The semiconductor ZnO has gained substantial interest in the research community in part because of its large exciton binding energy (60meV) which could lead to lasing action based on exciton recombination even above room temperature. Even though research focusing on ZnO goes back many decades, the renewed interest is fueled by availability of high-quality substrates and reports of p-type conduction and ferromagnetic behavior when doped with transitions metals, both of which remain controversial. It is this renewed interest in ZnO which forms the basis of this review. As mentioned already, ZnO is not new to the semiconductor field, with studies of its lattice parameter dating back to 1935 by Bunn [Proc. Phys. Soc. London 47, 836 (1935)], studies of its vibrational properties with Raman scattering in 1966 by Damen et al. [Phys. Rev. 142, 570 (1966)], detailed optical studies in 1954 by Mollwo [Z. Angew. Phys. 6, 257 (1954)], and its growth by chemical-vapor transport in 1970 by Galli and Coker [Appl. Phys. ...

/pdf/a-comprehensive-review-of-zno-materials-and-devices-21a3zjadem.pdf

A comprehensive review of zno materials and devices

Raman spectra are reported from single crystals of graphite and other graphite materials. Single crystals of graphite show one single line at 1575 cm−1. For the other materials like stress‐annealed pyrolitic graphite, commercial graphites, activated charcoal, lampblack, and vitreous carbon another line is detected at 1355 cm−1. The Raman intensity of this band is inversely proportional to the crystallite size and is caused by a breakdown of the k‐selection rule. The intensity of this band allows an estimate of the crystallite size in the surface layer of any carbon sample. Two in‐plane force constants are calculated from the frequencies.

Raman Spectrum of Graphite

We present an all atom potential energy function for the simulation of proteins and nucleic acids. This work is an extension of the CH united atom function recently presented by S.J. Weiner et al. J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 106, 765 (1984). The parameters of our function are based on calculations on ethane, propane, n−butane, dimethyl ether, methyl ethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, imidazole, indole, deoxyadenosine, base paired dinucleoside phosphates, adenine, guanine, uracil, cytosine, thymine, insulin, and myoglobin. We have also used these parameters to carry out the first general vibrational analysis of all five nucleic acid bases with a molecular mechanics potential approach.

An all atom force field for simulations of proteins and nucleic acids.

When a molecule absorbs a photon of appropriate energy, a chain of photophysical events ensues, such as internal conversion or vibrational relaxation (loss of energy in the absence of light emission), fluorescence, intersystem crossing (from singlet state to a triplet state) and phosphorescence, as shown in the Jablonski diagram for organic molecules (Fig. 1). Each of the processes occurs with a certain probability, characterized by decay rate constants (k). It can be shown that the average length of time τ for the set of molecules to decay from one state to another is reciprocally proportional to the rate of decay: τ = 1/k. This average length of time is called the mean lifetime, or simply lifetime. It can also be shown that the lifetime of a photophysical process is the time required by a population of N electronically excited molecules to be reduced by a factor of e. Correspondingly, the fluorescence lifetime is the time required by a population of excited fluorophores to decrease exponentially to N/e via the loss of energy through fluorescence and other non-radiative processes. The lifetime of photophycal processes vary significantly from tens of femotoseconds for internal conversion1,2 to nanoseconds for fluorescence and microseconds or seconds for phosphorescence.1






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Figure 1


Jablonski diagram and a timescale of photophysical processes for organic molecules.

/pdf/fluorescence-lifetime-measurements-and-biological-imaging-xfalzh4w7e.pdf

Fluorescence Lifetime Measurements and Biological Imaging

Though the structures presented in crystallographic models of macromolecules appear to possess rock-like solidity, real proteins and nucleic acids are not particularly rigid. Most structural work to date has centred upon the native state of macromolecules, the most probable macromolecular form. But the native state of a molecule is merely its most abundant form, certainly not its only form. Thermodynamics requires that all other possible structural forms, however improbable, must also exist, albeit with representation corresponding to the factor exp( — Gi/RT) for each state of free energy Gi (see Moelwyn-Hughes, 1961), and one appreciates that each molecule within a population of molecules will in time explore the vast ensemble of possible structural states.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0033583500005217

Hydrogen exchange and structural dynamics of proteins and nucleic acids

A general description has been given of an application of the Wilson's GF‐matrix method to the treatment of optically active lattice vibrations. As examples, formulas are derived for the calculation of the frequencies of the lattice vibrations of a one‐dimensional, the diamond, and CaF2 lattices.

