Low Loss Research Articles

High power lateral coupled InAs/GaAs quantum dot distributed feedback lasers grown on Si(001) substrates

High-quality single-frequency semiconductor lasers play a key role in silicon optical integrated systems. Combining high density 8-stacked quantum dot (QD) material and low–loss laterally coupled gratings, we here demonstrate a high output power, low noise, and insensitivity to light feedback 1.3 µm InAs/GaAs QD distributed feedback (DFB) laser grown on Si(001) substrates. For a QD DFB laser of a 3 × 1500 µm2 cavity, it exhibits a high single-mode output light power of up to 25 mW at 20 °C and 1.8 mW at 70 °C, respectively and maintains a stable single–mode operation in the entirely measured temperature range with a maximum side mode suppression ratio (SMSR) of 56.5 dB. Furthermore, the laser has an average relative intensity noise value low to –155.9 dB/Hz and a Lorentzian linewidth narrow to 243 kHz. In addition, the laser shows an insensitivity to optical feedback with a feedback level of –24.9 dB. Lastly, a 7-channel QD DFB laser array emitting at wavelengths from 1274.5 nm to 1290.0 nm are also exhibited with all SMSRs of higher than 45 dB. The results achieved here enable a practical single-frequency Si-based light source for the development of high-performance silicon photonic chips.

Application of wet carbon black masterbatch in green mining radial tires

AbstractIn the context of environmental protection and energy consumption reduction, reducing the rolling resistance of mining machinery tires is one of the important methods to achieve the goal of green mining. This study probes the effects of wet mixing with a wet carbon black masterbatch on the rolling resistance and grounding performance of wide‐body vehicle tire treads by investigating the cross‐linking structure, rubber–filler (R–F) interaction force, and physicomechanical properties of the wet mixing rubber compounded with a wet carbon black masterbatch. The results indicate decreases in the maximum torque‐minimum torque difference, cross‐link density, and R–F interaction of the wet mixing rubber and increased filler–filler (F–F) interaction and carbon black dispersion. Meanwhile, the tensile elongation of the wet mixing rubber increases, its DIN abrasion property improves, and its Tanδ decreases at 60°C. A numerical method to estimate tire steady‐state rolling resistance is also developed. Finite element simulation analysis reveals that the steady‐state rolling resistance of the wet mixing rubber is reduced by 7.04% at 100% standard load, and its grounding performance is enhanced. By proposing a method to reduce the rolling resistance of tires, this study also provides a reference for the development of wide‐body vehicle tires.Highlights Explored the filler interaction of wet mixing rubber. Explained the low energy loss of wet mixing rubber. Proposed a new finite element method for calculating tire rolling resistance.

Real-world evaluation of the effects of tirzepatide in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Tirzepatide is a first-in-class combination glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP1-RA) approved for treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and chronic weight management. The aim of this analysis was to assess the real-world efficacy of tirzepatide in patients with T2DM. This retrospective observational study evaluated patients with T2DM from a large urban academic medical centre who received at least 3 months of continuous tirzepatide treatment. The primary outcome was change in A1C from following tirzepatide treatment. Secondary outcomes included change in body weight and body mass index (BMI) after tirzepatide was initiated. A total of 1896 patient charts were reviewed, and 612 patients were evaluated for the primary outcome. Over a median time period of 10.4 months, treatment with tirzepatide resulted in a mean A1C reduction of 1.02 ± 1.48% (p < 0.001). A total of 570 patients were evaluated for the secondary outcomes. Tirzepatide was associated with a mean reduction in body weight of 7.3 ± 9.3 kg (p < 0.001) and a mean reduction in BMI of 2.5 kg/m2. Greater A1C lowering and weight loss was observed in patients without prior GLP1-RA treatment compared to those switched to tirzepatide from GLP1-RA. In a real-world population of US patients with T2DM, tirzepatide was associated with clinically and statistically significant reductions in A1C and body weight. Greater reductions in both A1C and body weight were observed among patients who were GLP1-RA naïve compared to patients switched from GLP1-RA to tirzepatide.

