Non-destructive buffer enabling near-infrared-transparent inverted inorganic perovskite solar cells toward 1400 h light-soaking stable perovskite/Cu(In,Ga)Se_(2) tandem solar cells

Near-infrared(NIR)transparent inverted all-inorganic perovskite solar cells(PSCs)are excellent top cell candidates in tandem applications.An essential challenge is the replacement of metal contacts with transparent conductive oxide(TCO)electrodes,which requires the introduction of a buffer layer to prevent sputtering damage.In this study,we show that the conventional buffers(i.e.,small organic molecules and atomic layer deposited metal oxides)used for organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites are not applicable to all-inorganic perovskites,due to non-uniform coverage of the vulnerable layers underneath,deterioration upon ion bombardment and moisture induced perovskite phase transition,A thin film of metal oxide nanoparticles by the spin-coating method serves as a non-destructive buffer layer for inorganic PSCs.All-inorganic inverted near-infrared-transparent PSCs deliver a PCE of 17.46%and an average transmittance of 73.7%between 780 and 1200 nm.In combination with an 18.56%Cu(In,Ga)Se_(2) bottom cell,we further demonstrate the first all-inorganic perovskite/CIGS 4-T tandem solar cell with a PCE of 24.75%,which exhibits excellent illumination stability by maintaining 86.7%of its initial efficiency after 1400 h.The non-destructive buffer lays the foundation for efficient and stable NIR-transparent inverted inorganic perovskite solar cells and perovskite-based tandems.

Surface-functionalized hole-selective monolayer for high efficiency single-junction wide-bandgap and monolithic tandem perovskite solar cells

Carbazole moiety-based 2PACz([2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)ethyl]phosphonic acid)self-assembled monolayers(SAMs)are excellent hole-selective contact(HSC)materials with abilities to excel the charge-transferdynamics of perovskite solar cells(PSCs).Herein,we report a facile but powerful method to functionalize the surface of 2PACz-SAM,by which reproducible,highly stable,high-efficiency wide-bandgap PSCs can be obtained.The 2PACz surface treatment with various donor number solvents improves assembly of 2PACz-SAM and leave residual surface-bound solvent molecules on 2PACz-SAM,which increases perovskite grain size,retards halide segregation,and accelerates hole extraction.The surface functionalization achieves a high power conversion efficiency(PCE)of 17.62%for a single-junction wide-bandgap(~1.77 e V)PSC.We also demonstrate a monolithic all-perovskite tandem solar cell using surfaceengineered HSC,showing high PCE of 24.66%with large open-circuit voltage of 2.008 V and high fillfactor of 81.45%.Our results suggest this simple approach can further improve the tandem device,when coupled with a high-performance narrow-bandgap sub-cell.

Step‑by‑Step Modulation of Crystalline Features and Exciton Kinetics for 19.2%Efficiency Ortho‑Xylene Processed Organic Solar Cells

With plenty of popular and effective ternary organic solar cells(OSCs)construction strategies proposed and applied,its power conversion efficiencies(PCEs)have come to a new level of over 19%in single-junction devices.However,previous studies are heavily based in chloroform(CF)leaving behind substantial knowledge deficiencies in understanding the influence of solvent choice when introducing a third component.Herein,we present a case where a newly designed asymmetric small molecular acceptor using fluoro-methoxylated end-group modification strategy,named BTP-BO-3FO with enlarged bandgap,brings different morphological evolution and performance improvement effect on host system PM6:BTP-eC9,processed by CF and ortho-xylene(o-XY).With detailed analyses supported by a series of experiments,the best PCE of 19.24%for green solvent-processed OSCs is found to be a fruit of finely tuned crystalline ordering and general aggregation motif,which furthermore nourishes a favorable charge generation and recombination behavior.Likewise,over 19%PCE can be achieved by replacing spin-coating with blade coating for active layer deposition.This work focuses on understanding the commonly met yet frequently ignored issues when building ternary blends to demonstrate cutting-edge device performance,hence,will be instructive to other ternary OSC works in the future.

