Tips and Tricks for the Surface Engineering of Well-Ordered Morphologically Driven Silver-Based Nanomaterials

Particularly-shaped silver nanostructures are successfully applied in many scientific fields, such as nanotechnology, catalysis, (nano)engineering, optoelectronics, and sensing. In recent years, the production of shape-controlled silver-based nanostructures and the knowledge around this topic has grown significantly. Hence, on the basis of the most recent results reported in the literature, a critical analysis around the driving forces behind the synthesis of such nanostructures are proposed herein, pointing out the important role of surface-regulating agents in driving crystalline growth by favoring (or opposing) development along specific directions. Additionally, growth mechanisms of the different morphologies considered here are discussed in depth, and critical points highlighted.     

CuPc molecules adsorbed on Au(1 1 0)-(1 × 2): growth morphology and evolution of valence band states

We present the growth morphology, the long-range ordering, and the evolution of the valence band electronic states of ultrathin films of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) deposited on the Au(1 1 0)-(1 × 2) reconstructed surface, as a function of the organic molecule coverage. The low energy electron diffraction patterns present a (5 × 3) reconstruction from the early adsorption stages. High-resolution UV photoelectron spectroscopy data show the disappearance of the Au surface states related to the (1 × 2) reconstruction, and the presence of new electronic features related to the molecule-substrate interaction and to the CuPc molecular states. The CuPc highest occupied molecular orbital gradually emerges in the valence band, while the interface electronic states are quenched, upon increasing the coverage.     

Long‐range dependence and performance in telecom networks

Telecommunications systems have recently undergone significant innovations. These call for suitable statistical models that can properly describe the behaviour of the input traffic in a network. Here we use fractional Brownian motion (FBM) to model cumulative traffic network, thus taking into account the possible presence of long‐range dependence in the data. A Bayesian approach is devised in such a way that we are able to: (a) estimate the Hurst parameter H of the FBM; (b) estimate the overflow probability which is a parameter measuring the quality of service of a network: (c) develop a test for comparing the null hypothesis of long‐range dependence in the data versus the alternative of short‐range dependence. In order to achieve these inferential results, we elaborate an MCMC sampling scheme whose output enables us to obtain an approximation of the quantities of interest. An application to three real datasets, corresponding to three different levels of traffic, is finally considered. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Roughness reduction in submicron waveguides by low-molecular weight development

Roughness reduction of a submicron waveguide profile in chemically amplified negative resist is here performed by proper selection of an alkali-based developer, taking into account that its smaller molecules lead to smoother resist surface by altering the developing mechanism of aggregate extraction performed with standard quaternary ammonium hydroxide. Roughness is then analyzed by means of classical Atomic Force Microscope inspection; furthermore, a non-invasive line edge roughness analysis approach based on top-down scanning electron microscope acquisition gives comparable results, in terms of standard deviation and molecular aggregate periodicity.     

A non-isothermal Ginzburg–Landau model in superconductivity: Existence,uniqueness and asymptotic behaviour

In this paper we study a Ginzburg–Landau model which describes the behaviour of a superconducting material including thermal effects. We extend the traditional formulation of the problem, by introducing the temperature as an additional state variable. Accordingly, together with the Gor’kov–Eliashberg system, we introduce an evolution equation for the absolute temperature. We examine in detail the case which allows only variations of the concentration of superconducting electrons and of the temperature, neglecting the electromagnetic field. For this problem existence and uniqueness of the solution are shown. Finally we analyze the asymptotic behaviour of the solutions, proving that the system possesses a global attractor.     

Synthesis of pyrazolo[4,5-d]- and pyrazolo[4,5-c][1]benzazepine derivatives. IV

Following our reports on synthetic tricyclic analogues of antitumor anthramycin the synthesis of some isomers pyrazolo[4,5-d]- and pyrazolo[4,5-c][1]benzazepine derivatives is reported.     

Toward efficient Zn(II)-based artificial nucleases

A series of cis-cis-triaminocyclohexane Zn(II) complex-anthraquinone intercalator conjugates, designed in such a way to allow their easy synthesis and modification, have been investigated as hydrolytic cleaving agents for plasmid DNA. The ligand structure comprises a triaminocyclohexane platform linked by means of alkyl spacers of different length (from C(4) to C(8)) to the anthraquinone group which may intercalate the DNA. At a concentration of 5 microM, the complex of the derivative with a C(8) alkyl spacer induces the hydrolytic stand scission of supercoiled DNA with a rate of 4.6 x 10(-6) s(-1) at pH 7 and 37 degrees C. The conjugation of the metal complex with the anthraquinone group leads to a 15-fold increase of the cleavage efficiency when compared with the anthraquinone lacking Zn-triaminocyclohexane complex. The straightforward synthetic procedure employed, allowing a systematic change of the spacer length, made possible to gain more insight on the role of the intercalating group in determining the reactivity of the systems. Comparison of the reactivity of the different complexes shows a remarkable increase of the DNA cleaving efficiency with the length of the spacer. In the case of too-short spacers, the advantages due to the increased DNA affinity are canceled due to the incorrect positioning of the reactive group, thus leading to cleavage inhibition.     

Co60 γ-radiation-induced copolymerization of ethylene and carbon monoxide

The γ-radiation-induced free-radical copolymerization of ethylene and CO has been investigated over a wide range of pressure, initial gas composition, radiation intensity, and temperature. At 20°C., concentrations of CO up to 1% retard the polymerization of ethylene. Above this concentration the rate reaches a maximum between 27.5 and 39.2% CO and then decreases. The copolymer composition increases only from 40 to 50% CO when the gas mixture is varied from 5 to 90% CO. A relatively constant reactivity ratio is obtained at 20°C., indicating that CO adds 23.6 times as fast as an ethylene monomer to an ethylene free-radical chain end. For a 50% CO gas mixture, the above value of 23.6 and the copolymerization rate decrease with increasing temperature to 200°C. The kinetic data indicate a temperature-dependent depropagation reaction. Infrared examination of copolymers indicates a polyketone structure containing ? CH₂? CH₂? and ? CO? units. The crystalline melting point increases rapidly from 111 to 242°C., as the CO concentration in the copolymer increases from 27 to 50%. Molecular weight of copolymer formed at 20°C. increased with increasing CO, indicating M?_n values >20,000. Increasing reaction temperature results in decreasing molecular weight. Onset of decomposition for a 50% CO copolymer was measured at ≈250°C.