The Photophysics of Thin Polymer Films of Poly-(meta-phenylene-co-2,5-dioctoxy-para-phenylenevinylene)

Summary.  We have investigated the effect of film preparation procedures on the photoluminescence efficiency of the luminescent co-polymer poly-(m-phenylene-co-2,5-dioctoxy-p-phenylenevinylene) (PmPV). The photoluminescence efficiency of PmPV films improved by up to 50% when the solution was degassed by bubbling argon gas through it prior to spin casting in an inert atmosphere and baking under vacuum. Photoinduced absorption and doping measurements show that this preparation method reduces polaron photogeneration, which reduces the photoluminescence (PL) yield through exciton quenching and excited state absorption. It is proposed that this sample preparation method increases interchain separation, reducing the formation of polarons and non-radiative quenching routes, thus resulting in increased PL efficiency. Received June 23, 2000. Accepted (revised) August 3, 2000     

Synthesis and self-assembly of an amphiphilic poly(phenylene ethynylene) ionomer

We have synthesized a conjugated amphiphilic polyelectrolyte, a poly(phenylene ethynylene) (PPE), and the structurally analogous neutral polymer. The solution-phase aggregation of the uncharged PPE can be reversibly controlled by varying the solvent polarity and concentration, while the charged polymer appears to self-assemble at any concentration in compatible solvents. These conclusions are based on a combination of absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. Photoinduced absorption spectroscopy was also employed to investigate interchain electronic communication and the photoinduced production of free charge carriers. The uncharged PPE had a relatively high polaron yield, indicating pi-stacking of adjacent PPE chains and efficient exciton splitting, while the charged polymer did not produce polarons, indicating that the polymers are not pi-stacked despite their tendency to form aggregates. This is most likely due to the presence of the cationic trimethylammonium side chains which force neighboring polymer chains too far apart to achieve effective pi-orbital overlap. Polarons were observed in both polymers after chemical doping with iodine. The ability to control aggregation and interchain electronic communication could be a useful tool in designing nanostructured electronic materials.     

Physical mechanisms responsible for the water-induced degradation of PC61BM P3HT photovoltaic thin films

We show that [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC₆₁BM) at the surface of thin film blends of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT):PC₆₁BM can be patterned by water. Using a series of heating and cooling steps, water droplets condense onto the blend film surface. This is possible due to the liquid-like, water swollen layer of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate. Breath pattern water deformation and subsequent drying on the film surface results in isolated PC₆₁BM structures, showing that migration of PC₆₁BM takes place. This was confirmed by selective wavelength illumination to spatially map the photoluminescence from the P3HT and PC₆₁BM. Within a device, redistribution of the surface PC₆₁BM into aggregates would be catastrophic, as it would markedly alter device performance. We also postulate that repeated volume change of the poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate layer by water swelling may be, in part, responsible for the delamination failure mechanism in thin film solar cells devices. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 141–146     

Copper and iron interactions with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. A study by fast-atom bombardment tandem mass spectrometry

Fast atom bombardment, combined with high-energy collision-induced tandem mass spectrometry, has been used to investigate gas-phase metal-ion interactions with captopril, enalaprilat and lisinopril, all angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.Suggestions for the location of metal-binding sites are presented. For captopril, metal binding occurs most likely at both the sulphur and the nitrogen atom. For enalaprilat and lisinopril, binding preferably occurs at the amine nitrogen. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chemistry of Superoxide Ion as Revealed by the Differential Oxidation of Arylpyruvates

Superoxide ion apparently reacts with acidic substrates via species such as O₂, HO₂, O, HO and H₂O₂. Arylpyruvates give arylacetates and arylaldehydes indicating competing nucleophilic and free radical oxidation. Benzaldehyde is further oxidized by free radical and nucleophilic dioxygen species giving benzoic acid. p-Hydroxybenzaldehyde gives the corresponding benzoic acid which is best accounted for by HO₂, since O and O₂ are without effect. Hydroquinone is also produced presumably by nucleophilic attack of HO. Replacement of the acidic hydrogen atoms by sodium changes the product distribution in accord with these findings.