Browsing by Author "Chang, Chih-Yu"

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A New sp2-sp2 Dialkylethylene-Bridged Heptacyclic Ladder-Type Arene for High Efficiency Polymer Solar Cells
(2013-04-01)
Wu, Jhong-Sian
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Lai, Yu-Ying
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Cheng, Yen-Ju
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Chang, Chih-Yu
;
Wang, Chien-Lung
A new dithienobenzo-carbazole (DTBC) heptacyclic arene using sp2-sp2 dialkylethylene moiety as the bridge was successfully synthesized by Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction. This facile benzoannulation planarizes the conjugated framework with the concomitant introduction of four octyl substituents, making the newly designed copolymer PDTBCDTBT exhibit solution processability, superior absorption ability, lower-lying HOMO energy level, and crystalline nature. The solar cell using PDTBCDTBT has produced a high efficiency of 6.2%, which outperforms the corresponding sp3-hybridized C-bridged, Si-bridged and N-bridged analogous polymers.
A Versatile Fluoro-Containing Low-Bandgap Polymer for Efficient Semitransparent and Tandem Polymer Solar Cells
(2013-10-01)
Chang, Chih-Yu
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Zuo, Lijian
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Yip, Hin-Lap
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Li, Yongxi
;
Li, Chang-Zhi
The versatility of a fluoro-containing low band-gap polymer, poly[2,6-(4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b']dithiophene)-alt-4,7-(5-fluoro-2,1,3-benzothia-diazole)] (PCPDTFBT) in organic photovoltaics (OPVs) applications is demonstrated. High boiling point 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene (TCB) is used as a solvent to manipulate PCPDTFBT:[6,6]-phenyl-C-71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) active layer morphology to obtain high-performance single-junction devices. It promotes the crystallization of PCPDTFBT polymer, thus improving the charge-transport properties of the active layer. By combining the morphological manipulation with interfacial optimization and device engineering, the single-junction device exhibits both good air stability and high power-conversion efficiency (PCE, of 6.6%). This represents one of the highest PCE valuesfor cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b']dithiophene (CPDT)-based OPVs. This polymer is also utilized for constructing semitransparent solar cells and double-junction tandem solar cells to demonstrate high PCEs of 5.0% and 8.2%, respectively.
Alternating Copolymers Incorporating Cyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b ']dithiophene Unit and Organic Dyes for Photovoltaic Applications
(2011-04-15)
Cheng, Yen-Ju
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Hung, Lung-Chang
;
Cao, Fong-Yi
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Kao, Wei-Shun
;
Chang, Chih-Yu
We have synthesized six p-type copolymers, CPDT-co-TPADCN, CPDT-co-TPADTA, CPDT-co-TPATCN, CPDT-coDFADCN, CPDT-co-DFADTA, and CPDT-co-DFATCN, consisting of a cyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b']dithiophene (CPDT) unit and an organic dye in an alternating arrangement. Triphenylamine (TPA) or difluorenylphenyl amine (DFA) units serve as the electron donors, whereas dicyanovinyl (DCN), 1,3-diethyl-2-thiobarbituric acid, or tricyanovinyl (TCN) units act as the electron acceptors in the dyes. The target polymers were prepared via Stille coupling, followed by postfunctionalization to introduce the electron acceptors to the side chains. Because of the strongest withdrawing ability of TCN acceptor to induce efficient intramolecular charge transfer, CPDT-co-TPATCN and CPDT-co-DFATCN exhibit the broader absorption spectra covering from 400 to 900 nm and the narrower optical band gaps of 1.34 eV. However, the CPDT-co-TPATCN:PC(71)BM and CPDT-co-DFATCN:PC(71)BM based solar cells showed the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 0.22 and 0.31%, respectively, due to the inefficient exciton dissociation. The DFA-based polymers possess deeper-lying HOMO energy levels than the TPA-based polymer analogues, leading to the higher V(oc) values and better efficiencies. The device based on CPDT-co-DFADTA:PC(71)BM blend achieved the best PCE of 1.38% with a V(oc) of 0.7 V, a J(sc) of 4.57 mA/cm(2), and a fill factor of 0.43. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 49:1791-1801, 2011
An Initial Attack of Urinary Stone Disease Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Developing New-Onset Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Nationwide Population-Based Study
(2016-06-23)
Lei, Wei-Yuan
