Mitigating triplet loss in 2D WSe/non-fullerene heterostructures using halogenated acceptors.

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDCs) can be combined with organic semiconductors to form hybrid van der Waals heterostructures. Specially, non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) stand out due to their excellent absorption and exciton diffusion properties. Here, we couple monolayer tungsten diselenide (ML-WSe) with two well performing NFAs, ITIC, and IT-4F (fluorinated ITIC) to achieve hybrid architectures.

On the critical competition between singlet exciton decay and free charge generation in non-fullerene based organic solar cells with low energetic offsets.

Reducing voltage losses while maintaining high photocurrents is the holy grail of current research on non-fullerene acceptor (NFA) based organic solar cell. Recent focus lies in understanding the various fundamental mechanisms in organic blends with minimal energy offsets - particularly the relationship between ionization energy offset (ΔIE) and free charge generation. Here, we quantitatively probe this relationship in multiple NFA-based blends by mixing Y-series NFAs with PM6 of different molecular weights, covering a broad power conversion efficiency (PCE) range: from 15% down to 1%.

Key factors behind the superior performance of polymer-based NFA blends.

All-small molecule (ASMs) solar cells have great potential to actualize the commercialization of organic photovoltaics owing to their higher solubility, lesser batch-to-batch variety and simpler synthesis routes compared to the blend systems that utilize conjugated polymers. However, the efficiencies of the ASMs are slightly lacking behind the polymer: small molecule bulk-heterojunctions. To address this discrepancy, we compare an ASM blend ZR1:Y6 with a polymer:small molecule blend PM7:Y6, sharing the same non-fullerene acceptor (NFA).

Relationship between facility type and bulk tank milk bacteriology, udder health, udder hygiene, and milk production on Vermont organic dairy farms.

The primary objective of this cross-sectional observational study was to determine whether bulk tank milk quality, udder health, udder hygiene, and milk production outcomes were associated with facility type on organic dairies. A secondary objective was to identify other management-related risk factors associated with bulk tank milk quality, udder health, udder hygiene, and milk production on organic dairy herds in Vermont. We aimed to enroll 40 farms, to compare herds using the 2 most common systems (freestalls, tiestalls) for housing organic dairy cattle in the state with those using a bedded pack during the nongrazing season (typically November-May).

Unveiling the Potential of Ambient Air Annealing for Highly Efficient Inorganic CsPbI Perovskite Solar Cells.

Here, we report a detailed surface analysis of dry- and ambient air-annealed CsPbI films and their subsequent modified interfaces in perovskite solar cells. We revealed that annealing in ambient air does not adversely affect the optoelectronic properties of the semiconducting film; instead, ambient air-annealed samples undergo a surface modification, causing an enhancement of band bending, as determined by hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. We observe interface charge carrier dynamics changes, improving the charge carrier extraction in CsPbI perovskite solar cells.

Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation and Vermicompost to Manage Bottom Rot in Organic Lettuce.

Kühn (teleomorph: [Frank] Donk) is an aggressive soilborne pathogen with a wide host range that survives saprophytically between crops, presenting a challenge for organic vegetable farmers who lack effective management tools. A 2-year field experiment was conducted at two organic farms to compare anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) and worm-cured compost (vermicompost) to manage bottom rot caused by subspecies AG1-IB in field-grown organic lettuce (). At each farm, four replicate plots of seven treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design.

Molecularly induced order promotes charge separation through delocalized charge-transfer states at donor-acceptor heterojunctions.

The energetic landscape at the interface between electron donating and accepting molecular materials favors efficient conversion of intermolecular charge-transfer (CT) states into free charge carriers (FCC) in high-performance organic solar cells. Here, we elucidate how interfacial energetics, charge generation and radiative recombination are affected by molecular arrangement. We experimentally determine the CT dissociation properties of a series of model, small molecule donor-acceptor blends, where the used acceptors (B2PYMPM, B3PYMPM and B4PYMPM) differ only in the nitrogen position of their lateral pyridine rings.

Interface Modification for Energy Level Alignment and Charge Extraction in CsPbI Perovskite Solar Cells.

In perovskite solar cells (PSCs) energy level alignment and charge extraction at the interfaces are the essential factors directly affecting the device performance. In this work, we present a modified interface between all-inorganic CsPbI perovskite and its hole-selective contact (spiro-OMeTAD), realized by the dipole molecule trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO), to align the energy levels. On a passivated perovskite film, with -octylammonium iodide (OAI), we created an upward surface band-bending at the interface by TOPO treatment.

AG1-IB, AG1-IC, and AG4-HGII cause bottom rot of field lettuce in Vermont.

Members of (teleomorph: ) species complex cause bottom rot on lettuce () and yield losses up to 70% (Subbarao et al. 2017). Severe symptoms include necrosis, stem rot, and/or discoloration especially on the leaf midrib.

Determination of Mobile Ion Densities in Halide Perovskites via Low-Frequency Capacitance and Charge Extraction Techniques.

Mobile ions in perovskite photovoltaic devices can hinder performance and cause degradation by impeding charge extraction and screening the internal field. Accurately quantifying mobile ion densities remains a challenge and is a highly debated topic. We assess the suitability of several experimental methodologies for determining mobile ion densities by using drift-diffusion simulations.

Minimizing buried interfacial defects for efficient inverted perovskite solar cells.

