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We report the high-capacity and selective uptake of Cr(VI) from water using the coordination polymer silver bipyridine acetate (SBA, [Ag(4,4'-bipy)][CH

Following the seminal theoretical work on the pleated β-sheet published by Pauling and Corey in 1951, the rippled β-sheet was hypothesized by the same authors in 1953. In the pleated β-sheet the interacting β-strands have the same chirality, whereas in the rippled β-sheet the interacting β-strands are mirror-images. Unlike with the pleated β-sheet that is now common textbook knowledge, the rippled β-sheet has been much slower to evolve. Much of the experimental work on rippled sheets came from groups that study aggregating racemic peptide systems over the course of the past decade. This includes MAX1/DMAX hydrogels (Schneider), L/D-KFE8 aggregating systems (Nilsson), and racemic Amyloid β mixtures (Raskatov). Whether a racemic peptide mixture is "ripple-genic" (

Starting from the zygote, all cells in the human body continuously acquire mutations. Mutations shared between different cells imply a common progenitor and are thus naturally occurring markers for lineage tracing1,2. Here we reconstruct extensive phylogenies of normal tissues from three adult individuals using whole-genome sequencing of 511 laser capture microdissections. Reconstructed embryonic progenitors in the same generation of a phylogeny often contribute to different extents to the adult body. The degree of this asymmetry varies between individuals, with ratios between the two reconstructed daughter cells of the zygote ranging from 60:40 to 93:7. Asymmetries pervade subsequent generations and can differ between tissues in the same individual. The phylogenies resolve the spatial embryonic patterning of tissues, revealing contiguous patches of, on average, 301 crypts in the adult colonic epithelium derived from a most recent embryonic cell and also a spatial effect in brain development. Using data from ten additional men, we investigated the developmental split between soma and germline, with results suggesting an extraembryonic contribution to primordial germ cells. This research demonstrates that, despite reaching the same ultimate tissue patterns, early bottlenecks and lineage commitments lead to substantial variation in embryonic patterns both within and between individuals. Somatic mutations obtained from laser microdissected biopsies of human tissues are used to reconstruct the developmental phylogenies of these tissues back to the zygote.

We report the crystal structures of four different neutral lanthanide (Ln = La, Nd, Eu and Gd) metal–organic frameworks based on the organic linker 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate (NDC). The materials are three-dimensional and crystallize in three distinct topologies, with distinct bonding modes of NDC and lanthanide coordination numbers ranging from seven to nine and varying geometry. We denote our materials SLUG-49 [La6(NDC)9(DMF)3·6 DMF], -50 [Nd2(NDC)3O(DMF)2], -51 [Eu2(NDC)3(DMF)2·DMF], and -52 [Gd4(NDC)6(DMF)4] (DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide). The structures exhibit similar thermal decomposition profiles and infrared spectra. The Eu(III)-based material exhibits a sharp red-orange luminescence at 613 nm with a quantum efficiency of 3.56%.

2H-Benzotriazol-2-ylethylammonium bromide and iodide and its difluorinated derivatives are synthesized and employed as interlayers for passivation of formamidinium lead triiodide (FAPbI3) solar cells. In combination with PbI2 and PbBr2, these benzotriazole derivatives form two-dimensional (2D) Ruddlesden-Popper perovskites (RPPs) as evidenced by their crystal structures and thin film characteristics. When used to passivate n-i-p FAPbI3 solar cells, the power conversion efficiency improves from 20% to close to 22% by enhancing the open-circuit voltage. Quasi-Fermi level splitting experiments and scanning electron microscopy cathodoluminescence hyperspectral imaging reveal that passivation provides a reduced nonradiative recombi-nation at the interface between the perovskite and hole transport layer. Photoluminescence spectroscopy, angle-resolved grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering, and depth profiling X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies of the 2D/three-dimensional (3D) interface between the benzotriazole RPP and FAPbI3 show that a nonuniform layer of 2D perovskites is enough to passivate defects, enhance charge extraction, and decrease nonradiative recombination. The research has received funding from the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science (Gravity program 024.001.035) and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research via a Spinoza grant. This work of B.T.v.G. is part of the Advanced Research Center for Chemical Building Blocks, ARC CBBC, which is cofounded and cofinanced by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) and the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs (project 2016.03.Tue). W.T.M.v.G., K.V.H., L.L., and D.V. acknowledge the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) for the funding of the SBO project PROCEED (S002019N) and the senior FWO research projects G043320N and G0A8723N. A.M. acknowledges the FWO for the funding of his FWO fundamental research PhD grant (1115721N). This study was supported by the Special Research Fund (BOF) of Hasselt University (BOF22PD01). J.F.O. acknowledges funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Nano Doctoral Training Centre (EP/L015978/1).

