Direct control of the spatial arrangement of gold nanoparticles in organic-inorganic hybrid superstructures.

The directed assembly of gold nanoparticles is essential for their use in many kinds of applications, such as electronic devices, biological labels, and sensors. Herein an atomic alteration in the molecular structure of ligand-stabilized gold nanoparticles that can shift the interparticle distance up to 1 nm upon covalent coupling to organic-inorganic superstructures is presented. Gold nanoparticles are stabilized by two octadentate thioether ligands and have a mean diameter of 1.

Immobilization of zinc porphyrin complexes on pyridine-functionalized glass surfaces.

In order to immobilize sublimable and fluorescent dye molecules on transparent surfaces for the detection of far field molecular interference experiments, we investigate the potential of pyridine-functionalized glass substrates as coordination sites for the zinc complex of tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnTPP). Borosilicate glass is functionalized with 4-(6-(ethoxydimethylsilyl)hexyloxy)pyridine in order to cover the glass surface with pyridine subunits. ZnTPP molecules are deposited by sublimation through mechanical masks of various sizes in a high-vacuum chamber.

A carbon nano-onion-ferrocene donor-acceptor system: synthesis, characterization and properties.

We describe the synthesis and characterization of a novel ferrocene-carbon onion derivative, where ferrocene acts as an electron-donating moiety, while the carbon nano-onion (CNO) serves as the electron acceptor. CNOs were functionalized by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and the resulting products were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, Raman and energy dispersive spectroscopies. The electronic properties of the Fc-CNO derivative were investigated by electrochemical and photophysical techniques, complemented by quantum chemical calculations.

Facile decoration of functionalized single-wall carbon nanotubes with phthalocyanines via "click chemistry".

We describe the functionalization of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with 4-(2-trimethylsilyl)ethynylaniline and the subsequent attachment of a zinc-phthalocyanine (ZnPc) derivative using the reliable Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. The motivation of this study was the preparation of a nanotube-based platform which allows the facile fabrication of more complex functional nanometer-scale structures, such as a SWNT-ZnPc hybrid. The nanotube derivatives described here were fully characterized by a combination of analytical techniques such as Raman, absorption and emission spectroscopy, atomic force and scanning electron microscopy (AFM and SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).

Synthesis, characterization, and photoinduced electron transfer in functionalized single wall carbon nanohorns.

Single-wall carbon nanohorns (SWNHs) are a new class of material that is closely related to single-wall carbon nanotubes. Here, we describe the synthesis and characterization of a series of SWNHs functionalized with ethylene glycol chains and porphyrins. Functionalization of carbon nanohorns has been achieved using two different synthetic protocols: (1) direct attack of a free amino group on the nanohorn sidewalls (nucleophilic addition) and (2) amidation reaction of the carboxylic functions in oxidized nanohorns.

Functionalisation of carbon nanohorns.

The functionalisation of single wall carbon nanohorns via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition has been achieved, and the products have been characterised by spectroscopy, microscopy and thermogravimetry.