Journal of Materials Chemistry Blog

Rubrene and other acenes are common luminescent materials used in light-emitting devices; however, the performance of devices based on these materials decreases as the materials decompose. This hot paper describes a new class of sterically crowded tetracene derivatives that have both phenyl and ethynyl substituents. The steric crowding above and below the tetracene core prevents overlap between the extended π-systems of the acenes. The arenes reported have spectra similar to diarylpentacenes, but with higher quantum yields of fluorescence and greater photostability. Read this article for free until 23rd May.

Jingjing Zhang,  Syena Sarrafpour,  Terry E. Haas,  Peter Müller and Samuel W. Thomas, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 6182-6189.

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In this Hot Paper Andrew C. Grimsdale and co-workers at Nanyang Technological University and University of Liverpool prepare 3D supramolecular networks using Zn(II) coordination of the tetraphenylmethane-based p-type and n-type molecules bearing four terpyridine ligands. The team also demonstrate that metal–ligand mediated self-assembly can be used to make two component systems in which the optical properties can be tuned by selection of the units.

New 3D supramolecular Zn(II)-coordinated self-assembled organic networks: Zheng Bang Lim, Hairong Li, Shuangyong Sun, Jun Yan Lek, Abbie Trewin, Yeng Ming Lam and Andrew C. Grimsdale, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 6218-6231

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Controlling the structure of cholesteric helices holds great potential for developing stimuli-responsive materials. For instance inversion of a cholesteric helix is associated with inversion of the circular polarization of the light it reflects. This Hot Feature Article reviews recent achievements in inducing, controlling and understanding helix inversion in cholesteric liquid crystals. Read the article for free until 17^th May.

Controlling chirality with helix inversion in cholesteric liquid crystals: Nathalie Katsonis, Emmanuelle Lacaze and Alberta Ferrarini, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 7088-7097

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Halogen bonding has emerged as a powerful tool for self-assembly due to its highly directional and hydrophobic nature. In spite of the number of one dimensional or infinite linear networks assembled by 1,4-DITFB with different acceptors, no example describing C–I π halogen bonding phosphorescence crystal has been reported. In this hot article Wei Jun Jin and colleagues at Beijing Normal University, China, describe a new organic phosphorescent co-crystal material based on 1,4-DITFB and carbazole. The team says that The halogen bonding of 1,4-DITFB with carbazole is selective, and the co-crystal microparticle suspension displays strong phosphorescence. Wei Jun Jin and the team say this is the first report of a phosphorescent co-crystal assembled by weak C–I π interaction. Read the article for free until 30^th April.

Phosphorescent co-crystal assembled by 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene with carbazole based on C–I π halogen bonding: Hai Yue Gao, Qian Jin Shen, Xiao Ran Zhao, Xiao Qing Yan, Xue Pang and Wei Jun Jin, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 5336-5343.

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The giant dielectric permittivity of detonation-produced nanodiamond is caused by water, say scientists from Russia and the UK. Nanodiamonds can be produced cheaply from explosions. The team found that just by adding water to the nanodiamonds, the materials see a huge increase in electronic properties, which means that they could be used for many electronic applications, such as in high performance capacitors for microelectronics and developing large-scale capacitance-based energy storage devices that are in demand in the quest for green energy technology. Read the article for free until 26th April.

Paper: Giant dielectric permittivity of detonation-produced nanodiamond is caused by water
Stepan Segreevich Batsanov and A Batsanov,
J. Mater. Chem., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/C2JM30836C

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Scientists in China and Canada have used high intensity ultrasound to change the shape of polymers for use in surgical implants. Polymer shape recovery has been employed before using light and heat as external stimuli but not with ultrasound, which has much greater spatial and temporal control as well as being able to penetrate much deeper into body tissue.

In addition to being able to generate different shapes, the ultrasound can be used to simultaneously induce drug release from the polymer. This has a potential application in minimally invasive surgical techniques. Read this article for free until the 25th April.

Communication: Spatial and temporal control of shape memory polymers and simultaneous drug release using high intensity focused ultrasound
Guo Li, Guoxia Fei, Hesheng Xia, Jianjun Han and Yue Zhao
J. Mater. Chem., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/C2JM30848G (Advance Article)

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Nanostructured transparent conducting oxides are used as electrodes/conductors in thin-film solar cells. The high light absorption offered by nanostructures provides a large surface area which increases the conversion efficiency of the solar cells. In Hot Communication, Jaeyeong Heo, Sang Bok Kim and Roy G. Gordon report a method for atomic layer deposition of tin oxide using nitric oxide as an oxidant gas. The team say this is the first report of using of NO as an oxidant gas for atomic layer deposition. Read the article for free until 17^th April:

Atomic layer deposition of tin oxide with nitric oxide as an oxidant gas: Jaeyeong Heo, Sang Bok Kim and Roy G. Gordon, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 4599-4602

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Phosphorescent OLEDs (PhOLEDs) which use triplet excitons offer superior performance compared to conventional fluorescent OLEDs; however, most of the high-performance PhOLEDs reported so far have been based on vacuum-deposited small-molecules involving thermal evaporation processes to create multilayered structures. Solution-based processes should provide a cheaper alternative to vacuum deposition for fabricating PhOLEDs.

In this Hot Paper Taeshik Earmme and Samson A. Jenekhe report high-performance multilayered PhOLEDs fabricated by orthogonal sequential solution-processing of a triplet-emitter-doped poly(N-vinylcarbazole)(PVK)-based emissive layer and widely used commercial small-molecule electron-transport materials. The team say that their results demonstrate that commercial small-molecule electron-transport materials can be readily solution-deposited to realise high-performance PhOLEDs. Interested to know more? Read the full article for free until 10th April.

High-performance multilayered phosphorescent OLEDs by solution-processed commercial electron-transport materials: Taeshik Earmme and Samson A. Jenekhe, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 4660-4668.

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Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles are used in applications such as target delivery, magnetic resonance imaging, hyperthermia and magnetic separation; however, nanoparticle synthesis often requires a sophisticated ligand exchange reaction to add the right functional groups to the nanoparticle surface. In this Hot Communication Charles J. O’Connor and co-workers at University of New Orleans and the University of Bordeaux report the synthesis of polyamine stabilized magnetite nanoparticles that are highly stable in aqueous solution. The surface amine groups are also readily available for further modification. Read for free until 12^th April (free registration required)

One-pot synthesis in polyamines for preparation of water-soluble magnetite nanoparticles with amine surface reactivity: Haiou Qu ,  Hui Ma ,  Aurélien Riviere ,  Weilie Zhou and Charles J. O’Connor, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 3311-3313

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Metal-organic frameworks are used in a range of applications such as catalysis, and gas storage and separation. In this Hot Feature Article Juan-Alcañiz , Jorge Gascon and Freek Kapteijn present a critical review of the recent progress in encapsulating active moieties in metal–organic frameworks. This review is focuses on active species bigger than the pores or windows of the host system (physically entrapped moieties), the synthetic methods followed, and the application of the resulting composites. Read for free until 2nd April

Metal–organic frameworks as scaffolds for the encapsulation of active species: state of the art and future perspectives: Jana Juan-Alcañiz, Jorge Gascon and Freek Kapteijn, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/C2JM15563J (Advance Article)

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