Doping silicon nanocrystals and quantum dots.

The ability to incorporate a dopant element into silicon nanocrystals (NC) and quantum dots (QD) is one of the key technical challenges for the use of these materials in a number of optoelectronic applications. Unlike doping of traditional bulk semiconductor materials, the location of the doping element can be either within the crystal lattice (c-doping), on the surface (s-doping) or within the surrounding matrix (m-doping). A review of the various synthetic strategies for doping silicon NCs and QDs is presented, concentrating on the efficacy of the synthetic routes, both in situ and post synthesis, with regard to the structural location of the dopant and the doping level. Methods that have been applied to the characterization of doped NCs and QDs are summarized with regard to the information that is obtained, in particular to provide researchers with a guide to the suitable techniques for determining dopant concentration and location, as well as electronic and photonic effectiveness of the dopant.

Aluminum citrate blocks toxicity of calcium oxalate crystals by preventing binding with cell membrane phospholipids.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Renal damage from ethylene glycol and primary hyperoxaluria is linked to accumulation of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystals in the renal proximal tubule (PT). In vitro studies have shown that aluminum citrate (AC), uniquely among citrate salts, blocks COM cytotoxicity to tubular cells. These studies were designed to evaluate the interaction of COM with membrane phospholipids and the ability of AC to reduce COM toxicity by interfering with this interaction. METHODS: Interaction of COM with phospholipids was assessed using differential scanning calorimetric analysis of structural changes in specific liposomes. Interaction of COM with cell membranes was studied by measuring binding of radiolabeled crystals by human PT (HPT) cells. RESULTS: Analysis of liposomes prepared from phosphatidylserine (PS) or phosphatidylcholine (PC) showed that COM interfered with the gel-liquid transition of PS liposomes, but not that of PC liposomes. AC reversed the COM-induced changes in liposomal structure. AC inhibited the binding of [(14)C]-COM by HPT cells in a concentration-dependent manner. AC blocked COM binding by interacting with the crystal surface and not the cell membrane. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that AC blocks the binding of COM by PT cells, and consequently its cytotoxicity, by attaching to the surface of the crystal. Thus, AC, or a related compound that works by the same mechanism, could be a useful adjunct therapy to reduce the renal damage produced by severe hyperoxaluria.

Carbon nanotube synthesis in a flame with independently prepared laser-ablated catalyst particles.

Laser ablation has been used ex situ to create metal nanoparticles for introduction into a reactive pyrolysis flame. By prior synthesis of the metal nanoparticles, the effects of the reactive gases can be clearly separated from the pyrolysis chemistry of a solvent carrier, as when nebulized solutions are used. Moreover, varying reactivity issues associated with particle growth and size are bypassed. Our results show that Fe selectively reacts with CO to produce nanotubes, whereas Ni selectively reacts with C2H2 to produce nanofibers. These observations are interpreted through the donation and withdrawal of electron density between the adsorbate's molecular orbitals and surface atoms of the metal nanoparticle. The rate of reaction of Ni with only C2H2 is found to be greater than the rate with C2H2 and CO. This suggests that CO inhibits the Ni-catalyzed reaction.

Application of laser-induced incandescence to the detection of carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers.

Laser-induced incandescence applied to a heterogeneous, multielement reacting flow is characterized by temporally resolved emission spectra, time-resolved emission at selected detection wavelengths, and fluence dependence. Two-pulse laser measurements are used to further probe the effects of laser-induced changes on the optical signal. Laser fluences above 0.6 J/cm2 at 1064 nm initiate laser-induced vaporization, yielding a lower incandescence intensity, as found through fluence-dependence measurements. Spectrally derived temperatures show that values of excitation laser fluence greater than this value lead to superheated plasmas with temperatures well above the vaporization point of carbon. The temporal evolution of the emission signal at these fluences is consistent with plasma dissipation processes, not incandescence from solidlike structures. Two-pulse laser experiments reveal that other material changes are produced at fluences below the apparent vaporization threshold, leading to nanostructures with different optical and thermal properties.