Enhanced Hole Transport in Ternary Blend Polymer Solar Cells

Recently, ternary blend polymer solar cells have attracted great attention to improve a short-circuit current density (J_SC) effectively, because complementary absorption bands can harvest the solar light over a wide wavelength range from visible to near-IR region. Interestingly, some ternary blend solar cells have shown improvements not only in J_SC but also in fill factor (FF). Previously, we also reported that a ternary blend solar cell based on a low-bandgap polymer (PTB7-Th), a wide-bandgap polymer (PDCBT), and a fullerene derivative (PCBM) exhibited a higher FF than their binary analogues. Herein, we study charge transport in PTB7-Th/PDCBT/PCBM ternary blend films to address the origin of the improvement in FF. We found that hole polarons are located in PTB7-Th domains and their mobility is enhanced in the ternary blend film.     

Determination of three C18-oxygenated steroids in adrenal lesion segments in primary aldosteronism by super-selective adrenal venous sampling and LC/ESI–MS/MS

Super-selective adrenal venous sampling (ssAVS) can collect the adrenal tributary venous blood in the aldosterone (ALD)-hypersecreting segments in primary aldosteronism. The concentrations of the C18-oxygenated steroids, especially 18-oxocortisol (18-oxoF), in the lesion segments might be more useful indices than those in the peripheral or adrenal central veins (current candidate indexes) for the differential diagnosis of unilateral ALD-producing adenoma (APA) and bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (BAH). To verify this hypothesis, we developed a liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI–MS/MS) method for simultaneously quantifying ALD, 18-oxoF and 18-hydroxycortisol in the adrenal tributary venous serum sample collected by ssAVS (ssAVS serum) and compared their concentrations between APA and BAH patients. Only deproteinization was required for a 10 μl sample prior to the LC/ESI–MS/MS analysis. Endogenous corticoids did not interfere with the quantifications, and the intra-assay and interassay precisions (≤ 8.3%) and accuracies (94.2–102.7%) were acceptable. The clinical study revealed that the 18-oxoF concentration was significantly higher in the ALD-producing tumor tissues (from APA patients) than in the hyperplastic tissues (from BAH patients). However, in conclusion, the 18-oxoF concentration in the ssAVS serum sample can be a rough indication but cannot be decisive for the differential diagnosis between APA and BAH owing to the significant individual difference.     

Weber's force and Maxwell's equations

We explore the mathematical connection that exists between Weber's force and Maxwell's equations. The Weber force is shown to be compatible with Maxwell's equations when expressed in relative coordinates with the time dependence determined by the source motion.     

Systematic evaluation of the palladium-catalyzed hydrogenation under flow conditions

Four types of heterogeneous Pd catalysts (10% Pd/C, 10% Pd/HP20, 0.5% Pd/MS3A, and 0.3% Pd/BN) were applied to the flow hydrogenation to systematically evaluate the appropriate conditions for the reduction of a wide variety of reducible functionalities. The use of 10% Pd/C and 10% Pd/HP20 allowed the hydrogenation of various reducible functionalities by a single-pass of the substrate–MeOH solution through the catalyst cartridge, while 0.5% Pd/MS3A and 0.3% Pd/BN catalyzed a novel chemoselective hydrogenation; only alkene, alkyne, azide, and nitro functionalities could be reduced with other coexisting reducible functionalities intact.     

One-pot aromatic amination based on carbon–nitrogen coupling reaction between aryl halides and azido compounds

An efficient copper-mediated C–N coupling reaction between various aryl halides and azido compounds to produce the corresponding aromatic primary amines was established. The present amination is apparently involved in both the reduction of an azido functionality to the corresponding primary amino group and its cross-coupling reaction with aryl halides in a one-pot manner. The present amination could be applied to the synthesis of procaine, a local anesthetic drug. A mechanistic study indicated that 2-aminoethanol could work as a major hydrogen donor and the reaction would proceed without the formation of the intermediary aryl azide.     

Biaryl Synthesis by Ring‐Opening Friedel–Crafts Arylation of 1,4‐Epoxy‐1,4‐dihydronaphthalenes Catalyzed by Iron Trichloride

Biaryl and heterobiaryl compounds are important frameworks across a range of fields including pharmaceutical and functional material chemistries. We have accomplished the efficient synthesis of various naphthalene‐linked arenes and heteroarenes as biaryls and heterobiaryls by the FeCl₃‐catalyzed Friedel‐Crafts reactions accompanied by the ring‐opening of the 1,4‐epoxy moiety of 1,4‐epoxy‐1,4‐dihydronaphthalenes. Especially, it is noteworthy that 1‐silylated substrates were regioselectively transformed to the 3‐aryl‐1‐silylnaphthalenes and the double Friedel–Crafts reactions using thiophene derivatives could directly produce the corresponding bis‐naphthlated thiophene derivatives.     

Adsorption of CO on a Pt electrode in acidic solution: Ir-acttve and -inactive CO'S adsorbed in the double-layer region

Carbon monoxide adsorbed on a smooth platinum electrode in the double-layer region was investigated in 1 M HClO₄ solution by using in situ polarization modulation IR reflection spectroscopy and an electrochemical oxidation. From the electrochemical oxidation, the adsorbed CO could be distinguished to be comprised of stable and unstable adsorbed CO's. The unstable adsorbed CO constituted about of the adsorbed CO, and corresponded to linearly adsorbed CO, but the band intensity of the linearly adsorbed CO was not proportional to the amount of unstable adsorbed CO. The stable adsorbed CO constituted about ; it was one-site adsorbed, and was an IR-inactive species. It is presumed that the IR-inactive species is adsorbed on two Pt atoms with the C-O axis parallel to the electrode surface and one of the Pt atoms bound to two CO molecules.     

Comparability of data for natural radionuclides in marine sediment obtained by different analytical techniques

In the paper are presented results of potassium, uranium, thorium and radium measurements performed on the natural marine sediment sample SD-N-1/2 in the framework of the IAEA-organized worldwide intercomparison exercise. Analytical methods applied in this exercise were evaluated for performance and significance of the observed discrepancies are discussed in the light of statistical and operative criteria. Possible sources of error have been identified in alpha and gamma spectrometric measurements and suggestions are given about how to avoid them. Well characterized reference materials based on natural matrices have been shown helpful in achieving better data comparability in low level measurements of environmental radioactivity.     

Efficient and convenient heterogeneous palladium-catalyzed regioselective deuteration at the benzylic position

The Pd/C-catalyzed efficient and regioselective hydrogen-deuterium (H-D) exchange reaction on the benzylic site proceeded in D2O in the presence of a small amount of H2 gas. The use of the Pd/C-ethylenediamine complex [Pd/C(en)] as a catalyst instead of Pd/C led to the efficient deuterium incorporation into the benzylic site of O-benzyl protective groups without hydrogenolysis. These H-D exchange reactions provide a post synthetic and D(2)-gas-free deuterium-labeling method on a wide variety of benzylic sites using D2O as the deuterium source and heterogeneous Pd/C or Pd/C(en) as a reusable heterogeneous palladium catalyst under mild and neutral conditions.