Anthradithiophene based hole-transport material for efficient and stable perovskite solar cells

A novel hole-transport material(HTM)based on an anthradithiophene central bridge named BTPA-7 is developed.In comparison to spiro-OMeTAD(2,2’,7,7’-tetrakis-(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9,9’-spirobifluorene),the synthetic steps of BTPA-7 are greatly reduced from 6 to 3 and the synthetic cost of BTPA-7 is nearly a half that of spiro-OMeTAD.Moreover,BTPA-7 exhibits a relatively lower conductivity but higher hole mobility and higher glass transition temperature(Tg)than spiro-OMeTAD.Compared with the photovolatic performance for spiro-OMeTAD,FA0.85MA0.15PbI3 and MAPbI3 PSC devices based on BTPA-7 exhibit slightly lower PCEs with the values of 17.58%(18.88%for spiro-OMeTAD)and 11.90%(13.25%for spiro-OMeTAD),respectively.Nevertheless,a dramatically higher JSC of PSC based on BTPA-7is achieved,which arises from the higher hole mobility of BTPA-7.In addition,the relatively hydrophobic character of BTPA-7 eventually enhances the PSC device stability.Lower cost,higher hole mobility,higher Tg,satisfactory photovoltaic performance,and superior device stability of BTPA-7 can be utilized as a substitute for spiro-OMeTAD in PSCs.

GATA4 mutations are uncommon in patients with 46,XY disorders of sex development without heart anomaly

Dear Editor, Disorders of sex development （DSDs） are a group of conditions in which chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomical sex is atypical.1 DSD in genetic males （46,XY DSD） primarily results from impaired androgen production or action or perturbed genital morphogenesis？ The current understanding of the genetic basis of 46,XY DSD remains fragmentary. For example, although more than 15 genes have been implicated in the development ofnonsyndromic hypospadias,2 one of the most common forms of 46,XY DSD,~ mutations in these genes account for 〈20% of the cases.3

Influence of morphology of hollow silica-alumina composite spheres on their activity for hydrolytic dehydrogenation of ammonia borane

Hollow silica-alumina composite spheres were prepared by a polystyrene(PS)template method using various amounts of PS suspension.Homogeneous hollow spheres prepared using 40 g were found to be with a diameter of about 300 nm in scanning electron microscopy,and transmission electron microscopy demonstrated their hollow sphere morphology.From the nitrogen adsorption isotherm results,the homogeneous hollow spheres prepared using 40 g of the PS suspension were found to be an ordered pore structure.The activities of the hollow spheres prepared using various amounts of the PS suspension for hydrolytic dehydrogenation of ammonia borane were compared.The results showed that 10,7,and 6 mL of hydrogen were evolved from the aqueous ammonia borane solution in about 40 min in the presence of the hollow spheres prepared using 40,80,and 120 g of PS suspension,respectively.The homogeneous hollow spheres with an ordered pore structure showed the highest activity among all the hollow spheres.The amount of acid sites and the coordination number of aluminum active species were characterized using neutralization titration and solid-state ^(27)Al magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.The homogeneous hollow spheres with an ordered pore structure had high amount of acid sites and 4-coordinated aluminum species.The relative proportion of 4-coordinated aluminum species was related to the dispersion of aluminum species.These results indicate that the homogeneous hollow spheres with an ordered pore structure showed the high activity because of high amount of acid sites induced by the highly dispersed aluminum species.