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Ion-surface scattering experiments can be used to measure elemental depth profiles on the angstrom scale in complex liquid mixtures. We employ NICISS (neutral impact collision ion scattering spectroscopy) to measure depth profiles of dissolved ions and solvent in liquid glycerol containing the cationic surfactant tetrahexylammonium bromide (THA+/Br-) at 0.013 M and mixtures of NaBr + NaCl at 0.4 M total concentration. The experiments reveal that Br- outcompetes Cl- in its attraction to surface THA+, and that THA+ segregates more extensively when more Br- ions are present. Intriguingly, the depths spanned by THA+, Br-, and Cl- ions generally increase with Br- bulk concentration, expanding from ∼10 to ∼25 A for both Br- and Cl- depth profiles. This broadening likely occurs because of an increasing pileup of THA+ ions in a multilayer region that spreads the halide ions over a wider depth. The experiments indicate that cationic surfactants enhance Br- and Cl- concentrations in the surface region far beyond their bulk-phase values, making solutions coated with these surfactants potentially more reactive toward gases that can oxidize the halide ions.

Stable doping of indacenodithieno[3,2-b]thiophene (IDTT) structures enables easy color tuning and significant improvement in the charge storage capacity of electrochromic polymers, making use of their full potential as electrochromic supercapacitors and in other emerging hybrid applications. Here, the IDTT structure is copolymerized with four different donor-acceptor-donor (DAD) units, with subtle changes in their electron-donating and electron-withdrawing characters, so as to obtain four different donor-acceptor copolymers. The polymers attain important form factor requirements for electrochromic supercapacitors: desired switching between achromatic black and transparent states (L*a*b* 45.9, -3.1, -4.2/86.7, -2.2, and -2.7 for PIDTT-TBT), high optical contrast (72% for PIDTT-TBzT), and excellent electrochemical redox stability (Ired/Iox ca. 1.0 for PIDTT-EBE). Poly[indacenodithieno[3,2-b]thiophene-2,8-diyl-alt-4,7-bis(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-5-yl)-2-(2-hexyldecyl)-2H-benzo[d][1,2,3]triazole-7,7'-diyl] (PIDTT-EBzE) stands out as delivering simultaneously a high contrast (69%) and doping level (>100%) and specific capacitance (260 F g-1). This work introduces IDTT-based polymers as bifunctional electro-optical materials for potential use in color-tailored, color-indicating, and self-regulating smart energy systems.

NaF has been considered as material for the electron extraction layer in organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices. Thin layers of NaF were evaporated onto PCBM and P3HT thin films. The chemical state of ...

We acknowledge the support of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP), and the ANFF ACT Node in carrying out this research. H.T.N. acknowledges the fellowship support of the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics. T.P.W. is the recipient of an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (Project No. FT180100302) funded by the Australian Government.

Evidence-based antiemetic guidelines offer predominantly consistent recommendations for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) prophylaxis. However, studies suggest that adherence to these recommendations is suboptimal. We explored inconsistencies between clinical practice and guideline-recommended treatment with a registry evaluating the effect of guideline-consistent CINV prophylaxis (GCCP) on patient outcomes.This was a prospective, non-interventional, multicentre study. The primary objective was to assess the overall (Days 1-5) complete response (CR: no emesis/no rescue use) rates in patients who received GCCP or guideline-inconsistent CINV prophylaxis (GICP) using diaries for 5 days following chemotherapy. Cycle 1 results are presented in patients who received either (1) anthracycline/cyclophosphamide (AC) highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC), non-AC HEC or carboplatin, with GCCP for all these groups consisting of prophylaxis with an NK1,089 patients were part of the cycle 1 efficacy evaluation. Overall GCCP was 23%. CR rates were significantly higher (P 0.05) in patients receiving GCCP (62.2%) versus GICP (52.6%) in the overall population, as well as in the subsets of patients receiving AC/non-AC HEC (60.2% versus 47.8%), MEC (73.8% versus 57.8%) and in those non-naïve to the chemotherapy received (65.9% versus 53.8%). No impact on daily living due to CINV (FLIE assessment) was observed in 43.4% patients receiving GCCP versus 28.5% GICP (P 0.001).Consistent with prior studies, GCCP was very low; a significant benefit of almost 10% improved prevention of CINV was observed with GCCP. As per MASCC/ESMO guidelines, such an absolute difference should be practice changing. Comprehensive multifaceted strategies are needed to achieve better adherence to antiemetic guidelines.

Compact self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of perfluorododecyl iodide (I-PFC12) of reproducible thickness (1.2 nm) are shown to form on silicon wafers. The SAMs have a high fluorine content (95%) and convey an extremely low surface energy to the silicon wafers (4.3 mN m-1), lower than previously reported in the literature for perfluorinated monolayers, and stable for over eight weeks. Shorter chain iodo-perfluorinated (I-PFC8) or bromo-perfluorinated molecules (Br-PFC10) led to less dense layers. The monolayers are stable to heating up to 60 °C, with some loss up to 150 °C. The I-PFC12 monolayer increases the work function of silicon wafers from 3.6 V to 4.4 eV, a factor that could be gainfully used in photovoltaic applications. The I-PFC12 monolayers can be transferred into patterns onto silica substrates by micro-contact printing. The NMR data and the reproducible thickness point to an upright halogen bonding interaction between the iodine in I-PFC12 and the surface oxygen on the native silica layer.

