Archive for October, 2010

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

Read the most-read Journal of Materials Chemistry articles of September 2010, listed below:

Harald Hoppe and Niyazi Serdar Sariciftci, J. Mater. Chem., 2006, 16, 45-61
DOI: 10.1039/B510618B
 
Clément Sanchez, Beatriz Julián, Philippe Belleville and Michael Popall, J. Mater. Chem., 2005, 15, 3559-3592
DOI: 10.1039/B509097K
 
Stéphane Mornet, Sébastien Vasseur, Fabien Grasset and Etienne Duguet, J. Mater. Chem., 2004, 14, 2161-2175
DOI: 10.1039/B402025A
 
Ivan P. Parkin and Robert G. Palgrave, J. Mater. Chem., 2005, 15, 1689-1695
DOI: 10.1039/B412803F
 
Sasha Stankovich, Richard D. Piner, Xinqi Chen, Nianqiang Wu, SonBinh T. Nguyen and Rodney S. Ruoff, J. Mater. Chem., 2006, 16, 155-158
DOI: 10.1039/B512799H
 
Igor I. Slowing, Juan L. Vivero-Escoto, Brian G. Trewyn and Victor S.-Y. Lin, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 7924-7937
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM00554A
 
U. Mueller, M. Schubert, F. Teich, H. Puetter, K. Schierle-Arndt and J. Pastré, J. Mater. Chem., 2006, 16, 626-636
DOI: 10.1039/B511962F
 
Sarah J. Toal and William C. Trogler, J. Mater. Chem., 2006, 16, 2871-2883
DOI: 10.1039/B517953J
 
Dongyu Cai and Mo Song, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 7906-7915
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM00530D
 
Jung Tae Park, Dong Kyu Roh, Rajkumar Patel, Eunhye Kim, Du Yeol Ryu and Jong Hak Kim, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 8521-8530
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM01471K
 
To keep up-to-date with all the best materials chemistry research articles, sign up for the journal’s e-alerts here.
Digg This
Reddit This
Stumble Now!
Share on Facebook
Bookmark this on Delicious
Share on LinkedIn
Bookmark this on Technorati
Post on Twitter
Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)

Journal of Materials Chemistry 20th Anniversary Articles

In 2010, Journal of Materials Chemistry is publishing its 20th volume. To celebrate this landmark, we have been publishing a selection of articles by leading members of the materials chemistry community, including some of our past and present Editorial and Advisory Board members.

All articles published to date are listed below, to read the full article simply click on the title.

All-conjugated polyelectrolyte block copolymers
Andrea Gutacker, Sylwia Adamczyk, Anke Helfer, Logan E. Garner, Rachel C. Evans, Sofia M. Fonseca, Matti Knaapila, Guillermo C. Bazan, Hugh D. Burrows and Ullrich Scherf, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 1423-1430
DOI: 10.1039/B918583F

Structure, magnetism and giant dielectric constant of BiCr0.5Mn0.5O3 synthesized at high pressures
P. Mandal, A. Iyo, Y. Tanaka, A. Sundaresan and C. N. R. Rao, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 1646-1650
DOI: 10.1039/B914350P

Fluorescent bio/chemosensors based on silole and tetraphenylethene luminogens with aggregation-induced emission feature 
Ming Wang, Guanxin Zhang, Deqing Zhang, Daoben Zhu and Ben Zhong Tang, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 1858-1867
DOI: 10.1039/B921610C

AuI: an alternative and potentially better precursor than AuIII for the synthesis of Au nanostructures
Jie Zeng, Yanyun Ma, Unyong Jeong and Younan Xia, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 2290-2301
DOI: 10.1039/B922571D

Chiral conducting salts of BEDT-TTF containing a single enantiomer of tris(oxalato)chromate(III) crystallised from a chiral solvent
Lee Martin, Peter Day, Peter Horton, Shin’ichi Nakatsuji, Jun’ichi Yamada and Hiroki Akutsu, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 2738-2742
DOI: 10.1039/B920224B

Organic electronics from perylene to organic photovoltaics: painting a brief history with a broad brush
Fulvio G. Brunetti, Rajeev Kumar and Fred Wudl, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 2934-2948
DOI: 10.1039/B921677D

Biomolecule assisted self-assembly of π-conjugated oligomers
A. Jatsch, E.-K. Schillinger, S. Schmid and P. Bäuerle, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 3563-3578
DOI: 10.1039/B926594E

Synthesis and applications of core-enlarged perylene dyes
Yuri Avlasevich, Chen Li and Klaus Müllen, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 3814-3826
DOI: 10.1039/C000137F

Chemical routes to chalcogenide materials as thin films or particles with critical dimensions with the order of nanometres
Mohammad Afzaal, Mohammad Azad Malik and Paul O’Brien, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 4031-4040
DOI: 10.1039/B923898K

