band Structure calculations on orthorhombic bulk and nanocrystalline SrY2O4

The electronic structure of SrY2O4 is calculated by using a density functional method, and the exchange and correlation have been treated by using a the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) within the scheme due to Perdew, Burke, and Ernzerhof (PBE). SrY2O4 is predicted to be a direct-gap material because the top of the valence band and the bottom of the conduction band are along the same direction at G. The bond length and the bond covalency are also calculated by using a chemical bond method.

Single mode and multimodes lasing emission from MEH-PPV doped polystyrene thin films with surface ripples formed by vapour-induced phase separation

We report single mode and multimodes lasing emission from conjugated polymer poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) doped polystyrene ( PS) thin films with surface ripples. Surface ripples were formed by water vapour-induced phase separation. A single mode lasing emission at 606 nm with a line-width of less than 0.4 nm was obtained. The laser threshold was as low as 3.5 mu J pulse(-1). The side mode suppression ratio was 5.76 dB. The periodic changes of the refraction index in the MEH-PPV : PS blending film due to the phase separation should be attributed to the lasing actions.

Band Gap Tunable, Donor-Acceptor-Donor Charge-Transfer Heteroquinoid-Based Chromophores: Near Infrared Photoluminescence and Electroluminescence

A series of D-pi-A-pi-D type of near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent compounds based on benzobis(thia diazole) and its selenium analogues were synthesized and fully characterized by H-1 and C-13 NMR, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The absorption fluorescence, and electrochemical properties were also studied. Photoluminescence of these chromophores ranges from 900 to 1600 nm and their band gaps are between 1.19 and 0.56 eV.

Low-threshold conjugated polymer distributed feedback lasers on InP substrate

We demonstrate a low threshold polymer solid state thin-film distributed feedback (DFB) laser on an InP substrate with the DFB structure. The used gain medium is conjugated polymer poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1, 4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) doped polystyrene (PS) and formed by drop-coating method. The second order Bragg scattering region on the InP substrate gave rise to strong feedback, thus a lasing emission at 638.9nm with a line width of 1.2nm is realized when pumped by a 532nm frequency-doubled Nd: YAG pulsed laser. The devices show a laser threshold as low as 7 nJ/pulse.

Shape evolution of CdSe nanocrystals in vegetable oils: A synergistic effect of selenium precursor

In this contribution, common vegetable oils are used as coordination solvents for synthesis of high quality CdSe nanocrystals. Various shaped nanocrystals (quantum dots, quantum rods, multipods, arc structure, etc.) can be produced free of alkylphosphonic acids. Shape evolution can be induced by three types of selenium precursors: ODE-Se, VO-Se and TOP-Se (ODE, 1-octadecene; VO, vegetable oil; TOP, trio-n-octylphosphine). The quantum yields of NCs are 15-40%. The full width at half-maximum (fwhm) of the photoluminescence spectra are 27 +/- 1 nm for quantum clots and 23 +/- 1 nm for quantum rods/multipods.

Efficient tandem polymer photovoltaic cells with two subcells in parallel connection

Tandem polymer photovoltaic cells with the subcells having different absorption characteristics in series connection are widely investigated to enhance absorption coverage over the solar spectrum. Herein. we demonstrate efficient tandem polymer photovoltaic cells with the two stacked subcells comprising different band-gap conjugated polymer and fullerene derivative bulk heterojunction in parallel connection. A semitransparent metal layer combined with inorganic semiconductor compounds is utilized as the intermediate electrode of the two stacked subcells to create the required built-in potential for collecting photo-generated charges. The short-circuit current of the stacked cell is the sum of the subcells and the open-circuit voltage is similar to the subcells.

Hydrogen Bonding and Crystallization in Biodegradable Multiblock Poly(ester urethane) Copolymer

The hydrogen bonding and crystallization of a biodegradable poly(ester urethane) copolymer based on poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) as the soft segment were investigated by FTIR. On slow cooling from melt, the onset and the progress of the crystallization of the urethane hard segments were correlated to the position, width, and relative intensity of the hydrogen-bonded N-H stretching band. The interconversion between the "free" and hydrogen-bonded N-H and C=O groups in the urethane units in the process was also revealed by 2D correlation analysis of the FTIR data. The crystallization of the PLLA soft segments was monitored by the ester C=O stretching and the skeletal vibrations. It was revealed that the PLLA crystallization was restricted by the phase separation and the urethane crystallization, and at cooling rates of 10 degrees C/min or higher, the crystallization of the PLLA soft segments was prohibited.

Study on the lifetime of M-intermediate of bacteriorhodopsin film chemically modified with CeO2 nanoparticles

The characteristics of intermediates of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) can be verified by chemical modification of its surroundings. CeO2 nanoparticles, which were obtained using water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsion and calcined at various temperatures, were used as chemical additive for the modification of bR. X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows that the mean particle sizes for the samples calcined at 500 and 800 degrees C are approximately 10 and 30 nm, respectively. We prepared CeO2 nanoparticle modified poly(vinyl alcohol) (bR-PVA) films with an optical density of about 1.5 at the ground state. It is observed that the lifetime of the Wintermediate for the modified films is prolonged compared with that of the unmodified ones, and the lifetime increases with decreasing particle size. A probable mechanism, which is likely to involve effective molecular interactions between the CeO2 nanoparticles and the bR molecules, is discussed. The hydroxyl groups, which might arise from the interaction between the nanoparticles and the surrounding water molecules, help to lower the ability of the Schiff base of uptaking protons in the Wintermediate. The results indicate that controlling the interactions between biomolecules and various nanomaterials would enlarge the functionality and the range of the application of nanoparticles.

A method for cathodic polymerization of aniline by in situ electrogenerated intermediate at gold surface

Polyaniline (PANI) was cathodically synthesized at an evaporated gold electrode using an in situ electrogenerated intermediate as oxidant during reduction of the dissolved oxygen. The obtained PANI layer showed an electrochemical response similar to that synthesized by the conventionally anodic polymerization, and the average rate for the growth of PANI layer at polycrystalline gold electrode was 1.59 nm h(-1), while that at the Au (111) electrode was 4.93 nm h(-1). Based on these results, the thickness of the resulted layer can be easily controlled at molecular level for potential nanodevice applications. The obtained PANI layer showed morphology from an island-like nanostructure to an ultrathin film, depending on the crystal orientation of the electrode used.

Phase behavior of rare earth manganites

Among complex oxides containing rare earth and manganese BaLn(2)Mn(2)O(7)( Ln = rare earth) with the layered perovskite type and Ln(2)(Mn, M)O-7 with pyrochlore-related structure were studied since these compounds show many kinds of phases and unique phase transitions. In BaLn(2)Mn(2)O(7) there appear many phases, depending on the synthetic conditions for each rare earth. The tetragonal phase of so-called Ruddlesden-Popper type is the fundamental structure and many kinds of deformed modification of this structure are obtained. For BaEu2Mn2O7 at least five phases have been identified from the results of X-ray diffraction analysis with the space group P4(2)/mnm, Fmmm, Immm and A2/m in addition to the fundamental tetragonal I4/mmm phase. In the pyrochlore-related type compounds, Ln(2)Mn(2-x)M(x)O(7)(M = Ta, Nb, W etc), there also appear several phases With different crystal structures. With regard to every rare earth, Ln(2)MnTaO(7) phase is stable only for excess Ta and can be obtained under high oxygen partial pressure process. This group has trigonal structure with zirkelite type ( P3(1)21 space group).