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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.

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At least 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

Anticancer activities of novel Mannich bases against prostate cancer cells

This study was designed to synthesize hybridizing molecules starting from compound of 6-(4-phenyl-piperazin-1-yl)pyridine-3-ylamine by enhancing its biological activity with other heterocycles and to determine anticancer activity of the resulting compounds. To this end, 6-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)pyridin-3-ylamine (4) was used as the leading compound, which is known to exert anticancer activities. The synthesis of the leading compound was carried out using 1-(5-nitropyridin-2-yl)-4-phenylpiperazine (3) which was obtained by a novel method with the reaction of N-phenylpiperazine (2) and 2-chloro-5-nitropyridine. 6-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)pyridin-3-ylamine (4) was converted to compound 5, an active intermediate compound, by substitution of one of the amine hydrogens with ethyl bromoacetate. The resulting ester product (5) followed by the hydrazidation (6) was added arylisocyanate to obtain the active intermediate (8). Then, by a series of substitution through cyclization and condensation reactions, thiazolidinone (9), 1,3,4-oxadiazole (7), and 1,2,4-triazole (10) were synthesized. Novel Mannich bases (11a–11f and 12a–12f) were obtained using oxazole (7) and triazole (10) hetero rings with primer or secondary amine compounds. The characterization of the compounds was completed using FT IR, {sup 1}H-NMR, {sup 13}C-NMR, HRMS spectroscopic methods and elemental analysis technique. The chemicals, then, were tested for their anticancer activities against prostate cancer cell lines PC3 [ATCC, CRL-1435], LNCaP [ATCC, CRL-1740], and DU145 [ATCC, HTB-81]. The results revealed that the Mannich bases exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity against cancer cells tested.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Identifying sources and cycling of phosphorus in the sediment of a shallow freshwater lake in China using phosphate oxygen isotopes

Biotic and abiotic pathways for the transformation of phosphorus (P) in the sediment of Taihu Lake, a eutrophic shallow freshwater lake in southeastern China, were studied using the oxygen isotope ratios of phosphate (d18OP) along with sediment chemistry, X-ray diffraction, and 57Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopic methods. The results showed that d18OP values of sediment P pools significantly deviated from equilibrium and thus allowed distinguishing potential P sources or pathways of transformation. Isotope values of authigenic P being lighter than equilibrium suggests the re-mineralization of organic matter and subsequent precipitation of apatite as the major pathway of formation of authigenic P. The d18OP values of the Al-bound P pool (18.9–23.5‰) and ferric Fe-bound P (16.79–19.86‰) could indicate potential terrestrial sources, but the latter being closer to equilibrium values implies partial overprinting of potential source signature, most likely due to reductive dissolution and release of P and followed by partial biological cycling before re-sorption/re-precipitation with newly formed ferric Fe minerals. Oxic/anoxic oscillation and dissolution/re-precipitation reactions and expected isotope excursion are corroborated by sediment chemistry and Mössbauer spectroscopic results. These findings provide improved insights for better understanding the origin and biogeochemical cycling of P associated with eutrophication in shallow freshwater lakes.

Yuan, Hezhong↗
DOE OSTI2019

Structure and Orientation of Molecular Wires Embedded in Ultrathin Silica Membrane for Artificial Photosynthesis Elucidated by Polarized FT-IRRAS

Surface sensitive infrared spectroscopic methods are employed for elucidating the structure and orientation of charge conducting molecular wires of type oligo(p-phenylenevinylene) covalently anchored on an ultrathin planar Co oxide catalyst surface and embedded in a few nanometer thick amorphous silica membrane. Comparison of polarized FT-IRRAS with nonpolarized grazing angle ATR FT-IR spectra of nanolayer samples supported on a flat Pt surface and transmission spectra of powder samples showed distinct intensity differences for molecular in-plane and out-of-plane modes that reveal the spatial orientation with respect to the oxide surface. All observations support an upright orientation of the molecular wire axis, which is further confirmed by comparison with IRRAS measurements of physisorbed, horizontally positioned wire molecules. The structural integrity of the molecules is maintained after embedding in the silica membrane by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition at 40 °C. The results provide the first spectroscopic evidence of perpendicular orientation of the wire molecules. The complementary surface sensitive infrared measurements by FT-IRRAS and grazing angle ATR FT-IR constitute a powerful approach for elucidating the structure and orientation of surface-anchored molecules and the integrity upon casting into oxide layers such as silica for developing artificial photosystems. Use of the nanolayer construct in IRRAS spectroelectrochemical cell configuration will enable in situ monitoring of the structural and orientation integrity of the silica embedded molecular wires under the sustained electron and proton flux conditions of photocatalytic operation.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2014

