Colloidal subwavelength nanostructures for antireflection optical coatings

A two-dimensional (2D) subwavelength nanostructure for antireflection coating is fabricated upon a transparent substrate. Self-assembled 2D colloidal crystals are used as a nanoscale composite material with controlled thickness and low refractive index. The feature size of the structure is approximately 105 nm. The structure is used for antireflection coating, and the measured reflectivity of a glass substrate is reduced to 0.3%. Enhanced transmission through the substrate is also observed.     

Syntheses of very dense halogenated liquids

A family of halogenated liquids with densities ranging from 1.95 to 2.80 g cm(-3) was readily synthesized by a one-pot procedure. These liquids exhibit characteristics of ionic liquids with melting/transition points lower than room temperature, long liquid ranges, and marked hydrolytic and thermal stabilities.     

Fluorescence detection of surface-bound intermediates produced from UV photoreactivity of alkylsiloxane SAMs

Detection and quantification of submonolayer coverage surface species is not trivial. We have developed a novel method sensitive to surface-bound chemical functional groups as low as 10(11) molecules/cm(2) by specific covalent attachment of fluorescent chromophores. This enables the intermediates of the UV photochemistry of alkylsiloxane self-assembled monolayers to be identified.     

Dynamics of femtosecond laser interactions with dielectrics

Femtosecond laser pulses appear as an emerging and promising tool for processing wide bandgap dielectric materials for a variety of applications. This article aims to provide an overview of recent progress in understanding the fundamental physics of femtosecond laser interactions with dielectrics that may have the potential for innovative materials applications. The focus of the overview is the dynamics of femtosecond laser-excited carriers and the propagation of femtosecond laser pulses inside dielectric materials. PACS 61.80.Ba; 52.38.Mf; 42.65.Jx; 78.47.+p; 71.35.-y     

Efficient Stark deceleration of cold polar molecules

Stark deceleration has been utilized for slowing and trapping several species of neutral, ground-state polar molecules generated in a supersonic beam expansion. Due to the finite physical dimension of the electrode array and practical limitations of the applicable electric fields, only molecules within a specific range of velocities and positions can be efficiently slowed and trapped. These constraints result in a restricted phase space acceptance of the decelerator in directions both transverse and parallel to the molecular beam axis; hence, careful modeling is required for understanding and achieving efficient Stark decelerator operation. We present work on slowing of the hydroxyl radical (OH) elucidating the physics controlling the evolution of the molecular phase space packets both with experimental results and model calculations. From these results we deduce experimental conditions necessary for efficient operation of a Stark decelerator.     

Tensegrity: construction of rigid DNA triangles with flexible four-arm DNA junctions

A tensegrity strategy has been explored to construct a rigid geometrical structure (triangles) from flexible DNA four-arm junctions. The resulting DNA triangles could self-assemble into 1D and 2D arrays. This tensegrity strategy is expected to play an important role in the design of biomimetic nanomaterials.     

A new 1,4-phenanthraquinone from Menispermum dauricum

A new 1,4-phenanthraquinone was isolated from the roots of Menispermum dauricum. The structure was elucidated as 7-hydroxy-3,6-dimethoxy-1,4-phenanthraquinone on the basis of spectral evidence.