Effect of hole-transporting materials on the photovoltaic performance and stability of all-ambient-processed perovskite solar cells

High-efficiency perovskite solar cells（PSCs） reported hitherto have been mostly prepared in a moisture and oxygen-free glove-box atmosphere, which hampers upscaling and real-time performance assessment of this exciting photovoltaic technology. In this work, we have systematically studied the feasibility of allambient-processing of PSCs and evaluated their photovoltaic performance. It has been shown that phasepure crystalline tetragonal MAPbI;perovskite films are instantly formed in ambient air at room temperature by a two-step spin coating process, undermining the need for dry atmosphere and post-annealing.All-ambient-processed PSCs with a configuration of FTO/TiO;/MAPbI;/Spiro-OMeTAD/Au achieve opencircuit voltage（990 mV） and short-circuit current density（20.31 mA/cm;） comparable to those of best reported glove-box processed devices. Nevertheless, device power conversion efficiency is still constrained at 5% by the unusually low fill-factor of 0.25. Dark current–voltage characteristics reveal poor conductivity of hole-transporting layer caused by lack of oxidized spiro-OMe TAD species, resulting in high seriesresistance and decreased fill-factor. The study also establishes that the above limitations can be readily overcome by employing an inorganic p-type semiconductor, copper thiocyanate, as ambient-processable hole-transporting layer to yield a fill-factor of 0.54 and a power conversion efficiency of 7.19%. The present findings can have important implications in industrially viable fabrication of large-area PSCs.

Continuous Wave Diode Laser Surface Texturing of Austenitic and Pearlitic Steels

Microstructuring of steel resulting in directional solidification and texturing, previously observed in various metallic materials during pulsed laser processing, melt-spinning, high-gradient liquid metal melting, zone melting etc., is reported for the first time in continuous wave diode laser processing of steels. Influence of laser interaction time on surface morphology/topology of austenitic manganese and pearlitic steels is investigated utilizing a wide rectangular multi-mode diode laser beam. X-ray diffraction analysis of the laser treated austenitic steel surface showed strong texturing influence, with preferred crystallographic orientation of γ-Fe crystals in the (200) plane, which increased with interaction time. In case of pearlitic steel, no such texturing influence could be observed. The free surface topologies were also observed to be different in each case, with well-aligned domes of γ-Fe observed in laser treated austenitic steel as compared to randomly oriented fine domes of metal oxides in pearlitic one. In situ surface temperature measurement during laser irradiation indicated higher temperature on pearlitic steel than in austenitic manganese steel owing to its lower effective thermal conductivity associated with higher oxide film formation.

Evaluation of self-healing properties of inhibitor loaded nanoclay-based anticorrosive coatings on magnesium alloy AZ91D

This study emphasizes on the evaluation and comparison of the anticorrosive properties of sol-gel coatings with and without inhibitor loaded nanocontainers.In this case,naturally available clay nanotubes(halloysite)were loaded with cationic corrosion inhibitors Ce 3+/Zr 4+.These nanocontainers were dispersed in hybrid organic-inorganic sol-gel matrix sol.Coating was applied on magnesium alloy AZ91D using the sols containing modified and unmodified nanocontainers employing the dip coating method and cured at 130℃for 1 h in air.Corrosion resistance of coated/uncoated substrates were analyzed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy,potentiodynamic polarization and weight loss measurements after exposure to 3.5 wt%NaCl solution for varying time durations between 24 h to 120 h.Self-healing ability of coatings was evaluated by micro-Raman spectroscopy after 120 h exposure to 3.5 wt%NaCl solution.Coatings generated after dispersion of corrosion inhibitor loaded clay in hybrid sol-gel matrix have shown more promising corrosion resistance when compared to just the sol-gel matrix coatings,after prolonged exposure to corrosive environment.

Release rate kinetics of corrosion inhibitor loaded halloysite nanotube-based anticorrosion coatings on magnesium alloy AZ91D

Halloysite nanotubes were used as nanocontainers to hold corrosion inhibitors such as Ce^(3+)-Zr^(4+),2-mercaptobenzothiazole and 8-hydroxyquinoline in their lumen.An acid assisted etching of the nanotubes was carried out with a view to increase the lumen diameter and thereby,increase the amount of loading of the corrosion inhibitor.The morphology of as-received and etched halloysite nanotubes was ob-served using TEM analysis.The loading of corrosion inhibitors was confirmed using SEM-EDS and BET analysis.Polymeric microcapsules were used as capping agents for the ends of the loaded HNTs following which,they were dispersed into a hybrid sol-gel silica matrix.Dip coating method was used to generate coatings on AZ91D substrates followed by heat treatment at 130℃ for 1 h.The release rate kinetics of corrosion inhibitors from as-received and etched nanotubes was investigated in buffer solutions of 3.5 wt%NaCl at different pH.The release mechanism of corrosion inhibitors from the HNT lumen was validated using various semi-empirical models.Coatings were also evaluated for their corrosion protection ability using electrochemical techniques after exposure to 3.5 wt%NaCl solution for 120 h.Coatings generated using Ce^(3+)-Zr^(4+)loaded into as-received halloysite nanotubes have shown more effective corrosion protection when compared to other corrosion inhibitors after 120 h exposure to the corrosive medium.

