Enabling Flexible Polymer Tandem Solar Cells by 3D Ptychographic Imaging

The realization of a complete tandem polymer solar cell under ambient conditions using only printing and coating methods on a flexible substrate results in a fully scalable process but also requires accurate control during layer formation to succeed. The serial process where the layers are added one after the other by wet processing leaves plenty of room for error and the process development calls for an analytical technique that enables 3D reconstruction of the layer stack with the possibility to probe thickness, density, and chemistry of the individual layers in the stack. The use of ptychography on a complete 12‐layer solar cell stack is presented and it is shown that this technique provides the necessary insight to enable efficient development of inks and processes for the most critical layers in the tandem stack such as the recombination layer where solvent penetration in fully solution processed 12‐layer stacks is critical in eleven of the steps.     

Dielectric Response: Answer to Many Questions in the Methylammonium Lead Halide Solar Cell Absorbers

Due to the unprecedented rapid increase of their power conversion efficiency, hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites CH₃NH₃PbX₃ (X = I, Br, Cl) can potentially revolutionize the world of solar cells. However, despite tremendous research activity, the origin of the exceptionally large diffusion length of their photogenerated charge carriers, that is, their low recombination rate, remains elusive. Using frequency and temperature‐dependent dielectric measurements across the entire frequency spectrum, it is shown that the dielectric constant conserves very high values (>27) for frequencies below 1 THz in all three halides. This efficiently prevents photocarrier trapping and their recombination owing to the strong screening of charged entities. By combining ultrasonic and Raman spectroscopy with dielectric analysis, similarly large contributions to the dielectric constant are attributed to the dipolar disorder of the CH₃NH₃ ⁺ cations as well as lattice dynamics in the gigahertz range yielding dielectric constants of ε_stat = 62 for the iodide, 58 for the bromide, and about 45 for the chloride below 1 GHz at room temperature. Disorder continuously reduces for decreasing temperature. Dipole dynamics prevail in the intermediate tetragonal phase. The low‐temperature orthorhombic state is antipolar. No indications of ferroelectricity are found.     

Matrix Organization and Merit Factor Evaluation as a Method to Address the Challenge of Finding a Polymer Material for Roll Coated Polymer Solar Cells

The results presented demonstrate how the screening of 104 light‐absorbing low band gap polymers for suitability in roll coated polymer solar cells can be accomplished through rational synthesis according to a matrix where 8 donor and 13 acceptor units are organized in rows and columns. Synthesis of all the polymers corresponding to all combinations of donor and acceptor units is followed by characterization of all the materials with respect to molecular weight, electrochemical energy levels, band gaps, photochemical stability, carrier mobility, and photovoltaic parameters. The photovoltaic evaluation is carried out with specific reference to scalable manufacture, which includes large area (1 cm²), stable inverted device architecture, an indium‐tin‐oxide‐free fully printed flexible front electrode with ZnO/PEDOT:PSS (poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate), and a printed silver comb back electrode structure. The matrix organization enables fast identification of active layer materials according to a weighted merit factor that includes more than simply the power conversion efficiency and is used as a method to identify the lead candidates. Based on several characteristics included in the merit factor, it is found that 13 out of the 104 synthesized polymers outperformed poly(3‐hexylthiophene) under the chosen processing conditions and thus can be suitable for further development.     

Triple‐Layer Structured Composite Separator Membranes with Dual Pore Structures and Improved Interfacial Contact for Sustainable Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

A composite separator membrane (CSM) with an A/B/A type layered structure, composed of a microporous electrolyte‐philic poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF‐HFP) gel layer (A) and a submicrometer porous polyethylene (PE) or a macroporous poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) non‐woven matrix (B), is introduced in a dye‐sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Commercially available PE and PET separator membranes (SMs) act as matrices that provide mechanical stability to the DSSC and permanent pore structures for facilitated ion transport. PVdF‐HFP is used as a microporous gelator for improved interfacial contact between the solid SM and the electrodes. The PVdF‐HFP gel impedes the charge recombination process between electron and I₃ ^? at the TiO₂/electrolyte interface, resulting in improved electron lifetimes. The DSSC assembled with the CSM exhibits high initial solar energy conversion efficiency (η, 6.1%) and stable η values over 1400 h, demonstrating good long term stability. The behaviors of the DSSC are attributed to the synergistic factors of the CSM, such as improved ion conductivity, electrolyte affinity, electrolyte retention capability, effective interfacial contact, and plausible passivation of the dyes. This study demonstrates a practical combination of short‐ and long‐term DSSC performance through the introduction of the CSM.     

