Enhanced Light Harvesting in Organic Solar Cells Featuring a Biomimetic Active Layer and a Self‐Cleaning Antireflective Coating

Advanced light manipulation is extremely attractive for applications in organic optoelectronics to enhance light harvesting efficiency. A novel method of fabricating high‐efficiency organic solar cells (OSCs) is proposed using biomimetic moth eye nanostructures in a quasi‐periodic gradient shape active layer and an antireflective coating. A 24.3% increase in photocurrent is realized without sacrificing dark electrical properties, yielding a 22.2% enhancement in power conversion efficiency to a record of 7.86% for OSCs with a poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl):indene‐C60 bis‐adduct (P3HT:ICBA) active layer. The experimental and theoretical characterizations verify that the substantial improvement of OSCs is mainly ascribed to the self‐enhanced absorption resulting from the broadband polarization‐insensitive light trapping in biomimetic nanostructured active layer, the reduction in reflectance by the antireflective coating, and surface plasmonic effect excited by corrugated metallic electrode. It is noteworthy that the pathway described here is promising for opening up opportunities to realize high‐performance OSCs towards the future photovoltaic applications.     

Effect of Light Incident Angle on Fano Resonance Loss Mediation in Silver Nanoparticles Integrated Thin Silicon Wafers

In this work, we have studied the role of light incidence angle in the suppression of Fano resonance loss for mediating broadband light incoupling. At light normal incidence angle, the transmission loss of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) integrated 100 μm silicon (Si) wafer is reduced to ~?4 from ~?11%, and total reflectance is reduced to 32.7 from 38.7%. The reduction in reflectance is observed only in surface plasmon off-resonance region of the NPs, but the reflectance is enhanced slightly in surface plasmon resonance (SPR) region. With the change in light incident angles, we have observed a reduction in reflectance from NPs integrated silicon wafer at SPR region. At 40° light incident angle, the reflectance is reduced to 21 from 38.7% due to minimization of the Fano resonance in SPR region of the NPs. The Fano resonance loss reduction is explained based on modification in NPs’ dipole and quadrupole modes hybridization at the silicon interface with different light incident angles instead of normal incidence. Experimental observations are validated by simulating Ag NPs’ near-fields and angular distribution of far-fields at the silicon interface, scattering efficiency spectra at different light incident angles by finite difference time domain calculations.     

Light on the moth-eye corneal nipple array of butterflies

The outer surface of the facet lenses in the compound eyes of moths consists of an array of excessive cuticular protuberances, termed corneal nipples. We have investigated the moth-eye corneal nipple array of the facet lenses of 19 diurnal butterfly species by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscope, as well as by optical modelling. The nipples appeared to be arranged in domains with almost crystalline, hexagonal packing. The nipple distances were found to vary only slightly, ranging from about 180 to 240 nm, but the nipple heights varied between 0 (papilionids) and 230 nm (a nymphalid), in good agreement with previous work. The nipples create an interface with a gradient refractive index between that of air and the facet lens material, because their distance is distinctly smaller than the wavelength of light. The gradient in the refractive index was deduced from effective medium theory. By dividing the height of the nipple layer into 100 thin slices, an optical multilayer model could be applied to calculate the reflectance of the facet lenses as a function of height, polarization and angle of incidence. The reflectance progressively diminished with increased nipple height. Nipples with a paraboloid shape and height 250 nm, touching each other at the base, virtually completely reduced the reflectance for normally incident light. The calculated dependence of the reflectance on polarization and angle of incidence agreed well with experimental data, underscoring the validity of the modelling. The corneal nipples presumably mainly function to reduce the eye glare of moths that are inactive during the day, so to make them less visible for predators. Moths are probably ancestral to the diurnal butterflies, suggesting that the reduced size of the nipples of most butterfly species indicates a vanishing trait. This effect is extreme in papilionids, which have virtually absent nipples, in line with their highly developed status. A similar evolutionary development can be noticed for the tapetum of the ommatidia of lepidopteran eyes. It is most elaborate in moth-eyes, but strongly reduced in most diurnal butterflies and absent in papilionids.     

