On-Surface Synthesis and Characterization of a High-Spin Aza-[5]-Triangulene

Triangulenes are open-shell triangular graphene flakes with total spin increasing with their size. In the last years, on-surface-synthesis strategies have permitted fabricating and engineering triangulenes of various sizes and structures with atomic precision. However, direct proof of the increasing total spin with their size remains elusive. In this work, we report the combined in-solution and on-surface synthesis of a large nitrogen-doped triangulene (aza-[5]-triangulene) and the detection of its high spin ground state on a Au(111) surface. Bond-resolved scanning tunneling microscopy images uncovered radical states distributed along the zigzag edges, which were detected as weak zero-bias resonances in scanning tunneling spectra. These spectral features reveal the partial Kondo screening of a high spin state. Through a combination of several simulation tools, we find that the observed distribution of radical states is explained by a quintet ground state (S = 2), instead of the expected quartet state (S = 3/2), confirming the positively charged state of the molecule on the surface. We further provide a qualitative description of the change of (anti)aromaticity introduced by N-substitution, and its role in the charge stabilization on a surface, resulting in a S = 2 aza-[5]-triangulene on Au(111).Comment: 8 pages with 4 figure

On-surface synthesis and collective spin excitations of a triangulene-based nanostar

Triangulene nanographenes are open-shell molecules with predicted high spin state due to the frustration of their conjugated network. Their long-sought synthesis became recently possible over a metal surface. Here, we present a macrocycle formed by six [3]triangulenes, which was obtained by combining the solution synthesis of a dimethylphenyl-anthracene cyclic hexamer and the on-surface cyclodehydrogenation of this precursor over a gold substrate. The resulting triangulene nanostar exhibits a collective spin state generated by the interaction of its 12 unpaired {\pi}-electrons along the conjugated lattice, corresponding to the antiferromagnetic ordering of six S = 1 sites (one per triangulene unit). Inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy resolved three spin excitations connecting the singlet ground state with triplet states. The nanostar behaves close to predictions from the Heisenberg model of a S = 1 spin ring, representing a unique system to test collective spin modes in cyclic systems.Comment: 8 pages Ms with 3 figures; 12 pages Supplementary Informatio

Addressing electron spins embedded in metallic graphene nanoribbons

Spin-hosting graphene nanostructures are promising metal-free systems for elementary quantum spintronic devices. Conventionally, spins are protected from quenching by electronic band gaps, which also hinder electronic access to their quantum state. Here, we present a narrow graphene nanoribbon substitutionally doped with boron heteroatoms that combines a metallic character with the presence of localized spin 1/2 states in its interior. The ribbon was fabricated by onsurface synthesis on a Au(111) substrate. Transport measurements through ribbons suspended between the tip and the sample of a scanning tunneling microscope revealed their ballistic behavior, characteristic of metallic nanowires. Conductance spectra show fingerprints of localized spin states in the form of Kondo resonances and inelastic tunneling excitations. Density functional theory rationalizes the metallic character of the graphene nanoribbon due to the partial depopulation of the valence band induced by the boron atoms. The transferred charge builds localized magnetic moments around the boron atoms. The orthogonal symmetry of the spin-hosting state’s and the valence band’s wave functions protects them from mixing, maintaining the spin states localized. The combination of ballistic transport and spin localization into a single graphene nanoribbon offers the perspective of electronically addressing and controlling carbon spins in real device architecturesWe gratefully acknowledge financial support from Grants PID2019-107338RB-C61, PID2019-107338RB-C62, PID2019-107338RB-C66, PID2019-110037GB-I00, and PCI2019-111933-2 and the Maria de Maeztu Units of Excellence Program CEX2020-001038-M funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, the European Regional Development Fund, the European Union (EU) H2020 program through the FET Open project SPRING (Grant Agreement No. 863098), the Xunta de Galicia (Centro de Investigación de Galicia accreditation 2019–2022, ED431G 2019/03), the Dpto. Educación Gobierno Vasco (Grant Nos. PIBA-2020-1-0014, IT1246-19, and IT-1569-22) and the Programa Red Guipuzcoana de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación 2021 (Grant No. 2021-CIEN-000070-01. Gipuzkoa Next)S

N-acetylaspartate release by glutaminolytic ovarian cancer cells sustains protumoral macrophages