Optically Active Lattice Vibrations as Treated by the GF-Matrix Method

Vibrational Spectra of Phosphite and Hypophosphite Anions, and the Characteristic Frequencies of PO3-- and PO2- Groups

Raman spectra of poly(dG).poly(dC) have been observed in aqueous solutions at various ionic strengths, [NaCl] = 0.03 to 4 M, and at different temperatures, 10 to 60 degrees C. At 30 degrees C, and at [NaCl] = 0.03 M, it was found to have a B-form (with O4'endo-anti guanosine and C2'endo-anti cytidine), whereas, at [NaCl] = 4 M, an A form (with C3'endo-anti guanosine and C3'endo-anti cytidine). At 30 degrees C and [NaCl] = 1 M, namely at an intermediate state, a fraction of this molecules was considered to have a "heteronomous A" form (with O4'endo-anti guanosine and C3' endo-anti cytidine). At 60 degrees C and [NaCl] = 1 M, it assumes the B form, and at 10 degrees C and [NaCl] = 1 M, the A form. Cytosine-5-methylation was found to cause a marked stabilization of the A form. Even at [NaCl] = 0.1 M (at 30 degrees C), a substantial portion of poly(dG).poly(dm5C) was found to have a heteronomous form, in which the dG atrand is in the B form and the dC an A form; it never assumes a complete B form.

Salt induced B — A transition of poly(dG).poly(dC) and the stabilization of A form by its methylation

Two types of conformers with distinct Fe-C-O configuration in the ferrous CO complex of horseradish peroxidase. Resonance Raman and infarared spectroscopic studies with native and deuteroheme-substituted enzymes.

The catalytic and allosteric sites of proton translocating adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) were studied by measuring the binding of nucleotides to the ATPase, and its alpha and beta subunits purified from thermophilic bacterium PS3, with a circular dichroic spectrometer. In contrast to mesophilic ATPases, this thermophilic enzmye contained no tightly bound nucleotides, and its subunits were stable after their purification. These properties were advantageous for analyzing both catalytic and allosteric sites. The former site showed rapid and loose binding, but the latter slow (t 1/2 = 1 h, for ADP) and tight binding. When a nucleotide was bound, the beta subunits showed a negative ellipticity at 275 nm corresponding to a tyrosyl residue, while the alpha subunits showed an ellipticity change corresponding to the absorption curve of the bound nucleotide. This difference enabled us to distinguish the binding sites in ATPase. At a low concentration, ADP selectively bound to alpha subunits in the ATPase, while at a high concentration, it bound to both subunits. This finding suggests that the tight binding sites are located in the alpha subunits. Although ADP and ATP bound to both the purified alpha and beta subunits, CTP did not bind to beta but only to alpha subunits, and ITP bound to beta but hardly to alpha. These nucleotide specificities also supported the idea that the catalytic sites are located in the beta subunits and the allosteric sites are located in the alpha subunits.

Masamichi Tsuboi

Papers

Optically Active Lattice Vibrations as Treated by the GF-Matrix Method

Vibrational Spectra of Phosphite and Hypophosphite Anions, and the Characteristic Frequencies of PO3-- and PO2- Groups

Salt induced B — A transition of poly(dG).poly(dC) and the stabilization of A form by its methylation

Two types of conformers with distinct Fe-C-O configuration in the ferrous CO complex of horseradish peroxidase. Resonance Raman and infarared spectroscopic studies with native and deuteroheme-substituted enzymes.

Nucleotide binding to isolated alpha and beta subunits of proton translocating adenosine triphosphatase studied with circular dichroism.