Journal of Materials Chemistry Blog

Part-Themed Issue on ‘Materials for Biosurfaces’ now published

04 Sep 2012

The 2012 Journal of Materials Chemistry part-themed issue on ‘Materials for Biosurfaces’ has now been published online. View the full issue here.

Guest Editors for the themed issue were Professor Christ Ober, Ms. M. Elizabeth Welch and Dr Christian Ohm and their Editorial can be found here. A number of reviews were also published:

Utilizing click chemistry to design functional interfaces through post-polymerization modification
Rachelle M. Arnold, N. Eric Huddleston and Jason Locklin
Biomimetic 3D self-assembling biomicroconstructs by spontaneous deformation of thin polymer films
Leonid Ionov
Cell and cell sheet recovery from pNIPAm coatings; motivation and history to present day approaches
Maria E. Nash, Deirdre Healy, William M. Carroll, Carlos Elvira and Yury A. Rochev
Switchable adhesion by chemical functionality and topography
Marleen Kamperman and Alla Synytska

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This week’s hot articles – Read for free until 5th October

30 Aug 2012

By Sam Keltie, Executive Editor.

Quiescent water-in-oil Pickering emulsions as a route toward healthier fruit juice infused chocolate confectionary

Finding alternatives to the calorie-rich triglyceride fats found in chocolate are a high priority for chocolate manufacturers. In this hot paper, Bon and co-workers introduced fruit juice into chocolate by forming stable water-in-oil emulsions. The infused fruit juice replaces up to 50 % by weight of the total fat content in the chocolate. The approach uses a quiescent Pickering emulsion fabrication strategy to infuse the fruit juice in the form of emulsion droplets. White, milk and dark chocolate is produced using this method, which can also be applied in other systems such as aqueous acetic acid dispersed in sunflower oil.

(J. Mater. Chem., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/C2JM34233B, Advanced Article)

Electrospinning of in situ crosslinked collagen nanofibers

The high porosity and large surface area of non-woven collagen fibers makes them excellent scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. When collagen is regenerated by electrospinning the fibers are not resistance to water, thus undergo dissolution and have poor mechanical firmness. In this hot paper, Wnek and co-workers report a single-step method of electrospinning crosslinked collagen fibers in situ. The crosslinked fibers exhibited swelling when placed in water, in contrast to the dimensional shrinking often seen in post-crosslinked electrospun collagen. Importantly, the porosity of the fibers was also maintained during water treatment. The team suggest the crosslinking technique could also be applied to other biomaterials for tissue engineering.

(J. Mater. Chem., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/C2JM31618H, Advanced Article)

Don’t forget to keep up-to-date with all the latest research you can sign-up for the Journal of Materials Chemistry RSS feed or Table of contents alert.

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Author Profile: Natalie Stingelin

26 Aug 2012

By Russell Johnson, Development Editor.

Associate Editor Natalie Stingelin talks to Russell Johnson about her research into organic electronics and dreaming to be a Jazz saxophonist

Natalie Stingelin is a Reader at the Department of Materials, Imperial College London, UK, where she conducts research in the broad area of organic functional materials, including organic electronics, multifunctional inorganic/organic hybrids and smart, advanced optical systems based on organic matter. She has more than 70 papers, and in 2011 she received an ERC Young Investigator Award.

1. Which research projects are you working on at the moment?
Many of my activities are in the field of Organic Electronics, especially organic photovoltaics. Our focus thereby is to gain a better understanding of some of the fundamental process, including charge generation, charge separation and charge transport, with the key objective to establish relevant structure/processing/property interrelationships. In addition, I have started a few projects in the Organic Photonics area. For instance, we have developed a new hybrid system of a tunable refractive index and low optical loss in the visible wave-length regime. We are now working with industry to develop this material further to e.g. produce mirrors that reflect infrared irradiation. We target thereby applications towards versatile and widely applicable heat management structures for building, cars etc.

