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At least 37 records · Page 2

The miR-183 family cluster alters zinc homeostasis in benign prostate cells, organoids and prostate cancer xenografts

The miR-183 cluster, which is comprised of paralogous miRs-183, -96 and -182, is overexpressed in many cancers, including prostate adenocarcinoma (PCa). Prior studies showed that overexpression of individual pre-miRs-182, -96 and -183 in prostate cells decreased zinc import, which is a characteristic feature of PCa tumours. Zinc is concentrated in healthy prostate 10-fold higher than any other tissue, and an >80% decrease in zinc is observed in PCa specimens. Here, we studied the effect of overexpression of the entire 4.8 kb miR-183 family cluster, including the intergenic region which contains highly conserved genomic regions, in prostate cells. This resulted in overexpression of mature miR-183 family miRs at levels that mimic cancer-related changes. Overexpression of the miR-183 cluster reduced zinc transporter and intracellular zinc levels in benign prostate cells, PCa xenografts and fresh prostate epithelial organoids. Microarray analysis of miR-183 family cluster overexpression in prostate cells showed an enrichment for cancer-related pathways including adhesion, migration and wound healing. An active secondary transcription start site was identified within the intergenic region of the miR-183 cluster, which may regulate expression of miR-182. Taken together, this study shows that physiologically relevant expression of the miR-183 family regulates zinc levels and carcinogenic pathways in prostate cells.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

Localized Hydrophobicity in Aqueous Zinc Electrolytes Improves Zinc Metal Reversibility

The rechargeability of aqueous zinc metal batteries is plagued by parasitic reactions of the zinc metal anode and detrimental morphologies such as dendritic or dead zinc. To improve the zinc metal reversibility, hereby we report a new solution structure of aqueous electrolyte with hydroxyl-ions scavengers and hydrophobicity localized in solvent clusters. In this work we show that although hydrophobicity sounds counterintuitive for an aqueous system, hydrophilic pockets may be encapsulated inside a hydrophobic outer layer and a hydrophobic anode-electrolyte interface can be generated through the addition of a cation-philic, strongly anion-phobic, and OH - -reactive diluent. The localized hydrophobicity enables less active water and less absorbed water on the Zn anode surface, which suppresses the parasitic water reductions; while the hydroxyl-ion-scavenging functionality further minimizes undesired passivation layer formation, thus leading to superior reversibility (an average Zn plating/stripping efficiency of 99.72% for 1000 cycles) and lifetime (80.6% capacity retention after 5000 cycles) of zinc batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Hydrophobic Molecule Monolayer Brush-Tethered Zinc Anodes for Aqueous Zinc Batteries

Aqueous zinc batteries are of great interest as a rechargeable energy storage system, particularly owing to the low cost and high safety of aqueous electrolytes, as well as the high capacity of zinc anodes. Unfortunately, the wide commercialization of aqueous zinc batteries is impeded by the irreversible water reduction and irregular zinc evolution issues on the anode side. Hereby, a hydrophobic and ultrathin polystyrene molecule brush layer is tethered onto the surface of zinc metal anodes to tackle the above limitations. Here, experimental investigations reveal that the waterproof artificial layer can sustain fast interfacial ionic transportation, minimize hydrogen evolution, and smoothen Zn deposition, thus conferring enhanced electrochemical performance to the as-protected Zn anode in both symmetric Zn//Zn cells and Zn//LiV 3 O 8 full cells.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Challenges in Zinc Electrodes for Alkaline Zinc–Air Batteries: Obstacles to Commercialization

Alkaline zinc-air batteries are promising energy storage technologies with the advantages of low cost, ecological friendliness, and high energy density. However, the rechargeable zinc-air battery has not been used on a commercial scale because the zinc electrode suffers from critical problems such as passivation, dendrite growth, and hydrogen evolution reaction, which limit the practical applications of zinc-air batteries. Herein, the Perspective summaries the solutions to minimize the negative effects of zinc electrodes on discharge performance, cycling life, and shelf life. The future direction of academic research based on current studies of the existing challenges is proposed.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Alternate current magnetic property characterization of nonstoichiometric zinc ferrite nanocrystals for inductor fabrication via a solution based process

