Hot Article – Page 5

Archive for the ‘Hot Article’ Category

A facile strategy to prepare nitrogen and boron doped monolayer graphene from solid precursors.

17 Apr 2012

In this NJC paper, Honglie Shen et al (Nanjing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics, China) report a facile strategy to prepare a nitrogen and boron doped monolayer of graphene from urea and boric acid as solid precursors.

This approach is shown to be efficient, producing graphene with excellent optical and electrical performances at relatively low cost.

Nitrogen and boron doped monolayer graphene by chemical vapor deposition using polystyrene, urea and boric acid Tianru Wu, Honglie Shen, Lei Sun, Bin Cheng, Bin Liu and Jiancang Shen, New J. Chem., 2012, Advance Article DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ40068E

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How to improve the performance of carbon nanotubes-glycerol nanofluids

21 Mar 2012

J. Hao et al. (China) report the influence of polyvinyl alcohol on the thermal conductivity and the fluidity (sol-gel transition behavior) of carbon nanotubes-glycerol nanofluids.

The thermal conductivity, stability, fluidity, and rheological properties were investigated by using various characterization techniques. The additional polyvinyl alcohol could amazingly reduce the viscosity of the nanofluids while the thermal conductivity was mostly maintained, even slightly further increased.

It suggests the as-prepared nanofluids may be applicable in energy transfer systems and thus pushes one step further towards real application of CNT based nanofluids.

A gel–sol transition phenomenon of oxidation multi-walled carbon nanotubes–glycerol nanofluids induced by polyvinyl alcohol by Baogang Wang, Wenjing Lou, Xiaobo Wang and Jingcheng Hao, New J. Chem., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ20977B.

Interested to know more? Why not read the full article now and let us know your thoughts and comments below!

This Hot Article will be free to access for a period of 4 weeks.

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Novel PMMA composites with 1D coordination Cu-organic polymer

20 Mar 2012

This NJC Hot paper provided by Julie P. Harmon and co-workers (University of South Florida and Florida Southern College, USA) details a new method for enhancing polymer physical properties through inclusion of a coordination polymer into a polymer matrix.

A series of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composites with a novel one dimensional coordination polymer copper-4,4’-trimethylenedipyrine (Cu-TMDP) were prepared. The CU-TMDP was sonicated in a methyl methacrylate monomer and polymerized in situ. The thermal, mechanical, and optical properties of Cu-TMDP-PMMA composites were measured by different techniques. This novel material has potential applications requiring particular mechanical properties.

Poly(methyl methacrylate) composites of copper-4,4′-trimethylenedipyridine by Shisi Liu, Ramakanth Ananthoji, Sungyub Han, Bernard Knudsen, Xiao Li, Lukasz Wojtas, Justin Massing, Carmen Valdez Gauthier and Julie P. Harmon, New J. Chem., 2012, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ20745A

Highly rated by the reviewers and the editorial office alike, this ‘Hot Article’ will be FREE to access for a period of 4 weeks.

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Easy manipulation of surface properties

15 Mar 2012

In their NJC paper, Mark G. Moloney and co-workers (University of Oxford, UK) showed that derivatisation of polystyrene by carbene insertions followed by diazonium coupling provides access to materials with similar bulk properties, but with various surface chemical characteristics. The controlled modiﬁcation of chemical functionality at the surface results in changes in macroscopic polymer behaviour such as wettability and protein binding. These results are of immediate relevance for the design of new biomaterial and drug delivery devices.

“Post-polymerisation modification of surface chemical functionality and its effect on protein binding” Cleo Choong , J. S. Foord , Jon-Paul Griffiths , Emily M. Parker , Luo Baiwen , Meghali Bora and Mark G. Moloney, New J. Chem., 2012, Advance Article.DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ00002D.

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HOT Articles: NJC’s latest selection!

23 Feb 2012

Potentiometry to study the reversible redox chemistry of polyoxometalates.

