Photodegradation of C‐PCPDTBT and Si‐PCPDTBT: Influence of the Bridging Atom on the Stability of a Low‐Band‐Gap Polymer for Solar Cell Application

The kinetics of photodegradation and the reactivity of different sites of the low‐band‐gap polymers poly[2,6‐(4,4‐bis‐(2‐ethylhexyl)‐4H‐cyclopenta[2,1‐b:3,4‐b′]dithiophene)‐alt‐4,7‐(2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole)] (C‐PCPDTBT) and poly[2,6‐(4,4‐bis‐(2‐ethylhexyl)dithieno[3,2‐b:2′,3′‐d]silole)‐alt‐4,7‐(2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole)] (Si‐PCPDTBT) are investigated as thin films and are compared to those of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT). The decay kinetics are monitored with UV/Vis spectroscopy and the reactivity and product evolution are investigated with X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Both polymers exhibit higher stability than P3HT. The bridging atom in the cyclopentadithiophene (CPDT) subunit has a significant influence on the stability. Varying oxidation rates for the different elements were observed. In the case of Si‐PCPDTBT, the silicon atom is oxidized primarily, whereas the photooxidation rates of the other elements are reduced relative to C‐PCPDTBT. Additionally, XPS experiments with varying excitation energies reveal a significant reaction gradient within a few nanometers of the surface of degraded thin films of C‐PCPDTBT.     

Cross-linked actin networks: Micro- and macroscopic effects

Actin plays a crucial role in the mechanical response of cells. Together with other proteins, it also drives protrusion, motility and cell division. Two important aspects of the mechanical modeling of this kind of protein are considered: its microscopic and macroscopic behavior. At the microscopic level, we start with a model proposed by Holzapfel and Ogden [1] providing a relationship between the stretch of a single polymer chain and the applied tension force. The model is advantageous as it simulates the so-called ‘exceptional normal stresses’. This effect is typical for biopolymers and contradicts with the Poynting effect typically observed in rubber-like polymers. The multiscale finite element method (FEM) is applied to simulate the effective mechanical behavior of cell cytoplasm. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Cooperative games under bubbly uncertainty

The allocation problem of rewards/costs is a basic question for players, namely, individuals and companies that are planning cooperation under uncertainty. The involvement of uncertainty in cooperative game theory is motivated by the real world in which noise in observation and experimental design, incomplete information and vagueness in preference structures and decision-making play an important role. In this study, a new class of cooperative games, namely, the cooperative bubbly games, where the worth of each coalition is a bubble instead of a real number, is presented. Furthermore, a new solution concept, the bubbly core, is defined. Finally, the properties and the conditions for the non-emptiness of the bubbly core are given. The paper ends with a conclusion and an outlook to related and future studies.     

Determination and speciation of mercury in a dental work-place by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry and gas-liquid chromatography

Cold Vapour Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (CVAAS) and Gas-Liquid Chromatography (GLC) have been used for determination and speciation of mercury. Total mercury, methylmercury, ethylmercury and phenylmercury concentrations in urine samples taken from students and staff of a dental work-place were investigated. Air samples were also analyzed. Detection limits, as three times the standard deviation, and in units of ng analyte per ml urine were found to be 1.7, 12, 2.4 and 21 for total mercury, methylmercury chloride, ethylmercury chloride and phenylmercury chloride, respectively.     

Response kinetics of doped CuO/ZnO heterocontacts

In this work, the effects of doping on hydrogen sensitivity and sensor response of CuO/ZnO heterocontacts were examined. Both current-voltage and current-time measurements were utilized in hydrogen/air and hydrogen/nitrogen atmospheres at 400 degrees C. The addition of Ni to p-type CuO and Ga to n-type ZnO were observed to enhance the sensor properties. Through analysis of the time-dependent current data, it was shown that the sensor response of the heterocontact can be modeled via a two-site Langmuir adsorption model. The response times of the two sites were calculated using this model. While one of the sites showed a significant decrease in response time when the p-side was doped with Ni, the response time of the other site changed only slightly. The highest sensitivity was obtained by doping the n-side with Ga at the expense of the response rate. The fastest response times were achieved when both sides of the heterocontact were doped. This suggests that carrier density may play a significant role in the sensor response.     

