Enzymatic pre-hydrolysis using the industrial enzymatic cocktail Cellulyve® was assessed as a first step in a pretreatment process of Miscanthus biomass involving an aqueous-ethanol organosolv treatment. (13)C and (31)P Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and size exclusion chromatography were used to analyze the cellulose and lignin before and after treatment. It was ...

Magnetron sputtered thin films of Cu, Nb, and Cu-Nb multilayers with 2.5 and 5 nm nominal layer thickness were deposited on Si and implanted with 4He+ and 3He+ ions. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy and nuclear reaction analysis, respectively, were used to measure the 4He+ and 3He+ concentration profile with depth ...

Closed drift type anode layer linear ion source was investigated with focusing on the electrode geometry effects on ion beam emission and anode layer formation. In the electrode geometry, the discharge gap between anode and cathode plays an important role to control anode layer formation as well as electron generation. ...

Paramagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer agents combine the benefits of a large chemical shift difference and a fast exchange rate for sensitive MRI detection. However, the in vivo detection of these agents is hampered by the need for high B(1) fields to allow sufficiently fast saturation before exchange occurs, thus ...

Six novel phototoxins, phaeosphaerins A-F (1-6), together with six known perylenequinones were isolated from an endolichenic fungus Phaeosphaeria sp. Their structures were determined unequivocally on the basis of comprehensive analysis of MS and NMR data as well as electronic circular dichroism calculations. These toxins kill cancer cells in vitro with ...

An electron-rich zinc-modified zeolite Y material shows substantial activity for the decomposition of CO(2) to carbon with the release of O(2) at about 300 °C. It is elucidated that electrons delocalized in the vicinity of zinc cations in the zeolite material play an essential role in the decomposition reaction.

Zn and the Art of Battery Development: A zinc/polyhalide redox flow battery employs Br(-) /ClBr(2-) and Zn/Zn(2+) redox couples in its positive and negative half-cells, respectively. The performance of the battery is evaluated by charge-discharge cycling tests and reveals a high energy efficiency of 81%, based on a Coulombic efficiency ...

We study the variation of the energy absorption rate in a hybrid semiconductor quantum dot-metallic nanoparticle system doped in a photonic crystal. The quantum dot is taken as a three-level V-configuration system and is driven by two applied fields (probe and control). We consider that one of the excitonic resonance ...

We have fabricated Er doped germanium nanowires of different diameters by pulsed laser deposition and chemical methods. Er induced photoluminescence emission due to the intra-4f (4)I(13/2)→(4)I(15/2) transition of Er energy levels at 1.53 µm has been achieved at room temperature using both resonant (980 nm) and non-resonant (325 nm) excitation of Er ions. ...

Metal substitution of heme proteins is widely applied in the study of biologically relevant electron transfer (ET) reactions. It has been shown that many modified proteins remain in their native conformation and can provide useful insights into the molecular mechanism of electron transfer between the native protein and its substrates. ...

The emission properties of a series of substituted 1,3-diarylisobenzofurans have been studied. Most compounds exhibit very intense emission in the nanosecond timescale at room temperature as well as at 77 K. The room temperature emission is attributed to the deactivation of a twisted intramolecular charge transfer excited state, on the ...

Clusters of transition metals, W, Re and Os, upon encapsulation within a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) exhibit marked differences in their affinity and reactivity with the SWNT, as revealed by low-voltage aberration-corrected high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (AC-HRTEM). Activated by an 80 keV electron beam, W reacts only weakly with the ...

Right on CueO: The O-centered structure of the trinuclear copper center in a multicopper oxidase (CueO) was shown to be an intermediate of the four-electron reduction of dioxygen. This structure was determined by in situ data collection of X-ray diffractions and copper K-edge spectra at low to high X-ray dose ...

A wide-ranging computational study of equilibration in binary mixtures of diatomic gases reveals the existence of competition between the constituent species for the orbital angular momentum and energy available on collision with the bath gas. The ensembles consist of a bath gas AB(v;j), and a highly excited minor component CD(v(');j(')), ...

Modeling of electronic structure of molecules in electrostatic environments is of considerable relevance for surface-enhanced spectroscopy and molecular electronics. We have developed and implemented a novel approach to the molecular electronic structure in arbitrary electrostatic environments that is compatible with standard quantum chemical methods and can be applied to medium-sized ...

We report the observation of a solvent dependent spin state equilibrium in the 16-electron photoproduct CpCo(CO). Time-resolved infrared spectroscopy has been used to observe the concurrent formation of two distinct solvated monocarbonyl photoproducts, both of which arise from same triplet CpCo(CO) precursor. Experiments in different solvent environments, combined with electronic ...

Using first-principles calculations, we investigate the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of triwing zigzag graphene nanoribbons (TW-ZGNRs), as well as the electric field effects on their electronic structures. The TW-ZGNRs have comparable energetic stabilities to the normal ZGNRs and exhibit fascinating junction-dependent electronic properties. With the sp(2) hybridized junctions, the ...