The effect of the co-adsorbent chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) up to a concentration of 20 mM on the adsorption of the dye N719 onto titania has been investigated using neutral impact collision ion scattering spectroscopy. It is shown that the co-adsorption of CDCA changes the adsorption mode of N719 from multilayer toward monolayer. FT-IR spectroscopy shows that the adsorption of CDCA increases with increasing CDCA concentration. In contrast, the amount of N719 adsorbed onto titania shows a minimum at 10 mM CDCA, and the relationship between the amount of CDCA and of N719 adsorbed onto titania depends nonmonotonically on the CDCA concentration. The co-adsorption of CDCA and N719 can be described as cooperative. The effect is observed for both low and high N719 concentrations. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

The properties of semiconductor surfaces can be modified by the deposition of metal clusters consisting of a few atoms. The properties of metal clusters and of cluster-modified surfaces depend on the number of atoms forming the clusters. Deposition of clusters with a monodisperse size distribution thus allows tailoring of the surface properties for technical applications. However, it is a challenge to retain the size of the clusters after their deposition due to the tendency of the clusters to agglomerate. The agglomeration can be inhibited by covering the metal cluster modified surface with a thin metal oxide overlayer. In the present work, phosphine-protected Au clusters, Au

Surface defects influence the dye adsorption on TiO

The work was supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the Australian Research Council (ARC). T.P.W. is the recipient of an Australian Research Council Australian Future Fellowship (project number FT180100302) funded by the Australian Government.

Submonolayer coverages of chemically synthesised triphenylphosphine-protected Au9 clusters on mica and TiO2 substrates were achieved through the development of a Pulsed Nozzle Cluster Deposition (PNCD) technique under high vacuum conditions. This method offers the deposition of pre-prepared, solvated clusters directly onto substrates in a vacuum without the potential for contamination from the atmosphere. AFM and TEM were used to investigate the rate of gold cluster deposition as a function of cluster solution concentration and the number of pulses, with pulse number showing the most effective control of the final deposition conditions. TEM and XPS were used to determine that the clusters retained their unique properties through the deposition process. Methanol solvent deposited in the PNCD process has been shown to be removable through post-deposition treatments. A physical model describing the vapour behaviour and solvent evaporation in a vacuum is also developed and presented.

In this work we focus on P3HT:PC61BM bulk heterojunction (BHJ) devices with MoO3 at the hole extraction side of the BHJ, which relies on the formation of a strong dipole at the BHJ/MoO3 interface, ...

Atomically precise chemically synthesized gold clusters protected by diphenylphosphine ligands [(Au13(dppe)5Cl2)Cl3] (dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) were deposited onto a defect-rich, ato...

Platinum single-atom catalysts (PtSACs) on 3D support are emerging as new frontier in catalysis due to their atom-economy, outstanding performance and the advantage to bridge the gap between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. Here we report on a simple, single-step electrochemical grafting attachment of a metal-selective ligand, 2,6:2’,2”-terpyridine, and the synthesis of platinum single-atom electrocatalyst via metal uptake from aqueous salt solution. At an ultra-low loading of 0.26 ±0.02 μgcm-2 of platinum, the single atom catalysts supported on porous 3D carbon cloth electrode via chemical bonding revealed the highest reported mass activity of 77.1 AgPt-1 at η = 50 mV/RHE compared to the commercial catalyst 20 % Pt/C. The electro-grafted terpyridine ligand can also act as an effective scavenger for leached platinum from the counter electrode during extended operational hours. The method to make the PtSAC is facile, non-hazardous and versatile without involving any elaborative pre- and/or post-treatment steps and, the value of the added platinum to the ligand is only 0.1 US$m-2.

A polymer made from equal masses of sulfur and canola oil was carbonised at 600 °C for 30 minutes. The resulting material exhibited improved uptake of mercury from water compared to the polymer. The carbonisation could also be done after using the polymer to clean up oil spills, which suprisingly improved mercury uptake to levels rivaling commercial carbons.

Small Ru clusters are efficient catalysts for chemical reactions such as CO hydrogenation. In this study 3-atom Ru

The use of copper‐based chemicals to prevent biological growth has been widely practiced in the past. However, leaching of the copper has increased concentrations in ports and marinas, posing a risk to marine life and the environment. It is therefore timely to develop a sustainable antibiofouling coating that could replace conventional copper‐based paints. Herein, the use of cross‐linked polyethylene imine (PEI) coated on conducting carbon cloth electrodes as a material that can absorb copper from seawater and allow for controlled electrochemical release of copper as a biocide to prevent biofouling is proposed. The results show that the porous coating can store and release copper ions over multiple cycles by passing only 1 mA cm−2 current density through the electrode in artificial seawater. This could enable a closed‐cycle, copper‐based antifouling coating, i.e., a coating that uses the well‐established biocidal activity of copper, but without any net release to the ocean. Refereed/Peer-reviewed