Innovative Design and Synthesis of Fullerene-Terpyridine Derivatives for Enhanced Electron Transport in Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells.

In this study, three fullerene derivatives─, , and ─were synthesized and investigated as additives in PCBM-based electron-transporting layers (ETLs) for inverted perovskite solar cells (PVSCs). The incorporation of and into the ETLs led to improved ETL morphology and passivation of crystal defects on the surface of the methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI) layer. This defect passivation enhanced crystal quality, increased UV-vis absorption, reduced charge recombination, and improved electron mobility in the - and -based PVSCs.

Magnetar emergence in a peculiar gamma-ray burst from a compact star merger.

The central engine that powers gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), the most powerful explosions in the universe, is still not identified. Besides hyper-accreting black holes, rapidly spinning and highly magnetized neutron stars, known as millisecond magnetars, have been suggested to power both long and short GRBs. The presence of a magnetar engine following compact star mergers is of particular interest as it would provide essential constraints on the poorly understood equation of state for neutron stars.

Outlook on the Security and Potential Improvements of CRISPR-Cas9.

Gene editing technology is regarded as a good news to save patients with genetic diseases because of its significant function of specifically changing genetic information. From zinc-finger proteins to transcription activator-like effector protein nucleases gene editing tools are constantly updated. At the same time, scientists are constantly developing a variety of new gene editing therapy strategies, in order to promote gene editing therapy from various aspects and realize the maturity of the technology as soon as possible.

Enhanced Photovoltaic Performance of Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells through Surface Modification of a NiO-Based Hole-Transporting Layer with Quaternary Ammonium Halide-Containing Cellulose Derivatives.

In this study, we positioned three quaternary ammonium halide-containing cellulose derivatives (PQF, PQCl, PQBr) as interfacial modification layers between the nickel oxide (NiO) and methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI) layers of inverted perovskite solar cells (PVSCs). Inserting PQCl between the NiO and MAPbI layers improved the interfacial contact, promoted the crystal growth, and passivated the interface and crystal defects, thereby resulting in MAPbI layers having larger crystal grains, better crystal quality, and lower surface roughness. Accordingly, the photovoltaic (PV) properties of PVSCs fabricated with PQCl-modified NiO layers were improved when compared with those of the pristine sample.

Insight-HXMT observations of jet-like corona in a black hole X-ray binary MAXI J1820+070.

A black hole X-ray binary produces hard X-ray radiation from its corona and disk when the accreting matter heats up. During an outburst, the disk and corona co-evolves with each other. However, such an evolution is still unclear in both its geometry and dynamics.