Solution‐Processable Ultrathin Black Phosphorus as an Effective Electron Transport Layer in Organic Photovoltaics

2D van der Waals crystals, possessing excellent electronic and physical properties, have been intriguing building blocks for organic optoelectronic devices. Most of the 2D materials are served as hole transport layers in organic devices. Here,it is reported that solution exfoliated few layers black phosphorus (BP) can be served as an effective electron transport layer (ETL) in organic photovoltaics (OPVs) for the first time. The power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of the BP‐incorporated OPVs can be improved to 8.18% in average with the relative enhancement of 11%. The incorporation of BP flakes with the optimum thickness of ≈10 nm can form cascaded band structure in OPVs, which can facilitate electron transport and enhance the PCEs of the devices. This study opens an avenue in using solution exfoliated BP as a highly efficient ETL for organic optoelectronics.     

Surface Modification of Silicone with Covalently Immobilized and Crosslinked Agarose for Potential Application in the Inhibition of Infection and Omental Wrapping

In peritoneal dialysis (PD), the catheter, usually made of silicone, has been considered the “lifeline” of the patient. However, the PD catheter also serves as a nidus for bacterial infection. Furthermore, complications can result from fibrin deposition and omental wrapping of the catheter, which obstructs the dialysate flow. In this work, a crosslinked agarose (AG) polymer layer is covalently grafted as a microscale coating on the silicone surface. This coating reduces Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation by more than two orders of magnitude. In addition, cell and platelet adhesion and protein adsorption is also reduced by ≥90%. Without compromising the antibacterial and antifouling property, further improvement in hemocompatibility, as shown by the inhibition of platelet adhesion and activation, prolonged plasma recalcification time and lower hemolysis degree, is achieved by co‐immobilization of 2.6 μg cm^?2 of heparin (HEP) in the agarose coating. The AG–HEP coatings are not cytotoxic to mammalian cells, and are stable for extended periods in lysozyme aqueous solution and under autoclaving at 121 °C for 20 min.     

Dynamic behavior and applications of a three-contactvertical-cavity surface-emitting laser

We have developed a novel three-contact vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) with an intracavity absorber for use in high-speed data communications. We demonstrate two distinct designs for our VCSEL and discuss the device physics underlying the behaviors of the two designs. Furthermore, we demonstrate a wide range of applications for these VCSELs, including optical intensity modulation, phase and amplitude modulation of a microwave optical subcarrier, optical bistability, self-pulsation, and optical disk readout     

A chemiluminescence reaction between hydrogen peroxide and acetonitrile and its applications.

Here we report a new chemiluminescence reaction between basic aqueous H2O2 and acetonitrile. Its ultraweak chemiluminescence could be greatly enhanced by luminol, isoluminol-labeled streptavidin, and an Edman-type fluorescent reagent. Light emission was intense and long-lived, and this facilitated the initiation of the reaction and the measurement of the light emission. The present results permit us to propose a series of convenient, highly sensitive, and enzyme-free techniques for the detection and quantification of luminol, related conjugates, acetonitrile, and amino acids. Overall, this new chemiluminescence reaction will be quite promising for numerous applications in immunoassay, DNA hybridization, environmental monitoring. and postcolumn chromatographic detection.     

Effect of surface treatment with potassium persulfate on dispersion stability of multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Muti-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were treated with different concentrations of potassium persulfate (KPS; K₂S₂O₈) to improve their dispersion stability, which were characterized by thermal gravimetric analysis, ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and field emission transmission electron microscopy. The amount of sulfate groups on the MWCNTs increased with increasing KPS concentration, which enhanced the hydrophilicity, but deteriorated the dispersion stability. The optimal KPS concentration for the best dispersion stability of the KPS-treated MWCNTs was 0.01 M.     

Do research literatures give correct answers?

The rationale for insisting on properly designed studies is to ensure the construction of research literatures that are not influenced by biases of any sort. Once a literature is established, however, whatever answers it gives (usually via meta-analysis) are accepted as valid. The results of our favored statistical techniques are understood best when significant relationships are present while the meaning of null results are unclear. Thus, significant findings are more likely to be published. This file drawer problem has been known for many years. However, the effect that the file drawer has on research literatures has never been probed empirically. A new method is described that tests the impact a file drawer has on a research literature. The results of the file drawer on four separate psychological research literatures are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Linguistic Possibility-Probability Aggregation Model for decision analysis with imperfect knowledge

Knowledge which is imperfect creates obstructions in the operational parameter setting (OPS) of the functions of decision making; however it is relatively inexpensive to obtain the data to fill the knowledge gap by taking subjective measures. The collection of human experience data through individual subjective assessments tends to be aggregated as being of more objective value. This paper proposes a Linguistic Possibility-Probability Aggregation Model (LPPAM) to address this problem of OPS. LPPAM includes a Compound Linguistic Ordinal Scales model as a rating interface to improve the quality of data collection. The CLOS model addresses the problems with consistency, such as in the linguistic choices, accuracy of linguistic representation of numbers and bias of rating dilemmas. LPPAM also contains a multi-expert and multi-attribute aggregation model, which is to derive meaningful arguments fitting the setting of operation parameters. Five algorithms are used for LPPAM. The significance of LPPAM is that it can be applied in group multi-criteria decision problems and large scale survey systems. To validate the proposed framework, with a comparison with the Analytical Network Process (ANP), a R&D project selection problem is given.