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The growth of an ordered thin film of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite at high substrate temperatures was studied. High-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy investigation revealed that the CuPc molecules remained lying flat on the substrate throughout the growth from monolayer to multilayer. Scanning tunneling microscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements showed the CuPc thin film assumed a dense-packed structure in the horizontal direction and a face-to-face stacking mode in the surface normal direction. The totality of the results presented a clear view of the orderly growth process of CuPc molecules.

The growth morphology and mechanism of pentacene films on native Si oxide surface have been studied by using high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Despite the good agreement between our own and the reported XRD results, the previous XRD interpretation that the pentacene molecules are tilt-standing on the substrate cannot explain our HREELS data. The HREELS results show that a substantial portion of the first two layers of pentacene molecules are tilted-standing or randomly oriented, whereas the upper-layer molecules are mostly lying flat to the substrate. AFM reveals that the first two layers of molecules form a flat and smooth surface, but the upper layers show a rough terrace structure with a mean-square roughness equal to the average thickness (without counting the first two layers). This relationship is explained by a theoretical model which assumes the pentacene molecules to remain on a particular molecule layer after arrival. The observed film growth morphology may have significant implication on the performance of electronic devices based on pentacene thin films. A plausible explanation was proposed for the discrepancy between the HREELS-indicated and the XRD-derived molecular orientations.

Soft supramolecular triangles: The molecule shown displays a new liquid‐crystalline phase formed by a periodic array of triangular cylinders. The cylinders are fused to form a honeycomb by hydrogen‐bonding networks running along the vertices, and the cells are filled by molten alkyl chains. The thickness of the walls separating the compartments is equal to the width of the π‐conjugated rods.

Novel bolaamphilic triblock molecules consisting of a bent 2,5-diphenylthiophene unit, two terminal glycerol units, and a lateral n-alkyl chain have been synthesized via Ni-and Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions as key steps. The thermotropic liquid crystalline behavior of these compounds was investigated by polarized light optical microscopy, DSC, and X-ray scattering and the influence of the length of the lateral alkyl chains on the mesomorphic properties was studied. With elongation of the lateral alkyl chains, three different columnar phases (Col squ /p4mm, Col squ /p4gm and Col hex /p6mm), representing polygonal cylinder structures were found, where the cells have a square, pentagonal, and hexagonal cross-section, respectively. In the observed phase sequence, the change of the net topology is the same as seen for related linear biphenyl derived bolaamphiphiles, but the symmetry is increased, i.e, rectangular phases are replaced by square lattices.

There is an increased need for improved and affordable insect repellents to reduce transmission of rapidly spreading diseases with high mortality rates. Natural products are often used when DEET cannot be afforded or accessed and when consumers choose not to use a synthetic repellent. The essential oils from two newly bred Nepeta cataria (catnip) plants representing two different chemotypes and their respective isolated nepetalactone isomers were evaluated as mosquito repellents against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmit the Zika and Dengue virus in a one choice landing rate inhibition assay. A dose response curve was generated for each treatment and a time course analysis of repellency was performed over 24 hours with a N. cataria essential oil sample. The results indicate that all essential oil samples and their respective purified nepetalactone isomers were able to achieve greater than 95% repellency. Between two and four hours, the ability to repel more than 95% of the mosquitoes diminished. At the lowest concentrations tested, the nepetalactones and crude essential oil samples were more effective than DEET at reducing the number of mosquito landings.

Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense (FOC) is a causal agent of vascular wilt and leaf chlorosis of banana plants. Chloroses resulting from FOC occur first in the lowest leaves of banana seedlings and gradually progress upward. To investigate the responses of different leaf positions to FOC infection, hydroponic experiments with FOC inoculation were conducted in a greenhouse. Fusarium-infected seedlings exhibited a decrease in net photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate of all leaves. The wilting process in Fusarium-infected seedlings varied with leaf position. Measurements of the maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (F(V)/F(max) and visualization with transmission electron microscopy showed a positive correlation between chloroplast impairment and severity of disease symptoms. Furthermore, results of malondialdehyde content and relative membrane conductivity measurements demonstrated that the membrane system was damaged in infected leaves. Additionally, the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase were increased and total soluble phenolic compounds were significantly accumulated in the leaves of infected plants. The structural and biochemical changes of infected plants was consistent with plant senescence. As the FOC was not detected in infected leaves, we proposed that the chloroplast and membrane could be damaged by fusaric acid produced by Fusarium. During the infection, fusaric acid was first accumulated in the lower leaves and water-soluble substances in the lower leaves could dramatically enhance fusaric acid production. Taken together, the senescence of infected banana plants was induced by Fusarium infection with fusaric acid production and the composition of different leaf positions largely contribute to the particular senescence process.