Heterostructured dysprosium vanadate – ZnO for photo-electrocatalytic and self-cleaning applications

In this article, we report fabrication of 5 wt% of Dy as DyVO₄ supported ZnO by template-free hydrothermal-thermal decomposition method and its photocatalytic activity towards degradation of azo dyes Rhodamine-B (Rh-B) and Trypan Blue (TB) in solar light, Electrocatalytic activity in methanol oxidation and Self-cleaning properties. The as prepared DyVO₄-ZnO was characterized by surface analytical and spectroscopic techniques. The results suggested that Dysprosium vanadate doping on ZnO has increased its photocatalytic efficiency with high reusability. DyVO₄-ZnO exhibits higher electrocatalytic activity than prepared ZnO for methanol electrooxidation in alkaline medium, revealing its promising potential as the anode in direct methanol fuel cells. Hydrophobicity of ZnO increases by doping of DyVO_4.     

Improvement in open circuit voltage of n‐ZnO/p‐Si solar cell by using amorphous‐ZnO at the interface

Several research groups are currently working on n‐ZnO/p‐Si heterojunction solar cell, and recently, Pietruszka et al [Sol. Energ. Mat. Sol. Cells 147 (2016) 164‐170] has reported the highest efficiency of 7.1% for this structure. The main challenge is to enhance the open circuit voltage up to theoretically predicted value of >0.6 V. This paper reports >20% improvement in open circuit voltage of n‐ZnO/p‐Si solar cell by depositing amorphous‐ZnO at the interface at room temperature that possibly improves the passivation and/or avoids oxide formation at the interface during ZnO deposition. Two other materials, aluminum nitride and amorphous‐Si, have also been used as buffer layers to evaluate their effect on suppression of interface states. Furthermore, additional advantage of ZnO as an antireflector has been experimentally verified for different thicknesses of ZnO film.     

Thermal stability of devices with molybdenum oxide doped organic semiconductors

We demonstrate the thermal stability of transition-metal-oxide (molybdenum oxide; MoO₃)-doped organic semiconductors. Impedance spectroscopy analysis indicated that thermal deformation of the intrinsic 1,4-bis[N-(1-naphthyl)-N′-phenylamino]-4,4′-diamine (NPB) layer is facilitated when the MoO₃-doped NPB layer is deposited on the intrinsic NPB layer. The resistance of the intrinsic NPB layer is reduced from 300 kΩ to 3 kΩ after thermal annealing at 100 °C for 30 min. Temperature-dependent conductance/angular frequency–frequency (G/w-f-T) analysis revealed that the doping efficiency of MoO₃, which is represented by the activation energy (E_a), is reduced after the annealing process.     

Optimization of Al_2O_3/SiN_x stacked antireflection structures for N-type surface-passivated crystalline silicon solar cells

In the case of N-type solar cells,the anti-reflection property,as one of the important factors to further improve the energy-conversion efficiency,has been optimized using a stacked Al₂O₃/SiN_x layer.The effect of SiN_x layer thickness on the surface reflection property was systematically studied in terms of both experimental and theoretical measurement.In the stacked Al₂O₃/SiN_x layers,results demonstrated that the surface reflection property can be effectively optimized by adding a SiN_x layer,leading to the improvement in the final photovoltaic characteristic of the N-type solar cells.     

Poly(cyclodextrin)‐Polydrug Nanocomplexes as Synthetic Oncolytic Virus for Locoregional Melanoma Chemoimmunotherapy

