Optimizing the Photovoltaic Performance of Organic Solar Cells for Indoor Light Harvesting

Organic solar cells (OSCs) harvesting indoor light are highly promising for emerging technologies, such as internet of things. Herein, the photovoltaic performance of PTB7-Th:PC₇₁BM solar cells constructed using “optimized (with 1,8-diiodooctane (DIO))” and “non-optimized (without DIO)” processing conditions are compared for indoor and outdoor applications. We find that in comparison to the “optimized” solar cell, the “non-optimized” solar cell is less efficient under simulated solar light illumination (100 mW cm⁻², spectral range 350–1100 nm), owing to significant bimolecular charge carrier recombination losses. However, under simulated indoor illumination (3.28 mW cm⁻², spectral range 400–700 nm), bimolecular recombination losses are effective suppressed, thus the power conversion efficiency of the solar cell without DIO was increased to 14.7 %, higher than that of the solar cell with DIO (14.2 %). These results suggest that the common strategy used to optimize the OSCs could be undesired for indoor OSCs. We demonstrate that the efforts for realizing the desired “morphology” of the active layer for the outdoor OSCs may be unnecessary for indoor OSCs, allowing us to realize high-efficiency indoor OSCs using a non-halogenated solvent.     

Preparation of modified multi‐walled carbon nanotubes as a reinforcement for epoxy shape‐memory polymer composites

Effectively improving the mechanical properties and thermal resistance of epoxy shape‐memory polymers (ESMPs) without affecting their shape‐memory performance is necessary to expand these polymers in practical applications. In this article, modified multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared and used as efficient reinforcement for enhancing the comprehensive properties of ESMPs. Increases of nearly 289% to 444% for impact strength and 112% to 184% for tensile force were obtained by adding only 0.1 to 1 wt% epoxy‐modified MWCNTs. The addition of unmodified and carboxyl‐modified MWCNTs was also investigated but showed less impact on the mechanical properties of the ESMPs than epoxy‐modified MWCNTs. Thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical analyses (DMA) showed that less than 1 wt% modified MWCNTs can enhance the heat resistance of ESMPs greatly. Although the shape recovery time for composite materials increased upon adding the MWCNTs, the entire recovery time was still less than 1 minute, and the shape recovery rate was relatively high, nearly 100%.     

全自动在线固相萃取-液相色谱-高分辨质谱法测定麦卢卡蜂蜜中的特征标志物

建立了全自动在线固相萃取-液相色谱-高分辨质谱(SPE-LC-HRMS)测定麦卢卡蜂蜜中特征标志物3,5-二甲氧基苯甲酸甲酯-4-双葡萄糖糖苷(leptosperin)的方法。以Dikma Diamonsil Plus C_(18)色谱柱(150 mm×4.6 mm,5μm)为分析柱,0.1%(v/v)甲酸水溶液-乙腈为流动相进行梯度洗脱,在电喷雾负离子、目标二级离子扫描模式下进行检测,外标法定量。结果表明,在0.5~100.0 mg/L范围内该分析物的线性关系良好,相关系数为0.999 3,方法的检出限(LOD,S/N≥3)和定量限(LOQ,S/N≥10)分别为3 mg/kg和10 mg/kg。在不同蜂蜜样品中分别添加50.0、100.0、200.0 mg/kg(洋槐蜜中添加10.0、20.0、50.0 mg/kg)特征化合物标准品进行加标回收率试验,平均回收率为82.0%~95.2%,相对标准偏差为2.7%~9.7%(n=6)。利用该方法对来自新西兰12种不同品种的95个蜂巢成熟原蜜和来自4个国家50个商品化蜂蜜进行了验证。该法快速、灵敏、准确,可为解决进口新西兰麦卢卡蜂蜜的判别难题提供技术支持。     

New Strategy to Access Dual‐Stimuli‐Responsive Triple‐Shape‐Memory Effect in a Non‐overlapping Pattern

Multistimuli‐responsive shape‐memory polymers are highly desirable in various applications, and numerous modes have been developed in recent years. However, most of them need to reprogram before they are ready to respond to another stimulus while one is triggered. Here, a new strategy is developed to achieve dual‐stimuli‐responsive triple‐shape memory with non‐overlapping effect in one programming cycle. Here, a series of poly(l ‐lactide)‐poly(tetramethylene oxide) glycol copolymers (PLA‐PTMEG‐A) is prepared by selected dangling photoresponsive anthracene moieties on the crystalline PTMEG backbone. The architectures of the copolymers are well‐controlled in order to keep a good balance between the crystallinity of the soft segment and the mobility of the anthracene moieties. Thus, PLA‐PTMEG‐A's can respond to heat and light with non‐overlapping effect. The thermally‐induced shape‐memory effect (TSME) is realized by the crystallization–melting transition of PTMEG soft segments, while the light‐induced shape‐memory effect (LSME) is achieved by the reversible photodimerization of anthracene groups. In view of the non‐overlapping effect of TSME and LSME in the copolymers, a triple‐shape‐memory effect triggered by dual‐stimuli is realized in one programming and recovery cycle.

     

Field-flow fractionation in microfluidic channels of low aspect ratio

The shape of the steady-state three-dimensional flow velocity profile established in carrier liquid flowing inside the rectangular cross-sectional channel for field-flow fractionation should be taken into account to optimize the separation. The central parts of this profile in the planes parallel to the main channel walls are flat with almost identical flow velocities which drop down to zero at the side walls. The separated species transported by the flow in the close-to-side walls regions move with lower average velocities compared to the species transported in the central part of the channel and are undesirably broadened. The hydrodynamic splitting of the carrier liquid at the entry of the channel where the sample is injected only into the central part of the channel eliminates the excessive zone broadening. The aspect ratio of the breadth to the thickness of the channel ratio can thus be reduced. The effect of various aspect ratios on the shape of the flow velocity profile is calculated and the results are used to optimize the aspect ratio of microfluidic channels. The experiments carried out by microthermal field-flow fractionation confirmed that the aspect ratio cannot be reduced to a value of 1, proposed by other authors.     

A stochastic portfolio optimization model with complete memory

In this article, we consider a portfolio optimization problem of the Merton’s type with complete memory over a finite time horizon. The problem is formulated as a stochastic control problem on a finite time horizon and the state evolves according to a process governed by a stochastic process with memory. The goal is to choose investment and consumption controls such that the total expected discounted utility is maximized. Under certain conditions, we derive the explicit solutions for the associated Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman (HJB) equations in a finite-dimensional space for exponential, logarithmic, and power utility functions. For those utility functions, verification results are established to ensure that the solutions are equal to the value functions, and the optimal controls are also derived.     

分布式通信响应优化问题及其内点法求解

为了优化移动互联网的分布式通信系统的响应速度,建立分布式通信系统响应速度最优化问题的数学模型,并设计和改进求解该最优化问题的内点法.针对该最优化问题发展一套高效率预条件方法来帮助求解内点法,不但改善计算方法的数值稳定性,而且提高算法的计算效率.通过数值实验验证该预条件对算法稳定性和效率的提高.