Probing the Interaction between Individual Metal Nanocrystals and Two-Dimensional Metal Oxides via Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy.

Metal nanoparticles can photosensitize two-dimensional metal oxides, facilitating their electrical connection to devices and enhancing their abilities in catalysis and sensing. In this study, we investigated how individual silver nanoparticles interact with two-dimensional tin oxide and antimony-doped indium oxide using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). The measurement of the spectral line width of the longitudinal plasmon resonance of the nanoparticles in absence and presence of 2D materials allowed us to quantify the contribution of chemical interface damping to the line width. Our analysis reveals that a stronger interaction (damping) occurs with 2D antimony-doped indium oxide due to its highly homogeneous surface. The results of this study offer new insight into the interaction between metal nanoparticles and 2D materials.

Photoinitiated Energy Transfer in Porous-Cage-Stabilised Silver Nanoparticles.

We report a new composite material consisting of silver nanoparticles decorated with three-dimensional molecular organic cages based on light-absorbing porphyrins. The porphyrin cages serve to both stabilize the particles and allow diffusion and trapping of small molecules close to the metallic surface. Combining these two photoactive components results in a Fano-resonant interaction between the porphyrin Soret band and the nanoparticle-localised surface-plasmon resonance. Time-resolved spectroscopy revealed the silver nanoparticles transfer up to 37 % of their excited-state energy to the stabilising layer of porphyrin cages. These unusual photophysics cause a 2-fold current increase in photoelectrochemical water-splitting measurements. The composite structure provides a compelling proof of concept for advanced photosensitiser systems with intrinsic porosity for photocatalytic and sensing applications.

Accurate control of stoichiometry and doping in barium stannate perovskite oxide nanoparticles.

Barium stannate (BaSnO3) is one of the most promising emerging materials for use as a transparent electrode. However, to date, its synthesis has been proven to be highly irreproducible. In this communication, we present a detailed investigation of the reproducibility issues and provide a robust approach to synthesize BaSnO3 nanomaterials with controlled stoichiometry and doping.

Acute effects of submaximal endurance training on arterial stiffness in healthy middle- and long-distance runners.

Measures of arterial stiffness are indicators for cardiovascular health and predictors of cardiovascular events. Arterial stiffness is responsive to acute physiologic stressors such as exercise. However, the acute effects of intensive exercise and recovery on arterial stiffness are controversial. Thirty-seven healthy middle- and long-distance runners (33 men, mean age 26.5±6.6 years) underwent evaluation of their cardiovascular stiffness at rest, after a 15-minute warm-up, immediately after vigorous running 3 km at the pace of their 10-km personal best, and finally 30 minutes after terminating their workout. Peripheral and central systolic blood pressure, as well as augmentation index and pulse wave velocity (PWV), increased during exercise in comparison to baseline (P<.001, general linear model). Thirty minutes after terminating the workout, a drop in peripheral blood pressure (P<.001), central blood pressure (P<.001), and PWV (P=.001) below baseline was observed. Therefore, the authors found that exercise of either moderate or vigorous intensity causes a temporary increase in arterial stiffness in middle- and long-distance runners.

Simple, one-step synthesis of gold nanowires in aqueous solution.

A simple procedure to synthesize gold nanowires based on the reduction of hydrogen tetrachloroaurate by 2-mercaptosuccinic acid in aqueous solution is presented. This procedure requires no additional capping or reduction agent and produces wires with an apparent curly morphology several micrometers in length with diameters as thin as 15 nm. Some of the wires produced end in a ribbonlike structure, finally terminated by a flat triangular prism. Investigations by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (bright and dark field), scanning transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy as well as conductivity measurements indicate fully connected, polycrystalline gold objects.