The microstructure network and thermoelectric properties of bulk (Bi,Sb)₂Te₃

We report small-angle neutron scattering studies on the microstructure network in bulk (Bi,Sb)(2)Te-3 synthesized by the melt-spinning (MS) and the spark-plasma-sintering (SPS) process. We find that rough interfaces of multiscale microstructures generated by the MS are responsible for the large reduction of both lattice thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity. Our study also finds that subsequent SPS forms a microstructure network of similar to 10 nm thick lamellae and smooth interfaces between them. This nanoscale microstructure network with smooth interfaces increases electrical conductivity while keeping a low thermal conductivity, making it an ideal microstructure for high thermoelectric efficiency

Monitoring pH-Triggered Drug Release from Radioluminescent Nanocapsules with X‑ray Excited Optical Luminescence

One of the greatest challenges in cancer therapy is to develop methods to deliver chemotherapy agents to tumor cells while reducing systemic toxicity to noncancerous cells. A promising approach to localizing drug release is to employ drug-loaded nanoparticles with coatings that release the drugs only in the presence of specific triggers found in the target cells such as pH, enzymes, or light. However, many parameters affect the nanoparticle distribution and drug release rate, and it is difficult to quantify drug release <i>in situ</i>. In this work, we show proof-of-principle for a “smart” radioluminescent nanocapsule with an X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) spectrum that changes during release of the optically absorbing chemotherapy drug, doxorubicin. XEOL provides an almost background-free luminescent signal for measuring drug release from particles irradiated by a narrow X-ray beam. We study <i>in vitro</i> pH-triggered release rates of doxorubicin from nanocapsules coated with a pH-responsive polyelectrolyte multilayer using HPLC and XEOL spectroscopy. The doxorubicin was loaded to over 5% by weight and released from the capsule with a time constant <i>in vitro</i> of ∼36 days at pH 7.4 and 21 h at pH 5.0, respectively. The Gd₂O₂S:Eu nanocapsules are also paramagnetic at room temperature with similar magnetic susceptibility and similarly good MRI <i>T</i>₂ relaxivities to Gd₂O₃, but the sulfur increases the radioluminescence intensity and shifts the spectrum. Empty nanocapsules did not affect cell viability up to concentrations of at least 250 μg/mL. These empty nanocapsules accumulated in a mouse liver and spleen following tail vein injection and could be observed <i>in vivo</i> using XEOL. The particles are synthesized with a versatile template synthesis technique which allows for control of particle size and shape. The XEOL analysis technique opens the door to noninvasive quantification of drug release as a function of nanoparticle size, shape, surface chemistry, and tissue type

Structurally defined zincated and aluminated complexes of ferrocene made by alkali-metal-synergistic syntheses

Reaction of ferrocene with 1 or 2 molar equiv of the synergistic-operative bimetallic sodium zincate base TMEDA·Na(μ-TMP)(μ-tBu)Zn(tBu) yields mainly mono- or dizincated complexes TMEDA·Na(μ-TMP)[μ-(C5H4)Fe(C5H5)]ZntBu (1) and [TMEDA·Na(μ-TMP)Zn(tBu)]2(C5H4)2Fe (2). Likewise, the separated pairing of Li(TMP) and (TMP)AliBu2 in the presence of THF can mono- or dimetalate ferrocene in a synergistic two-step lithiation/trans-metal-trapping protocol to give THF·Li(μ-TMP)[μ-(C5H4)Fe(C5H5)]Al(iBu)2 (4) or [THF·Li(μ-TMP)Al(iBu)2]2(C5H4)2Fe (5). In the absence of Lewis donating cosolvents, a 4-fold excess of the sodium zincate appears to produce an unprecedented 4-fold zincated ferrocene of formula Na4(TMP)4Zn4(tBu)4[(C5H3)2Fe] (3), whereas when donor solvent is withheld from the lithium/aluminum pairing, only dimetalation of ferrocene is possible. Tetrametalation seems to be inhibited by the in situ generation of TMP(H) via amido basicity, which then acts as a Lewis donor toward lithium, preventing inverse-crown formation and preferentially forming the Lewis acid–Lewis base adduct [TMP(H)·Li(μ-TMP)Al(iBu)2]2(C5H4)2Fe (6). With the exception of 3, all aforementioned complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystallography, while 1–6 have also been studied by solution NMR spectroscopic studies