Free-carrier dynamics and band tails in Cu[2] ZnSn (S[x]Se[1−x] )[4] : Evaluation of factors determining solar cell efficiency

We investigated the composition-dependent photocarrier dynamics in Cu[2] ZnSn(S[x]Se[1−x])[4] (CZTSSe) single crystals using various types of steady-state and time-resolved optical spectroscopy. Photoluminescence spectroscopy shows that the band-tail states formed below the band edge decrease monotonically with increasing Se content. THz time-resolved spectroscopy clarifies that an increase in the Se content leads to a shorter lifetime of the free photocarriers. A trade-off between the composition-dependent band-tail density and the free-carrier lifetime occurs in CZTSSe single crystals. Our experimental results provide insights into the physics behind the low and composition-dependent conversion efficiency of CZTSSe-based solar cells

Straightforward synthesis of silicon vacancy (SiV) center-containing single-digit nanometer nanodiamonds via detonation process

Silicon vacancy (SiV) color centers in diamond have attracted widespread attention owing to their stable photoluminescence (PL) with a sharp emission band in the near-infrared region (ZPL 738 nm). Especially, SiV center containing single-digit nanometer-sized nanodiamonds (single-digit SiV-NDs) are desirable for various applications such as bioimaging and biosensing because of their extremely small size, comparable to many biomaterials. Therefore, several attempts have been made to fabricate the single-digit SiV-NDs. However, there are no reports on the successful fabrication of such materials in reasonable scale of production. Here, we report the successful synthesis of single-digit SiV-NDs via straightforward detonation process, which is known to have the high productivity in fabrication of single-digit NDs. Triphenylsilanol (TPS), as a silicon source, was mixed with explosives (TPS/TNT/RDX = 1/59/40 wt%) and the detonation process was carried out. The obtained single-digit NDs exhibit PL at approximately 738 nm, indicating that single-digit SiV-NDs were successfully synthesized. Moreover, we conjectured that the physics behind this achievement may be attributed to the aromatic ring of TPS under the consideration of ND formation mechanism newly built up based on the results of time-resolved optical emission measurements for the detonation reaction

A Spätzle-processing enzyme required for toll signaling activation in Drosophila innate immunity

The Toll receptor was originally identified as an indispensable molecule for Drosophila embryonic development and subsequently as an essential component of innate immunity from insects to humans. Although in Drosophila the Easter protease processes the pro-Spätzle protein to generate the Toll ligand during development, the identification of the protease responsible for pro-Spätzle processing during the immune response has remained elusive for a decade. Here, we report a protease, called Spätzle-processing enzyme (SPE), required for Toll-dependent antimicrobial response. Flies with reduced SPE expression show no noticeable pro-Spätzle processing and become highly susceptible to microbial infection. Furthermore, activated SPE can rescue ventral and lateral development in embryos lacking Easter, showing the functional homology between SPE and Easter. These results imply that a single ligand/receptor-mediated signaling event can be utilized for different biological processes, such as immunity and development, by recruiting similar ligand-processing proteases with distinct activation modes

Nanoscale materials coherent spectroscopy

The lecture will provide the principles, methods and applications of various kinds of frontier spectroscopic techniques