Metal-ion induced FRET in macrocyclic dynamic tweezers

We report here about effective FRET process (73–99%) in mono-Mg²⁺ complexes of symmetrical crown ether bis(styryl) dyes. The FRET process has not been observed in the free state and in binuclear complexes. The formation of mononuclear complex provides two styrylic fragments with appropriate positions of absorption and emission bands for FRET. The other important parameter for FRET is the proper geometric orientation of both chromophores, which attain sandwich conformation with close positioning of complexed and free styryl fragments induced by ion-modulated geometry reorganization of the bis-dye.     

Patterning of indium-tin oxide on glass with picosecond lasers

The results of patterning of the indium-tin oxide (ITO) film on the glass substrate with high repetition rate picosecond lasers at various wavelengths are presented. Laser radiation initiated the ablation of the material, forming grooves in ITO. Profile of the grooves was analyzed with a phase contrast optical microscope, a stylus type profiler, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). Clean removal of the ITO film was achieved with the 266 nm radiation when laser fluence was above the threshold at 0.20 J/cm², while for the 355 nm radiation, the threshold was higher, above 0.46 J/cm². The glass substrate was damaged in the area where the fluence was higher than 1.55 J/cm². The 532 nm radiation allowed getting well defined grooves, but a lot of residues in the form of dust were generated on the surface. UV radiation with the 266 nm wavelength provided the widest working window for ITO ablation without damage of the substrate. Use of UV laser radiation with fluences close to the ablation threshold made it possible to minimize surface contamination and the recast ridge formation during the process.     

Mass Discrimination in High-Mass MALDI-MS

In high-mass matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), the accessible m/z range is limited by the detector used. Therefore, special high-mass detectors based on ion conversion dynodes (ICDs) have been developed. Recently, we have found that mass bias may exist when such ICD detectors are used [Weidmann et al., Anal. Chem. 85(6), 3425–3432 (2013)]. In this contribution, the mass-dependent response of an ICD detector was systematically studied, the response factors for proteins with molecular weights from 35.9 to 129.9 kDa were determined, and the reasons for mass bias were identified. Compared with commonly employed microchannel plate detectors, we found that the mass discrimination is less pronounced, although ions with higher masses are weakly favored when using an ICD detector. The relative response was found to depend on the laser power used for MALDI; low-mass ions are discriminated against with higher laser power. The effect of mutual ion suppression in dependence of the proteins used and their molar ratio is shown. Mixtures consisting of protein oligomers that only differ in mass show less mass discrimination than mixtures consisting of different proteins with similar masses. Furthermore, mass discrimination increases for molar ratios far from 1. Finally, we present clear guidelines that help to choose the experimental parameters such that the response measured matches the actual molar fraction as closely as possible.

Control of surface charge for high‐fidelity nanostructuring of materials

The universal problem of surface charging during focused ion milling has been fully resolved using a flood‐gun approach based on simultaneous co‐illumination with a UV light‐emitting diode (LED). Non‐distorted as‐designed nano‐patterns were milled using Ga⁺ ions on dielectric materials which charge up strongly. Deep‐UV (250–280 nm) LED co‐illumination during the ion beam milling fully discharges optically the surface under standard Ga⁺ ion‐milling conditions. Photo‐ionization of electrons trapped at the sub‐surface defects to the free vacuum state is a key to the phenomenon ( nm corresponds to a photon energy  eV). The method is applicable as a solution to other charging problems where electrons (primary or secondary) and their spatial redistribution affect nanofabrication or imaging.     

Development of Functionalized Cyclotriveratrylene Analogues: Introduction of Withdrawing and π-Conjugated Groups

Cyclotriveratrylene analogues (CTVs) are supramolecular bowl-shaped molecules known for their ability to complex organic and organometallic guests, to form liquid crystals, polymers, or nanostructures. In this Article, we report the synthesis of new cyclotriveratrylene analogues with fluorescence properties in which various electron-withdrawing or π-extended conjugated groups are appended to the wide rim ortho to the methoxy-donating groups. Synthetically, these functionalized CTVs cannot be obtained as CTVs with electron-rich functions by the typical method (i.e., the trimerization of the corresponding benzyl alcohol) but are prepared from a common key intermediate, the C(3)-triiodocyclotriveratrylene (CTV-I(3)), in good yields. Despite the synthetic difficulties encountered due to the presence of three reactive centers, we have demonstrated the possibility of performing Sonogashira coupling and Huisgen cycloaddition reactions directly to the CTV core for the first time. CTVs with π-extended conjugated groups reveal interesting fluorescence profiles. More broadly, this study utilizes CTV-I(3) to introduce novel functionalities into CTVs to keep exploring their potential applications.     

C3-triiodocyclotriveratrylene as a key intermediate to fluorescent probes: application to selective choline recognition

A new strategy to obtain fluorescent cyclotriveratrylene (CTV) probes is proposed. The key intermediate, a triiodo CTV, is prepared in 3 steps with 47% overall yield. The whole synthesis requires only one purification step. The potential of this triiodo CTV as an intermediate is illustrated through the synthesis of a fluorescent phosphorylated probe that is able to bind choline and acetylcholine in pseudo-physiological conditions, with selectivity towards choline. As a consequence, this intermediate should allow us to rapidly form a library of probes in order to highlight the most promising ones.     

Binomial limit law for additive prime indicators

We obtain criteria for the weak convergence of distributions of a set of strongly additive functions f _x to the binomial law. We consider the case where f _x (p)??{0, 1} for every prime p. Some examples are presented.     

Characterization of hemicyanine Langmuir-Blodgett films by picosecond time-resolved fluorescence

Hemicyanine Langmuir-Blodgett films have been elaborated and characterized using stationary and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques. Depending on the experimental conditions, especially the pH of the water subphase, the absorption spectra of the films indicate the presence of non-fluorescent H-aggregates in the monolayer. Time-resolved fluorescence measurements revealed three mono-exponential decay times: a very short one (20-23 ps) attributed to an excited intramolecular charge transfer state and two longer ones (100-120 ps and 400-590 ps) attributed to the photoisomerization of the chromophores.