160 research outputs found
An Artificially Lattice Mismatched Graphene/Metal Interface: Graphene/Ni/Ir(111)
We report the structural and electronic properties of an artificial
graphene/Ni(111) system obtained by the intercalation of a monoatomic layer of
Ni in graphene/Ir(111). Upon intercalation, Ni grows epitaxially on Ir(111),
resulting in a lattice mismatched graphene/Ni system. By performing Scanning
Tunneling Microscopy (STM) measurements and Density Functional Theory (DFT)
calculations, we show that the intercalated Ni layer leads to a pronounced
buckling of the graphene film. At the same time an enhanced interaction is
measured by Angle-Resolved Photo-Emission Spectroscopy (ARPES), showing a clear
transition from a nearly-undisturbed to a strongly-hybridized graphene
-band. A comparison of the intercalation-like graphene system with flat
graphene on bulk Ni(111), and mildly corrugated graphene on Ir(111), allows to
disentangle the two key properties which lead to the observed increased
interaction, namely lattice matching and electronic interaction. Although the
latter determines the strength of the hybridization, we find an important
influence of the local carbon configuration resulting from the lattice
mismatch.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Physical routes for the synthesis of kesterite
This paper provides an overview of the physical vapor technologies used to synthesize Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4
thin films as absorber layers for photovoltaic applications. Through the years, CZT(S,Se) thin films
have been fabricated using sequential stacking or co-sputtering of precursors as well as using
sequential or co-evaporation of elemental sources, leading to high-efficient solar cells. In addition,
pulsed laser deposition of composite targets and monograin growth by the molten salt method were
developed as alternative methods for kesterite layers deposition. This review presents the growing
increase of the kesterite-based solar cell efficiencies achieved over the recent years. A historical
description of the main issues limiting this efficiency and of the experimental pathways designed to
prevent or limit these issues is provided and discussed as well. Afinal section is dedicated to the
description of promising process steps aiming at further improvements of solar cell efficiency, such as
alkali doping and bandgap grading1. R Caballero and M León acknowledge financial support via the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities project (WINCOST, ENE2016-80788-C5-2-R) and thank H2020 EU Programme under the project INFINITE-CELL (H2020-MSCA-RISE-2017-777968).
2. S Canulescu and J Schou acknowledge the support from Innovation Fund Denmark.
3. D-H Kim acknowledges financial support via the DGIST R&D Program of the Ministry of Science and ICT, KOREA (18-BD-05).
4.C. Malerba acknowledges the support from the Italian Ministry of Economic development in the framework of the Operating Agreement with ENEA for the Research on the Electric System.
5.A Redinger acknowledges financial support via the FNR Attract program, Project : SUNSPOT, Nr.11244141.
6. E Saucedo thanks H2020 EU Programme under the projects STARCELL (H2020-NMBP-03-2016-720907) and INFINITE-CELL (H2020-MSCA-RISE-2017-777968), the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities for the IGNITE project (ENE2017-87671-C3-1-R), and the European Regional Development Funds (ERDF, FEDER Programa Competitivitat de Catalunya 2007–2013). IREC belong to
the SEMS (Solar Energy Materials and Systems) Consolidated Research Group of the ‘Generalitat de Catalunya’ (Ref. 2017 SGR 862).
7. Taltech acknowledges financial support via the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research funding project IUT19-28 and the European Union Regional Development Fund, Project TK141.
8. B Vermang has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme (Grant Agreement No 715027
Time resolved photoluminescence on Cu(In, Ga)Se-2 absorbers: Distinguishing degradation and trap states
Recent reports have suggested that the long decay times in time resolved photoluminescence (TRPL), often measured in Cu(In, Ga)Se-2 absorbers may be a result of detrapping from sub-bandgap defects. In this work, we show via temperature dependent measurements, that long lifetimes >50 ns can be observed that reflect the true minority carrier lifetime not related to deep trapping. Temperature dependent time resolved photoluminescence and steady state photoluminescence imaging measurements are used to analyze the effect of annealing in air and in a nitrogen atmosphere between 300K and 350K. We show that heating the Cu(In, Ga)Se-2 absorber in air can irreversibly decrease the TRPL decay time, likely due to a deterioration of the absorber surface. Annealing in an oxygen-free environment yields a temperature dependence of the TRPL decay times in accordance with Schockley Read Hall recombination kinetics and weakly varying capture cross sections according to T-0.6. Published by AIP Publishing
Electronic Structure of Lanthanum Hydrides with Switchable Optical Properties
Recent dramatic changes in the optical properties of LaH_{2+x} and YH_{2+x}
films discovered by Huiberts et al. suggest their electronic structure is
described best by a local model. Electron correlation is important in H^-
-centers and in explaining the transparent insulating behavior of LaH_3. The
metal-insulator transition at takes place in a band of highly
localized states centered on the -vacancies in the LaH_3 structure.Comment: plain tex, 3 figure
Magnetic phenomena in 5d transition metal nanowires
We have carried out fully relativistic full-potential, spin-polarized,
all-electron density-functional calculations for straight, monatomic nanowires
of the 5d transition and noble metals Os, Ir, Pt and Au. We find that, of these
metal nanowires, Os and Pt have mean-field magnetic moments for values of the
bond length at equilibrium. In the case of Au and Ir, the wires need to be
slightly stretched in order to spin polarize. An analysis of the band
structures of the wires indicate that the superparamagnetic state that our
calculations suggest will affect the conductance through the wires -- though
not by a large amount -- at least in the absence of magnetic domain walls. It
should thus lead to a characteristic temperature- and field dependent
conductance, and may also cause a significant spin polarization of the
transmitted current.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure
Human monoclonal antibodies inhibit invasion of transgenic Plasmodium knowlesi expressing Plasmodium vivax Duffy binding protein
Background: Plasmodium vivax has been more resistant to various control measures than Plasmodium falciparum malaria because of its greater transmissibility and ability to produce latent parasite forms. Therefore, developing P. vivax vaccines and therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (humAbs) remains a high priority. The Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) expressed on erythrocytes is central to P. vivax invasion of reticulocytes. P. vivax expresses a Duffy binding protein (PvDBP) on merozoites, a DARC ligand, and the DARC: PvDBP interaction is critical for P. vivax blood stage malaria. Therefore, PvDBP is a leading vaccine candidate for P. vivax and a target for therapeutic human monoclonal antibodies (humAbs).
