Journal of Materials Chemistry Blog

Hot Articles for December!

03 Dec 2013

Impact of phosphorylation on the encapsulation of nucleoside analogues within porous iron(III) metal-organic framework MIL-100(Fe) nanoparticles
Valentina Agostoni, Resmi Anand, Sandra Monti, Shaun Hall, Guillaume Maurin, Patricia Horcajada, Christian Serre, Kawthar Bouchemal and Ruxandra Gref

3D porous layered double hydroxides grown on graphene as advanced electrochemical pseudocapacitor materials
Luojiang Zhang, Jie Wang, Jiajia Zhu, Xiaogang Zhang, Kwan San Hui and Kwun Nam Hui

Surface passivation and band engingeering: a way toward high efficiency graphene-planar Si solar cells
Chao Xie, Xiaozhen Zhang, Yiming Wu, Xiujuan Zhang, Xiwei Zhang, Yan Wang, Wenjun Zhang, Peng Gao, Yuanyuan Han and Jiansheng Jie

These papers are free to access until 20th January 2014

To keep up-to-date with all the latest research, sign up to our RSS feed or Table of contents alert

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Free colour in journal articles

02 Dec 2013

By Sarah Thirkell, Development Editor.

Here at the Royal Society of Chemistry we are constantly looking to improve our procedures to make things easier for our journal authors.

And we are glad to say that we can now offer free colour for all images and figures in all of our journals, in print and online.

We believe this will further improve the efficiency of our submission, editing and publication processes, and enhance the readers’ experience as well.

So that’s one more reason to choose to publish with us.

View this video to hear from international researchers on why they choose Royal Society of Chemistry journals.

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Recipe for a jelly-based fuel cell catalyst

25 Nov 2013

By Aliya Anwar.

An international team of researchers have used gelatin as their starting material to make doped-carbon electrocatalysts. They might not wobble but they could one day replace platinum in fuel cells.

The gelatin foam doesn’t look like jelly (a). The scanning electron microscope image of the foam (b) shows lots of tiny bubbles

Zoe Schnepp from the University of Birmingham in the UK and colleagues at the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan wanted to show that you don’t have to compromise on properties by being green.

Read the full article at Chemistry World.

Doped-carbon electrocatalysts with trimodal porosity from a homogeneous polypeptide gel
Zoe Schnepp, et al.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2013, 1, 13576-13581
DOI: 10.1039/C3TA12996A

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Faraday Discussion 174: Organics, Photonics & Electronics – call for oral abstracts

25 Nov 2013

By Sarah Thirkell, Development Editor.

Call for oral abstracts – deadline extended to 2 December 2013

We invite you to join us for Faraday Discussion 174, which will cover:

•    Organic photovoltaics and energy
•    Organic lasers
•    Organic bioelectronics
•    Sensors and molecular electronics

Submit your abstract today

You can find more details about submitting your abstract here

Speakers include:

•    Magnus Berggren, Linköping University
•    Christoph Brabec, University of Erlangen
•    Donal Bradley, Imperial College London
•    Rene Janssen, TU Eindhoven
•    Uli Lemmer, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
•    Karl Leo, TU Dresden
•    Gemma Soloman, University of Copenhagen
•    Luisa Torsi, University of Bari
•    Latha Venkataraman, Columbia University
•    Fred Wudl, University of California, Santa Barbara

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RCS Solid State Chemistry Group

13 Nov 2013

By Sarah Thirkell, Development Editor.

Annual Christmas Meeting 2013

The RSC Solid State Chemistry Group would like to welcome you to their 33rd Annual Christmas Meeting. This year’s event will be held in the historic city of Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage. The event will run from lunchtime Wednesday the 18th of December to lunchtime on Thursday the 19th of December at the University of Bath with a conference dinner held at the Hilton Bath City Hotel on the Wednesday evening.

To find out more information on the keynote speakers, who include Professor Christian Masquelier, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Professor Graeme Watson, Trinity College Dublin and Professor Tony West, University of Sheffield, and other information about the meeting, please visit the website.

To register for the conference, please register here.

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Detecting iron the smart way

13 Nov 2013

By Aliya Anwar.

Spanish scientists have developed a way to quantitatively measure the amount of iron in a solution using a colour changing material and photos taken on a smartphone.

Graphical Abstract

Iron is present in almost every aspect of our lives but an excess, known as iron overload, can cause significant long term effects ranging from liver damage to arthritis as a result of iron deposition in organs or joints. As such, the amount of iron in a variety of environments needs to be carefully monitored.

Read the full article in Chemisty World here.

Read the original articles below:

Solid sensory polymer substrates for the quantification of iron in blood, wine and water by a scalable RGB technique
Saúl Vallejos, et al, J. Mater. Chem. A, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/C3TA12703F

Sub-ppm quantification of Hg(II) in aqueous media using both the naked eye and digital information from pictures of a colorimetric sensory polymer membrane taken with the digital camera of a conventional mobile phone
José M. García, et al, Anal. Methods, 2013, 5, 54-58, DOI: 10.1039/C2AY26307F

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Hot Article: Transparent, stretchable, carbon-nanotube-inlaid conductors enabled by standard replication technology for capacitive pressure, strain and touch sensors

30 Oct 2013

By James Serginson, web writer.

