Journal of Materials Chemistry Blog

Structures and properties of conjugated Donor–Acceptor copolymers for solar cell applications: Zhi–Guo Zhang and Jizheng Wang, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/C2JM14951F (Advance Article)

Functional fullerenes for organic photovoltaics: Chang-Zhi Li ,  Hin-Lap Yip and Alex K.-Y. Jen, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/C2JM15126J (Advance Article)

Assemblies of artificial photosynthetic reaction centres: Shunichi Fukuzumi and Kei Ohkubo, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/C2JM15585K (Advance Article) 

Read all the articles for free until 12^th March: (Free registration required)

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Polymer semiconductor electronics are potentially cheaper, lighter and more flexible than their silicon counterparts. Despite the improvements in performance and efficiency there is still a challenge to improve the stability and lifetime of organic semiconductors, and to understand the degradation mechanisms which could limit their commercial success. In this Hot Article Steffan Cook and colleagues report the degradation of one of the most widely used conjugated polymer semiconductors, poly(3-hexylthiophene) [P3HT] monitored by fluorescence quenching. Conjugated polymer emission is known to be easily quenched at defect sites. The teams use the loss of fluorescence as a precise yet simple tool for monitoring degradation in conjugated polymers and demonstrated significant degradation to P3HT occurs in only a matter of minutes under room lighting. Read the article for free until 7th March. (Free registration required)

Matter of minutes degradation of poly(3-hexylthiophene) under illumination in air: Steffan Cook,  Akihiro Furube and Ryuzi Katoh, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/C1JM14925C (Advance Article)

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Phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PhOLEDs) offer high quantum efficiency compared to conventional fluorescent OLEDs because they can harness both singlet and triplet exitons for emission. Green and red PhOLEDs with 100% internal quantum efficiency have been reported, but highly efficient and stable blue PhOLEDs have yet to be developed because of the lack of suitable host materials possessing higher triplet energy levels than blue phosphors. In this hot paper Chuluo Yang, Dongge Ma and colleagues report two simple CBP isomers with high triplet energies as efficient hosts for blue phosphorescent OLEDs, and the efficiencies of the o-CBP-based device are over 2 times higher than those of CBP. Interested to know more? Read the article for free until 2^nd March. (Free registration required)

Simple CBP isomers with high triplet energies for highly efficient blue electrophosphorescence: Shaolong Gong, Xun He, Yonghua Chen, Zuoquan Jiang, Cheng Zhong, Dongge Ma, Jingui Qin and Chuluo Yang, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 2894-2899

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Organic π systems with an open-shell ground state have attractive properties that could find use applications such as nonlinear optics, spintronics devices and photovoltaics. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with unpaired or partially unpaired electrons display open-shell radical character. In this Hot Feature Article, Zhe Sun and Jishan Wu at the National University of Singapore summarize recent developments in open-shell polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons covering both theoretical advances and the experimental progress, and touch on a few examples of their practical applications. Read for free until 1^st March. (Free registration required)

Open-shell polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Zhe Sun and Jishan Wu, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/C1JM14786B (Advance Article)

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The fabrication of tubular microstructures has been successfully use in a range of applications including optofluidics, bio-sensing, catalytic microjet engines, magnetic sensors and 3D cell microreactors; however, the diameter scalability, hybrid functionalization, and long-term biocompatibility has not been investigated yet for rolled-up glass microtubes. In this hot paper large arrays of transparent, biocompatible SiO/SiO₂ microtubes are fabricated by rolling up nanomembranes followed by etching to release the deposited layers. The outer tubular diameter is systematically studied and the roll-up parameters have been optimized to achieve a yield of nearly 100%. Samuel Sanchez and colleagues also demonstrate that these microtubes can be used in a range of applications.

Fabrication and applications of large arrays of multifunctional rolled-up SiO/SiO2 microtubes: Stefan M. Harazim, Wang Xi, Christine K. Schmidt, Samuel Sanchez and Oliver G. Schmidt, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 2878-2884

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PDMS-based microfluidic devices are commonly used for aqueous based applications; however, their limited chemical resistance and high swelling in many common organic solvents make them unfeasible for uses involving organic solvents or harsh conditions. Here the authors report a new perfluoropolyether-based material, which has liquid-like viscosity and can be cured into a tough, highly durable elastomer. The highly fluorinated elastomer possesses remarkable resistance to a variety of organic solvents, water, heat and even harsh acidic and basic conditions.

Ying-Wei Yang, Jens Hentschel, Yi-Chun Chen, Mark Lazari, Hanxiang Zeng, R. Michael van Dam and Zhibin Guan, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 1100-1106

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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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