Author Archive

Hot paper: First thermodynamically-controlled synthesis of iron pyrite nanocrystals

Iron pyrite (fool’s gold, FeS2) has a high absorption coefficient and an indirect band gap of ~0.95 eV, making it a promising optoelectronic material. FeS2 is also abundant and non-toxic compared to commonly employed chalcogenides semiconductor materials. Photovoltaic investigations into FeS2 have not progressed as quickly as other materials because of its complicated synthesis control and conflicting crystal studies.

In this hot paper the Ren group report the nanoscale synthesis and characteristics of FeS2. The authors systematically change the different synthetic variables in the synthesis such as reaction temperature and chemical precursors. Five different nanocrystal shapes are observed with two different growth directions by controlling both the thermal and chemical precursor effects. The authors propose a thermodynamic model behind the shape-controlled synthesis.

Thermodynamic control of iron pyrite nanocrystal synthesis with high photoactivity and stability
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2013, Advance Article.  DOI: 10.1039/c2ta00498d
(read for free for a short time)

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Journal of Materials Chemistry A, B and C Issue 2’s online now!

The Issue 2’s of Journal of Material Chemistry A, B and C have been published online this week. Each journal showcases high impact research you expect from Journal of Materials Chemistry, now in three separate journals. For more information, please go to http://rsc.li/jmc-abc.

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Journal of Materials Chemistry B features articles on the following:

Design strategies for fluorescent biodegradable polymeric biomaterials, Yi Zhang and Jian Yang: In this paper, we provide a critical review on the fluorescent biodegradable polymers with emphases on material fluorescence mechanism, design criteria for fluorescence, and their cutting-edge applications in biomedical engineering. We expect that this review will provide an insightful discussion on the fluorescent biomaterial design and lead to innovations for the next generation of fluorescent biomaterials and fluorescence-based biomedical technology.

Polyol induced interpenetrating networks: chitosan–methylmethacrylate based biocompatible and pH responsive hydrogels for drug delivery system, Sharif Ahmad et al.: The hydrophobically modified hydrogels of CH–MMA/Polyol were prepared by free radical polymerization reaction. This study has come up with novel characteristics associated with the formation of interpenetrating networks by the introduction of polyol in the CH–MMA matrix..

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Journal of Materials Chemistry C features articles on the following:

Soft X-ray characterisation of organic semiconductor films, Christopher R. McNeill and Harald Ade: This feature article highlights the versatility of soft X-ray based techniques for characterising the structure of organic semiconductor devices.

The visible photoluminescence mechanism of oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes: an experimental and theoretical investigation, Hui Feng et al.: Dominant components of oxidized products of MWCNTs were separated by column chromatography, the origin of highly visible fluorescence from carbon nanotubes was revealed, and the nature of weak near UV-Vis fluorescence of oxidized carbon nanotubes from isolated sp2 clusters was supported.

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Journal of Materials Chemistry A features articles on the following:

Engineering nanostructured anodes via electrostatic spray deposition for high performance lithium ion battery application, Xifei Li and Chunlei Wang: ESD-derived nanostructured anodes show significantly improved cycling performance and rate capability in high performance lithium ion battery application.

Controlled synthesis of concave Cu2O microcrystals enclosed by {hhl} high-index facets and enhanced catalytic activity, Zhaoxiong Xie, Lansun Zheng et al.: Truncated concave octahedral Cu2O mainly with {332} high-index facets exhibit enhanced catalytic activity.

Counter electrodes from double-layered polyaniline nanostructures for dye-sensitized solar cell applications, Qunwei Tang et al.: DSSCs from double-layered polyaniline counter electrodes were fabricated by an electrochemical method and can be potentially used as high photoelectric conversion devices.

