Developments in digital image correlation in the last two decades have made it a popular and effective tool for full-field displacement and strain measurements in experimental mechanics. In digital image correlation, the use of the sub-pixel registration algorithm is regarded as the key technique to improve accuracy. Different types of sub-pixel registration algorithms have been developed. However, little quantitative research has been carried out to compare their performances. This paper investigates three types of the most commonly used sub-pixel displacement registration algorithms in terms of the registration accuracy and the computational efficiency using computer-simulated speckle images. A detailed examination of the performances of each algorithm reveals that the iterative spatial domain cross-correlation algorithm (Newton–Raphson method) is more accurate, but much slower than other algorithms, and is recommended for use in these applications.

The phase-dependent host-guest binding behavior of a new family of synthetic supercontainers has been probed in homogeneous solution and at liquid-liquid, solid-liquid, and solid-gas interfaces. The synthetic hosts, namely, type II metal-organic supercontainers (MOSCs), are constructed from the assembly of divalent metal ions, 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate (BDC) linker, and sulfonylcalix[4]arene-based container precursors. One member of the MOSCs, MOSC-II-tBu-Ni, which is derived from Ni(II), BDC, and p-tert-butylsulfonylcalix[4]arene (TBSC), crystallizes in the space group R3 and adopts pseudo face-centered cubic (fcc) packing, whereas other MOSCs, including TBSC analogue MOSC-II-tBu-Co, p-tert-pentylsulfonylcalix[4]arene (TPSC) analogues MOSC-II-tPen-Ni/Co, and p-tert-octylsulfonylcalix[4]arene (TOSC) analogues MOSC-II-tOc-Ni/Mg/Co, all crystallize in the space group I4/m and assume a pseudo body-centered cubic (bcc) packing mode. This solid-state structural diversity is nevertheless not reflected in their solution host-guest chemistry, as evidenced by the similar binding properties of MOSC-II-tBu-Ni and MOSC-II-tBu-Co in solution. Both MOSCs show comparable binding constants and adsorb ca. 7 equiv of methylene blue (MB) and ca. 30 equiv of aspirin in chloroform. In contrast, the guest-binding behavior of the MOSCs in solid state reveals much more variations. At the solid-liquid interface, MOSC-II-tBu-Co adsorb ca. 5 equiv of MB from an aqueous solution at a substantially faster rate than MOSC-II-tBu-Ni does. However, at the solid-gas interface, MOSC-II-tBu-Ni has higher gas uptake than MOSC-II-tBu-Co, contradicting their overall porosity inferred from the crystal structures. This discrepancy is attributed to the partial collapse of the solid-state packing of the MOSCs upon solvent evacuation. It is postulated that the degree of porosity collapse correlates with the molecular size of the MOSCs, i.e., the larger the MOSCs, the more severe they suffer from the loss of porosity. The same principle can rationalize the negligible N2 and O2 adsorption seen in the larger MOSC-II-tPen-Co and MOSC-II-tOC-Ni/Mg/Co molecules. MOSC-II-tPen-Ni features an intermediate molecular size and endures a partial structural collapse in such a way that the resulting pore dimension permits the inclusion of kinetically smaller O2 (3.46 Å) but excludes larger N2 (3.64 Å), explaining the observed remarkable O2/N2 adsorption selectivity.

A new strategy for the design of container molecules is presented. Sulfonylcalix[4]arenes, which are synthetic macrocyclic containers, are used as building blocks that are combined with various metal ions and tricarboxylate ligands to construct metal-organic "supercontainers" (MOSCs). These MOSCs possess both endo and exo cavities and thus mimic the structure of viruses. The synthesis of MOSCs is highly modular, robust, and predictable. The unique features of MOSCs are expected to provide exciting new opportunities for the exploration of their functional applications.

Metal-organic supercontainers (MOSCs) represent a new family of synthetic receptors derived from container precursors and featuring both endo and exo cavities. A neutral MOSC has been functionalized into an anionic container by incorporating sulfo groups. The anionic MOSC exhibits cavity-specific binding properties in both solid state and solution.

Four new solution-processible small-molecular platinum(II)-bis(aryleneethynylene) complexes consisting of benzothiadiazole as the electron acceptor and triphenylamine and/or thiophene as the electron donor were conveniently synthesized and characterized by physicochemical and computational methods, and utilized as the electron-donor materials in the fabrication of solution-processed bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells. The effect of different electron-donor groups in these small molecules on the optoelectronic and photovoltaic properties was also examined. The optical and time-dependent density functional theory studies showed that the incorporation of stronger electron-donor groups significantly enhanced the solar-absorption abilities of the complexes. These molecular complexes can serve as good electron donors for fabricating BHJ devices by blending them with the [6,6]-phenyl-C(71)-butyric acid methyl ester (PC(70)BM) as the electron acceptor. The best power conversion efficiency of 2.37% was achieved with the open-circuit voltage of 0.83 V, short-circuit current density of 7.10 mA cm(-2) and fill factor of 0.40 under illumination of an AM 1.5 solar-cell simulator. The spin-coated thin films showed p-channel field-effect charge transport with hole mobilities of up to 2.4×10(-4) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) for these molecules. The present work illuminates the potential of well-defined organometallic complexes in developing light-harvesting small molecules for efficient power generation in organic photovoltaics implementation.