Read the full interview…

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Author Profile: Ben Zhong Tang

22 Aug 2012

By Russell Johnson, Development Editor.

Ben Zhong Tang talks about his research into materials with aggregation-induced emission

1. Which research projects are you working on at the moment?
We are currently focusing our research efforts on aggregation-induced emission (AIE), an unusual photophysical process in which light emission of organic luminogens is induced by aggregate formation. We are now working on the synthesis of new AIE molecules, decipherment of AIE mechanisms, and exploration of high-tech applications of the AIE materials.

2. What motivated you to focus on luminescent organic materials?
Luminescent processes of organic luminophores have traditionally been studied as isolated molecules in dilute solutions in academic laboratories but practically used in aqueous media or solid state for real-world applications where the luminophoric molecules tend to form aggregates. The conventional luminescent materials often show poor performances in the solid state due to the notorious aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect. The AIE effect is exactly opposite to the ACQ effect, which provides us a nice platform to study practically useful solid emitters. The discovery of the new AIE phenomenon has motivated us to develop new mechanistic models for luminescent processes in the condense phase and new luminescent materials for real-life applications in the solid state.

Read the full interview

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This week’s hot articles – Read for free until 14th September

21 Aug 2012

By Russell Johnson, Development Editor.

Multifunctionalization of carbon nanotube fibers with the aid of graphene wrapping
The excellent mechanical and electrical properties of carbon nanotubes is harnessed in a range of applications from advanced textiles through to supercapacitors, and artificial muscles. However, the mechanical properties of the CNT fiber can be affected by chemical modification of the CNTs, and the fabrication and performance depend strongly on the morphology of the fiber surface. In this hot paper Xiaohua Zhang, Qingwen Li and co-workers report a new method to modify the surface roughness and level of functionalization of CNT fibers, by wrapping them in graphene oxide or reduced graphene. The introduction of a graphene layer also has smoothing and shield effects, resulting in higher tensile strength and improved and stabilized performance. The nanotubes can also be further functionalised with polyaniline or TiO₂nanoparticles.
(J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 16277-16282)

Click here to see all 4 hot articles…

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FAQs for the division of Journal of Materials Chemistry into three

16 Aug 2012

By Liz Davies, Editor.

We have recently announced that Journal of Materials Chemistry will be divided into three separate journals. Here we have answered some questions about the division. Please contact us if you have any further questions (see below for contact details).

Q: What do you mean by division, will these just be three sections of one journal?
A: No, these will be three separate journals with separate reviewing processes, Editorial Boards, indexing in databases and impact factors. However, there will be an over-arching Executive Board which will ensure consistency and a uniform approach to the development of each journal. The journals will also be closely linked in terms of expectations of quality and author/readership base. The same Editorial team in the RSC Office will work on all three journals, and ensure a consistent and transparent customer service to authors and readers, and good communication between the Editorial Boards.

Q: When will the division occur?
A: Journal of Materials Chemistry will continue to be published to the end of this year (2012), the last issue will be issue 48. The first issue of the new journals will be published as issue 1, 2013. Papers accepted for publication in the new journals before 2013 will be published on-line prior to this as Advanced articles. We foresee the usual length of time between acceptance of articles and their publication in an issue.

Q: Why is Journal of Materials Chemistry dividing?
A: The quality and quantity of papers in Journal of Materials Chemistry have been growing every year, as has the materials research field in general. We envision that forming three journals instead of one will allow us to enhance each journal’s scope to be more relevant for each research community, whilst maintaining the broad readership of the Journal of Materials Chemistry family.The scopes of the three new journals will grow into different interdisciplinary areas in line with the current nature of materials research. Each journal will be represented by its own Editorial and Advisory Boards, allowing for a greater insight into the community’s needs.

By dividing Journal of Materials Chemistry in this way, each article will become more prominent in the published issues, providing greater visibility for authors. The three new journals represent three broad and inclusive areas of materials research. Applications related to these three areas embody the future of materials research, and signify the importance of materials in addressing the challenges faced by today’s society.

