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Abstract In Si/SiGe heterostructures, the low-lying excited valley state seriously limits the operability and scalability of electron spin qubits. For characterizing and understanding the local variations in valley splitting, fast probing methods with high spatial and energy resolution are lacking. Leveraging the spatial control granted by conveyor-mode spin-coherent electron shuttling, we introduce a method for two-dimensional mapping of the local valley splitting by detecting magnetic field-dependent anticrossings of ground and excited valley states using entangled electron spin-pairs as a probe. The method has sub-μeV energy accuracy and a nanometer lateral resolution. The histogram of valley splittings spanning a large area of 210 nm by 18 nm matches well with statistics obtained by the established but time-consuming magnetospectroscopy method. For the specific heterostructure, we find a nearly Gaussian distribution of valley splittings and a correlation length similar to the quantum dot size. Our mapping method may become a valuable tool for engineering Si/SiGe heterostructures for scalable quantum computing.

Solid-state fermentation (SSF) and extrusion are effective methods to improve the nutritional and sensory quality of rice bran. The effect of the processing sequence of SSF and extrusion and microbial strains on the quality of rice bran was studied. The results showed that the first SSF followed by extrusion increased the contents of phenolic, flavonoid and γ-oryzanol, but the color changed to brown. The first extrusion followed by SSF caused damage to bioactive components and antioxidant activity, but significantly increased the content of arabinoxylans. The difference between the two processing sequences may be related to the process time and the effect of substrate on microbial induction. Aspergillus oryzae and Neurospora sitophila were suitable for increasing the bioactive components of rice bran, while Lactiplantibacillus plantarum was suitable for increasing water-extractable arabinoxylan content. Different processing sequences and microbial strains have their advantages, and these results can provide reference for rice bran processing.

Biomass-related airborne fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is an important risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Macrophage polarization has been reported to be involved in PM2.5-induced COPD, but the dynamic characteristics and underlying mechanism of this process remain unclear. Our study established a PM2.5-induced COPD mouse model and revealed that M2 macrophages predominantly presented after 4 and 6 months of PM2.5 exposure, during which a notable increase in MMP12 was observed. Single cell analysis of lung tissues from COPD patients and mice further revealed that M2 macrophages were the dominant macrophage subpopulation in COPD, with MMP12 being involved as a hub gene. In vitro experiments further demonstrated that PM2.5 induced M2 polarization and increased MMP12 expression. Moreover, we found that PM2.5 increased IL-4 expression, STAT6 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. Nuclear pSTAT6 then bound to the MMP12 promoter region. Furthermore, the inhibition of STAT6 phosphorylation effectively abrogated the PM2.5-induced increase in MMP12. Using a coculture system, we observed a significantly reduced level of E-cadherin in alveolar epithelial cells cocultured with PM2.5-exposed macrophages, while the decrease in E-cadherin was reversed by the addition of an MMP12 inhibitor to the co-culture system. Taken together, these findings indicated that PM2.5 induced M2 macrophage polarization and MMP12 upregulation via the IL-4/STAT6 pathway, which resulted in alveolar epithelial barrier dysfunction and excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, and ultimately led to COPD progression. These findings may help to elucidate the role of macrophages in COPD, and suggest promising directions for potential therapeutic strategies.

Abstract Myoblast proliferation and differentiation are essential for skeletal muscle development. In this study, we generated the expression profiles of mRNAs, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and microRNAs (miRNAs) in different developmental stages of chicken primary myoblasts (CPMs) using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology. The dual luciferase reporter system was performed using chicken embryonic fibroblast cells (DF-1), and functional studies quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-Ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU), flow cytometry cycle, RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (RNA-FISH), immunofluorescence, and western blotting assay. Our research demonstrated that miR-301a-5p had a targeted binding ability to lncMDP1 and ChaC glutathione-specific gamma-glutamylcyclotransferase 1 (CHAC1). The results revealed that lncMDP1 regulated the proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts via regulating the miR-301a-5p/CHAC1 axis, and CHAC1 promotes muscle regeneration. This study fulfilled the molecular regulatory network of skeletal muscle development and providing an important theoretical reference for the future improvement of chicken meat performance and meat quality.