Placentas can exhibit chromosomal aberrations that are absent from the fetus1. The basis of this genetic segregation, which is known as confined placental mosaicism, remains unknown. Here we investigated the phylogeny of human placental cells as reconstructed from somatic mutations, using whole-genome sequencing of 86 bulk placental samples (with a median weight of 28 mg) and of 106 microdissections of placental tissue. We found that every bulk placental sample represents a clonal expansion that is genetically distinct, and exhibits a genomic landscape akin to that of childhood cancer in terms of mutation burden and mutational imprints. To our knowledge, unlike any other healthy human tissue studied so far, the placental genomes often contained changes in copy number. We reconstructed phylogenetic relationships between tissues from the same pregnancy, which revealed that developmental bottlenecks genetically isolate placental tissues by separating trophectodermal lineages from lineages derived from the inner cell mass. Notably, there were some cases with full segregation—within a few cell divisions of the zygote—of placental lineages and lineages derived from the inner cell mass. Such early embryonic bottlenecks may enable the normalization of zygotic aneuploidy. We observed direct evidence for this in a case of mosaic trisomic rescue. Our findings reveal extensive mutagenesis in placental tissues and suggest that mosaicism is a typical feature of placental development. Phylogenies of human placental cells based on whole-genome sequencing of bulk samples and microdissections reveal extensive mutagenesis in placental tissue, and suggest that mosaicism is a typical part of normal placental development.

We report the structures of six anionic, isomorphous metal–organic frameworks [Ln(bpdc)2–][NH2(CH3)2+], where Ln = La, Ce, Nd, Eu, Gd, Er, and bpdc2– = biphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylate = –O2C(C6H4)2CO2–...

We report the first example of linker modification for an N-donor Ag-based cationic material while maintaining and in some cases increasing the anion exchange capacity. Cationic silver(I) pyrazine nitrate selectively traps harmful oxo-anions from water such as permanganate, perrhenate and a variety of α,ω-alkanedicarboxylates. We chose these anions as initial examples of exchange for potential water purification. The host-guest interaction between the cationic layers of π-stacked silver pyrazine polymers and the incoming/outgoing interlamellar anions allows for the exchange. The exchange capacity over 24 h reached 435 and 818 mg/g for permanganate and perrhenate, respectively, a record for a crystalline metal-organic material and over five times the exchange capacity compared to commercial resin. The material also undergoes organic exchange as an analog for pharmaceutical waste, some of which have a carboxylate functionality at the neutral pH range typical of natural water sources. Both the as-synthesized and exchanged materials are characterized by a variety of analytical techniques.

We present the rapid synthesis of a series of metal–organic framework (MOF) thin films on indium tin oxide (ITO) glass. ITO was first electrodeposited with either copper or zinc microcrystalline fi...

Large Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles (∼200 nm) functionalized with gold and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) have been synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for bioseparation and sensing applications. The particles have been characterized using a combination of experimental techniques including ultraviolet visible spectroscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy, superconducting quantum interference device magnetrometry, and surface-enhanced Raman sensing (SERS) spectroscopy. The particles have a unique surface morphology comprised of roughened gold nodules. The surface coatings prevent oxidation and render the particles easy to functionalize in order to target a wide range of moieties. The gold coverage is not only uniform across the entire particle surface but also ultrathin so as to maintain a high percentage of the cores magnetic saturation (∼68%) when compared to that of bare magnetite. The gold nodules facilitate the generation ...

