ChemComm is delighted to invite nominations for the very first ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship. The lectureship, which will be awarded annually, will recognise an emerging scientist in the early stages of their independent academic career. Deadline for nominations: 28th February 2011. Visit the ChemComm blog for more information.
Journal of Materials Chemistry issue 44 is now online and features inside and outside cover artwork from two ‘Hot Articles’ reported on this blog in October.
Red, Green, Blue, Black, Transparent, all these states can now be achieved with a single electrochromic polymer. This front cover artwork represents a paper from Levant Toppare and colleagues from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey: ‘Processable donor–acceptor type electrochromes switching between multicolored and highly transmissive states towards single component RGB-based display devices’.
The inside front cover features another ‘Hot Article’: ‘Anomalous Eu layer doping in Eu, Si co-doped aluminium nitride based phosphor and its direct observation‘ from Takashi Takeda and co-workers from the National Institute for Materials Science and Tohoku University in Japan.
Carbon nanotubes from short hydrocarbon templates. Energy analysis of the Diels–Alder cycloaddition/rearomatization growth strategy
Eric H. Fort and Lawrence T. Scott
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02517H, Paper
In this paper by Eric Fort and Lawrence Scott, aromatic hydrocarbon belts and hemispherical end-caps of varying length and diameter are evaluated computationally as possible templates from which carbon nanotubes might be grown by the Diels-Alder cycloaddition/rearomatization strategy. The team from Boston College in the USA found that the Diels–Alder reactivity of nanotube template rims was relatively unaffected by the presence or absence of a cap on the other end.
Interested in knowing more? Read for free until November 30th!
Ultra-narrow WS2 nanoribbons encapsulated in carbon nanotubes
Zhiyong Wang, Keke Zhao, Hong Li, Zheng Liu, Zujin Shi, Jing Lu, Kazu Suenaga, Soon-Kil Joung, Toshiya Okazaki, Zhaoxia Jin, Zhennan Gu, Zhengxiang Gao and Sumio Iijima
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02821E, Paper
A team from China and Japan report the synthesis via chemical reaction in the interior space of carbon nanotubes of zigzag-edged WS2 nanoribbons with widths down to 1–3 nm and layer numbers of one to three. Layered WS2 nanostructures are of both fundamental and technological interest. The widths of currently synthesized WS2 ribbons are in the microscale but by using single-walled carbon nanotubes and double-walled carbon nanotubes as templates this team demonstrate that ribbons in the nanoscale are possible.
Interested in knowing more? Read for free until November 30th!
Fabrication of covalently crosslinked and amine-reactive microcapsules by reactive layer-by-layer assembly of azlactone-containing polymer multilayers on sacrificial microparticle templates
Eric M. Saurer, Ryan M. Flessner, Maren E. Buck and David M. Lynn
J. Mater. Chem., 2010, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02633F, Paper
David Lynn and colleagues from the University of Wisconsin demonstrate an approach to the fabrication of covalently crosslinked and amine-reactive microcapsules by the ‘reactive’ layer-by-layer fabrication of azlactone-functionalized polymer multilayers on the surfaces of sacrificial microparticle templates. These microcapsules have potential use in a wide range of fields, including catalysis, drug and gene delivery, imaging, and biomedical research.
Interested in knowing more? Read for free until November 30th!
The latest issue of Journal of Materials Chemistry features cover artwork by Ying Chen and colleagues from Deakin University and the Australian National University. Their cover shows boron nitride nanotubes grown on both the external and internal surfaces of a tiny steel needle using the new boron (B) ink method. This demonstrates work from their paper ‘Boron nitride nanotube films grown from boron ink painting’.
Read the full text of this article here:
Lu Hua Li, Ying Chen and Alexey M. Glushenkov
J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 9679-9683
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM01414A, Paper
Read the most-read Journal of Materials Chemistry articles of September 2010, listed below:
In 2010, Journal of Materials Chemistry is publishing its 20th volume. To celebrate this landmark, we have been publishing a selection of articles by leading members of the materials chemistry community, including some of our past and present Editorial and Advisory Board members.
