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Tao Zeng

Publications and source records attributed to Tao Zeng.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Decoupled Synthesis Pathway via Precursor Functionalization Stabilizes High-Voltage Nickel-Based Cathodes.

Nickel-based layered cathodes are promising candidates for high-performance, high-energy lithium-ion batteries, yet their high-voltage application is jointly limited by synthesis-inherited structural defects and an unstable lattice oxygen framework. Here, we show that both limitations can be overcome by decoupled synthesis pathway (DSP) via La/Nb oxalate functionalization of the Ni0.6Co0.1Mn0.3(OH)2 precursor. Unlike the conventional coupled synthesis pathway (CSP) where precursor dehydration and Li2CO3 decomposition overlap in temperature, the DSP introduces a low‑temperature decomposition of La/Nb oxalates at 200°C, which effectively avoids localized contact between the precursor and Li2CO3 and shifts Li2CO3-related reactions to high temperatures. This allows sequential precursor dehydroxylation, rock‑salt (RS) intermediate formation, and layered‑phase transformation over a broad temperature window. The resulting LiNi0.6Co0.1Mn0.3O2 cathode with La/Nb functionalization (NCM-LN) features a uniform surface LaNiO3 perovskite heterostructure and a Nb‑doped layered bulk with suppressed RS and spinel defects. Consequently, under 4.5 V operation (vs. Li+/Li), NCM-LN exhibits homogeneous Li+ (de)intercalation, and a stabilized oxygen framework. In graphite||NCM-LN full cells, NCM-LN retains 80.1% of its capacity after 2000 cycles at 1C, substantially outperforming the pristine cathode. This decoupling strategy is broadly effective across various Ni‑based systems, providing a generalizable route toward high‑energy, long‑life cathode materials.

decoupled synthesis pathway

Single-cell multi-omics dissects transcript isoform and immune repertoire dynamics in human immunosenescence.

Immunosenescence, a major hallmark of systemic aging, refers to the progressive functional decline of the immune system. This decline not only compromises host defense and immunological memory but also fuels chronic inflammation and tissue degeneration (collectively known as inflammaging). While single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has revealed transcriptomic alterations associated with immune aging, analyses restricted to transcript abundance fail to capture deeper regulatory layers, such as transcript isoform diversity and the remodeling of immune receptor repertoires. To address this limitation, we present a human peripheral immune single-cell multi-omics atlas that integrates gene expression, transcript isoform diversity, and immune receptor repertoires. By combining single-cell full-length transcriptome sequencing (scCycloneSEQ), short-read scRNA-seq, and single-cell immune receptor sequencing (scTCR/BCR-seq), we systematically profiled peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors aged 30-40 and 60-70 years. Our analyses uncovered extensive age-related remodeling of immune cell composition, functional states, and TCR/BCR diversity. Notably, we found that CD4+ effector memory T cells exhibited widespread differential isoform usage (DIU), 3'UTR length variation, and a marked reshaping of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clonotypes-all of which were closely associated with aging-related inflammation and cellular senescence. This multi-omics atlas delineates key molecular features of immunosenescence and provides a high-resolution resource for deciphering the regulatory architecture underlying immune aging.

TCR/BCR

Full-length single-cell spatial transcriptomics reveals spatial and cell-type-specific transcript isoforms in the primate brain.

The primate brain exhibits complex RNA alternative splicing heterogeneity crucial for functional complexity, yet systematic spatial isoform characterization has been lacking. We developed Fullscope-seq, a full-length single-molecule large field-of-view spatial transcriptomics sequencing method at single-cell resolution, based on programmed concatenation cDNA for multiple long-read sequencing platforms. Applying Fullscope-seq to the macaque brain, we uncovered thousands of genes exhibiting differential transcript usage (DTU) across cortical layers, cell types and brain regions. Fullscope-seq resolved hundreds of major isoform switches across distinct brain regions and identified DTUs between superficial and deep cortical layers. Cortical layer-specific DTUs showed cell-composition dependence, whereas regional DTUs were regulated according to both cellular composition and spatial contexts. These isoform variations showed substantial enrichment for neuropsychiatric disorder-associated genes and were conserved across platforms and species. Our study establishes a scalable framework for spatial isoform analysis and provides a resource for understanding transcriptomic diversity in complex tissues.

Animals