Biaxial nematic phases
Carsten Tschierske and Demetri J. Photinos, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 4263-4294
DOI: 10.1039/B924810B

Low-temperature synthesis of nanoscale silica multilayers – atomic layer deposition in a test tube
Benjamin Hatton, Vladimir Kitaev, Doug Perovic, Geoff Ozin and Joanna Aizenberg, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 6009-6013
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM00696C

Synthesis of metal sulfide nanomaterials via thermal decomposition of single-source precursors
Ilan Jen-La Plante, Tahani W. Zeid, Peidong Yang and Taleb Mokari, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 6612-6617
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM00439A

Digg This
Reddit This
Stumble Now!
Share on Facebook
Bookmark this on Delicious
Share on LinkedIn
Bookmark this on Technorati
Post on Twitter
Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)

‘Hot Article’: Polystyrene sphere templates for nanostructure arrays

This ‘Hot Article’ by Liang Li, Yoshio Bando, Dmitri Golberg and colleagues, reviews recent developments in the synthetic strategies and unique applications of one-dimensional (1D) nanostructure arrays based on polystyrene (PS) spheres.

Polystyrene sphere-assisted one-dimensional nanostructure arrays: synthesis and applicationsPolystyrene sphere-assisted one-dimensional nanostructure arrays: synthesis and applications
Liang Li, Tianyou Zhai, Haibo Zeng, Xiaosheng Fang, Yoshio Bando and Dmitri Golberg
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02230F, Feature Article

PS spheres can self-assemble into colloidal crystal monolayers that are currently employed as templates for the synthesis of 1D nanostructure arrays.  Compared to other classes of templates these monolayers can be easily formed and adjusted on substrates and further manipulated using subsequent growth methods.  Reported applications of PS-sphere mediated nanoarrays include field-emitters, antireflection, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), photonic crystals, surface wetting, and photocatalysis.

In this feature article, the team from the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan highlight recent developments in synthetic strategies, review emerging applications and analyse future challenges.

Read the full text here.  Free until November 24th!

Digg This
Reddit This
Stumble Now!
Share on Facebook
Bookmark this on Delicious
Share on LinkedIn
Bookmark this on Technorati
Post on Twitter
Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)

Enzymes – a new ingredient for marine paint?

Cross-linked enzyme aggregates have great potential in marine antifouling paints claim Danish scientists.

Paints with antifouling activity are used in the marine industry to prevent undesirable accumulation of microorganisms, plants and animals on ship surfaces below the waterline. Previously tributyltin self-polishing copolymer (TBT-SPC) paints have been used however they were banned in January 2008 due to environmental regulations.

The main alternatives are copper-based paints but these also cause concern for the environment. Consequently it non-toxic alternatives are desirable which is where enzymes can have a niche explains Stepan Shipovskov at Aarhus University, Denmark.

Environmentally friendly paints for boats use enzymes instead of metals

Environmentally friendly paints for boats use enzymes instead of metals

Enzymes can interact directly with microorganisms on the ships surface but organic solvents, such as xylene, are the main base of paints and can inactivate the enzymes. Shipovskov and co-workers tested cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) of proteases in artificial sea water and found that they are tolerant to xylene and have great stability in dried paint. Shipovskov explains that ‘a stabilisation effect occurs due to the covalent linking between enzyme molecules which prevents enzyme inactivation in organic solvents’.

To view the full Highlights in Chemical Science article, please click here: Enzymes – a new ingredient for marine paint?

Link to journal article

Implementation of cross-linked enzyme aggregates of proteases for marine paint applications
Jonas Skovgaard, Charlotte A. Bak, Torben Snabe, Duncan S. Sutherland, Brian S. Laursen, Karsten M. Kragh, Flemming Besenbacher, Charlotte H. Poulsen and Stepan Shipovskov, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 7626
DOI:
10.1039/c0jm01249a

Digg This
Reddit This
Stumble Now!
Share on Facebook
Bookmark this on Delicious
Share on LinkedIn
Bookmark this on Technorati
Post on Twitter
Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)

Polymerisation reveals hidden fingerprints

Fingerprints leave their mark on surfaces that remain even if they are washed off allowing them to be detected using disulphur dinitride, claim UK scientists. 

Fingerprint analysis of crime scenes has become a powerful weapon in the forensic scientist’s arsenal. The ridges present on the tips of the fingers are unique to a person. By comparison of impressions left in materials – typically flat, regular surfaces, such as glass – to a sample taken from a suspect it is possible to identify the owner of the fingerprints. 

