Luminescent PMMA Films and PMMA@SiO2 Nanoparticles with Embedded Ln3+ Complexes for Highly Sensitive Optical Thermometers in the Physiological Temperature Range**

In recent years, luminescent materials doped with Ln³⁺ ions have attracted much attention for their application as optical thermometers based on both downshifting and upconversion processes. This study presents research done on the development of highly sensitive optical thermometers in the physiological temperature range based on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films doped with two series of visible Ln³⁺ complexes (Ln³⁺=Tb³⁺, Eu³⁺, and Sm³⁺) and SiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) coated with these PMMA films. The best performing PMMA film doped with Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ complexes was the PMMA[TbEuL₁tppo]1 film (L₁=4,4,4-trifluoro-1-phenyl-1,3-butadionate; tppo=triphenylphosphine oxide), which showed good temperature sensing of S_r=4.21 % K⁻¹ at 313 K, whereas for the PMMA films doped with Tb³⁺ and Sm³⁺ complexes the best performing was the PMMA[TbSmL₂tppo]3 film (L₂=4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,3-butadionate), with S_r=3.64 % K⁻¹ at 313 K. Additionally, SiO₂ NPs coated with the best performing films from each of the series of PMMA films (Tb–Eu and Tb–Sm) and their temperature-sensing properties were studied in water, showing excellent performance in the physiological temperature range (PMMA[TbEuL₁tppo]1@SiO₂: S_r=3.84 % °C at 20 °C; PMMA[TbSmL₂tppo]3@SiO₂: S_r=3.27 % °C at 20 °C) and the toxicity of these nanoparticles on human cells was studied, showing that they were nontoxic.     

The photolysis in polymer matrices of dyes containing a benzothioxanthene chromophore linked with a hindered amine

Novel dyes based on a benzothioxantheneimide chromophore covalently linked with a sterically hindered amine (HAS) were prepared and their light stability was tested in polymer matrices. The following dyes: 2-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl)-thioxantheno[2,1,9-dej]isoquinoline-1,3-dione (BTXINH) and N-alkoxy derivative 2-(1-(1′-phenylethoxy)-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl)-thioxantheno[2,1,9-dej] isoquinoline-1,3-dione (BTXINOR) were prepared. For comparison the parent dye without HAS structural unit benzothioxanthene-3,4-dicarboxylic anhydride and the N-alkyl derivative 2-(1-dodecyl)-thioxantheno[2,1,9-dej]isoquinoline-1,3-dione (BTXID) and the stable nitroxyl radical 2-(1-oxo-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl)-thioxantheno[2,1,9-dej]isoquinoline-1,3-dione (BTXINO) were also tested. Their spectral properties, absorption and fluorescence have been examined in polystyrene (PS), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and in isotactic polypropylene (PP). The light stability of these dyes and model compounds were examined in thin polymer films. The photolysis rate was monitored by UV spectroscopy and for all additives under study it was in the range 10⁻⁴–10⁻³ h⁻¹. The rate of decomposition was the lowest for the parent amine BTXINH in PMMA, PS and PVC. The rate constants of photolysis are about 10 times higher for all adducts and the lowest rate of decomposition in PP matrix was observed for BTXINOR. A distinct stabilization effect of HAS structural unit on the dye decomposition was not observed. The light stability of the dyes was more influenced by the selection of the polymer. The photolysis proceeds rather fast in PP, and moderately in PS and PVC compared to PMMA.     

