Traceable atomic force microscopy of high-quality solvent-free crystals of [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester

We report high-resolution, traceable atomic force microscopymeasurements of high-quality, solvent-free single crystals of [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). These were grown by drop-casting PCBM solutions onto the spectrosil substrates and by removing the residual solvent in a vacuum. A home-built atomic force microscope featuring a plane mirror differential optical interferometer, fiber-fed from a frequency-stabilized laser (emitting at 632.8 nm), was used to measure the crystals' height. The optical interferometer together with the stabilized laser provides traceability (via the laser wavelength) of the vertical measurements made with the atomic force microscope. We find that the crystals can conform to the surface topography, thanks to their height being significantly smaller compared to their lateral dimensions (namely, heights between about 50 nm and 140 nm, for the crystals analysed, vs. several tens of microns lateral dimensions). The vast majority of the crystals are flat, but an isolated, non-flat crystal provides insights into the growth mechanism and allows identification of “molecular terraces” whose height corresponds to one of the lattice constants of the single PCBM crystal (1.4 nm) as measured with X-ray diffraction

Traceable atomic force microscopy of high-quality solvent-free crystals of [6,6]-phenyl-C-61-butyric acid methyl ester

We report high-resolution, traceable atomic force microscopymeasurements of high-quality, solvent-free single crystals of [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). These were grown by drop-casting PCBM solutions onto the spectrosil substrates and by removing the residual solvent in a vacuum. A home-built atomic force microscope featuring a plane mirror differential optical interferometer, fiber-fed from a frequency-stabilized laser (emitting at 632.8 nm), was used to measure the crystals' height. The optical interferometer together with the stabilized laser provides traceability (via the laser wavelength) of the vertical measurements made with the atomic force microscope. We find that the crystals can conform to the surface topography, thanks to their height being significantly smaller compared to their lateral dimensions (namely, heights between about 50 nm and 140 nm, for the crystals analysed, vs. several tens of microns lateral dimensions). The vast majority of the crystals are flat, but an isolated, non-flat crystal provides insights into the growth mechanism and allows identification of “molecular terraces” whose height corresponds to one of the lattice constants of the single PCBM crystal (1.4 nm) as measured with X-ray diffraction

2,1,3-Benzothiadiazole-5,6-Dicarboxylic Imide - A Versatile Building Block for Additive-and Annealing-Free Processing of Organic Solar Cells with Effi ciencies Exceeding 8%

A new photoactive polymer comprising benzo[1,2‐b:3,4‐b′:5,6‐d′]trithiophene and 2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole‐5,6‐dicarboxylic imide is reported. The synthetic design allows for alkyl chains to be introduced on both electron‐rich and electron‐deficient components, which in turn allows for rapid optimization of the alkyl chain substitution pattern. Consequently, the optimized polymer shows a maximum efficiency of 8.3% in organic photovoltaic devices processed in a commercially viable fashion without solvent additives, annealing, or device engineering

Land Use and Land Cover Affect the Depth Distribution of Soil Carbon: Insights From a Large Database of Soil Profiles

Soils contain a large and dynamic fraction of global terrestrial carbon stocks. The distribution of soil carbon (SC) with depth varies among ecosystems and land uses and is an important factor in calculating SC stocks and their vulnerabilities. Systematic analysis of SC depth distributions across databases of SC profiles has been challenging due to the heterogeneity of soil profile measurements, which vary in depth sampling. Here, we fit over 40,000 SC depth profiles to an exponential decline relationship with depth to determine SC concentration at the top of the mineral soil, minimum SC concentration at depth, and the characteristic “length” of SC concentration decline with depth. Fitting these parameters allowed profile characteristics to be analyzed across a large and heterogeneous dataset. We then assessed the differences in these depth parameters across soil orders and land cover types and between soil profiles with or without a history of tillage, as represented by the presence of an Ap horizon. We found that historically tilled soils had more gradual decreases of SC with depth (greater e-folding depth or Z∗), deeper SC profiles, lower SC concentrations at the top of the mineral soil, and lower total SC stocks integrated to 30 cm. The large database of profiles allowed these results to be confirmed across different land cover types and spatial areas within the Continental United States, providing robust evidence for systematic impacts of historical tillage on SC stocks and depth distributions

Stochastic Aggregation: Rate Equations Approach

We investigate a class of stochastic aggregation processes involving two types of clusters: active and passive. The mass distribution is obtained analytically for several aggregation rates. When the aggregation rate is constant, we find that the mass distribution of passive clusters decays algebraically. Furthermore, the entire range of acceptable decay exponents is possible. For aggregation rates proportional to the cluster masses, we find that gelation is suppressed. In this case, the tail of the mass distribution decays exponentially for large masses, and as a power law over an intermediate size range.Comment: 7 page

Application of Global Positioning System and questionnaires data for the study of driver behavior on two-lane rural roads

