Archive for October, 2011

Conference: 7th International Symposium on Stimuli-Responsive Materials

7th International Symposium on Stimuli-Responsive Materials, October 24-26th, 2011 in Hattiesburg, MS, USA. Leading scientists from a variety of disciplines will discuss recent advances in adaptive materials at the interfaces of chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering. This symposium will build on a successful six year history of assembling experts in the area of stimuli-responsive/smart materials to discuss issues related to fundamental science and real-world applicability.

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Hot Paper: Synthesizing coaxial nanocables

A core–multisheath SiC–SiO2–BN nanocable has been fabricated by a team of scientists at Harbin Institute of Technology, China. The team led by Guangwu Wen say the nanocable could potentially be used as a blue and ultraviolet emitter in harsh and demanding environments.

 Graphical abstract: Novel coaxial SiC–SiO2–BN nanocable: large-scale synthesis, formation mechanism and photoluminescence property

Novel coaxial SiC–SiO2–BN nanocable: large-scale synthesis, formation mechanism and photoluminescence property: Bo Zhong, Liang Song, Xiaoxiao Huang, Xiaodong Zhang, Guangwu Wen and Yu Zhou, J . Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 14432-14440

To keep up-to-date with all the latest research, sign up for the journal’s e-alerts or RSS feeds or follow Journal of Materials Chemistry on Twitter.

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Focus on: Upconverting nanocrystals

Journal of Materials Chemisty Feature Article
Rare earth fluoride nano-/microcrystals: synthesis, surface modification and application
Chunxia Li and Jun Lin
J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 6831-6847 

Communication
Acetate–citrate gel combustion: a strategy for the synthesis of nanosized lutetium hafnate phosphor powders
Alessandro Lauria, Norberto Chiodini, Mauro Fasoli, Eva Mihóková, Federico Moretti, Angeloclaudio Nale, Martin Nikl and Anna Vedda
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 8975-8978 

Papers
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-controlled synthesis of multicolor lanthanide doped BaYF5 upconversion nanocrystals
Hailong Qiu, Guanying Chen, Liang Sun, Shuwei Hao, Gang Han and Chunhui Yang
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article

Water dispersible ultra-small multifunctional KGdF4:Tm3+, Yb3+ nanoparticles with near-infrared to near-infrared upconversion
Hon-Tung Wong, Fiorenzo Vetrone, Rafik Naccache, Helen Lai Wa Chan, Jianhua Hao and John A. Capobianco
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article

Novel fabrication of NIR-vis upconversion NaYF4:Ln (Ln = Yb, Er, Tm) crystal layers by a flux coating method
Sayaka Suzuki, Katsuya Teshima, Toshiko Wakabayashi, Hiromasa Nishikiori, Takahiro Ishizaki and Shuji Oishi
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 13847-13852

Greatly enhanced size-tunable ultraviolet upconversion luminescence of monodisperse β-NaYF4:Yb,Tm nanocrystals
Feng Shi, Jianshuo Wang, Daisheng Zhang, Guanshi Qin and Weiping Qin
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 13413-13421

Multicolor upconverted luminescence-encoded superparticles via controlling self-assembly based on hydrophobic lanthanide-doped NaYF4 nanocrystals
Qingbin Zhang, Xin Wang and Yimin Zhu
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 12132-12138

A facile method to synthesize superparamagnetic and up-conversion luminescent NaYF4:Yb, Er/Tm@SiO2@Fe3O4 nanocomposite particles and their bioapplication
Dan Hu, Min Chen, Yuan Gao, Fuyou Li and Limin Wu
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 11276-11282

Utilizing the amidation reaction to address the “cooperative effect” of carboxylic acid/amine on the size, shape, and multicolor output of fluoride upconversion nanoparticles
Wenbin Niu, Suli Wu and Shufen Zhang
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 10894-10902