Synthesis of P‐Unsymmetrically Substituted Derivatives of NAPHOS

2, 2′‐Bromomethyl‐1, 1′‐binaphthyl reacted with di‐tert‐butylphosphine to form (R, S)‐4, 4‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4, 5‐dihydro‐3Hdinaphtho[2, 1‐c:1′, 2′‐e] phosphepinium bromide 5a . The di‐iso‐propyl‐ ( 5b) and the phenyl‐ethyl ( 5c ) analogue of compound 5a were prepared by similar routes. Treatment of 5a with potassium diphenylphosphide, KPPh₂, afforded the corresponding bis‐phosphine, 2‐di‐tert‐butylphosphino‐methyl‐2′‐diphenylphosphino‐methyl‐1, 1′‐binaphthyl 6 . An attempt at the synthesis of the first example of a bis‐phosphonite ligand with a 2, 2′‐dimethyl‐1, 1′‐binaphthyl backbone unexpectedly led, in the first step, to 2, 2′‐bis[diethylamino‐methoxy‐phosphino]‐1, 1′‐binaphthyl 9 . X‐ray crystal structure analyses were carried out for the phosphepinium bromides 5a and 5c , and for the bis‐phosphines 6 and 9 . In compounds 5a and 5c the interplanar angle between the two parts of the binaphthyl group is 65.8° and 64.5°, respectively, as reflected in the conformation of the seven‐membered ring. In 5a the bromide and methanol residues are hydrogen‐bonded to form Br^— (···HOCH₃)₂ units. In 6 the binaphthyl interplanar angle is 86.1°; the two halves of the molecule show appreciably different conformations of the ring substituents, as do those of 9 (binaphthyl angle 78.6°).     

Syntheses and Structures of Ruthenium Complexes Containing a Ru‐H‐Tl Three‐Center–Two‐Electron Bond

Treatment of CpRuH(PP) (PP=dppm, dppe) with TlPF₆ produced [CpRu(H)(Tl)(PP)]PF₆. X‐ray diffraction and computational studies suggest that the complexes contain a Ru?H?Tl 3c–2e bond and can be viewed as the first σ‐complexes of period 6 main‐group hydrides [CpRu{η²‐(H?Tl)}(PP)]PF₆ or [Tl{η²‐H?RuCp(PP)}]PF₆. The complexes can be stored as a solid at room temperature for days without appreciable decomposition, but are unstable in solution and evolved to the trimetallic complexes [{CpRu(PP)}₂(μ‐Tl)]PF₆.     

Synthesis,Kinetics, and Equilibrium Study of Highly Sensitive Colorimetric Chemosensor for Monitoring of Copper Ions based on Benzo[f]fluorescein Dye Derivatives

The colorimetric chemosensor 2‐((3,5‐dichloro‐2‐hydroxybenzylidene)amino)‐3′,6′‐dihydroxy‐6‐methyl‐4‐(p‐tolyl)spiro[benzo[f]isoindole‐1,9′‐xanthen]‐3(2H)‐one ( BFFSH ) derived from benzo[f]fluorescein dye was synthesized. NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as mass spectrometry were used to confirm the compound. BFFSH shows potential application for detecting metal ions in aqueous solution. It displays a colorimetric selectivity and sensitivity towards the aqueous solution of Cu²⁺ ions with a detection limit in the nano‐molar range (1.69 nM). In addition, the application of BFFSH was extended for the detection of Cu²⁺ ions in real water samples (tap and synthetic water) with a high recovery percentage. Additionally, the association constant (K_a) of BFFSH , which binds with Cu²⁺ ions based on 2:1 stoichiometry was calculated.     

A new heteroleptic phosphorescent cuprous complex supported by a BINAP ligand: synthesis,structure, luminescence properties and theoretical analyses

Luminescent cuprous complexes are an important class of coordination compounds due to their relative abundance, low cost and ability to display excellent luminescence. The heteroleptic cuprous complex solvate rac‐(acetonitrile‐κN)(3‐aminopyridine‐κN)[2,2′‐bis(diphenylphosphanyl)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl‐κ²P,P′]copper(I) hexafluoridophosphate dichloromethane monosolvate, [Cu(C₅H₆N₂)(C₂H₃N)(C₄₄H₃₂P₂)]PF₆·CH₂Cl₂, conventionally abbreviated as [Cu(3‐PyNH₂)(CH₃CN)(BINAP)]PF₆·CH₂Cl₂, ( I ), where BINAP and 3‐PyNH₂ represent 2,2′‐bis(diphenylphosphanyl)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl and 3‐aminopyridine, respectively, is described. In this complex solvate, the asymmetric unit consists of a cocrystallized dichloromethane molecule, a hexafluoridophosphate anion and a complete racemic heteroleptic cuprous complex cation in which the cuprous centre, in a tetrahedral CuP₂N₂ coordination, is coordinated by two P atoms from the BINAP ligand, one N atom from the 3‐PyNH₂ ligand and another N atom from a coordinated acetonitrile molecule. The UV–Vis absorption and photoluminescence properties of this heteroleptic cuprous complex have been studied on polycrystalline powder samples, which had been verified by powder X‐ray diffraction before recording the spectra. Time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) calculations and a wavefunction analysis reveal that the orange–yellow phosphorescence emission should originate from intra‐ligand (BINAP) charge transfer mixed with a little of the metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer ³(IL+ML)CT excited state.     

