Polymer blends of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and PEDOT:PSS (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate)), were prepared by casting from aqueous solution. They were characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetery, thermo gravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared, ac spectroscopy and optical UV–visible absorption techniques. The thermal analysis did not illustrate significant variations of PVA when blended with different concentrations of PEDOT:PSS. The bulk conductivity of PVA/PEDOT:PSS blend illustrated a two orders increase, while the activation energy reduced from 0.52 to 0.16 eV with an increasing PEDOT:PSS concentration to 4 wt%. In addition, the frequency dependence of conductivity obeyed the power relation σ ∼ ωs, 0.3 < s < 0.45, which predicts ionic diffusion. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss ε″ obeyed, at ambient temperature, the Debye dispersion relations in a wide range of frequencies. A new significant optical broad absorption peak appeared in the visible range around 926 nm. Its height increased by increasing the PEDOT:PSS concentration, which was attributed to a direct energy band gap, in the range 1.05–1.2 eV, and plasmon–exciton interaction.

A solid polymer electrolyte system based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(3,4-Etylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) complexed with magnesium bromide (MgBr2) salt was prepared using solution cast technique. The ionic conductivity is observed to increase with increasing MgBr2 concentration. The maximum conductivity was found to be 9.89 × 10−6 S/cm for optimum polymer composite film (30 wt.% MgBr2) at room temperature. The increase in the conductivity is attributed to the increase in the number of ions as the salt concentration is increased. This has been proven by dielectric studies. The increase in conductivity is also attributable to the increase in the fraction of amorphous region in the electrolyte films as confirmed by their structural, thermal, electrical and optical properties.

Polymer electrolyte films of polyvinyl alcohol as host polymer, poly(3,4-etylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrenesulphonate), magnesium bromide were prepared using solution cast technique. Succinonitrile was used as plasticiser in the matrix at different concentrations. These films were characterised using thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction and ac impedance spectroscopy. The conductivity measurement was used to determine the ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolyte at different temperature and frequency values, giving some insight into its potential utility as a solid membrane in solid state batteries. The ionic transference number of mobile ions has been estimated by a dc polarisation method, and the results reveal that the conducting species are predominately ions. A solid state magnesium battery was fabricated and characterised.

Artificial and natural hybridization of dojo loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (2N = 50, DD for short) and large-scale loach Paramisgurnus dabryanus (2N = 48, PP for short) are well-grown. However, these hybrid loaches have not yet been examined for fertility and ploidy of gametes. Here, histological observations, artificial propagation, observations of embryonic development, larval morphology, and ploidy analyses were conducted to determine the fertility and ploidy of gametes of allodiploid (DP for short) and allotriploid (DDP for short) loaches, produced by DD females × PP males and induced from fertilized eggs of DD females × PP males by cold shock to prevent the second polar body release, respectively. The ovaries of DP and DDP included smaller number of eggs when compared with those of the control DD, while full-grown oocytes were observed. Testes of these two loaches were delayed-developed without spermatids or mature spermatozoa. Results obtained here showed that DP and DDP were fertility-weakened female and sterile male. Moreover, DP females and DDP females could, respectively, produce few viable haploid eggs and few viable haploid and diploid eggs. This study will provide valuable information for fish hybrid researches.

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