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    Synthesis and crystal structure of a one-dimensional chain-like strontium(II) coordination polymer built of N-methyldiethanolamine and isobutyrate ligands
    (Chester : International Union of Crystallography, 2021) Seiss, Maximilian; Schmitz, Sebastian; Börner, Martin; Monakhov, Kirill Yu.
    The one-dimensional coordination polymer (I) [Sr(ib)2 (H2mda)]n (Hib = isobutyric acid, C4H8O2, and H2mda = N-methyldiethanolamine, C5H13NO2), namely, catena-poly[[(N-methyldiethanolamine-k3O, N, O')strontium(II)]-di-μ2- isobutyrato-K3O, O':O;K3O:O, O'], was prepared by the one-pot aerobic reaction of [Zr6O4 (OH)4 (ib)12 (H2O)].3Hib with Sr(NO3)2 and H2mda in the presence of MnCl2 and Et3N in acetonitrile. The use of MnCl2 is key to the isolation of I as high-quality colorless crystals in good yield. The molecular solid-state structure of I was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound I crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c and shows a one-dimensional polymeric chain structure. Each monomeric unit of this coordination polymer consists of a central SrII ion in the NO8 coordination environment of two deprotonated ib- ligands and one fully protonated H2mda ligand. The C and O atoms of the H2mda ligand were refined as disordered over two sets of sites with site occupancies of 0.619 (3) and 0.381 (3). Compound I shows thermal stability up to 130°C in air. © 2021 International Union of Crystallography. All rights reserved.
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    Single-crystal neutron and X-ray diffraction study of garnet-type solid-state electrolyte Li6La3ZrTaO12: An in situ temperature-dependence investigation (2.5 ≤ T ≤ 873 K)
    (Oxford [u.a.] : Wiley-Blackwell, 2021) Redhammer, Günther J.; Meven, Martin; Ganschow, Steffen; Tippelt, Gerold; Rettenwander, Daniel
    Large single crystals of garnet-type Li6La3ZrTaO12 (LLZTO) were grown by the Czochralski method and analysed using neutron diffraction between 2.5 and 873 K in order to fully characterize the Li atom distribution, and possible Li ion mobility in this class of potential candidates for solid-state electrolyte battery material. LLZTO retains its cubic symmetry (space group Ia 3 d) over the complete temperature range. When compared to other sites, the octahedral sites behave as the most rigid unit and show the smallest increase in atomic displacement parameters and bond length. The La and Li sites show similar thermal expansion in their bond lengths with temperature, and the anisotropic and equivalent atomic displacement parameters exhibit a distinctly larger increase at temperatures above 400 K. Detailed inspection of nuclear densities at the Li1 site reveal a small but significant displacement from the 24d position to the typical 96h position, which cannot, however, be resolved from the single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The site occupation of LiI ions on Li1 and Li2 sites remains constant, so there is no change in site occupation with temperature. © 2021 International Union of Crystallography. All rights reserved.
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    Blind Super-Resolution Approach for Exploiting Illumination Variety in Optical-Lattice Illumination Microscopy
    (Washington, DC : ACS Publications, 2021) Samanta, Krishnendu; Sarkar, Swagato; Acuña, Sebastian; Joseph, Joby; Ahluwalia, Balpreet Singh; Agarwal, Krishna
    Optical-lattice illumination patterns help in pushing high spatial frequency components of the sample into the optical transfer function of a collection microscope. However, exploiting these high-frequency components require precise knowledge of illumination if reconstruction approaches similar to structured illumination microscopy are employed. Here, we present an alternate blind reconstruction approach that can provide super-resolution without the requirement of extra frames. For this, the property of exploiting temporal fluctuations in the sample emissions using “multiple signal classification algorithm” is extended aptly toward using spatial fluctuation of phase-modulated lattice illuminations for super-resolution. The super-resolution ability is shown for sinusoidal and multiperiodic lattice with approximately 3- and 6-fold resolution enhancements, respectively, over the diffraction limit. © 2021 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society
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    Strain Engineered Electrically Pumped SiGeSn Microring Lasers on Si
    (Washington, DC : ACS, 2022) Marzban, Bahareh; Seidel, Lukas; Liu, Teren; Wu, Kui; Kiyek, Vivien; Zoellner, Marvin Hartwig; Ikonic, Zoran; Schulze, Joerg; Grützmacher, Detlev; Capellini, Giovanni; Oehme, Michael; Witzens, Jeremy; Buca, Dan
    SiGeSn holds great promise for enabling fully group-IV integrated photonics operating at wavelengths extending in the mid-infrared range. Here, we demonstrate an electrically pumped GeSn microring laser based on SiGeSn/GeSn heterostructures. The ring shape allows for enhanced strain relaxation, leading to enhanced optical properties, and better guiding of the carriers into the optically active region. We have engineered a partial undercut of the ring to further promote strain relaxation while maintaining adequate heat sinking. Lasing is measured up to 90 K, with a 75 K T0. Scaling of the threshold current density as the inverse of the outer circumference is linked to optical losses at the etched surface, limiting device performance. Modeling is consistent with experiments across the range of explored inner and outer radii. These results will guide additional device optimization, aiming at improving electrical injection and using stressors to increase the bandgap directness of the active material.