A characteristic effect of pressure on inclusion complexation of phenothiazine dyes with p-sulfonatocalix[6]arene in a room-temperature ionic liquid

The inclusion complexation of p-sulfonatocalix[6]arene (Calix-S6) with three kinds of phenothiazine dyes was studied spectrophotometrically in a mixture of a room-temperature ionic liquid [bmim]BF₄ (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate) and ethanol. We have determined the association constants of Calix-S6 with phenothiazine dyes under external static pressure up to 767 bar in the [bmim]BF₄-ethanol and alcohol-water mixtures. With increasing external pressure, the inclusion equilibrium in the alcohol-water mixtures was shifted to the dissociation side. Conversely, the inclusion equilibrium of methylene blue (MB) and azure A (AA) in the ionic liquid mixture was shifted to the association side. From the analysis of the pressure effects, the reaction volumes ΔV for inclusion complexation were estimated as −7 to 9 cm³ mol⁻¹ in the [bmim]BF₄-ethanol mixture and 20–32 cm³ mol⁻¹ in the alcohol-water mixtures. Based on the results, we have suggested that there is a competing complexation between the included dye and [bmim]BF₄ molecules in the ionic liquid.     

Twisted Polycyclic Arenes from Tetranaphthyldiphenylbenzenes by Controlling the Scholl Reaction with Substituents

Herein, we report two new types of twisted polycyclic arenes ( 2 a , b and 3 a , b ) with constitutionally isomeric π‐backbones, which are synthesized by controlling the Scholl reaction of 1,2,4,5‐tetra(naphth‐2‐yl)‐3,6‐diphenylbenzene ( 1 ) with properly positioned electron‐donating substituents. With a polycyclic backbone containing two [5]helicene and four [4]helicene moieties, 2 a and b are new members of multiple helicenes with interesting stereochemistries. The as‐synthesized 2 a and b are the twisted isomers, and thermal isomerization of twisted‐ 2 b results in anti‐ 2 b , a more stable stereoisomer. Both twisted‐ and anti‐ 2 b have been fully characterized, and the thermal isomerization of twisted‐ 2 b has been studied with ¹H NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. Compounds 3 a and b are new members of twistacenes, the benzannulated pentacene backbone of which exhibits an end‐to‐end twist as found from the crystal structure. Twisted‐ and anti‐ 2 b are also found to function as p‐type semiconductors in solution‐processed thin film transistors, whereas the thin films of 3 b appear insulating presumably due to the lack of π–π interactions.     

Trichalcogenasumanene ortho‐Quinones: Synthesis,Properties, and Transformation into Various Heteropolycycles

The regioselective transformation of heterobuckybowl trichalcogenasumanenes 1 a , b at peripheral butoxy groups afforded trichalcogenasumanene ortho ‐quinones 2 a , b . Compounds 2 a , b are distinct from 1 a , b in terms of their molecular geometry and electronic state; that is, they have a shallower bowl depth and show absorbance in the NIR region. The reaction of 2 a , b with diamines resulted in a variety of heteropolycycles, including molecular spoon 3 a – 6 a , planar π‐systems 3 b – 6 b , and highly twisted [7‐6‐6]‐fused systems 7 a , b . These new heteropolycycles had different optical/electrical properties: 4 a,b showed hole mobility of approximately 0.002 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹, 6 a displayed red emission in both solution and the solid state, and 7 a , b formed tight stacks of the curved π‐surface.     