Determination of the asymptotic normalization coefficients for 14 C + n <--> 15 C, the 14 C(n, gamma) 15 C reaction rate, and evaluation of a new method to determine spectroscopic factors

The 14 C + n <--> 15 C system has been used as a test case in the evaluation of a new method to determine spectroscopic factors that uses the asymptotic normalization coefficient (ANC). The method proved to be unsuccessful for this case. As part of this experimental program, the ANCs for the 15 C ground state and first excited state were determined using a heavy-ion neutron transfer reaction as well as the inverse kinematics (d,p) reaction, measured at the Texas A&M Cyclotron Institute. The ANCs were used to evaluate the astrophysical direct neutron capture rate on 14 C, which was then compared with the most recent direct measurement and found to be in good agreement. A study of the 15 C SF via its mirror nucleus 15 F and a new insight into deuteron stripping theory are also presented.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Growth, defect structure, and THz application of stoichiometric lithium niobate

Owing to the extraordinary richness of its physical properties, congruent lithium niobate has attracted multidecade-long interest both for fundamental science and applications. The combination of ferro-, pyro-, and piezoelectric properties with large electro-optic, acousto-optic, and photoelastic coefficients as well as the strong photorefractive and photovoltaic effects offers a great potential for applications in modern optics. To provide powerful optical components in high energy laser applications, tailoring of key material parameters, especially stoichiometry, is required. This paper reviews the state of the art of growing large stoichiometric LiNbO{sub 3} (sLN) crystals, in particular, the defect engineering of pure and doped sLN with emphasis on optical damage resistant (ODR) dopants (e.g., Mg, Zn, In, Sc, Hf, Zr, Sn). The discussion is focused on crystals grown by the high temperature top seeded solution growth (HTTSSG) technique using alkali oxide fluxing agents. Based on high-temperature phase equilibria studies of the Li{sub 2}O–Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5}–X{sub 2}O ternary systems (X = Na, K, Rb, Cs), the impact of alkali homologue additives on the stoichiometry of the lithium niobate phase will be analyzed, together with a summary of the ultraviolet, infrared, and far-infrared absorption spectroscopic methods developed to characterize the composition of the crystals. It will be shown that using HTTSSG from K{sub 2}O containing flux, crystals closest to the stoichiometric composition can be grown characterized by a UV-edge position of at about 302 nm and a single narrow hydroxyl band in the IR with a linewidth of less than 3 cm{sup −1} at 300 K. The threshold concentrations for ODR dopants depend on crystal stoichiometry and the valence of the dopants; Raman spectra, hydroxyl vibration spectra, and Z-scan measurements prove to be useful to distinguish crystals below and above the photorefractive threshold. Crystals just above the threshold are preferred for most nonlinear optical applications apart holography and have the additional advantage to minimize the absorption even in the far-infrared (THz) range. The review also provides a discussion on the progress made in the characterization of non-stoichiometry related intrinsic and extrinsic defect structures in doped LN crystals, with emphasis on ODR-ion-doped and/or closely stoichiometric systems, based on both spectroscopic measurements and theoretical modelling, including the results of first principles quantum mechanical calculations on hydroxyl defects. It will also be shown that new perspective applications, e.g., the generation of high energy THz pulses with energies on the tens-of-mJ scale, are feasible with ODR-doped sLN crystals if optimal conditions, including the contact grating technique, are applied.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2018

Mn(III)-Iodosylarene Porphyrins as an Active Oxidant in Oxidation Reactions: Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity Studies

