Journal of Materials Chemistry Blog

Membrane degradation is one of the most important factors limiting the lifetime of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. In this hot article researchers based in Spain and the US investigate whether adding freestanding and silica-supported metal (Pt, Pd, Ag, and Au) nanoparticles can help mitigate polymer electrolyte membrane degradation in an operating fuel cell. The metal nanoparticles to be added were chosen based on their catalytic activity and ability to scavenge free radicals. Interested to know more? Read the full article for free until 31^st January (free registration required).

Degradation mitigation in PEM fuel cells using metal nanoparticle additives: Panagiotis Trogadas, Javier Parrondo, Federico Mijangos and Vijay Ramani, J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 19381-19388

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Mimicking biomineralization offers a route for the formation of new materials and structures. In this Feature Article Alexander Böker and co-workers review the materials and processes inspired by synthetic biomineralization. They also explore the tools and bio-inspired systems for the development of new synthetic materials and compare the original biological function of the protein to its role in the non-natural process. Read the Feature Article for free until 16th Jan:

Synthetic inorganic materials by mimicking biomineralization processes using native and non-native protein functions: Alexander Schulz, Huihui Wang, Patrick van Rijn and Alexander Böker, J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 18903-18918

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Dendritic complexes for white polymer light-emitting diodes. Chinese scientists have fabricated single-layer white polymer light-emitting devices (WPLED) by double-doping sky-blue emitter iridium(III) bis(2-(4,6-difluorophenyl)-pyridinato-N,C2)picolinate (FIrpic) into orange iridium dendrimers. These WPLEDs achieve the maximum current/power/external quantum efficiencies of 37.0 cd A−1/19.4 lm W−1/18.5%, which are among the highest efficiencies for dual-color WPLEDs ever reported.  

Highly efficient single-layer white polymer light-emitting devices employing triphenylamine-based iridium dendritic complexes as orange emissive component: Minrong Zhu, Jianhua Zou, Sujun Hu, Chen’ge Li, Chuluo Yang, Hongbin Wu, Jingui Qin and Yong Cao, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 361-366

Stacking-induced phosphorescence from organic radical materials. A new class of organic phosphorescent materials have been developed by scientists at University of Science and Technology of China. Based on salts of an organic radical material, the phosphorescent complexes show stacking-induced white-light and blue-light phosphorescence. The team say that these materials could lead to new LEDs.

Stacking-induced white-light and blue-light phosphorescence from purely organic radical materials: Guo-Ping Yong, Yi-Man Zhang, Wen-Long She and Ying-Zhou Li, J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 18520-18522

Read both of the papers for free until 12th January (free registration required).

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Researchers at University of Science & Technology of China have made prototype robots from a soft actuator. The robots are capable of gripping objects or worm-like movement, and are controlled by infrared light. The material used to create the robot is ultrasensitive photothermal actuator made from large-area graphene with chitosan and polyethylene. Read the paper for free until 9th January.

Large-area graphene realizing ultrasensitive photothermal actuator with high transparency: new prototype robotic motions under infrared-light stimuli: Changzheng Wu, Jun Feng, Lele Peng, Yong Ni, Haiyi Liang, Linhui He and Yi Xie, J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 18584-18591

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The reversible physisorption of hydrogen on porous solid state materials offers one method for storing hydrogen; however, scientists are still searching for ways to maximise the surface area and thereby increase the storage capacity.

In an effort to address this problem a microporous carbon material with an unusually high hydrogen storage capacity has been created by scientists at the University of Nottingham, UK. The material is synthesised using a commercially available zeolitic imidazolate framework as a hard template. The pores of the ZIF are filled with furfuryl alcohol before polymerization and then carbonization to remove the template and leave behind a microporous carbon material. In a final step the carbon is then activated with KOH, which leads to a significant enlargement of surface area.

The microporous nature gives the material a high hydrogen storage density in the range 13.0–15.5 μmol H2 m⁻², which the team say is much higher than most high surface area activated carbons.

Read the article for free until 4^th January

Preparation and hydrogen storage capacity of templated and activated carbons nanocast from commercially available zeolitic imidazolate framework: A. Almasoudi and R. Mokaya, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 146-152

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