in radiological parameter changes were noted among different cage obliquity categories. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 98.91% of cages were placed in zones I-II and II-III. Most cages deviated posteriorly with CDA ranging minimal to moderate. Minimal to moderate cage deviation did not impact radiological outcomes significantly in OLIF at L2-L5. However, avoiding severe cage deviation is crucial to prevent contralateral traversing nerve root injuries.

Self-Assembly of Ultrathin, Ultrastrong Layered Membranes by Protic Solvent Penetration.

Flexible membranes with ultrathin thickness and excellent mechanical properties have shown great potential for broad uses in solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs), on-skin electronics, etc. However, an ultrathin membrane (<5 µm) is rarely reported in the above applications due to the inherent trade-off between thickness and antifailure ability. We discover a protic solvent penetration strategy to prepare ultrathin, ultrastrong layered films through a continuous interweaving of aramid nanofibers (ANFs) with the assistance of simultaneous protonation and penetration of a protic solvent. The thickness of a pure ANF film can be controlled below 5 µm, with a tensile strength of 556.6 MPa, allowing us to produce the thinnest SPE (3.4 µm). The resultant SPEs enable Li-S batteries to cycle over a thousand times at a high rate of 1C due to the small ionic impedance conferred by the ultrathin characteristic and regulated ionic transportation. Besides, a high loading of the sulfur cathode (4 mg cm-2) with good sulfur utilization was achieved at a mild temperature (35 °C), which is difficult to realize in previously reported solid-state Li-S batteries. Through a simple laminating process at the wet state, the thicker film (tens of micrometers) obtained exhibits mechanical properties comparable to those of thin films and possesses the capability to withstand high-velocity projectile impacts, indicating that our technique features a high degree of thickness controllability. We believe that it can serve as a valuable tool to assemble nanomaterials into ultrathin, ultrastrong membranes for various applications.

Unraveling the Coupling Effect between Cathode and Anode toward Practical Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

The localized reaction heterogeneity of the sulfur cathode and the uneven Li deposition on the Li anode are intractable issues for lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries under practical operation. Despite impressive progress in separately optimizing the sulfur cathode or Li anode, a comprehensive understanding of the highly coupled relationship between the cathode and anode is still lacking. In this work, inspired by the Butler-Volmer equation, a binary descriptor (IBD ) assisting the rational structural design of sulfur cathode by simultaneously considering the mass-transport index (Imass ) and the charge-transfer index (Icharge ) is identified, and subsequently the relationship between IBD and the morphological evolution of Li anode is established. Guided by the IBD , a scalable electrode providing interpenetrated flow channels for efficient mass/charge transfer, full utilization of active sulfur, and mechanically elastic support for aggressive electrochemical reactions under practical conditions is reported. These characteristics induce a homogenous distribution of local current densities and reduced reaction heterogeneity on both sides of the cathode and anode. Impressive energy density of 318 Wh kg-1 and 473 Wh L-1 in an Ah-level pouch cell can be achieved by the design concept. This work offers a promising paradigm for unlocking the interaction between cathode and anode and designing high-energy practical Li-S batteries.

Band Structure Engineering and Orbital Orientation Control Constructing Dual Active Sites for Efficient Sulfur Redox Reaction.

The kinetics difference among multistep electrochemical processes leads to the accumulation of soluble polysulfides and thus shuttle effect in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. While the interaction between catalysts and representative species has been reported, the root of the kinetics difference, interaction change among redox reactions, remains unclear, which significantly impedes the catalysts design for Li-S batteries. Here, this work deciphers the interaction change among electrocatalytic sulfur reactions, using tungsten disulfide (WS2 ) a model system to demonstrate the efficiency of modifying electrocatalytic selectivity via dual-coordination design. Band structure engineering and orbital orientation control are combined to guide the design of WS2 with boron dopants and sulfur vacancies (B-WS2- x ), accurately modulating interaction with lithium and sulfur sites in polysulfide species for relatively higher interaction with short-chain polysulfides. The modified interaction trend is experimentally confirmed by distinguishing the kinetics of each electrochemical reaction step, indicating the effectiveness of the designed strategy. An Ah-level pouch cell with B-WS2- x delivers a gravimetric energy density of up to 417.6 Wh kg-1 with a low electrolyte/sulfur ratio of 3.6 µL mg-1 and negative/positive ratio of 1.2. This work presents a dual-coordination strategy for advancing evolutionarily catalytic activity, offering a rational strategy to develop effective catalysts for practical Li-S batteries.

