Improved interfacial property by small molecule ethanediamine for high performance inverted planar perovskite solar cells

We report a simple and effective method to realize desirable interfacial property for inverted planar perovskite solar cells(PSCs)by using small molecule ethanediamine for the construction of a novel polyelectrolyte hole transport material(P3CT-ED HTM).It is found that P3CT-ED can not only improve the hole transport property of P3CT-K but also improve the crystallinity of adjacent perovskite film.In addition,the introduction of ethanediamine into P3CT realigns the conduction and valence bands upwards,passivates surface defects and reduces nonradiative recombination.As a consequence,compared to P3CT-K hole transport layer(HTL)based devices,the average power conversion efficiency(PCE)is boosted from17.2% to 19.6% for the counterparts with P3CT-ED,with simultaneous enhancement in open circuit voltage and fill factor.The resultant device displays a champion PCE of 20.5% with negligible hysteresis.

Interfacial Charge Transfer Induced Electronic Property Tuning of MoS_2 by Molecular Functionalization

The modulation of electrical properties of MoS_2 has attracted extensive research interest because of its potential applications in electronic and optoelectronic devices.Herein,interfacial charge transfer induced electronic property tuning of MoS_2 are investigated by in situ ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements.A downward band-bending of MoS_2-related electronic states along with the decreasing work function,which are induced by the electron transfer from Cs overlayers to MoS_2,is observed after the functionalization of MoS_2 with Cs,leading to n-type doping.Meanwhile,when MoS_2 is modified with 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane(F_4-TCNQ),an upward band-bending of MoS_2-related electronic states along with the increasing work function is observed at the interfaces.This is attributed to the electron depletion within MoS_2 due to the strong electron withdrawing property of F_4-TCNQ,indicating p-type doping of MoS_2.Our findings reveal that surface transfer doping is an effective approach for electronic property tuning of MoS_2 and paves the way to optimize its performance in electronic and optoelectronic devices.

Effects of rapid solidification process and 0.1%Pr/Nd addition on characteristics of Sn-9Zn solder alloy and interfacial properties of Cu/solder/Cu joints

Rapidly solidified Sn-9Zn-0.1Pr(/Nd) alloy foils were prepared by melt-spinning method. Through comparison, the effects of rapid solidification process and 0.1%Pr/Nd(mass fraction) addition on the microstructure, thermodynamic characteristic of Sn-9Zn solder alloy were analyzed. The tensile-shear tests were used to evaluate the mechanical properties of solder/Cu joints. The results show that the rapid solidification process can greatly refine the microstructure of Sn-9Zn-0.1Pr(/Nd) alloys. After rapid solidification, the effects of Pr/Nd addition on microstructure are depressed. The pasty range of the rapidly solidified Sn-Zn-RE solders is also reduced significantly. The mechanical properties of solder/Cu joints are obviously improved using the rapidly solidified Sn-9Zn-0.1Pr(/Nd) solder alloy, which results in the formation of uniform interface. The promotion effect of Nd addition in Sn-9Zn alloy on the interfacial reaction of solder/Cu joint is more remarkable than that of Pr.

Interfacial Properties of Ethyl Cellulose/Cellulose Acetate Blends by HPLC

The high performance liquid chromatography method (HPLC) with ethyl cellulose/cellulose acetate (EC/CA) blends and EC as column packing material, and small molecular weight compound as probe molecules was employed to measure the retention volume (VR) and equilibrium distribution coefficient (K) of both inorganic and organic solutes. The interfacial separation properties of EC/CA blends were characterized by the HPLC data. The effects of the blends on the interfacial adsorption properties, hydrophilicity, affinity, polar and non-polar parameters of EC membrane materials were studied subsequently. The research results indicate that the interfacial adsorption properties and hydrophilicity of EC have been improved by solution blending with CA. The alloys are superior to EC in the separation efficiency for non-dissociable polar organic solute. The EC/CA alloy (80:20, ω) is suitable for desalting and desaccharifying.

Surface Characteristics of Rare Earth Treated Carbon Fibers and Interfacial Properties of Composites

Effect of rare earth treatment on surface physicochemical properties of carbon fibers and interfacial properties of carbon fiber/epoxy composites was investigated, and the interfacial adhesion mechanism of treated carbon fiber/epoxy composite was analyzed. It was found that rare earth treatment led to an increase of fiber surface roughness, improvement of oxygeaa-containing groups, and introduction of rare earth element on the carbon fiber surface. As a result, coordination linkages between fibers and rare earth, and between rare earth and resin matrix were formed separately, thereby the interlaminar shear strength （ILSS） of composites increased, which indicated the improvement of the interfacial adhesion between fibers and matrix resin resulting from the increase of carboxyl and carbonyl.

