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Efficient and stable scintillators play a crucial role in X‐ray detection applications. To enhance the luminescence efficiency under X‐ray excitation, the incorporation of multiple emission centers into scintillators is widely explored. Here, it is found that the cesium copper halide Cs5Cu3Cl6I2 exhibits dual emission centers, enabling high‐performance scintillators with an X‐ray light yield of 49000 photon MeV−1 and a low detection limit of 4 nGy s−1. The emissions of Cs5Cu3Cl6I2 are from intrinsic self‐trapped exciton (STE) and Frenkel defect‐assisted STE. High‐energy X‐rays can induce an increased fraction of Frenkel defect‐assisted STEs, which can serve as an effective scintillation channel. Furthermore, large‐area flexible scintillators with a high resolution of 18 lp mm−1 are developed, making them suitable for X‐ray imaging applications. These findings offer promising insights for developing more efficient scintillators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colloidal cesium lead halide (CsPbX3, X = Cl, Br, I) perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) hold promises in photovoltaic and optoelectronic applications. However, their poor long‐term stability results in degradation of optical properties under ambient conditions. Various methods have been explored to address these issues. In this study, we demonstrate that following 3‐precursor hot‐injection method employing ethylenediammonium dihalide (EDAX2) as an additional ligand/halide source one can obtain phase‐pure, monodispersed, stable, and highly luminescent CsPbX3 NCs. Our violet‐emitting CsPbCl3, blue‐emitting CsPbClBr2, Green‐emitting CsPbBr3, yellow‐emitting CsPbBr2I, and red‐emitting CsPbI3 NCs show PLQYs of 53%, 97%, 96%, 93%, and 95%, respectively. Moreover, the CsPbI3 NCs, which are known for their phase instability, exhibit stability for up to two months under ambient conditions. The enhanced stability and photoluminescence are attributed to strong binding of the bidentate ligand (EDA2+) to the surface of the NCs and effective removal of the halide‐deficiency trap states by X−. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid‐state proton conductors with high conductivity at intermediate temperatures (100–300 °C) have recently gained attention due to their potential for a wide range of new electrochemical applications. The proton conductivity of cesium hydroxide hydrate (CsOH.H2O) is reported on, a superprotonic conductor whose ionic conductivity is hitherto unreported. Via a thermal treatment, the hexagonal and tetragonal CsOH.H2O phases are prepared and the effect of the degree of hydration (H2O content) on the structure and proton conductivity is investigated. It is shown that the temperature in the thermal treatment has an enormous influence on the structure and water content, and consequently, the proton transport. The conductivity of the hexagonal and tetragonal phases exceeds 3 × 103 S cm−1 at 30 °C and 10−2 S cm−1 at 120 °C, making them potentially suitable for both low‐ and intermediate‐temperature electrochemical applications. 1H NMR spin‐lattice relaxation rate measurements reveal fast dynamic processes with rates reaching the GHz regime, resulting in diffusion coefficients as high as 1.3 × 10−11 m2 s−1 at 60 °C, in good agreement with the proton conductivity results derived from impedance spectroscopy. These findings will inspire the development of novel inorganic solid proton conductors based on hydroxide hydrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Marine archaea have gained special attention for their unique ability to survive in extreme salt concentrations. Some archaeal isolates have been found to thrive in the presence of radioactive contaminants. In this study, Halococcus sp. ENMS8 has been isolated from marine sediment sample with special emphasis on bioremediation of radionuclide cesium. RESULTS: Halococcus sp. ENMS8 has the ability to remove 76.46% of cesium ions noted at a concentration of 100 mmol L−1 followed by 60.5%, 52.16% and 42.9% of cesium ion adsorption at concentrations of 150, 200 and 250 mmol L−1 Cs+, respectively. The minimal level of 4.43% of cesium adsorption was noted at 500 mmol L−1 concentration in the presence of 106 archaeal cells per milliliter. Similarly, adsorption of cesium (500 mmol L−1) at various concentrations of archaeal extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) has been shown to be 76.4% of Cs+ adsorption at 1 g L−1. The composition of extracted EPS from ENMS8 in the presence of CsCl and control has been estimated. Cesium adsorption was further confirmed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy was used to obtain high‐resolution images of the surface topology of Halococcus sp. ENMS8 EPS in the presence of cesium. The crystallographic structure and properties of cesium were studied by energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. CONCLUSION: The present study concluded that Halococcus sp. ENMS8 can immobilize cesium through EPS in an eco‐friendly approach. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crown ether‐assisted supramolecular assembly is a robust strategy for manipulating low‐dimensional metal halides. In this study, the supramolecular assembly of 0D‐Cs3Cu2I5 is presented. Upon the addition of 15‐crown‐5 (15C5) to Cs3Cu2I5, 15C5 immediately coordinates with Cs+ to form the cone‐shaped [(15C5)Cs]+. Simultaneously, one of the iodine atoms is removed from the [Cu2I5]3‐ cluster, resulting in the formation of a sub‐planar rhombic [Cu2I4]2− unit. This process leads to white emission, specifically [(15C5)Cs]2[Cu2I4], which exhibits a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) close to unity. The [(15C5)Cs]+ further reacts with 15C5 to form the sandwich‐type cationic structure [(15C5)2Cs]+, accompanied by the generation of red emission [(15C5)2Cs]2[Cu2I4]. By carefully controlling the amount of 15C5, various emission composites can be achieved, particularly tunable white emission. The assembly process is reversible. The pristine Cs3Cu2I5 can be recovered after thermal curing because of the volatility of crown ether and the weak Cs‐crown ether bond. Theoretical calculations have demonstrated that the coordination of the crown ether primarily affects the energy level, leading to changes in the excited state and photophysical properties. The applications in anticounterfeiting and LED phosphors have been demonstrated. This work provides a new approach for the development of low‐dimensional copper halides with promising applications in optoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solid‐state structures of the first rubidium and caesium pentalenides [Rb(THF)]2[Ph4Pn] and [Cs(THF)]2[Ph4Pn] have been determined by single crystal X‐ray diffraction. Both were found to be polymeric in the solid state through interactions of the cations with the phenyl substituents, in contrast to their lighter group 1 congeners which are monomeric for lithium and sodium, and THF‐bridged for potassium. Both [Rb(THF)]2[Ph4Pn] and [Cs(THF)]2[Ph4Pn] displayed increased η8 coordination, demonstrating a shift towards higher hapticities down the group as previously predicted computationally for the parent M2[Pn] complexes (M=group 1 metal). The solid‐state structures of the polydentate donor adducts [M(DME)x]2[Ph4Pn] (M=Li, x=1; M=Na, x=2) and [M(Me6TREN)]2[Ph4Pn] (M=K, Rb, Cs) were all monomeric and displayed increased metal‐carbon distances and decreased ring slippage values relative to the THF adducts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead halide perovskites have attracted much attention from the scientific community in recent years due to their attractive properties and their proven potential in many applications. Nevertheless, their stability and lead toxicity have remained a problem. Herein, the potential of manganese as a divalent dopant to offer better stability and replace a fraction of the toxic lead ions is investigated. Moreover, the reverse microemulsion method is used to obtain tunability in emission and bandgap by doping cesium lead bromide. Furthermore, cubic cesium lead bromide particles are managed to obtain at room temperature