In this Hot article, Alisa Rudnitskaya and co-workers (Aveiro University, Portugal) report on the use of potentiometric chemical sensors for the study of redox reactions of vanadium containing Keggin-type polyoxomolybdates, H₅[PVV₂Mo₁₀O₄₀]₁₁H₂O and K₄[PVVMo₁₁O₄₀]6H₂O.

Variations in the concentrations of vanadyl ions (VO²⁺) during the redox reactions of POMs were followed in the real-time. Apparently, release of vanadyl from the coordination sphere of reduced di-substituted POM occurred as the response to the presence of molecular oxygen. The use of potentiometry for this purpose is innovative, and the work provides an additional perspective in ongoing efforts to understand the reversible redox chemistry of these complexes when used in catalytic aerobic oxidation.

Studies on the redox turnover of polyoxometalates using potentiometric chemical sensors by Alisa Rudnitskaya, Jose A. F. Gamelas, Dmitry V. Evtuguin and Andrey Legin; New J. Chem., 2012, Advance Article; DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ21053C, Paper

Sensing properties of NiO-doped SnO₂ polyhedra

The next Hot article provided by Chinese researchers (Z. Lou, L. Wang, T. Fei and T. Zhang, Jilin University) describes the preparation, characterisations and application novel NiO-doped SnO₂ polyhedra.

According to the authors, this hydrothermal synthesis of uniform NiO-doped SnO₂ polyhedra is a facile, mild, and low-cost method to fabricate micro- and nanostructures. The application of the material in the field of resistive sensors for the revelation of ethanol has also been proposed: the main result is an enhancement of the response and recovery times in comparison with pure SnO₂ based sensors. The effect of NiO doping on the response and response–recovery time towards ethanol is also discussed.

Enhanced ethanol sensing properties of NiO-doped SnO₂ polyhedra by Zheng Lou, Lili Wang, Teng Fei and Tong Zhang, New J. Chem., 2012, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ21030D, Paper

Interested to know more? Why not read by accessing the full articles now and let us know your thoughts and comments below! These “Hot articles” will be free to access for a period of 4 weeks.

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Read NJC’s Themed Issue on Dendrimers

01 Feb 2012

If you work with dendrimers, or are interested in learning more about these fascinating molecules, then don’t miss NJC‘s themed issue on dendrimers that has recently been published on-line (February 2012 issue).

Guest-edited by renowned expert Jean-Pierre Majoral, this Dendrimers II issue follows our highly successful first Dendrimers issue of July 2007. In his editorial prefacing this latest issue, Jean-Pierre defines the concept of “dendrimer space” (click to read it free)

The three short and topical Focus reviews look at dendrimers as bactericides, in biomedical applications and in neurodegenerative diseases. The ten longer Perspective reviews cover the synthesis and properties of dendrimers, materials that incorporate dendrimers, and a variety of applications of dendrimers in biology and medicine.

Eighteen original research works complete the issue. I’ve selected five of these contributions, highly ranked by the reviewers, as Hot Papers; these will be free to access during the month of February (just click on the DOIs below).

• 5 Hot Papers

The biodistribution of maltotriose modified PPI dendrimers, with particular attention to the BBB crossing, was studied in a collaboration of Polish and German groups, revealing that the dendrimers were able to enter rat’s important organs, including the brain.

“The biodistribution of maltotriose modified poly(propylene imine) (PPI) dendrimers conjugated with fluorescein—proofs of crossing blood–brain–barrier” by A. Janaszewska, B. Ziemba, K. Ciepluch, D. Appelhans, B. Voit, B. Klajnert and M. Bryszewska, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 350-353. DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20444K

The group of Rainer Haag (Freie Universität Berlin) looked at fluorous polyglycerol dendrons and dendrimers, which are used to form highly stable aggregates in the micro- to nanometer range in water.

“Supramolecular behavior of fluorous polyglycerol dendrons and polyglycerol dendrimers with perfluorinated shells in water” by M. Zieringer, M. Wyszogrodzka, K. Biskup and R. Haag, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 402-406. DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20741E

Steven Zimmerman (University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign), in collaboration with Rainer Haag, used hyperbranched polyglycerols to solubilize perylenediimide (PDI) and improve its fluorescent properties.

