Environmental effects on mechanochemical activation of spiropyran in linear PMMA. A colour changing spiropyran mechanophore was incorporated into linear poly(methyl methacrylate) by a team from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA, and Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, USA. This system demonstrates mechanically induced chemical activation, which is strongly dependent on polymer mobility and can be controlled either thermally or using a plasticizing solvent. Activation occurred during a temperature window (90–105 °C), a characteristic which the team speculate could be found in other similar mechanochemical systems. J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI:10.1039/C0JM03967E (Advance Article)
SnO2 hollow structures and TiO2 nanosheets for lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are established as an important energy storage platform for portable electronics; however, there are constant and growing demands for better performance, improved safety, and enhanced reliability. A variety of nanomaterials has emerged as promising electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries. In this Feature Article, Jun Song Chen, Lynden A. Archer and Xiong Wen (David) Lou discuss two nanomaterials systems which show particular promise as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries: tin dioxide (SnO2) hollow spheres and anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanosheets (NSs). J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI:10.1039/C0JM04163G (Advance Article)
PEDOT:PSS films with significantly enhanced conductivities induced by preferential solvation with cosolvents and their application in polymer photovoltaic cells. A team from the National University of Singapore have significantly enhanced the conductivity of a PEDOT:PSS film by a treatment with cosolvents. The cosolvent treatment improved the conductivity from 0.2 S cm−1 to more than 100 S cm−1. The team attribute the increase in conductivity to the preferential solvations of the PEDOT and PSS chains with the cosolvents, which induce the phase separation of PSSH chains from the PEDOT:PSS film, the aggregation of the PSSH segments in the PEDOT:PSS film, and the conformational changes of the PEDOT chains. The films created by this process are quite smooth and have high work functions. The team claim that the films are suitable to replace ITO as the transparent electrode of optoelectronic devices. J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI:10.1039/C0JM04177G (Advance Article)