Some Optical Properties of Leaves of Eight Temperate Forage Grasses

Two instruments are described for the measurement of the reflectionand transmission of radiation by grass leaves. The first ofthese was used to measure the spatial distribution of reflectedand transmitted light. It was demonstrated that reflection wasinfluenced by the epidermal structure of a leaf, and that theimportance of this layer increased with increasing angle ofincidence. The second instrument was used to compare the reflectance andtransmittance of leaves of different ages taken from eight temperategrasses. There were significant differences between the grassesin leaf transmittance, and generally the young emerging leafhad a greater transmittance than the fully-expanded leaves.The differences in leaf transmittance could be related to differencesin specific leaf weight. There were no significant differencesbetween the species and varieties in leaf reflectance.     

Polarized attenuated total reflectance spectra of oriented purple membranes

The technique of polarized Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy has been applied to the study of oriented purple membranes of Halobacterium cutirubrum. This method offers a fast and simple approach for probing conformations of proteins in-situ and capable of obtaining polarized infrared spectra at an angle of incidence that is much greater than the Brewster angle.     

Light-reflecting properties of the iridophores of the neon tetra,Paracheirodon innesi

• 1.1. The change in color of the lateral stripe of the neon tetra, Paracheirodon innesi, is due to the motile activity of the iridophores which are sensitive to light and adrenergic stimuli.
• 2.2. The light-reflecting platelets within the iridophore were found to be arranged regularly, making an acute angle of depression with respect to the median plane of the body.
• 3.3. When epi-illumination was applied to the skin piece laid horizontally on the stage of a light microscope (with an angle of incidence of about 40°) and the wavelength of the reflected light introduced into the objective lens was monitored, the spectral peak was found to shift to longer wavelengths with the application of K⁺-rich saline, with a simultaneous decrease in reflectance.
• 4.4. Using the identical fiber assembly for light irradiation and measurements of reflected light, we found that the angle of incident light producing the maximum reflectance, which corresponded to the inclination of the platelets, increased with the shift in the spectral peak toward longer wavelengths.
• 5.5. It appears from our results that a change in the angle of inclination of the platelets triggered by adrenergic stimuli may give rise to a change in the distance between the platelets which, in turn, leads to the shift in the spectral peak.

     

Leaf optical responses to light and soil nutrient availability in temperate deciduous trees

Leaf optical parameters influence light availability at the cellular, leaf, and canopy scale of integration. While recent studies have focused on leaf optical responses to acute plant stress, the effects of changes in plant resources on leaf optics remain poorly characterized. We examined leaf optical and anatomical responses of five temperate deciduous tree species to moderate changes in nutrient and light availability. Spectral reflectance in the visible waveband generally increased at high light, but decreased with increased nutrient availability. Patterns of both spectral reflectance and absorptance were primarily determined by chlorophyll concentration although carotenoid concentration was also influential. While most anatomical features did not explain residual variation in reflectance, cuticle thickness was significantly related to reflectance at complementary angles compared to the angle of incidence. Absorptance did not change with light environment; however, absorption efficiency per unit biomass increased by approximately 40% under low light, due to reduced leaf mass per area. We conclude that changes in resource availability differentially influence leaf optical properties and that such changes are driven primarily by changes in pigment concentrations. The magnitude of leaf optical responses to moderate changes in resource availability was comparable to those of acute stress responses and varied among species.     

Reflectance Measurements of Glossy Petals of Ranunculus lingua (Ranunculaceae) and of Non-Glossy Petals of Heliopsis helianthoides (Asteraceae)

Abstract: A spectrophotometric comparison of the reflectance of glossy petals of Ranunculus lingua (Ranunculaceae) and non-glossy petals of Heliopsis helianthoides (Asteraceae) was made in relation to the angle of incidence of the incoming light. Additionally, the reflectance of petals of R. flammula, R. acris and R. repens (Ranunculaceae) was measured for comparative purposes. In the examined Ranunculus species, gloss is present around mirror geometry over the whole spectral range measured, including the UV region where it accentuates the UV peak, and even at the basal UV-absorbing area of the petals. According to a colour hexagon evaluation of the reflectance data, these gloss phenomena diminish the colour contrast of the petal against the background. Nevertheless, due to their brightness, they may serve as an attractant or predictor for pollinators and other visiting insects, possibly acting as a beacon while approaching the flower. The position of the reflectance maximum in the UV around 340 nm is in accordance with the sensitivity maximum of the UV photoreceptor of potential pollinators like Apidae. The mean reflectance values of the four examined Ranunculus species do not show any clear correlation with their anatomical make-up     

