A new single crystal from isotopically enriched silicon was used to determine the Avogadro constant N A by the x-ray-crystal density method. The new crystal, named Si28-23Pr11, has a higher enrichment than the former 'AVO28' crystal allowing a smaller uncertainty of the molar mass determination. Again, two 1 kg spheres were manufactured from this crystal. The crystal and the spheres were measured with improved and new methods. One sphere, Si28kg01a, was measured at NMIJ and PTB with very consistent results. The other sphere, Si28kg01b, was measured only at PTB and yielded nearly the same Avogadro constant value. The mean result for both 1 kg spheres is N A = 6.022 140 526(70) × 10 23 mol −1 with a relative standard uncertainty of 1.2 × 10 −8 . This value deviates from the Avogadro value published in 2015 for the AVO28 crystal by about 3.9(2.1) × 10 −8 . Possible reasons for this difference are discussed and additional measurements are proposed.

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Mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) such as rotaxanes and catenanes are capable of mechanical motion on the nanoscale and are therefore promising prototypes for molecular machines in recent nanotechnology. However, most of the existing examples are isotropically distributed in solution, which prohibits concerted movement and with it the generation of macroscopic effects. Thus, arranging them in ordered arrays is of huge interest in recent research. We report the deposition of quite densely packed multilayers of tetralactam macrocycles on gold surfaces by metal-coordinated layer-by-layer selfassembly. Linear dichroism effects in angle-resolved NEXAFS spectra indicate a preferential orientation of the macrocycles. The sequence of the metal ions can be programmed by the use of different transition metal ions at each deposition step. Additionally, reversible on-surface pseudorotaxane formation was successfully realized by repeated uptake and release of axle molecules inside the macrocycles cavities.

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For the quantitative surface characterization of a monocrystalline silicon sphere, PTB has constructed and put into operation an analytical instrument, which combines x-ray fluorescence and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques. The main objective of this novel instrument is the characterization of the oxide layer and unintentional contaminations, e.g. from hydrocarbons. It is equipped with a ball manipulator allowing measurements at each point on the surface of ball-shaped samples with a diameter of about 93.7 mm. Monocrystalline silicon spheres with this diameter allow a realization of the SI base unit of mass.