In situ deposition of flower-like ZnO on silk fibroin fibers

In this paper, a convenient biomineralization technique has been developed to form and assemble flower-like zinc oxide (ZnO) on silk fibroin fiber (SFF). Therein, SFF functions as supporting substrate and reactive sites for the in situ generation of ZnO particles. The photoluminescence (PL) of the resulting nanocomposite ZnO/SFF is investigated extensively. The PL peaks are mainly in the visible region (red), which is different from the usual ZnO region (green and violet). As-prepared ZnO/SFF nanocomposites could be useful in the medical field, photoelectron transfer devices, biomolecular detection, and antibacterial agents.     

Photoluminescence properties of a new Eu2+-activated CaLaGa3S7 yellowish-green phosphor for white LED applications

A thiogallate chalcogenide phosphor CaLaGa₃S₇:Eu²⁺ was synthesized by a solid-state reaction at 950 °C in a H₂S atmosphere. The photoluminescence excitation,emission spectra, concentration quenching, fluorescence lifetime, and thermal quenching process of the phosphor were investigated in detail. It was found that the synthesized phosphor emitted intense and broadband yellowish-green light with a peak at 554 nm. Thus, the proposed phosphor is suitable for the development of blue or near UV LED. The critical dopant concentration of Eu²⁺ (R_c=15 Å) per unit formula was found to be 0.15 mol. At room temperature, the fluorescence lifetime of Eu²⁺ in CaLaGa₃S₇ was found to be 0.216 μs. The activation energy for thermal quenching was 0.29 eV. The chromaticity coordinates of our phosphor is very close in color to Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺. Therefore, CaLaGa₃S₇:Eu²⁺ can be a good alternative as a yellowish-green phosphor and can be used for white light generation in phosphor-converted LEDs.     

Improved dimensional stability of Nafion membrane modified using a layer by layer self-assembly of biophilic polymers

The modification of perfluorinated proton exchange membranes (e.g. Nafion) utilizing a layer by layer (LbL) electrostatic assembly of oppositely charged biophilic polymers such as poly-l-lysine as positive layer and dsDNA as a negative layer is developed to protect the interface between the catalyst layer and the membrane in a low temperature fuel cell. Various physicochemical measurements including water uptake, proton conductivity and surface tension were investigated for both the as-received Nafion and the biopolymeric LbL modified Nafion. The smaller water contact angle and the less swelling characteristics of the biopolymer modified Nafion membrane was founded compared to that of as-received Nafion. This clearly indicates that the more hydrophilic surface of biopolymeric layers on Nafion plays an important role in the enhanced dimensional stability. In addition, a potential hypothesis explaining the higher proton conductivity from the LbL biopolymeric film coated Nafion is suggested.     

Highly stable inverted poly (3-hexylthiophene):methano-fullerene [6,6]-phenyl C71-butyric acid methyl ester bulk heterojunction solar cell with thin oxide nano particle layer using solution process

We have investigated the inverted poly (3-hexylthiophene):methano-fullerene [6,6]-phenyl C71-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PC₇₁BM) bulk heterojunction (IBHJ) solar cell with various n-type metal oxide nano particle layers on ITO and MoO₃ anode buffer layer underneath Al. The IBHJ solar cell with a tin oxide nano particle layer shows the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.1% and better stability compared to conventional BHJ solar cell. The PCE of this cell decreases by 3% after 2 months in ambient air while the other cells show more degradation.     

Dielectric-breakdown-like forming process in the unipolar resistance switching of Ta2O5−x thin films

We report unipolar resistance switching (URS) in Ta₂O_5−x thin films. The current increased suddenly when we applied voltages up to 5-7 V to the pristine state of Pt/Ta₂O_5−x/Pt, Ni/Ta₂O_5−x/Pt, and Ti/Ta₂O_5−x/Pt cells. Just after this forming process, we observed a repetitive URS occurring independently of the electrodes. We found that the required voltages for the forming process did not depend on the top electrode type, but on the film thickness. These results suggest that the forming process is driven by a dielectric-breakdown-like phenomenon, and that URS occurs due to the formation and rupture of conducting channels inside the Ta₂O_5−x thin film.     

ZnO nanoparticles with controlled shapes and sizes prepared using a simple polyol synthesis

Nanocrystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) particles with controlled shapes and sizes were prepared at 180 ^°C by a simple polyol method. The amount of water and the method of addition played an important role in determining the characteristics of the synthesized particles. Rod-shaped ZnO particles with major axis lengths of ∼114 nm were obtained by heating the precursor solution, while equiaxial particles with average diameters of ∼24 nm were prepared by injecting water into hot precursor solution. Increasing the amount of water added to the precursor solution enlarged the aspect ratio of the rod-shaped particles and increased the particle size of the equiaxial particles due to enhanced hydrolysis and condensation of the Zn ion complex.     

Deep‐red light‐emitting phosphorescent dendrimer encapsulated tris‐[2‐benzo[b]thiophen‐2‐yl‐pyridyl] iridium (III) core for light‐emitting device applications

New deep‐red light‐emitting phosphorescent dendrimers with hole‐transporting carbazole dendrons were synthesized by reacting tris(2‐benzo[b]thiophen‐2‐yl‐pyridyl) iridium (III) complex with carbazolyl dendrons by DCC‐catalyzed esterification. The resulting first‐, second‐, and third‐generation dendrimers were found to be highly efficient as solution‐processable emitting materials and for use in host‐free electrophosphorescent light‐emitting diodes. We fabricated a host‐free dendrimer EL device with configuration ITO/PEDOT:PSS (40 nm)/dendrimer (55 nm)/BCP (10 nm)/Alq₃ (40 nm)/LiF (1 nm)/Al (100 nm) and characterized the device performance. The multilayered devices showed luminance of 561 cd/m² at 383.4 mA/cm² (12 V) for 15 , 1302 cd/m² at 321.3 mA/cm² (14 V) for 16 , and 422 cd/m² at 94.4 mA/cm² (18 V) for 17 . The third‐generation dendrimer, 17 (η_ext = 6.12% at 7.5 V), showed the highest external quantum efficiency (EQE) with an increase in the density of the light‐harvesting carbazole dendron. Three dendrimers exhibited considerably pure deep‐red emission with CIE 1931 (Commission International de L'Eclairage) chromaticity coordinates of x = 0.70, y = 0.30. The CIE coordinates remained very stable with the current density. The integration of rigid hole‐transporting dendrons and phosphorescent complexes provides a new route to design highly efficient solution‐processable materials for dendrimer light‐emitting diode (DLED) applications. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7517–7533, 2008     

The effect of alkaline earth metal oxide on nickel catalyst for carbon dioxide reforming of methane

A study on the effect of alkaline earth metal oxide on the activity and stability of nickel catalyst for carbon dioxide reforming of methane was performed. When CaO, SrO, and BaO were used as supports, there was no difference in catalytic activity between the catalysts made by coprecipitation and impregnation. However, when MgO was used as a support, the catalyst prepared by coprecipitation showed superior activity than that made by impregnation. The higher activity of the catalyst made by coprecipitation was due to the formation of solid solution consisting of nickel and magnesium. The formation of the solid solution enhanced the dispersion of nickel and the resistance to coke formation.