It could be possible to identify fingerprints that have been washed from surfaces

It could be possible to identify fingerprints that have been washed from surfaces

But there are occasions where fingerprints are not easily viewable or are fragmented. Here, latent fingerprinting – where obscured fingerprints are enhanced – can be used to identify an individual. In 2008, Paul Kelly and co-workers at Loughborough University noticed that the strained four-membered ring system S2N2 quickly polymerises to (SN)x in the presence of fingerprints. Detecting this polymer produces a visual image of the fingerprint. 

To view the full Highlights in Chemical Technology article, please click here: Polymerisation reveals hidden fingerprints

Link to journal article

Polymerisation of S2N2 to (SN)x as a tool for the rapid imaging of fingerprints removed from metal surfaces
Stephen M. Bleay, Paul F. Kelly and Roberto S. P. King, J. Mater. Chem., 2010
DOI:
10.1039/c0jm02724c

Digg This
Reddit This
Stumble Now!
Share on Facebook
Bookmark this on Delicious
Share on LinkedIn
Bookmark this on Technorati
Post on Twitter
Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)

Colour changing fabrics without weaving

As interest grows in clothes that do more than just keep you warm and preserve your modesty, Canadian scientists are developing non-woven textiles that exhibit a reversible colour change due to resistive heating. 

Traditional fabrics can be improved by giving them another function useful for fashion medical or military applications, explains Alexis Laforgue at the National Research Council Canada Industrial Materials Institute, Boucherville. 

Applying a current causes the material to change colour

Applying a current causes the material to change colour

Substances that change colour when an external stimulus is applied, such as heat) or electricity (know as (thermochromism or electrochromism respectively), can be added to fabrics to give them extra functionality. Laforgue’s new non-woven material is simpler than many of its thermochromic and electrochromic counterparts because the fibres don’t need to be woven through a fabric and the system doesn’t need an electrolyte layer. 

To view the full Highlights in Chemical Technology article, please click here: Colour changing fabrics without weaving

Link to journal article

Electrically controlled colour-changing textiles using the resistive heating properties of PEDOT nanofibers
Alexis Laforgue, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 8233
DOI:
10.1039/c0jm02307h

Digg This
Reddit This
Stumble Now!
Share on Facebook
Bookmark this on Delicious
Share on LinkedIn
Bookmark this on Technorati
Post on Twitter
Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)

Hot Articles: Bacteria-killing polymer surfaces and damage detection in healable polymers

A team from Oklahoma report the fabrication of non-leaching antibacterial surfaces using a single-step vapour crosslinking method.

Single-step fabrication of non-leaching antibacterial surfaces using vapor crosslinkingSingle-step fabrication of non-leaching antibacterial surfaces using vapor crosslinking
Yumin Ye, Qing Song and Yu Mao
J. Mater. Chem., 2010, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02578J, Paper

Bactericidal surfaces are highly desirable to prevent bacteria-associated infections in hospital and health care facilities. Current surfaces are based on the release of antibacterial agents, however, leaching of antibiotics can contribute to the escalation of bacteria resistance. An alternative strategy is to create non-leaching antibacterial surfaces. The non-leaching surfaces kill bacteria on contact, which has been reported to reduce the probability of developing bacteria resistance.

Yu Mao and colleagues copolymerised vapours of dimethylaminomethylstyrene (DMAMS) and ethylene glycol diacrylate (EGDA) to produce crosslinked polymer coatings.  The tertiary amine groups in DMAMS units become partially protonated at neutral pH conditions, resulting in crosslinked coatings which have cationic charges distributed across the polymer network and kill bacteria through disruption of the bacteria membrane upon surface contact. Killing efficacy of more than 99.99% against both B. subtilis and E. coli was achieved and leaching tests indicated that the crosslinked coatings did not leach from the surface to kill bacteria and were stable after the durability tests.

Interested in knowing more?  Read the full article here.  Free until November 22nd!

Erin Murphy from the University of California reports the use of birefringence to assess damage and extent of repair in healable polymers based on the thermally reversible Diels–Alder reaction, in this ‘Hot Article’.

The return of photoelastic stress measurements: utilizing birefringence to monitor damage and repair in healable materialsThe return of photoelastic stress measurements: utilizing birefringence to monitor damage and repair in healable materials
Erin B. Murphy
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02308F, Paper

Examining a transparent polymer under polarized light reveals the stress distribution throughout the sample due to the birefringence in the material arising from anisotropy, clearly indicating areas of high stress; by applying a photoelastic coating to metal and opaque composite structures, it is also possible to identify areas of stress in non-transparent materials and parts.

Herein, Erin Murphy demonstrates the application of birefringence and the principles of photoelastic stress measurements to monitor a healable polymer. By systematically monitoring the birefringence of the material under a controlled applied stress, her group have developed their own calibration curve for the analysis of isochromatic fringes in the polymers.

The birefringent property of these polymers affords the ability to analyze residual stress in a fabricated sample, in order to assess the sites most likely to fracture and to then re-design the specimen geometry and processing parameters to avoid such areas within the material.

