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Journal of Colloid and Interface Science Jun 2024Bismuth-based materials have attracted interest in potassium-ion batteries (PIBs). However, the large volume expansion prevents further use of bismuth-based materials...
Bismuth-based materials have attracted interest in potassium-ion batteries (PIBs). However, the large volume expansion prevents further use of bismuth-based materials for potassium storage. This work employs a two-step synthesis method to innovatively synthesize of Bi/BiO nanoparticles assembled on N-doped porous carbon sheets (Bi/BiO@CN). The layered structures with uniformly shaped and N-doped porous carbon skeleton buffer the expansion of Bi and the Bi/BiO particles increase the capacity of potassium storage. In brief, the Bi/BiO@CN served as anode in half-cell of PIBs have a good rate capacity of more than 234.7 mAh/g at 20 A/g. The specific capacity retention was 73 % compared with 322.16 mAh/g at 1 A/g, demonstrating good holding capacity for diverse current densities. The cycle also displays 163 mAh/g after 1500 cycles at 2 A/g in the KPF metal salt solution, showing its potential as one of the anode materials in PIBs.
PubMed: 38945030
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.06.207 -
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science Jun 2024Constructing unique heterostructures is a highly effective approach for enhancing the K storage capability of transition metal selenides. Such structures generate...
Constructing unique heterostructures is a highly effective approach for enhancing the K storage capability of transition metal selenides. Such structures generate internal electric fields that significantly reduce the charge transfer activation energy. However, achieving a flawless interfacial region that maintains the optimal energy level gradient and degree of lattice matching remains a considerable challenge. In this study, we synthesised Setaria-like NiTe/MoS@C heterogeneous interfaces at which three-dimensional MoS nanosheets are evenly embedded in NiTe nanorods to form stabilised heterojunctions. The NiTe/MoS heterojunctions display distinctive electronic configurations and several active sites owing to their low lattice misfits (δ = 13 %), strong electric fields, and uniform carbon shells. A NiTe/MoS@C anode in a potassium-ion battery (KIB) exhibited an impressive reversible capacity of 125.8 mAh/g after 1000 cycles at a rate of 500 mA g and a stable reversible capacity of 111.7 mAh/g even after 3000 cycles at 1000 mA g. Even the NiTe/MoS@C//perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride full battery configuration maintained a significant reversible capacity of 92.4 mAh/g after 100 cycles at 200 mA g, highlighting its considerable potential for application in KIBs. Calculations further revealed that the well-designed NiTe/MoS heterojunction significantly promotes K ion diffusion.
PubMed: 38943913
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.06.193 -
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach,... Jun 2024Cost-effectiveness plays a decisive role in sustainable operating of rechargeable batteries. As such, the low cost-consumption of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and... (Review)
Review
Cost-effectiveness plays a decisive role in sustainable operating of rechargeable batteries. As such, the low cost-consumption of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) provides a promising direction for "how do SIBs/PIBs replace Li-ion batteries (LIBs) counterparts" based on their resource abundance and advanced electrochemical performance. To rationalize the SIBs/PIBs technologies as alternatives to LIBs from the unit energy cost perspective, this review gives the specific criteria for their energy density at possible electrode-price grades and various battery-longevity levels. The cost ($ kWh cycle) advantage of SIBs/PIBs is ascertained by the cheap raw-material compensation for the cycle performance deficiency and the energy density gap with LIBs. Furthermore, the cost comparison between SIBs and PIBs, especially on cost per kWh and per cycle, is also involved. This review explicitly manifests the practicability and cost-effectiveness toward SIBs are superior to PIBs whose commercialization has so far been hindered by low energy density. Even so, the huge potential on sustainability of PIBs, to outperform SIBs, as the mainstream energy storage technology is revealed as long as PIBs achieve long cycle life or enhanced energy density, the related outlook of which is proceeded as the next development directions for commercial applications.
PubMed: 38943573
DOI: 10.1002/adma.202405989 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Salinity has become a major environmental concern for agricultural lands, leading to decreased crop yields. Hence, plant biology experts aim to genetically improve...