Mn(III)-iodosylarene porphyrin adducts, [Mn(III)(ArIO)(Porp)] + , were synthesized by reacting electron-deficient Mn(III) porphyrin complexes with iodosylarene (ArIO) at –60 °C and characterized using various spectroscopic methods. The [Mn(III)(ArIO)(Porp)] + species were then investigated in the epoxidation of olefins under stoichiometric conditions. In the epoxidation of olefins by the Mn(III)-iodosylarene porphyrin species, epoxide was formed as the sole product with high chemoselectivities and stereoselectivities. For example, cyclohexene oxide was formed exclusively with trace amounts of allylic oxidation products; cis - and trans -stilbenes were oxidized to the corresponding cis- and trans-stilbene oxides, respectively. In the catalytic epoxidation of cyclohexene by an electron-deficient Mn(III) porphyrin complex and s PhIO at low temperature (e.g., –60 °C), the Mn(III)-iodosylarene porphyrin species was evidenced as the active oxidant that effects the olefin epoxidation to give epoxide as the product. However, at high temperature (e.g., 0 °C) or in the case of using an electron-rich manganese(III) porphyrin catalyst, allylic oxidation products, along with cyclohexene oxide, were yielded, indicating that the active oxidant(s) was not the Mn(III)-iodosylarene adduct but probably high-valent Mn-oxo species in the catalytic reactions. We also report the conversion of the Mn(III)-iodosylarene porphyrins to high-valent Mn-oxo porphyrins under various conditions, such as at high temperature, with electron-rich porphyrin ligand, and in the presence of base (OH–). The present study reports the first example of spectroscopically well-characterized Mn(III)-iodosylarene porphyrin species being an active oxidant in the stoichiometric and catalytic oxidation reactions. In conclusion other aspects, such as one oxidant versus multiple oxidants debate, also were discussed.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2013

Magnetocrystalline interactions and oxidation state determination of Mn{sub (2−x)}V{sub (1+x)}O{sub 4} (x=0, 1/3 and 1) magnetorresistive spinel family

Oxidation states of transition metal cations in spinels-type oxides are sometimes extremely difficult to determine by conventional spectroscopic methods. One of the most complex cases occurs when there are different cations, each one with several possible oxidation states, as in the case of the magnetoresistant Mn{sub (2−x)}V{sub (1+x)}O{sub 4} (x=0, 1/3 and 1) spinel-type family. In this contribution we describe the determination of the oxidation state of manganese and vanadium in Mn{sub (2−x)}V{sub (1+x)}O{sub 4} (x=0, 1/3,1) spinel-type compounds by analyzing XANES and high-resolution Kβ X-ray fluorescence spectra. The ionic models found are Mn{sup 2+}{sub 2}V{sup 4+}O{sub 4}, Mn{sup 2+}{sub 5/3}V{sup 3.5+}{sub 4/3}O{sub 4} and Mn{sup 2+}V{sup 3+}{sub 2}O{sub 4}. Combination of the present results with previous data provided a reliable cation distribution model. For these spinels, single magnetic electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) lines are observed at 480 K showing the interaction among the different magnetic ions. The analysis of the EPR parameters show that g-values and relative intensities are highly influenced by the concentration and the high-spin state of Mn{sup 2+}. EPR broadening linewidth is explained in terms of the bottleneck effect, which is due to the presence of the fast relaxing V{sup 3+} ion instead of the weak Mn{sup 2+} (S state) coupled to the lattice. The EPR results, at high temperature, are well explained assuming the oxidation states of the magnetic ions obtained by the other spectroscopic techniques. - Graphical abstract: View of the crystallographic structure of a spinel. It shows as an example one of the models of ion distribution determined for the spinels Mn{sub (2−x)}V{sub (1+x)}O{sub 4} (x=0, 1/3,1). Display Omitted - Highlights: • Determination of oxidation state of the metallic ions in Mn{sub (2−x)}V{sub (1+x)}O{sub 4} (x=0,1/3,1) by XAS and XES techniques. • The ionic models found are Mn{sup 2+}{sub 2}V{sup 4+}O{sub 4}, Mn{sup 2+}{sub 5/3}V{sup 3.5+}{sub 4/3}O{sub 4} and Mn{sup 2+}V{sup 3+}O{sub 4}. • EPR spectra correspond almost exclusively to a resonance of Mn{sup 2+}.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Enhancing the Conductivity and Thermoelectric Performance of Semicrystalline Conducting Polymers through Controlled Tie Chain Incorporation

Abstract Conjugated polymers are promising materials for thermoelectric applications, however, at present few effective and well‐understood strategies exist to further advance their thermoelectric performance. Here a new model system is reported for a better understanding of the key factors governing their thermoelectric properties: aligned, ribbon‐phase poly[2,5‐bis(3‐dodecylthiophen‐2‐yl)thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene] (PBTTT) doped by ion‐exchange doping. Using a range of microstructural and spectroscopic methods, the effect of controlled incorporation of tie‐chains between the crystalline domains is studied through blending of high and low molecular weight chains. The tie chains provide efficient transport pathways between crystalline domains and lead to significantly enhanced electrical conductivity of 4810 S cm −1 , which is not accompanied by a reduction in Seebeck coefficient or a large increase in thermal conductivity. Respectable power factors of 173 µW m −1 K −2 are demonstrated in this model system. The approach is generally applicable to a wide range of semicrystalline conjugated polymers and could provide an effective pathway for further enhancing their thermoelectric properties and overcome traditional trade‐offs in optimization of thermoelectric performance.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2017

