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Different plant species within the grasses were parallel targets of domestication, giving rise to crops with distinct evolutionary histories and traits1. Key traits that distinguish these species are mediated by specialized cell types2. Here we compare the transcriptomes of root cells in three grass species-Zea mays, Sorghum bicolor and Setaria viridis. We show that single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing provide complementary readouts of cell identity in dicots and monocots, warranting a combined analysis. Cell types were mapped across species to identify robust, orthologous marker genes. The comparative cellular analysis shows that the transcriptomes of some cell types diverged more rapidly than those of others-driven, in part, by recruitment of gene modules from other cell types. The data also show that a recent whole-genome duplication provides a rich source of new, highly localized gene expression domains that favour fast-evolving cell types. Together, the cell-by-cell comparative analysis shows how fine-scale cellular profiling can extract conserved modules from a pan transcriptome and provide insight on the evolution of cells that mediate key functions in crops.

The incorporation of functional building blocks to construct functionalized and highly porous covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs) is essential to the emerging adsorptive-involved field. Herein, a series of amide functionalized CTFs (CTF-PO71) have been synthesized using a bottom-up strategy in which pigment PO71 with an amide group is employed as a monomer under ionothermal conditions with ZnCl2 as the solvent and catalyst. The pore structure can be controlled by the amount of ZnCl2 to monomer ratio. Benefitting from the highly porous structure and amide functionalities, CTF-PO71, as a sulfur cathode host, simultaneously demonstrates physical confinement and chemical anchoring of sulfur species, thus leading to superior capacity, cycling stability, and rate capability in comparison to unfunctionalized CTF. Meanwhile, as an adsorbent of organic dye molecules, CTF-PO71 was demonstrated to exhibit strong chemical interactions with dye molecules, facilitating adsorption kinetics and thereby promoting the adsorption rate and capacity. Furthermore, the dynamic adsorption experiments of organic dyes from solutions showed selectivity/priority of CTF-PO71s for specific dye molecules.

The significant interfacial resistance between solid electrolyte‐electrode interfaces is a major bottleneck for the practical application of solid‐state lithium batteries. This resistance is primarily caused by the formation of space charge layers (SCLs), resulting from the redistribution of ionic carriers at the interface between dissimilar materials with varying chemical potentials, which lead to insufficient carriers and sluggish lithium‐ion transport. In this study, a conjugated structure polymer is constructed through in situ polymerization onto the oxide electrolyte, forming charge‐rich SCLs on the organic/inorganic interface, and enabling the interfacial layer to maintain superior ion transfer and contact. The Li solid NMR spectra and computational study suggest that optimized SCLs offer effective pathways for Li+ conduction in the electrolyte, thereby enhancing the interfacial conduction. Furthermore, the designed electrolyte induces the formation of an inorganic‐rich interphase layer on the lithium anode, enabling rapid lithium‐ion transport and uniform Li deposition. Consequently, the lithium symmetric cell with this electrolyte operates for more than 5100 h, while LiFePO4/Li solid‐state batteries can stably cycle up to 800 times at 5 C. This interfacial modification strategy provides a new perspective for the rational design of the charge‐rich SCLs and advances the understanding of the SCLs inside the electrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving fast Li+ transport kinetics and stable electrode/electrolyte interfaces is of paramount importance, yet extremely challenging for the practical success of solid‐state lithium metal batteries, which requires the rational design of the structure and composition of solid‐state electrolytes. Herein, a composite quasi‐solid‐state electrolyte is fabricated through in situ polymerization of a molecule‐designed polymer chain within the functionalized molecular sieve framework (Al‐MCM41). In this design, the robust Brønsted/Lewis acid–base interactions between Al‐MCM41 and TFSI− facilitate the dissociation of lithium salt, leading to a Li+ transference number as high as 0.81. Meanwhile, the well‐ordered mesopores of Al‐MCM41 act as the “reservoir” of the polymer chain, creating continuous ionic migration pathways to offer an excellent Li+ conductivity of 1.09 × 10−3 S cm−1 at 30 °C. Furthermore, the polymer with fluorinated and nitrided functional groups guarantees a dual‐reinforced anode and cathode interface. Such an integrated electrolyte with simultaneous unimpeded Li+ transport and robust interfaces delivers extraordinary capacity retention of 84.6% over 600 cycles at 5 C when coupled with LiFePO4 cathode and remarkable reversible capacity of 129.0 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles with high‐voltage NCM622 cathode. This work provides a significant avenue for enhancing the practical feasibility of solid‐state lithium metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) are promising anode materials for sodium ion battery, thanks to their high theoretical specific capacities. Nevertheless, they suffer from large volume change and from poor conductivity during prolonged cycling. Here we systematically investigate the role of different kinds of single/multi‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs/MWCNTs) as additives in order to stabilize copper phosphide particles (CuP2) as anode materials in sodium ion batteries (SIBs). All composites show enhancement in the overall capacity and cycling stability compared to the pristine CuP2 due to the well‐connected CNTs on and between the CuP2 particles. At a high currency density of 1 A g−1, CuP2@SWCNTs composite with 13 wt.