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High-throughput measurements can be achieved using droplet-based assays. In this study, we exploited the principles of wetting behavior and capillarity to guide liquids sliding along a solid surface with hybrid wettability. Oil-covered droplet arrays with uniformly sized and regularly shaped picoliter droplets were successfully generated on hydrophilic-in-hydrophobic patterned substrates. More than ten thousand 31-pL droplets were generated in 5 s without any sophisticated instruments. Covering the droplet arrays with oil during generation not only isolated the droplets from each other but also effectively prevented droplet evaporation. The oil-covered droplet arrays could be stored for more than 2 days with less than 35% volume loss. Single microspheres, microbial cells, or mammalian cells were successfully captured in the droplets. We demonstrate that Escherichia coli could be encapsulated at a certain number (1-4) and cultured for 3 days in droplets. Cell population and morphology were dynamically tracked within individual droplets. Our droplet array generation method enables highthroughput processing and is facile, efficient, and low-cost; in addition, the prepared droplet arrays have enormous potential for applications in chemical and biological assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current lithium-ion batteries degrade under high rates and low temperatures due to the use of carbonate electrolytes with restricted Li + conduction and sluggish Li + desolvation. Herein, a strong solvent with dual lithium salts surmounts the thermodynamic limitations by regulating interactions among Li + ions, anions, and solvents at the molecular level. Highly dissociated lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) in dimethyl sulfite (DMS) solvent with a favorable dielectric constant and melting point ensures rapid Li + conduction while the high affinity between difluoro(oxalato)borate anions (DFOB - ) and Li + ions guarantees smooth Li + desolvation within a wide temperature range. In the meantime, the ultrathin self-limited electrode/electrolyte interface and the electric double layer induced by DFOB - result in enhanced electrode compatibility. The as-formulated electrolyte enables stable cycles at high currents (41.3 mA cm -2 ) and a wide temperature range from -78 to 60 °C. The 1 Ah graphite||LiCoO 2 (2 mAh cm -2 ) pouch cell achieves 80% reversible capacity at 2 C rate under -20 °C and 86% reversible capacity at 0.1 C rate under -50 °C. This work sheds new light on the electrolyte design with strong solvent and dual lithium salts and further facilitates the development of high-performance lithium-ion batteries operating under extreme conditions.