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Research describing the detection of electronegative plasmas by means of a Langmuir probe is presented. In particular the radial model for positive ion collection is developed.

Research was conducted to determine how the test function can be applied in the detection of the negative ion and electron parameters using a proposed theoretical model. Numerical procedures for processing the Langmuir probe properties were also described. Plasma parameters were detected with a spherical probe for various SF6 concentrations. The parameters were in good agreement with the results of negative ion plasmas in previous experiments.

A large area plasma source based on 12 multi-dipolar ECR plasma cells arranged in a 3 × 4 matrix configuration was built and optimized for silicon etching by negative ions. The density ratio of negative ions to electrons has exceeded 300 in Ar/SF6 gas mixture when a magnetic filter was used to reduce the electron temperature to about 1.2 eV. Mass spectrometry and electrostatic probe were used for plasma diagnostics. The new source is free of density jumps and instabilities and shows a very good stability for plasma potential, and the dominant negative ion species is F-. The magnetic field in plasma volume is negligible and there is no contamination by filaments. The etching rate by negative ions measured in Ar/SF6/O2 mixtures was almost similar with that by positive ions reaching 700 nm/min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negative ion production is investigated in a chamber with transversal magnetic filter operated in dc or inductively coupled plasma (ICP) modes in Ar/SF6 gas mixtures. Plasma parameters are evaluated by mass spectrometry and Langmuir probe for different discharge conditions. The density ratio of negative ion to electron exceeded 300 in dc mode while it was below 100 in the ICP mode. The possibility to apply a large positive bias to an electrode without affecting the plasma potential and the transition from a negative sheath to anodic glow are also investigated. The etching rates by positive and negative ions are evaluated on silicon substrate for different Ar/SF6 gas ratios. The etching rate by negative ions was with less than 5% smaller than that by positive ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negative ion production is investigated in a chamber with transversal magnetic filter operated in dc or inductively coupled plasma (ICP) modes in Ar/SF6 gas mixtures. Plasma parameters are evaluated by mass spectrometry and Langmuir probe for different discharge conditions. The density ratio of negative ion to electron exceeded 300 in dc mode while it was below 100 in the ICP mode. The possibility to apply a large positive bias to an electrode without affecting the plasma potential and the transition from a negative sheath to anodic glow are also investigated. The etching rates by positive and negative ions are evaluated on silicon substrate for different Ar/SF6 gas ratios. The etching rate by negative ions was with less than 5% smaller than that by positive ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method that allows easy and inexpensive detection of negative ions is introduced. The method is based upon the electrostatic lens effect of the sheath layer evolving to a positively biased planar probe that focuses the negative charges to distinct regions on the surface. Trajectories of negative ions inside the sheath are obtained after computing the potential and electric field distribution by solving in three dimensions the nonlinear Poisson equation. The negative ions’ flux to square and disk probes is developed in Ar/SF[sub 6] and O[sub 2] plasmas. The method allows negative ion detection with sensitivity higher than that of Langmuir probes. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negative ion production is examined in a chamber with transversal magnetic filter operated in dc or inductively coupled plasma (ICP) modes in Ar/S[F.sub.6] gas mixtures. The etching rates by positive and negative ions are analyzed on silicon substrate for different Ar/S[F.sub.6] gas ratios, where the etching rate by negative ions is shown to be 5% smaller than that by positive ions.

Presents a study which the describes a test function for negative ion and electron parameters in plasma. Description of the numerical procedures for the processing of the Langmuir probe characteristics; Type of device the experiments were conducted in.

Utilizes a 'test function' sensitive to the electron distribution function for the determination of the plasma parameters by Langmuir probes. Determination of the confined argon plasma parameters; Measurement of the positive-ion density from a probe potential slightly below the plasma potential; Estimation of the electron and negative-ion density and temperature.