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    Ni-In Synergy in CO2Hydrogenation to Methanol
    (Washington, DC : ACS Publications, 2021) Zhu, Jiadong; Cannizzaro, Francesco; Liu, Liang; Zhang, Hao; Kosinov, Nikolay; Filot, Ivo A.W.; Rabeah, Jabor; Brückner, Angelika; Hensen, Emiel J.M.
    Indium oxide (In2O3) is a promising catalyst for selective CH3OH synthesis from CO2but displays insufficient activity at low reaction temperatures. By screening a range of promoters (Co, Ni, Cu, and Pd) in combination with In2O3using flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) synthesis, Ni is identified as the most suitable first-row transition-metal promoter with similar performance as Pd-In2O3. NiO-In2O3was optimized by varying the Ni/In ratio using FSP. The resulting catalysts including In2O3and NiO end members have similar high specific surface areas and morphology. The main products of CO2hydrogenation are CH3OH and CO with CH4being only observed at high NiO loading (≥75 wt %). The highest CH3OH rate (∼0.25 gMeOH/(gcath), 250 °C, and 30 bar) is obtained for a NiO loading of 6 wt %. Characterization of the as-prepared catalysts reveals a strong interaction between Ni cations and In2O3at low NiO loading (≤6 wt %). H2-TPR points to a higher surface density of oxygen vacancy (Ov) due to Ni substitution. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance analysis of the used catalysts suggest that Ni cations can be reduced to Ni as single atoms and very small clusters during CO2hydrogenation. Supportive density functional theory calculations indicate that Ni promotion of CH3OH synthesis from CO2is mainly due to low-barrier H2dissociation on the reduced Ni surface species, facilitating hydrogenation of adsorbed CO2on Ov © 2021 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society
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    Melt Electrowriting of Graded Porous Scaffolds to Mimic the Matrix Structure of the Human Trabecular Meshwork
    (Washington, DC : ACS Publ., 2022) Włodarczyk-Biegun, Małgorzata K.; Villiou, Maria; Koch, Marcus; Muth, Christina; Wang, Peixi; Ott, Jenna; del Campo, Aranzazu
    The permeability of the human trabecular meshwork (HTM) regulates eye pressure via a porosity gradient across its thickness modulated by stacked layers of matrix fibrils and cells. Changes in HTM porosity are associated with increases in intraocular pressure and the progress of diseases such as glaucoma. Engineered HTMs could help to understand the structure-function relation in natural tissues and lead to new regenerative solutions. Here, melt electrowriting (MEW) is explored as a biofabrication technique to produce fibrillar, porous scaffolds that mimic the multilayer, gradient structure of native HTM. Poly(caprolactone) constructs with a height of 125-500 μm and fiber diameters of 10-12 μm are printed. Scaffolds with a tensile modulus between 5.6 and 13 MPa and a static compression modulus in the range of 6-360 kPa are obtained by varying the scaffold design, that is, the density and orientation of the fibers and number of stacked layers. Primary HTM cells attach to the scaffolds, proliferate, and form a confluent layer within 8-14 days, depending on the scaffold design. High cell viability and cell morphology close to that in the native tissue are observed. The present work demonstrates the utility of MEW for reconstructing complex morphological features of natural tissues.
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    Podosome-Driven Defect Development in Lamellar Bone under the Conditions of Senile Osteoporosis Observed at the Nanometer Scale
    (Washington, DC : ACS Publications, 2021) Simon, Paul; Pompe, Wolfgang; Bobeth, Manfred; Worch, Hartmut; Kniep, Rüdiger; Formanek, Petr; Hild, Anne; Wenisch, Sabine; Sturm, Elena
    The degradation mechanism of human trabecular bone harvested from the central part of the femoral head of a patient with a fragility fracture of the femoral neck under conditions of senile osteoporosis was investigated by high-resolution electron microscopy. As evidenced by light microscopy, there is a disturbance of bone metabolism leading to severe and irreparable damages to the bone structure. These defects are evoked by osteoclasts and thus podosome activity. Podosomes create typical pit marks and holes of about 300-400 nm in diameter on the bone surface. Detailed analysis of the stress field caused by the podosomes in the extracellular bone matrix was performed. The calculations yielded maximum stress in the range of few megapascals resulting in formation of microcracks around the podosomes. Disintegration of hydroxyapatite and free lying collagen fibrils were observed at the edges of the plywood structure of the bone lamella. At the ultimate state, the disintegration of the mineralized collagen fibrils to a gelatinous matrix comes along with a delamination of the apatite nanoplatelets resulting in a brittle, porous bone structure. The nanoplatelets aggregate to big hydroxyapatite plates with a size of up to 10 x 20 μm2. The enhanced plate growth can be explained by the interaction of two mechanisms in the ruffled border zone: the accumulation of delaminated hydroxyapatite nanoplatelets near clusters of podosomes and the accelerated nucleation and random growth of HAP nanoplatelets due to a nonsufficient concentration of process-directing carboxylated osteocalcin cOC. © 2021 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.
