Solid state electrolytes are the key components for high energy density lithium ion batteries and especially for lithium metal batteries where lithium dendrite growth is an inevitable obstacle in liquid electrolytes. Solid polymer electrolytes based on a complex of polymers and lithium salts are intrinsically advantageous over inorganic electrolytes in terms of processability and film‐forming properties. But other properties such as ionic conductivity, thermal stability, mechanical modulus, and electrochemical stability need to be improved. Herein, for the first time, 2D additives using few‐layer vermiculite clay sheets as an example to comprehensively upgrade poly(ethylene oxide)‐based solid polymer electrolyte are introduced. With clay sheet additives, the polymer electrolyte exhibits improved thermal stability, mechanical modulus, ionic conductivity, and electrochemical stability along with reduced flammability and interface resistance. The composite polymer electrolyte can suppress the formation and growth of lithium dendrites in lithium metal batteries. It is anticipated that the clay sheets upgraded solid polymer electrolyte can be integrated to construct high performance solid state lithium ion and lithium metal batteries with higher energy and safety.

The motility of demembranated sea urchin sperm flagella and that of embryo cilia reactivated with 0.1 mM ATP are completely inhibited by 4 AM and 0.5 AM vanadium (V) [V(V), in vanadate], respectively. The Mg2+-activated ATPase activity (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) of the latent form of dynein 1 is inhibited 50% by 0.5-1 AM V(V), while the Ca2+-activated ATPase activity is much less sensitive. The inhibition of flagellar beat frequency and of dynein 1 ATPase activity by V(V) appears not to be competitive with ATP. In agreement with other reports, the inhibition of (NaK)ATPase by V(V) shows a slow onset in the presence of ATP and is relatively rapid in its absence. With dynein, however, the inhibition occurs at a rapid rate whether or not ATP is present. Catechol at a concentration of 1 mM reverses the V(V) inhibition of reactivated sperm motility, dynein ATPase, and (NaK)ATPase. (5).In this paper we report that vanadium(V), V(V), is a potent inhibitor of dynein 1 and of the motility of reactivated sea urchin sperm flagella and embryo cilia. We have also examined the effect of V(V) on myosin and (Na,K)-ATPase. MATERIALS AND METHODSMaterials. Sodium metavanadate (NaVO3) and sodium orthovanadate (Na3VO4) were obtained from Fisher ScientificCo. Stock solutions of sodium metavanadate that had been recrystallized from methanol/water were prepared in 10 mM Tris.HCl buffer, pH 8.1. Identical results were obtained with sodium orthovanadate in 0.1 M NaOH. Cateohol, norepinephrine, ouabain, NADH, phosphoenolpyruvate, lactate dehydrogenase, and pyruvate kinase were obtained from Sigma. ATP was obtained from Boehringer Mannheim Corporation. Stock solutions of 0.25 M catechol and norepinephrine were prepared freshly in 1 mM HCl.Sperm and eggs were obtained from the sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla by injection with 0.5 M KCl.Reactivated Sperm and Cilia. Sea urchin sperm were demembranated with Triton X-100 and reactivated with 0.1 mM ATP as described previously (7,8). Cilia were obtained from sea urchin embryos grown in Ca2+_free artificial sea water, disrupted mechanically into individual blastomeres, and treated with demembranating solution (7) at pH 7.5. They were then transferred to reactivating solution, pH 7.5, containing 0.1 mM ATP.Preparation of ATPases. LAD-1 was extracted from freshly Before their Mg2+-and Ca2+-activated ATPase activities were compared, preparations of LAD-1 were dialyzed against 0.5 mM EDTA/7 mM 2-mercaptoethanol/5 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, to remove all divalent cations. Activated dynein 1 was obtained by incubating LAD-1 with 0.1% (wt/vol) Triton X-100 for 10 min at room temperature (5). Myosin and actin were prepared from rabbit muscle by the procedures of Perry (10) 2220The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U. S. C. §1734 solely to indicate this fact.

