Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Ir”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 235 records · Page 13

Side Chain Engineering of Near-IR Aza-BODIPY Dyes Enables Processable Films with High Hole Mobility in Diodes

Boron chelated azadipyrromethene (Aza-BODIPY) derivatives are promising candidates for near-infrared optoelectronic applications due to their tunable absorption, electron-deficient core, and strong π-conjugation. Here, in this work, we synthesized and studied a series of 1-naphthylethynyl-substituted aza-BODIPY molecules featuring hexyl or hexyloxy solubilizing groups at either the proximal or the distal phenyl positions. These substitutions were designed to improve the solubility, film formation, and optoelectronic properties. We found that solubilizing groups not only enabled uniform solution-processed films but also fine-tuned key properties, such as absorption onset, oxidation potential, and energy levels. Charge transport analysis showed consistently high hole mobilities (∼10 –3 cm 2 /V s) across all substituted derivatives when CuI was used as the hole transport layer, regardless of film morphology. In contrast, electron mobilities tended to be low and inconsistent, partly because of the relatively poor-quality films on the ZnO electron transport layer. Overall, we have shown that solubilizing groups enable film solution-casting and can fine-tune the properties of these near-infrared aza-BODIPY derivatives.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Leveraging Multiproton-Coupled Electron Transfer to Improve Ir(III) Photocatalyst Efficiency

In photoredox reactions, charge recombination (CR) limits quantum yields, hindering the efficient conversion of light energy into catalytic activity. To address this, we drew inspiration from redox relays in photosystem II (PSII) and developed a new series of iridium(III) complexes featuring covalently attached benzimidazole-phenol-pyridine (BIP-Py) groups to facilitate intramolecular multiproton-coupled electron transfer (MPCET). Herein, we evaluate the effects of MPCET through an extended and well-defined hydrogen-bond network to improve photocatalytic activity and mitigate rapid charge recombination. Infrared spectroelectrochemistry reveals pyridine protonation upon phenol oxidation, while visible spectroelectrochemistry and transient absorption spectroscopy confirm the electro- and photochemical formation of chargeseparated states (CSS) involving oxidized BIP, resulting from intramolecular proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET). The application of the BIP-Py platform in a photocatalytic Nhydroxyphthalimide ester reduction reaction resulted in a ∼106-fold reduction in CR rate and a quantum yield enhancement of up to 157%. Our findings suggest that incorporating MPCET-based redox relays into photocatalyst frameworks is an effective strategy to enhance the efficiency of photocatalytic systems.

Catalysts↗

Development of Half-Sandwich Ru, Os, Rh, and Ir Complexes Bearing the Pyridine-2-ylmethanimine Bidentate Ligand Derived from 7-Chloroquinazolin-4(3H)-one with Enhanced Antiproliferative Activity

Kinesin spindle protein (KSP) inhibitors are one of the most promising anticancer agents developed in recent years. Herein, we report the synthesis of ispinesib-core pyridine derivative conjugates, which are potent KSP inhibitors, with half-sandwich complexes of ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, and iridium. Conjugation of 7-chloroquinazolin-4(3H)-one with the pyridine-2-ylmethylimine group and the organometallic moiety resulted in up to a 36-fold increased cytotoxicity with IC 50 values in the micromolar and nanomolar range also toward drug-resistant cells. All studied conjugates increased the percentage of cells in the G 2 /M phase, simultaneously decreasing the number of cells in the G 1 /G 0 phase, suggesting mitotic arrest. Additionally, ruthenium derivatives were able to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS); however, no significant influence of the organometallic moiety on KSP inhibition was observed, which suggests that conjugation of a KSP inhibitor with the organometallic moiety modulates its mechanism of action.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Slow-Light Mid-IR Silicon Photonic Chips for NO 2 and CH 4 Gas Detection