We investigate the ac magnetic behavior of solution processable, non-stoichiometric zinc ferrite nanocrystals with a series of sizes and zinc concentrations. Nearly monodisperse Zn{sub x}Fe{sub 3−x}O{sub 4} nanocrystals (x = 0–0.25) with an average size ranging from 7.4 nm to 13.8 nm are synthesized by using a solvothermal method. All the nanocrystals are in a superparamagnetic state at 300 K, which is confirmed by Superconductive Quantum Interference Device magnetometry. Due to the doping of non-magnetic Zn{sup 2+} into A site of ferrite, the saturation magnetization of nanocrystals increases as the size and Zn concentration increases. The ac magnetic permeability measurements at radio frequencies reveal that the real part of the magnetic permeability of similarly sized ferrite nanocrystals can be enhanced by almost twofold as the Zn{sup 2+} doping level increases from 0 to 0.25. The integration of 12.3 nm Zn{sub 0.25}Fe{sub 2.75}O{sub 4} nanocrystals into a toroidal inductor and a solenoid inductor prepared via a simple solution cast process yields a higher quality factors than air core inductors with the same geometries up to 5 MHz and 9 MHz, respectively, which is in the regime of the switching frequencies for the advanced integrated power converters.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Method of capturing or trapping zinc using zinc getter materials

A method of trapping or capturing zinc is disclosed. In particular, the method comprises a step of contacting a zinc vapor with a zinc getter material. The zinc getter material comprises nanoparticles and a metal substrate.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

Surface morphology and electrical transport of rapid thermal annealed chromium-doped indium zinc oxides: The influence of zinc interstitials and out-diffusion

We investigate the complex impedance (CI) spectra of chromium-doped indium zinc oxide (CIZO) films with different rapid thermal annealing (RTA) temperatures. The CI spectra drawn from the impedance contributions of Zn-O and In-O bondings in CIZO films were analyzed by two sets of parallel resistance and capacitance components in series. The result demonstrates that zinc interstitials controls electron concentration and transition of electrical transport from semiconducting to metallic. At higher RTA temperature, high-density zinc interstitial promotes Zn atom diffusion from the surface, modifying surface morphology.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Atomically Thin Mesoporous Co 3 O 4 Layers Strongly Coupled with N-rGO Nanosheets as High-Performance Bifunctional Catalysts for 1D Knittable Zinc-Air Batteries [Atomically Thin Mesoporous Co 3 O 4 /N-rGO Nanosheets as the Bifunctional Catalysts for One-Dimensional Knittable Zinc-Air Batteries]

Here, under development for next–generation wearable electronics are flexible, knittable, and wearable energy–storage devices with high energy density that can be integrated into textiles. Herein, knittable fiber–shaped zinc–air batteries with high volumetric energy density (36.1 mWh cm –3 ) are fabricated via a facile and continuous method with low–cost materials. Furthermore, a high–yield method is developed to prepare the key component of the fiber–shaped zinc–air battery, i.e., a bifunctional catalyst composed of atomically thin layer–by–layer mesoporous Co 3 O 4 /nitrogen–doped reduced graphene oxide (N–rGO) nanosheets. Benefiting from the high surface area, mesoporous structure, and strong synergetic effect between the Co 3 O 4 and N–rGO nanosheets, the bifunctional catalyst exhibits high activity and superior durability for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions. Compared to a fiber–shaped zinc–air battery using state–of–the–art Pt/C + RuO 2 catalysts, the battery based on these Co 3 O 4 /N–rGO nanosheets demonstrates enhanced and stable electrochemical performance, even under severe deformation. Such batteries, for the first time, can be successfully knitted into clothes without short circuits under external forces and can power various electronic devices and even charge a cellphone.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Investigation of zinc recovery by hydrogen reduction assisted pyrolysis of alkaline and zinc-carbon battery waste

