Effect of CdS/Mg-Doped CdSe Cosensitized Photoanode on Quantum Dot Solar Cells

Quantum dots have emerged as a material platform for low-cost high-performance sensitized solar cells. And doping is an effective method to improve the performance of quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs). Since Kwak et al. from South Korea proved the incorporation of Mg in the CdSe quantum dots (QDs) in 2007, the Mg-doped CdSe QDs have been thoroughly studied. Here we report a new attempt on CdS/Mg-doped CdSe quantum dot cosensitized solar cells (QDCSSC). We analyzed the performance of CdS/Mg-doped CdSe quantum dot cosensitized solar cells via discussing the different doping concentration of Mg and the different SILAR cycles of CdS. And we studied the mechanism of CdS/Mg-doped CdSe QDs in detail for the reason why the energy conversion efficiency had been promoted. It is a significant instruction on the development of Mg-doped CdSe quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs)

Effect of Codoping Cl Anion and 5-AVA Cation on Performance of Large-Area Perovskite Solar Cells with Double-Mesoporous Layers

For the perovskite solar cells (PSCs), the performance of the PSCs has become the focus of the research by improving the quality of the perovskite absorption layer. So far, the performance of the large-area PSCs is lower than that of small-area PSCs. In the paper, the experiments were designed to improve the photovoltaic performance of the large-area PSCs by improved processing technique. Here we investigated the optoelectronic properties of the prototypical CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPbI3) further modulated by introducing other extrinsic ions (specifically codoped Cl− and 5-AVA+). Moreover, we used inorganic electron extraction layer to achieve very rapid photogenerated carrier extraction eliminating local structural defects over large areas. Ultimately, we fabricated a best-performing perovskite solar cell based on codoping Cl anion and 5-AVA cation which uses a double layer of mesoporous TiO2 and ZrO2 as a scaffold infiltrated with perovskite and does not require a hole-conducting layer. The experiment results indicated that an average efficiency of double-mesoporous layer-based devices with codoping Cl anion and 5-AVA cation was obtained with exceeding 50% enhancement, compared to that of pure single-mesoporous layer-based device

Increased circulating Tfh17 and PD-1+Tfh cells are associated with autoantibodies in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Objective: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is characterized by autoantibodies targeting the thyroid. Abnormal CD4+CXCR5+T cell levels were previously shown to be associated with HT. However, Tfh cells consist of heterogeneous subpopulations, and which T follicular helper (Tfh) cell subpopulation participates in the pathogenesis of HT remains poorly understood. Methods: Thirty healthy controls (HCs) and 52 HT patients were enrolled in the study. The percentages of Tfh, ICOS+Tfh, PD1+Tfh, Tfh1, Tfh2, Tfh17, effector Tfh, resting Tfh, effector memory Tfh, central memory Tfh, and naïve Tfh cells in the peripheral blood were all determined via flow cytometry, and the associations between the percentages of these cells and thyroid function indices were also investigated. Results: The percentage of Tfh cells was significantly higher in HT patients than in HCs. Examination of the Tfh cell subsets revealed that the percentages of Tfh1, Tfh2, and resting Tfh cells were significantly decreased, while those of the ICOS+Tfh, PD1+Tfh, Tfh17, and effector Tfh cells were significantly increased in HT patients. No significant differences in effector memory, central memory or naïve Tfh cell percentages were noted between the HC and HT groups. Furthermore, the percentage of PD1+Tfh cells was positively correlated with anti-thyroglobulin antibody levels. Most importantly, only Tfh17 cell percentages were positively correlated with anti-thyroglobulin and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody levels and were negatively correlated serum free T3 and free T4 levels in HT patients. Conclusions: Increased circulating Tfh17 cell and PD1+Tfh percentages are associated with higher autoantibody levels in HT patients, which imply that Tfh17 or PD1+Tfh cells may play a pathogenic role in the development of HT

High Anhydrous Proton Conductivity of Imidazole-Loaded Mesoporous Polyimides over a Wide Range from Subzero to Moderate Temperature

On-board fuel cell technology requires proton conducting materials with high conductivity not only at intermediate temperatures for work but also at room temperature and even at subzero temperature for startup when exposed to the colder climate. To develop such materials is still challenging because many promising candidates for the proton transport on the basis of extended microstructures of water molecules suffer from significant damage by heat at temperatures above 80 °C or by freeze below −5 °C. Here we show imidazole loaded tetrahedral polyimides with mesopores and good stability (Im@Td-PNDI <b>1</b> and Im@Td-PPI <b>2</b>) exhibiting a high anhydrous proton conductivity over a wide temperature range from −40 to 90 °C. Among all anhydrous proton conductors, the conductivity of <b>2</b> is the highest at temperatures below 40 °C and comparable with the best materials, His@[Al­(OH)­(1,4-ndc)]_<i>n</i> and [Zn₃(H₂PO₄)₆(H₂O)₃]­(Hbim), above 40 °C