Author Archive

3D graphene adds dimension to deaf–mute communication

Graphical AbstractScientists in China have printed conductive 3D graphene structures and applied them in a wearable electronic device that can translate common sign language gestures into written text. Given the simplicity underpinning its manufacture, during which graphene ink is extruded from a syringe, this material could inject some pace into the printed electronics field.

Wearable and bio-integrated devices are mainstays in medical technology, ranging from adhesive patches that measure heart and respiratory rate to brain–computer interfaces that induce neural activity. Its remarkable mechanical and electrical properties cast graphene, a 2D honeycomb lattice of carbon atoms, as a key future player in the wearable technology arena. However, it is a challenge to preserve the advantages of graphene’s sheet-like nanostructure in a 3D material that – unlike typical 2D materials – can relay information about forces from every angle.

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Three-dimensional multi-recognition flexible wearable sensor via graphene aerogel printing
Boxing An, Ying Ma, Wenbo Li, Meng Su, Fengyu Li and Yanlin Song
Chem. Commun., 2016, 52, 10948-10951
DOI: 10.1039/C6CC05910D, Communication

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Molecular beacon homes in on protein structures

Graphical AbstractTwo separate groups of scientists have developed methods to uncover proteins’ 3D structure inside living animal cells for the first time.

It is vital to know the structure of a protein to understand its chemical and biological functions. Scientists usually need to purify and crystallise a protein to determine its 3D structure by x-ray crystallography. Not only is this process difficult and lengthy, it can also misrepresent the protein’s structure, as the measuring conditions are vastly different from the conditions inside a living cell.

Now, a researcher team led by Xun-Cheng Su from Nankai University in Tianjin, China,Conggang Li at Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Thomas Huber from the Australian National University, has analysed a protein’s structure using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy inside living frog cells.1 The researchers tagged the protein with a beacon, a paramagnetic lanthanide tag, which binds to a cysteine residue on the outside of the protein. ‘The measured effects from the beacons tagged onto the protein give away the positions of the atoms in the protein, in a similar way that a set of satellites can be used to locate the exact position of a GPS receiver,’ Su explains.

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Bin-Bin Pan, Feng Yang, Yansheng Ye, Qiong Wu, Conggang Li, Thomas Huber and Xun-Cheng Su
Chem. Commun., 2016, 52, 10237-10240
DOI: 10.1039/C6CC05490K, Communication
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Transition metal material captures inert neon

Graphical AbstractA team of scientists has discovered the first interactions between neon and a transition metal. Their discovery opens up the possibility of new methods to capture the inert gas, as well as other unreactive elements such as helium.

Although it’s found in advertising and eye-catching signage, neon is also incorporated into lasers used in the photolithographic printing of semiconductors. Neon is abundant in the universe, but its inert nature means that it escapes the Earth’s atmosphere. The noble gas is also hard to isolate. Current methods involve liquefying air and distilling the gas in a liquid form – an expensive and inefficient approach.

A team led by Peter Wood at the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre, UK, has discovered that, under particular conditions, the inert gas interacts with a transition metal. Not only is this the first interaction ever observed, but it may kick-start new approaches in capturing unreactive noble gases.

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Peter A. Wood, Amy A. Sarjeant, Andrey A. Yakovenko, Suzanna C. Ward and Colin R. Groom
Chem. Commun., 2016, 52, 10048-10051
DOI: 10.1039/C6CC04808K, Communication
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Amine behind mask hides its reactivity

Graphical AbstractChemists mask amines’ unwanted reactivity with carbon dioxide and overcome limitations of amide formation

Chemists at Imperial College London, UK, have overcome limitations that afflict a specific class of amidation reactions, used to produce a range of compounds from drugs to valuable materials. Their simple trick was to add carbon dioxide, which masks the reagent’s reactivity, making sure it only reacts when they want it to.

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Robert W. M. Davidson and Matthew J. Fuchter
Chem. Commun., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C6CC04639H, Communication
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Top 10 most accessed ChemComm articles from April – June 2016

From April – June 2016, our most downloaded ChemComm articles were:

Chemical generation and modification of peptides containing multiple dehydroalanines
Philip M. Morrison, Patrick J. Foley, Stuart L. Warriner and Michael E. Webb
Chem. Commun., 2015, 51, 13470-13473
DOI: 10.1039/C5CC05469A, Communication

The surface chemistry of metal–organic frameworks
Christina V. McGuire and Ross S. Forgan
Chem. Commun., 2015, 51, 5199-5217
DOI: 10.1039/C4CC04458D, Feature Article

Reduction of graphene oxide viaL-ascorbic acid
Jiali Zhang, Haijun Yang, Guangxia Shen, Ping Cheng, Jingyan Zhang and Shouwu Guo
Chem. Commun., 2010, 46, 1112-1114
DOI: 10.1039/B917705A, Communication

Rapid synthesis of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanocrystals in an aqueous system
Yichang Pan, Yunyang Liu, Gaofeng Zeng, Lan Zhao and Zhiping Lai
Chem. Commun., 2011, 47, 2071-2073
DOI: 10.1039/C0CC05002D, Communication

