The use of individual molecules as functional electronic devices was first proposed in the 1970s (ref 1) Since then, molecular electronics2,3 has attracted much interest, particularly because it could lead to conceptually new miniaturization strategies in the electronics and computer industry The realization of single-molecule devices has remained challenging, largely owing to difficulties in achieving electrical contact to individual molecules Recent advances in nanotechnology, however, have resulted in electrical measurements on single molecules4,5,6,7 Here we report the fabrication of a field-effect transistor—a three-terminal switching device—that consists of one semiconducting8,9,10 single-wall carbon nanotube11,12 connected to two metal electrodes By applying a voltage to a gate electrode, the nanotube can be switched from a conducting to an insulating state We have previously reported5 similar behaviour for a metallic single-wall carbon nanotube operated at extremely low temperatures The present device, in contrast, operates at room temperature, thereby meeting an important requirement for potential practical applications Electrical measurements on the nanotube transistor indicate that its operation characteristics can be qualitatively described by the semiclassical band-bending models currently used for traditional semiconductor devices The fabrication of the three-terminal switching device at the level of a single molecule represents an important step towards molecular electronics

Room-temperature transistor based on a single carbon nanotube

The high-pressure transformation in MgSiO3 and those in the spinel phases of compositions from Mg2SiO4 to (Mg0.5Fe0.5)2SiO4 in the Mg2SiO4-Fe2SiO4 system were investigated using a uniaxial split-sphere apparatus. The phase boundaries between ilmenite-perovskite in MgSiO3 and between Mg2SiO4 spinel and the assemblage of MgSiO3 perovskite and MgO periclase were determined to be P(GPa) = 26.8–0.0025T(°C) and P(GPa) = 27.6–0.0028T(°C), respectively, in the temperature range 1000–1600°C. The pseudobinary diagrams for the system Mg2SiO4-Fe2SiO4 were determined at temperatures of 1100°C and 1600°C. It was demonstrated that the magnesian spinel (with Fe/Mg + Fe < 0.22 at 1100°C and <0.26 at 1600°C) dissociates into perovskite and magnesiowustite within an extremely narrow pressure interval (<0.15 GPa at 1600°C). The dissociation pressure was found to be almost independent of iron content and to coincide to that at 670 km depth within experimental uncertainties. These experimental results indicate that the sharpness of the 670-km discontinuity may indeed be due to this dissociation in a peridotitic or pyrolitic mantle. The current status of our understanding of deep mantle mineralogy and chemistry is discussed based on recent high-pressure and high-temperature experiments.

Postspinel transformations in the system Mg2SiO4‐Fe2SiO4 and some geophysical implications

Changes in the global water cycle can cause major environmental and socioeconomic impacts. As the average global temperature increases, it is generally expected that the air will become drier and that evaporation from terrestrial water bodies will increase. Paradoxically, terrestrial observations over the past 50 years show the reverse. Here, we show that the decrease in evaporation is consistent with what one would expect from the observed large and widespread decreases in sunlight resulting from increasing cloud coverage and aerosol concentration.

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The cause of decreased pan evaporation over the past 50 years.

Advances in the accuracy and efficiency of first-principles electronic structure calculations have allowed detailed studies of the energetics of materials under high pressures. At the same time, improvements in the resolution of powder x-ray diffraction experiments and more sophisticated methods of data analysis have revealed the existence of many new and unexpected high-pressure phases. The most complete set of theoretical and experimental data obtained to date is for the group-IVA elements and the group-IIIA--VA and IIB--VIA compounds. Here the authors review the currently known structures and high-pressure behavior of these materials and the theoretical work that has been done on them. The capabilities of modern first-principles methods are illustrated by a full comparison with the experimental data.

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High-pressure phases of group-IV, III–V, and II–VI compounds

The crystal structures of three forms of poly(vinylidene fluoride) were studied by X-ray diffraction method. Although the structure of form I has been determined to be a fully extended planar zigzag by Lando, et al. [orthorhombic; a=8.58 A, b=4.91 A, and c(fiber axis)=2.56 A; space group Cm2m(C2v14)], an alternately-deflected molecular structure was postulated in order to release the steric hindrance between the fluorine atoms along the chain. A satistically disordered packing of such deflected chains satisfies the observed fiber period and improves appreciably the structure factor agreement. Form II is monoclinic [pseudo-orthorhombic; a=4.96 A, b=9.64 A, c(fiber axis)=4.62 A, and β=90°; space group P21/c(C2h5)], and its cell contains two molecular chains. The molecular conformation is essentially the TGTG type (internal rotation angles, 179° and 45°), and the glide plane of the molecular chain coincides with the c glide plane of the lattice. It is suggested that form III is monoclinic [a=8.66 A, b=4.93 A, c(fiber axis)=2.58 A, and β=97°; space group C121(C23)], and the structural features similar to that of form I.

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Crystal Structures of Three Crystalline Forms of Poly(vinylidene fluoride)

A split sphere apparatus has been developed to generate exceedingly high hydrostatic pressures more than 300 kilobars at temperatures over 1500°C in a sample chamber of ample volume. The calibration of pressures is made by the use of known phase transition points in Bi, Fe, and Pb. The calibration above the Pb point (161 kilobars) is discussed in terms of resistance changes for In and CdS previously reported by Drickamer et al.

The Generation of Ultrahigh Hydrostatic Pressures by a Split Sphere Apparatus

Oscillating Geomagnetic Field with a Recurring Reversal Discovered from Lake Biwa

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Naoto Kawai

Papers

The Generation of Ultrahigh Hydrostatic Pressures by a Split Sphere Apparatus

Oscillating Geomagnetic Field with a Recurring Reversal Discovered from Lake Biwa

A High Pressure Hexagonal Form of MgSiO 3

High-pressure X-ray diffraction studies on β- and γ-Mg2SiO4

Synthesis of γ-Mg2SiO4