% SWCNTs can deliver a specific capacity over 400 mAh g−1 for more than 60 cycles, much better than conventional hard carbon materials. The CNTs enhance the conductivity and reduce capacity loss caused by the volume variation of CuP2 based electrode materials. Post‐mortem analysis by scanning electron microscopy depicts a possible battery failure mechanism, whereby the solid electrolyte interface exists in the form of nanospheres distributing at the surface of the electrode. During the repeated cycling (volume change), more fractures and cracks occur resulting in continuous interfacial reactions and consumption of sodium and electrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)‐based solid polymer electrolyte promises interfacial compatibility with the high‐capacity metallic anodes in all‐solid‐state batteries (ASSBs). However, the prototype construction is severely hindered by the parasitic ohmic resistance at the electrode‐electrolyte interface, insufficient ionic pathway of the high loading cathode, as well as the PEO oxidation tendency at the high voltage. Herein, a laser‐assisted strategy is presented toward ultra‐efficient cathode modification (completes within 240 s) by constructing continuous, multi‐scale artificial cathode/electrolyte interface (CEI). The tailorable, yet localized temperature gradient induced by the pulsed laser beam can customize the CEI species from the target precursor salts for the on‐demand protection purpose. Derived from the tris(trimethylsilyl)phosphate, the proof‐of‐concept model achieves phosphorus‐rich, ion‐diffusion network across the high‐mass‐loading LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cathode, which enables the high‐rate operation of the ASSBs prototype as well as the extended shelf life at the oxidized idling state. Transmission‐mode operando X‐ray phase tracking unravels the electrochemical stability origin at the cathode/PEO interface due to the insulation of electron shuttling, where the layered to spinel phase transition and the lattice oxygen release are alleviated. This generic, readily tailorable, highly‐efficient laser processing strategy thus provides unprecedented opportunities to secure the varieties of energy‐dense, polymer‐based ASSBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to prevent the introduction of mice carrying unknown viruses and microorganisms into barrier feeding facilities, control the quality of animals reared in barrier facilities, and maintain the biological safety of experimental animals, this paper analyzes and summarizes the quality control strategy and operation technology of foreign genetic engineering mice in detail based on the working experience of isolation quarantine and biological purification department of laboratory animal center in a university. The practice shows that the pass rate of isolation and quarantine of imported mice in the center reaches 91.3%, the biological purification technology is mainly in vitro fertilization combined with embryo transfer technology, accounting for 95.1%, and the success rate of one experiment is 88.3%, the average birth rate is 22.8 %. The microbial detection in the biological purification breeding room meets the SPF level. Through the establishment of quarantine and biological purification system, the risk of pollution caused by foreign genetically engineered mice can be effectively prevented and controlled to ensure the biological safety of facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Face-to-face covalent bridging in-between 2D-nanosheets/graphene heterostructure was constructed by intentionally prebonding of laser-manufactured amorphous and metastable nanoparticles on graphene. The consecutive bonding enables the robust anchoring of ultrathin SnS2 nanosheets on graphene with huge covalent coupling area as well as spontaneous charge transfer in-between the heterostructure. Such laser-manufactured heterostructure is capable of guaranteeing high-flux electron/ion migration and structural integrity upon cycling, thus contributing to the unprecedented Na-storage capability. Establishing covalent heterointerfaces with face-to-face contact is promising for advanced energy storage, while challenge remains on how to inhibit the anisotropic growth of nucleated crystals on the matrix. Herein, face-to-face covalent bridging in-between the 2D-nanosheets/graphene heterostructure is constructed by intentionally prebonding of laser-manufactured amorphous and metastable nanoparticles on graphene, where the amorphous nanoparticles were designed via the competitive oxidation of Sn-O and Sn-S bonds, and metastable feature was employed to facilitate the formation of the C-S-Sn covalent bonding in-between the heterostructure. The face-to-face bridging of ultrathin SnS2 nanosheets on graphene enables the heterostructure huge covalent coupling area and high loading and thus renders unimpeded electron/ion transfer pathways and indestructible electrode structure, and impressive reversible capacity and rate capability for sodium-ion batteries, which rank among the top in records of the SnS2-based anodes. Present work thus provides an alternative of constructing heterostructures with planar interfaces for electrochemical energy storage and even beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulating lithium salt dissociation kinetics by enhancing the interaction between inorganic fillers and lithium salts is vital for enhancing the ionic conductivity in solid‐state composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs). However, the influence of fillers’ external electronic environments on lithium salt dissociation dynamics remains unclear. Here, we design single‐atom sites in metal–organic framework fillers for poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)‐based CPEs, boosting lithium salt dissociation through an electrocatalytic strategy. This strategy enhances lithium‐ion conductivity by tuning the coupling strength between the d and p orbitals of the fillers, as captured by a newly identified descriptor (λ) via high‐throughput density functional theory (DFT) calculations and machine learning. The optimal single atom (Ti) sites are incorporated into a ZIF‐8 matrix for PEO‐based CPEs, achieving an ionic conductivity exceeding 10−3 S cm−1 at 30 °C. Additionally, the electrolyte forms a robust solid electrolyte interphase and is compatible with LiCoO2, LiNi0.9Co0.05Mn0.05O2, and sulfur cathodes. Consequently, the solid‐state lithium metal battery with the electrolyte demonstrates excellent cycling stability, maintaining performance over 5000 cycles at 10 C with LiFePO4 cathodes and stable operation at −30 °C. These findings highlight the transformative potential of engineering d‐p orbital hybridization by incorporating single‐atom sites into inorganic fillers for designing highly ion‐conductive CPEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]