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Dynamic transformation from alpha (HCP) to beta (BCC) phase in a zirconium alloy was revealed by the use of in-situ neutron diffraction during hot compression. The dynamic transformation was unexpectedly detected during isothermal compression at temperatures of 900°C and 950°C (alpha + beta two-phase region) and strain rates of 0.01 s⁻¹ and 0.001 s⁻¹, even though equilibrium two-phase states were achieved prior to the hot compression. Dynamic transformation was accompanied by diffusion of Sn from beta to alpha phase, which resulted in changes of lattice parameters and a characteristic microstructure of alpha grains. The lattice constant of alpha phase measured by the in-situ neutron diffraction increased during the hot compression, while the lattice constant of beta phase exhibited an initial increase and subsequent decrease during the hot compression. As a result, the magnitude of lattice (elastic) strain as well as stress (elastic stress, or phase stress) in alpha phase was found to become much greater than those in beta phase. According to an atomistic simulation, the Gibbs free energy of alpha phase increased with hydrostatic compressive pressure more evidently than that of beta phase. It could be concluded from such results that the occurrence of the dynamic transformation from alpha to beta is attributed to an increase in the Gibbs free energy of alpha phase relative to beta phase owing to the difference in the phase stress; i.e., the larger lattice distortion made alpha phase thermodynamically more unstable than beta phase. The present result suggests that deformation of two-phase materials can dynamically make Gibbs free energy of plastically harder phase higher than that of the softer phase through increasing elastic energy in the harder phase, which might lead to dynamic transformation from harder phase to softer phase.

Lithium plating in working batteries has attracted wide attention in the exploration of safe energy storage. Establishing an effective and rapid early-warning method is strongly considered but quite challenging since lithium plating behavior is determined by diverse factors. In this contribution, we present a non-destructive electrochemical detection method based on transient state analysis and three-electrode cell configuration. Through dividing the iR drop value by the current density, the as-obtained impedance quantity (Ri) can serve as a descriptor to describe the change of electrochemical reaction impedance on the graphite anode. The onset of lithium plating can be identified from the sharp drop of Ri. Once the dendritic plated lithium occurs, the extra electrochemical reactions at the lithium interfaces leads to growing active area and reduced surface resistance of the anode. We proposed a protocol to operate the batteries under the limited capacity, which renders the cell with 98.2% capacity retention after 1000 cycles without lithium plating. The early-warning method has also been validated in in-situ optical microscopy batteries and practical pouch cells, providing a general but effective method for online lithium plating detection towards safe batteries.

Lithium-sulfur battery (LSB) has high energy density but is limited by the polysulfides shuttle and dendrite growth during cycling. Herein, a free-standing cellulose nanofiber (CNF) separator is designed and fabricated in isopropanol/water suspension through vacuum filtration progress. CNFs with abundant polar oxygen-containing functional groups can chemically immobilize the polysulfides, and suppress the formation of the dendrites by controlling the surface morphology of the SEI on lithium metal in LSB. The isopropanol content in a suspension can fine-tune the pore structure of the membrane to achieve optimal electrochemical performance. The prepared separator displays integrated advantages of an ultrathin thickness (19 μm), lightweight (0.87 mg cm–2), extremely high porosity (98.05%), and decent electrolyte affinity. As a result, the discharge capacity of the LSB with CNF separator at the first and 100th cycle is 1.4 and 1.3 times that of PP separator, respectively. Our research provides an environmental-friendly and facile strategy for the preparation of multifunctional separators for LSBs.

Weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) represents a pivotal step for myasthenic crisis (MC) patients. The aim was to evaluate the association between the weaning process and clinical outcomes, as well as to determine the independent predictors for difficult-/prolonged-weaning in MC. MC patients requiring invasive MV were recruited from Jan 2014 through Sep 2020. Among 124 consecutive MC patients, we finally included 66 patients (age 48.4 ± 18.7 years, female 45.5%). According to the WIND (Weaning according to a New Definition) classification, these patients were classified into no-weaning (n = 5, 7.6%), short-weaning (n = 13, 19.7%), difficult-weaning (n = 26, 39.4%), and prolonged-weaning group (n = 22, 33.3%). Four-week functional assessment in short-weaning group was more favorable than that in difficult-/prolonged-weaning group (p0.001). Length of hospital stay (23.0 (15.0-28.0) vs. 37.5 (27.0-54.8), p0.001), length of ICU stay (17.0 (8.5-22.5) vs. 34.0 (20.3-45.0), p0.001), duration on ventilation (6.0 (6.0-8.5) vs. 18.0 (13.3-30.0), p0.001), and time interval from MV to first weaning (6.0 (6.0-8.0) vs. 11.0 (8.0-20.8), p0.001) in short-weaning group were significantly shorter than those in difficult-/prolonged-weaning group. Short-weaning group had a lower prevalence of pneumonia (23.1% vs. 75.0%) and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) (38.5% vs. 85.4%), and a higher value in the lowest hemoglobin level (123.0 ± 12.9 g/L vs. 108.3 ± 18.1 g/L) and the lowest serum albumin level (33.2 ± 3.4 g/L vs. 29.9 ± 4.2 g/L) than difficult-/prolonged-weaning group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified pneumonia and the presence of SIRS within one week of MC as independent predictors for difficult-/prolonged-weaning. The weaning process is associated with clinical outcomes in MC patients requiring ventilation. Pneumonia concurrence and the presence of SIRS within one week of MC were identified as independent predictors for difficult-/prolonged-weaning after invasive MV.

Lithium (Li) metal attributes to the promising anode but endures the low Columbic efficiency (CE) and safety issues from the inactive Li accumulation. The metallic Li which is isolated from the lithium anode (named dead Li0) consists the major component of the inactive Li. We systematically and meticulously investigated the formation and evaluation of dead Li0 during stripping process from electron transfer, the oxidation of Li0 to Li+ and the diffusion of Li+ through solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). The above-mentioned processes were regulated by adjusting the contact sites of electron channels, the dynamic rate of conversion from Li0 to Li+, and the structure as well as components of SEI. The design principles for achieving less dead Li0 and higher CE are proposed as a proof of concept in lithium metal batteries. This new insight sheds a comprehensive light on dead Li0 formation and guides the next-generation safe batteries for future application.

Solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) has been widely recognized as the most important and the least understood component in lithium batteries. Considering the intrinsic instability in both chemical and mechanical, the failure of SEI is inevitable and strongly associated with the performance decay of practical working batteries. In this Review, the failure mechanisms and the corresponding regulation strategies of SEI are focused. Firstly, the fundamental properties of SEI, including the formation principles, and the typical composition and structures are briefly introduced. Moreover, the common SEI failure modes involving thermal failure, chemical failure, and mechanical failure are classified and discussed, respectively. Beyond that, the regulation strategies of SEI with respect to different failure modes are further concluded. Finally, the future endeavor in further disclosing the mysteries of SEI is prospected.

The generation and evolutional behavior of the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) fatally dictate the performance of working anodes, especially lithium (Li) anodes. In this Opinion, we describe the critical rationale in understanding competitive SEI formation on a working Li metal anode. First, the fundamentals that determine the competitive SEI-forming reactions at the Li/electrolyte interface are analyzed. Moreover, we elucidate the kinetic competition between SEI growth and Li deposition in the case of exposure to fresh Li surfaces during the Li electroplating process. Several important factors involving electrolyte formulation, current density, and temperature that can intrinsically modulate the kinetic competition are comprehensively summarized. Finally, future research trends regarding dynamic SEI formation and its correlation with the manner of Li electroplating are addressed.

Lithium-ion battery has greatly changed our lifestyle and the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) covered on the graphite anode determines the service life of a battery. The formation method and the formation temperature at initial cycle of a battery determine the feature of the SEI. Herein, we investigate the gap of formation behavior in both a half cell (graphite matches with lithium anode) and a full cell (graphite matches with NCM, short for LiNixCoyMn1−x−yO2) at different temperatures. We conclude that high temperature causes severe side reactions and low temperature will result in low ionic conductive SEI layer, the interface formed at room temperature owns the best ionic conductivity and stability.