Accelerated Sequential Deposition Reaction via Crystal Orientation Engineering for Low-Temperature,High-Efficiency Carbon-Electrode CsPbBr_(3) Solar Cells

Low-temperature,ambient processing of high-quality CsPbBr_(3)films is demanded for scalable production of efficient,low-cost carbon-electrode perovskite solar cells(PSCs).Herein,we demonstrate a crystal orientation engineering strategy of PbBr_(2)precursor film to accelerate its reaction with CsBr precursor during two-step sequential deposition of CsPbBr_(3)films.Such a novel strategy is proceeded by adding CsBr species into PbBr_(2)precursor,which can tailor the preferred crystal orientation of PbBr_(2)film from[020]into[031],with CsBr additive staying in the film as CsPb_(2)Br_(5)phase.Theoretical calculations show that the reaction energy barrier of(031)planes of PbBr_(2)with CsBr is lower about 2.28 eV than that of(O2O)planes.Therefore,CsPbBr_(3)films with full coverage,high purity,high crystallinity,micro-sized grains can be obtained at a low temperature of 150℃.Carbon-electrode PSCs with these desired CsPbBr_(3)films yield the record-high efficiency of 10.27%coupled with excellent operation stability.Meanwhile,the 1 cm^(2)area one with the superior efficiency of 8.00%as well as the flexible one with the champion efficiency of 8.27%and excellent mechanical bending characteristics are also achieved.

H-and J-aggregation of conjugated small molecules in organic solar cells

As H-and J-aggregation receive more and more attention in the research of organic solar cells(OSCs),especially in small molecular systems,deep understanding of aggregation behavior is needed to guide the design of conjugated small molecular structure and the fabrication process of OSC device.For this end,this review is written.Here,the review firstly introduced the basic information about H-and J-aggregation of conjugated small molecules in OSCs.Then,the characteristics of H-and J-aggregation and the methods to identify them were summarized.Next,it reviewed the research progress of H-and J-aggregation of conjugated small molecules in OSCs,including the factors influencing H-and J-aggregation in thin film and the effects of H-and J-aggregation on OPV performance.

A short overview of the lead iodide residue impact and regulation strategies in perovskite solar cells

Lead iodide(PbI2) is a vital raw material for preparing perovskite solar cells(PSCs),and it not only takes part in forming the light absorption layer but also remains in the grain boundary as a passivator.In other words,the PbI2 content in the precursor and as formed film will affect the efficiency and stability of the PSCs.With moderate residual PbI2,it passivates the bulk/surface defects of perovskite,reduces the interfacial recombination,promotes the perovskite stability,minimizes the device hysteresis,and so on.Deficient PbI2 residue will reduce the interfacial passivation effect and device performance.In addition to facilitating the non-radiative recombination,over PbI2 residue can also lead to electronic insulation in the grain boundary and deteriorate the device performance.However,the impact and regulation of PbI2 residue on the device performance and stability is still not fully understood.Herein,a comprehensive and detailed review is presented by discussing the PbI2 residue impact and its regulation strategies(i.e., elimination,facilitation and conversion of the residue PbI2) to manipulate the PbI2 content,distribution and forms.Finally,we also show future outlooks in this field,with an aim to help further the progression of high-efficiency and stable PSCs.

Interfacial modification using the cross-linkable tannic acid for highly-efficient perovskite solar cells with excellent stability

Although the performance of perovskite solar cells(PSCs)has been dramatically increased in recent years,stability is still the main obstacle preventing the PSCs from being commercial.PSC device instability can be caused by a variety of reasons,including ions diffusion,surface and grain boundary defects,etc.In this work,the cross-linkable tannic acid(TA)is introduced to modify perovskite film through post-treatment method.The numerous organic functional groups(–OH and C=O)in TA can interact with the uncoordinated Pb^(2+)and I^(-)ions in perovskite,thus passivating defects and inhibiting ions diffusion.In addition,the formed TA network can absorb a small amount of the residual moisture inside the device to protect the perovskite layer.Furthermore,TA modification regulates the energy level of perovskite,and reduces interfacial charge recombination.Ultimately,following TA treatment,the device efficiency is increased significantly from 21.31%to 23.11%,with a decreased hysteresis effect.Notably,the treated device shows excellent air,thermal,and operational stability.In light of this,the readily available,inexpensive TA has the potential to operate as a multipurpose interfacial modifier to increase device efficiency while also enhancing device stability.

