Journal of Materials Chemistry Blog

Nanogel-based sensors with dual temperature and mercury ion detection capabilities is reported in this ‘Hot Article’ from Changhua Li and Shiyong Liu from the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei.  This is the first report of successful integration of stimuli-responsive nanogels with well-developed small molecule reaction-based selective metal ion sensing moieties.

Mercury is one of the most harmful heavy metal ions to humans, therefore sensitive detection and imaging in organisms and tissue is crucial.  To achieve this, current efforts have focused on the invention of ratiometric, water-soluble, and cell-permeable Hg²⁺-sensing ensembles. 

In this study, Li and Liu synthesise a 1,8-naphthalimide-based polarity-sensitive and Hg²⁺-reactive monomer (NPTUA) and copolymerise this with N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) to produce NUPTA labelled PNIPAM nanogels. The nanogel-based chemosensors possess a high selectivity and sensitivity for Hg²⁺ at room temperature, achieving a detection limit at the nanomolar level on a ratiometric basis.  Furthermore, thermo-induced nanogel collapse can considerably enhance the detection sensitivity.

Interested in knowing more?  Read the full article here… FREE until November 16th.

Responsive nanogel-based dual fluorescent sensors for temperature and Hg²⁺ ions with enhanced detection sensitivity
Changhua Li and Shiyong Liu
J. Mater. Chem., 2010, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM01828G, Paper

L. Muccioli and colleagues from the University of Bologna have investigated, using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, the high temperature molecular organization of the linear oligothiophene α-sexithienyl (T6), well known for its organic electronics applications. The team found that the torsional flexibility of sexithiophene allows for a temperature dependence of the aspect ratio, which drives the formation of nematic and smectic liquid crystalline phases.

Liquid crystalline oligothiphenes are of interest as they may provide the best morphology to maximise overlap between neighbouring molecules, thus conferring the greatest charge (hole) mobility between molecular units. Due to the difficulty of performing experimental measurements at ~600K this theoretical study was performed to investigate the potential of liquid crystal oligothiophenes.  The authors hope that their findings will stimulate future experimental determinations.

Interested in knowing more?  Read the full article here.  FREE until November 15th.

An atomistic simulation of the liquid-crystalline phases of sexithiophene 
A. Pizzirusso, M. Savini, L. Muccioli and C. Zannoni
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM01284J, Paper

Growth and replication of ordered ZnO nanowire arrays on general flexible substrates
Su Zhang, Yue Shen, Hao Fang, Sheng Xu, Jinhui Song and Zhong Lin Wang
J. Mater. Chem., 2010, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02915G, Communication  

During the past several years, there has been a growing interest in one-dimensional ZnO nanostructures for their potential applications in fabricating electronic, optoelectronic, electromechanical and electrochemical devices. Current synthesis techniques require single crystallinity of the substrate and high growth temperatures, seriously limiting the compatibility of these methods with organic substrates for applications in flexible electronics. Hydrothermal synthesis is an attractive alternative because it could be carried out at a relatively low temperature around 70–90 °C, and could allow for multiple crystalline and even amorphous substrates.  Zhong Lin Wang and colleagues have developed a new technique of synthesizing patterned ZnO nanowire arrays on multiple flexible organic substrates using a novel chemical approach and a new transferring method.  

To find out more read the full article here.  Free until November 12^th!  

Self-assembled anodic TiO₂ nanotube arrays: electrolyte properties and their effect on resulting morphologies
Sorachon Yoriya and Craig A. Grimes
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02421J, Paper

A team from The Pennsylvania State University have, for the first time, revealed the parameters, during synthesis, which affect the morphology of TiO₂ nanotube arrays.  

Self-assembled TiO₂ nanotube arrays fabricated by electrochemical anodization of titanium are of great interest having been successfully used in many applications including gas sensing, water photoelectrolysis, drug delivery and photovoltaics.  In the synthesis of TiO₂ nanotube array films it is important to achieve specific nanotube array morphological features, including pore size, length, wall thickness, and tube-to-tube spacing for enhanced device performance, however, the key parameters controlling self-organization of the nanotubes have remained unclear. This study, by Sorachon Yoriya and Craig Grimes elucidates the dependence of the electrolyte conductivity on the titanium concentration, and electrolyte effect on the morphological features of the resulting nanotubes.  

To find out more read the full article here.  Free until November 12^th!

Polymers that can capture harmful bacteria as they pass through the gut have been developed by UK scientists. This could reduce incidence of salmonella poisoning and improve shelf-life of meat products, they claim. 

Salmonella, a major food-borne pathogen is a serious problem in the food industry, as well as of clinical and veterinary importance. The ‘use-by date’ marked on foods reflects the date by which such bacteria will have multiplied to their maximum safe level for consumption. 

