Visualizing the virus world inside the cell by cryo-electron tomography.

Structural studies on purified virus have revealed intricate architectures, but there is little structural information on how viruses interact with host cells . Cryo-focused ion beam (FIB) milling and cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) have emerged as revolutionary tools in structural biology to visualize the dynamic conformational of viral particles and their interactions with host factors within infected cells. Here, we review the state-of-the-art cryo-ET technique for viral structure studies and highlight exemplary studies that showcase the remarkable capabilities of cryo-ET in capturing the dynamic virus-host interaction, advancing our understanding of viral infection and pathogenesis.

Modulation of Electrostatic Potential in 2D Crystal Engineered by an Array of Alternating Polar Molecules.

The moiré potential in rotationally misfit two-dimensional (2D) heterostructures has been used to build artificial exciton and electron lattices, which have become platforms for realizing exotic electronic phases. Here, we demonstrate a different approach to create a superlattice potential in 2D crystals by using the near field of an array of polar molecules. A bilayer of titanyl phthalocyanine (TiOPc), consisting of alternating out-of-plane dipoles, is deposited on monolayer MoS.

Photocurrent Spectroscopy of Dark Magnetic Excitons in 2D Multiferroic NiI.

Two-dimensional (2D) antiferromagnetic (AFM) semiconductors are promising components of opto-spintronic devices due to terahertz operation frequencies and minimal interactions with stray fields. However, the lack of net magnetization significantly limits the number of experimental techniques available to study the relationship between magnetic order and semiconducting properties. Here, they demonstrate conditions under which photocurrent spectroscopy can be employed to study many-body magnetic excitons in the 2D AFM semiconductor NiI.

Mechanistic Investigation of Molybdenum Disulfide Defect Photoluminescence Quenching by Adsorbed Metallophthalocyanines.

Lattice defects play an important role in determining the optical and electrical properties of monolayer semiconductors such as MoS. Although the structures of various defects in monolayer MoS are well studied, little is known about the nature of the fluorescent defect species and their interaction with molecular adsorbates. In this study, the quenching of the low-temperature defect photoluminescence (PL) in MoS is investigated following the deposition of metallophthalocyanines (MPcs).

Electronic Structure of Metallophthalocyanines, MPc (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mg) and Fluorinated MPc.

We compute the electronic structure and optical excitation energies of metal-free and transition-metal phthalocyanines (HPc and MPc for M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mg) using density functional theory with optimally tuned range-separated hybrid functionals (OT-RSH). We show that the OT-RSH approach provides photoemission spectra in quantitative agreement with experiments as well as optical band gaps within 10% of their experimental values, capturing the interplay of localized d-states and delocalized π-π* states for these organometallic compounds. We examine the tunability of MPcs and HPc through fluorination, resulting in quasi-rigid shifts of the molecular orbital energies by up to 0.

Molecular-Scale Characterization of Photoinduced Charge Separation in Mixed-Dimensional InSe-Organic van der Waals Heterostructures.

Layered indium selenide (InSe) is an emerging two-dimensional semiconductor that has shown significant promise for high-performance transistors and photodetectors. The range of optoelectronic applications for InSe can potentially be broadened by forming mixed-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures with zero-dimensional molecular systems that are widely employed in organic electronics and photovoltaics. Here, we report the spatially resolved investigation of photoinduced charge separation between InSe and two molecules (C and C-BTBT) using scanning tunneling microscopy combined with laser illumination.

Charge Separation in Epitaxial SnS/MoS Vertical Heterojunctions Grown by Low-Temperature Pulsed MOCVD.

The weak van der Waals bonding between monolayers in layered materials enables fabrication of heterostructures without the constraints of conventional heteroepitaxy. Although many novel heterostructures have been created by mechanical exfoliation and stacking, the direct growth of 2D chalcogenide heterostructures creates new opportunities for large-scale integration. This paper describes the epitaxial growth of layered, -type tin sulfide (SnS) on -type molybdenum disulfide (MoS) by pulsed metal-organic chemical vapor deposition at 180 °C.

Large Band Edge Tunability in Colloidal Nanoplatelets.

We study the impact of organic surface ligands on the electronic structure and electronic band edge energies of quasi-two-dimensional (2D) colloidal cadmium selenide nanoplatelets (NPLs) using density functional theory. We show how control of the ligand and ligand-NPL interface dipoles results in large band edge energy shifts, over a range of 5 eV for common organic ligands with a minor effect on the NPL band gaps. Using a model self-energy to account for the dielectric contrast and an effective mass model of the excitons, we show that the band edge tunability of NPLs together with the strong dependence of the optical band gap on NPL thickness can lead to favorable photochemical and optoelectronic properties.

Electronic Coupling in Metallophthalocyanine-Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Mixed-Dimensional Heterojunctions.

Mixed-dimensional heterojunctions, such as zero-dimensional (0D) organic molecules deposited on two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), often exhibit interfacial effects that enhance the properties of the individual constituent layers. Here we report a systematic study of interfacial charge transfer in metallophthalocyanine (MPc) - MoS heterojunctions using optical absorption and Raman spectroscopy to elucidate M core (M = first row transition metal), MoS layer number, and excitation wavelength effects. Observed phenomena include the emergence of heterojunction-specific optical absorption transitions and strong Raman enhancement that depends on the M identity.

Toward Spatiotemporally Controlled Synthesis of Photoresponsive Polymers: Computational Design of Azobenzene-Containing Monomers for Light-Mediated ROMP.

Density functional theory calculations have been used to identify the optimum design for a novel, light-responsive ring monomer expected to allow spatial and temporal control of ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) via light-mediated changes in ring strain energy. The monomer design leverages ring-shaped molecules composed of 4,4'-diaminoazobenzene (ABn) closed by alkene-α,ω-dioic acid linkers. The atomic geometries, formation enthalpies and ring strain energies of azobenzene (AB)-containing rings with various length linkers have been calculated.

[Mechanical properties and biological evaluation of buffalo horn material].

Mechanical properties and biological evaluation of buffalo horn material were examined in this study. The effects of sampling position of buffalo horn on mechanical properties were investigated with uniaxial tension and micron indentation tests. Meanwhile, the variation of element contents in different parts of buffalo horn was determined with elemental analysis, and the microstructure of the horn was measured with scanning electron microscopy.