Buried graphene heterostructures for electrostatic doping of low-dimensional materials.

The fabrication and characterization of steep slope transistor devices based on low-dimensional materials requires precise electrostatic doping profiles with steep spatial gradients in order to maintain maximum control over the channel. In this proof-of-concept study we present a versatile graphene heterostructure platform with three buried individually addressable gate electrodes. The platform is based on a vertical stack of embedded titanium and graphene separated by an intermediate oxide to provide an almost planar surface. We demonstrate the functionality and advantages of the platform by exploring transfer and output characteristics at different temperatures of carbon nanotube field-effect transistors with different electrostatic doping configurations. Furthermore, we back up the concept with finite element simulations to investigate the surface potential. The presented heterostructure is an ideal platform for analysis of electrostatic doping of low-dimensional materials for novel low-power transistor devices.

Multi-band magnetotransport in exfoliated thin films of Cu x Bi2Se3.

We report magnetotransport studies in thin (<100 nm) exfoliated films of Cu x Bi2Se3 and we detect an unusual electronic transition at low temperatures. Bulk crystals show weak superconductivity with [Formula: see text] K and a possible electronic phase transition around 200 K. Following exfoliation, superconductivity is supressed and a strongly temperature dependent multi-band conductivity is observed for T < 30 K. This transition between competing conducting channels may be enhanced due to the presence of electronic ordering, and could be affected by the presence of an effective internal stress due to Cu intercalation. By fitting to the weak antilocalisation conductivity correction at low magnetic fields we confirm that the low temperature regime maintains a quantum phase coherence length [Formula: see text] nm indicating the presence of topologically protected surface states.

Atomic layer deposited oxide films as protective interface layers for integrated graphene transfer.

The transfer of chemical vapour deposited graphene from its parent growth catalyst has become a bottleneck for many of its emerging applications. The sacrificial polymer layers that are typically deposited onto graphene for mechanical support during transfer are challenging to remove completely and hence leave graphene and subsequent device interfaces contaminated. Here, we report on the use of atomic layer deposited (ALD) oxide films as protective interface and support layers during graphene transfer. The method avoids any direct contact of the graphene with polymers and through the use of thicker ALD layers (≥100 nm), polymers can be eliminated from the transfer-process altogether. The ALD film can be kept as a functional device layer, facilitating integrated device manufacturing. We demonstrate back-gated field effect devices based on single-layer graphene transferred with a protective Al2O3 film onto SiO2 that show significantly reduced charge trap and residual carrier densities. We critically discuss the advantages and challenges of processing graphene/ALD bilayer structures.

Giant quantum Hall plateaus generated by charge transfer in epitaxial graphene.

Epitaxial graphene has proven itself to be the best candidate for quantum electrical resistance standards due to its wide quantum Hall plateaus with exceptionally high breakdown currents. However one key underlying mechanism, a magnetic field dependent charge transfer process, is yet to be fully understood. Here we report measurements of the quantum Hall effect in epitaxial graphene showing the widest quantum Hall plateau observed to date extending over 50 T, attributed to an almost linear increase in carrier density with magnetic field. This behaviour is strong evidence for field dependent charge transfer from charge reservoirs with exceptionally high densities of states in close proximity to the graphene. Using a realistic framework of broadened Landau levels we model the densities of donor states and predict the field dependence of charge transfer in excellent agreement with experimental results, thus providing a guide towards engineering epitaxial graphene for applications such as quantum metrology.

Hot carrier relaxation of Dirac fermions in bilayer epitaxial graphene.

Energy relaxation of hot Dirac fermions in bilayer epitaxial graphene is experimentally investigated by magnetotransport measurements on Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations and weak localization. The hot-electron energy loss rate is found to follow the predicted Bloch-Grüneisen power-law behaviour of T(4) at carrier temperatures from 1.4 K up to ∼100 K, due to electron-acoustic phonon interactions with a deformation potential coupling constant of 22 eV. A carrier density dependence n(e)(-1.5) in the scaling of the T(4) power law is observed in bilayer graphene, in contrast to the n(e)(-0.5) dependence in monolayer graphene, leading to a crossover in the energy loss rate as a function of carrier density between these two systems. The electron-phonon relaxation time in bilayer graphene is also shown to be strongly carrier density dependent, while it remains constant for a wide range of carrier densities in monolayer graphene. Our results and comparisons between the bilayer and monolayer exhibit a more comprehensive picture of hot carrier dynamics in graphene systems.