as a result of doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on manganese (Mn) halide perovskite derivatives with tunable emissions and high color purity have gathered a significant amount of attention for display technology. Despite of mesmerizing optical properties, the synthesis of these all‐inorganic Mn halide compounds is followed by complex and toxic processes. Second, a precise control over the synthesis parameters is mandatory to achieve their pure emissions. Therefore, an ecologically sustainable water‐based solution approach is adapted here to tailor the phases and emissions of cesium manganese bromide (Cs‐Mn‐Br) perovskite derivatives. It is observed that a controlled injection of solution stabilizer plays a pivotal role in engineering the intrinsic properties of Mn halide perovskites. This solution stabilizer interacts with the Mn‐ions of those perovskite derivatives influencing their surrounding coordination environment and pure emission from then. A pure green emission with PLQY of 82% is achieved from as prepared Cs3MnBr5, whereas CsMnBr3 showed a red emission with PLQY of ≈20%. Encouraged by these properties phosphor‐driven light emitting diodes (LED) are designed that show a steady electroluminescence intensity. The CIE coordinates of the Cs3MnBr5 and CsMnBr3 LED prototypes are at (0.224, 0.659) and (0.688, 0.316). This study showcases simple, eco‐friendly tactics for developing green and red LED prototypes contributing toward sustainable device design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, lanthanide‐based 0D metal halides have garnered considerable attention owing to their applications in light–emitting diodes (LEDs), X‐ray imaging, and photodetectors. Among these materials, 0D Cs3TbCl6 (CTC) nanocrystals (NCs) have demonstrated promising performance in X‐ray imaging and light‐emitting diodes. However, a considerable drawback of CTC NCs is their limited absorption coefficient in the UV‐A region (315–380 nm). To address this limitation and enhance the absorption coefficient in the UV‐A region, Ce3+ is incorporated into CTC NCs—advantageous owing to the high absorption coefficient of Ce3+ in the UV‐A region, attributed to—4f‐5d orbital coupling. In addition, Ce3+ ions sensitize the luminescence of CTC NCs and enhance the photoluminescence quantum yield from 75% to 87%. Energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ is investigated at different dopant ratios. Furthermore, Cs3CeTbCl6 (CCTC) NCs have been utilized in white LED devices. Understanding such competitive energy transfer in lanthanide‐based perovskite‐inspired metal halides will facilitate the development of novel luminescent metal halides for lighting applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an idea for the synthesis of oligopeptides using a solvent‐free ball milling approach. Our concept is inspired by block play, in which it is possible to construct different objects using segments (blocks) of different sizes and lengths. We prove that by having a library of short peptides and employing the ball mill mechanosynthesis (BMMS) method, peptides can be easily coupled to form different oligopeptides with the desired functional and biological properties. Optimizing the BMMS process we found that the best yields we obtained when TBTU and cesium carbonate were used as reagents. The role of Cs2CO3 in the coupling mechanism was followed on each stage of synthesis by 1H, 13C and 133Cs NMR employing Magic Angle Spinning (MAS) techniques. It was found that cesium carbonate acts not only as a base but is also responsible for the activation of substrates and intermediates. The unique information about the BMMS mechanism is based on the analysis of 2D NMR data. The power of BMMS is proved by the example of different peptide combinations, 2+2, 3+2, 4+2, 5+2 and 4+4. The tetra‐, penta‐, hexa‐, hepta‐ and octapeptides obtained under this project were fully characterized by MS and NMR techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study prepares a series of hollow‐structured CS/SA/POSS composite gel spheres with a diameter of ~2.5 mm by using hydrophilic Janus‐type polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (AS‐POSS) as a crosslinking agent in combination with sodium alginate and chitosan via electrostatic adsorption/free radical polymerization. As the content of POSS increases, the wall thickness of the gel spheres also increases from 20 to 30 μm, leading to a more compact and smooth wall structure in the polymerized CS/SA/POSS composite gel spheres. Additionally, the introduction and polymerization of POSS significantly enhance the stability, drug loading rate, and entrapment rate of the gel spheres, providing them with improved drug release capabilities. For hydrophilic drug doxorubicin, the loading rate and encapsulation rate reach 41.2% and 79.9%, respectively, while for the hydrophobic drug ibuprofen, they are 14.7% and 76.3%. Compared to some previously reported drug‐loaded gel materials, the gels prepared in this study demonstrate relatively higher drug loading performance. Thus, these hollow‐structured CS/SA/POSS composite gel spheres hold promise as innovative drug carriers in the biomedical field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While organoelement compounds of lithium, sodium and potassium have been much studied for decades and consequently have found forests of applications, those of the heavier alkali metals, rubidium and caesium would barely manage to fill a tree. However, recently the literature has seen some little growth spurts with these metals, hinting at a possible fertile future in areas such as homogeneous catalysis provided more work is put into their fundamental development. Here we report the synthesis and crystal structures of lithium, rubidium and caesium derivatives of the ureaphosphane Ph2PCH2CH2NHC(=O)NHPh, chosen because it offers O, N, P, and π‐coordination sites. Though one may expect such alkali metal compounds to be essentially similar, the caesium complex has novel features where Cs+ engages in a side‐on coordination to the C=O bond and in a weak bond to the P centre, both of which are absent in the Rb structure. Less surprisingly, the lithium derivative is tetrameric in contrast to the infinite networks of the rubidium and caesium structures. All alkali metal derivatives were made with deprotonating the ureaphosphane by a suitable base, including the sodium and potassium complexes though these two complexes could not be obtained in a crystalline form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The instability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) remains a major bottleneck for their commercialization, with thermal instability posing a major concern, given the inevitable presence of heat in photovoltaic devices. Mixed‐cation/halide perovskites demonstrate enhanced stability and efficiency compared to single‐cation/halide perovskites. Identifying the optimal perovskite composition capable of withstanding high temperatures for longer durations is crucial for the development of thermally stable PSCs. This study provides valuable insights into the optimization of mixed‐cation/halide perovskites to enhance the thermal and structural stability of perovskite films. By systematically varying the Cs content in FA1−yCsyPb(I0.85Br0.15)3 (0 < y < 25)‐based perovskite, it is observed that controlling the Cs content allows precise modulation of crystal orientation in perovskite film with 10% Cs obtained as the optimal value. The perovskite film containing 10% Cs not only exhibits reduced microstrain but also demonstrates enhanced thermal stability during testing at 85 °C under controlled humidity. Furthermore, planar PSCs are fabricated using FA0.90Cs0.10Pb(I0.85Br0.15)3 as the absorber layer and TOP‐3 as the hole‐transporting material, achieving a promising power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.70%. Impressively, the unencapsulated devices retain 95% of their initial PCE after 1000 h of dark storage under ambient conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar‐powered interfacial evaporation is recognized as an emerging technology for desalination of salt‐lake water but suffers from