New Atomic-Scale Insight into Self-Regeneration of Pt-CaTiO₃ Catalysts: Incipient Redox-Induced Structures Revealed by a Small-Angle Tilting STEM Technique

A small-angle tilting technique, applied to scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), was used together with multislice image simulation to reveal new atomic-scale information about the structural evolution of single-crystalline Pt-doped CaTiO₃ thin films, grown by pulsed laser deposition, that occurs in response to reduction and reoxidation treatments. Specifically, we were able to confirm that Pt atoms are randomly dispersed throughout the as-grown film, most often occupying Ti sites, show that the smallest (∼1 nm) Pt-rich clusters embedded within CaTiO₃ after reduction have a structure consistent with metallic Pt, and demonstrate that the Pt atoms from these clusters occupy mainly Ca sites, in the form of ordered Pt-atom arrays, after reoxidation

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of SnO₂@polypyrrole Nanotubes and Their Pyrolyzed Composite as Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Tin dioxide (SnO₂) as lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) anode has attracted numerous interests due to its huge Li⁺ storage capacity. However, more than 300% volume variation of SnO₂ during the charge/discharge process results in dramatic degradation of electrochemical performance and thus poor cyclic stability, which has hindered its application in LIBs. Here, a new strategy is proposed to suppress this volume change via anchoring mesoporous SnO₂ on robust polypyrrole nanotubes (PPy NTs) to fabricate nanoarchitectured SnO₂ composite. Benefiting from this nanoarchitecture design, the anode presents outstanding rate performance with a reversible specific capacity of about 770 mA h g^–1 at 2000 mA g^–1 and remarkable cyclability accompanied by a high specific capacity of about 790 mA h g^–1 at 200 mA g^–1 after 200 cycles

Low-Cost Al₂O₃ Coating Layer As a Preformed SEI on Natural Graphite Powder To Improve Coulombic Efficiency and High-Rate Cycling Stability of Lithium-Ion Batteries

Coulombic efficiency especially in the first cycle, cycling stability, and high-rate performance are crucial factors for commercial Li-ion batteries (LIBs). To improve them, in this work, Al₂O₃-coated natural graphite powder was obtained through a low-cost and facile sol–gel method. Based on a comparison of various coated amounts, 0.5 mol % Al­(NO₃)₃ (vs mole of graphite) could bring about a smooth Al₂O₃ coating layer with proper thickness, which could act as a preformed solid electrolyte interface (SEI) to reduce the regeneration of SEI and lithium-ions consumption during subsequent cycling. Furthermore, we examined the advantages of Al₂O₃ coating by relating energy levels in LIBs using density functional theory calculations. Owing to its proper bandgap and lithium-ion conduction ability, the coating layer performs the same function as a SEI does, preventing an electron from getting to the outer electrode surface and allowing lithium-ion transport. Therefore, as a preformed SEI, the Al₂O₃ coating layer reduces extra cathode consumption observed in commercial LIBs

Data_Sheet_2_Identification of key gene networks controlling polysaccharide accumulation in different tissues of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua by integrating metabolic phenotypes and gene expression profiles.xlsx

Plant polysaccharides, a type of important bioactive compound, are involved in multiple plant defense mechanisms, and in particular polysaccharide-alleviated abiotic stress has been well studied. Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua (P. cyrtonema Hua) is a medicinal and edible perennial plant that is used in traditional Chinese medicine and is rich in polysaccharides. Previous studies suggested that sucrose might act as a precursor for polysaccharide biosynthesis. However, the role of sucrose metabolism and transport in mediating polysaccharide biosynthesis remains largely unknown in P. cyrtonema Hua. In this study, we investigated the contents of polysaccharides, sucrose, glucose, and fructose in the rhizome, stem, leaf, and flower tissues of P. cyrtonema Hua, and systemically identified the genes associated with the sucrose metabolism and transport and polysaccharide biosynthesis pathways. Our results showed that polysaccharides were mainly accumulated in rhizomes, leaves, and flowers. Besides, there was a positive correlation between sucrose and polysaccharide content, and a negative correlation between glucose and polysaccharide content in rhizome, stem, leaf, and flower tissues. Then, the transcriptomic analyses of different tissues were performed, and differentially expressed genes related to sucrose metabolism and transport, polysaccharide biosynthesis, and transcription factors were identified. The analyses of the gene expression patterns provided novel regulatory networks for the molecular basis of high accumulation of polysaccharides, especially in the rhizome tissue. Furthermore, our findings explored that polysaccharide accumulation was highly correlated with the expression levels of SUS, INV, SWEET, and PLST, which are mediated by bHLH, bZIP, ERF, ARF, C2H2, and other genes in different tissues of P. cyrtonema Hua. Herein, this study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the transcriptional regulation of polysaccharide accumulation and provides information regarding valuable genes involved in the tolerance to abiotic stresses in P. cyrtonema Hua.</p

Data_Sheet_1_Identification of key gene networks controlling polysaccharide accumulation in different tissues of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua by integrating metabolic phenotypes and gene expression profiles.docx

Plant polysaccharides, a type of important bioactive compound, are involved in multiple plant defense mechanisms, and in particular polysaccharide-alleviated abiotic stress has been well studied. Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua (P. cyrtonema Hua) is a medicinal and edible perennial plant that is used in traditional Chinese medicine and is rich in polysaccharides. Previous studies suggested that sucrose might act as a precursor for polysaccharide biosynthesis. However, the role of sucrose metabolism and transport in mediating polysaccharide biosynthesis remains largely unknown in P. cyrtonema Hua. In this study, we investigated the contents of polysaccharides, sucrose, glucose, and fructose in the rhizome, stem, leaf, and flower tissues of P. cyrtonema Hua, and systemically identified the genes associated with the sucrose metabolism and transport and polysaccharide biosynthesis pathways. Our results showed that polysaccharides were mainly accumulated in rhizomes, leaves, and flowers. Besides, there was a positive correlation between sucrose and polysaccharide content, and a negative correlation between glucose and polysaccharide content in rhizome, stem, leaf, and flower tissues. Then, the transcriptomic analyses of different tissues were performed, and differentially expressed genes related to sucrose metabolism and transport, polysaccharide biosynthesis, and transcription factors were identified. The analyses of the gene expression patterns provided novel regulatory networks for the molecular basis of high accumulation of polysaccharides, especially in the rhizome tissue. Furthermore, our findings explored that polysaccharide accumulation was highly correlated with the expression levels of SUS, INV, SWEET, and PLST, which are mediated by bHLH, bZIP, ERF, ARF, C2H2, and other genes in different tissues of P. cyrtonema Hua. Herein, this study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the transcriptional regulation of polysaccharide accumulation and provides information regarding valuable genes involved in the tolerance to abiotic stresses in P. cyrtonema Hua.</p