Investigation of the multiplet features of SrTiO3 in X-ray absorption spectra based on configuration interaction calculations.

Synchrotron-based L2,3-edge absorption spectra show strong sensitivities to the local electronic structure and chemical environment. However, detailed physical information cannot be extracted easily without computational aids. Here, using the experimental Ti L2,3-edges absorption spectrum of SrTiO3 as a fingerprint and considering full multiplet effects, calculations yield different energy parameters characterizing local ground state properties. The peak splitting and intensity ratios of the L3 and L2 set of peaks are carefully analyzed quantitatively, giving rise to a small hybridization energy around 1.2 eV, and the different hybridization energy values reported in the literature are further addressed. Finally, absorption spectra with different linearly polarized photons under various tetragonal crystal fields are investigated, revealing a non-linear orbital-lattice interaction, and a theoretical guidance for material engineering of SrTiO3-based thin films and heterostructures is offered. Detailed analysis of spectrum shifts with different tetragonal crystal fields suggests that the eg crystal field splitting is a necessary parameter for a thorough analysis of the spectra, even though it is not relevant for the ground state properties.

Correspondence between the electronic structure and phase separation in a K-doped FeSe system.

Phase separated potassium intercalated FeSe thin films have been synthesized by pulsed laser deposition. The coexistence of FeSe phase and 245 phase was investigated both by x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and x-ray diffraction. The volume ratio of these two phases is sensitive to temperatures and amount of extra potassium dosing. The XPS and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy results indicated that these two phases shows the different hybridization strength between adjacent Fe layer and Se layer. We infer that the layered electronic structure is the necessary condition of superconductivity in potassium-doped FeSe system, and the phase separation is driven by competition between quasi-2D and 3D bonding mode within FeSe layer. Similar competition may also be able to interpret the phase seperation in K x Fe2-y Se2 bulk single crystal.

Intrinsically patterned two-dimensional materials for selective adsorption of molecules and nanoclusters.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have been studied extensively as monolayers, vertical or lateral heterostructures. To achieve functionalization, monolayers are often patterned using soft lithography and selectively decorated with molecules. Here we demonstrate the growth of a family of 2D materials that are intrinsically patterned. We demonstrate that a monolayer of PtSe2 can be grown on a Pt substrate in the form of a triangular pattern of alternating 1T and 1H phases. Moreover, we show that, in a monolayer of CuSe grown on a Cu substrate, strain relaxation leads to periodic patterns of triangular nanopores with uniform size. Adsorption of different species at preferred pattern sites is also achieved, demonstrating that these materials can serve as templates for selective self-assembly of molecules or nanoclusters, as well as for the functionalization of the same substrate with two different species.

Resistance to apoptosis induced by microenvironmental stresses is correlated with metastatic potential in Lewis lung carcinoma.

The apoptosis-resistant phenotype of cloned high-metastatic A11 and low-metastatic P29 cells isolated from Lewis lung carcinoma was compared. The results showed that A11 cells were more resistant to apoptosis induced by microenvironmental stresses such as serum starvation, glucose deprivation and hypoxia than P29 cells as judged by viability, DNA laddering, and chromatin condensation and fragmentation. Both cell lines were insensitive to tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated apoptosis. P29 cells expressed a much higher level of Fas antigen on the cell surface than A11 cells. However, both cell lines were also insensitive to Fas-mediated apoptosis. The apoptosis resistant phenotype of A11 cells was associated with the expression level of caspase-3, but not with those of Bcl-2, Bcl-X(L) Bax, p27Kip1 and DAP kinase. There was no difference between A11 and P29 cells in the expression of E-cadherin, the adhesiveness to the extracellular matrix components or the expression levels of metastasis-associated genes such as c-Ha-ras, c-jun, p53 and nm23. Furthermore, A11 cells exhibited lower motile and invasive abilities than P29 cells. These results suggest that the apoptosis-resistant phenotype is an important factor for determining the metastatic ability of A11 cells. Supporting this, P29 cells became more apoptosis-resistant after treatment of the cells with dimethylsulfoxide which is reported to enhance the experimental metastatic potential of the cells.