Thienoacene‐Fused Pentalenes: Syntheses,Structures, Physical Properties and Applications for Organic Field‐Effect Transistors

Three soluble and stable thienoacene‐fused pentalene derivatives ( 1 – 3 ) with different π‐conjugation lengths were synthesized. X‐ray crystallographic analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed their unique geometric and electronic structures due to the interaction between the aromatic thienoacene units and antiaromatic pentalene moiety. As a result, they all possess a small energy gap and show amphoteric redox behaviour. Time dependent (TD) DFT calculations were used to explain their unique electronic absorption spectra. These new compounds exhibited good thermal stability and ordered packing in solid state and thus their applications in organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs) were also investigated. The highest field‐effect hole mobility of 0.016, 0.036 and 0.001 cm² V^?1 s^?1 was achieved for solution‐processed thin films of 1 – 3 , respectively.     

Synthesis and acetone gas sensing properties of α-Fe2O3 nanotubes

α-Fe₂O₃ nanotubes was successfully prepared by single nozzle electrospinning method. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to characterize the morphology of α-Fe₂O₃ nanotubes. The gas sensing properties of α-Fe₂O₃ nanotubes were investigated in detail. The results exhibit relatively good sensing properties to acetone at 240 °C. The response and recovery times are about 3 and 5 s, respectively. The structure of nanotubes is beneficial to the gas sensing properties, which will enlarge the surface-to-volume ratio of α-Fe₂O₃ and then be available for the transfer of gas, and thus improved the sensor performance consequentially.     

Eumelanin as a support for efficient palladium nanoparticle catalyst for Suzuki coupling reaction of aryl chlorides in water

Eumelanin-supported palladium (Pd) nanoparticle (NP) catalysts was found to exhibit excellent catalytic activities with high turnover number (TON, 2000) and turnover frequency (TOF, 1000 h^?1) for Suzuki cross coupling reaction of aryl chlorides in water. We propose that the amphiphilic property of the eumelanin support helps Pd NPs to catalyse the C–C coupling reaction in water through hydrophobic effect.