A PSS‐Free PEDOT Conductive Film Supported by a Hierarchical Nanoporous Layer Glass

The importance of transparent conductive film is increasing due to its use in applications such as touch‐panel devices. Although indium tin oxide is widely used because of its high conductivity and transparency, conductive polymers are being studied as alternative materials that avoid the use of rare metals and the brittleness associated with existing systems. Polyethylene dioxythiophene (PEDOT)/polyethylene sulfonic acid (PSS) is drawing a lot of attention due to its well‐balanced conductivity, transparency, film formability, and chemical stability. The nonconductive PSS reportedly covers the conductive PEDOT. The PSS shell provides carrier and film‐formability to PEDOT but is also a barrier that hinders electrical conductivity. Therefore, the PEDOT film formability is explored supported by a substrate without the addition of PSS. The “hierarchical nanoporous layer glass” holds the PSS‐free PEDOT with its nanopores to form a homogeneous, transparent film. The PSS‐free PEDOT film thus achieves transparency of over 85% and resistivity of below 500 Ω sq^?1.     

Preparation of poly(thiophene-alt-pyrrole) bearing chiral LC group

ABSTRACT

Preparation of poly(thiophene-alt-pyrrole bearing mesogen) was carried out with Migita–Kosugi–Stille coupling type polycondensation with an aid of Pd(0) complex catalyst. The resultant polymer shows lyotropic liquid crystallinity with good film-forming property. The smectic fan-shaped texture is maintained after completion of evaporation of solvent from the polymer solution. The cast film having liquid crystal (LC) order shows light emission function upon irradiation of excitation light at 460 nm. The polymer shows LC domain emission. Mechanical orientation allows to yield LC domain aligned film with band structure. Chiral mesogenic side chain induces π-conjugated main chain helicity from distance in molecular level.     

Methylcyclohexane dehydrogenation for hydrogen production via a bimodal catalytic membrane reactor

The dehydrogenation of methylcyclohexane (MCH) to toluene (TOL) for hydrogen production was theoretically and experimentally investigated in a bimodal catalytic membrane reactor (CMR), that combined Pt/Al₂O₃ catalysts with a hydrogen‐selective organosilica membrane prepared via sol‐gel processing using bis(triethoxysilyl) ethane (BTESE). Effects of operating conditions on the membrane reactor performance were systematically investigated, and the experimental results were in good agreement with those calculated by a simulation model with a fitted catalyst loading. With H₂ extraction from the reaction stream to the permeate stream, MCH conversion at 250°C was significantly increased beyond the equilibrium conversion of 0.44–0.86. Because of the high H₂ selectivity and permeance of BTESE‐derived membranes, a H₂ flow with purity higher than 99.8% was obtained in the permeate stream, and the H₂ recovery ratio reached 0.99 in a pressurized reactor. A system that combined the CMR with a fixed‐bed prereactor was proposed for MCH dehydrogenation. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 1628–1638, 2015     

Oxidation mechanisms of SiC-fiber–reinforced Si eutectic alloy matrix composites at elevated temperatures

SiC-fiber–reinforced binary Si eutectic alloy composites have been developed for aerospace applications using the melt infiltration method. In this study, the oxidation mechanisms of various binary Si eutectic alloys were evaluated at elevated temperatures. We suggest that the oxidation resistance of eutectic alloys could be predicted using the Gibbs energy change for the oxidation reaction. Based on these calculations, eutectic alloys of Si-16at%Ti, Si-17at%Cr, Si-22at%Co, Si-38at%Co, and Si-27at%Fe were prepared. These alloys produced uniform SiO₂ layers and showed the same oxidation resistance as Si at 1000°C under humid conditions. Therefore, SiC composites using Si alloys with excellent oxidation resistance can be predicted using thermodynamic calculations.     

Absolute Configuration of β- and α-Asymmetric Carbons within β-O-4-Structures in Hardwood Lignin

In this study, we investigated the proportion of erythro- and threo-forms of β-O-4-ether structures and their enantiomeric compositions in hardwood lignin by applying the ozonation method to birch wood meal. Optical activity was not substantially observed in either the erythronic or threonic acids obtained as the ozonation products of β-O-4-structures in birch wood meal. The proportions of the four stereoisomeric forms {(αS,βR)-erythro, (αR,βR)-threo, (αS,βS)-threo, and (αR,βS)-erythro forms} were estimated to be 37-38%, 13-14%, 12-13%, and 36-37% based on the yields of erythronic and threonic acids, and on their optical activities. The proportions suggest that the entire components of β-O-4-ether structures in birch wood lignin have R- and S-configurations at the β-carbon in approximately the same quantities {(βR)-β-O-4-structure: (βS)-β-O-4-structure = 50–52:48–50}; i.e., that the β-ether structures are essentially racemic. This estimation implies that, during lignin biosynthesis, an equal number of enantiomeric forms of β-O-4-bonded quinone methides were formed by radical coupling reactions.     

