Search Results (19)

Energy losses induced by inefficient charge transfer and large energy-level offsets at the interface limit the efficiency of CdTe nanocrystal (NC) solar cells. In this work, organic poly(triaryl amine) (PTAA) and inorganic CuI which form double hole transport layers (HTLs) are first proposed to improve the charge transfer capability of hole transport layers (HTLs) and reduce the band offset at the interface of CdTe NCs. The introduced CuI improves carrier mobility, while PTAA reduces interface recombination and reinforces the inner built-in field, resulting in low energy loss from the CdTe NC active layer to the contact electrode. Photovoltaic devices using these modified back contacts show increases in both open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current, compared to a controlled device without HTL. The CdTe NCs utilizing CuI-PTAA double HTLs demonstrate a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.36%. High stability is also demonstrated, with PCE loss being less than 5% after tracking for 30 days. This work provides an effective way to minimize energy loss at the interface of the back contact in inverted CdTe NCs solar cells, by incorporating proper hole transfer layer design. Full article

This study investigates the relationship between economic growth and environmental performance in selected Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries through the lens of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis. Due to data availability constraints, our sample includes Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Mauritius, Morocco, and Oman, covering the period 1990–2022. Using annual panel data, we apply panel cointegration techniques alongside Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) estimators, complemented by Granger causality tests, to examine the interaction among GDP per capita, renewable energy consumption, and transport service exports in determining CO₂ emissions per unit of GDP. The empirical findings provide only partial support for the EKC: while the DOLS results confirm an inverted U-shaped income–emissions relationship, the FMOLS estimations contradict it, suggesting a more complex and nonlinear pattern. Beyond testing the EKC, this study contributes two novel dimensions to the literature. First, it shows that renewable energy exerts a statistically significant negative effect on carbon intensity in the long run, despite weak short-run causality, highlighting the delayed but durable environmental benefits of clean energy adoption. Second, it introduces transport service exports as a proxy for structural economic transformation, capturing the role of trade-driven diversification in reducing emissions. By embedding renewable energy deployment and service-based trade dynamics into the EKC framework, the study advances a more policy-relevant and region-specific understanding of the growth–environment nexus in the selected MENA economies. The results underscore the importance of scaling renewable energy, promoting low-carbon service sectors, and aligning trade and environmental policies to ensure that economic growth supports long-term climate objectives. Full article

This study introduces an innovative analytical solution to the time-fractional Cattaneo heat conduction equation, which models photothermal transport in metallic thin films subjected to short laser pulse irradiation. The model integrates the Caputo fractional derivative of order 0 < p ≤ 1, addressing non-Fourier heat conduction characterized by finite wave speed and memory effects. The equation is nondimensionalized through suitable scaling, incorporating essential elements such as a newly specified laser absorption coefficient and uniform initial and boundary conditions. A hybrid approach utilizing the finite Fourier cosine transform (FFCT) in spatial dimensions and the Laplace transform in temporal dimensions produces a closed-form solution, which is analytically inverted using the two-parameter Mittag–Leffler function. This function inherently emerges from fractional-order systems and generalizes traditional exponential relaxation, providing enhanced understanding of anomalous thermal dynamics. The resultant temperature distribution reflects the spatiotemporal progression of heat from a spatially Gaussian and temporally pulsed laser source. Parametric research indicates that elevating the fractional order and relaxation time amplifies temporal damping and diminishes thermal wave velocity. Dynamic profiles demonstrate the responsiveness of heat transfer to thermal and optical variables. The innovation resides in the meticulous analytical formulation utilizing a realistic laser source, the clear significance of the absorption parameter that enhances the temperature amplitude, the incorporation of the Mittag–Leffler function, and a comprehensive investigation of fractional photothermal effects in metallic nano-systems. This method offers a comprehensive framework for examining intricate thermal dynamics that exceed experimental capabilities, pertinent to ultrafast laser processing and nanoscale heat transfer. Full article