We report the selective removal of perchlorate from water by a cationic coordination polymer in the highest observed capacity and rate to date. Silver bipyridine acetate [Ag(4,4′-bipy)+][CH3CO2–]·6H2O (bipy = bipyridine) is easily synthesized in water under ambient conditions (60 min with 99.1% yield). The material releases its environmentally benign acetate anions upon perchlorate uptake to 99.9% mol/mol completion in Millipore water. Actual contaminated industrial water from an underground plume (53 ppm initial perchlorate concentration) was treated to 96% mol/mol in 60 min. The uptake capacity is near-record high at 310 mg/g and is 94% complete within 30 min. Perchlorate exchange was also conducted at 1–30 ppm perchlorate typical of underground contaminated source sites, with up to 99.7% mol/mol completion.

We report the synthesis and antibacterial properties and mechanism of two Zn-based coordination polymers (CPs). The first, [Zn(bipy)(OH2)42+]1.5[ClO4−]3·(bipy)3(H2O), consists of a one-dimensional (1D) structure with two crystallographically independent octahedral zinc centers trans-coordinated by two 4,4′-bipy units and water groups. The second, [Zn1.5(CH3CO2)2(bipy)2+][ClO4−]·H2O, is a two-dimensional (2D) layered structure with the same polymers but bridged together into a layer by acetate and 4,4′-bipy. Both compounds exhibit sustained release of Zn2+ ions upon their gradual degradation in aqueous solution, which results in highly effective antibacterial activity towards Escherichia coli and particularly towards Staphylococcus epidermidis cells. This activity was evaluated in solution by broth dilution assays to determine minimal inhibition concentrations (MICs) as well as in the solid phase by agar diffusion tests to quantify the zones of inhibition (ZOI), and were in close agreement. Further, the biocidal mechanisms of the coordination polymers were investigated in vivo by fluorescence microscopy utilizing CellRox Green and propidium iodide as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and membrane disruption indicators, respectively. Both CPs show superior antibacterial activity compared to two standards, zinc acetate and zinc oxide, which is concluded to be due to both gradual and localized release of Zn2+ ions as well as electrostatic attraction to the bacterial cell surface afforded by their unique structures. This unique Zn release profile and interaction with bacterial surfaces affords marked antibacterial activity and suggests that manipulation of the Zn structures could lead to significant advancements in antimicrobial materials.

The desulfurization of JP-8 (Jet Propellant 8) fuel is of interest to the U.S. military because of its potential use as a fuel source for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). SOFCs can be used to supply a steady stream of power during military silent watch missions. Adsorptive desulfurization is a promising alternative to hydrodesulfurization, which is unable to remove refractory sulfur compounds and achieve the ultra-low sulfur levels necessary to prevent poisoning of SOFCs. Adsorptive desulfurization could be a portable, on-site process performed on JP-8 stocks already in the field. Within the vast field of fuel processing/reformation, herein we focus on the current status of adsorptive desulfurization performed on JP-8 jet fuel. Currently, the best performing sorbents are those utilizing high surface area porous frameworks with pore sizes large enough to accommodate sulfur contaminants. Additionally, a variety of metals in ionic, metallic, and oxide form serve as promising active sites within these sorbents. Most reports focus on reformation technologies and sorbent materials for gas-phase desulfurization and hydrogen purification of low-sulfur content diesel or light fraction jet fuel. JP-8 is unique to the Army in terms of supply. This review will thus focus on ongoing efforts in the room temperature liquid desulfurization of JP-8 and its higher levels of impurities that are more complex and difficult to remove.

The surprising discovery of salutary effects of low doses of carbon monoxide (CO) in mammalian physiology has raised intense research interest in CO delivery to biological targets under controlled conditions. In recent attempts, photoactive metal carbonyl complexes (photoCORMs) have been employed to trigger CO release at the target sites. In this work, a designed photoCORM namely, fac-[Re(CO)3(pbt) (PPh3)](CF3SO3) (1, pbt =2-(2-pyridyl)benzothiazole) has been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods and crystallography. This photoCORM not only releases CO upon illumination with low-power UV light (305 nm, 5 mW cm–2) but also exhibits a “turn-off” of its orange luminescence (λem = 605 nm) upon release of one CO ligand. The latter property provides a convenient way to track the CO release event. The photoCORM 1 has been entrapped within the pores of the narrow channels of 100 nm mesoporous Al-MCM-41 nanoparticles and the loaded {Re-CO}@Al-MCM-41 MSNs have been characterized by powder X-ray dif...

