Enhanced efficiency and stability of polymer solar cells using solution-processed nickel oxide as hole transport material

Solution-processed nickel oxide (s-NiO_x) was synthesized for use as hole-transport layers (HTLs) in the fabrication of polymer solar cell (PSC) devices. The s-NiO_x thin-films were deposited using spin-coating and post-annealed at 300 °C, 400 °C, or 500 °C. With increased annealing temperature, the nickel acetate precursor decomposes more fully and forms s-NiO_x films that show larger crystalline grain sizes with lower root mean square surface roughness. Bulk heterojunction solar cells fabricated with the new random polymer RP(BDT-PDBT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C₇₀-butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₀BM) using s-NiO_x as HTLs exhibit a 4.46% enhancement in power conversion efficiency and better stability compared to conventional PSCs using poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) as HTLs. We believe that the solution-processable and highly stable s-NiO_x could be a potential alternative for functional interface materials in optoelectronic devices.     

Preparation of poly(vinyl pivalate) microspheres by dispersion polymerization in an ionic liquid and saponification for the preparation of poly(vinyl alcohol) with high syndiotacticity

We report here a successful free-radical dispersion polymerization of vinyl pivalate (VPi) in an ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([bmim][TFSI]) using poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) as a stabilizer. Morphological analysis by FE-SEM revealed that poly(vinyl pivalate) (PVPi) obtained from dispersion polymerizations were in the form of spherical particles. Micron-sized, PVPi particles with a number-average molecular weight (M_n) of 166,400 g/mol could be obtained using 5% stabilizer (w/w to monomer) at 65 °C for 20 h. The effects of varying concentration of stabilizer, initiator and monomer upon polymer yield, molecular weight, and morphology of PVPi were also investigated. Analogous polymerizations in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and bulk served as references. In addition, the preparation of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) by saponification of the resultant PVPi was described.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus plantarum</Emphasis> AS1 Isolated from South Indian Fermented Food <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kallappam</Emphasis> Suppress 1,2-Dimethyl Hydrazine (DMH)-Induced Colorectal Cancer in Male Wistar Rats

The relationship between antioxidant and anticancer properties of probiotic bacterium strain Lactobacillus plantarum AS1 (AS1) in colon cancer induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) has been studied. In this study, an increased level of lipid peroxide (LPO) products and increased activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione-S transferase) and marker enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase) in colon and plasma of cancer-bearing animals have been observed. AS1 was supplemented either before initiation or during initiation and selection/promotion phases of colon carcinogenesis and was found to be effective in altering lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities and marker enzymes to a statistically significant level measured either in the colon and in the plasma. These alterations inclined towards normal in a time-dependent manner on AS1 supplementation. The mean tumor volume diameter and total number of tumors were found to be statistically decreased in AS1 pre- and post-treated rats. Furthermore, histopathological examination shows remarkable difference between control and treated groups. The in vitro antioxidant assay shows that AS1 has promising antioxidant property. These results demonstrate that AS1 strain can modulate the development of DMH-induced rat colon carcinogenesis through an antioxidant-dependent mechanism.     

1H and 13C NMR spectral study of some 3-aryl-5r-aryl-6t-carbethoxycyclohex-2-enones-a study of four-bond 1H-1H couplings

Nine 3-aryl-5r-aryl-6t-carbethoxycyclohex-2-enones 2a-2i have been synthesized. For all these compounds, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra have been recorded. For two compounds, 2D spectra have been recorded. The spectral data suggest that these compounds adopt sofa conformation in solution with H-5, H-6 and H-4t occupying axial-like positions and H-4c occupying equatorial-like positions. In 3-phenyl-5r-(o-chlorophenyl)-6t-carbethoxycylohex-2-enone (2b), the o-chlorophenyl group is oriented such that the chlorine atom is in between H-4c and H-5. Allylic coupling of H-2 is observed only with H-4t. Evidence has been obtained for four-bond coupling between 1,3-diaxial and 1,3-axial-equatorial protons.     

