Very recently, Rotello¡¦s research group synthesized nanoparticles bearing terpyridine (terpy) ligands and studied their self-assembly using a variety of transition metals. This paper describes a synthetic pathway to ferrocene- and biferrocene-functionalized terpyridine octanethiols, and the studies of self-organization of ferrocene- and biferrocene-functionalized terpyridine octanethiols chemisorbed on Au nanoparticles.

The preparation and spectroscopic characterizations of size-controlled Pyridine-functionalized gold clusters formed self-assembled 2D superlattices with hexagonal packing were studied. The characterizations of pyridine-modified Au clusters using TEM, UV-vis, NMR and ESCA techniques are also reported. Pyridine-functionalized monolayer-protected Au clusters (MPCs) were prepared as illustrated in Scheme 1. The gold nanoparticles prepared by the reduction with NaBH4 have 3.2 ¡Ó 0.88 nm average core diameters established by TEM. The ~3 nm particles were used to induce size and shap evolution with heating treatment in toluene or in TOABr (tetraoctylammonium bromide). The pyridine-functionalized MPCs exhibit an identifiable plasmon resonance band at ~515 nm. The confirmation of the functionalization of pyridyl octanethiol in Au MPCs came from the downfield NMR resonances in the region of 120-150 ppm, which were established the resonances of the Py moiety.

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As the fast progress of world economy and information technologies, each major business in Taiwan is now thinking hardly to find out a upgrade path to adapt to the outside environment¡¦s changes. The gold and jewelry industry in Taiwan cannot be an exception. Both of traditional jewelry dealers or the newly emerged jewelry associate have all been well developed. If they want to have another breakthrough in business, they should consider of using the power of information technology to recreate a new business model so that the overall industry will be benefit. Thus it is the time for business owners to understand information techniques and internet, and start thinking how to use it to change the way of running his business. The approach of this study uses the methodology of exploration research. It is done in two paths. The ¡§inside out¡¨ path first collects the real data from business, identifies its current issues and difficulties through strategy analysis, and then finds out possible solutions. The ¡§outside in¡¨ path refers to the successful business strategies and models that are currently using in ecommerce from other businesses, and thinking inwardly to see if any of them can be adopted. Then the results from the two paths of research are compared with pros and cons. Those that are feasible in gold and jewelry industry are classified and ranked. In the end of this paper, it also suggests two strategies about how to introduce ecommerce to the gold and jewelry industry for reference. Their possible IT strategies and business models are described.

We examine the electrochemical properties of SAM of alkanethiols terminated with biferrocenyl group (complex 7) to understand the interactions between metal surface and molecules. The cyclic voltammogram of complex 8 shows two successive reversible one-electron redox waves corresponding to the oxidation of the biferrocenyl moiety and all peak-to-peak separations are smaller than 59 mV (ideal value of one electron transfer with diffusing controlling). In addition, the peak currents are linear to scan rate, i.e., i£\V. This observation is corresponding to the electrochemical property of SAM, and we would like to suggest that the electron transfer process in the electrochemical measurements is direct controlling. Furthermore, we synthesized a nano-material by using of redox stable biferrocenylalkanethiol attached to gold cluster (complex 10). The clusters are stable in air, soluble in nonpolar organic solvents and the characters could be examining by traditional chemical instruments such as NMR, IR, UV/Vis, TEM. The cyclic voltammogram shows that the electron transfer process in the electrochemical measurements is also direct controlling. Finally, the well-known mechanism of intramolecular electron transfer in mixed-valence biferroceniums and the stable biferrocene on Au (111) surface and on gold clusters let to the more advanced concept. We believe that the microstructure of biferrocene assembled on an electrode surface or on gold clusters might enable to carry out a particular function extraordinarily well, for example, optical switch.

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¡@Complex nano-architectures of different materials have very interesting geometry. Combining different metallic nanoparticles should allow the manufacture of novel nanocomposite materials with a plethora of exploitable electronic, optical, and magnetic properties. ¡@Thiolate-capped Au nanoparticles prepared by Brust-Schiffrin two phase method and carboxylate-capped Ag nanoparticles prepared by our one-step synthetic method are reported. ¡@We also developed and prepared Ag colloidal solution which can be used to form a high valuable conductive thin film by spin coating on Si wafer. Specific resistivity of 6.097 £g£[¡Ecm for the silver metallic film (0.7 £gm) on the Si wafer can be simply produced by thermal annealing of Ag MPCs film under an atmosphere of 10 % H2-90 % N2 at 300 ¢J for 1 h. Furthermore, it can be applied to make a micro-circuit by ink-jet printing technique. ¡@The characterizations of TEM, PXRD, UV-Visible, NMR, FT-IR, ESCA, TGA, TA-MS, EI-MS and SEM of Au and Ag nanoparticles are described. ¡@We hope the thiolate-capped Au nanoparticles and carboxylate-capped Ag nanoparticles could spontaneously self-connect to form the nanoscale alloy superlattice structure by the molecular recognizable bifuctional linkage.

In recent years, the main determinants of gold price have changed worldwide due to the increasing demand of gold. Additionally, TAIFEX provided investors with anothor trading instruments by launching US Dollar-denominated Gold Futures. Therefore, Taiwan gold market and stock market might interact more closely than before. The purpose of this study was to examine the endogenous relationship between gold price and stock price, and then analyze both markets with multi-equation simulation model and two-stage least squares method. The result shows that there is endogenous relationship between these two variables. Besides, depreciation of US dollar would lead to a rise in gold price which is denominated by US dollar. Exchange rate and stock price also moved in opposite directions. Finally, the launching of gold futures truly interested the investors and boosted the gold price.