Influence of a lateral electric field on the optical properties of InAs quantum dots

We have performed single dot photoluminescence and time-resolved ensemble photoluminescence measurements on InAs quantum dots embedded in a lateral in-plane p–i–n or n–i–n device, respectively, which makes the application of lateral electric fields, i.e. field direction perpendicular to the growth direction, feasible. Time-resolved measurements show an increase in the radiative lifetime of up to 30% with increasing field. We attribute this to the reduced overlap between the electron and hole wave functions. Single dot spectroscopy revealed a small red-shift of the emission energies of maximum 0.5 meV. This shift can be explained by the quantum confined Stark effect taking into account that the red-shift due to the band-tilting is partly compensated by a decrease in exciton binding energy.     

Torands Revisited: Metal Sequestration and Self‐Assembly of Cyclo‐2,9‐tris‐1,10‐phenanthroline Hexaaza Macrocycles

A series of novel toroidal cyclo‐2,9‐tris‐1,10‐phenanthroline macrocycles with an unusual hexaaza cavity are reported. Nickel‐mediated Yamamoto aryl–aryl coupling was found to be a versatile tool for the cyclotrimerization of functionalized 1,10‐phenathroline precursors. Due to the now improved processability, both liquid‐crystalline behavior in the bulk phase and two‐dimensional self‐assembly at the molecular level could be studied, for the first time, for a torand system. The macrocycles exhibited a strong affinity for the complexation of different metal cations, as evidenced by MALDI‐TOF analysis and spectroscopic methods. Experimental results were correlated to an extensive computational study of the cyclo‐2,9‐tris‐1,10‐phenanthroline cavity and its binding mode for metal cations. Due to the combination of several interesting features, toroidal macrocycles may find future applications in the field of ion and charge transport through molecular channels, as well as for chemical sensing and molecular writing in surface‐confined monolayers under STM conditions.     

Magnetic pigments for recording media

CrO₂ doped with 1--2 wt% Fe³⁺ on Cr⁴⁺ positions is one of the most important materials for magnetic recording in audio, data and video tapes. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy was applied to determine the level of iron doping in newly developed high coercivity CrO₂ particles. It was found that, compared with the conventional preparation process, the new particles contain increased amounts of Fe³⁺ ions in the CrO₂ crystal lattice giving rise to higher magnetocrystalline anisotropy. This is reflected in coercivities of up to over 900 Oe. All samples contain as a secondary iron-containing phase α-(Cr_1-xFe_x)₂O₃, the amount of which is higher in samples of the conventional preparation process than in those of the new BASF process. Details about the mechanism of the development of doped CrO₂ particles in both types of processes were obtained by means of Mössbauer, XRD and wet chemical investigations making possible an optimization of the new BASF process.     

Diamagnetic muonium states in InP

Transverse and zero‐field muon spin relaxation reveal several diamagnetic muonium states in InP characterized by their static linewidths and diffusion properties. We tentatively associate low‐temperature diamagnetic states with Mu⁺ in the BC and T_P interstitial sites and a missing fraction with Mu⁰ rapidly diffusing through T_In interstices. Trapping peaks above 250 K imply static centers which depend on doping type, consistent with Mu^- at T_In for n‐type samples and Mu coupled with a dopant or other defect for p‐type. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

What Do We Know about the Deeper Layers of the Earth?

In the last twenty years modern chemical and physical methods have done much to extend our knowledge of the Earth. Some new questions have been raised, e.g. the question of the bonding relationships in the Earth's interior, which make the Earth an interesting object of research to chemists as well. This progress report attempts to give a survey of the Earth's structure as seen at the present day. Naturally, special emphasis has been placed on those aspects which concern the chemist.