Remarkable performance optimization of inverted p-i-n architecture perovskite solar cell with CZTS as hole transport material

Hole transport material (HTM) is a major component of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). PEDOT: PSS, an organic HTM, is widely used in inverted (p-i-n) PSCs. While PEDOT: PSS is unstable, expensive and it's acidic nature could deteriorate the absorber. Copper zinc tin sulphide (CZTS), an inorganic semiconductor can be used as HTM due to its properties such as low cost, ease of synthesis and high hole mobility. In this work, device simulation of inverted (p-i-n) PSC was performed with CZTS as HTM to exploit its maximum capability. Remarkable power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.43% was achieved after optimizing the performance. Device performance was strongly affected by thickness and electron affinity of HTM as well as diffusion length of carriers. PCE of real fabricated device was also found to be 9.72%. This work demonstrates CZTS is a promising candidate to replace PEDOT: PSS from both experimental and theoretical perspectives

A comprehensive device modelling of perovskite solar cell with inorganic copper iodide as hole transport material

Hole transport material (HTM) plays an important role in the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Spiro-MeOTAD, the commonly used HTM, is costly and can be easily degraded by heat and moisture, thus offering hindrance to commercialize PSCs. There is dire need to find an alternate inorganic and stable HTM to exploit PSCs with their maximum capability. In this paper, a comprehensive device simulation is used to study various possible parameters that can influence the performance of perovskite solar cell with CuI as HTM. These include the effect of doping density, defect density and thickness of absorber layer, along with the influence of diffusion length of carriers as well as electron affinity of electron transport layer (ETM) and HTM on the performance of PSCs. In addition, hole mobility and doping density of HTM is also investigated. CuI is a p-type inorganic material with low cost and relatively high stability. It is found that concentration of dopant in absorber layer and HTM, the electron affinity of HTM and ETM affect the performance of solar cell minutely, while cell performance improves greatly with the reduction of defect density. Upon optimization of parameters, power conversion efficiency for this device is found to be 21.32%. The result shows that lead-based PSC with CuI as HTM is an efficient system. Enhancing the stability and reduction of defect density are critical factors for future research. These factors can be improved by better fabrication process and proper encapsulation of solar cell

Pan-cancer analysis of whole genomes

Cancer is driven by genetic change, and the advent of massively parallel sequencing has enabled systematic documentation of this variation at the whole-genome scale(1-3). Here we report the integrative analysis of 2,658 whole-cancer genomes and their matching normal tissues across 38 tumour types from the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium of the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We describe the generation of the PCAWG resource, facilitated by international data sharing using compute clouds. On average, cancer genomes contained 4-5 driver mutations when combining coding and non-coding genomic elements; however, in around 5% of cases no drivers were identified, suggesting that cancer driver discovery is not yet complete. Chromothripsis, in which many clustered structural variants arise in a single catastrophic event, is frequently an early event in tumour evolution; in acral melanoma, for example, these events precede most somatic point mutations and affect several cancer-associated genes simultaneously. Cancers with abnormal telomere maintenance often originate from tissues with low replicative activity and show several mechanisms of preventing telomere attrition to critical levels. Common and rare germline variants affect patterns of somatic mutation, including point mutations, structural variants and somatic retrotransposition. A collection of papers from the PCAWG Consortium describes non-coding mutations that drive cancer beyond those in the TERT promoter(4); identifies new signatures of mutational processes that cause base substitutions, small insertions and deletions and structural variation(5,6); analyses timings and patterns of tumour evolution(7); describes the diverse transcriptional consequences of somatic mutation on splicing, expression levels, fusion genes and promoter activity(8,9); and evaluates a range of more-specialized features of cancer genomes(8,10-18).Peer reviewe

A theoretical study for high-performance inverted p-i-n architecture perovskite solar cells with cuprous iodide as hole transport material

Inverted perovskite solar cells (p-i-n PSCs) have been fascinated due to rapid progress of performance in recent years. PEDOT:PSS is commonly used hole transport material (HTM) in p-i-n PSCs having hygroscopic and acidic nature that leads towards poor performance of device. Therefore, it is necessary to replace PEDOT:PSS with stable HTM. In this paper, theoretical study is carried out to investigate physical parameters that can affect the performance of p-i-n PSCs with copper iodide (CuI) as HTM. These parameters include the effect of doping density of electron transport material (ETM), absorber and HTM as well as defect density and thickness of absorber on the performance of p-i-n PSCs. Hole mobility and thickness of HTM are also investigated. It is found that performance of p-i-n PSCs is strongly dependent on defect density and thickness of absorber. Upon final optimization, device attains PCE of more than 21% which is encouraging

Alma-Ata: Rebirth and revision 6 - Interventions to address maternal, newborn, and child survival: what difference can integrated primary health care strategies make?

Several recent reviews of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) and mortality have emphasised that a large range of interventions are available with the potential to reduce deaths and disability. The emphasis within MNCH varies, with skilled care at facility levels recommended for saving maternal lives and scale-up of community and household care for improving newborn and child survival. Systematic review of new evidence on potentially useful interventions and delivery strategies identifies 37 key promotional, preventive, and treatment interventions and strategies for delivery in primary health care. Some are especially suitable for delivery through community support groups and health workers, whereas others can only be delivered by linking community-based strategies with functional first-level referral facilities. Case studies of MNCH indicators in Pakistan and Uganda show how primary health-care interventions can be used effectively. Inclusion of evidence-based interventions in MNCH programmes in primary health care at pragmatic coverage in these two countries could prevent 20-30% of all maternal deaths (up to 32% with capability for caesarean section at first-level facilities), 20-21% of newborn deaths, and 29-40% of all postneonatal deaths in children aged less than 5 years. Strengthening MNCH at the primary health-care level should be a priority for countries to reach their Millennium Development Goal targets for reducing maternal and child mortality

Influence of phenological stages on yield and quality of oregano (Origanum vulgare l.) under the agroclimatic condition of doon valley (uttarakhand)

A field experiment was conducted under the agroclimatic conditions of Doon valley, in order to determine the effects of phenological stages on herbage yield and quality of oil in oregano (Origanum vulgare L.). Plants were harvested in five phenological stages, i.e. early vegetative, late vegetative, flower initiation, full bloom, and fruit set stages. Results showed the significant effects of phenological stages on herbage, yield, and quality of oregano. Harvesting at full bloom stage showed better results in terms of herbage and oil yield. The quality of essential oil was evaluated using GC and GC/MS. Thymol content was rich in all the stages (46.90-62.26%) followed by g-terpinene (1.11-11.75%) and p-cymene (3.11-5.32%)