The present work refers to results obtained in the synthesis of tungsten carbide embedded in a metal matrix such as Co or Fe, through different routes and from various precursors. The two principal methods were, an aqueous, and the other one, a sol-gel using alkoxides. Heat treatments were carried out in an alumina oven with SiC heating elements, and covered different heating schedules under several atmospheres (gas flows and vacuum). Resulting phases after the different heat treatments were studied by X ray diffraction (showing the formation of desired phases, WC and the metal matrices Fe or Co) and final microstructure waqs analyzed through techniques suchs as SEM (Scanning electron microscopy), FIB (Focused ion beam) and TEM (Transmission electron microscopy). It was observed that sol-gel internally precipitated WC grains (within a matrix, rich in Fe, and having excess C) had average dimensions of 2 microns. Finally, microhardness (Vickers) values in the range between 937 and 1242 HV were measured for the various kinds of composites.

As part of a process called cerus for the conditioning of spent fuel elements from research reactors (which is about itsimmobilization in a sintered ceramic matrix of uranium oxide) were performed calcinations and sintering on an aluminumminiplate that representing a real plate from MTR fuel type, but containing natural Si2U3 instead of enriched. Product of heattreatments it results a complex multi-phase material, it was studied its behavior during and after heat treatments involved in thecerus process. There were performed differential thermal analysis (DTA) in air to 1250 °C, and X-ray diffraction at hightemperature (700-1100 °C) to elucidate which compounds were generated during the calcination and sintering and the momentwhen these transformations occur, and as a result there were obtained complex alloys of Al-U, and the formation of oxides ofaluminum and uranium. On the other hand, tests were carried out on compacted powder of calcined miniplates in a hightemperature microscope (HSM) and dilatometry to know their linear and surface response to the heating and sintering in order tocharacterize their individual contributions to the final material, resulting in an important expansion of about 25% which wasattributed to oxidants interactions and/or formation of uranium aluminides and silicides. Several intermetallic of Si-U and Al aswell as the generation of oxides of aluminum and uranium were found. Fil: Arboleda Zuluaga, Paula Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Energía Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo; Argentina Fil: Gonzalez Oliver, Carlos Julian R.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Energía Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; Argentina Fil: Rodriguez, Diego Sebastian. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Energía Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo; Argentina

Solid-state single photon sources with polarisation control operating beyond the Peltier cooling barrier of 200 K are desirable for a variety of applications in quantum technology. Using a non-polar InGaN system, we report the successful realisation of single photon emission with a g

We report a detailed study of the host-guest interaction for a cationic metal-organic framework that can reversibly capture perchlorate. The structural transformation and flexibility of silver 4,4′-bipyridine nitrate (SBN) upon formation of silver 4,4′-bipyridine perchlorate (SBP) was evaluated by monitoring the anion exchange dynamics using a combination of powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) with multinuclear 13C, 15N and 109Ag solid-state NMR spectra at different time intervals of the anion exchange. The structural transformation from SBN to SBP is complete within 70 minutes and was determined to take place by a solvent-mediated process. This pathway is confirmed by the morphological changes of the two crystalline materials observed by SEM. This key understanding may lead to application of this material towards perchlorate capture.

We report the synthesis and characterization of three cationic two-dimensional Nd(III)-based inorganic materials. The materials consist of [Nd2(OH)4(OH2)22+] layers with interlamellar α,ω-[−O3S(CH2)nSO3−] anions (n = 2–4). The materials were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and infrared spectroscopy. As an initial example of anion exchange, all three materials show uptake of adipate, −O2C(CH2)4CO2−. These layered rare earth hydroxides show an increase in thermal stability with alkanedisulfonate chain length. The three polytypes expand the known chemistry for extended cationic inorganic materials using f-block metals.

Desulfurized JP-8 fuel is of great interest for use as the hydrogen feedstock of fuel cells. The refractory aromatic sulfur species present, however, are particularly challenging to remove through traditional methods. We report the first use of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) for desulfurization and the material displays a four-fold greater performance towards JP-8 fuel over previous sorbents. The bulk form of mesoporous silica shows three-fold greater level of desulfurization. Silver-impregnated nanoparticle and bulk MCM-41 were found to have saturation adsorption capacities of 32.6 mgS g−1 and 25.4 mgS g−1, respectively. MSN display a high capacity for the notoriously difficult to remove 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene along with a two-fold improvement in breakthrough capacity over previously published materials, of 0.98 mgS g−1 at 10 ppmwS.