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Introducing the Journal of Materials Chemistry A, B and C Editor-in-Chief and Deputy Editors-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Materials Chemistry

Dongyuan Zhao was born in Shenyang, Liaoning Province in June 1963. He was a undergraduate student at Jilin University (1980-84), got his Master degree from Chemistry Department at Jilin University (1987), and a Ph.D.degree from Jilin University and Dalin Institute of Chemical Physics (1990). He began his academic career almost immediately as a lecturer in Chemical Engineering Department at the Shenyang Institute of Chemical Technology, and was promoted to an Associate Professor in 1992. In 1992-93, he was a visiting scholar in the Chemistry Department of University of Regina. After postdoctoral research at the Weizmann Institute of Science (with Prof. Daniella Goldfarb, 1993-94), University of Houston (with Prof. Larry Kevan, 1995-96), and University of California at Santa Barbara (with Prof. Galen D. Stucky, 1996-98), he joined the faculty of the Fudan University in Dec.1998, where he is now Professor in the Department of Chemistry. Dr. Zhao‘s research includes:

• Macro- and Microscopically Topological Construction of Highly Ordered Porous Materials

• Designed Synthesis, Assembly, Growth and Properties of Mesoporous Materials

• Structure and Synthesis Design of Novel Microporous Molecular Sieves

…………………………………………………• Rational Synthesis and Organization of Novel Patterned Nanoscale Materials.

His recent papers include:

Ligand exchange triggered controlled-release targeted drug delivery system based on core–shell superparamagnetic mesoporous microspheres capped with nanoparticles, J. Mater. Chem., 2012,22, 17677-17684
Self-assembly of monodispersed silica nano-spheres with a closed-pore mesostructure, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 11523-11528
Post-enrichment of nitrogen in soft-templated ordered mesoporous carbon materials for highly efficient phenol removal and CO2 capture, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 11379-11389
A hierarchical adsorption material by incorporating mesoporous carbon into macroporous chitosan membranes, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 11908-11911

Ordered mesoporous graphitized pyrolytic carbon materials: synthesis, graphitization, and electrochemical properties, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 8835-8845Dr. Zhao

Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Materials Chemistry A

Kazuhito Hashimoto is currently a professor of chemistry at the University of Tokyo. After he received his BS and MS degrees from the University of Tokyo, he obtained a research position at the Institute for Molecular Science (Okazaki, Japan) in 1980. In 1989, he was invited as a lecturer in the Department Applied Chemistry at the University of Tokyo, where he was promoted to an associate professor in 1991. When he became a full professor in 1997, he opened his own laboratory at the Research Centre of Advanced Science & Technology. He also succeeded the chair of the Department of Applied Chemistry in 2003 and opened the laboratory at this department, too. His current research interests are development of functionalized materials for energy conversion and environmental purifications such as photocatalysts, polymer photovoltaic materials, electrochemical catalysts and microbial catalysts.

His recent papers include:

Efficient oxygen reduction by a Fe/Co/C/N nano-porous catalyst in neutral media, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2013, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/C2TA00392A
Poly(bis-2,6-diaminopyridinesulfoxide) as an active and stable electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 12263
Synthesis and application of poly(fluorene-alt-naphthalene diimide) as an n-type polymer for all-polymer solar cells, Chem. Commun., 2012,48, 5283-5285

.Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Materials Chemistry B

Christine E. Schmidt is the B.F. Goodrich Endowed Professor of Materials Engineering in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Schmidt received her B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1988 and her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1995. She conducted postdoctoral research at MIT as an NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, joining the UT Austin faculty in 1996. Dr. Schmidt will be moving to the University of Florida to be the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Professor & Department Chair for the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, effective January 1, 2013. Dr. Schmidt’s research is focused on developing new biomaterials and biomaterial composites (e.g., electronic polymer composites, natural material scaffolds and processed tissues) for neural engineering applications.

