Abstract: We theoretically investigate the ground-state properties of a quantum dot defined on the surface of a strong three-dimensional time-reversal invariant topological insulator. Confinement is realized by ferromagnetic barriers and Coulomb interaction is treated numerically for up to seven electrons in the dot. Experimentally relevant intermediate interaction strengths are considered. The topological origin of the dot has several consequences: (i) spin polarization increases and the ground state exhibits quantum phase transitions at specific angular momenta as a function of interaction strength, (ii) the onset of Wigner correlations takes place mainly in one spin channel, and (iii) the ground state is characterized by a robust persistent current that changes sign as a function of the distance from the center of the dot.

Abstract: Using the continuum model, we investigate the confined states and the corresponding wave functions of ABC-stacked trilayer graphene (TLG) quantum dots (QDs). First, a general infinite-mass boundary condition is derived and applied to calculate the electron and hole energy levels of a circular QD in both the absence and presence of a perpendicular magnetic field. Our analytical results for the energy spectra agree with those obtained by using the tight-binding model, where a TLG QD is surrounded by a staggered potential. Our findings show that (i) the energy spectrum exhibits intervalley symmetry E-K(e)(m) = -E-K'(h)(m) for the electron (e) and hole (h) states, where m is the angular momentum quantum number, (ii) the zero-energy Landau level (LL) is formed by the magnetic states with m <= 0 for both Dirac valleys, that is different from monolayer and bilayer graphene QD with infinite-mass potential in which only one of the cones contributes, and (iii) groups of three quantum Hall edge states in the tight-binding magnetic spectrum approach the zero LL, which results from the layer symmetry in TLG QDs.

Abstract: We investigate the effect of Rashba spin-orbit coupling (SOC) on the optoelectronic properties of n- and p-type monolayer MoS2. The optical conductivity is calculated within the Kubo formalism. We find that the spin-flip transitions enabled by the Rashba SOC result in a wide absorption window in the optical spectrum. Furthermore, we evaluate the effects of the polarization direction of the radiation, temperature, carrier density, and the strength of the Rashba spin-orbit parameter on the optical conductivity. We find that the position, width, and shape of the absorption peak or absorption window can be tuned by varying these parameters. This study shows that monolayer MoS2 can be a promising tunable optical and optoelectronic material that is active in the infrared to terahertz spectral range.

Abstract: Iridium (Ir) modified Silicon (Si) (001) surface is studied with Scanning Tunneling Microscopy/Spectroscopy (STM/STS) and Density Functional Theory (DFT). A model for Ir-silicide nanowires based on STM images and ab-initio calculations is proposed. According to our model, the Ir adatom is on the top of the substrate dimer row and directly binds to the dimer atoms. I-V curves measured at 77K shows that the nanowires are metallic. DFT calculations confirm strong metallic nature of the nanowires. Published by AIP Publishing.

Abstract: Topological insulators are attracting considerable interest due to their potential for technological applications and as platforms for exploring wide-ranging fundamental science questions. In order to exploit, fine-tune, control, and manipulate the topological surface states, spectroscopic tools which can effectively probe their properties are of key importance. Here, we demonstrate that positrons provide a sensitive probe for topological states and that the associated annihilation spectrum provides a technique for characterizing these states. Firm experimental evidence for the existence of a positron surface state near Bi2Te2Se with a binding energy of E-b = 2.7 +/- 0.2 eV is presented and is confirmed by first-principles calculations. Additionally, the simulations predict a significant signal originating from annihilation with the topological surface states and show the feasibility to detect their spin texture through the use of spin-polarized positron beams.

