Investigation on the stress behavior of cellulose acetate and the development of highly moisture‐resistant optical films for display devices

An optical film with high optical anisotropy was prepared by the stretching of a cellulose acetate film and the consequential orienting of a retardation‐enhancing additive. The change in retardation in response to moisture absorption was explored and it was found that the degree of the retardation variation is strongly related to the stretching temperature. Stress generated by the stretching and its relaxation was systematically investigated to elucidate the effect of stretching temperature on the irreversible change in retardation upon moisture absorption. The results show that the magnitude of releasable stress plays an important role in controlling changes in optical properties. In addition, the difference in the deformation behavior between glassy and rubbery states should be taken into account in the development of a moisture‐resistant optical film. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 1470–1478     

Colorimetric determination of Cu2+ in simulated wastewater using naphthalimide-based Schiff base

A new Cu²⁺-selective colorimetric sensor was developed by combining the chromophore 3-hydroxynaphthalimide with diaminomaleonitrile. The sensor showed Cu²⁺-selective colorimetric signaling behavior in dimethylsulfoxide, indicated by a solution color change from yellow to pink, which was readily discernible without any external devices. Practical application of the sensor to the detection of Cu²⁺ in an aqueous solution containing other environmentally relevant metal ions by selective two-phase liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate was possible. Particularly, extractive signaling of Cu²⁺ in simulated semiconductor wastewater with a readily-usable smartphone as a colorimetric data capture and analysis tool was successfully conducted.     

Recent progresses on solution-processed silver nanowire based transparent conducting electrodes for organic solar cells

Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) are considered as a future alternative for conventional silicon based solar cells, owing to their low cost, ease of production and high-throughput. The transparent conducting electrode (TCE) is a fundamental component of OPVs. Traditionally, indium tin oxide (ITO) has been mainly utilized as a TCE in OPV applications due to its relatively high transparency and low sheet resistance. However, increasing demand for the optoelectronic devices has led to large fluctuations in ITO prices in the past decade and ITO is known to account more than 50% of the total cost of OPV devices. Thus, it is believed that development of solution-processable alternative materials is of great importance in reducing the cost of OPVs. Numerous materials, including silver nanowires, carbon nanotubes, graphene and conducting polymers, have been offered as replacements for ITO. This article reviews recent progress on fabrication of TCE via solution based coating techniques of silver nanowires (Ag NWs). In addition, performance of the Ag NWs based TCE in OPVs is summarized. Finally, we explore the future outlook for Ag NWs based TCE at the end of the review.     

Mechanical and electrical response variation of the polyurethane–tin oxide–carbon nanotube composite microfiber depending on the chemical solution

Toward the goal of smart sensor systems for wearable electronics, polymer microfiber‐based free‐standing sensors benefit from excellent flexibility, decent ductility, and easy wearability in comparison with thin‐film‐based sensing devices. Herein, we report a hydrophobic and conducting single‐strand microfiber‐based liquid‐phase chemical sensor consisting of polyurethane (PU), tin oxide (SnO₂), and carbon nanotube (CNT) composites with applying a (1H,1H,2H,2H‐heptadecafluorodec‐1‐yl) phosphonic acid (HDF‐PA)‐based self‐assembled monolayer. The free‐standing HDF‐PA‐treated PU–SnO₂–CNT composite microfiber showing selective filtering properties with the repellency of water and the penetration of an organic solvent is electrically and mechanically characterized. Finally, the single‐strand HDF‐PA‐treated PU–SnO₂–CNT composite microfiber‐based chemical sensor, which shows excellent mechanical properties and aqueous stability, is demonstrated to detect the presence of a chemical in pure water or counterfeit gasoline in pure gasoline by observing mechanical changes, especially variations in the length and diameter of the fiber, and monitoring the electrical resistance change. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 495–502     

Synthesis and Evaluation of Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine Analogues of the ZSTK474 Class of Phosphatidylinositol 3‐Kinase Inhibitors

Using a scaffold‐hopping approach, imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine analogues of the ZSTK474 (benzimidazole) class of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) inhibitors have been synthesized for biological evaluation. Compounds were prepared using a heteroaryl Heck reaction procedure, involving the palladium‐catalysed coupling of 2‐(difluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines with chloro, iodo or trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy (trifloxy) substituted 1,3,5‐triazines or pyrimidines, with the iodo intermediates being preferred in terms of higher yields and milder reaction conditions. The new compounds maintain the PI3K isoform selectivity of their benzimidazole analogues, but in general show less potency.     

