Orchestrated structure evolution: modeling growth-regulated nanomanufacturing

Orchestrated structure evolution (OSE) is a scalable manufacturing method that combines the advantages of top-down (tool-directed) and bottom-up (self-propagating) approaches. The method consists of a seed patterning step that defines where material nucleates, followed by a growth step that merges seeded islands into the final patterned thin film. We develop a model to predict the completed pattern based on a computationally efficient approximate Green's function solution of the diffusion equation plus a Voronoi diagram based approach that defines the final grain boundary structure. Experimental results rely on electron beam lithography to pattern the seeds, followed by the mass transfer limited growth of copper via electrodeposition. The seed growth model is compared with experimental results to quantify nearest neighbor seed-to-seed interactions as well as how seeds interact with the pattern boundary to impact the local growth rate. Seed-to-seed and seed-to-pattern interactions are shown to result in overgrowth of seeds on edges and corners of the shape, where seeds have fewer neighbors. We explore how local changes to the seed location can be used to improve the patterning quality without increasing the manufacturing cost. OSE is shown to enable a unique set of trade-offs between the cost, time, and quality of thin film patterning.     

Single-photon detectors based on ultranarrow superconducting nanowires

We report efficient single-photon detection (η = 20% at 1550 nm wavelength) with ultranarrow (20 and 30 nm wide) superconducting nanowires, which were shown to be more robust to constrictions and more responsive to 1550 nm wavelength photons than standard superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors, based on 90 nm wide nanowires. We also improved our understanding of the physics of superconducting nanowire avalanche photodetectors, which we used to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of ultranarrow-nanowire detectors by a factor of 4, thus relaxing the requirements on the read-out circuitry and making the devices suitable for a broader range of applications.     

Effects of gage length, loading rates, and damage on the strength of PPTA fibers

Axial tension and transverse compression experiments on single fibers were performed to investigate the mechanical behavior of three high-performance fibers (Kevlar^®, Kevlar^® 129, and Twaron^®) with diameters in the order of 9-12 μm. The single fibers were manufactured from 1998 through 2008. A miniaturized tensile Kolsky bar was used to determine the tensile response of PPTA single fibers at a high strain rate. Gage length and strain rate were found to have minimum effects on the tensile strength of PPTA single fibers. Manufacturing time over a decade was found to have negligible effects on the tensile strength of the fibers. Initial transverse compression on the fibers reduces their ultimate tensile strengths. A high resolution scanning electron microscope (SEM) was also used to examine the fracture modes of transversely deformed fibers. Different types of fracture morphology were observed.     

Toward global metabolomics analysis with hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry: improved metabolite identification by retention time prediction

Metabolomics is an emerging field of postgenomic biology concerned with comprehensive analysis of small molecules in biological systems. However, difficulties associated with the identification of detected metabolites currently limit its application. Here we demonstrate that a retention time prediction model can improve metabolite identification on a hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC)-high-resolution mass spectrometry metabolomics platform. A quantitative structure retention relationship (QSRR) model, incorporating six physicochemical variables in a multiple-linear regression based on 120 authentic standard metabolites, shows good predictive ability for retention times of a range of metabolites (cross-validated R(2) = 0.82 and mean squared error = 0.14). The predicted retention times improved metabolite identification by removing 40% of the false identifications that occurred with identification by accurate mass alone. The importance of this procedure was demonstrated by putative identification of 690 metabolites in extracts of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei, thus allowing identified metabolites to be mapped onto an organism-wide metabolic network, providing opportunities for future studies of cellular metabolism from a global systems biology perspective.     

Synthese von Hetaryl‐pyridiniumsalzen und kondensierten 3‐Amino‐pyrid‐2‐onen

1‐(3‐Coumaryl)‐pyridinium salts 3 and 1‐(3‐coumaryl)‐tetrahydrothiophenium salts 5 were synthesized from 2‐acylphenyl chloro‐ or bromoacetates 2 . 2‐Chloro‐N¹‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐acetamide and substituted 2‐chloro‐N¹‐(2‐thienyl)‐acetamides 8 react with acetyl chloride and pyridine to yield the quinolinyl‐ and (thieno[2,3‐b]pyridin‐5‐yl)‐pyridinium salts 10 . Fused thieno[2,3‐b]pyridin‐ones 19 were formed from N‐chloroacetyl‐2‐aminothiophen‐3‐carbonitriles 16 with pyridine via Thorpe‐Ziegler cyclization and followed by cyclodehydrogenation. In presence of pyridine alkyl 2‐chloro‐acetylaminobenzoates 21 yield 3‐(1‐pyridinio)‐quinoline‐4‐olates 23 . Zincke‐cleavage of 10 and 23 with hydrazinium hydroxide leads to fused 3‐amino‐pyridine‐2‐ones 11 and 3‐amino‐4‐hydroxy‐quinoline‐2‐ones 24 , respectively. Oxazoloquinolines 25 were synthesized from 24 with acetic anhydride.     

Crystal structure of zeolite X nickel(II) exchanged at pH 4.3 and partially dehydrated, Ni2(NiOH)35(Ni4AlO4)2(H3O)46Si101Al91O384

Complete Ni²⁺ exchange of a single crystal of zeolite X of composition Na₉₂Si₁₀₀Al₉₂O₃₈₄ per unit cell was attempted at 73°C with flowing aqueous 0.05 M NiCl₂ (pH=4.3 at 23°C). After partial dehydration at 23°C and ≈10⁻³ Torr for two days, its structure, now of composition Ni₂(NiOH)₃₅(Ni₄AlO₄)₂(H₃O)₄₆Si₁₀₁Al₉₁O₃₈₄ per unit cell, was determined by X-ray diffraction techniques at 23°C (space group Fd , a₀=24.788(5) Å). It was refined using all intensities; R₁=0.080 for the 236 reflections for which F_o>4σ(F_o), and wR₂=0.187 using all 1138 unique reflections measured. At four crystallographic sites, 45 Ni²⁺ ions were found per unit cell. Thirty of these are at two different site III′ positions. Twenty of those are close to the sides of 12-rings near O–Si–O sequences, where each coordinates octahedrally to two framework oxygens, to three water molecules which hydrogen bond to the zeolite framework, and to an OH⁻ ion. The remaining 10 are near O–Al–O sequences; only three members of a likely octahedral coordination sphere could be found. In addition, two Ni²⁺ ions are at site I, eight are at site I′, and five are at site II. Forty six H₃O⁺ ions per unit cell, 24 at site II′ and 22 at site II, each hydrogen bond triply to six rings of the zeolite framework. Each of the 22 H₃O⁺ ions also hydrogen bonds to a H₂O molecule that coordinates to a site III′ Ni²⁺ ion. Six of the eight sodalite cages each contain four H₃O⁺ ions at site II′; the remaining two each contains a tetrahedral orthoaluminate anion at its center. Each tetrahedral face of each orthoaluminate ion is centered by a site I′ Ni²⁺ ion to give two Ni₄AlO₄ clusters. The five site II Ni²⁺ ions each coordinate to a OH⁻ ion. With 46 H₃O⁺ ions per unit cell, the great tendency of hydrated Ni²⁺ to hydrolyze within zeolite X is demonstrated. With a relatively weak single-crystal diffraction pattern, with dealumination of the zeolite framework, and with an apparent decrease in long-range Si/Al ordering likely due to the formation of antidomains, this crystal like others treated with hydrolyzing cations appears to have been damaged by Ni²⁺ exchange and partial dehydration.