One-dimensional band-edge absorption in a doped quantum wire

Low-temperature photoluminescence-excitation spectra are studied in an n-type modulation-doped T-shaped single quantum wire with a gate to tune electron densities. With a nondegenerate one-dimensional (1D) electron gas, the band-edge absorption exhibits a sharp peak structure induced by the 1D density of states. When the dense 1D electron gas is degenerate at a low temperature, we observe a Fermi-edge absorption onset without many-body modifications.     

Biexciton gain and the Mott transition in GaAs quantum wires

Optical gain and the Mott transition in GaAs quantum wires were studied via simultaneous measurements of absorption and photoluminescence (PL). We observed well-separated PL peaks assigned to excitons (X) and biexcitons (XX) even at densities where optical gain existed. A sharp optical gain first appeared when the XX peak overtook the X peak, indicating the gain origin of biexciton-exciton population inversion. The XX peak eventually changed to a broad peak of plasma, and a broad gain due to plasma was observed as the Mott transition was completed.     

In Search of the Driving Factor for the Microwave Curing of Epoxy Adhesives and for the Protection of the Base Substrate against Thermal Damage

This study used controlled microwaves to elucidate the response of adhesive components to microwaves and examined the advantages of microwave radiation in curing epoxy adhesives. Curing of adhesives with microwaves proceeded very rapidly, even though each component of the adhesive was not efficiently heated by the microwaves. The reason the adhesive cured rapidly is that microwave heating was enhanced by the electrically charged (ionic) intermediates produced by the curing reaction. In contrast, the cured adhesive displayed lower microwave absorption and lower heating efficiency, suggesting that the cured adhesive stopped heating even if it continued to be exposed to microwaves. This is a definite advantage in the curing of adhesives with microwaves, as, for example, adhesives dropped onto polystyrene could be cured using microwave heating without degrading the polystyrene base substrate.     

Multiple electron injection dynamics in linearly-linked two dye co-sensitized nanocrystalline metal oxide electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Understanding the electron transfer dynamics at the interface between dye sensitizer and semiconductor nanoparticle is very important for both a fundamental study and development of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), which are a potential candidate for next generation solar cells. In this study, we have characterized the ultrafast photoexcited electron dynamics in a newly produced linearly-linked two dye co-sensitized solar cell using both a transient absorption (TA) and an improved transient grating (TG) technique, in which tin(IV) 2,11,20,29-tetra-tert-butyl-2,3-naphthalocyanine (NcSn) and cis-diisothiocyanato-bis(2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'-dicarboxylato)ruthenium(II) bis(tetrabutylammonium) (N719) are molecularly and linearly linked and are bonded to the surface of a nanocrystalline tin dioxide (SnO(2)) electrode by a metal-O-metal linkage (i.e. SnO(2)-NcSn-N719). By comparing the TA and TG kinetics of NcSn, N719, and hybrid NcSn-N719 molecules adsorbed onto both of the SnO(2) and zirconium dioxide (ZrO(2)) nanocrystalline films, the forward and backward electron transfer dynamics in SnO(2)-NcSn-N719 were clarified. We found that there are two pathways for electron injection from the linearly-linked two dye molecules (NcSn-N719) to SnO(2). The first is a stepwise electron injection, in which photoexcited electrons first transfer from N719 to NcSn with a transfer time of 0.95 ps and then transfer from NcSn to the conduction band (CB) of SnO(2) with two timescales of 1.6 ps and 4.2 ps. The second is direct photoexcited electron transfer from N719 to the CB of SnO(2) with a timescale of 20-30 ps. On the other hand, back electron transfer from SnO(2) to NcSn is on a timescale of about 2 ns, which is about three orders of magnitude slower compared to the forward electron transfer from NcSn to SnO(2). The back electron transfer from NcSn to N719 is on a timescale of about 40 ps, which is about one order slower compared to the forward electron transfer from N719 to NcSn. These results demonstrate that photoexcited electrons can be effectively injected into SnO(2) from both of the N719 and NcSn dyes.     

