We demonstrate high-performance, air-stable, low-temperature processed (≦100 °C) semitransparent (ST) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by the applications of atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology to deposit ZnO and Al 2 O 3 films as cathode buffer layer (CBL) and encapsulation layer, respectively. The application of ALD ZnO film as CBL in PSCs deliver several remarkable features, including fine tunability of the work function of the electrode, low deposition temperature (80 °C), high charge selectivity, good electron-transporting ability (filed-effect mobility = 16.1 cm 2 V -1 s -1 ), and excellent film coverage. With these desired interfacial properties, the device with opaque Ag electrode delivers high power conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 16.5%, greatly outperforming the device with state-of-the-art CBL ZnO nanoparticles film (10.8%). For ST PSCs employing Ag nanowires as transparent top electrode, a remarkable PCE of 10.8% with a corresponding average visible transmittance (AVT) of 25.5% are demonstrated, which represents the highest PCE ever reported for ST PSCs with similar AVT. More significantly, the insufficient ambient stability of ST device is significantly improved by employing excellent gas-barrier performance of ALD Al 2 O 3 -based encapsulation layer, with an oxygen transmission rate of 1.9×10 -3 cm 3 m -2 day -1 and a water vapor transmittance rate of 9.0×10 -4 g m -2 day -1 .

A facile and effective approach to enhance the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells is proposed by using a solution-processed cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-doped [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) film as a cathode interfacial layer.

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A promising approach towards highly efficient and stable large-area ITO-free perovskite solar cells is demonstrated by employing thiol-functionalized self-assembled monolayers as interfacial modification layers.

We present a facile and effective method to enhance the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by the incorporation of solution-processed thiol-functionalized cationic surfactant (11mercaptoundecyl)trimethylammonium bromide (MUTAB) as cathode buffer layer (CBL). Our results indicate that the thiol function groups on MUTAB tend to react with the incident Ag atoms to form covalent Ag−S bonds, while no reaction is observed in the case of a methyl-functionalized counterpart dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB). Importantly, the presence of Ag−S bonding exerts multipositive effects on the interface, including decrease of contact resistance between the active layer and Ag electrode, improvement of ambient and thermal stability, and reduction of the percolation threshold of ultrathin Ag film. With these desired interfacial properties, the opaque device delivers high power conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 16.5%, which is superior to those of the devices with DTAB (7.9%) and state-of-the-art CBL ZnO nanoparticles (11.0%). The application of MUTAB CBL in semitransparent (ST) solar cells using ultrathin (8 nm) Ag film as transparent top electrode is also demonstrated, and a remarkable PCE of 11.8% with a corresponding average visible transparency (AVT) of 20.8% is achieved, which represents the highest PCE ever reported for ST PSCs with similar AVT. More significantly, the resulting devices possess good ambient stability.

A poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) conjugate of 3'-azido-3'- deoxythymidine (AZT, zidovudine) was designed and synthesized as a novel sustained-release prodrug. In the synthetic process, a succinate diester spacer was used to covalently couple AZT with methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG; MW=2000). The conjugate was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and NMR spectroscopies and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). The in vitro release was determined in hydrochloride (HCl) solution (pH 1.2) and phosphate-buffered solution (PBS; pH 6.8), which showed the release rate of AZT from the conjugate was slower than that from the free drug, suggesting its possible increased retention in gastrointestinal conditions. Pharmacokinetic properties were evaluated experimentally by oral administration in mice. Compared to free AZT, the absorption half-life (t1/2ka) and elimination half life (t1/2ß) of AZT released from the conjugate were both extended to 0.51±0.03 h (p <0.01) and 2.94±0.24 h (p <0.01), respectively. Evaluation of the in vitro anti-HIV activities showed mPEG-AZT exhibited good inhibition of HIV-1, with an EC(50) value of 0.0634 μM, but it is lower than that of free AZT. These results show that the conjugate is capable of releasing the parent drug in a sustained profile, potentially providing a feasible alternative to oral administration of AZT in a clinical setting.

The structures, names, bioactivities and references of 138 briarane-type diterpenoids, including 87 new compounds, are summarized in this review. All the briarane-type compounds mentioned in this review article were obtained from gorgonian corals including the genus Briareum, Dichotella, Junceella and Verrucella. Some of these compounds showed potential bioactivities.

Mono-halogenated perylene diimides as solution-processable electron transporting layers in perovskite solar cells with ZnO nanoparticle cathode buffer layers.