Following the Morphology Formation In Situ in Printed Active Layers for Organic Solar Cells

The device performance of organic polymer:fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells strongly depends on the interpenetrating network of the involved donor and acceptor materials in the active layer. Since morphology formation depends on the conditions of film preparation, the final morphology varies for different deposition methods. In order to understand and optimize industrial coating processes and, therefore, the performance of the solar cells produced, a deeper understanding of structure formation is important. In situ measurements of slot‐die printed polymer:fullerene active layers are presented that reveal insights into the evolution of the structure. Polymer crystallization and ordering is monitored by in situ grazing incidence wide angle X‐ray scattering (GIWAXS), and in situ grazing incidence small‐angle X‐ray scattering (GISAXS). The development of the morphology exhibits five stages independent of the drying conditions. Two growth rates are observed, an initial slow formation of poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl) crystallites in well‐aligned edge‐on orientation followed by a rapid crystal growth. By combining the GIWAXS and GISAXS measurements, a five‐stage growth and assembly process is found and described in detail along with a proposed model of the structural evolution. The findings are an important step in tailoring the assembly process.     

Polarized and specular reflectance variation with leaf surface features

The linearly polarized reflectance from a leaf depends on the characteristics of the leaf surface. In the present study the leaf reflectance of a number of plant species with varying surface characteristics was measured at the Brewster angle with a polarization photometer having 5 visible and near-infrared wavelength bands. We found that all leaf surfaces polarized incident light. Differences among species could be explained by variation in surface features. The results support our hypothesis that the polarized light is reflected by the leaf surface, not by its interior. Two mechanisms appeared responsible for the linearly polarized reflectance: (1) specular reflectance and (2) surface particle scattering. In most cases, large values of linearly polarized reflectance could be attributed to specular reflectance from the leaf surface. Attribution required knowledge of the optical dimensions of features on the leaf surface.     

Three‐Dimensional Nanostructured Indium‐Tin‐Oxide Electrodes for Enhanced Performance of Bulk Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells

A three‐dimensional indium tin oxide (ITO) nanohelix (NH) array is presented as a multifunctional electrode for bulk heterojunction organic solar cells for simultaneously improving light absorption and charge transport from the active region to the anode. It is shown that the ITO NH array, which is easily fabricated using an oblique‐angle‐deposition technique, acts as an effective antireflection coating as well as a light‐scattering layer, resulting in much enhanced light harvesting. Furthermore, the larger interfacial area between the electrode and the active layer, together with the enhanced carrier mobility through highly conductive ITO NH facilitate transport and collection of charge carriers. The optical and electrical improvements enabled by the ITO NH electrode result in a 10% increase in short‐circuit current density and power‐conversion efficiency of the solar cells.     

Characterization of Grating Coupled Surface Plasmon Polaritons Using Diffracted Rays Transmittance

A method to sense the excitation of surface plasmon polariton (SPP) on metallic grating device using the transmitted signal will be presented. The grating transmittance signal will be fully characterized varying the light incident angle and azimuthal grating orientation by means of the SPP vector model and rigorous coupled-wave analysis simulation. Simulation results will be compared with experimental measurements obtained with a 635 nm wavelength laser in the transverse magnetic polarization mode. The laser will light grating devices in contact with either air or water through a customized microfluidic chamber. A characterization of the diffracted rays will show the relationship between the grating coupling configuration and the Kretschmann one. In fact, the diffracted ray affected by SPP resonance is transmitted with an output angle which is the same incident angle that should be used to excite SPP in Kretschmann configuration. Lastly, the grating parameters (amplitude and metal thickness) impact on transmittance signal will be analyzed with respect to the order zero reflectance signal.     

