Lead(IV) dioxide: an effective electron injection material to realize high-efficiency inverted top-emitting organic light-emitting diodes

Lead(IV) dioxide (PbO2) has been used as the electron injection layer (EIL) to realize high-efficiency inverted top-emitting organic light-emitting diodes (I-TOLEDs). It can be seen that the inserting of the PbO2 EIL significantly reduces operational voltage, thus greatly improving the current efficiency and power efficiency of fabricated I-TOLEDs. The 10-(2-benzothiazolyl)-1, 1, 7, 7-tetramethyl-2, 3, 6, 7-tetrahydro-1H, 5H, 11H-[1] benzopyrano [6, 7, 8-ij] quinolizin-11-one (C545T)-based I-TOLEDs with the PbO2 EIL exhibit a maximum current efficiency of 31.6 cd A(-1) and a maximum power efficiency of 14.3 lm W-1, which are both higher than 22.5 cd A(-1) and 5.4 lm W-1 of the I-TOLEDs with LiF as the EIL respectively. A detailed analysis with respect to the role mechanism of PbO2 in electron injection has been presented. The improvement in EL performance is attributed to the formation of the interfacial dipoles at the electrode interface due to charge transfer between PbO2 and Alq(3).

Diarylmethylene-bridged 4,4 '-(bis(9-carbazolyl))biphenyl: morphological stable host material for highly efficient electrophosphorescence

novel compound (BCBP) based on the modification of a well-known host material 4,4'-(bis(9-carbazolyl))biphenyl (CBP) through arylmethylene bridge linkage was synthesized, and fully characterized. Its thermal, electrochemical, electronic absorption and photoluminescent properties were studied. A high glass transition temperature (T-g) of 173 degrees C is observed for BCBP due to the introduction of the bridged structure, remarkably contrasting with a low T-g of 62 degrees C for CBP. Furthermore, the bridged structure enhances the conjugation and raises the HOMO energy, thus facilitating hole-injection and leading to a low turn-on voltage in an electroluminescent device. With the device structure of ITO/MoO3/NPB/Ir complex: BCBP/BCP/Alq(3)/LiF/Al, maximum power efficiencies of 41.3 lm/W and 6.3 lm/W for green- and blue-emitting OLED were achieved, respectively.

Layer-by-Layer Buildup of Poly(L-glutamic acid)/Chitosan Film for Biologically Active Coating

A new biocompatible film based on chitosan and poly(L-glutamic acid) (CS/PGA), created by alternate deposition of CS and PGA, was investigated. FT-IR spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy and QCM were used to analyze the build-up process. The growth of CS and PGA deposition are both exponential to the deposition steps at first. After about 9 (CS/PGA) depositions, the exponential to linear transition takes place. QCM measurements combined with UV-vis spectra revealed the increase in the multilayer film growth at different pH (4.4, 5.0 and 5.5). The build-up of the multilayer stops after a few depositions at pH = 6.5. A muscle myoblast cell (C2C12) assay showed that (CS/PGA)(n) multilayer films obviously promote C2C12 attachment and growth.

High-pressure sintering the novel light (W0.25Al0.75)C hard material without binder phase

A novel hard material of (W0.25Al75)C has been successfully prepared by the high-pressure sintering process without the addition of any binder phase. The high-pressure is a suitable and powerful technique for sintering the binderless hard material, the relative density of the hard material can reach 99.6% under high-pressure sintering. The density of the novel light hard material is only 6.2371 g cm(-3), which is much lighter than the normal hard material. The hardness of the light hard material can reach 18.89 GPa even the aluminum content get the astonished 75%.

Synthesis of Ruthenium Dioxide Nanoparticles by a Two-Phase Route and Their Electrochemical Properties

Dissolvable, size- and shape-controlled ruthenium dioxide nanoparticles are successfully achieved through a two-phase route. The influence of reaction time, temperature, and monomer concentration and the nature of capping agents on the morphologies of nanoparticles are studied through transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A possible mechanism for the formation and growth of nanoparticles is also involved. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) confirms the amorphous structure for as-prepared ruthenium dioxide nanoparticles. Samples are immobilized by simple dip-coating on a current collector, and the cyclic voltammetry measurement is utilized to investigate their electrochemical properties. The specific capacitance of one sample can teach as high as 840 F g(-1), which reveals the promising application potential to electrochemical capacitors.

A novel sensitive solid-state electrochemiluminescence sensor material: Ru(bpy)(2+)(3) doped SiO2@MWNTs coaxial nanocable

A simple, large scale, and one-step process for the preparation of tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(I) (Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)) doped SiO2@carbon nanotubes (MVNTs) coaxial nanocable used for an ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is presented for the first time. More importantly, a directly coated as-formed functional material on ITO electrode surface exhibits excellent ECL behavior, good stability, and high sensitivity in the presence of tripropylamine (TPA). This novel functional material will find potential applications in biosensor, electrophoresis and electroanalysis.

