Realization of high efficiency microcavity top-emitting organic light-emitting diodes with highly saturated colors and negligible angular dependence

An alternative way to optimize the emission characteristics of a microcavity top-emitting organic light-emitting diode (TOLED) based on a simple device structure is demonstrated via combining a comprehensive theoretical analysis in the microcavity effects with the experimental modification in the carrier injection of both electrodes. It can be seen that the resulting TOLED exhibits much higher efficiencies and a more saturated color than those of the corresponding conventional bottom-emitting device, as well as hardly detectable color shift with viewing angles. Such a strategy may be more feasible in practical application for active-matrix organic light-emitting diode displays.

The time delay in electrochemical measurements of a finite-volume system

For a sphere electrode enclosed in finite-volume electrolyte, the measured current will deviate from the result predicted by the semi-infinite diffusion theory after some time. By random-walk simulation, we compared this time to the one needed for diffusion layer to reach electrolyte boundary, and revealed a clear signal delay of electrochemical current. Further we presented a quantitative description of this delay time. The simulation results suggested that the semi-infinite diffusion theory can even be applied when the theoretical diffusion layer grows to 1.28 electrolyte thicknesses, with an accuracy better than 0.5%. We attributed this time delay to the molecules' finite propagation velocity. Finally, we discussed how this delay can influence and facilitate the following electrochemical detection towards the nanometer and single-cell scale.

Surface plasmon resonance and electrochemistry for detection of small molecules using catalyzed deposition of metal ions on gold substrate

Small molecules are difficult to detect by conventional surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy due to the fact that the changes in the refractive index resulted from the binding process of small biomolecules are quite small. Here, we report a simple and effective method to detect small biomolecule using SPR spectroscopy and electrochemistry by catalyzed deposition of metal ions on SPR gold film. As an example, the ascorbic acid-mediated deposition of Ag on gold film was monitored by in situ SPR spectrum. The deposition of Ag atom on gold film resulted in an obvious decrease of depth in SPR angular scan curves of reflectance intensity and minimum reflectivity angle. The depth change of the SPR reflectance intensity and minimum reflectivity angle curves mainly relied on the amount of Ag atom deposited on gold film that can be controlled by the concentration of ascorbic acid. By monitoring the deposition of Ag atom on gold film, ascorbic acid was detected in the concentration range of 2 x 10(-5) M to 1 x 10(-3) M. After each of detections, the SPR sensor surface was completely regenerated by a potential step that stripped off the Ag atom. Furthermore, the regeneration process of the sensor surface provides the feasibility for detecting the concentration of ascorbic acid by electrochemical method.

Evaluation of coverage of self-assembled polyaniline-analogue monolayer by capacitance measurements

A method is developed to estimate the coverage of an electropolymerizable aniline-analogue monolayer (mixture of 2- and 3-aminophenols, 2/3-ATP) by measuring the charge capacitance of the electrode (theta = 81%). The technique of filling the uncovered area (defect sites) of the aniline-analogue monolayer with alkanethiols with long alkane chains (1-decanethiol, 1-DT) has been used to determine the coverage. The dielectric constant (permittivity) of the PANI-analogue monolayer was determined to 8.4. Adsorption kinetics of 1-DT was also studied, and the value of the rate constant of the secondary adsorption was measured to 0.9 mol(-1) dm(3) s(-1).

In situ analysis of electropolymerization of aniline by combined electrochemistry and surface plasmon resonance

The combination of electrochemistry with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has been used to characterize the growth of polyaniline (PAn) on a gold electrode surface during potential cycling. Potential-modulated SPR characteristics of the PAn film were also revealed. The potential switch between the oxidized and reduced states of PAn can lead to a large change of SPR response due to the variation in the imaginary part of the dielectric constant of PAn film resulting from the transition of the film in conductivity. The redox transition of the PAn film during potential cycling is very profitable to the SPR measurements. Two modes of SPR measurement, SPR angular scan (R-theta) and the time evolution of the reflectivity change at a fixed angle (R-t), were displayed to study the growth process of the PAn film. The angle shift of the resonance minimum recorded at each cathodic limit of cyclic potential scanning allows for the unambiguous measurement of the film growth. During cyclic potential scanning, the R-t curve was repeatedly modulated with the direction of the potential ramp as a result of the redox switch of the PAn film, and the amplitude of potential-modulated reflectivity change was well correlated with the cyclic number. The time differential of the R-t curve permits continuous monitoring of the film growth process. These results illustrate that the combined technique is suitable for studying the electropolymerization process of a conducting polymer.

