Near-Infrared Optical Extinction of Indium Tin Oxide Structures Prepared by Nanosphere Lithography

Indium tin oxide (ITO) has been the most widely studied conducting metal oxide and serves as the best candidate for proof-of-concept experiments in the field of surface plasmon resonance and studies of electric field confinement and manipulation. ITO is chemically stable and relatively easy to sputter. In this report, arrays of ITO nanostructures were produced using nanosphere lithography, which was originally developed for plasmonic applications involving noble metals. However, the experiments presented here show that patterned ITO with similar size and shape to noble metals has an observed extinction that corresponds to the epsilon-near-zero mode. The carrier density of ITO nanostructure can be controlled by the postdeposition annealing process. Thus, one can prove that the optical signals on the surface are those of the ITO nanostructure by reversible on/off switching of the capacitive plasmon resonance by annealing the surfaces successively in forming gas (N₂/H₂) and in air. Thus, using conducting metal oxides confident of the electric field is possible not only along the <i>z</i>-axis perpendicular to the thin film but within the plane of the film as well

Epsilon-near-Zero Modes and Surface Plasmon Resonance in Fluorine-Doped Cadmium Oxide Thin Films

In this report we demonstrate fluorine-doped CdO as a model infrared plasmonic material by virtue of its tunable carrier density, high mobility, and intense extreme-subwavelength plasmon–polariton coupling. Carrier concentrations ranging from 10¹⁹ to 10²⁰ cm^–3, with electron mobility values as high as 473 cm²/V·s, are readily achieved in epitaxial CdO films over a thickness range spanning 50 to 500 nm. Carrier concentration is achieved by reactive sputtering in an Ar/O₂ atmosphere with trace quantities of CF₄. Infrared reflectometry measurements demonstrate the possibility of near-perfect plasmonic absorption through the entire mid-IR spectral range. A companion set of reflectivity simulations are used to predict, understand, and optimize the epsilon-near-zero plasmonic modes. In the context of other transparent conductors, CdO exhibits substantially higher electron mobility values and thus sharp and tunable absorption features. This highlights the utility of high-mobility transparent conducting oxides as a materials system for supporting strong, designed light–matter interactions

Step-free GaN surfaces grown by confined-area metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy

A two-step homoepitaxial growth process producing step-free surfaces on low dislocation density, Ga-polar ammonothermal GaN single crystals is described. Growth is conducted under very low supersaturation conditions where adatom incorporation occurs predominantly at step edges, and lateral growth is strongly preferred. The achievable step-free area is limited by the substrate dislocation density. For ammonothermal crystals with an average dislocation density of ∼1 × 104 cm−2, step-free mesas up to 200 × 200 μm2 in size are achieved. These remarkable surfaces create a unique opportunity to study the effect of steps on the properties and performance of semiconductor heterostructures

Highly Conductive and Conformal Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) Thin Films via Oxidative Molecular Layer Deposition

This work introduces oxidative molecular layer deposition (oMLD) as a chemical route to synthesize highly conductive and conformal poly­(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) thin films via sequential vapor exposures of molybdenum­(V) chloride (MoCl₅, oxidant) and ethylene dioxythiophene (EDOT, monomer) precursors. The growth temperature strongly affects PEDOT’s crystalline structure and electronic conductivity. Films deposited at ∼150 °C exhibit a highly textured crystalline structure, with {010} planes aligned parallel with the substrate. Electrical conductivity of these textured films is routinely above 1000 S cm^–1, with the most conductive films exceeding 3000 S cm^–1. At lower temperatures (∼100 °C) the films exhibit a random polycrystalline structure and display smaller conductivities. Compared with typical electrochemical, solution-based, and chemical vapor deposition techniques, oMLD PEDOT films achieve high conductivity without the need for additives or postdeposition treatments. Moreover, the sequential-reaction synthesis method produces highly conformal coatings over high aspect ratio structures, making it attractive for many device applications

Genomic Correlates of Immune-Cell Infiltrates in Colorectal Carcinoma

Large-scale genomic characterization of tumors from prospective cohort studies may yield new insights into cancer pathogenesis. We performed whole-exome sequencing of 619 incident colorectal cancers (CRCs) and integrated the results with tumor immunity, pathology, and survival data. We identified recurrently mutated genes in CRC, such as BCL9L, RBM10, CTCF, and KLF5, that were not previously appreciated in this disease. Furthermore, we investigated the genomic correlates of immune-cell infiltration and found that higher neoantigen load was positively associated with overall lymphocytic infiltration, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), memory T cells, and CRC-specific survival. The association with TILs was evident even within microsatellite-stable tumors. We also found positive selection of mutations in HLA genes and other components of the antigen-processing machinery in TIL-rich tumors. These results may inform immunotherapeutic approaches in CRC. More generally, this study demonstrates a framework for future integrative molecular epidemiology research in colorectal and other malignancies.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant U54HG003067

Genomic Correlates of Immune-Cell Infiltrates in Colorectal Carcinoma

Summary Large-scale genomic characterization of tumors from prospective cohort studies may yield new insights into cancer pathogenesis. We performed whole-exome sequencing of 619 incident colorectal cancers (CRCs) and integrated the results with tumor immunity, pathology, and survival data. We identified recurrently mutated genes in CRC, such as BCL9L, RBM10, CTCF, and KLF5, that were not previously appreciated in this disease. Furthermore, we investigated the genomic correlates of immune-cell infiltration and found that higher neoantigen load was positively associated with overall lymphocytic infiltration, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), memory T cells, and CRC-specific survival. The association with TILs was evident even within microsatellite-stable tumors. We also found positive selection of mutations in HLA genes and other components of the antigen-processing machinery in TIL-rich tumors. These results may inform immunotherapeutic approaches in CRC. More generally, this study demonstrates a framework for future integrative molecular epidemiology research in colorectal and other malignancies