Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) is one of the most common symptoms during early gestation. A subset of affected women may progress to severe NVP, which is frequently accompanied by electrolyte disturbances, impaired nutritional status, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, the relationships between multiple electrolyte-related factors and the severity of NVP have not been systematically investigated. To explore the statistical associations between multiple electrolytes, related laboratory indicators, and NVP severity, and to develop a risk identification model integrating electrolyte, nutritional, and psychological factors for the risk stratification of severe NVP. This study was a secondary analysis of data derived from a multicenter randomized controlled trial and included 351 women with moderate-to-severe NVP during early pregnancy. Baseline demographic characteristics, biochemical parameters (including electrolytes, vitamins, and liver and renal function indicators), and psychological assessment scores from the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were considered candidate variables. Variable selection was performed using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, followed by multivariable logistic regression to construct two risk identification models: an electrolyte-based model (Model 1) and a multidimensional model integrating psychological and nutritional factors (Model 2). Model performance was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA). LASSO regression identified nine variables for inclusion in the final analysis, including Calcium (Ca), Potassium (K), Iron (Fe), Chloride (Cl), Zinc (Zn), Urea, SAS, SDS, and Pyridoxal (PL). Compared with Model 1, Model 2 demonstrated superior discriminatory performance (area under the ROC curve [AUC]: 0.717 vs. 0.655). Both models showed acceptable calibration. DCA indicated that Model 2 provided a slightly greater net clinical benefit than Model 1 across threshold probabilities ranging from 0.10 to 0.40. Electrolytes and related laboratory indicators were statistically associated with the severity of NVP, and integrating psychological and nutritional factors further improved risk identification performance. Because this study was based on cross-sectional baseline data, the findings reflect associations rather than causal relationships. The proposed model may serve as a preliminary tool for the risk stratification of severe NVP; however, its clinical utility requires further validation in independent external cohorts.
Gel polymer electrolytes for lithium-metal batteries face an inherent trade-off between mechanical strength and ionic conductivity. Herein, we present a molecular-level strategy that harnesses competitive hydrogen-bonding interactions to spontaneously generate a nanoscale phase-separated architecture in the deep eutectic gel (DEG) electrolyte. Through one-step in-situ copolymerization of acrylamide and N,N-dimethylacrylamide within a trifluoromethyl-functionalized deep eutectic solvent comprising N-methyl-2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide (TNMA) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), an interpenetrating network is formed, in which rigid polyacrylamide-rich domains reinforce the matrix while polydimethylacrylamide-rich channels facilitate ion transport. Driven by the competition between polymer-polymer and polymer-solvent hydrogen bonds, the resulting DEG electrolyte achieves an exceptional ionic conductivity of 2.99 mS cm-1 at 30°C, an excellent Li+ transference number of 0.78, and a remarkable tensile strength of 11.4 MPa with 473% elongation. Meanwhile, TNMA, together with TFSI-, regulates the Li+ solvation structure and interfacial chemistry, promoting the formation of a LiF-rich interphase through fluorinated-solvent- and anion-involved interfacial reactions. The resulting Li||Li symmetric cells operate for over 3500 hours (0.1 mA cm-2), and Li|DEG|NCM811 cells retain 77.5% capacity after 400 cycles at 2 C. This work establishes competitive molecular interactions as a design principle for next-generation gel polymer electrolytes.
Understanding the formation and evolution of the cathode-electrolyte interphase (CEI) is essential for elucidating degradation mechanisms in high-voltage lithium-ion batteries. Here, liquid electrochemical transmission electron microscopy (ec-TEM), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and correlated 4D-scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) automated crystal orientation mapping (ACOM) are combined to investigate CEI evolution under high-voltage conditions. Cycling LP30 electrolyte between 4 and 6 V vs Li produces dispersed 1.0-1.5 μm particles composed of crystalline LiF embedded in an amorphous phase that limits dissolution. In contrast, cycling between 2.5 and 5.5 V forms an approximately 36 nm amorphous interphase without detectable crystalline LiF. GC-MS reveals that ethylene carbonate oxidation generates HF, promoting LiF formation at sufficiently high potentials. LiF dissolution proceeds through a two-step mechanism involving oxidative formation of soluble intermediates followed by reduction into species capable of dissolving LiF. These results provide direct mechanistic insight into voltage-dependent CEI formation and degradation, guiding the design of more stable electrolytes and interphases.
