Synthesis and Photovoltaic Performance of β-Amino-Substituted Porphyrin Derivatives.

New β-amino-substituted porphyrin derivatives bearing carboxy groups were synthesized and their performance as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) was evaluated. The new compounds were obtained in good yields (63-74%) through nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions with 3-sulfanyl- and 4-sulfanylbenzoic acids. Although the electrochemical studies indicated suitable HOMO and LUMO energy levels for use in DSSC, the devices fabricated with these compounds revealed a low power conversion efficiency (PCE) that is primarily due to the low open-circuit voltage (V) and short-circuit current density (J) values.

Application of Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) as Dyes and Additives for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs).

Five Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) were synthesized and applied to Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) as dyes and additives. These porous nanomaterials are based on cheap, abundant commercially available ionic dyes (thionin acetate RIO-43, Bismarck brown Y RIO-55 and pararosaniline hydrochloride RIO-70), and antibiotics (dapsone RIO-60) are used as building blocks. The reticular innovative organic framework RIO-60 is the most promising dye for DSSCs.

Effect of Iodide-Based Organic Salts and Ionic Liquid Additives in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Performance.

The use of ionic liquid and organic salts as additives for electrolyte systems in dye-sensitized solar cells have been widely described in recent years. The tunability of their physical-chemical properties according to the cation-anion selection contributes toward their high efficiencies. For this purpose, several iodide-based organic salts including imidazolium, picolinium, guanidinium and alkylammonium cations were tested using acetonitrile/valeronitrile electrolytes and their photovoltaic parameters were compared.

Pneumatic Compression, But Not Exercise, Can Avoid Intradialytic Hypotension: A Randomized Trial.

Background: Conventional hemodialysis (HD) is associated with dialysis-induced hypotension (DIH) and ineffective phosphate removal. As the main source of extracellular fluid removed during HD are the legs, we sought to reduce DIH and increase phosphate removal by using cycling and pneumatic compression, which would potentially provide higher venous return, preserving central blood flow and also offering more phosphate to the dialyzer.

Methods: We evaluated 21 patients in a randomized crossover fashion in which each patient underwent 3 different HD: control; cycling exercise during the first 60 min; and pneumatic compression during the first 60 min.

Mullet and gudgeon liver histopathology and macroinvertebrate indexes and metrics upstream and downstream from a wastewater treatment plant (Febros River--Portugal).

The increased pollution in ecosystems reinforces the importance of both chemical monitoring and biological monitoring of streams and rivers, as an effective water quality-based approach to assess aquatic ecosystem health. In this study, gudgeon (Gobio gobio) and mullet (Mugil cephalus) liver histopathology (biomarker) and some macroinvertebrate community indexes and metrics (bioindicator) were used to evaluate the effect of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) of Febros (Avintes) in Febros River water quality and ecosystem health. Regarding macroinvertebrate communities, the Belgian Biotic Index (BBI) and Iberian Biological Monitoring Working Party (IBMWP) indexes suggested that Febros water was slightly polluted, even though the worst situation was found downstream the WWTP discharge.