PSCs have two typical configurations, regular (n-i-p) and inverted (p-i-n). So far, the highest reported efficiencies of PSCs have been achieved using the n-i-p configuration with a mesoporous scaffold such as, a TiO 2 layer. [11] The mesoporous n-i-p structure usually requires a high temperature thermal treatment, exhibits severe hysteresis behavior and photo-induced degradation. The planar p-i-n architecture, which has no mesoporous scaffold, has attracted growing attention because it offers low temperature fabrication, much less pronounced hysteresis [12] and high stability with no need for dopants in the charge selective layer, which are known to cause degradation. [13] The p-i-n PSCs have also shown superior compatibility in perovskite based tandem solar cells due to lower parasitic absorption loss in the front contact. [14][15][16] Nevertheless, the maximum PCE of p-i-n PSCs still lags behind that of their n-i-p counterparts. This is predominantly the results of lower open circuit voltage and higher non-radiative recombination losses. [17] These losses are dominated by the interfaces of the charge-selective contacts. Extensive efforts have been devoted to improving these interfacial properties. For instance, approaches using ultrathin but conformal organic Recent advances in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) performance have been closely related to improved interfacial engineering and charge selective contacts. Here, a novel and cost-competitive phenothiazine based, self-assembled monolayer (SAM) as a hole-selective contact for p-i-n PSCs is introduced. The molecularly tailored SAM enables an energetically well-aligned interface with the perovskite absorber, with minimized nonradiative interfacial recombination loss, thus dramatically improving charge extraction/transport and device performance. The resulting PSCs exhibit a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of up to 22.44% (certified 21.81%) with an average fill factor close to 81%, which is among the highest efficiencies reported to date for p-i-n PSCs. The new SAM also demonstrates the outstanding operational stability of the PSC, with increasing PCE from 20.3% to 21.8% during continuous maximum power point tracking under a simulated 1 sun illumination for 100 h. The reported findings highlight the great potential of engineered SAMs for the fabrication of stable and high performing PSCs.

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In order to obtain crosslinked poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) foams with a closed-cell structure, a commercial-grade PBS was first modified in the melt using two different branching agents to increase the melt viscosity. The rheological properties of the branched and crosslinked PBS were examined by varying the amount of the branching agents. The complex viscosity of the crosslinked PBS increased with increasing amount of the branching agent. However, it decreased with increasing frequency. When 2 phr of the branching agent was added to PBS, the storage modulus (G') was higher than the loss modulus (G") throughout the entire frequency range, showing that the addition of a branching agent increases the melt viscosity and elasticity of PBS effectively. Closed-cell PBS foams were prepared by mixing the chemical blowing agent with the crosslinked PBS. The effect of the foaming conditions such as temperature and time, and the amount of the crosssslinking agent on the structure of the expanded PBS foams were also investigated.

Synthetic aliphatic biodegradable poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) nanocomposites with multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) were investigated to study the effects of the preparation method and MWNTs on physical characteristics of biodegradable polymer nanocomposite foams. PBS nanocomposites were prepared by the solution blending and melt mixing methods. Nanocomposites of PBS/MWNT were also prepared by the SOAM method, where the solution-blended nanocomposites were further mixed in the melt state. The dispersion of MWNTs in the PBS matrix was characterized by FT-Raman spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and field-emission transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM). The mechanical and thermal properties of the PBS nanocomposites were measured using a universal test machine (UTM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Nanocomposite foams with high-density closed cells were prepared by using a chemical blowing agent (CBA) that acted as a cell-nucleating agent. The effects of the foaming conditions and MWNTs on the blowing ratio, cell size distribution, and morphology of the expanded PBS foams were investigated. The effect of the CBA content on the blowing ratio, cell size distribution, and morphology was also investigated.

ΔRDW was identified to be an independent predictor of early adverse events, and a ΔRDW cut-off of 1.45 was found to predict early adverse events after CABG. Careful monitoring of RDW trends after isolated CABG provides a simple, inexpensive and objective means of predicting early adverse events.

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We describe the rare experience of veno-veno-arterial (VVA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in a patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome and septic-induced cardiomyopathy due to pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). A 24-year-old male patient who developed septic-induced cardiomyopathy secondary to pulmonary TB was administered veno-arterial (VA) ECMO for cardiac support. Six days later, the ECMO configuration mode was changed from VA to VVA to improve hypoxemia of the upper body and to prevent further lung injury. The patient was then successfully managed using an appropriate alternative ECMO strategy.