'Sandwich'-like hybrid ZnO thin films produced by a combination of atomic layer deposition and wet-chemistry using a mercapto silane as single organic precursor.

This study describes a straightforward preparation of hybrid organic-inorganic thin films containing a stable 'sandwich'-like structure of two atomic layer deposited (ALD) ZnO layers separated by a thin organosilane phase, which is built from a single organic component (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPTMS). Grafting of MPTMS on the first ALD ZnO layer was performed in solution and driven by the strong affinity of the terminal thiol functionality (-SH) towards ZnO. We demonstrate that under different reaction conditions, either MPTMS monolayers are prepared or a 5 nm thick cross-linked polymeric network is formed due to the self-condensation of silane, which covers the ALD ZnO surface.

Secondary Metabolites from Gorgonian Corals of the Genus : Structural Characterizations, Biological Activities, and Synthetic Approaches.

Gorgonian corals, which belong to the genus , are known as natural sources of diverse compounds with unique structural characteristics and interesting bioactivities both in vitro and in vivo. This review is focused primarily on the secondary metabolites isolated from various species. The chemical structures of 64 compounds were divided into three main groups and comprehensively presented: a) terpenoids, b) sterols, and c) alkaloids and nucleosides.

Kinetic Energy Harvesting for Wearable Medical Sensors.

The process of collecting low-level kinetic energy, which is present in all moving systems, by using energy harvesting principles, is of particular interest in wearable technology, especially in ultra-low power devices for medical applications. In fact, the replacement of batteries with innovative piezoelectric energy harvesting devices can result in mass and size reduction, favoring the miniaturization of wearable devices, as well as drastically increasing their autonomy. The aim of this work is to assess the power requirements of wearable sensors for medical applications, and address the intrinsic problem of piezoelectric kinetic energy harvesting devices that can be used to power them; namely, the narrow area of optimal operation around the eigenfrequencies of a specific device.

Building organosilica hybrid nanohemispheres via thiol-ene click reaction on alumina thin films deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD).

The present work shows a surface-induced preparation of sub-100 nm organosilica nanohemispheres on atomic layer deposited (ALD) AlO thin films, which was achieved by cooperative condensation/hydrolysis and thiol-ene click chemical reactions. The two-step synthetic approach consists of an initial silanization of the AlO film with vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS), followed by a photo-promoted growth of surface-bound nanoparticles in the presence of (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPTMS). Characterization by means of FE-SEM, XPS and EDS points towards the growth of the nanohemispherical structures being governed by an initial nucleation of thiolated organosilica seeds in solution as a result of self-condensation of MPTMS and oxidation of thiols to disulfides.

Introducing the concept of pulsed vapor phase copper-free surface click-chemistry using the ALD technique.

We report for the first time on a pulsed vapor phase copper-free azide-alkyne click reaction on ZnO by using the atomic layer deposition (ALD) process technology. This reproducible and fast method is based on an in situ two-step reaction consisting of sequential exposures of ZnO to propiolic acid and benzyl azide.