Current advancements on charge selective contact interfacial layers and electrodes in flexible hybrid perovskite photovoltaics

Perovskite-based photovoltaic materials have been attracting attention for their strikingly improved performance at converting sunlight into electricity.The beneficial and unique optoelectronic characteristics of perovskite structures enable researchers to achieve an incredibly remarkable power conversion efficiency.Flexible hybrid perovskite photovoltaics promise emerging applications in a myriad of optoelectronic and wearable/portable device applications owing to their inherent intriguing physicochemical and photophysical properties which enabled researchers to take forward advanced research in this growing field.Flexible perovskite photovoltaics have attracted significant attention owing to their fascinating material properties with combined merits of high efficiency,light-weight,flexibility,semitransparency,compatibility towards roll-to-roll printing,and large-area mass-scale production.Flexible perovskite-based solar cells comprise of 4 key components that include a flexible substrate,semi-transparent bottom contact electrode,perovskite(light absorber layer)and charge transport(electron/hole)layers and top(usually metal)electrode.Among these components,interfacial layers and contact electrodes play a pivotal role in influencing the overall photovoltaic performance.In this comprehensive review article,we focus on the current developments and latest progress achieved in perovskite photovoltaics concerning the charge selective transport layers/electrodes toward the fabrication of highly stable,efficient flexible devices.As a concluding remark,we briefly summarize the highlights of the review article and make recommendations for future outlook and investigation with perspectives on the perovskite-based optoelectronic functional devices that can be potentially utilized in smart wearable and portable devices.

Research on dynamic characteristics of arc under electrode relative motion

The relative motion of the electrodes is a typical feature of sliding electrical contact systems.The system fault caused by the arc is the key problem that restricts the service life of the sliding electrical contact system.In this paper,an arcing experimental platform that can accurately control the relative speed and distance of electrodes is built,and the influence of different electrode speeds and electrode distances on arc motion characteristics is explored.It is found that there are three different modes of arc root motion:single arc root motion mode,single and double arc roots alternating motion mode,and multiple arc roots motion mode.The physical process and influence mechanism of different arc root motion modes are further studied,and the corresponding relationship between arc root motion modes and electrode speed is revealed.In addition,to further explore the distribution characteristics of arc temperature and its influencing factors,an arc magnetohydrodynamic model under the relative motion of electrodes is established,and the variation law of arc temperature under the effect of different electrode speeds and electrode distances is summarized.Finally,the influence mechanism of electrode speed and electrode distance on arc temperature,arc root distance,and arc root speed is clarified.The research results enrich the research system of arc dynamic characteristics in the field of sliding electrical contact,and provide theoretical support for restraining arc erosion and improving the service life of the sliding electrical contact system.

Universal transfer of full-class metal electrodes for barrier-free two-dimensional semiconductor contacts

Metal–semiconductor contacts are crucial components in semiconductor devices.Ultrathin two-dimensional transition-metal dichalcogenide semiconductors can sustain transistor scaling for next-generation integrated circuits.However,their performance is often degraded by conventional metal deposition,which results in a high barrier due to chemical disorder and Fermi-level pinning(FLP).Although,transferring electrodes can address these issues,they are limited in achieving universal transfer of full-class metals due to strong adhesion between pre-deposited metals and substrates.Here,we propose a nanobelt-assisted transfer strategy that can avoid the adhesion limitation and enables the universal transfer of over 20 different types of electrodes.Our contacts obey the Schottky–Mott rule and exhibit a FLP of S=0.99.Both the electron and hole contacts show record-low Schottky barriers of 4.2 and 11.2 meV,respectively.As a demonstration,we construct a doping-free WSe_(2) inverter with these high-performance contacts,which exhibits a static power consumption of only 58 pW.This strategy provides a universal method of electrode preparation for building high-performance post-Moore electronic devices.

A Review on Engineering Design for Enhancing Interfacial Contact in Solid-State Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

The utilization of solid-state electrolytes(SSEs)presents a promising solution to the issues of safety concern and shuttle effect in Li–S batteries,which has garnered significant interest recently.However,the high interfacial impedances existing between the SSEs and the electrodes(both lithium anodes and sulfur cathodes)hinder the charge transfer and intensify the uneven deposition of lithium,which ultimately result in insufficient capacity utilization and poor cycling stability.Hence,the reduction of interfacial resistance between SSEs and electrodes is of paramount importance in the pursuit of efficacious solid-state batteries.In this review,we focus on the experimental strategies employed to enhance the interfacial contact between SSEs and electrodes,and summarize recent progresses of their applications in solidstate Li–S batteries.Moreover,the challenges and perspectives of rational interfacial design in practical solid-state Li–S batteries are outlined as well.We expect that this review will provide new insights into the further technique development and practical applications of solid-state lithium batteries.