“Synthesis and properties of fluorescent dyes conjugated to hyperbranched polyglycerols” by A. T. Zill, K. Licha, R. Haag and S. C. Zimmerman, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 419-427. DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20476A

In the contribution by Bertrand Donnio and colleagues at the IPCMS in Strasbourg, two libraries of segmented block co-dendritic supermolecules bearing semi-fluorinated chains and lipophilic poly(benzyl ether)-based wedges form unusual liquid crystalline mesophases, whose supramolecular organization is tuned by the dendritic connectivity of both compartments.

“Self-assembly and liquid-crystalline supramolecular organizations of semifluorinated block co-dendritic supermolecules” by I. Bury, B. Heinrich, C. Bourgogne, G. H. Mehl, D. Guillon and B. Donnio, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 452-468. DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20530G

A self-assembly strategy allowing the generation of homo- and hetero-nuclear metallodendritic materials is the result of a joint effort by several American groups at the University of Akron and Louisiana State University.

“Shape-persistent, ruthenium(II)- and iron(II)-bisterpyridine metallodendrimers: synthesis, traveling-wave ion-mobility mass spectrometry, and photophysical properties” by J.-L. Wang, X. Li, C. D. Shreiner, X. Lu, C. N. Moorefield, S. R. Tummalapalli, D. A. Medvetz, M. J. Panzner, F. R. Fronczek, C. Wesdemiotis and G. R. Newkome, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 484-491. DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ20799K

Take a look at these hot papers while they are free to all, this month only!

• About the Covers

The paper by J.-L. Wang et al. is also the subject of the outside cover (shown at the top) featuring windmills and dendrimers, while the inside front cover (at right) illustrates the Perspective review by French researchers in Strasbourg and Lyon on dendrimers in medical imaging .

“Dendrimers in nuclear medical imaging” by C. Ghobril, G. Lamanna, M. Kueny-Stotz, A. Garofalo, C. Billotey and D. Felder-Flesch, New J. Chem., 2012, 36, 310-323. DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20416E (available to subscribers only)

We invite you to browse the issue here, and if you are a subscriber, to read more about dendrimers from the world’s experts in the field. Enjoy!

Click to subscribe to NJC.

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Extended azaheterocycles: flat but not dull !

26 Jan 2012

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NJC Hot Articles: now available as Advance Articles on the web.

26 Jan 2012

New dyes for LCD color filters!

In this NJC hot paper the scientists in Korea (Jae Pil Kim and co-workers) report some new phthalocyanine and coronene derivatives designed for dye-based green liquid crystal display (LCD) color filters. Their thermal stability, optical properties, and solubility as the colorant materials for color filters were also investigated.

In addition, the synthesized six PC dyes and a benzopyrelene dye were successfully applied to the LCD color filters and showed superior optical properties than conventional pigment-based color filters.

Synthesis and characterization of thermally stable dyes with improved optical properties for dye-based LCD color filters by Jun Choi, Se Hun Kim, Woosung Lee, Chun Yoon and Jae Pil Kim, New J. Chem., 2012, Advance Article.

How to reduce the molecular dinitrogen to ammonia?

The problem is a classic of inorganic chemistry and the authors of this NJC hot paper (Chinnappan Sivasankar and co-workers) propose an interesting hypothetical approach to hydrogenating the complex. In general these reactions are mediated by a series of protonation and reduction steps. In this theoretical study, the authors propose a new methodology to reduce the molecular dinitrogen to ammonia in [WF(PH2(CH2)2PH2)N2] complex using some co-catalysts in organic solvents.

With the help of DFT calculations the thermodynamic feasibility has been studied in three organic solvents (heptane, toluene and THF). The thermodynamic barriers for all the fundamental steps in the proposed catalytic cycle revealed that N2 can be reduced by H2 in all proposed organic solvents and that toluene would be the better choice of solvent than THF and heptane.