The independent verification in a forensics context of quartz grain morphological typing by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was demonstrated using particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and particle-induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE). Surface texture analysis by electron microscopy and high sensitivity trace element mapping by PIXE and PIGE are independent analytical techniques for ...

Scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM) measurements reveal a higher positive surface potential at the grain boundaries (GBs) as compared to the grain while conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) measurements show higher current flow in the vicinity of the GBs of Cu(2) ZnSnS(4) (CZTS) and Cu(2) ZnSn(S,Se)(4) (CZTSSe). These results demonstrate ...

The spin reorientation temperature T(SR) of stoichiometric Fe(3)O(4), as well as of magnetite with a small number of vacancies and magnetite containing a low concentration of Ti, Zn, Al and Ga was measured on single-crystal samples using the ac susceptibility. In the same experiment the temperature T(V ) of the Verwey ...

Using the first-principles full potential linearized augmented plane wave method, the electronic structure of Sr(2-x)La(x)Fe(1+y/2)Mo(1-y/2)O(6) (SLFMO) double-perovskite systems is investigated for x = 1/2 and 1 and for y =+ 1 and  - 1. Substituting Sr atoms by La atoms allows one to tune the electrons added into the minority spin band and enhances the ...

Batteries are an attractive option for grid-scale energy storage applications due to their small foot-print and flexible siting. A high-temperature (700 °C) magnesium-antimony (Mg||Sb) liquid metal battery com-prising a negative electrode of Mg, a molten salt electrolyte (MgCl2-KCl-NaCl), and a positive electrode of Sb is proposed and characterized. Owing to ...

This work presents a study on the effects of the particle size, material concentration and radiation energy on the X-ray absorption. CuO nanoparticles and microparticles were incorporated separately into a polymeric resin in concentrations of 5%, 10% and 30% relative to the resin mass. X-ray absorption by these materials was ...

The shielding properties for gamma rays of a few low Z materials were investigated. The values of the mass attenuation coefficient, equivalent atomic number, effective atomic number, exposure buildup factor and energy absorption buildup factor were calculated and used to estimate the shielding effectiveness of the samples under investigation. It ...

Graphene sheets quench the singlet and triplet excited states of a series of six photochemical probes including pyrene, acridine orange, tris(2,2´-bipyridyl)ruthenium (II) dichloride, methylene blue, meso-tetrakis(phenylsulphonate)porphyrin and 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21H,28H-porphine zinc. It was found that Stern-Volmer fluorescence quenching can fit to one, two or three different quenching regimes depending on the probe. ...

A new series of intramolecular-charge-transfer (ICT) molecules (compounds 1, 2, and 3) were synthesized by attaching various electron-donating thiophenes groups to a triphenylamine backbone with an aldehyde group as the electron acceptor. Based on the protection reaction between ethanethiol and aldehyde, the corresponding dithioacetals (compounds S1, S2, and S3) were ...

ABSTRACT: Zinc sulfide [ZnS] thin films were deposited on glass substrates using radio frequency magnetron sputtering. The substrate temperature was varied in the range of 100degreesC to 400degreesC. The structural and optical properties of ZnS thin films were characterized with X-ray diffraction [XRD], field emission scanning electron microscopy [FESEM], energy ...

Although microorganisms have the potential to reduce metals, products with elementary forms are unusual. In the present study, a strain of Pseudomonas sp. MBR was tested for its ability to reduce metal ions to their elementary forms coupled to biomineralization under aerobic conditions. The Pseudomonas sp. MBR strain was able ...

Improving energy/fuel efficiency by converting waste heat into electricity using thermoelectric materials is of great interests due to its simplicity and reliability. However, many thermoelectric materials are composed of either toxic or scarce elements. Here, we report the experimental realization of using non-toxic and abundant copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) ...

We report the synthesis of ultra-narrow (Zn,Cd)Te-CdSe colloidal heteronanowires, using ZnTe magic size clusters (MSCs) as seeds. The wire formation starts with a partial Zn for Cd cation exchange, followed by self-organization into segmented heteronanowires. Further growth occurs by inclusion of CdSe. The heteronanowires emit in the 530 nm to ...

Since Faraday's pioneering work on gold colloids, tremendous scientific research on plasmonic gold nanoparticles has been carried out, but no atomically precise Au nanocrystals have been achieved. This work reports the first example of gold nanocrystal molecules. Mass spectrometry analysis has determined its formula to be Au(333)(SR)(79) (R = CH(2)CH(2)Ph). This magic ...

Dopamine (DA) in airfree, aqueous solution (pH 7.4; 37°C) is able to emit e(-)(aq) when electronically excited in its singlet state by monochromatic UV light (λ=254 nm; 4.85 eV/hν). The quantum yield Q(e(-)(aq)), was studied in dependence of DA concentration and pH of the media. The DA transients resulting from ...

Cytochrome c (Cytc) in airfree, aqueous media (pH ~7.4; 37°C) can emit e(-)(aq) when exited in single state by monochromatic UV light (λ=254 nm). The obtained Qi(e(-)(aq)) at lower Cytc concentrations is higher compared to the amount obtained at higher substrate concentrations because at >10(-8) mol l(-1) Cytc 'associates' (unstable ...

