Archive for October, 2010

Hot Article: Mercury and temperature sensing nanogel

Nanogel-based sensors with dual temperature and mercury ion detection capabilities is reported in this ‘Hot Article’ from Changhua Li and Shiyong Liu from the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei.  This is the first report of successful integration of stimuli-responsive nanogels with well-developed small molecule reaction-based selective metal ion sensing moieties.

Responsive nanogel-based dual fluorescent sensors for temperature and Hg2+ ions with enhanced detection sensitivityMercury is one of the most harmful heavy metal ions to humans, therefore sensitive detection and imaging in organisms and tissue is crucial.  To achieve this, current efforts have focused on the invention of ratiometric, water-soluble, and cell-permeable Hg2+-sensing ensembles. 

In this study, Li and Liu synthesise a 1,8-naphthalimide-based polarity-sensitive and Hg2+-reactive monomer (NPTUA) and copolymerise this with N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) to produce NUPTA labelled PNIPAM nanogels. The nanogel-based chemosensors possess a high selectivity and sensitivity for Hg2+ at room temperature, achieving a detection limit at the nanomolar level on a ratiometric basis.  Furthermore, thermo-induced nanogel collapse can considerably enhance the detection sensitivity.

Interested in knowing more?  Read the full article here… FREE until November 16th.

Responsive nanogel-based dual fluorescent sensors for temperature and Hg2+ ions with enhanced detection sensitivity
Changhua Li and Shiyong Liu
J. Mater. Chem., 2010, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM01828G, Paper

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Hot Article: liquid crystalline sexithiophene simulation

L. Muccioli and colleagues from the University of Bologna have investigated, using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, the high temperature molecular organization of the linear oligothiophene α-sexithienyl (T6), well known for its organic electronics applications. The team found that the torsional flexibility of sexithiophene allows for a temperature dependence of the aspect ratio, which drives the formation of nematic and smectic liquid crystalline phases.

An atomistic simulation of the liquid-crystalline phases of sexithiopheneLiquid crystalline oligothiphenes are of interest as they may provide the best morphology to maximise overlap between neighbouring molecules, thus conferring the greatest charge (hole) mobility between molecular units. Due to the difficulty of performing experimental measurements at ~600K this theoretical study was performed to investigate the potential of liquid crystal oligothiophenes.  The authors hope that their findings will stimulate future experimental determinations.

Interested in knowing more?  Read the full article here.  FREE until November 15th.

An atomistic simulation of the liquid-crystalline phases of sexithiophene 
A. Pizzirusso, M. Savini, L. Muccioli and C. Zannoni
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM01284J, Paper

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Nanowire and nanotube arrays feature in two new ‘Hot Articles’

Two new Journal of Materials Chemistry ‘Hot Articles’ have been published online which feature arrays, one of nanowires, and one of nanotubes.  These arrays have exciting potential in a wide range of applications.
 

Growth and replication of ordered ZnO nanowire arrays on general flexible substrates

Growth and replication of ordered ZnO nanowire arrays on general flexible substrates
Su Zhang, Yue Shen, Hao Fang, Sheng Xu, Jinhui Song and Zhong Lin Wang
J. Mater. Chem., 2010, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02915G, Communication  

 A team from Peking University and the Georgia Institute of Technology describe the synthesis, via hydrothermal method on flexible substrates of vertically aligned and site controllable ZnO nanowire arrays in this Journal of Materials Chemistry Communication.

During the past several years, there has been a growing interest in one-dimensional ZnO nanostructures for their potential applications in fabricating electronic, optoelectronic, electromechanical and electrochemical devices. Current synthesis techniques require single crystallinity of the substrate and high growth temperatures, seriously limiting the compatibility of these methods with organic substrates for applications in flexible electronics. Hydrothermal synthesis is an attractive alternative because it could be carried out at a relatively low temperature around 70–90 °C, and could allow for multiple crystalline and even amorphous substrates.  Zhong Lin Wang and colleagues have developed a new technique of synthesizing patterned ZnO nanowire arrays on multiple flexible organic substrates using a novel chemical approach and a new transferring method.  

To find out more read the full article here.  Free until November 12th!  

Self-assembled anodic TiO2 nanotube arrays: electrolyte properties and their effect on resulting morphologiesSelf-assembled anodic TiO2 nanotube arrays: electrolyte properties and their effect on resulting morphologies
Sorachon Yoriya and Craig A. Grimes
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02421J, Paper

A team from The Pennsylvania State University have, for the first time, revealed the parameters, during synthesis, which affect the morphology of TiO2 nanotube arrays.  

