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Innovation (Cambridge (Mass.)) Nov 2023Carbon neutrality calls for renewable energies, and the efficient use of renewable energies requires energy storage mediums that enable the storage of excess energy and... (Review)
Review
Carbon neutrality calls for renewable energies, and the efficient use of renewable energies requires energy storage mediums that enable the storage of excess energy and reuse after spatiotemporal reallocation. Compared with traditional energy storage technologies, mobile energy storage technologies have the merits of low cost and high energy conversion efficiency, can be flexibly located, and cover a large range from miniature to large systems and from high energy density to high power density, although most of them still face challenges or technical bottlenecks. In this review, we provide an overview of the opportunities and challenges of these emerging energy storage technologies (including rechargeable batteries, fuel cells, and electrochemical and dielectric capacitors). Innovative materials, strategies, and technologies are highlighted. Finally, the future directions are envisioned. We hope this review will advance the development of mobile energy storage technologies and boost carbon neutrality.
PubMed: 37841885
DOI: 10.1016/j.xinn.2023.100518 -
Trends in Biotechnology Jan 2024The storage of digital data is becoming a worldwide problem. DNA has been recognized as a biological solution due to its ability to store genetic information without... (Review)
Review
The storage of digital data is becoming a worldwide problem. DNA has been recognized as a biological solution due to its ability to store genetic information without alteration over long periods. The first demonstrations of high-capacity long-lasting DNA digital data storage have been shown. However, high storage costs and slow retrieval of the data must be overcome to make DNA data storage more applicable and marketable. Herein, we discuss the issues and recent advances in DNA data storage methods and highlight pathways to make this technology more applicable to real-world digital data storage. We envision that a combination of molecular biology, nanotechnology, novel polymers, electronics, and automation with systematic development will allow DNA data storage sufficient for everyday use.
Topics: Information Storage and Retrieval; DNA; Nanotechnology; Polymers; Sequence Analysis, DNA
PubMed: 37591721
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.07.006 -
Environmental Science & Technology Jul 2023Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is an important component in many national net-zero strategies. Ensuring that CO can be safely and economically stored in geological... (Review)
Review
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is an important component in many national net-zero strategies. Ensuring that CO can be safely and economically stored in geological systems is critical. To date, CCS research has focused on the physiochemical behavior of CO, yet there has been little consideration of the subsurface microbial impact on CO storage. However, recent discoveries have shown that microbial processes (e.g., methanogenesis) can be significant. Importantly, methanogenesis may modify the fluid composition and the fluid dynamics within the storage reservoir. Such changes may subsequently reduce the volume of CO that can be stored and change the mobility and future trapping systematics of the evolved supercritical fluid. Here, we review the current knowledge of how microbial methanogenesis could impact CO storage, including the potential scale of methanogenesis and the range of geologic settings under which this process operates. We find that methanogenesis is possible in all storage target types; however, the kinetics and energetics of methanogenesis will likely be limited by H generation. We expect that the bioavailability of H (and thus potential of microbial methanogenesis) will be greatest in depleted hydrocarbon fields and least within saline aquifers. We propose that additional integrated monitoring requirements are needed for CO storage to trace any biogeochemical processes including baseline, temporal, and spatial studies. Finally, we suggest areas where further research should be targeted in order to fully understand microbial methanogenesis in CO storage sites and its potential impact.
Topics: Carbon Dioxide; Carbon; Groundwater
PubMed: 37327355
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08652 -
Microbiome Aug 2023There is an increasing interest in investigating the human gut virome for its influence on the gut bacterial community and its putative influence on the trajectory...
BACKGROUND
There is an increasing interest in investigating the human gut virome for its influence on the gut bacterial community and its putative influence on the trajectory towards health or disease. Most gut virome studies are based on sequencing of stored fecal samples. However, relatively little is known about how conventional storage buffers and storage conditions affect the infectivity of bacteriophages and influence the downstream metavirome sequencing.
