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The application of quasi-solid ionic thermoelectric (i-TE) cells holds great potential for powering ubiquitous wearable electronics without the need for cables or batteries. However, their practical application is restricted by low thermopower. Herein, a temperature-responsive supramolecular hydrogel, P(N-acryloylsemicarbazide-co-acrylic acid) (PNA), has been developed as a i-TE cell that integrates good mechanical and electrochemical properties. The volume phase transition (VPT) of PNA i-TE cell can generate a substantial ion entropy difference, thereby enhancing both the redox reaction efficiency and ionic thermodiffusion rate. A single PNA i-TE cell can generate a thermopower of 2.04 volts with a temperature difference of 50 K. The Seebeck coefficient ( S e ), specific output power density ( P max / ( Δ T ) 2 ) and figure of merit ( ZT ) of PNA i-TE cell can reach up to 40.9 mV K −1 , 35.2 mW m −2 K −2 and 1.33 respectively. This ionic hydrogel is promising for the design of high performance polymer based i-TE cells in an environmentally friendly and cost-effective manner. Quasi-solid ionic thermoelectric cells are promising for wearable electronics, though it is challenging to fabricate devices due to low thermopower. Here the authors report a supramolecular hydrogel to enhance the thermopower for wearable electronics.

In this study, we developed novel porous starch (PS)/Lactobacillus (LS) microcapsules via in situ cross-linking with sodium trimetaphosphate (STMP), using Lactobacillus johnsonii (LJ), Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA), and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) as representative strains. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the cross-linked microcapsules (designated as PS/LS-CL: PS/LJ-CL, PS/LA-CL, PS/LGG-CL) formed aggregated structures with denser microarchitecture compared to uncross-linked porous starch/Lactobacillus microcapsules (designated as PS/LS: PS/LJ, PS/LA, PS/LGG). The encapsulation efficiencies of PS/LJ-CL, PS/LA-CL, and PS/LGG-CL (79.56%, 78.49%, and 55.96%, respectively) significantly surpassed those of their uncross-linked counterparts (67.92%, 58.68%, and 47.71%, p < 0.05). In addition, the cross-linked porous starch microcapsules improved the survival rate of Lactobacillus during simulated gastrointestinal digestion and long-time storage. Importantly, the oral gavage of PS/LS-CL, PS/LA-CL, and PS/LGG-CL significantly increased the amount of Lactobacillus. The colonization efficiency of all the tested Lactobacillus in mice was detected by both gradient dilution plate counting and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). These findings indicate the potential function of the in situ cross-linked porous starch microcapsules as a robust delivery system to enhance the colonization of probiotics in vivo.

As a vital component of innate immunity, the cGAS‐STING pathway has attracted widespread attention in cancer therapy, among which Mn2+ has emerged as a promising antitumor agent. Combining cGAS‐STING agonists with chemotherapy or cancer vaccines represents an effective strategy to enhance their therapeutic efficacy. In this study, we construct simple manganese chloride nanosheets (MnCl2 NSs) that achieve combined effects resembling those of cGAS‐STING activation, chemotherapy, and in situ vaccination without requiring additional drugs or energy input. The synthesized MnCl2 NSs release high concentrations of Mn2+ into tumor cells, causing a storm of Mn2+. Through the combined effects of osmotic pressure, chemodynamic therapy (CDT), and cGAS‐STING activation, they significantly enhance the cytotoxicity of MnCl2 and induce DNA damage, thereby achieving chemotherapy‐like combined therapeutic effects. Concurrently, tumor cells undergo PANoptosis, leading to the release of damage‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and tumor antigens, which effectively generate an in situ tumor vaccine, ultimately activating both innate (cGAS‐STING) and adaptive (PANoptosis) immune responses. Our study proposes a novel strategy to synergistically enhance immunotherapy by inducing tumor cell PANoptosis while concurrently activating the cGAS‐STING pathway, offering valuable guidance for the design of immunotherapeutic nanomaterials. This study constructs an ultrasound‐assisted liquid‐phase exfoliated MnCl2 nanosheet system for tumor treatment, establishing an immunotherapy strategy combining PANoptosis induction with cGAS‐STING activation. This treatment system does not require the introduction of additional drugs or energy input, enabling multiple combination therapeutic effects with a minimal increase in side effects.

