Abstract: Apparatus capable of sustained glow discharge at atmospheric pressure mounted along the web path in a web coating machine ahead of the point of coating application, for glow discharge treatment of the surface of a polymeric web shortly before coating. Latencies of treatment (the time between treatment and coating) approaching zero are possible, minimizing or preventing loss of treatment effect and maximizing adherence of a coated layer to the web surface. Elimination of one or more conventional subbing adhesion layers on the web surface is possible in some applications.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for making thermoplastic web from polyester or polyester blends for subsequent aqueous coating without requirement of an undercoat or primer coat for adhesion of subsequent coatings. Feedstock pellets of polymer, such as polyethylene terephthalate or polyethylene naphthalate, are melted in a screw extruder. Molten polymer is extruded from an extrusion die as a thick, high-viscosity ribbon, which is tempered and stretched in both the machine direction and the transverse direction to form a web of biaxially-oriented polymer of the desired width and thickness. The web is heated to a temperature above T.sub.g to set the biaxial orientation and then is glow discharge treated by passing it through an in-line glow discharge apparatus at atmospheric pressure wherein a stable glow discharge is produced in a gas mixture containing helium between two electrodes connected by an alternating power source operating at a voltage between 0.5 kV and 20 kV at a frequency between 60 Hz and 40 MHz.

Abstract: There are disclosed an integrated array of photovoltaic cells each comprising, on a support, a first electrode segment, a semiconductor segment, and a second electrode segment; and a process for making it, wherein no insulating material need be applied to exposed semiconductor materials before applying the second electrode segment. The array is composed of sub-cells, groups of which are series-connected to form sub-arrays. The sub-arrays are in turn connected in parallel so that a short in any one sub-cell only minimally affects the output of the entire array.

Abstract: A unitary photoconductive element having an electrically conducting layer, a photoconductive layer thereover, and a multilayer interlayer composition interposed between the conducting layer and the photoconductive layer. The multilayer interlayer composition comprises a layer containing an acidic polymer material, a layer containing a basic polymer material, and an acid-base reaction product zone formed at the interface of the acidic polymer-containing layer and the basic polymer-containing layer. The multilayer interlayer composition provides good adhesion between the conducting and photoconductive layers of the resultant unitary element and can function as an electrical barrier blocking positive charge carriers which might otherwise be injected into the photoconductive layer from the underlying conducting layer.

Abstract: This application describes a multilayer electrophotographic element composed of a conducting layer, a photoconductive layer, and a polymeric interlayer having a surface resistivity greater than about 10.sup.12 ohm/sq. between the conducting layer and the photoconductive layer. The interlayer comprises a blend of at least two distinct polymeric phases comprising: (a) a film-forming, water- or alkali-soluble polymer, and (b) a film-forming hydrophobic polymer.

Abstract: Chalcogenated polyacenes including organic semiconductors such as tetrathiotetracene, .[.tetraselenotetracene.]., and hexathiopentacene are produced by reaction of a polyacene with elemental sulfur, .[.selenium, and tellurium.]. in the presence of nitrogen-containing hot solvents, preferably alkylated amides. N,N-dimethylformamide is the preferred solvent. The disclosed method of synthesis produces substituted polyacenes of high yield and purity in considerably shorter reaction times than achievable by prior art methods.