组织工程皮肤研究现状

组织工程皮肤是通过培养功能细胞,将其与细胞外基质及支架材料互相作用,制成的具有生物活性的人工皮肤替代物。组织工程皮肤的发展为修复皮肤创面,重建皮肤功能,治疗皮肤病提供了新的方法。本文从皮肤种子细胞培养、真皮支架材料和体外构建活性复合皮三个方面对组织工程皮肤的研究进展进行了综述。目前组织工程皮肤在一定程度上克服了原有的皮肤供区不足、免疫排斥、传播疾病等各种问题。新的种子细胞和支架材料逐渐成熟,并逐渐应用于临床治疗;在种子细胞和真皮替代物基础上发展起来的复合皮肤可以更快速的促进缺损皮肤的愈合,但与在体皮肤比较尚有差距。组织工程皮肤是理想的皮肤替代物,具有良好的发展前景,未来的研究应该着眼于模仿机体皮肤的生理结构和功能,使愈合后的皮肤与在体皮肤融为一体。     

组织工程皮肤研究现状

组织工程皮肤是通过培养功能细胞,将其与细胞外基质及支架材料互相作用,制成的具有生物活性的人工皮肤替代物。组织工程皮肤的发展为修复皮肤创面,重建皮肤功能,治疗皮肤病提供了新的方法。本文从皮肤种子细胞培养、真皮支架材料和体外构建活性复合皮三个方面对组织工程皮肤的研究进展进行了综述。目前组织工程皮肤在一定程度上克服了原有的皮肤供区不足、免疫排斥、传播疾病等各种问题。新的种子细胞和支架材料逐渐成熟,并逐渐应用于临床治疗;在种子细胞和真皮替代物基础上发展起来的复合皮肤可以更快速的促进缺损皮肤的愈合,但与在体皮肤比较尚有差距。组织工程皮肤是理想的皮肤替代物,具有良好的发展前景,未来的研究应该着眼于模仿机体皮肤的生理结构和功能,使愈合后的皮肤与在体皮肤融为一体。     

Recent Progress in the Development of Anode Materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

The field of research into solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anode materials has been rapidly moving forward. In the four years since the last in‐depth review significant advancements have been made in the reduction of the operating temperature and improvement of the performance of SOFCs. This progress report examines the developments in the field and looks to draw conclusions and inspiration from this research. A brief introduction is given to the field, followed by an overview of the principal previous materials. A detailed analysis of the developments of the last 4 years is given using a selection of the available literature, concentrating on metal‐fluorite cermets and perovskite‐based materials. This is followed by a consideration of alternate fuels for use in SOFCs and their associated problems and a short discussion on the effect of synthesis method on anode performance. The concluding remarks compile the significant developments in the field along with a consideration of the promise of future research. The recent progress in the development of anode materials for SOFCs based on oxygen ion conducting electrolytes is reviewed.     

Micromanipulation measurements of biological materials

Micromanipulation enables the mechanical properties of microscopic biological particles to be measured in particular cells. It is capable of measurements at high deformations, including up to cell bursting. Particles as small as 1 m, with breaking forces as low as 1 N, can be characterised. The method can be enhanced by mechanical modelling to allow intrinsic mechanical properties such as the cell wall elastic modulus to be estimated. Present and potential applications include studying yeast and bacterial cell disruption, mechanical damage to animal cells in suspension cultures and filamentous microorganisms in submerged fermentations, plant cell behaviour in food processing, and flocculation processes.     

High‐Performance Semitransparent Tandem Solar Cell of 8.02% Conversion Efficiency with Solution‐Processed Graphene Mesh and Laminated Ag Nanowire Top Electrodes

A high‐performance semitransparent tandem solar cell that uses solution‐processed graphene mesh and laminated Ag NW as a transparent anode and cathode, respectively, is demonstrated. The laminated top electrode can be deposited without causing any damage to the underneath organic solar cells. Power conversion efficiencies of 8.02% and 6.47% are obtained when the light is projected from the solution‐processed graphene mesh and laminated AgNW, respectively. The performance of the tandem cell is found to be comparable to a tandem solar cell fabricated using commercially available indium tin oxide. These findings offer a high‐performance device and open a new pathway in searching for a potential replacement to the frequently used transparent conducting electrodes.     

Integration of Photosystem I with Graphene Oxide for Photocurrent Enhancement

Photosystem I is a photoactive membrane protein used in nature to photo‐excite electrons with nearly unit internal quantum efficiency, sparking interest in using this biomaterial for solar energy conversion. Films of PSI deposited on p‐doped silicon have previously demonstrated significant photocurrents with an electrochemical mediator; however, improvement in electron transfer is needed. Here, it is investigated how PSI can be combined with graphene oxide (GO) or reduced graphene oxide (RGO) to generate composite films capable of improved photoelectrochemical performance. It is found that both composite films outperformed the PSI film alone, and the PSI‐GO composite film is found to perform the best. The enhancement is attributed to the decreased impedance and shift in the onset potential of the composite films.