Amplification of Xenon NMR and MRI by remote detection

A novel technique is proposed in which a nuclear magneticresonance (NMR) spectrum or magnetic resonance image (MRI) is encoded andstored as spin polarization and is then moved to a different physicallocation to be detected. Remote detection allows the separateoptimization of the encoding and detection steps, permitting theindependent choice of experimental conditions, and excitation anddetection methodologies. In the first experimental demonstration of thistechnique, we show that NMR signal can be amplified by taking diluted129Xe from a porous sample placed inside a large encoding coil, andconcentrating it into a smaller detection coil. In general, the study ofNMR active molecules at low concentration that have low physical fillingfactor is facilitated by remote detection. In the second experiment, MRIinformation encoded in a very low field magnet (4-7mT) is transferred toa high field magnet (4.2 T) in order to be detected under optimizedconditions. Furthermore, remote detection allows the utilization ofultra-sensitive optical or superconducting detection techniques, whichbroadens the horizon of NMR experimentation

Durabilité de la culture cotonnière selon l'utilisation des insecticides : cas du Togo de 1991-2010

Dans la perception des profanes, le coton est encore associé à la culture consommant le plus d'insecticides néfastes pour la santé et l'environnement. Une telle mauvaise image n'est plus méritée selon une étude internationale, mais les pays producteurs ont peu analysé et informé sur l'évolution de l'utilisation d'insecticides. Cette communication comble la lacune dans le cas du Togo. L'étude est basée sur la reconstitution des séries de données des surfaces emblavées et d'insecticides distribués aux producteurs de coton du Togo, de 1990 à 2010. Les données sur les insecticides concernent les volumes distribués ainsi que leurs compositions en matières actives, permettant ainsi de déduire la consommation de matières actives par hectare. Par ailleurs, les charges toxicologiques vis-à-vis de divers éléments de la faune ont été calculées à partir des indices d'écotoxicité établis par la FAO pour chaque matière active. La consommation de matières actives insecticides au Togo a chuté régulièrement jusqu'à un litre/hectare, du même niveau que l'Australie qui recourt par ailleurs aux variétés génétiquement modifiées. La charge toxicologique, pesant sur l'homme mais aussi sur divers éléments de la faune comme les abeilles ou les daphnés des cours d'eau, a diminué quoique de manière moins régulière. Cette évolution est la conséquence d'une protection limitée depuis trois décennies à moins de six traitements et de l'adoption de nouvelles générations de molécules insecticides. Au Togo, l'utilisation des insecticides dans la culture cotonnière a évolué dans une direction plus compatible avec le souci de la santé humaine et de la préservation de l'environnement, mais cette évolution est extrapolable à tous les pays cotonniers de l'Afrique francophone. Il convient de poursuivre l'évolution engagée dans les décisions relatives aux insecticides à commander, en s'inspirant des indicateurs utilisés dans cette étude. (Résumé d'auteur

2017 Research & Innovation Day Program

A one day showcase of applied research, social innovation, scholarship projects and activities.https://first.fanshawec.ca/cri_cripublications/1004/thumbnail.jp

Photochemical Charge Separation in Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) Films Observed with Surface Photovoltage Spectroscopy

Surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS) was used to probe photon induced charge separation in thin films of regioregular and regiorandom poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) as a function of excitation energy. Both positive and negative photovoltage signals were observed under sub-band-gap (<2.0 eV) and super-band-gap (>2.0 eV) excitation of the polymer. The dependence of the spectra on substrate work function, thermal annealing, film thickness, and illumination intensity was investigated, allowing the identification of interface, charge transfer (CT), and band-gap states in the amorphous and crystalline regions of the polymer films. The ability to probe these states in polymer films will aid the development and optimization of organic electronic devices such as photovoltaics (OPVs), light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), and field effect transistors (OFETs). The direction and size of the observed photovoltage features can be explained using the depleted semiconductor model. © 2013 American Chemical Society

Final Closeout report for grant FG36-08GO18018, titled: Functional Multi-Layer Solution Processable Polymer Solar Cells

