A low-spin Fe(iii) complex with 100-ps ligand-to-metal charge transfer photoluminescence.

Transition-metal complexes are used as photosensitizers, in light-emitting diodes, for biosensing and in photocatalysis. A key feature in these applications is excitation from the ground state to a charge-transfer state; the long charge-transfer-state lifetimes typical for complexes of ruthenium and other precious metals are often essential to ensure high performance. There is much interest in replacing these scarce elements with Earth-abundant metals, with iron and copper being particularly attractive owing to their low cost and non-toxicity. But despite the exploration of innovative molecular designs, it remains a formidable scientific challenge to access Earth-abundant transition-metal complexes with long-lived charge-transfer excited states. No known iron complexes are considered photoluminescent at room temperature, and their rapid excited-state deactivation precludes their use as photosensitizers. Here we present the iron complex [Fe(btz)3]3+ (where btz is 3,3'-dimethyl-1,1'-bis(p-tolyl)-4,4'-bis(1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene)), and show that the superior σ-donor and π-acceptor electron properties of the ligand stabilize the excited state sufficiently to realize a long charge-transfer lifetime of 100 picoseconds (ps) and room-temperature photoluminescence. This species is a low-spin Fe(iii) d5 complex, and emission occurs from a long-lived doublet ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (2LMCT) state that is rarely seen for transition-metal complexes. The absence of intersystem crossing, which often gives rise to large excited-state energy losses in transition-metal complexes, enables the observation of spin-allowed emission directly to the ground state and could be exploited as an increased driving force in photochemical reactions on surfaces. These findings suggest that appropriate design strategies can deliver new iron-based materials for use as light emitters and photosensitizers.

Hydroxylapatite growth on single-crystal rutile substrates.

Titanium is widely used as an implant material. In addition to the bulk properties of titanium, the biological response is to a large degree controlled via the surface. The native amorphous titanium oxide that forms spontaneously on the surface gives a very good biological response. Lately it has been shown that crystalline titanium oxides (rutile and anatase) have in vitro bioactive properties. In addition to its potential for new materials development, this finding also opens up for the possibility of studying the mechanisms of bioactivity on materials with strictly controlled surfaces. In this paper the mechanisms behind the in vitro bioactivity are studied, using rutile single crystals. Three single-crystal rutile substrates: (100), (110), and (001), and a polycrystalline rutile substrate obtained by physical vapour deposition were soaked in a phosphate buffered saline solution for up to 4 weeks. The hydroxylapatite films that formed were analysed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, focused ion beam, and transmission electron microscopy. The hydroxylapatite grew faster on the (001) surface than on the other two. It was also found that on the (001) surface the direction of fast growth in hydroxylapatite was aligned parallel to the surface. This is in contrast to the (110) rutile surface where the fast growth of the hydroxylapatite crystal was directed outwards from the surface. The (100) face had poor adhesion at the interface. The orientations of the precipitated crystallites play a significant role in the faster coverage of the (001) rutile face. Based on the experimental results, a model for the hydroxylapatite growth process is given.

Freestanding nanocellulose-composite fibre reinforced 3D polypyrrole electrodes for energy storage applications.

It is demonstrated that 3D nanostructured polypyrrole (3D PPy) nanocomposites can be reinforced with PPy covered nanocellulose (PPy@nanocellulose) fibres to yield freestanding, mechanically strong and porosity optimised electrodes with large surface areas. Such PPy@nanocellulose reinforced 3D PPy materials can be employed as free-standing paper-like electrodes in symmetric energy storage devices exhibiting cell capacitances of 46 F g(-1), corresponding to specific electrode capacitances of up to ∼185 F g(-1) based on the weight of the electrode, and 5.5 F cm(-2) at a current density of 2 mA cm(-2). After 3000 charge/discharge cycles at 30 mA cm(-2), the reinforced 3D PPy electrode material also showed a cell capacitance corresponding to 92% of that initially obtained. The present findings open up new possibilities for the fabrication of high performance, low-cost and environmentally friendly energy-storage devices based on nanostructured paper-like materials.

Bone response to free-form fabricated hydroxyapatite and zirconia scaffolds: a transmission electron microscopy study in the human maxilla.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the interfacial reactions to synthetic bone regenerative scaffolds in vivo is fundamental for improving osseointegration and osteogenesis. Using transmission electron microscopy, it is possible to study the biological response of hydroxyapatite (HA) and zirconia (ZrO(2) ) scaffolds at the nanometer scale. PURPOSE: In this study, the bone-bonding abilities of HA and ZrO(2) scaffolds produced by free-form fabrication were evaluated in the human maxilla at 3 months and 7 months. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HA and ZrO(2) scaffolds (ø: 3 mm) were implanted in the human maxilla, removed with surrounding bone, embedded in resin, and sectioned. A novel focused ion beam (FIB) sample preparation technique enabled the production of thin lamellae for study by scanning transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Interface regions were investigated using high-angle annular dark-field imaging and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis. Interfacial apatite layers of 80 nm and 50 nm thickness were noted in the 3- and 7-month HA samples, respectively, and bone growth was discovered in micropores up to 10 µm into the samples. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of an interfacial layer in the ZrO(2) samples suggest the formation of a direct contact with bone, while HA, which bonds through an apatite layer, shows indications of resorption with increasing implantation time. This study demonstrates the potential of HA and ZrO(2) scaffolds for use as bone regenerative materials.