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Abstract Charge exchange at the bulk heterojunctions of composites made by mixing single wall nanotubes (SWNTs) and polymers show potential for use in optoelectronic devices such as solar cells and optical sensors. The density/total area of these heterojunctions is expected to increase with increasing SWNT concentration but the efficiency of solar cell peaks at low SWNT concentrations. Most researchers use current–voltage measurements to determine the evolution of the SWNT percolation network and optical absorption measurements to monitor the spectral response of the composites. However, these methods do not provide a detailed account of carrier transport at the concentrations of interest; i.e., near or below the percolation threshold. In this article, we show that capacitance–voltage (C–V) response of (metal)-(oxide)-(semiconducting composite) devices can be used to fill this gap in studying bulk heterojunctions. In an approach where we combine optical absorption methods withC–Vmeasurements we can acquire a unified optoelectronic response from P3HT-SWNT composites. This methodology can become an important tool for optoelectronic device optimization.

Abstract Nowadays, organic solar cells have the interest of engineers for manufacturing flexible and low cost devices. The considerable progress of this nanotechnology area presents the possibility of investigating new effects from a fundamental science point of view. In this letter we highlight the influence of the concentration of fullerene molecules on the ultrafast transport properties of charged electrons and polarons in P3HT/PCBM blended materials which are crucial for the development of organic solar cells. Especially, we report on the femtosecond dynamics of localized (P2at 1.45 eV) and delocalized (DP2at 1.76 eV) polaron states of P3HT matrix with the addition of fullerene molecules as well as the free-electron relaxation dynamics of PCBM-related states. Our study shows that as PCBM concentration increases, the amplified exciton dissociation at bulk heterojunctions leads to increased polaron lifetimes. However, the increase in PCBM concentration can be directly related to the localization of polarons, creating thus two competing trends within the material. Our methodology shows that the effect of changes in structure and/or composition can be monitored at the fundamental level toward optimization of device efficiency.

AbstractFemtosecond transient absorption measurements on single wall carbon nanotube/poly(3-hexylthiophene) composites are used to investigate the relaxation dynamics of this blended material. The influence of the addition of nanotubes in polymer matrix on the ultrashort relaxation dynamics is examined in detail. The introduction of nanotube/polymer heterojunctions enhances the exciton dissociation and quenches the radiative recombination of composites. The relaxation dynamics of these composites are compared with the fullerene derivative-polymer composites with the same matrix. These results provide explanation to the observed photovoltaic performance of two types of composites.

In this work, we present the evolution of optical constants as a function of [6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) concentration for conjugated poly(3-hexylthiophene)/[6,6]-phenylC61-butyric acid methyl ester composites. The PCBM concentration of the utilized samples varies from 1 to 50 wt %. The dielectric functions for all these composites reveal electronic structural changes as a result of the addition of PCBM. We have deconvoluted the contribution of the substrate using a two-layer Fabry-Pérot structural model. The extracted optical properties contain crucial absorption peaks of singlet exciton states and vibronic sidebands for poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) conjugated polymer as well as two PCBM-related states at higher energies. With the addition of PCBM, we have observed a limit of 20 wt % PCBM beyond which two discrete energy levels (3.64 and 4.67 eV) appear in the spectrum. For the highest concentration composite, the results suggest that the interchain interactions provide a small excitonic contribution in the absorption spectrum at energies where the conjugated polymer absorbs (1.85–2.7 eV) and a strong rise of PCBM states (3.64 and 4.67 eV) which are responsible for the subsequent exciton dissociation. In addition, the energy gap between the higher occupied molecular orbitals and the lower unoccupied molecular orbitals of the highest concentration composite (50 wt %) is 1.85 eV. The tuning of the optical properties of P3HT with the addition of PCBM shows that ellipsometry can be used to monitor layer concentration toward optimization of plastic solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Randomly oriented and vertically aligned carbon nanotubes were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition varying the growth temperature between 550°C and 850°C. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to investigate the growth process and in particular the role of the Ni catalyst. It was found that a catalytic particle was always situated at the tip of the tube thus implying a tip growth mechanism. The TEM analysis revealed a strong correlation between the size and shape of the Ni particle encapsulated at the tip of the tubes and the growth temperature, suggesting that temperature is an influential process parameter in determining an optimum size and shape for the catalytic particle and hence select the diameter, and the wall thickness of the growing tubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the evolution of optical properties for different concentrations of the conjugated poly(3-hexylthiophene)/[6,6]-phenyl[C.sub.61]-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT/PCBM) composites. The tuning of the optical properties of P3HT along with PCBM has shown that ellipsometry can be utilized for monitoring the layer concentration toward optimization of plastic solar cells.