Airway surface liquid depth imaged by surface laser reflectance microscopy

The thin layer of liquid at the surface of airway epithelium, the airway surface liquid (ASL), is important in normal airway physiology and in the pathophysiology of cystic fibrosis. At present, the best method to measure ASL depth involves scanning confocal microscopy after staining with an aqueous-phase fluorescent dye. We describe here a simple, noninvasive imaging method to measure ASL depth by reflectance imaging of an epithelial mucosa in which the surface is illuminated at a 45-degree angle by an elongated 13-µm wide rectangular beam produced by a 670-nm micro-focus laser. The principle of the method is that air–liquid, liquid–liquid, and liquid–cell interfaces produce distinct specular or diffuse reflections that can be imaged to give a micron-resolution replica of the mucosal surface. The method was validated using fluid layers of specified thicknesses and applied to measure ASL depth in cell cultures and ex vivo fragments of pig trachea. In addition, the method was adapted to measure transepithelial fluid transport from the dynamics of fluid layer depth. Compared with confocal imaging, ASL depth measurement by surface laser reflectance microscopy does not require dye staining or costly instrumentation, and can potentially be adapted for in vivo measurements using fiberoptics.     

Light Harvesting at Oblique Incidence Decoupled from Transmission in Organic Solar Cells Exhibiting 9.8% Efficiency and 50% Visible Light Transparency

For many years, it has been recognized that potential organic photovoltaic cells must be integrated into elements requiring high transparency. In most of such elements, sunlight is likely to be incident at large angles. Here it is demonstrated that light transmission can be largely decoupled from harvesting by optically tailoring an infrared shifted nonfullerene acceptor based organic cell architecture. A 9.67% power conversion efficiency at 50° incidence is achieved together with an average visual transmission above 50% at normal incidence. The deconstruction of a 1D nanophotonic structure is implemented to conclude that just two λ/4 thick layers are essential to reach, for a wide incidence angle range, a higher than 50% efficiency increase relative to the standard configuration reference. In an outdoor measurement of vertically positioned 50% visible transparent cells, it is demonstrated that 9.80% of sunlight energy can be converted into electricity during the course of 1 day.     

Variable incidence angle fluorescence interference contrast microscopy for z-imaging single objects

Surface-generated structured illumination microscopies interrogate the position of fluorescently labeled objects near surfaces with nanometer resolution along the z axis. However, these techniques are either experimentally cumbersome or applicable to a limited set of experimental systems. We present a new type of surface-generated structured illumination fluorescence microscopy, variable incidence angle fluorescence interference contrast microscopy (VIA-FLIC), in which the fluorescent sample is assembled above a reflective Si surface and the incidence angle of excitation light is varied by placing annular photomasks with different radii in the aperture diaphragm plane of the microscope. The variation in incidence angle alters the interference pattern of excitation light, and hence the intensity of detected fluorescence. Quantitative VIA-FLIC is tested by using a set of fluorophore-containing supported membranes separated from the Si surface by SiO2 layers of variable thicknesses. The resulting fluorescence intensity versus incidence angle curves depends on the separation from the Si surface and when fit with an appropriate model yield precise SiO2 thicknesses that are accurate with respect to the known SiO2 thicknesses. Since only a simple modification to a standard epifluorescence microscope is required, VIA-FLIC offers a versatile method to produce z-reconstructions with high resolution for a wide range of biological systems.     

利用多光谱扫描仪测定空心莲子草冠层光谱的影响因素

【背景】太阳光的入射辐射是影响多光谱扫描仪测定植物冠层光谱反射率的主要因素。本研究旨在探讨不同测定条件对空心莲子草冠层光谱特征值的影响,确定应用多光谱扫描仪测定空心莲子草冠层光谱特征的适宜环境条件。【方法】采用多光谱扫描仪,在不同天气条件、仪器探头高度、太阳高度角、叶片湿度等外界因素条件下,测定空心莲子草冠层光谱反射率的变化。【结果】天气条件、仪器探头高度、太阳高度角、叶片湿度4个因素对空心莲子草冠层在绿光区560nm、黄光区660nm和近红外光区810nm3个特征波段处的光谱反射率均有显著影响。【结论与意义】利用多光谱扫描仪测定空心莲子草冠层光谱数据,应选择晴朗无云的天气,仪器探头距离冠层1.3m,适宜的数据采集时间为10：00～14：00,以保障适度的太阳高度角和干燥的叶面,从而保持稳定的光谱测量结果。本研究可为完善多光谱扫描评价技术提供理论依据。     

On Surface-Plasmon-Polariton Waves Excited in the Turbadar–Otto Configuration

Plasmonics - A local minimum in the plot of linear reflectance versus angle of incidence, on its own, is insufficient to identify a surface-plasmon-polariton wave (SPPW). Further checks are...     