All articles published to date are listed below, to read the full article simply click on the title.
All-conjugated polyelectrolyte block copolymers
Andrea Gutacker, Sylwia Adamczyk, Anke Helfer, Logan E. Garner, Rachel C. Evans, Sofia M. Fonseca, Matti Knaapila, Guillermo C. Bazan, Hugh D. Burrows and Ullrich Scherf, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 1423-1430
DOI: 10.1039/B918583F
Structure, magnetism and giant dielectric constant of BiCr0.5Mn0.5O3 synthesized at high pressures
P. Mandal, A. Iyo, Y. Tanaka, A. Sundaresan and C. N. R. Rao, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 1646-1650
DOI: 10.1039/B914350P
Fluorescent bio/chemosensors based on silole and tetraphenylethene luminogens with aggregation-induced emission feature
Ming Wang, Guanxin Zhang, Deqing Zhang, Daoben Zhu and Ben Zhong Tang, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 1858-1867
DOI: 10.1039/B921610C
AuI: an alternative and potentially better precursor than AuIII for the synthesis of Au nanostructures
Jie Zeng, Yanyun Ma, Unyong Jeong and Younan Xia, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 2290-2301
DOI: 10.1039/B922571D
Chiral conducting salts of BEDT-TTF containing a single enantiomer of tris(oxalato)chromate(III) crystallised from a chiral solvent
Lee Martin, Peter Day, Peter Horton, Shin’ichi Nakatsuji, Jun’ichi Yamada and Hiroki Akutsu, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 2738-2742
DOI: 10.1039/B920224B
Organic electronics from perylene to organic photovoltaics: painting a brief history with a broad brush
Fulvio G. Brunetti, Rajeev Kumar and Fred Wudl, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 2934-2948
DOI: 10.1039/B921677D
Biomolecule assisted self-assembly of π-conjugated oligomers
A. Jatsch, E.-K. Schillinger, S. Schmid and P. Bäuerle, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 3563-3578
DOI: 10.1039/B926594E
Synthesis and applications of core-enlarged perylene dyes
Yuri Avlasevich, Chen Li and Klaus Müllen, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 3814-3826
DOI: 10.1039/C000137F
Chemical routes to chalcogenide materials as thin films or particles with critical dimensions with the order of nanometres
Mohammad Afzaal, Mohammad Azad Malik and Paul O’Brien, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 4031-4040
DOI: 10.1039/B923898K
Biaxial nematic phases
Carsten Tschierske and Demetri J. Photinos, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 4263-4294
DOI: 10.1039/B924810B
Low-temperature synthesis of nanoscale silica multilayers – atomic layer deposition in a test tube
Benjamin Hatton, Vladimir Kitaev, Doug Perovic, Geoff Ozin and Joanna Aizenberg, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 6009-6013
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM00696C
Synthesis of metal sulfide nanomaterials via thermal decomposition of single-source precursors
Ilan Jen-La Plante, Tahani W. Zeid, Peidong Yang and Taleb Mokari, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 6612-6617
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM00439A
This ‘Hot Article’ by Liang Li, Yoshio Bando, Dmitri Golberg and colleagues, reviews recent developments in the synthetic strategies and unique applications of one-dimensional (1D) nanostructure arrays based on polystyrene (PS) spheres.
Polystyrene sphere-assisted one-dimensional nanostructure arrays: synthesis and applications
Liang Li, Tianyou Zhai, Haibo Zeng, Xiaosheng Fang, Yoshio Bando and Dmitri Golberg
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02230F, Feature Article
PS spheres can self-assemble into colloidal crystal monolayers that are currently employed as templates for the synthesis of 1D nanostructure arrays. Compared to other classes of templates these monolayers can be easily formed and adjusted on substrates and further manipulated using subsequent growth methods. Reported applications of PS-sphere mediated nanoarrays include field-emitters, antireflection, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), photonic crystals, surface wetting, and photocatalysis.