A proper amount of excess oxygen plays a significant role in hole‐doped cuprate high‐Tc superconductivity. Here, the dopant oxygen in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ is directly imaged via integrated differential phase contrast combined with state‐of‐the‐art scanning transmission electron microscopy. The location of dopant oxygen is observed to be consistent with the position inferred from local strain analysis of the incommensurate structure. The influence of dopant oxygen on the local atomic lattice and electronic structure is further explored using first‐principle calculations. The dopant oxygen atoms not only aggravate the distortions of the local atomic arrangement but also alter the electronic states by transferring charge from the BiO planes to the CuO2 planes. The underlying mechanism of charge transfer is resolved. The results may also be applicable to other oxygen‐doped cuprates with high‐Tc superconductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this work, we have employed spectroscopic ellipsometry technique to study the optical properties of polymer/carbon nanotube (CN) composites as a function of nanotube concentration. Using a two-layer structural model based on Airy rigorous equations, the optical constants in various CN concentrations have been extracted. In the optical absorption spectra, we have observed a tuning of the excitonic transitions with the addition of single wall CN concentration. Based on theoretical calculations for the interaction of CNs with the surrounding effective media, the spectral evolution of the binding energy of optically active excitonic transitions with the addition of CNs suggests that the effective dielectric function of surrounding media decreases. Furthermore, using an oscillator Lorentz model, the absorption peaks, oscillator strengths and energy broadenings of the excitonic transitions have been extracted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Diphallia is an uncommon deformity, with glans duplication being its rarest form. We discuss here a case of a 6-year-old boy who presented due to excess prepuce malformation that, on examination, revealed a "penile nodule" that proved to be glans duplication. Our patient had only one urethra present and no congenital anomalies. Surgical uneventful penile reconstruction involving radiofrequency ablation (RFA) resolved the issue.

Oleuropein, a novel immunomodulator derived from olive tree, was assessed in vitro and in experimental sepsis by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. After addition in monocyte and neutrophil cultures, malondialdehyde, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and bacterial counts were estimated in supernatants. Acute pyelonephritis was induced in 70 rabbits after inoculation of pathogen in the renal pelvis. Intravenous therapy was administered in four groups postchallenge by one multidrug-resistant isolate (A, controls; B, oleuropein; C, amikacin; D, both agents) and in three groups postchallenge by one susceptible isolate (E, controls; F, oleuropein; G, amikacin). Survival was recorded; bacterial growth in blood and organs was counted; endotoxins (LPS), malondialdehyde, total antioxidant status, and TNF-alpha in serum were estimated. TNF-alpha and IL-6 of cell supernatants were not increased compared with controls when triggered by LPS and P. aeruginosa. Counts of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa were decreased in monocyte supernatants. Median survival of groups A, B, C, D, E, F, and G were 3.00, 6.00, 2.00, 10.00, 1.00, 5.00, and 1.00 days, respectively. Bacteria in blood were lower at 48 h in groups B and D compared with A and in groups F and G compared with E. Total antioxidant status decreased steadily over time in groups A, C, D, and G, but not in groups B and F. TNF-alpha of groups B, C, and D was lower than A at 48 h. Tissue bacteria decreased in group F compared with E. Oleuropein prolonged survival in experimental sepsis probably by promoting phagocytosis or inhibiting biosynthesis of proinflammatory cytokines.