Trichalcogenasumanene ortho‐Quinones: Synthesis,Properties, and Transformation into Various Heteropolycycles

The regioselective transformation of heterobuckybowl trichalcogenasumanenes 1 a , b at peripheral butoxy groups afforded trichalcogenasumanene ortho ‐quinones 2 a , b . Compounds 2 a , b are distinct from 1 a , b in terms of their molecular geometry and electronic state; that is, they have a shallower bowl depth and show absorbance in the NIR region. The reaction of 2 a , b with diamines resulted in a variety of heteropolycycles, including molecular spoon 3 a – 6 a , planar π‐systems 3 b – 6 b , and highly twisted [7‐6‐6]‐fused systems 7 a , b . These new heteropolycycles had different optical/electrical properties: 4 a,b showed hole mobility of approximately 0.002 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹, 6 a displayed red emission in both solution and the solid state, and 7 a , b formed tight stacks of the curved π‐surface.     

Stereospecific solid-state [2+2] autophotocycloaddition of a styryl dye containing a 18-crown-6 fragment

A procedure was developed for the synthesis of a 18-crown-6-containing styryl dye of the pyridine series. Phototransformation products of the dye that formed upon irradiation with visible light in solution, films, and crystals were studied by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and spectrophotometry. Irradiation of solutions of this dye in acetonitrile leads only to reversible E-Z photoisomerization of the C=C bond. Irradiation of a film of the dye induces stereospecific [2+2] photocycloaddition to form exclusively the rctt isomer of tetrasubstituted cyclobutane. The latter was found to undergo base-catalyzed isomerization giving rise to the rcct isomer. X-ray diffraction study showed that photocycloaddition occurs in single crystals without their destruction. The structures of the E isomer of the dye and the resulting rctt isomer of the cyclobutane derivative were established. The characteristic features of the molecular packing of the dye favorable for topochemical photocycloaddition in the crystal and the structural changes that accompany the cyclobutane formation are discussed. __________ Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1896–1908, August, 2005.     

Merging of a Perylene Moiety Enables a RuII Photosensitizer with Long-Lived Excited States and the Efficient Production of Singlet Oxygen

Multichromophoric systems based on a Ru^II polypyridine moiety containing an additional organic chromophore are of increasing interest with respect to different light-driven applications. Here, we present the synthesis and detailed characterization of a novel Ru^II photosensitizer, namely [(tbbpy)₂Ru((2-(perylen-3-yl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]-phenanthrolline))](PF₆)₂ RuipPer , that includes a merged perylene dye in the back of the ip ligand. This complex features two emissive excited states as well as a long-lived (8 μs) dark state in acetonitrile solution. Compared to prototype [(bpy)₃Ru]²⁺-like complexes, a strongly altered absorption (ϵ=50.3×10³ M⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 467 nm) and emission behavior caused by the introduction of the perylene unit is found. A combination of spectro-electrochemistry and time-resolved spectroscopy was used to elucidate the nature of the excited states. Finally, this photosensitizer was successfully used for the efficient formation of reactive singlet oxygen.     

Covalent Modification of MoS2 with Poly(N‐vinylcarbazole) for Solid‐State Broadband Optical Limiters

New soluble MoS₂ nanosheets covalently functionalized with poly(N‐vinylcarbazole) (MoS₂–PVK) were in situ synthesized for the first time. In contrast to MoS₂ and MoS₂/PVK blends, both the solution of MoS₂–PVK in DMF and MoS₂–PVK/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) film show superior nonlinear optical and optical limiting responses. The MoS₂–PVK/PMMA film shows the largest nonlinear coefficients (β_eff) of about 917 cm GW^?1 at λ=532 nm (cf. 100.69 cm GW^?1 for MoS₂/PMMA and 125.12 cm GW^?1 for MoS₂/PVK/PMMA) and about 461 cm GW^?1 at λ=1064 nm (cf. ?48.92 cm GW^?1 for MoS₂/PMMA and 147.56 cm GW^?1 for MoS₂/PVK/PMMA). A larger optical limiting effect, with thresholds of about 0.3 GW cm^?2 at λ=532 nm and about 0.5 GW cm^?2 at λ=1064 nm, was also achieved from the MoS₂–PVK/PMMA film. These values are among the highest reported for MoS₂‐based nonlinear optical materials. These results show that covalent functionalization of MoS₂ with polymers is an effective way to improve nonlinear optical responses for efficient optical limiting devices.     

