Build-up of symmetry breaking using a titanium suboxide in bulk-heterojunction solar cells

The importance of symmetry breaking was investigated in bulk heterojunction solar cells with a conventional device structure. Artificial symmetry breaking was built up by introducing a titanium suboxide. With sufficient symmetry breaking, the influence of the cathode work-function can be diminished, thereby extracting the same level of open circuit voltage regardless of metal work-function.     

Synthesis of Highly n-Type Graphene by Using an Ionic Liquid

n-Type graphene: A new, easy, and cheap method to produce n-type reduced graphene oxide was developed by synthesizing a partially reduced intermediate containing nitrogen (PrGO-IL, see scheme) by treating graphene oxide (GO) with an ionic liquid (IL) at 160?°C followed by rapid thermal annealing (RTA) at temperatures ranging from 400 to 1000?°C. A high N-doping level of 6?% was achieved and the N-doped rGO exhibits n-type behavior with a Dirac point at -38?V at 400?°C.     

Can commonly used hydrazine produce n-type graphene?

A simple chemical method to obtain bulk quantities of N-doped, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets (see figure) as an n-type semiconductor through the treatment of as-prepared GO sheets with the commonly used reducing reagent hydrazine, followed by rapid thermal annealing (RTA) is described.     

Self-assembly driven by an aromatic primary amide motif

Primary amides are unique supramolecular synthons possessing two hydrogen donors and two hydrogen acceptors. By interacting in a complementary fashion, primary amides reliably generate two-dimensional hydrogen bonded networks that differ from conventional hydrogen bonded structures such as carboxylic acid dimers or one-dimensional secondary amide chains. This feature permits the design of sophisticated supramolecular assemblies based on primary amides (especially aromatic amides). Several interesting crystal structures have been constructed utilizing primary amides, although such structures have been applied only in the field of crystal engineering because the networks strongly favor crystallization. Expansion of the applications of primary amides to liquid crystals and self-assembly in solution requires an appropriate balance between primary amide-based hydrogen bonding and other noncovalent interactions. This perspective article reviews the key hydrogen bonding properties of primary amides determined from crystal structure studies, and a variety of supramolecular assemblies involving primary amides are discussed. A new strategy for overcoming crystallinity and solubility issues is proposed, involving introduction of a trifluoromethyl group at the ortho position of the aromatic primary amide. Such substitutions produce highly processable primary amides, while maintaining the two-dimensional hydrogen bonded network. Examples of self-assembly using 2-trifluoromethylbenzamide demonstrate its usefulness in self-assembly.     

Interfacing living yeast cells with graphene oxide nanosheaths

The first example of the encapsulation of living yeast cells with multilayers of GO nanosheets via LbL self-assembly is reported. The GO nanosheets with opposite charges are alternatively coated onto the individual yeast cells while preserving the viability of the yeast cells, thus affording a means of interfacing graphene with living yeast cells. This approach is expanded by integrating other organic polymers or inorganic nanoparticles to the cells by hybridizing the entries with GO nanosheets through LbL self-assembly. It is demonstrated that incorporated iron oxide nanoparticles can deliver magnetic properties to the biological systems, allowing the integration of new physical and chemical functions for living cells with a combination of GO nanosheets.     

A bi-ligand co-functionalized gold nanoparticles-based calcium ion probe and its application to the detection of calcium ions in serum

In this study, the use of bi-ligand co-functionalized gold nanoparticles in a highly selective and sensitive colorimetric probe for Ca(2+) ions is demonstrated and this probe also determined the concentrations of Ca(2+) ions in serum samples.     

Protodecarboxylation of benzoic acids under radical conditions

A new approach to protodecarboxylation is described that enhances the substrate scope for benzoic acids. The reaction uses oxidative radical conditions to decarboxylate a variety of acids in acetonitrile.     

Biomimetic detection of aminoglycosidic antibiotics using polydiacetylene-phospholipids supramolecules

We rationally designed highly sensitive and selective polydiacetylene (PDA)-phospholipids liposomes for the facile detection of aminoglycosidic antibiotics. The detecting mechanism mimics the cellular membrane interactions between neomycin and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)) phospholipids. The developed PDA-PIP(2) sensory system showed a detection limit of 61 ppb for neomycin and was very specific to aminoglycosidic antibodies only.