Fingerprints Indicating Superior Properties of Internal Interfaces in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Thin-Film Solar Cells

Growth of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) absorbers under Cu-poor conditions gives rise to incorporation of numerous defects into the bulk, whereas the same absorber grown under Cu-rich conditions leads to a stoichiometric bulk with minimum defects. This suggests that CIGS absorbers grown under Cu-rich conditions are more suitable for solar cell applications. However, the CIGS solar cell devices with record efficiencies have all been fabricated under Cu-poor conditions, despite the expectations. Therefore, in the present work, both Cu-poor and Cu-rich CIGS cells are investigated, and the superior properties of the internal interfaces of the Cu-poor CIGS cells, such as the p-n junction and grain boundaries, which always makes them the record-efficiency devices, are shown. More precisely, by employing a correlative microscopy approach, the typical fingerprints for superior properties of internal interfaces necessary for maintaining a lower recombination activity in the cell is discovered. These are a Cu-depleted and Cd-enriched CIGS absorber surface, near the p-n junction, as well as a negative Cu factor (∆β) and high Na content (>1.5 at%) at the grain boundaries. Thus, this work provides key factors governing the device performance (efficiency), which can be considered in the design of next-generation solar cells

Pre-treatment with high molecular weight free PEG effectively suppresses anti-PEG antibody induction by PEG-liposomes in mice

Immune responses against polyethylene glycol (PEG) can lead to the rapid clearance of PEGylated drugs and are associated with increased risk of serious adverse events such as infusion reactions and anaphylaxis. Although select PEGylated therapeutics can induce anti-PEG antibodies (APA), there is currently no readily deployable strategy to mitigate their negative effects. Given the large number of PEGylated therapeutics that are either FDA-approved or in clinical development, methods that suppress APA induction to ensure the safety and efficacy of PEGylated drugs in patients would be a valuable clinical tool. We previously showed that infusion of high molecular weight (MW) free PEG can safely and effectively restore the circulation of PEG liposomes in animals with high pre-existing titers of APA, without stimulating additional APA production. Here, we explored the effectiveness of prophylaxis with free PEG or tolerogenic PEGylated liposomes as a strategy to reduce the amount of APA induced by subsequently administered PEGylated liposomes. Surprisingly, we found that a single administration of free PEG alone was capable of markedly reducing the APA response to PEG-liposomes for ~2 months; the effectiveness was comparable to, and frequently exceeded, interventions with different tolerogenic PEG-liposomes. These results support further investigations of free PEG prophylaxis as a potential strategy to ameliorate the APA response to sensitizing PEGylated therapeutics

Identifying the location of Cu ions in nanostructured SAPO 5 molecular sieves and its impact on the redox properties

Combining X ray Absorption Fine Spectroscopy XAFS with Anomalous Small Angle X ray Scattering ASAXS determines the location of Cu2 ions in silicoaluminophosphate SAPO 5 frameworks prepared by hydrothermal crystallization or impregnation. As expected, for the hydrothermally prepared sample, incorporation in the SAPO 5 framework was observed. For the first time preferential location of Cu2 ions at the inner and outer surfaces of the framework is determined. Temperature Programmed Reduction TPR and X ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy XPS investigations demonstrated that such Cu2 is stable in an argon Ar atmosphere up to 550 C and can only be reduced under a hydrogen atmosphere. In contrast, Cu2 deposited by impregnation on the pure SAPO 5 framework can be easily reduced to Cu in an Ar atmosphere. At lower Cu amounts, mononuclear tetrahedrally coordinated Cu species were formed which are relatively stable in the monovalent form. In contrast, at higher Cu amounts, CuO particles were found which change easily between the mono and bivalent specie

Confinement-induced phonon softening and hardening in Sb2Te3 thin films

Scaling effects in Sesqui-chalcogenides are of major interest to understand and optimize their performance in heavily scaled applications, including topological insulators and phase-change devices. A combined experimental and theoretical study is presented for molecular beam epitaxy-grown films of antimony-telluride (Sb2Te3). Structural,vibrational, optical, and bonding properties upon varying confinement are studied for thicknesses ranging from 1.3 to 56 nm. In ultrathin films, the low-frequency coherent phonons of A(1g)(1) symmetry are softened compared to the bulk (64.5 cm(-1) at 1.3 nm compared to 68 cm(-1) at 55.8 nm). A concomitant increase of the high-frequency A(1g)(2) Raman mode is seen. X-ray diffraction analyses unravel an accompanying out of plane stretch by 5%, mainly stemming from an increase in the Te-Te gap. This conclusion is supported by density functional theory slab models, which reveal a significant dependency of chemical bonding on film thickness. Changes in atomic arrangement, vibrational frequencies, and bonding extend over a thickness range much larger than observed for other material classes. The finding of these unexpectedly pronounced thickness-dependent effects in quasi-2D material Sb2Te3 allows tuning of the film properties with thickness. The results are discussed in the context of a novel bond-type, characterized by a competition between electron localization and delocalization

Optimization of Multi-Energy Systems for Efficient Power-to-X Conversion

This paper reviews the work in the areas of optimization and efficiency enhancement of multi-energy systems (MES) for power-to-X conversion. The first study delves into the deployment of Power-to-Hydrogen (PtH2) within district-scale MES, emphasizing the role of PtH2 in achieving zero operational CO2 emissions, especially in systems with high renewable energy generation. The study also highlights the significance of heat pump efficiency, battery capital cost, and lifetime in influencing PtH2 implementation. The second investigation focuses on the integration of energy strategies for the transport and building sectors. It introduces a multi-objective optimization model that considers both sectors, aiming to minimize costs and life-cycle emissions. The findings suggest a potential transition from internal combustion engines to battery electric vehicles and a shift from gas boilers to heat pumps, leading to substantial emission reductions by 2050. Lastly, the third research explores the potential of power-to-gas (P2G) technology in enhancing the integration of renewable energy. By coordinating P2G with CO2-based electrothermal energy storage (ETES), the study demonstrates a significant improvement in the recovery efficiency of surplus wind power. Collectively, these studies underscore the importance of optimizing MES for sustainable and efficient energy conversion

GPR54 (KISS1R) Transactivates EGFR to Promote Breast Cancer Cell Invasiveness

Kisspeptins (Kp), peptide products of the Kisspeptin-1 (KISS1) gene are endogenous ligands for a G protein-coupled receptor 54 (GPR54). Previous findings have shown that KISS1 acts as a metastasis suppressor in numerous cancers in humans. However, recent studies have demonstrated that an increase in KISS1 and GPR54 expression in human breast tumors correlates with higher tumor grade and metastatic potential. At present, whether or not Kp signaling promotes breast cancer cell invasiveness, required for metastasis and the underlying mechanisms, is unknown. We have found that kisspeptin-10 (Kp-10), the most potent Kp, stimulates the invasion of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and Hs578T cells using Matrigel-coated Transwell chamber assays and induces the formation of invasive stellate structures in three-dimensional invasion assays. Furthermore, Kp-10 stimulated an increase in matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-9 activity. We also found that Kp-10 induced the transactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Knockdown of the GPCR scaffolding protein, β-arrestin 2, inhibited Kp-10-induced EGFR transactivation as well as Kp-10 induced invasion of breast cancer cells via modulation of MMP-9 secretion and activity. Finally, we found that the two receptors associate with each other under basal conditions, and FRET analysis revealed that GPR54 interacts directly with EGFR. The stability of the receptor complex formation was increased upon treatment of cells by Kp-10. Taken together, our findings suggest a novel mechanism by which Kp signaling via GPR54 stimulates breast cancer cell invasiveness