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A CoMoS composite is synthesized to combine the benefits of cobalt and molybdenum sulfides as an anodic material for advanced lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). The synthesis is accomplished using a simple two‐step hydrothermal method and the resulting CoMoS nanocomposites are subsequently encapsulated in a carbonized polydopamine shell. The synthesis procedure exploited the self‐polymerization ability of dopamine to create nitrogen‐doped carbon‐coated cobalt molybdenum sulfide, denoted as CoMoS@NC. Notably, the de‐lithiation capacity of CoMoS and CoMoS@NC is 420 and 709 mAh g⁻1, respectively, even after 100 lithiation/de‐lithiation cycles at a current density of 200 mA g⁻1. Furthermore, excellent capacity retention ability is observed for CoMoS@NC as it withstood 600 consecutive lithiation/de‐lithiation cycles with 94% capacity retention. Moreover, a LIB full‐cell assembly incorporating the CoMoS@NC anode and an NMC‐532 cathode is subjected to comprehensive electrochemical and practical tests to evaluate the performance of the anode. In addition, the density functional theory showcases the increased lithium adsorption for CoMoS@NC, supporting the experimental findings. Hence, the use of dopamine as a nitrogen‐doped carbon shell enhanced the performance of the CoMoS nanocomposites in experimental and theoretical tests, positioning the material as a strong candidate for LIB anode. Graphene‐like nitrogen‐doped carbon shell encapsulated metal sulfide nanocomposite core for highly stable and superior capacity anode material for lithium‐ion battery application employing the intercalation and surface adsorption synergistic kinetics.

Perennial bioenergy crops accumulate carbon (C) in soils through minimally disturbing management practices and large root inputs, but the mechanisms of microbial control over C dynamics under bioenergy crops have not been clarified. Root‐derived C inputs affect both soil microbial contribution to and degradation of soil organic matter resulting in differing soil organic carbon (SOC) concentrations, storage, and stabilities under different vegetation regimes. Here, we measured biomarker amino sugars and neutral sugars and used diffuse reflectance mid‐infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) to explore microbial C contributions, degradation ability, and SOC stability, respectively, under four potential bioenergy crops, M.×giganteus (Miscanthus × giganteus), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a mixed prairie, and a maize (Zea mays L.)–maize–soybean (Glycine max(L.) Merr.) (MMS) rotation over six growing seasons. Our results showed that SOC concentration (g/kg) increased by 10.6% in mixed prairie over the duration of this experiment and SOC storage (Mg/ha) increased by 17.0% and 15.6% in switchgrass and mixed prairie, respectively. Conversion of row crops to perennial grasses maintained SOC stability and increased bacterial residue contribution to SOC in M.×giganteus and switchgrass by 20.0% and 15.0%, respectively, after 6 years. Degradation of microbe‐derived labile SOC was increased in M.×giganteus, and degradation of both labile and stable SOC increased in MMS rotation. These results demonstrate that microbial communities under perennial grasses maintained SOC quality, while SOC quantity increased under switchgrass and mixed prairie. Annual MMS rotation displayed decreases in aspects of SOC quality without changes in SOC quantity. These findings have implications for understanding microbial control over soil C quantity and quality under land‐use shift from annual to perennial bioenergy cropping systems. Microbial substrate preference is speculated to be driven by labile carbon inputs and available nitrogen. The results from this study demonstrate optimal conditions for increasing soil organic carbon quantity and quality beyond a cessation of tillage include a diverse aboveground ecosystem, high belowground labile carbon inputs, and available nitrogen.

The application of biochar to traditional soil and soilless growth media in agriculture has been reported to increase plant production. However, it remains unclear which biochar component drives this process or which biogeochemical process is attributed to better plant productivity. Therefore, this study aims to determine how biochar organic carbon (C) composition and thermal stability influence nitrogen availability and tomato production. Soilless growth media composed of a mixture of 60% and 40% coconut coir (CC) (Cocos nucifera L.) and fine pine bark (PB) (Pinus genus), respectively, was amended with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12% biochar per dry weight. The amended media were used to grow Red Bounty tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum) for three months. After harvesting tomatoes and determining yield, organic C composition and C thermal stability of the biochar amended soilless growth media mixtures were determined using solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR) and multi-elemental scanning thermal analysis (MESTA), respectively. Thermal stability data were used to determine the “R400 index”, and nitrate (NO3−) concentration was determined using the water extractable method. Results showed that biochar-amended media significantly increased pH (p < 0.0001) and NO3− (p = 0.0386) compared to the no-char control. Biochar amended soilless media organic C composition was dominated by O-alkyl-C as a result of a higher fraction of soilless media; however, total C, carboxyl-C, phenolic-C, and aromatic-C increased with increasing biochar content and related negatively to R400, which decreased with increasing biochar content. Nitrate retention and tomato yield increased with increasing total C, carboxyl-C, phenolic-C, and aromatic-C and decreasing R400. This indicates that the stable form of C, carboxyl-C, phenolic-C, aromatic-C, and low R400 enhanced NO3− sorption, reducing leaching and enhancing its availability for tomato growth.

