N- and P-channel transport behavior in thin film transistors based on tricyanovinyl-capped oligothiophenes

We report the structural and electrical characterization of thin films of organic semiconductor molecules consisting of an oligothiophene core capped with electron-withdrawing tricyanovinyl (TCV) groups. X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy of evaporated films of three different TCV-capped oligothiophenes showed that the films were highly crystalline. Electrical transport was measured in thin film transistors employing silver source and drain contacts and channel probes to correct for contact resistance. Three compounds exhibited n-channel (electron) conduction consistent with cyclic voltametry data that indicated they undergo facile reduction. Maximum electron mobilities were 0.02 cm2/V.s with an on/off current ratio of 10(6). A fourth end-capped molecule, TCV-6T-TCV, which had six thiophene rings, exhibited both p- and n-channel transport. Overall, these results confirm that substitution of oligothiophene cores with electron-withdrawing groups is a useful strategy to achieve electron-transporting materials.     

Functionally relevant electric-field induced perturbations of the prosthetic group of yeast ferrocytochrome c mutants obtained from a vibronic analysis of low-temperature absorption spectra

We have measured the low temperature (T = 20 K) absorption spectra of the N52A, N52V, N52I, Y67F, and N52AY67F mutants of ferrous Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast) cytochrome c. All the bands in the Q0- and Q(v)-band region are split, and the intensity distributions among the split bands are highly asymmetric. The spectra were analyzed by a decomposition into Voigtian profiles. The spectral parameters thus obtained were further analyzed in terms of the vibronic coupling model of Schweitzer-Stenner and Bigman (Schweitzer-Stenner, R.; Bigman, D. J. Phys. Chem. B 2001, 7064-7073) to identify parameters related to electronic and vibronic perturbations of the heme macrocycle. We report that the electronic perturbation is of B(1g) symmetry and reflects the heterogeneity of the electric field at the heme, that is, the difference between the gradients along the perpendicular N-Fe-N axis of the heme core. We found that all the investigated mutations substantially increase this electronic perturbation, so that the spectral properties become similar to those of horse heart cytochrome c. Moreover, the electronic perturbation was found to correlate nonlinearly with the enthalpy changes associated with the reduction of the heme iron. Group theoretical arguments are invoked to propose a simple model which explains how a perturbation of the obtained symmetry can stabilize the reduced state of the heme iron. Finally, vibronic coupling parameters obtained from the analysis of the Q(v)-band region suggest that the investigated mutations decrease the nonplanar deformations of the heme group. This finding was reproduced by a normal mode structural decomposition (NSD) analysis of the N52V and N52VY67F heme conformations obtained from a 1 ns molecular dynamics simulation. We argue that the reduced nonplanarity contributes to the stabilization of the reduced state.     

Nonequilibrium thermodynamics of spacetime

It has previously been shown that the Einstein equation can be derived from the requirement that the Clausius relation dS=deltaQ/T hold for all local acceleration horizons through each spacetime point, where is one-quarter the horizon area change in Planck units and deltaQ and T are the energy flux across the horizon and the Unruh temperature seen by an accelerating observer just inside the horizon. Here we show that a curvature correction to the entropy that is polynomial in the Ricci scalar requires a nonequilibrium treatment. The corresponding field equation is derived from the entropy balance relation dS=deltaQ/T+diS, where diS is a bulk viscosity entropy production term that we determine by imposing energy-momentum conservation. Entropy production can also be included in pure Einstein theory by allowing for shear viscosity of the horizon.     

Thermodynamics of hydrogen solution and hydride formation in Pd-Mn alloys. 1. Disordered alloys and a correlation effect

The thermodynamics of H(2) solution and hydride formation/decomposition have been determined by reaction calorimetry (303 K) for disordered face centered cubic (fcc) Pd-Mn alloys. This alloy system belongs to the expanded lattice category which predicts that and DeltaH(plat) for H(2) absorption should be more exothermic than those for Pd; the experimental results are that the former is more exothermic, at least at the higher Mn contents, but the latter is not. There is a regular decrease in the H capacity (at p(H)2 = 0.2 MPa) with atom fraction Mn. A linear dependence of log p(H)2 upon H content is found in the single hydride phase for all of these alloys suggesting that DeltaH(H) and DeltaS(H) are also linear functions of r in this region. This is confirmed using the Pd(0.875)Mn(0.125) alloy which has no two-phase region (303 K). It is shown for the Pd(0.875)Mn(0.125) alloy and for Pd that the changes of partial enthalpies and entropies with H content are correlated so as to minimize changes of mu(H).     

Reactions of 1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl radicals with NO2-: time-resolved electron spin resonance

The reaction of the alpha-hydroxyalkyl radical of 2-propanol (1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl radical) with nitrite ions was characterized. A product of the reaction was assigned as the adduct nitro radical anion, [HO-C(CH(3))(2)NO(2)](*-). This radical was identified using time-resolved electron spin resonance (TRESR). The radical's magnetic parameters, the nitrogen hyperfine coupling constant (a(N) = 26.39 G), and its g-factor (2.0052) were the same as those of the nitro radical anion previously discovered in (*)OH spin-trapping experiments with the aci-anion of (CH(3))(2)CHNO(2). Production of [HO-C(CH(3))(2)NO(2)](*-) was determined to be 38% +/- 4% of the reaction of (CH(3))(2)C(*)-OH with nitrite. The reason why this fraction was less than 100% was rationalized by invoking the competitive addition at oxygen, which forms [HO-C(CH(3))(2)ONO](*-), followed by a rapid loss of (*)NO. Furthermore, by taking this mechanism into account, the bimolecular rate constant for the total reaction of (CH(3))(2)C(*)-OH with nitrite at reaction pH 7 was determined to be 1.6 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1), using both decay traces of (CH(3))(2)C(*)-OH and growth traces of [HO-C(CH(3))(2)NO(2)](*-). This correspondence further confirms the nature of the reaction. The reaction mechanism is discussed with guidance by computations using density functional theory.     

Density functional investigation of high-spin XY (X = Cr, Mo, W and Y = C, N, O) molecules

The performance of a density functional theory approach in calculating the equilibrium bond length, dipole moment, and harmonic vibrational frequency in a series of group 6 (Cr, Mo, W) transition metal-containing diatomic molecules is evaluated. Using flexible basis sets comprised of Slater type functions, a wide range of exchange-correlation functionals is investigated. Comparing with known experimental values and published results from high-level theoretical calculations, the most suitable functional form is selected. The importance of relativistic effects is checked, and predictions are made for several unknown dipole moments. The best agreement with experimental parameters is obtained when using a general gradient approximation, while special and hybrid functional forms give less accurate results.     

Using computer software in the teaching of mechanics

The paper looks at ways of using computer software in the teaching of mechanics. The various reasons for using software are discussed to justify the use of software. A number of examples are then considered to show how different types of software can be used. Examples shown are taken from very specific types of software, more general simulation software and mathematical software. The paper discusses using software to explore mechanics, to challenge ‘misconceptions’, to make links between mathematical representations and motion and to solve non-standard problems. The paper also stresses the need for structured approaches to the use of software.