Effective End Group Modification of Poly(3-hexylthiophene) with Functional Electron-Deficient Moieties for Performance Improvement in Polymer Solar Cell

A series of end-functionalized poly­(3-hexylthiophene)­s (P3HTs) were synthesized by end-capping with electron-deficient moieties (EDMs, oxadiazole (OXD) and triazole (TAZ)) to prevent the negative influence of bromine chain ends in the common uncapped P3HT in polymer solar cell (PSC) applications. On the basis of the electron-withdrawing capability of the planar OXD end groups, P3HT-end-OXD relative to the uncapped P3HT exhibits a raised absorption coefficient, extended exciton lifetime, and increased crystalline order in the blend with PCBM, leading to an effectual improvement in photovoltaic parameters. However, P3HT-end-TAZ has an opposite result even worse than that of the uncapped P3HT, arising from bulky TAZ end groups. As a consequence, P3HT-end-OXD gives a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.24%, which is higher than those of the uncapped P3HT (3.28%) and P3HT-end-TAZ (0.50%). The result demonstrates that the EDM modification is a valuable method to tailor the structural defect of polymer chain ends. However, the efficacy is dependent on the structure of EDM

Tiagabine-induced change in [11C]flumazenil <i>K</i>₁ in control subjects.

<p>Values are Mean ± SD, in healthy controls (n = 9 per group); p is the significance level of the difference between the baseline and post-tiagabine scans in each group (paired t-test); d is the Cohen's effect size of this difference.</p

The ability to increase GABA levels in the orbitofrontal cortex, measured as the change in [¹¹C]flumazenil binding in response to GAT1 blockade, predicts (r = 0.67, p = 0.05) the ability to entrain cortical networks, measured via EEG gamma oscillations.

<p>The ability to increase GABA levels in the orbitofrontal cortex, measured as the change in [¹¹C]flumazenil binding in response to GAT1 blockade, predicts (r = 0.67, p = 0.05) the ability to entrain cortical networks, measured via EEG gamma oscillations.</p

Tiagabine-induced change in [11C]flumazenil <i>BP</i>_P in control subjects.

<p>Values are Mean ± SD, in healthy controls (n = 9 per group); p is the significance level of the difference between the baseline and post-tiagabine scans in each group (paired t-test); d is the Cohen's effect size of this difference.</p

Survival of neonatal piglets after oral inoculation with nv-PEDV.

A (Exp. I), 2-day-old piglets’; and B (Exp. II), 3-day-old neonatal piglets’ survival curve after inoculated with nv-PEDV. Solid circles (A) or squares (B) with lines represent the CMAH KO piglets, and open diamonds (A) or squares (B) with dashed lines indicate wild-type piglets. The arrow shows the time of inoculation. In A at 72 hpi, three moribund WT piglets are classified as dead piglets.</p

Pathological inspection of piglets’ intestine at the middle jejunum by H/E staining.

Panels A. and B. indicate wild-type and knockout piglets, respectively, after PEDV oral inoculation. C. The samples from control, the best and the worst pathological responded piglets, which are no nv-PEDV-inoculated, survival and dead, respectively, at 72 hpi. The upper panels (WT0, WT5 and WT6) are samples from wild type piglets and the down panels (KO0, KO4 and KO6 are samples from CMAH KO piglets. Arrows indicate epithelial cells and the yellow bars indicate 200 μm.</p

Evaluation criteria based on immunofluorescence staining and histopathological lesions (I/H score) of piglets’ intestine samples after PEDV challenge.

A. KO0 or WT0 controls for the ground state, G0. B. IF is scored as G1 to G4 based on the relative intensity of staining, whereas G5 is based on villar atrophy or defoliation observed by H/E inspection. The corresponding scores are shown in C. The arrows indicate necrotic villi; the yellow bars represent 200 μm.</p

Tiagabine-induced change in [11C]flumazenil <i>V</i>_T in control subjects.

<p>Values are Mean ± SD, in healthy controls (n = 9 per group); p is the significance level of the difference between the baseline and post-tiagabine scans in each group (paired t-test); d is the Cohen's effect size of this difference.</p

Body weights of neonatal piglets before and after oral PEDV inoculation.

A. 2-day-old piglets (n = 6) and B. 3-day-old piglets (n = 9) in Exp. I and Exp. II, respectively, show body weights changes 72 h after inoculated with nv-PEDV. K0 and W0 represent KO and WT animals that were not inoculated with PEDV and were reared by their dams on the farm. KO and WT are knockout treated and wild-type treated animals, respectively.</p

Generation of CMAH gene-edited pigs.

A. Four lines of CMAH gene-edited piglets (1 male, L667-02, and 3 females, L667-10, 11, and 12) were obtained. B. CMAH KO piglets were analysed and screened by PCR. The amplicons were produced a 161-pb deleted band when two sites editing occurred simultaneously.</p