Nickel diselenide (NiSe(2)) has been synthesized and applied as a counter electrode (CE) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) for the first time, which displays remarkable catalytic activity in the reduction of I(3)(-). The DSSC with a NiSe(2) CE produces a higher power conversion efficiency (8.69%) than that (8.04%) of the cell with a Pt CE under the same conditions. A new method for comparing the catalytic activity has also been proposed.

NiS2 nanoparticles and nanocomposites of NiS2 with reduced graphene oxide (NiS2@RGO) have been successfully prepared via a facile hydrothermal reaction of nickel ions and sulfur source in the absence or presence of graphene oxide. NiS2@RGO nanocomposites exhibit excellent electrocatalytic performance for reduction of triiodide, owing to the improved conductivity and positive synergetic effect between NiS2 and RGO. As a consequence, the dye-sensitized solar cell with the NiS2@RGO counter electrode (CE) produces a power conversion efficiency of 8.55%, which is higher than that (7.02%) for the DSSC with the NiS2 CE, higher than that (3.14%) for the DSSC with the RGO CE, and also higher than that (8.15%) for the DSSC with the reference Pt CE under the same conditions.

In December 2019, the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) occurred in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The epidemic quickly broke out and spread throughout the country. Now it becomes a pandemic that affects the whole world. In this study, three models were used to fit and predict the epidemic situation in China: a modified SEIRD (Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered-Dead) dynamic model, a neural network method LSTM (Long Short-Term Memory), and a GWR (Geographically Weighted Regression) model reflecting spatial heterogeneity. Overall, all the three models performed well with great accuracy. The dynamic SEIRD prediction APE (absolute percent error) of China had been � 1.0% since Mid-February. The LSTM model showed comparable accuracy. The GWR model took into account the influence of geographical differences, with R 2 = 99.98% in fitting and 97.95% in prediction. Wilcoxon test showed that none of the three models outperformed the other two at the significance level of 0.05. The parametric analysis of the infectious rate and recovery rate demonstrated that China's national policies had effectively slowed down the spread of the epidemic. Furthermore, the models in this study provided a wide range of implications for other countries to predict the short-term and long-term trend of COVID-19, and to evaluate the intensity and effect of their interventions.

As a model system for understanding charge transfer in novel architectural designs for solar cells, double-walled carbon nanotube (DWNT)–CdSe quantum dot (QD) (QDs with average diameters of 2.3, 3.0, and 4.1 nm) heterostructures have been fabricated. The individual nanoscale building blocks were successfully attached and combined using a hole-trapping thiol linker molecule, i.e., 4-mercaptophenol (MTH), through a facile, noncovalent π–π stacking attachment strategy. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the attachment of QDs onto the external surfaces of the DWNTs. We herein demonstrate a meaningful and unique combination of near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and Raman spectroscopies bolstered by complementary electrical transport measurements in order to elucidate the synergistic interactions between CdSe QDs and DWNTs, which are facilitated by the bridging MTH molecules that can scavenge photoinduced holes and potentially mediate electron redistribution between the conduction bands in CdSe QDs and the C 2p-derived states of the DWNTs. Specifically, we correlated evidence of charge transfer as manifested by (i) changes in the NEXAFS intensities of π* resonance in the C K-edge and Cd M 3-edge spectra, (ii) a perceptible outer tube G-band downshift in frequency in Raman spectra, as well as (iii) alterations in the threshold characteristics present in transport data as a function of CdSe QD deposition onto the DWNT surface. In particular, the separate effects of (i) varying QD sizes and (ii) QD coverage densities on the electron transfer were independently studied.

No abstract

As a model system to probe ligand-dependent charge transfer in complex composite heterostructures, we fabricated double-walled carbon nanotube (DWNT)-CdSe quantum dot (QD) composites. Whereas the average diameter of the QDs probed was kept fixed at ∼4.1 nm and the nanotubes analyzed were similarly oxidatively processed, by contrast, the ligands used to mediate the covalent attachment between the QDs and DWNTs were systematically varied to include p-phenylenediamine (PPD), 2-aminoethanethiol (AET), and 4-aminothiophenol (ATP). Herein, we have put forth a unique compilation of complementary data from experiment and theory, including results from transmission electron microscopy (TEM), near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, electrical transport measurements, and theoretical modeling studies, in order to fundamentally assess the nature of the charge transfer between CdSe QDs and DWNTs, as a function of the structure of various, intervening bridging ligand molecules. Specifically, we correlated evidence of charge transfer as manifested by changes and shifts associated with NEXAFS intensities, Raman peak positions, and threshold voltages both before and after CdSe QD deposition onto the underlying DWNT surface. Importantly, for the first time ever in these types of nanoscale composite systems, we have sought to use theoretical modeling to justify and account for our experimental results. Our overall data suggest that (i) QD coverage density on the DWNTs varies, based upon the different ligand pendant groups used and that (ii) the presence of a π-conjugated carbon framework within the ligands themselves coupled with the electron affinity of their pendant groups collectively play important roles in the resulting charge transfer from QDs to the underlying CNTs.

The fabrication approach of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is closely related to the performance and durability of the fuel cell. In this work, we combine reinforcement-embedding technology with a direct membrane deposition approach to prepare a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) with an expanded poly­(tetrafluoroethylene) (ePTFE)-reinforced membrane and then assemble a reinforced MEA. Compared with the traditional MEA, the reinforced MEA exhibits higher performance, especially under low-humidity operating conditions. Under H2/air operating conditions, the cell performance of the reinforced MEA reaches 724 mW cm–2 (80 °C, 100% relative humidity (RH), normal pressure). With the addition of ePTFE reinforcement, the mechanical durability of the reinforced MEA is significantly improved. After 3000 cycles of alternative dry/wet conditions, the reinforced MEA exhibited lower hydrogen permeation and less performance degradation compared with the unreinforced MEA. This work provides a new and facile way for improving the mechanical durability of MEAs.

No abstract