Journal of Materials Chemistry Blog

Combination of inorganic nanocrystals (NCs) and organic molecules into composites have shown a variety of novel optical and electronic properties. Many of these properties arise from the inter-phase energy transfer from the excited NCs to a semiconducting matrix.

In this hot paper, Nakanishi and co-workers report the fabrication of a composite material of CdSe NCs embedded in an alkylated room temperature liquid C₆₀ derivate. The photoelectrochemical and optical properties of the composite are investigated. It is found that the optical properties can be tuned by selection of the NC phase. Electronic band alignment between the NCs and the C₆₀ matrix enable inter-phase charge transfer, resulting in a long-lived charge transfer state. The composite shows potential for use in sensing applications and photoelectrochemical processes.

CdSe Nanocrystal/C₆₀-liquid composite material with enhanced photoelectrochemical performance
J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 22370.  DOI: 10.1039/c2jm35294j (free to read for a short time)

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It is widely accepted that biomimetic culture systems should replicate natural tissues as closely as possible to promote optimal cell proliferation, migration, differentiation and survival. These systems are important for biomedical applications such as tissue engineering, biosensors and the development of cellular models of disease. There are many techniques (e.g. microcontact printing, photo- and nanolithography, inkjet printing and photoimmobilisation) that can spatially deposit bioactive molecules for the patterning and guidance of cells. These techniques can suffer from poor cytocompatibility and spatial resolution.

Work by De Bank’s group at the University of Bath reported in this hot paper describes the patterning of biomaterial matrices with multiple bioactive molecules using a caged aldehyde linker. This approach removes any possible unwanted reactivity with functional groups commonly found in biological systems. The authors report that the caged linker can be coupled to many different biomaterials and readily undergoes photolysis in aqueous media. It is suggested that this general approach will have applications in advancing many areas – tissue modelling, tissue engineering, biosensors and regenerative medicine.

A photocleavable linker for the chemoselective functionalization of biomaterials
J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 21878. DOI: 10.1039/c2jm35173k
(free to read for a short time)

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Fabrication of ZnO nanodisc arrays is reported using nanoimprint lithography (NIL) mold obtained sub-100 nm pattern resolution by Srinivasan, Krishnamoorthy and co-workers.

ZnO nanostructures have many applications such as use in LEDs, gas sensors and semiconducting devices. Controlling the densities, geometric attributes and batch to batch reproducibility of nanostructured ZnO can be a challenge. In this hot paper, a generic process is described, using block copolymer assisted NIL, to produce high-resolution NIL molds for the production of ZnO nanodiscs. The authors also investigate the charge storage properties of the produced ZnO nanodiscs.

Macroscopic high density nanodisc arrays of zinc oxide fabricated by block copolymer self-assembly assisted nanoimprint lithography
J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 21871. DOI: 10.1039/c2jm33444e

(free to read for a short time)

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A thin film nanocomposite dielectric that can be prepared by deposition of Bi-doped BaTiO₃ nanocrystals on to a polymer is reported by O’Brien and colleagues.

In this hot paper, the authors use a novel approach to synthesise bismuth acceptor doped nanocrystals, Ba(Ti_xBi_1-x)O₃. The nanocrystals can be synthesised at low temperatures via a solvothermal method and are highly crystalline. The nanocomposite containing these nanocrystals, showed improved dielectric performance over BaTiO₃ and in particular highly desirable capacitor characteristics.

Comprehensive dielectric performance of bismuth acceptor doped BaTiO₃ based nanocrystal thin film capacitors
J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 21862
DOI: 10.1039/c2jm34044e (free to read for a short time)

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A simple yet powerful computational method of generating models that link microscopic or molecular properties of polymers to their biological effects has been reported by Winkler and co-workers.

At present the synthesis and characterisation of novel materials for tissue engineering is a time-consuming and costly process. In this hot paper, the adhesion of human embryonic stem cell embryoid bodies (hEB) to a large library of polymers is studied. Using a mathematical description of the molecular properties of the polymers, a novel method was employed to predict experimental hEB adhesion of the polymer library. This method was found to produce models that could accurately describe stem cell hEB adhesion on polymeric surfaces. The method could be used to predict polymers with improved properties for tissue engineering and other biomedical areas.

Modelling human embryoid body cell adhesion to a combinatorial library of polymer surfaces
J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 20902
DOI: 10.1039/c2jm34782b (free to read for a short time)

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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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