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Chang, Chih-Yu
;
Wu, Jr-Hau
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Lin, Fei-Hung
;
Chen, Cheng Hsu
Background The neurotransmitter pathways in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and urinary stone attacks are both related to serotonin, and each disease may be influenced by viscero-visceral hyperalgesia. However, the relationship between urinary tract stone disease and IBS has never been addressed. We aimed to investigate the risk of suffering new-onset IBS after an initial urinary stone attack using a nationwide database. Methods A study group enrolled a total of 13,254 patients who were diagnosed with an initial urinary stone attack; a comparison group recruited 39,762 matched non-urinary stone participants during 2003 and 2007. We followed each patient for 3 years to determine new-onset IBS. We also used Cox proportional hazards models to analyze the risk of IBS between the study and comparison groups after modified by demographics, residence, patient characteristics and personal histories. Results The occurrence rates of IBS were 3.3% (n = 440) and 2.6% (n = 1,034) respectively in the study and comparison groups. A covariate-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of IBS in the study group that was 1.28 times greater (HR = 1.29, 95% CI, 1.15-1.44) than that in the comparison group was showed in the stratified Cox proportional analysis. The adjusted HRs of IBS did not decrease after considering demographics and past histories. The majority of IBS (30.5%) occurred within the first 6 months after the stone attack. Conclusion Patients with an initial urinary stone attack are at increased risk of developing new-onset IBS. The HRs of IBS did not decrease even after adjusting for patient demographics and past histories. Most importantly, 30.5% of IBS occurred within the first 6 months after the urinary stone attack.
Carbazole-Based Ladder-Type Heptacylic Arene with Aliphatic Side Chains Leading to Enhanced Efficiency of Organic Photovoltaics
(2011-05-10)
Cheng, Yen-Ju
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Wu, Jhong-Sian
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Shih, Ping-I
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Chang, Chih-Yu
;
Jwo, Pei-Chi
By utilizing Friedel-Crafts cyclization, we have successfully designed and synthesized a ladder-type heptacyclic carbazole-dicyclopentathiophene (CDCT-C8) unit in which two outer thiophene subunits are covalently fastened to the central 2,7-carbazole core. The nitrogen-directing effect of the carbazole unit facilitates the intrarnolecular cydization and thereby suppresses the acid-induced dehydration, allowing us to incorporate two octyl side chains on the cyclopentadiene rings in good chemical yield. The distannyl-CDCT-C8 building block was copolymerized with benzothiadiazole (BT), dithienylbenzothiadiazole (DTBT), dithienyldiketopyrrolopyrrole (DTDPP) and quinoxaline (QX) units by Stile polymerization to afford four alternating donor acceptor copolymers, PCDCTBT-C8, PCDCTDTBT-C8, PCDCTDTDPP-C8 and PCDCTQX-C8, respectively. The device based on the PCDCTBT-C8:PG7IBM (1:3 in wt%) blend exhibited a V(oc) of 0.74 V, a J(sc) of 10.3 mA/cm(2), a FF of 60%, delivering an impressive PCE of 4.6%. This value represents one of the best performances among carbazole-based conjugated polymers in the literatures. The corresponding PCDCTBT-C8 :PC(71)BM blend showed a high hole mobility of 1.2 x 10(-3) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1), which is in good agreement with its high current density and fill factor. This improved performance is associated with the modification of the aliphatic side chains on the CDCT structure to optimize the interchain interactions for enhanced charge transporting. The devices based on PCDCTDTBT-C8, PCDCTDTDPP-C8 and PCDCTQX-C8 polymers also displayed promising efficiencies of 3.5%, 2.4%, and 1.8%, respectively.
Combination of Molecular, Morphological, and Interfacial Engineering to Achieve Highly Efficient and Stable Plastic Solar Cells
(2012-01-24)
Chang, Chih-Yu
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Cheng, Yen-Ju
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Hung, Shih-Hsiu
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Wu, Jhong-Sian
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Kao, Wei-Shun
A flexible solar device showing exceptional air and mechanical stability is produced by simultaneously optimizing molecular structure, active layer morphology, and interface characteristics. The PFDCTBT-C8-based (see figure) devices with inverted architecture exhibited excellent power conversion efficiencies of 7.0% and 6.0% on glass and flexible substrates, respectively.
