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We demonstrate molecular control of nanoscale composition, alloying, and morphology (aspect ratio) in CdS-CdSe nanocrystal dots and rods by modulating the chemical reactivity of phosphine-chalcogenide precursors. Specific molecular precursors studied were sulfides and selenides of triphenylphosphite (TPP), diphenylpropylphosphine (DPP), tributylphosphine (TBP), trioctylphosphine (TOP), and hexaethylphosphorustriamide (HPT). Computational (DFT), NMR ( 31 P and 77 Se), and high-temperature crossover studies unambiguously confirm a chemical bonding interaction between phosphorus and chalcogen atoms in all precursors. Phosphine-chalcogenide precursor reactivity increases in the order: TPPE < DPPE < TBPE < TOPE 1-x Se x quantum dots were synthesized via single injection of a R 3 PS-R 3 PSe mixture to cadmium oleate at 250 degree C. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV/Vis and PL optical spectroscopy reveal that relative R 3 PS and R 3 PSe reactivity dictates CdS 1 -xSe x dot chalcogen content and the extent of radial alloying (alloys vs core/shells). CdS, CdSe, and CdS 1 -x Se x quantum rods were synthesized by injection of a single R 3 PE (E = S or Se) precursor or a R 3 PS-R 3 PSe mixture to cadmium-phosphonate at 320 or 250 degree C. XRD and TEM reveal that the length-to-diameter aspect ratio of CdS and CdSe nanorods is inversely proportional to R 3PE precursor reactivity. Purposely matching or mismatching R 3 PS-R 3 PSe precursor reactivity leads to CdS 1 -x Se x nanorods without or with axial composition gradients, respectively. We expect these observations will lead to scalable and highly predictable "bottom-up" programmed syntheses of finely heterostructured nanomaterials with well-defined architectures and properties that are tailored for precise applications. P reparative nanotechnology or "nanomanufacturing" is rapidly evolving toward fabrication of ever more complex materials with precise structure and properties. Tuning composition, relative configuration, and spatial arrangement of heterostructured nanomaterials can impact our ability to engineer and direct energy flows at the nanoscale. In the case of II 3 VI and IV 3 VI semiconductors, composition control has been demonstrated for homogeneously alloyed CdS 1Àx Se x , 1À4 CdS 1Àx Te x , 5 CdSe 1Àx Te x , 6 PbS x Se 1Àx , PbS x Te 1Àx , and PbSe x Te 1Àx 7 nanocrystals with size-and composition-tunable band gaps. 4,8,9 In some cases, a nonlinear relationship between composition and absorption/emission energies, called optical bowing, resulted in new properties not obtainable from the parent binary systems. 3 For example, CdS x Te 1Àx nanocrystals displayed small absorptionÀ emission spectral overlap, up to 150 nm Stokes shifts, and significantly red-shifted PL with respect to CdS and CdTe nanocrystals. 5 Controlling nanocrystal morphology is key to controlling nanocrystal properties. 10À14 A common technique to produce nanorods, for example, is to perform slow and/or subsequent reactant injections. 15À17 In i...

The binding of carbon monoxide, a competitive inhibitor of many hydrogenases, to the active site of Desulfovibrio fructosovorans hydrogenase has been studied by infrared spectroscopy in a spectroelectrochemical cell. Direct evidence has been obtained of which redox states of the enzyme can bind extrinsic CO. Redox states A, B and SU do not bind extrinsic CO; only after reductive activation of the hydrogenase can CO bind to the active site. Two states with bound extrinsic CO can be distinguished by FTIR. These two states are in redox equilibrium and are most probably due to different oxidation states of the proximal 4Fe-4S cluster. Vibrational frequencies and theoretical quantum mechanics studies (DFT) of this process preclude the possibility of strong bonding of extrinsic CO to the Fe or Ni atoms of the active site. We propose that CO inhibition is caused by weak interaction of the extrinsic ligand with the Ni atom, blocking electron and proton transfer at the active site. A calculated structure with a weakly bound extrinsic CO at Ni has relative CO frequencies in excellent agreement with the experimental ones.

Various states or forms of the active site in Ni-Fe hydrogenase, both catalytically active and inactive forms, have been identified and investigated experimentally. Until recently, the geometric structure of each form remained an open question. Several recent theoretical studies with density functional theory have attempted to redress this deficiency. In this commentary, the similarities and differences among the structures proposed by these studies will be addressed.