insufficient evaporation mass under intermittent sunlight illumination. Meanwhile, salt‐lake water contains abundant noble metal ions; however, there is no effective strategy to extract them during evaporation. Hereby, an interfacial evaporator integrated with crown‐ether‐functionalized phase‐change microcapsules (Crown‐MicPCM) is designed to realize all‐weather desalination and synchronous caesium ion (Cs+) extraction of salt‐lake water. Crown‐MicPCM is constructed with an n‐docosane core for photothermal energy storage, a magnetic SiO2/Fe3O4 composite shell for easy recyclability, a polydopamine inner coat for sunlight absorption, and a crown ether outer coat for selective Cs+ adsorption. Through integrating the functions of solar energy harvest, latent heat storage, and selective Cs+ adsorption within Crown‐MicPCM, such an innovative design boosts the evaporation and adsorption performance of the developed evaporator significantly. The developed Crown‐MicPCM‐integrated evaporator exhibits a considerable improvement in freshwater production and Cs+ extraction, achieving a Cs+ adsorption capacity of 32.6 mg g−1 and an evaporation rate of 1.43 kg m−2 h−1 under one‐sun illumination. Compared with the evaporator without a phase‐change material, the Crown‐MicPCM‐integrated evaporator obtains an increase in freshwater yield by 47% and in adsorption efficiency of Cs+ by 12% under natural sunlight illumination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as promising candidates in PV research due to their exceptional photovoltaic properties. However, the toxicity and environmental concerns associated with lead‐based perovskites have led to the exploration of lead‐free alternatives. In this study, the performance of lead‐free bismuth PSCs, specifically PSCs based on Cesium Bismuth Iodide (Cs3Bi2I9) and Methyl Ammonium Bismuth Iodide (MA3Bi2I9), is investigated. Numerical simulations using the solar cell capacitance simulator (SCAPS) are conducted to comprehensively analyze the influence of key parameters, including the band‐to‐band radiative recombination rate, the absorber layer defect density, the absorber layer/electron transport layer (ETL) interface defect density, the absorber layer/hole transport layer interface (HTL) defect density, operating temperatures, and series and shunt resistances, and to optimize the proposed PSCs accordingly. The simulation results demonstrate a significant impact of these key parameters on the performance of Cs3Bi2I9 and MA3Bi2I9 PSCs. The optimized Cs3Bi2I9‐based PSC exhibited notable performance characteristics, including a PCE of 13.81%, a Voc of 1.16 V, a Jsc of 18.14 mA cm−2, and FF of 65.51%. In contrast, the MA3Bi2I9‐based PSC demonstrated relatively lower performance, with a PCE of 11.82%, Voc of 1.14 V, Jsc of 18.06 mA cm−2, and FF of 57.33%. The study on the defect density at the interfaces revealed the performance of PSCs is predominantly influenced by defects at the front interface (ETL/Absorber) rather than the rear interface (HTL/Absorber). These results provide valuable insights for the experimental design and optimization of lead‐free bismuth PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method for synthesis of metal polyhydrides via high‐pressure thermal decomposition of corresponding amidoboranes in diamond anvil cells is proposed. Within this approach, molecular semiconducting cesium (P4/nmm‐CsH7, P1‐CsH15+x) and rubidium (RbH9‐x) polyhydrides with a very high hydrogen content reaching 93 at.% are synthesized. Preservation of CsH7 at near ambient conditions, confirmed both experimentally and theoretically, represents a significant advance in the stabilization of hydrogen‐rich compounds. In addition, two crystalline modifications of RbH9‐x with pseudohexagonal and pseudotetragonal structures identified by synchrotron X‐ray diffraction, and Raman measurements are synthesized. Both phases are stable at 8–10 GPa. This is an unprecedentedly low stabilization pressure for polyhydrides. These discoveries open up possibilities for modifying existing hydrogen storage materials to increase their efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term "light yield" (LY) refers to the ability of scintillator materials to convert high‐energy radiation into visible light. A higher LY corresponds to improved energy and spatial resolution in detectors. The enhancement of scintillator material performance is a crucial aspect of their development. In this study, the Cs2TeCl6 (CTC) double perovskite microcrystals is synthesized, and the broadband yellow emission shows a high degree of matching with the Charge‐coupled Device (CCD). However, the LY of CTC is poor for practical applications in X‐ray imaging. The scintillation performance is significantly enhanced through hafnium alloying. The LY increased from ≈4167 to 38 523 photons/MeV, and the detection limit decreased from 948 to 258 nGy s−1. The underlying mechanism of Te4+ ions emission is systematically explored through density function theory (DFT) analysis, along with investigations into pressure‐dependent photoluminescence, temperature‐dependent photoluminescence, and low‐temperature thermoluminescence. Furthermore, a flexible X‐ray scintillator screen with an outstanding high spatial resolution of 15.9 lp mm−1 is successfully fabricated. This work not only represents a substantial advancement in the scintillation performance of Te4+ ions emission double perovskite microcrystals but also provides an effective strategy for the development of the next generation of halide scintillators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic cesium lead halide perovskites (CsPbIxBr3−x, 0≤x≤3) are promising alternatives with great thermal stability. Additionally, the choice of moisture‐resistive and dopant‐free carbon as the electrode material can simultaneously solve the problems of stability and cost. Therefore, carbon electrode‐based inorganic PSCs (C‐IPSCs) represent a promising candidate for commercialization, yet both the efficiencies and stability of related devices demand further progress. This article reviews the recent advancement of C‐IPSCs and then unravels the distinctive merits and limitations in this field. Subsequently, our perspective on various modification strategies is analyzed on a methodological level. Finally, this article outlooks the promising research contents and the remaining unresolved issues in this field. We believe that understanding and analyzing the related problems in this field are instructive to stimulate the future development of C‐IPSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma behavior in cesium‐seeded argon (Ar/Cs) and xenon‐seeded argon (Ar/Xe) disk‐shaped MHD generators are compared under almost the same working conditions using r‐θ two‐dimensional simulation. For both working gases, uniform plasma occurs at the optimum load resistance, and the power outputs are the same under an identical inlet ionization degree. For Ar/Cs, plasma is stable and uniform in the range of electron temperature of 4300–5800 K basically according to the linear perturbation theory. In the actual plasma in the MHD generator, however, the uniform plasma still can be maintained even at higher electron temperatures due to the low three‐body recombination coefficient of Ar. For Ar/Xe, on the other hand, uniform plasma is maintained when the characteristic time of the electron number density is longer than the residence time of the working gas where the electron temperature is around 4300–8600 K, even though unstable plasma is suggested from the linear perturbation theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inorganic cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr3) perovskite solar cell (PSC) is considered as an attractive option for new solar cells due to its outstanding stability. Preparing CsPbBr3 PSCs with H2O can effectively save costs and reduce the harm of toxic solvents to the environment. However, the poor contact property of the PbBr2 layer to the CsBr/H2O solution and the ability of water to dissolve the CsPbBr3 phase has a significant impact on the performance of the CsPbBr3 devices. In this article, isobutyramide is introduced into the PbBr2 film in the first step to