Towards controlled synthesis and better understanding of highly luminescent PbS/CdS core/shell quantum dots: A two-step cation exchange procedure for synthesizing PbS/CdS core/shell quantum dots with a much thicker shell has been developed by US and Canadian scientists. The team behind the research say this method expands the flexibility of the current cation exchange approach. These core/shell PbS/CdS QDs not only show significantly increased quantum yield of up to 67%, they are also much more photostable and thermally stable than the shell-free PbS QDs. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI:10.1039/C1JM11205H, Advance Article)
Plasma functionalized PDMS microfluidic chips: towards point-of-care capture of circulating tumor cells: An efficient and disposable microfluidic device for capturing circulating tumor cells have been created by a team of Australian scientists. The team created the device using plasma functionalization of PDMS followed by conjugation with the anti-epithelial-cell adhesion-molecule mAb. The team say that the ability to efficiently capture circulating tumor cells using a disposable, low cost PDMS device such as the one shown here should facilitate the adoption of this new technology in clinical practice. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI:10.1039/C1JM10317B, Advance Article)
![Graphical abstract: Nematic self-organization of regioselectively polyfunctionalized [60]fullerene](https://blogs.rsc.org/jm/files/2011/05/GA10.gif "GA")
Nematic self-organization of regioselectively polyfunctionalized [60]fullerene: Fullerene hexakisadducts displaying different symmetries based on the regioselective polyfunctionalization of the fullerene sphere have been synthesised by a team at the Université de Strasbourg, France. These organic molecules could find use as organic electronic materials. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011 DOI:10.1039/C1JM10982K, Advance Article)