Fabrication of ceramic coatings on the biodegradable ZM21 magnesium alloy by PEO coupled EPD followed by laser texturing process

Zirconia(ZrO_2)incorporated ceramic coatings were fabricated on biodegradable ZM21 Mg alloy by the PEO coupled with EPD process.Subsequently,the sample surface was modified by laser texturing to improve the corrosion resistance,roughness and cell proliferation and growth properties.The corrosion performance of the fabricated samples along with the substrate was studied by electrochemical measurements under simulated body fluid(SBF)environment.The cell direct contact assay was conducted for the substrate and fabricated samples using L-929 mouse fibroblast cells for 24 h.The phase contrast images of cell direct contact assay revealed that fabricated samples exhibited better contact and response with the fibroblast cells,compared to the substrate.The addition of nanoparticles in the PEO process,called PEO coupled EPD process,resulted in attaining a higher thickness and improved corrosion performance of the samples than the PEO coated samples.Among all the samples,laser surface textured PEO,and PEO-EPD coated samples unveiled enhanced corrosion resistance,cell growth,thereby enabling it as a suitable prototype for biodegradable implant applications.

High-temperature elemental segregation induced structure degradation in high-entropy fluorite oxide

Fluorite-structured oxides constitute an important category of oxides with a wide range of high-temperature applications.Following the concept of high entropy,high-entropy fluorite oxides(HEFOs)have showcased intriguing high-temperature application potential.However,unlocking this potential necessitates an assessment of their long-term stability under high-temperature conditions.In this study,we conducted a prolonged heat treatment at 1000℃on typical HEFO,specifically(CeHfZrGdLa)O_(x).After 100 h,high-intensity X-ray diffraction(XRD)revealed a transition from a single-phase fluorite to a multi-phase configuration.Further investigation by analytical electron microscoy(AEM)demonstrated that this degradation resulted from facilitated element diffusion and consequent escalating chemical fluctuation at high temperatures,leading to spontaneous segregation and separation of Ce and La elements,forming Ce-rich,La-poor,and La-rich phases.Notably,the La-rich phase spontaneously transformed from a fluorite structure(space group Fm3m)to a bixbyite structure(space group Ia3)at elevated temperatures,resulting in the appearance of superstructure reflection in XRD profiles and electron diffraction patterns.Despite the intricate phase decomposition,the energy band gap showed minimal variation,suggesting potential property stability of(CeHfZrGdLa)O_(x)across a broad range of compositions.These findings offer valuable insights into the future applications of HEFOs.

Correlation of microstructure and magnetic properties in Sm(Co_(bal)Fe_(0.1)Cu_(0.1)Zr_(0.033))_(6.93) magnets solution-treated at different temperatures

The correlation of microstructure and magnetic properties in Sm(Co_(bal)Fe_(0.1)Cu_(0.1)Zr_(0.033))_(6.93) magnets solution-treated at different temperatures was systematically investigated. It is found that the magnets solution-treated at 1219℃ possess a single 1:7 H phase, exhibiting the homogeneous cellular structure during further aging treatment, leading to the optimum magnetic properties. However, for the magnets solution-treated at 1211 and 1223℃,2:17 H or 1:5 H secondary phase will also form besides 1:7 H main phase, which cannot transform into cellular structure,thus deteriorating the magnetic properties greatly. The irreversible magnetization investigations with recoil loops also propose a non-uniform pinning in the magnets induced by the secondary precipitates. At proper solution temperature, Zr is supposed to occupy the Fe-Fe dumbbell sites in the form of Zr-vacancy pairs, leading to the minimum c/a ratio and thus stabilizing the 1:7 H phase. Finally,Sm(Co_(bal)Fe_(0.1)Cu_(0.1)Zr_(0.033))_(6.93) magnets with the maximum energy product and intrinsic coercivity at 550℃ up to 60.73 kJ·m^(-3) and 553.88 kA·m^(-1) were prepared by powder metallurgy method.

Coercivity kinetics upon step annealing of sintered Sm(Co0.88-xFexCu0.09Zr0.03)7 magnets

Behavior of the coercivity of the high-temperature Sm(Co0.88-xFexCu0.09Zr0.03)7 magnets depending on the temperature and time of annealing with the temperature decreasing stepwise from 700 to 400℃ was investigated.It is shown that the growth rate of coercivity abruptly increases at the initial stage of annealing in the vicinity of the Curie temperature of the SmCo5 phase.The origin of the effect is the counter diffusion of Cu and Co atoms through dislocation tubes,which form because of enhanced stresses and a partial breakage of coherent coupling at the interface of the Sm2 Co17 and SmCo5 phases.Diffusive enrichment of the SmCo5 phase in Cu close to the interface with Sm2 Co17 leads to relaxation of stresses and increases in the gradient of the magnetic domain-wall energy and coercivity.