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Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety May 2024Exposure to metals/metalloids is reported to potentially influence semen quality. While most studies have focused on single metal impacts, the link between exposure to...
Exposure to metals/metalloids is reported to potentially influence semen quality. While most studies have focused on single metal impacts, the link between exposure to multiple metals and semen quality has remained less explored. The study aimed to investigate the effects of both individual and mixed metal/metalloid exposure on semen quality. A total of 330 men were recruited from three reproductive centers in eastern China. Seminal plasma levels of 25 metals/metalloids and sperm parameters were determined. We used the Generalized Linear Model (GLM) and Restricted Cubic Spline (RCS) to assess the relationships between single metals/metalloids and semen quality. The weighted quantile sum (WQS) models were then applied to evaluate the combined effect of all these metals/metalloids. We observed positive associations of exposure to lithium (Li), zinc (Zn), and magnesium (Mg) with an increased risk of below reference values for progressive motility and total motility using a logistic regression model (P < 0.05). Additionally, our results also revealed a significant inverse relationship between aluminum (Al) and both sperm concentration and count, while cobalt (Co) demonstrated a positive association with sperm concentration (P < 0.05). Notably, the WQS model indicated a significant positive association between exposure to metal/metalloid mixtures and the risk of abnormal progressive motility (OR: 1.57; 95%CI: 1.10, 2.24) and abnormal total motility (OR: 1.53; 95%CI: 1.06, 2.19), with this association primarily driven by Li, Mg, and Zn. In summary, our findings indicate that exposure to metal/metalloid mixtures might have an adverse effect on semen quality.
PubMed: 38761496
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116472 -
Nature Communications May 2024Sulfides are promising electrolyte materials for all-solid-state Li metal batteries due to their high ionic conductivity and machinability. However, compatibility issues...
Sulfides are promising electrolyte materials for all-solid-state Li metal batteries due to their high ionic conductivity and machinability. However, compatibility issues at the negative electrode/sulfide electrolyte interface hinder their practical implementation. Despite previous studies have proposed considerable strategies to improve the negative electrode/sulfide electrolyte interfacial stability, industrial-scale engineering solutions remain elusive. Here, we introduce a scalable Li-Al-Cl stratified structure, formed through the strain-activated separating behavior of thermodynamically unfavorable Li/LiAl and Li/LiCl interfaces, to stabilize the negative electrode/sulfide electrolyte interface. In the Li-Al-Cl stratified structure, LiAl and LiCl are enriched at the surface to serve as a robust solid electrolyte interphase and are diluted in bulk by Li metal to construct a skeleton. Enabled by its unique structural characteristic, the Li-Al-Cl stratified structure significantly enhances the stability of negative electrode/sulfide electrolyte interface. This work reports a strain-activated phase separation phenomenon and proposes a practical pathway for negative electrode/sulfide electrolyte interface engineering.
PubMed: 38760354
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48585-7 -
Nature Communications May 2024Optical microcomb underpins a wide range of applications from communication, metrology, to sensing. Although extensively explored in recent years, challenges remain in...
Optical microcomb underpins a wide range of applications from communication, metrology, to sensing. Although extensively explored in recent years, challenges remain in key aspects of microcomb such as complex soliton initialization, low power efficiency, and limited comb reconfigurability. Here we present an on-chip microcomb laser to address these key challenges. Realized with integration between III and V gain chip and a thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) photonic integrated circuit (PIC), the laser directly emits mode-locked microcomb on demand with robust turnkey operation inherently built in, with individual comb linewidth down to 600 Hz, whole-comb frequency tuning rate exceeding 2.4 × 10 Hz/s, and 100% utilization of optical power fully contributing to comb generation. The demonstrated approach unifies architecture and operation simplicity, electro-optic reconfigurability, high-speed tunability, and multifunctional capability enabled by TFLN PIC, opening up a great avenue towards on-demand generation of mode-locked microcomb that is of great potential for broad applications.
PubMed: 38760350
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48544-2 -
Origins and Importance of Intragranular Cracking in Layered Lithium Transition Metal Oxide Cathodes.ACS Applied Energy Materials May 2024Li-ion batteries have a pivotal role in the transition toward electric transportation. Ni-rich layered transition metal oxide (LTMO) cathode materials promise high...