Interfacial and electrical properties of HfAIO/GaSb metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors with sulfur passivation

Interfacial and electrical properties of HfAlO/GaSb metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors(MOSCAPs) with sulfur passivation were investigated and the chemical mechanisms of the sulfur passivation process were carefully studied. It was shown that the sulfur passivation treatment could reduce the interface trap density Ditof the HfAlO/GaSb interface by 35% and reduce the equivalent oxide thickness(EOT) from 8 nm to 4 nm. The improved properties are due to the removal of the native oxide layer, as was proven by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements and high-resolution cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy(HRXTEM) results. It was also found that GaSb-based MOSCAPs with HfAlO gate dielectrics have interfacial properties superior to those using HfO2 or Al2O3 dielectric layers.

Effects of Different Heavy Crude Oil Fractions on the Stability of Oil-in-Water Emulsion——Ⅲ. Effects of pH on the interfacial properties of heavy crude functional fractions and water system

In this paper, effects of pH on the interfacial properties of heavy crude functional fractions and water system are investigated. The influence of pH on π-A isotherms of acid fraction, basic fraction, amphoteric fraction and asphaltene is great. The interfacial pressure of fractions increases in strongly basic conditions. The ζ (-80mv) of acid fraction is the largest under basic conditions (pH=11-12), with the result to show that the interfacial activity of the acid fraction is superior to that of other fractions. The results of model emulsions show that strongly basic conolition (pH≥11) is beneficial to oil-in- water emulsion stability. The interfacial activity of acid fraction and asphaltene is superior to that of other crude fractions.

Synthesis and Interfacial Properties of Bio-Based Zwitterionic Surfactants Derived from Different Fatty Acids in Non-Edible Vegetable Oils

Waste cooking oils and non-edible vegetable oils are abundant and renewable resources for bio-based materials which have showed great potential applications in many industries.In this study,five fatty acids commonly found in non-edible vegetable oils,including palmitic acid,stearic acid,linoleic acid,linolenic acid,ricinoleic acid,and their mixtures,were used to produce bio-based zwitterionic surfactants through a facile and high-yield chemical modification.These surfactants demonstrated excellent surface/interfacial properties with the minimum surface tensions ranging from 28.4 mN/m to 32.8 mN/m in aqueous solutions.The interfacial tensions between crude oil and surfactant solutions were remarkably reduced to lower values ranging from 0.0028 mN/m to 0.1983 mN/m without the aid of extra alkali,which particularly implied a great potential application in enhanced oil recovery.Meanwhile,these bio-based surfactants also showed good wetting properties(contact angles of~51°comparing with that of double distilled water,92.04°)and appropriate predicted biodegradability(degradation order of“weeks”for bio-based surfactants synthesized from saturated fatty acids,and“months”for those synthesized from unsaturated fatty acids).Bio-based surfactants synthesized from unsaturated fatty acids showed better interfacial properties in reducing interfacial tension between crude oil and formation water.The bio-based surfactants presented in this study are alternative substitutes for traditional petroleum-based surfactants in various surfactant application fields.

Interfacial and Electrical Properties of GaAs Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Capacitor with ZrAlON as the Interfacial Passivation Layer

The ZrTiON gate-dielectric GaAs metal-oxide-semiconductor （MOS） capacitors with or without ZrAION as the interfacial passivation layer （IPL） are fabricated and their properties are investigated. The experimental results show that the GaAs MOS capacitor with the ZrAION IPL exhibits better interracial and electrical properties, including lower interface-state density （1.14 × 10^12 cm^-2eV^-1）, smaller gate leakage current （6.82 × 10^-5 A//cm^2 at Vfb ＋1V）, smaller capacitance equivalent thickness （1.5 nm）, and larger k value （26）. The involved mechanisms lie in the fact that the ZrAION IPL can effectively block the diffusion of Ti and O towards the GaAs surface, thus suppressing the formation of interracial Ga-/As-oxides and As-As dimers, which leads to improved interracial and electrical properties for the devices.

The roles of polymer-graphene interface and contact resistance among nanosheets in the effective conductivity of nanocomposites

The effective conductivity of graphene-based nanocomposites is suggested by the characteristics of polymer-filler interfacial areas as well as the contact resistance between the neighboring nanosheets.The interfacial properties are expressed by the effective levels of the inverse aspect ratio and the filler volume fraction.Moreover,the resistances of components in the contact regions are used to define the contact resistance,which inversely affects the effective conductivity.The obtained model is utilized to predict the effective conductivity for some examples.The discrepancy of the effective conductivity at various ranks of all factors is clarified.The interfacial conductivity directly controls the effective conductivity,while the filler conductivity plays a dissimilar role in the effective conductivity,due to the incomplete interfacial adhesion.A high operative conductivity is also achieved by small contact distances and high interfacial properties.Additionally,big contact diameters and little tunnel resistivity decrease the contact resistance,thus enhancing the effective conductivity.