Background. Expression of human CD133 (human prominin-1) in cancer cells has been postulated to be a marker of stemness and is considered as a putative marker of cancer stem cells (CSCs). We designed a study to describe the expression pattern of CD133 in normal skin and in epithelial cutaneous neoplasms.Methods. The CD133 immunohistochemical expression of forty-three eccrine and apocrine tumors was compared to that observed in other epithelial tumors of the skin. In addition, flow cytometry was used to detect the CD133 expression of four epithelial skin neoplasms, including one porocarcinoma.Results. CD133 immunoreactivity at the apical or at the apicolateral surface of cells forming glandular structures was observed. Cells from solid areas of benign or malignant tumors were not stained. The porocarcinoma derived culture cells showed a 22% of CD133 positive cells using flow cytometry, while squamous cell carcinoma cultures contained less than 0.1%.Conclusions. These observations indicate that CD133 is a specific marker of glandular differentiation that could be included in the diagnostic panel of cutaneous tumors with possible eccrine or apocrine differentiation. However, the use of CD133 expression as a marker of CSCs should be interpreted with caution in experiments of skin.

A photoactive manganese nitrosyl, namely [Mn(PaPy(3))(NO)](ClO(4)) ({Mn-NO}), has been loaded into the columnar pores of an MCM-41 host. Strong interaction between the polar nitrosyl and the -OH groups on the host wall leads to excellent entrapment of the NO donor within the porous host. With the aluminosilicate-based host (Al-MCM-41), the loading is further enhanced due to electrostatic interaction of the cationic species with the aluminum sites. The extent of loading has been determined via analytical techniques including N(2) adsorption/desorption isometry. Powder X-ray diffraction studies on the loaded materials afford patterns typical of an ordered mesoporous silicate consisting of a hexagonal array of unidimensional channels (with slight loss of crystallinity). Elemental mapping of the loaded particles confirms the incorporation of {Mn-NO} into the porous MCM-41 structure and attests to the homogeneity of the guest molecule distribution throughout individual particles. When suspensions of the loaded materials in saline solution are exposed to low-power (10-100 mW) visible light, rapid release of NO is observed. With continuous exposure, a steady release of 50-80 μM of NO is attained with 5 mg of material/mL buffer within 5 min, and the NO flux is maintained for a period of ~60 min. Rapid bursts of 5-10 μM NO are noted with short light pulses. Loss of either the nitrosyl or its photoproduct(s) from these materials in biological media is minimal over long periods of time. The NO release profiles suggest potential use of these powdery biocompatible materials as NO donors where the delivery of NO (a strong antibiotic) could be controlled via the exposure of light. Such prediction has been confirmed with the successful eradication of both drug-susceptible and drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in a soft-tissue infection model through light-triggered NO delivery.

The thermal expansion behavior of Ni matrix composites reinforced with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) fabricated by pressureless sintering and hot uniaxial pressing was studied in the range between 50 and 1050 °C and compared to that of pure Ni. The results show an active interaction between the MWNT and the Ni matrix by reducing the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of pure Ni up to 76% between 50 and 400 °C. This reduction is due to the strong interfacial interaction between the matrix and the reinforcement and the low intrinsic CTE of the nanotubes. This outstanding behavior may be very useful in applications were low CTE is required as for example structural materials.

Vitrocerus is a processing method for MTR type fuel plates (Materials Testing Reactor) developed in the laboratory of Nuclear Materials at Bariloche Atomic Center which aims at producing a safe immobilization matrix for the potential provision of interim dry spent fuel from research reactors such type MTR.The present paper deals with the sintering of simulated spent fuel, that is composed of uranium silicide (U 3 Si 2 ) and aluminum, isotopically diluted in natural U3O8 and also with small additions of borosilicate glass (designated VG98/12), with composition: SiO 2 VG98/12 (56.7%), B 2 O 3 (12.4%), Al 2 O 3 (2.6%), Na 2 O (17.5%), CaO (4.1%), MgO(2.1%) and TiO 2 (4.6%) and Tg ∼ 520° C. The glass has the function to induce a liquid phase sintering at low temperatures, resulting in an enhancing of the hardness and densification of the final material. The simulated spent fuel is pre-oxidized before mixing with the glass.Studies were carried out on the thermal behaviour through dilatometry measurements, differential thermal analysis, hot-stage microscopy and X-ray diffraction, resulting in partial expansions at temperatures near 800°C. Then, these system probably densified by the action of a liquid phase from the glass VG98/12 or reaction with the spent fuel that will be immobilized.

