PCCP Blog

PCCP issue 45 now out online – browse the issue now

Highlights from the issue:

Perspective review article
Engineering 3D ordered molecular thin films by nanoscale control
Simone Fabiano and Bruno Pignataro
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2010, 12, 14848

Communication
UV and visible light controllable depletion zone of ZnO-polyaniline p–n junction and its application in a photoresponsive sensor
Jian Gong, Yinhua Li and Yulin Deng
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2010, 12, 14864-14867

Research papers
Electrochemical formation and investigation of a self-assembled [60]fullerene monolayer
Th. Doneux, J. G. Limon-Petersen and R. G. Compton
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2010, 12, 15029-15033

Molecular dynamics simulations of structure and dynamics of organic molecular crystals
Alexandra Nemkevich, Hans-Beat Bürgi, Mark A. Spackman and Ben Corry
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2010, 12, 14916-14929

HOT paper – read it first!

This PCCP paper numerically solves a kinetic model of chiral polymerization in systems closed to matter and energy flow.

Chiral polymerization: symmetry breaking and entropy production in closed systems
Celia Blanco and David Hochberg
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C0CP00992J

They demonstrate that a strong chiral amplification can take place in a reversible model of chiral polymerization closed to matter flow and subject to constraints imposed by micro-reversibility.

These results are important, because they suggest that spontaneous mirror symmetry breaking in experimental chiral polymerization can take place, and with observable and large chiral excesses, without the need to introduce chiral initiators or large initial chiral excesses.

PCCP ‘HOT’ paper – investigating HIV

Using a combination of Circular Dichroism and Molecular Dynamics simulations, this paper investigates the folding of a very short fragment of a HIV peptide in different pH conditions. This fragment of the peptide (Membrane Proximal Region, MPR) is believed to be relevant to its biological function and this study aims to mimic conditions experienced during viral fusion.

This research brings us another step closer to understanding how HIV interacts with the body and hopes to help in the fight to combat the HIV virus.

Autonomous folding in the membrane proximal HIV peptide gp41_659–671: pH tuneability at micelle interfaces
Craig R. Gregor, Eleonora Cerasoli, Paul R. Tulip, Maxim G. Ryadnov, Glenn J. Martyna and Jason Crain
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01502D

HOT Communication – read it ‘hot’ of the press

This PCCP article highlights the role of the Hg^II—Hg^II metallophilic attraction between the consecutive metal-mediated mismatched base pairs of nucleic acids.

Considering the richness of the metallophilic-attraction-driven structures in the solid
state, the authors forsee this as an important role in the future design of
metal-containing nucleic acids and molecular wires.

On the role of mercury in the non-covalent stabilisation of consecutive U–Hg^II–U metal-mediated nucleic acid base pairs: metallophilic attraction enters the world of nucleic acids
Ladislav Benda, Michal Straka, Yoshiyuki Tanaka and Vladimír Sychrovský
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011,DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01534B

HOT PCCP Perspective article:

Theory of gold on ceria
Changjun Zhang, Angelos Michaelides and Stephen J. Jenkins
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01123A

Stephen Jenkins and co-workers discuss the considerable insight which has been obtained into these systems, particularly with regard to Au adsorbates and Au cluster reactivity, and also discuss the need for improved electronic structure methods to enable more rigorous and robust studies in the future.

PCCP ‘HOT’ article – read it today hot of the press!

Michel Orrit and colleagues propose to use single 20 nm diameter gold nanoparticles as a calibration standard for simultaneous detection of fluorescence and absorption (by means of photothermal detection).

Making gold nanoparticles fluorescent for simultaneous absorption and fluorescence detection on the single particle level
Alexander Gaiduk, Paul V. Ruijgrok, Mustafa Yorulmaz and Michel Orrit
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01389G

Look out for the PCCP themed issue in January 2011 on Single-Molecule Optical Studies of Soft and Complex Matter, Guest Edited by Michel Orrit, – sign-up to our free contents e-alerts to receive this direct to your inbox