High efficiency and stable solid-state fiber dye-sensitized solar cells obtained using TiO_(2) photoanodes enhanced with metal organic frameworks

Solid-state fiber dye-sensitized solar cells(SS-FDSSCs) have been the subject of intensive attention and development in recent years. Although this field is only in its infancy, metal–organic frameworks(MOFs) are one such material that has been utilized to further improve the power conversion efficiency of solar cells. In this study, MOF-integrated DSSCs were shown to have potential in the development of solar cell devices with efficiency comparable to or better than that of conventional solar cells. The power conversion efficiency(PCE) of SS-FDSSCs was improved by embedding MOF-801 into a mesoporous-TiO_(2)(mp-TiO_(2)) layer, which was used as a photoanode in SS-FDSSCs, which are inherently flexible. The PCE of the MOF-integrated SS-FDSSCs was 6.50%, which is comparable to that of the reference devices(4.19%).The MOF-801 enhanced SS-FDSSCs decreased the series resistance(R_(s)) value, resulting in effective electron extraction with improved short-circuit current density(J_(SC)), while also increasing the shunt resistance(R_(sh)) value to prevent the recombination of photo-induced electrons. The result is an improved fill factor and, consequently, a higher value for the PCE.

Effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge extract and its single components on monosodium urate-induced pain in vivo and lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in vitro

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the possible antinociceptive effects of Salvia(S.)miltiorrhiza Bunge and its single components in monosodium urate(MSU)-induced pain model in mice and lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced inflammation model in RAW264.7 cells.METHODS:Pretreatment of S.miltiorrhiza Bunge extract(from 1 to 50μg/mL)concentration-dependently attenuated LPS-induced nitric oxide(NO)release.The extract of S.miltiorrhiza Bunge(50 or 100 mg/kg)also caused reversals of decreased threshold for pain in the MSU-treated group as measured by Von-Frey test.Furthermore,we assessed the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of the active single components from S.miltiorrhiza Bunge such as 15,16-dihydrotanshinoneⅠ,tanshinoneⅠ,cryptotanshinone,miltirone,tanshinoneⅡA,and salvianolic acid B.Some of them showed an anti-inflammatory effect in LPS-induced NO release model and an antinociceptive effect in MSU-treated pain model.RESULTS:Our results suggest that S.miltiorrhiza Bunge extract may exert anti-inflammatory effect by reducing LPS-induced NO release and an antinociceptive property in MSU-treated pain model.Especially,tanshinoneⅡA,miltirone,cryptotanshinone,and 15,16-dihydrotanshinoneⅠ,not only appear to be responsible for LPS-induced NO release induced by S.miltiorrhiza Bunge,but also in the production of S.miltiorrhiza Bunge extract-induced antinociception in MSU-treated pain model.CONCLUSION:Therefore,the analgesic and anti-inflammatory property of S.miltiorrhiza Bunge indicate it as a therapeutic potential candidate for the treatment of pain and inflammation.

Generation and measurement of arbitrary four-dimensional spatial entanglement between photons in multicore fibers

High-dimensional entanglement is a valuable resource for secure and efficient quantum information processing.A major challenge for practical use of multidimensional quantum systems is the establishment of controls over arbitrary superposition states in realistic conditions. This work demonstrates spatially entangled photon pairs propagating through two separate four-core optical fibers with the amplitudes and phases of the superposition being independently controllable. Using quantum state analyzers that can detect arbitrary multicore superposition states, Bell-type CGLMP inequalities in two, three, and four dimensions are directly tested. Enhanced violation of the inequality by slight nonmaximality of entanglement is also demonstrated.