Solid state lithium metal batteries are the most promising next-generation power sources owing to their high energy density and safety. Solid polymer electrolytes (SPE) have gained wide attention due to the excellent flexibility, manufacturability, lightweight, and low-cost processing. However, fatal drawbacks of the SPE such as the insufficient ionic conductivity and Li + transference number at room temperature restrict their practical application. Here vertically aligned 2D sheets are demonstrated as an advanced filler for SPE with enhanced ionic conductivity, Li + transference number, mechanical modulus, and electrochemical stability, using vermiculite nanosheets as an example. The vertically aligned vermiculite sheets (VAVS), prepared by the temperature gradient freezing, provide aligned, continuous, run-through polymer-filler interfaces after infiltrating with polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based SPE. As a result, ionic conductivity as high as 1.89 × 10 −4 S cm −1 at 25 °C is achieved with Li + transference number close to 0.5. Along with their enhanced mechanical strength, Li|Li symmetric cells using VAVS-CSPE are stable over 1300 h with a low overpotential. LiFePO 4 in all-solid-state lithium metal batteries with VAVS-CSPE could deliver a specific capacity of 167 mAh g −1 at 0.1 C at 35 °C and 82% capacity retention after 200 cycles at 0.5 C.

Solid‐state batteries (SSBs) are considered as the most promising next‐generation high‐energy‐density energy storage devices due to their ability in addressing the safety concerns from organic electrolytes and enabling energy dense lithium anodes. To ensure the high energy density of SSBs, solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) are required to be thin and light‐weight, and simultaneously offer a wide electrochemical window to pair with high‐voltage cathodes. However, the decrease of SSE thickness and delicate structure may increase the cell safety risks, which is detrimental for the practical application of SSBs. Herein, to demonstrate a high‐energy‐density SSB with sufficient safety insurance, an ultrathin (4.2 µm) bilayer SSE with porous ceramic scaffold and double‐layer Li+‐conducting polymer, is proposed. The fire‐resistant and stiff ceramic scaffold improves the safety capability and mechanical strength of the composite SSE, and the bilayer polymer structure enhances the compatibility of Li metal anode and high‐voltage cathodes. The 3D ceramic facilitates Li‐ion conduction and regulates Li deposition. Thus, high energy density of 506 Wh kg−1 and 1514 Wh L−1 is achieved based on LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) cathodes with a low N/P ratio and long lifespan over 3000 h. High‐energy‐density anode‐free cells are further demonstrated.

BackgroundSarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity (SO) have a greater impact on the elderly. This study aimed to explore whether there were sex differences in the prevalence and adverse outcomes of sarcopenia and SO in community-dwelling elderly individuals in East China.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study that enrolled 213 males and 418 females aged > 65 years. Demographic characteristics, body composition, hand grip, gait speed, and indices of glucose and lipid metabolism were collected. Sarcopenia and SO were diagnosed using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia criteria.Results(1) The prevalence of sarcopenia was 19.2% in males and 8.6% in females. The prevalence of SO was 7.0% in males and 2.4% in females. (2) In males, the odds ratios (ORs) of osteoporosis and dyslipidemia in the SO group were 4.21-fold and 4.15-fold higher than those in the normal group, respectively. In females, the ORs of osteoporosis and hyperglycemia in the SO group were 1.12-fold and 4.21-fold higher than those in the normal group.ConclusionsMales were more likely to be sarcopenic and to have SO than females using the AWGS criteria. Females with SO were more likely to have higher blood glucose, whereas males with SO were more likely to have osteoporosis and dyslipidemia.

