Molecular Dynamics and Structure of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Chains Grafted from Barium Titanate Nanoparticles.

Core-shell nanocomposites comprising barium titanate, BaTiO3 (BTO), and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) chains grafted from its surface with varied grafting densities were prepared. BTO nanocrystals are high-k inorganic materials, and the obtained nanocomposites exhibit enhanced dielectric permittivity, as compared to neat PMMA, and a relatively low level of loss tangent in a wide range of frequencies. The impact of the molecular dynamics, structure, and interactions of the BTO surface on the polymer chains was investigated. The nanocomposites were characterized by broadband dielectric and vibrational spectroscopies (IR and Raman), transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and nuclear magnetic resonance. The presence of ceramic nanoparticles in core-shell composites slowed down the segmental dynamic of PMMA chains, increased glass transition temperature, and concurrently increased the thermal stability of the organic part. It was also evidenced that, in addition to segmental dynamics, local ß relaxation was affected. The grafting density influenced the self-organization and interactions within the PMMA phase, affecting the organization on a smaller size scale of polymeric chains. This was explained by the interaction of the exposed surface of nanoparticles with polymer chains.

Three Destinies of Solution-Processable Polymer Light-Emitting Diodes under Long-Time Operation.

The article describes three different ways of polymer light-emitting diode (PLED) degradation, caused by damage of the protective layer. The electroluminescence and charge-transport properties of a completely encapsulated diode, the diodes with a leaky protective layer and diodes without encapsulation were compared under long-time exploitation. The studied devices incorporated Super Yellow light-emitting poly-(1,4-phenylenevinylene) PPV copolymer as an electroluminescence component, and (poly-(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly-(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as a charge-transport layer between the indium tin oxide (ITO) anode and aluminum-calcium cathode. To analyze the PLED degradation mechanism regarding charge transport, impedance spectroscopy was used. The values of resistance and capacitance of the internal layers revealed an effect of applied voltage on charge carrier injection and recombination. The factors responsible for the device degradation were analyzed on a macromolecular level by comparing the plots of voltage dependence of resistance and capacitance at different operation times elapsed.

Ion Beam Nanostructuring of HgCdTe Ternary Compound.

Systematic study of mercury cadmium telluride thin films subjected to the ion beam bombardment was carried out. The evolution of surface morphology of (111) Hg1 - x Cd x Te (x ~ 0.223) epilayers due to 100 keV B+ and Ag+ ion irradiation was studied by AFM and SEM methods. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction methods were used for the investigation of the chemical compound and structural properties of the surface and subsurface region. It was found that in the range of nanoscale, arrays of holes and mounds on Hg0.777Cd0.223Te (111) surface as well as the polycrystalline Hg1 - x Cd x Te cubic phase with alternative compound (x ~ 0.20) have been fabricated using 100 keV ion beam irradiation of the basic material. Charge transport investigation with non-stationary impedance spectroscopy method has shown that boron-implanted structures are characterized by capacity-type impedance whereas for silver-implanted structures, an inductive-type impedance (or "negative capacitance") is observed. A hybrid system, which integrates the nanostructured ternary compound (HgCdTe) with metal-oxide (Ag2O) inclusions, was fabricated by Ag+ ion bombardment. The sensitivity of such metal-oxide-semiconductor hybrid structure for sub-THz radiation was detected with NEP ~ 4.5 × 10-8 W/Hz1/2at ν ≈ 140 GHz and 296 K without amplification.