The role of precursor gases on the surface restructuring of catalyst films during carbon nanotube growth

Catalyst films undergo considerable surface morphology restructuring prior to carbon nanotube nucleation, deeply influencing the nanostructures obtained. Here we study the influence of different gaseous atmospheres on the structure of thin Fe films. The morphology is influenced by process temperature and substrate interactions and varying the gas type and pressure can control the average catalyst island height.     

Experimental and theoretical investigations of the redox behavior of the heterodichalcogenido ligands [(EP(i)Pr2)(TeP(i)Pr2)N](-) (E = S, Se): cyclic cations and acyclic dichalcogenide dimers

The two-electron oxidation of the lithium salts of the heterodichalcogenidoimidodiphosphinate anions [(EP (i)Pr 2)(TeP (i)Pr 2)N] (-) ( 1a, E = S; 1b, E = Se) with iodine yields cyclic cations [(EP (i)Pr 2)(TeP (i)Pr 2)N] (+) as their iodide salts [(SP (i)Pr 2)(TeP (i)Pr 2)N]I ( 2a) and [(SeP (i)Pr 2)(TeP (i)Pr 2)N]I ( 2b). The five-membered rings in 2a and 2b both display an elongated E-Te bond as a consequence of an interaction between tellurium and the iodide anion. One-electron reduction of 2a and 2b with cobaltocene produces the neutral dimers (EP (i)Pr 2NP (i)Pr 2Te-) 2 ( 3a, E = S; 3b, E = Se), which are connected exclusively through a Te-Te bond. Two-electron reduction of 2a and 2b with 2 equiv of cobaltocene regenerates the corresponding dichalcogenidoimidodiphosphinate anions as ion-separated cobaltocenium salts Cp 2Co[(EP (i)Pr 2)(TeP (i)Pr 2)N] ( 4a, E = S; 4b, E = Se). The ditellurido analogue Cp 2Co[(TeP (i)Pr 2) 2N] ( 4c) has been prepared in the same manner for comparison. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the preferential interaction of the iodide anion with tellurium is determined by the polarization of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital [sigma*(E-Te)] of the cations in 2a and 2b toward tellurium and that the formation of the dimers 3a and 3b with a central Te-Te linkage is energetically more favorable than the structural isomers with either E-Te or E-E bonds. Compounds 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, and 4c have been characterized in solution by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and in the solid state by X-ray crystallography.     

Platination of [3-X-7,8-Ph2-7,8-nido-C2B9H8] (X=Et, F): Synthesis and characterisation of slipped and 1,2→1,7 isomerised products

The reaction of the labelled carborane ligand [3-Et-7,8-Ph₂-7,8-nido-C₂B₉H₈]²⁻ with a source of {Pt(PMe₂Ph)₂}²⁺ affords non-isomerised 1,2-Ph₂-3,3-(PMe₂Ph)₂-6-Et-3,1,2-closo-PtC₂B₉H₈ (1). The analogous reaction between [3-F-7,8-Ph₂-7,8-nido-C₂B₉H₈]²⁻ and {Pt(PMe₂Ph)₂}²⁺ yields 1,8-Ph₂-2,2-(PMe₂Ph)₂-4-F-2,1,8-closo-PtC₂B₉H₈ (3). Compound 1 has a heavily slipped structure (Δ 0.72 Å), which to some degree obviates the need for C atom isomerisation. However, that it is a kinetic product of the reaction is evident from the fact that it reverts to isomerised 1,8-Ph₂-2,2-(PMe₂Ph)₂-4-Et-2,1,8-closo-PtC₂B₉H₈ (2) slowly at room temperature but more rapidly with gentle warming. The heteroatom and labelled-B atom positions in the isomerised compounds 2 and 3 may be explained most simply by the rotation of a CB₂ face of an intermediate based on the structure of 1. Compounds 1–3 were characterised by a combination of spectroscopic and crystallographic techniques.     

New indole trimers as precursors for molecular electronic materials

We have prepared two new C₃-symmetric, substituted-triazatruxene molecules using a facile one-pot trimerisation of 5-carboxyindole and 6-bromoindole in acetic acid using Br₂, giving 2a and 3a, respectively. These were subsequently modified by the addition of six alkyl chains to the N- and carboxyl-positions of 2a giving 2b and three alkyl chains to the N-positions of 3a giving 3b. The new molecules were characterised using cyclic voltammetry, UV/vis and emission spectroscopy, DFT calculations and in the case of 3b, field-effect transistor measurements showing gate-modulated source-drain current. These represent a straightforward route to large polyaromatic molecules with easily-modified side groups and are suitable as building blocks for synthesis of functional molecules for materials.     

The phosphate–carboxylate mixed-anhydride method: a mild,efficient process for ester and amide bond construction

A highly efficient carboxylate–phosphate anhydride pathway is described for the direct, economical synthesis of esters and amides from carboxylic acids and alcohols or amines. The reaction proceeds with retention of configuration with both chiral secondary alcohols and α-amino acid derivatives allowing access to useful chiral auxiliaries, ligands, and organocatalysts. Ester and amide products can be isolated directly in high yield due to the water soluble nature of the side products.     

Carbon nanohorns grown from ruthenium nanoparticles

A nanoscale ruthenium/gold bimetallic cluster of clusters has been used as a molecular precursor to produce pure ruthenium nanoparticles (seeds) as catalysts for the growth of carbon nanohorns (CNHs).     

A Chemically Soldered Polyoxometalate Single-Molecule Transistor

Polyoxometalates have been proposed in the literature as nanoelectronic components, where they could offer key advantages with their structural versatility and rich electrochemistry. Apart from a few studies on their ensemble behaviour (as monolayers or thin films), this potential remains largely unexplored. We synthesised a pyridyl-capped Anderson–Evans polyoxometalate and used it to fabricate single-molecule junctions, using the organic termini to chemically “solder” a single cluster to two nanoelectrodes. Operating the device in an electrochemical environment allowed us to probe charge transport through different oxidation states of the polyoxometalate, and we report here an efficient three-state transistor behaviour. Conductance data fits a quantum tunnelling mechanism with different charge-transport probabilities through different charge states. Our results show the promise of polyoxometalates in nanoelectronics and give an insight on their single-entity electrochemical behaviour.