AimsAs the largest terrestrial carbon (C) pool, soil organic carbon (SOC) plays a critical role in the global C cycle. Particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) are currently popular methods for the fractionation and analysis of SOC. Nitrogen (N) addition affects SOC dynamics. However, the characteristics of POC and MAOC and their potential drivers under N (inorganic and organic N) addition remain unclear.MethodsWe conducted a meta-analysis based on data from 50 studies on terrestrial ecosystems in China to investigate the responses of SOC, POC, and MAOC to N addition, and to reveal the factors influencing POC and MAOC.ResultsThe results showed that organic N addition significantly increased the SOC (effect size: 0.35), POC (effect size: 0.68), and MAOC (effect size: 0.20), whereas inorganic N addition significantly increased SOC (effect size: 0.10) and POC (effect size: 0.21). POC and MAOC concentrations increased with fertilization duration (years); however, the physical stability of SOC remained unchanged. No correlation was observed between the SOC sequestration rate and duration of fertilization under inorganic N addition, whereas the SOC sequestration rate showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with organic N addition.ConclusionsThe main factors affecting POC and MAOC were microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and soil pH, and the driving factors of POC and MAOC were different under inorganic and organic N additions. Additionally, N addition may decrease the stability of the SOC pool.

In the context of climate change, there is an urgent need for rapid and efficient methods to capture and sequester carbon from the atmosphere. For instance, production, use and storage of biochar are highly carbon negative, resulting in an estimated sequestration of 0.3–2 Gt CO2 year−1 by 2050. Yet, biochar production requires more knowledge on feedstocks, thermochemical conversion and end applications. Herein, we review the design and development of biochar systems, and we investigate the carbon removal industry. Carbon removal efforts are currently promoted via the voluntary market. The major commercialized technologies for offering atmospheric carbon removal are forestation, direct air carbon capture utilization and storage, soil carbon sequestration, wooden building elements and biochar, with corresponding fees ranging from 10 to 895 GBP (British pounds) per ton CO2. Biochar fees range from 52 to 131 GBP per ton CO2, which indicates that biochar production is a realistic strategy that can be deployed at large scale. Carbon removal services via biochar are currently offered through robust marketplaces that require extensive certification, verification and monitoring, which adds an element of credibility and authenticity. Biochar eligibility is highly dependent on the type of feedstock utilized and processing conditions employed. Process optimization is imperative to produce an end product that meets application-specific requirements, environmental regulations and achieve ultimate stability for carbon sequestration purposes.

Soil is the largest carbon (C) reservoir in terrestrial ecosystems and plays a crucial role in regulating the global C cycle and climate change. Increasing nitrogen (N) deposition has been widely considered as a critical factor affecting soil organic carbon (SOC) storage, but its effect on SOC components with different stability remains unclear. Here, we analyzed extensive empirical data from 304 sites worldwide to investigate how SOC and its components respond to N addition. Our analysis showed that N addition led to a significant increase in bulk SOC (6.7%), with greater increases in croplands (10.6%) and forests (6.0%) compared to grasslands (2.1%). Regarding SOC components, N addition promoted the accumulation of plant-derived C (9.7%–28.5%) over microbial-derived C (0.2%), as well as labile (5.7%) over recalcitrant components (−1.2%), resulting in a shift towards increased accumulation of plant-derived labile C. Consistently, N addition led to a greater increase in particulate organic C (11.9%) than mineral-associated organic C (3.6%), suggesting that N addition promotes C accumulation across all pools, with more increase in unstable than stable pools. The responses of SOC and its components were best predicted by the N addition rate and net primary productivity. Overall, our findings suggest that N enrichment could promote the accumulation of plant-derived and non-mineral associated C and a subsequent decrease in the overall stability of soil C pool, which underscores the importance of considering the effects of N enrichment on SOC components for a better understanding of C dynamics in soils.

