Highly Catalytic CoP@N, P‑Codoped Porous Carbon Synthesized by a Supramolecular Gel and Salt Template Method for Li–S Batteries

Lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) shuttling effect is the main problem to be solved for cathode materials of lithium–sulfur batteries. The adsorption and catalytic conversion of LiPSs by host materials have become the main focus of cathode materials. In this work, transition metal phosphides are combined with three-dimensional carbon nanosheets to form an efficient and stable sulfur host material. The designed composite material is effective in solving the problems of slow reaction kinetics of Li–S batteries and LiPSs shuttling. Here, through the supramolecular self-assembly process of melamine and phytic acid, combined with soluble salt template technology, N- and P-codoped three-dimensional hierarchical porous carbon materials with uniformly dispersed CoP nanoparticles were efficiently synthesized. The catalytic effect of CoP nanoparticles improves the reaction kinetics effectively of LiPS conversion. The strong polarity of CoP nanoparticles is beneficial to the adsorption of polysulfide ions. Moreover, the high specific area provides more LiPS adsorption sites, and the doping of N and P heteroatoms further increases the active sites of the composites. The experimental results and theoretical calculations show that the introduction of CoP promotes the conversion of LiPSs and accelerates the nucleation rate of Li2S, thereby improving the electrochemical performance of the composite as a sulfur host for lithium–sulfur batteries

Ultrafast Kinetics in a PAN/MgFe₂O₄ Flexible Free-Standing Anode Induced by Heterojunction and Oxygen Vacancies

Flexibility and power density are key factors restricting the development of flexible lithium-ion batteries (FLIBs). Interface and defect engineering can modify the intrinsic ion/electron kinetics by regulating the electronic structure. Herein, a polyacrylonitrile/MgFe2O4 (PAN-MFO) electrode with heterojunction and oxygen vacancies was first designed and synthesized as a flexible free-standing anode of FLIBs by electrostatic spinning technology. The PAN carbon nanofiber (PAN-CNF) as the skeleton structure provides fast conductive channels, buffers the volume expansion, and enhances the cycle stability. The heterostructure constructs the internal electric field, facilitates the Li+/charge transfer, intensifies the Li+ adsorption energy, and enhances the interfacial lithium storage. Oxygen vacancies improve the intrinsic conductivity, lower the Li+ diffusion barrier, weaken the Fe–O bonding, and facilitate the conversion reaction. Because of the synergistic effect of the multifunctional structure, the PAN-MFO shows superior cycle and rate performance with ultrafast kinetics. Flexible LiCoO2/PAN-MFO full pouch cells were also assembled that demonstrated a stable cycle performance and power supply in both the plain and bent states

Evolution and Discovery of Matrine Derivatives as a New Class of Anti-Hepatic Fibrosis Agents Targeting Ewing Sarcoma Breakpoint Region 1 (EWSR1)

A series of new tricyclic matrinane derivatives were continuously synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory effects on genes and proteins related to hepatic fibrosis at the cellular level, including collagen type I α1 chain (COL1A1), α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and matrix metalloprotein 2 (MMP-2). Among them, compound 6k exerted an appealing potency and significantly reduced liver injury and fibrosis in both bile duct ligation (BDL) rats and Mdr2 knockout mice. An activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) assay indicated that 6k might directly bind to Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1 (EWSR1) to inhibit its function and affect the expression of downstream liver fibrosis-related genes and thus regulate liver fibrosis. These results provided a potential novel target for the treatment of liver fibrosis and powerful information for the development of tricyclic matrinanes into promising anti-hepatic fibrosis agents

Evolution and Discovery of Matrine Derivatives as a New Class of Anti-Hepatic Fibrosis Agents Targeting Ewing Sarcoma Breakpoint Region 1 (EWSR1)

A series of new tricyclic matrinane derivatives were continuously synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory effects on genes and proteins related to hepatic fibrosis at the cellular level, including collagen type I α1 chain (COL1A1), α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and matrix metalloprotein 2 (MMP-2). Among them, compound 6k exerted an appealing potency and significantly reduced liver injury and fibrosis in both bile duct ligation (BDL) rats and Mdr2 knockout mice. An activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) assay indicated that 6k might directly bind to Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1 (EWSR1) to inhibit its function and affect the expression of downstream liver fibrosis-related genes and thus regulate liver fibrosis. These results provided a potential novel target for the treatment of liver fibrosis and powerful information for the development of tricyclic matrinanes into promising anti-hepatic fibrosis agents

Evolution and Discovery of Matrine Derivatives as a New Class of Anti-Hepatic Fibrosis Agents Targeting Ewing Sarcoma Breakpoint Region 1 (EWSR1)

A series of new tricyclic matrinane derivatives were continuously synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory effects on genes and proteins related to hepatic fibrosis at the cellular level, including collagen type I α1 chain (COL1A1), α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and matrix metalloprotein 2 (MMP-2). Among them, compound 6k exerted an appealing potency and significantly reduced liver injury and fibrosis in both bile duct ligation (BDL) rats and Mdr2 knockout mice. An activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) assay indicated that 6k might directly bind to Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1 (EWSR1) to inhibit its function and affect the expression of downstream liver fibrosis-related genes and thus regulate liver fibrosis. These results provided a potential novel target for the treatment of liver fibrosis and powerful information for the development of tricyclic matrinanes into promising anti-hepatic fibrosis agents