A three-dimensional La(III) based metal-organic framework, La2[NC5H3(CO2)2]3·3H2O, was assembled using the aromatic linker 3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate. This new compound was synthesized hydrothermally and is an unusual example of a lanthanum containing metal-organic network. The compound contains two distinct La centers, each adopting a nine-coordinate geometry. The structure is built up from zig-zag chains that link via bridging water molecules into a double chain defining edge-sharing six rings. These double chains are arranged into layers and connect through 3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate ligands to give the extended 3-D coordination framework. The material is thermally stable to ca. 360 °C and transforms to an unknown compound before finally decomposing to phase-pure La2O3 at 800 °C. The synthesis, structure, morphology and properties of the new material are described.

We report a silver-based cationic metal−organic framework with two mixed organic linkers directing the structure. The structure consists of 1D Ag(4,4′-bipy) cationic chains arranged into close-packed layers. Weakly bound alkanedisulfonate anions charge-balance the layers, where only one oxygen of each sulfonate makes a long contact with the Ag. The unsaturated linear Ag centers likely allow the Lewis acidity displayed by the material for ketone protection as well as esterification. The material showed no reduction in yield after three catalytic runs with average 95% conversion yield for ketal formation and 57% for esterification without further water removal. In addition to hydrothermal conditions, the structure can be synthesized by reflux or room temperature, with almost identical catalytic ability. Other properties of this compound including chemical and thermal stability are also described.

Self-formed W graded preform was produced by size segregation of weakly vibrated tungsten bimodal granular medium. The bimodal granular media bed was initially set up with larger W agglomerates placed on the bottom and with smaller agglomerates on the top of the container. During the vibro-compaction treatment the granular bed progresses through three distinguished compaction stages: percolation, diffusion like or hopping, and non-equilibrium steady state, which exhibit different packing factor and structures. Shorter vibration time results in a skeleton type of microstructure, while a graded structure was formed when the system reaches a non-equilibrium steady state. The vibrated beds were uniaxially pressed to manufacture sintered W preform with a graded interconnected porosity. High temperature sintering treatments complete the evolution of a steeper gradient in porosity predominantly through coalescence process. Electrical and elastic properties of the final materials, produced by infiltration of Cu into the sintered W preforms, are strongly influenced by the W microstructural evolution. It has been shown that the optimal microstructure for electrical properties consists of a highly 3D interconnected Cu phase (skeleton type of microstructure), while the graded structure exhibits higher E-modulus. This work was undertaken to better understand the nature of the graded structure and to study the relationship between the self-formed microstructure types, electrical and elastic materials properties.

We report the synthesis and characterization of a seven coordinate europium complex, [EuCl3(C10H8N2O2) AE 2CH3OH]. The growing interest in developing efficient light conversion molecular devices (LCMDs) necessitates the need for new fluorescent materials. Ideal physicochemical properties of the materials include ligand absorption, efficient metal to ligand transfer, and strong luminescence with a relatively long decay time. The design of such material requires distinct absorbing (ligand) and emitting (metal ion) components. While Eu 3+ cation has a non-degenerate emitting level, 2,2 0 -bipyridine N,N dioxide is a heterocyclic ligand known to exhibit strong lumines

Elastomeric stamp deformation has been utilized for the contact printing (CP) of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and, more recently, polymers and proteins. Here, we take advantage of this well-studied phenomenon to fabricate a series of new metal thin-film patterns not present on the original stamp. The rounded patterns are of nanoscale thickness, long-range order, and are created from elastomeric stamps with only straight-edged features. The metal was printed onto the surface of an alpha,omega-alkanedithiol self-assembled monolayer (SAM). The new shapes are controlled by a combination of stamp geometry design and the application of external pressure. Previously published rules on stamp deformation for contact printing of SAMs are invalid because the coating is instead a thin-metal film. This method represents a new pathway to micropatterning metal thin films, leading to shapes with higher complexity than the original lithographic masters.