Hydrophobic cellulose nanocrystals modified with quaternary ammonium salts
Cellulose nanocrystals or CNCs are environmentally friendly biomaterials whose surface functionality can be tailored in order to improve their performance. In this hot paper, Zhou and co-workers describe a simple and flexible route to produce CNCs bearing high carboxylate content. A new environmentally friendly method for the surface modification of the produced CNCs is reported. Modifying the surface of the CNCs using a range of quaternary ammonium salts via ionic exchange in aqueous solution, gives a series of CNCs that can be redispersed and individualised in organic solvents. These CNCs can be dried from solvent to form well-disperesed nanocomposites.
(J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 19798–19805)
LEDs are increasing in use over traditional incandescent or fluorescent light sources because of their reduced energy demands. Solid state white lighting devices offer many advantages compared to these conventional sources such as longer lifetimes and no need for mercury. Most common white lighting phosphors strongly absorb blue light, in this hot paper, Seshadri et al. report a green-to-yellow emitting phosphor solid solution. The composition (x) of the phosphor can be altered to easily tune the colour of the phosphor between near-UV excitation and green/yellow emission wavelengths which are optimal for white lighting applications.
(J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 18204–18213)
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