Reply to Comment on Polymorphism in the 1:1 Charge-Transfer Complex DBTTF-TCNQ and Its Effects on Optical and Electronic Properties

In the article “Polymorphism in the 1:1 Charge-Transfer Complex DBTTF-TCNQ and Its Effects on Optical and Electronic Properties”,1 we reported on two polymorphs of the charge-transfer complex dibenzotetrathiafulvalene–7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (DBTTF-TCNQ). The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements performed on each crystal type confirmed the donor:acceptor (D:A) stoichiometry for the previously known α-polymorph and identified it as the same (1:1) for the newly discovered β-polymorph. Selected area electron diffraction confirmed the uniqueness of the crystal structure of each polymorph, though the thin nature of the β-crystals precluded the complete determination of the crystal structure. Nonetheless, a combination of spectroscopic methods, including optical absorption, XPS, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) allowed us to propose a crystal structure for the β-polymorph. The structural differences between the two polymorphs manifested themselves in a differing value of the degree of charge transfer between the donor and acceptor species, ρ, as determined via shifts in the agυ4 mode measured using Raman spectroscopy,2 and differing electrical properties. Additionally, when the crystals were used to fabricate field-effect transistors, the α-polymorph was found to be ambipolar with higher electron mobility than a hole mobility, while the β-polymorph was also found to be ambipolar, but with a higher hole mobility than electron mobility.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Improved Cycling Performance of Li-Excess Cation-Disordered Cathode Materials upon Fluorine Substitution

We report the recent discovery of Li-excess cation-disordered rock salt cathodes has greatly enlarged the design space of Li-ion cathode materials. Evidence of facile lattice fluorine substitution for oxygen has further provided an important strategy to enhance the cycling performance of this class of materials. Here, a group of Mn 3+ –Nb 5+ -based cation-disordered oxyfluorides, Li 1.2 Mn 3+ 0.6+0.5x Nb 5+ 0.2-0.5x O 2-x F x (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2) is investigated and it is found that fluorination improves capacity retention in a very significant way. Combining spectroscopic methods and ab initio calculations, it is demonstrated that the increased transition-metal redox (Mn 3+ /Mn 4+ ) capacity that can be accommodated upon fluorination reduces reliance on oxygen redox and leads to less oxygen loss, as evidenced by differential electrochemical mass spectroscopy measurements. Furthermore, it is found that fluorine substitution also decreases the Mn 3+ -induced Jahn–Teller distortion, leading to an orbital rearrangement that further increases the contribution of Mn-redox capacity to the overall capacity.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Reduction of CO 2 by Pyridine Monoimine Molybdenum Carbonyl Complexes: Cooperative Metal–Ligand Binding of CO 2

Abstract [( Ar PMI)Mo(CO) 4 ] complexes (PMI=pyridine monoimine; Ar=Ph, 2,6‐di‐ iso ‐propylphenyl) were synthesized and their electrochemical properties were probed with cyclic voltammetry and infrared spectroelectrochemistry (IR‐SEC). The complexes undergo a reduction at more positive potentials than the related [(bipyridine)Mo(CO) 4 ] complex, which is ligand based according to IR‐SEC and DFT data. To probe the reaction product in more detail, stoichiometric chemical reduction and subsequent treatment with CO 2 resulted in the formation of a new product that is assigned as a ligand‐bound carboxylate, [( PMI)Mo(CO) 3 (CO 2 )] 2− , by NMR spectroscopic methods. The CO 2 adduct [( PMI)Mo(CO) 3 (CO 2 )] 2− could not be isolated and fully characterized. However, the CC coupling between the CO 2 molecule and the PDI ligand was confirmed by X‐ray crystallographic characterization of one of the decomposition products of [( PMI)Mo(CO) 3 (CO 2 )] 2− .

