Manufacturing sustainable sodium ion batteries with high energy density and cyclability requires a uniquely tailored technology and a close attention to the economical and environmental factors. In this work, we summarized the most important design metrics in sodium ion batteries with the emphasis on cathode materials and outlined a transparent data reporting approach based on common metrics for performance evaluation of future technologies.Sodium-ion batteries are considered as one of the most promising alternatives to lithium-based battery technologies. Despite the growing research in this field, the implementation of this technology has been practically hindered due to a lack of high energy density cathode materials with a long cycle-life. In this perspective, we first provide an overview of the milestones in the development of Na-ion battery (NIB) systems over time. Next, we discuss critical metrics in extraction of key elements used in NIB cathode materials which may impact the supply chain in near future. Finally, in the quest of most promising cathode materials for the next generation of NIBs, we overlay an extensive perspective on the main findings in design and test of more than 295 reports in the past 10 years, exhibiting that layered oxides, Prussian blue analogs (PBAs) and polyanions are leading candidates for cathode materials. An in-depth comparison of energy density and capacity retention of all the currently available cathode materials is also provided. In this perspective, we also highlight the importance of large data analysis for sustainable material design based on available datasets. The insights provided in this perspective, along with a more transparent data reporting approach and an implementation of common metrics for performance evaluation of NIBs can help accelerate future cathode materials design in the NIB field. Graphical abstract

Sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (SPAN) represents a class of sulfur-bonded polymers, which have shown thousands of stable cycles as a cathode in lithium−sulfur batteries. However, the exact molecular structure and its electrochemical reaction mechanism remain unclear. Most significantly, SPAN shows an over 25% 1st cycle irreversible capacity loss before exhibiting perfect reversibility for subsequent cycles. Here, with a SPAN thinfilm platform and an array of analytical tools, we show that the SPAN capacity loss is associated with intramolecular dehydrogenation along with the loss of sulfur. This results in an increase in the aromaticity of the structure, which is corroborated by a >100× increase in electronic conductivity. We also discovered that the conductive carbon additive in the cathode is instrumental in driving the reaction to completion. Based on the proposed mechanism, we have developed a synthesis procedure to eliminate more than 50% of the irreversible capacity loss. Our insights into the reaction mechanism provide a blueprint for the design of highperformance sulfurized polymer cathode materials.

Euthyroid state is considered a requisite before planning a thyroid surgery. Before such a surgery, pharmacotherapy can be used for managing a hyperthyroid state. It warrants a long-term treatment with pharmacotherapy agents like imidazole class (carbimazole, methimazole) or propylthiouracil. In cases with large goiters, with pressure symptoms like dyspnoea, dysphagia, dysphonia; a surgeon would prefer a pharmacotherapy with a quicker action than the established agents. Lugol’s iodine was used pre-operatively before the advent of newer agents. In rural areas, where patients present with large goiters, hyperthyroid states due to lack of awareness and availability of the modern pharmacotherapy, Lugol’s iodine can be a rescue pre-operative therapy to make such a patient euthyroid and to decrease the vascularity of the goiter, which facilitates a safer thyroid surgery.