Journal of Materials Chemistry Blog

11th International Conference on Materials Chemistry (MC11)

09 Oct 2012

Closing date for submission of abstracts is 9th November!

In the 20th year of this international conference series, The 11th International Conference on Materials Chemistry (MC11) will bring together researchers to discuss four key areas of application of materials chemistry:

• Energy Materials
• Environmental Materials
• Biomaterials
• Electronic, Magnetic and Optical Materials

For our exciting list of plenary and keynote speakers visit www.rsc.org/mc11. There will also be many opportunities for oral and poster presentations and discussion in the dedicated conference centre at the University of Warwick, UK.

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This week’s hot papers – Read for free until November 9th

05 Oct 2012

By Sam Keltie, Executive Editor.

Electronic structure engineering of lanthanide activated materials

This Highlight article by Pieter Dorenbos reviews new approaches to design novel lanthanide-based materials. He discusses methods and models to construct electron binding energy schemes which can be used to predict the properties, and therefore engineer, new materials.

J. Mater. Chem., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/C2JM34252A, Advance Article

Crystal structure of blue–white–yellow color-tunable Ca₄Si₂O₇F₂:Eu²⁺,Mn²⁺ phosphor and investigation of color tenability through energy transfer for single-phase white-light near-ultraviolet LEDs

Phosphor-converted LEDs that use a combination of blue InGaN chip and a yellow emitting Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺ phosphors have low color rendering indices and high correlated color temperatures which are disadvantageous. In this hot paper, Huang, Chen and co-workers, synthesis a series of single-composition Ca₄Si₂O₇F₂:Eu²⁺,Mn²⁺ phosphors and investigate their crystal structures and luminescence properties. They find that the phosphors generate white-light and are emission-tunable by using a sensitizer Eu³⁺. The critical distance between Eu²⁺ and Mn²⁺ is investigated in relation to the energy transfer mechanism. The phosphor has potential uses as a phosphor-converted white-light near-UV LED.

J. Mater. Chem., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/C2JM33160H, Advance Article

High rate performance of a Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C cathode prepared by pyro-synthesis for sodium-ion batteries

In this hot paper, Jaekook Kim’s group at Chonam National University, Korea report the synthesis of a Na-ion cathode as a high performing alternative to the Li-ion cathodes currently popular in the field. The carbon-coated Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃ cathode is synthesised via a polyol-assisted pyro-synthetic reaction which reduces the sintering time and temperature. The resulting nanoparticles showed greatly improved electrochemical performances in a Na-ion cell.

J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 20857-20860

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Australia-India Joint Symposium on Smart Nanomaterials themed collection

04 Oct 2012

By Sam Keltie, Executive Editor.

The Journal of Materials Chemistry themed collection on the ‘Australia-India Joint Symposium on Smart Nanomaterials’ has been published. The papers in this themed collection are based on contributions from this symposium which was a forum for discussion about all aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Find the full collection description by Professor C.N.R. Rao (Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, India) and the rest of the collection here.

The themed collection contains the following Application article:

Methane storage in metal organic frameworks

Kristina Konstas, Theresa Osl, Yunxia Yang, Michael Batten, Nick Burke, Anita J. Hill and Matthew R. Hill

J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 16698-16708

And the front cover paper of Journal of Materials Chemistry Volume 22, Number 40:

Mercury vapor sensor enhancement by nanostructured gold deposited on nickel surfaces using galvanic replacement reactions

Ylias M. Sabri, Samuel J. Ippolito, Armand J. Atanacio, Vipul Bansal and Suresh K. Bhargava

J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 21395-21404

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Hot paper: Hierarchical activated carbon nanofiber webs with tuned structure fabricated by electrospinning for capacitive deionization

03 Oct 2012

By Sam Keltie, Executive Editor.

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is the primary runner-up technology to challenge the well-established traditional technologies such as the reverse osmosis and the electrodialysis for producing fresh water from sea water. The performance of CDI is mainly governed by the carbon electrode properties such as the electric conductivity and the pore size distribution, and this remains a bottle-neck challenge for the CDI technique up to now, and needs to be addressed urgently. In this paper, Gang Wang, Jieshan Qiu and co-workers at Dalian University of Technology in China report a new strategy for fabricating hierarchical carbon electrodes with tuned structure for CDI by electrospinning, which shows a high desalination performance in an order as high as 10 mg salt/g carbon. The novel approach may pay a new way for a new technology for producing fresh water from salted water.

(Text supplied by author)

(J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 21819-21823). Free to read for a short time.

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‘Training’ a memristive network

24 Sep 2012

By Aliya Anwar.

Researchers in Italy and Germany have developed an organic memristive device that mimics the adaptive processes occurring in nervous systems such as the human brain. The work is one of the main findings of the European Commission’s Seventh Framework Programme Future and Emerging Technologies-Open project which has brought together physicists, chemists, neuroscientists and mathematicians to create breakthroughs in information and communication technologies.

Memristors (‘memory resistors’) are electronic elements with a resistance which is a function of the charge passing through them. Importantly, when the current is removed, the memristor retains this final resistance, providing a capability similar to a biological synapse. The team, led by Victor Erokhin at the University of Parma, incorporated a conducting polymer memristor into a self-assembling stochastic 3D network reminiscent of the brain’s random distribution of neurons and the connections between them.

Spaghetti analogy for training the polymer network. Top: The main components of the organic memristive device. Bottom: Italian children learn that spaghetti can only be eaten with forks (strong association), whereas foreigners in Italy also can eat spaghetti with forks, but upon returning to their own country may begin to use spoons again (dynamic adaptation).