Di(4-methylphenyl)methano-C(60) Bis-Adduct for Efficient and Stable Organic Photovoltaics with Enhanced Open-Circuit Voltage
(2011-09-13)
Cheng, Yen-Ju
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Liao, Ming-Hung
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Chang, Chih-Yu
;
Kao, Wei-Shun
;
Wu, Cheng-En
A new class of fullerene bis-adducts di(4-methyl-phenyl)methano-C(60) bis-adduct (DMPCBA), di(4-fluorophenyl)methano-C(60) bis-adduct (DFPCBA), and diphenylmethano-C(60) bis-adduct (DPCBA) were rationally designed and easily synthesized. Compared to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy level of PC(61)BM (-3.95 eV), the double functionalization effectively raises the LUMO energy levels of these fullerene materials to ca. -3.85 eV, regardless of the substituent groups (CH(3)-, F-, and H-) at the para-position of the phenyl rings. This phenomenon suggests that the plane of the phenyl groups is preferentially parallel to the fullerene surface, leading to poor orbital interactions with C(60) and negligible electronic effect. Importantly, such geometry sterically protects and shields the core C(60) structure from severe intermolecular aggregation, rendering it intrinsically soluble, morphologically amorphous, and thermally stable. The device based on the P3HT:DMPCBA blend exhibited an open-circuit voltage (V(oc)) of 0.87 V, a short-circuit current density (J(sc)) of 9.05 mA/cm(2), and a fill factor (FF) of 65.5%, leading to a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.2%, which is superior to that of the P3HT:PC(61)BM-based device. Most significantly, the amorphous nature of DMPCBA effectively suppresses the thermal-driven aggregation and thus stabilizes the morphology of the P3HT:DMPCBA blend. Consequently, the device retained 80% of its original PCE value against thermal heating at 160 degrees C over 20 h.
Di(4-methylphenyl)methano-C-60 Bis-Adduct for Efficient and Stable Organic Photovoltaics with Enhanced Open-Circuit Voltage
(2011-09-13)
Cheng, Yen-Ju
;
Liao, Ming-Hung
;
Chang, Chih-Yu
;
Kao, Wei-Shun
;
Wu, Cheng-En
A new class of fullerene bis-adducts di(4-methyl-phenyl)methano-C-60 bis-adduct (DMPCBA), di(4-fluorophenyl)methano-C-60 bis-adduct (DFPCBA), and diphenylmethano-C-60 bis-adduct (DPCBA) were rationally designed and easily synthesized. Compared to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy level of PC61BM (-3.95 eV), the double functionalization effectively raises the LUMO energy levels of these fullerene materials to ca. -3.85 eV, regardless of the substituent groups (CH3-, F-, and H-) at the para-position of the phenyl rings. This phenomenon suggests that the plane of the phenyl groups is preferentially parallel to the fullerene surface, leading to poor orbital interactions with C-60 and negligible electronic effect. Importantly, such geometry sterically protects and shields the core C-60 structure from severe intermolecular aggregation, rendering it intrinsically soluble, morphologically amorphous, and thermally stable. The device based on the P3HT:DMPCBA blend exhibited an open-circuit voltage (V-oc) of 0.87 V, a short-circuit current density (J(sc)) of 9.05 mA/cm(2), and a fill factor (FF) of 65.5%, leading to a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.2%, which is superior to that of the P3HT:PC61BM-based device. Most significantly, the amorphous nature of DMPCBA effectively suppresses the thermal-driven aggregation and thus stabilizes the morphology of the P3HT:DMPCBA blend. Consequently, the device retained 80% of its original PCE value against thermal heating at 160 degrees C over 20 h.
Diindenothieno[2,3-b]thiophene arene for efficient organic photovoltaics with an extra high open-circuit voltage of 1.14 ev
(2012)
Cheng, Yen-Ju
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Cheng, Sheng-Wen
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Chang, Chih-Yu
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Kao, Wei-Shun
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Liao, Ming-Hung
We report a novel diindenothieno[2,3-b]thiophene ladder-type hexacyclic arene for constructing a donor-acceptor copolymer PDITTDTBT. A device based on PDITTDTBT:PC71BM exhibited a high V-oc of 0.92 V with an impressive PCE of 5.8%, while a PDITTDTBT:DMPCBA-based device showed an extra high V-oc of 1.14 V.
