Polymer/layered silicate nanocomposites: a review from preparation to processing

Organic solar cell research has developed during the past 30 years, but especially in the last decade it has attracted scientific and economic interest triggered by a rapid increase in power conversion efficiencies. This was achieved by the introduction of new materials, improved materials engineering, and more sophisticated device structures. Today, solar power conversion efficiencies in excess of 3% have been accomplished with several device concepts. Though efficiencies of these thin-film organicdevices have not yet reached those of their inorganic counterparts (η ≈ 10–20%); the perspective of cheap production (employing, e.g., roll-to-roll processes) drives the development of organic photovoltaic devices further in a dynamic way. The two competitive production techniques used today are either wet solution processing or dry thermal evaporation of the organic constituents. The field of organic solar cells profited well from the development of light-emitting diodes based on similar technologies, which have entered the market recently. We review here the current status of the field of organic solar cells and discuss different production technologies as well as study the important parameters to improve their performance.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0884291400094498

Organic solar cells: An overview

On the mechanism of conductivity enhancement in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) film through solvent treatment

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder without a cure. Most AD cases are sporadic where age represents the greatest risk factor. Lack of understanding of the disease mechanism hinders the development of efficacious therapeutic approaches. The loss of synapses in the affected brain regions correlates best with cognitive impairment in AD patients and has been considered as the early mechanism that precedes neuronal loss. Oxidative stress has been recognized as a contributing factor in aging and in the progression of multiple neurodegenerative diseases including AD. Increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) associated with age- and disease-dependent loss of mitochondrial function, altered metal homeostasis, and reduced antioxidant defense directly affect synaptic activity and neurotransmission in neurons leading to cognitive dysfunction. In addition, molecular targets affected by ROS include nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, lipids, proteins, calcium homeostasis, mitochondrial dynamics and function, cellular architecture, receptor trafficking and endocytosis, and energy homeostasis. Abnormal cellular metabolism in turn could affect the production and accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated Tau protein, which independently could exacerbate mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS production, thereby contributing to a vicious cycle. While mounting evidence implicates ROS in the AD etiology, clinical trials with antioxidant therapies have not produced consistent results. In this review, we will discuss the role of oxidative stress in synaptic dysfunction in AD, innovative therapeutic strategies evolved based on a better understanding of the complexity of molecular mechanisms of AD, and the dual role ROS play in health and disease.

Oxidative Stress, Synaptic Dysfunction, and Alzheimer’s Disease

The conductivity of PEDOT:PSS films was significantly enhanced from 0.3 S cm(-1) to 3065 S cm(-1) through a treatment with dilute sulfuric acids. PEDOT:PSS films with a sheet resistance of 39 Ω sq(-1) and transparency of around 80% at 550 nm are obtained. These PEDOT:PSS films with conductivity and transparency comparable to ITO can replace ITO as the transparent electrode of optoelectronic devices.

Solution‐Processed Metallic Conducting Polymer Films as Transparent Electrode of Optoelectronic Devices

Enhancement of electrical conductivity of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(4-styrenesulfonate) by a change of solvents

Nanocomposites of conducting polyaniline (PAN) with inorganic Na+−montmorillonite (MMT) clay were synthesized by the emulsion polymerization method. The dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA) was used for both dopant and emulsifier. Analyses of X-ray diffraction patterns demonstrated that conducting PAN-DBSA was intercalated between inorganic clay layers at the nanoscale level (<10 A). We observed that the clay induced more disordered state in PAN-DBSA/clay nanocomposites. From the temperature-dependent dc conductivity [σdc(T)] experiments, we investigated charge transport mechanism of the PAN-DBSA and PAN-DBSA/clay systems. The interaction between the intercalated PAN-DBSA and the clay layers was observed by FT-IR spectra. The results of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed the improved thermal stability of the nanocomposite materials. The σdc of these systems was 101−10-2 S/cm at room temperature, varying with dopant molar ratio. The σdc(T) of the nanocomposite...

Nanocomposite of Polyaniline and Na+-Montmorillonite Clay

Physical characterization of polyaniline-Na+-montmorillonite nanocomposite intercalated by emulsion polymerization

Electron tomography was used to view macromolecules composing active zone material (AZM) in axon terminals at mouse neuromuscular junctions. Connections of the macromolecules to each other, to calcium channels in the presynaptic membrane, and to synaptic vesicles docked on the membrane prior to fusing with it during synaptic transmission were similar to those of AZM macromolecules at frog neuromuscular junctions previously examined by electron tomography and support the hypothesis that AZM regulates vesicle docking and fusion. A species difference in the arrangement of AZM relative to docked vesicles may help account for a greater vesicle-presynaptic membrane contact area during docking and a greater probability of fusion during synaptic transmission in mouse. Certain AZM macromolecules in mouse were connected to synaptic vesicles contacting the presynaptic membrane at sites where fusion does not occur. These secondary docked vesicles had a different relationship to the membrane and AZM macromolecules than primary docked vesicles, consistent with their having a different AZM-regulated behavior. J. Comp. Neurol.

/pdf/macromolecular-connections-of-active-zone-material-to-docked-56a261rz6m.pdf

Jae Hoon Jung

Papers

Enhancement of electrical conductivity of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(4-styrenesulfonate) by a change of solvents

Nanocomposite of Polyaniline and Na+-Montmorillonite Clay

Physical characterization of polyaniline-Na+-montmorillonite nanocomposite intercalated by emulsion polymerization

Macromolecular connections of active zone material to docked synaptic vesicles and presynaptic membrane at neuromuscular junctions of mouse.

Physical characterization of emulsion intercalated polyaniline–clay nanocomposite