When depositing amorphous SrTiO3 (STO) films on crystalline STO substrates by pulsed laser deposition, metallic interfaces are observed, though both materials are band-gap insulators. The interfacial conductivity exhibits strong dependence on oxygen pressure during film growth, which is closely related to the STO plasma expansion in the background gas of oxygen. By controlling the charge balance in the STO plasma with an external bias, Vbias, of -10 V≤Vbias≤5 V at an oxygen pressure of 10-4 Pa, the interfacial conduction can be tuned to be metallic or semiconducting. These results provide a new opportunity to tailor low-dimensional interface states of complex oxide heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ion flux on the wafer surface during plasma immersion ion implantation is investigated by three-dimensional simulations and experiments. Due to the finite size of the wafer and its stage, the evolving sheath acts as a lens that focuses the positive ions to distinct regions on the wafer surface. Depending on the sheath profile, two focusing effects are identified. Discrete focusing involves ions entering the sheath from its frontal side and leads to the formation of a passive surface near the wafer edge, while the modal focusing affects ions entering the sheath from the lateral side of the stage and are eventually directed to the wafer center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A thermal probe for plasma diagnostics is introduced. The method is based upon measuring the equilibrium temperature of a conducting sphere as a function of its applied bias. The resulting temperature–voltage characteristic is processed using a theoretical model that accounts for charge and thermodynamic balance. The thermal probe is capable of detecting negative ions and shows sensitivity to certain chemical reactions. Measurements performed in Ar, Ar/SF[sub 6], and O[sub 2] show good agreement among the plasma parameters using thermal and Langmuir probes. © 2002 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The edge effect of a planar probe induces an elliptic-like sheath structure that acts as an electrostatic lens, which then focuses the charged particles on distinct regions of the probe surface. Positive-ion sputtering, chemical adsorption, and/or plasma deposition divide the probe surface into distinct regions with different work functions, which cause a double-hump structure (DHS) in the second derivative of the probe current. Thus, the DHS cannot be correlated with a distinct group of charged particles. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amorphous-LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interfaces present metallic conductivity similar to those found in their all-crystalline counterparts. Here, the conductivity of amorphous-LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interfaces is modified by an external electric field applied in-situ with a biased truncated cone electrode (-10 V ≤ Vbias ≤ 20 V) during film growth. By modulating the charge balance of the arriving plasma species, interfacial conduction of the amorphous-LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures shifts from metallic to insulating via a semiconducting-like characteristic transport mode. This remarkable behavior is explained by a modification of the Al-ion flux impinging the SrTiO3 surface, which alters the amount of near-interface oxygen vacancies being formed at the SrTiO3 surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responds to a commentary on the article, titled 'On the surface condition of Langmuir probes in reactive plasmas,' published in the 'Applied Physics Letter' journal. Contradictory claims that an ideal case shape of the second derivative of the probe current; Validity of the article.

Cutaneous squamous scell carcinoma (cSCC) is a frequent non-melanoma skin cancer that originates from keratinocytes with increased prevalence. cSCC can be either in situ, as in Bowen's disease, or extended. Advanced age, accumulated sun exposure, light pigmentation, and prior skin cancer diagnosis are all significant risk factors for cSCC. Although most cSCCs can be treated surgically, some recur and metastasize, resulting in death. The role of immune status is not yet determined in the prognosis of these patients. Objective . Immunosuppressed patients are more likely to develop cSCC, which is often characterized by more aggressive, multifocal lesions. This study aimed to determine the risks of mortality in patients with cSCC and immunosuppression versus non immunosuppression and to compare variations in overall survival based on different clinical features. Method . We evaluated clinical cases of patients at "Sfantul Apostol Andrei" Emergency Hospital of Galati, Romania, from 1 March 2018 to 1 April 2024. Subjects in the trial had to be at least 18 years old and have a pathologically confirmed diagnosis of cutaneous head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (cHNSCC). We divided the patients into two different categories based on whether they had immunosuppression. Results. In this cohort of 68 subjects with cSCC, patients with immunosuppression had significantly lower overall survival, as well as lower three- and five-year survival rates compared with those without immunosuppression, even after adjustment for age, sex, stage, and previous surgical treatment. The median survival time for immunosuppressed individuals ranged from 11 to 21 months, varying based on their particular characteristics, and most critically, on the presence of other malignancies, while that of immunocompetent patients ranged from 18 to 51 months. In addition, immune-deficient patients with early-stage disease had a 21-month median survival rate that changed to11 months for advanced-stage cases. In a similar manner, immunocompetent patients with early-stage cancer had a significantly better median survival than those withadvancedstages,43 versus 18months. Our results indicate that immunosuppression is a distinct risk factors associated with a less favorable outcome in patients with cHNSCC.

