Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Layer-by-layer inkjet printing to make a graphene-based film for a chemical sensor

Scientists in China have used graphene oxide and polyoxometalate solution as ink to fabricate a composite film with a photo printer.

The film shows a linear relationship between the coverage and number of printing cycles, which indicates a steady-state film growth. The team performed a proof-of-principle experiment on the application of the composite for electrochemical sensing and successfully detected dopamine, with increasing current response to increasing concentration. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, levels of which are monitored to diagnose Parkinson’s disease.

Graphene films are used for transistors and sensors, and there is a need for efficient and facile strategies for large-scale fabrication; this method has potential in terms of reducing material waste, lower costs and scalability.

Read more about this exciting work in the full PCCP article:

Layer-by-layer inkjet printing of fabricating reduced graphene-polyoxometalate composite film for chemical sensors
Hui Zhang, Anjian Xie, Yuhua Shen, Lingguang Qiu and Xingyou Tian
DOI: 10.1039/C2CP41561E

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Top 10 most-read PCCP articles in June

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

Low-temperature ZnO atomic layer deposition on biotemplates: flexible photocatalytic ZnO structures from eggshell membranes  
Seung-Mo Lee, Gregor Grass, Gyeong-Man Kim, Christian Dresbach, Lianbing Zhang, Ulrich Gösele and Mato Knez  
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2009, 11, 3608-3614 
DOI: 10.1039/B820436E 

The electrochemistry of CVD graphene: progress and prospects  
Dale A. C. Brownson and Craig E. Banks  
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2012, 14, 8264-8281 
DOI: 10.1039/C2CP40225D 

Gas phase metal cluster model systems for heterogeneous catalysis  
Sandra M. Lang and Thorsten M. Bernhardt  
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2012, 14, 9255-9269 
DOI: 10.1039/C2CP40660H 

Excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT): from principal photophysics to the development of new chromophores and applications in fluorescent molecular probes and luminescent materials  
Jianzhang Zhao, Shaomin Ji, Yinghui Chen, Huimin Guo and Pei Yang  
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2012, 14, 8803-8817 
DOI: 10.1039/C2CP23144A 

From VO2 (B) to VO2 (A) nanobelts: first hydrothermal transformation, spectroscopic study and first principles calculation  
Shudong Zhang, Bo Shang, Jinlong Yang, Wensheng Yan, Shiqiang Wei and Yi Xie 
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, 13, 15873-15881 
DOI: 10.1039/C1CP20838A 

Quantum chemistry simulation on quantum computers: theories and experiments  
Dawei Lu, Boruo Xu, Nanyang Xu, Zhaokai Li, Hongwei Chen, Xinhua Peng, Ruixue Xu and Jiangfeng Du 
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2012, 14, 9411-9420 
DOI: 10.1039/C2CP23700H 

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) nanoparticle based nontoxic and earth-abundant hybrid pn-junction solar cells  
Sudip K. Saha, Asim Guchhait and Amlan J. Pal  
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2012, 14, 8090-8096 
DOI: 10.1039/C2CP41062A 

The role of hydrogen bonding in excited state intramolecular charge transfer  
Francis A. S. Chipem, Anasuya Mishra and G. Krishnamoorthy  
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2012, 14, 8775-8790 
DOI: 10.1039/C2CP23879A 

A microporous–mesoporous carbon with graphitic structure for a high-rate stable sulfur cathode in carbonate solvent-based Li–S batteries  
Da-Wei Wang, Guangmin Zhou, Feng Li, Kuang-Hsu Wu, Gao Qing (Max) Lu, Hui-Ming Cheng and Ian R. Gentle 
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2012, 14, 8703-8710 
DOI: 10.1039/C2CP40808B 

Structure and dynamics of water at a clay surface from molecular dynamics simulation 
Virginie Marry, Benjamin Rotenberg and Pierre Turq  
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2008, 10, 4802-4813 
DOI: 10.1039/B807288D 

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

Fancy submitting an article to PCCP? Then why not submit to us today!

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New drug delivery method for ibuprofen examined

French scientists have prepared silica microspheres containing the commonly used drug ibuprofen using a spray drying and sol-gel process. The team found that the ibuprofen forms separate nano-domains within the silica microspheres.