Synthesis and evaluation of a new water-soluble fluorescent red dye,xanthene bis-C-glycoside

Condensation of 2 eq. of C-β-D-glucosylphloroacetophenone with glyoxylic acid in an aqueous solution of Na₂CO₃, followed by air oxidation in MeOH in the presence of 11 eq. of pyridine to afford a 36% yield of a bright red dye, xanthene bis-C-glycoside. This dye is 10 times more fluorescent (Φ_{f [EtOH]}^{581 nm} = 3.9 × 10⁻²) and 7.5 times more water-soluble (57 mg/mL H₂O) than the natural red pigment, carthamin. Detailed NMR analysis of its methyl analogs was used to confirm the structure of the dye as methyl 4,5-diacetyl-1,3,8-trihydroxy-3-oxo-3H-2,7-di-C-β-D-glucopyranosylxanthene-9-carboxylate from among three possible ring-closure isomers. Xanthene is safe and shows high light-resistance; therefore, xanthene bis-C-glycoside could be used as a food colorant or an in vivo probe.     

Optically Active Helical Poly[(S)‐3‐vinyl‐2,2′‐dihydroxy‐1,1′‐binaphthyl]: New Ligand for Asymmetric Addition of Diethylzinc to Aryl Aldehyde

Poly[(S)‐3‐vinyl‐2,2′‐dihydroxy‐1,1′‐binaphthyl] (L*) was obtained by taking off the protecting groups of poly[(S)‐3‐vinyl‐2,2′‐bis(methoxymethoxy)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl] (poly‐ 1 ). L* was proved to keep a stable helical conformation in solution. The application of helical L* in the asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes has been studied. The catalytic system employing 10 mol% of L* and 150 mol% of Ti(OⁱPr)₄ was found to promote the addition of diethylzinc to a wide range of aromatic aldehydes, giving up to 99% enantiomeric excess (ee) and up to 93% yield of the corresponding secondary alcohol at 0°C. The chiral polymer can be easily recovered and reused without loss of catalytic activity as well as enantioselectivity.     

A highly functionalized ferrocenyl­pyrazolo­[2,3‐a]­pyridine

The crystal structure of [2‐(4‐bromo­phenyl)‐4‐cyano‐5‐ferrocenyl­pyrazolo­[2,3‐a]­pyridin‐7‐yl]­aceto­nitrile, C₂₆H₁₇N₄FeBr or [Fe(C₅H₅)(C₂₁H₁₂BrN₄)], shows that the pyrazolo­pyridine ring system (PP), the bromo­phenyl ring (BP) and the cyclo­penta­diene ring (Cp) are nearly planar. The PP ring system is twisted out of the plane of the BP and Cp rings by about 20°.     

Photophysics of a Ruthenium 4H‐Imidazole Panchromatic Dye in Interaction with Titanium Dioxide

The photophysics of bis(4,4′‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine‐κ²N,N′)[2‐(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐4,5‐bis(p‐tolylimino‐κN)imidazolato]ruthenium(II) hexafluorophosphate is investigated, both in solution and attached to a nanocrystalline TiO₂ film. The studied substitution pattern of the 4H‐imidazole ligand is observed to block a photoinduced structural reorganization pathway within the 4H‐imidazole ligand that has been previously investigated. Protonation at the 4H‐imidazole ring decreases the excited‐state lifetime in solution. When the unprotonated dye is anchored to TiO₂, photoinduced electron injection occurs from thermally nonrelaxed triplet metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (³MLCT) states with a characteristic time constant of 0.5 ps and an injection efficiency of roughly 25 %. Electron injection from the subsequently populated thermalized ³MLCT state of the dye does not take place. The energy of this state seems to be lower than the conduction band edge of TiO₂.     