The Printing and Firing Process of Al Paste in PTC Ohmic Contact Electrodes

Al electrodes are well known as ohmic contact electrodes for the PTC component , the influence of their thickness on final component properties was investigated by comparing their ohmic characteristics with the ones of InGa electrodes . After observing the Al paste physical and chemical behaviors during rising temperature by thermal analysis (DTA), the firing operation of Al electrodes could be divided into three main subsections: the temperature rising time (t-r), the peak firing temperature (T-p) and the hold time at peak firing temperature (t-h). The effects of these three parameters on final component properties were discussed in detail.

Square-Wave Adsorptive Cathodic Stripping Voltammeteric Determination of Manganese (II) Using a Carbon Paste Electrode Modified with Montmorillonite Clay

Manganese is an essential micronutrient for all organisms;however at high concentrations it has a toxic effect. Manganese toxicity is a serious constraint to crop cultivation since it is taken-up by plants and can easily be passed into the food chain again causing symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. A fully validated square-wave adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry method has been developed for determination of Mn (II) as a complex with 2-(5’-bromo-2’-pyridylazo) 5-diethylaminophenol in aqueous solutions using a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with montmorillonite-Na clay. The results showed that the modified CPE (90% (w/w) graphite powder and 10% (w/w) montmorillonite-Na clay) exhibited excellent electrochemical activity towards the investigated Mn (II) complex in acetate buffer of pH = 5.0. Factors affecting the performance of the modified carbon paste electrode and the sensitivity of the described square- wave stripping voltammetry method, including the electrode composition, concentration of ligand, pulse parameters and preconcentration conditions were examined. A detection limit (S/N = 3) of 0.015μg·L-1 (2.73 × 10-10 mol·L-1) Mn (II) was achieved when a preconcentration time of 240 s was applied. Insignificant interferences from various inorganic and organic species were estimated. The described square-wave adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry method coupled with the modified carbon paste electrode has been successfully applied to Mn (II) analysis in different water samples.

Non-contact ECG Monitoring Based on Capacitive Electrodes

Recent interest in mobile-based healthcare has driven significant demands on researching non-contact electrodes for electrocardiogram (ECG)measurement. While the conductive gel achieves the requirement in making a good contact between the electrodes and skin, several problems appear. A gel-free,non-contact electrode based on capacitive coupling theory was provided in this paper,which was integrated on the print circuit board (PCB). The experimental results showed that clear ECG signals could be acquired in the laboratory conditions by coupling the electrodes to the chest of patients through cotton belts.

Electron Transfer of <i>Shewanella oneidensis</i>MR-1 at Clay-Modified ITO Electrode

The electrode material is an important aspect for the efficiency and costs in the microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Enhancing of current production and bacteria attachment to the electrode are essential goals for developing the performance of MFCs. In this study, the role of the structural iron present in clays in enhancing the electron transfer of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 was investigated. Two types of clay containing different amounts of iron situated in the octahedral sites were used to modify ITO (indium tin oxide) electrodes, namely nontronite NAu-1, and montmorillonite (Wyoming) SWy-1. Synthetic montmorillonite SYn-1 which is iron-free clay was used for comparison. The interaction between the bacterial cells and the clays was studied by potential-step chronoamperometry, cyclic voltammetry, confocal microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The obtained results showed that the current densities generated upon ITO electrode modification using the NAu-1 and SWy-1 iron-containing clays were 19 and 3 times higher than that produced using the bare ITO electrode. No current density was obtained when utilizing the synthetic montmorillonite SYn-1 clay. SEM and confocal microscopy observations confirmed the increased coverage percentage of the bacterial cells attached to the clay-modified electrodes compared to the bare ITO.

Solid-Contact Ion-Selective Electrodes Based on Graphite Paste for Potentiometric Nitrate and Ammonium Determinations

Robust and easy-to-handle solid-contact ion-selective electrodes (SC-ISEs) based on graphite paste have been developed for the potentiometric detection of NO-3 and NH+4 in environmental samples. Polypyrrole (PPy) has been used as intermediate layer and solid contact between the electron-conducting graphite paste substrate and the ion-conducting polyvinylchloride (PVC)-containing membrane with the immobilized ionophore. For the nitrate- and ammonium-selective electrodes, tridodecylmethylammonium nitrate (TDMA-NO3) and nonactin have been used as ion-complexing compounds, respectively. Both ISEs show nearly Nernstian response in the linear range from 10-5 mol/L to 10-1 mol/L with average slopes of >58 mV/decade. The ISEs possess short response times (<20 s).