Salinity has become a major environmental concern for agricultural lands, leading to decreased crop yields. Hence, plant biology experts aim to genetically improve barley's adaptation to salinity stress by deeply studying the effects of salt stress and the responses of barley to this stress. In this context, our study aims to explore the variation in physiological and biochemical responses of five Tunisian spring barley genotypes to salt stress during the heading phase. Two salinity treatments were induced by using 100 mM NaCl (T1) and 250 mM NaCl (T2) in the irrigation water. Significant phenotypic variations were detected among the genotypes in response to salt stress. Plants exposed to 250 mM of NaCl showed an important decline in all studied physiological parameters namely, gas exchange, ions concentration and relative water content RWC. The observed decreases in concentrations ranged from, approximately, 6.64% to 40.76% for K, 5.91% to 43.67% for Na, 14.12% to 52.38% for Ca, and 15.22% to 38.48% for Mg across the different genotypes and salt stress levels. However, under salinity conditions, proline and soluble sugars increased for all genotypes with an average increase of 1.6 times in proline concentrations and 1.4 times in soluble sugars concentration. Furthermore, MDA levels rose also for all genotypes, with the biggest rise in Lemsi genotype (114.27% of increase compared to control). Ardhaoui and Rihane showed higher photosynthetic activity compared to the other genotypes across all treatments. The stepwise regression approach identified potassium content, K/Na ratio, relative water content, stomatal conductance and SPAD measurement as predominant traits for thousand kernel weight (R2 = 84.06), suggesting their significant role in alleviating salt stress in barley. Overall, at heading stage, salt accumulation in irrigated soils with saline water significantly influences the growth of barley by influencing gas exchange parameters, mineral composition and water content, in a genotype-dependent manner. These results will serve on elucidating the genetic mechanisms underlying these variations to facilitate targeted improvements in barley's tolerance to salt stress.
Topics: Hordeum; Salt Stress; Water; Minerals; Genotype; Salinity; Sodium Chloride
PubMed: 38942909
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65967-5 -
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Jun 2024MnO-based materials have limited capacity and poor conductivity over various voltages, hampering their potential for energy storage applications. This work proposes a...
MnO-based materials have limited capacity and poor conductivity over various voltages, hampering their potential for energy storage applications. This work proposes a novel approach to address these challenges. A self-oriented multiple-electronic structure of a 1D-MnO-nanorod/2D-MnO-nanosphere composite was assembled on 2D-graphene oxide nanosheet/1D-carbon nanofiber (GO/CNF) hybrids. Aided by K ions, the MnO nanorods were partially converted to MnO nanospheres, while the GO nanosheets were combined with CNF through hydrogen bonds resulting in a unique double binary 1D-2D mixed morphology of MnO/MnO-GO/CNF hybrid, having a novel mechanism of multiple Mn ion redox reactions facilitated by the interconnected 3D network. The morphology of the MnO nanorods was controlled by regulating the potassium ion content through a rinsing strategy. Interestingly, pure MnO nanorods undergo air-annealing to form a mixture of nanorods and nanospheres (MnO/MnO) with a distinct morphology indicating pseudocapacitive surface redox reactions involving Mn, Mn, and Mn. In the presence of the GO/CNF framework, the charge storage properties of the MnO/MnO-GO/CNF composite electrode show dominant battery-type behavior because of the unique mesoporous structure with a crumpled morphology that provides relatively large voids and cavities with smaller diffusion paths to facilitate the accumulation/intercalation of charges at the inner electroactive sites for the diffusion-controlled process. The corresponding specific capacity of 800 C g or 222.2 mAh g at 1 A g and remarkable cycling stability (95%) over 5000 cycles at 3 A g were considerably higher than those of the reported electrodes of similar materials. Moreover, a hybrid supercapacitor device is assembled using MnO/MnO-GO/CNF as the positive electrode and activated carbon as the negative electrode, which exhibits a superior maximum energy density (∼25 Wh kg) and maximum power density (∼4.0 kW kg). Therefore, the as-synthesized composite highlights the development of highly active low-cost materials for next-generation energy storage applications.
