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Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted extensive attentions due to their high-efficiency, simple preparation process and low-cost. The efficiency of the PSCs has increased from 3.8% to 25.7%. So far, more and more studies focus on n-i-p structured PSCs using SnO2 as electron transport layer. However, its process reproducibility is relatively poor, and efficiency is still low. This report conducted a systematic study of planar n-i-p PSCs, mainly including the selection of transparent conductive oxide (TCO) glass, optimization of preparation parameters and the influence of storage conditions on device performance. Experimental results show that these parameters have an important impact on the device performance. At the same time, it was analyzed by scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, absorption spectrum. The devices achieved an average efficiency of 21.85% and a highest efficiency of 23.47% with good reproducibility under the optimal conditions (Indium Tin oxide substrate, PbI2 annealed at 70 ℃ for 1 min, standing time after dropping amine salt solution is less than 5 s, and stored in 4.5% humidity environment). This work provides scientific support for the preparation of high-efficiency and repeatable PSCs.

Planar perovskite solar cells (PSCs), as a promising photovoltaic technology, have been extensively studied, with strong expectations for commercialization. Improving the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PSCs is necessary to accelerate their practical application, in which the electron transport layer (ETL) plays a key part. Herein, a single-anchored ligand of phenylphosphonic acid (PPA) is utilized to regulate the chemical bath deposition of a TiO2 ETL, further improving the PCE of planar PSCs. The PPA possesses a steric benzene ring and a phosphoric acid group, which can inhibit the particle aggregation of the TiO2 film through steric hindrance, leading to optimized interface (ETL/perovskite) contact. In addition, the incorporated PPA can induce the upshift of the Fermi-level of the TiO2 film, which is beneficial for interfacial electron transport. As a consequence, the PSCs with PPA-TiO2 achieve a PCE of 24.83%, which is higher than that (24.21%) of PSCs with TiO2. In addition, the unencapsulated PSCs with PPA-TiO2 also exhibit enhanced stability when stored in ambient conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal‐halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a promising photovoltaic technology. Fabricating PSCs in ambient air can accelerate their low‐cost commercialization, since it can remove the reliance on atmosphere‐controlled equipment. However, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of air‐fabricated PSCs still lags behind those fabricated in glovebox. Here, based on a technology to fabricate high‐quality perovskite film in ambient air, a compatible optimization is performed on electron transport layer (ETL) to further enhance the photovoltaic performance of PSCs. A soft‐templated deposition strategy is proposed that utilizes tetrasodium glutamate diacetate (GLDA) to finely regulate the chemical bath deposition process, leading to an ideal SnO2 ETL with no additive residual. Adopting this feature of no residual, a molecular bridge using β‐guanidinopropionic acid (βA) is constructed at the buried interface (SnO2/perovskite), which effectively enhances the electron extraction and decreases electron losses. The resulting PSCs (0.08 cm2) achieve an impressive PCE of 25.74% (certificated 25.43%), which is the highest among the air‐fabricated PSCs reported to date. A PCE of 24.61% in 1 cm2‐PSCs is also obtained, exhibiting the scalable potential of the technology. In addition, the excellent operational stability of these PSCs is also demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The doped organic hole transport layer (HTL) is crucial for achieving high‐efficiency perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the traditional doping strategy undergoes a time‐consuming and environment‐dependent oxidation process, which hinders the technology upgrades and commercialization of PSCs. Here, we reported a new strategy by introducing a cascade reaction in traditional doped Spiro‐OMeTAD, which can simultaneously achieve rapid oxidation and overcome the erosion of perovskite by 4‐tert‐butylpyridine (tBP) in organic HTL. The ideal dopant iodobenzene diacetate was utilized as the initiator that can react with Spiro to generate Spiro⋅+ radicals quickly and efficiently without the participation of ambient air, with the byproduct of iodobenzene (DB). Then, the DB can coordinate with tBP through a halogen bond to form a tBP‐DB complex, minimizing the sustained erosion from tBP to perovskite. Based on the above cascade reaction, the resulting Spiro‐based PSCs have a champion PCE of 25.76 % (certificated of 25.38 %). This new oxidation process of HTL is less environment‐dependent and produces PSCs with higher reproducibility. Moreover, the PTAA‐based PSCs obtain a PCE of 23.76 %, demonstrating the excellent applicability of this doping strategy on organic HTL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coordination reactions of 4-Azidobenzoic Acid (ABA) molecules on different active surfaces are studied by scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory calculations. ABA molecules deposited on Ag(111)/Ag(100)/Cu(100) held at room temperature lead to the decomposition