The perovskite solar cell has emerged rapidly in the field of photovoltaics as it combines the merits of low cost, high efficiency, and excellent mechanical flexibility for versatile applications. However, there are significant concerns regarding its operational stability and mechanical robustness. Most of the previously reported approaches to address these concerns entail separate engineering of perovskite and charge-transporting layers. Herein we present a holistic design of perovskite and charge-transporting layers by synthesizing an interpenetrating perovskite/electron-transporting-layer interface. This interface is reaction-formed between a tin dioxide layer containing excess organic halide and a perovskite layer containing excess lead halide. Perovskite solar cells with such interfaces deliver efficiencies up to 22.2% and 20.1% for rigid and flexible versions, respectively. Long-term (1000 h) operational stability is demonstrated and the flexible devices show high endurance against mechanical-bending (2500 cycles) fatigue. Mechanistic insights into the relationship between the interpenetrating interface structure and performance enhancement are provided based on comprehensive, advanced, microscopic characterizations. This study highlights interface integrity as an important factor for designing efficient, operationally-stable, and mechanically-robust solar cells.

Improving device lifetime and stability remains the stumbling block of the commercialization of hybrid perovskite-based devices (HPDs). Although extensive efforts have been paid, thermal property, one of the most crucial parameters in conventional solid-state electronic devices, has rarely been studied for HPDs. Here, we investigate the temperature-dependent ultralow thermal conductivity and ultrahigh thermal expansion of single-crystalline MAPbX 3 (MA = CH 3 NH 3 ), which are found distinct from traditional thin-film solar cells materials. Particularly, for MAPbI 3 , thermal conductivity is observed being only 0.3 W•m −1 •K −1 and linear thermal expansion coefficient along [100] direction is as high as 57.8 × 10 −6 K −1 (tetragonal) and much higher at the structural phase transition point. We attribute the ultralow thermal conductivity and ultrahigh thermal expansion to the weak chemical bonds associated with the soft perovskite materials. These unique properties can be very challenging for the multilayer device design, but their ultralow thermal conductivity may unveil a new thermoelectric material concept.

Fluorescence imaging provides an indispensable way to locate and monitor biological targets within complex and dynamic intracellular environments. Of the various imaging agents currently available, small molecule-based probes provide a powerful tool for live cell imaging, primarily due to their desirable properties, including cell permeability (as a result of their smaller sizes), chemical tractability (e.g., different molecular structures/designs can be installed), and amenability to imaging a wide variety of biological events. With a few exceptions, most existing small molecule probes are however not suitable for in vivo bioimaging experiments in which high-resolution studies of enzyme activity and localization are necessary. In this article, we reported a new class of fluorescently Quenched Activity-Based Probes (qABPs) which are highly modular, and can sensitively image (through multiple enzyme turnovers leading to fluorescence signal amplification) different types of enzyme activities in live mammalian cells with good spatial and temporal resolution. We have also incorporated two-photon dyes into our modular probe design, enabling for the first time activity-based, fluorogenic two-photon imaging of enzyme activities. This, hence, expands the repertoire of 'smart', responsive probes currently available for live cell bioimaging experiments.

State-of-the-art halide perovskite solar cells have bandgaps larger than 1.45 eV, which restricts their potential for realizing the Shockley-Queisser limit. Previous search for lowbandgap (1.2 to 1.4 eV) halide perovskites has resulted in several candidates, but all are hybrid organic-inorganic compositions, raising potential concern regarding device stability. Here we show the promise of an inorganic low-bandgap (1.38 eV) CsPb 0.6 Sn 0.4 I 3 perovskite stabilized via interface functionalization. Device efficiency up to 13.37% is demonstrated. The device shows high operational stability under one-sun-intensity illumination, with T 80 and T 70 lifetimes of 653 h and 1045 h, respectively (T 80 and T 70 represent efficiency decays to 80% and 70% of the initial value, respectively), and long-term shelf stability under nitrogen atmosphere. Controlled exposure of the device to ambient atmosphere during a long-term (1000 h) test does not degrade the efficiency. These findings point to a promising direction for achieving low-bandgap perovskite solar cells with high stability.