none16Glutaminolysis is known to correlate with ovarian cancer aggressiveness and invasion. However, how this affects the tumor microenvironment is elusive. Here, we show that ovarian cancer cells become addicted to extracellular glutamine when silenced for glutamine synthetase (GS), similar to naturally occurring GS-low, glutaminolysis-high ovarian cancer cells. Glutamine addiction elicits a crosstalk mechanism whereby cancer cells release N-acetylaspartate (NAA) which, through the inhibition of the NMDA receptor, and synergistically with IL-10, enforces GS expression in macrophages. In turn, GS-high macrophages acquire M2-like, tumorigenic features. Supporting this in␣vitro model, in silico data and the analysis of ascitic fluid isolated from ovarian cancer patients prove that an M2-like macrophage phenotype, IL-10 release, and NAA levels positively correlate with disease stage. Our study uncovers the unprecedented role of glutamine metabolism in modulating macrophage polarization in highly invasive ovarian cancer and highlights the anti-inflammatory, protumoral function of NAA.noneMenga A.; Favia M.; Spera I.; Vegliante M.C.; Gissi R.; De Grassi A.; Laera L.; Campanella A.; Gerbino A.; Carra G.; Canton M.; Loizzi V.; Pierri C.L.; Cormio G.; Mazzone M.; Castegna A.Menga, A.; Favia, M.; Spera, I.; Vegliante, M. C.; Gissi, R.; De Grassi, A.; Laera, L.; Campanella, A.; Gerbino, A.; Carra, G.; Canton, M.; Loizzi, V.; Pierri, C. L.; Cormio, G.; Mazzone, M.; Castegna, A

On‐Surface Synthesis and Characterization of a High‐Spin Aza‐[5]‐Triangulene

Triangulenes are a class of open‐shell triangular graphene flakes with total spin increasing with their size. In the last years, on‐surface‐synthesis strategies have permitted fabricating and engineering triangulenes of various sizes and structures with atomic precision. However, direct proof of the increasing total spin with their size remains elusive. In this work, we report the combined in‐solution and on‐surface synthesis of a large nitrogen‐doped triangulene (aza‐[5]‐triangulene) on a Au(111) surface, and the detection of its high‐spin ground state. Bond‐resolved scanning tunneling microscopy images uncovered radical states distributed along the zigzag edges, which were detected as weak zero‐bias resonances in scanning tunneling spectra. These spectral features reveal the partial Kondo screening of a high‐spin state. Through a combination of several simulation tools, we find that the observed distribution of radical states is explained by a quintet ground state (S=2), instead of the quartet state (S=3/2) expected for the neutral species. This confirms that electron transfer to the metal substrate raises the spin of the ground state. We further provide a qualitative description of the change of (anti)aromaticity introduced by N‐substitution, and its role in the charge stabilization on a surface, resulting in an S=2 aza‐triangulene on Au(111)

On‐Surface Synthesis and Characterization of a High‐Spin Aza‐[5]‐Triangulene

Triangulenes are a class of open‐shell triangular graphene flakes with total spin increasing with their size. In the last years, on‐surface‐synthesis strategies have permitted fabricating and engineering triangulenes of various sizes and structures with atomic precision. However, direct proof of the increasing total spin with their size remains elusive. In this work, we report the combined in‐solution and on‐surface synthesis of a large nitrogen‐doped triangulene (aza‐[5]‐triangulene) on a Au(111) surface, and the detection of its high‐spin ground state. Bond‐resolved scanning tunneling microscopy images uncovered radical states distributed along the zigzag edges, which were detected as weak zero‐bias resonances in scanning tunneling spectra. These spectral features reveal the partial Kondo screening of a high‐spin state. Through a combination of several simulation tools, we find that the observed distribution of radical states is explained by a quintet ground state (S=2), instead of the quartet state (S=3/2) expected for the neutral species. This confirms that electron transfer to the metal substrate raises the spin of the ground state. We further provide a qualitative description of the change of (anti)aromaticity introduced by N‐substitution, and its role in the charge stabilization on a surface, resulting in an S=2 aza‐triangulene on Au(111)

Et in Arcadia ego. L'ecloga virgiliana tra Auden e Zanzotto

Il contributo intende interpretare e flettere il campo d\u2019indagine promosso dall\u2019iniziativa di studio orientandosi sulla direttrice della riappropriazione novecentesca del genere pastorale, nella sua declinazione di ecloga. Si intende restringere il focus a due opere poetiche esemplari n\ue9 troppo distanti cronologicamente, afferenti a due distinte realt\ue0 linguistiche e culturali eppure affini nella sorte d\u2019imprimere una chiave di volta in seno sia alla poetica del rispettivo autore sia nel panorama storico-letterario: L\u2019Et\ue0 dell\u2019Ansia (1948) di W. H. Auden e IX Ecloghe (1962) di Andrea Zanzotto. Si prospetta di approfondire, sfruttando l\u2019apertura dell\u2019approccio comparativo, come nel poemetto anglofono il genere risulti peculiarmente vitalizzato con l\u2019impiego del verso allitterativo germanico antico e mediante un imprinting ondivago tra il lirico e il tragico; e come altres\uec Zanzotto, modulando il canto su una materia che programmaticamente si apparenta a \uabcose d\u2019ecloga degne\ubb, attui tale reviviscenza rianimando la centralit\ue0 bucolica del Soggetto, volgendo la voce al miraggio di una sua liberazione.The essay makes a comparison between The Age of Anxiety (1948) by Auden and the IX Ecloghe (1962) by the italian poet Zanzotto, in order to analyse how the virgilian form of the eclogue returns in two important poetic examples of the twentieth century