Author Archive

Squid beak insight shifts chitosan composites up the pecking order

© Mark Conlin/Alamy Stock Photo

© Mark Conlin/Alamy Stock Photo

Inspired by squid beak, researchers in the US have created a lightweight composite from naturally abundant components that can be rigid at one end yet bendy at the other.

With a chitin beak and serrated chitin teeth on their arms and tentacles, nothing showcases biopolymer versatility quite like the giant squid. Unlike many strong biological materials, such as nacre in pearls or chiton mollusc teeth made of magnetite, chitin is devoid of metals and derives its extreme properties solely from organic molecules.

Interested? Read the full story in Chemistry World.

The original article can be read below and is free to access until the 20th April 2016.:

Squid beak inspired water processable chitosan composites with tunable mechanical properties
Xiaolin Zhang, Pegah Hassanzadeh, Takeo Miyake, Jungho Jin and Marco Rolandi*
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2016, 4, 2273-2279
DOI: 10.1039/C6TB00106H

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Shape-Responsive Fluorophores themed issue

JMC C shape fluorophone themed issue coverGuest edited by Dr Kyril Solntsev (Georgia Institute of Technology, USA) and Professor Ben Zhong Tang (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong), this themed issue covers all aspects of the recent exciting progress in shape-responsive fluorophores, and highlights remarkable contributions made by the leading scientists in this important research area, as well as the broad impacts of this novel class of fluorophores.

The full issue on Shape-responsive fluorophones can be read here.

Below is a small selection of articles from the issue:

Editorial
Themed issue on shape-responsive fluorophores
Ben Zhong Tang and Kyril M. Solntsev
Show Affiliations
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016, 4, 2638-2639
DOI: 10.1039/C6TC90054B

Papers
Docking-guided identification of protein hosts for GFP chromophore-like ligands
Natalia V. Povarova, Nina G. Bozhanova, Karen S. Sarkisyan, Roman Gritcenko, Mikhail S. Baranov, Ilia V. Yampolsky, Konstantin A. Lukyanov and Alexander S. Mishin
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016, 4, 3036-3040
DOI: 10.1039/C5TC03931B

Temperature-dependent shape-responsive fluorescent nanospheres for image-guided drug delivery
Shawn He, George Tourkakis, Oleg Berezin, Nikolay Gerasimchuk, Hairong Zhang, Haiying Zhou, Asaf Izraely, Walter J. Akers and Mikhail Y. Berezin
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016, 4, 3028-3035
DOI: 10.1039/C6TC00122J

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Welcoming new Journal of Materials Chemistry A Associate Editor Zhigang Shuai

We are pleased to introduce a new Associate Editor joining Journal of Materials Chemistry A, Professor Zhigang Shuai (Tsinghua University, China).

Journal of Materials Chemistry A Associate Editor Zhigang Shuai

Professor Zhigang Shuai received his Ph.D. from Fudan University in 1989 and is currently the Changjiang Scholar Chair Professor in the department of chemistry at Tsinghua University, China. Prior to this he worked as a postdoctoral and research associate in the University of Mons, Belgium, for 11 years before he became a Hundred-Talent research professor at the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2002.

His research interests focus on the development of computational methodologies for modeling functional materials and he extended the density matrix renormalization group theory for the excited state structures, light-emitting property, and nonlinear optical responses for conjugated polymers. Zhigang has devised computational schemes for

the luminescence spectra and quantum efficiency, carrier mobility, thermoelectric conversion, and photovoltaic processes in organic/polymeric and layered nanomaterials and has published over 310 paper in peer-reviewed journals and supervised 18 PhD theses.

Zhigang was elected to the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Foreign Member of the Academia Europaea and the Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts of Belgium and he serves as a member of the Executive Council of the Chinese Chemical Society. He was the recipient of the National Outstanding Young Investigator‘s Fund (2004), National Talent Program of the Ministry of Personnel (2006), the Chinese Chemical Society – AkzoNobel Chemical Sciences Award (2012), and the Special Allowance from the People’s Republic of China State Council (2013).

