We have demonstrated that ubiquitous van der Waals forces are significant in controlling the interactions between nanoparticles and nanotubes. The adsorption of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on nanotubes (MWNTs) obeys a simple quadratic dependence on the nanotube surface area, regardless of the source of AuNPs and MWNTs. Changes in the geometric parameters of the components have pronounced effects on the affinity of nanoparticles for nanotubes, with larger, more polarizable nanostructures exhibiting stronger attractive interactions, the impact of which changes in the following order MWNT diameter > AuNP diameter > MWNT length.

A photoinduced charge transfer process within the framework of a coordination network leads to an irreversible process that facilitates writing on crystals.

The solid state structures of alkali metal complexes of the 1,3,6,8-tetra-tert-butylcarbazol-9-yl ((t)Bu4carb(-)) ligand are compared. Lithium complex [(t)Bu4carbLi]2 ([1]2) is a dimer in the solid state featuring a planar LiNLiN rhomboid ring, with the differing Li-N distances within the ring due to the effects of σ- and π-interactions. Recrystallization of lithium, sodium, and potassium complexes of the 1,3,6,8-tetra-tert-butylcarbazol-9-yl ligand from THF leads to the formation of (t)Bu4carbLi(THF)2 (1·2THF), (t)Bu4carbNa(THF)3 (2·3THF), and (t)Bu4carbK(THF)4 (3·4THF), respectively, in the solid state. For these THF adducts, on proceeding from lithium to sodium to potassium there is an increase in hapticity of the binding of the carbazol-9-yl ligands to the metal cations, mirroring the increasing ionic bonding character in these compounds.

A single centre water splitting dye complex (aqua(2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid)-(2,2':6',6''-terpyridine)Ruthenium(II)), along with a related complex ((2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid)-(2,2':6',6''-terpyridine)chloride Ruthenium(II)), has been investigated using photoemission and compared to molecules with similar structures. Dye molecules were deposited in situ using ultra-high vacuum electrospray deposition, which allows for the deposition of thermally labile molecules, such as these dye molecules. Adsorption of the dye molecules on the rutile TiO(2)(110) surface has been studied using core-level and valence photoemission. Core-level photoemission spectra reveal that each complex bonds to the surface via deprotonation of its carboxylic acid groups. A consideration of the energy level alignments reveals that both complexes are capable of charge transfer from the adsorbed molecules to the conduction band of the rutile TiO(2) substrate.