Both bismuth and copper are non-toxic and earth-abundant elements suitable for lead-free halide perovskite-like photovoltaic devices. Here, we report a highly facile route for in-situ producing copper-bismuth-iodide (CuBiI 4) thin films directly on ITO substrate at room temperature, by utilizing a Bi-Cu alloy layer as precursor. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results verified the formation of well crystallized CuBiI 4 thin films with [222] orientation. The transient photovoltage (TPV) analysis revealed that the CuBiI 4 is an n-type semiconductor with a suitable band gap of~1.81 eV, preferable to photoelectric conversion compared with CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3. It is very interesting that the subsequent spin-coating process of the classical Spiro-MeOTAD organic solution with TBP and acetonitrile resulted in a dense and smooth CuBiI 4 :Spiro-MeOTAD bulk-heterojunction film. The preliminarily fabricated simple sandwich structures of ITO/CuBiI 4 :Spiro-MeO-TAD/Au hybrid solar cell devices displayed efficient photovoltaic performance with the PCE up to 1.119% of the best sample. The room temperature direct metal surface elemental reaction (DMSER) method may provide a new insight for all-inorganic lead free perovskite-like A a B b X x compounds and high performance photovoltaic devices.
BackgroundMicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate a lot of physiological and pathological processes, including myocardial ischemia/reperfusion. Recent studies reported that knockdown of miR-92a could attenuate ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial injury. In the present study, we examined the potential anti-apoptotic effects of miR-92a in a rat myocardiocyte cell line, and the possible role of Smad7 in such actions.Methodology and ResultsIn a preliminary bioinformatic analysis, we identified SMAD family member 7 (Smad7) as a potential target for miR-92a. A luciferase reporter assay indeed demonstrated that miR-92a could inhibit Smad7 expression. Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion was simulated in rat H9c2 cells with 24-h hypoxia followed by 12-h reoxygenation. Prior to hypoxia/reoxygenation, cells were transfected by miR-92a inhibitor. In some experiments, cells were co-transfected with siRNA-Smad7. The miR-92a inhibitor dramatically reduced the release of lactate dehydrogenase and malonaldehyde, and attenuated cardiomyocyte apoptosis. The miR-92a inhibitor increased SMAD7 protein level and decreased nuclear NF-κB p65 protein. Effects of the miR-92a inhibitor were attenuated by co-transfection with siRNA-Smad7.ConclusionInhibiting miR-92a can attenuate myocardiocyte apoptosis induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation by targeting Smad7.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.