Metal oxide buffer layer for improving performance of polymer solar cells

We report the application of aluminum doped ZnO (ZnO:Al) layer as a buffer on ITO glass for fabrication of non-inverted polymer solar cells. The ZnO:Al thin film was deposited using DC magnetron sputtering, with the thickness being varied from 23 to 100 nm. The devices showed most discernible improvements in their efficiencies when a thin layer of ZnO:Al film of thickness ∼40 nm was introduced. The observed enhancement in short circuit current density and open circuit voltage is likely attributed to the role of the ZnO:Al film as an optical tuner and an interfacial diffusion barrier. The result suggests that a metal oxide layer inserted between ITO and polymer layers can be a route for improving both efficiency and stability of polymer solar cells.     

Torus quotients of homogeneous spaces of the general linear group and the standard representation of certain symmetric groups

We give a stratification of the GIT quotient of the Grassmannian G _2,n modulo the normaliser of a maximal torus of SL _n (k) with respect to the ample generator of the Picard group of G _2,n . We also prove that the flag variety GL _n (k)/B _n can be obtained as a GIT quotient of GL _n+1(k)/B _n+1 modulo a maximal torus of SL _n+1(k) for a suitable choice of an ample line bundle on GL _n+1(k)/B _n+1. Dedicated to Professor C De Concini on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Fluorometric and isothermal titration calorimetric studies on binding interaction of a telechelic polymer with sodium alkyl sulfates of varying chain length

Steady-state fluorescence measurements and isothermal titration calorimetric experiments have been performed to study the interaction between a telechelic polymer, pyrene-end-capped poly(ethylene oxide) (PYPY), and sodium alkyl sulfate surfactants having decyl, dodecyl, and tetradecyl hydrocarbon tails. Fluorometric results suggest polymer-surfactant interaction in the very low range of polymer concentrations. The relative variation in the excimer to monomer pyrene emission intensities with varying surfactant concentration reveals that initial addition of surfactant favors intramolecular preassociation until the surfactant molecules start binding with the ethylene oxide (EO) chain. With the growing number of surfactant aggregates along the EO chain, the association becomes hindered due to the polyelectrolyte effect. The results from microcalorimetric titrations in the low concentration range of PYPY solution (approximately 10(-6) M) with alkyl sulfates suggest two kinds of surfactant-polymer interactions, one with the polymer hydrophobic end groups and the other with the ethylene oxide backbone. The overall polymer-surfactant interaction starts at a much lower surfactant concentration for the hydrophobically modified polymers compared to that in the case of unsubstituted poly(ethylene oxide) homopolymer. From the experiments critical aggregation concentration values and the second critical concentration where free micelles start forming have been determined. An endeavor has been made to unveil the mechanism underlying the corresponding associations of the surfactants with the polymer.     

Effect of nanocavity confinement on the rotational relaxation dynamics: 3-acetyl-4-oxo-6,7-dihydro-12H indolo-[2,3-a] quinolizine in micelles

In continuation of our recent study on the steady state photophysics of a biologically active beta-carboline derivative, 3-acetyl-4-oxo-6,7-dihydro-12H indolo-[2,3-a] quinolizine (AODIQ), in the present article we have investigated the effect of nanocavity confinement on the excited state dynamics and rotational relaxation of the probe using picosecond time resolved fluorescence and fluorescence anisotropy techniques. The polarity dependent intramolecular charge transfer process is responsible for the remarkable sensitivity of this biological fluorophore in micellar environments. The fluorescence anisotropy decay of AODIQ incorporated inside the micelle is biexponential. The rotational motion of the probe was interpreted on the basis of a two step model consisting of a fast restricted rotation of the probe and a slow lateral diffusion of the probe in the micelle; both coupled to the overall rotation of the micelle. Experimental results reveal that micellar environment causes significant retardation of both the wobbling as well as the translational motion of the probe.     

Exact solutions of the field equations for Charap’s chiral invariant model of the pion dynamics

The field equations for the chiral invariant model of pion dynamics developed by Charap have been revisited. Two new types of solutions of these equations have been obtained. Each type allows infinite number of solutions. It has also been shown that the chiral invariant field equations admit invariance for a transformation of the dependent variables.     

Amyloid-like fibril-forming supramolecular β-sheets from a β-turn forming tripeptide containing non-coded amino acids: the crystallographic signature

The crystal structure of a terminally protected tripeptide Boc-Leu-Aib-β-Ala-OMe 1 containing non-coded amino acids reveals that it adopts a β-turn structure, which self-assembles to form a supramolecular β-sheet via non-covalent interactions. The SEM image of peptide 1 exhibits amyloid-like fibrillar morphology in the solid state.     

Substoichiometric determination of rhenium in copper ores and molybdenum concentrates by neutron activation analysis

A simple and rapid substoichiometric method is described for the estimation of rhenium in copper ores and molybdenum concentrates by neutron activation analysis. 2 μg of Re can be determined with an accuracy of 4%. The variation of the mean at 95% confidence limit does not exceed 2%. The time required for processing three samples is less than 60 min.     

Synthesis of certain exocyclic thiazole nucleosides related to tiazofurin. Formation of a unique acycloaminonucleoside

Several thiazole nucleosides structurally related to tiazofurin (1) and ARPP (2) were prepared, in order to determine whether these nucleosides had enhanced antitumor/antiviral activities. Ring closure of 1-(2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)thiourea (4) with ethyl bromopyruvate (5a) gave ethyl 2-(2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-β-D-ribofuranosylamino)thiazole-4-carboxylate (6a) . Treatment of 6a with sodium methoxide furnished methyl 2-(β-D-ribopyranosylamino)thiazole-4-carboxylate (9) . Ammonolysis of the corresponding methyl ester of 6a gave a unique acycloaminonucleoside 2-[(1R, 2R, 3R, 4R)(1-benzamido-2,3,4,5-tetrahydroxypentane)amino]-thiazole-4-carboxamide (7a) . Direct glycosylation of the sodium salt of ethyl 2-mercaptothiazole-4-carboxylate (12) with 2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-D-ribofuranosyl bromide (11) gave the protected nucleoside 10 , which on ammonolysis provided 2-(β-D-ribofuranosylthio)thiazole-4-carboxamide (3b) . Similar glycosylation of 12 with 2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-p-toluoyl-α-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl chloride (13) , followed by ammonolysis gave 2-(2-deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosylthio)thiazole-4-carboxamide (3c) . The structural assignments of 3b, 7a , and 9 were made by single-crystal X-ray analysis and their hydrogen bonding characteristics have been studied. These compounds are devoid of any significant antiviral/antitumor activity in vitro.     

Stereoselective total syntheses of (±)-1,14-herbertenediol and (±)-tochuinyl acetate and facile total syntheses of (±)-α-herbertenol, (±)-β-herbertenol and (±)-1,4-cuparenediol

Stereoselective total syntheses of (±)-1,14-herbertenediol (7) and (±)-tochuinyl acetate (10) and facile total syntheses of (±)-α-herbertenol (2), (±)-β-herbertenol (3) and (±)-1,4-cuparenediol (8) have been successfully accomplished involving intramolecular cyclisation of 3-aryl-3-methyl-6-bromohexanoates and in situ methylation of the resulting cyclopentanecarboxylates as the key reactions.