Nonfullerene Ternary Organic Photovoltaics with Long-Wavelength Light-Absorption Guest Donor Materials to Improve Photovoltaic Performance

In order to achieve efficient organic photovoltaics (OPVs), a ternary strategy was adopted with the efficient long-wavelength light-absorption donor material of PSBTBT as the third component material (guest donor) and the D18-Cl:BTP-eC9 binary film as the host photoactive layer, which facilitates the acquisition of absorption spectra complementary to those of D18-Cl and BTP-eC9. The PL spectrum of D18-Cl was covered by the absorption spectrum of PSBTBT, which further supports the energy transfer from D18-Cl to PSBTBT. In addition, the addition of a small amount of PSBTBT to the D18-Cl:BTP-eC9 binary film slightly changed the bulk and surface morphology of the photoactive layer, while appropriate phase separation size and a smooth surface could be achieved for both the D18-Cl:BTP-eC9 binary film and the optimized ternary film. Thus, with 10% PSBTBT as the third component material (D18-Cl/PSBTBT/BTP-eC9 ratio of 0.9:0.1:1.2), the ternary OPV shows a higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.35%. The improvement of photovoltaic performance is due to the short-circuit current density (JSC) enhancement from 24.65 to 26.23 mA cm–2, even though the open-circuit voltage (VOC) weakly decreased from 0.905 to 0.900 V. This work provides an effective method to find a guest polymer that matches the host binary photoactive layer, broadens the absorption spectrum, and provides efficient energy transfer within both donor materials

Synergetic Determination of Thermodynamic and Kinetic Signatures Using Isothermal Titration Calorimetry: A Full-Curve-Fitting Approach

Thermodynamic and kinetic signatures are pivotal information for revealing the binding mechanisms of biomolecules, and they play an indispensable role in drug discovery and optimization. While noncalorimetric methods measure only a part of these signatures, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is considered to have the potential to acquire full signatures in an experiment. However, kinetic parameters are generally difficult to extract from ITC curves, as they are inevitably affected by the instrument-response function and the collateral heat of associated process during titrations. Thus, we herein report the development and validation of a full-curve-fitting method to resolve thermal power curves and to maximize the signal extraction using ITC. This method is then employed to quantify the dilution of an aqueous <i>n</i>-propanol solution and examine the inhibition of carbonic anhydrase by 4-carboxybenzenesulfonamide using a commercial instrument with a long apparent response time of ∼13 s

<i>In Situ</i> Measurement of Surface Functional Groups on Silica Nanoparticles Using Solvent Relaxation Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

<i>In situ</i> analysis and study on the surface of nanoparticles (NPs) is a key to obtain their important physicochemical properties for the subsequent applications. Of them, most works focus on the qualitative characterization whereas quantitative analysis and measurement on the NPs under their storage and usage conditions is still a challenge. In order to cope with this challenge, solvation relaxation-based nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology has been applied to measure the wet specific surface area and, therefore, determine the number of the bound water molecules on the surface of silica NPs in solution and the hydrophilic groups of various types grafted on the surface of the NPs. By changing the surface functional group on silica particles, the fine distinction for the solvent-particle interaction with different surface group can be quantitatively differentiated by measuring the number of water molecules absorbed on the surface. The results show that the number of the surface hydroxyl, amine, and carboxyl group per nm² is 4.0, 3.7, and 2.3, respectively, for the silica particles with a diameter of 203 nm. The method reported here is the first attempt to determine <i>in situ</i> the number of bound solvent molecules and any solvophilic groups grafted on nanoparticles

Synergetic Determination of Thermodynamic and Kinetic Signatures Using Isothermal Titration Calorimetry: A Full-Curve-Fitting Approach

Thermodynamic and kinetic signatures are pivotal information for revealing the binding mechanisms of biomolecules, and they play an indispensable role in drug discovery and optimization. While noncalorimetric methods measure only a part of these signatures, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is considered to have the potential to acquire full signatures in an experiment. However, kinetic parameters are generally difficult to extract from ITC curves, as they are inevitably affected by the instrument-response function and the collateral heat of associated process during titrations. Thus, we herein report the development and validation of a full-curve-fitting method to resolve thermal power curves and to maximize the signal extraction using ITC. This method is then employed to quantify the dilution of an aqueous <i>n</i>-propanol solution and examine the inhibition of carbonic anhydrase by 4-carboxybenzenesulfonamide using a commercial instrument with a long apparent response time of ∼13 s

Outcrop images from the upper part (Units D and E) of the first and the lower second members of the FXG Formation.

