The present study reports, for the first time, both a facile synthesis for ternary CuWS nanocubes, which were synthesized by a simple and low-cost hot-injection method, and the hydrogen evolution reaction at a biomembrane-like polarized water/1,2-dichloroethane interface catalyzed by CuWS nanocubes. The rate of hydrogen evolution reaction is increased by about 1000 times by using CuWS nanocubes when compared to an uncatalyzed reaction.

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PURPOSEThis study investigated the influence of surface conditioning procedures and repeated firings on monoclinic content and strength of zirconia before cementation.MATERIALS AND METHODSSintered bar-shaped zirconia specimens were subjected to no surface treatment (control), air abrasion, or grinding (n=21). Their roughness was evaluated using a profilometer, and microscope analysis was performed on one specimen of each group. Then, 2 or 10 repeated firings (n=10) were executed, the monoclinic content of specimens was analyzed by X-ray diffraction, and a three-point flexural strength test was performed. Surface roughness values were compared using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey honestly significant difference (HSD) tests, the monoclinic content values were tested using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests, and the flexural strength values were tested using two-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests (P=.05). Spearman's correlation test was performed to define relationships among measured parameters.RESULTSSurface-treated specimens were rougher than untreated specimens and had a higher monoclinic content (P<.005), and the relationship between roughness and monoclinic content was significant (P<.000). Neither surface treatment nor firing significantly affected the flexural strength, but Weibull analysis showed that for the air-abraded samples the characteristic strength was significantly lower after the 10th firing than after the 2nd firing.CONCLUSIONAfter firing, a negligible amount of monoclinic content remained on the zirconia surfaces, and rougher surfaces had higher monoclinic contents than untreated surfaces. Multiple firings could be performed if necessary, but the fracture probability could increase after multiple firings for rougher surfaces.

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Interfacial engineering is essential for the development of highly efficient and stable solar cells through minimizing energetic losses at interfaces. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have been shown as a handle to tune the work function (WF) of indium tin oxide (ITO), improving photovoltaic cell performance and device stability. In this study, we utilize a new class of boronic acid-based fluorine-terminated SAMs to modify ITO surfaces in planar perovskite solar cells. The SAM treatment demonstrates an increase of the WF of ITO, an enhancement of the short-circuit current, and a passivation of trap states at the ITO/[poly(3,4ethylenedioxylenethiophene):poly(styrenesulfonic acid)] interface. Device stability improves upon SAM modification, with efficiency decreasing only 20% after one month. Our work highlights a simple treatment route to achieve hysteresis-free, reproducible, stable, and highly efficient (16%) planar perovskite solar cells.

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