Crystal structure of 3,3′-dimethoxybenzydine (2-hydroxybenzal)diimine

Molecular and crystal structure of 3,3'-dimethoxybenzydine(2-hydroxybenzal)diimine, C₂₈H₂₄N₂O₄, have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The title compound is monoclinic, with a= 18.045(2) Å, b= 11.725(4) Å, c= 12.436(6) Å, = 120.03(3)°, Z=4, D _x =1.32 g/cm³, (MoK) =0.089 mm^–1, and space group is C2/c. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to a final R=0.056 for 2325 reflections with I > 2(I). There is half independent molecule in the asymmetric unit. The molecule has a twofold symmetry on the mid point of the C4 C4 ⁱ bond. The N1-C8 imine bond length of 1.284(3) Å is typical of a double bond. The molecule of the title compound is not planar. There is a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond between hydroxy oxygen atom and imine nitrogen atom. The crystal structure is stabilized by a weak intermolecular hydrogen bond of the C H O type forming three-dimensional cage.     

Crystallographic and conformational analysis of 2-methyl-3-(2-nitro-phenyl)-4-phenyl-[1,2,4]oxadiazolidin-5-one

Molecular and crystal structure of 2-methyl-3-(2-nitro-phenyl)-4-phenyl-[1,2,4]oxadiazolidin-5-one, C₁₅H₁₃N₃O₄, have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The title compound is monoclinic, with a = 10.0313(8) Å, b = 9.0372(5) Å, c = 15.5964(14) Å, β = 96.926(7)^∘, Z = 4, D_x = 1.42 g/cm³, μ (Mo-K_α) = 0.105 mm⁻¹, and space group is P 2₁/c. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to a final R = 0.036 for 1894 reflections with I > 4σ (I). The crystal structure is stabilized by C–H⋅sO type inter-molecular, C–H⋅sN and C–H⋅sO type intra-molecular, π–π stacking and edge to face (C–H⋅s π-ring) interactions. To enlighten conformational flexibility of the title molecule, selected two torsion angles are varied from −180^∘ to +180^∘ in every 10^∘ separetely and then molecular energy profile is calculated and construed.     

Exciton Migration and Surface Trapping for a Photonic Crystal Displaying Charge‐Recombination Fluorescence

A compact donor–acceptor molecular dyad has been synthesized by attaching an N,N‐dimethylamino fragment to a naphthalic anhydride residue. The dyad shows fluorescence from an intramolecular charge‐transfer state (i.e., charge‐recombination fluorescence) in solution, with the photo‐physical properties being strongly dependent on the solvent polarity. Similar emission is seen for single crystals of the target compound, the molecules being aligned head‐to‐head, although time‐resolved emission profiles display dual‐exponential kinetics. A second polymorph with the head‐to‐tail alignment also gives rise to two lifetimes that differ somewhat from those of the first structure, which are assigned to bulk and surface‐bound molecules. Growing the crystal in the presence of Rhodamine B localizes the dye around the surface. Excitation of the crystal is followed by sub‐ps exciton migration along the aligned stacks, with occasional crossing to adjacent stacks and trapping at the surface. Rhodamine B present at very low levels acts as the acceptor for excitons entering the surface layer. Crystals embedded in a polyester resin form an artificial light‐harvesting antenna able to sensitize an amorphous silicon solar cell.     

Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes of 1,3-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,3-propanedione combined with phenanthroline ligand: synthesis,structural characterization,and thermogravimetric studies

β-Diketone lanthanide complexes are used mainly in lighting, telecommunication, screens, safety inks, and marking as well as in the field of luminescent materials for probes in biosciences. Two new lanthanide ternary complexes, the general formula Eu(BCPP)₃(Phen) and Tb(BCPP)₃(Phen), combined 1,3-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,3-propanedione (BCPP) with 1,10-phenanthroline as a secondary ligand, were synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, FT-IR, and MALDI-TOF MS. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that these Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes displayed bidentate ligands and a square antiprism geometry for the metal center. Also, the absorption and thermal behavior of these lanthanide complexes were investigated. When the maximum absorption of the lanthanide complexes was compared, it was observed that the absorption wavelength of the lanthanide complexes were red shifted in DMSO, DMF, and DCM, depending on the polarity of the solvent.