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First issue of Journal of Materials Chemistry volume 21 now online

JMC Volume 21 Issue 1 front coverJournal of Materials Chemistry Volume 21 is now with us and issue 1 is online now.  The editorial Journal of Materials Chemistry: Developing to serve the materials chemistry community’ looks back at 2010, highlighting the phenomenal growth that Journal of Materials Chemistry has seen in this past year in both size and impact factor; it also looks forward to 2011 as we welcome our new Editorial Board Chair, Professor Seth Marder.

JMC Volume 21 Issue 1 inside coverThe cover of this first issue for 2011 features an applications review from Sam N. Rothstein and Steven R. Little, ‘A “tool box” for rational design of degradable controlled release formulations’.  The image demonstrates that heterogeneous erosion in degradable polyester particles can be correlated with the buildup of acidic species (seen by colour shift) using fluorescence confocal microscopy.

The inside cover features work from Orlin D. Velev describing a leaf-like solar cell ‘Aqueous soft matter based photovoltaic devices’.  This work received widespread media attention, including coverage on this blog.

Why not browse the articles in issue 1 and post any comments you have below.

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Hot Article: Drug storage and delivery by anion exchange from hydroxyl double salts

Three new hydroxy double salt (HDS) nanocomposites containing medicinal and agrochemical anions were prepared Dermot O’Hare and co-workers and their potential as sustained release matrices demonstrated in this Hot Article from the team based at Oxford University.

HDSs consist of layers of comprise positively charged layers, requiring charge balancing anions to be located between the layers to ensure electroneutrality. These anions can be easily replaced through an anion exchange process.  HDS have received far less attention than the related Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) which have been widely explored as hosts for the storage and controlled release of a broad spectrum of functional anions.

Hydroxy double salts as versatile storage and delivery matrices

In this study two drug anions were chosen for investigation (ibuprofen and diclofenac, commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and an examplar agrochemical 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid, a widely used herbicide. The functional anion intercalates were thoroughly characterised, and the release of the functional anion studied in vitro in representative conditions. Mathematical models were applied to the release kinetics, and post-synthesis modification undertaken to optimise release times for industrial application.

Interested in knowing more?  Read for free until January 4th 2011

Hydroxy double salts as versatile storage and delivery matrices
Richard M. R. Bull, Charles Markland, Gareth R. Williams and Dermot O’Hare
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM03020A, Paper

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Hot Article: Facile method to enhance dispersion and interaction of nanofillers in PVDF composites

In order to broaden the application fields of poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), a promising approach is introducing nanofillers into the polymer. In this paper from Wei-Hong Zhong and co-workers a facile method for surface modification of nanofillers has been developed in order to improve interfacial interaction and dispersion within PVDF matrix.

Fluorination deposition on carbon nanofibers by PTFE decomposition as a facile method to enhance dispersion and interaction in PVDF composites

Rather than using the more conventional toxic fluorine gas method of treating nanofillers, the team from Beihang University and Washington State University developed a new method of depositing a fluorination coating from decomposition of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) on a carbon nanofiber (CNF) surface. This study confirms that the new surface coating method provides a simpler way for practical modification of nanofillers, i.e. through decompositions of polymers.

Interested in knowing more? Read for free until January 4th 2011.

Fluorination deposition on carbon nanofibers by PTFE decomposition as a facile method to enhance dispersion and interaction in PVDF composites
Li-Li Sun, Zuo-Guang Zhang and Wei-Hong Zhong
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM03260C, Paper

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20 Favourite Journal of Materials Chemistry covers

In the final part of the Journal of Materials Chemistry 20th Anniversary celebrations, the Editorial team’s 20 favourite covers of the journal are available to download from the images below. 

If you are using a PC running Windows then follow the instructions below. 

  1. Open the file by clicking the appropriate image below 
  2. Once the image opens, right-click and choose Set as Background             

If you are using a Macintosh running OS10, save the file, then choose “System Preferences” on the bottom menu followed by “Desktop and Screensaver”, then browse to the saved picture. 

Issue 31 2005

Issue 31, 2005

Issue 10 2006

Issue 10, 2006

Issue 28 2006

Issue 28, 2006

Issue 34 2006

Issue 34, 2006

Issue 45 2006

Issue 45, 2006

Issue 2 2007

Issue 2, 2007

Issue 5 2007

Issue 5, 2007

Issue 37 2007

Issue 37, 2007

Issue 11 2008

Issue 11, 2008

Issue 33 2008

Issue 33, 2008

Issue 2 2009

Issue 2, 2009

Issue 3 2009

Issue 3, 2009

Issue 7 2009

Issue 7, 2009

Issue 24 2009

Issue 24, 2009

Issue 32 2009

Issue 32, 2009

Issue 35 2009

Issue 35, 2009

Issue 38 2009

Issue 38, 2009

Issue 45 2009

Issue 45, 2009

Issue 3 2010

Issue 3, 2010

Journal of Materials Chemistry issue 6, 2010 cover

Issue 6, 2010

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Hot Article: NOx removal via cascade reactions using silica and aminoxyls

The design of new materials for gaseous NOx (NO and NO2) removal at ambient temperature using organic active sites is reported in this paper from a team from the University of California at Berkeley. The materials consist of unfunctionalised silica and silica modified by immobilized aminoxyls and function via cascade reactions consisting of NO oxidation to NO2 and NO2 adsorption.The application of cascade reactions is an emerging research area that spans synthetic and biological catalysts, and has the potential to integrate the unique properties of both types of catalysts within a single process. Silica-supported aminoxyls as reactive materials for NOx removal

Interested in knowing more?  Read for free until January 4th 2011.

