Oligomeric interface modifiers in hybrid polymer solar cell prototypes investigated by fluorescence voltage spectroscopy.

Carboxylated oligothiophenes were evaluated as interfacial modifiers between the organic poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and inorganic TiO2 layers in bilayer hybrid polymer solar cells. Carboxylated oligothiophenes can be isolated using conventional purification techniques resulting in pure, monodisperse molecules with 100% carboxylation. Device prototypes using carboxylated oligothiophenes as interfacial modifiers showed improved performance in the open-circuit voltage and fill factor over devices using unmodified oligothiophenes as interfacial modifiers.

Separation of sperm and epithelial cells in a microfabricated device: potential application to forensic analysis of sexual assault evidence.

Forensic DNA analysis of sexual assault evidence requires separation of DNA from epithelial (victim) and sperm (perpetrator) cells. The conventional method used by crime laboratories, which is termed "differential extraction", is a time-consuming process. To supplant the conventional process, separation of sperm from a biological mixture containing epithelial cells has been demonstrated on a microfluidic device.