Structural and functional stabilities of artificially designed DNA ultra-thin films grown by silica Assistance

We report the structural and functional stabilities of artificially synthesized DNA ultra-thin films. Fully covered DNA ultra-thin films on a silica substrate were fabricated by the silica-assisted growth method and those samples were then incubated in various chemicals and physical conditions. The DNA ultra-thin films showed high maintainability under those harsh conditions and these results would aid to facilitate the use of artificial DNA ultra-thin films in advanced research areas such as biophotonics and bioelectronics.     

Molecular and morphological characterization of midblock‐sulfonated styrenic triblock copolymers

Midblock‐sulfonated triblock copolymers afford a desirable opportunity to generate network‐forming amphiphilic materials that are suitable for use in a wide range of emerging technologies as fuel‐cell, water‐desalination, ion‐exchange, photovoltaic, or electroactive membranes. Employing a previously reported synthetic strategy wherein poly(p‐tert‐butylstyrene) remains unreactive, we have selectively sulfonated the styrenic midblock of a poly(p‐tert‐butylstyrene‐b‐styrene‐b‐p‐tert‐butylstyrene) (TST) triblock copolymer to different extents. Comparison of the resulting sulfonated copolymers with results from our prior study provides favorable quantitative agreement and suggests that a shortened reaction time is advantageous. An ongoing challenge regarding the morphological development of charged block copolymers is the competition between microphase separation of the incompatible blocks and physical cross‐linking of ionic clusters, with the latter often hindering the former. Here, we expose the sulfonated TST copolymers to solvent‐vapor annealing to promote nanostructural refinement. The effect of such annealing on morphological characteristics, as well as on molecular free volume, is explored. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 490–497     

采用金属有机骨架材料M(HBTC)(4,4'-bipy)·3DMF(M=Ni,Co,Zn)催化CO_2与环氧丙烷的环加成反应（英文）

采用溶剂热法合成了三种M(HBTC)(4,4’-bipy)·3DMF(M=Ni,Co,Zn,HBTC=1,3,5-均苯三甲酸,4,4’-bipy=4,4′-联吡啶)结构的支柱层金属有机骨架材料(MOFs).首次采用溶剂热和微波法合成了Zn(HBTC)(4,4’-bipy)·3DMF,并采用多种物理化学方法对其进行了表征.M(HBTC)(4,4’-bipy)·3DMF中包含有M2+离子的蜂窝网格层和BTC单元,BTC单元与4,4’-联吡啶柱进一步交联形成三维多孔骨架材料.在采用烷基铵卤化物作为助催化剂和无溶剂的条件下,所有MOFs材料均对催化固定CO_2与环氧化合物环加成制备环状碳酸酯反应表现出非常好的协同催化性能,其催化活性高低顺序为:ZnCoNi,这可通过酸-碱双功能特性进行解释.采用微波法合成的Zn(HBTC)(4,4’-bipy)·3DMF材料表现出与常规催化剂相似的物理化学性质和催化性能.考察了不同制备参数的影响和材料的重复使用性能,并提出了该反应的可能机理     

Conjugated polymer‐functionalized graphite oxide sheets thin films for enhanced photovoltaic properties of polymer solar cells

In this study, the maleimide‐thiophene copolymer‐functionalized graphite oxide sheets (PTM21‐GOS) and carbon nanotubes (PTM21‐CNT) were developed for polymer solar cell (PSC) applications. The grafting of PTM21‐OH onto the CNT and GO sheets was confirmed using FTIR spectroscopy. PTM21‐CNT and PTM21‐GOS exhibited excellent dispersal behavior in organic solvents. Better thermal stability was observed for PTM21‐CNT and PTM21‐GOS as compared with that for PTM21‐OH. In addition, the optical band gaps of PTM21‐GOS and PTM21‐CNT were lower than that of PTM21‐OH. We incorporated PTM21‐GOS and PTM21‐CNT individually into poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/[6,6]‐phenyl‐C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blends for use as photoconversion layers of PSCs. Good distributional homogeneity was observed for PTM21‐GOS or PTM21‐CNT in the P3HT/PCBM blend film. The UV–vis absorption peaks of the blend films red‐shifted slightly upon increasing the content of PTM21‐GOS or PTM21‐CNT. The band gap energies and LUMO/HOMO energy levels of the P3HT/PTM21‐GOS and P3HT/PTM21‐CNT blend films were slightly lower than those of the P3HT film. The conjugated polymer‐functionalized PTM21‐GOS and PTM21‐CNT behaved as efficient electron acceptors and as charge‐transport assisters when incorporated into the photoactive layers of the PSCs. PV performance of the PSCs was enhanced after incorporating PTM21‐GOS or PTM21‐CNT in the P3HT/PCBM blend. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2013     