Functionalization of upconverted luminescent NaYF4 : Yb/Er nanocrystals by folic acid–chitosan conjugates for targeted lung cancer cell imaging
Qingtao Chen, Xin Wang, Fenghua Chen, Qingbin Zhang, Bing Dong, Hui Yang, Guixia Liu and Yimin Zhu
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 7661-7667

Multifunctional NaYF4 : Yb3+,Er3+@Ag core/shell nanocomposites: integration of upconversion imaging and photothermal therapy
Biao Dong, Sai Xu, Jiao Sun, Shan Bi, Dan Li, Xue Bai, Yu Wang, Liping Wang and Hongwei Song
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 6193-6200

Colloidal synthesis and remarkable enhancement of the upconversion luminescence of BaGdF5:Yb3+/Er3+ nanoparticles by active-shell modification
Dongmei Yang, Chunxia Li, Guogang Li, Mengmeng Shang, Xiaojiao Kang and Jun Lin
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 5923-5927
 
Color control and white light generation of upconversion luminescence by operating dopant concentrations and pump densities in Yb3+, Er3+ and Tm3+ tri-doped Lu2O3 nanocrystals
Yanping Li, Jiahua Zhang, Yongshi Luo, Xia Zhang, Zhendong Hao and Xiaojun Wang
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 2895-2900

Controllable synthesis of NaYF4 : Yb,Er upconversion nanophosphors and their application to in vivo imaging of Caenorhabditis elegans
Jing Chen, Changrun Guo, Meng Wang, Lei Huang, Liping Wang, Congcong Mi, Jing Li, Xuexun Fang, Chuanbin Mao and Shukun Xu
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 2632-2638

Efficient oxide phosphors for light upconversion; green emission from Yb3+ and Ho3+ co-doped Ln2BaZnO5 (Ln = Y, Gd)
Isabelle Etchart, Ignacio Hernández, Arnaud Huignard, Mathieu Bérard, William. P. Gillin, Richard. J. Curry and Anthony K. Cheetham
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 1387-1394

Controllable and white upconversion luminescence in BaYF5:Ln3+ (Ln = Yb, Er, Tm) nanocrystals
Cuimiao Zhang, Ping’ an Ma, Chunxia Li, Guogang Li, Shanshan Huang, Dongmei Yang, Mengmeng Shang, Xiaojiao Kang and Jun Lin
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 717-723

To keep up-to-date with all the latest research, sign up for the journal’s e-alerts or RSS feeds or follow Journal of Materials Chemistry on Twitter.

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Using eggshells to remove toxic water pollutants

Scientists in China have developed an absorbent material made from waste eggshell membrane that can remove Cr(VI) from contaminated water.

Chromium is usually found in water systems in two main states: Cr(III) and Cr(VI). But, while Cr(III) is needed for metabolism, Cr(VI) is highly toxic and carcinogenic to living organisms, and unfortunately, this form is highly mobile.

This ability to move quickly in a system means that developing an efficient and cost effective method to remove Cr(VI) from contaminated water is important. Current methods for removal include reduction, ion exchange and absorption. Of these, absorption is popular because it is simple and effective.

Eggshells

Not only did the eggshell membrane remove Cr(VI) from contaminated water, it also reduced some of it to the less toxic Cr(III)

Biosorption is a type of absorption that uses a material that is not man-made, usually some kind of waste material. Yuming Huang and Bin Liu from Southwest University, Chongqing, have designed a new biosorbent using eggshells. ‘As the by-product of food processing and manufacturing plants, eggshells represent a significant waste because they are traditionally useless after the production of eggs and egg derivatives,’ says Huang. ‘Using this waste to produce useful biomaterial for removal of Cr(VI) from water may be a good choice and opens up a pathway to using biowaste to treat toxic metals from water.’ Interested to know more? Read the full article in Chemistry World here…

Polyethyleneimine modified eggshell membrane as a novel biosorbent for adsorption and detoxification of Cr(VI) from water
Bin Liu and Yuming Huang
J. Mater. Chem., 2011
DOI: 10.1039/c1jm12329g

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Instant Health Checks for Buildings and Bridges: J. Mater. Chem. article featured in Scientific American

A Journal of Materials Chemistry communication by Simon Laflamme, Guggi Kofod and co-workers has been featured in Scientific American (Instant Health Checks for Buildings and Bridges).

