An isoindigo-based low band gap polymer for efficient polymer solar cells with high photo-voltage

A new low band gap polymer (E(g) = 1.6 eV) with alternating thiophene and isoindigo units was synthesized and characterized. A PCE of 3.0% and high open-circuit voltage of 0.89 V were realized in polymer solar cells, which demonstrated the promise of isoindigo as an electron deficient unit in the design of donor-acceptor conjugated polymers for polymer solar cells.     

Rational redesign of Candida antarctica lipase B for the ring opening polymerization of D,D-lactide

Based on molecular modelling, the enzyme Candida antarctica lipase B was redesigned as a catalyst for the ring opening polymerization of D,D-lactide. Two mutants with 90-fold increased activity as compared to the wild-type enzyme were created. In a preparative synthesis of poly(D,D-lactide) the mutants greatly improved the rate and the degree of polymerization.     

Contribution from a hole-conducting dye to the photocurrent in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells

The hole transporting medium in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells can be utilized to harvest sunlight. Herein we demonstrate that a triphenylamine-based dye, used as hole-transporting medium, contributes to the photocurrent in a squaraine-sensitized solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell. Steady-state photoluminescence measurements have been used to distinguish between electron transfer and energy transfer processes leading to energy conversion upon light absorption in the hole-transporting dye.     

A note on global stability of three-dimensional Ricker models

In the recent paper [E. C. Balreira, S. Elaydi, and R. Luís, J. Differ. Equ. Appl. 23 (2017), pp. 2037–2071], Balreira, Elaydi and Luís established a good criterion for competitive mappings to have a globally asymptotically stable interior fixed point by a geometric approach. This criterion can be applied to three dimensional Kolmogorov competitive mappings on a monotone region with a carrying simplex whose planar fixed points are saddles but globally asymptotically stable on their positive coordinate planes. For three dimensional Ricker models, they found mild conditions on parameters such that the criterion can be applied to. Observing that Balreira, Elaydi and Luís' discussion is still valid for the monotone region with piecewise smooth boundary, we prove in this note that the interior fixed point of three dimensional Kolmogorov competitive mappings is globally asymptotically stable if they admit a carrying simplex and three planar fixed points which are saddles but globally asymptotically stable on their positive coordinate planes. This result is much easier to apply in the application.     

Microchip electrophoresis for specific gene detection of the pathogenic bacteria V. cholerae by circle-to-circle amplification.

We have developed a new method for a fast and precise analysis of circle-to-circle amplification (C2CA) product for specific gene detection by microchip electrophoresis. In this method, we have added a new enzymatic step to the C2CA reaction, which could be carried out isothermally at 37 degrees C. Compared to the original single-stranded DNA, the double-stranded DNA that is produced by this enzymatic reaction is more reliable for analysis by microchip electrophoresis. C2CA product was detected within 55 s with high reproducibility by this method which was successfully applied to the detection of 10-ng genomic DNA of the pathogenic bacteria Vibrio. cholerae within 110 s. Purification was found to be an indispensable step for the analysis of the C2CA product of genomic DNA samples.     

Controlled fed-batch fermentations of dilute-acid hydrolysate in pilot development unit scale

Inhibitors formed during wood hydrolysis constitute a major problem in fermenting dilute-acid hydrolysates. By applying a fed-batch technique, the levels of inhibitory compounds may be held low, enabling high ethanol productivity. In this study, a previously developed fed-batch strategy was modified and implemented for use in pilot development unit (PDU) scale. The rate of total gas formation, measured with a mass flow meter, was used as input variable in the control algorithm. The feed rate in the PDU-scale experiments could be properly controlled based on the gas evolution from the reactor. In fed-batch experiments utilizing TMB 3000, an inhibitor-tolerant strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, close to 100% of the hexoses in the hydrolysate was converted.     

MoCu3TeO7Cl2·0.5H2O

Single crystals of molybdenum(VI) tricopper(II) tellurium(IV) hepta­oxide dichloride hemihydrate, MoCu₃TeO₇Cl₂·0.5H₂O, were synthesized via a transport reaction in sealed evacuated silica tubes. All atoms occupy general positions within the triclinic () unit cell. The building units are irregular CuO₄Cl and CuO₃Cl₂ square pyramids, distorted TeO₃₊₁E trigonal bipyramids (E is the lone pair of Te^IV) and irregular MoO₅ pyramids. The TeO₃₊₁E, CuO₄Cl and CuO₃Cl₂ polyhedra form (110) layers bridged by Mo atoms. The water mol­ecules are located in [100] channels.     

The representation of thermodynamic properties at high pressures

It is sometimes advantageous to have an expression for the Gibbs energy, G_m(T,P), from which one can analytically derive an expression for the Heimholtz energy, F_m(T, V_m). Such an expression is suggested for solid substances and it is shown how expressions for other physical properties can be derived from it.