Charge transport properties of MDMO PPV thin films cast in different solvents

Charge transport properties in thin films of Poly(2‐methoxy‐5‐(3′,7′‐dimethyloctyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene) (MDMO PPV) cast using either chloroform (CF), toluene (TOL), or chlorobenzene (CB) as solvent were investigated. Hole mobility (μ) in these thin films measured using time‐of‐flight transient photoconductivity showed an increasing trend with respect to the solvent used in the same order, that is, μ_CF (2.4 × 10^?7 cm²/Vs) < μ_TOL (6.9 × 10^?7 cm²/Vs) < μ_CB (2.3 × 10^?6 cm²/Vs). Observed variations in mobilities were attributed to different morphologies of MDMO PPV chains in thin films cast using the aforesaid solvents. Nature of the interchain interactions and aggregate formation were obtained using photoluminescence (PL), Raman spectroscopy, and AFM studies. Ratio of PL peak intensities of 0–0 and 0–1 transitions, which is a direct measure of interchain interaction, was the highest in CB and lowest in CF. Variation in the relative intensities of out‐of‐plane wagging of vinylene group (～963 cm^?1 mode) in Raman spectra suggested different extent of coiling of polymer chains in these thin films. From these observations, it was elicited that aggregate size and interchain interactions are highest in CB and least in CF. AFM‐based topographic images of thin films further supported these variations in the size of aggregates. Variation in the aggregate sizes and interchain interactions explained the corresponding variation in the mobility. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 1431–1439     

Recent advancement in the synthesis of phenoxazine derivatives and their analogues

In recent years, angular and linear phenoxazines and their derivatives and polymers have attracted much attention due to their great pharmacological and industrial utility. So it becomes imperative to review the work done in this area more frequently. Therefore, various synthetic routes for phenoxazines are reviewed here comprehensively.     

Solid polymer electrolytes based on Li+/ionic liquid for lithium secondary batteries

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Ionic liquid (IL)-based solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) were synthesized by solution cast technique using polymer polyethylene oxide (PEO), lithium...     

Electrochemical characterization of ionic liquid based gel polymer electrolyte for lithium battery application

High molecular weight polymer poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-HFP), ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (EMIMFSI), and salt lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI)-based free-standing and conducting ionic liquid-based gel polymer electrolytes (ILGPE) have been prepared by solution cast method. Thermal, electrical, and electrochemical properties of 80 wt% IL containing gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) are investigated by thermogravimetric (TGA), impedance spectroscopy, linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The 80 wt% IL containing GPE shows good thermal stability (~?200 °C), ionic conductivity (6.42?×?10^?4 S cm^?1), lithium ion conductivity (1.40?×?10^?4 S cm^?1 at 30 °C), and wide electrochemical stability window (~?4.10 V versus Li/Li⁺ at 30 °C). Furthermore, the surface of LiFePO₄ cathode material was modified by graphene oxide, with smooth and uniform coating layer, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and with element content, as confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrum. The graphene oxide-coated LiFePO₄ cathode shows improved electrochemical performance with a good charge-discharge capacity and cyclic stability up to 50 cycles at 1C rate, as compared with the without coated LiFePO₄. At 30 °C, the discharge capacity reaches a maximum value of 104.50 and 95.0 mAh g^?1 for graphene oxide-coated LiFePO₄ and without coated LiFePO₄ at 1C rate respectively. These results indicated improved electrochemical performance of pristine LiFePO₄ cathode after coating with graphene oxide.     

Synthesis, characterisation and catalytic potential of hydrazonato-vanadium(V) model complexes with [VO]3+ and [VO2]+ cores

