Multifunctional Inverted Nanocone Arrays for Non‐Wetting,Self‐Cleaning Transparent Surface with High Mechanical Robustness

A multifunctional surface that enables control of wetting, optical reflectivity and mechanical damage of nanostructured interfaces is presented. Our approach is based on imprinting a periodic array of nanosized cones into a UV‐curable polyurethane acrylate (PUA), resulting in a self‐reinforcing egg‐crate topography evenly distributed over large areas up to several cm² in size. The resulting surfaces can be either superhydrophilic or superhydrophobic (through subsequent application of an appropriate chemical coating), they minimize optical reflection losses over a broad range of wavelengths and a wide range of angles of incidence, and they also have enhanced mechanical resilience due to greatly improved redistribution of the normal and shearing mechanical loads. The transmissivity and wetting characteristics of the nanoscale egg‐crate structure, as well as its resistance to mechanical deformation are analyzed theoretically. Experiments show that the optical performance together with self‐cleaning or anti‐fogging behavior of the inverted nanocone topography is comparable to earlier designs that have used periodic arrays of nanocones to control reflection and wetting. However the egg‐crate structures are far superior in terms of mechanical robustness, and the ability to replicate this topography through several generations is promising for large‐scale commercial applications where multifunctionality is important.     

Low‐Dimensional Perovskites with Diammonium and Monoammonium Alternant Cations for High‐Performance Photovoltaics

Low‐dimensional Ruddlesden–Popper (LDRP) perovskites are a current theme in solar energy research as researchers attempt to fabricate stable photovoltaic devices from them. However, poor exciton dissociation and insufficiently fast charge transfer slows the charge extraction in these devices, resulting in inferior performance. 1,4‐Butanediamine (BEA)‐based low‐dimensional perovskites are designed to improve the carrier extraction efficiency in such devices. Structural characterization using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction reveals that these layered perovskites are formed by the alternating ordering of diammonium (BEA²⁺) and monoammonium (MA⁺) cations in the interlayer space (B‐ACI) with the formula (BEA)_0.5MA_n PbnI_3n+1. Compared to the typical LDRP counterparts, these B‐ACI perovskites deliver a wider light absorption window and lower exciton binding energies with a more stable layered perovskite structure. Additionally, ultrafast transient absorption indicates that B‐ACI perovskites exhibit a narrow distribution of quantum well widths, leading to a barrier‐free and balanced carrier transport pathway with enhanced carrier diffusion (electron and hole) length over 350 nm. A perovskite solar cell incorporating BEA ligands achieves record efficiencies of 14.86% for (BEA)_0.5MA₃Pb₃I₁₀ and 17.39% for (BEA)_0.5Cs_0.15(FA_0.83MA_0.17)_2.85Pb₃(I_0.83Br_0.17)₁₀ without hysteresis. Furthermore, the triple cations B‐ACI devices can retain over 90% of their initial power conversion efficiency when stored under ambient atmospheric conditions for 2400 h and show no significant degradation under constant illumination for over 500 h.     

Synergic Effects of Randomly Aligned SWCNT Mesh and Self‐Assembled Molecule Layer for High‐Performance,Low‐Bandgap,Polymer Solar Cells with Fast Charge Extraction

Currently, most of the promising organic solar cells (OSCs) are based on low bandgap polymer donors with deep‐lying highest occupied molecular orbit (HOMO) levels, which impose the challenges for device architecture design. In terms of fast charge extraction and suppression of bimolecular recombination, elaborate interface design in low bandgap OSCs is of significance to further boost their ultimate efficiency. In this work, a facile solution‐processed functionalized single wall carbon nanotube (f‐SWCNT) mesh/self‐assembled molecule (SAM) hybrid structure is reported as hole transport layer (HTL) in low bandgap OSCs. The effectiveness of such hybrid HTL originates from two aspects: (i) SAM layer can effectively realize Ohmic contact between f‐SWCNT and low bandgap polymer donors with deep‐lying HOMO levels due to the reduction of interface energy barrier; (ii) f‐SWCNT mesh can provide fast hole extraction pathways to quickly sweep out photogenerated charges. As a consequence of synergic effects of such hybrid HTL, both photocurrent and fill factor are greatly enhanced due to the reduced bimolecular recombination. Together with careful light management by using ZnO optical spacer, a high efficiency of 10.5% has been achieved. This work offers an excellent choice for large‐scale processable and effective HTL toward the application in low bandgap OSCs with deep‐lying energy levels.     