For large-scale energy storage applications, zinc‑iodine (ZnI2) batteries stand out as viable options, primarily due to their high safety, plentiful resources, and low cost. Nonetheless, their practical application is impeded by the migration of soluble iodine-based substances at the cathode, alongside dendrite formation and unintended chemical reactions occurring at the zinc anode. Herein, ethylene glycol dipropionitrile ether (EDPN) serves as an effective additive that enables comprehensive regulation from the cathode to the anode through electrolyte optimization. EDPN simultaneously modulates the Zn2+ solvation structure and competitively adsorbs on the zinc surface, forming a stable hybrid solid-electrolyte interphase that suppresses the zinc dendrites and enhances the anode reversibility. At the same time, the highly polar cyano moieties (-C ≡ N) within it bind polyiodide species, alleviating the shuttle phenomenon and enhancing the redox reaction dynamics at the cathode side. Thus, Zn||Zn symmetric cells stable cycling for more than 1800 h (1 mA cm-2, 1 mAh cm-2) and 1000 h (10 mA cm-2, 1 mAh cm-2). Moreover, the ZnI2 battery system shows 89.3% capacity remaining even after 32,000 cycles under 5 A g-1, with an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.9%, while the pouch-type battery provides a high areal capacity of 33.4 mAh. This work presents a practical electrolyte preparation method to create high-efficiency and long-lasting aqueous ZnI2 batteries.
Ag micro- and nanostructured surfaces play an important role in optoelectronic devices and bio/chemical sensing, particularly in applications that require mechanical flexibility. Conventional patterning methods rely on top-down processes that involve complex lithographic steps, resulting in high material consumption and environmental burden. Bottom-up approaches enable the direct formation of metallic patterns but are limited by insufficient patterning resolution. Herein, we report an all-solid-state electrodeposition process employing a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) stamp for the direct fabrication of multiscale Ag patterns on flexible substrates. Ag ions supplied by anodic dissolution at the Ag anode/PEM interface are transported through nanoscale water channels in the PEM, enabling electrodeposition without liquid electrolytes. Electrochemical measurements clarified the interfacial reactions between the PEM and the electrodes. Electron and X-ray analyses confirmed the formation of metallic Ag films at the cathode-PEM interface. Ambient humidity governs pattern formation: low-humidity conditions yield positive patterns via contact-region deposition, whereas high-humidity conditions produce negative patterns through water-assisted Ag+ transport in noncontact regions. Under optimized conditions, Ag patterns with feature sizes ranging from several hundred nanometers to the submillimeter scale were achieved. The deposited Ag films exhibited electrical conductivity, mechanical stability, and enhanced Raman signals, demonstrating their proof-of-concept utility as flexible conductive structures and plasmonic sensing substrates.
Here, we report microwave sintering in a hexagonal susceptor enclosure produces ∼94% dense Li7La3Zr2O12 electrolytes in <30 min, reducing processing time from ∼6 h for conventional sintering. Microstructural analysis reveals rapid heating to 1150 °C enriches grain boundaries, promoting densification. Intrinsically, reduced tetragonal distortion rapidly accesses bulk-ionic conductivity (∼10-6-10-5 S cm-1) within the same order of magnitude as conventional sintering. Overall, these microwave sintered electrolytes achieve total ionic conductivity within the same order of magnitude as conventional sintering, while providing a twelvefold reduction in processing time.
Organic electrochemical synaptic transistors (OESTs) are promising building blocks for neuromorphic computing because they leverage volumetric ion-electron coupling to emulate synaptic plasticity. Here, we design sidechain-engineered conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPE-K, CPE-Br, and CPE-Zw) based on a cyclopenta-[2,1-b;3,4-b]-dithiophene-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole) (CPDT-BT) donor-acceptor backbone and use them as channel materials in solid-electrolyte-gated OESTs. Spectroelectrochemical measurements demonstrate that cationic CPE-Br achieves a higher and denser doping level than anionic CPE-K and zwitterionic CPE-Zw, enabled by efficient electrolyte ion diffusion throughout the polymer bulk. Temporal polaron transients monitored at 1200 nm reveal that cationic sidechains facilitate volumetric penetration of electrolyte anions to charge-neutralize the positively doped backbone during electrochemical doping. In contrast, anionic sidechains favor rapid local self-compensation through sidechain reorganization, accompanied by limited uptake of external anions. As a consequence, CPE-Br-based OESTs exhibit the highest transconductance, a superior µC* figure of merit, pronounced hysteresis, and long-term synaptic retention with extended long-term potentiation decay times. Collectively, these results establish ionic sidechain engineering as an effective strategy for programming ion ingress, polaron memory, and retention characteristics in OESTs, providing a versatile platform for tailoring synaptic operation in neuromorphic devices.
The sluggish desolvation and interfacial adsorption of hydrated Zn2+ at carbon-electrolyte interfaces are major obstacles for achieving fast kinetics and high energy density in aqueous zinc-ion hybrid capacitors (ZIHCs). Herein, an MXene-induced graphitised node-welded carbon fibre membrane composite is reported, fabricated via synchronous electrospinning/electrospraying with a polyacrylonitrile/MXene precursor. During carbonisation, MXene catalysed local graphitisation of the carbon matrix to form a cross-linked node-welded fibre network, rather than simply forming a physical MXene-C composite. The obtained sp2-enriched hierarchically porous framework enhances Zn2+ adsorption and promotes partial desolvation at the electrode-electrolyte interface. The interconnected node-welded structure also expands electrolyte-accessible interface, shortens ion diffusion paths, and relieves steric limitation of hydrated hexaaqua zinc(II) ions [Zn(H2O)6]2+. The assembled ZIHC exhibits a high specific capacity of 179.2 mAh g-1 and an energy density of 143.4 Wh kg-1 (based on the cathode active material), along with 95.60% capacity retention for > 5000 cycles. In situ and ex situ characterisations and electrochemical kinetics analyses reveal a Zn2+ partial-desolvation storage mechanism regulated by electronic structure. This study demonstrates that MXene-mediated interfacial electronic structure regulation is a promising strategy to develop advanced carbon cathodes for aqueous zinc-ion energy storage devices.
Aqueous aluminum-ion batteries (AAIBs) have emerged as a promising candidate for large-scale energy storage. However, the strong solvation of Al3+ ions and the formation of passivating oxide layers impede interfacial charge-transfer kinetics, resulting in progressive performance degradation during prolonged cycling. Herein, a chloride-bridge strategy is proposed by employing trichloroethanol (TCE) as an additive that spontaneously self-assembles at the electrolyte/electrode interface to form a chloride-bridge-rich molecular layer. The resulting chloride-bridge framework reorganizes the electric double layer (EDL), accelerates interfacial charge-transfer kinetics, and promotes uniform Al3+ deposition with a preferred (111) crystallographic orientation. The tailored interface sustains highly reversible Al deposition/stripping for over 800 h with low polarization and enhances the FeCoPBA full-cell lifetime from fewer than 50 cycles in the OTF electrolyte to 150 at 100 mA g-1 and 300 cycles at 200 mA g-1. Furthermore, the PANI cathode delivers 116 mAh g-1 after 200 cycles at 100 mA g-1 and remains stable over 350 cycles at 200 mA g-1, whereas the OTF electrolyte retains only 46 mAh g-1 after 200 cycles at the same current rate. This work establishes a chloride-bridge-mediated interfacial engineering strategy for accelerating interfacial charge-transfer kinetics and enabling durable AAIBs.
