We have explored the effect of gold nanoparticle ͑Au NP͒-induced surface plasmons on the performance of organic photovoltaic devices ͑OPVs͒. The power conversion efficiency of these OPVs was improved after blending the Au NPs into the anodic buffer layer. The addition of Au NPs increased the rate of exciton generation and the probability of exciton dissociation, thereby enhancing the short-circuit current density and the fill factor. We attribute the improvement in device performance to the local enhancement in the electromagnetic field originating from the excitation of the localized surface plasmon resonance.

Laser excited, dispersed fluorescence spectra have been recorded for a number of bands of the A ˜-X ẽlectronic transition of CCl 2 . Analysis of the data yields well defined values for the harmonic and anharmonic constants for the symmetric ground state vibrations. Additional lines are observed at red shifts !5000 cm À1 from the origin, which are not assignable in terms of the known X ~and A ˜state structure. A possible explanation for these transitions would be perturbations of the singlet X ~structure by the low-lying triplet a ˜state.

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The SPR of antibodies against the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus in the hospital staff was higher than that in the general population, reflecting a higher contact risk. Prevaccination surveillance of the immune status of different risk groups may help to prioritize which groups should be vaccinated first.