Read the full article at Chemistry World.

Stochastic hybrid 3D matrix: learning and adaptation of electrical properties
Victor Erokhin, Tatiana Berzina, Konstantin Gorshkov, Paolo Camorani, Andrea Pucci, Lucia Ricci, Giacomo Ruggeri, Rodrigo Sigala and Almut Schuez
J. Mater. Chem., 2012, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/C2JM35064E

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This week’s hot paper – Read for free until 26th October

24 Sep 2012

By Sam Keltie, Executive Editor.

Hydrophobic cellulose nanocrystals modified with quaternary ammonium salts

Cellulose nanocrystals or CNCs are environmentally friendly biomaterials whose surface functionality can be tailored in order to improve their performance. In this hot paper, Zhou and co-workers describe a simple and flexible route to produce CNCs bearing high carboxylate content. A new environmentally friendly method for the surface modification of the produced CNCs is reported. Modifying the surface of the CNCs using a range of quaternary ammonium salts via ionic exchange in aqueous solution, gives a series of CNCs that can be redispersed and individualised in organic solvents. These CNCs can be dried from solvent to form well-disperesed nanocomposites.

(J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 19798–19805)

A green-yellow emitting oxyfluoride solid solution phosphor Sr₂Ba(AlO₄F)_1-x(SiO₅)_x:Ce³⁺ for thermally stable, high color rendition solid state white lighting

LEDs are increasing in use over traditional incandescent or fluorescent light sources because of their reduced energy demands. Solid state white lighting devices offer many advantages compared to these conventional sources such as longer lifetimes and no need for mercury. Most common white lighting phosphors strongly absorb blue light, in this hot paper, Seshadri et al. report a green-to-yellow emitting phosphor solid solution. The composition (x) of the phosphor can be altered to easily tune the colour of the phosphor between near-UV excitation and green/yellow emission wavelengths which are optimal for white lighting applications.

(J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 18204–18213)

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Another hot paper!

19 Sep 2012

By Sam Keltie, Executive Editor.

Atomic layer deposition of anatase TiO₂ coating on silica particles: growth, characterization and evaluation as photocatalysts for methyl orange degradation and hydrogen production

Photocatalysis using various forms of titanium dioxide is well known, but many of these forms, such as TiO₂ thin films or the commercially available Degussa P25 powder, have small particle sizes which makes recovery and handling a challenge. In this hot paper, Rosseinsky and co-workers utilise TiO₂–SiO₂ core-shell particles to produce an efficient photcatalyst which can be easily separated from aqueous solution. They use atomic layer deposition to deposit anatase TiO₂ layers onto SiO₂ support particles. The particles can photocatlyse methyl orange with nearly ten times greater efficiency compared to P25 when normalised for TiO₂ content.

(J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 2, 20203–20209). Read for free until October 26th!

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This week’s hot papers – Read for free until 19th October

17 Sep 2012

By Sam Keltie, Executive Editor.

High throughput theory and simulation of nanomaterials: exploring the stability and electronic properties of nanographene

Computational modelling of structure-activity relationships in nanomaterials can be challenging. Snook and co-workers have developed a high throughput method by using a combinational approach with electronic structure simulations to give a general method for predicating and understanding the properties of graphene. They describe the calculation for a predictive property matrix of graphene quantum dots using SCC-DFTB. Alternative graphene structures with AC- and ZZ-edges are able to be modelled without increasing the methodological complexity. This hot paper shows that a database of electronic properties of graphene can be built up, and when a particular property is desired it can be readily obtained.

(J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 18119–18123)

Living materials from sol–gel chemistry: current challenges and perspectives

In this Highlight article, Marine Blondeau and Thibaud Coradin discuss the use of sol–gel encapsulation technology for biomedical and environmental applications. They discuss the topic from a materials point-of-view, outlining the key points of the encapsulation process and the formation of gels from sols. The challenges, possibilities and advances in the field are also discussed.

(J. Mater. Chem., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/C2JM33647B, Advanced Article)

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Fruit juice infused chocolate to reduce fat consumption

07 Sep 2012

By Aliya Anwar.

Fruit juice has been used by scientists in the UK to replace up to half of the fat content from cocoa butter and milk fats in milk and white chocolate.

From left to right: Team members Tom Skelhon, Adam Morgan and Stefan Bon © University of Warwick

Stefan Bon and his colleagues at the University of Warwick made a water-in-oil emulsion to replace the fat by adding fruit juices, water with added vitamin C or flat coke to chocolate formulations.

Read the full article at Chemistry World.

Quiescent water-in-oil Pickering emulsions as a route toward healthier fruit juice infused chocolate confectionary
Thomas S. Skelhon , Nadia Grossiord , Adam R. Morgan and Stefan A. F. Bon
J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 19289-19295
DOI: 10.1039/C2JM34233B

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Journal of Materials Chemistry becomes three news

06 Sep 2012

By Sam Keltie, Executive Editor.

Following on from our recent announcements regarding our new journals, Journal of Materials Chemistry A, B and C, we are really looking forward to 2013 when the first issues will be published. In the words of Seth Marder, the current Chair of Journal of Materials Chemistry Editorial Board:

‘This announcement represents a big step for RSC and the Materials portfolio. I look forward to working very closely with all of you and the RSC to continue to strengthen the quality of scope of the materials portfolio over the coming years. We have come a long way, but still have much work in front of us as we continue in our efforts to provide the materials community exciting places to publish their work!’