Device-spectroscopy of magnetic field effects in a polyfluorene organic light-emitting diode

We perform charge-induced absorption and electroluminescence spectroscopy in a polyfluorene organic magnetoresistive device. Our experiments allow us to measure the singlet exciton, triplet exciton and polaron densities in a live device under an applied magnetic field, and to distinguish between three different models that were proposed to explain organic magnetoresistance. These models are based on different spin-dependent interactions, namely exciton formation, triplet exciton-polaron quenching and bipolaron formation. We show that the singlet exciton, triplet exciton and polaron densities and conductivity all increase with increasing magnetic field. Our data are inconsistent with the exciton formation and triplet-exciton polaron quenching models.Comment: 4 pages, two figure

Local stress anomaly in the Bavarian Molasse Basin

Background: The characterization of fault zones in the Bavarian Molasse Basin plays a major role for further geothermal reservoir development. Hence, their identification, geological origin, and hydraulic characterization are discussed extensively. Methods: Stress indicators and fractures are interpreted from image and caliper logs of three highly deviated wells at the Sauerlach site. We transform the identified stress field into the borehole coordinate system and compare the observed orientation to the modeled stress field which assumes a homogeneous borehole surrounding. Results: High breakout occurrence, cross-cutting fractures, and a fracture orientation from N-S to NNE-SSW are observed in Sauerlach Th1. In Sauerlach Th2 and Th3, fractures strike primarily ENE-WSW and N-S to NNE-SSW. Drilling-enhanced natural fractures and drilling-induced tensile fractures are observed in all three wells and indicate the orientation of tensile stress at the borehole wall. In Sauerlach Th2 and Th3, stress transformation indicates a S$_{H}$-dir. ~ N 10°E in a strike-slip stress regime. The modeled stress orientations match the observed orientations within the well Sauerlach Th1 if either S$_{H}$-dir. is N 320°E in a strike-slip regime or S$_{H}$-dir. is N 10°E in a normal faulting regime. Conclusion: This approach improves the detection of the local stress field especially for non-vertical wells, which has, in combination with the facture pattern, a major impact on the hydraulic system of the geothermal reservoir

Refractivity and temperature climate records from multiple radio occultation satellites consistent within 0.05%

Data consistency is an important prerequisite to build radio occultation (RO) climatologies based on a combined record of data from different satellites. The presence of multiple RO receiving satellites in orbit over the same time period allows for testing this consistency. We used RO data from CHAMP (CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload for geoscientific research), six FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC satellites (Formosa Satellite Mission 3/Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate, F3C), and GRACE-A (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment). We show latitude-altitude-resolved results for an example month (October 2007) and the temporal evolution of differences in a climate record of global and monthly means from January 2007 to December 2009. Latitude- and altitude-resolved refractivity and dry temperature climatologies clearly show the influence of different sampling characteristics; monthly mean deviations from the multi-satellite mean over the altitude domain 10 km to 30 km typically reach 0.1% and 0.2 K, respectively. Nevertheless, the 3-yr average deviations (shorter for CHAMP) are less than 0.03% and 0.05 K, respectively. We find no indications for instrument degradation, temporal inhomogeneities in the RO records, or temporal trends in sampling patterns. Based on analysis fields from ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts), we can estimate – and subtract – the sampling error from each monthly climatology. After such subtraction, refractivity deviations are found reduced to <0.05% in almost any month and dry temperature deviations to <0.05 K (<0.02% relative) for almost every satellite and month. 3-yr average deviations are even reduced to <0.01% and <0.01 K (CHAMP: −0.05 K), respectively, establishing an amazing consistency of RO climatologies from different satellites. If applying the same processing scheme for all data, refractivity and dry temperature records from individual satellites with similar bending angle noise can be safely combined up to 30 km altitude (refractivity also up to 35 km) to a consistent single climate record of substantial value for climate monitoring in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere

Work function of few layer graphene covered nickel thin films measured with Kelvin probe force microscopy

Few layer graphene and graphite are simultaneously grown on a similar to 100 nm thick polycrystalline nickel film. The work function of few layer graphene/Ni is found to be 4.15 eV with a variation of 50 meV by local measurements with Kelvin probe force microscopy. This value is lower than the work function of free standing graphene due to peculiar electronic structure resulting from metal 3d-carbon 2p(pi) hybridization. (C) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC

Mutation of ornithine transcarbamylase (H136R) in a girl with severe intermittent orotic aciduria but normal enzyme activity

Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency shows X-linked inheritance with partial dominant expression in carrier females. We studied a girl with intermittent severe orotic aciduria and mild hyperammonaemia despite apparently normal enzyme activity in the liver. Sequence analysis of all 10 exons of the ornithine transcarbamylase gene revealed a novel a → G exchange (A502G) in exon 5 which changes His-136 to arginine in the ornithine transcarbamylase protein. Km values for carbamyl phosphate and ornithine determined in the patient's liver were comparable to those of wild-type enzyme but, unlike the wild-type enzyme, the mutant enzyme was unstable upon freezing and thawing. Electron microscopy revealed several giant mitochondria with paracrystalline inclusions. The results are compatible with the assumption that the mutant enzyme cannot form a functional complex with carbamyl phosphate synthetase and the ornithine carrier, resulting in decreased availability of substrates and diminished enzyme activity in viv