Phase space for the breakdown of the quantum Hall effect in epitaxial graphene.

We report the phase space defined by the quantum Hall effect breakdown in polymer gated epitaxial graphene on SiC (SiC/G) as a function of temperature, current, carrier density, and magnetic fields up to 30 T. At 2 K, breakdown currents (I(c)) almost 2 orders of magnitude greater than in GaAs devices are observed. The phase boundary of the dissipationless state (ρ(xx)=0) shows a [1-(T/T(c))2] dependence and persists up to T(c)>45 K at 29 T. With magnetic field I(c) was found to increase ∝B(3/2) and T(c)∝B2. As the Fermi energy pproaches the Dirac point, the ν=2 quantized Hall plateau appears continuously from fields as low as 1 T up to at least 19 T due to a strong magnetic field dependence of the carrier density.

Orally absorbable cephalosporin antibiotics. 1. Structure-activity relationships of benzothienyl- and naphthylglycine derivatives of 7-aminodeacetoxycephalosporanic acid.

A structure-activity relationship study of a number of orally absorbed cephalosporins together with their syntheses is described. These new cephalosporins are benzothienyl- and naphthylglycine derivatives of 7-aminodeacetoxycephalosporanic acid. Several different synthetic methods for the glycine side chains, their protection, and the final acylations are reported. Several of these analogues were more active than cephalexin both in vitro and in vivo against commonly encountered Gram-positive bacteria. (R)-7-(3-Benzothienylglycylamido)-3-methyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid (1R) has emerged as a potent antibacterial agent and is currently undergoing preclinical evaluation.

Dynamics of the control of body pattern in the development of Xenopus laevis. II. Timing and pattern in the development of single blastomeres (presumptive lateral halves) isolated at the 2-cell stage.

Xenopus embryos have been selected in which the first cleavage plane is tending strongly to correspond with that of bilateral symmetry for the future larval pattern. The two blastomeres produced by this cleavage have been separated and allowed to develop as reciprocal pairs of presumptive lateral-half isolates. The early development and the time course of the gastrulation movements, and the qualitative and quantitative aspects of larval mesodermal patterns, have been studied in relation to synchronously fertilized controls. The result is restoration of bilateral symmetry for developmental potential, and production of a pair of small gastrulae and larvae with qualitatively complete body plans but 50% of control cell numbers each (see Kageura & Yamana, 1983). Most commonly, however, the resulting small patterns deviate from the normal range in their proportions in at least one of two ways. The notochord territory is rarely, if ever, under-represented (i.e. notochords contain at least 50% control cell numbers) but it is frequently over-represented, in some cases approximating that of control whole embryos. Reciprocal pairs of isolates thus tend, on average, to produce more notochordal tissue than they would have if developing normally. Secondly, the balance of cell population sizes assigned to somites up and down the axis is altered so that relatively anterior members of the series are less scaled down than those in trunk and tail regions. The mesodermal plan developed by a lateral-half isolate is thus characteristically intermediate between that of a small, harmonious larva (the proportional presumptive fates of the materials, apart from loss of bilaterality), and that of the mosaically developing presumptive dorsoanterior cell pair from the 4-cell stage, discussed in the previous paper. A minority of the lateral isolates does develop a harmonious and thus well-regulated body plan, however, and the normality or otherwise of the schedules of gastrulation timing in isolates seems a good predictor of their morphogenetic performance in this respect. The results are discussed as informing us about the dynamics of the interactions, prior to gastrular stages, that underlie the normal mesoderm development.

Dynamics of the control of body pattern in the development of Xenopus laevis. I. Timing and pattern in the development of dorsoanterior and posterior blastomere pairs, isolated at the 4-cell stage.