Self‐Assembling Proteins as High‐Performance Substrates for Embryonic Stem Cell Self‐Renewal

The development of extracellular matrix mimetics that imitate niche stem cell microenvironments and support cell growth for technological applications is intensely pursued. Specifically, mimetics are sought that can enact control over the self‐renewal and directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) for clinical use. Despite considerable progress in the field, a major impediment to the clinical translation of hPSCs is the difficulty and high cost of large‐scale cell production under xeno‐free culture conditions using current matrices. Here, a bioactive, recombinant, protein‐based polymer, termed ZT^Fn, is presented that closely mimics human plasma fibronectin and serves as an economical, xeno‐free, biodegradable, and functionally adaptable cell substrate. The ZT^Fn substrate supports with high performance the propagation and long‐term self‐renewal of human embryonic stem cells while preserving their pluripotency. The ZT^Fn polymer can, therefore, be proposed as an efficient and affordable replacement for fibronectin in clinical grade cell culturing. Further, it can be postulated that the ZT polymer has significant engineering potential for further orthogonal functionalization in complex cell applications.     

Low‐Temperature Soft‐Cover Deposition of Uniform Large‐Scale Perovskite Films for High‐Performance Solar Cells

Large‐scale high‐quality perovskite thin films are crucial to produce high‐performance perovskite solar cells. However, for perovskite films fabricated by solvent‐rich processes, film uniformity can be prevented by convection during thermal evaporation of the solvent. Here, a scalable low‐temperature soft‐cover deposition (LT‐SCD) method is presented, where the thermal convection‐induced defects in perovskite films are eliminated through a strategy of surface tension relaxation. Compact, homogeneous, and convection‐induced‐defects‐free perovskite films are obtained on an area of 12 cm², which enables a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.5% on a solar cell with an area of 5 cm². This is the highest efficiency at this large cell area. A PCE of 15.3% is also obtained on a flexible perovskite solar cell deposited on the polyethylene terephthalate substrate owing to the advantage of presented low‐temperature processing. Hence, the present LT‐SCD technology provides a new non‐spin‐coating route to the deposition of large‐area uniform perovskite films for both rigid and flexible perovskite devices.     

Three‐Layered Hollow Nanospheres Based Coatings with Ultrahigh‐Performance of Energy‐Saving,Antireflection, and Self‐Cleaning for Smart Windows

In this study, a well‐controlled interfacial engineering method for the synthesis of SiO₂/TiO₂/VO₂ three‐layered hollow nanospheres (TLHNs) and TLHNs‐based multifunctional coatings is reported. The as‐prepared coatings allow for an outstanding integration of thermochromism from the outer VO₂(M) layer, photocatalytic self‐cleaning capability from the middle TiO₂(A) layer, and antireflective property from internal SiO₂ HNs. The TLHNs coatings exhibit excellent optical performance with ultrahigh luminous transmittance (T_lum‐l = 74%) and an improved solar modulation ability (ΔT_sol = 12%). To the best knowledge, this integrated optical performance is the highest ever reported for TiO₂/VO₂‐based thermochromic coatings. An ingenious computation model is proposed, which allows the n_eff of nanostructured coatings to be rapidly obtained. The experimental and calculated results reveal that the unique three‐layered structure significantly reduces the refractive index (from 2.25 to 1.33 at 600 nm) and reflectance (Rave, from 22.3 to 5.3%) in the visible region as compared with dense coatings. Infrared thermal imaging characterization and self‐cleaning tests provide valid evidence of SiO₂/TiO₂/VO₂ TLHNs coatings' potential for energy‐saving and self‐cleaning smart windows. The exciting inexpensive and universal fabrication process for well‐defined structures may inspire various developments in processable and multifunctional devices.     

A High‐Performance Self‐Regenerating Solar Evaporator for Continuous Water Desalination

Emerging solar desalination by interfacial evaporation shows great potential in response to global water scarcity because of its high solar‐to‐vapor efficiency, low environmental impact, and off‐grid capability. However, solute accumulation at the heating interface has severely impacted the performance and long‐term stability of current solar evaporation systems. Here, a self‐regenerating solar evaporator featuring excellent antifouling properties using a rationally designed artificial channel‐array in a natural wood substrate is reported. Upon solar evaporation, salt concentration gradients are formed between the millimeter‐sized drilled channels (with a low salt concentration) and the microsized natural wood channels (with a high salt concentration) due to their different hydraulic conductivities. The concentration gradients allow spontaneous interchannel salt exchange through the 1–2 µm pits, leading to the dilution of salt in the microsized wood channels. The drilled channels with high hydraulic conductivities thus function as salt‐rejection pathways, which can rapidly exchange the salt with the bulk solution, enabling the real‐time self‐regeneration of the evaporator. Compared to other salt‐rejection designs, the solar evaporator exhibits the highest efficiency (≈75%) in a highly concentrated salt solution (20 wt% NaCl) under 1 sun irradiation, as well as long‐term stability (over 100 h of continuous operation).