improve the wettability of the PbBr2 film to CsBr/H2O solution, followed by spin‐coating of the 150 mg mL−1 CsBr/H2O solution on the PbBr2 film. Using this strategy, the fabricated PSCs with the architecture of FTO/compact‐TiO2/mesoporous‐TiO2/CsPbBr3 film/carbon demonstrate outstanding performance with a maximum efficiency of 9.59%. Furthermore, after 45 days of storage at ambient temperatures, the unencapsulated device retains more than 96% of its original efficiency. Therefore, this work provides a good demonstration for the preparation of high‐efficiency and eco‐friendly CsPbBr3 PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to enhance the efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to improve the energy storage performance within a time frame. In this study, a lead‐free perovskite Cs2NaGaBr6 n‐i‐p solar cell is presented for higher PCE to improve energy storage performance. Keeping the toxicity of lead‐based perovskite in mind we have made attempts to study the characteristics of n‐i‐p solar cells based on lead‐free double halide perovskite Cs2NaGaBr6 novel material. In the proposed photovoltaic framework, M21+N2+N3+X61− as a double perovskite material is used, where N2+ = Na, M21+ = Cs, N3+ = Ga, and X61− = Br. The Cs2NaGaBr6 is an organic‐inorganic perovskite material because of its direct band gap structure with a band gap of 1.762 eV. The solar cell proposed in the present framework has achieved a higher efficiency of 26.09% with optimized parameters specific to device design in terms of different absorber layer thicknesses (0.6–1.2 μm), and absorber layer doping concentrations (1 × 1018 cm−3 to 1 × 1022 cm−3). In the present study, improved results are obtained such as electric field, current density, energy band profile, generation and recombination factor, quantum efficiency, and generation/ recombination factor by suitably varying the absorber layer thicknesses and absorber layer doping concentrations. Additionally, many parameters related to the photovoltaic performance of solar cells such as Jsc (19.535 mA/cm2), Voc (1.775 V), FF (91.35%), and PCE (η) (27.81%) have been evaluated in the present study. Therefore, the device, that is, solar cell based on lead‐free double halide perovskite Cs2NaGaBr6 novel material, proposed in the present study may be used to manufacture much more efficient lead‐free perovskites for photovoltaic applications and also improve the energy storage performance within a time frame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystal structure of superprotonic conductor caesium hydrogen sulfate phosphate [Cs4(HSO4)3(H2PO4)] have been analyzed using neutron diffraction methods. Additionally, its structure and surface layers have been investigated using atomic force microscopy. From the diffraction data obtained, Fourier syntheses of neutron scattering densities were calculated, and the localization of hydrogen atoms and the parameters of three types of hydrogen bonds in the crystal structure were accurately determined. Correlation of surface characteristics of samples obtained by atomic force microscopy with their crystal structure is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal selenides are essential electrode materials for promising electrochemical energy storage with comparable or improved electrochemical performance than metal oxides. Herein, Se/NiSe2/CoSe2 (S/NS/CS) is fabricated using a solvothermal approach with the assistance of polyethyleneimine, followed by annealing at different temperatures (300, 400, 500, and 600 °C) for one hour under an argon atmosphere. After annealing, all electrodes' physical and electrochemical properties were examined, which determined that the best electrode is NiCo2O4/NiO (NCO/NO) formed at 500 °C. Additional hydrothermal method uses NCO/NO with SeO2 as a selenium source to prepare S/NS/CS nanocomposite, with a specific surface architecture that enables easy ion movement and robust conductivity, giving it exceptional electrochemical energy storage properties. It exhibited a remarkable capacitance of 468 F g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1. For practical applications, the hybrid S/NS/CS//AC device was designed using S/NS/CS as a positive electrode and commercial activated carbon (AC) as a negative electrode. The asymmetric device demonstrated an excellent capacitance of 142 F g−1 (189 C g−1) and a superb specific energy of 44 Wh kg−1 at a specific power of 840 W kg−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1, providing 80 % capacity retention and 100 % coulombic efficiency after 5000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Exploring an innovative method for precious metal recovery from spent batteries, our study combines hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy, focusing on pivotal carbothermal reduction. This crucial phase enhances the leachability of metals by significantly reducing their valence. To evaluate the effect of novel carbon (C) materials on this reduction process, our study synthesized two types of nanoporous Cs, Al‐PCP‐800 and ZIF‐8‐800, found in electrode materials. Their carbothermal reduction efficacy was compared to activated (A)C using thermogravimetric analysis. RESULTS: The experimental findings revealed that ZIF‐8‐800 exhibits superior reducibility, initiating and reaching peak weight loss rate at a lower temperature of 692.01 °C with a peak of 32.27%/°C. Under the optimized conditions (roasting temperature 750 °C, time 3 h, C content 20%, 2.75 mol L−1 H3PO4 concentration, 40 °C leaching temperature, liquid‐to‐solid ratio of 6 mL g−1, leaching time 10 min) the leaching efficiency of lithium (Li) and manganese (Mn) reached 100%, indicating complete extraction with ZIF‐8‐800. However, cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) leaching with ZIF‐8‐800 was low (3.22%, 2.06%). Al‐PCP‐800 showed slightly less leaching efficiency for Li and Mn, but higher efficiency for Co and Ni. Activated C led to incomplete Li and Mn extraction, with higher Co and Ni leaching, diminishing the process's selectivity. CONCLUSION: The study confirms that the C material in carbothermal reduction significantly impacts metal leaching efficiency and selectivity. ZIF‐8‐800 was the most effective for Li and Mn leaching, outperforming Al‐PCP‐800 and AC in selectivity. This underscores ZIF‐8‐800's potential to improve metal recovery from spent batteries. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical reduction of a [4]cumulene with cesium metal was explored, and the structural changes stemming from electron acquisition are detailed using X‐ray crystallography. It is found that the [4]cumulene undergoes dramatic geometric changes upon stepwise reduction, including bending of the cumulenic core and twisting of the endgroups from orthogonal to planar. The structural deformation is consistent with early theoretical reports that suggest that the twisting should occur upon reduction of both even and odd [n]cumulenes. The current results, on the other hand, are inconsistent with a previous experimental study of a [3]cumulene in which the predicted twisting is not observed upon reduction. DFT calculations reveal that the barrier to deformation is an order of magnitude lower in a [3]cumulene than a [4]cumulene, allowing the barrier to be overcome in the solid‐state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An urgent challenge within crop production is to maintain productivity in a world plagued by climate change and its associated plant stresses, such as heat, drought and salinity. A key factor in this endeavor is to understand the dynamics of root suberization, and its role in plant‐water relations and nutrient transport. This study focuses on the hypothesis that endodermal suberin, acts as a physical barrier preventing radial potassium (K) movement out of the vascular tissues during translocation. Previous attempts to experimentally support this idea have produced inconsistent results. We developed a Laser Ablation‐Inductively Coupled Plasma‐Mass Spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) method, allowing us to visualize the distribution of mineral elements and track K movement. Cesium (Cs), dosed in optimized concentrations, was