Sieh, Daniel↗
DOE OSTI2020

Polyhydrido Copper Nanoclusters with a Hollow Icosahedral Core: [Cu 30 H 18 {E 2 P(OR) 2 } 12 ] (E=S or Se; R= n Pr, i Pr or i Bu)

Although atomically precise polyhydrido copper nanoclusters are of prime interest for a variety of applications, they have so far remained scarce. Here, we describe the synthesis of a dithiophosphate-protected copper(I) hydride-rich nanocluster (NC), [Cu 30 H 18 {S 2 P(O n Pr) 2 } 12 ] ( 1 H ), fully characterized by various spectroscopic methods and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The X-ray structure of 1 H reveals an unprecedented central Cu 12 hollow icosahedron. Six faces of this icosahedron are capped by Cu 3 triangles, the whole Cu 30 core being wrapped by twelve dithiophosphate ligands and the whole cluster has ideal S 6 symmetry. The locations of the 18 hydrides in 1 H were ascertained by a single-crystal neutron diffraction study. They are composed of three types: capping μ 3 -H, interstitial μ 4 -H (seesaw) and μ 5 -H ligands (square pyramidal), in good agreement with the DFT simulations. The numbers of hydrides and ligand resonances in the 1 H NMR spectrum of 1 H are in line with their coordination environment in the solid state, retaining the S 6 symmetry in solution. Furthermore, two new Se-protected polyhydrido copper nanoclusters, [Cu 30 H 18 {Se 2 P(OR) 2 } 12 ] ( 2 H : R= i Pr 3 H : R= i Bu) were synthesized from their sulfur relative 1 H via ligand displacement reaction and their X-ray structures feature the exceptional case where both the NC shape and size are fully conserved during the course of ligand exchange. DFT and TD-DFT calculations allow understanding the bonding and optical properties of clusters 1 H – 3 H . In addition, the reaction of 1 H with [Pd(PPh 3 ) 2 Cl 2 ] in the presence of terminal alkynes led to the formation of new bimetallic Cu–Pd alloy clusters [PdCu 14 H 2 {S 2 P(O n Pr) 2 } 6 (C≡CR) 6 ] ( 4 : R=Ph; 5 : R = C 6 H 4 F).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Organo‐Functionalized Lacunary Double Cubane‐Type Oxometallates: Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of [(M II Cl) 2 (V IV O) 2 {((HOCH 2 CH 2 )(H)N(CH 2 CH 2 O))(HN(CH 2 CH 2 O) 2 )} 2 ] (M=Co, Zn)

Abstract Organofunctionalized tetranuclear clusters [(M II Cl) 2 (V IV O) 2 {((HOCH 2 CH 2 )(H)N(CH 2 CH 2 O))(HN(CH 2 CH 2 O) 2 )} 2 ] (1, M=Co,2: M=Zn) containing an unprecedented oxometallacyclic {M 2 V 2 Cl 2 N 4 O 8 } (M=Co, Zn) framework have been prepared by solvothermal reactions. The new oxo‐alkoxide compounds were fully characterized by spectroscopic methods, magnetic susceptibility measurement, DFT and ab initio computational methods, and complete single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction structure analysis. The isostructural clusters are formed of edge‐sharing octahedral {VO 5 N} and trigonal bipyramidal {MO 3 NCl} units. Diethanolamine ligates the bimetallic lacunary double cubane core of1and2in an unusual two‐mode fashion, unobserved previously. In the crystalline state, the clusters of1and2are joined by hydrogen bonds to form a three‐dimensional network structure. Magnetic susceptibility data indicate weakly antiferromagnetic interactions between the vanadium centers [J iso (V IV −V IV )=−5.4(1); −3.9(2) cm −1 ], and inequivalent antiferromagnetic interactions between the cobalt and vanadium centers [J iso (V IV −Co II )=−12.6 and −7.5 cm −1 ] contained in1.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2014

Distinguishing Unfolding and Functional Conformational Transitions of Calmodulin Using Ultraviolet Resonance Raman Spectroscopy

Calmodulin (CaM) is a ubiquitous moderator protein for calcium signaling in all eukaryotic cells. This small calcium-binding protein exhibits a broad range of structural transitions, including domain opening and folding-unfolding, that allow it to recognize a wide variety of binding partners in vivo. While the static structures of CaM associated with its various binding activities are fairly well known, it has been challenging to examine the dynamics of transition between these structures in real-time, due to a lack of suitable spectroscopic probes of CaM structure. In this paper, we examine the potential of ultraviolet resonance Raman (UVRR) spectroscopy for clarifying the nature of structural transitions in CaM. We find that the UVRR spectral change (with 229 nm excitation) due to thermal unfolding of CaM is qualitatively different from that associated with opening of the C-terminal domain in response to Ca2+ binding. This spectral difference is entirely due to differences in teritary contacts at the inter-domain tyrosine residue Tyr138, toward which other spectroscopic methods are not sensitive. We conclude that UVRR is ideally suited to identifying the different types of structural transitions in CaM and other proteins with conformation-sensitive tyrosine residues, opening a path to time-resolved studies of CaM dynamics using Raman spectroscopy.