A hybridized nanocrystalline carbon film electrode consisting of sp(2) and sp(3) bonds was investigated to reveal the reduction properties of Cd(2+) and for application as a highly sensitive and reliable electrochemical immunoassay. Conductive nanocrystalline carbon film consisting of about 60% sp(2) and 40% sp(3) bonds was fabricated using electron cyclotron ...

The spin-orbit interaction in a solid couples the spin of an electron to its momentum. This coupling gives rise to mutual conversion between spin and charge currents: the direct and inverse spin Hall effects. The spin Hall effects have been observed in metals and semiconductors. However, the spin/charge conversion has ...

Photocatalytic TiO2 powders impart ultraviolet light-induced self-cleaning and anti-bacterial functions when coated on outdoor building materials. For indoor applications, however, TiO2 must be modified for visible-light and dark sensitivity. Here we report that the grafting of nanometer-sized CuxO clusters onto TiO2 generates an excellent risk-reduction material in indoor environments. X-ray ...

A series of truly water-soluble C(60) /porphyrin electron donor-acceptor conjugates has been synthesized to serve as powerful mimics of photosynthetic reaction centers. To this end, the overall water-solubility of the conjugates was achieved by adding hydrophilic dendrimers of different generations to the porphyrin moiety. An important variable is the metal ...

We report zero kinetic energy (ZEKE) photoelectron spectroscopy of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) via resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI). Our analysis concentrates on the vibrational modes of the first excited state (S(1)) and those of the ground cationic state (D(0)). Similar to pyrene, another peri-condensed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon we have investigated, the ...

Using a combination of density functional theory and anion photoelectron spectroscopy experiment, we have studied the structure and electronic properties of CuCl(n) (-) (n = 1-5) and Cu(2)Cl(n) (-) (n = 2-5) clusters. Prominent peaks in the mass spectrum of these clusters occurring at n = 2, 3, and 4 ...

Tailoring the electronic arrangement of graphene by doping is a practical strategy for producing significantly improved materials for the oxygen-reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cells (FCs). Recent studies have proven that the carbon materials doped with the elements, which have the larger (N) or smaller (P, B) electronegative atoms than ...

In this paper, the effect of the internal micro-magnetic field (IMMF) on the photocurrent property of conjugated polymer/inorganic semiconductor nanocomposites is reported and analyzed. By using the redox reaction, magnetic Fe(3) O(4) nanoparticles were coated on the surface of highly active nanorods of conjugated polyaniline (PANI), forming an internal micro-magnetic ...

Electronic waste has become one of the fastest growing waste problems in the world. It contains both toxic metals and toxic organics. The aim of this study was to (1) investigate to what extent toxicants can leach from different electronic products, components, and materials into water and (2) identify which ...

Size-selective precipitation was used to successfully separate colloidally-stable allylbenzene-capped silicon nanocrystals into several visible emitting monodisperse fractions traversing the quantum size effect range of 1 nm to 5 nm. This enabled the measurement of the absolute quantum yield and lifetime of photoluminescence of allylbenzene-capped silicon nanocrystals as a function of ...

Alloyed CdSeS nanocrystals allow tuning between the CdSe and CdS band edges while remaining relatively small. The CdSeS cores also lead to a reduced electron confinement energy and a slower biexciton decay rate compared to CdSe cores of similar sizes. A ZnS shell synthesis procedure allows stable CdSeS/ZnS colloidal quantum ...

The solvation dynamics and reactivity of localized excess electrons in aqueous environments have attracted great attention in many areas of physics, chemistry, and biology. This manifold attraction results from the importance of water as a solvent in nature as well as from the key role of low-energy electrons in many ...

Structural phase transitions and superconducting properties of platinum hydride under pressure are explored through the first-principles calculations based on the density functional theory. Three new low-pressure phases ([Formula: see text], Cmmm and P4/nmm) are predicted, and all of them are metallic and stable relative to decomposed cases. The superconducting critical ...

The Fe K x-ray absorption near edge structure of BaFe_{2-x}Co_{x}As_{2} superconductors was investigated. No appreciable alteration in shape or energy position of this edge was observed with Co substitution. This result provides experimental support to previous ab initio calculations in which the extra Co electron is concentrated at the substitute site ...

In this study, silk sericin nanofibers from sericin hope-silkworm, whose cocoons consist almost exclusively of sericin were successfully prepared by electrospinning method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the morphology of the fibers. The effect of spinning conditions, including the concentration of sericin cocoon solution, acceleration voltage, spinning ...

We describe the application of a recently discovered family of materials called quantum clusters, which are sub-nanometer particles composed of a few atoms with well-defined molecular formulae, exhibiting intense absorption and emission in the visible region in metal ion sensing, taking Ag(25) as an example. The changes in the optical ...

Dynamics of energy transfer and charge carrier localization in Mn-doped CdS/ZnS core/shell nanocrystals correlated with doping location and concentration are studied via transient absorption measurement of exciton relaxation dynamics. The strong dependence of exciton-Mn energy transfer rate on doping location was directly resolved in the transient bleach recovery and electron ...