Bulk heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cells (OSCs) represent a promising technology due to their cost-effectiveness, lightweight design and potential for flexible manufacturing. However, achieving a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and long-term stability necessitates optimizing the interfacial layers. Zinc oxide (ZnO), commonly used as an electron extraction layer (EEL) in inverted OSCs, suffers from surface defects that hinder device performance. Furthermore, the active control of its optoelectronic properties is highly desirable as the interfacial electron transport and extraction, exciton dissociation and non-radiative recombination are crucial for optimum solar cell operation. In this regard, this study investigates the sulfur doping of ZnO as a facile method to effectively increase ZnO conductivity, improve the interfacial electron transfer and, overall, enhance solar cell performance. ZnO films were sulfur-treated under various annealing temperatures, with the optimal condition found at 250 °C. Devices incorporating sulfur-doped ZnO (S-ZnO) exhibited a significant PCE improvement from 2.11% for the device with the pristine ZnO to 3.14% for the OSC based on the S-ZnO annealed at 250 °C, attributed to an enhanced short-circuit current density (J_sc) and fill factor (FF). Optical and structural analyses revealed that the sulfur treatment led to a small enhancement of the ZnO film crystallite size and an increased n-type transport capability. Additionally, the sulfurization of ZnO enhanced its electron extraction efficiency, exciton dissociation at the ZnO/photoactive layer interface and exciton/charge generation rate without altering the film morphology. These findings highlight the potential of sulfur doping as an easily implemented, straightforward approach to improving the performance of inverted OSCs. Full article

The Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) is the reference Research Infrastructure (RI) for the observation of greenhouse gases (GHGs) across Europe, providing standardised, long-term and high-precision measurements of the most relevant species (CO₂, CH₄, CO, etc.). The ICOS Atmosphere network currently extends throughout the continent, although the density of stations in the Mediterranean area is still low compared to Central and Northern Europe. In this context, the recently implemented class 1 continental station near Potenza in Basilicata, Italy—station code: POT—represents an important step forward in the extension of the ICOS atmosphere domain across the South, reducing the large spatial gaps existing between ICOS sites within the Mediterranean basin. Herein, we provide a description of the new ICOS POT station and the site where it operates, focusing mostly on the technical setup of the sampling system which plays a key role in GHG measurements. With a strong technical connotation, the present paper aims to be beneficial for the ICOS atmosphere community and those stations that intend to join the network in the future, providing an accurate description of the station at the level of single components. Moreover, a brief overview of the peculiarities of the site and the scientific perspectives to be pursued, together with very preliminary data collected at the new ICOS station, are presented. Preliminary data collected during a short campaign are compared with STILT (Stochastic Time-Inverted Lagrangian Transport) model results as a first test of the measurements and to provide a first insight of the specific Potenza situation in terms of GHG concentrations. Full article

This study focuses on the ‘short-inverted transportation’ scenario of intermodal transport. It proposes a vehicle unloading reservation mechanism to optimize the point-of-demand scheduling system for the inefficiency of transport due to the complexity and uncertainty of the scheduling strategy. This paper establishes a scheduling strategy optimization model to minimize the cost of short backhaul and obtain the shortest delivery time window and designs a hybrid NSGWO algorithm suitable for multi-objective optimization to solve the problem. The algorithm incorporates the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) algorithm based on the Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO) algorithm, compensating for a single algorithm’s premature convergence. The experiment selects a logistics carrier’s actual road–rail intermodal short-inverted data and compares and verifies the above data. The results show that the scheduling scheme obtained by this algorithm can save 41.01% of the transport cost and shorten the total delivery time by 46.94% compared with the original scheme, which can effectively protect the enterprise’s economic benefits while achieving timely delivery. At the same time, the optimized scheduling plan resulted in a lower number of transport vehicles, which positively impacted the sustainability of green logistics. Full article

