The area of thin-film photovoltaics has been overwhelmed by organometal halide perovskites. Unfortunately, serious stability concerns arise with perovskite solar cells. For example, methyl-ammonium lead iodide is known to decompose in the presence of water and, more severely, even under inert conditions at elevated temperatures. Here, we demonstrate inverted perovskite solar cells, in which the decomposition of the perovskite is significantly mitigated even at elevated temperatures. Specifically, we introduce a bilayered electron-extraction interlayer consisting of aluminium-doped zinc oxide and tin oxide. We evidence tin oxide grown by atomic layer deposition does form an outstandingly dense gas permeation barrier that effectively hinders the ingress of moisture towards the perovskite and—more importantly—it prevents the egress of decomposition products of the perovskite. Thereby, the overall decomposition of the perovskite is significantly suppressed, leading to an outstanding device stability.

As rapid progress has been achieved in emerging thin film solar cell technology, organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) have aroused many concerns with several desired properties for photovoltaic applications, including large absorption coefficients, excellent carrier mobility, long charge carrier diffusion lengths, low‐cost, and unbelievable progress. Power conversion efficiencies increased from 3.8% in 2009 up to the current world record of 22.1%. However, poor long‐term stability of PVSCs limits the future commercial application. Here, the degradation mechanisms for unstable perovskite materials and their corresponding solar cells are discussed. The strategies for enhancing the stability of perovskite materials and PVSCs are also summarized. This review is expected to provide helpful insights for further enhancing the stability of perovskite materials and PVSCs in this exciting field.

Photonic nanostructures are created in organo-metal halide perovskites by thermal nanoimprint lithography at a temperature of 100 °C. The imprinted layers are significantly smoothened compared to the initially rough, polycrystalline layers and the impact of surface defects is substantially mitigated upon imprint. As a case study, 2D photonic crystals are shown to afford lasing with ultralow lasing thresholds at room temperature.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are a promising photovoltaic technology for stretchable applications because of their flexible, light‐weight, and low‐cost characteristics. However, the fragility of crystals and poor crystallinity of perovskite on stretchable substrates results in performance loss. In fact, grain boundary defects are the “Achilles’ heel” of optoelectronic and mechanical stability. We incorporate a self‐healing polyurethane (s‐PU) with dynamic oxime–carbamate bonds as a scaffold into the perovskite films, which simultaneously enhances crystallinity and passivates the grain boundary of the perovskite films. The stretchable PSCs with s‐PU deliver a stabilized efficiency of 19.15 % with negligible hysteresis, which is comparable to the performance on rigid substrates. The PSCs can maintain over 90 % of their initial efficiency after 3000 hours in air because of their self‐encapsulating structure. Importantly, the self‐healing function of the s‐PU scaffold was verified in situ. The s‐PU can release mechanical stress and repair cracks at the grain boundary on multiple levels. The devices recover 88 % of their original efficiency after 1000 cycles at 20 % stretch. We believe that this ingenious growth strategy for crystalline semiconductors will facilitate development of flexible and stretchable electronics.

The translation of unparalleled efficiency from the lab-scale devices to practical-scale flexible modules affords a huge performance loss for flexible perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The degradation is attributed to the brittleness and discrepancy of perovskite crystal growth upon different substrates. Inspired by robust crystallization and flexible structure of vertebrae, herein, we employ a conductive and glued polymer between indium tin oxide and perovskite layers, which simultaneously facilitates oriented crystallization of perovskite and sticks the devices. With the results of experimental characterizations and theoretical simulations, this bionic interface layer accurately controls the crystallization and acts as an adhesive. The flexible PSCs achieve the power conversion efficiencies of 19.87% and 17.55% at effective areas of 1.01 cm 2 and 31.20 cm 2 respectively, retaining over 85% of original efficiency after 7000 narrow bending cycles with negligible angular dependence. Finally, the modules are assembled into a wearable solar-power source, enabling the upscaling of flexible electronics.