Self-assembled TiO2 nanotube arrays fabricated by electrochemical anodization of titanium are of great interest having been successfully used in many applications including gas sensing, water photoelectrolysis, drug delivery and photovoltaics.  In the synthesis of TiO2 nanotube array films it is important to achieve specific nanotube array morphological features, including pore size, length, wall thickness, and tube-to-tube spacing for enhanced device performance, however, the key parameters controlling self-organization of the nanotubes have remained unclear. This study, by Sorachon Yoriya and Craig Grimes elucidates the dependence of the electrolyte conductivity on the titanium concentration, and electrolyte effect on the morphological features of the resulting nanotubes.  

To find out more read the full article here.  Free until November 12th!

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Hot Article: Banishing bad bacteria

Polymers that can capture harmful bacteria as they pass through the gut have been developed by UK scientists. This could reduce incidence of salmonella poisoning and improve shelf-life of meat products, they claim. 

Colonising new frontiers—microarrays reveal biofilm modulating polymers  Salmonella, a major food-borne pathogen is a serious problem in the food industry, as well as of clinical and veterinary importance. The ‘use-by date’ marked on foods reflects the date by which such bacteria will have multiplied to their maximum safe level for consumption. 

‘If the pathogen level can be lowered at the point of food production, then the shelf-life may become longer and the food safer,’ says Mark Bradley at Edinburgh University. In collaboration with Maurice Gallagher, also at Edinburgh University, Bradley’s team have identified polymers that bind strongly to a particular strain of salmonella while having minimal effect on the beneficial ‘good’ bacteria. These polymers could be added to commercial feedstuff for animals, such as chickens.

This article has featured in Highlights in Chemical Science and has been selected as a ‘Hot Article’ for Journal of Materials Chemistry.  It will be free to read until the 9th November. 

To view Erica Wise’s full Highlights in Chemical Science article, please click here: Banishing bad bacteria 

To read the full article please click here: Colonising new frontiers—microarrays reveal biofilm modulating polymers
Salvatore Pernagallo, Mei Wu, Maurice P. Gallagher and Mark Bradley
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM01987A, Paper

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Journal of Materials Chemistry Issue 41 – Out Now!

JMC Issue 41 CoverIssue 41 of Journal of Materials Chemistry is now out and can be read online here.

The paper featured on the outside front cover is ‘Facile synthesis and electrochemical properties of RuO2 nanofibers with ionically conducting hydrous layer’ by Il-Doo Kim and colleagues in Korea and the USA from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

The cover shows RuO2 nanofibers with an ionically conducting hydrous layer provide superior electron and ion transport characteristics optimized for application in an electrochemical capacitor. 

This article will be free for the next 6 weeks!  Read it online here.

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Mimicking nature’s solar cells

US scientists have take inspiration from plants to create a water-based solar cells to convert light into electricity.

Plants efficiently use light to initiate reactions that produce energy in a process known as photosynthesis. Now Orlin Velev and colleagues at North Carolina State University, have created a hydrogel device to mimic this process to create electricity.

Flexible photovoltaic device uses water-based gel to generate electricity from sunlight

Flexible photovoltaic device uses water-based gel to generate electricity from sunlight

The device uses a 98 per cent water hydrogel doped with two photoactive dyes (9,10-dimethoxy-2-anthracenesulfonic acid and ruthenium trisbipyridine).The gel is layered between a copper foil electrode coated with carbon black and graphite and an indium tin oxide-coated plastic substrate serving as the other electrode. The dyes absorb light exciting the electrons into a higher energy state. Transport of the dyes through the hydrogel allows electrons and electron holes to be transferred to the two electrodes completing the circuit and generating a current.

To view the full Highlights in Chemical Science article, please click here: Mimicking nature’s solar cells

Link to journal article

Aqueous soft matter based photovoltaic devices
Hyung-Jun Koo, Suk Tai Chang, Joseph M. Slocik, Rajesh R. Naik and Orlin D. Velev, J. Mater. Chem., 2011
DOI:
10.1039/c0jm01820a

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Hot Article: Buckyballs drive electron transfer for solar energy

David Schuster, Jackson Megiatto and Robert Spencer have developed a powerful and versatile new methodology for the preparation of nanoscale photoactive interlocked structures with appended [60]fullerene groups.  The group from New York University used a straightforward one-pot procedure based on Cu(I)-template synthesis and “click” chemistry.

