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Herein, we show that P-doped Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets can effectively catalyze the NO3RR-to-NH3 conversion with a high faradaic efficiency of 95% and a yield rate of 5.39 mg h−1 mgcat.−1. Moreover, the catalyst achieves an impressive high current density of −1200 mA cm−2 at a low potential of −1.51 V, accompanied by an NH3 productivity of 123.5 mg h−1 mgcat.−1. Theoretical calculations further reveal that phosphorous dopants facilitate the adsorption and activation of reactants/intermediates and thus lower the energy barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon‐based anode has high theoretical capacity but suffers from poor electrical conductivity, large volume expansion, and unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Adding carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon coatings are both very effective methods for addressing the above issues. The intrinsic sp2 covalent structure endows CNTs with excellent electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and chemical stability, which makes them suitable for various energy storage applications, such as in lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). Apart from the conductive network, CNTs can serve as current collectors, mechanical probes, and mechanical frameworks, and they have potential in the construction of next‐generation battery architectures. Carbon coatings are mixed ionic‐electronic conductors with good chemical stability that provide mechanical support and mitigate the volume expansion of Si‐based materials. This review outlines the advances in CNTs and carbon coatings as conductive networks in Si‐based anodes, as well as insights into their future development. It provides an in‐depth analysis of the percolation and mechanical mechanism of conductive networks, highlights the importance of flexible long‐range conductivity, and decouples the relationships between stress, interface stability, and electron/ion transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An excessive proliferation of skin fibroblasts usually results in different skin fibrotic diseases. Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is regarded as an important endogenous gasotransmitter with various functions. The study aimed to investigate the roles and mechanisms of H2S on primary mice skin fibroblasts proliferation. Cell proliferation and collagen synthesis were assessed with the expression of α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Collagen I and Collagen III. The degree of oxidative stress was evaluated by dihydroethidium (DHE) and MitoSOX staining. Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was detected by JC‐1 staining. Necroptosis was evaluated with TDT‐mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) and expression of receptor‐interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), RIPK3 and mixed lineage kinase domain‐like protein (MLKL). The present study found that α‐SMA, PCNA, Collagen I and Collagen III expression were increased, oxidative stress was promoted, ΔΨm was impaired and positive rate of TUNEL staining, RIPK1 and RIPK3 expression as well as MLKL phosphorylation were all enhanced in skin fibroblasts from cystathionine γ‐lyase (CSE) knockout (KO) mice or transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1, 10 ng/mL)‐stimulated mice skin fibroblasts, which was restored by exogenous sodium hydrosulphide (NaHS, 50 μmol/L). In conclusion, endogenous H2S production impairment in CSE‐deficient mice accelerated skin fibroblasts proliferation via promoted necroptosis, which was attenuated by exogenous H2S. Exogenous H2S supplement alleviated proliferation of skin fibroblasts with TGF‐β1 stimulation via necroptosis inhibition. This study provides evidence for H2S as a candidate agent to prevent and treat skin fibrotic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Influence of interface conductive network on ionic transport and mechanical stability under fast charging is explored for the first time. The mitigation of interface polarization is precisely revealed by the combination of 2D modeling simulation and Cryo-TEM observation, which can be attributed to a higher fraction formation of conductive inorganic species in bilayer SEI, and primarily contributes to a linear decrease in ionic diffusion energy barrier. The improved stress dissipation presented by AFM and Raman shift is critical for the linear reduction in electrode residual stress and thickness swelling. Progress in the fast charging of high-capacity silicon monoxide (SiO)-based anode is currently hindered by insufficient conductivity and notable volume expansion. The construction of an interface conductive network effectively addresses the aforementioned problems; however, the impact of its quality on lithium-ion transfer and structure durability is yet to be explored. Herein, the influence of an interface conductive network on ionic transport and mechanical stability under fast charging is explored for the first time. 2D modeling simulation and Cryo-transmission electron microscopy precisely reveal the mitigation of interface polarization owing to a higher fraction of conductive inorganic species formation in bilayer solid electrolyte interphase is mainly responsible for a linear decrease in ionic diffusion energy barrier. Furthermore, atomic force microscopy and Raman shift exhibit substantial stress dissipation generated by a complete conductive network, which is critical to the linear reduction of electrode residual stress. This study provides insights into the rational design of optimized interface SiO-based anodes with reinforced fast-charging performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal blue carbon (C) ecosystems are recognized as efficient natural C sinks and play key roles in mitigating global climate change. Microbially driven C, nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) cycles are crucial for ecosystem functioning, but how microorganisms drive C sink formation and C sequestration in coastal sediments remains unclear.In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of amino sugars, C, N and S cycling genes/pathways and their associated taxa in coastal sediments of native (Cyperus malaccensis and Kandelia obovata) and alien (Spartina alterniflora and Sonneratia apetala) vegetation.Compared to the alien‐vegetated coastal sediment, the native‐vegetated coastal sediment had significantly (p < 0.05) higher microbial necromass C and higher functional potentials of chemoautotrophic C fixation, C degradation, methane cycling, N2 fixation, S oxidation and sulphate reduction. Also, our analysis of coastal sediment microbiomes showed that S oxidation could be coupled with C fixation and/or nitrate/nitrite reduction. S oxidation, C degradation and C fixation were found to be key functional pathways for predicting sediment microbial necromass C. Additionally, the sulphur‐oxidizing Burkholderiales metagenome‐assembled genomes (MAGs) were a key functional group that dominated chemoautotrophic C fixation in coastal sediments.These results suggested that chemoautotrophic S oxidizers, in particular Burkholderiales with a novel lineage, might be the key microbial group that dominates microbial necromass C formation in coastal sediments through microbial anabolism (C fixation);the coupling of microbially driven C, N and S cycling processes; and the deposition of microbially derived C. This study provides novel insights into the importance of chemoautotrophic S oxidizers for microbial necromass formation and shed new light on the microbial mechanism of C sink formation in coastal ecosystems, which also has important implications for enhancing C sequestration in coastal wetlands. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon‐based anodes have been considered as ideal candidates for next‐generation Li‐ion batteries. However, the rapid cyclability decay due to significant volume expansion limits its commercialization. Besides, the instable interface further aggravates the degradation. Carbon coating is one effective way to improve the electrochemical performance.The coating integrity may be a critical index for core–shell structure electrode materials. Herein, the coating integrity of SiOx@C composite is tested by a developed selective alkali dissolution, further quantitatively depicted by a proposed index of alkali solubility α. The effect of coating integrity on electrochemical performance reveals that SiOx dissolution loss has a significant impact on the overall electrode structure stability and interface property. Because of the side reaction between uncoated active SiOx and electrolyte, the quadratic decrease of initial coulombic efficiency and increase of solid electrolyte interphase thickness with the rise of alkali solubility are closely related to the generated F content induced by active material loss, further supported by the obvious linear rise of Li2SiF6 fraction, leads to the linear increase of interface impedance and volume expansion rate, which may take primarily responsibility for the performance decay. This work propels the fundamental understanding on the interface failure mechnism and inspires rational high‐performance electrode material design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]