Despite the approval of oncolytic virus (OV) therapy for advanced melanoma, its intrinsic limitations that include the risk of persistent viral infection and cost‐intensive manufacturing motivate the development of analogous approaches that are free from the disadvantages of virus‐based therapies. Herein, reported is a nanoassembly comprised of multivalent host–guest interactions between polymerized paclitaxel (pPTX) and nitric oxide‐incorporated polymerized β‐cyclodextrin (pCD‐pSNO) that through its bioactive components and when used locoregionally recapitulates the therapeutic effects of OV. The resultant pPTX/pCD‐pSNO exhibits significantly enhanced cytotoxicity, immunogenic cell death, dendritic cell (DC) activation, and T cell expansion in vitro compared to free agents alone or in combination. In vivo, intratumoral administration of pPTX/pCD‐pSNO results in activation and expansion of DCs systemically, but with a corresponding expansion of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells and suppression of CD8⁺ T cell expansion. When combined with antibody targeting cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen‐4 that blunts this molecule's signaling effects on T cells, intratumoral pPTX/pCD‐pSNO treatment elicits potent anticancer effects that significantly prolong animal survival. This formulation thus leverages the chemo‐ and immunotherapeutic synergies of PTX and nitric oxide and suggests the potential for virus‐free nanoformulations to mimic the therapeutic action and benefits of OVs.     

A New Family of Proton‐Conducting Electrolytes for Reversible Solid Oxide Cells: BaHfxCe0.8−xY0.1Yb0.1O3−δ

Reversible solid oxide cells based on ceramic proton conductors have potential to be the most efficient system for large‐scale energy storage. The performance and long‐term durability of these systems, however, are often limited by the ionic conductivity or stability of the proton‐conducting electrolyte. Here new family of solid oxide electrolytes, BaHf_xCe_0.8?xY_0.1Yb_0.1O_3?δ (BHCYYb), which demonstrate a superior ionic conductivity to stability trade‐off than the state‐of‐the‐art proton conductors, BaZr_xCe_0.8?xY_0.1Yb_0.1O_3?δ (BZCYYb), at similar Zr/Hf concentrations, as confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis, Raman, and X‐ray diffraction analysis of samples over 500 h of testing are reported. The increase in performance is revealed through thermodynamic arguments and first‐principle calculations. In addition, lab scale full cells are fabricated, demonstrating high peak power densities of 1.1, 1.4, and 1.6 W cm^?2 at 600, 650, and 700 °C, respectively. Round‐trip efficiencies for steam electrolysis at 1 A cm^?2 are 78%, 72%, and 62% at 700, 650, and 600 °C, respectively. Finally, CO₂? H₂O electrolysis is carried out for over 700 h with no degradation.     

柠檬酸盐对阳极箔形成速度与比电容的影响

为了提高铝电解电容器用高压阳极箔形成速度与比电容,将水合处理后的腐蚀箔在95℃、2 g/L柠檬酸钠去离子水溶液中浸泡5 min,在530 V电压化成时,形成时间缩短约2 min,化成箔比电容由0.556×10–6 F.cm–2提高至0.584×10–6 F.cm–2,阳极氧化铝膜的结构与性能得到改善。     

电化学还原法制备氧化铅纳米棒

用电化学还原法制备出氧化铅纳米棒，用SEM、TEM、EDS和XRD研究其微观形貌和晶体结构。实验过程中发现电流密度是影响氧化铅纳米棒生成质量的主要因素。研究结果表明，用电化学还原法制备氧化铅纳米棒的最佳电流密度是30mA/cm^2，所制备的氧化铅纳米棒是单晶结构。     

斜坡电流测试应用与比较方法研究

讨论了斜坡电流测试的相关参数如电流斜坡速率、步长及电流倍增速率对测试结果击穿电荷具有的严重影响。指出斜坡电流测试中各个参数的设定、影响及其相关性,使斜坡电流测试的结果具有可比较性。同时,讨论了由于斜坡电流测试本身的特性,击穿电荷具有非连续性,针对击穿电荷的非连续性,提供了一种统计上的数据处理方法,并且根据工程上不同的定性比较结果提供了不同的统计比较方法,可以对非连续的斜坡电流测试结果进行定量的统计比较。在产品验证或生产线出现异常时,能够进行统计上的比较,给出定量的结果。据此能对生产线的稳定性或异常事件对产品的影响给出明确的结论,为受影响的产品的处置提供定量的数据支持。这是首次对斜坡电流测试数据的统计定量分析。