Ligand‐Free Synthesis of Aluminum‐Doped Zinc Oxide Nanocrystals and their Use as Optical Spacers in Color‐Tuned Highly Efficient Organic Solar Cells

The color of polymer solar cells using an opaque electrode is given by the reflected light, which depends on the composition and thickness of each layer of the device. Metal‐oxide‐based optical spacers are intensively studied in polymer solar cells aiming to optimize the light absorption. However, the low conductivity of materials such as ZnO and TiO₂ limits the thickness of such optical spacers to tenths of nanometers. A novel synthesis route of cluster‐free Al‐doped ZnO (AZO) nanocrystals (NCs) is presented for solution processing of highly conductive layers without the need of temperature annealing, including thick optical spacers on top of polymer blends. The processing of 80 nm thick optical spacers based on AZO nanocrystal solutions on top of 200 nm thick polymer blend layer is demonstrated leading to improved photocurrent density of 17% compared to solar cells using standard active layers of 90 nm in combination with thin ZnO‐based optical spacers. These AZO NCs also open new opportunities for the processing of high‐efficiency color tuned solar cells. For the first time, it is shown that applying solution‐processed thick optical spacer with polymer blends of different thicknesses can process solar cells of similar efficiency over 7% but of different colors.     

Caloric beverage consumption patterns in Mexican children

Background  

Mexico has seen a very steep increase in child obesity level. Little is known about caloric beverage intake in this country as well as all other countries outside a few high income countries. This study examines overall patterns and trends in all caloric beverages from two nationally representative surveys from Mexico.     

A new strategy to activate liquid crystal polymer samples for electroless copper deposition

In order to activate the polymers for electroless copper deposition, an alternative way of sample preparation is demonstrated. The samples are prepared by incorporation of a small amount (<1 wt %) of palladium, nickel, or copper acetate into the molten Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) in a blender. Since the blending temperature is kept higher than the decomposition temperature of acetates, the acetates are thermally decomposed during blending, leading to the metallic Pd, Ni, or Cu which are used as activators for electroless deposition. After preparing the samples, electroless copper deposition is successfully realized. The influence of different acetates (Pd, Ni, or Cu acetates) on the deposition is investigated. The copper amount is higher and the deposition kinetics is faster on LCP samples with 0.15 wt % Pd and 0.4 wt % Ni than that with 0.4 wt % Cu. The deposited copper layers are uniform and oxide‐free. Moreover, the possibility to substitute expensive Pd activator by cheaper Ni or Cu is shown. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 44397.     

Effect of the primary heat treatment on the bond formation in cold welding of aluminum and steel by cold forging

Cold forging enables the manufacturing of high strength monolithic components. When used as joining technology it can also be extended to an enabler of multi-material product design. The contact conditions at the interface between the components during the cold forging process play a crucial role. The joining of two billets of steel and aluminum is investigated by a finite element analysis with regard to the material distribution and the effect of a primary heat treatment of both materials. These parameters affect the surface enlargement and the contact normal stress which are decisive parameters for the formation of a sound bond between aluminum and the hardly cold weldable steel. The experimental results present the effect of a primary heat treatment on the bond formation. Microscopic analyses of the bond formation allow a deeper insight into the bonding mechanism. Thus, the results lead to process design guidelines for cold welding by cold forging.     

Reserves Accumulated in Non-Photosynthetic Organs during the Previous Growing Season Drive Plant Defenses and Growth in Aspen in the Subsequent Growing Season

Plants store non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), nitrogen (N), as well as other macro and micronutrients, in their stems and roots; the role of these stored reserves in plant growth and defense under herbivory pressure is poorly understood, particularly in trees. Trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) seedlings with different NSC and N reserves accumulated during the previous growing season were generated in the greenhouse. Based on NSC and N contents, seedlings were assigned to one of three reserve statuses: Low N–Low NSC, High N–Medium NSC, or High N–High NSC. In the subsequent growing season, half of the seedlings in each reserve status was subjected to defoliation by forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria) while the other half was left untreated. Following defoliation, the effect of reserves was measured on foliar chemistry (N, NSC) and caterpillar performance (larval development). Due to their importance in herbivore feeding, we also quantified concentrations of phenolic glycoside compounds in foliage. Seedlings in Low N-Low NSC reserve status contained higher amounts of induced phenolic glycosides, grew little, and supported fewer caterpillars. In contrast, aspen seedlings in High N-Medium or High NSC reserve statuses contained lower amounts of induced phenolic glycosides, grew faster, and some of the caterpillars which fed on these seedlings developed up to their fourth instar. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis indicated that foliar phenolic glycoside concentration was related to reserve chemistry (NSC, N). Overall, these results demonstrate that reserves accumulated during the previous growing season can influence tree defense and growth in the subsequent growing season. Additionally, our study concluded that the NSC/N ratio of reserves in the previous growing season represents a better measure of resources available for use in defense and growth than the foliar NSC/N ratios.