PubMed: 38940603
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c03109 -
Chemical Science Jun 2024Alkali metal alkoxides play a pivotal role in nucleophilic alkoxylation reactions, offering pathways for the synthesis of ethers, including the increasingly sought-after...
Alkali metal alkoxides play a pivotal role in nucleophilic alkoxylation reactions, offering pathways for the synthesis of ethers, including the increasingly sought-after trifluoromethyl ethers. However, the synthesis of long-chain perfluoroalkyl ethers remains a substantial challenge in this field. Through the innovative use of triglyme to encapsulate potassium ions, we enhanced the stability of short-lived, longer-chain perfluoroalkoxy anions, thereby facilitating efficient nucleophilic perfluoroalkoxylation reactions. This method provides a new precedent for the halo-perfluoroalkoxylation of -difluoroalkenes and offers a versatile tool for the design of perfluoroalkyl ethers, including those containing complex moieties of heterocycles and drug molecules. We also demonstrated the utility of the resulting halo-perfluoroalkoxyl adducts through various chemical transformations to valuable diverse perfluoroalkyl ethers.
PubMed: 38939153
DOI: 10.1039/d4sc02084g -
Organometallics Jun 2024Rubidium and cesium are the least studied naturally occurring s-block metals in organometallic chemistry but are in plentiful supply from a sustainability viewpoint as...
Rubidium and cesium are the least studied naturally occurring s-block metals in organometallic chemistry but are in plentiful supply from a sustainability viewpoint as highlighted in the periodic table of natural elements published by the European Chemical Society. This underdevelopment reflects the phenomenal success of organometallic compounds of lithium, sodium, and potassium, but interest in heavier congeners has started to grow. Here, the synthesis and structures of rubidium and cesium bis(amido)alkyl magnesiates [(AM)MgN'alkyl], where N' is the simple heteroamide N(SiMe)(Dipp), and alkyl is Bu or CHSiMe, are reported. More stable than their Bu analogues, the reactivities of the CHSiMe magnesiates toward 1,4-cyclohexadiene are revealed. Though both reactions produce target hydrido-magnesiates [(AM)MgN'H] in crystalline form amenable to X-ray diffraction study, the cesium compound could only be formed in a trace quantity. These studies showed that the bulk of the N(SiMe)(Dipp) ligand was sufficient to restrict both compounds to dimeric structures. Bearing some resemblance to inverse crown complexes, each structure has [(AM)(N)(Mg)(N)] ring cores but differ in having no AM-N bonds, instead Rb and Cs complete the rings by engaging in multihapto interactions with Dipp π-clouds. Moreover, their hydride ions occupy μ-(AM)Mg environments, compared to μ-Mg environments in inverse crowns.
PubMed: 38938897
DOI: 10.1021/acs.organomet.4c00190 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit quality depends on many traits including visual, biochemical and mineral characteristics. One of the negative traits is aril...
Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit quality depends on many traits including visual, biochemical and mineral characteristics. One of the negative traits is aril whitening (AW) which is a frequently observed disorder in hot and dry climates, that leads to decline in desirable fruit quality. Color, antioxidant, and mineral contents of the arils are of prime importance as quality traits. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of shading and foliar minerals on fruit quality during the fruit development stages of pomegranate. Treatments included shaded (50% green net) and unshaded trees and foliar application of trees with potassium sulfate (K, 1% and 2%) or sodium silicate (Si, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.15%) during two growing seasons. Results showed that the severity of AW at harvest decreased significantly when trees were covered with shading compared to control. The color values of L* and ⁰hue for arils were lower in fruits grown under shading conditions indicating darker red arils. Shading significantly reduced chilling injury in cold storage compared to open field fruits. Shading and Si 0.15% increased superoxide dismutase, and catalase enzymes activity while decreased Polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase. Covering trees with shading and Si 0.15% spray resulted in the highest total anthocyanin, antioxidant activity, and total phenolics content in the arils. Shading as well as Si 0.15% increased macronutrients content of the arils. The study concluded that covering pomegranate trees and spraying with Si in hot climate reduced AW, increased antioxidant traits, and led to higher fruit quality.