Her recent papers include:

Neuronal growth promoting sesquiterpene–neolignans; syntheses and biological studies, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2012,10, 383-393

Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Materials Chemistry C

Peter Skabara was born in Edinburgh in 1968. He was educated at Bolton School and gained his first degree from QMW, University of London. After completing his doctoral studies under the supervision of Professor Martin Bryce at the University of Durham (1994), he went on to work in the group of Professor Klaus Müllen at the Max-Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz. In 2005 he joined the University of Strathclyde as the first WestCHEM Professor and is currently the 1870 Young Chair of Chemistry. His research activities involve the synthesis of electroactive molecules and macromolecules and their application in organic semiconductor devices.

His recent papers include:

BODIPY-based conjugated polymers for broadband light sensing and harvesting applications, J. Mater. Chem., 2012,22, 14119-14126
Electrochromic properties of a poly(dithienylfuran) derivative featuring a redox-active dithiin unit, Polym. Chem., 2012,3, 2277-2286
Incorporation of fused tetrathiafulvalene units in a DPP–terthiophene copolymer for air stable solution processable organic field effect transistors, J. Mater. Chem., 2012,22, 11310-11315

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Journal of Materials Chemistry A, B and C Issue 1’s now online

The first issues of the newly formed Journal of Materials Chemistry A, B and C have been published online! Each journal showcases high impact research you expect from Journal of Materials Chemistry, now in three separate journals. For more information, please go to http://rsc.li/jmc-abc.

Journal of Materials Chemistry A features articles on the following:

Multifunctionality in metal@microgel colloidal nanocomposites, Jorge Pérez-Juste and Luis M. Liz-Marzán et al.: This Highlight describes recent developments related to hybrid nanocomposites comprising a metal core and a smart microgel shell.

Naturally occurring iron oxide nanoparticles: morphology, surface chemistry and environmental stability, Haibo Guo and Amanda S. Barnard : There is much to be learned from the simple and effective materials chemistry of naturally occurring nanomaterials.

Aluminum-stabilized NASICON-structured Li3V2(PO4)3, John B. Goodenough et al.: The redox couple, V4+/V3+, exhibits a potential of 3.76 V in NASICON-structured Li3Al0.1V1.9(PO4)3, which is suitable for a cathode material of a lithium-ion battery.

Importance of small micropores in CO2 capture by phenolic resin-based activated carbon spheres, Nilantha P. Wickramaratne and Mietek Jaroniec: Phenolic resin-based carbon spheres obtained by a slightly modified Stöber method are shown to be superior CO2 adsorbents.

Journal of Materials Chemistry B features articles on the following:

Biomimetic intracellular matrix (ICM) materials, properties and functions. Full integration of actuators and sensors, Toribio F. Otero and Jose G. Martinez: The electrochemistry of conducting polymers, and other organic compounds, originates biomimetic (intracellular matrix, ICM, reactive gels) materials, properties and devices here reviewed.

Cellular uptake and gene delivery using layered double hydroxide nanoparticles, Jun Lu, David G. Evans and Dermot O’Hare: The cellular uptake of fluorescein labelled 20 nm LDH nanoparticles into NSC 34 cells as a function of LDH particle concentration and incubation time was studied. The 20 nm LDH nanoparticles can also act as a DNA delivery agent to NSC 34 cell nuclei.

Biocompatible reduction-responsive polypeptide micelles as nanocarriers for enhanced chemotherapy efficacy in vitro, Xuesi Chen et al.: Biocompatible reduction-responsive micelles of disulfide-linked methoxyl poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(ε-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysine) block copolymers were developed for efficient intracellular drug delivery.

Theoretical understanding of single-stranded DNA assisted dispersion of graphene, Swapan K. Pati et al.: Using atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, we investigate the structure and energetic of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) assisted solubilisation of single-layer graphene in aqueous medium at room temperature.

Journal of Materials Chemistry C features articles on the following:

Pyroelectric and electrocaloric materials, Q. M. Zhang et al.: This review summarizes typical properties of electrocaloric and pyroelectric materials and discusses related phenomena, and examines the relationship between these effects.