Continuous cropping of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) has led to a high incidence of wilt disease. The implementation of an intercropping system involving wheat and faba bean can effectively control the propagation of faba bean wilt disease. To investigate the mechanisms of wheat in mitigating faba bean wilt disease in a wheat-faba bean intercropping system. A comprehensive investigation was conducted to assess the temporal variations in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fabae (FOF) on the chemotaxis of benzoxazinoids (BXs) and wheat root through indoor culture tests. The effects of BXs on FOF mycelial growth, spore germination, spore production, and electrical conductivity were examined. The influence of BXs on the ultrastructure of FOF was investigated through transmission electron microscopy. Eukaryotic mRNA sequencing was utilized to analyze the differentially expressed genes in FOF upon treatment with BXs. FOF exhibited a significant positive chemotactic effect on BXs in wheat roots and root secretions. BXs possessed the potential to exert significant allelopathic effects on the mycelial growth, spore germination, and sporulation of FOF. In addition, BXs demonstrated a remarkable ability to disrupt the structural integrity and stability of the membrane and cell wall of the FOF mycelia. BXs possessed the capability of posing threats to the integrity and stability of the cell membrane and cell wall. This ultimately resulted in physiological dysfunction, effectively inhibiting the regular growth and developmental processes of the FOF.

Key message The regulatory action of BXs secreted by wheat on the pathogenicity of FOF causing Fusarium wilt in faba bean were analyzed. DIMBOA and MBOA weakened the pathogenicity of FOF. A large number of pathogenic bacteria in continuous cropping soil infect faba bean plants, leading to the occurrence of wilt disease, which restricts their production. Faba bean–wheat intercropping is often used to alleviate this disease. This study investigates the effect of benzoxazinoids (BXs) secreted by wheat root on the pathogenicity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Fabae (FOF) and underlying molecular mechanisms. The effects of DIMBOA(2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazine-4-one) and MBOA(6-methoxybenzoxazolin-2-one) on the activity of cell-wall-degrading enzymes in FOF(cellulase, pectinase, amylase, and protease), FOF Toxin (fusaric acid, FA) content were investigated through indoor culture experiments. The effect of BXs on the metabolic level of FOF was analyzed by metabonomics to explore the ecological function of benzoxazines intercropping control of Fusarium wilt in faba bean. The results show that the Exogenous addition of DIMBOA and MBOA decreased the activity of plant-cell-wall-degrading enzymes and fusaric acid content and significantly weakened the pathogenicity of FOF. DIMBOA and MBOA significantly inhibited the pathogenicity of FOF, and metabolome analysis showed that DIMBOA and MBOA reduced the pathogenicity of FOF by down-regulating related pathways such as nucleotide metabolism and linoleic acid metabolism, thus effectively controlling the occurrence of Fusarium wilt in faba bean.

We assessed the effects of various N levels on interspecific interaction and faba bean N utilization and yield in wheat/faba bean intercropping system. The field experiments involved three cropping systems (faba bean monocropping, wheat monocropping, and wheat/faba bean intercropping) and four N levels (0, 45, 90, and 135 kg·ha −1 ). The results showed that N fertilization significantly increased the competitive ratio (CR F ) and aggressivity (A F ) values in the early growth stage of faba bean (F), and faba bean was dominant in the middle and late growth stages of intercropping (CR F >1, A F >0). The grain yield of faba bean reached the maximum at the 45 kg·N ha -1 level. The land equivalent ratio (LER) of wheat/faba bean intercropping system was greater than 1, which indicated that their intercropping had yield advantages over the monocropping. Compared with faba bean monocropping, wheat/faba bean intercropping produced significantly more faba bean grain yield and biomass than the relative area; and its agronomy efficiency of fertilizer N (AE N ) and partial N productivity (PFP N ), and the N fertilizer equivalent ratio (NFER) were all significantly greater than 1, indicating that intercropping can save N fertilizer. The N rate of 45 kg·ha −1 was found to optimize interspecific interactions and increase productivity of wheat/faba bean intercropping system.