Although the constant miniaturisation of consumer electronics has made it perfectly normal for somebody to leave their home in the morning carrying more screens than they leave behind, modern devices are still limited to being as physically rigid as spinning wheels and seed drills. The usefulness of flexible displays, wearable electronics and tactile sensors would all be improved dramatically by the development of reliable non-rigid conductors.

Wang et al. have recently devised a methodology for the manufacture of a stretchable material composed of highly conductive single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer. The procedure starts with the preparation of a “non-stick” substrate obtained by perfluorinating glass. A suspension of SWCNTs in chloroform is then airbrushed over the substrate followed by the application of uncured PDMS. Following curing, an elastomer film with embedded nanotubes is obtained. An experiment examining the change in resistance with respect to tensile strain revealed that although resistance increased with strain when first stretched (as is generally observed), when the strain was removed and for the next ninety-nine strain-release cycles the resistance consistently decreased with increasing strain. This suggests that the first strain serves to orient the nanotubes in a particular way leading to this unexpected behaviour. In addition, the researchers found that specific patterns could be obtained by using patterned substrates or by simply spraying the SWCNT suspension through a patterned mask. The latter allowed the fabrication of a proof-of-concept strain sensor, touch pad and pressure sensor. All three devices were effective and demonstrate the utility of the fabrication technique.

Transparent, stretchable, carbon-nanotube-inlaid conductors enabled by standard replication technology for capacitive pressure, strain and touch sensors
Xiaolong Wang, Tingjie Le, Jillian Adams and Jun Yang
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2013, 1, 3580. DOI:10.1039/C3TA00079f

James Serginson is a guest web writer for the Journal of Materials Chemistry blog. He currently works at Imperial College London carrying out research into nanocomposites.

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Sustainable materials sound good

23 Oct 2013

By Aliya Anwar.

Cellulose fibres covered with magnetic nanoparticles have been used to make ultrathin loudspeakers by researchers in Sweden. The material could provide a cheaper and more sustainable alternative to the polymers traditionally used in speakers.

The speaker membrane is only 50 μm thick

Conventional loudspeakers contain a bulky magnet that is becoming harder to incorporate into our ever-shrinking gadgets. A coil attached to the speaker membrane is essential for moving the membrane and creating sound waves but the force of this coil can also reduce sound quality. The biocomposite membrane developed by Richard Olsson, Lars Berglund and their teams at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm removes the need for a bulky magnet and enhances sound quality because there is no coil in contact with the membrane.

Read the full story at Chemistry World.

Cellulose Nanofibers Decorated with Magnetic Nanoparticles – Synthesis, Structure and Use in Magnetized High Toughness Membranes for a Prototype Loudspeaker
Richard T Olsson et al, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2013, Accepted Manuscript, DOI: 10.1039/C3TC31748J

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Top 10 most-read Journal of Materials Chemistry C articles – Q3 2013

21 Oct 2013

By Katherine Dunn, Publishing Assistant.

This month sees the following Journal of Materials Chemistry C articles that are in the top ten most accessed from July – September:

Oxadiazole- and triazole-based highly-efficient thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitters for organic light-emitting diodes
Jiyoung Lee, Katsuyuki Shizu, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Hiroko Nomura, Takuma Yasuda and Chihaya Adachi
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2013,1, 4599-4604
DOI: 10.1039/C3TC30699B

Solution processed metal-oxides for organic electronic devices
Kirill Zilberberg, Jens Meyer and Thomas Riedl
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2013,1, 4796-4815
DOI: 10.1039/C3TC30930D

Ternary and quaternary metal chalcogenide nanocrystals: synthesis, properties and applications
Dmitry Aldakov, Aurélie Lefrançois and Peter Reiss
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2013,1, 3756-3776
DOI: 10.1039/C3TC30273C

Stimuli-responsive molecularly imprinted polymers: versatile functional materials
Shoufang Xu, Hongzhi Lu, Xiuwen Zheng and Lingxin Chen
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2013,1, 4406-4422
DOI: 10.1039/C3TC30496E

Structure–processing–property correlations in solution-processed, small-molecule, organic solar cells
Benjamin H. Wunsch, Mariacristina Rumi, Naga Rajesh Tummala, Chad Risko, Dun-Yen Kang, K. Xerxes Steirer, Jeremy Gantz, Marcel Said, Neal R. Armstrong, Jean-Luc Brédas, David Bucknall and Seth R. Marder
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2013,1, 5250-5260
DOI: 10.1039/C3TC30774C

Fluorinated 9,9′-spirobifluorene derivatives as host materials for highly efficient blue organic light-emitting devices
Zhanfeng Li, Bo Jiao, Zhaoxin Wu, Peng Liu, Lin Ma, Xiaoli Lei, Dongdong Wang, Guijiang Zhou, Huaiming Hu and Xun Hou
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2013,1, 2183-2192
DOI: 10.1039/C3TC00466J

