Journal of Materials Chemistry Blog

Oblique-angle deposited Ag nanorod arrays provide good performance for SERS sensing; however, the instability of Ag surfaces can impede their use for real-world sensing applications. Modifying silver nanorod arrays with a Au-coating via a galvanic replacement reaction is one method of mitigating this problem. In this hot paper the morphology optical properties and structure of the Ag nanorod arrays are modified with Au-coating via a galvanic replacement reaction are studied. Read the article for free until 13^th February:

Gold-modified silver nanorod arrays: growth dynamics and improved SERS properties: Chunyuan Song, Justin L. Abell, Yuping He, S. Hunyadi Murph, Yiping Cui and Yiping Zhao, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 1150-1159

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In this hot Feature Article Oleg Yaroshchuk and Yuriy Reznikov discuss the basis and recent achievements of photoalignment of liquid crystals. They provide an update on the classification of photoaligned materials and exposure schemes, and they analyze the relationship between the molecular structure of the materials and characteristics of liquid crystal alignment. Read the article for free until 9^th February (free registration required)

Photoalignment of liquid crystals: basics and current trends: Oleg Yaroshchuk and Yuriy Reznikov, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 286-300

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Scientists at Tongji University, Shanghai, China, have developed a method of creating patterns on photonic paper that are only visible when the paper is wet. The siloxane-containing photonic paper is fabricated by using lithography to create a contrast of crosslinking or degree of hydrophobization. When the invisible prints are soaked in water for several minutes, the small difference in reflection wavelength (λ) between the pattern and the background is significantly amplified due to their different swelling speeds, which leads to a visible image. The process is fully reversible and soaking and drying will repeat the cycle of showing and hiding the patterns.

Invisible photonic prints shown by water: Ruyang Xuan and Jianping Ge, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 367-372

This article was also featured in Chemistry World. The Chemistry World story is available here.

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Membrane degradation is one of the most important factors limiting the lifetime of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. In this hot article researchers based in Spain and the US investigate whether adding freestanding and silica-supported metal (Pt, Pd, Ag, and Au) nanoparticles can help mitigate polymer electrolyte membrane degradation in an operating fuel cell. The metal nanoparticles to be added were chosen based on their catalytic activity and ability to scavenge free radicals. Interested to know more? Read the full article for free until 31^st January (free registration required).

Degradation mitigation in PEM fuel cells using metal nanoparticle additives: Panagiotis Trogadas, Javier Parrondo, Federico Mijangos and Vijay Ramani, J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 19381-19388

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Mimicking biomineralization offers a route for the formation of new materials and structures. In this Feature Article Alexander Böker and co-workers review the materials and processes inspired by synthetic biomineralization. They also explore the tools and bio-inspired systems for the development of new synthetic materials and compare the original biological function of the protein to its role in the non-natural process. Read the Feature Article for free until 16th Jan:

Synthetic inorganic materials by mimicking biomineralization processes using native and non-native protein functions: Alexander Schulz, Huihui Wang, Patrick van Rijn and Alexander Böker, J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 18903-18918

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Dendritic complexes for white polymer light-emitting diodes. Chinese scientists have fabricated single-layer white polymer light-emitting devices (WPLED) by double-doping sky-blue emitter iridium(III) bis(2-(4,6-difluorophenyl)-pyridinato-N,C2)picolinate (FIrpic) into orange iridium dendrimers. These WPLEDs achieve the maximum current/power/external quantum efficiencies of 37.0 cd A−1/19.4 lm W−1/18.5%, which are among the highest efficiencies for dual-color WPLEDs ever reported.  

Highly efficient single-layer white polymer light-emitting devices employing triphenylamine-based iridium dendritic complexes as orange emissive component: Minrong Zhu, Jianhua Zou, Sujun Hu, Chen’ge Li, Chuluo Yang, Hongbin Wu, Jingui Qin and Yong Cao, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 361-366

Stacking-induced phosphorescence from organic radical materials. A new class of organic phosphorescent materials have been developed by scientists at University of Science and Technology of China. Based on salts of an organic radical material, the phosphorescent complexes show stacking-induced white-light and blue-light phosphorescence. The team say that these materials could lead to new LEDs.

Stacking-induced white-light and blue-light phosphorescence from purely organic radical materials: Guo-Ping Yong, Yi-Man Zhang, Wen-Long She and Ying-Zhou Li, J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 18520-18522

Read both of the papers for free until 12th January (free registration required).

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Researchers at University of Science & Technology of China have made prototype robots from a soft actuator. The robots are capable of gripping objects or worm-like movement, and are controlled by infrared light. The material used to create the robot is ultrasensitive photothermal actuator made from large-area graphene with chitosan and polyethylene. Read the paper for free until 9th January.

Large-area graphene realizing ultrasensitive photothermal actuator with high transparency: new prototype robotic motions under infrared-light stimuli: Changzheng Wu, Jun Feng, Lele Peng, Yong Ni, Haiyi Liang, Linhui He and Yi Xie, J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 18584-18591

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