Lead-based perovskites show very promising properties for use in solar cells; however, the toxicity of lead is a potential inhibitor for large-scale application of these solar cells. Here, a ...low-toxic bismuth halide, CsBi3I10, is synthesized from solution and the optical properties and crystal structure are compared with previously reported Cs3Bi2I9 perovskite, and the photovoltaic properties are also investigated. The XRD pattern suggests that the CsBi3I10 film has a layered structure with a different dominating crystal growth direction than the Cs3Bi2I9 perovskite. A band gap of 1.77 eV is obtained for the CsBi3I10 film, which is smaller than the band gap of Cs3Bi2I9 at 2.03 eV, and an extended visible light absorption spectrum is therefore obtained. The solar cell device with CsBi3I10 shows a photocurrent up to 700 nm, and this work shows therefore the possibility for increased light absorption and higher photocurrents in solar cells based on bismuth halide perovskites.
Goblet cells and their main secretory product, mucus, have long been poorly appreciated; however, recent discoveries have changed this and placed these cells at the center stage of our understanding ...of mucosal biology and the immunology of the intestinal tract. The mucus system differs substantially between the small and large intestine, although it is built around MUC2 mucin polymers in both cases. Furthermore, that goblet cells and the regulation of their secretion also differ between these two parts of the intestine is of fundamental importance for a better understanding of mucosal immunology. There are several types of goblet cell that can be delineated based on their location and function. The surface colonic goblet cells secrete continuously to maintain the inner mucus layer, whereas goblet cells of the colonic and small intestinal crypts secrete upon stimulation, for example, after endocytosis or in response to acetyl choline. However, despite much progress in recent years, our understanding of goblet cell function and regulation is still in its infancy.
In this study, we investigated associations between neuropsychiatric symptoms (i.e., apathy, anxiety, and depression) and cerebral atrophy, white matter lesions (WML), beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition, ...and cognitive decline in a nondemented sample. 104 cognitively unimpaired and 53 subjects with mild cognitive impairment were followed for up to 4 years within the Swedish BioFINDER study. Neuropsychiatric assessments included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Apathy Evaluation Scale. Magnetic resonance imaging and 18F-flutemetamol-positron emission tomography quantified brain atrophy, WML, and Aβ deposition. Mini-Mental State Examination assessed longitudinal global cognition. Regression analyses were used to test for associations. Apathy and anxiety were shown related to Aβ deposition and predicted cognitive decline. Anxiety also interacted with amyloid status to predict faster cognitive deterioration. Apathy was further related to frontotemporal and subcortical atrophy, as well as WML. To conclude, the associations between apathy and anxiety with Aβ deposition and cognitive decline point to these symptoms as early clinical manifestations of Alzheimer's disease.
•Apathy and anxiety are related to Aβ deposition and cognitive decline.•Anxiety interacts with Aβ to predict faster cognitive decline.•Apathy is associated with cerebral atrophy and white matter changes.
Here, a lead‐free silver bismuth iodide (AgI/BiI3) with a crystal structure with space group R3‾
m is investigated for use in solar cells. Devices based on the silver bismuth iodide deposited from ...solution on top of TiO2 and the conducting polymer poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl) (P3HT) as a hole‐transport layer are prepared and the photovoltaic performance is very promising with a power conversion efficiency over 2 %, which is higher than the performance of previously reported bismuth‐halide materials for solar cells. Photocurrent generation is observed between 350 and 700 nm, and the maximum external quantum efficiency is around 45 %. The results are compared to solar cells based on the previously reported material AgBi2I7, and we observe a clearly higher performance for the devices with the new silver and bismuth iodides composition and different crystal structure. The X‐ray diffraction spectrum of the most efficient silver bismuth iodide material shows a hexagonal crystal structure with space group R3‾
m, and from the light absorption spectrum we obtain an indirect band gap energy of 1.62 eV and a direct band gap energy of 1.85 eV. This report shows the possibility for finding new structures of metal‐halides efficient in solar cells and points out new directions for further exploration of lead‐free metal‐halide solar cells.