Echinococcosis represents a major public health issue and continues to be endemic in various regions around the world. Hydatid cysts are commonly located in the liver (primary site), followed by the lungs (secondary site). However, they are also found in less typical organs such as the spleen, kidneys, peritoneum, retroperitoneum, pancreas, gallbladder, and various other organs, as well as in striate muscles. Hydatid cysts involving the psoas muscle are rare, and in the past five years, only a few articles have addressed this condition due to its low incidence. Symptoms can be quite vague, and serological testing might return negative, making imaging studies crucial for an accurate diagnosis. Treatment options involve surgery alongside antiparasitic agents. Despite having a low mortality rate, the recurrence of hydatid disease remains high. This paper aims to provide new clinical data through our case presentation, while also offering a review of the cases of hydatid cysts involving the psoas muscle that have been published over the past five years.

Electromechanical metal oxides, such as piezoceramics, are often incompatible with soft polymers due to their crystallinity requirements, leading to high processing temperatures. This study explores the potential of ceria-based thin films as electromechanical actuators for flexible electronics. Oxygen-deficient fluorites, like cerium oxide, are centrosymmetric nonpiezoelectric crystalline metal oxides that demonstrate giant electrostriction. These films, deposited at low temperatures, integrate seamlessly with various soft substrates like polyimide and PET. Ceria thin films exhibit remarkable electrostriction ( M 33 > 10 -16 m 2 V -2 ) and inverse pseudo-piezo coefficients ( e 33 > 500 pmV -1 ), enabling large displacements in soft electromechanical systems. Our study explores resonant and off-resonant configurations in the low-frequency regime (<1 kHz), demonstrating versatility for three-dimensional and transparent electronics. This work advances the understanding of oxygen-defective metal oxide electromechanical properties and paves the way for developing versatile and efficient electromechanical systems for applications in biomedical devices, optical devices, and beyond.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is characterized by reduced postoperative pain, shorter hospital stays, rapid return to preoperative physical activity, and less psychological impact on the patient. During laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the intra-abdominal insufflation of carbon dioxide with secondary increase in intra-abdominal pressure can cause important hemodynamic consequences, like decreased cardiac output and blood pressure, as well as compensatory increase in heart rate. The purpose of this study is to evaluate changes in cardiovascular parameters during general anesthesia in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Retrospective data from 342 patients with cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis performed at Railway Hospital Galati, Romania, were reviewed. All patients received the same intraoperative anesthetics. Female patients were 85.7% ( n = 293). More than half of the patients, 53.51% ( n = 183), were 40-59 years old, and only 16.37% ( n = 56) were under 40 years old. Patients with a normal body mass index (BMI) represented 45.6% ( n = 156), 33.3% ( n = 114) were underweight, and 12% ( n = 42) had grade 1 obesity (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m 2 ). The minimum intraoperative blood pressure correlated with patient gender ( p 0.015 < 0.005), with men having a higher blood pressure than women ( p 0.006 < 0.05), and for BMI, a higher BMI was associated with elevated blood pressure ( p 0.025 < 0.05). Older age correlated with an increased maximum intraoperative blood pressure ( p < 0.001 < 0.05) and with maximum intraoperative heart rate ( p 0.015 < 0.05). Patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy experienced significant hemodynamic changes with pneumoperitoneum, but this type of surgical intervention was safe for patients regardless of their age.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of premature death and disability globally, leading to significant increases in healthcare costs and economic strains. Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a crucial technology in this context, promising to have a significant impact on the management of CVDs. A wide range of methods can be used to develop effective models for medical applications, encompassing everything from predicting and diagnosing diseases to determining the most suitable treatment for individual patients. This literature review synthesizes findings from multiple studies that apply AI technologies such as machine learning algorithms and neural networks to electrocardiograms, echocardiography, coronary angiography, computed tomography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. A narrative review of 127 articles identified 31 papers that were directly relevant to the research, encompassing