A selection of recent papers include:

Nuclear quantum tunnelling and carrier delocalization effects to bridge the gap between hopping and bandlike behaviors in organic semiconductors
Yuqian Jiang, Xinxin Zhong, Wen Shi, Qian Peng, Hua Geng, Yi Zhao and Zhigang Shuai
Nanoscale Horiz
., 2016, 1, 53-59

Thin film field-effect transistors of 2,6-diphenyl anthracene (DPA)
Jie Liu, Huanli Dong, Zongrui Wang, Deyang Ji, Changli Cheng, Hua Geng, Hantang Zhang, Yonggang Zhen, Lang Jiang, Hongbing Fu, Zhishan Bo, Wei Chen, Zhigang Shuai and Wenping Hu
Chem. Commun
., 2015, 51, 11777-11779

Enhancement of the p-channel performance of sulfur-bridged annulene through a donor–acceptor co-crystal approach
Jing Zhang, Guangyao Zhao, Yunke Qin, Jiahui Tan, Hua Geng, Wei Xu, Wenping Hu, Zhigang Shuai and Daoben Zhu
J. Mater. Chem. C
, 2014, 2, 8886-8891

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Journal of Materials Chemistry A, B and C – Hot Article Highlights

graphical abstractBidirectional acceleration of carrier separation spatially via N-CQDs/atomically-thin BiOI nanosheets nanojunctions for manipulating active species in a photocatalytic process
Jun Di, Jiexiang Xia,* Mengxia Ji, Li Xu, Sheng Yin, Zhigang Chen and Huaming Li*
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C6TA00284F

Nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) modified atomically-thin BiOI nanosheets nanojunctions have been controllably prepared. The obtained BiOI consisted of 1–2 [Bi–O–I] units, which is the thinnest BiOX material reported so far. The atomically-thin structure was designed to accelerate carrier transfer among the BiOI nanosheet interior while the N-CQDs were constructed to facilitate surface charge carrier separation. Bidirectional acceleration of carrier separation can be achieved via this unique structure for both the materials interior and the surface.

Click here to read more hot articles from Journal of Materials Chemistry A

graphical abstract
Philip R. Miller, Roger J. Narayan* and Ronen Polsky*
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2016, 4, 1379-1383
DOI: 10.1039/C5TB02421H

Recently microneedles have been explored for transdermal monitoring of biomarkers with the goal to achieve time-sensitive clinical information for routine point-of-care health monitoring. In this highlight we provide a general overview of recent progress in microneedle-based sensing research, including: (a) glucose monitoring, (b) ex vitro microneedle diagnostic systems for general health monitoring with an emphasis on sensor construction, and (c) in vivo use of microneedle sensors.

Click here to read more hot articles from Journal of Materials Chemistry B


Yang Zhou, Dan-Dan Zhou, Bo-Mei Liu, Li-Na Li, Zi-Jun Yong, Hao Xing, Yong-Zheng Fang, Jing-Shan Hou and Hong-Tao Sun*
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016, 4, 2295-2301
DOI: 10.1039/C5TC04333F

Bismuth doped materials with near infrared (NIR) photoluminescence (PL) have recently attracted tremendous attention because of their great potential for photonic and optoelectronic devices that could find broad applications in modern optical telecommunications. However, the mechanistic studies of the NIR PL from these materials still significantly lag behind, which imposes substantial limitations in rationally discovering and designing new materials. In this contribution, we investigated the optical and structural properties of Bi doped CsPbI3 using a diverse range of experimental techniques.

Click here to read more hot articles from Journal of Materials Chemistry C
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Organic Semiconductors conference

The first Zing conference based around Organic Semiconductors will be taking place this year from the 22nd – 25th September. Journal of Materials Chemistry C is proud to sponsor and will be awarding a poster prize.

The conference will be chaired by Journal of Materials Chemistry C Associate Editor Natalie Stingelin (Imperial College London, UK) and Guillermo Bazan (University of California, Santa Barbara, USA) and will aim to identify future opportunities, emerging challenges and a discussion of the intellectual frontiers and technological vision for this class of materials.

Topics include structure/property guidelines for relevant applications, including organic photovoltaics, spintronics, biological interfaces, light-emitting diodes, field effect transistors and biosensors.

Further information regarding the conference including abstract information and submission details can be found here.

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MCARE2016

logo

Journal of Materials Chemistry A and Materials Horizons are proud to support the upcoming Materials Challenges In Alternative and Renewable Energy symposium which is taking place in Clearwater, Florida, USA from the 17th – 21st April 2016.

The symposium seeks to bring together different yet complimentary approaches for the development and application of spectral conversion materials for the energy sector. Topics will focus on spectral conversion materials, with emphasis on materials design, characterization, hybrid structures, mechanisms, device fabrication, and innovative approaches and applications.

Further information about MCARE2016 can be found here.

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2016 JMC HOT papers collection

Take a look at our 2016 Journal of Materials Chemistry A, B & C HOT papers collection which is now online. These on-going web collections features articles marked as HOT as recommended by our referees.

Each journal has a separate collection which is available for viewing below and all articles are free to access for 4 weeks. Congratulations once again to all authors whose articles are featured!

