scholarly journals Introductory Chapter: Green Electronics Starting from Nanotechnologies and Organic Semiconductors

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristian Ravariu ◽  
Dan Eduard Mihaiescu
Keyword(s):  
Organic Semiconductors ◽  
Green Electronics

Introduction: Plato’s Nightmare

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Marmysz
Keyword(s):  
Immanuel Kant ◽  
Martin Heidegger ◽  
Friedrich Nietzsche ◽  
Objective Reality

This introductory chapter examines the “problem” of nihilism, beginning with its philosophical origins in the ideas of Plato, Immanuel Kant, Friedrich Nietzsche and Martin Heidegger. It is argued that film is an inherently nihilistic medium involving the evocation of illusory worlds cut loose from objective reality. This nihilism of film is distinguished from nihilism in film; the nihilistic content also present in some (but not all) movies. Criticisms of media nihilism by authors such as Thomas Hibbs and Darren Ambrose are examined. It is then argued, contrary to such critics, that cinematic nihilism is not necessarily degrading or destructive. Because the nihilism of film encourages audiences to linger in the presence of nihilism in film, cinematic nihilism potentially trains audiences to learn the positive lessons of nihilism while remaining safely detached from the sorts of dangers depicted on screen.

Introduction: Exploring Russian nationalisms

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pål Kolstø ◽  
Helge Blakkisrud
Keyword(s):  
The State ◽  
Complex Interplay ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Part Structure

Russian societal nationalism comes in various guises, both ethnic and imperialist. Also Putin’s rhetoric is marked by the tensions between ethnic and state-focused, imperialist thinking. Noting the complex interplay of state nationalism and societal nationalism, this introductory chapter examines the mental framework within which Russian politicians were acting prior to the decision to annex Crimea. The chapter develops a typology of Russian nationalisms, surveys recent developments, and presents the three-part structure of this book: official nationalism, radical and other societal nationalisms, and identities/otherings. It concludes that after the annexation of Crimea, when the state took over the agenda of both ethnic and imperialist nationalists in Russia, societal nationalism finds itself at low ebb.

Introduction

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Woloch
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
Women Reformers ◽  
Single Sex ◽  
Feminist Organization ◽  
And Shifts ◽  
Women's Bureau

This introductory chapter provides an overview of single-sex protective laws. The longevity of protective laws rests in part on reformers' bifocal defense. The goal of such laws, their proponents claimed, was to compensate for women's disadvantages in the labor market and to serve as the linchpin of a larger plan to achieve wage-and-hour standards for all employees. This double-planked rationale—though contradictory—proved versatile and enduring; it suited constituents with varied priorities. Protective laws' longevity also rested on effective social feminist organization and, after 1920, on the federal Women's Bureau. In retrospect, single-sex protective laws were an unwieldy means to achieve egalitarian ends—or what women reformers of the 1920s called “industrial equality.” However, critics charged that the laws failed to redress disadvantage and even compounded it. Protection's supporters also confronted developments they could not anticipate and shifts in attitude they could not foresee.

Bringing Moral Culture into the Fray

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin Farrell
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conflict ◽  
Scientific Study ◽  
Theoretical Argument ◽  
Moral Culture ◽  
Social Scientific Study ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Scientific ◽  
Basic Level

This introductory chapter briefly presents the conflict in Yellowstone, elaborates on the book's theoretical argument, and specifies its substantive and theoretical contributions to the social scientific study of environment, culture, religion, and morality. The chapter argues that the environmental conflict in Yellowstone is not—as it would appear on the surface—ultimately all about scientific, economic, legal, or other technical evidence and arguments, but an underlying struggle over deeply held “faith” commitments, feelings, and desires that define what people find sacred, good, and meaningful in life at a most basic level. An overview of the subsequent chapters is also presented.

A Passion for Politics

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Biancamaria Fontana
Keyword(s):  
Political Life ◽  
Literary Works

This introductory chapter provides an account of Germaine de Staël's approach to politics that brings out the independence and originality of her contribution. Its main focus is the evolution of her views in the years 1789 to 1800, when she had the opportunity to take part (albeit intermittently) in French political life, and to set forth projects and strategies connected with it. The chapter touches only on Staël's best-known—and more widely studied—fictional and literary works, though naturally these do also have some political relevance. It has been suggested that the protracted exile into which she was forced during the empire was at the origin of Staël's major literary achievements, as it provided her with both the opportunity and the incentive to develop her true potential as a writer.