AbstractStigma maydis (SM) possesses remarkable nutritional value due to the presence of health-protective chemical constituents in it. Despite its commercial uses, there is a lack of information on changes in the nutritional profile of SM during Shenke 601 waxy corn development by following four different maturity stages (silking stage; blister stage; milky stage; dough stage). In this study, the ideal times for the development of seven active compounds (polysaccharides, saponin, rutin, luteolin, quercetin, kaempferol and chlorogenic acid) were at the silking stage. The total flavonoid and total phenol content increased as the SM matured. Except for the above-mentioned active compounds, the content of major nutritional components of dough stage was higher than that of three other stages. The extract of Stigma maydis exhibited good α-amylase, α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase inhibition activities. The ethanolic SM extracts showed better inhibitory effects than aqueous SM extracts with a dose–effect relationship. The hypoglycemic activity of ethanolic extract was higher than that of aqueous extract at each stage. This provided an important basis for the application of SM.

Fresh red waxy corn is consumed worldwide because of its unique flavor and rich nutrients, but it is susceptible to deterioration with a short shelf life. This study explored the effect of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) treatment on the quality and antioxidant capacity of fresh red waxy corn during postharvest cold storage up to 40 d. The SAEW treatment exhibited lower weight loss, softer firmness, and higher total soluble solids (TSS) and moisture content than the control group. Correspondingly, the SAEW maintained the microstructure of endosperm cell wall and starch granules of fresh red waxy corn kernels well, contributing to good sensory quality. Furthermore, SAEW effectively reduced the accumulation of H2O2 content, elevated the O2−· scavenging ability, maintained higher CAT and APX activities, and decreased the decline of the flavonoids and anthocyanin during the storage. These results revealed that the SAEW treatment could be a promising preservation method to maintain higher-quality attributes and the antioxidant capacity of fresh red waxy corn during postharvest cold storage.

Canine paraplegia is a common condition in small animal medicine, referred to as Wei Syndrome (WS) in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM). Common clinical manifestations encompass hind limb paralysis, motor dysfunction, muscle atrophy, and the absence of pain perception. WS is considered a difficult-to-treat disease in small animal practice. The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of canine WS and the characteristics of hemorheology. A total of 53 dogs with WS and 53 healthy dogs were included in this study. A retrospective case-controlled study design was employed. Data regarding the gender, season of WS occurrence, breed, and age of dogs with WS, as well as hemorheology from dogs with WS and healthy dogs, were collected and analyzed using SPSS 27.0. The study findings revealed that male dogs were more susceptible to WS (77.36%, 41/53). WS cases occurred more frequently in Winter (33.96%, 18/53), and were commonly found in Poodle breeds (43.40%, 23/53). The most affected age of WS was between 3 and 6 years old (54.72%, 29/53). Except for plasma viscosity and fibrinogen, the hemorheology indices of canine WS were significantly higher than those of healthy dogs (p < 0.05), especially in male dogs, Poodles and Bulldogs, those between 3 to 10 years, and in Autumn and Winter. This study provides evidence that male Poodles and Bulldogs aged 3 to 6 years are more prone to developing WS, with Winter being the season of high disease incidence. Abnormal hemorheology is a characteristic feature in dogs with WS, which should be considered during the treatment of WS.

ABSTRACT: During myogenesis and regeneration, the proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts play key regulatory roles and may be regulated by many genes. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptomic data of chicken primary myoblasts at different periods of proliferation and differentiation with protein‒protein interaction network, and the results indicated that there was an interaction between cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) and ribonucleotide reductase regulatory subunit M2 (RRM2). Previous studies in mammals have a role for RRM2 in skeletal muscle development as well as cell growth, but the role of RRM2 in chicken is unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of RRM2 on skeletal muscle development and regeneration in chickens in vitro and in vivo. The interaction between RRM2 and CDK1 was initially identified by co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry. Through a dual luciferase reporter assay and quantitative real-time PCR, we identified the core promoter region of RRM2, which is regulated by the SP1 transcription factor. In this study, through cell counting kit-8 assays, 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine incorporation assays, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence staining, and Western blot analysis, we demonstrated that RRM2 promoted the proliferation and inhibited the differentiation of myoblasts. In vivo studies showed that RRM2 reduced the diameter of muscle fibers and slowed skeletal muscle regeneration. In conclusion, these data provide preliminary insights into the biological functions of RRM2 in chicken muscle development and skeletal muscle regeneration.

