We used a multi-step process to make aluminum-doped ZnO (AZO) films with a wide range distribution of textures for light trapping in thin film silicon solar cells, which includes AZO deposition, HCl etching, AZO re-deposition, and HCl re-etching. The large features created by the first etching provide an effective light trapping for long wavelength light; the small features from the second etching enhances the short wavelength light trapping. Microcrystalline silicon solar cells deposited on the above-mentioned AZO show an improved photocurrent density without loss in the open-circuit voltage and fill factor, resulting in an overall increase in efficiency by 14.64%.

A highly efficient quadruple-junction silicon based thin-film solar cell with a remarkably high open-circuit voltage was demonstrated to inspire functional photoelectrical devices for environmental applications.

Aphids are common agricultural pests with a wide range of hosts from agriculture to forestry plants. As known, aphids also serve as the major vectors to transmit plant viruses. Although numerous studies have focused on interactions between aphids and plant viruses, little is known about the aphid viruses, i.e., the insect viruses that are infectious to aphids. In the past four decades, several aphid viruses have been identified in diverse aphid species. In this review, we present a brief view of the aphid pathogenic viruses from several aspects, including classification of aphid viruses and characters of the viral genome, integration of viral sequences in host genomes, infection symptoms and influence on aphids, as well as host range and transmission modes. Taken together, these studies have increased our understanding of the rarely known aphid viruses, and will potentially contribute to the development of new strategies for controlling aphid populations.

No abstract