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Here we report a three-step growth method for high-quality mono-layer, bi-layer and tri-layer graphene with coverage ~90% at atmospheric pressure. The growth temperature and gas flow rate have been found to be the key factors. This method would be of great importance for the large scale production of graphene with defined thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWNHs) have exhibited many special advantages in biomedical applications. Herein, doxorubicin-loaded SWNHs (DOX-SWNHs) are prepared and further modified by amphiphilic deoxycholic acid modified-hydropropyl chitosan (DCA-HPCHS) to improve their biocompatibility. The obtained DOX-SWNH/DCA-HPCHS drug delivery system (DDS) possesses high stability in physiological media and excellent photothermal properties when exposed to laser irradiation in the near-infrared (NIR) region, which dramatically enhances the chemotherapy of DOX. Cell viability assays show that the growth of 4T1 cells are remarkably inhibitory under the conditions of incubation with DOX-SWNH/DCA-HPCHS and subsequent exposure to 808 nm laser irradiation to produce mild photothermal heating to 43 °C Further investigation reveals that the photothermally enhanced chemotherapy derived from a promotion of DOX-SWNH/DCA-HPCHS uptake by the cancer cells rather than a light-triggered release of DOX. DOX-SWNH/DCA-HPCHS in combination with the use of laser irradiation exhibits a much better anticancer effect than the controls. Hence, the DOX-SWNH/DCA-HPCHS as a multifunctional DDS has been proposed and is hopeful for medicinal use in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two step programmed method is developed to load mono dispersed SnO2nanoparticles onto single layer graphene sheets. The SnO2-G composite has near mono dispersion of the SnO2nanocrystals as well as a high SnO2content of over 60 wt%. These outstanding features are desirable and enable the composite material to be an excellent anode material for Li-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface photochemistry processes have attracted increasing interest from both fundamental and application viewpoints. The development of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) provides us a great opportunity to investigate photo-induced structural transition on surface with a high spatial resolution in real space. The detailed structural information of the organization of photoresponsive molecules in the adlayer is resolved and their structural transition during the photochemical processes is observed. The photo-induced structural and property transitions inspire new application potential of photoresponsive molecules in the field of molecular devices, supramolecular assembly and advanced materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-crystalline pristine C60 nanorods with fcc crystal structure were synthesized by solvent-induced self-assembly followed by heat treatment. The length and length-to-width ratio of C60 nanorods were tunable by controlling the concentration of C60 molecules in the stock solution. Devices consisting of individual fcc nanorods were fabricated by a focused ion beam (FIB) technique. For comparison, nanorods of hcp structure were synthesized and devices consisting of individual hcp nanorods were fabricated also. The transport properties of an individual C60 nanorod suggested that the fcc nanorods exhibited higher conductivity than the hcp nanorods, i.e., the transport properties of C60 nanorods exhibited a strong phase dependence. The temperature dependence of the devices indicated the thermally activated carrier injection of the fcc nanorods. The activation energies of the nanorods are much smaller than those of the bulk crystals of C60, indicating easier carrier injection of the fcc nanorods and their potential applications for the fabrication of efficient nanodevices. The good operational stability of individual C60 nanorod based devices under sustained high dc voltage suggested their application as stable units in micro electronics or chemical sensor systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional self-assembly of OPV4 molecule and its coadsorption with C18H37Br are investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) revealing a structural difference and transition from helix to lamellar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular arrangement and transition in the domain boundary of a chiral two-dimensional assembly is clearly revealed by high-resolution STM images on an HOPG surface and a linear dislocation formed by molecular trimers and located at opposite chiral domains is found to directly reverse the chirality on DTCD self-assembly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phototransistor with a field-effect transistor configuration was fabricated using a single zinc octaethylporphyrin (ZnOEP) nanorod; the device showed ability in signal amplification and reversible light-controlled switching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemistry and adlayer structure of trinitrotoluene (TNT) on an Au(111) electrode were investigated using cyclic voltammetry and in situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (ECSTM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly nanoporous TiO2 (anatase) spheres with an excellent ability in environmental applications have been successfully prepared viain situ hydrolysis of titanium glycolate precursor spheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile self-assembly growth route assisted by surfactant has been developed to synthesize tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminium (Alq3) nanorods with regular hexagonal shape and good crystallinity, which exhibit field-emission characteristics with a very low turn-on field of ca. 3.1 V µm−1 and a high field-enhancement factor of ca. 1300. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]