Electron Transport Layer-Free Solar Cells Based on Perovskite-Fullerene Blend Films with Enhanced Performance and Stability.

The solution processing of pinhole-free methylammonium lead triiodide perovskite-C70 fullerene (MAPbI3 :C70 ) blend films on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)-coated glass substrates is presented. Based on this approach, a simplified and robust protocol for the preparation of efficient electron-transport layer (ETL)-free perovskite solar cells is described. Power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.6 % under AM 1.5 G simulated sunlight is demonstrated for these devices. Comparative impedance spectroscopy and photostability analysis of the MAPbI3 :C70 and single MAPbI3 films compared with conventional compact TiO2 ETL-based devices are shown. The beneficial impact of using MAPbI3 :C70 blend films is emphasized.

Efficient Regular Perovskite Solar Cells Based on Pristine [70]Fullerene as Electron-Selective Contact.

[70]Fullerene is presented as an efficient alternative electron-selective contact (ESC) for regular-architecture perovskite solar cells (PSCs). A smart and simple, well-described solution processing protocol for the preparation of [70]- and [60]fullerene-based solar cells, namely the fullerene saturation approach (FSA), allowed us to obtain similar power conversion efficiencies for both fullerene materials (i.e., 10.4 and 11.4 % for [70]- and [60]fullerene-based devices, respectively). Importantly, despite the low electron mobility and significant visible-light absorption of [70]fullerene, the presented protocol allows the employment of [70]fullerene as an efficient ESC. The [70]fullerene film thickness and its solubility in the perovskite processing solutions are crucial parameters, which can be controlled by the use of this simple solution processing protocol. The damage to the [70]fullerene film through dissolution during the perovskite deposition is avoided through the saturation of the perovskite processing solution with [70]fullerene. Additionally, this fullerene-saturation strategy improves the performance of the perovskite film significantly and enhances the power conversion efficiency of solar cells based on different ESCs (i.e., [60]fullerene, [70]fullerene, and TiO2 ). Therefore, this universal solution processing protocol widens the opportunities for the further development of PSCs.

Graphitized carbon nanofiber-Pt nanoparticle hybrids as sensitive tool for preparation of screen printing biosensors. Detection of lactate in wines and ciders.

This work describes the fabrication of a new lactate biosensor. The strategy is based on the use of a novel hybrid nanomaterial for amperometric biosensors i.e. platinum nanoparticles (PtNps) supported on graphitized carbon nanofibers (PtNps/GCNF) prepared by chemical reduction of the Pt precursor at GCNF surfaces. The biosensors were constructed by covalent immobilization of lactate oxidase (LOx) onto screen printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) modified with PtNps (PtNps/GCNF-SPCEs) using polyethyleneimine (PEI) and glutaraldehyde (GA). Experimental variables concerning both the biosensor design and the detection process were investigated for an optimal analytical performance. Lactate biosensors show good reproducibility (RSD 4.9%, n=10) and sensitivity (41,302±546) µA/Mcm(2), with a good limit of detection (6.9µM). Covalent immobilization of the enzyme allows the reuse of the biosensor for several measurements, converting them in a cheap alternative to the solid electrodes. The long-term stability of the biosensors was also evaluated. 90% of the signal was kept after 3months of storage at room temperature (RT), while 95% was retained after 18months at -20°C. These results demonstrate that the method provides sensitive electrochemical lactate biosensors where the stability of the enzymatic activity can be preserved for a long period of time in adequate storage conditions.

Flexible viologen electrochromic devices with low operational voltages using reduced graphene oxide electrodes.

Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) films have been electrodeposited on indium tin oxide-coated polyethylene terephthalate (ITO-PET) substrates from graphene oxide (GO) solutions, and the resulting flexible transparent electrodes have been used in electrochromic devices of ethyl viologen (EtV(2+)). The electrochromic performance of devices with bare ITO-PET electrodes and ITO-PET coated with RGO has been compared. Under continuous cycling tests up to large voltages, the RGO film was oxidized and dispersed in the electrochromic mixture. The resulting devices, which contained GO and RGO in the electrochromic mixture, showed lower switching voltages between the colored and bleached states. This electrocatalytic activity of the solution-phase GO/RGO pair toward the electrochemical reaction of the electrochromic redox couple (the dication EtV(2+) and the radical cation EtV(+•)) allowed devices with an optical contrast higher than the contrast of those free of GO at the same applied voltage.

