The invention provides branched hydrophobes for the production of surfactants with improved properties over linear hydrophobes. The invention also provides branched C.sub.10-12 enals and aldehydes. The invention additionally provides branched C.sub.10-12 enals and aldehydes that are oxidized to branched fatty acids or hydrogenated to branched fatty alcohols and further derivatized to surfactants, through ethoxylation or esterification and other or subsequent reactions. The enals and aldehydes are useful in making branched trialkylamine intermediates useful in making certain surfactants, including amphoteric, cationic and nonionic surfactants. The surfactants which can be produced from the trialkylamine intermediates include the quaternary ammonium compounds of the invention. The quaternary ammonium compounds of the invention are also useful in making the branched enals and/or aldehydes useful in the invention.

The invention provides branched hydrophobes for the production of surfactants with improved properties over linear hydrophobes. The invention also provides branched C.sub.10-12 enals and aldehydes. The invention additionally provides branched C.sub.10-12 enals and aldehydes that are oxidized to branched fatty acids or hydrogenated to branched fatty alcohols and further derivatized to surfactants, through ethoxylation or esterification and other or subsequent reactions. The enals and aldehydes are useful in making branched trialkylamine intermediates useful in making certain surfactants, including amphoteric, cationic and nonionic surfactants. The surfactants which can be produced from the trialkylamine intermediates include the quaternary ammonium compounds of the invention. The quaternary ammonium compounds of the invention are also useful in making the branched enals and/or aldehydes useful in the invention.

Provided are an ionic compound and an application thereof, a perovskite precursor solution, a perovskite material, a solar material, a solar cell, and an electric apparatus. The ionic compound has a structure represented by any one of formulas (1) to (3). The ionic compound can improve the stability of perovskite materials and thus improve the efficiency and stability of solar cells.

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Provided are an ionic compound and an application thereof, a perovskite precursor solution, a perovskite material, a solar material, a solar cell, and an electric apparatus. The ionic compound has a structure represented by any one of formulas (1) to (3). The ionic compound can improve the stability of perovskite materials and thus improve the efficiency and stability of solar cells.

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The present invention includes polycationic amphiphilic compounds of formula VII useful as antimicrobial agents. ##STR00001## The present invention further includes novel polymers of polycationic amphiphilic compounds useful as antimicrobial agents. The present invention further includes methods useful for removing microorganisms and/or biofilm-embedded microorganisms from a surface. The present invention further includes compositions and methods useful for preventing or reducing the growth or proliferation of microorganisms and/or biofilm-embedded microorganisms on a surface.

The present invention includes polycationic amphiphilic compounds of formula VII useful as antimicrobial agents. ##STR00001## The present invention further includes novel polymers of polycationic amphiphilic compounds useful as antimicrobial agents. The present invention further includes methods useful for removing microorganisms and/or biofilm-embedded microorganisms from a surface. The present invention further includes compositions and methods useful for preventing or reducing the growth or proliferation of microorganisms and/or biofilm-embedded microorganisms on a surface.

The invention relates to a process for preparing triaryl organo borates proceeding from organoboronic esters in the presence of an n-valent cation 1/n K.sup.n+, comprising the anhydrous workup of the reaction mixture and the use of the triaryl organoborates obtained as co-initiator in photopolymer formulations, holographic media and holograms.

The invention relates to a process for preparing triaryl organo borates proceeding from organoboronic esters in the presence of an n-valent cation 1/n K.sup.n+, comprising the anhydrous workup of the reaction mixture and the use of the triaryl organoborates obtained as co-initiator in photopolymer formulations, holographic media and holograms.

Disclosed are infrared light absorbing aminium and diimmonium compositions that have at least one absorption maximum in the infrared spectral region between about 700 and 1500 nm and that are useful, for example, as infrared absorbers. In one example, an infrared light aminium absorbing composition includes an anionic borate moiety and an aminium radical cation, which has at least one absorption peak in the near infrared wavelength region between about 700 and 1500 nm. In another example, an infrared light diimmonium absorbing composition includes two anionic borate moieties and a diimmonium radical cation, which has at least one absorption peak in the near infrared wavelength region between about 700 and 1500 nm. Such compositions may be incorporated into films or bulk materials to form light filters for electromagnetic radiation, including laser radiation.

Disclosed are infrared light absorbing aminium and diimmonium compositions that have at least one absorption maximum in the infrared spectral region between about 700 and 1500 nm and that are useful, for example, as infrared absorbers. In one example, an infrared light aminium absorbing composition includes an anionic borate moiety and an aminium radical cation, which has at least one absorption peak in the near infrared wavelength region between about 700 and 1500 nm. In another example, an infrared light diimmonium absorbing composition includes two anionic borate moieties and a diimmonium radical cation, which has at least one absorption peak in the near infrared wavelength region between about 700 and 1500 nm. Such compositions may be incorporated into films or bulk materials to form light filters for electromagnetic radiation, including laser radiation.