As a vital component of innate immunity, the cGAS‐STING pathway has attracted widespread attention in cancer therapy, among which Mn 2+ has emerged as a promising antitumor agent. Combining cGAS‐STING agonists with chemotherapy or cancer vaccines represents an effective strategy to enhance their therapeutic efficacy. In this study, we construct simple manganese chloride nanosheets (MnCl 2 NSs) that achieve combined effects resembling those of cGAS‐STING activation, chemotherapy, and in situ vaccination without requiring additional drugs or energy input. The synthesized MnCl 2 NSs release high concentrations of Mn 2+ into tumor cells, causing a storm of Mn 2+ . Through the combined effects of osmotic pressure, chemodynamic therapy (CDT), and cGAS‐STING activation, they significantly enhance the cytotoxicity of MnCl 2 and induce DNA damage, thereby achieving chemotherapy‐like combined therapeutic effects. Concurrently, tumor cells undergo PANoptosis, leading to the release of damage‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and tumor antigens, which effectively generate an in situ tumor vaccine, ultimately activating both innate (cGAS‐STING) and adaptive (PANoptosis) immune responses. Our study proposes a novel strategy to synergistically enhance immunotherapy by inducing tumor cell PANoptosis while concurrently activating the cGAS‐STING pathway, offering valuable guidance for the design of immunotherapeutic nanomaterials.

The space charge layer (SCL) is generally considered one of the origins of the sluggish interfacial lithium-ion transport in all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries (ASSLIBs). However, in-situ visualization of the SCL effect on the interfacial lithium-ion transport in sulfide-based ASSLIBs is still a great challenge. Here, we directly observe the electrode/electrolyte interface lithium-ion accumulation resulting from the SCL by investigating the net-charge-density distribution across the high-voltage LiCoO 2 /argyrodite Li 6 PS 5 Cl interface using the in-situ differential phase contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy (DPC-STEM) technique. Moreover, we further demonstrate a built-in electric field and chemical potential coupling strategy to reduce the SCL formation and boost lithium-ion transport across the electrode/electrolyte interface by the in-situ DPC-STEM technique and finite element method simulations. Our findings will strikingly advance the fundamental scientific understanding of the SCL mechanism in ASSLIBs and shed light on rational electrode/electrolyte interface design for high-rate performance ASSLIBs. Understanding the effect of the space charge layer (SCL) in all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries is challenging due to lack of direct experimental observations. Here the authors visualize the SCL using an in-situ DPC-STEM imaging technique, based on which they further introduce a built-in electric field to suppress its formation.

Although the theoretical specific capacity of LiCoO2 is as high as 274 mAh g−1, the superior electrochemical performances of LiCoO2 can be barely achieved due to the issues of severe structure destruction and LiCoO2/electrolyte interface side reactions when the upper cutoff voltage exceeds 4.5 V. Here, a bifunctional self‐stabilized strategy involving Al+Ti bulk codoping and gradient surface Mg doping is first proposed to synchronously enhance the high‐voltage (4.6 V) performances of LiCoO2. The comodified LiCoO2 (CMLCO) shows an initial discharge capacity of 224.9 mAh g−1 and 78% capacity retention after 200 cycles between 3.0 and 4.6 V. Excitingly, the CMLCO also exhibits a specific capacity of up to 142 mAh g−1 even at 10 C. Moreover, the long‐term cyclability of CMLCO/mesocarbon microbeads full cells is also enhanced significantly even at high temperature of 60 °C. The synergistic effects of this bifunctional self‐stabilized strategy on structural reversibility and interfacial stability are demonstrated by investigating the phase transitions and interface characteristics of cycled LiCoO2. This work will be a milestone breakthrough in the development of high‐voltage LiCoO2. It will also present an instructive contribution for resolving the big structural and interfacial challenges in other high‐energy‐density rechargeable batteries. A bifunctional self‐stabilized strategy involving Al+Ti bulk codoping and gradient surface Mg doping is first proposed to synchronously enhance the high‐voltage (4.6 V) performances of LiCoO2. The comodified LiCoO2 shows excellent long‐term cyclability and high‐rate capability in both half and full cells even at high temperature of 60 °C.

Various wireless devices have been widely used in every aspect of life and further lead to the severe electromagnetic waves pollution. Fortunately, researchers have developed microwave absorbing materials which are able to transfer the harmful electromagnetic waves into other energy, such as thermal energy. In recent years, numerous studies on preparing microwave absorbing materials with various components, morphologies and structures have been reported. Metal oxide-related composites are widely used as microwave absorbers due to their excellent electromagnetic properties. The morphology and nanostructure would play a key role on the microwave absorbing performances, which can cause “structural effect”. The ideal microwave absorbing materials should meet following demands: widely effective absorption frequency (fE), thinner thickness (d), light-weight, and strong absorption. In this review, we summarized various common morphologies and structures of metal oxide/metal oxide-based composites, and categorized them from a dimensional perspective. The different microwave absorbing properties and mechanisms are given much attention in detail.