Collaborative and privacy-preserving retired battery sorting for profitable direct recycling via federated machine learning.

Unsorted retired batteries with varied cathode materials hinder the adoption of direct recycling due to their cathode-specific nature. The surge in retired batteries necessitates precise sorting for effective direct recycling, but challenges arise from varying operational histories, diverse manufacturers, and data privacy concerns of recycling collaborators (data owners). Here we show, from a unique dataset of 130 lithium-ion batteries spanning 5 cathode materials and 7 manufacturers, a federated machine learning approach can classify these retired batteries without relying on past operational data, safeguarding the data privacy of recycling collaborators. By utilizing the features extracted from the end-of-life charge-discharge cycle, our model exhibits 1% and 3% cathode sorting errors under homogeneous and heterogeneous battery recycling settings respectively, attributed to our innovative Wasserstein-distance voting strategy. Economically, the proposed method underscores the value of precise battery sorting for a prosperous and sustainable recycling industry. This study heralds a new paradigm of using privacy-sensitive data from diverse sources, facilitating collaborative and privacy-respecting decision-making for distributed systems.

Regulating the Spin State Configuration in Bimetallic Phosphorus Trisulfides for Promoting Sulfur Redox Kinetics.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries suffer from sluggish kinetics due to the poor conductivity of sulfur cathodes and polysulfide shutting. Current studies on sulfur redox catalysis mainly focus on the adsorption and catalytic conversion of lithium polysulfides but ignore the modulation of the electronic structure of the catalysts which involves spin-related charge transfer and orbital interactions. In this work, bimetallic phosphorus trisulfides embedded in Prussian blue analogue-derived nitrogen-doped hollow carbon nanocubes (FeCoPS3/NCs) were elaborately synthesized as a host to reveal the relationship between the catalytic activity and the spin state configuration for Li-S batteries. Orbital spin splitting in FeCoPS3 drives the electronic structure transition from low-spin to high-spin states, generating more unpaired electrons on the 3d orbit. Specifically, the nondegenerate orbitals involved in the high-spin configuration of FeCoPS3 result in the upshift of energy levels, generating more active electronic states. Such tailored electronic structure increases the charge transfer, influences the d-band center, and further modifies the adsorption energy with lithium polysulfides and the potential reaction pathways. Consequently, the cell with FeCoPS3/NC host exhibits an ultralow capacity decay of 0.037% per cycle over 1000 cycles. This study proposed a general strategy for sculpting geometric configurations to enable spin and orbital topology regulation in Li-S battery catalysts.

Precise surface functionalization of PLGA particles for human T cell modulation.

The biofunctionalization of synthetic materials has extensive utility for biomedical applications, but approaches to bioconjugation typically show insufficient efficiency and controllability. We recently developed an approach by building synthetic DNA scaffolds on biomaterial surfaces that enables the precise control of cargo density and ratio, thus improving the assembly and organization of functional cargos. We used this approach to show that the modulation and phenotypic adaptation of immune cells can be regulated using our precisely functionalized biomaterials. Here, we describe the three key procedures, including the fabrication of polymeric particles engrafted with short DNA scaffolds, the attachment of functional cargos with complementary DNA strands, and the surface assembly control and quantification. We also explain the critical checkpoints needed to ensure the overall quality and expected characteristics of the biological product. We provide additional experimental design considerations for modifying the approach by varying the material composition, size or cargo types. As an example, we cover the use of the protocol for human primary T cell activation and for the identification of parameters that affect ex vivo T cell manufacturing. The protocol requires users with diverse expertise ranging from synthetic materials to bioconjugation chemistry to immunology. The fabrication procedures and validation assays to design high-fidelity DNA-scaffolded biomaterials typically require 8 d.