2016 Journal of Materials Chemistry A HOT papers

2016 Journal of Materials Chemistry B HOT papers

2016 Journal of Materials Chemistry C HOT papers

We hope that you enjoy reading these and keep an eye on them as these will be regularly updated.

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Immunological Biomaterials themed issue

This themed issue for Journal of Materials Chemistry B was guest edited by Professor Krishnendu Roy (Georgia Institute of Technology, USA) and focuses on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to the design or modification of biomaterials to control inflammation, modulate vaccine responses, deliver immunotherapeutics, enhance transplantation outcomes, augment regenerative potential and wound healing, and longitudinally detect immune-related biomarkers.

The full issue on Immunological Biomaterials can be read here.


front cover

Below is a small selection of articles from the issue:

Editorial

Themed collection on immunological biomaterials: where materials meet the immune system in health and diseases
Krishnendu Roy
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2016, 4, 1567-1568
DOI: 10.1039/C6TB90021F

Papers
Self-assembled hybrid supraparticles that proteolytically degrade tumor necrosis factor-α
Won Min Park, Christine M. Yee and Julie A. Champion
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2016, 4, 1633-1639
DOI: 10.1039/C5TB01647A

Joshua D. Snook, Charles B. Chesson, Alex G. Peniche, Sara M. Dann, Adriana Paulucci, Iryna V. Pinchuk and Jai S. Rudra
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2016, 4, 1640-1649
DOI: 10.1039/C5TB01623A
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Conductive calligraphy

Wearable electronics have an array of potential uses from fashion to monitoring health, but washing them is far from straightforward. This prompted scientists in South Korea to return to a millennia old drawing board, where they discovered that calligraphy ink might solve the problem.

Interested in finding out more? The fully story can be read in Chemistry World.

The original article can be read below:

Calligraphic ink enabling washable conductive textile electrodes for supercapacitors
Do Van Lam, Kyungmin Jo, Chang-Hyun Kim, Sejeong Won, Yun Hwangbo, Jae-Hyun Kim, Hak-Joo Lee and Seung-Mo Lee*
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C6TA01341D

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Water splitting and photocatalysis themed issue

front cover

Read a collection of articles featuring the most recent and dynamic work from top researchers working in water splitting and photocatalysis, recently published in Journal of Materials Chemistry A.

Upwards trends in population growth and natural resource consumption require a more sustainable approach to the production and processing of energy, water, food, and chemicals. In theory, most aspects of human society can be powered by the sunlight received on the surface of Earth; what is missing is a cheap and reliable technology to harness this abundant energy and convert it into fuels.

This themed issue, guest edited by Thomas E. Mallouk (Pennsylvania State University, USA), Shannon W. Boettcher (University of Oregon, USA), and Journal of Materials Chemistry A Associate Editor Frank E. Osterloh (University of California, Davis, USA), puts a spotlight on recent scientific developments in the area of solar-powered fuel generation, water and air purification, and chemicals processing, and highlights remarkable contributions made by the leading scientists in this important research area.


Article selection:

Themed issue on water splitting and photocatalysis
Shannon W. Boettcher, Thomas E. Mallouk and Frank E. Osterloh.
J. Mater. Chem. A
, 2016, 4, 2764-2765  DOI: 10.1039/C6TA90014C

Artificial photosynthesis using metal/nonmetal-nitride semiconductors: current status, prospects, and challenges
M. G. Kibria and Z. Mi
J. Mater. Chem. A
, 2016, 4, 2801-2820 DOI: 10.1039/C5TA07364B

Tantalum (oxy)nitride based photoanodes for solar-driven water oxidation
Chao Zhen, Runze Chen, Lianzhou Wang, Gang Liu and Hui-Ming Cheng
J. Mater. Chem. A
, 2016, 4, 2783-2800 DOI: 10.1039/C5TA07057K

A simplified theoretical guideline for overall water splitting using photocatalyst particles
Angel T. Garcia-Esparza and Kazuhiro Takanabe
J. Mater. Chem. A
, 2016, 4, 2894-2908  DOI: 10.1039/C5TA06983A

Utilizing modeling, experiments, and statistics for the analysis of water-splitting photoelectrodes
Yannick K. Gaudy and Sophia Haussener
J. Mater. Chem. A
, 2016, 4, 3100-3114 DOI: 10.1039/C5TA07328F

Charge transfer processes at the semiconductor/electrolyte interface for solar fuel production: insight from impedance spectroscopy
Luca Bertoluzzi, Pilar Lopez-Varo, Juan Antonio Jiménez Tejada and Juan Bisquert
J. Mater. Chem. A
, 2016, 4, 2873-2879  DOI: 10.1039/C5TA03210E

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