Relationship between Al(OH)_3 solubility and particle size in synthetic Bayer liquors

Surface tension of sodium aluminate solution and the contact angle between Al（OH）3 particles and aluminate solution were measured, then the dependence of Al（OH）3 solubility on its particle size was calculated and thus the variation of the critical nucleus sizes was determined based on the Ostwald ripening formula. The results show that the Al（OH）3 solubility in sodium aluminate solution decreases with the increment of particle size, and the critical nucleus sizes increase with the rise of alkali concentration, caustic ratio and precipitation temperature. The results also imply that the presence of small particles in seeded precipitation system is an important factor to limit the depth of precipitation.

Characterization of carbon fibers recovered through mechanochemical-enhanced recycling of waste carbon fiber reinforced plastics

In this study,we present the characterization of the carbon fibers recovered from the mechanochemical-enhanced recycling of carbon fiber reinforced fibers.The objectives of the study were to investigate the effect of our modified recycling method on the interfacial properties of recovered fibers.The reinforced plastics were recycled;the recycling efficiency was determined and the recovered fibers were sized using 1 wt%and 3 wt%concentration of(3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane.We characterized the morphologies utilizing the electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis(ESCA),atomic force microscopy(AFM),FTIR-attenuated total reflection(ATR)spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy(SEM).Although the surface of the fibers had no cracks,there was evidence of contaminations which affected the interfacial properties and the quality of the fibers.Results showed that the trends in the recovered and virgin fibers were similar with an increase in sizing concentration.The results highlighted the perspectives of increasing the quality of recovered fibers after the recycling process.

A feasible and effective solution-processed PCBM electron extraction layer enabling the high VOC and efficient Cu_(2)ZnSn(S, Se)_(4) devices

Photo-generated carrier recombination loss at the CZTSSe/Cd S front interface is a key issue to the opencircuit voltage(V_(OC)) deficit of Cu_(2)ZnSnS_(x)Se_(4-x)(CZTSSe) solar cells. Here, by the aid of an easy-handling spin-coating method, a thin PCBM([6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester) layer as an electron extraction layer has been introduced on the top of CdS buffer layer to modify CZTSSe/CdS/ZnO-ITO(In_(2)O_(3):Sn) interfacial properties. Based on Sn^(4+)/DMSO(dimethyl sulfoxide) solution system, a totalarea efficiency of 12.87% with a VOC of 529 m V has been achieved. A comprehensive investigation on the influence of PCBM layer on carrier extraction, transportation and recombination processes has been carried out. It is found that the PCBM layer can smooth over the Cd S film roughness, thus beneficial for a dense and flat window layer. Furthermore, this CZTSSe/Cd S/PCBM heterostructure can accelerate carrier separation and extraction and block holes from the front interface as well, which is mainly ascribed to the downward band bending of the absorber and a widened space charge region. Our work provides a feasible way to improve the front interfacial property and the cell performance of CZTSSe solar cells by the aid of organic interfacial materials.

Understanding the interfacial properties of benzene alkylation with 1-dodecene catalyzed by immobilized chloroaluminate ionic liquids using molecular dynamics simulation

Benzene alkylation catalyzed by immobilized ionic liquids(ILs)on solid carriers is considered as a heterogeneous reaction,in which the interfacial properties play an important role.Hence,the interfacial characteristics between benzene/1-dodecene mixture and immobilized chloroaluminate ILs with different alkyl chain length on the silica substrate were investigated by molecular dynamics simulation.The grafted ILs can obviously promote the enrichment of benzene near the interface,leading to a higher ratio of benzene to dodecene,and the interfacial width increases slightly with increased alkyl chain of grafted cations.At the same time,the grafted cations can also enhance the benzene diffusion and suppress the dodecene diffusion at the interface,which probably helps to inhibit the inactivation of catalysts.This work provides deeply insights into the rational design of novel immo-bilized ILs catalysts for the benzene alkylation.