Reaction between [VO(acac)2] and H2L (H2L are the hydrazones H2sal-nah I or H2sal-fah II; sal = salicylaldehyde, nah = nicotinic acid hydrazide and fah = 2-furoic acid hydrazide) in methanol leads to the formation of oxovanadium(IV) complexes [VOL.H2O](H2L = I: 1, H2L = II: 4). Aerial oxidation of the methanolic solutions of 1 and 4 yields the dinuclear oxo-bridged monooxovanadium(V) complexes [{VOL}2mu-O](H2L = I: 2, H2L = II: 5). These dinuclear complexes slowly convert, in excess methanol, to [VO(OMe)(MeOH)L](H(2)L = I: 9, H(2)L = II: 10), the crystal and molecular structures of which have been determined, confirming the ONO binding mode of the dianionic ligands in their enolate form. Reaction of aqueous K[VO3] with the ligands at pH ca. 7.5 results in the formation of [K(H2O)][VO2L](H2L = I: 3, H2L = II: 6). Treatment of 3 and 6 with H2O2 yields (unstable) oxoperoxovanadium(v) complexes K[VO(O2)L], the formation of which has been monitored spectrophotometrically. Acidification of methanolic solutions of 3 and 6 with HCl affords oxohydroxo complexes, while the neutral complexes [VO2(Hsal-nah)] 7 and [VO2(Hsal-fah)] 8 were isolated on treatment of aqueous solutions of 3 and 6 with HClO4. These complexes slowly transform into 9 and 10 in methanol, as confirmed by 1H, 13C and 51V NMR. The anionic complexes 3 and 6 catalyse the oxidative bromination of salicylaldehyde in water in the presence of H2O2/KBr to 5-bromosalicylaldehyde and 3,5-dibromosalicylaldehyde, a reaction similar to that exhibited by vanadate-dependent haloperoxidases. They are also catalytically active for the oxidation of benzene to phenol and phenol to catechol and p-hydroquinone.     

Perfect coloring and linearly χ‐bound P6‐free graphs

We derive decomposition theorems for P₆, K₁ + P₄‐free graphs, P₅, K₁ + P₄‐free graphs and P₅, K₁ + C₄‐free graphs, and deduce linear χ‐binding functions for these classes of graphs (here, P_n (C_n) denotes the path (cycle) on n vertices and K₁ + G denotes the graph obtained from G by adding a new vertex and joining it with every vertex of G). Using the same techniques, we also obtain an optimal χ‐binding function for P₅, C₄‐free graphs which is an improvement over that given in [J. L. Fouquet, V. Giakoumakis, F. Maire, and H. Thuillier, 11 , Discrete Math, 146, 33–44.]. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 54: 293–306, 2007     

Isothermal and non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of PVA + ionic liquid [BDMIM][BF4]-based polymeric films

The effect of ionic liquid (IL), 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [BDMIM][BF₄], on crystallization behavior of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) has been studied by isothermal and non-isothermal differential scanning calorimetry techniques. The PVA + IL based polymer electrolyte films have been prepared using solution casting technique. To describe the isothermal and non-isothermal crystallization kinetics, several kinetic equations have been employed on PVA + IL based films. There is strong dependence of the peak crystallization temperature (T_c), relative degree of crystallity (X_t), half-time of crystallization (t_1/2), crystallization rate constants (Avrami K_t and Tobin A_T), and Avrami (n) and Tobin (n_T) exponents on the cooling rate and IL loading.     

Explanation through density functional theory of the unanticipated loss of CO2 and differences in mass fragmentation profiles of ritonavir and its rCYP3A4‐mediated metabolites

In the present study, the metabolism of ritonavir was explored in the presence of rCYP3A4 using a well‐established strategy involving liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) tools. A total of six metabolites were formed, of which two were new, not reported earlier as CYP3A4‐mediated metabolites. During LC–MS studies, ritonavir was found to fragment through six principal pathways, many of which involved neutral loss of CO₂, as indicated through 44‐Da difference between masses of the precursors and the product ions. This was unusual as the drug and the precursors were devoid of a terminal carboxylic acid group. Apart from the neutral loss of CO₂, marked differences were also observed among the fragmentation pathways of the drug and its metabolites having intact N‐methyl moiety as compared to those lacking N‐methyl moiety. These unusual fragmentation behaviours were successfully explained through energy distribution profiles by application of the density functional theory. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Catalytic applications of mesoporous CaBi2O4 obtained from a single source precursor

Research on Chemical Intermediates - With the aim of generating mesoporous CaBi2O4 and further to investigate its catalytic properties, thermolysis of mineral beyerite was carried out between 650...     

Quasi solid-state electrolytes based on ionic liquid (IL) and ordered mesoporous matrix MCM-41 for supercapacitor application

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Quasi solid-state electrolytes (QS-SEs) based on an ionic liquid ([EMIM][FSI]) immobilized in ordered mesoporous silica MCM-41 using physical imbibition...