Abstract The dominant mutational signature in colorectal cancer genomes is C > T deamination (COSMIC Signature 1) and, in a small subgroup, mismatch repair signature (COSMIC signatures 6 and 44). Mutations in common colorectal cancer driver genes are often not consistent with those signatures. Here we perform whole-genome sequencing of normal colon crypts from cancer patients, matched to a previous multi-omic tumour dataset. We analyse normal crypts that were distant vs adjacent to the cancer. In contrast to healthy individuals, normal crypts of colon cancer patients have a high incidence of pks + (polyketide synthases) E.coli (Escherichia coli) mutational and indel signatures, and this is confirmed by metagenomics. These signatures are compatible with many clonal driver mutations detected in the corresponding cancer samples, including in chromatin modifier genes, supporting their role in early tumourigenesis. These results provide evidence that pks + E.coli is a potential driver of carcinogenesis in the human gut.

Improving low nitrogen (LN) tolerance in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) increases global barley yield and quality. In this study, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population crossed between “Baudin × CN4079” was used to conduct field experiments on twenty traits of barley yield, agronomy, and nitrogen(N)-related traits under LN and normal nitrogen (NN) treatments for two years. This study identified seventeen QTL, comprising eight QTL expressed under both LN and NN treatments, eight LN-specific QTL, and one NN-specific QTL. The localized C2 cluster contained QTL controlling yield, agronomic, and N-related traits. Of the four novel QTL, the expression of the N-related QTL Qstna.sau-5H and Qnhi.sau-5H was unaffected by N treatment. Qtgw.sau-2H for thousand-grain weight, Qph.sau-3H for plant height, Qsl.sau-7H for spike length, and Qal.sau-7H for awn length were identified to be the four stable expression QTL. Correlation studies revealed a significant negative correlation between grain N content and harvest index (p < 0.01). These results are essential for barley marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding.

Sixteen novel antioxidant peptides from Asian swamp eel (ASE) were identified in previous studies. However, their chemical and cellular antioxidant mechanisms remain unclear. Molecular docking of these peptides with ABTS and DPPH radicals revealed the critical role of hydrogen bonding and Pi–Pi stacking hydrophobic interactions between hydrophobic amino acid residues and free radicals. Residues, such as tryptophan, proline, leucine, and valine, played significant roles in these interactions. All these peptides exhibited notable erythrocyte morphoprotective effects in a model of AAPH-induced oxidative damage of human erythrocytes. Erythrocyte hemolysis was reduced primarily through the modulation of both non-enzymatic (GSH/GSSG) and enzymatic antioxidant systems (SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px) by these peptides. A decrease in levels of MDA, LDH release, and hemoglobin oxidation was observed. Among the peptides, VLYPW demonstrated superior chemical and cellular antioxidant activities, which may be attributed to its higher levels of tyrosine and tryptophan, as well as to its increased hydrophobic amino acid content.

Chaeturichthys stigmatias Richardson, 1844, a fish species of the family Gobiidae, is an offshore warm-temperate fish species and a dominant component of estuarine ecosystems. In this study, restriction site-associated DNA sequencing was adopted to analyze the traits of candidate microsatellite markers for C. stigmatias, and 30 polymorphic loci were developed. A total of 5631 microsatellites with primer fragments were detected, among which trinucleotide repeats (57.56% of the total simple sequence repeats) were the most abundant, followed by di- (23.30%), tetra- (11.79%), penta- (4.14%), and hexa- (3.21%) nucleotide repeats type. The numbers of alleles per locus ranged from 6 to 14 with the mean value of 10.4. The mean value of observed heterozygosity and the expected heterozygosity were 0.349 and 0.870, respectively. The microsatellite locus with the lowest polymorphic information content (PIC) was 0.749, which indicated that all sites were highly polymorphic (PIC > 0.50). This is the first microsatellite development and characterization of this species to be reported.