Interested in knowing more?  Read the full article here.  Free until November 22nd!

Digg This
Reddit This
Stumble Now!
Share on Facebook
Bookmark this on Delicious
Share on LinkedIn
Bookmark this on Technorati
Post on Twitter
Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)

Hot Articles: Luminescent phosphors and multicoloured polymers

Processable donor–acceptor type electrochromes switching between multicolored and highly transmissive states towards single component RGB-based display devicesProcessable donor–acceptor type electrochromes switching between multicolored and highly transmissive states towards single component RGB-based display devices 
Abidin Balan, Derya Baran and Levent Toppare
J. Mater. Chem., 2010, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM01815E, Paper

Levant Toppare and his team reported last year in ChemComm on the synthesis of a polymer (PTBT) with the capability to switch between all RGB colours, black and transmissive states.  In this Journal of Materials Chemistry ‘Hot Article’ donor acceptor type PTBTs (PTBT-DAs) with alternating alkyl chain substitution were synthesized and characterized in terms of their electrochemical and optical properties.

The electrochemical and spectral results demonstrate that in the context of low cost flexible display device technology, requirements for polymers showing multicoloured and transmissive states can be fulfilled by PTBT-DAs.

Interested in reading more?  Read for free here until November 19th.

Anomalous Eu layer doping in Eu, Si co-doped aluminium nitride based phosphor and its direct observationAnomalous Eu layer doping in Eu, Si co-doped aluminium nitride based phosphor and its direct observation
Takashi Takeda, Naoto Hirosaki, Rong-Jun Xie, Koji Kimoto and Mitsuhiro Saito
J. Mater. Chem., 2010, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02096F, Paper

Takeshi Takeda and colleagues in Japan have provided insight into the luminescent properties of Eu, Si co-doped AlN.  This material shows blue luminescence by UV and electron excitation. However, it is not clear how Eu is located in the wurtzite AlN lattice as there is not enough space for a large Eu cation.  In the present study, the team from The National Institute of Materials Science and Tohoku University set out to elucidate the luminescent Eu centre’s location and the role of co-dopant Si.

Their findings show that Si co-doping is essential for Eu incorporation into AlN and that Eu forms a single layer structure with the Si condensation between the AlN wurtzite blocks.  Their work indicates that layer type doping can be used to design new phosphors.

Interested in reading more?  Read for free here until November 19th.

Digg This
Reddit This
Stumble Now!
Share on Facebook
Bookmark this on Delicious
Share on LinkedIn
Bookmark this on Technorati
Post on Twitter
Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)

Making colour tuneable quantum dots

An improved synthesis of Mn-doped ZnSe quantum dots offers tailored fluorescent labels for biomedical imaging.

Mn:ZnSe quantum dots have many interesting properties including tuneable photoluminescence, high colour purity and biocompatibility. To improve the properties Hongzhi Wang, Yaogang Li, and colleagues at Donghua University, Shanghai, China, have developed a new synthesis. The simple aqueous phase method allows control over the size of the quantum dots and the photoluminescence can be tuned across a broader range by changing the reaction conditions. The quantum dots created by this method also have a higher quantum yield compared to previous synthetic routes which should improve the performance of any biomedical imaging agents based on this material.

Graphical abstract: Aqueous synthesis of color-tunable and stable Mn2+-doped ZnSe quantum dots

Mn:ZnSe quantum produced by this method are more stable than CdTe to UV irradiation and chemical oxidation. Mn:ZnSe quantum dots don’t contain Cd (a common component in quantum dots) eliminating the risk of Cd leaching from the material and poisoning patients. The stability and lack of Cd makes these quantum dots promising candidates for biomedical applications.

Read the full article here: Pengtao Shao, Qinghong Zhang, Yaogang Li and Hongzhi Wang, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, DOI: 10.1039/C0JM01878C

Digg This
Reddit This
Stumble Now!
Share on Facebook
Bookmark this on Delicious
Share on LinkedIn
Bookmark this on Technorati
Post on Twitter
Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)

Advanced Hybrid Materials themed issue now online!

Algae–silica systems as functional hybrid materialsJournal of Materials Chemistry issue 42 is now online.  This themed issue showcases some of the latest research in the field of hybrid materials. Articles in this issue discuss the exciting new developments around the synthesis and applications of these materials. Guest editors Pierre Rabu and Andreas Taubert introduce the issue in their editorial which you can read here.

The paper featured on the front cover is ‘Algae–silica systems as functional hybrid materials’ by Eduardo Ruiz-Hitzky and colleagues in Spain from the Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid and the Instituto de Microelectrónica de Barcelona.

Digg This
Reddit This
Stumble Now!
Share on Facebook
Bookmark this on Delicious
Share on LinkedIn
Bookmark this on Technorati
Post on Twitter
Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)