Increased and balanced light emission of transparent organic light-emitting diodes by enhanced microcavity effects

We report on improved and controlled light outcoupling of transparent organic light-emitting diodes (TOLEDs) by inserting thin silver layers between the indium tin oxide anode and the hole transporting layer. The introduction of Ag layers influences both the bottom and top emission of the TOLEDs, and it results in dramatic changes in the electroluminescence spectra and angular distribution. We find that the overall external quantum efficiency can be increased up to 18.8%, and the ratio of bottom and top emission can be almost identical.     

Dispersion and localization of electronic states at a ferrocene/Cu(111) interface

Low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy combined with first-principles simulations reveal a nondissociative physisorption of ferrocene molecules on a Cu(111) surface, giving rise to ordered molecular layers. At the interface, a 2D-like electronic band is found, which shows an identical dispersion as the Cu(111) Shockley surface-state band. Subsequent deposition of Cu atoms forms charged organometallic compounds that localize interface-state electrons.     

Two-gap superconductivity in the Fe-1111 superconductor LaFeAsO1−x F x : A point-contact Andreev-reflection study

Point-contact Andreev-reflection (PCAR) experiments were performed in the Fe-1111 layered superconductor LaFeAsO_0.9F_0.1 with resistive T _c ^on ∼ 27 K. The observation of two pairs of peaks in the low-temperature Andreev-reflection spectra clearly indicates the presence of two order parameters. The behavior of the two gaps as a function of temperature, obtained by fitting the conductance curves by means of the generalized two-band Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk model, shows some anomalies. A theoretical analysis performed within the two-band Eliashberg theory with a generic electron-boson coupling can reproduce the low-temperature value of the two gaps but generally fails in giving a satisfactory fit of their overall temperature dependence, indicating the rich and complex physics of these newly discovered superconductors.      

L‐lysine and EDTA polymer mimics as resins for the quantitative and reversible removal of heavy metal ion water pollutants

Traditional precipitation methods for inorganic micropollutant removal from waters are increasingly being replaced by sorption methods based on both natural and synthetic materials. In this context, two novel effective heavy metal ions absorbers are presented. These resins, LYMA and LMT85, were crosslinked poly(amidoamine)s carrying amine and carboxyl groups in their repeating units. In particular, the LYMA‐repeating unit contains one carboxyl and two amine groups and is a mimic of L ‐lysine, whereas LMT85 contains two amine and five carboxyl groups and is a mimic of EDTA. Both resins were prepared at moderate cost by simple eco‐friendly procedures. The heavy metal ion set adopted as benchmark was Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Co²⁺. LYMA proved selective for Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺, the other ions tested being negligibly absorbed, whereas LMT85 proved capable of rapidly and quantitatively absorbing all the ions tested either singly or in mixed solution. The absorption process was reversible, and the resins were easily regenerated by acidification. The absorption of several metal ions imparted intense coloring to the resins, a feature possibly exploitable for analytical purposes. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

The Influence of Hydrogen Loading Temperature on the Mechanical Strength of Optical Fibers

The influence of hydrogen loading temperature on the mechanical strength of optical fibers is investigated. Fibers subjected to high-pressure hydrogen loading at different temperatures were submitted to bend tests, and the results compared with those for pristine fibers. The Weibull probability distribution function was used to analyze the data of the mechanical bending strength of the fibers. Fiber strength is reduced by the presence of hydrogen, and this decrease is greater for higher hydrogen loading temperatures. The mechanical properties of the polymers used to coat fibers are affected by the hydrogen loading process and also by the increase in temperature. However, there is no evidence of cracks formation that might allow water to penetrate to the surface of the glass. Observation using scanning electron microscopy revealed that the morphology of fractures in nonhydrogen-loaded fibers have distinct fracture characteristics to that of fibers that are hydrogen loaded at 90°C and 120°C.     

First-principles studies of vanadia-titania catalysts: beyond the monolayer

Periodic density functional calculations have been used to investigate the structure and stability of epitaxial vanadium oxide films grown on the TiO(2)(001) anatase surface. The formation energy of films of V(2)O(5) stoichiometry, initially low, is found to rapidly increase with the film thickness, at variance to what is obtained for reduced pseudomorphic VO(2) films. This is in tune with results of oxygen-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. The oxidation of thick, viz. >2 monolayers (ML), VO(2) films yields a c(2 x 2) reconstructed surface, in agreement with low energy electron diffraction. These films are composed by partially reduced inner V atoms in a distorted-octahedral environment, and by isolated surface dioxovanadium centers exhibiting a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal coordination. Single scattering simulations of X-ray photoelectron diffraction patterns have also been performed, taking both 2- and 3-ML surface surface-oxidized films as models. Results are in fair agreement with experiments referring to films grown in oxidizing conditions, which suggests that coherent vanadia ultrathin films could be formed in vanadia-titania catalysts. The electronic structure of the films has been finally studied, finding that the terminal oxygens carried by the surface dioxovanadium species have a strong nucleophilic character, which makes them potential active centers for selective oxidation catalysis.     

Iridoid glucosides from Viburnum sargenti

The phytochemical study of aerial parts of Viburnum sargenti Koehne, a species spontaneous in Mongolia and Northern China, led to the isolation of three iridoid glucosides of Valeriana-type: the novel 7,10,2'-triacetylsuspensolide F, 1, and the known viburtinoside IV and V. In addition, (+)-epicatechin was also isolated.     

Flavonoids and iridoids from Stachys corsica

Two flavonoid glycosides containing acetylated allose, and two iridoid glucosides were obtained from a EtOH extract of Stachys corsica, an endemic plant of Sardinia and Corsica. All the compounds have previously been isolated from other species of Stachys.     

A macrocyclic ligand able to bind gallium(III) by preorganized pendant arms; coordination and kinetic studies

The equilibria and kinetics of the binding of gallium(III) to 4-(N),10-(N)-bis[2-(3-hydroxo-2-oxo-2-H-pyridine-1-y1)acetamido]-1,7-dimethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (L) were investigated in acidic medium at ionic strength 1 M (NaClO4). Spectrophotometric titrations in the UV region revealed that L is able to bind Ga3+ also at high H+ concentration. The kinetic (stopped-flow) experiments are interpreted on the basis of three parallel reaction paths (i) M3+ + H2L2+ = M(H2L)5+ where M(H2L)5+ is in a steady state, (ii) M(OH)2+ + H2L2+ = M(HL)4+ + H2O and (iii) M(OH)2+ + HL+ = ML3+ + H2O. The first-order rate constants for conversion of the outer-sphere into the inner-sphere complexes are similar to those of the Ga(III)/tropolone system which is known to react according to the dissociative Id mechanism and to the relevant rate constants for water exchange at the metal ion. The effects of pH on the UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence emission properties and NMR spectral features on the Ga(III)/L system were also investigated. Spectrophotometric titrations in the UV region reveal that, in acid medium the prevailing species is M(HL)4+ whereas the chelate ML3+ prevails for [H+] < 0.01 M. The results indicate metal coordination at the oxygen atoms of the 3-hydroxo-2-oxopyridine residues.