In this investigation, we employ a numerical simulation approach to model a hydrogenated lead-free ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{s}}_2\mathrm{A}\mathrm{g}\mathrm{B}\mathrm{i}{\mathrm{B}\mathrm{r}}_6$ double perovskite solar cell with a p-i-n inverted structure, utilizing SCAPS-1D. Contrary to traditional lead-based perovskite solar cells, the ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{s}}_2\mathrm{A}\mathrm{g}\mathrm{B}\mathrm{i}{\mathrm{B}\mathrm{r}}_6$ double perovskite exhibits reduced toxicity and enhanced stability, boasting a maximum power conversion efficiency of $\mathrm{6.37\%}$. Given its potential for improved environmental compatibility, achieving higher efficiency is imperative for its practical implementation in solar cells. This paper offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of the hydrogenated lead-free ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{s}}_2\mathrm{A}\mathrm{g}\mathrm{B}\mathrm{i}{\mathrm{B}\mathrm{r}}_6$ double perovskite solar cell, aiming to optimize its structural parameters. Our exploration involves an in-depth investigation of various electron transport layer materials to augment efficiency. Variables that affect the photovoltaic efficiency of the perovskite solar cell are closely examined, including the absorber layer’s thickness and doping concentration, the hole transport layer, and the absorber defect density. We also investigate the impact of the doping concentration of the electron transport layer and the energy level alignment between the absorber and the interface on the photovoltaic output of the cell. After careful consideration, zinc oxide is chosen to serve as the electron transport layer. This optimized configuration surpasses the original structure by over four times, resulting in an impressive power conversion efficiency of $\mathrm{26.3\%}$, an open-circuit voltage of $1.278 \mathrm{V}$, a fill factor of $\mathrm{88.21\%}$, and a short-circuit current density of $23.30 \mathrm{m}\mathrm{A}.{\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^{-2}$. This study highlights the critical role that numerical simulations play in improving the chances of commercializing Cs₂AgBiBr₆ double perovskite solar cells through increased structural optimization and efficiency. Full article

Peridinin-containing dinoflagellate plastomes are predominantly encoded in nuclear genomes, with less than 20 essential chloroplast proteins carried on “minicircles”. Each minicircle generally carries one gene and a short non-coding region (NCR) with a median length of approximately 400–1000 bp. We report here differential nuclease sensitivity and two-dimensional southern blot patterns, suggesting that dsDNA minicircles are in fact the minor forms, with substantial DNA:RNA hybrids (DRHs). Additionally, we observed large molecular weight intermediates, cell-lysate-dependent NCR secondary structures, multiple bidirectional predicted ssDNA structures, and different southern blot patterns when probed with different NCR fragments. In silico analysis suggested the existence of substantial secondary structures with inverted repeats (IR) and palindrome structures within the initial ~650 bp of the NCR sequences, in accordance with conversion event(s) outcomes with PCR. Based on these findings, we propose a new transcription-templating-translation model, which is associated with cross-hopping shift intermediates. Since dinoflagellate chloroplasts are cytosolic and lack nuclear envelope breakdown, the dynamic DRH minicircle transport could have contributed to the spatial-temporal dynamics required for photosystem repair. This represents a paradigm shift from the previous understanding of “minicircle DNAs” to a “working plastome”, which will have significant implications for its molecular functionality and evolution. Full article

Xi’an is a key city for air-pollution prevention and control in China, and its near-ground ozone (O₃) pollution has become a key issue whose resolution is urgent. The spatial and temporal variations in ozone pollution and their relationship with meteorological factors, transport pathways, and potential source distribution in Xi’an City were investigated in this study using the backward trajectory clustering analysis, potential source contribution function (PSCF), and concentration weight trajectory (CWT) methods coupled with the hourly ozone-mass concentration observations and meteorological data from 2014 to 2020. The results indicate that Xi’an City has suffered from increasingly severe ozone pollution in recent years. Overall, the annual average mass concentration of O₃_8h_max presented an upward trend, exhibiting a 34.94% increase from 2014 to 2020. A seasonal variation peak occurred in summer, and the monthly variations featured an inverted “V” shape. Furthermore, the diurnal variation was significantly affected by the near-surface atmospheric photochemical process, showing a discernible single-peak and single-valley distribution with a peak between 15:00 and 17:00. The O₃ concentration demonstrated a significant linear positive correlation with surface temperature and sunshine duration. When the relative humidity was 30~50%, the temperature was above 30 °C, and the wind speed was ≤4 m/s, high-concentration O₃ pollution was liable to occur. The transmission mainly relied on short-distance airflow during periods of heavy O₃-polluted weather. In this context, in addition to local O₃ generation, high O₃ concentrations were also affected by the large NO_x and VOC emissions from heavy industries in neighboring cities in Shaanxi Province, southwest Shanxi Province, and northern Henan Province. Therefore, joint prevention and control measures on the O₃ pollution in Xi’an City must be adopted throughout the Fenwei Plain area with the aim of strictly controlling the emissions from regional pollution sources. Full article

