Synthesis and characterization of α,ω-disubstituted quaterthiophenes functionalized with polar groups for solution processed OTFTs

A series of soluble quaterthiophenes (4Ta-g) bearing ester groups in the α,ω-terminal positions separated from the quaterthiophene core by ethylene (4Ta-c), vinylene (4Td-f) or ethynylene (4Tg) spacers was synthesized by means of a Pd-catalyzed homocoupling of bithiophenes proceeding via C-H bond activation. The synthetic approach gave satisfying yields of 4Ta-f but resulted in only 3% yield of 4Tg due to the competitive hydrofluorination of the triple bond. The quaterthiophenes 4Ta-g were characterized by NMR, FTIR, UV-vis, PL spectroscopies, HRMS, TGA and CV. Thin-films of 4Ta-g were deposited either by spin-coating or by thermal evaporation on Si/SiO₂ for the fabrication of top-contact OTFTs. The devices prepared using 4Ta-c bearing the ester functional group separated from the quaterthiophene core by an ethylene spacer showed average hole field-effect mobility up to 2.7×10⁻³ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ and up to 6×10⁻³ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ for solution processed and for thermally evaporated OTFTs, respectively. The remarkably high solubility of 4Ta-c, along with their respectable performances in OTFTs render these molecules promising for practical applications as active layers in chemically-sensitive devices.     

Equivariant Yamabe problem and Hebey-Vaugon conjecture

In their study of the Yamabe problem in the presence of isometry groups, E. Hebey and M. Vaugon announced a conjecture. This conjecture generalizes T. Aubin's conjecture, which has already been proven and is sufficient to solve the Yamabe problem. In this paper, we generalize Aubin's theorem and we prove the Hebey-Vaugon conjecture in dimensions less or equal to 37.     

Mixed Spin-1/2 and Spin-5/2 Model by Renormalization Group Theory: Recursion Equations and Thermodynamic Study

Using the renormalization group approximation, specifically the Migdal-Kadanoff technique, we investigate the Blume-Capel model with mixed spins S = 1/2 and S = 5/2 on d-dimensional hypercubic lattice. The flow in the parameter space of the Hamiltonian and the thermodynamic functions are determined. The phase diagram of this model is plotted in the (anisotropy, temperature) plane for both cases d = 2 and d = 3 in which the system exhibits the first and second order phase transitions and critical end-points. The associated fixed points are drawn up in a table, and by linearizing the transformation at the vicinity of these points, we determine the critical exponents for d = 2 and d = 3. We have also presented a variation of the free energy derivative at the vicinity of the first and second order transitions. Finally, this work is completed by a discussion and comparison with other approximation.     

Sensitization of Mn with CdS nanoparticles via electrochemical deposition technique for photocurrent enhancement of nanomaterial’s-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells

A photoconversion efficiency of 2.12% was obtained under visible light illumination by nanostructure-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells using Mn/CdS as sensitizer loaded on TiO₂ nanotube arrays (NTAs) (Mn/CdS/TiO₂). Sensitization of Mn on CdS nanoparticles pre-loaded on TiO₂ NTAs was carried out by a two-step electrodeposition method. Compared with unsensitized TiO₂ NTAs, the photocurrent had increased from 0.03 to 4.12 for Mn/CdS/TiO₂ prepared at 1 min. The effects of deposited Mn on the physical, chemical, and photoelectrochemical properties of the CdS/TiO₂ NTAs nanostructure were investigated by using UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The photoelectrochemical analysis was examined in a three-electrode system under a halogen illumination by using the prepared film as the photo-anode.     