Chiral porphyrin dimer with a macrocyclic cavity for intercalation of aromatic guests

Chiral diporphyrin receptor 1, which has a macrocyclic cavity to sandwich aromatic guest molecules via double π-π stacking interactions, enabled the naked-eye detection of an aromatic explosive as well as chiral discrimination in NMR.     

Rapid Synthesis of D‐A′‐π‐A Dyes through a One‐Pot Three‐Component Suzuki–Miyaura Coupling and an Evaluation of their Photovoltaic Properties for Use in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Twenty‐four D‐A′–π‐A dyes were rapidly synthesized through a one‐pot three‐component Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction, which was assisted by microwave irradiation. We measured the absorption spectra, electrochemical properties, and solar‐cell performance of all the synthesized dyes. The D5 πA4 dye contained our originally designed rigid and nonplanar donor and exerted the highest efficiency at 5.4 %. The short‐circuit current (J_sc) was the most important parameter for the conversion efficiency (η) in the case of the organic D‐A′‐π‐A dyes. Optimal ranges for the D‐A′‐π‐A dyes were observed for high values of J_sc/λ_max at λ=560–620 nm, an optical‐absorption edge of λ=690–790 nm, and E_HOMO and E_LUMO values of <1.14 and ?0.56 to ?0.76 V, respectively.     

Rapid Synthesis of Thiophene‐Based,Organic Dyes for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) by a One‐Pot,Four‐Component Coupling Approach

This one‐pot, four‐component coupling approach (Suzuki–Miyaura coupling/C?H direct arylation/Knoevenagel condensation) was developed for the rapid synthesis of thiophene‐based organic dyes for dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Seven thiophene‐based, organic dyes of various donor structures with/without the use of a 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) moiety were successfully synthesized in good yields based on a readily available thiophene boronic acid pinacol ester scaffold (one‐pot, 3‐step, 35–61 %). Evaluation of the photovoltaic properties of the solar cells that were prepared using the synthesized dyes revealed that the introduction of an EDOT structure beside a cyanoacrylic acid moiety improved the short‐circuit current (J_sc) while decreasing the fill factor (FF). The donor structure significantly influenced the open‐circuit voltage (V_oc), the FF, and the power conversion efficiency (PCE). The use of a n‐hexyloxyphenyl amine donor, and our originally developed, rigid, and nonplanar donor, both promoted good cell performance (η=5.2–5.6 %).     

Design of ultra compact all-optical XOR and AND logic gates with low power consumption

We propose a novel ultra-compact all-optical XOR and AND logic gates without using nonlinear optics. In order to realize these devices, we adopt photonic crystal waveguides (PCWs) based on multi-mode interference devices. Numerical results show that the operating bandwidth of the ON to OFF logic-level contrast ratio of not less than 6.79 dB is 35 nm for XOR logic gate and 9 nm for AND logic gate. Proposed logic gates have the potential to be key components for an optical packet switching system due to their small feature sizes and low power consumption.     

Total Syntheses of (−)‐Strictosidine and Related Indole Alkaloid Glycosides

A collective synthesis of glycosylated monoterpenoid indole alkaloids is reported. A highly diastereoselective Pictet–Spengler reaction with α‐cyanotryptamine and secologanin tetraacetate as substrates, followed by a reductive decyanation reaction, was developed for the synthesis of (?)‐strictosidine, which is an important intermediate in biosynthesis. This two‐step chemical method was established as an alternative to the biosynthetically employed strictosidine synthase. Furthermore, after carrying out chemical and computational studies, a transition state for induction of diastereoselectivity in our newly discovered Pictet–Spengler reaction is proposed. Having achieved the first enantioselective total synthesis of (?)‐strictosidine in just 10 steps, subsequent bioinspired transformations resulted in the concise total syntheses of (?)‐strictosamide, (?)‐neonaucleoside A, (?)‐cymoside, and (?)‐3α‐dihydrocadambine.