Plant leaf-derived fluorescent carbon dots for sensing, patterning and coding
Liangliang Zhu, Yongjin Yin, Cai-Feng Wang and Su Chen
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2013,1, 4925-4932
DOI: 10.1039/C3TC30701H

Two-dimensional semiconductors: recent progress and future perspectives
Xiufeng Song, Jinlian Hu and Haibo Zeng
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2013,1, 2952-2969
DOI: 10.1039/C3TC00710C

Photochemical stability of electrochromic polymers and devices
Jacob Jensen, Morten V. Madsen and Frederik C. Krebs
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2013,1, 4826-4835
DOI: 10.1039/C3TC30751D

Reduction of graphene oxide to highly conductive graphene by Lawesson’s reagent and its electrical applications
Hongtao Liu, Lei Zhang, Yunlong Guo, Cheng Cheng, Lianjiang Yang, Lang Jiang, Gui Yu, Wenping Hu, Yunqi Liu and Daoben Zhu
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2013,1, 3104-3109
DOI: 10.1039/C3TC00067B

Why not take a look at the articles today and blog your thoughts and comments below.

Fancy submitting an article to Journal of Materials Chemistry C? Then why not submit to us today!

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Top 10 most-read Journal of Materials Chemistry B articles – Q3 2013

21 Oct 2013

By Katherine Dunn, Publishing Assistant.

This month sees the following Journal of Materials Chemistry B articles that are in the top ten most accessed from July – September:

Carbon “quantum” dots for optical bioimaging
Pengju G. Luo, Sushant Sahu, Sheng-Tao Yang, Sumit K. Sonkar, Jinping Wang, Haifang Wang, Gregory E. LeCroy, Li Cao and Ya-Ping Sun
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2013,1, 2116-2127
DOI: 10.1039/C3TB00018D

Bioinspired prospects of graphene: from biosensing to energy
Ying Wang, Haixin Chang, Hongkai Wu and Honglai Liu
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2013,1, 3521-3534
DOI: 10.1039/C3TB20524J

Hydrogen-bonds in molecular solids – from biological systems to organic electronics
Eric Daniel Głowacki, Mihai Irimia-Vladu, Siegfried Bauer and Niyazi Serdar Sariciftci
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2013,1, 3742-3753
DOI: 10.1039/C3TB20193G

Synthesis of nanoparticles, their biocompatibility, and toxicity behavior for biomedical applications
Anurag Gautam and Frank C. J. M. van Veggel
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2013,1, 5186-5200
DOI: 10.1039/C3TB20738B

One-step preparation of nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots from oxidized debris of graphene oxide
Chaofan Hu, Yingliang Liu, Yunhua Yang, Jianghu Cui, Zirong Huang, Yaling Wang, Lufeng Yang, Haibo Wang, Yong Xiao and Jianhua Rong
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2013,1, 39-42
DOI: 10.1039/C2TB00189F

Biomineral-inspired growth of metal–organic frameworks in gelatin hydrogel matrices
Ashesh Garai, William Shepherd, Jia Huo and Darren Bradshaw
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2013,1, 3678-3684
DOI: 10.1039/C3TB20814A

Double network hydrogels from polyzwitterions: high mechanical strength and excellent anti-biofouling properties
Haiyan Yin, Taigo Akasaki, Tao Lin Sun, Tasuku Nakajima, Takayuki Kurokawa, Takayuki Nonoyama, Toshio Taira, Yoshiyuki Saruwatari and Jian Ping Gong
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2013,1, 3685-3693
DOI: 10.1039/C3TB20324G

Recent advancements of graphene in biomedicine
Huacheng Zhang, George Grüner and Yanli Zhao
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2013,1, 2542-2567
DOI: 10.1039/C3TB20405G

A bifunctional nanocarrier based on amphiphilic hyperbranched polyglycerol derivatives
Indah N. Kurniasih, Hua Liang, Sumit Kumar, Andreas Mohr, Sunil K. Sharma, Jürgen P. Rabe and Rainer Haag
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2013,1, 3569-3577
DOI: 10.1039/C3TB20366B

Polymeric theranostics: using polymer-based systems for simultaneous imaging and therapy
Theodora Krasia-Christoforou and Theoni K. Georgiou
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2013,1, 3002-3025
DOI: 10.1039/C3TB20191K

Why not take a look at the articles today and blog your thoughts and comments below.

Fancy submitting an article to Journal of Materials Chemistry B? Then why not submit to us today!

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Journal of Materials Chemistry Blog

Hot Articles for December!

Free colour in journal articles

Recipe for a jelly-based fuel cell catalyst

Faraday Discussion 174: Organics, Photonics & Electronics – call for oral abstracts

RCS Solid State Chemistry Group

Detecting iron the smart way

Hot Article: Transparent, stretchable, carbon-nanotube-inlaid conductors enabled by standard replication technology for capacitive pressure, strain and touch sensors

Sustainable materials sound good

Top 10 most-read Journal of Materials Chemistry C articles – Q3 2013

Top 10 most-read Journal of Materials Chemistry B articles – Q3 2013

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