Mapping sub-surface structure of thin films in three dimensions with an optical near-field

Subsurface mapping is crucial to understanding many biological systems as well as structured thin films for (opto)electronic or photonic applications. A non‐invasive method is presented to map subsurface nanostructures from scanning near‐field optical microscopy images. The Bethe–Bouwkamp model is used to simulate imaging of buried nano‐objects or subsurface slanted planar interfaces, and it is shown how to determine their depth and size, or the interface inclination, from just one image. It is shown that the steep optical field gradient makes near‐field microscopy a particularly sensitive depth probe for thin films

Spin-Based Diagnostic of Nanostructure in Copper Phthalocyanine-C-60 Solar Cell Blends

For the first time, two types of the metallofullerene Nd@C82 have been isolated and characterized. HPLC was used to isolate Nd@C82(I, II). The two isomers were characterized by mass spectrometry and UV‐Vis‐NIR absorption spectroscopy. Nd@C82(I) was found to be similar in structure to the main isomer of other lanthanofullerenes such as La@C82, as was previously reported. We assign Nd@C82(I) to have a C2v cage symmetry. Nd@C82(II) showed a markedly different UV‐Vis‐NIR absorption spectrum to Nd@C82(I). Its spectrum is in good agreement with that of the minor isomer of metallofullerenes such as Pr@C82. We therefore assign Nd@C82(II) to have a Cs cage symmetry. In contrast to other metallofullerenes, both isomers appear to be equally abundant