In this feature article, the team from the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan highlight recent developments in synthetic strategies, review emerging applications and analyse future challenges.
Read the full text here. Free until November 24th!
Cross-linked enzyme aggregates have great potential in marine antifouling paints claim Danish scientists.
Paints with antifouling activity are used in the marine industry to prevent undesirable accumulation of microorganisms, plants and animals on ship surfaces below the waterline. Previously tributyltin self-polishing copolymer (TBT-SPC) paints have been used however they were banned in January 2008 due to environmental regulations.
The main alternatives are copper-based paints but these also cause concern for the environment. Consequently it non-toxic alternatives are desirable which is where enzymes can have a niche explains Stepan Shipovskov at Aarhus University, Denmark.
Environmentally friendly paints for boats use enzymes instead of metals
Enzymes can interact directly with microorganisms on the ships surface but organic solvents, such as xylene, are the main base of paints and can inactivate the enzymes. Shipovskov and co-workers tested cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) of proteases in artificial sea water and found that they are tolerant to xylene and have great stability in dried paint. Shipovskov explains that ‘a stabilisation effect occurs due to the covalent linking between enzyme molecules which prevents enzyme inactivation in organic solvents’.
To view the full Highlights in Chemical Science article, please click here: Enzymes – a new ingredient for marine paint?
Implementation of cross-linked enzyme aggregates of proteases for marine paint applications
Jonas Skovgaard, Charlotte A. Bak, Torben Snabe, Duncan S. Sutherland, Brian S. Laursen, Karsten M. Kragh, Flemming Besenbacher, Charlotte H. Poulsen and Stepan Shipovskov, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 7626
DOI: 10.1039/c0jm01249a
Fingerprints leave their mark on surfaces that remain even if they are washed off allowing them to be detected using disulphur dinitride, claim UK scientists.
Fingerprint analysis of crime scenes has become a powerful weapon in the forensic scientist’s arsenal. The ridges present on the tips of the fingers are unique to a person. By comparison of impressions left in materials – typically flat, regular surfaces, such as glass – to a sample taken from a suspect it is possible to identify the owner of the fingerprints.
It could be possible to identify fingerprints that have been washed from surfaces
But there are occasions where fingerprints are not easily viewable or are fragmented. Here, latent fingerprinting – where obscured fingerprints are enhanced – can be used to identify an individual. In 2008, Paul Kelly and co-workers at Loughborough University noticed that the strained four-membered ring system S2N2 quickly polymerises to (SN)x in the presence of fingerprints. Detecting this polymer produces a visual image of the fingerprint.
To view the full Highlights in Chemical Technology article, please click here: Polymerisation reveals hidden fingerprints
Polymerisation of S2N2 to (SN)x as a tool for the rapid imaging of fingerprints removed from metal surfaces
Stephen M. Bleay, Paul F. Kelly and Roberto S. P. King, J. Mater. Chem., 2010
DOI: 10.1039/c0jm02724c
As interest grows in clothes that do more than just keep you warm and preserve your modesty, Canadian scientists are developing non-woven textiles that exhibit a reversible colour change due to resistive heating.
Traditional fabrics can be improved by giving them another function useful for fashion medical or military applications, explains Alexis Laforgue at the National Research Council Canada Industrial Materials Institute, Boucherville.
Applying a current causes the material to change colour
Substances that change colour when an external stimulus is applied, such as heat) or electricity (know as (thermochromism or electrochromism respectively), can be added to fabrics to give them extra functionality. Laforgue’s new non-woven material is simpler than many of its thermochromic and electrochromic counterparts because the fibres don’t need to be woven through a fabric and the system doesn’t need an electrolyte layer.
To view the full Highlights in Chemical Technology article, please click here: Colour changing fabrics without weaving
Electrically controlled colour-changing textiles using the resistive heating properties of PEDOT nanofibers
Alexis Laforgue, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 8233
DOI: 10.1039/c0jm02307h
