Accurate Determination of the Uniaxial Complex Refractive Index and the Optical Band Gap of Polymer Thin Films to Correlate Their Absorption Strength and Onset of Absorption.

The advanced development of optoelectronic devices requires a methodical knowledge of the fundamental material properties of the key active components. Systematic investigations and correlations of such basic optical properties can lead to new insights for the design of more potent materials. In this perspective, we provide a systematic overview of the uniaxial anisotropic complex refractive indices and the absorption coefficients obtained by ellipsometry as well as the optical band gap energies derived from Tauc plots of six selected solution-processed polymer thin films.

Sensitive and high laser damage threshold substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering based on gold and silver nanoparticles.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a sensitive and fast technique for sensing applications such as chemical trace analysis. However, a successful, high-throughput practical implementation necessitates the availability of simple-to-use and economical SERS substrates. In this work, we present a robust, reproducible, flexible and yet cost-effective SERS substrate suited for the sensitive detection of analytes at near-infrared (NIR) excitation wavelengths.

A Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for OER and ORR based on a Cobalt(II) Triazole Pyridine Bis-[Cobalt(III) Corrole] Complex.

As alternative energy sources are essential to reach a climate-neutral economy, hydrogen peroxide (HO) as futuristic energy carrier gains enormous awareness. However, seeking for stable and electrochemically selective HO ORR electrocatalyst is yet a challenge, making the design of-ideally-bifunctional catalysts extremely important and outmost of interest. In this study, we explore the application of a trimetallic cobalt(II) triazole pyridine bis-[cobalt(III) corrole] complex CoTP[CoC] in OER and ORR catalysis due to its remarkable physicochemical properties, fast charge transfer kinetics, electrochemical reversibility, and durability.

An autonomous wearable biosensor powered by a perovskite solar cell.

Wearable sweat sensors can potentially be used to continuously and non-invasively monitor physicochemical biomarkers that contain information related to disease diagnostics and fitness tracking. However, the development of such autonomous sensors faces a number of challenges including achieving steady sweat extraction for continuous and prolonged monitoring, and addressing the high power demands of multifunctional and complex analysis. Here we report an autonomous wearable biosensor that is powered by a perovskite solar cell and can provide continuous and non-invasive metabolic monitoring.

3-Thiophenemalonic Acid Additive Enhanced Performance in Perovskite Solar Cells.

The development of ambient-air-processable organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cells (OIHPSCs) is a challenge necessary for the transfer of laboratory-scale technology to large-scale and low-cost manufacturing of such devices. Different approaches like additives, antisolvents, composition engineering, and different deposition techniques have been employed to improve the morphology of the perovskite films. Additives that can form Lewis acid-base adducts are known to minimize extrinsic impacts that trigger defects in ambient air.