Minus the lead: Devices based on silver bismuth iodide deposited from solution on top of TiO2 and the conducting polymer poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl) (P3HT) as a hole‐transport layer are prepared and the photovoltaic performance is very promising with a power conversion efficiency over 2 %.
The hole transporting material (HTM) is an essential component in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) for efficient extraction and collection of the photoinduced charges. Triphenylamine- and ...carbazole-based derivatives have extensively been explored as alternative and economical HTMs for PSCs. However, the improvement of their power conversion efficiency (PCE), as well as further investigation of the relationship between the chemical structure of the HTMs and the photovoltaic performance, is imperatively needed. In this respect, a simple carbazole-based HTM X25 was designed on the basis of a reference HTM, triphenylamine-based X2, by simply linking two neighboring phenyl groups in a triphenylamine unit through a carbon–carbon single bond. It was found that a lowered highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level was obtained for X25 compared to that of X2. Besides, the carbazole moiety in X25 improved the molecular planarity as well as conductivity property in comparison with the triphenylamine unit in X2. Utilizing the HTM X25 in a solar cell with mixed-ion perovskite HC(NH2)20.85(CH3NH3)0.15Pb(I0.85Br0.15)3, a highest reported PCE of 17.4% at 1 sun (18.9% under 0.46 sun) for carbazole-based HTM in PSCs was achieved, in comparison of a PCE of 14.7% for triphenylamine-based HTM X2. From the steady-state photoluminescence and transient photocurrent/photovoltage measurements, we conclude that (1) the lowered HOMO level for X25 compared to X2 favored a higher open-circuit voltage (V oc) in PSCs; (2) a more uniform formation of X25 capping layer than X2 on the surface of perovskite resulted in more efficient hole transport and charge extraction in the devices. In addition, the long-term stability of PSCs with X25 is significantly enhanced compared to X2 due to its good uniformity of HTM layer and thus complete coverage on the perovskite. The results provide important information to further develop simple and efficient small molecular HTMs applied in solar cells.
Lead halide perovskite solar cells have significantly increased in both efficiency and stability over the last decade. An important aspect of their long-term stability is the reaction between the ...perovskite and other materials in the solar cell. This includes the contact materials and their degradation if they can potentially come into contact through, e.g., pinholes or material diffusion and migration. Here, we explore the interactions of silver contacts with lead halide perovskites of different compositions by using a model system where thermally evaporated silver was deposited directly on the surface of the perovskites. Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy with support from scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and UV–visible absorption spectroscopy, we studied the film formation and degradation of silver on perovskites with different compositions. The deposited silver does not form a continuous silver film but instead tends to form particles on a bare perovskite surface. These particles are initially metallic in character but degrade into AgI and AgBr over time. The degradation and migration appear unaffected by the replacement of methylammonium with cesium but are significantly slowed down by the complete replacement of iodide with bromide. The direct contact between silver and the perovskite also significantly accelerates the degradation of the perovskite, with a significant loss of organic cations and the possible formation of PbO, and, at the same time, changed the surface morphology of the iodide-rich perovskite interface. Our results further indicate that an important degradation pathway occurred through gas-phase perovskite degradation products. This highlights the importance of control over the interface materials and the use of completely hermetical barrier layers for the long-term stability and therefore the commercial viability of silver electrodes.
Summary
Asthma is characterized by airway inflammation rich in eosinophils. Airway eosinophilia is associated with exacerbations and has been suggested to play a role in airway remodelling. ...Recruitment of eosinophils from the circulation requires that blood eosinophils become activated, leading to their arrest on the endothelium and extravasation. Circulating eosinophils can be envisioned as potentially being in different activation states, including non‐activated, pre‐activated or ‘primed’, or fully activated. In addition, the circulation can potentially be deficient of pre‐activated or activated eosinophils, because such cells have marginated on activated endothelium or extravasated into the tissue. A number of eosinophil surface proteins, including CD69, L‐selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1, CD54), CD44, P‐selectin glycoprotein ligand‐1 (PSGL‐1, CD162), cytokine receptors, Fc receptors, integrins including αM integrin (CD11b), and activated conformations of Fc receptors and integrins, have been proposed to report cell activation. Variation in eosinophil activation states may be associated with asthma activity. Eosinophil surface proteins proposed to be activation markers, with a particular focus on integrins, and evidence for associations between activation states of blood eosinophils and features of asthma are reviewed here. Partial activation of β1 and β2 integrins on blood eosinophils, reported by monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) N29 and KIM‐127, is associated with impaired pulmonary function and airway eosinophilia, respectively, in non‐severe asthma. The association with lung function does not occur in severe asthma, presumably due to greater eosinophil extravasation, specifically of activated or pre‐activated cells, in severe disease.