Acute heart failure (AHF) is a leading cause of hospitalization worldwide, with congestion as its central pathophysiologic feature. Loop diuretics, particularly furosemide, remain the cornerstone of decongestive therapy, yet the optimal administration strategy, continuous infusion versus bolus dosing, remains debated. Furthermore, sequential nephron blockade through the addition of distal tubule-acting diuretics or sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors has emerged as a strategy to overcome diuretic resistance. This systematic review had two primary objectives: first, to compare continuous infusion versus bolus dosing of furosemide; second, to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adjunctive sequential nephron blockade (SGLT2 inhibitors, thiazides, and acetazolamide) added to loop diuretics within the context of the ongoing debate over optimal decongestion in AHF. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov for studies published between 2021 and 2025. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective observational studies evaluating either continuous furosemide infusion versus bolus furosemide or adjunctive sequential nephron blockade (added to loop diuretics) versus placebo, usual care, or, in one case, an active diuretic comparator. The Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool was used for RCTs, and the Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool was used for the nonrandomized study. A narrative synthesis was performed because of substantial clinical and methodological heterogeneity. Ten studies (nine RCTs and one prospective observational study) comprising 2,972 patients were included. Continuous furosemide infusion consistently improved surrogate measures of decongestion (urine output and weight loss) compared with bolus dosing. However, these benefits did not reliably translate into improved symptoms or shorter hospital stays, and one large study reported increased renal injury and adverse events, highlighting a potential efficacy-safety trade-off. Sequential nephron blockade with SGLT2 inhibitors enhanced diuresis with favorable renal and electrolyte safety profiles and a nonsignificant trend toward lower mortality (the studies were not powered for mortality). Thiazide-based strategies achieved potent diuresis but significantly increased the risks of acute kidney injury and electrolyte disturbances without a mortality benefit. Acetazolamide improved decongestion safely but did not reduce mortality or readmissions. No single decongestive strategy is universally superior. However, direct comparisons across strategies are limited by substantial heterogeneity in study design, patient populations (e.g., renal function and congestion severity), and outcome definitions. Continuous furosemide infusion offers enhanced diuresis but inconsistent clinical benefits and potential renal harm. Based largely on surrogate outcomes from heterogeneous studies not designed to detect differences in mortality or readmissions, definitive clinical recommendations remain limited. SGLT2 inhibitors represent a promising but not yet proven adjunct in AHF, pending larger, adequately powered trials. Thiazide-based sequential blockade should be reserved for refractory cases with close monitoring. Treatment should be individualized based on baseline renal function, congestion severity, and electrolyte status.
Safety failures in high-energy lithium-ion batteries often originate from uncontrolled interfacial transport and electrolyte decomposition at elevated voltages. Existing coatings and artificial interphases provide limited protection because they degrade under the oxidative, fluorine-rich conditions generated by LiPF6-based electrolytes. Here, we demonstrate that hot-pressed graphene (HP-Gr) foils operate as an autonomous, self-healing chemical system, in which electrolyte decomposition products are converted in operando into a stable, self-limiting fluorinated surface layer. Rather than being detrimental, interfacial reactions trigger adaptive chemical passivation that restores and preserves interfacial function. By decoupling lamellar densification from surface chemistry, the materials design enables independent control of transport morphology and self-generated chemical protection. The resulting fluorinated skin suppresses Li+ penetration while preserving electronic and thermal transport, as confirmed by depth-resolved spectroscopy. This work establishes adaptive surface fluorination as a self-healing interfacial mechanism, providing a general strategy for transforming unavoidable chemical degradation into functional stabilization in multifunctional carbon materials.