Dithienocarbazole-Based Ladder-Type Heptacyclic Arenes with Silicon, Carbon, and Nitrogen Bridges: Synthesis, Molecular Properties, Field-Effect Transistors, and Photovoltaic Applications
(2012-04-24)
Wu, Jhong-Sian
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Cheng, Yen-Ju
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Lin, Tai-Yen
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Chang, Chih-Yu
;
Shih, Peng-I.
A new class of ladder-type dithienosilolo-carbazole (DTSC), dithienopyrrolo-carbazole (DTPC), and dithienocyclopenta-carbazole (DTCC) units is developed in which two outer thiophene subunits are covalently fastened to the central 2,7-carbazole cores by silicon, nitrogen, and carbon bridges, respectively. The heptacyclic multifused monomers are polymerized with the benzothiadiazole (BT) acceptor by palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling to afford three alternating donor-acceptor copolymers poly(dithienosilolo-carbazole-alt-benzothiadiazole) (PDTSCBT), poly(dithienocyclopenta-carbazole-alt-benzothiadiazole) (PDTCCBT), and poly(dithienopyrrolo-carbazole-alt-benzothiadiazole) (PDTPCBT). The silole units in DTSC possess electron-accepting ability that lowers the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy levels of PDTSCBT, whereas stronger electron-donating ability of the pyrrole moiety in DTPC increases the HOMO and LUMO energy levels of PDTPCBT. The optical bandgaps (Egopt) deduced from the absorption edges of thin film spectra are in the following order: PDTSCBT (1.83 eV) > PDTCCBT (1.64 eV) > PDTPCBT (1.50 eV). This result indicated that the donor strength of the heptacyclic arenes is in the order: DTPC > DTCC > DTSC. The devices based on PDTSCBT and PDTCCBT exhibited high hole mobilities of 0.073 and 0.110 cm2 V-1 s-1, respectively, which are among the highest performance from the OFET devices based on the amorphous donor-acceptor copolymers. The bulk heterojunction photovoltaic device using PDTSCBT as the p-type material delivered a promising efficiency of 5.2% with an enhanced open circuit voltage, Voc, of 0.82 V.
Donor-Acceptor Random Copolymers Based on a Ladder-Type Nonacyclic Unit: Synthesis, Characterization, and Photovoltaic Applications
(2011-11-08)
Chen, Chiu-Hsiang
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Cheng, Yen-Ju
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Chang, Chih-Yu
;
Hsu, Chain-Shu
;
應用化學系
We have developed a ladder-type multifused thienyl-phenylene-thienylene-phenylene-thienyl (TPTPT) unit where each thiophene ring is covalently fastened with the adjacent benzene rings by a carbon bridge, forming four cyclopentadiene rings embedded in a nonacyclic structure. This rigid and coplanar TPTPT building block was copolymerized with electron-deficient acceptors, dibromobenzothiadiazole (BT) or dibromodithienyldiketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP), via Stille polymerization. By varying the feed ratio of the monomers, a new series of random copolymers PTPTPTBT11, PTPTPTBT12, PTPTPTDPP11, PTPTPTDPP12, and PTPTPTDPP13 with tunable optical and electronic properties were prepared. The PTPTPTDPP12/PC(71)BM (1:4, w/w) based device exhibited the highest short circuit current (J(sc)) of 10.78 mA/cm(2) with a good power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.3% due to the much boarder absorption ability and the highest hole mobility of PTPTPTDPP12. The devices based on PTPTPTDPP13, PTPTPTDPP11, PTPTPTBT12, and PTPTPTBT11 polymers also displayed promising efficiencies of 4.1%, 3.6%, 3.1%, and 2.8%, respectively. Most importantly, PTPTPTDPP12 has been demonstrated as a superior low-band-gap material for polymer solar cell with inverted architecture, achieving a high PCE of 5.1%.
