Journal of Materials Chemistry Blog

A flux coating method for preparing high-performance upconverting crystal layers has been developed by Japanese scientists. These upconverting crystal layers could improve the absorption properties of solar cells. The method developed by the Japanese team uses a relatively low temperature of 350 °C and makes it easier to create large-scale crystal layers. These advantages should make it more feasible for use in large-scale applications. Interested to know more? Read the full article for free until 24^th October:

Novel fabrication of NIR-vis upconversion NaYF₄:Ln (Ln = Yb, Er, Tm) crystal layers by a flux coating method: Sayaka Suzuki, Katsuya Teshima, Toshiko Wakabayashi, Hiromasa Nishikiori, Takahiro Ishizaki and Shuji Oishi, J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 13847-13852

To keep up-to-date with all the latest research, sign up for the journal’s e-alerts or RSS feeds or follow Journal of Materials Chemistry on Twitter.

A method of creating antimicrobial coatings on catheters using a solvent-free hybrid grafting technique has been developed by scientists at Oklahoma State University, USA. The team demonstrate that vapor-based hybrid grafting enables a one-step surface modification and creates a durable antimicrobial effect. Interested to know more? Read the full article for free until 20th October (free registration required)

Yumin Ye, Qing Song and Yu Mao, J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 13188-13194  

To keep up-to-date with all the latest research, sign up for the journal’s e-alerts or RSS feeds or follow Journal of Materials Chemistry on Twitter.

Synthesis, structures and electrical transport properties of the La_2−xSr_xNiTiO_6−δ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) perovskite series: In this hot article French and Spanish scientists investigate the synthesis, structures and electrical transport properties of double perovskites. The La_2−xSr_xNiTiO_6−δ series shows a p–n transition in the pO₂ range 10⁻¹⁸–10⁻¹⁹ atm. In air, the conductivity increases with increasing acceptor–dopant concentration. In reducing atmospheres, the Sr-free material is the most conductive. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 13195-13204)

Production of monoclonal antibodies from hybridoma cells immobilized in 3D sol–gel silica matrices: Hybridoma cells immobilized in sol–gel silica matrices can be used for in vitro production of monoclonal antibodies say Argentinean scientists. The team evaluated different matrices looking at cell viability and antibody diffusion to surrounding media as well as the physicochemical properties of the polymeric material. Hybridoma cells immobilized in THEOS matrices were able to produce monoclonal antibodies to the same extent as free cells, which the team claim could allow them to be used in the design of bioreactors for large-scale production of antibodies. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 13865-13872)

Monolayer and multilayer assemblies of spherically and cubic-shaped iron oxide nanoparticles: Nanoparticle thin films form surfaces with properties that make them attractive for many electronic, optical and magnetic devices. The assembly spherically shaped iron oxide nanoparticles and cubic-shaped nanoparticles is investigated in this hot paper using the Langmuir–Blodgett technique. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI:10.1039/C1JM12012C, Advance Article)

Read all the articles for free until 14th October (free registration required)

To keep up-to-date with all the latest research, sign up for the journal’s e-alerts or RSS feeds or follow Journal of Materials Chemistry on Twitter.

In this Hot Communication, the team from Chubu University, Japan, demonstrate a simple synthesis of an iodine-doped graphene film using a mixture of camphor and iodine. Experiments confirm the presence of atomic iodine in the form of triiodide (I⁻₃) and pentaiodide (I⁻₅) through charge transfer reactions. The sp² hybridized carbon in graphene is not disturbed by the presence of atomic iodine. The team say that the atomic iodine could be situated on the surface or as an intercalation in the form of polyiodides without disturbing the hexagonal lattice structure of the few-layers graphene film. Interested to know more? Read the full article for free until 12th October (free registration required): 

Golap Kalita, Koichi Wakita, Makoto Takahashi and Masayoshi Umeno, J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI:10.1039/C1JM13268G (Advance Article)

 To keep up-to-date with all the latest research, sign up for the journal’s e-alerts or RSS feeds or follow Journal of Materials Chemistry on Twitter.

Formation of hierarchical silica nanochannels through nanoimprint lithography: Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have fabricate hierarchical silica nanochannels, with device and domain level patterns using nanoimprint lithography and scCO2 infusion process. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 14213-14218)

Seeded silicon nanowire growth catalyzed by commercially available bulk metals: broad selection of metal catalysts, superior field emission performance, and versatile nanowire/metal architectures: In this hot article an alternative metal-seeded synthetic protocol provides a facile route to prepare versatile Si nanowires/metal architectures for advanced applications. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 13793-13800)

Electrochemical behavior of graphene nanosheets in alkylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid electrolytes: influences of organic solvents and the alkyl chains. To understand the influence of the structure of ionic liquids on the GNS electrode, researchers at Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics created a simple model of the GNS electrode/ionic liquid interface. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 13205-13212)

Read all the articles for free until 4th October (free registration required)

To keep up-to-date with all the latest research, sign up for the journal’s e-alerts or RSS feeds or follow Journal of Materials Chemistry on Twitter.