Lithium (Li) metal, possessing an extremely high theoretical specific capacity (3860 mAh/g) and the most negative electrode potential (−3.040 V vs. standard hydrogen electrode), is one the most favorable anode materials for future high-energy-density batteries. However, the poor cyclability and safety issues induced by extremely unstable interfaces of traditional liquid Li metal batteries have limited their practical applications. Herein, a quasi-solid battery is constructed to offer superior interfacial stability as well as excellent interfacial contact by the incorporation of Li@composite solid electrolyte integrated electrode and a limited amount of liquid electrolyte (7.5 μL/cm2). By combining the inorganic garnet Al-doped Li6.75La3Zr1.75Ta0.25O12 (LLZO) with high mechanical strength and ionic conductivity and the organic ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) with good flexibility, the composite solid electrolyte film could provide sufficient ion channels, sustained interfacial contact and good mechanical stability at the anode side, which significantly alleviates the thermodynamic corrosion and safety problems induced by liquid electrolytes. This innovative and facile quasi-solid strategy is aimed to promote the intrinsic safety and stability of working Li metal anode, shedding light on the development of next-generation high-performance Li metal batteries.

Lithium metal batteries are strongly considered as one of the most promising candidates for next-generation high-performance battery systems. However, the uncontrollable growth of lithium dendrites and the highly reactive lithium metal result in the severe safety risks and the short lifespan for high-energy-density rechargeable batteries. Here, we demonstrate a hydrophobic and ionically conductive ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer layer can not only endow lithium metal anodes with an air-stable and anti-water surface, but also efficiently suppress the lithium-dendrites growth during the electrochemical cycling process. Therefore, the introduction of the EVA copolymer as a bifunctional protection layer simultaneously improves the anti-water/air performance and electrochemical cycling stability of lithium metal anode.

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) with high energy densities are regarded as the most promising candidates for next-generation energy storage. However, the practical applications of LMBs have long been limited by the uncontrollable lithium (Li) dendrite growth resulting from the unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). We herein proposed an in situ regulated SEI that is rationally designed by the introduction of a functional separator. In details, a lignosulfonate film with intrinsic reactivity toward Li metal is integrated onto the surface of a routine separator. The as-regulated SEI possesses favorable inorganic-rich species and inherited aromatic groups, synergistically endowing rapid ion transport capability and superior mechanical stability. Consequently, the in-situ stabilization of the electrode/electrolyte interfaces contributes to a reduced voltage polarization and a remarkably prolonged cycle life of the working LMBs, which intrinsically indicates a more uniform Li electroplating manner with well-suppressed dendrite formation. This work highlights a facile yet highly efficient strategy of designing stable SEI through reactive separator and affords fresh insights into the interface regulation for Li anode protection in practical LMBs.

The high specific capacity and energy density of lithium–sulfur batteries have attracted strong considerations on their fundamental mechanism and energy applications. However, polysulfide shuttle is still the key issue that impedes the development of Li–S batteries. Exploring nanocrystal hosts for polysulfide immobilization and conversion is a promising way. In this contribution, we have investigated well-dispersed Co9S8 nanocrystals grown on graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets with different degrees of dispersion as cathode host materials for Li–S batteries. The Co9S8-GO composite with 1 wt% GO (GCS1) has an average crystal size of 76 nm and shows the strongest adsorption capability toward lithium polysulfides. When used as the host material for the cathode of Li–S batteries, the GCS1-sulfur composite exhibits an initial specific capacity of ~1000 mAh g−1 at 0.5 C and shows an average decay rate of 0.11% for 500 cycles. This work on the dispersion control of Co9S8 nanocrystals may inspire more investigations on well-dispersed nanocrystal based hosts for Li–S batteries.

Congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) caused by mutations in MUSK is very rare and the genotype-phenotype relationship in MUSK related CMS is still unclear. Here we identified two patients carrying a homozygous hotspot mutation, c.308A > G in MUSK from a Chinese family. Both of them presented predominant bulbar weakness and atrophy of bilateral temporalis and masticatory muscles. To address the phenotype-genotype relationship, a total of 27 MUSK related CMS patients were reviewed. Patients with nonsense, frameshift or splicing mutations showed earlier onset (10/13 vs 2/14 neonatal onset, p = 0.0018) and more occurrence of vocal cord paralysis or stridor (8/13 vs 0/14, p = 0.0006), indicating a more severe phenotype. Comparing with patients carrying other missense mutations, the four patients carrying a homozygous c.308A > G mutation showed the female predominance (4/10 vs 4/4) and dramatic exacerbation after emotional or physiological stresses (2/10 vs 4/4) like pregnancy, menstrual periods and infection. All these indicated a genotype-phenotype relationship in MUSK-related CMS.

The stable operation of lithium (Li) metal anode heavily relies on the intrinsic surface chemistry. However, the correlations between the composition of solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) and its impact on working Li anode are insufficiently understood, which significantly restrains the efficiency of directional interfacial design. In this contribution, the interfacial transfer kinetics of solvated Li ions (Li+) regarding three model SEIs which possess similar components but various inorganic contents was systematically investigated. A general correlation was demonstrated that inorganics-rich SEI contributes to a lower energy barrier for the interfacial journey of solvated Li+, which involves a facile de-solvation process and a rapid ion diffusion through SEI. Lower overpotentials for both initial Li nucleation and interfacial activation processes were identified with a three-electrode cell configuration ascribed to the reduced energy barrier at the interphase, which potentially facilitate a compact and dense Li plating feature. This work sheds light on the relations between SEI property and the interfacial transfer kinetics of solvated Li+, aiming to provide more fundamental insights into the interfacial manipulation for a low-resistance and stable working Li metal batteries.

A growing body of research suggests that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) play an important role during the tumorigenesis and progression of cancers, including thyroid cancer (TC). Herein, we intended to uncover the role and mechanisms of LINC01311 in TC.The relative LINC01311, miR-146b-5p, and IMPA2 expressions were quantified by subjecting TC cells and tissues to western blotting and RT-qPCR. CCK-8 and scratch-wound healing assays were carried out for the evaluation of the proliferation and migration of TC cells. The apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry assay and western blotting of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins. Xenograft tumor model was also used to study how LINC01311 functions during TC cell growth. Luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were performed to ascertain miR-146b-5p's interactions with LINC01311 and IMPA2 3'UTR.The TC cells and tissues exhibited a downregulation of LINC01311 and IMPA2 and an upregulation of miR-146b-5p. LINC01311 overexpression retarded TC cell growth in vitro as well as in vivo. The luciferase reporter and RIP assays verified that miR-146b-5p recognizes LINC01311 and IMPA2 3'UTR by base pairing. LINC01311 overexpression could counteract the oncogenic effect of miR-146b-5p in vitro. Moreover, IMPA2 upregulation could offset the tumor-promoting effect of miR-146b-5p.LINC01311-mediated inhibition of TC cell growth was achieved by targeting the miR-146b-5p/IMPA2 axis. These findings support that targeting the LINC01311/miR-146b-5p/IMPA2 axis may be a promising approach against TC progression.

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries show significant promise as next-generation energy-storage devices due to their high energy density (2600 Wh kg-1). However, the severe shuttling of polysulfide intermediates and low Coulombic efficiency during operation induce rapid capacity loss, hindering their practical applications. Although sulfur coin cells can reach 1000 cycles, sulfur pouch cells reach only dozens of cycles before the lithium-metal anode is damaged by the electrolyte and/or polysulfides. Therefore, lithium-metal protection is an important issue in realizing long lifespans of Li–S pouch cells. In this review, we highlight recent progress on lithium-metal protection, including altering the solvation structure of lithium ions in the liquid electrolyte, designing an artificial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), employing solid-state electrolytes, and adopting micro/nanostructured hosts.