A Surface Design for Enhancement of Light Trapping Efficiencies in Thin Film Silicon Solar Cells

We report on a surface design of thin film silicon solar cells based on silver nanoparticle arrays and blazed grating arrays. The light transmittance is increased at the front surface of the cells, utilizing the surface plasmon resonance effect induced by silver nanoparticle arrays. As a reflection layer structure, blazed gratings are placed at the rear surface to increase the light reflectance at bottom of the thin film cells. With the combination of the silver nanoparticle arrays and the blazed gratings, the light trapping efficiency of the thin film solar cell is characterized by its light absorptance, which is determined from the transmittance at front surface and the reflectance at bottom, via the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) numerical simulation method. The results reveal that the light trapping efficiency is enhanced as the structural parameters are optimized. This work also shows that the surface plasmon resonance effect induced by the silver nanoparticles and the grating characteristics of the blazed gratings play crucial roles in the design of the thin film silicon solar cells.     

耕层调控与有机肥处理下麦田土壤和小麦冠层结构特性及其相互关系

本研究基于5年的耕作定位试验,设置深耕(DT)、深耕有机肥(DTF)、浅耕(ST)、浅耕有机肥(STF)、免耕(NT)和免耕有机肥(NTF)处理,以期通过改良耕层土壤结构,优化小麦冠层结构特性.结果表明: 同一耕作处理下,增施有机肥可降低土壤容重、提高土壤孔隙度,提高20～40 cm土层2～5和0.25～2 mm粒级土壤团聚体含量,降低>5 mm粒级团聚体含量、>0.25 mm粒级团聚体的平均质量直径(MWD)和几何平均直径(GMD).与其他处理相比,NTF处理改善了0～20 cm土层土壤容重、增加土壤孔隙度;DTF处理降低了40～60 cm土壤容重和>0.25 mm粒级机械团聚体的稳定性,增加了土壤透气性.花后各时期,有机肥处理的叶片角度指数降低,叶面积指数(LAI)和旗叶净光合速率(P_n)提高.STF处理的角度指数最低,DTF处理的P_n最高,显著大于其他处理.通径分析表明,自变量容重、孔隙度、>0.25 mm粒级团聚体的数量(R_0.25)和MWD对因变量角度指数、LAI和P_n的直接通径系数均达到极显著水平.0～20 cm土层,MWD值增大有利于P_n和LAI的提高;20～40 cm土层,土壤容重在一定范围内的增加可优化叶夹角,提高冠层透光率;40～60 cm土层,高的土壤容重和低的孔隙度限制了LAI和P_n的增加.综上,豫中补灌区增施有机肥下的深耕或浅耕处理有利于改良土壤结构、增加土壤通透性,优化冠层结构,提高冠层受光率、叶面积指数和光合速率.     

光化学植被指数估算植物光能利用率的研究进展

 应用遥感技术可以建立光化学植被指数（Photochemical reflectance index, PRI）和光能利用效率（Light use efficiency, LUE）的关系,LUE可用来估算净初级生产力（Net primary productivity, NPP）。因而,用PRI估算植物的LUE,为估算NPP提供了新的方法,弥补了以往以经验模式通过温度和水分对最大LUE的胁迫来获取实际LUE的不足,进而可提高NPP的估算精度。研究表明：PRI和LUE在叶片、冠层和景观尺度上都有着很好的相关性,但是随着尺度的变化,很多因素会对这一关系产生干扰,如水分、氮元素含量、叶面积指数和太阳高度角等,从而削弱了PRI和LUE的关系。该文对建立PRI和LUE的关系过程中的影响因素进行了分析,并指出今后这一研究领域中可能改进的方面,主要包括526 nm 和545 nm 处的反射率对531 nm 处的反射率的作用机制、PRI随LUE的饱和现象、PRI和LUE关系的时间效应以及利用PRI估算LUE的尺度效应。