Ketalizations of aryl ω-(2-imidazolyl)alkyl ketones by glycerol and 3-mercapto-1,2-propanediol. synthesis and characterization of cis- and trans-{2-aryl-2-[ω-(2-imidazolyl)alkyl](1,3-dioxolan-4-yl and 1,3-oxathiolan-5-yl)}methanols

Aryl 2-[(2-imidazolyl)ethyl or 3-(2-imidazolyl)propyl]ketones were ketalized by glycerol or 3-mercapto-1,2-propanediol in boiling benzene in the presence of 4-toluenesulfonic acid to provide the title compounds. The aryl substituents are 4-chloro-, 4-bromo-, 4-fluoro-, or 2,4-dichlorophenyl. While aryl (2-imidazolyl)methyl ketones condensed with glycerol to form cis- and trans-{2-aryl-2-[(2-imidazolyl)methyl]-4-(hydroxymethyl)}-1,3-dioxolanes, related condensations with 3-mercapto-1,2-propanediol, under similar, or even more stringent reaction conditions, produced no 1,3-oxathiolane analogs, with the starting ketones being recovered. Separation and structure determination of these racemic cis and trans isomeric products are described. The structure of these stereoisomers was established by means of ¹H and ¹³C nmr correlation and nOe experiments. Selective methylation of the N-unsubstituted 2-imidazolyl alcohols with one equivalent sodium hydride and methyl iodide provided the corresponding N-methyl alcohols in excellent yields. With excess benzoyl chloride, N-unsubstituted 2-imidazolyl alcohols were initially converted to O, N-dibenzoates from which the N-benzoyl group was easily cleaved by ammonium hydroxide in ethanol to provide benzoate esters.     

Superior electro-optical performance in vertically aligned liquid crystal devices based on aluminum oxide films

We achieved vertically aligned (VA) liquid crystals (LCs) on aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) films deposited via e-beam evaporation using a rubbing treatment. Uniform and vertical LC alignment was achieved and high thermal stability was obtained using these substrates. By analyzing measurements from optical retardations, we confirm that the LC orientation is adjustable using rubbing treatment. The superior electro-optical characteristics of the VA cells based on Al₂O₃ films are measured and compared with those based on polyimide layers, indicating that this approach will allow the fabrication of high-performance, advanced LC displays using a conventional rubbing process.     

Synthesis and evaluation of triphenylphosphonium conjugated 18F-labeled silica nanoparticles for PET imaging

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Accumulation of triphenylphosphonium (TPP) is normally observed in the mitochondria from the extracellular spaces due to the high difference in...     

Applicability of in situ detectors for radiological assessment of strontium-90 in rivers and lakes

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - An in situ detector for radiological assessments of strontium-90 (90Sr) in river and lake water is developed, based on a CaF2(Eu) scintillator,...     

Application of p-TSA in the one pot synthesis of N-methyl-3-nitro-aryl-benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-2-amine

A simple, efficient, eco-friendly, and cost-effective method has been developed for the synthesis of N-methyl-3-nitro-aryl-benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-2-amine derivatives using 2-aminobenzimidazole, aldehydes and (E)-N-methyl-1-(methylthio)-2-nitroethenamine, in the presence of catalytic amount of p-toluenesulfonic acid (p-TSA) in ethanol at 80?°C conditions. The advantages of this method are the use of an inexpensive and readily available catalyst, shorter reaction times, a wide range of functional group tolerance, and high yield of products via a simple experimental and work-up procedure.