Controlling the perovskite morphology and defects at the buried perovskite-substrate interface is challenging for inverted perovskite solar cells. In this work, we report an amphiphilic molecular hole transporter, (2-(4-(bis(4-methoxyphenyl)amino)phenyl)-1-cyanovinyl)phosphonic acid, that features a multifunctional cyanovinyl phosphonic acid group and forms a superwetting underlayer for perovskite deposition, which enables high-quality perovskite films with minimized defects at the buried interface. The resulting perovskite film has a photoluminescence quantum yield of 17% and a Shockley-Read-Hall lifetime of nearly 7 microseconds and achieved a certified power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.

Open-circuit and short-circuit loss management in wide-gap perovskite p-i-n solar cells.

In this work, we couple theoretical and experimental approaches to understand and reduce the losses of wide bandgap Br-rich perovskite pin devices at open-circuit voltage (V) and short-circuit current (J) conditions. A mismatch between the internal quasi-Fermi level splitting (QFLS) and the external V is detrimental for these devices. We demonstrate that modifying the perovskite top-surface with guanidinium-Br and imidazolium-Br forms a low-dimensional perovskite phase at the n-interface, suppressing the QFLS-V mismatch, and boosting the V.

Microplastics in composts, digestates, and food wastes: A review.

Diverting food waste from landfills to composting or anaerobic digestion can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enable the recovery of energy in usable forms, and create nutrient-rich soil amendments. However, many food waste streams are mixed with plastic packaging, raising concerns that food waste-derived composts and digestates may inadvertently introduce microplastics into agricultural soils. Research on the occurrence of microplastics in food waste-derived soil amendments is in an early phase and the relative importance of this potential pathway of microplastics to agricultural soils needs further clarification.

Overcoming C-induced interfacial recombination in inverted perovskite solar cells by electron-transporting carborane.

Inverted perovskite solar cells still suffer from significant non-radiative recombination losses at the perovskite surface and across the perovskite/C interface, limiting the future development of perovskite-based single- and multi-junction photovoltaics. Therefore, more effective inter- or transport layers are urgently required. To tackle these recombination losses, we introduce ortho-carborane as an interlayer material that has a spherical molecular structure and a three-dimensional aromaticity.

Nano-optical designs for high-efficiency monolithic perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells.

Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells offer the possibility of overcoming the power conversion efficiency limit of conventional silicon solar cells. Various textured tandem devices have been presented aiming at improved optical performance, but optimizing film growth on surface-textured wafers remains challenging. Here we present perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells with periodic nanotextures that offer various advantages without compromising the material quality of solution-processed perovskite layers.

"Red Carbon": A Rediscovered Covalent Crystalline Semiconductor.

Carbon suboxide (C O ) is a unique molecule able to polymerize spontaneously into highly conjugated light-absorbing structures at temperatures as low as 0 °C. Despite obvious advantages, little is known about the nature and the functional properties of this carbonaceous material. In this work, the aim is to bring "red carbon," a forgotten polymeric semiconductor, back to the community's attention.

Perovskite-organic tandem solar cells with indium oxide interconnect.

Multijunction solar cells can overcome the fundamental efficiency limits of single-junction devices. The bandgap tunability of metal halide perovskite solar cells renders them attractive for multijunction architectures. Combinations with silicon and copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS), as well as all-perovskite tandem cells, have been reported.

Differential Survival of Escherichia coli and Listeria spp. in Northeastern U.S. Soils Amended with Dairy Manure Compost, Poultry Litter Compost, and Heat-Treated Poultry Pellets and Fate in Raw Edible Radish Crops.

Abstract: Composted or heat-treated biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAOs) can be added to soils to provide nutrients for fresh produce. These products lower the risk of pathogen contamination of fresh produce compared with the use of untreated BSAAOs; however, meteorological conditions, geographic location, and soil properties can influence the presence of pathogenic bacteria or their indicators (e.g.

Infrared spectroscopy depth profiling of organic thin films.

Organic thin films are widely used in organic electronics and coatings. Such films often feature film-depth dependent variations of composition and optoelectronic properties. State-of-the-art depth profiling methods such as mass spectroscopy and photoelectron spectroscopy rely on non-intrinsic species (vaporized ions, etching-induced surface defects), which are chemically and functionally different from the original materials.

Organic Amendments Alter Soil Hydrology and Belowground Microbiome of Tomato ().

Manure-derived organic amendments are a cost-effective tool that provide many potential benefits to plant and soil health including fertility, water retention, and disease suppression. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate how dairy manure compost (DMC), dairy manure compost-derived vermicompost (VC), and dehydrated poultry manure pellets (PP) impact the tripartite relationship among plant growth, soil physiochemical properties, and microbial community composition. Of tomato plants with manure-derived fertilizers amendments, only VC led to vigorous growth through the duration of the experiment, whereas DMC had mixed impacts on plant growth and PP was detrimental.

Spin-spin interactions and spin delocalisation in a doped organic semiconductor probed by EPR spectroscopy.

The enhancement and control of the electrical conductivity of organic semiconductors is fundamental for their use in optoelectronic applications and can be achieved by molecular doping, which introduces additional charge carriers through electron transfer between a dopant molecule and the organic semiconductor. Here, we use Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to characterise the unpaired spins associated with the charges generated by molecular doping of the prototypical organic semiconductor poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) with 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (F4TCNQ) and tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (BCF). The EPR results reveal the P3HT radical cation as the only paramagnetic species in BCF-doped P3HT films and show evidence for increased mobility of the detected spins at high doping concentrations as well as formation of antiferromagnetically coupled spin pairs leading to decreased spin concentrations at low temperatures.