Journal of Materials Chemistry Blog

This highlight article by Petra Cameron and co-workers at the University of Bath and the University of Liverpool describes recent activity in the area of peptide self-assembly, with a particular focus on tri-peptides, dipeptides and protected amino acids.

Low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs) are small molecules that self-assemble under the right conditions to form fibrous nanostructures, which can further associate into higher order structures. Of particular interest are LMW peptide hydrogelators which are biomimetic and form translucent hydrogels when added to water.  The gels typically contain >99% water and have been suggested for applications in regenerative tissue engineering, 3-D cell culturing, bio-templating, drug delivery, enzyme immobilisation and biosensing.

Interested in knowing more?  Read for free until December 23^rd.

Peptide based low molecular weight gelators
Eleanor K. Johnson, Dave J. Adams and Petra J. Cameron
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM03099F, Highlight

A team from Zhejiang University have fabricated a novel luminescent sheet by deposition of cadmium selenide nanoparticles onto cellulose nanofibres of commercial filter paper.

Semi-conductor nanocrystals, particularly cadmium selenide (CdSe) quantum dots (QDs), have triggered intensive research interest because of their fascinating luminescent properties.  A key step in broadening the practical applications is to stabilize the nanocrystals into matrices to get bulk solid state materials.

Jianguo Huang and co-workers in China fabricated a hierarchical luminescent cellulose sheet via self-assembly of cadmium selenide (CdSe) nanoparticles capped with trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) and 1-hexadecylamine (HDA) onto ultrathin titania film pre-coated cellulose nanofibres of bulk natural cellulose substance (common commercial filter paper).

This approach provides a facile shortcut to fabricate bulk luminescent materials that inherit the mechanical behaviour of cellulose substances and simultaneously possess designed luminescent properties.

Interested in knowing more? Read for free until December 21^st.

Luminescent cellulose sheet fabricated by facile self-assembly of cadmium selenide nanoparticles on cellulose nanofibres
Tao Niu, Yuanqing Gu and Jianguo Huang
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02356F, Paper

This Feature article, by Jurriaan Huskens, Aldrik Velders and co-workers gives an overview of the recent literature regarding lateral molecular interactions in monolayers, covering fundamental science to applications, with a focus on systems with additional electron or energy transfer.

The authors, from the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology at the University of Twente in the Netherlands present the literature in three sections covering self-assembled monolayers on metal surfaces, monolayers on silicon and metal oxide surfaces and finally, lateral interactions on receptor surfaces.

Interested in knowing more?  Read for free until December 20^th.

Lateral interactions at functional monolayers
Shu-Han Hsu, David N. Reinhoudt, Jurriaan Huskens and Aldrik H. Velders
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02696D, Feature Article

The introduction of fullerene derivatives into solution-based polymer solar cells has the potential to achieve a dramatic increase in the energy conversion efficiencies. In this study, Sang-Jin Moon and colleagues in South Korea introduced alkyl groups with various lengths to the terminal ester of C70-PCBX ([6,6]-phenyl C71-butyric acid alkyl ester).  They investigated the physico-chemical and photovoltaic properties of the blend using the P3HT (poly-3-hexylthiophene) polymer as a donor.  They found that extended alkyl chains of C70-derivatives increased the phase segregation and the interface roughness in bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells to obtain optimum power conversion efficiency at C70-PCBR7.

Effect of the alkyl chain length of C₇₀-PCBX acceptors on the device performance of P3HT:C₇₀-PCBX polymer solar cells
Won Suk Shin, Jong-Cheol Lee, Jae-Ryoung Kim, Hye Young Lee, Sang Kyu Lee, Sung Cheol Yoon and Sang-Jin Moon
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02459G, Paper

Interested in knowing more?  Read for free until December 16^th.

For the development of efficient air detoxification technologies, the design of highly microporous framework materials with hydrophobic inner surface is crucial. Metal–organic frameworks have inspired chemists but are mostly polar, whereas metal-free organic framework materials profit from a high degree of hydrothermal stability.  Stefan Kaskel and co-workers from Germany have used cyclotrimerization of bifunctional acetyl compounds to obtain hydrophobic, porous organic frameworks as powders or monoliths with high specific surface areas. The outstanding properties in combination with the opportunity to generate shapes of any kind render the materials highly promising for application in air filtration systems and individual protection, as well as gas storage and separation.

