Journal of Materials Chemistry Blog

In this Hot Paper ionic liquids serve as multifunctional agents in the synthesis of epoxy-silica nanocomposites. The ionic liquids make it possible to control the silica structure formed by the sol–gel process and also the interaction between silica and the epoxy matrix. Changing the ionic liquids allows control over the morphology and mechanical properties of the hybrids. Interested to know more? Why not read the full article available for free until 16th September (free registration required):

Ricardo Keitel Donato, Libor Matějka, Henri S. Schrekker, Josef Pleštil, Alexander Jigounov, Jiři Brus and Miroslav Šlouf, J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C1JM11752A, Advance Article

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Multiwall carbon nanotube@mesoporous carbon with core-shell configuration: a well-designed composite-structure toward electrochemical capacitor application: A multiwall carbon nanotube@mesoporous carbon composite has been prepared for electrochemical capacitor applications by scientists at Fudan University, China. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 13025-13031)  

New BODIPY chromophores bound to polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) with improved thermo- and photostability: Stable hybrid dyes that are analogs of the BODIPY laser dye PM567 have been prepared by Spanish researchers. The dyes show higher thermostability in solid state, as well as higher photostability in thin films of poly(methyl methacrylate) than the parent unbound dyes. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 12803-12811)

Reversible assembly of metal nanoparticles induced by penicillamine. Dynamic formation of SERS hot spots: A system for pH-driven reversible assembly of gold nanoparticles has been reported by a team of scientists working in Spain and the UK. The surface of the nanoparicles is modified with a submonolayer of penicillamine. Changes to the hydrogen bonding between different nanoparticles caused by changes in pH is thought to be responsible for the reversible assembly of the nanoparticles. The aggregation of the nanoparticles also creates SERS hotspots. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI:10.1039/C1JM12175H, Advance Article)

In situ cross-linkable gelatin–poly(ethylene glycol)–tyramine hydrogel via enzyme-mediated reaction for tissue regenerative medicine: A hydrogel made from gelatin–poly(ethylene glycol)–tyramine has been developed by South Korean scientists. The hydrogel could act an injectable scaffold for tissue regenerative medicine they claim. An enzyme-mediated reaction allows the hydrogel to be formed in situ.  Controlling the reaction conditions allowed the team to prepare hydrogels with storage moduli that ranged from approximately 200 to over 8000 Pa. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI:10.1039/C1JM12527C, Advance Article)

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Self-assembly of polystyrene with pendant hydrophilic gold nanoparticles: the influence of the hydrophilicity of the hybrid polymers: Controlling the number of hydrophilic nanoparticles attached to a polymer offers control over the type of self-assembled structures formed say scientists from Nankai University, China. Decreasing the number of hydrophilic gold nanoparticles allows a transition from a micellar structure to vesicular structure. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI:10.1039/C1JM11384D, Advance Article)

Template-free co-assembly of preformed Au and TiO₂ nanoparticles into multicomponent 3D aerogels: Surface-functionalized titania nanoparticles can be assembled into 3-dimensionally connected networks without the use of any structure-directing agents. These networks bridge several lengths scales from nanometres to centimetres. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI:10.1039/C1JM11740H, Advance Article)

Polyamide 6 composite nano-fiber/net functionalized by polyethyleneimine on quartz crystal microbalance for highly sensitive formaldehyde sensors: An effective formaldehyde detection system has been successfully developed by scientists at Donghua University, China, and Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA. The system uses a functionalized nano-fiber net as a novel sensing coating on quartz crystal microbalance. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 12784-12792)

Read all the articles for free until 13^th September (free registration required)

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Hot Article: DNA nanofabrication by scanning near-field photolithography of oligo(ethylene glycol) terminated SAMs: Controlled scan-rate dependent switching between head group oxidation and tail group degradation

Control of exposure in near-field lithography enables simple, convenient switching between alternate photochemical reaction pathways say scientists from the UK and China. The team behind the research claim this approach could be used to create biosensors by assembling bio-functionalised nanoparticles onto nanofeatures embedded in an inert background.

Read the article here: Shuqing Sun, David G. Thompson, Duncan Graham and Graham J. Leggett, J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C1JM11803J Advance Article

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A Cu²⁺ sensor based on click chemistry and azide- and alkyne-functionalized polydiacetylene vesicles has been developed by South Korean scientists. In the presence of ascorbic acid, Cu2+ is reduced to Cu+ and catalyzes a click reaction between the two functional groups. The sensor changes colour from blue to red due to a conformational transition in the conjugated backbone. Interested to know more? Read the full article for free until 8th September.

Visual detection of copper ions based on azide- and alkyne-functionalized polydiacetylene vesicles: Qingling Xu, Kyung Mi Lee, Fang Wang and Juyoung Yoon, J. Mater. Chem., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C1JM11660F (Advance Article)

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Large-scale mechanical peeling of boron nitride nanosheets by low-energy ball milling: Low-energy ball milling is a simple and effective way to mechanically cleave high-quality nanosheets say scientists from Australia, Republic of Ireland and Croatia. Mechanical cleavage by Scotch tape was the first method to produce graphene and is still widely used in laboratories; however, it suffers from a very low yield. In this hot article a team led by Lu Hua Li have tailored ball milling conditions to produce gentle shear forces that produce high quality boron nitride nanosheets in high yield and efficiency. The team claim that this method could be used to produce nanosheets from any layered material. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 11862-11866)

In situ: growth nanocomposites composed of rodlike ZnO nanocrystals arranged by nanoparticles in a self-assembling diblock copolymer for heterojunction optoelectronics: In this hot article a team from Nanchang University led by Yiwang Chen and Lie Chen develop a method to grow nanocomposites made of rodlike ZnO nanocrystals arranged by ZnO nanoparticles. The nanocomposites are made in situ with a self-assembling diblock copolymer and are used in a hybrid solar cell. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 11886-11894)

Polymorphism, structural characterisation and electrical properties of  Na₂Nb₄O₁₁: Na₂Nb₄O₁₁ transforms from R3 c to C2/c on cooling and shows a tendency towards low temperature antiferroelectric behaviour say a team of UK and Spanish scientists. A comparison of the high and room temperature structures shows clear evidence of antiparallel atomic displacements in the room temperature structure which explains the tendency towards low temperature antiferroelectric behaviour. (J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 12096-12102)

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