2023 NEWS AND ANNOUCEMENTS

Our joint research with Dr. Annie Ng's group (SEDS) was published in Surfaces and Interfaces (Elsevier) under the title "Synergic effects of incorporating black phosphorus for interfacial engineering in perovskite solar cells" This work shows that incorporating black phosphorus (BP) nanoflakes at the interface between the SnO2 electron transport layer (ETL) and the perovskite active layer in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) can improve the performance and stability of PSCs. The BP nanoflakes can improve film quality, charge transport, and defect passivation. The authors describe the fabrication process of PSCs with and without BP nanoflakes and use various techniques to characterize the morphology, composition, electrical, optical, and photovoltaic properties of BP nanoflakes and PSCs. They present experimental results and discuss the mechanisms of BP nanoflakes to enhance PSCs. They show that BP nanoflakes can reduce the surface roughness of SnO2 ETL, increase the crystallinity and reduce the residual PbI2 of perovskite films, facilitate electron extraction and reduce interface recombination, and improve device efficiency and stability. They also optimize the concentration of BP nanoflakes to achieve the best performance. The authors conclude that interfacial engineering with BP nanoflakes is a simple and effective approach to improve PSCs. They achieve a champion device with 20.3% efficiency with negligible hysteresis and increased lifetime. They suggest that BP nanoflakes can be applied to other types of PSCs to further improve them.

To read the full article, you can access it through this link.

We would like to congratulate Diana Suleimenova, our visiting Ph.D. student from Eurasian National University, for publishing an article entitled "Unveiling the potential of MnxCo3-xS4 electrocatalyst in triiodide reduction for dye-sensitized solar cells" in the Bulletin of the Karaganda University. In this work, a MnxCo3-xS4 based counter electrode was successfully synthesized using a facile solvothermal synthesis technique. The photovoltaic measurements performed on the dye-sensitized solar cells showed a remarkable improvement in energy conversion efficiency with the MnxCo3-xS4 counter electrode (8.60%) compared to the conventional Pt (8.11%). Moreover, the MnxCo3-xS4 counter electrode exhibited excellent stability, further highlighting its potential as an efficient and durable alternative to Pt in dye-sensitized solar cells. Overall, the results contribute to the further development of Pt-free counter electrode materials for sustainable solar energy applications.

To read the full article, you can access it through this link.

Our collaborative research with Prof. Capangpangan from MSU-Naawan (Philippines), conducted within the framework of the DOST-PCIEERD funded project, has been successfully published. The paper, titled "Predicting cytotoxicity of engineered nanoparticles using regularized regression models: An in silico approach" delves into an extensive study aimed at forecasting the cytotoxicity of diverse engineered nanoparticles, encompassing variations like organic, inorganic, and carbon-based compositions. This forecasting endeavor relies on the application of regularized regression models, including ridge regression, lasso regression, and elastic net regression, utilizing two distinct comprehensive datasets. A significant outcome of our study is the unequivocal demonstration that all constructed models effectively extend their predictive capabilities to uncharted data points. Moreover, our investigation spotlights the identification of the ten most influential descriptors, which encompass critical factors such as cell type, synthesis methodology, material constitution, cell source, and the presence of coatings or functional groups. These descriptors notably underscore their pivotal roles in steering nanoparticle cytotoxicity. The results of our study markedly emphasize the substantial potential of these developed models in facilitating the strategic design and selection of nanoparticles that can be considered safe for a wide spectrum of applications. You can access her paper at this link.

The 'Climate x' Leadership Training Program 2023, co-organized by the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC) and the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA), successfully conducted an online workshop focused on the critical interface between climate and health. During this session, Dr. Mannix Balanay delivered a presentation titled "ClimaCare: A Planetary Prescription for Climate and Health" Dr. Balanay spoke about the links between climate change and human well-being and highlighted the transformative potential of chemistry in addressing these challenges. He emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive action to mitigate climate-related risks and promote a healthier future for our planet and its inhabitants. In addition, he emphasized the central role of chemistry in unraveling the intricate links between climate change and human health. By using a variety of chemical processes and analyses, researchers can gain crucial insights into the causes, consequences, and potential remedies for climate change and its impact on health. link 

We are pleased to announce the publication of a paper by our Ph.D. student, Gulzat Nuroldayeva, in the journal Polymers. Titled "Flexing the Spectrum: Advancements and Prospects of Flexible Electrochromic Materials," the paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current state and future directions of electrochromic materials. These materials can change color and transparency in response to electric stimuli and have promising applications in smart windows, displays, sensors, and wearable devices. Gulzat has done an excellent job summarizing the recent advances and challenges in this field, as well as highlighting the potential environmental and social benefits of flexible electrochromic materials. We congratulate Gulzat on her achievement and look forward to reading more of her work in the future. You can access her paper at this link.

We would like to congratulate Dr. Prechiel Barredo, now at Mindanao State University - Main Campus, Marawi City, Philippines, for publishing an invited article entitled "Recent advances in molecular dynamics simulations of tau fibrils and oligomers" at Membranes (MDPI) as part of the special issue Molecular Dynamics Simulations in Biological Membranes. In this review paper, current MD simulation studies of tau oligomers and fibrils such as tau-NPK, tau-PHF, tau-K18 and tau-R3-R4 monomers and dimers interacting in solution, lipid bilayers or lipid membrane systems are discussed for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy and other tauopathies. Also discussed is the dissociation of tau fibrils, which has been studied using steered MD.

To read the full article, click this link.