Fullerene-driven encapsulation of a luminescent Eu(III) complex in carbon nanotubes

A novel CNT-based hybrid luminescent material was obtained via encapsulation of a C60-based Eu(III) complex into single-, double- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs, DWCNTs and MWCNTs, respectively). Specifically, a luminescent negatively charged Eu(III) complex, electrostatically bonded to an imidazolium-functionalized fullerene cage, was transported inside CNTs by exploiting the affinity of fullerenes for the inner surface of these carbonaceous containers. The filling was performed under supercritical CO2 (scCO2) conditions to facilitate the entrapment of the ion-paired assembly. Accurate elemental, spectroscopic and morphological characterization not only demonstrated the efficiency of the filling strategy, but also the occurrence of nano-ordering of the encapsulated supramolecular luminophores when SWCNTs were employed

The Science Performance of JWST as Characterized in Commissioning

This paper characterizes the actual science performance of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), as determined from the six month commissioning period. We summarize the performance of the spacecraft, telescope, science instruments, and ground system, with an emphasis on differences from pre-launch expectations. Commissioning has made clear that JWST is fully capable of achieving the discoveries for which it was built. Moreover, almost across the board, the science performance of JWST is better than expected; in most cases, JWST will go deeper faster than expected. The telescope and instrument suite have demonstrated the sensitivity, stability, image quality, and spectral range that are necessary to transform our understanding of the cosmos through observations spanning from near-earth asteroids to the most distant galaxies

The James Webb Space Telescope Mission

Twenty-six years ago a small committee report, building on earlier studies, expounded a compelling and poetic vision for the future of astronomy, calling for an infrared-optimized space telescope with an aperture of at least $4m$. With the support of their governments in the US, Europe, and Canada, 20,000 people realized that vision as the $6.5m$ James Webb Space Telescope. A generation of astronomers will celebrate their accomplishments for the life of the mission, potentially as long as 20 years, and beyond. This report and the scientific discoveries that follow are extended thank-you notes to the 20,000 team members. The telescope is working perfectly, with much better image quality than expected. In this and accompanying papers, we give a brief history, describe the observatory, outline its objectives and current observing program, and discuss the inventions and people who made it possible. We cite detailed reports on the design and the measured performance on orbit.Comment: Accepted by PASP for the special issue on The James Webb Space Telescope Overview, 29 pages, 4 figure

Luminescent Macrocyclic Lanthanide Complexes Bearing N-Oxides: Potential Fluorescent Labels for Modern Medical Diagnostics

Macrocyclic and macropolycyclic ligands incorporating heteroaromatic N-oxides (3,3'-biisoquinoline-2,2'-dioxide) form strongly luminescent complexes with lanthanide ions: Eu(III) and Tb(III). Most of these complexes are stable water solutions, with excellent luminescent properties, regarding luminescence lifetimes in the range of 0.2-0.7 ms, and the quantum yields for emission up to 0.25. Several complexes are stable also in the presence of affecting ions, such as Ca(II), or phosphates. These features make them attractive as potential fluorescent labels for time-resolved fluoroimmunoassays

Electrostatically-Driven Assembly of MWCNTs with an Europium Complex

Luminescent carbon-based materials have been prepared by electrostatic self-assembly of negatively-charged luminescent Eu(III)-complex with imidazolium-functionalized MWCNTs

Electrostatically-driven assembly of MWCNTs with a europium complex

Luminescent carbon-based materials have been prepared by electrostatic self-assembly of negatively-charged luminescent Eu(iii)-complex with imidazolium-functionalized MWCNTs. © 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry