Astrochemistry – PCCP themed collection, Issue 8

Graphical abstract: Front coverPCCP is delighted to present an excellent collection of articles on the theme of astrochemistry, Guest Edited by Wendy A. Brown. Read her Editorial to find out more.

The outside front cover features Formation of hydroxyacetonitrile (HOCH2CN) and polyoxymethylene (POM)-derivatives in comets from formaldehyde (CH2O) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) activated by water by Grégoire Danger, Albert Rimola, Ninette Abou Mrad, Fabrice Duvernay, Gaël Roussin, Patrice Theule and Thierry Chiavassa

The Astrochemistry themed collection features a broad range of Papers and Communications and features the following Perspective article:

Three milieux for interstellar chemistry: gas, dust, and ice
Eric Herbst
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, 16, 3344
DOI:10.1039/C3CP54065K

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This week’s HOT articles

Take a look at this week’s HOT articles, which are free to access for a limited time: Graphical abstract: Oxidation state of cross-over manganese species on the graphite electrode of lithium-ion cells

Oxidation state of cross-over manganese species on the graphite electrode of lithium-ion cells
Sanketh R. Gowda, Kevin G. Gallagher, Jason R. Croy, Martin Bettge, Michael M. Thackeray and Mahalingam Balasubramanian
DOI: 10.1039/C4CP00764F, Communication

Vortex-induced aggregation in superfluid helium droplets
Daniel Spence, Elspeth Latimer, Cheng Feng, Adrian Boatwright, Andrew M. Ellis and Shengfu Yang
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C4CP00525B, Communication

Electronic structure investigation of the evanescent AtO+ ion
André Severo Pereira Gomes, Florent Réal, Nicolas Galland, Celestino Angeli, Renzo Cimiraglia and Valérie Vallet
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP55294B, Paper

Dynamics of metal uptake by charged soft biointerphases: impacts of depletion, internalisation, adsorption and excretion
Jérôme F. L. Duval and Elise Rotureau
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C4CP00210E, Paper

Separating the redox couple for highly efficient solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells
Juan Li, Wei Zhang, Lu Zhang and Zhong-Sheng Wang
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C4CP00628C, Paper Graphical abstract: Separating the redox couple for highly efficient solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells

An inelastic neutron scattering study of dietary phenolic acids
M. Paula M. Marques, Luís A. E. Batista de Carvalho, Rosendo Valero, Nelson F. L. Machado and Stewart F. Parker
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C4CP00338A, Paper

Analytical tools for single-molecule fluorescence imaging in cellulo
M. C. Leake
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C4CP00219A, Perspective

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This week’s HOT articles

Take a look at this week’s HOT articles, which are free to access for a limited time:

Porphyrin-based sensor nanoarchitectonics in diverse physical detection modes
Shinsuke Ishihara, Jan Labuta, Wim Van Rossom, Daisuke Ishikawa, Kosuke Minami, Jonathan P. Hill and Katsuhiko Ariga Graphical abstract: Porphyrin-based sensor nanoarchitectonics in diverse physical detection modes
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP55431G, Perspective

Manipulating the excitation transfer in Photosystem I using a Fabry–Perot metal resonator with optical subwavelength dimensions
Alexander Konrad, Anna-Lisa Trost, Sepideh Skandary, Martin Hussels, Alfred J. Meixner, Navasard V. Karapetyan and Marc Brecht
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP55195D, Paper

Static 1H dynamic nuclear polarization with the biradical TOTAPOL: a transition between the solid effect and the cross effect
Daphna Shimon, Akiva Feintuch, Daniella Goldfarb and Shimon Vega
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP55504F, Paper

Low-temperature combustion chemistry of novel biofuels: resonance-stabilized QOOH in the oxidation of diethyl ketone
Adam M. Scheer, Oliver Welz, Judit Zádor, David L. Osborn and Craig A. Taatjes
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP55468F, Paper

Molecules in the mirror: how SERS backgrounds arise from the quantum method of images
Stephen M. Barnett, Nadine Harris and Jeremy J. Baumberg
DOI: 10.1039/C4CP00093E, Communication

A nine-dimensional global potential energy surface for NH4(X2A1) and kinetics studies on the H + NH3 ↔ H2 + NH2 reaction
Jun Li and Hua Guo
DOI: 10.1039/C4CP00241E, Paper

Floating orbital molecular dynamics simulations
Eva Perlt, Marc Brüssel and Barbara Kirchner
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP54797C, Paper Graphical abstract: Central-transition double-quantum sideband NMR spectroscopy of half-integer quadrupolar nuclei: estimating internuclear distances and probing clusters within multi-spin networks

Central-transition double-quantum sideband NMR spectroscopy of half-integer quadrupolar nuclei: estimating internuclear distances and probing clusters within multi-spin networks
Andreas Brinkmann and Mattias Edén
DOI: 10.1039/C4CP00029C, Paper

Optical manipulation of single molecules in the living cell
Kamilla Norregaard, Liselotte Jauffred, Kirstine Berg-Sørensen and Lene Broeng Oddershede
DOI: 10.1039/C4CP00208C, Perspective

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Potential new use for boron in carbon dioxide capture

Victoria Parkes is a guest web-writer for PCCP. She is currently studying for a PhD at the University of Nottingham, UK.

