Polymer-Doped Molten Salt Mixtures as a New Concept for Electrolyte Systems in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

A conceptually new polymer electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells is reported and investigated. The benefits of using this type of electrolyte based on ionic liquid mixtures (ILMs) and room temperature ionic liquids are highlighted. Impedance spectroscopy and transient electron measurements have been used to elucidate the background of the photovoltaic performance. Even though larger recombination losses were noted, the high ion mobility and conductivity induced in the ILMs by the added polymer result in enhanced overall conversion efficiencies

Comparisons of <i>DNMT1</i> haplotype distributions in subgroups with the higher and lower levels of <i>ChREBP</i> DNA methylation.

<p>Comparisons of <i>DNMT1</i> haplotype distributions in subgroups with the higher and lower levels of <i>ChREBP</i> DNA methylation.</p

Clinical characteristics of the study population.

<p>Clinical characteristics of the study population.</p

Linkage disequilibrium (LD)-plot.

<p>(<b>A</b>) LD-plot of <i>ChREBP</i> established using Haploview 4.2 program based on HapMap data. Five tag SNPs of <i>ChREBP</i> investigated in this research were highlighted in black boxes; (<b>B</b>) LD-plot of <i>ChREBP</i> in 50 individuals of our study population. The LD-plot was composed by 6 SNPs, including the 5 tag SNPs and 1 nonsynonymous SNP; (<b>C</b>) LD-plot of <i>DNMT1</i> established using Haploview 4.2 program based on HapMap data. Five tag SNPs in <i>DNMT1</i> investigated in this research were highlighted in black boxes; (<b>D</b>) LD-plot composed by the 5 tag SNPs of <i>DNMT1</i> in 287 individuals of our study population.</p

Comparisons of <i>DNMT1</i> haplotype distributions in subgroups with the higher and lower levels of serum LDL-C.

<p>Comparisons of <i>DNMT1</i> haplotype distributions in subgroups with the higher and lower levels of serum LDL-C.</p

Cation-Dependent Photostability of Co(II/III)-Mediated Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

The electrolyte composition has a significant effect on the performance and stability of cobalt-based, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The stability of DSSCs incorporating Co­(II/III) tris­(bipyridine) redox mediator has been investigated over 1000 h under full solar irradiation (with UV cutoff) at a temperature of 60 °C, the main focus being on monitoring the photovoltaic performance of the device and analyzing the internal charge-transfer dynamics in the presence of different cation coadditives (preferably added as tetracyanoborate salts). A clear cation-dependence is shown, not only of the early light-induced performance but also of the long-term photostability of the photovoltage of the device. These light-induced changes, which are attributed to the promotion of electron injection and less electron recombination loss, by transient spectral and electrochemical studies at the TiO₂/dye/electrolyte interface, indicate that the main cation effects involve the TiO₂ surface electric field and energy-state distribution. By examining the stability of adsorbed and solvated dye during aging, it has been found that the dye photodegradation is probably responsible for the decline in the photovoltage and that this is extremely dependent on the nature of the cation coadditives in the electrolyte. It is therefore suggested that optimization of the electrolyte cation composition is essential for improving the stability of cobalt-based DSSCs

Associations of clinical characteristics with <i>ChREBP</i> DNA methylation.

<p>Associations of clinical characteristics with <i>ChREBP</i> DNA methylation.</p

Comparisons of <i>DNMT1</i> haplotype distributions in subgroups with the higher and lower levels of global DNA methylation.

<p>Comparisons of <i>DNMT1</i> haplotype distributions in subgroups with the higher and lower levels of global DNA methylation.</p

Molecular Engineering of D–D−π–A-Based Organic Sensitizers for Enhanced Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Performance

A series of molecularly engineered and novel dyes WS1, WS2, WS3, and WS4, based on the D35 donor, 1-(4-hexylphenyl)-2,5-di­(thiophen-2-yl)-1<i>H</i>-pyrrole and 4-(4-hexylphenyl)-4<i>H</i>-dithieno­[3,2-<i>b</i>:2′,3′-<i>d</i>]­pyrrole as π-conjugating linkers, were synthesized and compared to the well-known LEG4 dye. The performance of the dyes was investigated in combination with an electrolyte based on Co­(II/III) complexes as redox shuttles. The electron recombination between the redox mediators in the electrolyte and the TiO₂ interface decreases upon the introduction of 4-hexylybenzene entities on the 2,5-di­(thiophen-2-yl)-1<i>H</i>-pyrrole and 4<i>H</i>-dithieno­[3,2-<i>b</i>:2′,3′-<i>d</i>]­pyrrole linker units, probably because of steric hindrance. The open circuit photovoltage of WS1-, WS2-, WS3-, and WS4-based devices in combination with the Co­(II/III)-based electrolyte are consistently higher than those based on a I^–/I₃^– electrolyte by 105, 147, 167, and 75 mV, respectively. The WS3-based devices show the highest power conversion efficiency of 7.4% at AM 1.5 G 100 mW/cm² illumination mainly attributable to the high open-circuit voltage (<i>V</i>_OC)

Temporal Trends and Spatial Variation Characteristics of Hazardous Air Pollutant Emission Inventory from Municipal Solid Waste Incineration in China

A multiple-year emission inventory of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), including particulate matter (PM), SO₂, NO<i>_x</i>, CO, HCl, As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, and polychlorinated dibenzo-<i>p</i>-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), discharged from municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration in China has been established for the period 2003–2010 by using the best available emission factors and annual activity data. Our results show that the total emissions have rapidly amounted to 28 471.1 t of NO<i>_x</i>, 12 062.1 t of SO₂, 6500.5 t of CO, 4654.6 t of PM, 3609.1 t of HCl, 69.5 t of Sb, 36.7 t of Hg, 9.4 t of Pb, 4.4 t of Cr, 2.8 t of Ni, 926.7 kg of Cd, 231.7 kg of As, and 23.6 g of PCDD/Fs as TEQ (toxic equivalent quantity) by the year 2010. The majority of HAP emissions are concentrated in the eastern central and southeastern areas of China where most MSW incineration plants are built and put into operation. Between 2003 and 2010, provinces always ranking in the top three with largest HAPs emissions are Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Jiangsu. To better understand the emissions of these HAPs and to adopt effective measures to prevent poisoning risks, more specific field-test data collection is necessary