of azide groups and the release of a N2 molecule per ABA molecule. Two residual segments of ABA molecules can interact with one Ag/Cu adatom to form a coordination dimer through the N–Ag/Cu–N coordination bond on different substrates. Different orientations with different symmetries can result in different nanostructures based on the dimers. Interestingly, the residual segments of ABA molecules can generate four Cu adatoms as the coordination center on Cu(100) to form a novel coordination complex after annealing, which is the first report for trapping four adatoms as a coordination center. The number and the species of adatoms captured can be changed to alter coordination structures. It expounds that various regulatory effects of different substrates lead to the diversity of nanostructures dominated by coordination bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epileptic seizures have spatial features related to the propagation of seizure waves. As the main characteristic of absence seizures, 2–4 Hz spike-wave discharges (SWDs) originate from the cortices and are maintained by the thalamus. In this study, we explore the onset and propagation effect of absence seizures based on a thalamocortical model. First, we develop a two-compartment model and consider the autapse of the thalamic reticular nucleus as a crucial parameter to investigate transition behaviors. Moreover, we present dynamical mechanisms through bifurcation analysis. Simulation results show that the absence seizures can be induced and advanced as the coupling strength increases. Second, we investigate excitatory and inhibitory coupling functions in a three-compartment model. Our research indicates that the excitatory coupling function can lead to SWDs when all the compartments are initially saturated. In the process of propagation, excitatory coupling also gives rise to SWDs in normal compartments, whereas inhibitory coupling plays a limited role. Finally, we reproduce the above results in a 10-compartment model and verify the robustness against the variation of the number of modules. This work may shed new light on the field of seizure propagation and provide potential dynamical mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed 2D/3D perovskite solar cells (PSCs) show promising performances in efficiency and long‐term stability. The functional groups terminated on a large organic molecule used to construct 2D capping layer play a key role in the chemical interaction mechanism and thus influence the device performance. In this study, 4‐(trifluoromethyl) benzamidine hydrochloride (TFPhFACl) is adopted to construct 2D capping layer atop 3D perovskite. It is found that there are two mechanisms synergistically contributing to the increase of efficiency: 1) The TFPhFA+ cations form a dipole layer promoting the interfacial charge transport. 2) The suppressed nonradiative recombination of perovskite through the coordination of TFPhFA+ cations with Pb–I octahedron, as well as the recrystallization of 3D perovskite induced by Cl‐ ions. As a result, the PSC delivers an efficiency of 24.0% with improved open‐circuit voltage (VOC) of 1.16 V, short‐circuit current density (JSC) of 25.42 mA cm‐2, and fill factor of 81.26%. The device shows no decrease in efficiency after 1500 h stored in the air indicating the good stability. The utilization of TFPhFACl not only provides a facile way to optimize the interfacial problems, but also gives a new perspective for rational design of large spacer molecule for constructing efficient 2D/3D PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic on the elderly, this study conducted field surveys of three communities in Zhengzhou City in China. The results showed that, outdoor activities and common space use by the elderly were not significantly affected by the pandemic. Through the reports of their lives under the general and the extreme (after restrictions on movement were imposed) conditions of the pandemic, we identified the value of activities on a daily basis and activities in the general definition to the elderly. This study also re‐recognized the role that was played by the use of common spaces that were located in close proximity to residential units during the pandemic. Physical range of restrictions and the relation to common spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The industrialization of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is based on the development of efficiency and stability. Here, a composite film of a polyethylenimine ethoxylated (PEIE) and tellurophene-based two-dimensional metal–organic framework (2D MOF) was introduced to realize the nondestructive passivation of TiO2. This interfacial layer can not only realize the effective passivation of TiO2, but can also further improve the morphology of the perovskite film. After the modification of the PEIE-2D MOF composite film, the morphology and crystallinity of the perovskite film are greatly optimized, the trap states in the TiO2 layer are reduced, and the electron transport in the device is enhanced, thus finally achieving highly efficient and stable FA0.25MA0.75PbI3 PSCs with a maximum efficiency of 22.22%. It was demonstrated that the reduced trap states and the smooth surface of the TiO2 electron transport layer are the reasons for the high performance of modified PSCs. This method provides a new way for improving the interface state to achieve highly efficient and stable PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]