a broad spectrum of AI applications in cardiology. These applications included AI models for ECG, echocardiography, coronary angiography, computed tomography, and cardiac MRI aimed at diagnosing various cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, pulmonary embolism, and valvulopathies. The papers also explored new methods for cardiovascular risk assessment, automated measurements, and optimizing treatment strategies, demonstrating the benefits of AI technologies in cardiology. In conclusion, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in cardiology promises substantial advancements in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) management is challenging, usually requiring multidisciplinary collaboration from cardiologists, infectious disease specialists, interventional cardiologists, and cardiovascular surgeons, as more than half of the cases will require surgical procedures. Therefore, it is essential for all healthcare providers involved in managing IE to understand the disease's characteristics, potential complications, and treatment options. While systemic embolization is one of the most frequent complications of IE, the coronary localization of emboli causing acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is less common, with an incidence ranging from 1% to 10% of cases, but it has a much higher rate of morbidity and mortality. There are no guidelines for this type of AMI management in IE., Methods: This narrative review summarizes the current knowledge regarding septic coronary embolization in patients with IE. Additionally, this paper highlights the diagnosis and management challenges in such cases, particularly due to the lack of protocols or consensus in the field., Results: Data extracted from case reports indicate that septic coronary embolization often occurs within the first two weeks of the disease. The aortic valve is most commonly involved with vegetation, and the occluded vessel is frequently the left anterior descending artery. Broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy followed by targeted antibiotic therapy for infection control is essential, and surgical treatment offers promising results through surgical embolectomy, concomitant with valve replacement or aspiration thrombectomy, with or without subsequent stent insertion. Thrombolytics are to be avoided due to the increased risk of bleeding., Conclusions: All these aspects should constitute future lines of research, allowing the integration of all current knowledge from multidisciplinary team studies on larger patient cohorts and, subsequently, creating a consensus for assessing the risk and guiding the management of this potentially fatal complication.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) can radically change almost every aspect of the human experience. In the medical field, there are numerous applications of AI and subsequently, in a relatively short time, significant progress has been made. Cardiology is not immune to this trend, this fact being supported by the exponential increase in the number of publications in which the algorithms play an important role in data analysis, pattern discovery, identification of anomalies, and therapeutic decision making. Furthermore, with technological development, there have appeared new models of machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DP) that are capable of exploring various applications of AI in cardiology, including areas such as prevention, cardiovascular imaging, electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, and many others. In this sense, the present article aims to provide a general vision of the current state of AI use in cardiology., Results: We identified and included a subset of 200 papers directly relevant to the current research covering a wide range of applications. Thus, this paper presents AI applications in cardiovascular imaging, arithmology, clinical or emergency cardiology, cardiovascular prevention, and interventional procedures in a summarized manner. Recent studies from the highly scientific literature demonstrate the feasibility and advantages of using AI in different branches of cardiology., Conclusions: The integration of AI in cardiology offers promising perspectives for increasing accuracy by decreasing the error rate and increasing efficiency in cardiovascular practice. From predicting the risk of sudden death or the ability to respond to cardiac resynchronization therapy to the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism or the early detection of valvular diseases, AI algorithms have shown their potential to mitigate human error and provide feasible solutions. At the same time, limits imposed by the small samples studied are highlighted alongside the challenges presented by ethical implementation; these relate to legal implications regarding responsibility and decision making processes, ensuring patient confidentiality and data security. All these constitute future research directions that will allow the integration of AI in the progress of cardiology.