found to be an ideal tracer for K, due to its low background and similar chemical/biological properties. In suberin mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana, we observed a positive correlation between suberin levels and K translocation efficiency, indicating that suberin enhances the plant's ability to retain K within the vascular tissues during translocation from root to shoot. In barley (Hordeum vulgare), fully suberized seminal roots maintained higher K concentrations in the stele compared to younger, less suberized root zones. This suggests that suberization increases with root maturity, enhancing the barrier against K leakage. In nodal roots, suberin was scattered towards the phloem in mature root zones. Despite this incomplete suberization, nodal roots still restrict outward K movement, demonstrating that even partial suberin barriers can significantly reduce K loss. Our findings provide evidence that suberin is a barrier to K leakage during root‐to‐shoot translocation. This understanding is crucial to maintain crop productivity in the face of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead‐containing halide perovskite materials' toxicity and instability severely restrict their ability to be used in further commercial applications. Herein, a new lead‐free and thermal stable Cs12Zn3.1Mn0.9Cl20 perovskite material obtained via a simple room temperature precipitation method is reported. A high photoluminescence quantum yield of 83.1% can be obtained from the perovskite material Cs12Zn3.1Mn0.9Cl20, which is typically made up of tetragonal vertices and is excitable by ultraviolet (UV) light. More importantly, the relative photoluminescence (PL) intensity still retains roughly 60% of that at 30 °C when the temperature continuously increases to 130 °C. The time‐resolved PL decay lifetime is calculated to be 3.40 ms. With the color coordinates at (0.208 and 0.683) provided by the Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE), a bright green light‐emitting diode (LED) can be created using the green‐emitting Cs12Zn3.1Mn0.9Cl20 perovskite material. Meanwhile, a warm white LED device with the CIE color coordinates at (0.374, 0.289) and a low color‐correlated temperature of 3245 K is fabricated by the Cs12Zn3.1Mn0.9Cl20 perovskite material combining with a commercial blue and red‐emitting phosphors on a UV InGaN chip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semi-arid environments are characterized by infrequent large magnitude rainfalls that produce flash flood events with high sediment concentration. Control structures such as check dams are widely used in this environment for mitigation. However, their impact on the overall sediment balance of watersheds, particularly those severely affected by anthropogenic activity, is sparsely documented. This study used topographic measurements, sediment analysis, and fallout isotope techniques to assess the effectiveness and service life of 18 rock and masonry check dams that were constructed in the 1930s for controlling sediment fluxes in an 11 ha mountainous watershed in southern Arizona. All of the dams are currently filled with sediment resulting in reduction of local channel gradients by 35 to 71% to between 0.04 and 0.28 depending on location within the reach. Sedimentation occurred over multiple decades at a relatively slow average rate of 0.59 t ha-1 y-1 indicating low instantaneous retention efficiency. The smaller headwater dams were filled soon after construction; however, their share of the overall storage capacity was minor. Although evaluation of 137Cs was an effective method for dating sediment, the 210Pb dating method was not satisfactory because of sediment sorting effects and complex deposition patterns. The abundance of similar control structures in the region points to the opportunity to better understand the process impacts of check dams over multiple decades to inform planning and design of their use in future mitigation projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the use of organic and inorganic nanostructures to create innovative functional materials with applications in optoelectronics devices. Specifically, nanocomposite films were created by incorporating different concentrations of cesium bromide nanoparticles (5, 10, and 15 wt%) into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and sodium alginate (SA) polymer blend (50/50 wt%) through a solution casting process. The impact of CsBr NPs on the structural, optical, and electrical properties of the virgin PVA/SA matrix was systematically investigated. x‐ray crystallography investigation verified the semicrystalline nature of the PVA/SA. FTIR spectra showed the main vibrational peaks of PVA/SA, with their intensity decreasing after the addition of cesium bromide. Scanning electron microscopy images showed the formation of aggregations and the increase of roughness for the PVA/SA‐CsBr NPs 15 wt% nanocomposite sample. The UV/vis. absorption spectrum showed a decrease in the energy gap values, which decreased from 4.25 to 3.89 eV in the direct transition and decreased from 4.12 to 3.77 eV in the indirect transition. Furthermore, the electrical conductivity and dielectric properties demonstrated improvement with increasing concentration of CsBr NPs. The antibacterial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli exhibited an upward trend with an increase in CsBr nanoparticle concentration. Overall, the results suggest the promising potential of these nanocomposite films for applications in optoelectronics and biological applications. Highlights: XRD shows that the amorphousity is increased after addition CsBr NPs.FT‐IR confirms the interactions/complexation between PVA/SA polymeric matrix filled with CsBr NPs.Optical energy gap is decreased with increasing CsBr concentrations.SEM images show the prepared samples have a smooth surface and only have a few defects.By adding CsBr NPs the electrical conductivity is tremendously improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed halide perovskite nanocrystals in the form of cesium/formamidinium lead triiodide ((Cs:FA)PbI3) offer great potential for efficient and stable solar cells. To date, large‐scale production with roll‐to‐roll compatible deposition methods remains difficult and requires detailed research on each involved processing step. Here, a proof‐of‐concept study about slot‐die coating (printing) the active layer of (Cs:FA)PbI3‐based nanocrystal solar cells is presented. Structural and morphological changes during ligand exchange of long‐chain oleic acid and oleylamine by Pb(NO3)2, and top‐layer FAI passivation are investigated. Ligand exchange improves the processability of the nanocrystal layer and enhances charge transport. It also changes texture from face‐on toward edge‐on orientation as grazing‐incidence X‐ray scattering studies indicate. Ligand exchange and FAI passivation redshift photoluminescence and prolong charge carrier lifetime in the printed nanocrystal films. The proof‐of‐concept feasibility of printing metal halide perovskite nanocrystal films for solar cells is shown by building 20 devices with a median power conversion efficiency of 6.39%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The commercialization of a solar technology necessitates the fulfillment of specific requirements both regarding efficiency and stability to enter and gain space in the photovoltaic market. These aims are heavily dependent on the selection of suitable materials, which is critical for suppressing any reliability risks arising from inherent instabilities. Focusing on the absorber material, herein the most suitable low bandgap lead‐tin composition candidate for all‐perovskite tandem applications is investigated by studying their degradation mechanisms with both widely available and advanced characterization techniques. Three irreversible degradation processes are identified in narrow bandgap Pb‐Sn perovskite absorbers: 1) Tin (Sn) oxidation upon air exposure, 2) methylammonium (MA) loss upon heat exposure, and 3) formamidinium (FA) and cesium (Cs) segregation leading to impurity phase formation. From an industrial perspective, it is proposed to refocus attention on