Graphenylene, a unique two-dimensional carbon network with nondelocalized cyclohexatriene units, Klaus Müllen and Linjie Zhi et al.: The unique structure and properties of a new hypothetical two-dimensional sp2-carbon network which is called graphenylene, have been predicted.

A deep-blue emitting charged bis-cyclometallated iridium(III) complex for light-emitting electrochemical cells, Wiebke Sarfert, Enrique Ortí, Michael Grätzel and Etienne Baranoff et al.: A cationic iridium(III) complex based on 2′,6′-difluoro-2,3′-bipyridine shows deep-blue emission in a concentrated film and is used in light-emitting electrochemical cells.

The design and investigation of porphyrins with liquid crystal properties at room temperature, Ross W. Boyle and Georg H. Mehl et al.: Porphyrins linked via hydrocarbon and siloxane spacers to cyanobiphenyls exhibit semectic LC behaviour at room temperature, confirmed by OPM, DSC and XRD.

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Poster prize winners at the 2012 International Symposium on Stimuli-Responsive Materials

Congratulations to the poster prize winners at the 2012 International Symposium on Stimuli-Responsive Materials! The three winners were chosen by an independent panel and they are: Young-Jin Kim (University of Tsukuba), Heather A. Pearson (University of Southern Mississippi) and William L. A. Brooks (University of Florida).

From left to right: Young-Jin Kim, Heather A. Pearson and William L. A. Brooks

Journal of Materials Chemistry Best Poster Award Winner: Young-Jin Kim from Takao Aoyagi’s group
“‘On-Off’ Switchable Drug Release Platform Using Temperature-Responsive Smart Nanofiber”

Soft Matter Best Poster Award Winner: Heather A. Pearson from Marek Urban’s group
“Switchable Polyelectrolyte Tethers on Polymeric Substrates: A New Platform for Covalent Attachment of Multilayers (CAM) with Responsive Bioactive Components”

Polymer Chemistry Best Poster Award Winner:
William L. A. Brooks from Brent Sumerlin’s group
“Accelerated Synthesis of Responsive Polymers by Microwave-Assisted RAFT Polymerization”

The 2012 International Symposium on Stimuli-Responsive Materials was held October 21 – 23 2012 at the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country in Santa Rosa, CA. The symposium covered the design, synthesis, characterization, and understanding of the physical, chemical, and applied principles of stimuli-responsive materials and devices.

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Here’s to the future, J. Mater. Chem. Editorial

The collage of cover images were chosen by editorial staff from previous front cover images of Journal of Materials Chemistry

The last issue of Journal of Materials Chemistry in its current form has been published online this week. Editor Dr Liz Dunn and Chair of the Editorial Board Professor Seth Marder give their thoughts on the past 22 years of Journal of Materials Chemistry and the exciting future of the journal in their Editorial ‘Here’s to the future‘.

Next week, the issue 1’s of the three new journals replacing Journal of Materials Chemistry will be published online. Each journal will focus on an area of the field as follows:

Journal of Materials Chemistry A – Materials for energy and sustainability

Journal of Materials Chemistry B – Materials for biology and medicine

Journal of Materials Chemistry C – Materials for optical and electronic devices

We will shortly be announcing the board members of the new journals, so stay tuned!

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Hot paper: Improvement in efficiency of water/iodide dye sensitised cells to 4%

Dye-Sensitised Solar Cells (DSSCs) are a promising alternative to silicon-based photovoltaics and recently efficiencies over 12 % have been reported. Most DSSCs use organic solvents as liquid electrolyte as these have been reported to give the highest efficiencies. In this hot paper, O’Regan and co-workers have re-examined water as a solvent for use in DSSCs. In this study the authors use 100 % water electrolytes with inorganic salts such as NaI. They use a range of electrolyte compositions, film characteristics and four different dyes to show efficiencies of up to 4 %.

