Synthesis of indium nanoparticles at ambient temperature; simultaneous phase transfer and ripening

The synthesis of size-monodispersed indium nanoparticles via an innovative simultaneous phase transfer and ripening method is reported. The formation of nanoparticles occurs in a one-step process instead of well-known two-step phase transfer approaches. The synthesis involves the reduction of InCl3 with LiBH4 at ambient temperature and although the reduction occurs at room temperature, fine indium nanoparticles, with a mean diameter of 6.4 ± 0.4 nm, were obtained directly in non-polar n-dodecane. The direct synthesis of indium nanoparticles in n-dodecane facilitates their fast formation and enhances their size-monodispersity. In addition, the nanoparticles were highly stable for more than 2 months. The nanoparticles were characterised by dynamic light scattering (DLS), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy to determine their morphology, structure and phase purity

Electroluminescence from Double Layer Organic Light-emitting Diodes Using Dehydrocoupled Polysilanes as Hole Transport Layers

In this article, four polysilanes are used as hole transporting materials, together with the electroluminescent metal complex 8-hydroxyquinoline aluminium (Alq3), in organic double layer light emitting diodes (LED). It appears that the side chain substituents strongly influence the device performance. Amino-substituted polysilanes show stable device performance and a power efficiency of 0.33 lm W-1. This is an increase by more than 100% compared to the Alq3 single layer LED (0.15 lm W-1)

Fully independent photochemical reactivity in one molecule

We introduce a chemically λ-orthogonal bichromophore triggered simply by different colours of light, enabling two different photochemical reactions in one molecule. Uniquely, the short wavelength (λ = 314 nm) does not trigger the red-shifted reaction system (λ = 416 nm), opening possibilities for the light controlled gating of specific molecular sites independent of wavelength.</p

Rapid, low temperature synthesis of germanium nanowires from oligosilylgermane precursors

New oligosilylgermane compounds with weak Ge–H bonds have been used as precursors for the rapid synthesis of germanium (Ge) nanowires in high yields (>80%), via a solution–liquid–solid (SLS) mechanism, using indium (In) nanoparticles as a seeding agent over a temperature range between 180 and 380 °C. Even at low growth temperatures, milligram quantities of Ge nanowires could be synthesized over a reaction period of between 5 and 10 min. The speed of release of Ge(0) into the reaction environment can be tuned by altering the precursor type, synthesis temperature, and the presence or lack of an oxidizing agent, such as tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO). Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis showed that silicon atoms from the precursors were not incorporated into the structure of the Ge nanowires. As both In and Ge facilitate reversible alloying with Li, Li-ion battery anodes fabricated with these nanowires cycled efficiently with specific capacities, i.e., >1000 mAh g–

Zurich Consensus: Statement of German Experts on St. Gallen Conference 2011 on Primary Breast Cancer (Zurich 2011)

Every 2 years, the International Consensus Conference on the Treatment of Primary Breast Cancer takes place in St. Gallen. Given that the concept of the St. Gallen Consensus Conference mainly reflects an international opinion, it appears useful to adapt the results of the vote for everyday therapy in Germany. A German working group comprising 28 breast cancer experts, amongst whom there are 3 members of the international St. Gallen panel, has therefore commented on this year's St. Gallen Consensus Conference (2011) from the German viewpoint. The focus of interest of this year's St. Gallen Conference was tumour biology as the starting point for decisions regarding individual therapy. There was an intensive discussion in relation to the clinical relevance of predictive and prognostic factors and possible consequences for decisions regarding therapy. Therefore, questions concerning the indication for adjuvant chemotherapy focused especially on the significance of the molecular phenotype of the tumour. In addition, important points for discussion were also the value of complete axillary dissection and the use of accelerated complete breast irradiation

ABC3 Consensus: Assessment by a German Group of Experts

The Advanced Breast Cancer Third International Consensus Conference on the diagnosis and treatment of advanced breast cancer took place in Lisbon, Portugal, on November 5-7, 2015. This year's conference (ABC3) was focused on the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (stage IV), as it was 4 years ago at the first consensus meeting (ABC1). A matter of particular interest was the patients' perspective. Thus, patient-relevant issues were addressed by the consensus discussions, such as those on treatment goals, quality of life, care of long-term survivors ('survivorship issues'), and coping with disease-related symptoms and the side effects of treatment. Further important issues on the agenda were the use of standardized instruments for the assessment of individual treatment success ('patient-reported outcome measures') and the evaluation of the benefit of novel drugs (e.g. the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale). Diagnosis and treatment of inoperable locally advanced breast cancer had already been discussed 2 years earlier at the ABC2 Consensus and were not dealt with in the framework of this year's ABC3 Consensus. With regard to country-specific peculiarities, which unavoidably found their way into the ABC Consensus, a working group of German breast cancer experts commented on the voting results of the ABC panelists. As for the past consensus, the group specially considered the German guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer (AGO (Gyneco-Oncology Working Group), S3, DGHO (German Society of Hematology and Medical Oncology)) in order to adapt the ABC3 consensus for everyday therapy in Germany. (C) 2016 S. Karger GmbH, Freibur

Self-seeded growth of germanium nanowires: coalescence and ostwald ripening

We report the controlled self-seeded growth of highly crystalline Ge nanowires, in the absence of conventional metal seed catalysts, using a variety of oligosilylgermane precursors and mixtures of germane and silane compounds (Ge:Si ratios between 1:4 and 1:1). The nanowires produced were encased in an amorphous shell of material derived from the precursors, which acted to isolate the Ge seed particles from which the nanowires were nucleated. The mode diameter and size distribution of the nanowires were found to increase as the growth temperature and Ge content in the precursors increased. Specifically, a model was developed to describe the main stages of self-seeded Ge nanowire growth (nucleation, coalescence, and Ostwald ripening) from the oligosilylgermane precursors and, in conjunction with TEM analysis, a mechanism of growth was proposed

Seedless growth of sub-10 nm germanium nanowires

We report the self-seeded growth of highly crystalline Ge nanowires, with a mean diameter as small as 6 nm without the need for a metal catalyst. The nanowires, synthesized using the purpose-built precursor hexakis(trimethylsilyl)digermane, exhibit high aspect ratios (>1000) while maintaining a uniform core diameter along their length. Additionally, the nanowires are encased in an amorphous shell of material derived from the precursor, which acts to passivate their surfaces and isolates the Ge seed particles from which the nanowires grow. The diameter of the nanowires was found to depend on the synthesis temperature employed. Specifically, there is a linear relationship between the inverse radius of the nanowires and the synthesis temperature, which can be explained by a model for the size-dependent melting of simple metals

Second International Consensus Conference on Advanced Breast Cancer (ABC2), Lisbon, 11/09/2013: The German Perspective

The Advanced Breast Cancer Second International Consensus Conference (ABC2) on diagnosis and treatment of advanced breast cancer took place in Lisbon, Portugal, on November 7-9, 2013. The focus of the conference was inoperable, locally advanced breast cancer. The diagnosis and treatment of metastatic breast cancer had already been discussed 2 years before at the ABC1 Consensus and were only updated regarding special issues as part of this year's ABC2 Consensus. Like 2 years ago, a working group of German breast cancer experts commented on the voting results of the ABC panelists, with special consideration of the German guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer (German Gynecological Oncology Working Group (AGO) recommendations, S3 Guideline) in order to adapt them for daily clinical practice in Germany. The goal of both the ABC Consensus and the German comments is to facilitate evidence-based therapy decisions