Failure analysis of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 photovoltaic modules: degradation mechanism of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells under harsh environmental conditions

High‐temperature‐induced and humidity‐induced degradation behaviors were investigated through the failure analysis of encapsulated Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) modules and non‐encapsulated CIGS cells. After being exposed to high temperature (85 °C) for 1000 h, the efficiency loss of CIGS modules and the resistivities of the aluminum‐doped zinc oxide (AZO) layer, CIGS layer, and Mo layer were slightly increased. After damp heat (DH) testing (85 °C/85% RH), the efficiency of some modules decreased significantly accompanied by discoloration, and in these areas, the resistivity of the AZO layers increased markedly. The causes of degradation of CIGS cells after high temperature and DH tests were suggested through X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. The high‐temperature‐induced degradation behaviors were revealed to be increases in series resistance of the CIGS cells, due to the adsorption of oxygen on the AZO, CIGS, and Mo layers. The degradation behavior after DH (85 °C/85% RH) exposure was caused by the adsorption of oxygen, as well as the generation of Zn(OH)₂ due to water molecules. In particular, the humidity‐induced degradation behavior in discolored CIGS modules was ascribed to the generation of Zn(OH)₂ and carboxylic acids in the AZO layer, due to a chemical reaction between the AZO, ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymer, and water. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Co‐optimization of SnS absorber and Zn(O,S) buffer materials for improved solar cells

Thin‐film solar cells consisting of earth‐abundant and non‐toxic materials were made from pulsed chemical vapor deposition (pulsed‐CVD) of SnS as the p‐type absorber layer and atomic layer deposition (ALD) of Zn(O,S) as the n‐type buffer layer. The effects of deposition temperature and annealing conditions of the SnS absorber layer were studied for solar cells with a structure of Mo/SnS/Zn(O,S)/ZnO/ITO. Solar cells were further optimized by varying the stoichiometry of Zn(O,S) and the annealing conditions of SnS. Post‐deposition annealing in pure hydrogen sulfide improved crystallinity and increased the carrier mobility by one order of magnitude, and a power conversion efficiency up to 2.9% was achieved. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of tandem organic solar cells comprising subcells of identical absorber material

Recently organic tandem solar cells with record efficiency had been shown comprising identical absorber materials in both subcells. Such structures pose new challenges for characterization. The standard test methods for measuring spectral response of tandem solar cells can not be applied. The standard procedures demand for different bias illumination during measuring spectral response allowing to select the subcell being current limiting. With subcells comprising identical absorber materials, thus having identical absorption spectra, such a selection is not trivial. In this paper, we show that with the help of detailed optical simulations of such tandem organic solar cells, their characterization is possible, and we apply the proposed method to a sample structure. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

膜生物反应器 CCCF 过程中酵母细胞生长特性研究

渗透汽化膜生物反应器CCCF过程乙醇发酵中酵母细胞的生长表现出五个不同的阶段,即：快速生长期、乙醇抑制期、二次生长期、平衡期和衰亡期。采用摇瓶实验对发酵副产物（主要为有机酸和甘油）的抑制行为进行检测,结果表明随着副产物浓度的增加,抑制作用越来越强,细胞生长表现出较长的迟滞期和较低的细胞浓度。当副产物浓度达到膜生物反应器中发酵后期的浓度时,细胞的比生长速率和得率仅分别为0．061和0．024。     

Ni-Cr-Co氧化物纳米催化剂对甲醇阳极氧化的电催化性能研究

采用了热分解法合成Ni-Cr-Co氧化物纳米粒子,并用作直接甲醇燃料电池(DMFC)的阳极电催化剂。通过X射线衍射(XRD)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)和扫描电子显微镜(SEM)对催化剂进行表征,制得的纳米催化剂均匀分散,且粒径为25~50 nm。利用循环伏安法(CV)对不同金属摩尔比和焙烧温度下的催化剂在甲醇氧化反应中的活性进行了研究。结果表明,Ni-Cr-Co(摩尔比为1∶1∶1.5)的纳米氧化物对甲醇氧化反应的起始电位、峰值氧化电流密度和If/Ib分别为0.38 V,19.3 mA/cm2和1.72,表现了很好的电催化性能。     