Developing efficient and low-cost noble-free metal electrocatalysts is an urgent requirement. Herein, a one-step, solid-state template-assisted method for fabricating isolated half-metallic diatomic M, Zn─N─C (M═Fe, Co, and Ni) catalysts is reported. In particular, the fabricated Fe, Zn─N─C structure exhibits superior oxygen reduction reaction capabilities with a half-wave potential of 0.867 V versus RHE. The Mossbauer spectra reveal that the Fe, Zn─N─C half-metallic diatomic catalyst has a large proportion of the D2 site (ferrous iron with a medium spin state). Density functional theory (DFT) reveals that in Fe, Zn─N─C structures, the zinc sites play a unique role in accelerating the protonation process of O 2 in ORR. In assembled zinc-air batteries, a maximum power density of 138 mW cm -2 and a capacity of 748 mAh g zn -1 can be obtained. This work fabricates a series of efficient M, Zn─N─C diatomic electrocatalysts, and the developed solid-state reaction method can hopefully apply in other energy conversion and storage fields., (© 2023 The Authors. Small published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Acetic acid is an organic acid that can be used in the food industry, which normally has an insignificant rate of adverse reactions when used rationally. However, irrational use can cause serious toxic effects and even death. In this context, the case of a death of a 52-year-old woman, involving the suspected voluntary use of food acetic acid, is presented, while toxicological and histopathological aspects were addressed for death mechanism elucidation. In this case, the pH value of 6.75 in blood, has shown severe metabolic acidosis after the ingestion of the large quantity of dietary acetic acid - about a liter. Also, the victim suffers from mental illness, carbamazepine being one of the treatment drugs. Liver damage, demonstrated by histopathological examination may be a consequence of both massive accumulation of carbamazepine in the liver and toxicity of food acetic acid. In conclusion, the hepatotoxicity induced by high level of carbamazepine was suspected of increasing the risk of multiple organ failure, in the context of acetic acid acute toxicity, highlighting the particularities of the case.

Background: The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into various fields has ushered in a new era of multidisciplinary progress. Defined as the ability of a system to interpret external data, learn from it, and adapt to specific tasks, AI is poised to revolutionize the world. In forensic medicine and pathology, algorithms play a crucial role in data analysis, pattern recognition, anomaly identification, and decision making. This review explores the diverse applications of AI in forensic medicine, encompassing fields such as forensic identification, ballistics, traumatic injuries, postmortem interval estimation, forensic toxicology, and more., Results: A thorough review of 113 articles revealed a subset of 32 papers directly relevant to the research, covering a wide range of applications. These included forensic identification, ballistics and additional factors of shooting, traumatic injuries, post-mortem interval estimation, forensic toxicology, sexual assaults/rape, crime scene reconstruction, virtual autopsy, and medical act quality evaluation. The studies demonstrated the feasibility and advantages of employing AI technology in various facets of forensic medicine and pathology., Conclusions: The integration of AI in forensic medicine and pathology offers promising prospects for improving accuracy and efficiency in medico-legal practices. From forensic identification to post-mortem interval estimation, AI algorithms have shown the potential to reduce human subjectivity, mitigate errors, and provide cost-effective solutions. While challenges surrounding ethical considerations, data security, and algorithmic correctness persist, continued research and technological advancements hold the key to realizing the full potential of AI in forensic applications. As the field of AI continues to evolve, it is poised to play an increasingly pivotal role in the future of forensic medicine and pathology.

In the case of macromolecules and poorly permeable drugs, oral drug delivery features low bioavailability and low absorption across the intestinal wall. Intestinal absorption can be improved if the drug formulation could be transported close to the epithelium. To achieve this, a cascade delivery device comprising Magnesium-based Janus micromotors (MMs) nesting inside a microscale containers (MCs) has been conceptualized. The device aims at facilitating targeted drug delivery mediated by MMs that can lodge inside the intestinal mucosa. Loading MMs into MCs can potentially enhance drug absorption through increased proximity and unidirectional release. The MMs will be provided with optimal conditions for ejection into any residual mucus layer that the MCs have not penetrated. MMS confined inside MCs propel faster in the mucus environment as compared to non-confined MMs. Upon contact with a suitable fuel, the MM-loaded MC itself can also move. An in vitro study shows fast release profiles and linear motion properties in porcine intestinal mucus compared to more complex motion in aqueous media. The concept of dual-acting cascade devices holds great potential in applications where proximity to epithelium and deep mucus penetration are needed., (© 2023 The Authors. Small published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