It is a problem that everybody is familiar with; the increasing levels of carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere as a direct consequence of the industrial activity of humanity are contributing to climate change. New carbon capture technologies are therefore big business and big politics, with enormous quantities of time, money and rhetoric devoted to the subject the world over. There is an expectation that scientists will somehow save the human population from itself, preferably quickly, safely, cheaply and without the general populace having to radically alter their lifestyles.

Whilst I’m not necessarily saying they’ve found the answer, Sun and co-workers have certainly hit on an idea that merits further exploration with their study of solid boron as a new candidate for carbon dioxide capture. Their calculations predict that the amphoteric nature of certain boron allotropes means that they will spontaneously form strong Lewis acid-base interactions with multiple carbon dioxide molecules per individual boron structure.

I’m sure that there are plenty of researchers out there who could experimentally verify the predictions of this computational study (which the authors state was motivated by the desire for somebody to do just that) and develop their findings to the potential benefit of the entire planet.

The only question, surely, is who will get there first?

By Victoria Parkes

Are you up for the challenge? Read the full details of this PCCP article now:

A computational study of carbon dioxide adsorption on solid boron
Qiao Sun, Meng Wang, Zhen Li, Aijun Du and Debra J Searles
DOI: 10.1039/C4CP00044G

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If you enjoyed this, you may also be interested in our Faraday Discussion on Carbon Dioxide Utilisation which will take place in Sheffield in 2015 – find out more on the website.

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This week’s HOT articles

Take a look at this week’s HOT articles, which are free to access for a limited time: Graphical abstract: A unified model for surface electrocatalysis based on observations with enzymes

Dye chemistry with time-dependent density functional theory
Adèle D. Laurent, Carlo Adamo and Denis Jacquemin
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP55336A, Perspective

Synthesis and characterisation of an unsymmetrical, ether-linked, fluorinated bimesogen exhibiting a new polymorphism containing the NTB or ‘twist-bend’ phase
R. J. Mandle, E. J. Davis, S. A. Lobato, C.-C. A. Vol, S. J. Cowling and J. W. Goodby
DOI: 10.1039/C4CP00172A, Paper

Understanding the superior photocatalytic activity of noble metals modified titania under UV and visible light irradiation
Ali Bumajdad and Metwally Madkour
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP54411G, Perspective

Mechanistic insight into highly efficient gas permeation and separation in a shape-persistent ladder polymer membrane
Jianhai Zhou, Xiang Zhu, Jun Hu, Honglai Liu, Ying Hu and Jianwen Jiang
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP55498H, Paper

A unified model for surface electrocatalysis based on observations with enzymes
Suzannah V. Hexter, Thomas F. Esterle and Fraser A. Armstrong
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP55230F, Perspective

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This week’s HOT article

Take a look at this week’s HOT article, which is free to access for a limited time: Graphical abstract: Photo-active and dynamical properties of hematite (Fe2O3)–water interfaces: an experimental and theoretical study

Photo-active and dynamical properties of hematite (Fe2O3)–water interfaces: an experimental and theoretical study
Niall J. English, Mahfujur Rahman, Nitin Wadnerkar and J. M. D. MacElroy
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP54700K, Paper

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PCCP – Weizmann mini symposium: 1st April 2014

Join us for the upcoming joint Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (PCCP) – Weizmann Institute of Science mini-symposium on Tuesday 1st April 2014.

The event is free to attend for all delegates and no registration is necessary.

More details of the exciting programme can be found below.

PCCP Weizmann Mini Symposium advert

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Top 10 most-read PCCP articles – Q4 2013

The following articles in PCCP were the top 10 most accessed from October – December:

Vibronic coupling density analysis for the chain-length dependence of reorganization energies in oligofluorenes: a comparative study with oligothiophenes
Motoyuki Uejima, Tohru Sato, Kazuyoshi Tanaka and Hironori Kaji
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013,15, 14006-14016
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP51592C, Paper

Density functional theory for transition metals and transition metal chemistry
Christopher J. Cramer and Donald G. Truhlar
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2009,11, 10757-10816
DOI: 10.1039/B907148B, Review Article

Electric-double-layer field-effect transistors with ionic liquids
Takuya Fujimoto and Kunio Awaga
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013,15, 8983-9006
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP50755F, Perspective

Titania supported gold nanoparticles as photocatalyst
Ana Primo, Avelino Corma and Hermenegildo García
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011,13, 886-910
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP00917B, Perspective