Lithium (Li) metal with an ultrahigh specific theoretical capacity and the lowest reduction potential is strongly considered as a promising anode for high-energy-density batteries. However, uncontrolled lithium dendrites and infinite volume change during repeated plating/stripping cycles hinder its practical applications immensely. Herein, a house-like Li anode (housed Li) was designed to circumvent the above issues. The house matrix was composed of carbon fiber matrix and affords a stable structure to relieve the volume change. An artificial solid electrolyte layer was formed on composite Li metal, just like the roof of a house, which facilitates uniform Li ions diffusion and serves as a physical barrier against electrolyte corrosion. With the combination of solid electrolyte layer and matrix in the composite Li metal anode, both dendrite growth and volume expansion are remarkably inhibited. The housed Li | LiFePO4 batteries exhibited over 95% capacity retention after 500 cycles at 1.0 C in coin cell and 85% capacity retention after 80 cycles at 0.5 C in pouch cell. The rationally combination of solid electrolyte layer protection and housed framework in one Li metal anode sheds fresh insights on the design principle of a safe and long-lifespan Li metal anode for Li metal batteries.

Summary It has been a long pursuit for the adoption of the lithium (Li) metal anode because of its extremely high specific capacity and the lowest electrochemical equilibrium potential. However, the practical implement of Li anode is severely hindered by the unstable interfaces stemming from its ultrahigh reactivity, which directly dictates a low Coulombic efficiency, dendrite growth behavior, and even safety concerns. In this review, we focus on the emerging strategy of artificial protective films to fulfill a stable working Li metal anode. The recent efforts on strengthening the Li metal and liquid or solid electrolyte interfaces with artificial films are comprehensively summarized and discussed. This review highlights the significance of interface-related science and engineering in both liquid-state and solid-state Li metal batteries, affords fresh insights on the interdisciplinary issues, and calls on more dedication to pave the way for safe and high-energy-density Li metal batteries.

Ionic liquids have demonstrated to be promising solvents for processing coal and biomass. Aiming to exploit ionic liquids (ILs) as media for degradation of coal, diphenylmethane (DPM), diphenyl ether (DPE), and diphenyl ketone (DPK) were used as coal-related compounds to study the degradation behaviors of weak-bond structures of coal in ionic liquids in this work. It was found that 1-sulfonic acid butyl-3-methylimidazolium 14 trifluoromethanesulfonate ([B(SO3H)mim]OTf), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([Emim]Ac) and 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl) have a significant effect on the thermal dissociation of the model compounds. [B(SO3H)mim]OTf has a significant effect on the cleavage of DPM and DPK. [Bmim]Cl promotes the cleavage of the DPE. The dissociation effect of the model compound under the action of ionic liquid increases with the increase of reaction temperature. The interaction between the oxygen-containing functional groups in the model compound promotes the respective thermal dissociation of the model compounds. Ionic liquids promote the dissociation interaction of bridge bonds in model compounds. Under the action of ionic liquids, the carbonyl bond promotes the cleavage of the methylene and ether bond cleavage, and the ether bond promotes the methylene bond cleavage.

Myasthenic crisis (MC) is a life-threatening state with respiratory failure in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). The fast-acting immunomodulatory therapies for treating MC included plasma exchange (PE) and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). However, the efficacy and the impact on antibody changes remained unknown. We prospectively followed 40 anti-acetylcholine receptors (AChR) antibody-positive MC patients who received either PE (n = 12) or IVIG (n = 28) at crisis. PE was associated with a reduced ICU stay length (p = 0.018) and an early response by the average changes in MGFA-QMG (p = 0.003), MMT (p = 0.020), and ADL (p = 0.011) at one-week off-ventilation. However, the clinical efficacy was equally comparable in both groups after 1 month. Post-treatment hemoglobin drop was significant in both groups, while IVIG was associated with a significant reduction in anti-AChR antibody titers (p 0.001). This analysis provides real-world evidence in supporting the use of PE as a fast-acting therapy for shortening the ICU stay in AChR-associated MC.