Abstract: Magnesium hydroxide [Mg(OH)(2)] has a layered brucitelike structure in its bulk form and was recently isolated as a new member of two-dimensional monolayer materials. We investigated the electronic and optical properties of monolayer crystals of Mg(OH)(2) and WS2 and their possible heterobilayer structure by means of first-principles calculations. It was found that both monolayers of Mg(OH)(2) and WS2 are direct-gap semiconductors and these two monolayers form a typical van der Waals heterostructure with a weak interlayer interaction and a type-II band alignment with a staggered gap that spatially separates electrons and holes. We also showed that an out-of-plane electric field induces a transition from a staggered to a straddling-type heterojunction. Moreover, by solving the Bethe-Salpeter equation on top of single-shot G(0)W(0) calculations, we show that the low-energy spectrum of the heterobilayer is dominated by the intralyer excitons of the WS2 monolayer. Because of the staggered interfacial gap and the field-tunable energy-band structure, the Mg(OH)(2)-WS2 heterobilayer can become an important candidate for various optoelectronic device applications in nanoscale.

Abstract: Heterogeneous metal catalysts enable the direct conjugation of linoleic acid tails in vegetable oil to their conjugated linoleic acid (CIA) isomers. CIA-enriched oils are useful as renewable feedstock for the chemical industry and as nutraceutical. Up to now, a solvent-free process for conjugated oils without significant formation of undesired hydrogenation products was not existing. This work shows the design of Ru/USY catalysts able to directly conjugate highly unsaturated vegetable oils such as safflower oil in absence of solvent and hydrogen. Key is fast molecular transport of the bulky reagent and reactive product triglycerides in the zeolite crystal. A two-step zeolite post-synthetic treatment (with NH4OH and acetate salt) was applied to create the necessary mesoporosity. More open zeolite structures allow for a faster conjugation reaction, while securing a fast removal of the reactive conjugated triglycerides, otherwise rapidly deactivating through fouling and pore blockage by polymers. The best Ru/USY catalyst in this contribution is capable of producing exceptionally high yields of conjugated oils, containing up to almost 30 wt% conjugated fatty acid tails in safflower oil, at an initial production rate of 328 g(CLA) mL(-1) h(-1) per gram metal catalyst. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: A sound theoretical rationale for the design of a magnetic nanocarrier capable of magnetic capture in vivo after intravenous administration could help elucidate the parameters necessary for in vivo magnetic tumor targeting. In this work, we utilized our long-circulating polymeric magnetic nano carriers, encapsulating increasing amounts of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) in a biocompatible oil carrier, to study the effects of SPION loading and of applied magnetic field strength on magnetic tumor targeting in CT26 tumor-bearing mice. Under controlled conditions, the in vivo magnetic targeting was quantified and found to be directly proportional to SPION loading and magnetic field strength. Highest SPION loading, however, resulted in a reduced blood circulation time and a plateauing of the magnetic targeting. Mathematical modeling was undertaken to compute the in vivo magnetic, viscoelastic, convective, and diffusive forces acting on the nanocapsules (NCs) in accordance with the Nacev-Shapiro construct, and this was then used to extrapolate to the expected behavior in humans. The model predicted that in the latter case, the NCs and magnetic forces applied here would have been sufficient to achieve successful targeting in humans. Lastly, an in vivo murine tumor growth delay study was performed using docetaxel (DTX)-encapsulated NCs. Magnetic targeting was found to offer enhanced therapeutic efficacy, and improve mice survival compared to passive targeting at drug doses of ca. 5-8 mg, of DTX/kg. This is,, to our knowledge, the first study that truly bridges the gap between preclinical experiments and clinical translation in the field of magnetic drug targeting.

Abstract: The last few years have seen a great deal of progress in the development of transmission electron microscopy based techniques for strain mapping. New techniques have appeared such as dark field electron holography and nanobeam diffraction and better known ones such as geometrical phase analysis have been improved by using aberration corrected ultra-stable modern electron microscopes. In this paper we apply dark field electron holography, the geometrical phase analysis of high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy images, nanobeam diffraction and precession diffraction, all performed at the state-of-the-art to five different types of semiconductor samples. These include a simple calibration structure comprising 10-nm-thick SiGe layers to benchmark the techniques. A SiGe recessed source and drain device has been examined in order to test their capabilities on 2D structures. Devices that have been strained using a nitride stressor have been examined to test the sensitivity of the different techniques when applied to systems containing low values of deformation. To test the techniques on modern semiconductors, an electrically tested device grown on a SOI wafer has been examined. Finally a GaN/AlN superlattice was tested in order to assess the different methods of measuring deformation on specimens that do not have a perfect crystalline structure. The different deformation mapping techniques have been compared to one another and the strengths and weaknesses of each are discussed.

