The frequency of exposure to strong magnetic fields has increased as the magnetic-resonance image-diagnostic technique (MRI) and passenger transport systems based on the principle of magnetic levitation have come into wider use. Accordingly, it has become necessary to more systematically assess their influence on the body and set strict guidelines on acceptable limits of magnetism exposure. Therefore, we have assessed the influence of an uniform static magnetic field (8 T in maximum) on normal erythrocytes. The erythrocytes were oriented with their disk plane parallel to the magnetic field direction. These erythrocytes were influenced even by 1 T and almost 100% of them were oriented when exposed to 4 T. Furthermore, the degree of orientation was not influenced by the state of hemoglobin (oxy: diamagnetic, deoxy and met: paramagnetic). The dependence of the measured degree of orientation on the intensity of the magnetic field was in good agreement with the theoretical equation for the magnetic orientation of diamagnetic substances. As a result of a numerical analysis based on the equation, the anisotropic diamagnetic susceptibility of erythrocytes was found to be delta chi = 8 x 10(-22) electromagnetic units/erythrocyte. It was almost in agreement with the calculated value delta chi = 6 x 10(-22) emu/erythrocyte estimated from the diamagnetism of the membrane constituents of erythrocyte.

The structural and electronic properties of naphthalene adsorbed on graphene are studied from first principles using the van der Waals density functional method. It is shown that naphthalene molecules are stabilized by forming a superstructure with the periodicity of (2 √ 3 × 2 √ 3) and a tilted molecular adsorption geometry on graphene, in good agreement with the scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) experiments on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. Our results predict that image potential states (IPSs) are induced by intermolecular interaction on the naphthalene overlayer, hybridizing with the IPSs derived from graphene. The resultant hybrid IPSs are characterized by anisotropic effective mass reflecting the molecular structure of naphthalene. By means of STM simulations, we reveal that one of the hybrid IPSs manifests itself as an oval protrusion distinguishable from naphthalene molecular orbitals, which identifies the origin of an experimental STM image previously attributed to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of naphthalene.

Direct hybridization between the π‐orbital of a conjugated molecule and metal electrodes is recognized as a new anchoring strategy to enhance the electrical conductance of single‐molecule junctions. The anchor is expected to maintain direct hybridization between the conjugated molecule and the metal electrodes, and control the orientation of the molecule against the metal electrodes. However, fulfilling both requirements is difficult because multipodal anchors aiming at a robust contact with the electrodes often break the π‐conjugation, thereby resulting in an inefficient carrier transport. Herein, a new tripodal anchor framework—a 7,7‐diphenyl‐7H‐benzo[6,7]indeno[1,2‐b]thiophene (PBIT) derivative—is developed. In this framework, π‐conjugation is maintained in the molecular junction, and the tripodal structure makes the molecule stand upright on the metal electrode. Molecular conductance is measured by the break junction technique. A vector‐based classification and first‐principles transport calculations determine the single‐molecule conductance of the tripodal‐anchoring structure. The conductance of the PBIT‐based molecule is higher than that of the tripodal anchor having sp3 carbon atoms in the carrier transport pathway. These results demonstrate that extending the π‐conjugation to the tripodal leg is an effective strategy for enhancing the conductivities of single‐molecule junctions.

A series of electron-accepting π-conjugated molecules having fluorine-containing dicyanovinylidene as terminal groups has been synthesized for the application to electron-transporting semiconductors. This terminal group can be easily incorporated into π-conjugated frameworks. Electrochemical measurements indicated that these compounds showed low-lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy levels, which could be fine-tuned by the combination of central unit. The thin films fabricated by solution process showed typical electron-transporting characteristics in field-effect transistors.

In article number 2006709, Tatsuhiko Ohto, Ryo Yamada, Hirokazu Tada, Yoshio Aso, Yutaka Ie, and co‐workers report a tripodal anchor that maintains p‐conjugation through an electrode, anchor, and molecular backbone. Single‐molecular conductance measurements and theoretical calculations reveal that this tripodal anchor molecule shows improved electrical conductance.