Optimal lower eigenvalue estimates for Hodge-Laplacian and applications

We consider the eigenvalue problem for Hodge-Laplacian on a Riemannian manifold M isometrically immersed into another Riemannian manifold $\overline{M}$. We first assume the pull back Weitzenböck operator of $\overline{M}$ bounded from below, and obtain an extrinsic lower bound for the first eigenvalue of Hodge-Laplacian. As applications, we obtain some rigidity results. Second, when the pull back Weitzenböck operator of $\overline{M}$ bounded from both sides, we give a lower bound of the first eigenvalue by the Ricci curvature of M and some extrinsic geometry. As a consequence, we prove a weak Ejiri type theorem, that is, if the Ricci curvature bounded from below pointwisely by a function of the norm square of the mean curvature vector, then M is a homology sphere. In the end, we give an example to show that all the eigenvalue estimates are optimal when $\overline{M}$ is the space form.     

Photoswitchable Composite Polymer Electrolytes Using Spiropyran-Immobilized Nanoporous Templates

Composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) with smart, stimuli-responsive characteristics have gained considerable attention owing to their noninvasive manipulation and applications in future technologies. To address this potential, in this work, we demonstrate photoresponsive composite polymer electrolytes, consisting of gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) and spiropyran-immobilized nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (SP-AAO) templates. Under UV irradiation, the close SP form isomerizes to the open merocyanine (MC) form, creating extremely polarized AAO surfaces; whereas, under visible light irradiation, the MC form reverts to the SP form, creating neutral surface conditions. The electrostatic interactions between ions and AAO surfaces are investigated by attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. Moreover, the behavior of ionic conductivity of the GPE@SP-AAO is found to be consistent with the kinetics of isomerization tracked by UV-Vis spectroscopy. This work provides a promising platform for developing next-generation photoelectronic smart devices.     

Host–Guest Chemistry between Perylene Diimide (PDI) Derivatives and 18‐Crown‐6: Enhancement in Luminescence Quantum Yield and Electrical Conductivity

Perylene diimide (PDI) derivatives exhibit a high propensity for aggregation, which causes the aggregation‐induced quenching of emission from the system. Host–guest chemistry is one of the best‐known methods for preventing aggregation through the encapsulation of guest molecules. Herein we report the use of 18‐crown‐6 (18‐C‐6) as a host system to disaggregate suitably substituted PDI derivatives in methanol. 18‐C‐6 formed complexes with amino‐substituted PDIs in methanol, which led to disaggregation and enhanced emission from the systems. Furthermore, the embedding of the PDI ? 18‐C‐6 complexes in poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) films generated remarkably high emission quantum yields (60–70 %) from the PDI derivatives. More importantly, the host–guest systems were tested for their ability to conduct electricity in PVA films. The electrical conductivities of the self‐assembled systems in PVA were measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and the highest conductivity observed was 2.42×10^?5 S cm^?1.     

Improving charge transport in poly(3‐hexylthiophene) transistors via blending with an alkyl‐substituted phenylene–thiophene–thiophene–phenylene molecule

A prototypical semiconducting bicomponent system consisting of a conjugated polymer, that is, poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT), blended with a small thiophene containing conjugated molecule, that is, an alkyl‐substituted bisphenyl‐bithiophene [phenylene–thiophene–thiophene–phenylene (PTTP)], has been used as an electroactive active layer in field‐effect transistors (FETs). The self‐assembly of this bicomponent system at surfaces has been studied at different length scales, from the nanoscale to the macroscale, and compared with the behavior of monocomponent films of PTTP and P3HT. The correlation between morphology and electric properties of the semiconducting material is explored by fabricating prototypes of FETs varying the relative concentrations of the two‐component blend. The maximum charge carrier mobility value, achieved with a few percent of PTTP component, is not simply due to a uniform dispersion of the molecules in the polymer matrix, but rather to the generation of very long percolation paths, whose composition and electrical properties can be tuned with the PTTP concentration. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012     

