Frequency-doubled triangular shape lightwave generation with a flexible modulation index

An approach for full duty frequency-doubled triangle shape lightwave generation is proposed and demonstrated.It requires a dual-parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator（DP-MZM） driven by a sinusoidal signal. A stop band filter is coupled to filter out two undesired sidebands. By tuning the bias voltage applied to the DP-MZM, the output optical intensity with a full duty cycle triangle shape profile can be obtained. It is found that the required modulation index is no longer a fixed one. It can vary within a range, without degrading the target waveform. The principle is analyzed by theory and evaluated by simulation. A proof-of-concept experiment is also conducted.Good agreements between theoretical prediction and experimental results have been found. This approach might be attractive due to the feature of a variable modulation index, which insures simple operation in practice.

Universal Encapsulation Adhesive for Lead Sedimentation and Attachable Perovskite Solar Cells with Enhanced Performance

In this work,a modified polyurethane adhesive(PUA)was prepared to realize a convenient encapsulation strategy for lead sedimentation and attachable perovskite solar cells(A-PSCs).The modified PUA can completely self-heal within 45 min at room temperature with an efficient lead ion-blocking rate of 99.3%.The PUA film can be coated on a metal electrode with slight efficiency improvement from 23.96%to 24.15%.The thermal stability at 65℃and the humidity stability at 55%relative humidity(RH)are superior to the devices encapsulated with polyisobutylene.The PUA film has strong adhesion to the flexible substrate and the initial efficiency of the flexible perovskite module(17.2%)encapsulated by PUA remains 92.6%within 1825 h.These results suggest that PUA encapsulation is universal for rigid and flexible PSCs with enhanced stability and low lead hazards.Moreover,it was found that flexible PSCs can be well attached to various substrates with PUA,providing a facile route for the A-PSCs in various scenarios without additional encapsulation and installation.

RESEARCH ON THE GENERALIZED MODULAR DESIGN METHOD WITH FLEXIBLE MODULES OF PRODUCT STRUCTURES

A new generalized modular design (GMD) method is proposed based on designpractice of frame structure of hydraulic press machines. By building a series of flexible modules(FMs), design knowledge and structure features are integrated into parametric models. Then,parametric design and variational analysis methods for GMD are presented according to user defineddesign objectives and customized product characteristics. A FM-centered GMD system is developed andsuccessfully used in the rapid design of relevant products.

Mechanically tunable broadband terahertz modulator based on high-aligned Ni nanowire arrays

We present a mechanically tunable broadband terahertz(THz) modulator based on the high-aligned Ni nanowire(NW)arrays. The modulator is a sandwich structure consisting of two polydimethylsiloxane layers and a central layer of highaligned Ni NW arrays. Our experimental measurements reveal the transmittance of THz wave can be effectively modulated by mechanical stretching. The NW density in arrays increases with the strain increasing, which induced an enhancement in the absorption of THz wave. When the strain increases from 0 to 6.5%, a linear relationship is observed for the variation of modulation depth(MD) of THz wave regarding the strain, and the modulated range is from 0 to 85% in a frequency range from 0.3 THz to 1.8 THz. Moreover, the detectable MD is about 15% regarding the 1% strain change resolution. This flexible Ni NW-based modulator can be promised many applications, such as remote strain sensing, and wearable devices.

Efficient fully laser-patterned flexible perovskite modules and solar cells based on low-temperature solution-processed SnO2/mesoporous-TiO2 electron transport layers

Efficient flexible perovskite solar cells and modules were developed using a combination of SnO2 and mesoporous-TiO2 as a fully solution-processed electron transport layer （ETL）. Cells using such ETLs delivered a maximum power conversion efficiency （PCE） of 14.8%, which was 30% higher than the PCE of cells with only SnO2 as the ETL. The presence of a mesoporous TiO2 scaffold layer over SnO2 led to higher rectification ratios, lower series resistances, and higher shunt resistances. The cells were also evaluated under 200 and 400 lx artificial indoor illumination and found to deliver maximum power densities of 9.77 μW/cm^2 （estimated PCE of 12.8%） and 19.2 μW/cm^2 （estimated PCE of 13.3%）, respectively, representing the highest values among flexible photovoltaic technologies reported so far. Furthermore, for the first time, a fully laser-patterned flexible perovskite module was fabricated using a complete three-step laser scribing procedure （P1, P2, P3） with a PCE of 8.8% over an active area of 12 cm^2 under an illumination of 1 sun.

Strain induced polymorphism and band structure modulation in low-temperature 2,7-dioctyl[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene single crystal

Organic semiconductors are inherently soft,making it possible to increase their mobilities by strains.Such a unique feature can be exploited directly in flexible electronics for improved device performance.The 2,7-dioctyl[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]-benzothiophene derivative,C8-BTBT is one of the best small-molecule hole transport materials.Here,we demonstrated its band structure modulation under strains by combining the non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations and first-principles calculations.We found that the C8-BTBT lattice undergoes a transition from monoclinic to triclinic crystal system at the temperature below 160 K.Both shear and uniaxial strains were applied to the low-temperature triclinic phase of C8-BTBT,and polymorphism was identified in the shear process.The band width enhancement is up to 8%under 2%of compressive strain along the x direction,and 14%under 4%of tensile strain along the y direction.The band structure modulation of C8-BTBT can be well related to its herringbone packing motifs,where the edge to face and edge to edge pairs constitute two-dimensional charge transport pathways and their electronic overlaps determine the band widths along the two directions respectively.These findings pave the way for utilizing strains towards improved performance of organic semiconductors on flexible substrates,for example,by bending the substrates.