Citrus reticulatae pericarpium (CRP) is regarded as a valuable functional food in many countries due to its pharmacological activities and unique aroma. In this study, CRP was treated by different A. niger to accelerate aging. Headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) fingerprinting was adopted to rapidly and comprehensively evaluate the flavor compounds of CRP and to identify their dynamic changes at different storage time. Results revealed that the hesperidin content of DOL groups reduced more clearly than other groups during storage. A total of 134 volatile flavor compounds were identified. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) showed that the lemon, sweet with the musk aroma of CRP, changed to apple, pineapple, and coffee odors during storage. The principal component analysis (PCA) and fingerprint similarity analysis (FSA) results showed that the CRP was clearly distinguished at different storage time. DOL-3 and DOS-6 differ the most from the DOW-3,6, respectively. This work provided helpful information for accelerating the aging of CRP and has great potential for industrial application.

Due to the irrational design of the seed discharge plate and the vacuum chamber, the high-speed seed filling effect of the air-suction maize precision seed-metering device is poor. Therefore, an air-suction maize seed-metering device with an auxiliary guide is designed to realize high-speed precision seed discharging. An auxiliary guide filling theory is put forward, and the design of the seed plate type hole charging structure is formulated. Fluent 2022 software is used to analyze nine kinds of vacuum chamber structures; the optimal vacuum chamber structure parameters were determined by polar analysis. In order to investigate the changes of negative pressure and flow speed under the dynamic flow field, a slip grid was used to analyze the dynamic flow field with three different operating speeds and negative pressures. It found that the size of negative pressure did not affect the flow field distribution, and the pressure and flow speed gradually decreased as the distance from the inlet was farther away; meanwhile, the negative pressure distribution and air speed distribution were almost unchanged when the holes at different rotational speeds were at the same position. Finally, bench tests were carried out, and three indexes, namely, the qualified index, the multiple index and the missing index, were selected, with operating speed and negative pressure as factors, two-factor five-level orthogonal test was carried out, and the optimal parameter combinations at 6.0, 7.5, 9.0, 10.5, and 12 km/h forward velocity were derived and verified by regression equations. The results showed that the designed seed-metering device was repeated five times when the pressure of the vacuum chamber was −3.5 kPa and the rotational speed of the seed-metering device was 23 r/min, the average grain spacing qualified index was 95.8%, the missing index was 1.6%, the multiple index was 2.6%, and the indexes met the requirements of precision sowing. It is of great significance for our country’s seeder to develop in the direction of high-speed and precision.

Abstract Background Molecular breeding accelerates the speed of animal breeding. Screening molecular markers that can affect economic traits through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) can provide a theoretical basis for molecular breeding. At present, a large number of molecular markers have been screened in poultry research, but few reports on how molecular markers affect economic traits exist. It is particularly important to reveal the action mechanisms of molecular markers, which can provide more accurate information for molecular breeding. Results The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between two indels (NUDT15-indel-2777 and NUDT15-indel-1673) in the promoter region of NUDT15 and growth and carcass traits in chickens and to explore the regulatory mechanism of NUDT15. Significant differences were found in genotype and allele frequencies among commercial broilers, commercial laying hens and dual-purpose chickens. The results of association analyses showed that these two indel loci could significantly affect growth traits, such as body weight, and carcass traits. Tissue expression profiling at E12 showed that the expression of NUDT15 was significantly higher in skeletal muscle, and time-expression profiling of leg muscle showed that the expression of NUDT15 in myoblasts was significantly higher in the E10 and E12 proliferation stages than in other stages. Promoter activity analysis showed that pro-1673-I and pro-1673-D significantly inhibited promoter activity, and the promoter activity of pro-1673-D was significantly lower than that of pro-1673-I. In addition, when NUDT15 was overexpressed or underwent interference in chicken primary myoblasts (CPMs), NUDT15 could inhibit the proliferation of CPMs. Conclusion The results suggest that the studied indels in the promoter region of NUDT15 may regulate the proliferation of CPMs by affecting NUDT15 expression, ultimately affecting the growth and carcass traits of chickens. These indel polymorphisms may be used together as molecular markers for improving economic traits in chickens.