Defect mediated losses and degradation of perovskite solar cells:Origin impacts and reliable characterization techniques

The rapid advancement of halide-based hybrid perovskite materials has garnered significant research attention,particularly in the domain of photovoltaic technology.Owing to their exceptional optoelec-tronic properties,they demonstrated power conversion efficiency(PcE)of over 25%in single junction solar cells.Despite the notable progress in PCE over the past decade,the inherent high defect density pre-senting in perovskite materials gives rise to several loss mechanisms and associated ion migration in per-ovskite solar cells(PsCs)during operational conditions.These factors collectively contribute to a significant stability challenge in PsCs,placing their longevity far behind for commercialization.While numerous reports have explored defects,ion migration,and their impacts on device performance,a com-prehensive correlation between the types of defects and the degradation kinetics of perovskite materials and PsCs has been lacking.In this context,this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the origins of defects and ion migration,emphasizing their correlation with the degradation kinetics of per-ovskite materials and PsCs,leveraging reliable characterization techniques.Furthermore,these charac-terization techniques are intended to comprehend loss mechanisms by different passivation approaches to enhance the durability and PCE of PSCs.

Highly efficient and stable organic solar cells with SnO_(2)electron transport layer enabled by UV-curing acrylate oligomers

The interfaces between the inorganic metal oxide and organic photoactive layer are of outmost importance for efficiency and stability in organic solar cells(OSCs).Tin oxide(SnO_(2))is one of the promising candidates for the electron transport layer(ETL)in high-performance inverted OSCs.When a solution-processed SnO_(2)ETL is employed,however,the presence of interfacial defects and suboptimal interfacial contact can lower the power conversion efficiency(PCE)and operational stability of OSCs.Herein,highly efficient and stable inverted OSCs by modification of the SnO_(2)surface with ultraviolet(UV)-curable acrylate oligomers(SAR and OCS)are demonstrated.The highest PCEs of 16.6%and 17.0%are achieved in PM6:Y6-BO OSCs with the SAR and OCS,respectively,outperforming a device with a bare SnO_(2)ETL(PCE 13.8%).The remarkable enhancement of PCEs is attributed to the optimized interfacial contact,leading to mitigated surface defects.More strikingly,improved light-soaking and thermal stability strongly correlated with the interfacial defects are demonstrated for OSCs based on SnO_(2)/UV cross-linked resins compared to OSCs utilizing bare SnO_(2).We believe that UV cross-linking oligomers will play a key role as interfacial modifiers in the future fabrication of large-area and flexible OSCs with high efficiency and stability.

Dimethylamine oxalate manipulating CsPbI_(3) perovskite film crystallization process for high efficiency carbon electrode based perovskite solar cells

Crystallization process determines the quality of perovskite films and the performances of resultant perovskite solar cells(PSCs).Dimethylamine oxalate has been proven as a multifunctional modulator,and is explored as an efficient additive in manipulating the crystallization process of CsPbI_(3) perovskite films.On one hand,oxalate serves as the precipitator that facilitates the nucleation process of intermediate.The larger size of intermediate is conductive to the larger size and smaller grain boundaries of resultant perovskite.On the other hand,in subsequent annealing process,the phase conversion and growth process of transient perovskite can be decelerated due to the strong interactions of oxalate with both dimethylamine cation(DMA^(+))and Pb^(2+).Due to the optimized crystallization kinetics,the morphology and quality of CsPbI_(3) perovskite films are comprehensively improved with lower defect concentrations,and charge recombination loss is effectively suppressed.Benefiting from the optimized crystal quality of perovskite films,the carbon electrode-based CsPbI_(3) PSCs exhibit a champion efficiency of 18.48%.This represents one of the highest levels among all hole transport layer-free inorganic perovskite solar cells.