This paper is a preprint of a paper accepted by IET Intelligent Transport Systems and is subject to Institution of Engineering and Technology Copyright. When the final version is published, the copy of record will be available at IET Digital LibraryMethodologies based on naturalistic observation provide the most accurate data for studying drivers' behaviour. This study presents a new methodology to obtain naturalistic data related to drivers' behaviour in a road segment. It is based on the combination of using global positioning system data and drivers' questionnaires. The continuous speed profiles along a road segment and the characteristics of drivers, of their trips and the type of their vehicles can be obtained for a great amount of drivers. It has already been successfully used for several studies, such as the development of models to estimate operating speed profile in two-lane rural road segments; or the characterisation of driving styles. These operating speed models have been the key for the development of a new geometric design consistency model, allowing an easier road safety evaluation. Besides, knowledge on the human factors that influence speed choice may be useful for road safety media campaigns and education programs designers, and also for the improvement of intelligent driver assistance systems.The authors thank 'Centre for Studies and Experimentation of Public Works (CEDEX)' of the 'Spanish Ministry of Public Works' that partially subsidizes the research. We also wish to thank to the 'General Directorate of Public Works, Urban Projects and Housing' of the 'Infrastructure, Territory and Environment Department' of the 'Valencian Government', to the 'Valencian Provincial Council' and to the 'General Directorate of Traffic' of the 'Ministry of the Interior' for their cooperation in field data gathering.Pérez Zuriaga, AM.; Camacho Torregrosa, FJ.; Campoy Ungria, JM.; García García, A. (2013). Application of Global Positioning System and questionnaires data for the study of driver behavior on two-lane rural roads. IET Intelligent Transport Systems. 7(2):182-189. doi:10.1049/iet-its.2012.0151S18218972Fourie, M., Walton, D., & Thomas, J. A. (2011). Naturalistic observation of drivers’ hands, speed and headway. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 14(5), 413-421. doi:10.1016/j.trf.2011.04.009Gibreel, G. M., Easa, S. M., & El-Dimeery, I. A. (2001). Prediction of Operating Speed on Three-Dimensional Highway Alignments. Journal of Transportation Engineering, 127(1), 21-30. doi:10.1061/(asce)0733-947x(2001)127:1(21)Fitzpatrick, K., & Collins, J. M. (2000). Speed-Profile Model for Two-Lane Rural Highways. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 1737(1), 42-49. doi:10.3141/1737-06Bella, F. (2008). Driving simulator for speed research on two-lane rural roads. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 40(3), 1078-1087. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2007.10.015Van Nes, N., Houtenbos, M., & Van Schagen, I. (2008). Improving speed behaviour: the potential of in-car speed assistance and speed limit credibility. IET Intelligent Transport Systems, 2(4), 323. doi:10.1049/iet-its:20080036Warner, H. W., & Åberg, L. (2006). Drivers’ decision to speed: A study inspired by the theory of planned behavior. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 9(6), 427-433. doi:10.1016/j.trf.2006.03.004Goldenbeld, C., & van Schagen, I. (2007). The credibility of speed limits on 80km/h rural roads: The effects of road and person(ality) characteristics. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 39(6), 1121-1130. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2007.02.012Zuriaga, A. M. P., García, A. G., Torregrosa, F. J. C., & D’Attoma, P. (2010). Modeling Operating Speed and Deceleration on Two-Lane Rural Roads with Global Positioning System Data. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2171(1), 11-20. doi:10.3141/2171-02Ottesen, J. L., & Krammes, R. A. (2000). Speed-Profile Model for a Design-Consistency Evaluation Procedure in the United States. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 1701(1), 76-85. doi:10.3141/1701-10Park, P. Y., Miranda-Moreno, L. F., & Saccomanno, F. F. (2010). Estimation of speed differentials on rural highways using hierarchical linear regression models. Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 37(4), 624-637. doi:10.1139/l10-002Wasielewski, P. (1984). Speed as a measure of driver risk: Observed speeds versus driver and vehicle characteristics. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 16(2), 89-103. doi:10.1016/0001-4575(84)90034-4Williams, A. F., Kyrychenko, S. Y., & Retting, R. A. (2006). Characteristics of speeders. Journal of Safety Research, 37(3), 227-232. doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2006.04.001Lajunen, T., Karola, J., & Summala, H. (1997). Speed and Acceleration as Measures of Driving Style in Young Male Drivers. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 85(1), 3-16. doi:10.2466/pms.1997.85.1.3Af Wåhlberg, A. E. (2006). Speed choice versus celeration behavior as traffic accident predictor. Journal of Safety Research, 37(1), 43-51. doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2005.10.01

Assessing the suitability of copper thiocyanate as a hole-transport layer in inverted CsSnI3 perovskite photovoltaics

We report the fndings of a study into the suitability of copper (I) thiocyanate (CuSCN) as a hole-transport layer in inverted photovoltaic (PV) devices based on the black gamma phase (B-γ) of CsSnl3 perovskite. Remarkably, when B-γ-CsSnI3 perovskite is deposited from a dimethylformamide solution onto a 180–190nm thick CuSCN flm supported on an indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrode, the CuSCN layer is completely displaced leaving a perovskite layer with high uniformity and coverage of the underlying ITO electrode. This fnding is confrmed by detailed analysis of the thickness and composition of the film that remains after perovskite deposition, together with photovoltaic device studies. The results of this study show that, whilst CuSCN has proved to be an excellent hole-extraction layer for high performance lead-perovskite and organic photovoltaics, it is unsuitable as a hole-transport layer in inverted B-γCsSnI3 perovskite photovoltaics processed from solution