The labile carbon is an important constituent of soil organic carbon (SOC) that is impacted not only by the geoclimatic elements but also the vegetation. We investigated the SOC (active and passive carbon) pools at three soil depths (0–15, 15–30 and 30–45 cm) and carbon management index and vegetation characteristics in Pure Sal (PSF), Sal Dominated Moist Deciduous (SDMDF) and Moist Deciduous Forest without Sal (MDFWS) forests. Our results showed the SOC concentration in the order of PSF > SDMDF > MDFWS and it declined as soil depth increased in different C fractions. Very labile C fraction stock (VLSC) was highest (53.73 Mg C ha −1 ) in PSF and lowest (19.87 Mg C ha −1 ) in MDFWS community and it decreased linearly with percentage decrease of sal vegetative parts in annual litter input (56.83% in PSF to 5.85% in MDFWS). The SOC stock (0–45 cm) was noticeably greater in PSF (111.45 Mg C ha −1 ). The carbon management index (CMI) value decreased linearly with decrease in sal density with lower value (29.31) in MDFWS. The species composition and dominance of S. robusta significantly influenced the annual litter input as well as to the active and passive carbon pools. The study indicates that the sal forests can be a potential soil carbon sink to aid climate change mitigation in its natural zone.

Topography is tightly coupled with soil organic carbon (SOC) cycling in sloping landscapes. However, we know little about the spatial variation of SOC accumulation and persistence along a topographic gradient and the controlling processes. Here, we assessed the spatial variation of SOC and its composition along a topographic gradient in a humid mountain forest. The variables associated with environmental factors, topographical traits, carbon input from plants, and soil physico-chemical properties were analyzed to assess their contributions. Results showed that both SOC and mineral-bound organic carbon (MOC) contents were comparable among the topographic positions (ridge, middle slope, lower slope and valley). However, particulate organic carbon (POC) content decreased significantly from ridge to valley. Our measured environmental variables explained 67%, 74% and 77% of the variations in SOC contents for 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm and 20–40 cm soils, respectively. Soil physico-chemical properties (including pH and soil reactive Fe/Al oxides) were the main driver on SOC and MOC variations. In contrast, the variation in POC was more explained by topographical traits and carbon input. We also observed significantly lower SOC stability for ridge soil than valley soil. The significant topographic patterns for SOC fraction and SOC stability suggested that the soil carbon cycling processes were dependent on landscape positions. Future carbon budget and carbon dynamic researches in the humid sloping landscapes should take into account the topographic effects, especially for the free and light carbon fractions.

Near-natural restoration is acknowledged as an effective strategy for enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in degraded grasslands. However, the alterations in SOC fractions, stability, and relative sequestration capacity after restoration of degraded alpine meadows remain uncertain. In this study, we utilized the degraded alpine meadows on the northeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau as a research area, with grazing as the control (CK) and restoration of 20 years of banned grazing (BG) and growing season resting grazing (RG). We analyzed the characteristics of SOC, SOC fractions, recalcitrant index (RI), and relative capacity of soil C sequestration (SCS capacity ) under near-natural restoration measures. The objective of this study was to assess the recovery of SOC following near-natural restoration. The results showed that soil water content (SWC), SOC, soil total nitrogen (TN), and soil total phosphorus (TP) increased, while bulk density (BD) decreased in the degraded alpine meadow after near-natural restoration. In addition, near-natural restoration led to significant increases in particulate organic carbon (POC), readily oxidizable carbon (ROC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) content ( P  < 0.05). The SOC stock significantly increased, while the RI decreased. Compared to RG, BG had a greater increase in SOC stock. The study showed that 20 years of near-natural restoration in degraded alpine meadows mainly enhanced soil active carbon pools, while short-term restoration did not increase soil carbon stability. Therefore, avoiding re-exposure to overgrazing is essential to maintaining the restoration effect.

Nitrogen (N) deposition greatly affects soil carbon (C) fractions, triggering changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) persistence and functionality. However, the responses of soil C fractions to N deposition remain unclear on a global scale. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis of 69 publications and explored the response of C fractions (particulate organic carbon, POC; mineral-associated organic carbon, MOC) to N addition. Our findings reveal that N addition significantly increases the particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MOC) pools (32.3% and 8.8%, respectively). Nevertheless, we observed a notable increase in the fraction of POC (fPOC) and a decrease in the fraction of MOC (fMOC) (15.9% and -6.3%, respectively), indicating that N addition augments the SOC pool but decreases SOC stability worldwide. Moreover, the response ratios of POC and MOC were positively correlated with the duration of N addition. In terms of SOC increase, POC was the most important predictor under short-term N addition, whereas MOC significantly contributed to SOC accumulation after long-term N addition. Overall, our study provides solid evidence that N addition reduces SOC stability primarily through changes in POC and proposes a novel approach to predict the soil C-climate feedback for Earth System Models.