For the full details about the properties of these fascinating materials read the PCCP article today:

Drug nano-domains in spray-dried ibuprofen–silica microspheres
Mohamed Fatnassi, Corine Tourné-Péteilh, Tzonka Mineva, Jean-Marie Devoisselle, Philippe Gaveau, Franck Fayon and Bruno Alonso
DOI: 10.1039/C2CP42092A

Table of contents image. Caption: Confined and fluid imbuprofen

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Olympics fever hits PCCP and Nanoscale

Medals imageAs the excitement builds at London 2012 we bring you some “Olympics themed” articles from Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (PCCP) and Nanoscale.  OK, so some of the links are a bit tenuous but it’s the taking part that counts… We hope you enjoy them!

Quantum sized, thiolate-protected gold nanoclusters
Rongchao Jin
Nanoscale, 2010, 2, 343-362
DOI: 10.1039/B9NR00160C

Density functional triple jumping
Jia Deng, Andrew T. B. Gilbert and Peter M. W. Gill
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2010, 12, 10759-10765
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP00242A

Silver nanowires – unique templates for functional nanostructures
Yugang Sun
Nanoscale, 2010, 2, 1626-1642
DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00258E

In situ STM observation of morphological changes of the Pt(111) electrode surface during potential cycling in 10 mM HF solution
Mitsuru Wakisaka , Shuichi Asizawa , Hiroyuki Uchida and Masahiro Watanabe
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2010, 12, 4184-4190
DOI: 10.1039/B923956A

Surface modification of anatase nanoparticles with fused ring catecholate type ligands: a combined DFT and experimental study of optical properties
Tatjana D. Savić, Ivana A. Janković, Zoran V. Šaponjić, Mirjana I. Čomor, Dušan Ž. Veljković, Snežana D. Zarić and Jovan M. Nedeljković
Nanoscale, 2012, 4, 1612-1619
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR11501H

A method to tune the ionic current rectification of track-etched nanopores by using surfactant
Lin Wang, Yu Yan, Yanbo Xie, Long Chen, Jianming Xue, Sha Yan and Yugang Wang
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, 13, 576-581
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP00587H

Visible-light-induced photocatalysis through surface plasmon excitation of gold on titania surfaces
Ewa Kowalska, Orlando Omar Prieto Mahaney, Ryu Abe and Bunsho Ohtani
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2010, 12, 2344-2355
DOI: 10.1039/B917399D

In situ TEM observation of lithium nanoparticle growth and morphological cycling
Jay Ghatak, Wei Guan and Günter Möbus
Nanoscale, 2012, 4, 1754-1759, DOI: 10.1039/C2NR11546H

The electron density vs. NICS scan: a new approach to assess aromaticity in molecules with different ring sizes
Cina Foroutan-Nejad, Shant Shahbazian and Parviz Rashidi-Ranjbar
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2010, 12, 12630-12637
DOI: 10.1039/C004254D

Power-law statistics in blinking SERS of thiacyanine adsorbed on a single silver nanoaggregate
Yasutaka Kitahama, Yuhei Tanaka, Tamitake Itoh and Yukihiro Ozaki
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2010, 12, 7457-7460
DOI: 10.1039/C000824A

Also check out the the exciting images of the olympicene molecule made by Anish Mistry and David Fox from the University of Warwick to celebrate the Olympics.

olympicene

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Recently Appointed Academics in Physical Chemistry meeting – free registration

Have you recently been appointed as a lecturer in Physical Chemistry? Do you aspire to get a position soon?

If so you are welcome to join us at the Recently Appointed Academics in Physical Chemistry meeting held in Trevelyan College at Durham University from 5 – 7 September 2012.

Registration Deadline: 6 August 2012

The  is a biennial meeting sponsored by the RSC Faraday Division and is free to participants. It provides a forum for new appointees to engage with and learn about their role as an academic. Covering areas from research and teaching to getting funding and starting your own spin-out company this is a great opportunity to get to learn from academics who have been there before. Participants will have the opportunity and are strongly encouraged to present their research, which will aid in the networking and potential future collaborations.

More details are available on the meeting webpage.

