Thin films of organic semiconductor PEDOT:PSS deposited onto silicon and fused silica substrates. These films were then treated with sulfuric acid (H2SO4) for various amounts of time (i.e., 10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 minutes). Preliminary results obtained with FT-IR, UV-VIS, and Van DerPauw conductivity methods suggest that the H2SO4 removes the PSS isonomer from the PEDOT:PSS system. This PSS removal also induces a decrease in film thickness.

The environmental impact resulting from the use of fossil fuel as an energy source affects the entire globe. Eventually, fossil fuels will no longer be a reasonable source of energy and alternative energy sources will be needed. Thermoelectric materials (TE) that directly convert heat into electricity are a viable option to replace the conventional fossil fuel because they are reliable, cost effective, and use no moving parts. Recently researchers discovered the existence of giant Seebeck coefficient in manganese oxide (MnO2) powders, which ignited an increased interest in MnO2-based materials. In this work we present a systematic structural and electrical characterization of amorphous and crystalline MnxOy thin films. These films were deposited at room temperature on heated silicon and sapphire substrates by DC Magnetron Sputtering. Our preliminary results show that MnxOy/silicon thin films undergo a crystalline change from Mn2O3 to Mn3O4 as annealing temperature is increased from 300°C to 500°C.

This paper presents a comparative study on the effects of plasma type and duration on the contact angle of silicon (Si) and fused silica (FS) for the deposition of Poly (3,4 ethyldioxythiophene) Polystyrene Sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) via drop casting. The two methods used to measure contact angles were goniometry and profilometry. Both methods agreed that the lowest contact angles were given by: 1) 30 seconds in nitrogen/oxygen mix for Si substrates, and 2) 10 minutes in pure oxygen plasma for FS substrates.

On 27 November 2011, a whale resembling a True's beaked whale, Mesoplodon mirus, was found stranded on the South Island of New Zealand. Sequencing of two mitochondrial regions (cytochrome b and mtDNA control region) confirmed species identification as a True's beaked whale that was genetically identified as female. Further examination of the carcass found that the whale was pregnant although decomposition excluded determination of the age of the foetus. This specimen is confirmed as the first record of the species in New Zealand further supporting New Zealand as a whale stranding hotspot.