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Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 -based solar cells have reached efficiencies close to 23%. Further knowledge-driven improvements require accurate determination of the material properties. Here, we present refractive indices for all layers in Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 solar cells with high efficiency. The optical bandgap of Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 does not depend on the Cu content in the explored composition range, while the absorption coefficient value is primarily determined by the Cu content. An expression for the absorption spectrum is proposed, with Ga and Cu compositions as parameters. This set of parameters allows accurate device simulations to understand remaining absorption and carrier collection losses and develop strategies to improve performances.

Metal oxide nanoparticles have emerged as exceptionally potent biomedical sensors and actuators due to their unique physicochemical features. Despite fascinating achievements, the current limited understanding of the molecular interplay between nanoparticles and the surrounding tissue remains a major obstacle in the rationalized development of nanomedicines, which is reflected in their poor clinical approval rate. This work reports on the nanoscopic characterization of inorganic nanoparticles in tissue by the example of complex metal oxide nanoparticle hybrids consisting of crystalline cerium oxide and the biodegradable ceramic bioglass. A validated analytical method based on semiquantitative X‐ray fluorescence and inductively coupled plasma spectrometry is used to assess nanoparticle biodistribution following intravenous and topical application. Then, a correlative multiscale analytical cascade based on a combination of microscopy and spectroscopy techniques shows that the topically applied hybrid nanoparticles remain at the initial site and are preferentially taken up into macrophages, form apatite on their surface, and lead to increased accumulation of lipids in their surroundings. Taken together, this work displays how modern analytical techniques can be harnessed to gain unprecedented insights into the biodistribution and biotransformation of complex inorganic nanoparticles. Such nanoscopic characterization is imperative for the rationalized engineering of safe and efficacious nanoparticle‐based systems. The development of novel nanotherapeutics requires an in‐depth understanding of their molecular interplay with biology. This multidisciplinary work elucidates the biodistribution, biotransformation, and local biological impact of complex inorganic nanoparticles using a correlative cascade of advanced elemental analysis, label‐free microscopy, and spectroscopy techniques. This work illustrates the potential of advanced analytical techniques to deepen the understanding of nanotherapeutics.

Anthropogenic mineral residues are characterized by their material complexity and heterogeneity, which pose challenges to the chemical analysis of multiple elements. However, creating an urban mine knowledge database requires data using affordable and simple chemical analysis methods, providing accurate and valid results. In this study, we assess the applicability of simplified multi-element chemical analysis methods for two anthropogenic mineral waste matrices: (1) lithium-ion battery ash that was obtained from thermal pre-treatment and (2) rare earth elements (REE)-bearing iron-apatite ore from a Swedish tailing dam. For both samples, simplified methods comprising ‘in-house’ wet-chemical analysis and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) spectrometry were compared to the results of the developed matrix-specific validated methods. Simplified wet-chemical analyses showed significant differences when compared to the validated method, despite proven internal quality assurance, such as verification of sample homogeneity, precision, and accuracy. Matrix-specific problems, such as incomplete digestion and overlapping spectra due to similar spectral lines (ICP-OES) or element masses (ICP-MS), can result in quadruple overestimations or underestimation by half when compared to the reference value. ED-XRF analysis proved to be applicable as semi-quantitative analysis for elements with mass fractions higher than 1000 ppm and an atomic number between Z 12 and Z 50. For elements with low mass fractions, ED-XRF analysis performed poorly and showed deviations of up to 90 times the validated value. Concerning all the results, we conclude that the characterization of anthropogenic mineral residues is prone to matrix-specific interferences, which have to be addressed with additional quality assurance measures.