Dynamic Characteristics Analysis of the DI-SO Cylindrical Spur Gear System Based on Meshing Conditions

The dual-input single-output (DI-SO) cylindrical spur gear system possesses advantages such as high load-carrying capacity, precise transmission, and low energy loss. It is increasingly becoming a core component of power transmission systems in maritime vessels, aerospace, marine engineering, and construction machinery. In practical operation, the stability of the DI-SO cylindrical spur gear system is influenced by complex excitations. These excitations lead to nonlinear vibration, meshing instability, and noise, which affect the performance and reliability of the entire equipment. Hence, the dynamic performance of the DI-SO cylindrical spur gear system is thoroughly investigated in this research. The impact of excitations and nonlinear factors on the dynamic characteristics was investigated comprehensively. A comparative analysis of the gear system was conducted by establishing a bending–torsional coupling vibration analysis model under synchronous and asynchronous meshing conditions. Nonlinear factors such as periodic time-varying meshing stiffness, meshing damping, friction coefficient, friction arms, load sharing ratio, comprehensive transmission error, and backlash were considered in the proposed model. Then, the effect laws of excitations and nonlinear factors such as meshing frequency, driving load fluctuation, backlash, and comprehensive transmission error were analyzed. The results indicate that the dynamic characteristics exhibited staged stable and unstable states under different meshing frequencies and meshing conditions. At the medium-frequency meshing stage (0.96 × 104~1.78 × 104 Hz), alternating phenomena of multi-periodic, quasi-periodic, and chaotic motion states were observed. Moreover, the root mean square value (RMS) of the dynamic transmission error (DTE) in the asynchronized gear system was generally higher than that in the synchronized gear system. It was found that selecting the appropriate meshing condition could effectively reduce the amplitude of the DTE. Additionally, the dynamic performance could be significantly improved by adjusting control parameters such as driving load fluctuation (0~179 N), backlash (0.8 × 10−4~0.9 × 10−4 m), and comprehensive transmission error (7.9 × 10−4~9.4 × 10−4 m). The research results provide a theoretical guidance for the design and optimization of the DI-SO cylindrical spur gear system.

Low-loss plasmons in Weyl semimetals Mn3Sn

We report the optical reflectance measurement for Weyl semimetal Mn3Sn single crystal at room temperature. We observe a low-loss plasmon in the UV energy ranges. This low plasmonic loss is associated with a large electron scattering rate contributed by electron-electron interaction and scattering of conduction electrons by Mn atoms. The incorporation of more Mn atoms simultaneously adds more elastic scattering centers and increases the strength of electron-electron correlation which generates multiple plasmons with lower plasmonic loss in Mn3+xSn1-x. The UV tunable plasmonic properties in Mn3+xSn1-x have great potential for plasmonic and spintronic applications. We also discuss the plasmonic loss in Mn3Sn to the other conducting materials including correlated and non-correlated systems establishing the crucial role of electron correlation on the plasmonic loss. Our result suggests novel and effective strategies for obtaining lower plasmonic loss in the class of correlated materials.

A Review of Integrated Photonic Devices Using Sb2Se3

AbstractThe silicon photonic technology is a highly promising option for photonic integrated circuits and has attracted intensive interests, particularly since it can utilize complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor processing techniques and facilities, thereby realizing high‐density photonic integrations with low‐cost. Unfortunately, the thermo‐optic and the carrier dispersion effects, which are the typical means of tuning silicon photonics devices, bring the drawbacks of high power consumption and large device size due to the relatively weak effect with a small refractive index change and being volatile. For overcoming these drawbacks, phase‐change materials are introduced into silicon photonic devices, where VO2 and Ge2Sb2Te5 are the most commonly used ones. However, the key disadvantage of large loss resulting from them limits further improving the performances of integrated photonic devices. Therefore, Sb2Se3 has seen increasing interests recently in the design of silicon photonic integrated devices, benefiting from the advantages of having extremely low loss over the C‐band and being non‐volatile. In this paper, the trending recent studies about integrated optical devices are systematically reviewed using Sb2Se3, which are classified according to the device function.

Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Multi-Scenario Modeling Based on Terrestrial Carbon Stocks in Xinjiang