‘If the pathogen level can be lowered at the point of food production, then the shelf-life may become longer and the food safer,’ says Mark Bradley at Edinburgh University. In collaboration with Maurice Gallagher, also at Edinburgh University, Bradley’s team have identified polymers that bind strongly to a particular strain of salmonella while having minimal effect on the beneficial ‘good’ bacteria. These polymers could be added to commercial feedstuff for animals, such as chickens.

This article has featured in Highlights in Chemical Science and has been selected as a ‘Hot Article’ for Journal of Materials Chemistry.  It will be free to read until the 9^th November. 

To view Erica Wise’s full Highlights in Chemical Science article, please click here: Banishing bad bacteria 

To read the full article please click here: Colonising new frontiers—microarrays reveal biofilm modulating polymers
Salvatore Pernagallo, Mei Wu, Maurice P. Gallagher and Mark Bradley
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM01987A, Paper

David Schuster, Jackson Megiatto and Robert Spencer have developed a powerful and versatile new methodology for the preparation of nanoscale photoactive interlocked structures with appended [60]fullerene groups.  The group from New York University used a straightforward one-pot procedure based on Cu(I)-template synthesis and “click” chemistry.

The use of organic materials for absorption of solar energy and conversion into high energy charge-separated carriers has been reproduced in the laboratory by carefully designed artificial arrays containing electron donor and acceptor (D–A) subunits. The synthetic achievements described in this paper open the door to the preparation of nanoscale D–A materials with rotaxane and catenane topologies not accessible previously. Introduction of C60 groups in interlocked structures generates the driving force allowing electron transfer reactions to occur over very long distances.

Interested in knowing more?  This article will be free until the 8th November, read it here.

Optimizing reaction conditions for synthesis of electron donor-[60]fullerene interlocked multiring systems 
Jackson D. Megiatto Junior, Robert Spencer and David I. Schuster
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02154G, Paper

In order to reduce emissions of CO₂, high-performance lithium ion batteries have received a lot of attention as new large-scale power storage systems for eco-cars. In order to improve the electrochemical performance of the all-solid-state cells, an electrochemically favourable electrode–electrolyte interface has to be fabricated. In the case of using solid electrolytes, it is considered that the contact area between active materials and solid electrolytes is smaller than the contact area between active materials and liquid electrolytes because solid electrolytes are not wettable and infiltrative like liquids.

To find a solution to this problem, Masahiro Tatsumisago and colleagues in Japan investigated the softening behavior of a 80Li₂S·20P₂S₅ (mol%) glass electrolyte, and a favorable electrode–electrolyte interface was fabricated by sticking the supercooled liquid state of the 80Li₂S·20P₂S₅ electrolyte on active material particles.

Interested in finding out more?  Read the full article here:

Fabrication of electrode–electrolyte interfaces in all-solid-state rechargeable lithium batteries by using a supercooled liquid state of the glassy electrolytes
Hirokazu Kitaura, Akitoshi Hayashi, Takamasa Ohtomo, Shigenori Hama and Masahiro Tatsumisago
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM01090A , Paper

Polar liquid crystals are key components of mixtures for liquid crystals display (LCD) technologies and compounds that exhibit high dielectric anisotropy (Δε), moderate T_NI, and have minimal effect on material’s viscosity are of particular interest for technological applications.

Bryan Ringstrand and Piotr Kaszynski
J. Mater. Chem., 2010, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02075C, Paper

Bryan Ringstrand and Piotr Kaszynski have developed a new class of nematics with high Δε for display applications and characterized them by thermal and dielectric methods in mixtures with 3 nematic hosts.  These sulfonium zwitterion esters represent a new concept in designing polar additives. They combine the polar zwitterionic fragment that gives rise to a large positive Δε, and shape-shifting ability, which results in high solubility, high effective electric dipole moment µ_eff, and relatively low contribution to rotational viscosity γ.

Interested in knowing more?  Read the full article here; it will be free to access until the 3rd November.

 Aerogels are low-density solids with high open porosity and surface area which have a potential niche in high temperature thermal insulation.  The classic route of synthesis involves two expensive processes, supercritical drying and high temperature imidization. 

In this study, Nicholas Leventis and co-workers in the USA have described polyimide aerogels synthesized via a low temperature process through the rather underutilized reaction of dianhydrides with diisocyanates.  These polyimide aerogels are compared with those obtained by the classic high-temperature amine route and are shown to be chemically identical but morphologically different.  Overall, the isocyanate route has several distinct advantages over the classic route.

Interested in knowing more?  Read the full article here.

Chakkaravarthy Chidambareswarapattar, Zachary Larimore, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Joseph T. Mang and Nicholas Leventis
J. Mater. Chem., 2010, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/C0JM01844A, Paper