Li-ion batteries have a pivotal role in the transition toward electric transportation. Ni-rich layered transition metal oxide (LTMO) cathode materials promise high specific capacity and lower cost but exhibit faster degradation compared with lower Ni alternatives. Here, we employ high-resolution electron microscopy and spectroscopy techniques to investigate the nanoscale origins and impact on performance of intragranular cracking (within primary crystals) in Ni-rich LTMOs. We find that intragranular cracking is widespread in charged specimens early in cycle life but uncommon in discharged samples even after cycling. The distribution of intragranular cracking is highly inhomogeneous. We conclude that intragranular cracking is caused by local stresses that can have several independent sources: neighboring particle anisotropic expansion/contraction, Li- and TM-inhomogeneities at the primary and secondary particle levels, and interfacing of electrochemically active and inactive phases. Our results suggest that intragranular cracks can manifest at different points of life of the cathode and can potentially lead to capacity fade and impedance rise of LTMO cathodes through plane gliding and particle detachment that lead to exposure of additional surfaces to the electrolyte and loss of electrical contact.
PubMed: 38756866
DOI: 10.1021/acsaem.4c00279 -
Chemical Science May 2024Garnet-type solid-state Li metal batteries (SSLMBs) are viewed as hopeful next-generation batteries due to their high energy density and safety. However, the major...
Garnet-type solid-state Li metal batteries (SSLMBs) are viewed as hopeful next-generation batteries due to their high energy density and safety. However, the major obstacle to the development of garnet-type SSLMBs is the lithiophobicity of LiLaZrTaO (LLZTO), resulting in a large interfacial impedance. Herein, a LiI/ZnLi mixed ion/electron conductive buffer layer is constructed at the interface by an reaction of molten Li metal with ZnI film. This mixed buffer layer ensures close contact between the Li metal and garnet, significantly reducing interfacial impedance. As a result, the Li symmetrical cell with the LiI/ZnLi buffer layer shows an interface impedance of 10.3 Ω cm, much lower than that of the cell with bare LLZTO (1173.4 Ω cm). The critical current density (CCD) is up to 2.3 mA cm, and the symmetric cells present a long cycle life of 2000 h at 0.1 mA cm and 800 h at 1.0 mA cm. In addition, the full cells assembled with the LiFePO cathode show a capacity of 143.9 mA h g after 200 cycles at 0.5C with a low-capacity decay of 0.021% per cycle. This work reveals a simple, feasible, and practical interface modification strategy for solid-state Li metal batteries.
PubMed: 38756800
DOI: 10.1039/d4sc00786g -
Chemical Science May 2024The overall performance of lithium batteries remains unmatched to this date. Decades of optimisation have resulted in long-lasting batteries with high energy density...
The overall performance of lithium batteries remains unmatched to this date. Decades of optimisation have resulted in long-lasting batteries with high energy density suitable for mobile applications. However, the electrolytes used at present suffer from low lithium transference numbers, which induces concentration polarisation and reduces efficiency of charging and discharging. Here we show how targeted modifications can be used to systematically evolve anion structural motifs which can yield electrolytes with high transference numbers. Using a multidisciplinary combination of theoretical and experimental approaches, we screened a large number of anions. Thus, we identified anions which reach lithium transference numbers around 0.9, surpassing conventional electrolytes. Specifically, we find that nitrile groups have a coordination tendency similar to SO and are capable of inducing the formation of Li rich clusters. In the bigger picture, we identified a balanced anion/solvent coordination tendency as one of the key design parameters.
PubMed: 38756793
DOI: 10.1039/d4sc01492h -
Bioactive Materials Jul 2024Zinc (Zn) alloys have demonstrated significant potential in healing critical-sized bone defects. However, the clinical application of Zn alloys implants is still...
Imidazole functionalized photo-crosslinked aliphatic polycarbonate drug-eluting coatings on zinc alloys for osteogenesis, angiogenesis, and bacteriostasis in bone regeneration.