Gemcitabine is the first-line chemotherapeutic agent for pancreatic cancer. However, gemcitabine-resistance frequently leads to poor prognosis. Exploring new chemotherapeutic agents is important for patients with gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer. In this study, we established a new acquired gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC-GEM-20 from parental BxPC-3. We found that pralatrexate significantly inhibited the growth of BxPC-GEM-20. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration of pralatrexate on BxPC-GEM-20 cell was about 3.43 ± 0.25 nM. Pralatrexate was found to effectively inhibit the clonal growth of BxPC-GEM-20 cell. Additionally, pralatrexate at 20 mg/kg had an excellent tumor inhibitory effect with an inhibitory rate of 76.92% in vivo. This pralatrexate therapy showed good safety profile that with little to no additional influence on the hepatic, renal function as well as body weight changes in nude mice. Pralatrexate was confirmed to prevent cells from entering the G2/M phase, leading to the promotion of apoptosis and autophagy. Further analysis demonstrated that the reduced phosphorylation of mTOR played a significant role in the tumor cell damage caused by pralatrexate. Pralatrexate effectively inhibited the mTOR/4E-BP1 pathway. Activation of mTOR pathway can further obstruct the repressive effect of pralatrexate on gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer. In summary, pralatrexate induces effective inhibition of gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer. This may lead to the expansion of pralatrexate's application and offer benefit to gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer patients in the future.

Cherry tomatoes are easily damaged due to their high moisture content. A composite coating was developed to delay deterioration and prolong storage by mixing antibacterial sulfated rice bran polysaccharides (SRBP) and edible hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) with film-forming properties. The effects of HEC, HEC-5% SRBP, and HEC-20% SRBP preservative coatings on the maintenance of the quality of cherry tomatoes (LycopersivonesculentumMill., Xiaohuang F2) during cold storage were investigated. The HEC-20% SRBP coating significantly reduced tomato deterioration and weight loss, delayed firmness loss, decreased polyphenol oxidase activity, and increased peroxidase activity. Furthermore, cherry tomatoes treated with HEC-20% SRBP maintained high levels of titratable acid, ascorbic acid, total phenols, and carotenoids. Cherry tomatoes coated with HEC-SRBP also had higher levels of volatile substances and a greater variety of these substances compared to uncoated tomatoes. In conclusion, the HEC-20% SRBP coating effectively delayed deterioration and preserved cherry tomatoes’ nutrient and flavor qualities during postharvest cold storage, suggesting it could be a novel food preservation method.

Skeletal muscle is an essential tissue in meat-producing animals, and meat-producing traits have been a hot topic in chicken genetic breeding research. Current research shows that creatine kinase M-type-like (CKM) is one of the most abundant proteins in skeletal muscle and plays an important role in the growth and development of skeletal muscle, but its role in the development of chicken skeletal muscle is still unclear. Via RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), we found that CKM was highly expressed in chicken breast muscle tissue. In this study, the expression profile of CKM was examined by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), and overexpression and RNA interference techniques were used to explore the functions of CKM in the proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation of chicken primary myoblasts (CPMs). It was shown that CKM was specifically highly expressed in breast muscle and leg muscle and was highly expressed in stage 16 embryonic muscle, while CKM inhibited proliferation, promoted the apoptosis and differentiation of CPMs and was involved in regulating chicken myogenesis. Transcriptome sequencing was used to identify genes that were differentially expressed in CPMs after CKM disruption, and bioinformatics analysis showed that CKM was involved in regulating chicken myogenesis. In summary, CKM plays an important role in skeletal muscle development during chicken growth and development.

Abstract Potassium-ion capacitors (KICs) are promising for sustainable and eco-friendly energy storage technologies, yet their slow reaction kinetics and poor cyclability induced by large K-ion size are a major obstacle toward practical applications. Herein, by employing black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNSs) as a typical high-capacity anode material, we report that BPNS anodes armored with an ultrathin oriented-grown metal–organic-framework (MOF) interphase layer (BPNS@MOF) exhibit regulated potassium storage behavior for high-performance KICs. The MOF interphase layers as protective layer with ordered pores and high chemical/mechanical stability facilitate K ion diffusion and accommodate the volume change of electrode, beneficial for improved reaction kinetics and enhanced cyclability, as evidenced by substantial characterizations, kinetics analysis and DFT calculations. Consequently, the BPNS@MOF electrode as KIC anodes exhibits outstanding cycle performance outperforming most of the reported state-of-art KICs so far.