Jones, Eric M.↗
DOE OSTI2017

Transport capabilities of environmental Pseudomonads for sulfur compounds

Sulfur is an essential element in plant rhizospheres and microbial activity plays a key role in increasing the biological availability of sulfur in soil environments. To better understand the mechanisms facilitating the exchange of sulfur-containing molecules in soil, we profiled the binding specificities of eight previously uncharacterized ABC transporter solute-binding proteins from plant-associated Pseudomonads. A high-throughput screening procedure indicated eighteen significant organosulfur binding ligands, with at least one high-quality screening hit for each protein target. Calorimetric and spectroscopic methods were used to validate the best ligand assignments and catalog the thermodynamic properties of the protein-ligand interactions. Two novel high-affinity ligand binding activities were identified and quantified in this set of solute binding proteins. Bacteria were cultured in minimal media with screening library components supplied as the sole sulfur sources, demonstrating that these organosulfur compounds can be metabolized and confirming the relevance of ligand assignments. These results expand the set of experimentally validated ligands amenable to transport by this ABC transporter family and demonstrate the complex range of protein-ligand interactions that can be accomplished by solute-binding proteins. As a result, characterizing new nutrient import pathways provides insight into Pseudomonad metabolic capabilities which can be used to further interrogate bacterial survival and participation in soil and rhizosphere communities.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Electron Microscopy Approaches to Unraveling the Structure of Amorphous Materials

Determining atomic structures in crystalline materials—where atoms are arranged in rigid, periodic lattices—has been highly successful using probes such as electrons, X-rays, and neutrons. In contrast, amorphous materials, despite their ubiquity and technological importance, remain far more challenging to characterize with comparable accuracy and precision. This review highlights existing, emerging, and potential (scanning) transmission electron microscopy ((S)TEM) techniques for probing short- and medium-range order in amorphous materials. Approaches ranging from high-resolution (S)TEM imaging and selected electron diffraction pattern to four-dimensional STEM (4D-STEM) based pair distribution function, fluctuation electron microscopy, tomography, ptychography, and spectroscopic methods are discussed, emphasizing their ability to provide complementary insights across multiple length scales—from sub-angstrom local environments to nanometer-scale correlations. Here, we further explore the promise of multimodal and correlative strategies, as well as the growing role of machine learning and physics-informed AI in enabling real-time, quantitative interpretation of complex structural signatures. Together, these advances point toward a future where electron microscopy not only reveals the hidden order in amorphous systems but also establishes robust structure–property relationships, paving the way for materials innovation in disordered matter.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Synthesis and Protonation Studies of Molybdenum(0) Bis(dinitrogen) Complexes Supported by Diphosphine Ligands Containing Pendant Amines

A series of molybdenum bis(dinitrogen) complexes of the formula trans-Mo(N2)2(PEtNRPEt)2 (PEtNRPEt = Et2PCH2N(R)CH2Et2; R = phenyl (1), 2,6-difluorobenzyl (2), 3,5-difluorobenzyl (3), CH2CH2NMe2 (4), CH2-o-Py (5)) have been synthesized and characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. Protonation studies with stoichiometric amounts of triflic acid (HOTf) were performed and the the protonated products were characterized by NMR and in situ IR spectroscopic methods. Protonolysis experiments with excess triflic acid were conducted to test for the formation of ammonia from reduction of the dinitrogen ligands. This work was supported as part of the Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences. S.L. was supported by the DOE Office of Science, Early Career Research Program through the Office of Basic Energy Sciences. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is operated by Battelle for DOE.

ammonia↗
DOE OSTI2017

Uranium Oxide Nanocrystals by Microwave-Assisted Thermal Decomposition: Electronic and Structural Properties

Uranium oxides have attracted much attention not only in the context of nuclear energy generation but also for their application as pristine catalysts or as supports for other (transition metal) oxides and (precious) metals. Their propensity to adopt high coordination numbers and manifest multiple oxidation states (from +II to +VI) makes them attractive candidates for catalyzed transformation reactions. In this paper, we report a new synthesis route to phase-pure, crystalline UO 2 nanoparticles via microwave-assisted decomposition of a molecular uranium(IV) precursor. Finally, the electronic structure and optical absorption properties of these nanocrystals were investigated using spectroscopic methods to evaluate their suitability for photo(electro)catalytic applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