Q: My paper is currently under review for Journal of Materials Chemistry, what will happen?
A: The majority of papers that have been submitted to Journal of Materials Chemistry, before August 20^th 2012 and are accepted for publication should be published in a 2012 issue of Journal of Materials Chemistry. In cases where this is not possible, we will contact you regarding the transfer of your article to one of the three new journals.

On August 20^th 2012, Journal of Materials Chemistry will close for submissions and the three new journals will open.

Q: I am unsure of which new journal to submit to – my paper could fit into more than one of the new journals
A: It is expected, due to the interdisciplinary nature of the materials field, that some articles may fit within the scope of more than one of the new journals. In these cases, it is the author’s choice as to which journal they submit to, although we are happy to make a recommendation.

We envision that the combined scope of the three new journals will be broader than Journal of Materials Chemistry, as such, if your work was appropriate for Journal of Materials Chemistry then it will also be for one of the new journals. The scope descriptions of each journal can be found here:

Journal of Materials Chemistry A

Journal of Materials Chemistry B

Journal of Materials Chemistry C

Q: Will each journal have an Editorial Board?
A: Yes, each of the three will have an Editorial Board (led by a Deputy Editor-in-Chief) and an Advisory Board. In addition, an Executive Editorial Board, led by Editor-in-Chief Professor Dongyuan Zhao, will oversee the three journals to ensure a coherent approach. The current Editor of Journal of Materials Chemistry, Dr Liz Davies, will continue her role on the three new journals as Managing Editor. So keep an eye out for some exciting announcements about the team coming shortly!

Q: What will happen to the impact factors?
A: There will be an impact factor for either Journal of Materials Chemistry, or Journal of Materials Chemistry A, B and C, every year. The 2014 Journal Citation Reports ® will include the last impact factor for Journal of Materials Chemistry, and the first impact factors for the three new journals.

Q: I have more questions…?
A: We would be happy to answer any further queries you may have. Please get in contact by e-mailing one of the following for further information:

Journal of Materials Chemistry A

Journal of Materials Chemistry B

Journal of Materials Chemistry C

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Journal of Materials Chemistry becomes three

16 Aug 2012

By Liz Davies, Editor.

We are delighted to announce important changes for Journal of Materials Chemistry authors and readers.

From issue 1 2013, Journal of Materials Chemistry will continue in the form of three journals, each focusing on an area of materials research, divided by the nature of the intended applications of the materials studied.

Why divide Journal of Materials Chemistry?

As the materials discipline continues to grow and diversify, our aim is to evolve Journal of Materials Chemistry into a more flexible and dynamic family of journals. The three new journals will all publish high impact research with a more interdisciplinary nature, together providing comprehensive coverage of the expanding materials field. Smaller issues will offer greater visibility for your work while retaining the high quality and impact you associate with the Journal of Materials Chemistry family.

Knowing your ABCs

	Journal of Materials Chemistry A will focus on materials for energy and sustainability. The journal will publish research on all aspects of these areas, including materials for energy storage and conversion, for conservation of scarce natural resources and for sustainability and green processes.
	Journal of Materials Chemistry B will cover materials for biology and medicine. This includes materials for healthcare and materials at the biointerface.
	Journal of Materials Chemistry C will focus on materials for optical and electronic devices. High impact research into display technologies, optical materials, advanced electronics and materials for information storage will also be covered.

All three journals will have a dedicated Editorial Board, led by a Deputy Editor-in-Chief, ensuring a wider team devoted to the development of each area of materials research. Executive Editor-in-Chief Professor Dongyuan Zhao of Fudan University and Managing Editor Dr Liz Davies will oversee the development of the Journal of Materials Chemistry family.

When will I see a change?

From August 20th 2012, when you use the Journal of Materials Chemistry online submission service, you will need to choose whether to submit your article to Journal of Materials Chemistry A, B or C.

Watch out for the first issues of Journal Materials Chemistry A, B and C online before the end of 2012.