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Highlights from themed issues on ionic liquids

Crystal engineering with ionic liquids CrystEngComm CollectionIonic liquids ChemComm web themed issueInterfaces of ionic liquids PCCP Themed issue

The field of ionic liquids has seen phenomenal growth in recent years, with the topic spanning a variety of disciplines across the chemical sciences. The recent themed issues from ChemComm, PCCP and CrystEngComm showcase some of the latest developments from a range of scientific subjects utilising the unique properties of ionic liquids.

Highlights from these themed issues include the articles below, which are free to download until the 24th August. You can also access the full themed issues by clicking on the buttons above.

Click here to access the full list of articles

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Call for papers: Theory meets Spectroscopy- Bunsentagung 2013

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (PCCP) is delighted to announce a forthcoming high-profile themed issue on “Theory meets Spectroscopy”, with Guest Editors Manfred M. Kappes and Willem M. Klopper, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

This will be the official themed issue of the international Bunsentagung 2013 meeting on the same theme organised by the Deutsche Bunsen-Gesellschaft (DBG) which takes place in May 2013, Karlsruhe, Germany. Free copies of the themed issue will be available at the meeting, maximising the visibility and profile of all published papers.

We invite you to submit a high quality manuscript of original, unpublished research with a focus on quantum chemical methodology for spectroscopy or on the interplay between theory and experiment in spectroscopic studies in the gas or condensed phase.

Deadline for submissions: 30 November 2012

All submissions will be subject to rigorous peer review to meet the high standards of PCCP. When you submit your article, please indicate that it is for the themed issue.

The invited speakers at the meeting include Mike Ashfold (Bristol), Tobias Brixner (Würzburg), Dominik Marx (Bochum), Frank Neese (Mülheim) and Martin Wolf (Berlin). For further speakers and details about the meeting visit the website.

PCCP has very strong links with the Bunsentagung and the DBG is a co-owner of PCCP. PCCP has published a themed issue on the Bunsentagung hauptthema for the past several years:

We hope you will be able to contribute to this exciting issue.

With our best wishes

Manfred Kappes and Wim Klopper
Guest Editors

Jane Hordern
Deputy Editor, PCCP

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Themed issue of PCCP: New Insights into Organic Chemistry from Forefront Physical Measurements now online!

PCCP is delighted to announce the online publication of Issue 30 which includes a themed collection on New Insights into Organic Chemistry from Forefront Physical Measurements, guest edited by Barry Carpenter, Cardiff University, UK.

The outside front cover features an article on the Direct measurement of Criegee intermediate (CH2OO) reactions with acetone, acetaldehyde, and hexafluoroacetone by Craig A. Taatjes, Oliver Welz, Arkke J. Eskola, John D. Savee, David L. Osborn, Edmond P. F. Lee, John M. Dyke, Daniel W. K. Mok, Dudley E. Shallcross and Carl J. Percival.

OFC_30

This themed collection contains a broad range of articles including the highlighted Editorial and Perspective below:

New insights into organic chemistry from forefront physical measurements
Barry K. Carpenter
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2012, 14, 10376-10376
DOI: 10.1039/C2CP90109A

Ultrafast time resolved studies of the photochemistry of acyl and sulfonyl azides
Jacek Kubicki ,  Yunlong Zhang ,  Jiadan Xue ,  Hoi Ling Luk and Matthew Platz
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2012, 14, 10377-10390
DOI: 10.1039/C2CP40226B

Issue 30 also includes these additional high-profile Perspectives from PCCP’s broad scope:

Take a look at the issue today!

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PCCP Editor’s choice: biophysics and biophysical chemistry

journal cover imagePhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics (PCCP) Associate Editor Professor Seong Keun Kim, an expert in the field of biophysics and biophysical chemistry, has picked some of his favourite articles recently published in this area in PCCP.

You can read these articles for free for a limited period by clicking on the links below.

Publishing work of the highest quality in the broad fields of physical chemistry, chemical physics and biophysical chemistry, PCCP is the ideal place to publish your research.

Be among the first to hear about the newest articles being published in PCCP – sign up to receive our free table of contents e-alerts.

