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Examines the formation of an ordered long-period superlattice structure in the B2 phase. Results of electron diffraction analysis; Shift vectors for the formation of the antiphase domain boundaries; Use of kinematical electron diffraction theory in explaining the results of the electron diffraction analysis.

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are considered a promising next-generation energy storage device owing to their high theoretical energy density. However, their overall performance is limited by several critical issues such as lithium polysulfide (PS) shuttles, low sulfur utilization, and unstable Li metal anodes. Despite recent huge progress, the electrolyte/sulfur ratio (E/S) used is usually very high (≥20 µL mg-1), which greatly reduces the practical energy density of devices. To push forward LSBs from the lab to the industry, considerable attention is devoted to reducing E/S while ensuring the electrochemical performance. To date, however, few reviews have comprehensively elucidated the possible strategies to achieve that purpose. In this review, recent advances in low E/S cathodes and anodes based on the issues resulting from low E/S and the corresponding solutions are summarized. These will be beneficial for a systematic understanding of the rational design ideas and research trends of low E/S LSBs. In particular, three strategies are proposed for cathodes: preventing PS formation/aggregation to avoid inadequate dissolution, designing multifunctional macroporous networks to address incomplete infiltration, and utilizing an imprison strategy to relieve the adsorption dependence on specific surface area. Finally, the challenges and future prospects for low E/S LSBs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global problem of drought threatens agricultural production and constrains the development of sustainable agricultural practices. In plants, excessive water loss causes drought stress and induces early senescence. In this study, we isolated a rice (Oryza sativa) mutant, designated as early senescence1 (es1), which exhibits early leaf senescence. The es1-1 leaves undergo water loss at the seedling stage (as reflected by whitening of the leaf margin and wilting) and display early senescence at the three-leaf stage. We used map-based cloning to identify ES1, which encodes a SCAR-LIKE PROTEIN2, a component of the suppressor of cAMP receptor/Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein family verprolin-homologous complex involved in actin polymerization and function. The es1-1 mutants exhibited significantly higher stomatal density. This resulted in excessive water loss and accelerated water flow in es1-1, also enhancing the water absorption capacity of the roots and the water transport capacity of the stems as well as promoting the in vivo enrichment of metal ions cotransported with water. The expression of ES1 is higher in the leaves and leaf sheaths than in other tissues, consistent with its role in controlling water loss from leaves. GREEN FLUORESCENT PROTEIN-ES1 fusion proteins were ubiquitously distributed in the cytoplasm of plant cells. Collectively, our data suggest that ES1 is important for regulating water loss in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

wxAMPS (analysis of microelectronic and photonic structures) software numerical modeling was applied to explore the effects of metal oxide semiconductors on the photovoltaic (PV) properties of solar cells. For different n-type semiconductors (TiO2, ZnO, SnO2, Ga2O3, and n-Si), the influences of the thickness of the CuO layer on the PV properties of heterojunction cells were explored. Moreover, the temperature stability of the cells was modeled. Furthermore, a band gap gradient structure (including CuO, Cu4O3 and Cu2O) cell demonstrated an enhancement of their PV performance. This research can provide a theoretical basis for the materials of oxide as PV cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the significant electron transporting materials (ETMs) in efficient planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells (PSCs), SnO2 can collect/transfer photo-generated carriers produced in perovskite active absorbers and suppress the carrier recombination at interfaces. In this study, we demonstrate that a mild solution-processed SnO2 compact layer can be an eminent ETM for planar heterojunction PSCs. Here, the device based on chemical-bath-deposited SnO2 electron transporting layer (ETL) exhibits a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 16.10% and with obvious hysteresis effect (hysteresis index = 19.5%), owing to the accumulation and recombination of charge carriers at the SnO2/perovskite interface. In order to improve the carrier dissociation and transport process, an ultrathin TiO2 film was deposited on the top of the SnO2 ETL passivating nonradiative recombination center. The corresponding device based on the TiO2@SnO2 electron transporting bi-layer (ETBL) exhibited a high PCE (17.45%) and a negligible hysteresis effect (hysteresis index = 1.5%). These findings indicate that this facile solution-processed TiO2@SnO2 ETBL paves a scalable and inexpensive way for fabricating hysteresis-less and high-performance PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]