Methods: Here, the functional activity of humAbs derived from naturally exposed and vaccinated individuals are compared for the first time using easily cultured Plasmodium knowlesi (P. knowlesi) that had been genetically modified to replace its endogenous PkDBP orthologue with PvDBP to create a transgenic parasite, PkPvDBPOR. This transgenic parasite requires DARC to invade human erythrocytes but is not reticulocyte restricted. This model was used to evaluate the invasion inhibition potential of 12 humAbs (9 naturally acquired; 3 vaccine-induced) targeting PvDBP individually and in combinations using growth inhibition assays (GIAs).
Results: The PvDBP-specific humAbs demonstrated 70–100% inhibition of PkPvDBPOR invasion with the IC50 values ranging from 51 to 338 µg/mL for the 9 naturally acquired (NA) humAbs and 33 to 99 µg/ml for the 3 vaccine-induced (VI) humAbs. To evaluate antagonistic, additive, or synergistic effects, six pairwise combinations were performed using select humAbs. Of these combinations tested, one NA/NA (099100/094083) combination demonstrated relatively strong additive inhibition between 10 and 100 µg/mL; all combinations of NA and VI humAbs showed additive inhibition at concentrations below 25 µg/mL and antagonism at higher concentrations. None of the humAb combinations showed synergy. Invasion inhibition efficacy by some mAbs shown with PkPvDBPOR was closely replicated using P. vivax clinical isolates.
Conclusion: The PkPvDBPOR transgenic model is a robust surrogate of P. vivax to assess invasion and growth inhibition of human monoclonal Abs recognizing PvDBP individually and in combination. There was no synergistic interaction for growth inhibition with the humAbs tested here that target different epitopes or subdomains of PvDBP, suggesting little benefit in clinical trials using combinations of these humAbs
Emerging nanomagnetism in 4d transition metal nanowires
Monatomic nanowires of the nonmagnetic transition metals Ru, Rh, and Pd have
been studied theoretically, using first-principles computational techniques, in
order to investigate the possible onset of magnetism in these nanosystems. Our
fully relativistic spin-polarized all-electron density functional calculations
reveal the onset of Hund's rule magnetism in nanowires of all three metals,
with mean-field moments of 1.1, 0.3, and 0.7 bohr magnetons, respectively, at
the equilibrium bond length. An analysis of the band structures indicates that
the nanocontact superparamagnetic state suggested by our calculations should
affect the ballistic conductance between tips made of Ru, Rh or Pd, leading to
possible temperature and magnetic field dependent conductance.Comment: 5 figures, 17 pages New content with respect to old arxiv versio
Small business owners' health and safety intentions: A cross-sectional survey
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the variables underlying small business owners' behavioural intentions toward workplace health and safety. This project explores the relationship between three mediating variables (Attitude Toward Safety, Subjective Norm and Perceived Behavioural Control) and owners' Intentions Toward Safety, following the Theory of Planned Behaviour. We also investigate the role of beliefs underlying each mediating variable. METHODS: Seven hundred businesses (5–50 employees) were randomly selected from 4084 eligible companies in a manufacturing business database (SIC codes 24 to 39). The 348 respondents are on average 51 yrs of age, 86% male, 96% white and have 2 to 4 years of post-secondary school. RESULTS: All three mediator variables are significantly correlated with Intentions Toward Safety; Attitude Toward Safety shows the strongest correlation, which is confirmed by path analysis. Owners with higher attitudes toward safety have a higher probability of believing that improving workplace health and safety will make employees' healthier and happier, show that they care, increase employee productivity, lower workers' compensation costs, increase product quality and lower costs. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that interventions aimed at increasing owners' health and safety intentions (and thus, behaviours) should focus on demonstrating positive employee health and product quality outcomes
Secondary crystalline phases identification in Cu2ZnSnSe4 thin films: contributions from Raman scattering and photoluminescence
In this work, we present the Raman peak
positions of the quaternary pure selenide compound
Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe) and related secondary phases that
were grown and studied under the same conditions. A vast
discussion about the position of the X-ray diffraction
(XRD) reflections of these compounds is presented. It is
known that by using XRD only, CZTSe can be identified
but nothing can be said about the presence of some secondary
phases. Thin films of CZTSe, Cu2SnSe3, ZnSe,
SnSe, SnSe2, MoSe2 and a-Se were grown, which allowed
their investigation by Raman spectroscopy (RS). Here we
present all the Raman spectra of these phases and discuss
the similarities with the spectra of CZTSe. The effective
analysis depth for the common back-scattering geometry
commonly used in RS measurements, as well as the laser penetration depth for photoluminescence (PL) were estimated
for different wavelength values. The observed
asymmetric PL band on a CZTSe film is compatible with
the presence of CZTSe single-phase and is discussed in the
scope of the fluctuating potentials’ model. The estimated
bandgap energy is close to the values obtained from
absorption measurements. In general, the phase identification
of CZTSe benefits from the contributions of RS and
PL along with the XRD discussion.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
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