In their paper (Strongly enhanced sensitivity in elastic capacitive strain sensors) the team demonstrate the capacitance response of capacitive elastic strain sensors can be enhanced more than 50 times by grafting of conducting polymer to the elastomer backbone. These sensors could be used to detect strain and structural fatigue in buildings, bridges and other large structures.

Graphical abstract: Strongly enhanced sensitivity in elastic capacitive strain sensors

Interested to know more about mechanoresponsive materials? Why not read June’s themed issue.

To keep up-to-date with all the latest research, sign up for the journal’s e-alerts or RSS feeds or follow Journal of Materials Chemistry on Twitter.

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Top Ten most-read Journal of Materials Chemistry articles in August

This month sees the following articles in that are in the top ten most accessed in August:

Highly efficient red electrophosphorescent device incorporating a bipolar triphenylamine/bisphenylsulfonyl-substituted fluorene hybrid as the host 
Fang-Ming Hsu, Chen-Han Chien, Ya-Jou Hsieh, Chen-Hao Wu, Ching-Fong Shu, Shun-Wei Liu and Chin-Ti Chen 
J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8002-8008 
DOI: 10.1039/b910292b 

Mesoporous titania photocatalysts: preparation, characterization and reaction mechanisms 
Adel A. Ismail and Detlef W. Bahnemann 
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 11686-11707
DOI: 10.1039/c1jm10407a 

A review of advanced and practical lithium battery materials 
Rotem Marom, S. Francis Amalraj, Nicole Leifer, David Jacob and Doron Aurbach 
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 9938-9954 
DOI: 10.1039/c0jm04225k 

Carbazole and thienyl benzo[1,2,5]thiadiazole based polymers with improved open circuit voltages and processability for application in solar cells 
Hunan Yi, Solyman Al-Faifi, Ahmed Iraqi, Darren C. Watters, James Kingsley and David G. Lidzey 
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 13649-13656 
DOI:10.1039/c1jm12089a 

Light-trapping nano-structures in organic photovoltaic cells 
Doo-Hyun Ko, John R. Tumbleston, Abay Gadisa, Mukti Aryal, Yingchi Liu, Rene Lopez and Edward T. Samulski 
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI:10.1039/c1jm12300a 

Recent progress of high performance organic thin film field-effect transistors 
Qing Meng, Huanli Dong, Wenping Hu and Daoben Zhu 
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 11708-11721 
DOI: 10.1039/c1jm10243e 

TiO2 nanotubes: Structure optimization for solar cells 
Junfeng Yan and Feng Zhou 
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 9406-9418 
DOI: 10.1039/c1jm10274e 

Magnetic nanoparticles: recent advances in synthesis, self-assembly and applications 
Srikanth Singamaneni, Valery N. Bliznyuk, Christian Binek and Evgeny Y. Tsymbal 
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article 
DOI: 10.1039/c1jm11845e 

A general strategy to prepare graphene-metal/metal oxide nanohybrids 
Junyi Ji, Guanghui Zhang, Hongyu Chen, Yang Li, Guoliang Zhang, Fengbao Zhang and Xiaobin Fan 
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 14498-14501 
DOI:10.1039/c1jm12970h 

Nanoparticles for hydrogen generation 
Christopher E. Bunker and Marcus J. Smith 
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 12173-12180 
DOI: 10.1039/c1jm10856e 

Why not take a look at the articles today and blog your thoughts and comments below.

Fancy submitting an article to Journal of Materials Chemistry ? Then why not submit to us today!

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