The copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction is widely used for the connection of molecular entities of all sizes. A protocol is provided here for the process with biomolecules. Ascorbate is used as reducing agent to maintain the required cuprous oxidation state. Since these convenient conditions produce reactive oxygen species, five equivalents of a copper-binding ligand is used wi...

Zn-Cr layered double hydroxides (LDHs) intercalated with inorganic anions (CO3, Cl, SO4 and NO3) were synthesized by the co-precipitation method and the anion exchange process. The photocatalytic activity of the LDHs was studied by O2 evolution from aqueous solution of AgNO3 as a sacrificial agent. All the prepared LDHs showed photocatalytic activity under either UV and/or visible light irradia...

Oxidation reactions are highly important chemical transformations that still require harsh reaction conditions and stoichiometric amounts of chemical oxidants that are often toxic. To circumvent these issues, olefins oxidation is achieved in mild conditions upon irradiation of an aqueous solution of the complex [Ru(bpy)3 ](2+) and the enzyme laccase. Epoxide formation is coupled to the light-dr...

Cubic PtCu nanocages (NCs) were successfully synthesized through a redox reaction using cuprous oxide (Cu2O) as a sacrificial template and reducing agent. The porous PtCu NCs were composed of amounts of PtCu nanograins with an average particle size of 2.9 nm. The electrocatalytic performance of the PtCu NC electrode towards H2O2 was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry. The ...

We investigated the ability of β-iron silicide (β-FeSi2) to serve as a hydrogen (H2)-evolution photocatalyst due to the potential of its conduction band bottom, which may allow thermodynamically favorable H2 evolution in spite of its small band-gap of 0.80 eV. β-FeSi2 had an apparent quantum efficiency for H2 evolution of ∼24% up to 950 nm (near infrared light), in the presence of the dithionic...

In MEMS fabrication micro-mechanical components have to be partially released from a substrate. Selectively etching away sacrificial layers, such that a free standing structure remains, is a widely used technique for this purpose. Free standing structures allow MEMS devices to induce or to sense mechanical movements or vibrations. During sacrificial etching lower etch rates than the blanket one...

Fully-depleted SOI devices are being considered for low power applications due to their threshold voltage, sub-threshold slope and capacitance advantages over other technologies. However, the threshold voltage of a fully-depleted SOI device is a strong function of the silicon film and sacrificial oxide thicknesses. Thus, to fully realize the advantages of fully-depleted SOI devices in commercia...

During air-gap formation in interconnects, decomposition process of the sacrificial layer induces deformation of a low-k dielectric cap layer. For analysis of ensuing structural instability, a logistic kinetics model is introduced to describe the removal process of the sacrificial layer, and finite difference method (FDM) is applied to evaluate the deformation behavior of the cap layer. The ins...

Building upon the idea that humans may be a eusocial species (i.e., rely on multigenerational and cooperative care of young, utilize division of labor for successful survival), we conjecture that suicide among humans represents a derangement of the self-sacrificial aspect of eusociality. In this article, we outline the characteristics of eusociality, particularly the self-sacrificial behavior s...