Sputter-deposited ZnO thin films consisting of nano-networks for binder-free dye-sensitized solar cells

ZnO nano-network structures with high porosity were prepared for use in the photoelectrodes of binder-free dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by DC sputtering and subsequent thermal oxidation. Zn thin films prepared at 100 °C showed nano-network structures with high porosity, while those prepared at 25 °C did not. This was partially attributed to the high mobility of sputter-deposited particles that arrived at the surface of the substrate and partially to a supersaturation mechanism. The prepared nano-network Zn was successfully transformed to ZnO without a morphological change via subsequent annealing in air. The power conversion efficiency of DSSCs based on the ZnO nano-network structures exhibited 10 times higher efficiency than those based on ZnO film prepared at 25 °C because of its large surface area for adsorption of dye molecules. The thickness of the ZnO nano-network structures increased linearly at 10 μm h^?1 as a function of sputter time. As the film thickness increased, the power conversion efficiency of DSSCs increased from 1.09% to 1.82%.     

Effect of Ni doping on the phase stability and conductivity of scandia-stabilized zirconia

The effect of Ni doping on the phase stability and conductivity of scandia-stabilized zirconia (SSZ) thick film was studied. A free-standing 10SSZ thick-film (10 mol% Sc₂O₃-stabilized zirconia, ~ 10 μm thick) that was previously in contact with a Ni layer during co-firing was fabricated. The 10SSZ thick-film showed a cubic phase in contrast to the rhombohedral phase shown for a bulk 10SSZ sample. The Ni content in the SSZ thick film was ~ 1.7 mol%. The effect of Ni on the cubic phase formation was also confirmed by the similar observation of the cubic phase in the Ni-doped bulk 10SSZ sample. The observed conductivity behavior also supported the XRD observation. Ni was found to hinder the transformation of the cubic phase to the rhombohedral on cooling in 10SSZ samples after a reduction treatment.     

An old conjecture of Erdos-Turán on additive bases

There is a 1941 conjecture of Erdos and Turán on what is now called additive basis that we restate:

Conjecture 0.1(Erdos and Turán). Suppose that is an increasing sequence of integers and

Suppose that

If 0$"> for all , then is unbounded.

Our main purpose is to show that the sequence cannot be bounded by . There is a surprisingly simple, though computationally very intensive, algorithm that establishes this.

     

Pressure-tunable guided-mode resonance sensor for single-wavelength characterization

A method of tuning a one-dimensional guided-mode resonance grating through the use of an air-pressure-responsive membrane is demonstrated here using finite-element method simulation. The device consists of a titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) grating structure embedded in a flexible polydimethylsiloxane membrane. This grating has a resonant response to TM-polarized light at a wavelength dependent upon the refractive index of the surrounding medium. By varying the pressure by 5500 Pa, lateral strain may be applied to the grating; this allows resonances to be produced for medium refractive indices ranging from 1.33 to 1.50 for a fixed-wavelength 850 nm light source.     

In-Solution Derivatization and Headspace Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry for 56 Carbonyl Compounds in Tobacco Heating Products,Traditional Tobacco Products and Flavoring Capsules

Chromatographia - Optimal derivatization conditions were established for the simultaneous determination of 12 aliphatic saturated aldehydes, 8 aliphatic saturated ketones, 4 cyclic ketones, 3...     

Structure–property relationship in PCL/starch blend compatibilized with starch‐g‐PCL copolymer

The polycaprolactone (PCL)/starch blends were prepared by using the starch‐g‐PCL (SGCL) graft copolymers as compatibilizers, and their mechanical properties were correlated with the compatibilizing effect of the SGCL copolymers having various molecular structures. The modulus and strength of the PCL/starch blend were decreased, whereas the percent elongation and the toughness were increased remarkably with the addition of SGCL having appropriate graft structure. These property changes were analyzed in terms of the PCL crystallinity and the interfacial adhesion between the PCL matrix and starch dispersion phases, which were dominated by the compatibilizing effects of the SGCL copolymers. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2430–2438, 1999     

A Novel Route to the Fused Maleic Anhydride Moiety of CP Molecules

A seven‐step cascade reaction —in which selective mesylation, epoxide formation, epoxide lysis, cyclization, reiterative oxidation, and nitrogen–oxygen exchange occur sequentially—facilitates the construction of the maleic anhydride moiety of CP molecules 1 and 2 (>93% yield per step). Unstable intermediates of this reaction sequence were detected, providing evidence for the proposed mechanism and resulting in the discovery of a new chemical entity.     

Anti‐Inflammatory Activity of a Novel Acetylene Isolated from the Roots of Angelica tenuissima Nakai

Three polyacetylenes, one novel and two known, were isolated from the root of Angelica tenuissima. Using ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, COSY, HMBC, and HMQC, their structures were found to be (3R,8S)‐heptadeca‐1‐en‐4,6‐diyne‐3,8‐diol ( 1 ), falcarindiol ( 2 ), and oplopandiol ( 3 ). Absolute configurations of compound 1 were established using Mosher's esterification. In addition, the polyacetylenes ( 1 – 3 ) were evaluated for their anti‐inflammatory activity. Compounds 1 and 3 showed potent inhibitory activity against lipopolysaccharide‐induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW267.7 macrophage cells with IC₅₀ values of 4.31 and 5.06 μm, respectively. Compound 1 strongly inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)‐2 in a concentration‐dependent manner.     

Electrolysis of Nitric Acid by Using a Glassy Carbon Fiber Column Electrode System

The electrochemical redox behavior of nitric acid was studied using a glassy carbon fiber column electrode system, and its reaction mechanism was suggested and confirmed in several ways. Electrochemical reactions in less than 2.0M nitric acid was not observed. However, in more than 2.0M nitric acid, the reduction of nitric acid to nitrous acid occurred and the reduction rate was slow so that the nitric acid solution had to be in contact with an electrode for a period of time long enough for an apparent reduction current of nitric acid to nitrous acid to be observed. The nitrous acid generated in more than 2.0M nitric acid was rapidly and easily reduced to nitric oxide by an autocatalytic reaction. Sulfamic acid was confirmed to be effective to destroy the nitrous acid. At least 0.05M sulfamic acid was necessary to scavenge the nitrous acid generated in 3.5M nitric acid.     

Co-localization and interaction of human organic anion transporter 4 with caveolin-1 in primary cultured human placental trophoblasts

The human organic anion transporter 4 (hOAT4) has been identified as the fourth isoform of OAT family. hOAT4 contributes to move several negatively charged organic compounds between cells and their extracellular milieu. The functional characteristics and regulatory mechanisms of hOAT4 remain to be elucidated. It is well known that caveolin plays a role in modulating proteins having some biological functions. To address this issue, we investigated the co-localization and interaction between hOAT4 and caveolin-1. hOAT4 and caveolin-1 (mRNA and protein expression) were observed in cultured human placental trophoblasts isolated from placenta. The confocal microscopy of immuno-cytochemistry using primary cultured human trophoblasts showed hOAT4 and caveolin-1 were co-localized at the plasma membrane of the cell. This finding was confirmed by Western blot analysis using isolated caveolae-enriched membrane fractions and immune-precipitates from the trophoblasts. When synthesized cRNA of hOAT4 along with scrambled- or antisense-oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) of Xenopus caveolin-1 were co-injected to Xenopus oocytes, the [3H]estrone sulfate uptake was significantly decreased by the co-injection of antisense ODN but not by scrambled ODN. These findings suggest that hOAT4 and caveolin-1 share a cellular expression in the plasma membrane and caveolin-1 up-regulates the organic anionic compound uptake by hOAT4 under the normal physiological condition.