High entropy alloys (HEAs) with a tunable alloy composition and fascinating synergetic effects between various metals have attracted significant attention in the field of electrocatalysis, but their potential is limited by inefficient and unscalable fabrication methodologies. This work proposes a novel solid-state thermal reaction method to synthesise HEA nanoparticles encapsulated in an N-doped graphitised hollow carbon tube. This facile method is simple and efficient and involves no use of organic solvents during the fabrication process. The synthesized HEA nanoparticles are confined by the graphitised hollow carbon tube, which is possibly beneficial for preventing the aggregation of alloy particles during the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). In a 0.1 M KOH solution, the HEA catalyst FeCoNiMnCu-1000(1 : 1) exhibits an onset and half-wave potential of 0.92 V and 0.78 V ( vs. RHE), respectively. We assembled a Zn-Air battery with FeCoNiMnCu-1000 as a catalyst for the air electrode, and a power density of 81 mW cm -2 and a long-term durability of >200 h were achieved, which is comparable to the performance of the state-of-the-art catalyst Pt/C-RuO 2 . This work herein offers a scalable and green method for synthesising multinary transition metal-based HEAs and highlights the potential of HEA nanoparticles as electrocatalysts for energy storage and conversion.

Systemic changes often send signals to the skin, and certain neoplastic diseases of the internal organs can also trigger skin manifestations. In this article, the authors make clinical photography presentations of the patients seen at our clinic with dermatologic paraneoplastic syndromes within pharyngeal-esophageal malignancies, describe several paraneoplastic dermatoses, and also review high-quality scientific literature in order to be able to highlight the dermatological signs of pharyngoesophageal malignant tumors. The majority of our patients with paraneoplastic dermatoses, filtering for pharyngoesophageal malignancies, had esophageal neoplasms, out of whom seven were female and two were male, making esophageal cancer more common within the paraneoplastic dermatoses within pharyngoesophageal malignancies. An early recognition of paraneoplastic dermatoses can diagnose neoplasms and sequentially contribute to a better prognosis for the patient. This matter is also useful for front-line medical personnel in order to improve early diagnosis of the underlying malignancy, curative interventions with prompt therapy administration and good prognosis.

A timely replacement of the rather expensive indium-doped tin oxide with aluminum-doped zinc oxide is hindered by the poor uniformity of electronic properties when deposited by magnetron sputtering. Recent results demonstrated the ability to improve the uniformity and to decrease the resistivity of aluminum-doped zinc oxide thin films by decreasing the energy of the oxygen-negative ions assisting in thin film growth by using a tuning electrode. In this context, a comparative study was designed to elucidate if the same phenomenology holds for gallium-doped zinc oxide and indium-doped tin oxide as well. The metal oxide thin films have been deposited in the same setup for similar discharge parameters, and their properties were measured with high spatial resolution and correlated with the erosion track on the target's surface. Furthermore, the films were also subject to post annealing and degradation tests by wet etching. While the tuning electrode was able to reduce the self-bias for all three materials, only the doped zinc oxide films exhibited properties correlating with the erosion track.

Multijunction solar cells in a tandem configuration could further lower the costs of electricity if crystalline Si (c-Si) is used as the bottom cell. However, for direct monolithic integration on c-Si, only a restricted number of top and bottom cell architectures are compatible, due to either epitaxy or high-temperature constraints, where the interface between subcells is subject to a trade-off between transmittance, electrical interconnection, and bottom cell degradation. Using polySi/SiO x passivating contacts for Si, this degradation can be largely circumvented by tuning the polySi/SiO x stacks to promote gettering of contaminants admitted into the Si bottom cell during the top cell synthesis. Applying this concept to the low-cost top cell chalcogenides Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS), CuGaSe 2 (CGSe), and AgInGaSe 2 (AIGSe), fabricated under harsh S or Se atmospheres above 550 °C, we show that increasing the heavily doped polySi layer thickness from 40 to up to 400 nm prevents a reduction in Si carrier lifetime by 1 order of magnitude, with final lifetimes above 500 μs uniformly across areas up to 20 cm 2 . In all cases, the increased resilience was correlated with a 99.9% reduction in contaminant concentration in the c-Si bulk, provided by the thick polySi layer, which acts as a buried gettering layer in the tandem structure without compromising the Si passivation quality. The Si resilience decreased as AIGSe > CGSe > CZTS, in accordance with the measured Cu contamination profiles and higher annealing temperatures. An efficiency of up to 7% was achieved for a CZTS/Si tandem, where the Si bottom cell is no longer the limiting factor.

