Modified Charge Injection in Green InP Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diodes Utilizing a Plasma-Enhanced NiO Buffer Layer

With the growing concern for green and environmentally friendly quantum dots (QDs), the investigation of low-toxicity heavy-metal-free light-emitting materials and devices has become a research hotspot. Due to their high quantum yield, tunable emission, and environmentally friendly properties, the low-toxicity III–V InP quantum dot light-emitting devices (QLEDs) have great application potential in next-generation full-color displays and lighting. In this work, charge injection in high-performance green InP QLEDs was modified by using a low-temperature atomic layer-deposited (ALD) nickel oxide (NiO) buffer layer. The device with the NiO buffer layer effectively suppressed the nonradiative recombination process and enhanced the hole injection, exhibiting a 1.35-fold enhanced external quantum efficiency (EQE). Moreover, different oxygen plasma-enhanced conditions were applied to the deposition of the NiO film. As the ambient oxygen flux increased (50–200 sccm), Ni2+ and interstitial oxygen vacancies were generated within the NiO film, which effectively improved the hole injection and promoted the carrier balance injection. The best-performing device with a 100 sccm O2–NiO film realized a 2.36 times higher EQE (6.75%) than the device without the NiO buffer layer, with a maximum current efficiency (CE) of 12.73 cd/A. The experimental results provide an effective strategy to further improve the charge balance and performance of InP-based QLED

Hormone levels in serum.

<p>Serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), progesterone (P), estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and prolactin (PRL) from control and TCS-exposed pregnant rats. Bars represent the mean ± SD of six rats per group. Asterisks indicate a statistically significant difference compared with the vehicle control: *<i>p</i> < 0.05.</p

Sequences of primers used for Q-RT-PCR amplification.

<p>Sequences of primers used for Q-RT-PCR amplification.</p

The number of living fetuses.

<p>The number of living fetuses.</p

Relative expression levels of genes related to hormone biosynthesis and metabolism in the placenta.

<p>(A) Placental mRNA levels of CYP11A1, 3β-HSD1, CYP17A1, 17β-HSD3 and CYP19A1. (B) Placental mRNA levels of SRD5A1, SRD5A2 and SRD5A3. (C) Placental mRNA levels of UGT1A1 and SULT1E1. (D) Placental mRNA levels of PR, AR and ERα. The data represent the relative mRNA expression compared with the controls. Values are given as the mean ± SD of n = 18 (placenta) per group. <i>*p</i> < 0.05.</p

Net body weight gain and gravid uterine weight.

<p>Net body weight gain and gravid uterine weight of control and TCS-exposed pregnant rats (n = 6). For all panels, the bars represent the mean ± SD of six rats per group. Asterisks indicate a statistically significant difference compared to the vehicle control: <i>*p</i> < 0.05. Net body weight gain (GD 6–21) = body weight on GD 21 minus body weight on GD 6 and gravid uterine weight.</p

Ubiquitous Occurrence of Chlorinated Byproducts of Bisphenol A and Nonylphenol in Bleached Food Contacting Papers and Their Implications for Human Exposure

The occurrence of bisphenol A (BPA), nonylphenol (NP), and their six chlorinated byproducts were investigated in 74 food contacting papers (FCPs) from China, the U.S.A., Japan, and Europe using a sensitive dansylation LC-MS/MS method. BPA

Structure-Dependent Activity of Phthalate Esters and Phthalate Monoesters Binding to Human Constitutive Androstane Receptor