Influence of surfactants used in surfactant-polymer flooding on the stability of Gudong crude oil emulsion

The influences of an anionic-nonionic composite surfactant and petroleum sulfonate, used in surfactant-polymer flooding in Shengli Gudong oilfield, East China, on the interfacial properties of Gudong crude model oil and synthetic formation water was studied by measuring interfacial tension, interfacial viscoelasticity and Zeta potential. The in？ uence of the surfactants on the stability of Gudong water-in-oil （W/O） and oil-in-water （O/W） emulsions was evaluated by separating water from the W/O emulsion and residual oil in the aqueous phase of the O/W emulsion respectively. The results showed that the two kinds of surfactants, namely anionic-nonionic composite surfactant and petroleum sulfonate, are both able to decrease the interfacial tension between the oil phase and the aqueous phase and increase the surface potential of the oil droplets dispersed in the O/W emulsion, which can enhance the stability of the W/O and O/W crude oil emulsions. Compared with petroleum sulfonate, the anionic-nonionic composite surfactant is more interfacially active and able to enhance the strength of the interfacial film between oil and water, hence enhance the stability of the W/O and O/W emulsions more effectively.

Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Portland Cement Concrete Prepared with Coral Reef Sand

The feasibility of using coral reef sand（CRS） in Portland cement concrete is investigated by testing the mechanical property and microstructure of concrete. The composition, structure and properties of the CRS are analyzed. Mechanical properties and microstructure of concrete with CRS are studied and compared to concrete with natural river sand. The relationship between the microstructure and performance of CRS concrete is established. The CRS has a porous surface with high water intake capacity, which contributes to the mechanical properties of concrete. The interfacial transition zone between the cement paste and CRS is densified compared to normal concrete with river sand. Hydration products form in the pore space of CRS and interlock with the matrix of cement paste, which increases the strength. The total porosity of concrete prepared with CRS is higher than that with natural sand. The main difference in pore size distribution is the fraction of fine pores in the range of 100 nm.

Microstructure and properties of pure iron/copper composite cladding layers on carbon steel

In the present study, pure iron/copper composite metal cladding was deposited onto carbon steel by tungsten inert gas welding. The study focused on interfacial morphological, microstructural, and mechanical analyses of the composite cladding layers. Iron liquid–solid-phase zones were formed at copper/steel and iron interfaces because of the melting of the steel substrate and iron. Iron concentrated in the copper cladding layer was observed to exhibit belt, globule, and dendrite morphologies. The appearance of iron-rich globules indicated the occurrence of liquid phase separation（LPS） prior to solidification, and iron-rich dendrites crystallized without the occurrence of LPS. The maximum microhardness of the iron/steel interface was lower than that of the copper/steel interface because of the diffusion of elemental carbon. All samples fractured in the cladding layers. Because of a relatively lower strength of the copper layer, a short plateau region appeared when shear movement was from copper to iron.

Self-assembly of carbon nanomaterials onto carbon fiber to improve the interfacial properties of epoxy composites

The interfacial property of carbon fiber(CF)reinforced composites is crucial to facilitate the application of high-strength composites.Utilizing the electrostatic and hydrogen bond properties of diazo resin,carbon nanotubes(CNTs)and graphene oxide(GO)could be quickly grafted onto the surface of the CF via the layer-by-layer self-assembly technique.The results showed that CNTs and GO were uniformly coated onto the CF surface,and the chemical activity and roughness of the modified CF surface were improved signif-icantly.The modified CF surface can significantly augment the interaction between the epoxy resin and the fiber.Remarkably,due to the good interfacial property,the impact performance of the composites re-inforced with the nanomaterial-modified CF was improved obviously.In addition,the interface properties of the composites are studied in depth.This method is expected to achieve rapid surface modification of carbon fiber.

Analysis of Interf acial Zone Properties and Permeability of Concrete in Underground Structure

Chloride diffusion coefficient and water penetration depth of 3 types concrete were studied. The experimental results show that the concrete permeability decreases itself in the order as follow: pure portland cement concrete(CO), concrete added with fly ash(C1), concrete added with both fly ash and silica fume(C2). SEM and microhardness analyses show that the properties of interfacial zone are significantly influenced by silica fume. With the improvement of interfacial zone properties, the permeability especially the Chloride ion diffusivity of concrete significantly decreases.

Properties and Microstructures of Full Graded Concrete Containing Varied Impurity Aggregate

We investigated mechanical properties of concretes made with impurity aggregates of different combinations. Besides the mechanisms were explored by EDS, CT, and hardness testing. The results showed that fully rust-stained and surface rust-stained sandstone aggregate had significant adverse impact on the compressive strength of concrete while sandstone aggregate had a much more obvious impact on the ultimate tension of concrete. Concrete crack was more prone to expand along surfaces and the micro-hardness of interfacial transition zone of different aggregates was ranked in decreasing trend as sandstone, slate, SR sandstone, marble, and FR sandstone. The cluster growth of long needle-like ettringite crystal and strong preferential growth trend of Ca（OH）2 crystals would result in wider interfacial transition zone range of concretes made with fully rust-stained sandstone and marble aggregate, respectively. Therefore, the impurity aggregate content should be strictly controlled during aggregate selection.