The photovoltaic effect in poly(p-phenylene-2,3′-bis(3,2′-diphenyl)-quinoxaline-7-7′-diyl)

We have investigated the photovoltaic properties of poly( p-phenylene-2,3′-bis(3,2′-diphenyl)-quinoxaline-7-7′-diyl) (PPQ) in sandwich structure devices. This polymer contains electron deficient quinoxaline moieties that are expected to give rise to a high electron affinity and to the possibility of good electron transport properties. The spectral response of the photocurrent shows qualitatively that the electron mobility is higher than the hole mobility in PPQ. The quantum efficiency of the short-circuit photocurrent is, however, small, namely only 1.7 × 10⁻⁵% under 10 mW illumination at 420 nm. Doping with tetra(1-dimethylamino-phenyl)-ethynylene (TDPE) increases the quantum efficiency of the short-circuit current to 4 × 10^-4%, probably due to enhanced exciton dissociation. Even with the TDPE dopant, the limiting factor for the photocurrent appears to be charge transport to the contacts.     

Dithieno[3,2‐b:2′,3′‐d]pyrrol Fused Nonfullerene Acceptors Enabling Over 13% Efficiency for Organic Solar Cells

A new electron‐rich central building block, 5,5,12,12‐tetrakis(4‐hexylphenyl)‐indacenobis‐(dithieno[3,2‐b:2′,3′‐d]pyrrol) (INP), and two derivative nonfullerene acceptors (INPIC and INPIC‐4F) are designed and synthesized. The two molecules reveal broad (600–900 nm) and strong absorption due to the satisfactory electron‐donating ability of INP. Compared with its counterpart INPIC, fluorinated nonfullerene acceptor INPIC‐4F exhibits a stronger near‐infrared absorption with a narrower optical bandgap of 1.39 eV, an improved crystallinity with higher electron mobility, and down‐shifted highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy levels. Organic solar cells (OSCs) based on INPIC‐4F exhibit a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.13% and a relatively low energy loss of 0.54 eV, which is among the highest efficiencies reported for binary OSCs in the literature. The results demonstrate the great potential of the new INP as an electron‐donating building block for constructing high‐performance nonfullerene acceptors for OSCs.     

Mesogenic lanthanoid metal complexes of a non-mesogenic Schiff-base, N,N′-di-(4-hexadecyloxysalicylidene)-l′,8′-diamino-3′,6′-dioxaoctane

A non-mesogenic Schiff-base, N,N′-di-(4-hexadecyloxysalicylidene)-l′,8′-diamino-3′,6′-dioxaoctane, H₂dhdsdd (H₂L²), was synthesized, structure studied by elemental analyses and mass, NMR and IR spectra and ligated to some Ln^III metal ions that yielded mesogenic (SmA/N) Ln^III complexes of the general composition, [Ln₂(L²H₂)₃(NO₃)₄](NO₃)₂, where Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy and Ho. IR and NMR spectral data imply a bi-dentate bonding of the Schiff-base in its zwitterionic form (as L²H₂) to the Ln^III ions through two phenolate oxygens, rendering the overall geometry around Ln^III to distorted mono-capped octahedron.     

Spectral characterization of electroluminescent devices containing functionalized dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine complexes

A series of functionalized dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine complexes with copper(I), rhenium(I), ruthenium(II) and iridium(III) have been synthesized and used as dopants in OLEDs. The ruthenium-based complexes are the most efficient appearing blue in colour, the copper complexes give devices that appear white in emission. In most cases the emission colour is a mixture of emission from the metal complex and from the matrix (PVK).     

Retransformation (α′→γ) kinetics of strain induced martensite in 304 stainless steel

Coupons of austenitic 304 stainless steel (γ) were transformed to approximately 90% martensite (α′) and 10% austenite by rolling at 77 K. Subsequently the reverse α′→γ transformation was instigated by heating the coupons to 680°C. The retransformation was monitored, in situ, by dilatometry and neutron Bragg edge diffraction (BED). Results from the two techniques show good agreement and suggest that the transformation kinetics are best described by two Avrami exponents, n=2.5 and n=0.2 respectively. A limited discussion of the lattice parameter evolution during the transformation is included. Possible mechanisms for growth dynamics and stress relaxation are discussed.     

Memory effect in a junction-like CdS nanocomposite/conducting polymer poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)1,4-phenylene-vinylene] heterostructure

The operation of a nonvolatile memory device is demonstrated using junction-like CdS nanocomposites embedded in a polymer matrix. The capacitance-voltage characteristics of Al/conducting polymer poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene-vinylene]/CdS nanocomposites in a polyvinyl alcohol matrix/indium tin oxide device exhibit hysteresis, which is attributed to the trapping, storage, and emission of holes in the quantized valence band energy levels of isolated CdS nanoneedles. The characteristics at different operating frequencies show that the hysteresis is due to trapping of charge carriers in CdS nanocomposites rather than in the interfacial states. The memory behavior in the inorganic/organic heterostructure is explained on the basis of a simple energy band diagram.     

Berechnung des (420)-Reflexprofiles einer γ′-Fe4N1−x-Schicht mit Säulenstruktur und Dehnungsrelaxation

Calculation of the (420)-reflection profile of a γ′-Fe₄N_1?x layer with columnar structure and strain relaxation A couple of surface treatments and thin film deposition methods lead to strained layers and columnar layer structure. Within the columns strain relaxation outwards along the column radius occurs. This relaxation causes asymmetrical broadening of X-ray reflections. A method is introduced, to calculate the reflection profiles of layers with columnar structure and strain relaxation. The possibility of a comparison between a calculated and a measured profile for the determination of the average column radius and the relaxation is discussed.