Energetics of atomic scale structure changes in graphene.

The presence of defects in graphene has an essential influence on its physical and chemical properties. The formation, behaviour and healing of defects are determined by energetic characteristics of atomic scale structure changes. In this article, we review recent studies devoted to atomic scale reactions during thermally activated and irradiation-induced processes in graphene.

Epitaxial Retrieval of a Disappearing Polymorph.

Recrystallization of [PdCl([9]aneSO)] ([9]aneSO = 1-oxa-4,7-dithiacyclononane), , and [PtCl([9]aneSO)], , by diffusion of EtO vapor into solutions of the complexes in MeNO yielded three phases of and two phases of . The known phase of , herein designated α-, was obtained under ambient conditions. A second phase, designated β-, was initially also obtained by this method; however, following the advent of a third phase, γ-, all subsequent efforts over a period of a year to crystallize β- yielded either γ-, obtained by carrying out the recrystallization at elevated temperature, or α-, commonly found throughout the study.

Cyclometallated platinum(II) complexes containing NHC ligands: synthesis, characterization, photophysics and their application as emitters in OLEDs.

A series of square planar [Pt(N^C)(NHC)L] complexes containing cyclometallated N^C ligands (phenylpyridine and benzoquinoline) and N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)--N^C = 2-phenylpyridine, 7,8-benzoquinoline; NHC = 1,3-dibenzylbenzimidazolium, 1,3-diethylbenzimidazolium, 1,3-dibenzylimidazolium; L = Cl, Br, -C2Ph--have been synthesized in moderate to good yields. The complexes obtained were characterized using chemical analysis, MS-ESI spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The complexes display moderate to strong phosphorescence in solution (Q.

Adsorbate-induced curvature and stiffening of graphene.

The adsorption of the alkane tetratetracontane (TTC, C44H90) on graphene induces the formation of a curved surface stabilized by a gain in adsorption energy. This effect arises from a curvature-dependent variation of a moiré pattern due to the mismatch of the carbon-carbon separation in the adsorbed molecule and the period of graphene. The effect is observed when graphene is transferred onto a deformable substrate, which in our case is the interface between water layers adsorbed on mica and an organic solvent, but is not observed on more rigid substrates such as boron nitride.

Switching intermolecular interactions by confinement in carbon nanotubes.

The encapsulation of trityl-functionalised C60 molecules inside carbon nanotubes drastically affects the intermolecular interactions for this species. Whilst the orientations of molecules in the crystal are often controlled by thermodynamics, the molecular orientations in nanotubes are a result of kinetic control imposed by the mechanism of entry into and encapsulation within the nanotube.