Topics: Antioxidants; Fruit; Pomegranate; Silicates; Sulfates; Minerals; Color; Anthocyanins
PubMed: 38937529
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65084-3 -
Molecular & Cellular Proteomics : MCP Jun 2024Microglia are resident immune cells of the brain and regulate its inflammatory state. In neurodegenerative diseases, microglia transition from a homeostatic state to a...
Microglia are resident immune cells of the brain and regulate its inflammatory state. In neurodegenerative diseases, microglia transition from a homeostatic state to a state referred to as disease associated microglia (DAM). DAM express higher levels of proinflammatory signaling molecules, like STAT1 and TLR2, and show transitions in mitochondrial activity toward a more glycolytic response. Inhibition of Kv1.3 decreases the proinflammatory signature of DAM, though how Kv1.3 influences the response is unknown. Our goal was to identify the potential proteins interacting with Kv1.3 during transition to DAM. We utilized TurboID, a biotin ligase, fused to Kv1.3 to evaluate potential interacting proteins with Kv1.3 via mass spectrometry in BV-2 microglia following TLR4-mediated activation. Electrophysiology, western blotting, and flow cytometry were used to evaluate Kv1.3 channel presence and TurboID biotinylation activity. We hypothesized that Kv1.3 contains domain-specific interactors that vary during a TLR4-induced inflammatory response, some of which are dependent on the PDZ-binding domain on the C-terminus. We determined that the N-terminus of Kv1.3 is responsible for trafficking Kv1.3 to the cell surface and mitochondria (e.g. NUDC, TIMM50). Whereas, the C-terminus interacts with immune signaling proteins in an LPS-induced inflammatory response (e.g. STAT1, TLR2, and C3). There are 70 proteins that rely on the C-terminal PDZ-binding domain to interact with Kv1.3 (e.g. ND3, Snx3, and Sun1). Furthermore, we used Kv1.3 blockade to verify functional coupling between Kv1.3 and interferon-mediated STAT1 activation. Overall, we highlight that the Kv1.3 potassium channel functions beyond conducting the outward flux of potassium ions in an inflammatory context and that Kv1.3 modulates the activity of key immune signaling proteins, such as STAT1 and C3.
PubMed: 38936775
DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2024.100809 -
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity Jun 2024After the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident, the terrestrial environment became severely contaminated with radiocesium. Consequently, the river and lake...
After the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident, the terrestrial environment became severely contaminated with radiocesium. Consequently, the river and lake water in the Fukushima area exhibited high radiocesium levels, which declined subsequently. The partition coefficient of Cs between the suspended sediment (SS) and dissolved phases, K, was introduced to better understand the dynamic behavior of Cs in different systems. However, the K values in river water, ranging from 2 × 10 to 7 × 10 L kg, showed large spatiotemporal variability. Therefore, the factors controlling the Cs partition coefficient in natural water systems should be identified. Herein, we introduce a chemical model to explain the variability in Cs K in natural water systems. The chemical model includes the complexation of Cs with mineral and organic binding sites in SS, metal exchange reactions, and the presence of colloidal species. The application of the chemical model to natural water systems revealed that Cs is strongly associated with binding sites in SS, and a major chemical interaction between Cs and the binding sites in SS is the isotope exchange reaction between stable Cs and Cs, rather than metal exchange reactions with other metal ions such as potassium ions. To explain the effect of the SS concentration on K, the presence of colloidal Cs passing through a filter is significant as the dominant dissolved species of Cs in river water. These results suggest that a better understanding of stable Cs dissolved in natural water is important for discerning the geochemical and ecological behaviors of Cs in natural water.
PubMed: 38936250
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2024.107486