The increase in atmospheric CO2 leads to global warming and ecological environment deterioration. Carbon storage modeling and assessment can promote the sustainable development of the ecological environment. This paper took Xinjiang as the study area, analyzed the spatial and temporal evolution of land use in four periods from 1990 to 2020, explored the spatial relationship of carbon stocks using the InVEST model, and coupled the GMOP model with the PLUS model to carry out multiple scenarios for the future simulation of land use in the study area. We found (1) Over time, the types with an increasing area were mainly impervious and cropland, and the types with a decreasing area were grassland, snow/ice, and barren; spatially, the types were predominantly barren and grassland, with the conversion of grassland to cropland being more evident in the south of Northern Xinjiang and north of Southern Xinjiang. (2) The evolutionary pattern of terrestrial carbon stocks is increasing and then decreasing in time, and the carbon sink areas are concentrated in the Tarim River Basin and the vicinity of the Ili River; spatially, there are differences in the aggregation between the northern, southern, and eastern borders. By analyzing the transfer in and out of various categories in Xinjiang over the past 30 years, it was obtained that the transfer out of grassland reduced the carbon stock by 5757.84 × 104 t, and the transfer out of Barren increased the carbon stock by 8586.12 × 104 t. (3) The land use layout of the sustainable development scenario is optimal under the conditions of satisfying economic and ecological development. The reduction in terrestrial carbon stocks under the 2020–2030 sustainable development scenario is 209.79 × 104 t, which is smaller than the reduction of 830.79 × 104 t in 2010–2020. Land optimization resulted in a lower loss of carbon stocks and a more rational land-use layout. Future planning in Xinjiang should be based on sustainable development scenarios, integrating land resources, and achieving sustainable economic and ecological development.

Noncontact excitation of multi-GHz lithium niobate electromechanical resonators

The demand for high-performance electromechanical resonators is ever-growing across diverse applications, ranging from sensing and time-keeping to advanced communication devices. Among the electromechanical materials being explored, thin-film lithium niobate stands out due to its strong piezoelectric properties and low acoustic loss. However, in nearly all existing lithium niobate electromechanical devices, the configuration is such that the electrodes are in direct contact with the mechanical resonator. This configuration introduces an undesirable mass-loading effect, producing spurious modes and additional damping. Here, we present an electromechanical platform that mitigates this challenge by leveraging a flip-chip bonding technique to separate the electrodes from the mechanical resonator. By offloading the electrodes from the resonator, our approach yields a substantial increase in the quality factor of these resonators, paving the way for enhanced performance and reliability for their device applications.

Composite of Organo-LDH and biochar for diclofenac sodium removal from aqueous solutions

Classic layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and their composites with biochar are promising adsorbents for removing emerging contaminants like diclofenac sodium (DFS) from water. However, the use of organo-LDHs in these composites remains unexplored and could enhance their adsorption properties for organic molecules. This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and application of an organo-LDH based on sodium dodecyl sulfate as intercalating agent (SDS-LDH) and its composite with tangerine peel biochar (SDS-LDH/BC) for the removal of DFS from water. The adsorption performance of these materials was compared with those of a composite of SDS-LDH and tangerine peel biomass (SDS-LDH/Bio) and the layered double oxides (LDOs) obtained from the pyrolysis of SDS-LDH and SDS-LDH/Bio, referred to as SDS-LDO and SDS-LDO/Bio, respectively. The materials were characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, TG, and pH point of zero charge analyses, and the adsorption of DFS was evaluated in aqueous medium under different conditions. XRD and FTIR demonstrated the successful incorporation of sodium dodecyl sulfate into the interlamellar space of the SDS-LDH, which was preserved in the SDS-LDH/BC and SDS-LDH/Bio composites. SEM analysis revealed that the SDS-LDH structures, with varied shapes and sizes, were dispersed on the matrix of the biochar, while TG analysis showed that the SDS-LDH/BC had similar thermal stability to SDS-LDH. SDS-LDH achieved 90 % DFS removal at pH 8.0 and 25 °C, while SDS-LDH/BC reached 81 % removal under the same conditions, with maximum DFS adsorption capacities of 247 and 169 mg g−1, respectively, outperforming pristine biochar (no removal). Under the same conditions, SDS-LDH/Bio, SDS-LDO/Bio, and SDS-LDO removed 55 %, 36 %, and 36 % of DFS, respectively. These results revealed the pivotal role of the interlamellar structure of SDS-LDH in DFS adsorption, as confirmed by XRD and FTIR, which indicated that DFS interacted with dodecyl sulfate anion in the SDS-LDH interlamellar space, specially through hydrophobic interaction. Kinetics studies revealed that DFS adsorption on SDS-LDH/BC followed the pseudo-first-order model, while adsorption on SDS-LDH followed the pseudo-second-order model, with equilibrium reached in approximately 30 min. The Redlich-Peterson model satisfactorily fitted the adsorption equilibrium isotherms for both SDS-LDH and SDS-LDH/BC. Although no synergistic effect was observed between biochar and SDS-LDH/BC regarding the adsorption capacity, the formation of the SDS-LDH/BC composite improved the preservation of the SDS-LDH structures, allowing for a lower loss of adsorption capacity upon reuse. These findings suggest that the study of such advanced material can contribute to the development of more effective biochar-LDH composite-based adsorbents, specifically for the removal of organic pollutants.