微生物燃料电池阳极改性修饰最新研究进展

阳极是影响微生物燃料电池性能的重要因素之一,开发简易、高效的阳极改性修饰方法对微生物燃料电池的实际应用具有关键作用。对目前微生物燃料电池阳极改性修饰的最新进展展开综述,总结了分析阳极材料的方法,并对阳极修饰方法未来发展趋势进行了展望。     

External stimulus-responsive biomaterials designed for the culture and differentiation of ES,iPS, and adult stem cells

The physical and chemical characteristics of biomaterial surface and hydrogels can be altered by external stimuli, such as light irradiation, temperature changes, pH shifts, shear stress forces, electrical forces, and the addition of small chemical molecules. Such external stimulus-responsive biomaterials represent promising candidates that have been developed for the culture and differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells, induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, and adult stem cells. Biomaterials that are designed to respond in a reversible manner to specific external signals can be formed on micropatterned or non-micropatterned surface, in hydrogels, or on microcarriers. Stem cells and the cells differentiated from them into specific tissue lineages can be cultured and/or differentiated on dishes with immobilized external stimulus-responsive polymers. Cells can be detached from these dishes without using an enzymatic digestion method or a mechanical method when the appropriate external stimulus is generated on the surface. This review discusses the polymers and polymeric designs employed to produce surface and hydrogels for stem cell culture, differentiation, and/or cell detachment using various external stimuli.     

Continuous electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide into formate using a tin cathode: Comparison with lead cathode

Electrochemical reduction has been pointed out as a promising method for CO₂ valorisation into useful chemicals. This paper studies the influence of key variables on the performance of an experimental system for continuous electro-reduction of CO₂ to formate, when a tin plate is used as working electrode. Particular emphasis is placed on comparing the performance of Sn and Pb as cathodes. As was previously found with Pb, the influence of current density (“j”) using Sn was particularly noteworthy, and when j was raised up to a limit value of 8.5 mA cm⁻², important increases of the rate of formate production were observed at the expense of lowering the Faradaic efficiency. However, unlike what was found with Pb, the performance using Sn improved when the electrolyte flow rate/electrode area ratio was increased within the range studied (0.57–2.3 mL min⁻¹ cm⁻²). In this way, the use of Sn as cathode allowed achieving rates of formate production that were 25% higher than the maximum rates obtained with Pb, together with Faradaic efficiencies close to 70%, which were 15 points higher than those with Pb. These results reinforce the interest in Sn as electrode material in the electro-reduction of CO₂ to formate.     

二氧化钛包覆氧化锌纳米阵列光阳极的制备与性能

采用直流反应磁控溅射工艺,在ZnO纳米阵列的表面实现TiO2包覆,作为染料敏化太阳能电池光阳极,研究TiO2--ZnO核壳结构的形成机理和制备工艺对其光电性能的影响。利用X射线衍射仪、扫描电子显微镜、能谱分析仪表征光阳极材料的成分与结构。测试电池组件的伏安特性曲线、电压-时间曲线和电化学阻抗谱,分析TiO2包覆对电子传输性能和光电转换效率的影响机理。结果表明:磁控溅射制备的TiO2颗粒完整地包覆ZnO纳米阵列,使得纳米棒表面形貌由六棱柱向圆柱状转变,间隙变窄,直径较ZnO纳米阵列有所增加,阵列有序度得到改善。随着延长染料吸附时间和TiO2包覆,光阳极界面电子传输阻抗显著增加,光生电子的寿命也得到提高。经过包覆的光阳极能够作为阻挡层钝化表面缺陷,抑制复合的发生,从而提高开路电压和填充因子。经过包覆的光阳极其光电转换效率相对于纯ZnO纳米阵列提高了132%。     

Fabrication of apatite-type lanthanum silicate films and anode supported solid oxide fuel cells using nano-sized printable paste

Apatite-type lanthanum silicate based films have attracted significant interests to use as an electrolyte of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) working at intermediate temperature. We have prepared Mg doped lanthanum silicate (MDLS) films on NiO–MDLS cermet substrates by spin coating and sintering of nano-sized printable paste made by beads milling. Changes in crystal structure and microstructure of the paste films with the sintering temperature have been investigated to show that porous network structure with a grain growth evolves up to 1300 °C, whereas densification occurred above 1400 °C. Anode supported SOFCs using the pasted MDLS films were successfully fabricated: an open circuit voltage of 0.91 V and a maximum power density of 150 mW cm⁻² measured at 800 °C were obtained with the electrolyte film sintered at 1500 °C.