Improved efficiency of organic solar cells with modified hole‐extraction layers

The aim of this work has been to study the influence of modified hole‐extraction layers on the performance of organic solar cells (OSCs) based on blends of poly (3‐hexylthiophene) and [6,6]‐phenyl‐C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl ester. The hole‐extraction layers consist of poly (3,4‐ethylene dioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonic acid (PEDOT:PSS) doped with different concentrations of bromine. Compared with pristine OSC without adding bromine to the hole‐extraction layer, the bromine‐doped OSCs show a 49% increase in the power conversion efficiency (from 2.12 to 3.16%), which could be attributed to the increase of electrical and optical properties of PEDOT:PSS films after the addition of bromine. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 50: 125–128, 2012     

透明导电氧化物的原理、问题与研究分析

现代光电子产品和能源技术都大量使用透明导电氧化物(TCO)薄膜.由于太阳能电池、平板显示器、发光二极管、短波长激光器、节能玻璃窗等应用领域日益增长的需求,TCO薄膜获得了越来越广泛的应用.文章总结了TCO薄膜的功能原理、应用需求和当前的研究方向,重点分析了p型TCO薄膜研究所要解决的关键问题(其中包括掺杂非对称性,性能退化与缺陷的生成,结构和变化的关系),指出了p型TCO薄膜制备的关键因素,研究的热点问题和蕴藏的研究机会.     

Growth of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) films prepared by base‐inhibited vapor phase polymerization

Transparent [90% transmittance at 550 nm at a sheet resistance (R_s) of 279 Ω sq^?1] poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) films with electrical conductivities up to 1354 S cm^?1 are prepared using base‐inhibited vapor phase polymerization at atmospheric pressure. The influence of reaction conditions, such as temperature and growth time, on the film formation is investigated. A simple and convenient two‐electrode method is used for the in situ measurement of resistance, enabling to investigate the growth mechanism of polymer films and the influence of different parameters (relative humidity and the amount of oxidant) on the film growth. Low humidity exerts a detrimental effect on film growth and conductivity. In situ R_s measurements suggest that a large structural change occurs upon washing the PEDOT‐oxidant film. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 561–571     

Thermally driven self-healing PEDOT conductive films relying on reversible and multiple Diels–Alder interaction

Thermally healing capability of cracks and defects is important and urgent for the safe operation and life extending of electric materials and devices. Here, by the combination of thermally driven reversible Diels–Alder (DA) interaction and in-situ chemical oxidative polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT), a series of intrinsically conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)/DA composites possess intrinsically self-healing property under low-temperature (reverse DA reaction at 100°C; DA crosslinking at 60°C) stimulus were achieved. The crosslinking DA bonding reactions are multiple from the co-existence of pre-synthesized macromolecular polyurethane attached DA units (PU-DA) and 2,4-hexadiyne-1,6-diol (DADOL) in the films. PU-DA involved in the polymerization process of EDOT to endow PEDOT with outstanding solution-processability, uniform film making, and structural self-healing capability, while DADOL was added to enhance the cross bonding between polymer chains. This work will accelerate the research and application development of intrinsically self-healing conducting polymers for commercial capacitors, antistatic coatings, implantable, printable electronics, and so on.     

Suppressing the environmental dependence of the open‐circuit voltage in inverted polymer solar cells through a radical polymer anodic modifier

Developing stable, readily‐synthesized, and solution‐processable transparent conducting polymers for interfacial modifying layers in organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices has become of great importance. Here, the radical polymer, poly(2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinyloxy methacrylate (PTMA), is shown to not affect the absorption of the well‐studied poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]‐phenyl‐C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) active layer when incorporated into inverted OPV devices, as it is highly transparent in the visible spectrum due to the non‐conjugated nature of the PTMA backbone. The inclusion of this radical polymer as an anode‐modifying layer enhanced the open‐circuit voltage and short‐circuit current density values over devices that did not contain an anodic modifier. Importantly, devices fabricated with the PTMA interlayer had performance metrics that were time‐independent over the entire course of multiples days of testing after exposing the OPV devices to ambient conditions. Furthermore, these high performance values were independent of the metal used as the top electrode contact in the inverted OPV devices. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 311–316