Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) assisted single‐step synthesis of kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 nanoparticles by solvothermal process

Quaternary kesterite‐type Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully synthesized by a single‐step solvothermal process. Semiconductor CZTS nanoparticles were obtained from ethylene glycol (EG) and CZTS precursor after solvothermal process at 180 °C for 30 h in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) medium. The synthesized CZTS NPs were further annealed at 450 °C in nitrogen atmosphere and used for further characterizations. The CZTS NPs were characterized using X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), micro Raman spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The optical properties of the CZTS NPs were recorded by UV–vis absorption spectroscopy. The results showed that the synthesized CZTS nanoparticles are kesterite‐type CZTS, with good crystallinity and a stoichiometric composition. Moreover, the prepared nanoparticles have a size ranging from 5–7 nm and a band gap of ～1.5 eV.

     

Metallic macrocycle with a 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene phosphorus ligand

The preparation of an 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene phosphorus ligand, 25,27-bis(2-(diphenylphosphino)ethoxy)-26,28-bis(1-propyloxy)calix[4]arene (3), is presented. Ligand 3 is obtained in three steps in 64% overall yield. Reaction of 3 with [Rh(cot)2]BF4 produced the encapsulated rhodium complex [Rh[(P,P)-diphen-calix[4]arene]]BF4 (4). As revealed by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study, the rhodium center has a bent coordination environment with a P-Rh-P angle of 135.66(3) degrees. Palladation of 3 employing [Pd(MeCN)4](BF4)2 yielded the chelate palladium complex 7 in which the palladium center has a slightly bent configuration. Treatment of the ligand with Pd(cod)Cl2 and [Pd(eta3-C4H7)(THF)2]BF4 leads to the isolation of the monometallic complex. Full characterization includes X-ray structural studies of compounds 3, 4, and 6.     

A new interpretation of Hund's first rule

The diagonal elements of the first and second order spinless density matrices have been calculated for the lowest excited¹ P and³ P terms of Be, B⁺ and C⁺⁺ using wavefunctions at different levels of approximations published in the literature. The analysis of these functions has resulted in a new interpretation of Hund's first rule in terms of an anisotropic screening effect.     

Synthesis and characterization of a thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole-based copolymer for high performance polymer solar cells

A highly processable, new semiconducting polymer, PCDTTz, based on alternating thiazolothiazole and carbazole units was synthesized. The new polymer exhibited a field-effect carrier mobility of up to 3.8 × 10(-3) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) and bulk heterojunction solar cells made from PCDTTz produced a power conversion efficiency of 4.88% under AM 1.5 G (100 mW cm(-2)) conditions.     

Enhanced Physical and Mechanical Properties of Nitrile-Butadiene Rubber Composites with N-Cetylpyridinium Bromide-Carbon Black

The physical and mechanical properties of nitrile–butadiene rubber (NBR) composites with N-cetylpyridinium bromide-carbon black (CPB-CB) were investigated. Addition of 5 parts per hundred rubber (phr) of CPB-CB into NBR improved the tensile strength by 124%, vulcanization rate by 41%, shore hardness by 15%, and decreased the volumetric wear by 7% compared to those of the base rubber-CB composite.     

Crystalline-phase-dependent red emission behaviors of Gd2O3:Eu3+ thin-film phosphors

Gd₂O₃:Eu³⁺ luminescent thin films have been grown on Al₂O₃(0001) substrates using pulsed-laser deposition. The films grown at different deposition conditions showed different crystalline phases, surface morphologies and luminescent characteristics. Both cubic and monoclinic crystalline phases were observed for the Gd₂O₃:Eu³⁺ films, and the crystalline structure and the surface morphology of the films were highly dependent on the oxygen pressure and substrate temperature. The cubic system showed a higher luminescence than the monoclinic system. The luminescence characteristics were strongly influenced by not only the crystalline structure but also the surface morphology of the films. The photoluminescencebrightness data obtained from Gd₂O₃:Eu³⁺ films indicate that Al₂O₃(0001) is a promising substrate for growth of high-quality Gd₂O₃:Eu³⁺ thin-film red phosphor. In particular, the Gd₂O₃:Eu³⁺ films showed a much better photoluminescence behavior than a Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ films with the same thickness. PACS 78.20.-e; 78.55.-m; 78.66.-w     

An efficient synthesis of novel carbocyclic nucleosides with use of ring-closing metathesis from D-lactose

This paper describes an efficient synthetic route for various types of novel carbocyclic nucleosides. The required stereochemistry of the targeted nucleosides was successfully obtained with use of Grubbs cyclization and Trost allylic alkylation from the carbohydrate chiral template "D-lactose".     

Retrieval and chaos in extremely dilutedQ-Ising neural networks

Using a probabilistic approach, the deterministic and the stochastic parallel dynamics of aQ-Ising neural network are studied at finiteQ and in the limitQ. Exact evolution equations are presented for the first time-step. These formulas constitute recursion relations for the parallel dynamics of the extremely diluted asymmetric versions of these networks. An explicit analysis of the retrieval properties is carried out in terms of the gain parameter, the loading capacity, and the temperature. The results for theQ network are compared with those for theQ=3 andQ=4 models. Possible chaotic microscopic behavior is studied using the time evolution of the distance between two network configurations. For arbitrary finiteQ the retrieval regime is always chaotic. In the limitQ the network exhibits a dynamical transition toward chaos.     

A ruthenium-catalyzed one-pot method for α-alkylation of ketones with aldehydes

Ketones react with an array of aldehydes in dioxane at 80 °C in the presence of a catalytic amount of RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃ along with KOH to give the corresponding α-alkylated ketones in moderate to good yields. A reaction pathway involving base-catalyzed cross-aldol reaction between ketones and aldehydes to form α,β-unsaturated ketones and regioselective reduction of carbon-carbon double bond of α,β-unsaturated ketones is proposed for this catalytic process.