A compact, chip-scale mid-infrared gas sensor is demonstrated, leveraging a two-dimensional photonic crystal waveguide (PCW) fabricated on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform. The PCW comprises a hexagonal lattice with lattice constant a = 860 nm and hole radius r = 0.22a, incorporating a central line defect of reduced-radius holes (r s = 0.7r) to induce slow-light propagation near the photonic band edge with a group index of approximately 73, thereby enhancing light-matter interaction. The sensor operates at fundamental absorption wavelengths of 3.42 μm for nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and 3.40 μm for methane (CH 4 ), utilizing the strongest molecular vibrational transitions for maximum sensitivity. Experimental validation was conducted using dynamically diluted gas mixtures generated by mass flow controllers, with signal acquisition performed by a liquid nitrogen-cooled InSb detector. For NO 2 , the sensor exhibited excellent linear response over 5–25 ppm (part per million) with coefficient of determination R 2 = 0.9934, achieving a detection limit of 210 ppb (part per billion)─representing the first reported silicon photonic-based NO 2 detection. For CH 4 , exposure to 25 ppm resulted in a 6.4% decrease in transmitted intensity, demonstrating multigas sensing capability. The CMOS-compatible fabrication process and compact 3 mm device footprint establish this SOI-PCW platform as a scalable, low-power solution for integrated mid-infrared gas sensing, with significant potential for environmental monitoring and industrial safety applications.

Crystals↗

Alkane Dehydrogenation and H/D Exchange by a Cationic Pincer-Ir(III) Hydride: Cooperative C–H Addition and β -H Elimination Modes Induce Anomalous Selectivity

We report that the cationic iridium complex ( iPr PCP)IrH + catalyzes the transfer-dehydrogenation of alkanes to give alkenes and hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) of alkanes and arenes. Contrary to established selectivity trends found for C–H activation by transition metal complexes, strained cycloalkanes, including cyclopentane, cycloheptane, and cyclooctane, undergo C–H addition much more readily than n-alkanes, which in turn are much more reactive than cyclohexane. Aromatic C–H bonds also undergo H/D exchange much less rapidly than those of the strained cycloalkanes, but much more favorably than cyclohexane. The order of reactivity toward dehydrogenation correlates qualitatively with the reaction thermodynamics, but the magnitude is much greater than can be explained by thermodynamics. Accordingly, the cycloalkenes corresponding to the strained cycloalkanes undergo hydrogenation much more readily than cyclohexene, despite the less favorable thermodynamics of such hydrogenations. Here, computational (DFT) studies allow rationalization of the origin of reactivity and the unusual selectivity. Specifically, the initial C–H addition is strongly assisted by β-agostic interactions, which are particularly favorable for the strained cycloalkanes. Subsequent to α-C–H addition, the H atom of the β-agostic C–H bond is transferred directly to the hydride ligand of ( iPr PCP)IrH + to give a dihydrogen ligand.

02 PETROLEUM↗

Enriching 2D transition metal borides via MB XMenes (M = Fe, Co, Ir): Strong correlation and magnetism

Recently, two-dimensional (2D) FeSe-like anti-MXenes (or XMenes), composed of late d-block transition metal M and p-block nonmetal X elements, have been both experimentally and theoretically investigated. Here, we select three 2D borides FeB, CoB and IrB for a deeper investigation by including strong correlation effects, as a fertile ground for understanding and applications. Using a combination of Hubbard corrected first-principles calculations and Monte Carlo simulations, FeB and CoB are found to be ferro- and anti-ferro magnetic, contrasting with the non-magnetic nature of IrB. The metallic FeB XMene monolayer, superior to most of the MXenes or MBenes, exhibits robust ferromagnetism, driven by intertwined direct-exchange and super-exchange interactions between adjacent Fe atoms. The predicted Curie temperature ($T$ C ) of the FeB monolayer via the Heisenberg model reaches an impressive 425 K, with the easy-axis oriented out-of-plane and high magnetic anisotropic energy (MAE). The asymmetry in the spin-resolved transmission spectrum induces a thermal spin current, providing an opportunity for spin filtration. In conclusion, this novel 2D FeB material is expected to hold great promise as an information storage medium and find applications in emerging spintronic devices.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