Fluorinated solvents are widely employed in electrolytes for lithium metal batteries (LMBs) due to their broad liquid-phase temperature range. However, their use entails significant challenges, including undesirable interfacial parasitic reactions at elevated temperatures and lithium-salt precipitation at low temperatures. In this study, we propose a fluorine-free electrolyte design strategy based on synergistic optimization of molecular geometry and electron density distribution. The tailored solvent, 2-ethylbutyl acetate (2EA), plays a critical role in modulating intermolecular interactions and Li+ coordination. The 2-ethylbutyl group introduces substantial steric hindrance while exerting electron-donating inductive effects, thereby effectively weakening the binding affinity between carbonyl oxygen and Li+. Concurrently, steric hindrance inhibits intermolecular interaction of solvent molecules at cryogenic temperatures, resulting in an ultra-low melting point (below -100°C). Furthermore, the synergistic steric and electronic effects reorganize the solvation structure into an anion-dominated configuration, facilitating Li+ desolvation and promoting a robust, inorganic-rich interphase. As a result, the 2EA-based electrolyte enables high-voltage Li||LiCoO2 cells to achieve exceptional cycling stability (80% capacity retention after 1500 cycles at 25°C), remarkable rate capability (90% capacity retention at 10°C), and stable operation over an ultrawide temperature range from -60°C to 70°C.
Solid-state aluminum batteries (SSABs), leveraging the high theoretical capacity, natural abundance, and intrinsic safety of the metallic aluminum anode, are regarded as a highly promising energy storage system for the post-lithium era. However, the severe solid-solid interface issues between solid-state electrolytes and electrodes, including high interfacial impedance, sluggish ion transport kinetics, and uncontrollable aluminum dendrite growth, significantly constrain their practical energy density and cycling stability, representing a critical bottleneck toward commercialization. This review aims to systematically elucidate the physicochemical origins of the multi-scale interfacial challenges in SSABs, with a focused discussion on the latest breakthrough strategies in interface design and engineering. It provides an in-depth analysis of how constructing artificial interphases, designing gradient composite electrolytes, tailoring interfacial ion transport pathways, and introducing advanced characterization techniques can effectively promote uniform aluminum plating/stripping, suppress side reactions, and achieve stable interfacial contact. Furthermore, this work prospectively discusses feasible pathways toward compatible high ionic conductivity, excellent mechanical strength, and robust electrochemical stability through integrated interface architectures and synergistic electrode/electrolyte design. Finally, we distill the key challenges and future opportunities spanning from fundamental understanding to device integration, aiming to provide a clear roadmap for developing next-generation SSABs that combine high-energy density with long-term operational safety.
Electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2R) offers a promising route to mitigate the pressing carbon emissions and facilitate renewable energy storage. Here, we report a facile electrolyte engineering strategy to modulate the electrical double layer (EDL) at the electrode/electrolyte interface, steering CO2R toward selective formate production on Cu. By introducing cationic surfactants (Dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, DTAB) into the electrolyte, we achieve an 82% selectivity for formate on a Cu-based foam electrode at -0.9 V versus RHE. Through detailed kinetic analysis and in situ spectroscopy, we attribute this enhancement to the organic cation DTA+. Specifically, DTA+ reduces the interfacial charge-transfer resistance for CO2R, promotes the adsorption and stabilization of formate intermediates, and disrupts the hydrogenbond network by increasing the fraction of free interfacial water. We further demonstrate the practical relevance of this approach in a zero-gap cell and achieve a formate selectivity of 88% at a current density of 300 mA cm-2, with stable operation for 120 h at 100 mA cm-2. This organic-cation regulation strategy offers a feasible route to tune interfacial charge-transfer dynamics and intermediate adsorption, thereby enhancing CO2R reactivity toward a single product.
Silicon (Si) is a promising anode material for next-generation lithium-ion batteries due to its ultrahigh theoretical capacity, abundance, and favorable operating potential. However, its widespread application is limited by severe volume expansion, sluggish lithium-ion transport, and unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Inspired by the multifunctional architecture of biological cell membranes, we report a facile and scalable strategy to construct a bio-inspired protective interface via in situ formation of a conjugated microporous thermoset (CMT) coating on Si particles. This process involves simple hand-mixing of a molecular precursor with Si, followed by a one-step thermosetting treatment featuring sequential sublimation, melting, debromination, and polymerization, without the need for post-processing. The resulting CMT interface offers micropores (∼0.5 nm) for selective Li+ transport while excluding electrolyte and anions, a covalently crosslinked yet resilient network to accommodate mechanical strain, and tailored interfacial chemistry that induces a LiBr-rich SEI to enhance Li+ transport kinetics. As a result, the engineered Si@CMT anode achieves a high capacity of 3130.9 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C, maintains 1811.8 mAh g-1 at 3 C, and delivers 1838.8 mAh g-1 after 250 cycles at 0.2 C. This practical and generalizable interfacial design offers a promising route toward scalable stabilization of high-capacity anodes.
