Sowing the seeds: the growth of Au and Ag(2)S nanoparticles at distinct positions on CdSe-seeded CdS heterostructured nanorods can be precisely controlled by variations in the concentration of the Au and Ag precursors, respectively. The ability to direct growth on the nanorods can lead to "Janus-type" structures where Au is located at the more reactive end of the nanorod, whilst Ag(2)S is locat...

Seed-mediated methods are widely followed for the synthesis of Au nanorods (NRs). However, mostly dilute concentrations of the Au precursor (HAuCl4) are used in the growth solution, which leads to a low final concentration of NRs. Attempts of increasing the concentration of NRs by simply increasing the concentration of HAuCl4, other reagents in the growth solution and seeds lead to a faster gro...

This paper describes the use of atomic force microscopy to directly image surface-attached 3-5 nm diameter gold nanoparticle seeds before and after seed-mediated growth into gold nanorods (Au NRs) and other shapes (spheres, triangles, and hexagons). Results show that Au NRs form from seeds growing in either one or two directions. A direct correlation exists between seed diameter and NR diameter...

A place exchange reaction between 11-mercaptoundecanoic acids (MUA) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-protected gold nanorods (GNRs) was conducted inside an ionic exchange resin; this modification resulted in functional gold nanorods soluble in both polar and nonpolar organic solvents.

Ti-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are demonstrated as promising photosensitizers for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Photocurrents of TiO2 nano wire photoelectrodes can be improved under visible light through sensitization with aminated Ti-based MOFs. As a host, other sensitizers or catalysts such as Au nanoparticles can be incorporated into the MOF layer thus further improvi...

What turned you on to biology in the first place? For a child growing up in Tokyo just after World War II, there were no fancy fabricated toys available. So instead, I played with insects, small animals and even long snakes. They were wonderful toys. I spent many happy hours ‘fishing’ for worms hidden in deep small holes by the thin stalks of plants. I was recently taught by readers of my inter...

Metal, typically gold [Au], nanoparticles [NPs] embedded in a capping metal contact layer onto silicon carbide [SiC] are considered to have practical applications in changing the barrier height of the original contacts. Here, we demonstrate the use of silver [Ag] NPs to effectively lower the barrier height of the electrical contacts to 4H-SiC. It has been shown that the barrier height of the fa...

Illegal small-scale gold mining brings several benefits to developing countries like Ghana, manifested mainly as employment and revenue but simultaneously impacts negatively on the immediate environment. The study tested the hypothesis that density and diversity of key native tree and shrub species differ in the mined and unmined areas of Nangodi in the Talensi-Nabdam District of the Upper East...

Purpose: To assess the relevance of focus to skin distance (FSD) measurements for patients with intraprostatic gold seeds using an image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) protocol. The second aim of this study was to analyse the frequency and nature of isocentre shifts made during a course of treatment for patients with prostate cancer. Additionally, the impact of isocentre shifts on dosimetry, r...

The Chah-Bagh gold occurrence is located in Muteh mining district, in the central part of the Sanandaj-Sirjan zone. Gold mineralization occurs in ductile to ductile-brittle shear zones and is comparable with orogenic gold deposits. Silicification and sulfidization are the most important hydrothermal alteration features in the inner parts of altered shear zones and coincide most closely with the...