Journal of Materials Chemistry Blog

Materials for central nervous system regeneration: bioactive cues. In this review Christiane Gumera, Britta Rauck and Yadong Wang report on how materials-based approaches offer a way to combine synthetic and biological components to help neural regeneration. The authors outline various biomaterials that are promising for central nerve applications and they discuss the array of bioactive cues that are valuable in promoting nerve repair. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C0JM04335D, Advance Article)

Organic–inorganic hybrid polysilsesquioxane nanospheres as UVA/UVB absorber and fragrance carrier. A material designed to protect you from the sun could also contain a scent say a team of scientists based in Thailand. The material is based on hybrid organic–silica particles with UVA/UVB absorptive chromophores. In addition to encapsulating fragrant molecules, these materials avoid the photocatalysis property of inorganic UV absorbers, such as TiO₂ and ZnO nanoparticles, retain the minimal transdermal penetration and non-sticky nature of particulate silica particles, whilst at the same time harnessing the UV absorption characteristics of organic chromophores. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C0JM04271D, Advance Article)

Graphene oxide coated core–shell structured polystyrene microspheres and their electrorheological characteristics under applied electric field. In this Hot Article a team of Korean scientists fabricate and study core–shell structured polystyrene–graphene oxide microspheres. These particles were synthesized by adsorbing graphene oxide sheets onto a polystyrene surface through a strong π–π stacking interaction. Monodispersed polystyrene microspheres were prepared as the core material using a dispersion polymerization, while the shell part of grapheme oxide was synthesized by a modified Hummers method. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C1JM10323G, Advance Article)

Read these articles for free until 18^th May

A perfluorinated anion exchange membrane with a 1,4-dimethylpiperazinium cation demonstrated enhanced hydroxide ion conductivity.

The membrane also exhibited a better water uptake than a typical hydrocarbon anion exchange membrane with the same cation. When tested, the membrane showed a remarkable stability of over 30 days in 2 M KOH at 60 °C and good fuel cell performance. Work is ongoing to investigate the attachment of more basic cations to further enhance the hydroxide ion conductivity, fuel cell performance and long term stability.

Interested to know more? Why not read the full article for free: M.-s. J. Jung, C. G. Arges and V. Ramani, J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/c1jm10320b

Researchers from Bar-Ilan University have developed novel hybrid silica nanoparticles (NPs) with highly photoreactive sites on their surface by incorporation of phenyl azide (PA) or benzophenone (BPh) functionality.

It is found that, in contrast to what is stated in the literature, SiO₂@PA NPs are much more reactive than SiO₂@PFPA ones in solid state photochemical reactions. Additionally, this is the first report of covalent immobilization of NPs into biocompatible parylene C films to form hydrophilic and functional composite films. Amine functionality has also been introduced onto the silica NPs by reaction with APTES. This approach could open up new possibilities for simple and solvent-free functionalization of materials by light.

Interested to know more? Why not read the full article for free: A. Peled, M. Naddaka and J.-P. Lellouche, J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/c1jm00055a

ZnO single butterfly wing scales: synthesis and spatial optical anisotropy. The team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University created ZnO replicas of butterfly wing scales by using the natural scales as templates. The team says this work should help researchers to understand the mechanism behind the optical properties of functional butterfly wing scale replicas. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI:10.1039/C1JM10678C, Advance Article)

Synthesis and modelling of gold nanostars with tunable morphology and extinction spectrum. Italian scientists have created stable gold nanostars with tunable extinction properties from the visible up to 1800 nm. These nanostars could lead to the improvement of IR diagnostics or chemical sensing the team say. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI:10.1039/C0JM04519E, Advance Article) 

Electrospinning fabrication, structural and mechanical characterization of rod-like virus-based composite nanofibers. A biodegradable fibrous mat that mimics the extracellular matrix has been created by a team from China and the US. The mat is formed by electrospinning tobacco mosaic virus with polyvinyl alcohol into continuous TMV–PVA composite nanofibers. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI:10.1039/C1JM00078K, Advance Article)

Read the full articles for free until the 9th May

Highly ordered π-extended discotic liquid-crystalline triindoles. In this Hot Paper a team of Spanish chemists create discotic liquid crystals based on a heptacyclic triindole arrangement. The team claim that attaching groups to the indole rings offers a great opportunity to tune the properties of these liquid crystals making them suitable for incorporation into devices. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C0JM04395H Advance Article)

Solid-state photochemical and photomechanical properties of molecular crystal nanorods composed of anthracene ester derivatives. A series of photoresponsive molecular crystal nanorods have been created by a team from USA, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon. The photomechanical response of the nanorods is determined by a metastable crystalline intermediate that slowly converts into the low energy solution grown dimer crystal structure over a course of weeks. The team says that the photomechanical response of these structures arises from nonequilibrium crystal forms and cannot be predicted from the equilibrium reactant and product crystals. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI:10.1039/C1JM10228A Advance Article)

FRET-based probe for fluoride based on a phosphorescent iridium(III) complex containing triarylboron groups. A FRET-based F− probe based on carbazole-fluorene-carbazole as the fluorescent donor and a dimesitylboryl group-functionalized cationic Ir(III) complex as the phosphorescent acceptor has been designed by Chinese scientists. The introduction of dimesitylboryl groups to the Ir(III) complex unit leads to red-shifted and more intense absorption and phosphorescence emission. In addition, the FRET efficiency from the fluorescent donor to the phosphorescent acceptor is enhanced significantly. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI:10.1039/C1JM00071C Advance Article)

Read all of these Hot Articles for free until 5th May

Researchers in Germany have achieved metal ion release from a silicone matrix by an electrochemistry-controlled method.

Synergistic metal ion release from a silicone matrix filled with silver and copper as well as silver and gold nanoparticles (NPs) was investigated. It was found that silver NPs enhanced the release of copper ions, whereas gold NPs did not enhance the release of silver ions. The mechanism of the release of the less noble metal nanoparticles is based on ion-mediated electrochemistry and not contact corrosion of both elements. This work shows potential in the design of time- and rate-controlled bioactive nanocomposites.

Interested to know more? Why not read the full article for free: A. Hahn, S. Günther, P. Wagener and S. Barcikowski, J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/c0jm04480f (Advance Article)

Ti4+/Mn2+-activated Mg2SnO4 phosphors were prepared using a solid state reaction by a team of Chinese scientists. The blue colour purity and emission intensity of Mg2SnO4:Ti4+ is enhanced compared to pure Mg2SnO4, and the Mg2SnO4:Mn2+ shows a much higher green colour purity than that of ZnO:Zn. Wide cyan-emitting cathodoluminescence can be achieved simply by adjusting the relative doping concentration of Ti4+ and Mn2+ in the Mg2SnO4 host. The team behind the research say that the wide cyan light emissions are outside of the typical colour gamut for FED phosphors and theses phosphors could increase the display quality of full-color FEDs. 

Interested to know more? Read the full article for free until 2nd May:

Cyan-emitting Ti4+- and Mn2+-coactivated Mg2SnO4 as a potential phosphor to enlarge the color gamut for field emission display, Guogang Li, Xiao Zhang, Chong Peng, Mengmeng Shang, Dongling Geng, Ziyong Cheng and Jun Lin, J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C1JM00057H (Advance Article)