Efficient semitransparent organic solar cells with good color perception and good color rendering by blade coating
(2017-04)
Wong, Ying Qian
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Meng, Hsin-Fei
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Wong, Hin Yong
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Tan, Ching Seong
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Wu, Chen-Yu
This paper proposes high efficiency semitransparent organic solar cells (OSCs) with good color perception and good color rendering using blade coating technique. We investigate four different polymer blends and first fabricate small area devices with active area of 0.04 cm(2), followed by large area devices with active area of 10.8 cm(2). Two of the polymer blends, 2,6-Bis(trimethyltin)-4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl) thiophen-2-yl)benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b\']dithiophene:6,6-phenyl C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PBDTTT-CT:PC71BM) and poly[4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophen-2-yl)benzo[1,2-b;4,5-b\'] dithiophene-2,6-diyl-alt-(4-( 2-ethylhexyl)-3-fluorothienof 3,4-b Ithiophene-)-2-carboxylate-2-6-diyl)]: PC71BM (PBDTT-EFT:PC71BM) show promising results. For small area devices, semitransparent PBDTIT-CT:PC71BM and semitransparent PBDTIT-EFT:PC71BM achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.2% (opaque PCE = 7.5%) and 5.6% (opaque PCE = 9.4%) respectively. For large area devices, they are found to produce a PCE of 3.8% (opaque PCE = 4.2%) and 5.3% (opaque PCE = 5.9%) respectively. Based on the CIE 1931 chromaticity diagram, semitransparent PBDTIT-CT:PCTIBM and semitransparent PBITITT-EFT:PCTIBM are located very close to the standard illuminant D65, indicating good color perception. As for color rendering, they demonstrate high color rendering index (CR1) of 95.4 and 87.1 respectively. These combined high performances indicate high-quality transmitted light, which is suitable for window application. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Enhanced Performance and Stability of a Polymer Solar Cell by Incorporation of Vertically Aligned, Cross-Linked Fullerene Nanorods
(2011)
Chang, Chih-Yu
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Wu, Cheng-En
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Chen, Shih-Yung
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Cui, Chaohua
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Cheng, Yen-Ju
Enhanced Performance of Organic Thin Film Solar Cells Using Electrodes with Nanoimprinted Light-Diffraction and Light-Diffusion Structures
(2014-05-14)
Chen, Jheng-Yuan
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Yu, Ming-Hung
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Chang, Chih-Yu
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Chao, Yi-Hsiang
;
Sun, Kien Wen
An ITO substrate with periodic surface nanostructures was used to induce strong diffusion and diffraction of incident light. The nanostructures were fabricated using nanoimprint lithography on photoresist followed by coating of the ITO layer and organic materials with uniform morphology. The nanostructures embedded into the ITO layer were found to increase absorption in poly(3-hexylthiophene) : [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester solar devices. The short-circuit current of the nanostructured organic solar cells improved from 7.07 to 10.76 mA/cm(2). This improvement was due to the increased effective optical path of absorbed light resulting from the trapping and scattering by the nanostructures.
Formation of Nanostructured Fullerene Interlayer through Accelerated Self-Assembly and Cross-Linking of Trichlorosilane Moieties Leading to Enhanced Efficiency of Photovoltaic Cells
(2013-06-25)
Liang, Wei-Wei
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Chang, Chih-Yu
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Lai, Yu-Ying
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Cheng, Sheng-Wen
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Chang, Huan-Hsuan
A new cross-linkable fullerene material, bis(2-(trichlorosilyl)propyl)-malonate C-60 (TSMC), functionalized with two trichlorosilane groups, was easily synthesized by Pt-catalyzed olefin hydrosilylation. By making use of facile hydrolysis of the trichlorosilyl moieties, TSMC can be spontaneously self-assembled and cross-linked on the TiOx surface by a simple spin-coating processing without the aid of photoirradiation or post-thermal treatments. The rapid formation of self-assembled and crosslinked TSMC (SA-C-TSMC) effectively passivates the residual hydroxyl groups on the TiOx surface. More significantly, the solvent-resistant TSMC network features a nanostructured surface to provide extra charge-generating interfacial area and straight electron transport pathways. The device (ITO/TiOx/SA-C-TSMC/P3HT:PC61BM (1:1, w/w)/PEDOT:PSS/Ag) with this C-60 interlayer exhibited an efficiency of 3.9% which greatly outperformed the device without this layer. Furthermore, the strategy can also be effectively applied to the device (ITO/TiOx/PDITTDTBT:PC71BM(1:4, w/w)/MoOx/Ag) incorporating a conjugated polymer, poly(diindenothiophene-alt-dithienylbenzothiadizole) copolymer (PDITTDTBT). This device delivered a high efficiency of 5.8% which represents a 35% enhancement over the device without SA-C-TSMC. This new generation of trichlorosilane-based fullerene offers an easy and accelerated processing technique to produce efficient and cost-effective inverted solar cells.
