Material profile influences in bulk‐heterojunctions

The morphology in mixed bulk‐heterojunction films are compared using three different quantitative measurement techniques. We compare the vertical composition changes using high‐angle annular dark‐field scanning transmission electron microscopy with electron tomography and neutron and x‐ray reflectometry. The three measurement techniques yield qualitatively comparable vertical concentration measurements. The presence of a metal cathode during thermal annealing is observed to alter the fullerene concentration throughout the thickness of the film for all measurements. However, the absolute vertical concentration of fullerene is quantitatively different for the three measurements. The origin of the quantitative measurement differences is discussed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 1291–1300     

Determination of docetaxel in rat plasma and its application in the comparative pharmacokinetics of Taxotere and SID530, a novel docetaxel formulation with hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin

In this study, a sensitive, simple and reliable method for the quantification of docetaxel in rat plasma was developed and validated using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS). The plasma samples were prepared by protein precipitation, and paclitaxel was used as an internal standard (IS). Chromatographic separation was achieved using a Gemini C₁₈ column (2.0 × 150 mm, 5 µm) with a mobile phase consisting of 0.1% formic acid–acetonitrile (30:70, v/v). The precursor–product ion pairs used for multiple reaction monitoring were m/z 808.5 → 527.5 (docetaxel) and m/z 854.2 → 286.5 (IS, paclitaxel). A calibration curve for docetaxel was constructed over the range 1–1000 ng/mL. The developed method was specific, precise and accurate, and no matrix effect was observed. The validated method was applied in a comparative pharmacokinetic study in which two docetaxel formulations, SID530, a new parenteral formulation of docetaxel with hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (HP‐β‐CD), and Taxotere, were administered to rats at a dose of 5 mg/kg. For SID530 and Taxotere, the mean C₀ values were 1494 and 1818 ng/mL, respectively, and the AUC_last values were 837 and 755 h ng/mL, respectively. These two formulations did not show any statistical differences with regard to the pharmacokinetic parameters, thus establishing that the SID530 and Taxotere products are pharmacokinetically comparable in male rats. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fabrication of photoluminescent liquid crystal device using an in situ self-assembled molecular layer of a pyrene derivative

An in situ self-assembled molecular layer of 1-pyrenesulfonic acid sodium salt as an alignment agent was formed on indium tin oxide substrates for vertically aligning liquid crystals (LCs). The thus-aligned LCs exhibited uniform vertical alignment under crossed polarisers. The electro-optical characteristic of the LC cell fabricated using this method exhibited better performance than those of conventional LC cells with a polyimide alignment layer. Because the proposed alignment method is a simple one and involves low concentrations of the alignment agent (0.05 wt%), it is highly cost-effective. Further, the pyrene derivative, when mixed with LCs, exhibited photoluminescence (PL) under ultraviolet light. Given that the proposed method resulted in highly vertically aligned LCs and the alignment agent exhibited PL, the method should find wide use in the fabrication of colour-filter-free LC displays.     

Quantitative determination of duloxetine and its metabolite in rat plasma by HPLC‐MS/MS

The major metabolite of duloxetine is a glucuronide conjugate of 4‐hydroxy duloxetine (4‐HD). However, interestingly, there have been no reports determining concentrations of 4‐HD and no fully validated method has been established for measuring duloxetine and 4‐HD in rat plasma. We developed a method for the simultaneous quantification of duloxetine and its metabolite in rat plasma using high‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Duloxetine and 4‐HD were analyzed on a reverse‐phase C₁₈ analytical column after protein precipitation of the plasma sample with methanol, using carbamazepine as an internal standard. The isocratic mobile phase of 5 mm ammonium acetate–methanol (4:6, v/v) was eluted at 0.4 mL/min. Quantification was performed on a triple‐quadrupole mass spectrometer using electrospray ionization, and the ion transition monitored in selective reaction monitoring mode. The coefficient of variation for assay precision was <18.0%, and the accuracy was 84.0–118.0%. This method was successfully used to measure the concentrations of duloxetine and its metabolite in plasma following the oral administration of a single 40 mg/kg dose in rats. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Deposition of a Continuous and Conformal Copper Seed Layer by a Large-Area Electron Cyclotron Resonance Plasma Source with Embedded Lisitano Antenna

To deposit copper seed layer on ultra large scale integration devices, a large-area (Ø 378 mm) electron cyclotron resonance plasma has been generated by using permanent magnets-embedded Lisitano antenna. The plasma source operates in the pressure range of 0.2–1.5 mTorr with microwave power range of 500–2,000 W. By using a Langmuir probe, the electron density and temperature have been measured near the DC sputter target position. Measurements indicate argon plasmas having electron densities of ~5 × 10¹⁰/cm and electron temperatures of 5 eV with 750 W microwave power at gas pressures of 0.5 mTorr. Using this plasma source and a DC sputter, we obtained excellent conformal copper seed layer with high aspect ratios of 12:1. This is in contrast with conventional methods using magnetron sputter, which has aspect ratios of 2–3:1. Also, improvements are observed in the smoothness (root mean square roughness of 1.345 nm), uniformity (2.5 % at 300 mm wafer), and sidewall symmetricity (more than 95 %) of the copper seed layer.     

Synthesis of new di-anchoring organic sensitizer based on quinoxaline acceptor for dye-sensitized solar cells

New quinoxaline-based organic sensitizer bearing di-anchoring group for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was synthesized from diethyl 4,5-diaminophthaltate, in which was prepared under mild condition by using Takehito’s method. The synthesized sensitizer was compared with mono-anchoring sensitizer through absorption spectra, emission spectra, J-V curve, and IPCE spectra, indicating the di-anchoring group leads to a noticeable improvement of J_sc value owing to more efficient intramolecular charge transfer and channel number increment.