The advantages of IR spectroscopy include relatively fast analysis and sensitivity, which facilitate its wide application in the pharmaceutical, chemical and polymer sectors. Thus, IR spectroscopy provides an excellent opportunity to monitor the degradation and concomitant evolution of the molecular structure within a perovskite layer. As is well-known, one of the main limitations preventing the industrialization of perovskite solar cells is the relatively low resistance to various degradation factors. The aim of this work was to study the degradation of the surface of a perovskite thin film CH₃NH₃PbI_3-xCl_x caused by atmosphere and light. To study the surface of CH₃NH₃PbI_3-xCl_x, a scanning electron microscope, infrared (IR) spectroscopy and optical absorption were used. It is shown that the degradation of the functional layer of perovskite proceeds differently depending on the acting factor present in the surrounding atmosphere, whilst the chemical bonds are maintained within the perovskite crystal structure under nitrogen. However, when exposed to an ambient atmosphere, an expansion of the NH₃⁺ band is observed, which is accompanied by a shift in the N–H stretching mode toward higher frequencies; this can be explained by the degradation of the perovskite surface due to hydration. This paper shows that the dissociation of H₂O molecules under the influence of sunlight can adversely affect the efficiency and stability of the absorbing layer. This work presents an approach to the study of perovskite structural stability with the aim of developing alternative concepts to the fabrication of stable and sustainable perovskite solar cells.

Nowadays natural gas hydrates attract special attention as a possible source of fossil fuel. According to various estimates, the reserves of hydrocarbons in hydrates exceed considerably explored reserves of natural gas. Due to the clathrate structure the unit volume of the gas hydrate can contain up to 160–180 volumes of pure gas. In recent years interest to a problem of gas hydrates has considerably increased. Such changes are connected with the progress in searches of the alternative sources of hydrocarbonic raw materials in countries that do not possess the resources of energy carriers. Thus gas hydrates are nonconventional sources of the hydrocarbonic raw materials which can be developed in the near future. At the same time, mechanisms of methane clathrate hydrates formations have not reached an advanced level, their thermophysical and mechanical properties have not been investigated profoundly. Thereby our experimental modeling of the processes of formation of methane clathrate hydrates in water cryomatrix prepared by co-condensation from the gas phase onto a cooled substrate was carried out over the range of condensation temperatures 12–60 K and pressures 10⁻⁴–10⁻⁶ Torr. In our experiments the concentration of methane in water varied in the range of 5%–90%. The thickness deposited films was 30–60 μm. The vibrational spectra of two-component thin films of CH₄ + H₂O condensates were measured and analyzed.

The interaction of host molecules with water molecules is of primary importance in astrophysical and atmospheric studies. Water-binding interactions continue to attract a broad interest in various fields, especially those related to the formation of assembly structures. Using the physical vapor deposition (PVD) method and a two-beam interferometer with a wavelength of 406 nm, the refractive indices of thin films of a water and nitrogen (argon) mixture were calculated in the range from 15 to 35 K. The results of temperature transformations of the obtained films from a two-beam interferometer, and thermal desorption characteristics from the temperature of condensation to the temperature of evaporation of water (15–180 K), are presented. The relationship between the signal of the interferometer, the refractive index, and the film thickness during glass transition is demonstrated.

It has been recognized that Blockchain technology contributes to environmentally sustainable development goals (SDGs). It has emerged as a disruptive innovation capable of transforming various economic and social sectors significantly. This conceptual paper is driven by the need to explore how blockchain, specifically a consortium-based Ethereum architecture, can be integrated into higher education institutions to ensure data sovereignty, integrity, and verifiability while adhering to legal and ethical standards such as GDPR. We propose a multi-layered blockchain-based model for Kazakhstan’s Unified Platform of Higher Education (UPHE). This model employs hybrid on-chain/off-chain data storage, smart contract automation, and a Proof-of-Authority consensus mechanism to address system limitations, including data centralization and inadequate verification of academic credentials. Empirical simulations using Blockscout and Ethereum-compatible tools demonstrate the model’s feasibility and performance. This paper contributes to the growing discussion on educational blockchain applications by presenting a scalable, secure, and transparent architecture that aligns with institutional governance and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. It also supports the objectives of UN SDG 4 (i.e., Quality education) by fostering trust, transparency, and equitable access to verifiable educational credentials.

Experimental studies of the effect of methane condensation temperature on the value of the refractive index and density of the resulting thin films are reported. The main unit of the installation is a high-vacuum chamber, which routinely operates at 10⁻⁸–10⁻⁶ Torr. Measurements using a two-beam He–Ne laser interferometer in the vicinity of the methane phase transition temperature T = 20.4 K in the range of 14–32 K were carried out. It has been shown that in the vicinity of T = 20 K the temperature dependence of the refractive index undergoes an abrupt decrease with decreasing temperature. It is assumed that this gap is the result of the phase transition from the orientational disordered phase (α-phase) to the partially ordered phase (β-phase) of solid methane. The calculations of the polarizability of the methane molecules in the solid phase at two values of the deposition temperature T = 16 K and T = 30 K were performed using the Lorentz–Lorenz equation.

The method of cryovacuum condensation of thin gas films and, in particular, condensation involving the formation of glassy states, provides ample opportunities for precise control and maintenance of the formation conditions of studied samples. This has prompted researchers to formulate and address the question of the relationship between the formation conditions/structure of molecules and the degree of kinetic stability of cryocondensates, including organic glasses. This study focused on thin films of Freon 134a cryovacuum condensates condensed on a cooled metal substrate comprised of gas at deposition temperatures ranging from 16–100 K and gas phase pressures from 10^–4 to 10^–6 Torr. A comparison between the vibrational spectra of Freon 134a in the gas phase and in the cryocondensed state is provided. The results of IR spectrometric studies of cryovacuum condensates of Freon 134a (2.5 μm thick) in the frequency range 400–4200 cm^–1 are presented. Based on the obtained spectra and data on their thermally stimulated transformations, an assumption is made that, in the temperature range 16–60 K, Freon 134a cryocondensates are in an amorphous state with different degrees of amorphization. At the vitrification temperature of 70 K, transition from the amorphous glassy state to the state of the supercooled liquid phase takes place, followed by its crystallization into the state of a plastic crystal. In the temperature range of 78–80 K, the transition of a plastic crystal to a crystalline state with a monoclinic lattice begins.