Lithium metal anodes hold great promise for enabling high-energy density devices compared with the commercialized graphite electrode. However, huge pressure changes during cycling will lead to the pulverization of the 2D lithium anode, thus deteriorating the battery life due to its poor mechanical strength. Herein we report a 3D lithium−boron (LiB) fibrous framework with great compressive strength through electrochemical delithiation. The LiB alloy fibers with a 3D stable structure play the role of an expansion-tolerant substrate, which could effectively hold the Li metal and reduce the internal pressure changes, showing only a 53.7% pressure change compared with the 2D Li/Cuanode-based pouch cell. A quasi-ionic-liquid-based polymer electrolyte layer is introduced by a scalable tape-casting method, generating a LiF-rich layer inside the 3D Li anode through the reaction between the polymer electrolyte and the internal free Li, which can guide the uniform nucleation and growth of Li metal. As a result, the asymmetric Li−Li cell can sustain 5 mAh cm −2 Li plating/ stripping for 1000 h. A 2.1 Ah pouch cell coupling to a LiF-rich interface-protected 3D Li/LiB anode and a Ni-rich cathode of 30 mg cm −2 exhibits an ultrahigh energy density of 403 Wh kg −1 and a stable cycle life of 100 cycles.
Metal–air batteries have attracted wide interest owing to their ultrahigh theoretical energy densities, particularly for lithium–oxygen batteries. One of the challenges inhibiting the practical application of lithium–oxygen batteries is the unavoidable liquid electrolyte evaporation accompanying oxygen fluxion in the semi-open system, which leads to safety issues and poor cyclic performance. To address these issues, we propose a solid-state polyimide based gel polymer electrolyte (PI@GPE), immobilizing and reserving a liquid electrolyte in the gelled polymer substrate. The liquid electrolyte uptake of PI@GPE is measured to be 842%, 6 times higher than that of the commercial glass fiber separator, contributing to a high ionic conductivity of 0.44 mS cm–1. Additionally, PI@GPE possesses an enhanced lithium transference number of 0.596 as well as superior interfacial compatibility with lithium metals. Under 0.1 mA cm–2 and 0.25 mA h cm–2, PI@GPE-based lithium–oxygen batteries demonstrate distinguished long-cycling stability of 366 cycles, 4 times more than that with a glass fiber separator and liquid electrolyte. Our work provides a unique solid-state gel polymer electrolyte to mitigate liquid electrolyte leakage, exhibiting promising potential application in highly safe lithium–oxygen batteries with a long-cycling life.
The practical application of lithium−oxygen (Li−O 2 ) batteries is limited by the formation of lithium dendrites and the use of flammable and unstable organic liquid electrolytes, which would cause safety issues and poor cycling stability. Herein, we present a bilayer organic/inorganic hybrid solid-state electrolyte to improve the safety and enhance the electrochemical performance of Li−O 2 batteries. Si-doped NASICON-type electrolyte Li 1.51 1Al 0.5 Ge 1.5 Si 0.01 P 2.99 O 12 (LAGP-Si) serves as an inorganic rigid backbone to guarantee high ionic conductivity and provide a barrier between active oxygen and lithium anode. Poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMEM) is chosen as a polymer buffer layer due to its compatibility with lithium. Benefiting from the synergistic effect between LAGP-Si and PEGMEM, the obtained hybrid electrolyte exhibits high ionic conductivity and good stability against lithium anode. Consequently, the polarization of the Li symmetric cell is dramatically reduced by replacing pure LAGP-Si with a bilayer hybrid electrolyte. The solid-state Li−O 2 batteries employing a PEGMEM@LAGP-Si electrolyte deliver a greater initial discharge−charge capacity of 7.3 mAh cm −2 and enhanced cyclic performance for 39 cycles with a restricted capacity of 0.4 mAh cm −2 . The present work delivers a promising category of hybrid solid electrolytes for high-performance solid-state Li−O 2 batteries.