The Relationships Between Blood Pb Levels and Blood Pressure Among Lead-Exposed Workers in China: A Repeated-Measure Study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the differences in the increase of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in 3 consecutive years among lead (Pb) workers. METHODS: Four hundred forty-eight Pb workers were enrolled in this repeated-measure study. Blood Pb, SBP, and DBP were measured in 2015 to 2017. Repeated measure of analysis of variance was used to compare the differences in the increase of SBP and DBP. RESULTS: The mean SBP values were 124.0/125.5/126.9 mm Hg, and the mean DBP values were 75.4/77.4/77.8 mm Hg from 2015 to 2017. The differences in the increase of SBP and DBP were 2.94/2.42 mm Hg during the 3-year period. The average annual increase of SBP or DBP showed an upward trend in different Pb dose groups ( F = 4.904, P = 0.002; F = 3.612, P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Lead exposure caused average annual increases in SBP and DBP with 0.98 and 0.81 mm Hg, which provided basic data for health surveillance.

Comparison between OLIF and MISTLIF in degenerative lumbar stenosis: an age-, sex-, and segment-matched cohort study.

To compare outcomes after oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) versus minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MISTLIF) with bilateral decompression via unilateral approach for treating mild to moderate symptomatic degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS). We retrospectively compared patients who underwent single-level (L4/5) OLIF with an age-, sex-, and segment-matched MISTLIF with bilateral decompression via unilateral approach cohort. Perioperative data were collected for the operative time, intraoperative blood loss, drainage in the first postoperative day, postoperative hospital stay, cost, intraoperative fluoroscopy, and complications. Lumbar radiographs were measured for changes in posterior intervertebral space height (PISH), intervertebral space foramen height (IFH), intervertebral foramen area (IFA), and area of the spinal canal (ASC). Clinical and psychological outcomes included the visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). 35 OLIF patients were compared with 35 MISTLIF patients in L4/5 DLSS. The OLIF group had shorter bedtime, postoperative hospital stays, less intraoperative and postoperative blood loss (all P < 0.05), but had more times of intraoperative fluoroscopy, longer operative time, and higher cost (all P < 0.05). The complication rates were equivalent (OLIF vs MISTLIF: 22.86% vs 17.14%). PISH (11.94 ± 1.78 mm vs 9.42 ± 1.94 mm, P < 0.05), IFH (23.87 ± 3.05 mm vs 21.41 ± 2.95 mm, P < 0.05), and IFA (212.14 ± 51.82 mm2 vs 177.07 ± 51.73 mm2, P < 0.05) after surgery were significantly increased in the OLIF group. The ASC was increased significantly after the operation in both groups, but the ASC in the MISTLIF group was increased significantly more than that in the OLIF group (450.04 ± 66.66 mm2 vs 171.41 ± 58.55 mm2, P < 0.05). The lumbar VAS scores at 1 month (1.89 ± 0.87 vs 2.34 ± 0.84, P = 0.028) and 6 months (1.23 ± 0.97 vs 1.80 ± 0.99, P = 0.018) after operation in the OLIF group were significantly lower. There were no significant differences in lower extremity VAS and ODI scores between the two groups. Compared with MISTLIF group, HADS scores on postoperative day 3 (2.91 ± 1.46 vs 4.89 ± 1.78, P < 0.05) and prior to hospital discharge (PTD) (2.54 ± 1.38 vs 3.80 ± 1.78, P = 0.002) in the OLIF group were decreased significantly. OLIF showed more advantages of less surgical invasion, lower incidence of postoperative low back pain, faster postoperative recovery, and less anxiety compared with MISTLIF. Regardless of cost, OLIF seems to be a better option to treat mild to moderate symptomatic DLSS.

Structure, spectroscopy and laser performance of an Er:YGGAG crystal.

In this work, we report on investigations of structure, spectroscopic properties and laser performances of, what we believe to be, a novel Er:YGGAG laser crystal. High crystalline quality is proved by an FWHW of XRC of 0.019°. Thermal conductivity of a 30 at.% Er:YGGAG crystal is determined as 4.98 W/(m·K). The refractive index is measured in the range of 400 to 1000 nm and fitting with Sellmeier equation is done. A broad fluorescence emission band is located at 2786∼2819 nm, suggesting that this crystal is favorable to realize tunable and ultrafast laser. Under the pump at 969 nm with a fiber-coupled diode laser, at 400 Hz repetition rate and 600 µs pulse duration, the 30 at.% Er:YGGAG delivered maximum average power of 506 mW with overall optical-to-optical efficiency of 12.4% and slope efficiency of 16.9%. The laser beam quality was characterized by M2 factors of 1.53 and 1.39 in horizontal and vertical directions, respectively.

