2 research outputs found
A37.PROKKA_09022022.sqn
This announcement details the genome sequence, along with the detection and characterization of antibiotic resistance genes and plasmids in a Salmonella isolate from a retail pork sample in Laramie, Wyoming. The comprehensive molecular analysis, following the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) protocol, serves as a crucial surveillance framework for monitoring antimicrobial resistance in foodborne pathogens. Additionally, the annotation of the genome was conducted to provide further insights into the genetic features of the Salmonella isolate.</p
Effect of Nanocrystalline Domains in Photovoltaic Devices with Benzodithiophene-Based Donor–Acceptor Copolymers
We have investigated the effects
of thin-film morphology on the
photovolatic performance for a series of donor–acceptor copolymers
based on benzodithiophene donor and benzothiadiazole acceptor units.
Photovoltaic devices incorporating polymer:fullerene blends show highest
efficiencies (up to 6%) for those polymers exhibiting the least degree
of crystallinity in X-ray diffraction patterns and a corresponding
lowest surface roughness in thin films. We find that the existence
of such crystalline domains in thin polymer films correlates well
with spectral signatures of polymer chain aggregates already present
in solution prior to casting of the film. Polymer solubility and casting
conditions therefore appear to be crucial factors for enhancing efficiencies
of photovoltaic devices based on such donor–acceptor copolymers.
To examine why the presence of crystallite domains lowers device efficiencies,
we measured exciton diffusion lengths by modeling the time-dependent
photoluminescence from thin polymer films deposited on an exciton
quencher layer of TiO<sub>2</sub>. We find that exciton diffusion
lengths in these materials are substantial (4–7.5 nm) and show
some variation with polymer crystallinity. However, ultrafast (1 ps)
quenching of the polymer emission from polymer:PCBM blends indicates
that the vast majority of excitons rapidly reach the charge-dissociating
interface, and hence exciton diffusion does not represent a limiting
factor. We therefore conclude that the subsequent charge extraction
and lifetimes must be adversely affected by the presence of crystalline
domains. We suggest that the formed crystallites are too small to
offer significant enhancements in long-range charge carrier mobility
but instead introduce domain boundaries which impede charge extraction.
For this class of materials, polymer designs are therefore required
that target high solubility and chain entropy, leading to amorphous
film formation