FASn0.5Pb0.5I3 which minimizes all three effects while maintaining a suitable bandgap for a bottom cell and good performance. Moreover, a practical and highly sensitive characterization method is proposed to monitor the oxidation, which can be deployed both in laboratory and industrial environments and provide useful information for the technological development process, including, the effectiveness of encapsulation methods, and the acceptable time windows for air exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the relationship between the radioactive cesium (Cs) concentration in muscle of Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus and the species' biological characteristics (size, sex, and age) under conditions of ecological equilibrium (i.e., distributed among ecosystem components over sufficient time, and with nearly constant ratios of Cs concentration in organisms to the concentration in water) as existed before the accident at the Fukushima Dai‐ichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS), Japan, in 2011, we examined stable Cs, as it is thought to exist in equilibrium in the environment and behave similarly to radioactive Cs in aquatic animals. The concentration of stable Cs in 241 P. olivaceus (range 216–782 mm total length [TL]) collected in Sendai Bay, approximately 90 km north of the FDNPS, in June–July 2015 was expressed as an exponential function with size as an independent variable; the results show the concentration of stable Cs doubled with an increase in TL of 442 mm. Next, to evaluate the cause of the size‐dependent change in stable Cs concentration, we examined 909 individuals (200–770 mm TL) collected in September 2013–July 2015 to determine their feeding habit based on size. Analysis of the frequency of occurrence of prey organisms in stomach contents showed that sand lance Ammodytes japonicus (55–180 mm standard length [SL]) was the most consistently consumed across size classes. Analysis on a wet‐mass basis showed that A. japonicus and anchovy Engraulis japonicus (65–130 mm SL) were the main food of P. olivaceus sized 200–599 mm TL, whereas chub mackerel Scomber japonicus (120–230 mm SL) and two species of flatfishes (180–205 mm SL) were abundant in the diet of P. olivaceus sized ≥600 mm TL. All these prey items were presumed to have similar concentrations of stable Cs. Based on the above, the effect of diet on the relationship between stable Cs in muscle and fish size was considered negligible. That the diet of P. olivaceus largely did not change with size was also confirmed by C and N stable isotope ratios in P. olivaceus and their prey species. Therefore, the Cs–size relationship is probably determined by changes in the balance between the rate of Cs intake from food and seawater and the excretion rate during growth, both of which change as functions of body mass. Values of stable Cs concentrations among environmental components and animals appear to be a valid indicator for understanding the radioactive Cs distribution in the marine environment and aquatic animals under the equilibrium state, as existed before the 2011 nuclear accident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remarkable achievements have been made in the development of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with a rapidly boosting rate of power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) from 3.8% to 26.1%. Nevertheless, the toxicity of lead (Pb) elements and the hygroscopicity of organic cations in high‐efficiency PSCs severely hamper the commercialization of this technology. Consequently, Pb‐free all‐inorganic PSCs have received increasing attention recently to resolve the above‐mentioned toxicity and instability problems. Among various Pb‐free all‐inorganic halide perovskites, cesium bismuth iodide (CBI)‐based perovskites have gained particular attention as light absorbers in PSCs due to the tunable/small bandgaps, long carrier diffusion length/lifetime, and superb sunlight absorption coefficients. Nevertheless, the PCEs of CBI‐based PSCs are still far away from Pb‐based organic–inorganic counterparts because of the low structural dimensions and inferior perovskite film quality. Herein, the recent advances of CBI‐based perovskites as light‐absorbing materials in Pb‐free all‐inorganic PSCs are reviewed by emphasizing the distinct structural/optical/electronic properties and currently existing limitations. Additionally, several distinct strategies to boost the PCEs and robusticity of CBI‐based PSCs are presented. Finally, the unsolved key problems and future directions of CBI‐based PSCs are proposed, aiming to provide important insights for the further development of CBI‐based PSCs to realize sustainable, nontoxic, high‐performance perovskite photovoltaics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead‐based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) exhibit limited commercialization due to toxicity and stability issues. These problems may have a workable solution in Ti‐based all‐inorganic perovskite solar cells. A novel lead‐free compound Cs2TiBr6 based photovoltaic device is the present proposal in this study with a structure as FTO (fluorine‐doped tin oxide)/TiO2 (titanium oxide)/ Cs2TiBr6 (cesium titanium bromide)/ P3HT (poly3‐hexylthiophene)/Au (Gold) in an adjustment and construction of each layer using SCAPS‐1D (solar cell capacitance simulator) software for maximum power‐conversion efficiency. For the proposed solar cell, thorough adjustments of the thickness of the absorber layer, the defect density of the absorber layer, different hole transporting materials (HTMs), and the thickness of the hole transporting layer (HTL) are of the prime objectives. Experimentally development of fine MoO3 layer may explore the nature of theoretically HTL. Present work explores the formation of bound states of electron/polaron of as‐developed fine MoO3. For this reason, higher conductivity of MoO3 may interpret the conduction of holes. The results of the final optimized device module show a maximum power‐conversion efficiency of up to 17.68%. We consequently think that our findings may pave the way for the development of lead‐free, extremely efficient perovskite solar devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative alkene cleavage of a series of (hetero)aryl alkyl styrenes in aqueous medium has been developed using either 9‐mesityl‐10‐methylacridinium perchlorate ([AcrMes]ClO4) and sodium anthraquinone‐2‐sulfonate (SAS) as photosensitizers under blue LED irradiation. Reaction conditions were studied to find a suitable media for the development of a linear cascade after subsequent stereoselective reduction of the corresponding ketone intermediate. The use of cesium carbonate provided an adequate pH to the reaction medium for the alcohol dehydrogenase action. [AcrMes]ClO4 was found to be the best photocatalyst, allowing the development of concurrent or sequential cascades depending on the ability of the photosensitizer to oxidize back the chiral alcohol to the ketone. Overall, the photobiocatalytic approach has allowed the synthesis of a wide number of alcohol compounds, the formation of (S)‐ or (R)‐enantiomers being attained with excellent stereoselectivity and moderate to good yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of anti‐laser damage infrared (IR) nonlinear optical (NLO) materials is an urgent need but challenging due to the contradiction between wide bandgap and large NLO coefficient. Herein, by introducing a halogen into the NLO‐active tetrahedral unit, two halogenated metal chalcogenides Cs3Ga8S13Cl and Cs9Ga8Se12Cl9 with unprecedented [GaQ3Cl] (Q = S/Se) tetrahedral units are rationally designed and fabricated in experiments by the flux method, enriching the chemical and structural diversity of chalcogenides. Cs3Ga8S13Cl shows a wide bandgap of ≈3.76 eV, resulting in a high laser‐induced damage threshold of ≈8 × AgGaS2 (AGS) and a moderate NLO response (≈0.6 × AGS) with phase‐matching behavior. The results imply that Cs3Ga8S13Cl is a promising IR NLO material for the high powder laser application and demonstrate the feasibility of the halogenated tetrahedron strategy in regulating the optical properties of