Electrical and electroluminescence properties of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/TPD:Alq3:C60/Al organic light emitting diodes

Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/TPD:Alq₃:C₆₀/Al with different C₆₀ concentrations (0-6.0 wt.%) have been fabricated. The physical parameters including electrical and optical properties of the samples have been measured by Luminance-current-voltage (L-I-V) characteristics and optical absorbance. The current-voltage characteristics indicate that field-emission tunneling injection dominates in the diodes at high applied voltages. It is found that with increasing the concentration of C₆₀, the injection barrier for holes slightly reduces and the hole’s mobility increases over two orders of magnitude. Also, electroluminescence enhances with the presence of C₆₀ in the blend; optimum current efficiency occurs at 3 wt% C₆₀. The method provides a simple way of increasing the efficiency of OLEDs.     

The effect of plasma treatment on structure and properties of poly(1-butene) surface

This paper is focused on the chemical and morphology changes in the surface of poly(1-butene) (PB-1) generated by plasma treatment. The radio frequency capacitively coupled plasma (air, argon, argon then allylamine, argon containing ammonia and argon with octafluorocyclobutane) was used. Modified surface of PB-1 was characterized by contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The surface hydrophilization by air and argon with ammonia plasmas was evaluated as most sufficient. Oppositely, a high level of hydrophobicity of PB-1 surface was reached by combination of argon with octafluorocyclobutane plasma. Upon plasma modification, hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of treated surfaces remained stable within three days under air atmosphere and then values of contact angle slowly recovered to those of unmodified PB-1. However, morphology and surface chemical composition of plasma-modified samples remained generally unchanged during observed time. Changes in surface hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of plasma-treated PB-1 were attributed to variance of conformation of the surface molecules.     

Photoluminescence and laser properties of mesostructured SBA-15 monolith doped with coumarin 151

Large, flawless and transparent silica monoliths were prepared at room temperature by solvent evaporation method and loaded with dye. The composites containing dye molecules were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Uv–vis and photoluminescence spectra. A red-shift in photoluminescence spectrum was observed from the composite monolith compared with that of laser dye in C₂H₅OH solution. The property of laser narrowing has been shown when the composites are pumped at _p = 355 nm by nitrogen laser.     

Magnetic transitions of single-component molecular metal [Au(tmdt)2] and its alloy systems

A single-component molecular conductor [Au(tmdt)2] (tmdt = trimethylenetetrathiafulvalenedithiolate) undergoes an antiferromagnetic phase transition at unprecedentedly high temperature (TN = 110 K). Black microcrystals of alloys, [Ni1-xAux(tmdt)2] (0.0 < x < 1.0) were prepared. The Au-rich system exhibited an antiferromagnetic transition. Metallic single crystal was obtained for x = 0.25.     

Biosynthesis of cerium oxide nanoparticles and its cytotoxicity survey against colon cancer cell line

Nanoparticles of cerium oxide (CeO₂-NPs), as a metal oxide of rare earth, have found an important role in improving technologies such as polishing, the degradation of harmful industrial dyes and even the treatment of some diseases. Therefore, the development of quick and inexpensive production methods for CeO₂-NPs is sought by researchers. In the present study, we report the biosynthesis of CeO₂-NPs using aqueous extract of Salvadora persica. Synthesized nanoparticles were investigated through powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis), Fourier transform infrared, transmission electron microscope (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray and Raman techniques. The UV–vis result shows an absorption peak at 325 nm, which confirms the formation of CeO₂-NPs. The band-gap of synthesized nanoparticles (4.1 eV) is higher than in its bulk state. PXRD and Raman show a crystalline fluorite cubic structure for synthesized nanoparticles. The morphology of synthesized nanoparticles shows a uniform and almost spherical shape via TEM and FESEM images. The particles size was estimated in the range of 10–15 nm. Cytotoxic activity of synthesized nanoparticles was determined through 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay against a colon (HT-29) cancer cell line. The results did not show any significant cytotoxic effect for synthesized samples even for concentration higher than 800 μg/mL. Hence, CeO₂-NPs were synthesized using a natural source; the procedure was rapid with good productivity and biosynthesized nanoparticles were non-toxic.     

A suggested outline for a geometry syllabus in primary education

In this paper the author attempts to build up an outline for a geometry syllabus in primary education.     

Synthesis of heterocycles via ligand-free palladium catalyzed reductive Heck cyclization

Synthesis of five and six membered heterocycles, indolines, 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans, chromans, isochromans, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines, and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines, in 70-99% yield by a ligand-free palladium catalyzed reductive Heck cyclization of phenyl bromides and chlorides, under mild conditions, is reported. Water was found to be essential for these reactions.     

Reliability and reproducibility of perfusion MRI in cognitively normal subjects

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is becoming a popular method for measuring perfusion due to its ability of generating perfusion maps noninvasively. This allows for frequent repeat scanning, which is especially useful for follow-up studies. However, limited information is available regarding the reliability and reproducibility of ASL perfusion measurements. Here, the reliability and reproducibility of pulsed ASL was investigated in an elderly population to determine the variation in perfusion among cognitively normal individuals in different brain structures. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and within-subject variation coefficients (wsCV) were used to estimate reliability and reproducibility over a period of 1 year. Twelve cognitively normal subjects (75.5±5.3 years old, six male and six female) were scanned four times (at 0, 3, 6 and 12 months). No significant difference in cerebral blood flow (CBF) was found over this period. CBF values ranged from 46 to 53 ml/100 g per minute in the medial frontal gyrus (MFG) and from 40 to 44 ml/100 g per minute over all gray matter regions in the superior part of the brain. Data obtained from the first two scans were processed by two readers and showed high reliability (ICC >0.97) and reproducibility (wsCV <6%). However, over the total period of 1 year, reliability reduced to a moderate level (ICC=0.63–0.74) with wsCVs of gray matter, left MFG, right MFG of 13.5%, 12.3%, and 15.4%, respectively. In conclusion, measurement of CBF with pulsed ASL provided good agreement between inter-raters. A moderate level of reliability was obtained over a 1-year period, which was attributed to variance in slice positioning and coregistration. As such pulsed ASL has the potential to be used for CBF comparison in longitudinal studies.