If you have any questions about the forthcoming changes, please do contact us or read our FAQs page.

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Author Profile: Delia Milliron

13 Aug 2012

By Russell Johnson, Development Editor.

Delia Milliron talks to Russell Johnson about her research on nanocrystal building blocks and why it helps to be relentlessly optimistic

1. Which research projects are you working on at the moment?
We are studying the electronic properties that arise when inorganic nanocrystals are used as building blocks to construct mesostructured materials. This includes fabricating inorganic nanocomposite materials and mesoporous architectures. I am particularly interested in electrochemical materials including those for electrochromic devices and batteries, in which many individual properties such as electron and ion transport, optical absorption, and phase behaviour combine to determine the overall functional characteristics.

2. What motivated you to focus on inorganic nanoscience?
Nanoscience offers a whole new frontier in manipulating properties through the arrangement of matter. Understanding how the size, shape, and arrangement of nanoscale building blocks combine with atomic scale structure and composition to determine material properties is exciting and often unexpected.

Click here to read the full profile…

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A device for implanting under the skin to power nanobiorobots

12 Aug 2012

By Russell Johnson, Development Editor.

Scientists in China have made an energy source for wireless nanobiodevices, such as nanorobots and cardiac pacemakers, that could be implanted under the skin.

The device comprises a photovoltaic cell that converts laser energy into electrical energy. The team optimised its performance by improving a couple of components – the nanophosphor and electrolyte. This resulted in an output power of 45µW under normal circumstances and 22 µW when covered by a 1mm thick layer of chicken skin.

Construction of 980 nm laser-driven dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell with excellent performance for powering nanobiodevices implanted under the skin
Lisha Zhang, Qiwei Tian, Wenju Xu, Xingyu Kuang, Junqing Hu, Meifang Zhu, Jianshe Liu and Zhigang Chen, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/C2JM33742H (Advance Article)

Don’t forget to keep up-to-date with all the latest research you can sign-up for the Journal of Materials Chemistry RSS feed or Table of contents alert.

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Author Profile: Richard Brutchey

10 Aug 2012

By Russell Johnson, Development Editor.

Richard Brutchey talks about his research on nanocrystals and expanding the synthetic toolbox

1. Which research projects are you working on at the moment?
We are developing new methods for synthesizing complex metal oxide and chalcogenide nanocrystals. Once we’ve developed a route and collected materials, we are currently putting a lot of effort into controlling the surface chemistry of the resulting nanocrystals. Since small nanocrystals are predominantly surface, this is extremely important and necessary if one wants to extract any utility from these materials into a functional device. Along those lines, we are focusing on devices for energy conversion and storage. We are using our metal chalcogenide nanocrystals for low-cost solar cells and our metal oxide nanocrystals for dielectric capacitors. As a synthetic chemist, I get great satisfaction when a material my group has made and labored over ends up in a device that actually works well!

2. What motivated you to focus on the synthesis and properties of nanocrystals?
Organic chemists possess an incredibly powerful toolbox of reaction chemistry that allows them to rationally design molecules with desired functionality. Unfortunately, the toolbox for rationally designing functional inorganic nanocrystals is severely lacking. Moreover, many synthetic preps for inorganic nanocrystals are plagued by impurities, work-up issues, low yields, and irreproducibility. The concept of “materials by design” will never get off the ground with the existing limited design space. We got into this area thinking we could add some synthetic perspective to the problem.

Read the full interview…

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Journal of Materials Chemistry Blog

Part-Themed Issue on ‘Materials for Biosurfaces’ now published

This week’s hot articles – Read for free until 5th October

Author Profile: Natalie Stingelin

Author Profile: Ben Zhong Tang

This week’s hot articles – Read for free until 14th September

FAQs for the division of Journal of Materials Chemistry into three

Journal of Materials Chemistry becomes three

Author Profile: Delia Milliron

A device for implanting under the skin to power nanobiorobots

Author Profile: Richard Brutchey

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