A Stable and Energy-Dense Polysulfide/Permanganate Flow Battery.

Redox flow batteries (RFBs) as promising technologies for energy storage have attracted burgeoning efforts and have achieved many advances in the past decades. However, for practical applications, the exploration of high-performance RFB systems is still of significance. In this work, inspired by the high solubility and low cost of both polysulfides and permanganates, the S/Mn RFBs with S42-/S22- and MnO4-/MnO42- as negative and positive redox pairs are demonstrated. Moreover, to solve the poor cycling performance caused by the sluggish kinetics of polysulfide-involved redox reactions and instability of the carbon felt (CF) electrode in the strong oxidative and corrosive catholyte, both the anode and cathode are designed to obtain high performance. Herein, the NiSx/Ni foam exhibiting electrocatalysis activity toward polysulfide ions is prepared and works as the anode while the graphene-modified carbon felt (G/CF) with high stability is fabricated and utilized as the cathode. Additionally, NaMnO4 with a high solubility limit (3.92 M) in the alkaline supporting electrolyte is preferred to KMnO4 as the redox-active molecule in the catholyte. The resulting S/Mn RFB cells show outstanding cell performance, such as high energy density (67.8 Wh L-1), long cycling lifetime with a temporal capacity fade of 0.025% h-1, and low chemical cost of electrolytes (17.31 $ kWh-1). Moreover, a three-cell stack shows good cycling stability over 100 cycles (226.8 h) with high performance, verifying the good scalability of the proposed S/Mn RFB system. Therefore, the present strategy provides a reliable candidate for stable, energy-dense, and cost-effective devices for future energy storage applications.

Ultrahigh-Voltage LiCoO2 at 4.7 V by Interface Stabilization and Band Structure Modification.

Lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) is widely used in Li-ion batteries due to its high volumetric energy density, which is generally charged to 4.3 V. Lifting the cut-off voltage of LCO from 4.3 V to 4.7 V will increase the specific capacity from 150 to 230 mAh g-1 with a significant improvement of 53%. However, LCO suffers serious problems of H1-3/O1 phase transformation, unstable interface between cathode and electrolyte, and irreversible oxygen redox reaction at 4.7 V. Herein, interface stabilization and band structure modification are proposed to strengthen the crystal structure of LCO for stable cycling of LCO at an ultrahigh voltage of 4.7 V. Gradient distribution of magnesium and uniform doping of nickel in Li layers inhibit the harmful phase transitions of LCO, while uniform LiMgx Ni1- x PO4 coating stabilizes the LCO-electrolyte interface during cycles. Moreover, the modified band structure improves the oxygen redox reaction reversibility and electrochemical performance of the modified LCO. As a result, the modified LCO has a high capacity retention of 78% after 200 cycles at 4.7 V in the half cell and 63% after 500 cycles at 4.6 V in the full cell. This work makes the capacity of LCO one step closer to its theoretical specific capacity.

A Permselective Coating Protects Lithium Anode toward a Practical Lithium-Sulfur Battery.

Lithium metal is a desirable anode for high-energy density lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. However, its reliability is severely limited by dendrite growth and side reactions with polysulfides, which are yet challenging to solve simultaneously. Herein, we report a protective layer that works the same way as the ion-permselective cell membrane, yielding a corrosion-resistant and dendrite-free Li metal anode specially for Li-S batteries. A self-limited assembly of octadecylamine together with Al3+ ions on a Li metal anode surface produces a dense, stable yet thin layer with ionic conductive Al-Li alloy uniformly embedded in it, which prevents the passage of polysulfides but regulates the penetrated Li ion flux for uniform Li deposition. As a result, the assembled batteries show excellent cycling stability even with a high sulfur-loaded cathode, suggesting a straightforward but promising strategy to stabilize highly active anodes for practical applications.