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Here we report the application of a conjugated copolymer based on thiophene and quinoxaline units, namely poly[2,3-bis-(3-octyloxyphenyl)quinoxaline-5,8-diyl-alt-thiophene-2,5-diyl] (TQ1), to nanoparticle organic photovoltaics (NP-OPVs). TQ1 exhibits more desirable material properties for NP-OPV fabrication and operation, particularly a high glass transition temperature (T g ) and amorphous nature, compared to the commonly applied semicrystalline polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). This study reports the optimisation of TQ1:PC 71 BM (phenyl C 71 butyric acid methyl ester) NP-OPV device performance by the application of mild thermal annealing treatments in the range of the T g (sub-T g and post-T g ), both in the active layer drying stage and post-cathode deposition annealing stage of device fabrication, and an in-depth study of the effect of these treatments on nanoparticle film morphology. In addition, we report a type of morphological evolution in nanoparticle films for OPV active layers that has not previously been observed, that of PC 71 BM nano-pathway formation between dispersed PC 71 BM-rich nanoparticle cores, which have the benefit of making the bulk film more conducive to charge percolation and extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric aerosols are of significant importance in climate change and health research. This study provides a 2-years meta dataset of real-time aerosol number and size distribution measurements in a model cold-climate city of Montreal (Canada). We provide selected information on the chemical composition and morphology of aerosols (~10 nm to 10 μm). We deployed a suite of complementary techniques such as aerosol particle sizers, MOUDI, S/TEM imaging, EDS, QQQ-ICP-MS/MS, IC, and TOC analyzers. The highest geomean nanoparticles (<100 nm) number density (9260 ± 1.6 number/cm3) was observed in the winter. A broad range of metals, including emerging contaminants, was quantified in all aerosol sizes include Pb, Cd, Ni, Zn, As, Al, Mn, Co, and Se, with concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 67.64 ng/m3. Nanosize particles included Ni, Cd, Pb, Zn. Iron exhibited the highest concentrations consistently in two modes (<180 nm and > 1 μm). S/TEM-EDS confirmed the abundance of nanoparticles, single and clusters, with multifaceted morphologies and compositions. We identified (a) emerging nanoparticles, (b) secondary organic aerosols, (c) bioaerosols, and (d) combustion particles. Diurnal, weekly, monthly, seasonal, and yearly variations of aerosols are provided. We herein discuss the implications of these results on air quality and climate modelling. • Air quality in cold-climate regions has distinct features, which are essential to consider in air quality and climate modelling research. • Atmospheric aerosols are of significant importance in climate change and health research. This study provides a 2-years meta dataset of real-time aerosol number and size distribution measurements in a model cold-climate city of Montreal (Canada). We provide selected information on the chemical composition and morphology of aerosols (~10 nm to 10 μm). We deployed a suite of complementary techniques such as aerosol particle sizers, MOUDI, S/TEM imaging, EDS, triple quad ICP-MS, IC, and TOC analyzers. The highest geomean nanoparticles (<100 nm) number density (9260 ± 1.6 number/cm3) was observed in the winter. • A broad range of metals, including emerging contaminants, was quantified in all aerosol sizes include Pb, Cd, Ni, Zn, As, Al, Mn, Co, and Se, with concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 67.64 ng/m3. Nanosize particles included Ni, Cd, Pb, Zn. Iron exhibited the highest concentrations consistently in two modes (<180 nm and > 1 μm). • S/TEM-EDS confirmed the abundance of nanoparticles, single and clusters, with multifaceted morphologies and compositions. We identified (a) emerging nanoparticles, (b) secondary organic aerosols, (c) bioaerosols, and (d) combustion particles. • We herein discuss the implications of these results on air quality and climate modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]