Disposable amperometric biosensor based on lactate oxidase immobilised on platinum nanoparticle-decorated carbon nanofiber and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) films.

A novel biosensor for lactate has been developed, using screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCE) and lactate oxidase (LOx). The active surface of the electrodes was modified using a dispersion of platinum nanoparticle decorated carbon nanofibers (PtNp-CNF) in poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride (PDDA) solution. In this way, sensitive, disposable, low cost and reliable hydrogen peroxide sensors were obtained. The immobilisation of LOx on top of these PtNp-CNF-PDDA/SPCEs resulted in amperometric biosensors with high operational stability. The sensitivity of the optimised lactate biosensor was 36.8 (mA/Mcm(2)) with a linear range of 25-1500 µM. The limit of detection was 11 µM (S/N=3). Reproducibility, selectivity and storage stability were also evaluated. Additionally, the stability of the biosensor was also predicted by a model based on thermal degradation. Finally, lactate in sweat and blood samples was determined in a sport test using LOx/PtNp-CNF-PDDA/SPCEs and commercial biosensors respectively. Based on these data, the validity of the sweat lactate for the determination of the lactate threshold is discussed.

Room temperature self-healing power of silicone elastomers having silver nanoparticles as crosslinkers.

Thiol-functionalised silicone-oils were crosslinked with silver nanoparticles to give mechanically consistent elastomers with high self-healing power. The materials were broken into small pieces and put together in intimate contact for 24 hours at room temperature, observing a complete macroscopic healing and a quantitative recovery of compression-stress and strain.

Designing neutral metallophilic hydrogels from di- and tripeptides.

Here we report the metallophilic attraction driven gel-forming capability of four cysteine-containing short peptides at neutral pH. Such peptides were designed to have an isoelectric point (pI) close to 7, aided by the introduction of an arginine unit with its highly basic guanidinium group.

Converting drugs into gelators: supramolecular hydrogels from N-acetyl-L-cysteine and coinage-metal salts.

Here we present the concept of metallophilic hydrogels, supramolecular systems in which the gelator species are metal-thiolates that self-assemble through metallophilic attractions. The principle is applied for a small drug, the mucolytic agent N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), which readily forms hydrogels in the presence of Au(iii), Ag(i) and Cu(ii) salts. The resulting transparent hydrogels present pH induced sol/gel transition. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements reveal a microporous structure in form of flakes for the three of them. The low pH at which these hydrogels are formed (pH < 4) limits their direct use as drug-delivery systems, but still this system constitutes a novel method for easy and fast conversion of small drugs into potent hydrogelators. Future developments will help to fully develop the idea in order to create a new class of supramolecular drug-delivery systems.

Phase diagrams in compressible weakly interacting all-polymer nanocomposites.

A compressible regular solution free energy model for describing the phase behavior of weakly interacting binary blends comprising nonrigid polymer nanoparticles and linear-polymer chains (i.e., all-polymer nanocomposites) has been developed by incorporating specific nanoparticle-nanoparticle and nanoparticle-polymer contributions into the original free volume theory for binary polymer blends of Ruzette et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 114, 8205 (2001)]. The extended model allows predicting phase behavior for weakly interacting polymer-nanoparticle/linear-polymer nanocomposites using only pure component properties (nanoparticle and polymer sizes, mass densities, coefficients of thermal expansion, and solubility parameters). The effect of polymer and nanoparticle size, as well as those arising from nanoparticle rigidity, exchange interaction energy and composition on the phase behavior of all-polymer nanocomposites have been systematically investigated. A rich variety of phase diagrams (including upper critical solution temperature-type, lower critical solution temperature-type, and hour-glass shape) are illustrated. Predicted phase diagrams for nonrigid poly(styrene)-nanoparticle (PS-np)/linear-poly(styrene) (l-PS), and branched poly(ethylene)-nanoparticle (PE-np)/l-PS nanocomposites were in excellent agreement with available experimental data.