Syntheses, crystal structure and ab initio calculations of two new phosphoric triamides

The reaction of N-benzoylphosphoramidic dichloride with piperidine and 4-methylpiperidine lead to PhC(O)N(H)P(O)R₂ with R=piperidine (1) and R=4-methylpiperidine (2) as N-benzoyl-N′,N″-bis(piperidine) phosphoric triamide and N-benzoyl-N′,N″-bis(4-methylpiperidine) phosphoric triamide, respectively. The products have been characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P NMR spectra, and by elemental analysis. The crystalline solid for (1) and (2) consists surprisingly of four and two independent molecules, respectively. There is a disorder in one amine group due to ring inversion in each conformer in compound 1. In the solid state, comparable magnitudes for the stabilization of the stable conformers for the more or less discrete molecules, the polarization effects, hydrogen bonding and the packing effects could be anticipated.

The geometry of compound (1) optimized by density functional calculations at the B3LYP/6-31++G* (d,p) level, is in good agreement with data obtained from X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis and structural studies of new Mannich base ligands and their metal complexes

The new Mannich bases bis(1,4-diphenylthiosemicarbazide methyl) phosphinic acid H₃L¹ and bis(1,4-diphenylsemicarbazide methyl) phosphinic acid H₃L² were synthesised from the condensation of phosphinic acid, formaldehyde with 1,4-diphenyl thiosemicarbazide and 1,4-diphenylsemicarbazide, respectively. Monomeric complexes of these ligands, of general formulae K₂[Cr^III(L ⁿ )Cl₂], K₃[Mn^II(L ⁿ )Cl₂] and K[M(L ⁿ )] (M = Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) or Hg(II); n = 1, 2), are reported. The mode of bonding and overall geometry of the complexes were determined through physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. These studies revealed octahedral geometries for the Cr(III), Mn(II) complexes, square planar for Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes and tetrahedral for the Zn(II) and Hg(II) complexes.     

Joint Commission International accreditation: a laboratory perspective

Joint Commission International accreditation (JCIA) offers the international community a standards-based, objective process for evaluating healthcare organizations. The eleven JCIA standards are functionally organized. The standards are grouped by functions related to the provision of patient care and functions covering the provision of a safe, effective, and well-managed organization. The focus of the JCIA survey process is on the whole organization rather than on individual departments/services. The survey is carried out by trained and experienced healthcare peers. Healthcare organizations worldwide should be encouraged to seek accreditation such as that offered by JCIA. Where affordable, laboratories that are part of larger healthcare organizations should strive to achieve independent laboratory accreditation. The perspective of a laboratory undergoing a JCIA survey is briefly presented. Presented at the conference Quality in the Spotlight, March 2007, Antwerp, Belgium.     

Effects of Convection and Fracture Boundary Conditions on Heat Transfer Shape Factor in Fractured Geothermal Reservoirs

The yield stress fluids porosimetry method (YSM) was recently presented as a simple and non-toxic potential alternative to the extensively used mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). The success of YSM heavily relies on the choice of an appropriate yield stress fluid to be injected through the investigated porous medium. In previous works, xanthan gum aqueous solutions were used due to their ability to exhibit a pseudo-yield stress without substantial levels of unwanted thixotropy or viscoelasticity. Given that YSM is based on the existence of a yield stress, the accuracy of the obtained pore size distribution (PSD) crucially depends on the capacity of the injected fluid to emulate the shear rheology of a yield stress fluid. However, this capacity has still not been fully assessed in the case of xanthan gum solutions. Neither has the robustness of YSM with regard to errors in the determination of the shear-rheology parameters of the injected fluid been analysed. The shear viscosity of polymer solutions is known to be deeply influenced by polymer concentration. For these reasons, a first objective of this work is to evaluate the effect of polymer concentration on the accuracy of PSDs obtained by YSM when using xanthan gum solutions as injected fluids in laboratory experiments. To do so, xanthan gum solutions with different polymer concentrations were injected through analogous samples of a sintered silicate and the obtained PSDs were compared to the results of standard MIP. Moreover, the sensitivity of YSM to errors in the experimental determination of the shear-rheology parameters was also investigated through numerical experiments. The results of the present work permitted to gain further insight into the viability of YSM as an efficient alternative to MIP.