Manipulating Crystal Growth and Secondary Phase PbI_(2)to Enable Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells with Natural Additives

In perovskite solar cells(PSCs),the inherent defects of perovskite film and the random distribution of excess lead iodide(PbI_(2))prevent the improvement of efficiency and stability.Herein,natural cellulose is used as the raw material to design a series of cellulose derivatives for perovskite crystallization engineering.The cationic cellulose derivative C-Im-CN with cyano-imidazolium(Im-CN)cation and chloride anion prominently promotes the crystallization process,grain growth,and directional orientation of perovskite.Meanwhile,excess PbI_(2)is transferred to the surface of perovskite grains or formed plate-like crystallites in local domains.These effects result in suppressing defect formation,decreasing grain boundaries,enhancing carrier extraction,inhibiting non-radiative recombination,and dramatically prolonging carrier lifetimes.Thus,the PSCs exhibit a high power conversion efficiency of 24.71%.Moreover,C-Im-CN has multiple interaction sites and polymer skeleton,so the unencapsulated PSCs maintain above 91.3%of their initial efficiencies after 3000 h of continuous operation in a conventional air atmosphere and have good stability under high humidity conditions.The utilization of biopolymers with excellent structure-designability to manage the perovskite opens a state-of-the-art avenue for manufacturing and improving PSCs.

Side chain modulated ferrocene derivative as the interstitial conductive medium for high-performance and stable perovskite solar cells

The interfacial nonradiative recombination loss caused by the deep traps and mismatched band alignment restrained the commercial viability of perovskite solar cells(PSCs). Herein, we have constructed ferrocene carboxylic acid(FcA) and octafluoropentyl-ferrocenyl-carboxylate(OFFcA) interstitial conductive mediums to modulate the integral heterointerface properties and the photovoltaic performances of PSCs.By comparing the passivation strengths of the two molecules, we found that the synergistic effects among Fc/Fc^(+)redox shuttle, C=O group, and F substituents realize the optimal elimination of interfacial trap sources. Electron-withdrawing F groups reinforce the capacity of the Fc/Fc^(+)redox shuttle for the healing of metallic Pb defects and provide extensive anchoring sites to stabilize the organic components.Additionally, the homogeneity of the OFFcA layer as well as the humidity stability of perovskite film are facilitated through the introduction of F substituents, which reduce the contact resistance and improve the interfacial charge transfer. The champion OFFcA-modified device delivers an exceptional PCE of 23.62%, exceeding those of the control(PCE=22.32%) and FcA-modified(PCE=23.06%) devices.Moreover, the unencapsulated OFFcA-modified device retains 82.7% of the primary efficiency at 60%RH for more than 50 d and only loses less than 10% of the primary efficiency when stored in a glove box for more than 2000 h.

Enhanced performance of solution-processed carbon nanotube transparent electrodes in foldable perovskite solar cells through vertical separation of binders by using eco-friendly parylene substrate

The successful utilization of an eco-friendly and biocompatible parylene-C substrate for high-performance solution-processed double-walled carbon nanotube(CNT)electrode-based perovskite solar cells(PSCs)was demonstrated.Through the use of a novel inversion transfer technique,vertical separation of the binders from the CNTs was induced,rendering a stronger p-doping effect and thereby a higher conductivity of the CNTs.The resulting foldable devices exhibited a power conversion efficiency of 18.11%,which is the highest reported among CNT transparent electrode-based PSCs to date,and withstood more than 10,000 folding cycles at a radius of 0.5 mm,demonstrating unprecedented mechanical stability.Furthermore,solar modules were fabricated using entirely laser scribing processes to assess the potential of the solution-processable nanocarbon electrode.Notably,this is the only one to be processed entirely by the laser scribing process and to be biocompatible as well as eco-friendly among the previously reported nonindium tin oxide-based perovskite solar modules.

Multifunctional interfacial molecular bridge enabled by an aggregation-induced emission strategy for enhancing efficiency and UV stability of perovskite solar cells

