Boron(iii) β-diketonate-based small molecules for functional non-fullerene polymer solar cells and organic resistive memory devices

A class of acceptor–donor–acceptor chromophoric small-molecule non-fullerene acceptors, 1–4, with difluoroboron(iii) β-diketonate (BF₂bdk) as the electron-accepting moiety has been developed. Through the variation of the central donor unit and the modification on the peripheral substituents of the terminal BF₂bdk acceptor unit, their photophysical and electrochemical properties have been systematically studied. Taking advantage of their low-lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy levels (from −3.65 to −3.72 eV) and relatively high electron mobility (7.49 × 10⁻⁴ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹), these BF₂bdk-based compounds have been employed as non-fullerene acceptors in organic solar cells with maximum power conversion efficiencies of up to 4.31%. Moreover, bistable resistive memory characteristics with charge-trapping mechanisms have been demonstrated in these BF₂bdk-based compounds. This work not only demonstrates for the first time the use of a boron(iii) β-diketonate unit in constructing non-fullerene acceptors, but also provides more insights into designing organic materials with multi-functional properties.

Boron(iii) β-diketonates have been demonstrated to serve as multi-functional materials in NFA-based OPVs and organic resistive memories.     

Evaluating generalized predictive control for a brushless DC drive

This paper proposes a new control approach for a brushless DC motor drive using the generalized predictive control (GPC) algorithm. Based on the same least-squares framework as in the controller design, we further develop the method to design an observer. The GPC algorithm uses the receding horizon approach whereby the control signals are determined by minimizing a quadratic cost function. Our study shows that the rise time and settling time of the servo system have an approximate linear relationship with the prediction horizon. Thus, it is used to tune the controller of the drive. Moreover, the control weighting factor can be used to smooth the controller output. The proposed algorithm has been implemented using a digital signal processor (DSP) and tested in real time with a prototype system. The performance and robustness of the algorithms have been evaluated both in simulation and experiment. The results show that the drive performs reasonably well despite load changes and step changes in the position setpoint. Furthermore, it is fairly robust against motor parameters change     

2‐Amino‐4‐chloro‐6‐[N‐methyl‐N‐(4‐methylphenyl)amino]pyrimidine: formation versus fragmentation of hydrogen‐bonded chains of edge‐fused R22(8) rings in 4,6‐disubstituted 2‐aminopyrimidines

Molecules of the title compound, C₁₂H₁₃ClN₄, are linked by two independent N—H...N hydrogen bonds into a chain of edge‐fused R₂²(8) rings. The significance of this study lies in its attempt to rationalize the patterns of supramolecular aggregation in the title compound and in a range of analogous 4,6‐disubstituted 2‐aminopyrimidines.     

An efficient algorithm for the minimum cost min-max load terminal assignment problem

One of the main issues to be addressed in topological design of centralized networks is that of assigning terminals to concentrators in such a way that each terminal is assigned to one (and only one) concentrator and the total number of terminals assigned to any concentrator (which is referred to as load in this paper) does not overload that concentrator, i.e. is within the concentrator's capacity. Under these constraints, an assignment with the lowest possible cost is sought. An assignment of terminals to concentrators which minimizes the maximum load among the concentrators (which qualitatively represents congestion at some hot spots in a network service area) is referred to as a min-max load assignment. In this paper, we consider the problem of finding a min-max load assignment with the-lowest cost. We call this problem the Minimum Cost Min-Max Load Terminal Assignment Problem (MCMLTAP). We present an algorithm for MCMLTAP and prove that the problem is optimally solvable in polynomial time using our proposed algorithm.     

Coordinating Agents in Shop Floor Environments From a Dynamic Systems Perspective

In this paper, we address agent coordination from a dynamic systems perspective and propose a dynamic coordination model, which is inspired by biological metabolic systems. A new coordination mechanism through dynamic local adjustment (CDLA) is presented, and coordination is achieved when every agent utilizes explicitly the global system dynamics and performs iteratively a dynamic local adjustment procedure. The CDLA mechanism is investigated in an example multiagent shop floor system. The results show that the example manufacturing process is well-coordinated and the coordination approach is practically applicable and effective     

Moisture barrier of AlxOy coating on poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(ethylene naphthalate) and poly(carbonate) substrates

The moisture barrier property of Al_xO_y coated poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(ethylene naphthalate) (PEN) and poly(carbonate) (PC), have been investigated. The differences in the morphology of the Al_xO_y sputtered grown on these substrate were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The initial growth of the Al_xO_y followed closely the topology of the substrate and an amplified roughness was observed. In the fully grown Al_xO_y, the comparative roughness followed that of the substrates. It has been found that a single layer Al_xO_y improved the moisture barrier of PET by an order of magnitude, PC by two orders of magnitude while no improvement was observed for PEN. UV-ozone treatment on PC further improved the moisture barrier, while no improvement was observed for PET and PEN. The comparative effects of the substrate surface roughness and surface energy on the moisture barrier are discussed.     

Immersive electronic books for surgical training

Immersive electronic books (IEBooks) for surgical training will let surgeons explore previous surgical procedures in 3D. The authors describe the techniques and tools for creating a preliminary IEBook, embodying some of the basic concepts.     

3‐(3‐Oxo‐1,3‐dihydroisobenzofuran‐1‐ylidene)pentane‐2,4‐dione

In the title compound, C₁₃H₁₀O₄, prepared by the condensation reaction between phthalic anhydride and pentane‐2,4‐dione, one of the acetyl groups in the pentane‐2,4‐dione fragment is almost coplanar with the isobenzofuran ring system, while the other group is twisted out of this plane by almost 80°. The corresponding C—C and C—O distances in the two acetyl units are consistent with dipolar delocalization into the coplanar unit only. There is no supramolecular aggregation of the molecules, but a number of rather short intermolecular contacts of C—H...O, O...O and O...C types occur.