Highlights: • Recycling of alkaline and zinc-carbon battery waste by pyrolysis. • Thermodynamic investigation for hydrogen reduction of alkaline battery waste. • Recovery of Zn as submicron particle from alkaline battery waste. • Production of manganese oxide particles from alkaline battery waste. • Controlling oxidation state of manganese oxide product in the process. - Abstract: Zinc (Zn) recovery from alkaline and zinc-carbon (Zn-C) battery waste were studied by a laboratory scale pyrolysis process at a reaction temperature of 950 °C for 15–60 min residence time using 5%H{sub 2(g)}-N{sub 2(g)} mixture at 1.0 L/min gas flow rate. The effect of different cooling rates on the properties of pyrolysis residue, manganese oxide particles, were also investigated. Morphological and structural characterization of the produced Zn particles were performed. The battery black mass was characterized with respect to the properties and chemical composition of the waste battery particles. The thermodynamics of the pyrolysis process was studied using the HSC Chemistry 5.11 software. A hydrogen reduction reaction of the battery black mass (washed with Milli-Q water) takes place at the chosen temperature and makes it possible to produce fine Zn particles by rapid condensation following the evaporation of Zn from the pyrolysis batch. The amount of Zn that can be separated from the black mass increases by extending the residence time. Recovery of 99.8% of the Zn was achieved at 950 °C for 60 min residence time using 1.0 L/min gas flow rate. The pyrolysis residue contains MnO and Mn{sub 2}O{sub 3} compounds, and the oxidation state of manganese can be controlled by cooling rate and atmosphere. The Zn particles exhibit spherical and hexagonal particle morphology with a particle size varying between 200 nm and 3 µm. However the particles were formed by aggregation of nanoparticles which are primarily nucleated from the gas phase.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Bioresorbable Primary Battery Anodes Built on Core–Double-Shell Zinc Microparticle Networks

Bioresorbable implantable electronics require power sources that are also bioresorbable with controllable electrical output and lifetime. In this paper, we report a bioresorbable zinc primary battery anode filament based on a zinc microparticle (MP) network coated with chitosan and Al 2 O 3 double shells. When discharged in 0.9% NaCl saline, a Zn MP filament with a 0.17 × 2 mm 2 cross-sectional area exhibited a stable voltage output of 0.55 V at a current of 0.01 mA. Covered by chitosan and Al 2 O 3 double shells, the zinc MP filament exhibited a directional dissolution behavior with a tunable lifetime approximately linear to its length. A stable 200 h discharging time was achieved with a 15 mm Zn MP filament. The maximum output power was found to be 12 μW at 0.03 mA for one filament. The linearity relationship between the current output and the filament cross-sectional area suggested a facile strategy to raise the power output at constant discharging voltage. The filaments could also be connected in series and in parallel to boost its overall voltage and current output, demonstrating their excellent integration capability. Furthermore, this work presents a promising pathway toward bioresorbable transient batteries with controllable lifetime and power output, demonstrating a great potential for powering transient implantable biomedical devices.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Understanding the Role of Zinc Hydroxide Sulfate and its Analogues in Mildly Acidic Aqueous Zinc Batteries: A Review

Abstract Mildly acidic aqueous zinc batteries (AZBs) have attracted tremendous attention for grid storage applications with the expectation to tackle the issues of Li‐ion batteries on high cost and poor safety. However, the performance, particularly energy density and cycle stability of AZBs are still unsatisfactory when compared with LIBs. To help the development of AZBs, a lot of effort have been made to understand the battery reaction mechanisms and precedent microscopic and spectroscopic analyses have shown flake‐like large particles of zinc hydroxide sulfate (ZHS) and its analogues formed on the surfaces of cathodes and anodes in sulfate and other electrolyte systems during cycling. However, because of the complexity of the thermodynamics and kinetics of aqueous reactions to understand different battery conditions, controversies still exist. This article will review the roles of ZHS discussed in recent representative references aiming to shine light on the fundamental mechanisms of AZBs and pave ways to further improve the battery performance.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Zinc-oxide charge trapping memory cell with ultra-thin chromium-oxide trapping layer

A functional zinc-oxide based SONOS memory cell with ultra-thin chromium oxide trapping layer was fabricated. A 5 nm CrO{sub 2} layer is deposited between Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) steps. A threshold voltage (V{sub t}) shift of 2.6V was achieved with a 10V programming voltage. Also for a 2V V{sub t} shift, the memory with CrO{sub 2} layer has a low programming voltage of 7.2V. Moreover, the deep trapping levels in CrO{sub 2} layer allows for additional scaling of the tunnel oxide due to an increase in the retention time. In addition, the structure was simulated using Physics Based TCAD. The results of the simulation fit very well with the experimental results providing an understanding of the charge trapping and tunneling physics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