Light-trapping nano-structures in organic photovoltaic cells: Iridescent photonic crystal nano-patterns in a bulk heterojunction polymer blend are reminiscent of the metallic sheen reflected from butterfly wings. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C1JM12300A, Advance Article)

Structure–property relationships of iron arsenide superconductors: Unique structure–property relationships of iron-arsenide superconductors prove to be a good recipe for future discoveries in the lively field of superconducting materials. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 13726-13736)

Nucleic acid-functionalized nanomaterials for bioimaging applications: This review covers recent advances in nucleic acid-functionalized nanomaterials as sensing platforms for bioimaging applications. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C1JM12588E, Advance Article)

Read all the Feature Articles for free until 29^th September (free registration required)

 To keep up-to-date with all the latest research, sign up for the journal’s e-alerts or RSS feeds or follow Journal of Materials Chemistry on Twitter.

In this Hot Paper ionic liquids serve as multifunctional agents in the synthesis of epoxy-silica nanocomposites. The ionic liquids make it possible to control the silica structure formed by the sol–gel process and also the interaction between silica and the epoxy matrix. Changing the ionic liquids allows control over the morphology and mechanical properties of the hybrids. Interested to know more? Why not read the full article available for free until 16th September (free registration required):

Ricardo Keitel Donato, Libor Matějka, Henri S. Schrekker, Josef Pleštil, Alexander Jigounov, Jiři Brus and Miroslav Šlouf, J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C1JM11752A, Advance Article

To keep up-to-date with all the latest research, sign up for the journal’s e-alerts or RSS feeds or follow Journal of Materials Chemistry on Twitter.

Multiwall carbon nanotube@mesoporous carbon with core-shell configuration: a well-designed composite-structure toward electrochemical capacitor application: A multiwall carbon nanotube@mesoporous carbon composite has been prepared for electrochemical capacitor applications by scientists at Fudan University, China. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 13025-13031)  

New BODIPY chromophores bound to polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) with improved thermo- and photostability: Stable hybrid dyes that are analogs of the BODIPY laser dye PM567 have been prepared by Spanish researchers. The dyes show higher thermostability in solid state, as well as higher photostability in thin films of poly(methyl methacrylate) than the parent unbound dyes. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 12803-12811)

Reversible assembly of metal nanoparticles induced by penicillamine. Dynamic formation of SERS hot spots: A system for pH-driven reversible assembly of gold nanoparticles has been reported by a team of scientists working in Spain and the UK. The surface of the nanoparicles is modified with a submonolayer of penicillamine. Changes to the hydrogen bonding between different nanoparticles caused by changes in pH is thought to be responsible for the reversible assembly of the nanoparticles. The aggregation of the nanoparticles also creates SERS hotspots. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI:10.1039/C1JM12175H, Advance Article)

In situ cross-linkable gelatin–poly(ethylene glycol)–tyramine hydrogel via enzyme-mediated reaction for tissue regenerative medicine: A hydrogel made from gelatin–poly(ethylene glycol)–tyramine has been developed by South Korean scientists. The hydrogel could act an injectable scaffold for tissue regenerative medicine they claim. An enzyme-mediated reaction allows the hydrogel to be formed in situ.  Controlling the reaction conditions allowed the team to prepare hydrogels with storage moduli that ranged from approximately 200 to over 8000 Pa. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI:10.1039/C1JM12527C, Advance Article)

Read all the articles for free until 14^th September (free registration required)

To keep up-to-date with all the latest research, sign up for the journal’s e-alerts or RSS feeds or follow Journal of Materials Chemistry on Twitter.

Self-assembly of polystyrene with pendant hydrophilic gold nanoparticles: the influence of the hydrophilicity of the hybrid polymers: Controlling the number of hydrophilic nanoparticles attached to a polymer offers control over the type of self-assembled structures formed say scientists from Nankai University, China. Decreasing the number of hydrophilic gold nanoparticles allows a transition from a micellar structure to vesicular structure. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI:10.1039/C1JM11384D, Advance Article)

Template-free co-assembly of preformed Au and TiO₂ nanoparticles into multicomponent 3D aerogels: Surface-functionalized titania nanoparticles can be assembled into 3-dimensionally connected networks without the use of any structure-directing agents. These networks bridge several lengths scales from nanometres to centimetres. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI:10.1039/C1JM11740H, Advance Article)

Polyamide 6 composite nano-fiber/net functionalized by polyethyleneimine on quartz crystal microbalance for highly sensitive formaldehyde sensors: An effective formaldehyde detection system has been successfully developed by scientists at Donghua University, China, and Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA. The system uses a functionalized nano-fiber net as a novel sensing coating on quartz crystal microbalance. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 12784-12792)

Read all the articles for free until 13^th September (free registration required)

To keep up-to-date with all the latest research, sign up for the journal’s e-alerts or RSS feeds or follow Journal of Materials Chemistry on Twitter.

In this hot article Alexander Kros and colleagues at the Leiden Institute of Chemistry, The Netherlands, investigate the effect of surface-attached PEG on the coiled-coil peptide mediated membrane fusion of liposomes. Fusion is inhibited when the liposomes are pegylated. The team say that fusion can be prevented effectively with less than two mole percent of pegylated lipid. The pegylated lipids inhibit peptide complex formation and liposome docking, preventing liposome fusion at the initial stage of the process.

Read the full article for free until 12^th September (free registration required):  Itsuro Tomatsu, Hana Robson Marsden, Martin Rabe, Frank Versluis, Tingting Zheng, Harshal Zope and Alexander Kros, J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI:10.1039/C1JM11722J, Advance Article 

To keep up-to-date with all the latest research, sign up for the journal’s e-alerts or RSS feeds or follow Journal of Materials Chemistry on Twitter.