Journal of Materials Chemistry Blog

Improving the electronic properties of the organic-metal interface is important for developing high-performance polymer solar cells. In this hot paper two methanol-soluble fullerene surfactants are reported. These form interfacial layers for cathodes in polymer solar cells and significantly enhance open-circuit voltage and photocurrent generation. Bulk heterojunction solar cells developed using these surfactant-modified cathodes offer high power conversion efficiencies of up to 6.63%. Read the article for free until 7^th June.

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Effective interfacial layer to enhance efficiency of polymer solar cells via solution-processed fullerene-surfactants: Chang-Zhi Li, Chu-Chen Chueh, Hin-Lap Yip, Kevin M. O’Malley, Wen-Chang Chen and Alex K.-Y. Jen, J. Mater. Chem., 2012,22, 8574-8578

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Scientists in Israel, Spain and the UK have developed an enzymatic pre-treatment to enhance the antibacterial activity and stability of ZnO nanoparticles coated onto cotton. ZnO nanoparticles are less toxic to human cells than silver– which is one of the materials currently used to make antibacterial fabrics. ZnO nanoparticles can protect the wearer against UV rays.

The pre-treatment means that the by modifying the cotton itself with cellulase, the nanoparticles are embedded for longer. The cotton remained antibacterial up to 10 laundry cycles. Read the article for free until 30^th May.

Enzymatic pre-treatment as a means of enhancing the antibacterial activity and stability of ZnO nanoparticles sonochemically coated on cotton fabrics: Ilana Perelshtein, Yelena Ruderman, Nina Perkas, Kamelia Traeger, Tzanko Tzanov, Jamie Beddow, Eadaoin Joyce, Timothy J. Mason, María Blanes, Korina Mollá and Aharon Gedanken, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/C2JM31054F (Advance Article)

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Intermolecular π–π interactions are important in OLEDs and other organic electronic materials and have been extensively studied over the last 20 years; however, intramolecular π–π interactions have not been investigated as deeply. This hot paper reports a structure–property relationship study into intramolecular excimer emission arising from organic molecules used as a blue light source in SMOLEDs. Read for free until 29^th May.

Intramolecular excimer emission as a blue light source in fluorescent organic light emitting diodes: a promising molecular design: Damien Thirion, Maxime Romain, Joëlle Rault-Berthelot and Cyril Poriel, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 7149-7157

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Rubrene and other acenes are common luminescent materials used in light-emitting devices; however, the performance of devices based on these materials decreases as the materials decompose. This hot paper describes a new class of sterically crowded tetracene derivatives that have both phenyl and ethynyl substituents. The steric crowding above and below the tetracene core prevents overlap between the extended π-systems of the acenes. The arenes reported have spectra similar to diarylpentacenes, but with higher quantum yields of fluorescence and greater photostability. Read this article for free until 23rd May.

Jingjing Zhang,  Syena Sarrafpour,  Terry E. Haas,  Peter Müller and Samuel W. Thomas, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 6182-6189.

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In this Hot Paper Andrew C. Grimsdale and co-workers at Nanyang Technological University and University of Liverpool prepare 3D supramolecular networks using Zn(II) coordination of the tetraphenylmethane-based p-type and n-type molecules bearing four terpyridine ligands. The team also demonstrate that metal–ligand mediated self-assembly can be used to make two component systems in which the optical properties can be tuned by selection of the units.

New 3D supramolecular Zn(II)-coordinated self-assembled organic networks: Zheng Bang Lim, Hairong Li, Shuangyong Sun, Jun Yan Lek, Abbie Trewin, Yeng Ming Lam and Andrew C. Grimsdale, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 6218-6231

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Controlling the structure of cholesteric helices holds great potential for developing stimuli-responsive materials. For instance inversion of a cholesteric helix is associated with inversion of the circular polarization of the light it reflects. This Hot Feature Article reviews recent achievements in inducing, controlling and understanding helix inversion in cholesteric liquid crystals. Read the article for free until 17^th May.

Controlling chirality with helix inversion in cholesteric liquid crystals: Nathalie Katsonis, Emmanuelle Lacaze and Alberta Ferrarini, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 7088-7097

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