The original objectives were: (1) Develop a method to deposit multiple conjugated polymer film layers and avoid the problem of dissolution from mutually solubility; (2) Use this deposition method to develop multi-layer polymer based solar cells with layers that are function specific; (3) characterize these layers and devices; (4) develop electrical and optical models that describe and predict the properties of the multi-layers; and (5) Ultimate efficiency goals are {approx}6.75% with J{sub sc} = 12 mA/cm{sup 2}, FF = 0.75, and V{sub oc} = 0.75. The question of whether photovoltaic (PV) cells will ever be able to replace fossil fuels as the main provider of electrical power is not just a question of device efficiency; it is a question of how much power can be provided for what price. It has been well documented that PV devices at 10% power efficiency can provide for all of the world's power needs without covering too much of the earth's surface. Assuming desert like cloud coverage, an area equivalent to the land area of Texas would have to be covered. However, it has also been shown that using the current state-of-the-art silicon devices, the price-per-Watt will never be low enough to be economically feasible for large-scale development. Solution-processable PV devices based on polymers are a very attractive alternative to traditional Silicon PV because this technology is much lower in materials cost and in environmentally toxic waste production. Solution-based polymers can be rapidly deposited using printing technologies and are compatible with light-weight flexible substrates that can increase the range of available PV applications. In the past ten years, the efficiency of polymer based PV devices has increased from {approx}1% to over 10%. The highest efficiency organic solar cells are based upon a single layer than consists of a mixture of donor and acceptor moieties. This one layer has multiple optical and electrical functions, so the design of a single heterojunction layer is based upon the idea of balancing good and bad properties within a single film. This proposal addresses the idea that the use of multiple layers that have differing electrical and optical functions could lead to greater efficiency because fewer materials compromises must be made. This idea is not new, multiple functional layer have been successfully used in cross-linked OLED's and organic small molecule evaporated PV devices. The main reason that multiple layers of polymers are not commonly deposited is that most conjugated polymers are mutually soluble in the same solvents. The work outlined in the proposal was intended to develop a new deposition strategy that would allow multiple organic layers to be deposited from solution using spin coating. The deposition method that we proposed was successful, sometimes, but ultimately not reliable. Instead we focused on more reliable methods to implement doping along the interface between layers. This work has been very successful. We found that using PEDOT:PSS, the PSS would form a surface layer of {approx}2-3 nm thickness that would mix with and electrochemically react with P3HT upon heating. This mechanism is also a crosslinking reaction in that H{sub 2} is released and permanent new bonds are formed. Using the Plextronics Inc. replacement to PEDOT:PSS, for which there are no mobile dopants, we were able to show that a second and different mechanism can be used to p-type dope organic materials. We are currently working with Plextronics to develop a new product. Finally we produced n-type doping of a thin fullerene layer near the cathode also using a self-assembly method. Low work function metals will diffuse into the BHJ layer and dope the fullerene upon heating. This doping also affects the vertical segregation of BHJ materials in a predictable way. We accomplished all of the scientific goals that we set out in the proposal written in May 2007. Some of the methods we proposed were not fully successful, but we did come up with better methods to achieve the same goal. We did not achieve the efficiency goal for this proposal. We did increase V{sub oc} and explain why, but the same effect did not affect FF or J{sub sc} as we had proposed

Laser-polarized {sup 129}Xe NMR and MRI at ultra-low magnetic fields

No abstract prepared

Material profile influences in bulk-heterojunctions

The morphology in mixed bulk-heterojunction films are compared using three different quantitative measurement techniques. We compare the vertical composition changes using high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy with electron tomography and neutron and x-ray reflectometry. The three measurement techniques yield qualitatively comparable vertical concentration measurements. The presence of a metal cathode during thermal annealing is observed to alter the fullerene concentration throughout the thickness of the film for all measurements. However, the absolute vertical concentration of fullerene is quantitatively different for the three measurements. The origin of the quantitative measurement differences is discussed

Put Your Backbone into It: Excited-State Structural Relaxation of PffBT4T-2DT Conducting Polymer in Solution

Conformational and energetic disorder in organic semiconductors reduces charge and exciton transport because of the structural defects, thus reducing the efficiency in devices such as organic photovoltaics and organic light-emitting diodes. The main structural heterogeneity is because of the twisting of the polymer backbone that occurs even in polymers that are mostly crystalline. Here, we explore the relationship between polymer backbone twisting and exciton delocalization by means of transient absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations. We study the PffBT4T-2DT polymer which has exhibited even higher device efficiency with nonfullerene acceptors than the current record breaking PCE11 polymer. We determine the driving force for planarization of a polymer chain caused by excitation. The methodology is generally applicable and demonstrates a higher penalty for nonplanar structures in the excited state than in the ground state. This study highlights the morphological and electronic changes in conjugated polymers that are brought about by excitation