A new route to porous monolithic organic frameworks via cyclotrimerization
Marcus Rose, Nicole Klein, Irena Senkovska, Christian Schrage, Philipp Wollmann, Winfried Böhlmann, Bertram Böhringer, Sven Fichtner and Stefan Kaskel
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02998J, Paper

Interested in knowing more?  Read for free until December 16^th.

This Feature Article by Mariela Pavan and Roy Shenhar focuses on patterning using block copolymer templates as a facile mechanism for nanoparticle organization; it describes the factors governing this process and highlights recent advances.

The creation of ordered nanoparticle assemblies is one of the main prerequisites for the utilization of nanoparticles in advanced device applications. However, despite considerable progress, our ability to organise these assemblies into ordered structures by precision synthesis still faces major challenges.  The processes described in this feature article provide perhaps the simplest means for creating organized, two-dimensional nanoparticle assemblies.

Interested in knowing more?  Read for free until December 14^th.

Two-dimensional nanoparticle organization using block copolymer thin films as templates
Mariela J. Pavan and Roy Shenhar
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02853C, Feature Article

A team from the USA have studied solvent-free, one-step functionalization of aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNTs) using initiated chemical vapor deposition. The vapor deposition process allowed excellent retention of the nanotube alignment and control of the porosity of the resultant MWNT nanostructure.  In addition, the team from Oklahoma, Texas and Ohio transferred the functionalized MWNTs using a flip-over procedure which significantly enhanced the mechanical properties. The team report that the combination of surface functionality, nanotube alignment, controlled porosity, and enhanced mechanical robustness in the MWNT nanostructures may greatly impact the fabrication of carbon nanotube devices.

Interested in knowing more? Read the full article for free until December 13th.

Solvent-free functionalization and transfer of aligned carbon nanotubes with vapor-deposited polymer nanocoatings
Yumin Ye, Yu Mao, Fang Wang, Hongbing Lu, Liangti Qu and Liming Dai
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02506B, Paper 

In this paper from Marc Sallé, David Amabilino  and co-workers, the control of the morphology of nanostructures formed from a single component molecular material incorporating electron accepting and donating moieties is shown, from both solution and gel states.  Xerogels of the component, multifunctional tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)–pyrene based organogelator were formed using different solvents. Doping of these xerogels with iodine vapour afforded conducting films whose characteristics were probed with current sensing atomic force microscopy, which showed how dramatically the processing solvent can influence the electronic properties of these xerogel-derived materials.

Interested in knowing more? Read the full article for free until December 13th.

Varied nanostructures from a single multifunctional molecular material
David Canevet, Ángel Pérez del Pino, David B. Amabilino and Marc Sallé
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02302G, Paper

This ‘Hot Article’ from our upcoming Modelling of Materials themed issue by Matthew Glaser and co-workers from the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of California, Davies has recently been published online.

Many soft-matter and biophysical systems are composed of monomers that reversibly assemble into rod-like aggregates. The aggregates can then order into liquid-crystal phases if the density is high enough, and liquid-crystal ordering promotes increased growth of aggregates.  In this paper the team from the USA study coupled linear aggregation and liquid crystal ordering with a new coarse-grained sticky cylinder model.

Interested in knowing more?  Read for free until December 9th.Linear aggregation and liquid-crystalline order: comparison of Monte Carlo simulation and analytic theory Tatiana Kuriabova, M. D. Betterton and Matthew A. Glaser J. Mater. Chem., 2010, Advance Article DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02355H, Paper

A noble metal catalyzed chemical growth process has been developed by a team from China and is described in this ‘Hot Article’.

Noble metals, such as Pt based bimetallic nanoparticles with a hollow structure exhibit a range of interesting characteristics such as low density, reduced cost, high specific surface, and enhanced permeability without much sacrifice of mechanical/thermal stability in comparison with their solid counterparts. Rongming Wang, Ning Wang, Xia Cao and co-workers successfully synthesised nearly monodispersed bimetallic NiPt hollow spheres with an ultrathin shell (2–3 nm). Size and composition of the NiPt nanospheres was conveniently tuned by introducing suitable amounts of precursory molecules.  

