Rh(III)-Catalyzed One-Step Synthesis of ortho-Alkynylated Perylene Imide Dyes: Optical and Electrochemical Properties of New Derivatives

A one-step Rh-catalyzed site-selective ortho-C−H alkynylation of perylene as well as naphthalene mono- and diimides is reported. A single step regioselective access to ortho-C−H alkynylated derivatives of these ryleneimides not only increases the step economy of the ortho-functionalization on these dyes but also provides a quick access route towards highly functionalized dyes that have potential optoelectronic applications. Increased solubility of tetra(triisopropylsilyl)acetylenyl PDIs in organic solvents greatly enhances their utility for further derivatization.     

Close‐Packed Two‐Dimensional Silver Nanoparticle Arrays: Quadrupolar and Dipolar Surface Plasmon Resonance Coupling

Silver nanoparticles (NPs) ranging in size from 40 to 100 nm were prepared in high yield by using an improved seed‐mediated method. The homogeneous Ag NPs were used as building blocks for 2D assembled Ag NP arrays by using an oil/water interface. A close‐packed 2D array of Ag NPs was fabricated by using packing molecules (3‐mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane) to control the interparticle spacing. The homogeneous 2D Ag NP array exhibited a strong quadrupolar cooperative plasmon mode resonance and a dipolar red‐shift relative to individual Ag NPs suspended in solution. A well‐arranged 2D Ag NP array was embedded in polydimethylsiloxane film and, with biaxial stretching to control the interparticle distance, concomitant variations of the quadrupolar and dipolar couplings were observed. As the interparticle distance increased, the intensity of the quadrupolar cooperative plasmon mode resonance decreased and dipolar coupling completely disappeared. The local electric field of the 2D Ag NP array was calculated by using finite difference time domain simulation and qualitatively showed agreement with the experimental measurements.     

First principles investigations of Fe,Co, Ni in model honeycomb carbon networks

The behaviors of ferromagnetic transition metals of the first period: Fe, Co and Ni are examined within density functional theory calculations in two dimensional carbon extended networks using model structure LiC₆. Around geometry optimized structures, the energy-volume equations of states considering non magnetic and spin polarized configurations established ferromagnetic ground states with magnetizations –reduced with respect to the metals’– of 2 μ_B for FeC₆ and 1 μ_B for CoC₆ while no magnetic solution could be identified for NiC₆. In the D_6h point group of the P6/mmm space group l_m decomposition of the d states results with increasing energy into doublet state E_1g with d(x²-y²) and d(xy); singlet state A_1g d(z²) and doublet state E_2g d(xz) and d(yz) lying on E_F and responsible of the onset of magnetic moments. This was mirrored via molecular orbital approach with a construct of Fe embedded between two extended carbon networks thus validating the model structure proposed for TC₆ compounds. The 100% polarization in one spin channel allows proposing potential uses in spintronics applications.     

Design of broadband achromatic metasurface device based on phase-change material Ge2Sb2Te5

Based on the phase-change material Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ (GST), achromatic metasurface optical device in the longer-infrared wavelength is designed. With the combination of the linear phase gradient GST nanopillar and the adjustment of the crystalline fraction m value of GST, the polarization insensitive achromic metalenses and beam deflector metasurface within the longer-infrared wavelength 9.5 μm to 13 μm are realized. The design results show that the achromatic metalenses can be focused on the same focal plane within the working waveband. The simulation calculation results show that the full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the focusing spot reaches the diffraction limit at each wavelength. In addition, the same method is also used to design a broadband achromatic beam deflector metasurface with the same deflection angle of 19°. The method proposed in this article not only provides new ideas for the design of achromatic metasurfaces, but also provides new possibilities for the integration of optical imaging, optical coding and other related optical systems.     

Dynamically Induced Excitonic Instability in Pumped Dirac Materials

Driven and non-equilibrium quantum states of matter have attracted growing interest in both theoretical and experimental studies in condensed matter physics. Recent progress in realizing transient collective states in driven or pumped Dirac materials (DMs) is reviewed herein. In particular, the focus is on optically pumped DMs which are a promising platform for transient excitonic instabilities. Optical pumping combined with the linear (Dirac) dispersion of the electronic spectrum offers a knob for tuning the effective interaction between the photoexcited electrons and holes, and thus provides a way of reducing the critical coupling for excitonic instability. As a result, a transient excitonic condensate could be achieved in a pumped DM while it is not feasible in equilibrium. A unifying theoretical framework is provided for describing transient collective states in 2D and 3D DMs. The experimental signatures are described and numerical estimates of the size of the dynamically induced excitonic gaps and the values of the critical temperatures for several specific systems, are summarized. In addition, general guidelines for identifying promising material candidates are discussed. Finally, comments are provided regarding recent experimental efforts in realizing transient excitonic condensate in pumped DMs, and outstanding issues and possible future directions are outlined.     

Spontaneous magnetization of the Ising model on a 4–8 lattice

The spontaneous magnetization of the Ising model on a 4–8 lattice with six different coupling constants and two different magnetic moments is studied. A formula for the spontaneous magnetization is proposed. The result agrees with the exact low-temperature series expansions up to the 12th order.     

An Analogue of Distributivity for Ungraded Lattices

In this paper, we study lattices that posess both the properties of being extremal (in the sense of Markowsky) and of being left modular (in the sense of Blass and Sagan). We call such lattices trim and show that they posess some additional appealing properties, analogous to those of a distributive lattice. For example, trimness is preserved under taking intervals and suitable sublattices. Trim lattices satisfy a weakened form of modularity. The order complex of a trim lattice is contractible or homotopic to a sphere; the latter holds exactly if the maximum element of the lattice is a join of atoms. Any distributive lattice is trim, but trim lattices need not be graded. The main example of ungraded trim lattices are the Tamari lattices and generalizations of them. We show that the Cambrian lattices in types A and B defined by Reading are trim; we conjecture that all Cambrian lattices are trim.