Determination of electron mobility in a blue-emitting alternating block copolymer by space-charge-limited current measurements

In this communication we analyse current versus voltage data obtained using one carrier injection at metal/polymer/metal structures, The used polymer is a soluble blue-emitting alternating block copolymer, Our experimental results demonstrate that the electron current is limited by a large amount of traps with exponential energy distribution in the copolymer. The electron ;mobility of 5.1 x 10(-10) cm(2)/V s is directly determined by space-charge-limited current measurements. The electron mobility is at least three orders of magnitude smaller than that for holes in the copolymer. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

SAXS measurements of the interface in polyacrylate and epoxy interpenetrating networks with fractal geometry

The interface thickness in two-component interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN) system based on polyacrylate and epoxy were determined using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) in terms of the theory proposed by Ruland. The thickness was found to be nonexistent for the samples at various compositions and synthesized at variable conditions-temperature and initiator concentration. By viewing the system as a two-phase system with a sharp boundary, the roughness of the interface was described by fractal dimension, D, which slightly varies with composition and synthesis condition. Length scales in which surface fractals are proved to be correct exist for each sample and range from 0.02 to 0.4 Angstrom(-1). The interface in the present IPN system was treated as fractal, which reasonably explained the differences between Pored's law and experimental data, and gained an insight into the interaction between different segments on the interface. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.

LIFETIME MEASUREMENTS OF SOME TMI ODD PARITY LEVELS

Eleven new lifetimes of odd parity excited energy levels in four configurations: 4f12 5d 6s 6p, 4f12 6S2 6p, 4f13 5d 6s and 4f13 6s 7s of atomic thulium have been mesured with atomic-beam laser spectrocopy. Two pulsed dye lasers are used for stepwise excitation and the time-resolved fluorescence decay was used to determine lifetime values. The accuracy of the measurements is about 10%.

ANALYSIS OF ANGULAR OVERLAP PARAMETERS FOR THE LAOXEU3+ (X = CL, BR, I) SERIES

The Angular Overlap Model (AOM) is applied to the LaOX:Eu3+(X = Cl, Br, I) series involving sigma, pi, delta and phi effects based on the experimental energy levels. The calculations are made in two cases. (1) Consider oxygen and halogen having the same bond-length. (2) Consider the real structure. In both cases, the results show that for sigma-bonding parameters, the values of e(sigma) decrease with increasing charge number of halogen, i.e. Cl- > Br- > I-, this indicates that the bonding ability also decreases with this order. The absolute values of each parameter are much larger than zero-therefore they all must be included in a practical analysis. In the second case, the values of the e(pi) parameter are negative, which means a ''back-bonding'' is formed, and this is profitable for the formation of sigma-bonding, usually referred to as ''synergic effect''.

ANALYSIS OF ANGULAR OVERLAP PARAMETERS FOR EU3+ - LN2O2S (LN = LU, Y, GD, LA) CRYSTAL SERIES

The angular overlap model (AOM) is applied to 4f6 electron systems. The crystal field parameters are interpreted and covalency between 4f electrons and ligands is investigated based on the experimental energy levels. For Eu3+:Ln2O2S (Ln = Lu, Y, Gd, La) crystal series, we adopt two computational schemes. First of all, we assume that the distances to all ligands are equal, and then the distances to all ligands are divided into two groups, namely, oxygens as one group, sulfurs as the other. Of course, much information about covalency will be obtained from the latter case. Obviously, our results show that the covalency of Ln-O bonding is stronger than that of Ln-S bonding in line with much shorter bondlength for the former than that for the latter. The two schemes yield the same results, that is, for sigma and pi bonding, ligands are strong donors as well as sigma, pi effects are dominant over delta, phi effects.

