Researchers must find a sustainable way of providing the power our modern lifestyles demand.

Building better batteries

http://nathan.instras.com/ResearchProposalDB/doc-109.pdf

A review on polymer nanofibers by electrospinning and their applications in nanocomposites

The large-scale practical application of fuel cells will be difficult to realize if the expensive platinum-based electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs) cannot be replaced by other efficient, low-cost, and stable electrodes. Here, we report that vertically aligned nitrogen-containing carbon nanotubes (VA-NCNTs) can act as a metal-free electrode with a much better electrocatalytic activity, long-term operation stability, and tolerance to crossover effect than platinum for oxygen reduction in alkaline fuel cells. In air-saturated 0.1 molar potassium hydroxide, we observed a steady-state output potential of –80 millivolts and a current density of 4.1 milliamps per square centimeter at –0.22 volts, compared with –85 millivolts and 1.1 milliamps per square centimeter at –0.20 volts for a platinum-carbon electrode. The incorporation of electron-accepting nitrogen atoms in the conjugated nanotube carbon plane appears to impart a relatively high positive charge density on adjacent carbon atoms. This effect, coupled with aligning the NCNTs, provides a four-electron pathway for the ORR on VA-NCNTs with a superb performance.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/323/5915/760.full.pdf

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube arrays with high electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction.

Research in the use of organic polymers as the active semiconductors in light-emitting diodes has advanced rapidly, and prototype devices now meet realistic specifications for applications. These achievements have provided insight into many aspects of the background science, from design and synthesis of materials, through materials fabrication issues, to the semiconductor physics of these polymers.

Electroluminescence in conjugated polymers

A general all-atom force field for atomistic simulation of common organic molecules, inorganic small molecules, and polymers was developed using state-of-the-art ab initio and empirical parametrization techniques. The valence parameters and atomic partial charges were derived by fitting to ab initio data, and the van der Waals (vdW) parameters were derived by conducting MD simulations of molecular liquids and fitting the simulated cohesive energies and equilibrium densities to experimental data. The combined parametrization procedure significantly improves the quality of a general force field. Validation studies based on large number of isolated molecules, molecular liquids and molecular crystals, representing 28 molecular classes, show that the present force field enables accurate and simultaneous prediction of structural, conformational, vibrational, and thermophysical properties for a broad range of molecules in isolation and in condensed phases. Detailed results of the parametrization and validation f...

COMPASS: An ab Initio Force-Field Optimized for Condensed-Phase ApplicationsOverview with Details on Alkane and Benzene Compounds

Conducting polymers: What does the future hold?

Nature of the bonding between silicon and the cobalt tetracarbonyl group in silylcobalt tetracarbonyls. II. Mass spectral evidence

Synthesis of the hydrides of germanium, phosphorus, arsenic, and antimony by the solid-phase reaction of the corresponding oxide with lithium aluminum hydride

Conformation of polyaniline: Effect of mechanical shaking and spin casting

Crystals and films of (SNBr0·4)x, a derivative of polymeric sulphur nitride, (SN)x, have been characterized; visible and i.r. reflectance and room-temperature conductivity are consistent with metallic behaviour.

Alan G. MacDiarmid

Papers

Conducting polymers: What does the future hold?

Nature of the bonding between silicon and the cobalt tetracarbonyl group in silylcobalt tetracarbonyls. II. Mass spectral evidence

Synthesis of the hydrides of germanium, phosphorus, arsenic, and antimony by the solid-phase reaction of the corresponding oxide with lithium aluminum hydride

Conformation of polyaniline: Effect of mechanical shaking and spin casting

A ‘metallic’ derivative of polymeric sulphur nitride: poly(thiazyl bromide), (SNBr0·4)x