During the thermal runaway process of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), signals such as pressure, gases, and temperature are generated. Traditional pressure and temperature monitoring methods have limited capability to capture localized early-stage signals. Insufficient response time can be provided for thermal runaway early warning. In contrast, gas monitoring provides clear advantages, with gas signals appearing far sooner than temperature and pressure signals at the initial phase of thermal runaway. This paper proposes a gas-sensing detection scheme for dimethyl carbonate (DMC) based on In2O3-ZnO composite materials. DMC is the primary component of LIBs electrolytes whose release precedes that of H2 and CO, making it a more suitable early warning marker. ZnO and In2O3 nanosheets were first prepared separately via the hydrothermal method. These were then ground and calcined at high temperatures to form a composite material featuring an n-n heterojunction. Characterization confirms that the heterojunction in this composite material effectively enhances the surface adsorbed oxygen content and carrier density. Gas response testing indicates that the In2O3-ZnO sensor exhibits a lower operating temperature (160 °C), high response, rapid response, and excellent selectivity toward DMC. By integrating density functional theory (DFT) calculations with in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, we reveal that the heterojunction enhances gas sensing performance by improving DMC adsorption capacity and charge transfer efficiency. This sensor not only responds rapidly (<15 s) in simulations of electrolyte leakage caused by puncture but also demonstrates excellent early-warning capabilities in thermal runaway experiments induced by overheating and overcharging, proving its broad applicability in complex electrochemical abuse scenarios.
Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a common cause of pediatric emergency department (ED) visits and is frequently associated with dehydration and metabolic disturbances. Rapid assessment of electrolytes and glucose is essential in clinical management. Although venous blood gas analysis provides faster results, its agreement with standard serum biochemistry in pediatric AGE remains unclear. This retrospective observational study included children aged 1 month to 18 years who presented to the pediatric ED with AGE between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025, and underwent paired venous BGA and serum biochemical testing during the same visit. A total of 1853 paired measurements were obtained from 1191 patients, as some children contributed multiple paired measurements during repeated testing. Method comparison was performed according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) EP09-A3 guidelines using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), paired comparisons, Pearson correlation, and Bland-Altman analysis. Both analyzers demonstrated acceptable intra-device reliability (ICC > 0.70). However, agreement between venous blood gas and serum biochemistry was poor for sodium, potassium, chloride, and glucose, with all inter-method ICC values below 0.70. Mean values differed significantly between methods for all parameters (P < .01). Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated wide limits of agreement (LOA) between the 2 methods; for example, glucose measurements showed a mean difference of 2.1 mg/dL with LOA ranging from -64.3 to 68.5 mg/dL. Venous blood gas electrolyte and glucose measurements are not interchangeable with serum biochemistry in children with acute gastroenteritis. While blood gas analysis may be useful for rapid screening or trend monitoring in urgent settings, confirmatory serum biochemical testing remains necessary for clinical decision-making in pediatric AGE.
