The application of N-butyl Phosphorothioate Triamine and Dicyandiamide changes the soil N₂O production path

This study aims to explore the effect of nitrification inhibitor combined with urease inhibitor on soil N2O emission under different nitrogen application depths. We carried out a soil column simulation test under 25°C. The combination of 1% N-butyl Phosphorothioate Triamine (NBPT) and 5% Dicyandiamide (DCD) was added to the soil. Anaerobically digested pig slurry (ADPS) was used as a nitrogen source and applied to four soil depths (soil surface (0 cm), 5 cm, 10 cm, and 15 cm, respectively). It was found that the inhibitory effects of NBPT and DCD on the soil N2O emission were significantly affected by different nitrogen application depths. When the ADPS was applied at 15 cm, 10 cm, and on the soil surface, the combination of 1% NBPT and 5% DCD could inhibit soil N2O emission by 46.1%, 21.7%, and 34.6%, respectively. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that the addition of inhibitors changed the microbial paths of soil N2O production. The dominant microbial path of soil N2O production after adding inhibitors was from ammonia oxidation dominated by AOB-amoA to denitrification dominated by nirS and nirK.</p

Synergistic effect of phytohormone-producing ectomycorrhizal fungus <i>Suillus luteus</i> and fertilizer GGR6 on <i>Pinus massoniana</i> growth

Suillus luteus is an edible ectomycorrhizal fungus (EMF). The S. luteus strain LS88 secretes many phytohormones, including salicylic acid (SA) and indole-3-carboxylic acid (ICA). LS88 was inoculated to the tree Pinus massoniana and treated with the amino acid fertilizer GGR6. Plant growth parameters, plant enzyme activities, chlorophyll contents, and element contents were analyzed. Our results show that GGR6 may help the development of S. luteus-P. massoniana ectomycorrhiza. Moreover, LS88 and GGR6 synergistically affect P. massoniana growth and element uptake. Phytohormone detection on the roots of LS88-inoculated P. massoniana seedlings showed that LS88 could significantly increase the ICA content within a week. The SA content in the roots in the inoculated group seedlings increased slightly, but the salicylic acid 2-O-β-glucoside (SAG) content decreased. Therefore, we speculate GGR6 may enhance the growth-promoting effect of EMF on plants, and LS88 affects P. massoniana growth through secreting phytohormones.</p

Rationally Designing Cathode Interphase Chemistry via Electrolyte Additives for High-Voltage Batteries

Cathode interphase plays an important role in suppressing parasitic electrode reactions for high-voltage batteries, which highly depends on interphase chemistry. In this work, we report a rational design of cathode interphase chemistry by applying an electrolyte additive, tri-tert-butyl borate (TTBB). As demonstrated in a nickel-rich layered oxide (LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2, NCM523)/Li/graphite pouch cell in standard electrolyte (STD, 1 M LiPF6 in the solvents of ethylene carbonate (EC)/ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) = 3/7 (weight ratio)) without and with TTBBunder 4.5 V, the capacity retention of the cell after 550 cycles under 1C at 25 °C is enhanced from 33.5 to 87.4% and its capacity at 5C is improved from 430.3 mAh to 483.7 mAh by the introduction of TTBB. TTBB shows good performance even under harsh environments such as high temperature (45 °C), the presence of HF, and low temperature (−20 °C). Thanks to the preferential oxidation of TTBB compared with carbonate electrolyte, a thin and well-defined cathode interphase is constructed with an inner layer mainly composed of B–F species (C8H18BO2F) and an outer layer mainly composed of B–O species (C11H21BO6), which is the result of the lower binding energy of B–F species with active oxygen on the NCM523 surface (−50.2 kJ mol–1) than that of B–O species (−30.7 kJ mol–1). Additionally, these species possess high electronic insulation and excellent Li+-ion-transfer property, resulting in chemical stability and low impedance of the cathode interphase. This work emphasizes the significance of cathode interphase chemistry and provides a practical strategy for the performance improvement of various high-voltage batteries

Facile Synthesis of a LiC₁₅H₇O₄/Graphene Nanocomposite as a High-Property Organic Cathode for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Organic electrode materials face two outstanding issues in the practical applications in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), dissolution and poor electronic conductivity. Herein, we fabricate a nanocomposite of an anthraquinone carboxylate lithium salt (LiAQC) and graphene to address the two issues. LiAQC is synthesized via a green and facile one-pot reaction and then ball-milled with graphene to obtain a nanocomposite (nr-LiAQC/G). For comparison, single LiAQC is also ball-milled to form a nanorod (nr-LiAQC). Together with pristine LiAQC, the three samples are used as cathodes for LIBs. Results show that good cycling performance can be obtained by introducing the −CO2Li hydrophilic group on anthraquinone. Furthermore, the nr-LiAQC/G demonstrates not only a high initial discharge capacity of 187 mAh g–1 at 0.1 C but also good cycling stability (reversible capacity: ∼165 mAh g–1 at 0.1 C after 200 cycles) and good rate capability (the average discharge capacity of 149 mAh g–1 at 2 C). The superior electrochemical properties of the nr-LiAQC/G profit from graphene with high electronic conductivity, the nanorod structure of LiAQC shortening the transport distance for lithium ions and electrons, and the introduction of the −CO2Li hydrophilic group decreasing the dissolution of LiAQC in the electrolyte. Meanwhile, density functional theory calculations support the roles of graphene and −CO2Li groups. The fabrication is general and facile, ready to be extended to other organic electrode materials