<p>(A) The complete sequence of upper Unit D and Unit E located at the footwall of the reverse fault. (B) Interbedded lamellar limestone (microbialite) showing aborted microbial mounds and mudstone of the microbial mound base. (C) A rudiment of a microbial mound within the box defined by the dashed yellow line in Bed 12. (D) Horizontal structures of microbialites within the box defined by the dashed red line in Bed 12. (E) Wavy structures of microbialites in Bed 12. (F) Image of Dome 1 and 2 in the outcrop. (G) Image of Dome 3 in the outcrop. (H) Image of Dome 4 in the outcrop. (I) Gray mound body of Dome 6, and the overlying marl and mudstone of the lower second member of the FXG Formation. (J) Image of Dome 7 in the outcrop. (K) Image of Dome 8 in the outcrop. (L) Net-like stylolites developed in Dome 8. (M) Shelly fossils on the surface of the bioclastic limestone of the mound cap of Dome 8. (N) Image of Dome 9 and 10 in the outcrop. (O) Photograph showing the lower part of the second member of the FXG Formation.</p

Early Triassic Griesbachian microbial mounds in the Upper Yangtze Region, southwest China: Implications for biotic recovery from the latest Permian mass extinction - Fig 2

<p>(A) General lithological column of the lower Triassic (Griesbachian) succession at the Baimiaozi Section in Beibei. (B) Lithological column of the investigated microbial mounds.</p

Outcrop images from the first member of the FXG Formation in the Baimiaozi Section.

<p>The locations of the pictures are shown in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0201012#pone.0201012.g002" target="_blank">Fig 2</a>. (A) Lenticular bioclastic limestone found in the massive marl layer of lower Unit B. (B) Breccia in the marl of Unit B. (C) Light purple lamellar limestone containing the spots of recrystallized calcite in Unit B. (D) Bioclastic limestone containing breccia, interlayered by marl in Unit B. (E) Yellow claystone found between the grainstone layers in Unit C. (F) Grainstone with wave-caused crossbedding and stylolite structure in Unit C. (G) Boundary (fault) between the grainstone of Unit C and oolite of Unit D. (H) Spheroids in Unit D yielded from the mudstone deposited in the wave trough of the top surface of the massive oolitic limestone. (I) Massive and thick bedded oolite in the upper part of Unit D.</p

Sizes and characteristics of the microbial mounds at BMZ.

<p>Sizes and characteristics of the microbial mounds at BMZ.</p

Thin-section microphotographs from the first member of the FXG Formation in the Baimiaozi Section.

<p>(A) Bivalve shell fossils are located mainly in the lenticular bioclastic limestone interlayered in the marl layers of lower Unit B. (B) Microphotograph of lamellar limestone showing impregnated clay material; the outcrop spot is composed of bivalve fossils and the is surrounded by recrystallized calcite (indicated by the yellow arrow) in Unit B. (C) Another thin section showing the light purple lamellar limestone of Unit B in which strongly recrystallized calcites are common. (D) Breccia with an irregular edge (indicated by the yellow arrow) found in the marl in Unit B. (E) Thin section of bioclastic limestone containing many stylolites in upper Unit B. (F) Peloids and recrystallized ooids surrounded by a micritization enclosure (indicated by the yellow arrows) in the oolite of Bed 10, Unit D.</p

Conodonts from the lower second member of FXG Formation at Baimiaozi, Beibei.

<p>A, B, <i>Hindeodus n</i>. <i>sp</i>. <i>A</i>. A1, B1, aboral view; A2, B2, lateral view. C, D, E, F, G, <i>Hindeodus sp</i>. <i>Indeterminate</i>. C1, D1, E1, G1, aboral view; F1, oblique lower view; C2, D2, E2, F2, G2, lateral view. H, <i>Hindeodus parvus</i>? (Kozur and Pjatakova, 1976). H1, aboral view, H2, lateral view. Each scale bar equals 100 μm.</p