The interface defects between the electron transport layer(ETL)and the perovskite layer,as well as the low ultraviolet(UV)light utilization rate of the perovskite absorption layer,pose significant challenges for the commercialization of perovskite solar cells(PSCs).To address this issue,this paper proposes an innovative multifunctional interface modulation strategy by introducing aggregation-induced emission(AIE)molecule 5-[4-[1,2,2-tri[4-(3,5-dicarboxyphenyl)phenyl]ethylene]phenyl]benzene-1,3-dicarboxylic acid(H_(8)ETTB)at the SnO_(2)ETL/perovskite interface.Firstly,the interaction of H_(8)ETTB with the SnO_(2)surface,facilitated by its carboxyl groups,is effective in passivating surface defects caused by noncoord inated Sn and O vacancies.This interaction enhances the conductivity of the SnO_(2)film and adjusts energy levels,leading to enhanced charge carrier transport.Simultaneously,H_(8)ETTB can passivate noncoord inated Pb^(2+)ions at the perovskite interface,promoting perovskite crystallization and reducing the interface energy barrier,resulting in a perovskite film with low defects and high crystalline quality.More importantly,the H_(8)ETTB molecule,can convert UV light into light absorbable by the perovskite,thereby reducing damage caused by UV light and improving the device's utilization of UV.Consequently,the champion PSC based on SnO_(2)-H_(8)ETTB achieves an impressing efficiency of 23.32%and significantly improved photostability compared with the control device after continuous exposure to intense UV radiation.In addition,the Cs_(0.05)(FA_(0.95)MA_(0.05))_(0.95)Pb(I_(0.95)Br_(0.05))_(3)based device can achieve maximum efficiency of 24.01%,demonstrating the effectiveness and universality of this strategy.Overall,this innovative interface bridging strategy effectively tackles interface defects and low UV light utilization in PSCs,presenting a promising approach for achieving highly efficient and stable PSCs.

End-group modulation of phenazine based non-fullerene acceptors for efficient organic solar cells with high open-circuit voltage

Phenazine-based non-fullerene acceptors(NFAs)have demonstrated great potential in improving the power conversion efficiency(PCE)of organic solar cells(OSCs).Halogenation is known to be an effective strategy for increasing optical absorption,refining energy levels,and improving molecular packing in organic semiconductors.Herein,a series of NFAs(Pz IC-4H,Pz IC-4F,Pz IC-4Cl,Pz IC-2Br)with phenazine as the central core and with/without halogen-substituted(dicyanomethylidene)-indan-1-one(IC)as the electron-accepting end group were synthesized,and the effect of end group matched phenazine central unit on the photovoltaic performance was systematically studied.Synergetic photophysical and morphological analyses revealed that the PM6:Pz IC-4F blend involves efficient exciton dissociation,higher charge collection and transfer rates,better crystallinity,and optimal phase separation.Therefore,OSCs based on PM6:Pz IC-4F as the active layer exhibited a PCE of 16.48%with an open circuit voltage(Voc)and energy loss of 0.880 V and 0.53 e V,respectively.Accordingly,this work demonstrated a promising approach by designing phenazine-based NFAs for achieving high-performance OSCs.

Highly ordered crystallization of α-FAPbl_(3) films via homogeneous seeds for efficient perovskite solar cells

Formamidine lead triiodide(FAPbI_(3))perovskites have become the most promising photovoltaic materials for perovskite solar cells with record power conversion efficiency(PCE).However,random nucleation,phase transition,and lattice defects are still the key challenges limiting the quality of FAPbI_(3) films.Previous studies show that the introduction or adding of seeds in the precursor is effective to promote the nucleation and crystallization of perovskite films.Nevertheless,the seed-assisted approach focuses on heterogeneous seeds or hetero-composites,which inevitably induce a lattice-mismatch,the genera-tion of strain or defects,and the phase segregation in the perovskite films.Herein,we first demonstrate that high-quality perovskite films are controllably prepared using α-and δ-phases mixed FAPbI_(3) micro-crystal as the homogeneous seeds with the one-step antisolvent method.The partially dissolved seeds with suitable sizes improve the crystallinity of the perovskite flm with preferable orientation,improved carrier lifetime,and increased carrier mobility.More importantly,the α-phase-containing seeds promote the formation of α-phase FAPbI_(3) films,leading to the reduction of residual lattice strain and the suppres-sion of I-ion migration.Besides,the adding of dimethyl 2,6-pyridine dicarboxylate(DPD)into the pre-cursor further suppresses the generation of defects,contributing to the PCE of devices prepared in air ambient being significantly improved to 23.75%,among the highest PCEs for fully air-processed FAPbI_(3) solar cells.The unpackaged target devices possess a high stability,maintaining 80%of the initial PCE under simulated solar illumination exceeding 800 h.