Highly efficient and stable organic solar cell modules processed by blade coating with 5.6% module efficiency and active area of 216 cm(2)
(2019-03-01)
Huang, Kuan-Min
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Wong, Ying Qian
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Lin, Man-Chun
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Chen, Chao-Hsuan
;
Liao, Chung-Hung
In this study, an efficient and stable large-area blade-coated organic solar cell (OSC) module with an active area of 216 cm(2) (16 elementary cells connected in series) is demonstrated by combining appropriate thermal annealing treatment with the use of 4,4 '-(((methyl(4-sulphonatobutyl)ammonio)bis(propane-3,1-diyl))bis(dimethyl-ammoniumdiyl))bis-(butane-1-sulfonate) (MSAPBS) as the cathode interfacial layer. For the opaque device using poly[4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophen-2-yl)benzo[1,2-b;4,5-b ']dithiophene-2,6-diyl-alt-(4-(2-ethylhexyl)-3-fluorothieno[3,4-b]thiophene-)-2-carboxylate-2-6-diyl)] (PBDTTT-EFT (PTB7-Th)):[6,6]-phenyl C-71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) blend film as the active layer, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.6% is achieved under AM 1.5G solar light illumination. Very encouragingly, our strategy can be applicable for semitransparent OSCs, and a remarkable PCE up to 4.5% is observed. To the best of our knowledge, the PCE of 5.6% for opaque device and 4.5% for semitransparent device represent the highest PCE ever reported for OSCs with the active area exceeding 100 cm(2). The devices also show an impressive stability under outdoor environment, where the efficiency decay is less than 30% for 60 days. Our findings can pave the way toward the development of organic solar cell modules with high performance and long-term stability.
Highly Efficient Polymer Tandem Cells and Semitransparent Cells for Solar Energy
(2014-05-01)
Chang, Chih-Yu
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Zuo, Lijian
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Yip, Hin-Lap
;
Li, Chang-Zhi
;
Li, Yongxi
Highly efficient tandem and semitransparent (ST) polymer solar cells utilizing the same donor polymer blended with [6,6]-phenyl-C-61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) and [6,6]-phenyl-C-71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) as active layers are demonstrated. A high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.5% and a record high open-circuit voltage of 1.71 V are achieved for a tandem cell based on a medium bandgap polymer poly(indacenodithiophene-co-phananthrene-quinoxaline) (PIDT-phanQ). In addition, this approach can also be applied to a low bandgap polymer poly[2,6-(4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b\']dithiophene)-alt-4,7-(5-fluoro-2,1,3-benzothia-diazole)] (PCPDTFBT), and PCEs up to 7.9% are achieved. Due to the very thin total active layer thickness, a highly efficient ST tandem cell based on PIDT-phanQ exhibits a high PCE of 7.4%, which is the highest value reported to date for a ST solar cell. The ST device also possesses a desirable average visible transmittance (approximate to 40%) and an excellent color rendering index (approximate to 100), permitting its use in power-generating window applications.
Impact of Different Initial Epinephrine Treatment Time Points on the Early Postresuscitative Hemodynamic Status of Children With Traumatic Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest
(2016-03-01)
Lin, Yan-Ren
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Syue, Yuan-Jhen
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Buddhakosai, Waradee
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Lu, Huai-En
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Chang, Chin-Fu
The postresuscitative hemodynamic status of children with traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) might be impacted by the early administration of epinephrine, but this topic has not been well addressed. The aim of this study was to analyze the early postresuscitative hemodynamics, survival, and neurologic outcome according to different time points of first epinephrine treatment among children with traumatic OHCA.Information on 388 children who presented to the emergency departments of 3 medical centers and who were treated with epinephrine for traumatic OHCA during the study period (2003-2012) was retrospectively collected. The early postresuscitative hemodynamic features (cardiac functions, end-organ perfusion, and consciousness), survival, and neurologic outcome according to different time points of first epinephrine treatment (early: <15, intermediate: 15-30, and late: >30minutes after collapse) were analyzed.Among 165 children who achieved sustained return of spontaneous circulation, 38 children (9.8%) survived to discharge and 12 children (3.1%) had good neurologic outcomes. Early epinephrine increased the postresuscitative heart rate and blood pressure in the first 30minutes, but ultimately impaired end-organ perfusion (decreased urine output and initial creatinine clearance) (all P<0.05). Early epinephrine treatment increased the chance of achieving sustained return of spontaneous circulation, but did not increase the rates of survival and good neurologic outcome.Early epinephrine temporarily increased heart rate and blood pressure in the first 30minutes of the postresuscitative period, but impaired end-organ perfusion. Most importantly, the rates of survival and good neurologic outcome were not significantly increased by early epinephrine administration.