All-optical organic photochemical integrated nanophotonic memory: low-loss, continuously tunable, non-volatile

Controlling changes in the optical properties of photonic devices allows photonic integrated circuits (PICs) to perform useful functions, leading to a large breadth of applications in communications, computing, and sensing. Many mechanisms to change optical properties exist, but few allow doing so in a reversible, non-volatile manner. Without such mechanisms, power inefficiencies and use of external memory are inevitable. In this work, we propose and experimentally demonstrate reversible, non-volatile phase actuation of a silicon nitride PIC with thermally stable photochromic organic molecules vapor-deposited within a slot waveguide structure. The use of a high-core-index platform allows the photochemical phase actuation of a planar-resonator-based photonic memory unit, which enables positive and negative signal weighting and permits integrated spectroscopic analysis. We show properties of this all-optical memory for a silicon photonics platform, including low loss in the optical C-band, first-order photokinetics of the photoconversion, bidirectional scalable switching, and continuous tuning. Such features are critical for memories in analog applications such as quantum, microwave, and neuromorphic photonics, where bipolar weights, low loss, and precision are paramount. More generally, this work suggests that back-end-of-line-compatible vapor deposition of organic molecules into silicon photonic circuits is promising to introduce non-silicon-native functionality.

Elucidating the evolution of pore structure, microstructural damage, and micromechanical response in cement pastes containing microencapsulated phase change materials under freeze-thaw conditions

As climate variability intensifies the frequency and severity of freeze-thaw cycles, the development of cementitious materials capable of withstanding these harsh conditions becomes increasingly crucial. This research focuses on the potential of Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials (MPCMs) to enhance the durability of Hardened Cement Paste (HCP) in the face of such challenges. Specifically, this paper evaluates the influence of MPCMs on evolution of pore microstructure, damage, and micromechanical response in HCP subjected to extended freeze-thaw cycles, utilizing Low-Temperature Differential Scanning Calorimetry (LTDSC), X-ray Tomography (XRT), and micro-indentation. LTDSC results indicate a lower ice-crystallization temperature and a significant reduction in ice formation in MPCM-integrated HCP. Micro-indentation experiments reveal that while the control HCP undergoes substantial decreases in indentation hardness (35 %) and Young's modulus (37 %) after 180 cycles, the MPCM samples show much lower losses (only 9 % loss in hardness and 7 % loss in Young's modulus for 20 % MPCM inclusion). XRT image analysis reveals that MPCMs mitigate pore enlargement, preserve a stable pore size distribution, and effectively reduce the risk of increased interconnected porosity in HCP when subjected to extended freeze-thaw cycles. Crack analysis demonstrates that control HCP samples exhibit significant crack propagation with increased freeze-thaw cycles, while samples with 10 % MPCM inclusion show only slight crack initiation, and those with 20 % MPCM inclusion maintained their structural integrity with virtually no crack progression after 180 freeze-thaw cycles. These findings underscore the potential of MPCMs to improve the durability of HCP against freeze-thaw damage, offering key insights for designing more robust materials.

Contemporary short-term peri-operative outcomes of open primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection.

To provide current peri-operative outcomes and short-term complication rates for open primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND), with analysis of risk factors for complications. Using the Indiana University Testicular Cancer database, we performed a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent open primary RPLND over the study period (2018-2021). The primary outcomes of interest were the preoperative profile of patients undergoing surgery, complication rates, and identification of risk factors associated with complications. We used chi-squared, Fisher's exact and unpaired t-tests in our analyses. A total of 165 patients were identified. The median body mass index (BMI) was 28.6 kg/m2. Patients most often had clinical stage IIA (39%) or IIB testicular cancer (36%). The median estimated blood loss was 150 mL, with no transfusions required. Higher BMI was noted in patients that sustained any complication vs those with normal recovery (34.95 vs 28 kg/m2; P = 0.0042). The median length of hospital stay was 3 days. The overall complication rate was low (8.48%), with two major postoperative complications, including one case of chylous ascites (0.6%), and no deaths in the 30-day period. The study was limited by its retrospective design and short-term follow-up. We found that open primary RPLND has an acceptable morbidity profile, even among a predominantly overweight cohort. Low blood loss, short hospital stay, minimal chylous ascites risk, and rare major postoperative complications should be the benchmark for retroperitoneal lymph node dissection.

End-fire optical phased array for passive beam steering on thin-film lithium niobate.