Abstract: A series of BiVO4/3DOM TiO2 nanocomposites have been synthesized and their photocatalytic activity was investigated under visible light irradiation using the RhB dye as model pollutant molecule in an aqueous solution. The effect of the amount of BiVO4 as visible light sensitizer on the photocatalytic activity of BiVO4/3DOM TiO2 nanocomposites was highlighted. The heterostructured composite system leads to much higher photocatalytic efficiencies than bare 3DOM TiO2 and BiVO4 nanoparticles. As the proportion of BiVO4 in BiVO4/3DOM TiO2 nanocomposites increases from 0.04 to 0.6, the photocatalytic performance of the BiVO4/3DOM TiO2 nanocomposites increases and then decreases after reaching a maximum at 0.2. This improvement in photocatalytic perfomance is related to 1) the interfacial electron transfer efficiency between the coupled materials, 2) the 3DOM TiO2 inverse opal structure with interconnected pores providing an easy mass transfer of the reactant molecules and high accessibility to the active sites and large surface area and 3) the effect of light sensitizer of BiVO4. Intensive studies on structural, textural, optical and surface properties reveal that the electronic interactions between BiVO4 and TiO2 lead to an improved charge separation of the coupled BiVO4/TiO2 system. The photogenerated charge carrier densities increase with increasing the BiVO4 content, which acts as visible light sensitizer to the TiO2 and is responsible for the enhancement in the rate of photocatalytic degradation. However, the photocatalytic activity is reduced when the BiVO4 amount is much higher than that of 3DOM TiO2. Two reasons could account for this behavior. First, with increasing BiVO4 content, the photogenerated electron/hole pairs are accumulated at the surface of the BiVO4 nanoparticles and the recombination rate increases as shown by the PL results. Second, decreasing the amount of 3DOM TiO2 in the nanocomposite decreases the surface area as shown by the BET results. Moreover, the poor adsorptive properties of the BiVO4 photocatalyst also affect the photocatalytic performance, in particular at higher BiVO4 content. The present work demonstrates that BiVO4/3DOM TiO2 is a very promising heterojunction system for visible light photocatalytic applications.

Abstract: In vitro experiments provide a solid basis for understanding the interactions between particles and biological systems. An important confounding variable for these studies is the difference between the amount of particles administered and that which reaches the surface of cells. Here, we engineer a hydrogel-based nanoparticle system and combine in situ characterization techniques, 3D-printed cell cultures, and computational modeling to evaluate and study particle cell interactions of advanced particle systems. The framework presented demonstrates how sedimentation and diffusion can explain differences in particle cell association, and provides a means to account for these effects. Finally, using in silico modeling, we predict the proportion of particles that reaches the cell surface using common experimental conditions for a wide range of inorganic and organic micro- and nanoparticles. This work can assist in the understanding and control of sedimentation and diffusion when investigating cellular interactions of engineered particles.

Abstract: Towards the development of novel drug carriers for oral delivery of poorly soluble drugs mesoporous aerogel carbons (CAs), namely CA10 and CA20 with different pore sizes (10 and 20 nm, respectively), were evaluated. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory lipophilic compound ibuprofen was incorporated via passive loading. The drug loaded carbon aerogels were systemically investigated by means of High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM), Nitrogen physisorption studies, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-ray photon electron spectroscopy (XPS) and zeta-potential studies. In vitro release studies were performed in simulated intestinal fluids reflecting both fasted (FaSSIF) and fed (FeSSIF) state conditions. Cytotoxicity studies were conducted with human intestinal cells (Caco-2). Drug was in an amorphous state in the pores of the carbon carrier as shown from the physicochemical characterization studies. The results showed marked differences in the release profiles for ibuprofen from the two aerogels in the media tested whereas in vitro toxicity profiles appear to be compatible with potential therapeutic applications at low concentrations. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.