The present study investigated the human constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) binding activities of 23 phthalate esters and 10 phthalate monoesters using a fast and sensitive human CAR yeast two-hybrid assay. Of 23 phthalate esters, 16 were evaluated as positive, and the 10% relative effective concentrations (REC₁₀) ranged from 0.28 (BBP) to 29.51 μM (DEHP), whereas no obvious binding activities were found for the phthalate esters having alkyl chains more than six carbons in length. Of 10 phthalate monoesters, only monoethyl phthalate (MEP), monoisobutyl phthalate (MIBP), and mono-(2-ethyhexyl) tetrabromophthalate (TBMEHP) elicited human CAR binding activities. The REC₁₀ values of MEP and MIBP were 4.27 and 14.13 μM, respectively, higher than those of their corresponding phthalate esters (1.45 μM for DEP and 0.83 μM for DIBP), whereas TBMEHP (0.66 μM) was much lower than TBHP (>10² μM). A molecular docking method was performed to simulate the interaction modes between phthalates and human CAR, and active phthalates were found to lie at almost the same site in the human CAR pocket. The docking results suggest that the strong binding of phthalates to human CAR arises primarily from hydrophobic interactions, π–π interactions, and steric effects and that weak hydrogen bonds and weak halogen bonds greatly contribute to the high binding activity of TBMEHP. In conclusion, the current study clarified that an extensive array of phthalates are activators of human CAR

Controlling Crystallinity in Graft Ionomers, and Its Effect on Morphology, Water Sorption, and Proton Conductivity of Graft Ionomer Membranes

To gain insight into the role of crystallinity and morphology on proton transport through solid polymer electrolytes, we synthesized graft copolymers, poly­(vinylidene difluoride-<i>co</i>-chlorotrifluoroethylene)-<i>g</i>-polystyrene [P­(VDF-<i>co</i>-CTFE)-<i>g</i>-PS], consisting of a hydrophobic, fluorous backbone and styrenic graft chain of varied length (DP_styrene = 39, 62, and 79), by graft atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The polystyrene graft chains were subsequently sulfonated to different degrees to provide three series of polymers with controlled ion exchange capacity (IEC). The crystallinity and morphology of solution-cast membranes were examined by XRD and TEM, respectively. The grafting of the parent side chain is found to hinder crystallization of the fluorous backbone and the impact of the degree of sulfonation of the side chain on the crystallinity of the polymer is dependent on the graft length: No impact is found for medium and long graft lengths, but for short graft length copolymers (PS₃₉), the degree of crystallinity in the sulfonated membranes is twice that of the unsulfonated membrane. A phase-separated morphology consisting of 2–5 (±1) nm ion-rich domains is observed for all of the graft copolymers. These graft copolymers allow access to very high IEC membranes (>3 mmol/g), which are insoluble in water. The shorter graft length series, P­(VDF-<i>co</i>-CTFE)-<i>g</i>-SPS₃₉, swells less in the intermediate IEC range (<3.0 mmol/g) because of its higher degree of crystallinity and lower PS to VDF ratio, and provides membranes with exceptionally high proton conductivity. Two graft series possessing similar weight fraction of PS but different graft density were also examined in order to evaluate the effect of graft density. It was found that lower graft density copolymers possess higher crystallinity and more contiguous PVDF domains, which allow high IEC membranes to be prepared that swell to lower extents

DataSheet1_The characteristic and size–frequency distribution of rocks at the Zhurong landing site, Mars.pdf

The rock characteristic and size–frequency distribution (SFD) on Mars are important for understanding the geologic and geomorphic history of the surface, for evaluating the trafficability of roving, and for planning the potential infrastructure construction. Tianwen-1, China’s first autonomous Mars exploration mission, formed an excavated depression during touchdown, which has been the deepest depression on the Martian surface so far compared with others. According to the images captured using the Navigation and Terrain Cameras (NaTeCams) onboard the rover, Zhurong, the SFD of rocks is calculated and compared inside the excavated depression, within and out of the blast zone. For the first time, the rock size distribution inside the excavated depression is obtained, exposing the geological features of the shallow subsurface on Mars at a depth of tens of centimeters, which will surely be important for future drilling missions. It is found that the rock abundance in the depression is smaller than the original abundance on the surface, and the distribution of rocks in the blast zone on the surface is greatly influenced by the touchdown. In addition, based on the fractal dimension of rock sizes, the rocks (>10 mm) at the shallow subsurface of the Zhurong landing site may experience two different geological processes.</p