Nanostructured thermosensitive polymers with radical scavenging ability.

The thermosensitive [60]fullerene end-capped poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) was successfully synthesized by the reaction of C(60) with dithiobenzoate-terminated poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), which was prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization in the presence of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). Its structure was determined by FTIR, UV/Vis, and carbon and proton NMR spectroscopy as well as by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The novel fullerenated polymer retained the thermosensitivity of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide). Moreover, it is soluble in water and most of the common organic solvents. Interestingly, it was able to form nanoparticle clusters in methanol and exhibited significant radical scavenging ability in cell viability and metabolic activity tests with fibroblasts and NOR-3 radicals.

Patterned metal nanowire arrays from photolithographically-modified templates.

An effective procedure for the fabrication of patterned nanowire arrays with micron-sized features is presented. Photolithographic methods are utilized to form set patterns onto porous anodic alumina membranes (AAM), and these modified membranes can then be used in the electrochemical growth of nanowire arrays. This approach readily allows the formation of a variety of nanowire array patterns with line widths down to several microns.

Synthesis of porous wires from directed assemblies of nanospheres.

A method is reported for the fabrication of wires with extended pore structures. Nanospheres are initially infiltrated into the one-dimensional channels of alumina or polymer porous membranes. Metal is then electrochemically deposited within the channels. Removal of the membrane and nanospheres results in porous wires. The production of 1-mum diameter wires with 300- or 500-nm diameter pores and 300-nm diameter wires with 140-nm pores illustrates the utility of this approach. Contacts between the spheres and the channel wall result in openings on the surface of the wires, and contacts between the spheres themselves produce openings between adjacent pores. Some short-range ordering of the spheres within the channels, as reflected in the wire pore structure, is evident. Characterization of the porous wires by electron microscopy is presented, and the potential applications of materials is discussed.

Formation of metal-anion arrays within layered perovskite hosts. Preparation of a series of new metastable transition-metal oxyhalides, (MCl)LaNb(2)O(7) (M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co).

A new series of transition-metal oxyhalides (MCl)LaNb(2)O(7) (M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co) have been prepared by a simple topochemical route. Layered perovskite hosts (ALaNb(2)O(7), A = Li, Na, K or Rb) were reacted with the corresponding anhydrous metal halides under mild reaction conditions (<400 degrees C). The compounds were examined by X-ray powder diffraction; the series appears to be isostructural with (CuCl)LaNb(2)O(7), and the layer spacings, with the exception of M = Co, follow the trend expected from transition-metal cationic radii. Thermal analysis with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) shows the materials to be metastable where all four compounds decompose exothermically above 690 degrees C.