Performance improvement of fully ambient air fabricated perovskite solar cells in an anti-solvent process using TiO2 hollow spheres.

The porosity optimization of an electron transporting layer (ETL) in the perovskite solar cells (PSCs) can make the effective pathways for transporting electron and blocking the holes. In the present study, the porosity modification effect of TiO2 paste as the most efficient ETL using TiO2 hollow spheres (TiO2 - HSs) on the air-processed formation of perovskite films is studied. In this procedure, the TiO2 - HSs were synthesized using removable carbonaceous sphere templates. Our characterization results demonstrated that prepared TiO2 - HSs showed an external diameters less than 200 nm with shell thickness about 20-30 nm. Due to the high porosity of the TiO2 - HSs, CH3NH3PbI3 sufficiently infiltrate into the modified ETL. Thus a high- quality perovskite film with large grain size and smooth surface fabricated on the modified ETL. Further time resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) investigation reveals that an increase in the electron injection and recombination resistance leading to the performance improvement of the PSCs. The best fully ambient processed device with a modified electron transporting layer exhibited an efficiency of 19.62%, which is 16.37% higher than the efficiency of the standard PSC. Application of TiO2-HSs in the ETL can help to the development of air-processed perovskite solar cells for commercialization in the future.

Biological Synthesis of Selenium Nanoparticles and Evaluation of their Bioavailability

ABSTRACT Nanoparticles due to their unique properties have attracted more attention and their bacterial biosynthesis is more favorable because is environmental friendly and the size and yield of nanoparticles can be optimized. The aim of the present study was biosynthesis of Selenium nanoparticles using Bacillus cereus. For this purpose, bacterial culture was prepared in the presence of sodium selenate solution and incubated (30°C, 24 h). The produced nanoparticles were purified through consequent centrifugation, washing with 0.9% NaCl, sonication, washing with Tris- HCl containing Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and finally isolation with water- octanol two phase systems. Then using Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), scaning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, nanoparticle production was confirmed. The bioavailability of nanoparticles was also investigated in rat. As a result of this study spherical selenium nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 170 nm were biosynthesized. MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) and MBC (minimum bactericidal concentration) of selenium for Bacillus cereus were same and equal to 75mM. Absorption and secretion of nanoselenium was significantly higher than bulk Selenium (P<0.05). In conclusion in the present study without any chemical substance, spherical Selenium nanoparticles were produced that do not have any environmental contamination. Furthermore, the metabolism of these particles suggests higher absorption rate of them that facilitates its application in medicine and also veterinary medicine.

Theoretical prediction of silicene as a new candidate for the anode of lithium-ion batteries.

Using density functional theory calculations, we determine the band structure and DOS of graphene and silicene supercell models. We also study the adsorption mechanism of Li metal atoms and Li-ions onto free-standing silicene (buckled, θ = 101.7°) and compare the results with those of graphene. In contrast to graphene, interactions between Li metal atoms and Li-ions with the silicene surface are quite strong due to its highly reactive buckled hexagonal structure. As a consequence of structural properties the adsorption height, the most stable adsorption site and energy barrier against Li diffusion are also discussed here to outline the prospects of using silicene in electronic devices such as Li ion batteries (LiBs), hydrogen storage and molecular machines. However, in most LiBs, graphene layers are used as anode electrodes. Here, it is shown that graphene has very limited Li storage capacity and low surface area than silicene. As our models are in good agreement with previous predictions, this finding presents a possible avenue for creating better anode materials that can replace graphene for higher capacity and better cycling performance of LiBs.

Colorimetric disposable paper coated with ZnO@ZnS core-shell nanoparticles for detection of copper ions in aqueous solutions.

In this study, we have proposed a new nanoparticle-containing test paper sensor that could be used as an inexpensive, easy-to-use, portable, and highly selective sensor to detect Cu(2+) ions in aqueous solutions. This disposable paper sensor is based on ZnO@ZnS core-shell nanoparticles. The core-shell nanoparticles were synthesized using a chemical method and then they were used for coating the paper. The synthesis of the ZnO@ZnS core-shell nanoparticles was performed at a temperature as low as 60 °C, and so far this is the lowest temperature for the synthesis of such core-shell nanoparticles. The sensitivity of the paper sensor was investigated for different Cu(2+) ion concentrations in aqueous solutions and the results show a direct linear relation between the Cu(2+) ions concentration and the color intensity of the paper sensor with a visual detection limit as low as 15 µM (∼0.96 ppm). Testing the present paper sensor on real river turbulent water shows a maximum 5% relative error for determining the Cu(2+) ions concentration, which confirms that the presented paper sensor can successfully be used efficiently for detection in complex solutions with high selectivity. Photographs of the paper sensor taken using a regular digital camera were transferred to a computer and analyzed by ImageJ Photoshop software. This finding demonstrates the potential of the present disposable paper sensor for the development of a portable, accurate, and selective heavy metal detection technology.

Influence of growth conditions on magnetite nanoparticles electro-crystallized in the presence of organic molecules.

Magnetite nanoparticles were synthesized by electrocrystallization in the presence of thiourea or sodium butanoate as an organic stabilizer. The synthesis was performed in a thermostatic electrochemical cell containing two iron electrodes with an aqueous solution of sodium sulfate as electrolyte. The effects of organic concentration, applied potential and growth temperature on particle size, morphology, structure and magnetic properties were investigated. The magnetite nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, magnetometry and Mössbauer spectrometry. When the synthesis is performed in the presence of sodium butanoate at 60 °C, a paramagnetic ferric salt is obtained as a second phase; it is possible to avoid formation of this phase, increase the specific magnetization and improve the structure of the oxide particles by tuning the growth conditions. Room-temperature magnetization values range from 45 to 90 Am2kg-1, depending on the particle size, type of surfactant and synthesis conditions. Mössbauer spectra, which were recorded at 290 K for all the samples, are typical of nonstoichiometric Fe3-δO4, with a small excess of Fe3+, 0.05 ≤ δ ≤ 0.15.