Bifunctional nanostructure of magnetic core luminescent shell and its application as solid-state electrochemiluminescence sensor material

Bifunctional nanoarchitecture has been developed by combining the magnetic iron oxide and the luminescent Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) encapsulated in silica. First, the iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized and coated with silica, which was used to isolate the magnetic nanoparticles from the outer-shell encapsulated Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) to prevent luminescence quenching. Then onto this core an outer shell of silica containing encapsulated Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) was grown through the Stober method. Highly luminescent Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) serves as a luminescent marker, while magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles allow external manipulation by a magnetic field. Since Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) is a typical electrochemiluminescence (ECL) reagent and it could still maintain such property when encapsulated in the bifunctional nanoparticle, we explored the feasibility of applying the as-prepared nanostructure to fabricating an ECL sensor; such method is simple and effective. We applied the prepared ECL sensor not only to the typical Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) co-reactant tripropylamine (TPA), but also to the practically important polyamines. Consequently, the ECL sensor shows a wide linear range, high sensitivity, and good stability.

Narion/Poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) mixed coating modified bismuth film electrode for the determination of trace metals by anodic stripping voltammetry

To improve the reproducibility, stability, and sensitivity of bismuth film electrode (BiFE), we studied the performances of a mixed coating of two cation-exchange polymers, Nafion (NA) and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS), modified glassy carbon BiFE (GC/NA-PSS/BiFE). The characteristics of GC/NA-PSS/BiFE were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Various parameters were studied in terms of their effect on the anodic stripping voltarnmetry (ASV) signals. Under optimized conditions, the limits of detection were 71 ng L-1 for Cd(II) and 93 ng L-1 for Pb(II) with a 10 min preconcentration. The results exhibited that GC/NA-PSS/BiFE can be a reproducible and robust toot for monitor of trace metals by ASV rapidly and environmentally friendly, even in the presence of surface-active compounds.

Organic photovoltaic cells using hexadecafluorophthalocyaninatocopper (F16CuPc) as electron acceptor material

We fabricated organic photovoltaic cells by using hexadecafluorophthalocyaninatocopper (F16CuPc) as electron acceptor material and para-sexiphenyl (p-6P) as electron donor material. F16CuPc has wide absorption spectrum from 550 nm to 850 nm, which covers the maximum of solar photo flux. The measurement of their external quantum efficiency (EQE) demonstrated that the photocurrent comes from the excitons created in F16CuPc, which were separated into free electrons and holes at heterojunction interface of p-6P and F16CuPc. Moreover, F(16)FuPc with excellent air-stability improved the environmental stability of photovoltaic cells, and the unencapsulated cells exhibited the shelf lifetime of exceeding a week.

Synthesis and characterization of soluble poly(amideimide)s bearing triethylamine sulfonate groups as gas dehumidification membrane material

A series of soluble poly(amide-imide)s (PAIs) bearing triethylammonium sulfonate groups were synthesized directly using trimellitic anhydride chloride (TMAC) polycondensation with sulfonated diamine such as 2,2'-benzidinedisulfonic acid (BDSA), 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl ether-2,2'-disulfonic acid (ODADS), and nonsulfonated diamine 4,4-diaminodiphenyl methane in the presence of triethylamine. The resulting copolymers exhibited high molecular weights (high inherent viscosity), and a combination of desirable properties such as good solubility in dipolar aprotic solvents, film-forming capability, and good mechanical properties. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction revealed that the polymers were amorphous. These copolymers showed high permeability coefficients of water vapor because of the presence of the hydrophilic triethylammonium sulfonate groups. The water vapor permeability coefficients (P-w) and permselectivity coefficients of water vapor to nitrogen and methane [alpha(H2O/N-2) and (alpha(H2O/CH4)] Of the films increased with increasing the amount of the triethylammonium sulfonated groups.

Formation of ordered microphase-separated pattern during spin coating of ABC triblock copolymer

In this paper, the authors have systematically studied the microphase separation and crystallization during spin coating of an ABC triblock copolymer, polystyrene-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO). The microphase separation of PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO and the crystallization of PEO blocks can be modulated by the types of the solvent and the substrate, the spinning speed, and the copolymer concentration. Ordered microphase-separated pattern, where PEO and P2VP blocks adsorbed to the substrate and PS blocks protrusions formed hexagonal dots above the P2VP domains, can only be obtained when PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO is dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide and the films are spin coated onto the polar substrate, silicon wafers or mica. The mechanism of the formation of regular pattern by microphase separation is found to be mainly related to the inducement of the substrate (middle block P2VP wetting the polar substrate), the quick vanishment of the solvent during the early stage of the spin coating, and the slow evaporation of the remaining solvent during the subsequent stage. On the other hand, the probability of the crystallization of PEO blocks during spin coating decreases with the reduced film thickness. When the film thickness reaches a certain value (3.0 nm), the extensive crystallization of PEO is effectively prohibited and ordered microphase-separated pattern over large areas can be routinely prepared.