Diffusion-influenced reversible geminate recombination in one dimension. III. Field effect on the excited-state reaction

We obtain exact analytic solutions of the diffusion-influenced excited-state reversible geminate recombination reaction, A* + B<-->(AB)*, with two different lifetimes and quenching under the influence of a constant external field in one dimension. These fundamental solutions generalize two previous results [Kim et al., J. Chem. Phys. 111, 3791 (1999); 114, 3905 (2001)] and provide us with the insight necessary to analyze their specific relations and asymptotic kinetic transition behaviors. We find that the number of kinetic transitions can be changed due to interplay between the field strength and lifetimes. Unlike the previous works, the number of lifetime dependent transitions is found to be one or zero. On the other hand, the number of the field dependent transitions becomes two, one, or zero. We find a new pattern of kinetic transition e(t)-->t(-1/2)-->e(t) when there is only one field dependent transition.     

Morphology and photoelectrochemical properties of TiO2 electrodes prepared using functionalized plant oil binders

Chemically functionalized plant oils, viz. acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) and maleinized acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (MAESO), were used as bio-based binders for the TiO₂ electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The surface roughness and number of appropriate pores were increased in the TiO₂ films prepared using the plant oil binders in comparison with the film prepared using polyethylene glycol (PEG), due to the larger number of functionalities. The short circuit photocurrent (I_SC) and open circuit photovoltage (V_OC) were increased, and the conversion efficiency was significantly improved, in the cell using the plant oil binders.     

First synthesis of 4'-selenonucleosides showing unusual Southern conformation

The first synthesis of 4'-selenonucleosides was achieved using a Pummerer-type condensation as a key step. All stereoelectronic effects shown in 4'-oxonucleosides were overwhelmed by the size of selenium and steric interactions, driving the conformation to the C2'-endo/ C3'-exo twist (Southern) conformation.     

Identification of a new naphthalene and its derivatives from the bulb of eleutherine americana with inhibitory activity on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production

A new naphthoquinone, (-)-3-[2-(acetyloxy)propyl]-2-hydroxy-8-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (1) was isolated from the bulb of Eleutherine americana MERR. et HEYNE (Iridaceae) together with two known compounds, eleutherinol (6) and 1,5-dihydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone (7) which were found in this species for the first time. The other known compounds, (-)-isoeleutherin (2), (+)-eleutherin (3), (-)-hongconin (4), and (+)-dihydroeleutherinol (5) which were reported previously from this species, were also isolated in the present study. Compounds 2-6 exhibited potent inhibitory activity on nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 lipopolysaccharide-activated mouse macrophage cells with IC(50) values of 7.7, 11.4, 19.8, 21.7, and 34.4 microM, respectively, whereas the other two compounds, 1 and 7, were inactive. The structure of compound 1 was elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis including 1D and 2D NMR experiments.     

Dictyoneolone,a B/C ring juncture-defused steroid from a Dictyonella sp. sponge

Dictyoneolone (1), a new secosteroid was isolated from a Dictyonella sp. sponge collected from Gageo-do, Korea. Based upon the results of combined spectroscopic analyses, the structure of this compound was determined to possess a highly unusual B/C ring juncture-defused moiety. The configurations of 1 were determined by a combination of proton-proton couplings and NOESY analyses. Dictyoneolone exhibited weak cytotoxicity against the K562 and A549 cancer cell lines.     

Synthesis and Evaluation of Potentiometric Properties of Pyridylthiazole Derivatives

Synthesis of 2-pyridylthiazole ethers 2, 3), 4-nonyl-2-pyridylthiazole 4), 2-nonyl-4-pyridylthiazole 5) and 2-pyridylthiazole imine 6), potentially useful as effective cation-binding ligands, is described. The potentiometric properties of ion-selective membranes prepared with 30–32 wt% PVC, 66 wt% 2-nitrophenyloctyl ether and 2–4 wt% pyridylthiazole derivatives have been examined. While the membranes containing 2-pyridylthiazole ethers 1-4) exhibited high selectivity toward silver(I) ion, that prepared with 2-pyridylthiazole imine 6) resulted in negligible potentiometric reponse to most mono- and divalent cations.     