MXenes are a rapidly expanding family of two-dimensional transition-metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides whose physicochemical behavior in aqueous and biological environments is dominated by their surface terminations (e.g., -O, -OH, and -F), rendering them intrinsically active solid-liquid interfaces. These terminations regulate interfacial charge distribution, hydration structure, adsorption equilibria, and colloidal stability, positioning MXenes as dynamic interfacial systems rather than passive nanomaterials. Rational control of surface termination chemistry therefore represents a central strategy for governing MXene interactions with electrolytes, proteins, and biological media. This review provides a comprehensive and critical analysis of recent advances in MXene surface-termination engineering from the perspective of interfacial and colloidal science, with emphasis on etching routes, post-synthetic modification, dimensional tailoring (2D, 3D, and emerging 4D architectures), and characterization approaches relevant to interfacial behavior. We examine how termination chemistry controls key interfacial properties, including zeta potential, dispersion stability in physiological electrolytes, hydration-mediated wetting, and protein corona formation, and how these interfacial factors collectively shape biological responses such as cytotoxicity, inflammatory signaling, antibacterial activity, and reactive oxygen species generation. Particular attention is devoted to termination-driven charge regulation and coordination chemistry at solid-liquid interfaces, which govern adsorption-desorption dynamics, molecular loading, and stimulus-responsive release, as well as the modulation of optical and magnetic responses. By critically comparing reported systems and explicitly addressing unresolved challenges related to termination heterogeneity, interfacial aging, and scalability, this review clarifies structure-interface-function relationships that underpin MXene performance in complex environments. Finally, we identify emerging strategies and open questions for designing surface-terminated MXenes with predictable and controllable interfacial behavior, highlighting their broader relevance as model systems for dynamic solid-liquid interfaces with bio-functional implications.
Aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs) are promising candidates for large-scale energy storage owing to their intrinsic safety. However, their lifespan is severely limited by side reactions such as dendrite growth and hydrogen evolution at the Zn-electrolyte interface. Conventional single-electrolyte-additive approaches are thermodynamically constrained, yielding only insufficient coverage of the inner-Helmholtz plane (IHP) and poor control of interfacial reactions. Here, we report an interfacial fluorinated-ion crowding strategy by simultaneously introducing multiple low-concentration fluorinated additives. Computational and spectroscopic analyses reveal that various-sized F-groups densely occupy the IHP, displacing water molecules and homogenizing Zn2+ flux. This emergent crowding effect, inaccessible to single-additive strategies, enables unprecedented interfacial regulation. Electrochemical tests demonstrate ultrastable Zn plating/stripping over 1200 h at 5 mA cm-2 and 1800 h at 10 mA cm-2, more than tenfold longer than the baseline electrolyte. This work establishes interfacial ion crowding as a powerful design principle, rooted in fundamental electrochemistry, offering a pathway toward high-performance and durable AZMBs.
The toxicity of chromium (Cr6+) is a major environmental constraint that impairs wheat growth by disrupting cellular homeostasis and metabolism. The present study aimed to evaluate the ameliorative effect of gibberellic acid (GA4 + 7) against Cr6+-induced stress in wheat. The experiment was designed as a 3 × 3 factorial completely randomized design with 3 stress levels of chromium (S0 (0 mg kg-1 Cr6+), S1 (50 mg kg-1 Cr6+), S2 (100 mg kg-1 Cr6+)) and 3 levels of GA4+7 (0%, 0.01%, 0.02% (v/v) foliar application). Significant reduction in growth, physiological, and yield-related characteristics was observed in stressed plants. However, GA4 + 7 application increased the membrane stability by 7-10%, reduced the electrolyte leakage by 15-18%, and increased the relative water content by 6-8%. In severe chromium stress (S2), GA4 + 7 application improved chlorophyll content, membrane stability index, and relative water content, by 33.4%, 6.5%, and 3.9%, respectively, while electrolyte leakage was reduced by 5.1%. Relative to untreated chromium-stressed plants, GA4 + 7 application increased plant yield by up to 22%, partially compensating for chromium-induced yield losses. The results indicate that GA4 + 7 has the potential to reduce Cr toxicity in wheat, but larger-scale trials are needed. Molecular docking of Arabidopsis DELLA protein with gibberellin receptor is exploratory evidence rather than supportive. To determine the role of foliar-applied gibberellic acid (GA4 + 7) to alleviate chromium (Cr6+) stress in wheat, this study presents a combination of physiological, yield-based, and in-silico research. As opposed to the previous research that was mostly devoted to GA3 or nonmetal stress factors, this research studies GA4 + 7 reaction during chromium toxicity and introduces DELLA protein docking as exploratory evidence of the molecular support to hormone-mediated stress-resistance.