Temperature and light tolerance of representative brown, green and red algae in tumble culture revealed by chlorophyll fluorescence measurements

Laminaria japonica, Undaria pinnatifida, Ulva lactuca, Grateloupia turuturu and Palmaria palmata are Suitable species that fit the requirements of a seaweed-animal integrated aquaculture system in terms of their viable biomass, rapid growth and promising nutrient uptake rates. fit this investigation, the responses of the optimal chlorophyll fluorescence yield of the five algal species in tumble Culture were assessed at a temperature range of 10 similar to 30 degrees C. The results revealed that Ulva lactuca was the most resistant species to high temperature, withstanding 30 degrees C for 4 h without apparent decline in the optimal chlorophyll fluorescence yield. While the arctic alga Palmaria palmata was the most vulnerable one, showing significant decline in the optimal chlorophyll fluorescence yield at 25 degrees C for 2 h. The cold-water species Laminaria japonica, however, demonstrated strong ability to cope with higher temperature (24 similar to 26 degrees C) for shorter time (within 24 h) without significant decline in the optimal chlorophyll fluorescence yield. Grateloupia turuturu showed a general decrease in the optimal chlorophyll fluorescence yield with the rising temperature from 23 to 30 degrees C, similar to the temperate kelp Undaria pinnatifida. Changes of chlorophyll fluorescence yields of these algae were characterized differently indicating the existence of species-unique strategy to cope with high light. Measurements of the optimal chlorophyll fluorescence yield after short exposure to direct solar irradiance revealed how long these exposures could be without significant photoinhibition or with promising recovery in photosynthetic activities. Seasonal pattern of alternation of algal species in tank culture in the Northern Hemisphere at the latitude of 36 degrees N was proposed according to these basic measurements.

Temperature tolerance of young sporophytes from two populations of Laminaria japonica revealed by chlorophyll fluorescence measurements and short-term growth and survival performances in tank culture

The cold-water subtidal brown alga Laminaria japonica has been commercially fanned in the Far East and has been on top of all marine-fanned species in terms of farming area and annual output worldwide. The successful trials of transplantation of young sporophytes from the north to the south in winter along the Chinese coast in the 1950s led to the spreading of cultivation activities down to a latitude of 25-26 degrees N. Up to today, nearly 50% of the annual output of this farmed alga, as a cold-water species, comes from the sub-tropical south in China. The demand to have high-temperature-tolerant strains/ecotypes in farming area calls for a practical method to judge and select the desired parental plants for breeding programs and for seedling production. In this paper, we report our results on using chlorophyll fluorescence measurement and short-term growth performance in tank culture to estimate the temperature tolerance of offspring from two populations, Fujian Farmed Population (FFP) sampled from Fujian province (latitude: 25-26 degrees N) in subtropical area and Qingdao Wild Population (QWP) sampled from Qingdao (latitude: 36 degrees N). Contrary to what has been usually thought, the results revealed that offspring from Qingdao wild population in the north showed better performance both in short-term growth and survival rates and in optimal quantum efficiency (F-v/F-m) when exposed to higher temperature (20-25 degrees C). This result was further confirmed by fluorescence quenching analysis. QWP distributed along the southern distribution limit at a latitude of 36 degrees N in the Pacific west coast is thus taken as a more ideal one than the fanned population in subtropical region as a source of parental plants for breeding high-temperature-tolerant varieties. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Validation of RADARSAT-2 fully polarimetric SAR measurements of ocean surface waves

C band RADARSAT-2 fully polarimetric (fine quad-polarization mode, HH+VV+HV+VH) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images are used to validate ocean surface waves measurements using the polarimetric SAR wave retrieval algorithm, without estimating the complex hydrodynamic modulation transfer function, even under large radar incidence angles. The linearly polarized radar backscatter cross sections (RBCS) are first calculated with the copolarization (HH, VV) and cross-polarization (HV, VH) RBCS and the polarization orientation angle. Subsequently, in the azimuth direction, the vertically and linearly polarized RBCS are used to measure the wave slopes. In the range direction, we combine horizontally and vertically polarized RBCS to estimate wave slopes. Taken together, wave slope spectra can be derived using estimated wave slopes in azimuth and range directions. Wave parameters extracted from the resultant wave slope spectra are validated with colocated National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) buoy measurements (wave periods, wavelengths, wave directions, and significant wave heights) and are shown to be in good agreement.