The electron transport layer (ETL) is a key component of regular perovskite solar cells to promote the overall charge extraction efficiency and tune the crystallinity of the perovskite layer for better device performance. The authors present a novel protocol of ETL engineering by incorporating a composition of the perovskite precursor, methylammonium chloride (MACl), or formamidine chloride (FACl), into SnO 2 layers, which are then converted into the crystal nuclei of perovskites by reaction with PbI 2 . The SnO 2 -embedded nuclei remarkably improve the morphology and crystallinity of the optically active perovskite layers. The improved ETL-to-perovskite electrical contact and dense packing of large-grained perovskites enhance the carrier mobility and suppress charge recombination. The power conversion efficiency increases from 20.12% (blank device) to 21.87% (21.72%) for devices with MACl (FACl) as an ETL dopant. Moreover, all the precursor-engineered cells exhibit a record-high fill factor (82%).

Perovskite is a promising photovoltaic material in the sustainable energy field. In inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs), the bottom p-type hole transport materials play a crucial role in the device power conversion efficiency (PCE) and ambient stability. Nickel oxide (NiO X ) is the most promising inorganic hole transport material for inverted PSCs. However, the inferior interfacial contact of NiO X /perovskite has limited the improvement of inverted PSC performance. Strategies for handling this interfacial contact issue are scarce, and most of them require expensive equipment and complex preparation procedures. Herein, a new facial route was introduced to enhance the NiO X /perovskite interfacial contact using a porous morphology produced with a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) additive. Moreover, a bilayer-NiO X hole transport layer structure was successfully designed and used for fabricating a high-performance inverted PSC. The device exhibited a PCE of 17.57% and sufficient stability in ambient air. Various characterizations were performed to investigate the effect of the bilayer-NiO X film on device performance. The PSC exhibited superior performance, which was because of the enhanced perovskite film quality and the excellent bilayer-NiO X charge transfer ability and trap density reduction.

Abstract. In this study we present first results of a new isotope-enabled general circulation model setup. The model consists of a fully coupled atmosphere–ocean model ECHAM5/MPI-OM, enhanced by the interactive land surface scheme JSBACH and an explicit hydrological discharge scheme to close the global water budget. Stable water isotopes H218O and HDO have been incorporated into all relevant model components. Results of two equilibrium simulations under pre-industrial and last glacial maximum conditions are analysed and compared to observational data and paleoclimate records for evaluating the model's performance of simulating spatial and temporal variations in the isotopic composition of the Earth's water cycle. For the pre-industrial climate, many aspects of the simulation results of meteoric waters are in good to very good agreement with both observations and earlier atmosphere-only simulations. The model is capable of adequately simulating the large spread in the isotopic composition of precipitation between low and high latitudes. A comparison to available ocean data also shows a good model-data agreement, however a strong bias of too depleted ocean surface waters is detected for the Arctic region. Simulation results under last glacial maximum boundary conditions also fit to the wealth of available isotope records from polar ice cores, speleothems, as well as marine calcite data. Data-model evaluation of the isotopic composition in precipitation reveals a good match of the model results and indicates that the temporal glacial–interglacial isotope–temperature relation was substantially lower than the present spatial gradient for most mid- to high-latitudinal regions. As compared to older atmosphere-only simulations, a remarkable improvement is achieved for the modelling of the deuterium excess signal in Antarctic ice cores. Our simulation results indicate that cool sub-tropical and mid-latitudinal sea surface temperatures are key for this progress. A recently discussed revised interpretation of the deuterium excess record of Antarctic ice cores in terms of marine relative humidity changes on glacial–interglacial timescales is not supported by our model results.

The photovoltaic property of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is affected by detrimental defects located at the bulk and surface of perovskite films. Furthermore, defect passivation of the perovskite films is challenging. Herein, we add solid CsCl to PbI 2 precursor solutions to adjust the properties of PbI 2 membranes and obtain perovskite layers with a micrometer-sized grain by reducing grain boundary defects. Bulk defects are reduced by the increase in grain size and decrease in grain boundaries. Fewer bulk defects and the incorporation of Cs increase the device performance, improving the power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 19.72% to 22.24% and suppressing hysteresis. The passivation of surface defects further increases the PCEs and open-circuit voltages (V OC ) of PSCs. Therefore, we use 4-methoxyphenethylamine (CH 3 O−PEAI) to modify the CsCl perovskite films to eliminate the surface defects and suppress nonradiative charge recombination. The surface defect passivation using CH 3 O−PEAI further improves the PCE of the PSCs to 23.25% with a V OC of 1.186 V, resulting in more efficient and stable PSCs.

Methylation, first proposed in DNAs, but later found in RNAs, serves as one of the most widespread epigenetic modifications in eukaryotes, where N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification has been found to play an important role in a variety of cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC). Under the action of various enzymes and proteins, the regulatory role of m6A in RNAs and immune cells has also been gradually realized. This paper reviews the general biogenesis and effects of m6A, and its emerging crucial role in intestinal mucosal immunity via the regulation of RNAs and immune cells, and thus closely related to the occurrence and development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and CRC. m6A-related genes and regulatory factors are expected to be potential predictive markers and therapeutic targets.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic gut immune dysregulation and dysbiosis condition is rapidly increasing in global incidence. Regardless, there is a lack of ideal diagnostic markers, while conventional treatment provides scarce desired results, thus, the exploration for better options. Changes in the gut microbial composition and metabolites either lead to or are caused by the immune dysregulation that characterizes IBD. This study examined the fecal metagenomics and metabolomic changes in IBD patients. A total of 30 fecal samples were collected from 15 IBD patients and 15 healthy controls for 16S rDNA gene sequencing and UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS detection of metabolomics. Results showed that there was a severe perturbation of gut bacteria community composition, diversity, metabolites, and associated functions and metabolic pathways in IBD. This included a significantly decreased abundance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, increased disease-associated phyla such as Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria, and increased Escherichiacoli and Klebsiellapneumoniae in IBD. A total of 3146 metabolites were detected out of which 135 were differentially expressed between IBD and controls. Metabolites with high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating IBD from healthy individuals included 6,7,4′-trihydroxyisoflavone and thyroxine 4′-o-.beta.-d-glucuronide (AUC = 0.92), normorphine and salvinorin a (AUC = 0.90), and trichostachine (AUC = 0.91). Moreover, the IBD group had significantly affected pathways including primary bile acid biosynthesis, vitamin digestion and absorption, and carbohydrate metabolism. This study reveals that the combined evaluation of metabolites and fecal microbiome can be useful to discriminate between healthy subjects and IBD patients and consequently serve as therapeutic and diagnostic targets.

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Fluorine and indium elements in F-doped SnO 2 (FTO) and Sndoped In 2 O 3 (ITO), respectively, significantly contribute toward enhancing the electrical conductivity of these transparent conductive oxides. In this study, fluorine was combined with indium to modify the SnO 2 electron transport layer (ETL) through InF 3 . Consequently, the modified perovskite solar cells (PSCs) showe the favorable alignment of energy levels, improved absorption and utilization of light, enhanced interfacial charge extraction, and suppressed interfacial charge recombination. After InF 3 modification, the open circuit voltage (V oc ) and fill factor (FF) of the PSC were significantly improved, and the photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) reached 21.39 %, far exceeding that of the control PSC (19.62 %).