The bimetallic NiPt hollow spheres demonstrated excellent electrocatalytic activity and stability which makes them promising candidates for catalysts and sensing materials.Interested in knowing more?  Read for free until December 9th. Platinum catalyzed growth of NiPt hollow spheres with an ultrathin shell Qian Sun, Zheng Ren, Rongming Wang, Ning Wang and Xia Cao J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02563A, Paper

On the cover of Journal of Materials Chemistry issue 45 the image of a fingerprint washed from a steel surface is revealed (in false colour) thanks to polymerisation of S₂N₂ on the print’s corrosion signature. 

The image is taken from the paper Polymerisation of S₂N₂ to (SN)_x as a tool for the rapid imaging of fingerprints removed from metal surfaces by Stephen M. Bleay, Paul F. Kelly and Roberto S. P. King.  This article was featured in the RSC’s Highlights in Chemical Technology supplement: Polymerisation reveals hidden fingerprints.

In this Highlight, Hasma Jaganathan and Albena Ivanisevic from Purdue University present a unique nanostructure design using DNA that can serve as potential magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agents.  By attaching gold and iron oxide nanoparticles on linear strands of DNA, nanoparticle chains are easily formed by self-assembly and through DNA-based enzymes. Furthermore, gold–iron oxide nanoparticle chains exhibit fast proton relaxation times that improve MRI signals and do not induce in vitro toxicity.

Interested in knowing more?  Read for free until December 7th. Gold–iron oxide nanoparticle chains scaffolded on DNA as potential magnetic resonance imaging agents Hamsa Jaganathan and Albena Ivanisevic J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02754E, Highlight

Metal/oxide nanosystems with different spatial organizations have attracted a remarkable interest for their unique features and multi-functional properties, which can be finely tuned by controlling the interplay between their structure, morphology and composition.  In this Highlight, Davide Barreca and co-workers at Padova University describe how the interfacial interactions between metal nanoparticles and oxides significantly impact the system properties and play a key role for future advancements in their science and technology.

Interested in knowing more? Read for free until December 7th. Metal/oxide interfaces in inorganic nanosystems: what’s going on and what’s next?  Davide Barreca, Alberto Gasparotto and Eugenio Tondello J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02448A, Highlight

Enhancing photocatalytic activity of titania materials by using porous structures and the addition of gold nanoparticles
Xingdong Wang and Rachel A. Caruso
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02620D, Highlight

 The strategy to enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ materials by introducing both porous structure to improve the mass transportation and gold nanoparticles to enhance the charge separation is reviewed in this highlight article from Xingdon Wang and Rachel Caruso from Australia.

Interested in knowing more?  Read the full article for free until the 3^rd December!

Growth and reductive transformation of a gold shell around pyramidal cadmium selenide nanocrystals
Michaela Meyns, Neus G. Bastus, Yuxue Cai, Andreas Kornowski, Beatriz H. Juárez, Horst Weller and Christian Klinke
J. Mater. Chem., 2010, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM03004J, Communication

Cadmium selenide nanocrystals were coated with a gold shell which could be transformed to small clusters by additional reducing agents reports Christian Klinke and co-workers from Germany and Spain in this Communication.  By varying the conditions of gold deposition they were able to tune the gold domain size and gain important information on the role of surface chemistry in heteronanoparticle synthesis and seed reactivity, both of which are crucial points regarding the chemical design of new materials for photocatalysis and optoelectronic applications.

Interested in knowing more?  Read the full article for free until the 3^rd December!

Size-dependent light-scattering effects of nanoporous TiO2 spheres in dye-sensitized solar cells
In Gyoung Yu, Yong Joo Kim, Hark Jin Kim, Chongmu Lee and Wan In Lee
J. Mater. Chem., 2010, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02606A, Paper

In this paper a team from Inha University in South Korea report the successful application of submicron-sized monodispersed TiO₂ spheres (SPs) with high porosity as the light scattering layer of dye-sensitized solar cells.  This resulted in an increase of the photovoltaic conversion efficiency from 6.92 to 9.04% when using the SP which gave the highest light scattering efficiency.

Interested in knowing more?  Read the full article for free ntil the 3^rd December!