Increased Risk of Major Depression in the Three Years following a Femoral Neck Fracture-A National Population-Based Follow-Up Study
(2014-03-13)
Chang, Chih-Yu
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Chen, Wen-Liang
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Liou, Yi-Fan
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Ke, Chih-Chi
;
Lee, Hua-Chin
Femoral neck fracture is common in the elderly, and its impact has increased in aging societies. Comorbidities, poor levels of activity and pain may contribute to the development of depression, but these factors have not been well addressed. This study aims to investigate the frequency and risk of major depression after a femoral neck fracture using a nationwide population-based study. The Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database was used in this study. A total of 4,547 patients who were hospitalized for femoral neck fracture within 2003 to 2007 were recruited as a study group; 13,641 matched non-fracture participants were enrolled as a comparison group. Each patient was prospectively followed for 3 years to monitor the occurrence of major depression. Cox proportional-hazards models were used to compute the risk of major depression between members of the study and comparison group after adjusting for residence and sociodemographic characteristics. The most common physical comorbidities that were present after the fracture were also analyzed. The incidences of major depression were 1.2% (n = 55) and 0.7% (n = 95) in the study and comparison groups, respectively. The stratified Cox proportional analysis showed a covariate-adjusted hazard ratio of major depression among patients with femoral neck fracture that was 1.82 times greater (95% CI, 1.30-2.53) than that of the comparison group. Most major depressive episodes (34.5%) presented within the first 200 days following the fracture. In conclusion, patients with a femoral neck fracture are at an increased risk of subsequent major depression. Most importantly, major depressive episodes mainly occurred within the first 200 days following the fracture.
Increased risk of major depression subsequent to a first-attack and non-infection caused urticaria in adolescence: a nationwide population-based study
(2014-07-11)
Kuo, Chia-Lun
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Chen, Chi-Yen
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Huang, Hui-Ling
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Chen, Wen-Liang
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Lee, Hua-Chin
Background: Non-infection caused urticaria is a common ailment in adolescents. Its symptoms (e.g., unusual rash appearance, limitation of daily activities, and recurrent itching) may contribute to the development of depressive stress in adolescents; the potential link has not been well studied. This study aimed to investigate the risk of major depression after a first-attack and non-infection caused urticaria. Methods: This study used the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database. A total of 5,755 adolescents hospitalized for a first-attack and non-infection caused urticaria from 2005 to 2009 were recruited as the study group, together with 17,265 matched non-urticarial enrollees who comprised the control group. Patients who had any history of urticaria or depression prior to the evaluation period were excluded. Each patient was followed for one year to identify the occurrence of depression. Cox proportional hazards models were generated to compute the risk of major depression, adjusting for the subjects\' sociodemographic characteristics. Depression-free survival curves were also analyzed. Results: Thirty-four (0.6%) adolescents with non-infection caused urticaria and 59 (0.3%) non-urticarial control subjects suffered a new-onset episode of major depression during the study period. The stratified Cox proportional analysis showed that the crude hazard ratio (HR) of depression among adolescents with urticaria was 1.73 times (95% CI, 1.13-2.64) than that of the control subjects without urticaria. Moreover, the HR were higher in physical (HR: 3.39, 95% CI 2.77-11.52) and allergy chronic urticaria (HR: 2.43, 95% CI 3.18-9.78). Conclusion: Individuals who have a non-infection caused urticaria during adolescence are at a higher risk of developing major depression.