Synthesis of silicon nanocrystals in aluminum-doped SiO2 film by laser ablation method

The effects of aluminum (Al-) doping in SiO₂ film containing silicon-nanocrystal (nc-Si) dots were investigated by photoluminescence (PL) and electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements. The observed PL peak center showed a blueshift due to reduction of size of nc-Si dots as a result of the Al doping followed by annealing within a range of 600–800 °C. For the samples annealed at 1000 °C, the PL intensity showed increases with increasing concentration of Al atoms in the SiO₂. The ESR results obtained from all the samples, however, revealed that the density of defects causing the PL quenching did not show decrease by the Al doping. Therefore, the enhancement of the PL intensity by the Al doping seemed to be caused probably by the increase in the density of nc-Si dots.     

A conformationally reliable spacer for molecular tweezers

[figure: see text] A reliable and rigid spacer, trans,trans,trans-perhydronaphthacene, for molecular tweezers was designed. A synthesis and molecular recognition study of its 1,14-disubstituted derivatives was carried out.     

Glochidiolide, isoglochidiolide, acuminaminoside, and glochidacuminosides A-D from the leaves of Glochidion acuminatum MUELL

The dimeric butenolides glochidiolide and isoglochidiolide, a new glucoside of a nitrogen-containing C(8) dimer, acuminaminoside, and glucosides of C(8) compounds, designated glochidacuminosides A-D, were isolated from the leaves of Glochidion acuminatum. The structures of glochidionolactone and acuminaminoside were determined by X-ray analyses, and those of the remaining C(8) glucosides by NMR spectroscopic analyses, chemical conversion, and a modified Mosher's method.     

Revealing the conversion mechanism of CuO nanowires during lithiation-delithiation by in situ transmission electron microscopy

Being promising candidates for anodes in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), transition metal oxide anodes utilizing the so-called conversion mechanism principle typically suffer from the severe capacity fading during the 1st cycle of lithiation-delithiation. Herein, we directly investigated these processes using an individual CuO nanowire anode and constructed a lithium ion battery (LIB) prototype within a transmission electron microscope.     

Charge-based and charge-free molecular assemblies comprising π-extended derivatives of anion-responsive acyclic oligopyrroles

Assemblies comprising anion complexes of π-extended oligopyrrole derivatives and counter cations, as well as those of anion-free receptor molecules, exhibited the formation of mesophases based on columnar structures using electrostatic and π-π interactions.     

CoO octahedral nanocages for high-performance lithium ion batteries

Pure-phase CoO octahedral nanocages were successfully fabricated by a novel simple method. The coordination etching agents play key roles in the formation of these non-spherical hollow structures. When tested as anode materials in lithium ion batteries (LIBs), these nanocages showed excellent cycling performance, good rate capability and enhanced lithium storage capacity.