F. De Angelis, A. Pujia, C. Falcone, E. Iaccino, C. Palmieri, C. Liberale, F. Mecarini, P. Candeloro, L. Luberto, A. de Laurentiis, G. Das, G. Scala and E. Di Fabrizio
The latest top ten most accessed Nanoscale articles
See the most-read papers of July 2010 here:
Modelling zinc oxide nanoparticle formation could provide new insights into how snowflakes form as well as aiding nanoscale device research, say Chinese scientists.
Different patterns are fomed depending on the coverage of the surface
Snowflakes are formed in the atmosphere via complicated crystallisation and melting processes. What exactly happens is one of the great mysteries of nature but despite unwavering interest, the formation mechanism remains unknown. In addition to being a curiosity, this knowledge could have important scientific and technological relevance by providing insights into crystal growth dynamics and pattern formation during solidification. This could help in nanoscale device self-assembly.
Hong-Jun Gao and his team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing have found that when synthesising ZnO nanoparticles under appropriate conditions, symmetric patterns resembling snowflakes are formed on the surface. ‘It is a fortuitous discovery to some extent,’ says Gao.
To view the full Highlights in Chemical Science article, please click here: Zinc oxide snowflakes
Atomic-scale tuning of self-assembled ZnO microscopic patterns: from dendritic fractals to compact island
Chen Li, Guo Li, Chengmin Shen, Chao Hui, Jifa Tian, Shixuan Du, Zhenyu Zhang and Hong-Jun Gao, Nanoscale, 2010
DOI: 10.1039/c0nr00421a
Junwei Wang, Baodong Mao, James L. Gole and Clemens Burda
Nanoscale, 2010, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00313A
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Nanoscale Feature Article: out now
Signal transmission, conversion and multiplication by polar molecules confined in nanochannels
Yusong Tu, Ruhong Zhou and Haiping Fang
Nanoscale, 2010, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00304B
Review on recent progress on the signal transduction mediated by water and other polar molecules confined in nanochannels. These studies might have significance in future designs and applications of nanoscale electronic devices, and might also provide useful insights for a better understanding of signal conduction in both physical and biological systems.
Interested? Read it now
Jessica M. Rosenholm, Cecilia Sahlgren and Mika Lindén
Nanoscale, 2010, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00156B
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HOT Nanoscale paper – read it for free…
Controllable reflection properties of nanocomposite photonic crystals constructed by semiconductor nanocrystallites and natural periodic bio-matrices
Jie Han, Huilan Su, Fang Song, Di Zhang and Zhixin Chen
Nanoscale, 2010, DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00103A
The subtle periodic nanostructures in butterfly wings and peacock feathers are applied as natural PhC matrices to in situ embed CdS nanocrystallites (nano-CdS) on the structure surface via a convenient solution process. The resulting nano-CdS/natural PhCs nanocomposites show typical 1D, quasi 1D and 2D PhC structures at the nanoscale, which is inherited from the corresponding natural periodic bio-matrices.
This work suggests that natural periodic bio-structures could be perfect matrices to construct novel nanocomposite PhCs, whose photonic band structures are tunable and thus achieve controllable optical properties. Related ideas could inspire the design and synthesis of future nanocomposite PhCs.
Read this FREE ‘HOT’ review article by Thomas J. Meade and colleagues on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) probes on the nanoscale:
High-performance nanostructured MR contrast probes
Fengqin Hu, Hrushikesh M. Joshi, Vinayak P. Dravid and Thomas J. Meade
Nanoscale, 2010, DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00173B
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Nanoscale Communication article hot off the press – read it now for free:
ZnS nano-architectures: photocatalysis, deactivation and regeneration
Dagui Chen, Feng Huang, Guoqiang Ren, Dongsong Li, Meng Zheng, Yongjing Wang and Zhang Lin
Nanoscale, 2010, DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00171F
Zhang Lin and colleagues show an “infinite recycling” method for enhancing the durable applications of a ZnS nano-photocatalyst.
They design a strategy in which the deactivated ZnS nano-photocatalyst could be recovered into its original state, which can be used repeatedly without being released into environment as nano-waste.
