Thermal Hysteresis Accompanying Incommensurate-Commensurate Phase Transition in Mixed Crystals (K1-xCsx)2ZnCl4

The mixed crystal (K_1-xCs_x)₂ZnCl₄ with x = 0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, and 0.2 with optical quality has been grown by the Czochralski method. Using the Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), we determined the amount of Cs ion included in the mixed crystal. By using of DTA and DSC, we observed the change of T_c and T_i. The thermal hysteresis in the dielectric constants show strong dependence on the thermal process and on the amount of impurity which are explained by the influence of the thermal process and impurity, respectively on the creation, annihilation, and growth of discommensuration (DC).     

Cerium vanadate/carbon nanotube hybrid composite nanostructures as a high-performance anode material for lithium-ion batteries

The pristine CeVO4 and CeVO4/CNT hybrid composite nanostructured samples were facilely synthesized using a simple silicone oil-bath method.From the X-ray diffra...     

Efficient deep blue organic light emitting diodes based on [2,7,7,13,13-pentamethyl-9-(10-phenylanthracen-9-yl)-7,13-dihydrobenzo[5,6]-s-indaceno[1,2-g]quinoline] derivatives

Abstract

In this study, as the ongoing effort to develop efficient blue OLEDs, two deep blue emitters based on indenoquinoline-substituted anthracene derivatives have been synthesized and characterized. Multilayer organic light emitting diodes were fabricated with the following sequence: indium-tin-oxide (ITO)/4,4’,4’’-tris[2-naphthyl(phenyl)amino (2-TNATA)/4,4’-bis(N-(1-naphthyl)-N-phenylamino) biphenyl (NPB)/Blue emitting materials/Bathophenanthroline (Bphen)/lithium quinolate (Liq)/Al. All the devices showed efficient blue emissions. Particularly, a device using ‘2,7,7,13,13-pentamethyl-9-(10-phenylanthracen-9-yl)?7,13-dihydrobenzo[5,6]-s-indaceno[1,2-g] quinoline’ as an emitter showed a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 4.92% with the Commission Internationale De L’Énclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.15, 0.10) at 8.0?V.     

Fabrication of Pre-tilted Vertical Alignment Layers for High-Speed Liquid Crystal Display Using Bi-functional Photoreactive Monomers

Abstract

To enable recent 3D and moving picture applications, liquid crystal displays (LCD) must exhibit fast response and wide viewing angle characteristics. Pre-tilted vertical alignment layers for high-speed LCD were fabricated using bi-functional photoreactive monomers. The monomers can be confined to the polyimide layer and photo-polymerized by UV exposure under voltage. Response characteristics of photo-controlled alignment films according to the structure were investigated. Vertical alignment properties were evaluated using a polarizing optical microscope, and electro-optical characteristics were compared through the voltage-transmittance curve and response time measurement. Faster response speed could be obtained by using photoreactive monomers having a long alkyl chain.     

Blue electroluminescent materials based on indeno[1,2-a]arene derivatives for Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

Abstract

In this study, as a continuous effort for searching efficient blue-emitting materials, we designed and synthesized materials based on indeno[1,2-a]arene. OLED devices using these materials were fabricated in the following sequence; ITO (180?nm)/N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-(2-napthyl)-(1,1'-phenyl)-4,4'-diamine (NPB) (50?nm)/emitting materials (30?nm)/4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (Bphen) (30?nm)/Liq/Al (2/100?nm). Particularly, a device using 7,7-dimethyl-7H-indeno[1,2-a]pyrene as emitter showed maximum values of luminous efficiency, power efficiency, and external quantum efficiency of 1.10?cd/A, 0.49?lm/W, 1.47% at 20?mA/cm², respectively with CIE (x,y) coordinates of (0.15, 0.08) at 6.0V.     