Silica-supported aminoxyls as reactive materials for NOx removal 
Tatiana Luts, Enrique Iglesia and Alexander Katz
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02826F, Paper

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Issue 48 cover shows nanofibres with double and triple helix structures

Synthesis and electrical conductivity of perchlorate-doped TTF–diamide nanofibers with double and triple helix structures Journal of Materials Chemistry issue 48 is now online.  The paper featured on the front cover is ‘Synthesis and electrical conductivity of perchlorate-doped TTF–diamide nanofibers with double and triple helix structures’ by Sejung Ahn, Yukyung Kim, Seungjae Beak, Shohei Ishimoto, Hideo Enozawa, Eigo Isomura, Masashi Hasegawa, Masahiko Iyoda and Yungwoo Park from South Korea and Japan.

In this paper the double- and triple-helix nanofibers having tunnelling conduction behaviour are synthesized by splitting the spiral ribbons arising from lamellarly arranged TTF–diamide and intercalated perchlorate ion in the 3:1 ratio.

Interested in knowing more?  Read the full article here; free to access until January 10th.

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Hot Feature Article: Chemical doping of graphene

Chemical doping of grapheneIn this Feature Article, Hongtao Liu, Yunqi Liu and Daoben Zhu present a summary of chemical doping of graphene aimed at tuning the electronic properties.  The authors, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, focus on p-type and n-type doping of graphene and band gap tuning in graphene.

Recently, a lot of effort has been focused on improving the performance and exploring the electric properties of graphene with the aim of designing high performance electronic devices based on chemically doped graphene.

Interested in knowing more? Read for free until 4th January 2011

Chemical doping of graphene
Hongtao Liu, Yunqi Liu and Daoben Zhu
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02922J, Feature Article

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Hot Highlight: Peptide based low molecular weight gelators

Peptide based low molecular weight gelatorsThis highlight article by Petra Cameron and co-workers at the University of Bath and the University of Liverpool describes recent activity in the area of peptide self-assembly, with a particular focus on tri-peptides, dipeptides and protected amino acids.

Low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs) are small molecules that self-assemble under the right conditions to form fibrous nanostructures, which can further associate into higher order structures. Of particular interest are LMW peptide hydrogelators which are biomimetic and form translucent hydrogels when added to water.  The gels typically contain >99% water and have been suggested for applications in regenerative tissue engineering, 3-D cell culturing, bio-templating, drug delivery, enzyme immobilisation and biosensing.

Interested in knowing more?  Read for free until December 23rd.

Peptide based low molecular weight gelators
Eleanor K. Johnson, Dave J. Adams and Petra J. Cameron
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM03099F, Highlight

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Issue 47 online now featuring nanostructures on its covers

issue 47 front cover Journal of Materials Chemistry issue 47 is now online.  The front cover shows a nanoreactor framework, consisting of a hollow silica shell and a Mn3O4 interior surface which successfully catalyzes size selective cyanosilylation reactions.  The nanoreactor is described in the paper on page 10615,  ‘Hollow silica nanosphere having functionalized interior surface with thin manganese oxide layer: nanoreactor framework for size-selective Lewis acid catalysis’  by  Rahman Md Anisur, Jongmin Shin, Hyung Ho Choi, Kyung Min Yeo, Eun Joo Kang and In Su Lee.
The inside cover features Ferrite/perovskite oxide core/shell nanostructures with tunable core/shell thickness ratio and strong interactions which were obtained via a general hydrothermal and annealing process.  These are described in the paper ‘Multiferroic ferrite/perovskite oxide core/shell nanostructures’ by Rongzheng Liu, Yuzhen Zhao, Rongxia Huang, Yongjie Zhao and Heping Zhou which can be found on page 10665.  issue 47 inside cover
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Hot Article: Luminescent filter paper created using cadmium selenide nanoparticles

Luminescent cellulose sheet fabricated by facile self-assembly of cadmium selenide nanoparticles on cellulose nanofibresA team from Zhejiang University have fabricated a novel luminescent sheet by deposition of cadmium selenide nanoparticles onto cellulose nanofibres of commercial filter paper.

Semi-conductor nanocrystals, particularly cadmium selenide (CdSe) quantum dots (QDs), have triggered intensive research interest because of their fascinating luminescent properties.  A key step in broadening the practical applications is to stabilize the nanocrystals into matrices to get bulk solid state materials.

Jianguo Huang and co-workers in China fabricated a hierarchical luminescent cellulose sheet via self-assembly of cadmium selenide (CdSe) nanoparticles capped with trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) and 1-hexadecylamine (HDA) onto ultrathin titania film pre-coated cellulose nanofibres of bulk natural cellulose substance (common commercial filter paper).

This approach provides a facile shortcut to fabricate bulk luminescent materials that inherit the mechanical behaviour of cellulose substances and simultaneously possess designed luminescent properties.

Interested in knowing more? Read for free until December 21st.

Luminescent cellulose sheet fabricated by facile self-assembly of cadmium selenide nanoparticles on cellulose nanofibres
Tao Niu, Yuanqing Gu and Jianguo Huang
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02356F, Paper

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