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Achievement of lithium (Li) metal anode with thin thickness (e.g., ≤ 30 µm) is highly desirable for rechargeable high energy density batteries. However, the fabrication and application of such thin Li metal foil electrode remain challenging due to the poor mechanical processibility and inferior electrochemical performance of metallic Li. Here, mechanico-chemical synthesis of robust ultrathin Li/Li3P (LLP) composite foils (∼ 15 µm) is demonstrated by employing repeated mechanical rolling/stacking operations using red P and metallic Li as raw materials. The in-situ formed Li+-conductive Li3P nanoparticles in metallic Li matrix and their tight bonding strengthen the mechanical durability and enable the successful fabrication of free-standing ultrathin Li metal composite foil. Besides, it also reduces the electrochemical Li nucleation barrier and homogenizes Li plating/stripping behavior. When matching to high-voltage LiCoO2, the full cell with a low negative/positive (N/P) capacity ratio of ∼ 1.5 offers a high energy density of ∼ 522 W·h·kg−1 at 0.5 C based on the mass of cathode and anode. Taking into account its facile manufacturing, potentially low cost, and good electrochemical performance, we believe that such an ultrathin composite Li metal foil design with nanoparticle-dispersion-strengthened mechanism may boost the development of high energy density Li metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lushan Yunwu tea (LSYWT) is a famous green tea in China. However, the effects of intercropping tea with flowering cherry on the overall aroma of tea have not been well understood. In this study, headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was used for analysis. A total of 54 volatile compounds from eight chemical classes were identified in tea samples from both the intercropping and pure-tea-plantation groups. Principal component analysis (PCA), orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), and odor activity value (OAV) methods combined with sensory evaluation identified cis-jasmone, nonanal, and linalool as the key aroma compounds in the intercropping group. Benzaldehyde, α-farnesene, and methyl benzene were identified as the main volatile compounds in the flowering cherry using headspace solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC–MS). These findings will enrich the research on tea aroma chemistry and offer new insights into the product development and quality improvement of LSYWT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Akt/mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway promotes motor function recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) in both neurons and astrocytes. But the role and mechanism of this pathway in oligodendrocytes during nerve repair following SCI has not been researched. This study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of this signaling pathway in oligodendrocytes on nerve myelin regeneration and motor function recovery in rats with SCI. After inhibiting or activating this signaling pathway, Western blotting and double immunofluorescence labeling were used to determine the levels of the signaling molecules in this pathway and myelin formation-related proteins in the plane of the thoracic segment of the injured spinal cord. The level of motor function recovery was evaluated and the oligodendrocytes involved in nerve myelin regeneration were studied. Primary oligodendrocytes were isolated and cultured in vitro, then MBP, PLP, and MOG were measured with reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Akt/mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway was activated after SCI compared with the sham-operated rats, prominently elevated levels of the pathway components were observed in the SC79-treated group. The activation of the signaling pathway significantly increased the expression levels of myelin formation-related proteins, including MBP, PLP, and MOG, and improved the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) scores in the injured spinal cord. Conversely, rapamycin suppressed the expression of these signaling molecules and reduced the levels of myelin formation-related proteins. Akt/mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway activation can contribute to nerve myelin regeneration and has the potential to improve the regenerative environment and motor function, as well as the potential to promote repair of SCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

{110} textured Li metal electrode shows superior cycle performance when compared to its counterparts with other crystallographic textures or no texture. However, at high rates it suffers from a shortened cycle life that becomes significant with large cycling capacities – a common problem for most alkaline metal electrodes. In the present work, the morphological and structural evolution of the texture‐dependent Li electrodes cycled at different current densities is investigated and discovered that the cycling current density affected both the morphological and the crystallographic texture evolution of Li {110} metal electrode. In particular, loss of {110} texture at increased current densities accelerated the morphological deterioration of Li, leading to roughened Li plating and loose Li packing, and thus promoting the undesired consumption of Li and electrolyte. Thereafter a low‐rate‐healing strategy that significantly elongated the cycle life of Li metal electrode cycled at high rates is proposed. By adopting the healing strategy, a Li||Li symmetrical cell cycled at 10 mA cm−2 with a capacity of 10 mAh cm−2(with a 50% depth of discharge) can last for >800 runs, and a Li||LFP full cell can run for >300 cycles at 5 C with virtually no capacity degradation compared to the first cycle after activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]