In our study, by developing the diluted PEDOT:PSS (D-PEDOT:PSS) to replace PEDOT:PSS stock solution as hole transport layer (HTL) materials for fabricating the inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs), the performance of developed device with ITO/D-PEDOT:PSS/MAPbI_3−xCl_x/C₆₀/BCP/Ag structure is enhanced distinctly. Experimental results reveal that when the dilution ratio is 10:1, the optimal power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the D-PEDOT:PSS device can reach up to 17.85% with an increase of 11.28% compared to the undiluted PEDOT:PSS device. A series of investigations have confirmed that the efficiency improvement is mainly attributed to the two aspects: on one hand, the transmittance and conductivity of D-PEDOT:PSS HTL are improved, and the density of defect states at the interface is reduced after dilution, promoting the separation and transmission of charges, thus the short-circuit current (J_SC) is significantly increased; on the other hand, the work function of D-PEDOT:PSS becomes more consistent with perovskite layer, and the voltage loss is reduced, so that the higher open circuit voltage (V_OC) is obtained. Our research has indicated that diluting HTL develops a simpler, more efficient and cost-effective method to further improve performance for inverted PSCs. Full article

Addressing the shortcomings of existing low-frequency oscillation research on electrified railways, which has mainly focused on single-type trains and lacks the accurate modeling of traction inverter systems, in this paper we modeled and analyzed low-frequency oscillations in an electrified railway passenger and freight mixed-operation vehicle–grid system. First, an equivalent model of the DC side of the traction inverter was established, with the inverter system being equivalent to the parallel connection of the load resistance and the current source, and the specific mathematical expression was determined and verified by impedance measurement. Secondly, based on the equivalent model of the DC side of the traction inverter, a small signal model of the vehicle–grid system under the mixed operating conditions of CRH5 and HXD_2B considering the inverter system was established. The generalized Nyqusit criterion was used to study the low-frequency oscillation characteristics under mixed transportation conditions. The accuracy of the established model and the correctness of the theoretical analysis were verified based on Matlab/Simulink. Finally, using the dominant pole theory to analyze the low-frequency stability conditions, the relationship between the number of mixed trains and the minimum short-circuit ratio was obtained, and the simulation verification was carried out. Full article

It is crucial to find a good material as a hole transport layer (HTL) to improve the performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), devices with an inverted structure. Polyethylene dioxythiophene-poly (styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and inorganic nickel oxide (NiO_x) have become hotspots in the study of hole transport materials in PSCs on account of their excellent properties. In our research, NiO_x and PEDOT: PSS, two kinds of hole transport materials, were prepared and compared to study the impact of the bottom layer on the light absorption and morphology of perovskite layer. By the way, some experimental parameters are simulated by wx Analysis of Microelectronic and Photonic Structures (wxAMPS). In addition, thin interfacial layers with deep capture levels and high capture cross sections were inserted to simulate the degradation of the interface between light absorption layer and PEDOT:PSS. This work realizes the combination of experiment and simulation. Exploring the mechanism of the influence of functional layer parameters plays a vital part in the performance of devices by establishing the system design. It can be found that the perovskite film growing on NiO_x has a stronger light absorption capacity, which makes the best open-circuit voltage of 0.98 V, short-circuit current density of 24.55 mA/cm², and power conversion efficiency of 20.01%. Full article

