Xiaoling Tong

Abstract Wearable and portable self-powered units have stimulated considerable attention in both the scientific and technological realms. However, their innovative development is still limited by inefficient bulky connections between functional modules, incompatible energy storage systems with poor cycling stability, and real safety concerns. Herein, we demonstrate a flexible solar-charging integrated unit based on the design of printed magnesium ion aqueous asymmetric supercapacitors. This power unit exhibits excellent mechanical robustness, high photo-charging cycling stability (98.7% capacitance retention after 100 cycles), excellent overall energy conversion and storage efficiency ( η overall = 17.57%), and outstanding input current tolerance. In addition, the Mg ion quasi-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitors show high energy density up to 13.1 mWh cm −3 via pseudocapacitive ion storage as investigated by an operando X-ray diffraction technique. The findings pave a practical route toward the design of future self-powered systems affording favorable safety, long life, and high energy.

Abstract Functionalizing carbon cathode surfaces with oxygen functional groups is an effective way to simultaneously tailor the fundamental properties and customize the electrochemical properties of aqueous Zn‐ion hybrid capacitors. In this work, the oxygen functional groups of chemically reduced graphene oxide (rGO) are systematically regulated via a series of reductants and varied experimental conductions. Carboxyl and carbonyl have been proven to significantly enhance the aqueous electrolyte wettability, Zn‐ion chemical adsorption, and pseudocapacitive redox activity by experimental study and computational analysis. The rGO cathode produced through hydrogen peroxide assisted hydrothermal reduction exhibits a specific capacitance of 277 F g −1 in 1 m ZnSO 4 after optimization of surface oxygen functional groups. In addition, a quasi‐solid‐state flexible Zn‐ion hybrid capacitor (ZHC) with a polyacrylamide gel electrolyte and a high loading mass of 5.1 mg cm −2 are assembled. The as‐prepared quasi‐solid state ZHC can offer a superior areal capacitance of 1257 mF cm −2 and distinguished areal energy density of 342 µW h cm −2 . The significant enhancement of redox activity and Zn‐ion storage capability by regulating the oxygen functional groups can shed light on the promotion of electrochemical charge storage properties even beyond protic electrolyte systems.

Abstract The silkworm Bombyx mori is an important economic insect for producing silk, the “queen of fabrics”. The currently available genomes limit the understanding of its genetic diversity and the discovery of valuable alleles for breeding. Here, we deeply re-sequence 1,078 silkworms and assemble long-read genomes for 545 representatives. We construct a high-resolution pan-genome dataset representing almost the entire genomic content in the silkworm. We find that the silkworm population harbors a high density of genomic variants and identify 7308 new genes, 4260 (22%) core genes, and 3,432,266 non-redundant structure variations (SVs). We reveal hundreds of genes and SVs that may contribute to the artificial selection (domestication and breeding) of silkworm. Further, we focus on four genes responsible, respectively, for two economic (silk yield and silk fineness) and two ecologically adaptive traits (egg diapause and aposematic coloration). Taken together, our population-scale genomic resources will promote functional genomics studies and breeding improvement for silkworm.