RESULTS
We demonstrate that the infectivity and genome recovery rate of different spiked bacteriophages (T4, c2 and Phi X174) are variable and highly dependent on storage buffers. Regardless of the storage temperature and timespan, all tested phages immediately lost 100% (DNA/RNA Shield) or more than 90% (StayRNA and RNAlater) of their infectivity. Generally, in SM buffer at 4 °C phage infectivity was preserved for up to 30 days and phage DNA integrity was maintained for up to 100 days. While in CANVAX, the most effective buffer, all spiked phage genomes were preserved for at least 100 days. Prolonged storage time (500 days) at - 80 °C impacted viral diversity differently in the different buffers. Samples stored in CANVAX or DNA/RNA Shield buffer had the least shifts in metavirome composition, after prolonged storage, but they yielded more contigs classified as "uncharacterised". Moreover, in contrast to the SM buffer, these storage buffers yielded a higher fraction of bacterial DNA in metavirome-sequencing libraries. We demonstrated that the latter was due to inactivation of the DNases employed to remove extra-cellular DNA during virome extraction. The latter could be partly avoided by employing additional washing steps prior to virome extraction.
CONCLUSION
Fecal sample storage buffers and storage conditions (time and temperature) strongly influence bacteriophage infectivity and viral composition as determined by plaque assay and metavirome sequencing. The choice of buffer had a larger effect than storage temperature and storage time on the quality of the viral sequences and analyses. Based on these results, we recommend storage of fecal virome samples at in SM buffer at 4 °C for the isolation of viruses and at - 80 °C for metagenomic applications if practically feasible (i.e., access to cold storage). For fecal samples stored in other buffers, samples should be cleared of these buffers before viral extraction and sequencing. Video Abstract.
Topics: Humans; Bacteriophages; DNA, Bacterial; Feces; Metagenome; RNA
PubMed: 37635262
DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01632-9 -
Tree Physiology Mar 2024Allocation of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) to storage allows plants to maintain a carbon pool in anticipation of future stress. However, to do so, plants must...
Allocation of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) to storage allows plants to maintain a carbon pool in anticipation of future stress. However, to do so, plants must forego use of the carbon for growth, creating a trade-off between storage and growth. It is possible that plants actively regulate the storage pool to maximise fitness in a stress-prone environment. Here, we attempt to identify the patterns of growth and storage that would result during drought stress under the hypothesis that plants actively regulate carbon storage. We use optimal control theory to calculate the optimal allocation to storage and utilisation of stored carbon over a single drought stress period. We examine two fitness objectives representing alternative life strategies: prioritisation of growth (MaxM) and prioritisation of storage (MaxS), as well as strategies in between these extremes. We find that optimal carbon storage consists of three discrete phases: 'growth', 'storage without growth', and the 'stress' phase where there is no carbon source. This trajectory can be defined by the time point when the plant switches from growth to storage. Growth-prioritising plants switch later and fully deplete their stored carbon over the stress period, while storage-prioritising plants either do not grow or switch early in the drought period. The switch time almost always occurs before soil water is depleted, meaning that growth stops before photosynthesis. We conclude that the common observation of increasing carbon storage during drought could be interpreted as an active process that optimises plant performance during stress.
PubMed: 38498322
DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpae032 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2023Currently, energy storage systems are of great importance in daily life due to our dependence on portable electronic devices and hybrid electric vehicles. Among these... (Review)
Review
Currently, energy storage systems are of great importance in daily life due to our dependence on portable electronic devices and hybrid electric vehicles. Among these energy storage systems, hybrid supercapacitor devices, constructed from a battery-type positive electrode and a capacitor-type negative electrode, have attracted widespread interest due to their potential applications. In general, they have a high energy density, a long cycling life, high safety, and environmental friendliness. This review first addresses the recent developments in state-of-the-art electrode materials, the structural design of electrodes, and the optimization of electrode performance. Then we summarize the possible classification of hybrid supercapacitor devices, and their potential applications. Finally, the fundamental theoretical aspects, charge-storage mechanism, and future developing trends are discussed. This review is intended to provide future research directions for the next generation of high-performance energy storage devices.
