Organic transistors with different structures are investigated to address the applicability and reliability of parameter extraction. A dinaphtho[2,3‐b:2′,3′‐f]thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene channel is coupled with pristine or functionalized gold bottom and top contacts to reveal a geometrical impact on the device performance and nonidealities. Scanning Kelvin probe microscopy is employed as a key method to quantify the channel and contact potential in operation. Taking full account of the contact effects and including an explicit threshold voltage in calculation are shown to be critical to access the intrinsic carrier mobility, while simple derivative‐based extraction may over‐ or underestimate it. Further analytical developments correlate individual physical parameters, leading to the discovery that pentafluorobenzenethiol self‐assembled on gold predominantly affects the carrier mobility rather than the injection barrier.

The number of interconnected devices, often referred to as the Internet of Things (IoT), is increasing at a considerable rate. It is inevitable therefore that so too will the energy demand. IoT describes a range of technologies such as sensors, software, smart meters, wearable devices, and communication beacons for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the internet. Often not located near a mains supply power source, these devices may be reliant on primary battery cells. To avoid the need to periodically replace these batteries, it makes sense to integrate the technologies with a photovoltaic (PV) cell to harvest ambient light, so that the technologies can be said to be self-powered. Perovskite solar cells have proven extremely efficient in low-light conditions but in the absence of ambient and low-light testing standards, or even a consensus on what is defined by “ambient light”, it is difficult to estimate the energy yield of a given PV technology in a given scenario. Ambient light harvesting is complex, subject to spectral considerations, and whether the light source is directly incident on the PV cell. Here, we present a realistic scenario-driven method for measuring the energy yield for a given PV technology in various situations in which an IoT device may be found. Furthermore, we show that laboratory-built p-i-n perovskite devices, for many scenarios, produce energy yields close to that of commercial GaAs solar cells. Finally, we demonstrate an IoT device, powered by a mesoporous carbon perovskite solar module and supercapacitor, and operating through several day–night cycles.

We have created modified protein variants by introducing a non-canonical amino acid p-azido-L-phenylalanine (azF) into defined positions for photochemically-induced covalent attachment to graphene. Attachment of GFP, TEM and cyt b₅₆₂ proteins was verified through a combination of atomic force and scanning tunnelling microscopy, resistance measurements, Raman data and fluorescence measurements. This method can in principle be extended to any protein which can be engineered in this way without adversely affecting its structural stability.

Chemicals from pet flea-treatments or sheep-dips sometimes exceed no-effect concentrations in rivers. We investigated three such compounds - imidacloprid, fipronil and diazinon - in nine Welsh rivers during 2021-2023. We analysed 140 grab samples using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC/Q-TOF-MS) to assess how concentrations varied i) within and among rural and urban rivers in relation to wastewater inputs; ii) with an indicator of wastewater contamination, caffeine, and iii) with flow. We assessed fish and macroinvertebrate communities along a concentration gradient in the most contaminated stream. Imidacloprid (0-76 ng/L) occurred in 77 % of samples and fipronil (0-35 ng/L) in 44 %. Odds of detection were 26X and 8X greater in urban than rural sites for imidacloprid and fipronil, respectively, exceeding predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs) in 38 % and 44 % of urban samples. Both compounds increased downstream in urban reaches i) receiving wastewater outfalls and ii) where sewer misconnections apparently impacted invertebrate communities. Significant correlations with caffeine confirmed links with wastewater. Imidacloprid, fipronil and caffeine were modelled effectively from Wastewater Treatment (WWTP) discharge, but model residuals were consistent with additional effects from misconnected sewers. In contrast, diazinon occurred patchily linked to livestock farming in the Wye (174 ng/L), Tywi (29 ng/L) and Ely (94 ng/L). Flow effects on all concentrations were weak. These data provide important support for the role of 'down the drain' routes through which compounds used as pet flea-treatments reach British rivers, for the first time revealing that misconnected sewers might increase imidacloprid concentrations sufficient for observable biological effects.