Tuning Electronic and Functional Properties in Defected MoS Films by Surface Patterning of Sulphur Atomic Vacancies.

Defects are inherent in transition metal dichalcogenides and significantly affect their chemical and physical properties. In this study, surface defect electrochemical nanopatterning is proposed as a promising method to tune in a controlled manner the electronic and functional properties of defective MoS₂ thin films. Using parallel electrochemical nanolithography, MoS₂ thin films are patterned, creating sulphur vacancy-rich active zones alternated with defect-free regions over a centimetre scale area, with sub-micrometre spatial resolution.

Titania as Buffer Layer for Cd-Free Kesterite Solar Cells.

Pure sulfide kesterite (CuZnSnS) is one of the most promising emerging photovoltaic technologies thanks to its excellent absorption coefficient, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. However, record efficiencies are not exceeding 11% due to several issues, such as absorber defects or a nonoptimal band alignment with the toxic but conventionally used CdS buffer layer. To get rid of it, several efforts have been made in the past few years.

Band-Gap Tuning Induced by Germanium Introduction in Solution-Processed Kesterite Thin Films.

In the last few decades, the attention of scientific community has been driven toward the research on renewable energies. In particular, the photovoltaic (PV) thin-film technology has been widely explored to provide suitable candidates as top cells for tandem architectures, with the purpose of enhancing current PV efficiencies. One of the most studied absorbers, made of earth-abundant elements, is kesterite CuZnSnS (CZTS), showing a high absorption coefficient and a band gap around 1.

Recent progress in the chemistry of 12-membered pyridine-containing tetraazamacrocycles: from synthesis to catalysis.

This article provides an overview (non-comprehensive) of the recent developments regarding pyridine-containing 12-membered tetraazamacrocycles with pyclen or Py2N2 backbones and their metal complexes from 2017 to the present. Firstly, the syntheses of newly described ligands and complexes with relevance to medicine are described. The second part deals with the reactivity of complexes bearing these ligands and their uses in catalysis.

Two-Step Synthesis of Bismuth-Based Hybrid Halide Perovskite Thin-Films.

Lead halide perovskites have been revolutionary in the last decade in many optoelectronic sectors. Their bismuth-based counterparts have been considered a good alternative thanks to their composition of earth-abundant elements, good chemical stability, and low toxicity. Moreover, their electronic structure is in a quasi-zero-dimensional (0D) configuration, and they have recently been explored for use beyond optoelectronics.

Growth and Characterization of CuZnFeSnS Thin Films for Photovoltaic Applications.

Photovoltaics is a promising technology to produce sustainable energy, thanks to the high amount of energy emitted by the sun. One way of having solar cells with low production costs is to apply thin-film technology and with earth-abundant raw materials. A keen interest is arising in kesterite compounds, which are chalcogenides composed of abundant and non-toxic elements.

[Copper(I)(Pyridine-Containing Ligand)] Catalyzed Regio- and Steroselective Synthesis of 2-Vinylcyclopropa[b]indolines from 2-Vinylindoles.

A [copper(I)pyridine-containing ligand]-catalyzed reaction between 2-vinylindoles and diazo esters is described. The reaction allows for the synthesis of a series of 2-vinylcyclopropa[b]indolines with excellent levels of regio- and sterocontrol under mild conditions.