High‑Performance Flexible Microneedle Array as a Low‑Impedance Surface Biopotential Dry Electrode for Wearable Electrophysiological Recording and Polysomnography

Microneedle array(MNA)electrodes are an effective solution to achieve high-quality surface biopotential recording without the coordination of conductive gel and are thus very suitable for long-term wearable applications.Existing schemes are limited by flexibility,biosafety,and manufacturing costs,which create large barriers for wider applications.Here,we present a novel flexible MNA electrode that can simultaneously achieve flexibility of the substrate to fit a curved body surface,robustness of microneedles to penetrate the skin without fracture,and a simplified process to allow mass production.The compatibility with wearable wireless systems and the short preparation time of the electrodes significantly improves the comfort and convenience of electrophysiological recording.The normalized electrode–skin contact impedance reaches 0.98 kΩcm^(2)at 1 kHz and 1.50 kΩcm^(2)at 10 Hz,a record low value compared to previous reports and approximately 1/250 of the standard electrodes.The morphology,biosafety,and electrical/mechanical properties are fully characterized,and wearable recordings with a high signal-to-noise ratio and low motion artifacts are realized.The first reported clinical study of microneedle electrodes for surface electrophysiological monitoring was conducted in tens of healthy and sleep-disordered subjects with 44 nights of recording(over 8 h per night),providing substantial evidence that the electrodes can be leveraged to substitute for clinical standard electrodes.

Transparent conducting indium-tin-oxide(ITO) film as full front electrode in Ⅲ–Ⅴ compound solar cell

The application of transparent conducting indium-tin-oxide （ITO） film as full front electrode replacing the conven- tional bus-bar metal electrode in III-V compound GalnP solar cell was proposed. A high-quality, non-rectifying contact between ITO and 10 nm N＋-GaAs contact layer was formed, which is benefiting from a high carrier concentration of the terrilium-doped N＋-GaAs layer, up to 2×10^19 cm^-3. A good device performance of the GalnP solar cell with the ITO electrode was observed. This result indicates a great potential of transparent conducting films in the future fabrication of larger area flexible III-V solar cell.

Resistivity measurement of conductive asphalt concrete based on two-electrode method

The objective of this work is to develop a novel methodology for determining real resistivity of conductive asphalt concrete based on two-electrode method.Due to an influence of contact resistance,the measured resistivity is always not equal to the real resistivity.To determine the real resistivity,a linear relationship of the measured resistivity,contact resistance and the real resistivity was established.Then experiments for six specimens with varying graphite contents were designed and performed to validate the formulation.Results of experiments demonstrate that the slope of the line represents contact resistance,and the intercept indicates the real resistivity.The effects of graphite content on contact resistance and real resistivity are also revealed.Finally,results show that the influence of contact resistance on accuracy of resisitvity measurement becomes more serious if graphite content is beyond 3%.Hence,it is the time to choose this novel methodology to determine the real resistivity of asphalt concrete by taking account of contact resistance.

Current Density-Sensitive Welding of a Semiconductor Nanowire to a Metal Electrode

In situ welding of a single ZnSe nanowire(NW)to an Au electrode has been successfully achieved by means of current-induced Joule heating.The parameter governing the welding of semiconductor NW to the metal electrode is highly dominated by the current density at the Au-ZnSe NW(M-S)contact because current density at the M-S contact can change the temperature profile along the NW.The self-heating behaviors of the Au-ZnSe NW-Au(M-S-M)nanostructure can be changed from the electrical failure of the ZnSe NW to the melting of the Au electrode localized at the M-S contact when the current density at the M-S junction was adjusted to be larger than in the NW.Consequently,the self-welding is the current density-sensitive and controllable since the current density at the M-S contact can be controlled by adjusting the contact area between the NW and metal electrode.This controlled self-welding may have potential applications in the construction of a complex nanostructure and improvement of the thermal stability of the M-S contact as well as the enhanced performance of the nanodevices based on the M-S-M nanostructure.

Design and Implementation Challenges of Microelectrode Arrays: A Review

The emerging field of neuroprosthetics is focused on design and implementation of neural prostheses to restore some of the lost neural functions. Remarkable progress has been reported at most bioelectronic levels—particularly the various brain-machine interfaces (BMIs)—but the electrode-tissue contacts (ETCs) remain one of the major obstacles. The success of these BMIs relies on electrodes which are in contact with the neural tissue. Biological response to chronic implantation of Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) is an essential factor in determining a successful electrode design. By altering the material compositions and geometries of the arrays, fabrication techniques of MEAs insuring these ETCs try to obtain consistent recording signals from small groups of neurons without losing microstimulation capabilities, while maintaining low-impedance pathways for charge injection, high-charge transfer, and high-spatial resolution in recent years. So far, none of these attempts have led to a major breakthrough. Clearly, much work still needs to be done to accept a standard model of MEAs for clinical purposes. In this paper, we review different microfabrication techniques of MEAs with their advantages and drawbacks, and comment on various coating materials to enhance electrode performance. Then, we propose high-density, three-dimensional (3D), silicon-based MEAs using micromachining methods. The geometries that will be used include arrays of penetrating variable-height probes.

