Journal of Materials Chemistry Blog

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.