Solution-processed CuIn(S,Se)2 absorber layers for application in thin film solar cells

A pure solution-based approach is proposed for the fabrication of high quality CuIn(S,Se)2 (CIS) thin films. This is an alternative procedure to the hydrazine-based route and involves the dissolution of metal chalcogenides in a safer solvent combination. The solvent mixture used in this work has the same advantages as hydrazine, such as good solubility of metal chalcogenides and clean decomposition, which is a prerequisite for high quality absorber layers. The solvents that are used are also much less toxic compared to hydrazine and can potentially result in a more feasibly industrially scalable deposition technology for CIS and the related alloys including Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 (CIGS). The characterization of the obtained thin film material verifies the presence of the CIS chalcopyrite phase with good crystal growth

Properties of Calcium Phosphate/Hydrogel Bone Grafting Composite on the Model of Diaphyseal Rat Femur’s Defect: Experimental Study

Background. The problem of bone defects replacement is relevant nowadays, that is why many scientists create new synthetic bone substitutes, but the ideal material has not been found so far. The aims of the study: 1) to determine the suitability of the monocortical defect model in the rat femur diaphysis with additional prophylactic reinforcement with a bone plate for assessing the biological properties of implanted materials using the commercially available ChronOS material as an example; 2) to assess of the osteoconductive properties of composite materials based on poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate and octacalcium phosphate with architecture Kelvin and gyroid types on the developed model. Methods. A prospective study, level of evidence II. A monocortical defect of the rat femoral diaphysis (length 7 mm) was produced under anaesthesia in aseptic conditions and fixed with a polyetheretherketone plate and six titanium screws. In the control group, the defect was left empty. In other groups, blocks of one of three materials were implanted сhronOS and composites of poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate and octacalcium phosphate with 3D-printed Kelvin and gyroid architectures. After 3 and 6 weeks, the rats were sacrificed, and histological examination of the defect zone was performed. The amount of newly formed bone tissue was histometricly assessed, followed by statistical processing of the results. Results. All rats have reached the planned endpoint, and there were no infectious complications or loss of fixation. Histological examination of the defect zone revealed minimal bone growth in the Control group, rather slow bone formation in the Gyroid group, and statistically significantly more pronounced bone formation in the pores of the materials in the Kelvin and Chronos groups. Conclusions. Bone defect in this model was not spontaneously filled with bone tissue and allowed us to study the biological properties of bone substitutes (the ability to biodegrade and osteoconductive properties). The osteoconductive properties of a composite material based on poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate and octacalcium phosphate with a Kelvin architecture are higher than with a gyroid architecture and are comparable to that of the сhronOS

Magnetic fields in cosmic particle acceleration sources

We review here some magnetic phenomena in astrophysical particle accelerators associated with collisionless shocks in supernova remnants, radio galaxies and clusters of galaxies. A specific feature is that the accelerated particles can play an important role in magnetic field evolution in the objects. We discuss a number of CR-driven, magnetic field amplification processes that are likely to operate when diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) becomes efficient and nonlinear. The turbulent magnetic fields produced by these processes determine the maximum energies of accelerated particles and result in specific features in the observed photon radiation of the sources. Equally important, magnetic field amplification by the CR currents and pressure anisotropies may affect the shocked gas temperatures and compression, both in the shock precursor and in the downstream flow, if the shock is an efficient CR accelerator. Strong fluctuations of the magnetic field on scales above the radiation formation length in the shock vicinity result in intermittent structures observable in synchrotron emission images. Resonant and non-resonant CR streaming instabilities in the shock precursor can generate mesoscale magnetic fields with scale-sizes comparable to supernova remnants and even superbubbles. This opens the possibility that magnetic fields in the earliest galaxies were produced by the first generation Population III supernova remnants and by clustered supernovae in star forming regions.Comment: 30 pages, Space Science Review