Introduction

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan L. Mittleman
Keyword(s):  
Human Nature ◽  
Jewish Tradition ◽  
Western Civilization

This introductory chapter first considers the concept of human nature, raising questions such as how human nature and nature as such are related, and how are both related to person. It then turns to what the Jewish tradition says about human nature. It sets out the book's focus, namely a dialogue between contemporary perspectives and traditional Jewish thoughts on human nature. Both sides have something to gain from the dialogue; both have something to lose from shunning it. Judaism risks intellectual irrelevance by failing to engage with the challenges of contemporary thought. Contemporary thought risks attenuating its moral seriousness if it ignores one of the sources of Western civilization. An overview of the subsequent chapters is also presented.

Energetic Control of Redox-Active Polymers Towards Safe Organic Bioelectronic Materials

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Giovannitti ◽  
Reem B. Rashid ◽  
Quentin Thiburce ◽  
Bryan D. Paulsen ◽  
Camila Cendra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Oxygen ◽  
Organic Semiconductors ◽  
Side Reaction ◽  
Semiconducting Polymers ◽  
Side Reactions ◽  
Redox Active ◽  
Donor Acceptor ◽  
Electrochemical Devices ◽  
Biological Environment ◽  
Device Operation

<p>Avoiding faradaic side reactions during the operation of electrochemical devices is important to enhance the device stability, to achieve low power consumption, and to prevent the formation of reactive side‑products. This is particularly important for bioelectronic devices which are designed to operate in biological systems. While redox‑active materials based on conducting and semiconducting polymers represent an exciting class of materials for bioelectronic devices, they are susceptible to electrochemical side‑reactions with molecular oxygen during device operation. We show that this electrochemical side reaction yields hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>), a reactive side‑product, which may be harmful to the local biological environment and may also accelerate device degradation. We report a design strategy for the development of redox-active organic semiconductors based on donor-acceptor copolymers that prevent the formation of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> during device operation. This study elucidates the previously overlooked side-reactions between redox-active conjugated polymers and molecular oxygen in electrochemical devices for bioelectronics, which is critical for the operation of electrolyte‑gated devices in application-relevant environments.</p>

Quantitative Image Analysis of Fractal-like Thin Films of Organic Semiconductors

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weikun Zhu ◽  
Erfan Mohammadi ◽  
Ying Diao
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Thin Films ◽  
Image Analysis ◽  
Fractal Dimension ◽  
Organic Semiconductors ◽  
Film Growth ◽  
Electronic Device ◽  
Significant Control ◽  
Semiconductor Thin Films ◽  
Two Parameters

Morphology modulation offers significant control over organic electronic device performance. However, morphology quantification has been rarely carried out via image analysis. In this work, we designed a MATLAB program to evaluate two key parameters describing morphology of small molecule semiconductor thin films: fractal dimension and film coverage. We then employ this program in a case study of meniscus-guided coating of 2,7-dioctyl[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene (C<sub>8</sub>-BTBT) under various conditions to analyze a diverse and complex morphology set. The evolution of morphology in terms of fractal dimension and film coverage was studied as a function of coating speed. We discovered that combined fractal dimension and film coverage can quantitatively capture the key characteristics of C<sub>8</sub>-BTBT thin film morphology; change of these two parameters further inform morphology transition. Furthermore, fractal dimension could potentially shed light on thin film growth mechanisms.

Design and Synthesis of Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks with Four-Arm Cores: Prediction of Remarkable Ambipolar Charge-Transport Properties

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simil Thomas ◽  
Hong Li ◽  
Raghunath R. Dasari ◽  
Austin Evans ◽  
William Dichtel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Charge Transport ◽  
Organic Semiconductors ◽  
Density Functional ◽  
Polymer Networks ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Covalent Organic Frameworks ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Zinc Porphyrin ◽  
Design And Synthesis ◽  
Predicted Values

<p>We have considered three two-dimensional (2D) π-conjugated polymer networks (i.e., covalent organic frameworks, COFs) materials based on pyrene, porphyrin, and zinc-porphyrin cores connected <i>via</i> diacetylenic linkers. Their electronic structures, investigated at the density functional theory global-hybrid level, are indicative of valence and conduction bands that have large widths, ranging between 1 and 2 eV. Using a molecular approach to derive the electronic couplings between adjacent core units and the electron-vibration couplings, the three π-conjugated 2D COFs are predicted to have ambipolar charge-transport characteristics with electron and hole mobilities in the range of 65-95 cm<sup>2</sup>V<sup>-1</sup>s<sup>-1</sup>. Such predicted values rank these 2D COFs among the highest-mobility organic semiconductors. In addition, we have synthesized the zinc-porphyrin based 2D COF and carried out structural characterization via powder X-ray diffraction and surface area analysis, which demonstrates the feasability of these electroactive networks.</p>

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document