Improving charge transport in poly(3‐hexylthiophene) transistors via blending with an alkyl‐substituted phenylene–thiophene–thiophene–phenylene molecule

A prototypical semiconducting bicomponent system consisting of a conjugated polymer, that is, poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT), blended with a small thiophene containing conjugated molecule, that is, an alkyl‐substituted bisphenyl‐bithiophene [phenylene–thiophene–thiophene–phenylene (PTTP)], has been used as an electroactive active layer in field‐effect transistors (FETs). The self‐assembly of this bicomponent system at surfaces has been studied at different length scales, from the nanoscale to the macroscale, and compared with the behavior of monocomponent films of PTTP and P3HT. The correlation between morphology and electric properties of the semiconducting material is explored by fabricating prototypes of FETs varying the relative concentrations of the two‐component blend. The maximum charge carrier mobility value, achieved with a few percent of PTTP component, is not simply due to a uniform dispersion of the molecules in the polymer matrix, but rather to the generation of very long percolation paths, whose composition and electrical properties can be tuned with the PTTP concentration. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012     

Monocyclic rod-type liquid crystals; 2,5-dialkanoyloxytropones and 5-alkanoyloxy-2-alkoxytropones

Two kinds of monocyclic troponoid mesogens, 2,5-dialkanoyloxytropones (4) and 5-alkanoyloxy2-alkoxytropones (5), were prepared. The former showed monotropic smectic A phases and the virtual isotropic liquid-smectic A transitions of the latter were determined by extrapolation of results in a binary phase diagram. Comparing the mesogenic properties between the tropones 4 and the 2-alkanoyloxy-5-alkoxytropones (1), the alkanoyloxy group at C-5 enhances both the melting points and the transition temperatures of the smectic A phases. From the comparison between 5 and 1, the alkanoyloxy group at C-2 lowers the melting points.     

The Emerging Use of Quantum Dots in Analysis

Abstract

The optical properties of quantum dots (QDs) have made them attractive materials in diverse fields of application. Since water‐soluble derivatives were obtained, quantum dots have attracted intensive research interest in sensing, diagnosis, imaging, and optical tracking. The analytes that have been targeted span ions, small chemical molecules, proteins, nucleic acids, and cells. The fluorescence of functionalized QDs can be quenched, enhanced, or even ‘switch’ on and off in different cases. However, the mechanisms behind these various responses are not yet all fully understood. This review gives an overview of the emerging use of QDs in analysis. Typical examples, in particular in relation to the discussion on mechanisms are highlighted.     

Direct modulation and optical confinement factor modulation of semiconductor lasers

Abstract

A method for modulation of semiconductor lasers is demonstrated. The method is based on the modulation of the optical confinement factor. Using this method an enhanced—3-dB bandwidth is observed in agreement with the small signal rate equation analysis. A modulation response that drops at high frequencies slower than the conventional direct current modulation response is achieved. This supports the theoretical predictions, showing an intrinsic 1/f decay rate for the optical confinement factor modulation scheme versus an intrinsic 1/f² decay for direct modulation.     

Photoinduced phase transition accompanied with the changes in magnetic properties

Recently, many studies have been started in search for materials which show a photoinduced phase transition (PIPT). In this work, we review two systems as typical examples of PIPT accompanied with changes in magnetic characteristics; (1) organo-metal complex [Fe(2-pic)₃]Cl₂ EtOH (2-pic = 2-amino-methyl-pyridine) and (2) III-V based magnetic semiconductors (In_1-x , Mn _x )As. In the former case, we show several nonlinear characteristics in dynamical process of photoinduced spin state transition from low-spin to high-spin states. In the latter one, photocarrier-induced ferromagnetic order has been observed by both magnetic and transport measurements.     

The effects of Zn vacancies on ferromagnetism in Cu-doped ZnO films controlled by oxygen pressure and Li doping

Zn0.99Cu0.01O films were studied experimentally and theoretically.The films were prepared by pulsed-laser deposi tion on Pt(111)/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates under various oxygen pressures to investigate the growth-dependence of the ferromag netic properties.The structural,magnetic,and optical properties were studied,and it was found that all the samples possess a typical wurtzite structure,and that the films exhibit room-temperature ferromagnetism.The sample deposited at 600℃and an oxygen pressure of 10 Pa showed a large saturation magnetization of 0.83μB/Cu.The enhanced ferromagnetism in the(Cu,Li)-codoped ZnO is attributable to the existence of Zn vacancies(VZn),as shown by first-principles calcu lations.The photoluminescence analysis demonstrated the existence of V Zn in both Zn0.99Cu0.01O and(Cu,Li)-codoped ZnO thin films,and this plays an important role in the increase of ferromagnetism,according to the results of first-principles calculations.     

Magnetomechanical training of single crystalline Ni-Mn-Ga alloy

A 5M Ni-Mn-Ga single crystal was investigated, supplied by Adaptamat Ltd, Finland. Especially low temperature magnetic actuation as well as cyclic tensile-compression tests revealed promising properties, which provide useful insights for training concepts in polycrystalline materials. Successive compressions lead to a significant reduction of the twinning stress by a factor of two.     

Actuation design for high‐performance shape memory polyurethanes

A series of shape memory polyurethanes were synthesized from poly(tetramethylene glycol), 4,4‐methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, and 1,3‐butanediol. The prepolymers with different molecular weights (M_c) were capped with 2‐hydroxyl ethylacrylate or 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and crosslinked by UV curing or a sol–gel reaction. Variations of the crosslinker functionality (f), subchain density (N), and hard segment content (HSC) produced systematic variations of the glass transition temperature (6–45 °C), accompanied by changes in the mechanical, dynamic mechanical and shape memory properties. More than 95% of shape fixity and 98% of shape recovery up to the fourth cycles were obtained with APTES crosslinked 3000M_c with 30% of HSC. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013 , 51, 1473–1479     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Liquid Crystalline Epoxides with Lateral Substituent Showing Imposing Shape Memory Properties

In this work, a series of novel shape memory liquid crystalline (LC) epoxides with lateral substituent were prepared and characterized. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and shape memory testing were used to investigate on the thermo-mechanical properties and shape memory effects of prepared samples. The results showed that the modulus in the rubbery region (E_R ) decreased as the length of lateral alkyl group increases. And more than 95% of the deformation can be fixed as the sample was cooled down below the glass transition temperature (T_g), which was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurement, and can be recovered completely as heating. Effects of the curing agent and substituent on the shape memory behavior were also studied. We found that LC epoxides cured by aromatic diamine have a higher recovery speed. The recovering speeds of the shape memory decreased as the length of lateral alkyl group inscreased. The local ordered structures and the lateral substituent played an important role in shape memory effects.     

碳纳米管制备蓝光石墨烯量子点及其在柔性有机存储器上的应用

通过化学裁剪法打开碳纳米管获得了粒径一致、性能稳定、具有蓝色荧光的石墨烯量子点。该方法属于化学溶液法，具有成本低廉、工艺简单、条件易控等优势。将该样品与半导体聚合物按一定比例混溶，通过旋涂技术形成基于石墨烯量子点掺杂的聚合物复合薄膜，进而制成柔性存储器。该柔性可弯曲存储器具有低驱动电压、接近10³的ON/OFF 比率、较好的循环次数，较好的重复性和稳定性。该研究结果为柔性有机存储器领域的研究展开了新的方向。