Single-Molecule White-Light-Emitting Starburst Donor-Acceptor Triphenylamine Derivatives and Their Application as Ratiometric Luminescent Molecular Thermometers

White-light emission (WLE) from a single molecule is a highly desirable alternative to a complex mixture of complementary colour emitters, which suffers from poor stability and reproducibility for potential use in organic electronic devices and lighting applications. We report single-molecule WLE both in solution and thin films by judiciously controlled π-electron delocalisation between the triarylamine subchromophoric units. Triphenylamine (TPA) forms the central core, and the phenyl rings are substituted with the electron-deficient acceptor 3-ethylrhodanine (Rh) and electron-rich donors triphenylamine or carbazole. The enforced biphenyl configuration of the TPA core and the other donors renders the π-conjugation across the entire chromophore poor, thus the individual subchromophoric units retain their individual emission characteristics, which cover all three primary colour emissions, that is, red, green and blue (RGB). TPA−Rh units exhibit broad fluorescence in the green-red region originating from the local excited (LE) state and intramolecular charge transfer state (ICT), strongly influenced by the solvent, water, and temperature. Different fluorescence parameters, including spectral maxima, ratiometric changes in ICT emission at the expense of blue emission from terminal donor units, and changes in lifetime, have a linear relationship with temperature between 180–330 K, thus the molecules can function as a multiparameter luminescent molecular thermometer. A temperature coefficient of 0.19 K⁻¹ in ratiometric fluorescence changes along with a spectral shift of 0.3 nm K⁻¹ and their workability over the wide temperature makes these molecules promising materials for potential applications. At lower temperatures, individual subchromophoric properties subside because of the reduced dihedral angle of biphenyl, and fluorescence from the whole molecule becomes dominant.     

Vapor phase alkylation of aniline using ethanol over alkali and alkaline-earth exchanged zeolites-Y

Ethylation of aniline has been investigated over various alkali and alkaline earth metal exchanged zeolites-Y. The basic zeolites-Y were found to have higher activity than acidic zeolites-Y for N-alkylation.     

A novel and diastereoselective construction of H-pyrazolo[3,2-a]isoquinoline fused spirooxindoles via [3+2] cycloaddition

A one-pot, highly efficient and diastereoselective construction of 1,2-dihyro-10′bH-spiro[indole-3,1′-pyrazole[3,2-a]isoquinoline]-2′-carboxylates via silver triflate-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of N′-(2–alkynylbenzylidene)hydrazide with methyleneindolinones in good to excellent yield has been described. The transformation involves initially a condensation followed by 6-endo-intramolecular cyclization forming dipole which then undergoes [3+2]-cycloaddition with methyleneindolinones and finally, β-hydrogen elimination.     

The influence of film morphology and illumination conditions on the sensitivity of porphyrins-coated ZnO nanorods

ZnO and porphyrins have complementary properties that make their combination attractive for diverse applications such as photovoltaic and chemical sensing. Among the other features, the organic layer morphology is supposed to influence both the chemical sensitivity and the charge transfer processes. In this paper, we studied the influence of the film morphology on the sensing properties by comparing porphyrins coated ZnO nanorods obtained with two different methods. In the first approach, each porphyrin unit is grafted onto preformed ZnO nanorods by a carboxylic group as linker. The second method is a one-pot procedure, where ZnO nanorods growth occurs in the presence of the water soluble tetrakis-(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin. In both cases the macrocycles share the same Zn-tetraphenylporphyrin core structure, but decorated with different peripheral groups, necessary to comply with the material growth conditions.     

Unexpected deviation from diene behaviour of uracil amidine: towards synthesis of some pyrido[2,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>]pyrimidine derivatives

Condensation products obtained from the treatment of uracil amidine with preformed or in situ generated suitably substituted olefins unexpectedly undergo intramolecular cyclisation during silica gel chromatography to generate pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines. Various reaction conditions are studied and the altered nature of the uracil amidine molecule is further explored by reacting it with different suitably substituted alkenes.     

Application of response surface methodology in the optimisation of a growth medium for enhanced natural preservative bacteriocin production by a probiotic bacterium

In this study, a statistics-based experimental design was utilised for the optimisation of a growth medium which possibly enhanced bacteriocin production by Streptococcus phocae PI80. Carbon, nitrogen sources and a bio-surfactant were first screened using a one variable at a time technique and scored for increasing yield production. The selected variables were further statistically optimised using response surface methodology with a central composite design. The high- and low-level limits of the selected variables were determined, and a set of 34 experimental runs were performed. The concentration of each medium ingredient influenced the bacteriocin activity to about 22,500?AU?mL?1. The carbon and nitrogen sources were identified as significant factors in restraining the bacteriocin activity produced by S. phocae PI80. The statistics-based experimental design was found to be very efficient in optimising the media components in a number of experimental runs, with a three-fold increase in bacteriocin activity compared to the un-optimised medium. The optimum medium composition was found to be sodium succinate (10.0?g?L?1), yeast extract (4.0?g?L?1), glucose (9.0?g?L?1), NaCl (10.0?g?L?1), Tween 80 (6.0?g?L?1) and K?HPO? (1.0?g?L?1). This optimised medium is two-fold more cost effective than the commercial Lactobacillus MRS medium.