Graphene quantum dots: emergent nanolights for bioimaging, sensors, catalysis and photovoltaic devices
Jianhua Shen, Yihua Zhu, Xiaoling Yang and Chunzhong Li
Chem. Commun., 2012, 48, 3686-3699
DOI: 10.1039/C2CC00110A, Feature Article

Nanostructured electrochromic smart windows: traditional materials and NIR-selective plasmonic nanocrystals
Evan L. Runnerstrom, Anna Llordés, Sebastien D. Lounis and Delia J. Milliron
Chem. Commun., 2014, 50, 10555-10572
DOI: 10.1039/C4CC03109A, Feature Article

A facile synthesis of UiO-66, UiO-67 and their derivatives
Michael J. Katz, Zachary J. Brown, Yamil J. Colón, Paul W. Siu, Karl A. Scheidt, Randall Q. Snurr, Joseph T. Hupp and Omar K. Farha
Chem. Commun., 2013, 49, 9449-9451
DOI: 10.1039/C3CC46105J, Communication

Production of few-layer phosphorene by liquid exfoliation of black phosphorus
Jack R. Brent, Nicky Savjani, Edward A. Lewis, Sarah J. Haigh, David J. Lewis and Paul O’Brien
Chem. Commun., 2014, 50, 13338-13341
DOI: 10.1039/C4CC05752J, Communication

Key processes in ruthenium-catalysed olefin metathesis
David J. Nelson, Simone Manzini, César A. Urbina-Blanco and Steven P. Nolan
Chem. Commun., 2014, 50, 10355-10375
DOI: 10.1039/C4CC02515F, Feature Article

Aggregation-induced emission: phenomenon, mechanism and applications
Yuning Hong, Jacky W. Y. Lam and Ben Zhong Tang
Chem. Commun., 2009, 4332-4353
DOI: 10.1039/B904665H, Feature Article

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Pink paper probe exposes formaldehyde

A new test, developed by investigators in China, exposes formaldehyde quickly and colourfully wherever it may be.

Formaldehyde is a carcinogenic pollutant produced mainly by industrial activity. It also occurs naturally in plants and animals, albeit only in small quantities. The simple aldehyde can be harmful in larger concentrations, but detecting it requires specialised equipment or applying harsh acids or bases.

Graphical Abstract

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Longwei He, Xueling Yang, Mingguang Ren, Xiuqi Kong, Yong Liu and Weiying Lin
Chem. Commun., 2016, 52, 9582-9585
DOI: 10.1039/C6CC04254F, Communication
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Congratulations to the Poster Prize winners at the 13th International Conference on the Chemistry of Selenium and Tellurium

Graphical Abstract

The Royal Society of Chemistry were delighted to sponsor Chemical Communications and Metallomics Poster Prizes at  the 13th International Conference on the Chemistry of Selenium and Tellurium which was held at Nagaragawa Convention Center at Gifu in Japan between 23rd & 27th May 2016.

Many congratulations to our Poster Prize winners!

Graphical Abstract

Yuuki Maekawa from Gifu University
Diastereoselective Synthesis of Chiral Phosphonoselenoates Having a Binaphthyl Group

Chemical Communications Poster Prize winner


Graphical Abstract

Masato Sakabe from Tokyo Metropolitan University
Synthesis and Structure of Hexacoordinated Chalcogenonium Salts Bearing 2-Phenylpyridine Ligands

Chemical Communications Poster Prize winner


Graphical Abstract

Kouta Sugiura from Nagoya University
Tunable Photoluminescence of ZnTe-AgInTe2 Solid Solution Nanocrystals in Near-Infrared Light Wavelength Region

Chemical Communications Poster Prize winner


Graphical Abstract

Atsuki Shimizu
Identification of Selenium Delivery System for Selenophosphate Synthetase in Bacteria

Metallomics Poster Prize winner

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Light and heat flip compound between phases

Scientists from Japan can now transform an ionic liquid to a solid coordination polymer using UV light, and then reverse the switch using heat.

Tomoyuki Mochida and co-workers from Kobe University, Japan, synthesised a ruthenium-containing ionic liquid, which transforms to a yellow solid coordination polymer when irradiated with UV light. Applying heat reverses the process.

Graphical Abstract

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Yusuke Funasako, Shotaro Mori and Tomoyuki Mochida
Chem. Commun., 2016, 52, 6277-6279
DOI: 10.1039/C6CC02807A, Communication
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Secrets shown in a good light

Scientists in France have created paper that can carry secret messages. In visible light, the paper is indistinguishable from regular paper and users can read, write or erase messages using three different wavelengths of UV light.

The functionalised paper, made by François-Xavier Felpin from the University of Nantes, and colleagues, contains coumarin molecules attached to the paper’s cellulose fibres. Exposing the paper to UV light with a wavelength of 340nm causes coumarin to react and create cyclobutane dimers. These dimers are invisible under visible light, but fluoresce under a UV lamp.

Graphical Abstract

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M. d’Halluin, J. Rull-Barrull, E. Le Grognec, D. Jacquemin and F.-X. Felpin
Chem. Commun., 2016, 52, 7672-7675
DOI: 10.1039/C6CC02915A
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