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Gut microbes play significant roles in colitis development. The current study was aimed to uncover the preventive effects of lycopene (LYC), a functional carotenoid component, on colitis and the accompanied behavior disorders. The current study demonstrated that LYC treatment (50 mg/kg body weight/day) for 40 days prevented the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced gut barrier damages and inflammatory responses in male mice. LYC improved DSS-induced depression and anxiety-like behavioral disorders by suppressing neuroinflammation and prevented synaptic ultrastructure damages by upregulating the expressions of neurotrophic factor and postsynaptic-density protein. Moreover, LYC reshaped the gut microbiome in colitis mice by decreasing the relative abundance of proteobacteria and increasing the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. LYC also elevated the generation of short-chain fatty acids and inhibited the permeability of lipopolysaccharide in colitis mice. In conclusion, LYC ameliorate DSS-induced colitis and behavioral disorders via mediating microbes–gut–brain axis balance.

Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries are highly desirable for large‐scale energy storage because of their low cost and high‐level safety. However, achieving high energy and high power densities simultaneously is challenging. Herein, a VOx sub‐nanometer cluster/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) cathode material composed of interfacial VOC bonds is artificially constructed. Therein, a new mechanism is revealed, where Zn2+ ions are predominantly stored at the interface between VOx and rGO, which causes anomalous valence changes compared to conventional mechanisms and exploits the storage ability of non‐energy‐storing active yet highly conductive rGO. Further, this interface‐dominated storage triggers decoupled transport of electrons/Zn2+ ions, and the reversible destruction/reconstruction allows the interface to store more ions than the bulk. Finally, an ultrahigh rate capability (174.4 mAh g−1 at 100 A g−1, i.e., capacity retention of 39.4% for a 1000‐fold increase in current density) and a high capacity (443 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1, exceeding the theoretical capacities of each interfacial component) are achieved. Such interface‐dominated storage is an exciting way to build high‐energy‐ and high‐power‐density devices.

Routine electrolyte additives are not effective enough for uniform zinc (Zn) deposition, because they are hard to proactively guide atomic-level Zn deposition. Here, based on underpotential deposition (UPD), we propose an "escort effect" of electrolyte additives for uniform Zn deposition at the atomic level. With nickel ion (Ni 2 + ) additives, we found that metallic Ni deposits preferentially and triggers the UPD of Zn on Ni. This facilitates firm nucleation and uniform growth of Zn while suppressing side reactions. Besides, Ni dissolves back into the electrolyte after Zn stripping with no influence on interfacial charge transfer resistance. Consequently, the optimized cell operates for over 900 h at 1 mA cm À 2 (more than 4 times longer than the blank one). Moreover, the universality of "escort effect" is identified by using Cr 3 + and Co 2 + additives. This work would inspire a wide range of atomic-level principles by controlling interfacial electrochemistry for various metal batteries.

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