Hydrogenation of dinitrogen to ammonia in [WF(PH₂(CH₂)₂PH₂)₂N₂] using H₂: Insights from DFT calculations by Perumal Balu, Sambath Baskaran, Venu Kannappan and Chinnappan Sivasankar, New J. Chem., 2012, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ20929B, Letter.

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Hot article : Why chromium Cr3+-doping is a catastrophe for catalysis.

20 Jan 2012

In this NJC paper, Jean-Marie Herrmann (Institute of Researches on Catalysis and Environment of Lyon, France) investigated the chromium-doping of titania to tentatively photo-sensitize titania in the visible region and demonstrated why this strategy has proven to be a disaster in terms of photocatalytic activity.

In this study, the author explained the photo-electrical behavior of a Cr3+-doped titania catalyst in comparison with pristine titania, the related strong inhibition of titania’s catalytic performances and generalized this detrimental effect to all kinds of cationic dopings, either of n-type and/or p-type.

Detrimental cationic doping of titania in photocatalysis: why chromium Cr3+-doping is a catastrophe for photocatalysis, both under UV- and visible irradiations Jean-Marie Herrmann New J. Chem., 2012, Advance Article DOI: 10.1039/c2nj20914d

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NJC Hot Articles: our latest selection!

04 Jan 2012

Check out NJC’s latest Hot Articles now available as Advance Articles on the web:

Dithiolene complexes as metallo-ligands

In this NJC Hot article Formigué and co-workers (research collaboration within France, Italy and Poland) describe the synthesis and behaviour of complexes between Ni(II) ion and crown ethers incorporating a dithiolene coordination motif. A nickel dithiolene complex substituted with crown ether cyclic moieties incorporating four O atoms, abbreviated as [Ni(S2O4)2]1,0, is isolated in its radical anionic (as Na+ salt) and neutral forms.

The results presented in this paper show that dithiolene complexes substituted with crown ether moieties, can be used as metallo-ligands toward 3d magnetic metal cations for the elaboration of more complex magnetic systems. This work opens new perspectives to the preparation of more complex magnetic structures applying a trivalent metal cations such as rare-earth cations as well as smaller crown-ether moieties.

Dithiolene complexes as metallo-ligands: a crown-ether approach by Alessia Famengo, Dalice Pinero, Olivier Jeannin, Thierry Guizouarn, Lidia Piekara-Sady and Marc Fourmigué; New J. Chem., 2012, Advance Article; DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20870E, Paper

Purification of double-walled carbon nanotube macro-films

The authors of the next NJC Hot article, J. N. Wang and co-workers (China) present a new, interesting concept for macroscopic carbon nanotube films purification. They use thermal reduction using NH4Cl as reducing agent and gas-phase sublimation instead of liquid-phase purification with acids.

The most important advantage of this method over previous oxidation in acid is that nanotubes do not come into contact with potentially damaging acids, and thus the morphology and integrity of the macroscopic film are maintained.

Purification of double-walled carbon nanotube macro-films by Yun Chen, Shi Qing Xu and Jian Nong Wang; New J. Chem., 2012, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20866G, Letter

Glycodendrimers as functional antigens and antitumor vaccines

In this NJC Perspective article, Roy and Shiao (University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada) give an excellent and timely overview of the application of glycodendrimers in the field of actively pursued vaccine candidates against tumor associated carbohydrate antigens.

This perspective is composed of two parts, one describing the present state of the art of glycodendrimers, and another one presented all recent advances in glycoderived cancer vaccine. This article is part of the themed issue Dendrimers II, guest-edited by Jean-Pierre Majoral, to be out in the February issue of NJC.

Glycodendrimers as functional antigens and antitumor vaccines by Tze Chieh Shiao and René Roy; New J. Chem., 2012, Advance Article; DOI: 10.1039/C2NJ20873C; Perspective.

Interested in reading further? Why not read by accessing the full article now! This “Hot article” will be free to access for a period of 4 weeks.

If you have some of your own exciting, high impact research to publish then consider submitting your manuscript to NJC, via our online submission system.

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