We report on perovskite (CH3NH3)PbI3-sensitized solid-state solar cells using spiro-OMeTAD, poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) and 4-(diethylamino)benzaldehyde diphenylhydrazone (DEH) as hole ...transport materials (HTMs) with a light to electricity power conversion efficiency of 8.5%, 4.5%, and 1.6%, respectively, under AM 1.5G illumination of 1000 W/m2 intensity. Photoinduced absorption spectroscopy (PIA) shows that hole transfer occurs from the (CH3NH3)PbI3 to HTMs after excitation of (CH3NH3)PbI3. The electron lifetime (τe) in these devices are in the order Spiro-OMeTAD > P3HT > DEH, while the charge transport time (t tr) is rather similar. The difference in τe can therefore explain the lower efficiency of the devices based on P3HT and DEH. This report shows that the nature of the HTM is essential for charge recombination and elucidates that finding an optimal HTM for the perovskite solar cell includes controlling the perovskite/HTM interaction. Design routes for new HTMs are suggested.
Cesium and methylammonium bismuth iodides (Cs3Bi2I9 and MA3Bi2I9) are new low-toxic and air stable compounds in the perovskite solar cell family with promising characteristics. Here, the electronic ...structure and the nature of their optical transitions, dielectric constant, and charge carrier properties are assessed for photovoltaic applications with density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experiments. The calculated direct and indirect band gap values for Cs3Bi2I9 (2.17 and 2.0 eV) and MA3Bi2I9 (2.17 and 1.97 eV) are found to be in good agreement with the experimental optical band gaps (2.2, 2.0 eV and 2.4, 2.1 eV for Cs3Bi2I9 and MA3Bi2I9, respectively) estimated for solution-processed films. There is an error cancelation in the DFT calculated band gap similar to that for lead perovskites. However, fully relativistic DFT calculations indicate that the size of the spin orbit coupling (SOC) error cancelation for bismuth perovskite (0.5 eV) is less than for lead perovskite (1 eV), and other factors are therefore also important. Band structure calculations show high effective masses of the charge carriers along the c-axis but on the other hand lower electron effective mass in the a–b planes, revealing the interesting possibility for a directional charge transport. Calculations of dielectric constants, absorption coefficients, carrier effective masses, and exciton binding energies emphasize the fundamental differences between the lead and bismuth iodide perovskites and clarify the reasons behind the lower power conversion efficiency of bismuth iodide perovskite solar cells. Also the calculations show that the orientational disorder of the MA dipoles in the lattice has meaningful impacts on the near valence and conduction band edge of the electronic structure.
Metal halide compounds with photovoltaic properties prepared from solution have received increased attention for utilization in solar cells. In this work, low-toxicity cesium bismuth iodides are ...synthesized from solution, and their photovoltaic and optical properties as well as electronic and crystal structures are investigated. The X-ray diffraction patterns reveal that a CsI/BiI3 precursor ratio of 1.5:1 can convert pure rhombohedral BiI3 to pure hexagonal Cs3Bi2I9, but any ratio intermediate of this stoichiometry and pure BiI3 yields a mixture containing the two crystalline phases Cs3Bi2I9 and BiI3, with their relative fraction depending on the CsI/BiI3 ratio. Solar cells from the series of compounds are characterized, showing the highest efficiency for the compounds with a mixture of the two structures. The energies of the valence band edge were estimated using hard and soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for more bulk and surface electronic properties, respectively. On the basis of these measurements, together with UV–vis–near-IR spectrophotometry, measuring the band gap, and Kelvin probe measurements for estimating the work function, an approximate energy diagram has been compiled clarifying the relationship between the positions of the valence and conduction band edges and the Fermi level.
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