Autonomous driving technology has put forward higher requirements for sensors, including light detection and ranging. An optical phased array (OPA) is a viable solution, and numerous efforts have been made in this area. For its outstanding optical properties such as linear electro-optic effect and low optical loss, lithium niobate exhibits great potential and unique advantages in solid-state light-emitting arrays. Here we propose and experimentally demonstrate an end-fire optical phased array on a thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) for passive beam steering. Furthermore, based on this work, we propose a three-line optical phased array to achieve a larger beam steering range. Our results provide a solution for the integrated optical phased array that shows potential in sensing and imaging with reduced size and power.

Dual-Band Matching Networks Using a Combination of Microstrip Lines and Active Switching Components

Active switching components are employed to propose a novel compact dual-band matching network (MN) with an adapted frequency in this paper. The design method involves the integration of active switching devices, stepped impedance resonator (SIR), and microstrip transmission line into the frequency response of a dual-band MNs. The PIN diode is employed as an active switching device in the proposed structure to increase the bandwidth of the MNs and attain the desired frequency. The dual-band MNs that are being proposed are fabricated and designed on the Rogers RO4350B substrate for use in Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs). The simulation results demonstrate a high degree of congruence with the measurements. The maximal insertion losses and return losses in the first band are -1.3 and -24 dB, respectively. In the second band, they are -2.2 and -20.69 dB. The primary benefits of the proposed dual-band MNs are their high attenuation between two passbands, frequency matching capability, suitable return loss, and low insertion loss.

Low Dark Current, High Responsivity, and Self‐Powered MoTe2 Photodetector Integrated With a Thin Film Lithium Niobate Waveguide

AbstractThin film lithium niobate is one of the most crucial platforms in the next generation of integrated optoelectronics because of its ability to integrate tight optical confinement, low optical loss, and active optical functions. A current challenge in the field of thin film lithium niobate photonics is the development of high‐performance photodetectors to achieve multifunctional photonic integrated circuits. This study introduces a high‐performance MoTe2 photodetector integrated on a thin film lithium niobate waveguide. The photodetector achieves the lowest dark current and highest on/off ratio among waveguide‐integrated photodetectors on a thin film lithium niobate platform. Due to a slight asymmetry in the behavior of the two electrode contacts of the device, the photodetector also achieves self‐driven. At zero bias and a wavelength of 1310 nm, a dark current of ≈20 pA, and an on/off ratio exceeding 105 are achieved. At a bias voltage of 1 V, the measured dark current, responsivity, and on/off ratio are 1.13 nA, 309 mA/W, and 1.8 × 104, respectively. Notably, the device exhibits fast rise and fall times of 9.3 and 13.5 µs, respectively, accompanied by a high detectivity of 2.58 × 1011 W−1.

Effect of Ozone assisted hydro cooling system on cooling characteristics, microbial inactivation, and quality of fresh produce (amla and tomato)

The ozone assisted hydro cooling (OAHC) process is introduced for simultaneous disinfection and pre-cooling of fresh produce. This study was conducted to examine the effect of different ozone concentrations (0.3, 0.7, and 1.5 ppm) on hydrocooling process and postharvest qualities of amla and tomato. The investigation included post-harvest qualities characteristics assessment between OAHC and cold room cooling. It was observed that the integration of ozone into hydrocooled water did not negatively impact cooling kinetics, while an ozone concentration of 1.5 ppm reduced E. coli count by 2.4 and 3.1 log cycles from tomato and amla, respectively. SEM analysis revealed no significant changes in amla and tomato pericarp microstructure during the OAHC process. In addition, OAHC-treated amla and tomato demonstrated lower weight loss, ascorbic acid, and higher phenolic compounds. The study outcomes concluded that OAHC technology did not adversely affect the cooling process and quality characteristics during the hydrocooling process and preserved the quality of fresh produce during storage.

DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS AND METHOD OF AUTONOMOUS POWER AND GAS SUPPLY OF REMOTE CONSUMERS FROM GAS DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS

The development and implementation of independent power supply systems with a high degree of autonomy is becoming an urgent task for the development of remote and inaccessible regions of the country, both due to the lack of energy capacities and accessible networks in newly developed areas, and the high cost of allocating separate power lines for remote and compact settlements. The increase in the scale of central networks is associated with high capital investments and long project implementation time, which creates inconvenience for consumers and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises. At the same time, unlike power supply, gasification issues, which are actively being resolved in all regions of the country, make it possible to connect new consumers of natural gas several times faster and cheaper, which is due to the high manufacturability and speed of construction of polyethylene gas pipelines of distribution networks, provided that gas pipelines pass in the region. In addition to lower capital and operating costs, the process of transporting energy resources through pipelines in the form of a primary source — gas — is characterized by significantly lower losses compared to water and electricity. At the same time, network gas in combination with trigeneration technologies and cryogenic hydrocarbon storage can be used not only as boiler fuel, but also as motor fuel, a source for generating electricity, heat and even cold with a replenished autonomous reserve. Thus, as an alternative solution to traditional power systems, it is proposed to use hybrid power systems — systems based on trigeneration plants with gas piston installations, turbine and screw machines, as well as cryogenic gas storage facilities that can provide the population with electricity, heat, cold and motor fuel. The article analyzed the state and development of the fuel and energy complex in Russia, conducted a study of the needs for heat, gas and electricity for an average compact settlement with small and medium-sized enterprises. Analysis and selection of equipment parameters for uninterrupted autonomous power supply of the economy was carried out.

Octave-spanning Kerr soliton frequency combs in dispersion- and dissipation-engineered lithium niobate microresonators

Dissipative Kerr solitons from optical microresonators, commonly referred to as soliton microcombs, have been developed for a broad range of applications, including precision measurement, optical frequency synthesis, and ultra-stable microwave and millimeter wave generation, all on a chip. An important goal for microcombs is self-referencing, which requires octave-spanning bandwidths to detect and stabilize the comb carrier envelope offset frequency. Further, detection and locking of the comb spacings are often achieved using frequency division by electro-optic modulation. The thin-film lithium niobate photonic platform, with its low loss, strong second- and third-order nonlinearities, as well as large Pockels effect, is ideally suited for these tasks. However, octave-spanning soliton microcombs are challenging to demonstrate on this platform, largely complicated by strong Raman effects hindering reliable fabrication of soliton devices. Here, we demonstrate entirely connected and octave-spanning soliton microcombs on thin-film lithium niobate. With appropriate control over microresonator free spectral range and dissipation spectrum, we show that soliton-inhibiting Raman effects are suppressed, and soliton devices are fabricated with near-unity yield. Our work offers an unambiguous method for soliton generation on strongly Raman-active materials. Further, it anticipates monolithically integrated, self-referenced frequency standards in conjunction with established technologies, such as periodically poled waveguides and electro-optic modulators, on thin-film lithium niobate.

Additive engineering for efficient wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells with low open-circuit voltage losses.

High-performance wide-bandgap (WBG) perovskite solar cells are used as top cells in perovskite/silicon or perovskite/perovskite tandem solar cells, which possess the potential to overcome the Shockley-Queisser limitation of single-junction perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, WBG perovskites still suffer from severe nonradiative recombination and large open-circuit voltage (Voc) losses, which restrict the improvement of PSC performance. Herein, we introduce 3,3'-diethyl-oxacarbo-cyanine iodide (DiOC2(3)) and multifunctional groups (C=N, C=C, C-O-C, C-N) into perovskite precursor solutions to simultaneously passivate deep level defects and reduce recombination centers. The multifunctional groups in DiOC2(3) coordinate with free Pb2+ at symmetric sites, passivating Pb vacancy defects, effectively suppressing nonradiative recombination, and maintaining considerable stability. The results reveal that the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the 1.68eV WBG perovskite solar cell with an inverted structure increases from 18.51% to 21.50%, and the Voc loss is only 0.487V. The unpackaged device maintains 95% of its initial PCE after 500h, in an N2 environment at 25°C.

KUFRI DAKSH: A NEW WATER-USE EFFICIENT TABLE POTATO VARIETY WITH CROSS TOLERANCE TO HIGH TEMPERATURE STRESS

Kufri (K) Daksh is a main season, medium maturing, high yielding, water-use-efficient table potato variety that can be grown in regions with limited water availability. It is a clonal selection from the cross between CP1748, having high water use efficiency and LT-1 tolerating high temperature stress. Its plants are tall and vigorous with field resistance to late blight. Its tubers are white-cream (light yellow), ovoid with shallow to medium eyes and cream flesh with good keeping quality. It is fertilizer responsive and can yield 30-35 t/ha under low water (≤ 20%) availability in middle Gangetic plains. K Daksh has better trade-off for high CO2 gain and low water loss through optimization in plant canopy leaf area and plant height components. K Daksh can be an excellent choice to tolerate high temperature and water stress regimes in changing climatic scenarios.