chalcogenides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite solar cells, a third‐generation photovoltaic technology, have recently emerged as a game‐changing innovation. However, lead (Pb) is a toxic heavy metal, and it is crucial to explore lead‐free perovskite solar cells with continuously improving efficiency for long‐term development. Recently, materials researchers have discovered a lead‐free double perovskite solar cell material, Cs2InBiBr6 with a small direct bandgap of 1.27 eV and strong thermodynamic and mechanical structural stability. The power conversion efficiency of Cs2InBiBr6‐based perovskite solar cells is not reported yet. To investigate its potential, a solar cell capacitance simulator to analyze the solar cell structure of FTO (Fluorine Doped Tin Oxide)/ETL (Electron Transport Layer)/Cs2InBiBr6/HTL (Hole Transport Layer)/Au, selecting appropriate hole transport materials and electron transmission materials to achieve high efficiency is used. Moreover, this study explores the impact of several factors, including absorber layer thickness, acceptor and donor doping density, and the influence of total defect density of the perovskite and interface layers on the performance of solar cells. Advanced device characterization methods such as Mott‐Schottky analysis are performed to unravel the effect of interfaces on the device performance. The solar cell with the device structure FTO/TiO2/Cs2InBiBr6/Cu2O/Au achieves an outstanding PCE of 23.64% demonstrating the immense potential of Cs2InBiBr6 as a lead‐free double perovskite solar cell absorber layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a new type of lead‐free double perovskite Cs2TeBr6 combined with metal‐free semiconductor g‐C3N4 heterojunction is constructed and used for photocatalytic CO2 reduction for the first time. The S‐scheme charge transfer mechanism between Cs2TeBr6 and g‐C3N4 is systematically verified by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electron spin resonance (ESR) and in situ Fourier infrared spectroscopy(FT‐IR). The formation of S‐type heterojunction makes the photocatalyst have higher charge separation ability and highest redox ability. The results show that 5%‐CTB/CN heterojunction material has the best photocatalytic reduction effect on CO2 under visible light irradiation. After 3 h of illumination, the yield of CO and CH4 are 468.9 µmol g−1 and 61.31 µmol g−1, respectively. The yield of CO is 1.5 times and 32 times that of pure Cs2TeBr6 and g‐C3N4, and the yield of CH4 is doubled compared with pure Cs2TeBr6. However, g‐C3N4 almost does not produce CH4, which indicates that the construction of heterojunction helps to further improve the photocatalytic performance of the material. This study provides a new idea for the preparation of Cs2TeBr6/g‐C3N4 heterojunction and its effective interfacial charge separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While all‐inorganic halide perovskites (iHPs) are promising photovoltaic materials, the associated water sensitivity of iHPs calls for stringent humidity control to reach satisfactory photovoltaic efficiencies. Herein, we report a moisture‐insensitive perovskite formation route under ambient air for CsPbI2Br‐based iHPs via cesium cyclopropane acids (C3) as a compound introducer. With this approach, appreciably enhanced crystallization quality and moisture tolerance of CsPbI2Br are attained. The improvements are attributed to the modified evaporation enthalpy of the volatile side product of DMA‐acid initiated by Cs‐acids. As such, the water‐involving reaction is directed toward the DMA‐acids, leaving the target CsPbI2Br perovskites insensitive to ambient humidity. We highlight that by controlling the C3 concentration, the dependence of power conversion efficiency (PCE) in CsPbI2Br devices on the humidity level during perovskite film formation becomes favorably weakened, with the PCEs remaining relatively high (>15 %) associated with improved device stability for RH levels changed from 25 % to 65 %. The champion solar cells yield an impressive PCE exceeding 17 %, showing small degradations (<10 %) for 2000 hours of shell storage and 300 hours of 85/85 (temperature/humidity) tests. The demonstrated C3‐based strategy provides an enabler for improving the long‐sought moisture‐stability of iHPs toward high photovoltaic device performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The applicability of potassium nickel hexacyanoferrate–polyacrylonitrile (KNiFC–PAN) for the sorption of Co2+, Sr2+, and Cs+ from radioactive laundry wastewater generated in nuclear power plants was investigated. Competitive sorption of Co2+, Sr2+, and Cs+ onto KNiFC–PAN was studied for single, binary, and ternary solutions. The Langmuir, Freundlich, Kargi–Ozmıhci, Koble–Corrigan, and Langmuir–Freundlich models predicted the single‐sorption data (R2 ≥ 0.942, sum of squared error ≤ 0.105). The sorption isotherms were nonlinearly favorable (Freundlich coefficient, NF = 0.288–0.842). According to the Langmuir, Freundlich, Kargi–Ozmıhci, Koble–Corrigan, and Langmuir–Freundlich models, at pH 5 (C0 = 20 mM), KNiFC−PAN exhibited the highest maximum sorption capacity (qmL) for Cs+ among the investigated cations, wherein the primary mechanism was physical sorption. The competition between the metal ions in the binary and ternary systems reduced the respective sorption capacities. Binary and ternary sorption models, such as the ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST) model coupled with Freundlich (IAST–Freundlich), IAST–Langmuir, and IAST–Langmuir–Freundlich models, were fitted to the experimental data; among these, the IAST–Freundlich model was the most accurate for the binary and ternary systems. The presence of sodium 4‐n‐octylbenzenesulfonate and dodecylbenzene–sulfonic acid sodium salt as anionic surfactants strongly affected the sorption capacity on KNiFC–PAN owing to increased distribution coefficients (Kd) of Cs+, Sr2+, and Co2+. Thus, KNiFC–PAN is promising for removing Cs+, Sr2+, and Co2+ from radioactive laundry wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article comprehensively investigates the photovoltaic performance of a 3% GeI2‐doped ASnI2Br absorber in a solar cell. The cell features an inverted structure (fluorine‐doped tin oxide [FTO]/poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate [PEDOT:PSS]/absorber/C60/Ag) and utilizes EDA0.01(GA0.06(FA0.8Cs0.2)0.94)0.98 as the A‐site cation (EDA for ethylenediamine; GA for guanidinium; FA for formamidinium). Through systematic numerical simulation and optimization, the photovoltaic performance of the solar cell is enhanced by sequentially optimizing several parameters: 1) absorber thickness and defect density, 2) conduction band offset at the ASnI2Br/C60 interface, doping of the electron‐transport layer (ETL), and its interface with the absorber, and 3) valence band offset at the PEDOT:PSS/ASnI2Br interface, and doping of the hole‐transport layer and its interface with the absorber. Additionally, the impact of series resistance (Rs) variation on device performance is investigated. Starting with an initial power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.86%, the systematic numerical optimization process elevates it to an impressive 18.55%. Furthermore, a final cell structure is proposed where C60 is replaced with indium‐doped tin oxide (ITO) as the ETL layer. This optimized FTO/PEDOT:PSS/absorber/ITO structure demonstrates a remarkable PCE of 18.68%. These findings hold significant promise for advancing tin‐perovskite solar cell technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polyoxometalates like phosphotungstic acid (PTA) (H3PW12O40) and Cesium (Cs+) doped phosphotungstic acid (Cs‐PTA) (Cs3‐PW12O40) nanocrystalline thin films were effectively deposited by microwave assisted chemical bath deposition (MA‐CBD) technique. The structural characterization of microwave aided H3PW12O40 and Cs3‐PW12O40 thin films were done by Thermo gravimetric (TG) and Differential thermal analysis (DTA) techniques, X‐ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDAX). The TGDTA analysis revealed that the complete decomposition process of Cs‐PTA compound is carried out at 600 °C and which is