Nitrile groups as vibrational probes of biomolecular structure and dynamics: an overview
Beth A. Lindquist, Kristina E. Furse and Steven A. Corcelli
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2009,11, 8119-8132
DOI: 10.1039/B908588B, Perspective

Characterization of nanostructured hybrid and organic solar cells by impedance spectroscopy
Francisco Fabregat-Santiago, Germà Garcia-Belmonte, Iván Mora-Seró and Juan Bisquert
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011,13, 9083-9118
DOI: 10.1039/C0CP02249G, Perspective

Carrier dynamics in quantum-dot sensitized solar cells measured by transient grating and transient absorption methods
Naotaka Maeda, Hiroaki Hata, Naoya Osada, Qing Shen, Taro Toyoda, Shota Kuwahara and Kenji Katayama
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013,15, 11006-11013
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP51542G, Paper

Recent advances in visible-light-responsive photocatalysts for hydrogen production and solar energy conversion – from semiconducting TiO2 to MOF/PCP photocatalysts
Yu Horiuchi, Takashi Toyao, Masato Takeuchi, Masaya Matsuoka and Masakazu Anpo
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013,15, 13243-13253
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP51427G, Perspective
From themed collection Physical chemistry at the cross-road of advanced oxide materials

Nanomagnetism study of highly-ordered iron oxide nanocrystal assemblies fabricated by the Langmuir–Blodgett technique
HaiTao Zhang, NiNa Bao, Du Yuan and Jun Ding
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013,15, 14689-14695
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP52060A, Paper

Graphene CVD growth on copper and nickel: role of hydrogen in kinetics and structure
Maria Losurdo, Maria Michela Giangregorio, Pio Capezzuto and Giovanni Bruno
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011,13, 20836-20843
DOI: 10.1039/C1CP22347J, Paper

We hope you enjoyed reading the articles – please sign up for the free PCCP table of contents e-alerts to make sure you keep up to date with the latest research being published in the journal

On behalf of the Editorial Board of PCCP, we invite you to submit your best research to us today!

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This week’s HOT articles

Take a look at this week’s HOT articles, which are free to access for a limited time: Graphical abstract: Yet another criticality of water

Recent developments in the application of nanomaterials to understanding molecular level processes in cobalt catalysed Fischer–Tropsch synthesis
S. K. Beaumont
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP55030C, Perspective

Unexpected effects of the alteration of structure and stability of myoglobin and hemoglobin in ammonium-based ionic liquids
Indrani Jha, Pankaj Attri and Pannuru Venkatesu
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP54398F, Paper

Yet another criticality of water
Kazuhiro Himoto, Masakazu Matsumoto and Hideki Tanaka
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP54726D, Communication

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This week’s HOT articles

Take a look at this week’s HOT articles, which are free to access for a limited time: Graphical abstract: Unveiling mode-selected electron–phonon interactions in metal films by helium atom scattering

Electrodeposition from supercritical fluids
P. N. Bartlett, D. A. Cook, M. W. George, A. L. Hector, J. Ke, W. Levason, G. Reid, D. C. Smith and W. Zhang
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP54955K, Perspective

Fatty acid droplet self-division driven by a chemical reaction
I. Derényi and I. Lagzi
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP54676D, Paper

Computational modeling of single- versus double-anchoring modes in di-branched organic sensitizers on TiO2 surfaces: structural and electronic properties
Joaquín Calbo, Mariachiara Pastore, Edoardo Mosconi, Enrique Ortí and Filippo De Angelis
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP54970D, Paper

Trends in electrochemical CO2 reduction activity for open and close-packed metal surfaces
Chuan Shi, Heine A. Hansen, Adam C. Lausche and Jens K. Nørskov
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP54822H, Paper

The cyclic ground state structure of the HF trimer revealed by far infrared jet-cooled Fourier transform spectroscopy
P. Asselin, P. Soulard, B. Madebène, M. Goubet, T. R. Huet, R. Georges, O. Pirali and P. Roy
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP55047H, Paper

Melt-infiltration of spiro-OMeTAD and thermal instability of solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells
Colin D. Bailie, Eva L. Unger, Shaik M. Zakeeruddin, Michael Grätzel and Michael D. McGehee
DOI: 10.1039/C4CP00116H, Paper

Protonic defects in yttria stabilized zirconia: incorporation, trapping and migration
James A. Dawson, Hungru Chen and Isao Tanaka
DOI: 10.1039/C4CP00021H, Paper

Unveiling mode-selected electron–phonon interactions in metal films by helium atom scattering
G. Benedek, M. Bernasconi, K.-P. Bohnen, D. Campi, E. V. Chulkov, P. M. Echenique, R. Heid, I. Yu. Sklyadneva and J. P. Toennies
DOI: 10.1039/C3CP54834A, Perspective

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