BER-BCO耦合工艺净化模拟微污染河水及除磷机理研究

针对传统生物膜法对微污染河水脱氮除磷效率不佳的问题,设计了电极生物膜耦合生物接触氧化(BER-BCO)装置,采用单因素敏感性分析方法评估了不同碳源、电流密度、水力停留时间、填料填充比对工艺脱氮除磷效果的影响,并通过红外光谱表征阳极附近沉淀物表面特征官能团,探究系统除磷机理。结果表明,在使用乙酸钠为碳源、电流密度为0.09 mA/cm^(2)、水力停留时间控制为24 h、填料比为40%的条件下,BER-BCO系统的脱氮除磷效能得到了显著优化;NH+4-N、TN、TP的去除率分别达到了83.10%、56.46%、97.93%;最终出水除TN外均优于《地表水环境质量标准》(GB 3838-2002)中Ⅳ类水质标准;红外光谱分析显示阳极附近形成的含磷沉淀物中含有Fe-O键、P-O键、Fe-OH键,表明铁阳极具有高效除磷的特性。

基于双柔性电极模拟叉指图案电极的液体介电泳研究

介电泳通过非均匀电场作用于介电液体内偶极子影响表面润湿性,实现液滴接触角可调,克服了电润湿效应的接触角饱和限制,但其驱动电极需图案化处理,难以实现实用的三维可调光学器件.本文采用外裹绝缘介电层且互不导通的双柔性电极缠绕于平板基底形成二维平面线墙,模拟叉指图案电极以驱动液体介电泳,给出了“液滴-叉指平面线墙”模型的接触角与电压理论关系.在0—250 V_(rms)电压范围内实验测量的接触角变化可达32°,符合上述理论关系,为构造液体介电泳三维可调光学器件提供了理论和实验基础.

热电器件界面性能的研究现状

近年来,基于塞贝克效应的热电技术不断取得进展,热电器件已在多个领域得以运用。然而热电器件的各连接界面存在诸多挑战。尤其是热电材料与电极的界面处在实际运用中面临电阻、热阻高,接头处易老化失效等问题。这使得热电器件的转化效率远低于理论值,可靠性不足以支持其工业化运用,热电材料的器件化进程严重滞后于新型热电材料的开发进度。为此,本文重点归纳总结了热电器件中热电材料与电极连接界面的电传输、热传输、连接性能的评估指标及相关理论,并详细介绍了各指标的测定方法和一些常见的优化策略,以期扩展热电器件的界面研究,提升热电器件的综合性能,扩大热电器件的应用范围。

轨道交通接触网停电作业接触式验电器仿真研究

在轨道交通中,接触式验电器用于接触网停电作业中检测接触网是否停电,以确保作业地线的正确操作和检修工作安全进行。接触电极作为接触式验电器的重要组成部分,直接影响验电信号的采集。为研究接触式验电器的接触电极结构对验电结果的影响,以GSY-II型27.5 k V交流验电器和ZGD型1 500 V直流验电器为例,分析了其工作原理,并仿真研究了接触电极形状和长度的改变对验电结果的影响。仿真结果表明:对于交流验电器,改变接触电极形状为圆钩型和V型,内部电路的感应信号电压分别变化了3.1%和2.3%,该变化对验电结果影响较小;增加接触电极长度会提高感应信号电压,从而提高验电灵敏度。对于直流验电器,其接触电极形状和长度改变后,内部电路的信号电压保持不变,因此接触电极的形状和长度不影响验电结果。仿真结果为设计和优化验电器结构提供了参考依据。

背接触电池的低温主栅工艺分析

阐述主栅材料、电极结构和烘干工艺方面对背接触电池的影响,通过优化相关参数实现背接触电池的高转换效率,从而获得成本较低、生产节奏较快、效率更优的主栅工艺,促进生产发展。

Cyclic Bearing Mechanism of Suction Caissons Supporting Offshore Wind Turbines in Clay

The bearing behavior of suction caissons supporting offshore wind turbines under two-way cyclic lateral loading and dead load in clay was investigated with consideration of soil strength degradation and adhesive interface friction between caisson walls and heterogeneous clay using the finite-element package ABAQUS.An ABAQUS built-in user subroutine was programmed to calculate the adhesive interface friction between clay and caisson walls.The results of parametric studies showed that the degradation of bearing capacity could be aggravated by the decrease of the aspect ratio.The offset between the rotation point of the soil inside the caisson and the central axis of the caisson increased with the increasing vertical load and number of cycles.The linearly increasing strength profile and adhesive interface led to the formation of an inverted spoon failure zone inside the caisson.The settlement-rotation curves in each cycle moved downwards with increasing number of cycles due to the soil strength degradation.