Co-continuous monolithic titania prepared by organic polymer monolith as pore template

We achieved preparation of co-continuous titania based monolithic materials using several organic polymer monoliths as pore templates. Firstly, the organic polymer monoliths that had well controlled structures were prepared, and filled the pores of polymer monolith with tetra-n-butyl titanate (titan monomer). The following hydrolysis of the titan monomer resulted in titanium dioxide. The polymer monolith was removed by calcination at elevated temperature. We carefully studied the utility of polymer monolithic template, filling method of the titan monomer, and calcination conditions to realize co-continuous titania monolith. In addition, by the change of domain size (size of a skeleton + size of through a pore) of template, we were able to control domain size of the resulting titania monoliths.     

A photoimmobilizable sulfobetaine-based polymer for a nonbiofouling surface

A novel photoreactive polymer containing sulfobetaine polar groups was prepared by copolymerization of two kinds of methacrylic acids with sulfobetaine and azidoaniline. The polymer was photoimmobilized on polyester and polystyrene surfaces. Its effects on surface modification were investigated from its interactions with water, proteins and cells. Polymer immobilization altered both of the plain surfaces to becoming hydrophilic in a similar range of static contact angles (12.5 ± 1.6° on polyester and 14.7 ± 2.2° on polystyrene). This suggests that the surfaces were covered with sulfobetaine polar groups. Micropattern immobilization was carried out on both polymers using a photomask. The formed pattern was identical to the photomask, showing that the polymer was formed in response to ultraviolet irradiation. Measurements using atomic force microscopy showed that the polymer was formed at a thickness of 550 nm, demonstrating that the polymer was cross-linked with itself and with the substrate molecules. Measurements using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry detected an abundance of sulfur-containing ions in the patterned polymer, confirming that sulfobetaine had been immobilized. Protein adsorption and mammalian cell adhesiveness were reduced markedly on the immobilized regions. The reduction of cell adhesiveness was concentration-dependent for the immobilized polymer on polyester surfaces. In conclusion, a novel sulfobetaine-containing polymer was immobilized photoreactively on conventional polymer surfaces and significantly reduced interactions with proteins and mammalian cells.     

Autonomous mobile robot based on behavior decision skill and control skill of the operator

This paper introduces a human skill base control algorithm using artificial neural networks and fuzzy reasoning for an autonomous mobile robot. Neural networks are used to select a suitable motion control pattern in actual environments. The back propagation algorithm adjusts the weights of the neural networks so that the selected motion control pattern corresponds to the action, which is obtained by the operator's behavior decision skill. To realize the selected motion control pattern, the orientation angle and the speed of the mobile robot are determined by fuzzy reasoning in which fuzzy rules are also automatically tuned so as to simulate the operator's control skill. We have implemented and tested the proposed control algorithm on an autonomous mobile robot and some experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control algorithm for the autonomous mobile robot. © 2000 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 131(2): 30–39, 2000     

Preparation of SrBi 2 Ta 2 O 9 Thin Films by Liquid-Delivery MOCVD Without Additional Solvents

SrBi 2 Ta 2 O 9 thin films were prepared by ECR plasma enhanced metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (ECR-MOCVD) with a liquid-delivery system using one cocktail source without an additional solvent. The strontium-tantalum double alkoxide, Sr{Ta[OC 2 H 4 H(CH 3 ) 2 ](OC 2 H 5 ) 5 } 2 , was dissolved in stabilized trimethyl bismuth, Bi(CH 3 ) 3 / dioxane. This source system has been used in a conventional bubbling system. Deposition rate and the composition of the films were strictly controlled by the concentration and the composition of the cocktail source. Therefore, high reproducibility was realized by using this system. The constituent phase of the stoichiometric SBT film as-deposited at 500 C on a (111)Pt/TiO 2 /SiO 2 /Si substrate was a fluorite phase and transformed to the single phase of SBT by the post annealing at 800 C. It showed almost the same ferroelectricity as the stoichiometric composition film.     

Single-Component Pheromone Consisting of Bombykal in a Diurnal Hawk Moth, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neogurelca himachala sangaica</Emphasis>

Recent work has suggested that hawk moths share pheromone components but are sexually separated by qualitative and quantitative differences in their pheromone blends. During field assays on the sex pheromones of other species, a diurnal hawk moth, Neogurelca himachala sangaica (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), was frequently captured, but the composition of the sex pheromone of this species was not known. Analysis of hexane extracts of the pheromone glands of calling female by gas chromatography (GC) using an electroantennographic detector (EAD) revealed two components that elicited EAD responses from male moth antennae. These components were identified by their mass spectra and retention indices on two GC columns as (10E,12Z)-10,12-hexadecadienal (E10,Z12–16:Ald) and a trace of its (10E,12E)-isomer (E10,E12–16:Ald) in 98:2 ratio. In field experiments, E10,Z12–16:Ald alone attracted male moths, and addition of E10,E12–16:Ald significantly reduced the attractiveness, even at the naturally-occurring ratio. Analysis of the data using a generalized linear mixed model showed that E10,Z12–16:Ald positively contributed to attractiveness, whereas E10,E12–16:Ald did so negatively, and it was concluded that the sex pheromone of N. himachala sangaica consists solely of E10,Z12–16:Ald, bombykal. The negative effect of E10,E12–16:Ald on attractiveness could promote the species-specificity of this single-component pheromone system.