Magnetic Fields, Relativistic Particles, and Shock Waves in Cluster Outskirts

It is only now, with low-frequency radio telescopes, long exposures with high-resolution X-ray satellites and gamma-ray telescopes, that we are beginning to learn about the physics in the periphery of galaxy clusters. In the coming years, Sunyaev-Zeldovich telescopes are going to deliver further great insights into the plasma physics of these special regions in the Universe. The last years have already shown tremendous progress with detections of shocks, estimates of magnetic field strengths and constraints on the particle acceleration efficiency. X-ray observations have revealed shock fronts in cluster outskirts which have allowed inferences about the microphysical structure of shocks fronts in such extreme environments. The best indications for magnetic fields and relativistic particles in cluster outskirts come from observations of so-called radio relics, which are megaparsec-sized regions of radio emission from the edges of galaxy clusters. As these are difficult to detect due to their low surface brightness, only few of these objects are known. But they have provided unprecedented evidence for the acceleration of relativistic particles at shock fronts and the existence of muG strength fields as far out as the virial radius of clusters. In this review we summarise the observational and theoretical state of our knowledge of magnetic fields, relativistic particles and shocks in cluster outskirts.Comment: 34 pages, to be published in Space Science Review

Asymmetric synthesis: From transition metals to organocatalysis

Umpolung in the allylation reaction is discussed with examples drawn from transition-metal-catalyzed allylic substitution (with the allylic unit acting as an electrophile) and Lewis base-catalyzed allylation of aldehydes with allyltrichlorosilane (with the allyl acting as a nucleophile). Iridium-catalyzed electrophilic allylation of O-nucleophiles has been employed in our new approach to C-nucleoside analogs, where the C-O bond (rather than C-C) was constructed stereospecifically. Variation of the absolute configuration in the starting segments allowed the synthesis of all four combinations of D/L-α/ β-ribosides. In the nucleophilic allylation of aldehydes, chiral pyridine-type N-oxide catalysts are presented, in particular QUINOX and METHOX, and the intriguing behavior of QUINOX is discussed. Here, the π-π interactions between the substrate aldehyde and the catalyst are suggested to rationalize the experimental observations. Good correlation between the calculated energies for the transition states and the experimentally observed enantioselectivities has been obtained

Synthesis of γ-functionalized allyltrichlorosilanes and their application in the asymmetric allylation of aldehydes

Isomerically pure trans- and cis-γ-bromoallyltrichlorosilanes 4 and 5 have been synthesized and shown to react with aromatic aldehydes 1 in the presence of Lewis-basic catalysts (e.g., DMF) to produce the corresponding anti- and syn-allylbromohydrins 8 and 9, respectively, as single diastereoisomers. With BINAPO 25 as a chiral catalyst, promising enantioselectivity (⩽50% ee) has been attained

Asymmetric reduction of imines with trichlorosilane, catalyzed by sigamide, an amino acid-derived formamide: scope and limitations

Enantioselective reduction of ketimines 6-10 With trichlorosilane can be catalyzed by the N-methyl valine-derived Lewis-basic formamide (S)-23 (Sigamide) with high enantioselectivity (<= 97% ee) land low catalyst loading, (1 - 5 mol %) at room temperature in toluene. The reaction is efficient with ketimines derived from aromatic amines (aniline and anisidine) and aromatic, heteroaromatic, conjugated, and even nonaromatic ketones 1-5, in which the steric difference between the alkyl groups R-1 and R-2 is sufficient. Simple nitrogen heteroaromatics (8a,b,d) exhibit low enantioselectivities due to the competing coordination of the reagent but increased steric hindrance in the Vicinity of the nitrogen (8c,e) results in a considerable improvement. Cyclic imines 32d-d exhibited low to modest enantioselectivities

Organocatalysis with a fluorous tag: Asymmetric reduction of imines with trichlorosilane catalyzed by amino acid-derived formamides

Asymmetric reduction of ketimines 1 with trichlorosilane can be catalyzed by N-methylvaline-derived Lewis-basic formamides 3a−d with high enantioselectivity (≤95% ee) and low catalyst loading (1−5 mol %) at room temperature in toluene. Appending a fluorous tag, as in 5a−c, simplifies the isolation procedure, while preserving high enantioselectivity (≤92% ee)

Harnessing Applied Potential: The Anti-Markovnikov Hydrocarboxylation of Substituted Olefins

The construction of carboxylic acid compounds in a selective fashion, from low value materials such as alkenes remains a long-standing challenge to synthetic chemists. In particular, anti-Markovnikov addition to styrenes are underdeveloped. Herein we report a new electrosynthetic approach to the selective hydrocarboxylation of substituted alkenes.</div