Journal of Materials Chemistry Blog

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)