Managing wetting behavior and collection efficiency in photoelectrochemical devices based on water electrolytes; improvement in efficiency of water/iodide dye sensitised cells to 4%
J. Mater.  Chem., 2012, 22, 23387.  DOI: 10.1039/c2jm35245a
(free to read for a short time)

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11th International Conference on Materials Chemistry (MC11) – oral abstract deadline Friday 7 December

Submit an oral abstract for The 11th International Conference on Materials Chemistry (MC11), the flagship event of the RSC’s Materials Chemistry Division – deadline Friday 7th December.

This cutting edge international research conference is organised around four exciting and diverse areas of the application of materials chemistry:

  • Energy Materials – including all aspects of Materials Chemistry related to energy generation, conversion and storage.
  • Environmental Materials – the design, synthesis and applications of materials that facilitate processes to provide a sustainable environment.
  • Biomaterials – materials for tissue engineering and healthcare, green biomaterials and advanced synthesis methods of biomaterials.
  • Electronic, Magnetic and Optical Materials – encompassing inorganic, organic, hybrid and nano materials, soft matter and interfaces.

Why take part in MC11?

There are over 100 opportunities for oral presentations over four parallel sessions. So you can share your own research with the more than 400 expected participants during the four-day event. There will also be plenty of opportunity for discussion during poster session receptions, lunches and coffee breaks, all taking place in the dedicated conference centre.

If you take part in this conference you will have the benefit of hearing and networking with an excellent line-up of plenary and keynote speakers, all experts in their fields.

All academic and industrial scientists working on the chemistry, physics and materials science of functional materials, including students, are encouraged to be there. Visit www.rsc.org/mc11 for full details.

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Hot paper: Topotactic synthesis of layered double hydroxide nanorods

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are a family of layered materials with composition [M1-xz+Mx3+(OH)2]a+(Xn)a/n.mH2O. LiAl-X LDHs are a class of LDHs that have been extensively investigated due to their many applications as absorbents or in photochemistry. They can be synthesised in two ways; direct intercalation by treatment of gibbsite, bayerite or nördstrandite and hydrothermal treatment of a hydrated alumina gel with LiOH.

In this hot paper, The O’Hare group at the University of Oxford describe the first topotactic synthesis of rod-like LDH particles through that simultaneous intercalation of Li+ cations and X anions (X = Cl, and Br). Nanorods of LiAl-X were synthesised by intercalation of LiX into a rod-like morphology of gibbsite. The authors find that LiAl-X-rod can undergo further anion exchange intercalation with cyclamate into LiAl-Cl-rod.

Topotactic synthesis of layered double hydroxide nanorods
J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 23064.  DOI: 10.1039/c2jm34670b
(free to read for a short time)

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Hot paper: PVA hybrid nanocomposites containing cellulose nanocrystals and silver nanoparticles

The bacteria Gluconacetobacter xylinus produces cellulose that is highly crystalline and has a high degree of polymerisation. The cellulose can be converted into rod-like nanocrystals which have very high modulus and strength. A variety of nanocomposites can be prepared by incorporating cellulose nanocrystals with polymers to give materials with excellent properties. Silver nanoparticles are well known to improve the anti-bacterial properties of polymer materials.

Scientists in India have prepared a hybrid nanocomposite from the combination of cellulose nanocrystals and silver nanoparticles as reinforcing fillers for the polymer PVA. Both the nanocrystals and the silver nanoparticles improved the mechanical properties of the PVA films. The nanocrystals increased the modulus and tensile strength of the films, while the nanoparticles decreased the brittleness of the films. These effects could be useful in making more biocompatible materials for applications such as in tissue engineering.

Augmented properties of PVA hybrid nanocomposites containing cellulose nanocrystals and silver nanoparticles
J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 22433.  DOI: 10.1039/c2jm35235d
(free to read for a short time)

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