Lithium metal has been deemed the "Holy Grail" anode for next-generation, high-energy-density metal batteries. However, severe challenges in abundance, cost, and safety concerns have greatly hindered the practical use of Li metal anodes. Alternatively, multivalent metal anodes (Zn, Mg, Ca, Al, etc.) with less reactivity and much higher natural abundance are urgently summoned and increasingly investigated in recent years. The technologies for using multivalent metal anodes are not mature and are still in their infancy for practical applications. To comprehensively understand the challenges and opportunities for multivalent metal anodes, the fundamental mechanism and key issues are discussed here in detail, including electrolytes for reversible anode plating/ stripping, notorious surface passivation, dendrite formation, and anode corrosion. Strategies for tackling these issues are summarized. A general perspective and future research directions are also presented in this review. It is expected that this review will provide a promising opportunity for newly emerging multivalent metal anodes and pave the way for next-generation high-energy-density metal batteries.

deteriorated performance. What is more, once the dendrite tip impales the separator, the short circuit between the two poles may release tremendous heat in a second, even causing combustion or explosion of the batteries. [3] Several strategies have been explored to improve the cycle stability of MAs. To suppress the dendrite morphology, additives are added into the liquid electrolytes to optimize the plating environment. These additives are mostly related to SEI stabilization and self-healing electrostatic shield formation. [4] Fabricating anions-fixed nanostructured electrolyte or using high salt concentration electrolyte can increase the cationic transference number to slow down the dendrite growth rate. [5] Another methodology is to build a physical barrier with high mechanical strength to prevent dendrite puncture, including fabricating artificial SEI, using solid-state electrolytes (SSEs), as well as modifying separators. [6] The shear modulus needs to be much higher than that of Li dendrites (3.4 GPa) to resist the tensile stress. [7] In addition, nanostructured anodes, including confining Li/Na metal into hosts and 3D current collectors design, can dissipate the current density and mitigate the volume change during cycles so that the plating/stripping morphology is well regulated. [8] Thanks to the unique chemical, physical, and mechanical properties, many scientists attempt to integrate two-dimensional (2D) materials into modifying metal battery systems. Some key developments are summarized in Figure 1 and Table 1. 2D materials are a class of sheet-like structured nanomaterials with atomic thickness. [9] The characteristic geometric construction endows 2D materials with ultrahigh specific surface area (SSA) and abundant surface chemistry. The interlaced covalent bonds in 2D plane ensure sufficient mechanical strength. [10] Furthermore, 2D materials are facile to be assembled into bulk form so that they can achieve high performance when applying to various energy storage systems. [11] Except for these generalities, each kind of 2D materials, briefly covering graphene, hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), graphitic carbon nitride, transition metal dichalcogenides, black phosphorus, MXenes, clays, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent-organic frameworks (COFs), metal oxides and so forth, possesses its own characteristic. [10] For instance, reduced graphene oxide (rGO), Ti 3 C 2 , and 1T-MoS 2 have compelling electronic conductivity whereas h-BN, vermiculite, and COFs are insulating. 2D materials have already successfully used in catalysis, sensors, optoelectronic devices, batteries, and supercapacitors. [12] In view of their high theoretical specific capacity and low electrochemical potential, lithium/sodium metal anodes (MAs) have been revisited in recent years in the context of high-energy-density storage systems. However, the infinite volume change and the uncontrollable dendrite growth of MAs during cycles are obstructing the development of commercialization. Numerous strategies have been explored t...

Although solid polymer electrolytes have some intrinsic advantages in synthesis and film processing compared with inorganic solid electrolytes, low ionic conductivities and mechanical moduli hamper their practical applications in lithium‐based batteries. Here, an efficient strategy is developed to produce a unique solid polymer electrolyte containing MXene‐based mesoporous silica nanosheets with a sandwich structure, which are fabricated via controllable hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate around the surface of MXene‐Ti3C2 under the direction of cationic surfactants. Such unique nanosheets not only exhibit individual, thin, and insulated features, but also possess abundant functional groups in mesopores and on the surface, which are favorable for the formation of Lewis acid–base interactions with anions in polymer electrolytes such as poly(propylene oxide) elastomer, enabling the fast Li+ transportation at the mesoporous nanosheets/polymer interfaces. As a consequence, a solid polymer electrolyte with high ionic conductivity of 4.6 × 10−4 S cm−1, high Young's modulus of 10.5 MPa, and long‐term electrochemical stability is achieved.