Rice bran is a “treasure house of natural nutrition”. Even so, utilization of rice bran is often ignored, and this has resulted in the wastage of nutrients. Polysaccharides are one of the active substances in rice bran that have gained widespread attention for their antioxidant, antitumor, immune-enhancing, antibacterial, and hypoglycemic properties. This review summarizes the extraction methods, structural characterization, bioactivity, and application of rice bran polysaccharides that have been developed and studied in recent years, laying a foundation for its development into foods and medicines. In addition, we also discuss the prospects for future research on rice bran polysaccharides.

Analyzing marker-assisted breeding is an important method utilized in modern molecular breeding. Recent studies have determined that a large number of molecular markers appear to explain the impact of “lost heritability” on human height. Therefore, it is necessary to locate molecular marker sites in poultry and investigate the possible molecular mechanisms governing their effects. In this study, we found a 104-bp insertion/deletion polymorphism in the 5′UTR of the ADPRHL1 gene through resequencing. In cross-designed F2 resource groups, the indel was significantly associated with weight at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 10 weeks and a number of other traits [carcass weight (CW), semi-evisceration weight (SEW), evisceration weight (EW), claw weight (CLW), wings weight (DWW), gizzard weight (GW), pancreas weight (PW), chest muscle weight (CMW), leg weight (LW), leg muscle weight (LMW), shedding Weight (SW), liver rate (LR), and leg muscle rate (LMR)] (P < 0.05). In brief, the insertion-insertion (II) genotype was significantly associated with the greatest growth traits and meat quality traits, whereas the values associated with the insertion-deletion (ID) genotype were the lowest in the F2 reciprocal cross chickens. The mutation sites were genotyped in 4,526 individuals from 12 different chicken breeds and cross-designed F2 resource groups. The II genotype is the most important genotype in commercial broilers, and the I allele frequency observed in these breeds is relatively high. Deletion mutations tend to be fixed in commercial broilers. However, there is still considerable great potential for breeding in dual-purpose chickens and commercial laying hens. A luciferase reporter assay showed that the II genotype of the ADPRHL1 gene possessed 2.49-fold higher promoter activity than the DD genotype (P < 0.05). We hypothesized that this indel might affect the transcriptional activity of ADPRHL1, thereby affecting the growth traits of chickens. These findings may help to elucidate the function of the ADPRHL1 gene and facilitate enhanced reproduction in the chicken industry.

We evaluate the predictive validity of the Massachusetts Candidate Assessment of Performance (CAP), a practice-based assessment of teaching skills that is now a requirement for teacher preparation program completion in Massachusetts. We find that candidates' performance on the CAP significantly predicts their in-service summative performance evaluations in their first 2 years in the teaching workforce, but it is not predictive of their value added to student test scores in these years. These findings suggest that the CAP captures aspects of candidates' skills and competencies that are better reflected in their future performance evaluations than by their impacts on student performance.

Methods to fabricate layered materials are often associated with harsh conditions and complicated manipulations. Here the authors report a polymer-direct-intercalation strategy to synthesize composite heteroaerogels consisting of molybdenum sulfide/carbon nanosheets for high-capacitance supercapacitors.

Summary: Transition metal oxides/carbon (TMOs/C) composites are important for high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), but the development of interface-stable TMOs/C composite anodes for robust lithium storage is still a challenge. Herein, mesoporous TiO2/TiC@C composite membranes were synthesized by an in situ carbothermic reduction method. TiC nanodots with high conductivity and electrochemical inactivity at the TiO2-C interface can significantly enhance the electrical conductivity and structural stability of the membranes. Finite element simulations demonstrate that the TiO2/TiC@C membranes can effectively alleviate tensile and compression stress effects upon lithiation, which is beneficial for robust lithium storage. When used as additives and binder-free electrodes, the TiO2/TiC@C membranes show excellent cycling capability and rate performance. Moreover, a flexible full battery can be assembled by employing the TiO2/TiC@C membranes and shows good performance, highlighting the potential of these membranes in flexible electronics. This work opens an avenue to constructing interface-stable composite structures for the next-generation high-performance LIBs. : Composite Materials; Nanomaterials; Energy Materials Subject Areas: Composite Materials, Nanomaterials, Energy Materials