Conformation and Aromaticity Switching in a Curved Non-Alternant sp2 Carbon Scaffold

A curved sp² carbon scaffold containing fused pentagon and heptagon units ( 1 ) was synthesized by Pd-catalyzed [5+2] annulation from a 3,9-diboraperylene precursor and shows two reversible oxidation processes at low redox potential, accompanied by a butterfly-like motion. Stepwise oxidation produced radical cation 1 ^.+ and dication 1 ²⁺. In the crystal structure, 1 exhibits a chiral cisoid conformation and partial π-overlap between the enantiomers. For the radical cation 1 ^.+, a less curved cisoid conformation is observed with a π-dimer-type arrangement. 1 ²⁺ adopts a more planar structure with transoid conformation and slip-stacked π-overlap with closest neighbors. We also observed an intermolecular mixed-valence complex of 1 ⋅( 1 ^.+)₃ that has a huge trigonal unit cell [( 1 )₇₂(SbF₆)₅₄⋅(hexane)₁₀₁] and hexagonal columnar stacks. In addition to the conformational change, the aromaticity of 1 changes from localized to delocalized, as demonstrated by AICD and NICS(1)_zz calculations.     

Redox Properties of Ferricyanide Ion on Layer‐by‐Layer Thin Film‐Coated Gold Electrodes; Effects of Type of Polycationic Components in the Film

The surface of a gold (Au) electrode was coated with layer‐by‐layer (LbL) thin films composed of poly(vinyl sulfate) (PVS) and different type of poly(amine)s including poly(allylamine) (PAH), poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) and redox properties of ferricyanide ion ([Fe(CN)₆]^3?) on the LbL film‐coated Au electrodes were studied. The LbL film‐coated electrodes exhibited redox response to [Fe(CN)₆]^3? ion when the outermost surface of the LbL film was covered with the cationic poly(amine)s while virtually no response was observed on the LbL film‐coated electrodes whose outermost surface was covered with PVS due to an electrostatic repulsion between [Fe(CN)₆]^3? ion and the negatively‐charged PVS layer. The redox properties of [Fe(CN)₆]^3? ion on the LbL film‐coated electrodes significantly depended on the type of polycationic materials in the LbL film. The LbL film‐coated electrodes which had been immersed in the [Fe(CN)₆]^3? solution for 15 min exhibited redox response even in a [Fe(CN)₆]^3? ion‐free buffer solution, suggesting that [Fe(CN)₆]^3? ion is confined in the films. In the buffer solution, redox peaks were observed between +0.1 and 0.4 V depending on the type of polycations in the film. Thus, [Fe(CN)₆]^3? ion can be confined in the film and the redox potential is polycation‐dependent.     

Synthesis and Optical Properties of Europium‐Complex‐Doped Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Materials Built from Oxo–Hydroxo Organotin Nano Building Blocks

Hybrid materials doped with novel europium complexes were synthesized using PMMA‐co‐Sn₁₂Clusters (copolymers from oxohydroxo‐organotin dimethacrylate and methylmethacrylate) as the matrix material. Two types of hybrid materials were obtained: the physically doped product, PMMA‐co‐Sn₁₂Cluster/Eu(TTA)₃phen, and the grafted product, PMMA‐co‐Sn₁₂Cluster‐co‐[EuAA(TTA)₂phen] (TTA=2‐thenoyltrifluoroacetone, phen=phenanthroline and AA=acrylic acid). The hybrid materials exhibited characteristic luminescence of the Eu³⁺ ions, and also showed relative especial optical properties compared with samples just using PMMA as the matrix material. The PMMA‐co‐Sn₁₂Cluster matrix exhibited a high physical doping quantity of [Eu(TTA)₃phen], which can be attributed to the special structure of this kind of hybrid material. GPC (gel‐permeation chromatography), TGA (thermogravimetric analysis), SEM, ¹H NMR, ICP (inductively coupled plasma), ¹¹⁹Sn NMR, FTIR, and diffuse reflectance techniques were employed to characterize the structures and properties of these hybrid materials.