Read Professor Kim’s Editor’s choice selection for free today:

Perspectives

Mitochondrial biofuel cells: expanding fuel diversity to amino acids
Dushyant Bhatnagar, Shuai Xu, Caitlin Fischer, Robert L. Arechederra and Shelley D. Minteer
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01362E

Design and development of quantum dots and other nanoparticles based cellular imaging probe
Nikhil R. Jana
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP00726A

Seeing the forest for the trees: fluorescence studies of single enzymes in the context of ensemble experiments
Yan-Wen Tan and Haw Yang
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP02412K

Optical imaging of excited-state tautomerization in single molecules
Anna M. Chizhik, Regina Jäger, Alexey I. Chizhik, Sebastian Bär, Hans-Georg Mack, Marcus Sackrow, Catrinel Stanciu, Alexey Lyubimtsev, Michael Hanack and Alfred J. Meixner
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP02228D

Physics of protein–DNA interactions: mechanisms of facilitated target search
Anatoly B. Kolomeisky
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01966F

Revealing time bunching effect in single-molecule enzyme conformational dynamics
H. Peter Lu
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP02860F

Combining optical trapping, fluorescence microscopy and micro-fluidics for single molecule studies of DNA–protein interactions
Andrea Candelli, Gijs J. L. Wuite and Erwin J. G. Peterman
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP02844D

Electrostatic interactions in biological DNA-related systems
A. G. Cherstvy
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP02796K

Original research

Effects of all-atom force fields on amyloid oligomerization: replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations of the Aβ16–22 dimer and trimer
Phuong H. Nguyen, Mai Suan Li and Philippe Derreumaux
DOI: 10.1039/C1CP20323A

Solvent-assisted conformational isomerization and the conformationally-pure REMPI spectrum of 3-aminophenol
Woon Yong Sohn, Minho Kim, Sang-Su Kim, Young Dong Park and Hyuk Kang
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP02592E

Free energy evaluation of the p53-Mdm2 complex from unbinding work measured by dynamic force spectroscopy
Anna Rita Bizzarri and Salvatore Cannistraro
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01474E

2D IR photon echo of azido-probes for biomolecular dynamics
Matthew J. Tucker, Xin Sonia Gai, Edward E. Fenlon, Scott H. Brewer and Robin M. Hochstrasser
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01625J

On the different roles of anions and cations in the solvation of enzymes in ionic liquids
Marco Klähn, Geraldine S. Lim, Abirami Seduraman and Ping Wu
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01509A

Selective transport of amino acids into the gas phase: driving forces for amino acid solubilization in gas-phase reverse micelles
Yigang Fang, Andrew Bennett and Jianbo Liu
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP00823K

Extracting the underlying effective free energy landscape from single-molecule time series—local equilibrium states and their network
Akinori Baba and Tamiki Komatsuzaki
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP00694G

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

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
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01389G

Photoblinking and photobleaching of rylene diimide dyes
Mathias Haase, Christian G. Hübner, Fabian Nolde, Klaus Müllen and Thomas Basché
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01814G

Single particle tracking in systems showing anomalous diffusion: the role of weak ergodicity breaking
Stas Burov, Jae-Hyung Jeon, Ralf Metzler and Eli Barkai
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01879A

Unfolding dynamics of cytochrome c revealed by single-molecule and ensemble-averaged spectroscopy
Jungkweon Choi, Sooyeon Kim, Takashi Tachikawa, Mamoru Fujitsuka and Tetsuro Majima
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP02689A

Photoinduced pH drops in water
Matthieu Emond, Jing Sun, Jean Grégoire, Sylvie Maurin, Christophe Tribet and Ludovic Jullien
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP02464C

Mechanisms and advancement of antifading agents for fluorescence microscopy and single-molecule spectroscopy
Thorben Cordes, Andreas Maiser, Christian Steinhauer, Lothar Schermelleh and Philip Tinnefeld
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01919D

Nanoscale chemical imaging of segregated lipid domains using tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
Lothar Opilik, Thomas Bauer, Thomas Schmid, Johannes Stadler and Renato Zenobi
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP02832K

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PCCP Perspective: Measuring viscosity inside cells

In this fascinating PCCP Perspective Marina Kuimova of Imperial College London, describes the use of fluorescent molecular rotors to measure and image microviscosity within individual domains of live cells. Knowing about  this viscosity is important as diffusion plays an important role in many biological processes.

Read this exciting PCCP Perspective in full today:

Mapping viscosity in cells using molecular rotors
Marina K. Kuimova
DOI: 10.1039/C2CP41674C

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