Effect of Ethanolamines on the Electroless Deposition of Copper on Functionalized Organic Surfaces.

Electroless deposition (ELD) is widely used in industry to deposit metals because it is inexpensive and compatible with organic materials. The deposition rate and deposited film properties critically depend on the reducing agent, complexing agent, and bath pH and temperature as well as bath additives. We have investigated the role of ethanolamine additives in the ELD of copper using the reducing agent dimethylamine borane on -CH- and -OH-terminated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) adsorbed on gold.

Characterization of natural photonic crystals in iridescent wings of damselfly Chalcopteryx rutilans by FIB/SEM, TEM, and TOF-SIMS.

The iridescent wings of the Chalcopterix rutilans damselfly (Rambur) (Odonata, Polythoridae) are investigated with focused ion beam/scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. The electron microscopy images reveal a natural photonic crystal as the source of the varying colors. The photonic crystal has a consistent number and thickness (∼195 nm) of the repeat units on the ventral side of the wing, which is consistent with the red color visible from the bottom side of the wing in all regions.

Application of visible-light photosensitization to form alkyl-radical-derived thin films on gold.

Visible-light irradiation of phthalimide esters in the presence of the photosensitizer [Ru(bpy)] and the stoichiometric reducing agent benzyl nicotinamide results in the formation of alkyl radicals under mild conditions. This approach to radical generation has proven useful for the synthesis of small organic molecules. Herein, we demonstrate for the first time the visible-light photosensitized deposition of robust alkyl thin films on Au surfaces using phthalimide esters as the alkyl radical precursors.

Correction: Facile synthesis of stable, water soluble, dendron-coated gold nanoparticles.

Correction for 'Facile synthesis of stable, water soluble, dendron-coated gold nanoparticles' by Alan E. Enciso, et al., Nanoscale, 2017, 9, 3128-3132.

Role of the Reducing Agent in the Electroless Deposition of Copper on Functionalized SAMs.

Metallized organic layer constructs have a wide range of technological applications. Electroless deposition is an attractive technique by which to deposit metal overlayers because it is inexpensive and can be performed at low temperatures, compatible with organic materials. Amine borane reducing agents are versatile and are capable of depositing metals, semiconductors, and even insulators.

Facile synthesis of stable, water soluble, dendron-coated gold nanoparticles.

Upon reduction with sodium borohydride, diazonium tetrachloroaurate salts of triazine dendrons yield dendron-coated gold nanoparticles connected by a gold-carbon bond. These robust nanoparticles are stable in water and toluene solutions for longer than one year and present surface groups that can be reacted to change surface chemistry and manipulate solubility. Molecular modeling was used to provide insight on the hydration of the nanoparticles and their observed solubilties.

From Nanowires to Nanopores: A Versatile Method for Electroless Deposition of Nanostructures on Micropatterned Organic Substrates.

We demonstrate a fast, flexible, parallel, and highly controllable method by which to synthesize a variety of nanoscale and mesoscale structures. This method addresses one of the most significant challenges in nanoscience: the in situ parallel placement and synthesis of nano-objects over the mesoscale. The method is based on electroless nanowire deposition on micropatterned substrates (ENDOM).

Partially fluorinated oxo-alkoxide tungsten(VI) complexes as precursors for deposition of WOx nanomaterials.

The partially fluorinated oxo-alkoxide tungsten(VI) complexes WO(OR)4 [4; R = C(CH3)2CF3, 5; R = C(CH3)(CF3)2] have been synthesized as precursors for chemical vapour deposition (CVD) of WOx nanocrystalline material. Complexes 4 and 5 were prepared by salt metathesis between sodium salts of the fluoroalkoxides and WOCl4. Crystallographic structure analysis allows comparison of the bonding in 4 and 5 as the fluorine content of the fluoroalkoxide ligands is varied.

Characterization of 2-bromoethanesulfonate as a selective inhibitor of the coenzyme m-dependent pathway and enzymes of bacterial aliphatic epoxide metabolism.

Bacterial growth with short-chain aliphatic alkenes requires coenzyme M (CoM) (2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid), which serves as the nucleophile for activation and conversion of epoxide products formed from alkene oxidation to central metabolites. In the present work the CoM analog 2-bromoethanesulfonate (BES) was shown to be a specific inhibitor of propylene-dependent growth of and epoxypropane metabolism by Xanthobacter autotrophicus strain Py2. BES (at low [millimolar] concentrations) completely prevented growth with propylene but had no effect on growth with acetone or n-propanol.