Synergistic defect passivation and strain compensation toward efficient and stable perovskite solar cells

Rational interface engineering is essential for minimizing interfacial nonradiative recombination losses and enhancing device performance.Herein,we report the use of bidentate diphenoxybenzene(DPOB)isomers as surface modifiers for perovskite films.The DPOB molecules,which contain two oxygen(O)atoms,chemically bond with undercoordinated Pb^(2+) on the surface of perovskite films,resulting in compression of the perovskite lattice.This chemical interaction,along with physical regulations,leads to the formation of high-quality perovskite films with compressive strain and fewer defects.This compressive strain-induced band bending promotes hole extraction and transport,while inhibiting charge recombination at the interfaces.Furthermore,the addition of DPOB will reduce the zero-dimensional(OD) Cs_4PbBr_6 phase and produce the two-dimensional(2D) CsPb_(2)Br_5 phase,which is also conducive to the improvement of device performance.Ultimately,the resulting perovskite films,which are strain-released and defect-passivated,exhibit exceptional device efficiency,reaching 10.87% for carbon-based CsPbBr_(3) device,14.86% for carbon-based CsPbI_(2)Br device,22,02% for FA_(0.97)Cs_(0.03)PbI_(3) device,respectively.Moreover,the unencapsulated CsPbBr_(3) PSC exhibits excellent stability under persistent exposure to humidity(80%) and heat(80℃) for over 50 days.

Multifunctional MOF@COF Nanoparticles Mediated Perovskite Films Management Toward Sustainable Perovskite Solar Cells

Although covalent organic frameworks(COFs)with highπ-conjugation have recently exhibited great prospects in perovskite solar cells(PSCs),their further application in PSCs is still hindered by face-to-face stacking and aggregation issues.Herein,metal-organic framework(MOF-808)is selected as an ideal platform for the in situ homogeneous growth of a COF to construct a core-shell MOF@COF nanoparticle,which could effectively inhibit COF stacking and aggregation.The synergistic intrinsic mechanisms induced by the MOF@COF nanoparticles for reinforcing intrinsic stability and mitigating lead leakage in PSCs have been explored.The complementary utilization ofπ-conjugated skeletons and nanopores could optimize the crystallization of large-grained perovskite films and eliminate defects.The resulting PSCs achieve an impressive power conversion efficiency of 23.61%with superior open circuit voltage(1.20 V)and maintained approximately 90%of the original power conversion efficiency after 2000 h(30-50%RH and 25-30℃).Benefiting from the synergistic effects of the in situ chemical fixation and adsorption abilities of the MOF@COF nanoparticles,the amount of lead leakage from unpackaged PSCs soaked in water(<5 ppm)satisfies the laboratory assessment required for the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Regulation.

Enhancing the crystallinity and stability of perovskite solar cells with 4-tert-butylpyridine induction for efficiency exceeding 24%

Perovskite solar cells(PSCs)have emerged as a promising photovoltaic technology because of their high light absorption coefficient,long carrier diffusion distance,and tunable bandgap.However,PSCs face challenges such as hysteresis effects and stability issues.In this study,we introduced a novel approach to improve film crystallization by leveraging 4-tert-butylpyridine(TBP)molecules,thereby enhancing the performance and stability of PSCs.Our findings demonstrate the effective removal of PbI_(2)from the perovskite surface through strong coordination with TBP molecules.Additionally,by carefully adjusting the concentration of the TBP solution,we achieved enhanced film crystallinity without disrupting the perovskite structure.The TBP-treated perovskite films exhibit a low defect density,improved crystallinity,and improved carrier lifetime.As a result,the PSCs manufactured with TBP treatment achieve power conversion efficiency(PCE)exceeding 24%.Moreover,we obtained the PCE of 21.39%for the 12.25 cm^(2)module.

Modeling the performance of perovskite solar cells with inserting porous insulating alumina nanoplates

Peng et al.[Science 379683(2023)]reported an effective method to improve the performance of perovskite solar cells by using thicker porous insulator contact(PIC)-alumina nanoplates.This method overcomes the trade-off between the open-circuit voltage and the fill factor through two mechanisms:reduced surface recombination velocity and increased bulk recombination lifetime due to better perovskite crystallinity.From arguments of drift-diffusion simulations,we find that an increase in mobility and carrier recombination lifetime in bulk are the key factors for minimizing the resistance-effect from thicker PICs and achieving a maximum power conversion efficiency(PCE)at approximately 25%reduced contact area.Furthermore,the partially replacement of perovskite films with thicker PICs would result in a reduction in short-current density,but the relative low refractive index of the PICs imbedded into the high refractive index perovskite creates light trapping structures that compensate for this loss.