comparatively lower than that of other chemical method. The X‐ray diffractogram confirms the polycrystalline nature of the synthesized H3PW12O40 and Cs3‐PW12O40 thin films having spinel cubic crystal structure. The lattice parameter of H3PW12O40 and Cs3‐PW12O40 compound found to be in the range of 11.34 Å to 11.46 Å. The main absorption peaks observed nearly 800, 1000 and 1100 cm−1 confirms the formation of H3PW12O40 and Cs3‐PW12O40 materials. The porous structure of nanocrystalline spherical grains morphology of H3PW12O40 and Cs3‐PW12O40 films were confirmed from SEM analysis. An appropriate peaks of metal ions like P, W, O and Cs observed in EDAX spectra shows the stoichiometric formation of H3PW12O40 and Cs3‐PW12O40 thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relativistic adapted Gaussian basis sets of small and medium sizes are presented in this study for all elements from cesium to radon, including some alternative electron configurations. Both basis sets are made free of variational prolapse, being developed by means of a polynomial version of the generator coordinate Dirac–Fock method. In addition, these sets were designed to be promptly used with two popular finite nuclear models, uniform sphere and Gaussian nuclei. The largest basis set errors found with the uniform sphere nucleus are 27.3 and 10.6 mHartree, respectively, for the small‐ and medium‐size sets. The largest basis set errors obtained with the Gaussian nuclear model are smaller, reaching 23.2 and 7.1 mHartree for the small‐ and medium‐size sets, respectively. Soon, these basis sets will be augmented with polarization functions to be properly used in molecular calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thermochemical ablation (TCA) is a minimally invasive therapy under development for hepatocellular carcinoma. TCA simultaneously delivers an acid (acetic acid, AcOH) and base (sodium hydroxide, NaOH) directly into the tumor, where the acid/base chemical reaction produces an exotherm that induces local ablation. However, AcOH and NaOH are not radiopaque, making monitoring TCA delivery difficult. Purpose: We address the issue of image guidance for TCA by utilizing cesium hydroxide (CsOH) as a novel theranostic component of TCA that is detectable and quantifiable with dual‐energy CT (DECT). Materials and methods: To quantify the minimum concentration of CsOH that can be positively identified by DECT, the limit of detection (LOD) was established in an elliptical phantom (Multi‐Energy CT Quality Assurance Phantom, Kyoto Kagaku, Kyoto, Japan) with two DECT technologies: a dual‐source system (SOMATOM Force, Siemens Healthineers, Forchheim, Germany) and a split‐filter, single‐source system (SOMATOM Edge, Siemens Healthineers). The dual‐energy ratio (DER) and LOD of CsOH were determined for each system. Cesium concentration quantification accuracy was evaluated in a gelatin phantom before quantitative mapping was performed in ex vivo models. Results: On the dual‐source system, the DER and LOD were 2.94 and 1.36‐mM CsOH, respectively. For the split‐filter system, the DER and LOD were 1.41‐ and 6.11‐mM CsOH, respectively. The signal on cesium maps in phantoms tracked linearly with concentration (R2 = 0.99) on both systems with an RMSE of 2.56 and 6.72 on the dual‐source and split‐filter system, respectively. In ex vivo models, CsOH was detected following delivery of TCA at all concentrations. Conclusions: DECT can be used to detect and quantify the concentration of cesium in phantom and ex vivo tissue models. When incorporated in TCA, CsOH performs as a theranostic agent for quantitative DECT image‐guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various types of SiAlON compounds were synthesized by heating of carbon‐mixed, geopolymer compositions of M2O•Al2O3•4.5SiO2•12H2O + 9C. A fixed molar ratio of carbon to silica of 2 and charge‐balancing cations Na+, K+, or Cs+ were used to prepare the geopolymer‐carbon precursor resins. After curing, the precursors were ground to powders and then fired at 1400 to 1600°C for 2 h under flowing nitrogen. In contrast to previous studies, powdered forms of the precursors and moderate carbon ratios were used in these syntheses. X‐ray diffraction results indicated that phase‐pure β‐ or O‐SiAlON powders were synthesized, in the case of potassium at 1400 or 1500°C (for β‐SiAlON) and sodium cations at 1400°C (for O‐SiAlON), respectively. In the cases of cesium, high purity β‐SiAlON with some corundum and pollucite were synthesized. Furthermore, depending on the cation type and temperatures, tailored compositions of SiAlON or other compounds (mainly Al2O3) were formed by other reactions between precursors in this systematic study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formal aza‐Diels‐Alder reaction of dihydro‐β‐carboline with heterodiene mediated by caesium carbonate has been described. This pathway provided a mild approach to functionalized polycyclic frameworks in 41%–91% yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generation and detection of circularly polarized light (CPL) are of importance in many modern technologies such as digital communications, machine vision, bio-imaging, and 3D displays. In this study, inspired by the fact that various species of plants and animals can efficiently produce and/or perceive CPL with chiral photonic crystal structures, efforts are made to fabricate luminescent chiral photonic crystals with caesium lead halide perovskites, a class of solution-processable semiconductors that have excellent luminescence properties and readily tunable electronic band gaps. Coupling between the emission frequency of the perovskite and the cavity resonance frequency of the photonic crystal structure can be established at any desired point in the visible region, giving rise to CPL output with a dissymmetry factor up to −0.34. These results suggest a new approach to chiral light-emitting materials and may contribute to the development of semiconductors with ordered microstructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The halide perovskite CsPbBr3 belongs to the Cs‐Pb‐Br material system, which features two additional thermodynamically stable ternary phases, Cs4PbBr6 and CsPb2Br5. The coexistence of these phases and their reportedly similar photoluminescence (PL) have resulted in a debate on the nature of the emission in these systems. Herein, optical and microscopic characterizations are combined with an effective mass, correlated electron–hole model of excitons in confined systems, to investigate the emission properties of the ternary phases in the Cs‐Pb‐Br system. It is found that all Cs‐Pb‐Br phases exhibit green emission and the non‐perovskite phases exhibit PL quantum yields orders of magnitude larger than CsPbBr3. In particular, blue‐ and red‐shifted emission for the Cs‐ and Pb‐rich phases, respectively, are measured, stemming from embedded CsPbBr3 nanocrystals (NCs). This model reveals that the difference in emission shift is caused by the combined effects of NC size and different band mismatch. Furthermore, the importance of including the dielectric mismatch in the calculation of the emission energy for Cs‐Pb‐Br composites is demonstrated. The results explain the reportedly limited blue shift in CsPbBr3@Cs4PbBr6 composites and rationalize some of its differences with CsPb2Br5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distribution of radionuclides depends on various factors, and milk processing into cheese is recommended as one of the significant measures of radiation protection during radioactive contamination of the environment. A total of 16 milk and 16 cheese (soft and hard) samples were examined using HPGe gamma‐ray spectrometry to obtain 137Cs and 40K activity concentrations. The Pearson's correlation coefficients between 137Cs and 40K were determined (0.73, 0.68, 0.19, −0.23), followed by determination of distribution of 137Cs and 40K from cow milk to two types of cheeses using food processing retention factors (0.07–0.34). Transfer of 137Cs obtained could serve a great purpose for predicting its distribution during cheesemaking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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