A novel scalable Taylor-Couette reactor (TCR) synthesis method was employed to prepare Ta-modified LiNi0.92Co0.04Mn0.04O2 (T-NCM92) with different Ta contents. Through experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the phase and microstructure of Ta-modified NCM92 were analyzed, showing that Ta provides a bifunctional (doping and coating at one time) effect on LiNi0.92Co0.04Mn0.04O2 cathode material through a one-step synthesis process via a controlling suitable amount of Ta and Li-salt. Ta doping allows the tailoring of the microstructure, orientation, and morphology of the primary NCM92 particles, resulting in a needle-like shape with fine structures that considerably enhance Li+ ion diffusion and electrochemical charge/discharge stability. The Ta-based surface-coating layer effectively prevented microcrack formation and inhibited electrolyte decomposition and surface-side reactions during cycling, thereby significantly improving the electrochemical performance and long-term cycling stability of NCM92 cathodes. Our as-prepared NCM92 modified with 0.2 mol% Ta (i.e., T2-NCM92) exhibits outstanding cyclability, retaining 84.5 % capacity at 4.3 V, 78.3 % at 4.5 V, and 67.6 % at 45 ℃ after 200 cycles at 1C. Even under high-rate conditions (10C), T2-NCM92 demonstrated a remarkable capacity retention of 66.9 % after 100 cycles, with an initial discharge capacity of 157.6 mAh g-1. Thus, the Ta modification of Ni-rich NCM92 materials is a promising option for optimizing NCM cathode materials and enabling their use in real-world electric vehicle (EV) applications.
Ferns belong to species-rich group of land plants, encompassing more than 11,000 extant species, and are crucial for reflecting terrestrial ecosystem changes. However, our understanding of their biodiversity hotspots, particularly in Southeast Asia, remains limited due to scarce genetic data. Despite harboring around one-third of the world's fern species, less than 6% of Southeast Asian ferns have been DNA-sequenced. In this study, we addressed this gap by sequencing 1,496 voucher-referenced and expert-identified fern samples from (sub)tropical Asia, spanning Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam, to retrieve their rbcL and trnL-F sequences. This DNA barcode collection of Asian ferns encompasses 956 species across 152 genera and 34 families, filling major gaps in fern biodiversity understanding and advancing research in systematics, phylogenetics, ecology and conservation. This dataset significantly expands the Fern Tree of Life to over 6,000 species, serving as a pivotal and global reference for worldwide barcoding identification of ferns.