Compact Frontend-Electronics and Bidirectional 3.3 Gbps Optical Datalink for Fast Proportional Chamber Readout

The 9600 channels of the multi-wire proportional chamber of the H1 experiment at HERA have to be read out within 96 ns and made available to the trigger system. The tight spatial conditions at the rear end flange require a compact bidirectional readout electronics with minimal power consumption and dead material. A solution using 40 identical optical link modules, each transferring the trigger information with a physical rate of 4 x 832 Mbps via optical fibers, has been developed and commisioned. The analog pulses from the chamber can be monitored and the synchronization to the global HERA clock signal is ensured.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figure

Acute life-threatening extrinsic allergic alveolitis in a paint controller

Background Occupational diisocyanate-induced extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA) is a rare and probably underestimated diagnosis. Two acute occupational EAA cases have been described in this context, but neither of them concerned hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) exposure. Aims To investigate the cause of a life-threatening EAA arising at work in a healthy 30-year-old female paint quality controller. Methods Occupational medical assessment, workplace evaluation, airborne and biological monitoring and immunodermatological tests. Results Diagnosis of EAA relied on congruent clinical and radiological information, confirmed occupational HDI exposure and positive IgG antibodies and patch tests. The patient worked in a small laboratory for 7 years, only occasionally using HDI-containing hardeners. While working with HDI for 6 h, she developed breathlessness, rapidly progressing to severe respiratory failure. Workplace HDI airborne exposure values ranged from undetectable levels to 4.25 p.p.b. Biological monitoring of urinary hexamethylene diamine in co-workers ranged from <1.0 to 15.4 μg/g creatinine. Patch tests 8 months later showed delayed skin reaction to HDI at 48 h. Subsequent skin biopsy showed spongiotic dermatitis with infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Conclusions We believe this is the first reported case of acute life-threatening EAA following exposure to HDI. Low concentrations of airborne HDI and relatively high urinary hexamethylene diamine suggest significant skin absorption of HDI could have significantly contributed to the development of this acute occupational EA

Structural anomalies in undoped Gallium Arsenide observed in high resolution diffraction imaging with monochromatic synchrotron radiation

Novel, streak-like disruption features restricted to the plane of diffraction have recently been observed in images obtained by synchrotron radiation diffraction from undoped, semi-insulating gallium arsenide crystals. These features were identified as ensembles of very thin platelets or interfaces lying in (110) planes, and a structural model consisting of antiphase domain boundaries was proposed. We report here the other principal features observed in high resolution monochromatic synchrotron radiation diffraction images: (quasi) cellular structure; linear, very low-angle subgrain boundaries in (110) directions, and surface stripes in a (110) direction. In addition, we report systematic differences in the acceptance angle for images involving various diffraction vectors. When these observations are considered together, a unifying picture emerges. The presence of ensembles of thin (110) antiphase platelet regions or boundaries is generally consistent not only with the streak-like diffraction features but with the other features reported here as well. For the formation of such regions we propose two mechanisms, operating in parallel, that appear to be consistent with the various defect features observed by a variety of techniques

Using Nanocavity Plasmons to Improve Solar Cell Efficiency

Although in principle very promising, photovoltaic technology has so far failed to deliver robust high efficiency modules at affordable prices. Despite considerable research, high efficiency silicon based cells remain expensive, while the more recent organic photovoltaics are still struggling with low efficiencies and short lifetimes. Meanwhile, over the last few years, the study of localized plasmons [1,2] has also received great attention due to the high field enhancements associated with confined fields , with a wide range of applications possible, from optical switches to substrates for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Here we discuss how combining the structures normally used in photovoltaic devices with metallic cavities supporting localized plasmons can lead to considerable improvements in the performance of solar cells. In particular we show how by changing the shape and size of spherical voids on a metallic surface, one can tune the plasmon modes to obtain significant absorptions across the solar spectrum [3]. By coating one such nanocavity surface with a sub 100 nm-layer of semiconductor, we can create a nanostructured solar cell, where the localised Mie modes efficiently couple light into the semiconductor layer. As the plasmons electric field enhancement is largest very close to the surface, significant absorption can be maintained even when the semiconductor thickness is reduced to below the typical exciton diffusion length. In addition minority carrier transport is improved. That means we can beat the usual balance between light absorption and exciton recombination loses, and so significantly increase the overall efficiency of the photovoltaic devices. Keywords: plasmons, solar cells, nanostructured surfaces

Spontaneous crystal coalescence enables highly efficient perovskite solar cells

Perovskite solar cells have recently reached staggering efficiencies, through efforts focused on reducing grain boundaries, by enlarging the size of the crystalline domains that constitute the perovskite films. Here, we demonstrate that smaller crystallites within perovskite films spontaneously coalesce into larger ones, even when complete devices are stored in the dark at room temperature. We show that crystal coalescence greatly improves the performance of state of the art perovskite solar cells. Our results reveal the dynamic nature of the morphology of perovskite films and highlight the crucial role that coalescence plays in producing highly efficient device