Developing robust oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts with excellent performance is essential for the conversion of renewable electricity to clean fuel. Herein, we present a facile concept for the synthesis of efficient high-entropy metal-organic frameworks (HEMOFs) as electrocatalysts in a one-step solvothermal synthesis. This strategy allows control of the microstructure and corresponding lattice distortion by tuning the metal ion composition. As a result, the OER activity was improved by optimizing the coordination environment of the metal catalytic center. The optimized Co-rich HEMOFs exhibited a low overpotential of 310 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm -2 , better than a RuO 2 catalyst tested under the same conditions. The finding of lattice distortion of the HEMOFs provides a new strategy for developing high-performance electrocatalysts for energy conversion., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background: Tailoring implementation strategies to local contexts is a promising approach to supporting implementation and sustainment of evidence-based practices in health settings. While there is increasing research on tailored implementation of mental health interventions, implementation research on suicide prevention interventions is limited. This study aimed to evaluate implementation and subsequently develop a tailored action plan to support sustainment of an evidence-based suicide prevention intervention; Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) in an Australian public mental health service. Methods: Approximately 150 mental health staff working within a regional and remote Local Health District in Australia were trained in CAMS. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups with frontline staff and clinical leaders were conducted to examine barriers and facilitators to using CAMS. Data were analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis approach and mapped to the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation and Sustainment (EPIS) framework and followed by stakeholder engagement to design a tailored implementation action plan based on a 'tailored blueprint' methodology. Results: A total of 22 barriers to implementing CAMS were identified. Based on the perceived impact on implementation fidelity and the feasibility of addressing identified barriers, six barriers were prioritised for addressing through an implementation action plan. These barriers were mapped to evidence-based implementation strategies and, in collaboration with local health district staff, goals and actionable steps for each strategy were generated. This information was combined into a tailored implementation plan to support the sustainable use of CAMS as part of routine care within this mental health service. Conclusions: This study provides an example of a collaborative approach to tailoring strategies for implementation on a large scale. Novel insights were obtained into the challenges of evaluating the implementation process and barriers to implementing an evidence-based suicide prevention treatment approach within a geographically large and varied mental health service in Australia. Plain language abstract: This study outlines the process of using a collaborative stakeholder engagement approach to develop tailored implementation plans. Using the Exploration Preparation Implementation Sustainment Framework, findings identify the barriers to and strategies for implementing a clinical suicide prevention intervention in an Australian community mental health setting. This is the first known study to use an implementation science framework to investigate the implementation of the clinical suicide prevention intervention (Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality) within a community mental health setting. This work highlights the challenges of conducting implementation research in a dynamic public health service., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2022.)

In this paper, we study the DMSO/thiourea/chloride salt system for synthesis of pure-sulfide [Formula: see text] (CZTS) thin-film solar cells under ambient conditions. We map out the ink constituents and determine the effect of mixing time and filtering. The thermal behavior of the ink is analyzed, and we find that more than 90% of the solvent has evaporated at [Formula: see text]. However, chloride and sulfoxide species are released continually until [Formula: see text], suggesting the advantage of a higher pre-annealing temperature, which is also commonly observed in the spin-coating routines in literature. Another advantage of a higher pre-annealing temperature is that the worm-like pattern in the spin-coated film can be avoided. We hypothesize that this pattern forms as a result of hydrodynamics within the film as it dries, and it causes micro-inhomogeneities in film morphology. Devices were completed in order to finally evaluate the effect of varying thermal exposure during pre-annealing. Contrary to the previous observations, a lower pre-annealing temperature of [Formula: see text] results in the best device efficiency of 4.65%, which to the best of our knowledge is the highest efficiency obtained for a pure-sulfide kesterite made with DMSO. Lower thermal exposure during pre-annealing results in larger grains and a thicker [Formula: see text] layer at the CZTS/Mo interface. Devices completed at higher pre-annealing temperatures display the existence of either a Cu-S secondary phase or an incomplete sulfurization with smaller grains and a fine-grain layer at the back interface.