This paper presents the effect of a composite poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate PEDOT:PSS and copper-doped nickel oxide (Cu:NiO_x) hole transport layer (HTL) on the performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Thin films of Cu:NiO_x were spin-coated onto fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrates using a blend of nickel acetate tetrahydrate, 2-methoxyethanol and monoethanolamine (MEA) and copper acetate monohydrate. The prepared solution was stirred at 65 °C for 4 h and spin-coated onto the FTO substrates at 3000 rpm for 30 s in a nitrogen glovebox. The Cu:NiOx/FTO/glass structure was then annealed in air at 400 °C for 30 min. A mixture of PEDOT:PSS and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) (in 1:0.05 wt%) was spun onto the Cu:NiO_x/FTO/glass substrate at 4000 rpm for 60 s. The multilayer structure was annealed at 130 °C for 15 min. Subsequently, the perovskite precursor (0.95 M) of methylammonium iodide (MAI) to lead acetate trihydrate (Pb(OAc)₂·3H₂O) was spin-coated at 4000 rpm for 200 s and thermally annealed at 80 °C for 12 min. The inverted planar perovskite solar cells were then fabricated by the deposition of a photoactive layer (CH3NH3PbI3), [6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), and a Ag electrode. The mechanical behavior of the device during the fabrication of the Cu:NiO_x HTL was modeled with finite element simulations using Abaqus/Complete Abaqus Environment CAE. The results show that incorporating Cu:NiO_x into the PSC device improves its density–voltage (J–V) behavior, giving an enhanced photoconversion efficiency (PCE) of ~12.8% from ~9.8% and ~11.5% when PEDOT:PSS-only and Cu:NiO_x-only are fabricated, respectively. The short circuit current density J_sc for the 0.1 M Cu:NiO_x and 0.2 M Cu:NiO_x-based devices increased by 18% and 9%, respectively, due to the increase in the electrical conductivity of the Cu:NiO_x which provides room for more charges to be extracted out of the absorber layer. The increases in the PCEs were due to the copper-doped nickel oxide blend with the PEDOT:PSS which enhanced the exciton density and charge transport efficiency leading to higher electrical conductivity. The results indicate that the devices with the copper-doped nickel oxide hole transport layer (HTL) are slower to degrade compared with the PEDOT:PSS-only-based HTL. The finite element analyses show that the Cu:NiO_x layer would not extensively deform the device, leading to improved stability and enhanced performance. The implications of the results are discussed for the design of low-temperature solution-processed PSCs with copper-doped nickel oxide composite HTLs. Full article

A high-efficiency inverted-type CH₃NH₃PbI₃ (MAPbI₃) solar cell was fabricated by using a ultrathin poly[3-(4-carboxybutyl)thiophene-2,5-diyl]-Na (P3CT-Na) film as the hole transport layer. The averaged power conversion efficiency (PCE) can be largely increased from 11.72 to 18.92% with a double-filtering process of the P3CT-Na solution mainly due to the increase in short-circuit current density (J_SC) from 19.43 to 23.88 mA/cm², which means that the molecular packing structure of P3CT-Na thin film can influence the formation of the MAPbI₃ thin film and the contact quality at the MAPbI₃/P3CT-Na interface. Zeta potentials, atomic-force microscopic images, absorbance spectra, photoluminescence spectra, X-ray diffraction patterns, and Raman scattering spectra are used to understand the improvement in the J_SC. Besides, the light intensity-dependent and wavelength-dependent photovoltaic performance of the MAPbI₃ solar cells shows that the P3CT-Na thin film is not only used as the hole transport layer but also plays an important role during the formation of a high-quality MAPbI₃ thin film. It is noted that the PCE values of the best P3CT-Na based MAPbI₃ solar cell are higher than 30% in the yellow-to-near infrared wavelength range under low light intensities. On the other hand, it is predicted that the double-filtering method can be readily used to increase the PCE of polymer based solar cells. Full article

The cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is an important pest of many crops that has developed resistance to almost all groups of insecticides used for its management. Insecticide resistance was often related to Transposable Element (TE) insertions near specific genes. In the present study, we deeply retrieve and annotate TEs in the H. armigera genome using the Pipeline to Retrieve and Annotate Transposable Elements, PiRATE. The results have shown that the TE library consists of 8521 sequences representing 236,132 TE copies, including 3133 Full-Length Copies (FLC), covering 12.86% of the H. armigera genome. These TEs were classified as 46.71% Class I and 53.29% Class II elements. Among Class I elements, Short and Long Interspersed Nuclear Elements (SINEs and LINEs) are the main families, representing 21.13% and 19.49% of the total TEs, respectively. Long Terminal Repeat (LTR) and Dictyostelium transposable element (DIRS) are less represented, with 5.55% and 0.53%, respectively. Class II elements are mainly Miniature Inverted Transposable Elements (MITEs) (49.11%), then Terminal Inverted Repeats (TIRs) (4.09%). Superfamilies of Class II elements, i.e., Transib, P elements, CACTA, Mutator, PIF-harbinger, Helitron, Maverick, Crypton and Merlin, were less represented, accounting for only 1.96% of total TEs. In addition, we highlighted TE insertions in insecticide resistance genes and we successfully identified nine TE insertions belonging to RTE, R2, CACTA, Mariner and hAT superfamilies. These insertions are hosted in genes encoding cytochrome P450 (CyP450), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter belonging to the G and C1 family members. These insertions could therefore be involved in insecticide resistance observed in this pest. Full article