Zinc (Zn) alloys have demonstrated significant potential in healing critical-sized bone defects. However, the clinical application of Zn alloys implants is still hindered by challenges including excessive release of zinc ions (Zn), particularly in the early stage of implantation, and absence of bio-functions related to complex bone repair processes. Herein, a biodegradable aliphatic polycarbonate drug-eluting coating was fabricated on zinc-lithium (Zn-Li) alloys to inhibit Zn release and enhance the osteogenesis, angiogenesis, and bacteriostasis of Zn alloys. Specifically, the photo-curable aliphatic polycarbonates were co-assembled with simvastatin and deposited onto Zn alloys to produce a drug-loaded coating, which was crosslinked by subsequent UV light irradiation. During the 60 days long-term immersion test, the coating showed distinguished stable drug release and Zn release inhibition properties. Benefiting from the regulated release of Zn and simvastatin, the coating facilitated the adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells, as well as the migration and tube formation of EA.hy926 cells. Astonishingly, the coating also showed remarkable antibacterial properties against both and . The rabbit critical-size femur bone defects model demonstrated that the drug-eluting coating could efficiently promote new bone formation and the expression of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD31) and osteocalcin (OCN). The enhancement of osteogenesis, angiogenesis, and bacteriostasis is achieved by precisely controlling of the released Zn at an appropriate level, as well as the stable release profile of simvastatin. This tailored aliphatic polycarbonate drug-eluting coating provides significant potential for clinical applications of Zn alloys implants.
PubMed: 38756420
DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.03.037 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Lithium-doped anatase-TiO nanoparticles (LiTiO NPs, x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20) could be synthesized by a simple sol-gel process. X-ray diffraction (XRD)...
Lithium-doped anatase-TiO nanoparticles (LiTiO NPs, x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20) could be synthesized by a simple sol-gel process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results displayed the tetragonal (space group: I41/amd) of polycrystalline TiO anatase phase. The spectroscopy results of Raman and FT-IR confirmed the anatase phase of TiO through the specific modes of metal oxides vibration in the crystalline TiO. Surfaces micrographs by scanning electron microscope (SEM) of agglomerated LiTiO NPs showed a spongy like morphology. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) illustrated a cuboidal shape of dispersed NPs with particle size distributed in a narrow range 5-10 nm. Bruanauer Emmett-Teller (BET) results showed the increased surface area of LiTiO NPs with increasing Li content. LiTiO NPs (x = 0.05-0.20) working electrodes illustrated a pseudocapacitive behavior with excellent electrochemical properties through the whole cycles of GCD test. Interestingly, LiTiO NPs electrode illustrated a high performance in terms of maximum specific capacitance 822 F g at 1.5 A g in 0.5 M LiSO electrolyte, with excellent capacitive retention 92.6% after 5000 cycles GCD test.
PubMed: 38755425
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61985-5 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) systems employing a solid-state lithium target indicated the reduction of neutron flux over the lifetime of a...
Accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) systems employing a solid-state lithium target indicated the reduction of neutron flux over the lifetime of a target, and its reduction could represent the neutron flux model. This study proposes a novel compensatory approach for delivering the required neutron fluence and validates its clinical applicability. The proposed approach relies on the neutron flux model and the cumulative sum of real-time measurements of proton charges. The accuracy of delivering the required neutron fluence for BNCT using the proposed approach was examined in five Li targets. With the proposed approach, the required neutron fluence could be delivered within 3.0%, and within 1.0% in most cases. However, those without using the proposed approach exceeded 3.0% in some cases. The proposed approach can consider the neutron flux reduction adequately and decrease the effect of uncertainty in neutron measurements. Therefore, the proposed approach can improve the accuracy of delivering the required fluence for BNCT even if a neutron flux reduction is expected during treatment and over the lifetime of the Li target. Additionally, by adequately revising the approach, it may apply to other type of BNCT systems employing a Li target, furthering research in this direction.
Topics: Boron Neutron Capture Therapy; Lithium; Neutrons; Humans; Particle Accelerators; Radiotherapy Dosage
PubMed: 38755333
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62060-9 -
Scientific Reports May 2024The best choice today for a realistic method of increasing the energy density of a metal-ion battery is to find novel, effective electrode materials. In this paper, we...
The best choice today for a realistic method of increasing the energy density of a metal-ion battery is to find novel, effective electrode materials. In this paper, we present a theoretical investigation of the properties of hitherto unreported two-dimensional B C and N C bilayer systems as potential anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. The simulation results show that N C bilayer is not suitable for anode material due to its thermal instability. On the other hand B C is stable, has good electrical conductivity, and is intrinsically metallic before and after lithium intercalation. The low diffusion barrier (0.27 eV) of Li atoms shows a good charge and discharge rate for B C bilayer. Moreover, the high theoretical specific capacity (579.57 mAh/g) connected with moderate volume expansion effect during charge/discharge processes indicates that B C is a promising anode material for Li-ion batteries.
PubMed: 38755241
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61939-x