Energy band alignment at the heterointerface between CdS and kesterite Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS) and its alloys plays a crucial role in determining the efficiency of the solar cells. Whereas Ag alloying of CZTS has been shown to reduce anti-site defects in the bulk and thus rise the efficiency, the electronic properties at the interface with the CdS buffer layer have not been extensively investigated. In this work, we present a detailed study on the band alignment between n-CdS and p-CZTS upon Ag alloying by depth-profiling ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Our findings indicate that core-level peaks and the valence band edge of CdS exhibit a significant shift to a lower energy (larger than 0.4 eV) upon the etching of the CdS layer, which can be assigned due to band bending and chemical shift induced by a change in the chemical composition across the interface. Using a simplified model based on charge depletion layer conservation, a significantly larger total charge region depletion width was determined in Ag-alloyed CZTS as compared to its undoped counterpart. Our findings reveal a cliff-like band alignment at both CdS/CZTS and CdS/Ag-CZTS heterointerfaces. However, the conduction-band offset decreases by more than 0.1 eV upon Ag alloying of CZTS. The approach demonstrated here enables nanometer-scale depth profiling of the electronic structure of the p-n junction and can be universally applied to study entirely new platforms of oxide/chalcogenide heterostructures for next-generation optoelectronic devices.

In kesterite Cu 2 ZnSn(S,Se) 4 (CZTSSe) solar cell research, an asymmetric crystallization profile is often obtained after annealing, resulting in a bilayered - or double-layered - CZTSSe absorber. So far, only segregated pieces of research exist to characterize the appearance of this double layer, its formation dynamics, and its effect on the performances of devices. In this work, we review the existing research on double-layered kesterites and evaluate the different mechanisms proposed. Using a cosputtering-based approach, we show that the two layers can differ significantly in morphology, composition, and optoelectronic properties and complement the results with a large statistical data set of over 850 individual CZTS solar cells. By reducing the absorber thickness from above 1000 to 300 nm, we show that the double-layer segregation is alleviated. In turn, we see a progressive improvement in the device performance for lower thickness, which alone would be inconsistent with the well-known case of ultrathin CIGS solar cells. We therefore attribute the improvements to the reduced double-layer occurrence and find that the double layer limits the efficiency of our devices to below 7%. By comparing the results with CZTS grown on monocrystalline Si substrates, without a native Na supply, we show that the alkali metal supply does not determine the double-layer formation but merely reduces the threshold for its occurrence. Instead, we propose that the main formation mechanism is the early migration of Cu to the surface during annealing and formation of Cu 2- x S phases in a self-regulating process akin to the Kirkendall effect. Finally, we comment on the generality of the mechanism proposed by comparing our results to other synthesis routes, including our own in-house results from solution processing and pulsed laser deposition of sulfide- and oxide-based targets. We find that although the double-layer occurrence largely depends on the kesterite synthesis route, the common factors determining the double-layer occurrence appear to be the presence of metallic Cu and/or a chalcogen deficiency in the precursor matrix. We suggest that understanding the limitations imposed by the double-layer dynamics could prove useful to pave the way for breaking the 13% efficiency barrier for this technology.

Transparent and conducting thin films were deposited on soda lime glass by RF magnetron sputtering without intentional substrate heating using an aluminum doped zinc oxide target of 2 inch in diameter. The sheet resistance, film thickness, resistivity, averaged transmittance and energy band gaps were measured with 2 mm spatial resolution for different target-to-substrate distances, discharge pressures and powers. Hall mobility, carrier concentration, SEM and XRD were performed with a 3 mm spatial resolution. The results reveal a very narrow range of parameters that can lead to reasonable resistivity values while the transmittance is much less sensitive and less correlated with the already well-documented negative effects caused by a higher concentration of oxygen negative ions and atomic oxygen at the erosion tracks. A possible route to improve the thin film properties requires the need to reduce the oxygen negative ion energy and investigate the growth mechanism in correlation with spatial distribution of thin film properties and plasma parameters., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.