PubMed: 37687261
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28176432 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2024Nowadays, high-pressure hydrogen storage is the most commercially used technology owing to its high hydrogen purity, rapid charging/discharging of hydrogen, and low-cost... (Review)
Review
Nowadays, high-pressure hydrogen storage is the most commercially used technology owing to its high hydrogen purity, rapid charging/discharging of hydrogen, and low-cost manufacturing. Despite numerous reviews on hydrogen storage technologies, there is a relative scarcity of comprehensive examinations specifically focused on high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage and its associated materials. This article systematically presents the manufacturing processes and materials used for a variety of high-pressure hydrogen storage containers, including metal cylinders, carbon fiber composite cylinders, and emerging glass material-based hydrogen storage containers. Furthermore, it introduces the relevant principles and theoretical studies, showcasing their advantages and disadvantages compared to conventional high-pressure hydrogen storage containers. Finally, this article provides an outlook on the future development of high-pressure hydrogen storage containers.
PubMed: 38591616
DOI: 10.3390/ma17030721 -
Chemistry (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Apr 2024Micro-supercapacitors, emerging as promising micro-energy storage devices, have attracted significant attention due to their unique features. This comprehensive review... (Review)
Review
Micro-supercapacitors, emerging as promising micro-energy storage devices, have attracted significant attention due to their unique features. This comprehensive review focuses on two key aspects: the scalable fabrication of MSCs and their diverse applications. The review begins by elucidating the energy storage mechanisms and guiding principles for designing high-performance devices. It subsequently explores recent advancements in scalable fabrication techniques for electrode materials and micro-nano fabrication technologies for micro-devices. The discussion encompasses critical application domains, including multifunctional MSCs, energy storage integration, integrated power generation, and integrated applications. Despite notable progress, there are still some challenges such as large-scale production of electrode material, well-controlled fabrication technology, and scalable integrated manufacture. The summary concludes by emphasizing the need for future research to enhance micro-supercapacitor performance, reduce production costs, achieve large-scale production, and explore synergies with other energy storage technologies. This collective effort aims to propel MSCs from laboratory innovation to market viability, providing robust energy storage solutions for MEMS and portable electronics.
PubMed: 38206572
DOI: 10.1002/chem.202304160 -
Trends in Biotechnology Feb 2024DNA is an intelligent data storage medium due to its stability and high density. It has been used by nature for over 3.5 billion years. Compared with traditional... (Review)
Review
DNA is an intelligent data storage medium due to its stability and high density. It has been used by nature for over 3.5 billion years. Compared with traditional methods, DNA offers better compression and physical density. DNA can retain information for thousands of years. However, challenges exist in scalability, standardization, metadata gathering, biocybersecurity, and specialized tools. Addressing these challenges is crucial for widespread implementation. Collaboration among experts, as well as keeping the future in mind, is needed to unlock the full potential of DNA data storage, which promises low energy costs, high-density storage, and long-term stability.
Topics: Information Storage and Retrieval; DNA
PubMed: 37673693
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.08.001 -
Micromachines Dec 2023Ultra-Low-Power Non-Volatile Memory (UltraRAM), as a promising storage device, has attracted wide research attention from the scientific community. Non-volatile data...
Ultra-Low-Power Non-Volatile Memory (UltraRAM), as a promising storage device, has attracted wide research attention from the scientific community. Non-volatile data retention in combination with switching at ≤2.6 V is achieved through the use of the extraordinary 2.1 eV conduction band offsets of InAs/AlSb and a triple-barrier resonant tunnelling structure. Along these lines, in this work, the structure, storage mechanism, and improvement strategies of UltraRAM were systematically investigated to enhance storage window clarity and speed performance. First, the basic structure and working principle of UltraRAM were introduced, and its comparative advantages over traditional memory devices were highlighted. Furthermore, through the validation of the band structure and storage mechanism, the superior performance of UltraRAM, including its low operating voltage and excellent non-volatility, was further demonstrated. To address the issue of the small storage window, an improvement strategy was proposed by reducing the thickness of the channel layer to increase the storage window. The feasibility of this strategy was validated by performing a series of simulation-based experiments. From our analysis, a significant 80% increase in the storage window after thinning the channel layer was demonstrated, providing an important foundation for enhancing the performance of UltraRAM. Additionally, the data storage capability of this strategy was examined under the application of short pulse widths, and a data storage operation with a 10 ns pulse width was successfully achieved. In conclusion, valuable insights into the application of UltraRAM in the field of non-volatile storage were provided. Our work paves the way for further optimizing the memory performance and expanding the functionalities of UltraRAM.
PubMed: 38138376
DOI: 10.3390/mi14122207