pair distribution function analysis of nanocrystalline functional materials: the case of TiO-bronze nanocrystals in Li-ion battery electrodes.

Structural modelling of pair distribution function (PDF) data of complex functional materials can be highly challenging. To aid the understanding of complex PDF data, this article demonstrates a toolbox for PDF analysis. The tools include denoising using principal component analysis together with the , and apps available through the online service 'PDF in the cloud' (, https://pdfitc.

From Corrosion Casting to Virtual Dissection: Contrast-Enhanced Vascular Imaging using Hafnium Oxide Nanocrystals.

Vascular corrosion casting is a method used to visualize the three dimensional (3D) anatomy and branching pattern of blood vessels. A polymer resin is injected in the vascular system and, after curing, the surrounding tissue is removed. The latter often deforms or even fractures the fragile cast.

Crystal structures of three ,,'-tris-ubstituted thio-ureas for reactivity-controlled nanocrystal synthesis.

The synthesis and single-crystal X-ray structures of three ,,'-tris-ubstituted thio-ureas are reported, namely ,,'-tri-benzyl-thio-urea, CHNS (), -methyl-,'-di-phenyl-thio-urea, CHNS (), and ,-di--butyl-'-phenylthio-urea, CHNS (). The influence of the different substituents on the thio-ureas is clear from the delocalization of the thio-urea C-N and C=S bonds, while the crystal structures show infinite chains of ,,'-tri-benzyl-thio-urea (), hydrogen-bonded pairs of -methyl-,'-di-phenyl-thio-urea () and hexa-mer ring assemblies of ,-di--butyl-'-phenylthio-urea () mol-ecules. The above-mentioned compounds were synthesized a mild, general procedure, readily accessible precursors and with a high yield, providing straightforward access to a whole library of thio-ureas.

Silica@zirconia Core@shell Nanoparticles for Nucleic Acid Building Block Sorption.

The development of delivery systems for the immobilization of nucleic acid cargo molecules is of prime importance due to the need for safe administration of DNA or RNA type of antigens and adjuvants in vaccines. Nanoparticles (NP) in the size range of 20-200 nm have attractive properties as vaccine carriers because they achieve passive targeting of immune cells and can enhance the immune response of a weakly immunogenic antigen via their size. We prepared high capacity 50 nm diameter silica@zirconia NPs with monoclinic/cubic zirconia shell by a green, cheap and up-scalable sol-gel method.

Colloidal Oxide Perovskite Nanocrystals: From Synthesis to Application.

Nanocrystals (NCs) are complex systems that offer a superior level of detailed engineering at the atomic level. The large number of novel and revolutionary applications have made nanocrystals of special interest. In particular oxide perovskites are one of the most widely investigated family of materials in solid-state chemistry, especially for their ferroelectric and superconducting properties.