Optimizing reaction conditions for synthesis of electron donor-[60]fullerene interlocked multiring systems

The use of organic materials for absorption of solar energy and conversion into high energy charge-separated carriers has been reproduced in the laboratory by carefully designed artificial arrays containing electron donor and acceptor (D–A) subunits. The synthetic achievements described in this paper open the door to the preparation of nanoscale D–A materials with rotaxane and catenane topologies not accessible previously. Introduction of C60 groups in interlocked structures generates the driving force allowing electron transfer reactions to occur over very long distances.

Interested in knowing more?  This article will be free until the 8th November, read it here.

Optimizing reaction conditions for synthesis of electron donor-[60]fullerene interlocked multiring systems 
Jackson D. Megiatto Junior, Robert Spencer and David I. Schuster
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02154G, Paper

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2011 Journal of Materials Chemistry Lectureship – nominations now open

Call for Nominations!

I am pleased to announce that the 2011 Journal of Materials Chemistry Lectureship is now open for nominations. This annual lectureship honours a scientist who has made a significant contribution to the field of materials chemistry.

Qualification

To be eligible for the Journal of Materials Chemistry Lectureship, the candidate should be in the earlier stages of their scientific career, typically within 10 years of attaining their doctorate or equivalent degree, and will have made a significant contribution to the field.

Description

The recipient of the lectureship will be asked to present a lecture three times, one of which will be located in the home country of the recipient. The Journal of Materials Chemistry Editorial Office will provide the sum of £1000 to the recipient for travel and accommodation costs. The lectureship recipient will be presented with the lectureship certificate at one of the three lectures. They will also be asked to contribute a lead article to the journal and will have their work showcased on the back cover of the issue in which their article is published.

Selection

The recipient of the lectureship will be selected and endorsed by the Journal of Materials Chemistry Editorial Board.

The 2010 lectureship was won by Dan Luo, Cornell University, USA.

Nominations

Those wishing to make a nomination should send details of the nominee including a brief C.V. (no longer than 2 pages) together with a letter supporting the nomination (no longer than 2 pages), to the Journal of Materials Chemistry Editorial Office by 18th February 2011. Self nomination is not permitted.

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Have you read the joint Journal of Materials Chemistry and Soft Matter themed issue on tissue engineering?

JMC Issue 40 front coverJournal of Materials Chemistry issue 40 was part of a themed issue on tissue engineering.  This themed issue, published simultaneously with one in Soft Matter on the same topic, showcases some of the recent advances in the area of biomaterials engineering for tissue fabrication and regenerative medicine. Guest editors Molly M. Stevens and Ali Khademhosseini introduce the issue in their editorial which can be read here.

The paper featured on the outside front cover is ‘Mussel-inspired functionalization of carbon nanotubes for hydroxyapatite mineralization’ by Chan Beum Park and colleagues from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in Daejon, Korea.

JMC issue 40 inside coverThe inside front cover features  ‘Unique electrochemically synthesized polypyrrole:poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) blends for biomedical applications’  by Leandro Forciniti, Christine E. Schmidt and colleagues at the The University of Texas at Austin, USA.

The papers published in Soft Matter (Issue 20, 2010) as part of the joint themed issue are available here.

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Hot Article: Improving the electrode-electrolyte interfaces in all-solid-state rechargeable lithium batteries using liquid state electrolytes

Fabrication of electrode–electrolyte interfaces in all-solid-state rechargeable lithium batteries by using a supercooled liquid state of the glassy electrolytesIn order to reduce emissions of CO2, high-performance lithium ion batteries have received a lot of attention as new large-scale power storage systems for eco-cars. In order to improve the electrochemical performance of the all-solid-state cells, an electrochemically favourable electrode–electrolyte interface has to be fabricated. In the case of using solid electrolytes, it is considered that the contact area between active materials and solid electrolytes is smaller than the contact area between active materials and liquid electrolytes because solid electrolytes are not wettable and infiltrative like liquids.

To find a solution to this problem, Masahiro Tatsumisago and colleagues in Japan investigated the softening behavior of a 80Li2S·20P2S5 (mol%) glass electrolyte, and a favorable electrode–electrolyte interface was fabricated by sticking the supercooled liquid state of the 80Li2S·20P2S5 electrolyte on active material particles.

Interested in finding out more?  Read the full article here:

Fabrication of electrode–electrolyte interfaces in all-solid-state rechargeable lithium batteries by using a supercooled liquid state of the glassy electrolytes
Hirokazu Kitaura, Akitoshi Hayashi, Takamasa Ohtomo, Shigenori Hama and Masahiro Tatsumisago
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM01090A , Paper

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