Semitransparent perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are of interest for application in tandem solar cells and building-integrated photovoltaics. Unfortunately, several perovskites decompose when exposed to moisture or elevated temperatures. Concomitantly, metal electrodes can be degraded by the corrosive decomposition products of the perovskite. This is even the more problematic for semitransparent PSCs, in which the semitransparent top electrode is based on ultrathin metal films. Here, we demonstrate outstandingly robust PSCs with semitransparent top electrodes, where an ultrathin Ag layer is sandwiched between SnO x grown by low-temperature atomic layer deposition. The SnO x forms an electrically conductive permeation barrier, which protects both the perovskite and the ultrathin silver electrode against the detrimental impact of moisture. At the same time, the SnO x cladding layer underneath the ultra-thin Ag layer shields the metal against corrosive halide compounds leaking out of the perovskite. Our semitransparent PSCs show an efficiency higher than 11% along with about 70% average transmittance in the near-infrared region (λ > 800 nm) and an average transmittance of 29% for λ = 400-900 nm. The devices reveal an astonishing stability over more than 4500 hours regardless if they are exposed to ambient atmosphere or to elevated temperatures.

Conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) are usually obtained as amorphous or semicrystalline powders. Their insolubility and nonprocessability are considered as key bottlenecks that impede CMP applications. In this study, light-emitting, nanofibrous films were fabricated by electrospinning CMP/poly­(lactic acid) (PLA) mixtures. The resulting nanofibrous films show a high flexibility combined with high porosity and surface-area-to-volume ratios. The CMP-based nanofibrous films have been used as sensitive sensors in the detection of nitroaromatic and benzoquinone vapors as well as oxidizing metal ions. Moreover, 4-iodophenyl-substituted graphene sheets were used as templates for growing CMP/graphene sandwiches. The graphene-based CMP (G-CMP) sandwiches are characterized by high surface areas and aspect ratios. Furthermore, hierarchically porous two-dimensional carbon nanosheets were obtained by pyrolysis of these carbon-rich G-CMP hybrids. The resulting carbon nanomaterials show excellent supercapacitor behavior with a 48% increased capacitance if compared to porous carbons without the graphene template.

The MINOS CollaborationArgonne -Athens -Caltech -Chicago -Dubna -Fermilab -Harvard IHEP-Beijing -Indiana -ITEP-Moscow -Lebedev Livermore VCL-London Minnesota -Oxford -Pittsburgh -Protvino -Rutherford -Stanford -SussexTexas A&M -Texas-Austin -Tufts -Western Washington - Executive summaryThe MINOS (Main Injector Neutrino Oscillation Search) experiment is designed to search for neutrino oscillations with a sensitivity significantly greater than has been achieved to date. The phenomenon of neutrino oscillations, whose existence has not been proven convincingly so far, allows neutrinos of one "flavor" (type) to slowly transform themselves into another flavor, and then back again to the original flavor, as they propagate through space or matter.The MINOS experiment is optimized to explore the region of neutrino oscillation "para meter space" (values of the !:l.m 2 and sin 2 29 parameters) suggested by previous investigations of atmospheric neutrinos: the Kamiokande, 1MB, Super-Kamiokande and Soudan 2 experi ments. The study of oscillations in this region with a neutrino beam from the Main Injector requires measurements of the beam after a very long flight path. This in turn requires an intense neutrino beam and a massive detector in order to have an adequate event rate at a great distance from the source.We propose to enhance significantly the physics capabilities of the MINOS experiment by the addition of a Hybrid Emulsion Detector at Soudan, capable of unambigous identification of the neutrino flavor. Recent developments in emulsion experiments make such a detector possible, although significant technological challenges must be overcome. We propose to initiate an R&D effort to identify major potential problems and to develop practical solutions to them.In addition to this primary motivation for this R&D work, we note that the strong and growing interest in studies of neutrino oscillations using neutrino beams from future muon storage rings provides another potential application. These beams will offer significantly higher intensities, albeit of mixed 1I1J-and lie, beams. In order to take full advantage of these beams for neutrino oscillation studies it will be necessary that the detector be capable of determination of the flavor of the final state lepton, and the lepton's charge in a significant fraction of the interactions. At present, an emulsion detector in an external magnetic field appears best suited to offer such capabilities. The R&D effort discussed here will be an important step towards a design of such a future detector. This document is organized as follows:• Chapter 1 summarizes the physics motivation for the proposed emulsion detector,• Chapter 2 briefly reviews the status of the emulsion technology and its aplication to particle physics experiments,• Chapter 3 discusses design considerations for an emulsion detector,• Chapter 4 describes some of the details of a possible detector as well as results from the work up to date,• Chapter 5 outlines the proposed R&D program and summarizes the resources req...