Quasi-Periodic Growth of One-Dimensional Copper Boride on Cu(110).

An unexplored material of copper boride has been realized recently in two-dimensional form at a (111) surface of the fcc copper crystal. Here, one-dimensional (1-D) boron growth was observed on the Cu(110) surface, as probed by atomically resolved scanning probe microscopy. The 1-D copper boride was composed of quasi-periodic atomic chains periodically aligned parallel to each other, as confirmed by Fourier transform analysis. The 1-D growth unexpectedly proceeded across surface steps in a self-assembled manner and extended over several 100 nm. The long-range formation of a 1-D quasi-periodic structure on a surface has been theoretically modeled as a 1-D quasi-crystal and the predicted conditions matched the structural parameters obtained by the experimental work here. The quasi-periodic 1-D copper boride system enabled a way to examine 1-D quasi-crystallinity on an actual material.

Prediction of a Cyclic Hydrogenated Boron Molecule as a Promising Building Block for Borophane.

We have extensively searched for a cyclic hydrogenated boron molecule that has a three-center two-electron bond at the center. Using first-principles calculations, we discovered a stable molecule of 2:4:6:8:-2H-1,5:1,5-µH-B8H10 and propose its existence. This molecule can be regarded as a building block for sheets of topological hydrogen boride (borophane), which was recently theoretically proposed and experimentally discovered. The electronic structure of the cyclic hydrogenated boron molecule is discussed in comparison with that of cyclic hydrogenated carbon molecules.

Accelerated Synthesis of Borophane (HB) Sheets through HCl-Assisted Ion-Exchange Reaction with YCrB4.

We present an enhanced method for synthesizing sheets of borophane. Despite the challenges associated with low efficiency, we discovered that incorporating hydrochloric acid into the ion-exchange reaction significantly improved the production yield from 20% to over 50%. After a thorough examination of the reaction, we gained insight into the underlying mechanisms and found that the use of hydrochloric acid provides two key benefits: accelerated production of borophene and isolation of high-purity products. This method has the potential to pave the way for the production of novel topological 2D materials with potential industrial applications.

Structure of χ3-Borophene Studied by Total-Reflection High-Energy Positron Diffraction (TRHEPD).

We have investigated the structure of χ3-borophene on Ag(111), a monolayer material of boron atoms, via total-reflection high-energy positron diffraction (TRHEPD). By comparing the experimental rocking-curves with ones for several structures calculated by using dynamical diffraction theory, we confirmed that the χ3-borophene layer has a flat structure. The distance from the topmost layer of the metal crystal is 2.4 Å, which is consistent with results reported by X-ray standing wave-excited X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We also demonstrated that the in-plane structure of χ3-borophene is compatible with the theoretical predictions. These structural properties indicate that χ3-borophene belongs to a group of epitaxial monolayer sheets, such as graphene, which have weak interactions with the substrates.

Adsorption of Atomic Hydrogen on Hydrogen Boride Sheets Studied by Photoelectron Spectroscopy.

Hydrogen boride (HB) sheets are emerging as a promising two-dimensional (2D) boron material, with potential applications as unique electrodes, substrates, and hydrogen storage materials. The 2D layered structure of HB was successfully synthesized using an ion-exchange method. The chemical bonding and structure of the HB sheets were investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was employed to study the chemical states and transformation of the components before and after atomic hydrogen adsorption, thereby elucidating the atomic hydrogen adsorption process on HB sheets. Our results indicate that, upon atomic hydrogen adsorption onto the HB sheets, the B-H-B bonds were broken and converted into B-H bonds. This research highlights and demonstrates the changes in chemical states and component transformations of the boron element on the HB sheets' surface before and after atomic hydrogen adsorption, thus providing a clearer understanding of the unique bonding and structural characteristics of the HB sheets.

Fermi Edge of Semimetallic Borophane Sheets and its Reduction by a Porous Structure.

Theoretically predicted materials are often synthesized in low yields, and unexpected relationships are often encountered between the target materials and byproducts. Recently, two-dimensional boron materials proposed on the basis of model simulations and first principles calculations and possessing abundant atomic structures have attracted considerable interest. Borophane or the hydrogen boride (HB) sheet has been predicted to be the Dirac nodal semimetal when it has a boron network of nonsymmorphic symmetry. Upgrading the standard method, we fabricated freestanding HB sheets possessing either an apparent Fermi edge, reduced spectral weight, or a Fermi-level energy gap, as confirmed by using microbeam photoemission spectroscopy. The gapless electronic structures were correlated with terminal B-H bonds at the sheet edges, indicating the electronic modification of the porous structure as directly microscopically observed. The gapped or insulating sheet was fabricated via oxidation. This research provides methods for regulating the structural morphology and electronic states of HB sheets during synthesis.

Roles of inner blood-retinal barrier organic anion transporter 3 in the vitreous/retina-to-blood efflux transport of p-aminohippuric acid, benzylpenicillin, and 6-mercaptopurine.

The purpose of the present study was to characterize rat organic anion transporter (Oat) 3 (Oat3, Slc22a8) in the efflux transport at the inner blood-retinal barrier (BRB). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that rat (r) Oat3 mRNA is expressed in retinal vascular endothelial cells (RVECs), but not rOat1 and rOat2 mRNA. The expression of Oat3 in the retina and human cultured retinal endothelial cells was further confirmed by Western blot analysis. Immunohistochemical staining in RVECs showed that rOat3 is colocalized with glucose transporter 1, but not P-glycoprotein, suggesting that rOat3 is possibly located at the abluminal membrane of the RVEC. The contribution of rOat3 to the efflux of [(3)H]p-aminohippuric acid ([(3)H]PAH), [(3)H]benzylpenicillin ([(3)H]PCG), and [(14)C]6-mercaptopurine ([(14)C]6-MP), substrates of rOat3, from the vitreous humor/retina to the circulating blood across the inner BRB was evaluated using the microdialysis method. [(3)H]PAH, [(3)H]PCG, [(14)C]6-MP, and [(14)C] or [(3)H]d-mannitol, a bulk flow marker, were biexponentially eliminated from the vitreous humor after vitreous bolus injection. The elimination rate constant of [(3)H]PAH, [(3)H]PCG, and [(14)C]6-MP during the terminal phase was approximately 2-fold greater than that of d-mannitol. This efflux transport was reduced in the retinal presence of probenecid, PAH, and PCG, whereas it was not inhibited by digoxin. In conclusion, rOat3 is expressed at the inner BRB and involved in the vitreous humor/retina-to-blood transport of PAH, PCG, and 6-MP. This transport system is one mechanism to limit the retinal distribution of PAH, PCG, and 6-MP.