Xenopus embryos have been selected in which the second cleavage is occurring in a frontal plane, i.e. one tending to lie at right angles to the prospective plane of bilateral symmetry for the body pattern. Some of these have been used to deduce a map of the disposition of materials for the normal mesodermal pattern (the normal 'fate map') by injecting blastomeres to found fluorescently marked clones from 4- to 32-cell stages. Other such 4-cell embryos have been separated into two isolates across this second cleavage; in fate-map terms, prospective dorsoanterior and posterior isolates. These have been allowed to develop to control axial larval stages, with examination of the time schedule of their gastrulation movements in relation to cofertilized whole controls. The patterns of mesoderm produced have been examined and interpreted in the light of quantitative knowledge about the normal pattern, and our current understanding of the map. A meaningful fate map exists for the egg material even at this early, essentially acellular stage, and it differs appreciably from what might have been expected in view of that traditionally shown for early gastrula stages. The patterns developed in the isolates show that at least in many eggs, widespread information that positively specifies material as to its body position is available from at most 1 h after the events that give rise to bilateral symmetry upon fertilization. This information usually leads to a mosaic development of the appropriate mesodermal part-pattern in dorsoanterior isolates, and frequently allows development that approximates to this in the reciprocal posterior part. Regulation, i.e. the replacement of removed information to specify a development more complete than the normal contribution in isolates, is not observed. The results suggest a revision of former claims for regulative ability in at least this amphibian embryo. They also imply that systems for ascribing position value (positional information) to early embryonic tissue can be diverse in dynamics, even among embryos whose body plans are obviously homologous as are those of vertebrates.

Moxalactam: the first of a new class of beta-lactam antibiotics.

Moxalactam is the first member of a new class of beta-lactam antibiotics to be evaluated clinically. Although structurally related to cephalosporins, moxalactam has an oxygen atom where the cephalosporin nucleus has a sulfur atom. The substitution of oxygen for sulfur in moxalactam provides it with greater antibacterial activity than that of its cephalosporin analog. Moxalactam has three other structural elements that affect biologic activity: the methyltetrazolethio moiety, which maximizes in vitro activity; the 7-alpha-methoxy substituent, which confers beta-lactamase stability; and the p-hydroxyphenylmalonyl group, which positively influences not only beta-lactamase stability and the antibacterial spectrum of moxalactam, but also its pharmacokinetics, and leads to a long half-life without high serum binding.

Cephalosporanic acids: a new look at reactions at the C-3' position.

Nucleophilic displacement of the acetoxy group of cephalosporanic acids by thiols in aqueous solution at neutral pH provides 3-thiomethyl-substituted compounds with a broad spectrum of antibiotic activity. The aqueous displacement reaction is often destructive of much of the cephalosporanic acid, and products generally require extensive purification. Displacements at a lower pH are complicated by unwanted lactone formation. However, reactions conducted under acid conditions in a variety of anhydrous organic solvents give 3-thiomethyl-substituted compounds in very high yield and quality; no lactone formation is observed. The kinetics of the reaction support an SN1 mechanism. Protonation of the departing acetoxy group appears therefore critical; the more basic solvents, e.g. dimethylsulphoxide and N,N-dimethylformamide, significantly retard the rate of reaction.

Cefamandole---a review of chemistry and microbiology.

The discovery of cephalosporin C and its conversion to 7-aminocephalosporanic acid (7-ACA) are reviewed. The syntheses of cefamandole and three other injectable cephalosporins from 7-ACA are described, and the antibiotic properties of the four drugs are compared. The microbiological potency of cefamandole is comparable to that of cephalothin, cephaloridine, and cefazolin against gram-positive organisms. Cefamandole is the most potent of the four compounds against gram-negative bacteria. In addition, cefamandole inhibits Enterobacter and strains of indole-positive Proteus which have been traditionally resistant to the cephalosporins. For pharmaceutical reasons cefamandole nafate was chosen for the clinical formulation of the antibiotic.

Chemistry of cephalosporin antibiotics. 28. Preparation and biological activity of 3-(substituted)vinyl cephalosporins.

3-(Substituted)vinylcephem nuclei have been prepared by the reaction of 3-formylcephem derivatives with stabilized phosphoranes. Appropriate synthetic steps allowed preparation of a series of 3-ethoxycarbonylvinyl- and 3-carboxyvinylcephem derivatives bearing a variety of 7-acylamino functions. The phenoxyacetyl and thiopheneacetyl derivatives of the 3-cyanovinylcephem nucleus were also prepared. Although general gram-positive activity was comparable to cephalothin in many cases, against penicillin G resistant Staphylococcus aureus, the new cephalosporins were of low effectiveness. The 3-(substituted)vinyl cephalosporins had good activity against a number of gram-negative organisms. In some cases, this activity was excellent. The N-acetyl analogs had surprisingly good activity relative to N-acetyl-7-ACA. The phenylmalonoyl side-chain derivatives were shown to have an unusual antibacterial spectrum expansion (relative to previously known cephalosporins) to include activity against Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.