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    Biomaterial based strategies to reconstruct the nigrostriatal pathway in organotypic slice co-cultures
    (Amsterdam [u.a.] : Elsevier, 2021) Ucar, Buket; Kajtez, Janko; Foidl, Bettina M.; Eigel, Dimitri; Werner, Carsten; Long, Katherine R.; Emnéus, Jenny; Bizeau, Joëlle; Lomora, Mihai; Pandit, Abhay; Newland, Ben; Humpel, Christian
    Protection or repair of the nigrostriatal pathway represents a principal disease-modifying therapeutic strategy for Parkinson's disease (PD). Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) holds great therapeutic potential for PD, but its efficacious delivery remains difficult. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of different biomaterials (hydrogels, microspheres, cryogels and microcontact printed surfaces) for reconstructing the nigrostriatal pathway in organotypic co-culture of ventral mesencephalon and dorsal striatum. The biomaterials (either alone or loaded with GDNF) were locally applied onto the brain co-slices and fiber growth between the co-slices was evaluated after three weeks in culture based on staining for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Collagen hydrogels loaded with GDNF slightly promoted the TH+ nerve fiber growth towards the dorsal striatum, while GDNF loaded microspheres embedded within the hydrogels did not provide an improvement. Cryogels alone or loaded with GDNF also enhanced TH+ fiber growth. Lines of GDNF immobilized onto the membrane inserts via microcontact printing also significantly improved TH+ fiber growth. In conclusion, this study shows that various biomaterials and tissue engineering techniques can be employed to regenerate the nigrostriatal pathway in organotypic brain slices. This comparison of techniques highlights the relative merits of different technologies that researchers can use/develop for neuronal regeneration strategies. © 2020
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    Small-angle X-ray scattering from GaN nanowires on Si(111): facet truncation rods, facet roughness and Porod's law
    (Oxford [u.a.] : Blackwell, 2021) Kaganer, Vladimir M.; Konovalov, Oleg V.; Fernández-Garrido, Sergio
    Small-angle X-ray scattering from GaN nanowires grown on Si(111) is measured in the grazing-incidence geometry and modelled by means of a Monte Carlo simulation that takes into account the orientational distribution of the faceted nanowires and the roughness of their side facets. It is found that the scattering intensity at large wavevectors does not follow Porod's law I(q) ∝ q-4. The intensity depends on the orientation of the side facets with respect to the incident X-ray beam. It is maximum when the scattering vector is directed along a facet normal, reminiscent of surface truncation rod scattering. At large wavevectors q, the scattering intensity is reduced by surface roughness. A root-mean-square roughness of 0.9 nm, which is the height of just 3-4 atomic steps per micrometre-long facet, already gives rise to a strong intensity reduction. open access.
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    Persistent peri-Heptacene: Synthesis and In Situ Characterization
    (Weinheim : Wiley-VCH, 2021) Ajayakumar, M.R.; Ma, Ji; Lucotti, Andrea; Schellhammer, Karl Sebastian; Serra, Gianluca; Dmitrieva, Evgenia; Rosenkranz, Marco; Komber, Hartmut; Liu, Junzhi; Ortmann, Frank; Tommasini, Matteo; Feng, Xinliang
    n-peri-Acenes (n-PAs) have gained interest as model systems of zigzag-edged graphene nanoribbons for potential applications in nanoelectronics and spintronics. However, the synthesis of n-PAs larger than peri-tetracene remains challenging because of their intrinsic open-shell character and high reactivity. Presented here is the synthesis of a hitherto unknown n-PA, that is, peri-heptacene (7-PA), in which the reactive zigzag edges are kinetically protected with eight 4-tBu-C6H4 groups. The formation of 7-PA is validated by high-resolution mass spectrometry and in situ FT-Raman spectroscopy. 7-PA displays a narrow optical energy gap of 1.01 eV and exhibits persistent stability (t1/2≈25 min) under inert conditions. Moreover, electron-spin resonance measurements and theoretical studies reveal that 7-PA exhibits an open-shell feature and a significant tetraradical character. This strategy could be considered a modular approach for the construction of next-generation (3 N+1)-PAs (where N≥3). © 2021 The Authors. Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH