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Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials possessing a unique sheet structure, compared to correlative bulk materials, exhibit excellent properties, especially in the energy storage and energy conversion field. In this case, NiCl2 nanosheets with thicknesses of 2–8 nm are first prepared by a simple chemical vapor deposition method. For the Li–B/LiF–LiCl–LiBr/NiCl2 thermal battery, the specific energy of NiCl2 nanosheets increases from 510 W h kg–1 (NiCl2 rods) to 616 W h kg–1 at an operation temperature of 500 °C and a current density of 0.2 A cm–2. The 2D morphology and large numbers of defects not only improve the redox reaction rates and the lithium storage capacity, but also enhance the adsorption capacity with the flake-like binder MgO, which prolong the discharge time by suppressing the discharge product diffusion to the electrolyte. These results indicate that NiCl2 nanosheets have a great possibility to become a desirable candidate of cathode materials for assisting in the development of high energy output and provide a new way to restrain the immersion between the electrode and electrolyte.

Nanocrystallization can shorten the Li+ transport distance, resulting in the enhancement of electrochemical activity for cathode materials. However, nanocathode materials tend to be thermally unstable, further leading to poor electrochemical performance of a battery system. This disadvantage can be especially detrimental for thermal batteries because they are often operated at high temperatures (≥450 °C). Herein, the decomposition character of NiS2 at 500 °C is investigated. The decomposition temperatures of NiS2 are found to decrease from 510 to 350 °C with the grain size decreasing to 39 nm, due to the dramatically increased surface energy. The decomposition product is confirmed to be NiS, evidenced by a high‐temperature X‐ray diffractometer. The useful mass of the cathode will reduce once the discharging temperature is higher than 500 °C. Namely, although the small grain size shorthens the Li+ transport distance, the discharge performance of the NiS2 cathode may also decrease due to its inferior thermal stability. For the Li‐B/LiF–LiCl–LiBr/NiS2 system, the NiS2 with the grain size of 70 nm shows the highest specific capacity of 831 mAh g−1 under the discharging temperature of 500 °C, with the cut‐off voltage of 0.5 V, compared with other grain sizes from 39 to 112 nm.

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Garnet-type Ta-doped Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZTO) solid electrolyte has been widely investigated for secondary Li ionic or metal batteries at ambient temperature. Because of the increasing ionic conductivity of LLZTO with temperature, we applied the LLZTO solid electrolyte to thermal battery working at 550℃. The LLZTO presents ultrahigh specific energy as the discharge specific energy and specific power is 605 W h/kg and 2.74 kW/kg at 100 mA/cm2 with a cut-off voltage of 1.8 V, respectively. This is larger than the LiF–LiCl-LiBr electrolyte which is commonly used in thermal battery with a specific energy of 514 W h/kg. The internal resistance of the single cell reaches 0.65 Ω, but the specific energy remains at about 400 W h/kg as the current density increases to 400 mA/cm2. We report the application of LLZTO in thermal battery with high specific energy, large current, and high voltage discharge for the first time, broadening the application range of solid electrolytes.

The thermal battery has been designed to be active at high temperature to satisfy storage life and large capacity for storage and emergency power. The development of thermal battery with high specific energy requires that the cathode has high thermal stability and excellent conductivity. Here, the semiconductor material Li-Cu-O compounds LiCu 2 O 2 and LiCu 3 O 3 are synthesized by a simple solid-phase sintering technique, which is simpler than the traditional synthesis process. The thermal decomposition temperatures are 680 • C and above 900 • C, respectively. This work first applies the Li-Cu-O compounds to the thermal battery. With a cutoff voltage of 1.5 V, the specific capacities of LiCu 2 O 2 and LiCu 3 O 3 are 423 and 332 mA h g −1. Both the decomposition temperature and specific capacity are higher than in the commercial FeS 2 and CoS 2 , especially LiCu 2 O 2. This work affords an alternative of the cathode materials for high specific capacity thermal battery.

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Background: Myopia is a major cause of global visual impairment, posing significant public health concerns, impacting daily lives, and leading to severe complications. Dietary factors may influence myopia development, while inflammation plays a role in various diseases and may contribute to myopia occurrence. This study aimed to investigate the impact of carbohydrate, protein, fat, and sugar intake on myopia using MR analysis. Additionally, we explored inflammation's potential role as a mediator. By elucidating partial mechanisms of myopia and providing innovative prevention strategies, we aim to alleviate the global burden of myopia on public health. Methods: We performed mediation MR analyses using large-scale GWAS data from the SSGAC database for four dietary components (carbohydrates, fats, proteins, sugars) of European ancestry, as well as inflammation-related factors (adiponectin, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factors, interleukins, nuclear factor-kappa B subunit gamma inhibitor) of European ancestry from the IEU database, and large-scale GWAS data for myopia of European ancestry from the IEU database. Additionally, we conducted bidirectional two-sample MR analyses among selected inflammation-related factors to explore their interrelationships. The inverse-variance weighted method was used as the primary analysis approach, supplemented by comprehensive sensitivity analyses. Results: Inverse-variance weighted models showed positive associations between protein and fat intake and myopia risk. Carbohydrate and sugar intake had no significant association with myopia risk. Adiponectin was negatively correlated, while C-reactive protein and interleukin-18 were positively associated with myopia risk. No significant correlations were found for other inflammation-related factors. Protein intake correlated positively with tumor necrosis factor-alpha and negatively with tumor necrosis factor-beta. Fat intake correlated positively with adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and negatively with interleukin-27. No significant associations were observed for protein and fat intake with other inflammation-related factors. No significant associations were found between pairs of inflammation-related factors. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that a high-fat and high-protein diet may increase myopia risk. Inflammation likely contributes to myopia, but underlying mechanisms are unclear. Excessive protein and fat intake may worsen inflammation. These findings emphasize the importance of dietary modifications and inflammation control for myopia prevention. Further research is needed to understand specific mechanisms and develop targeted dietary interventions.