Lithium‐oxygen batteries have received great research interest owing to their ultrahigh theoretical energy density and are considered as one of the promising secondary batteries. However, there are still some challenges in their practical application, like liquid organic electrolyte evaporation in the semi‐open system and instability in the high‐voltage oxidizing environment. In this work, a cellulose acetate‐based gel polymer electrolyte (CA@GPE) is proposed, whose cross‐linked microporous structure ensures the ultrahigh liquid electrolyte uptake of 2391%. The prepared CA@GPE exhibits a high lithium‐ion transference number of 0.595, a satisfying ionic conductivity of 0.47 mS cm−1 and a wide electrochemical stability window up to 5.0 V. The Li//Li symmetric cell employing CA@GPE could cycle stably over 1200 h. The lithium‐oxygen battery with CA@GPE presents a superb cycling lifetime of 370 cycles at 0.1 mA cm−2 under 0.25 mAh cm−2. This work offers a possible strategy to realize long‐cycling stability lithium‐oxygen batteries.
BackgroundPEST-containing nuclear protein (PCNP), a novel zinc finger protein, participates in cell cycle regulation. Previous studies have confirmed that PCNP plays a role in mediating cellular development and invasion in a variety of cancer types. However, the relationship between PCNP expression and the occurrence and development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) requires further exploration. In this study, we used biological atomic force microscopy to examine the histomorphological and mechanical properties of OSCC to explore the relationship between PCNP expression and differentiation of OSCC.MethodsSeventy-seven OSCC samples with varying degrees of differentiation were selected for hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, and cellular mechanical measurement. The expression of PCNP and the mechanical properties such as stiffness and roughness of the tissue interface in OSCC samples were investigated. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was utilized to assess the relationship of PCNP expression with patient survival.ResultsThe level of PCNP was significantly higher in well-differentiated OSCC than in moderately and poorly differentiated OSCC (P < 0.001). High expression of PCNP was specifically associated with higher tumor differentiation, lack of lymph node metastasis, and lower tumor node metastasis stage (all P < 0.05). Patients with high PCNP expression had a higher survival rate than those with low PCNP expression. The average variation of stiffness within a single tissue ranged from 347 kPa to 539 kPa. The mean surface roughness of highly, moderately, and poorly differentiated OSCC and paraneoplastic tissues were 795.53 ± 47.2 nm, 598.37 ± 45.76 nm, 410.16 ± 38.44 nm, and 1010.94 ± 119.07 nm, respectively. Pearson correlation coefficient demonstrated a positive correlation between PCNP expression and tissue stiffness of OSCC (R = 0.86, P < 0.001).ConclusionThe expression of PCNP was positively correlated with patient survival, tumor differentiation, and mechanical properties of tissue interfaces. PCNP is a potential biomarker for the early diagnosis and staging of OSCC. Furthermore, determination of the mechanical properties of the tissue interface could provide further useful information required for the detection and differentiation of OSCC.
The pathogenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between HNSCC and HPV remain unclear. Bioinformatics was used to analyze the gene expression dataset of HPV-associated HNSCC based on the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC were screened. Gene function enrichment, protein–protein interactions (PPI), survival analysis, and immune cell infiltration of DEGs were performed. Furthermore, the clinical data of HNSCC tissue samples were analyzed using immunohistochemistry. In total, 194 DEGs were identified. A PPI network was constructed and 10 hub genes (EREG, PLCG1, ERBB4, HBEGF, ZFP42, CBX6, NFKBIA, SOCS1, ATP2B2, and CEND1) were identified. Survival analysis indicated that low expression of SOCS1 was associated with worse overall survival. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that SOCS1 expression was higher in HPV-negative HNSCC than in HPV-positive HNSCC, and there was a positive correlation between SOCS1 expression and patient survival. This study provides new information on biological targets that may be relevant to the molecular mechanisms underpinning the occurrence and development of HNSCC. SOCS1 may play an important role in the interaction between HPV and HNSCC and serve as a potential biomarker for future therapeutic targets.
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