Diamond like carbon (DLC) coatings have been proven to be an excellent choice for wear reduction in many technical applications. However, for successful adaption to the orthopaedic field, layer performance, stability and adhesion in physiologically relevant setups are crucial and not consistently investigated. In vitro wear testing as well as adequate corrosion tests of interfaces and interlayers are of great importance to verify the long term stability of DLC coated load bearing implants in the human body. DLC coatings were deposited on articulating lumbar spinal disks made of CoCr28Mo6 biomedical implant alloy using a plasma-activated chemical vapor deposition (PACVD) process. As an adhesion promoting interlayer, tantalum films were deposited by magnetron sputtering. Wear tests of coated and uncoated implants were performed in physiological solution up to a maximum of 101 million articulation cycles with an amplitude of ±2° and −3/+6° in successive intervals at a preload of 1200 N. The implants were characterized by gravimetry, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and cross section scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. It is shown that DLC coated surfaces with uncontaminated tantalum interlayers perform very well and no corrosive or mechanical failure could be observed. This also holds true in tests featuring overload and third-body wear by cortical bone chips present in the bearing pairs. Regarding the interlayer tolerance towards interlayer contamination (oxygen), limits for initiation of potential failure modes were established. It was found that mechanical failure is the most critical aspect and this mode is hypothetically linked to the α-β tantalum phase switch induced by increasing oxygen levels as observed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). It is concluded that DLC coatings are a feasible candidate for near zero wear articulations on implants, potentially even surpassing the performance of ceramic vs. ceramic.

Cu(In,Ga)Se based solar cells have reached efficiencies close to 23%. Further knowledge-driven improvements require accurate determination of the material properties. Here, we present refractive indices for all layers in Cu(In,Ga)Se solar cells with high efficiency. The optical bandgap of Cu(In,Ga)Se does not depend on the Cu content in the explored composition range, while the absorption coefficient value is primarily determined by the Cu content. An expression for the absorption spectrum is proposed, with Ga and Cu compositions as parameters. This set of parameters allows accurate device simulations to understand remaining absorption and carrier collection losses and develop strategies to improve performances.

Zinc alloys have emerged as promising candidates for biodegradable materials due to their remarkable biocompatibility and favorable mechanical characteristics. The incorporation of alloying elements plays an essential role in advancing the tensile strength of Zn alloys. Nevertheless, achieving uniform dispersion of these elements poses challenges due to chemical segregation during solidification. In this study, rapid solidification followed by high-pressure torsion was successfully employed to fabricate Zn-Li-Mn-Mg-Cu alloys characterized by ultrafine-grained microstructures with evenly distributed nanometric intermetallic phases. A comprehensive examination, including phase composition, microstructural evolution, tensile properties and deformation mechanisms, was conducted. The impact of varying annealing temperatures on microstructural stability was systematically examined. The combined implementation of rapid solidification and high-pressure torsion yielded alloys with an average grain size below 360 nm, thereby demonstrating exceptional mechanical properties including yield stress (YS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS), and elongation to failure (Ef) equal to at least 325+-6 MPa, 350+-8 MPa and 40+-11 %, respectively. Heat treatment notably augmented the mechanical properties, resulting in a YS = 440+-11 MPa and UTS = 491+-6 MPa, while preserving plasticity (Ef = 23+-4 %) in the Zn-0.33Li-0.27Mn-0.14Mg-0.1Cu alloy. Nanoindentation strain rate jump tests identified thermally activated mechanisms and grain boundary sliding as dominant deformation mechanisms.

Ultratrace anion analysis in high-purity industrial applications is done using commercially available plastic vials to store the eluted liquid samples. Plastic vials are manufactured with materials containing several additives. Such additives might potentially release anionic contaminants, thus degrading the blank quality and determination limits (DL). The durability and thermal stability of several materials was found to be a function of anionic species. Fluorinated materials showed the best results for the majority of anions with the exception of fluoride. For the selective analysis of fluoride, polypropylene was found to be the best vial material, together with glass. Cold water extraction showed better results compared to hot water extraction. Over a long observation period, hot water extraction did not at all improve the performance, indicating that this type of supposedly efficient cleaning of the plastic containers to render them less prone to contaminant release does not hold true.