Novel ytterbium-doped CsPbI2Br thin-films–based inorganic perovskite solar cells toward improved phase stability

In this study, we used ytterbium (Yb²⁺) as a dopant in the CsPbI₂Br inorganic perovskite thin film and stabilized its black phase. Here, we varied the Yb²⁺ doping concentration in the CsPb_1?xYb_xI₂Br (x = 0–0.04) perovskite phase through simple solution method. The optimum concentration of Yb²⁺ showed improved morphology and crystal growth. The fabricated all-inorganic perovskite solar cells (IPVSCs) having CsPb_0.97Yb_0.03I₂Br-based champion device showed the highest 15.41% power conversion efficiency (PCE) for a small area of 0.09 cm² and 14.04% PCE for a large area of 1 × 1 cm² with excellent reproducibility, which is higher than the controlled CsPbI₂Br device. Detailed photovoltaic analysis revealed that the PCE, open-circuit voltage (V_OC), short circuit current density (J_SC) and fill factor (FF) of the final IPVSC device attributed to the suppressed charge recombination, better film quality, and well growth orientation of the perovskite film. Moreover, the champion CsPb_0.97Yb_0.03I₂Br device retains >85% initial efficiency after 280 h under 85 °C thermal annealings. Our results provide a new method to boost the performance of the photovoltaic application.     

Large area,waterproof, air stable and cost effective efficient perovskite solar cells through modified carbon hole extraction layer

The conventional unstable and expensive hole transporting materials (HTM) has been replaced by cost effective modified carbon hole extraction layer. Herein, we demonstrated a new recipe toward air stable and waterproof modified carbon hole extraction layer for efficient perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The commercial available carbon ink modified with methylammonium lead iodide (MAI) has been used as hole extraction layer for ambipolar perovskite solar cells. The fabricated optimized perovskite solar cell having Glass/FTO/mp-TiO₂/MAPbI_3-xCl_x/carbon + MAI/Carbon configuration exhibited η = 13.87% power conversion efficiency (PCE) with open circuit voltage (V_OC) 0.997 V, current density (J_SC) = 21.41 mAcm^?2 and fill factor (FF) 0.65. Furthermore, the air stability were tested at room temperature in open atmosphere. The water proof stability was tested under water flushing. Our results revealed that, although our carbon based devices show lower PCE (η = 13.87%) compared to spiro-MeOTAD HTM (η = 15%), the fabricated PSCs could even retain >90% after water exposure >20 times and ambient air stability more than 160 days. Further the large area device (>1 cm²) device shows 13.04% PCE with Jsc = 21.47 mAcm^?2, V_OC = 0.996 V and FF = 0.61. We have also demonstrated >13% efficiency for large area device (>1.1 cm²), demonstrating that the developed method is simple, cost effective and promising towards large area device fabrication. The developed methodology based on low cost carbon hole extraction layer will be helpful towards waterproof and air stable perovskite solar cells for large-area devices.     

Complex oscillations in a simple model for the Briggs-Rauscher reaction

Complex oscillations in a simple model of the Briggs-Rauscher reaction mechanism in a continuously stirred tank reactor proposed by Kim et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 117, 2710 (2002)] are investigated numerically. The k(0)-[CH(2)(COOH)(2)](0) phase diagram is constructed first where k(0) is the flow rate and [...](0) is the input concentration. Within the region surrounded by the Hopf bifurcation curve, we find complex oscillation regions which are again separated from the regular oscillation region by the secondary Hopf bifurcation curves. Mixed mode oscillations with an incomplete Farey sequence, periodic-chaotic (or nonperiodic) sequence, and various types of burst oscillations are observed in complex oscillation regions. Also, chaotic burst oscillations, which are due to the transition from one kind of burst to another kind, are reported.