Colorizing mechanism of brass surface by femtosecond laser induced microstructures

In this paper, we exhibit the colorizing of brass surfaces by forming femtosecond laser induced microstructures on the sample surfaces. A variety of single colors such as brown, yellow, green, and black are introduced on brass surfaces by engineering periodic microgratings, microholes, and ring-shaped micro-patterns using Single Beam Direct Laser Writing (SBDLW) technique. The color of the micro-structured brass surfaces is certainly dependent on the width, depth, and period of the microstructures. Finally, we explain, in brief, the colorizing mechanism of metals by femtosecond laser induced microstructures.     

Migration of indium ions in amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide thin film transistors

Electromigration of In in amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide thin film transistors under repeated switching operation was investigated by analyzing the distribution of component elements. During the repeated switching operations up to 300 times, threshold voltage of this device increased gradually implying alteration to the internal device structures. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed noticeable redistribution of metallic components, especially In, in the channel layer beneath the source electrode during switching operations by the migration of metallic ions away from the source electrode, which is attributed to electromigrations similar to those observed in organic light emitting diodes having indium tin oxide electrodes.     

Molecular Recognition in Glycolaldehyde,the Simplest Sugar: Two Isolated Hydrogen Bonds Win Over One Cooperative Pair

Carbohydrates are used in nature as molecular recognition tools. Understanding their conformational behavior upon aggregation helps in rationalizing the way in which cells and bacteria use sugars to communicate. Here, the simplest α-hydroxy carbonyl compound, glycolaldehyde, was used as a model system. It was shown to form compact polar C₂-symmetric dimers with intermolecular O–H⋅⋅⋅O=C bonds, while sacrificing the corresponding intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Supersonic jet infrared (IR) and Raman spectra combined with high-level quantum chemical calculations provide a consistent picture for the preference over more typical hydrogen bond insertion and addition patterns. Experimental evidence for at least one metastable dimer is presented. A rotational spectroscopy investigation of these dimers is encouraged, also in view of astrophysical searches. The binding motif competition of aldehydic sugars might play a role in chirality recognition phenomena of more complex derivatives in the gas phase.     

Synthesis and proton conductivity of sulfonated,multi‐phenylated poly(arylene ether)s

A series of sterically‐encumbered, sulfonated, poly(arylene ether) copolymers were synthesized and their proton conductivity examined. The series was prepared by copolymerizing a novel monomer, 2″,3″,5″,6″‐tetraphenyl‐[1,1′:4',1″:4″,1″':4″',1″″‐quinquephenyl]‐4,4″″‐diol, with 4,4'‐difluorobenzophenone and bisphenol A. Subsequent sulfonation and solution casting provided membranes possessing ion exchange capacities of 1.9 to 2.7 mmol/g and excellent mechanical properties (Young's modulus, 0.2–1.2 GPa; tensile strength, 35–70 MPa; elongation at break, 62–231%). Water uptake ranged from 34 to 98 wt% at 80 °C/100% RH. Proton conductivities ranged between 0.24 to 16 mS/cm at 80 °C/60% RH, and 3 to 167 mS/cm at 80 °C/95% RH. TEM analysis of the polymers, in the dehydrated state, revealed isolated spherical aggregates of ions, which presumably coalesce when hydrated to provide highly conductive pathways. The strategy of using highly‐encumbered polymer frameworks for the design of mechanically‐robust and dimensionally‐stable proton conducting membranes is demonstrated. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 2579‐2587