Anti-Hair Loss Effect of Adenosine Is Exerted by cAMP Mediated Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway Stimulation via Modulation of Gsk3β Activity in Cultured Human Dermal Papilla Cells

In the present study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of adenosine for its hair growth promoting effect. Adenosine stimulated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by modulating the activity of Gsk3β in cultured human dermal papilla cells. It also activated adenosine receptor signaling, increasing intracellular cAMP level, and subsequently stimulating the cAMP mediated cellular energy metabolism. The phosphorylation of CREB, mTOR, and GSK3β was increased. Furthermore, the expression of β-catenin target genes such as Axin2, Lef1, and growth factors (bFGF, FGF7, IGF-1) was also enhanced. The inhibitor study data conducted in Wnt reporter cells and in cultured human dermal papilla cells demonstrated that adenosine stimulates Wnt/β-catenin signaling through the activation of the adenosine receptor and Gsk3β plays a critical role in transmitting the signals from the adenosine receptor to β-catenin, possibly via the Gαs/cAMP/PKA/mTOR signaling cascade.     

Entropy Could Quantify Brain Activation Induced by Mechanical Impedance-Restrained Active Arm Motion: A Functional NIRS Study

Brain activation has been used to understand brain-level events associated with cognitive tasks or physical tasks. As a quantitative measure for brain activation, we propose entropy in place of signal amplitude and beta value, which are widely used, but sometimes criticized for their limitations and shortcomings as such measures. To investigate the relevance of our proposition, we provided 22 subjects with physical stimuli through elbow extension-flexion motions by using our exoskeleton robot, measured brain activation in terms of entropy, signal amplitude, and beta value; and compared entropy with the other two. The results show that entropy is superior, in that its change appeared in limited, well established, motor areas, while signal amplitude and beta value changes appeared in a widespread fashion, contradicting the modularity theory. Entropy can predict increase in brain activation with task duration, while the other two cannot. When stimuli shifted from the rest state to the task state, entropy exhibited a similar increase as the other two did. Although entropy showed only a part of the phenomenon induced by task strength, it showed superiority by showing a decrease in brain activation that the other two did not show. Moreover, entropy was capable of identifying the physiologically important location.     

Soft‐Chemical Exfoliation Route to Layered Cobalt Oxide Monolayers and Its Application for Film Deposition and Nanoparticle Synthesis

A colloidal suspension of exfoliated, layered cobalt oxide nanosheets has been synthesized through the intercalation of quaternary tetramethylammonium ions into protonated lithium cobalt oxide. According to atomic force microscopy, exfoliated nanosheets of layered cobalt oxide show a plateau‐like height profile with nanometer‐level height, underscoring the formation of unilamellar 2D nanosheets. The exfoliation of layered cobalt oxide was cross‐confirmed by X‐ray diffraction, UV/Vis spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The maintenance of the hexagonal in‐plane structure of the cobalt oxide lattice after the exfoliation process was evidenced by selected‐area electron diffraction and Co K‐edge X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure analysis. The zeta‐potential measurements clearly demonstrated the negative surface charge of cobalt oxide nanosheets. Adopting the nanosheets of layered cobalt oxide as a precursor, we were able to prepare the monodisperse CoO nanocrystals with a particle size of ≈10 nm as well as the heterolayered film composed of cobalt oxide monolayer and polycation.     

Synthesis and size control of monodisperse copper nanoparticles by polyol method

We describe herein the synthesis of metallic copper nanoparticles in the presence of poly(vinylpyrrolidone), employed as a protecting agent, via a polyol method in ambient atmosphere. The obtained copper particles were confirmed by XRD to be crystalline copper with a face-centered cubic (fcc) structure. We observed monodisperse spherical copper nanoparticles with a diameter range 45+/-8 nm. The particle size and its distribution are controlled by varying the synthesis parameters such as the reducing agent concentration, reaction temperature, and precursor injection rate. The precursor injection rate plays an important role in controlling the size of the copper nanoparticles. On the basis of XPS and HRTEM results, we demonstrate that the surface of the copper is surrounded by amorphous CuO and that poly(vinylpyrrolidone) is chemisorbed on the copper surface.