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Contents list for Journal of Materials Chemistry, issue 44, 2009

Front cover
J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8261
DOI: 10.1039/b921958g

Inside front cover
J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8262
DOI: 10.1039/b921960a

Contents
J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8263
DOI: 10.1039/b921961g

Highlight

Non-specific proteases can produce metal oxide nanoparticles
Marc R. Knecht,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8276
DOI: 10.1039/b911402p

The work of Feldheim and colleagues for the production of metal oxides using common proteases is highlighted. Using papain and trypsin, SiO₂ and TiO₂ nanospheres are generated under ambient conditions, similar to the silicatein enzymes of sponges. Materials production occurs from isolated enzymes, which suggests that their use in controlled materials deposition schemes is possible.

Feature Article

A review on applications of nanoparticles for the preconcentration of environmental pollutants
Anupreet Kaur and Usha Gupta,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8279
DOI: 10.1039/b901933b

Nanotechnology, the engineering and art of manipulating matter at the nanoscale, offers the potential of novel nanomaterials for treatment of surface water, groundwater and wastewater contaminated by toxic metal ions and other organic pollutants. Due to their unique activity toward recalcitrant contaminants and application flexibility, many nanomaterials are under active research and development.

Communication

Convenient synthesis of ordered mesoporous silica at room temperature and quasi-neutral pH
Jasper Jammaer, Alexander Aerts, Jan D'Haen, Jin Won Seo and Johan A. Martens,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8290
DOI: 10.1039/b915273c

A new synthesis procedure is presented to prepare P6m ordered mesoporous silica at room temperature and quasi-neutral pH in a buffered medium using a cheap silicon source.

Papers

A new twist: controlled shape-shifting of silver nanoparticles from prisms to discs
George P. Lee, Andrew I. Minett, Peter C. Innis and Gordon G. Wallace,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8294
DOI: 10.1039/b913811k

Photomorphic Ag nanoparticles have the ability to undergo an unprecedented reversible shape transformation from nanoprisms to nanodiscs depending on light or dark exposure causing an observable change to physical properties.

Metal oxide formation by serine and cysteine proteases
Gregory P. Smith, Kelly J. Baustian, Christopher J. Ackerson and Daniel L. Feldheim,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8299
DOI: 10.1039/b909286b

Several common serine and cysteine protease enzymes were investigated for their ability to mediate the formation of metal oxides such as titania and silica at room temperature and neutral pH. The observed activities for these enzymes are discussed in terms of sequence homology to silicatein- and active site accessibility.

A photo-responsive molecular wire composed of a porphyrin polymer and a fullerene derivative
Hiroaki Ozawa, Masahiro Kawao, Shigeyasu Uno, Kazuo Nakazato, Hirofumi Tanaka and Takuji Ogawa,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8307
DOI: 10.1039/b910638c

Linear assemblies composed of conjugated porphyrin polymers and a fullerene derivative bearing pyridinyl moieties were used to bridge ca. 10 nm gaps between electrodes to fabricate photo-responsive electrical devices.

Homogenous, far-reaching tuning and highly emissive QD–silica core–shell nanocomposite synthesized via a delay photoactive procedure; their applications in two-photon imaging of human mesenchymal stem cells
Chih-Wei Lai, Yu-Hsiu Wang, Yu-Chun Chen, Cheng-Chih Hsieh, Borade Prajakta Uttam, Jong-Kai Hsiao, Cheng-Chih Hsu and Pi-Tai Chou,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8314
DOI: 10.1039/b906575j

Delay-photo-oxidation after silica coating recovers of QDs by >5×. Labelling ability of the QDs–Cy/SiO₂ is demonstrated in vitro using human stem cells.

In vitro selection of RNA sequences capable of mediating the formation of iron oxide nanoparticles
Carly J. Carter, Magda Dolska, Alina Owczarek, Christopher J. Ackerson, Bruce E. Eaton and Daniel L. Feldheim,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8320
DOI: 10.1039/b912423c

RNA in vitro selection with magnetic field partitioning was used to discover sequences capable of mediating the formation of iron oxide nanoparticles.

Room-temperature discotic liquid crystals based on oligothiophenes—attached and fused triazatruxenes
Jing Luo, Baomin Zhao, Jinjun Shao, Kheng Aik Lim, Hardy Sze On Chan and Chunyan Chi,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8327
DOI: 10.1039/b913930c

Novel disk-like oligothiophenes—attached and fused triazatruxenes were synthesized. They exhibit columnar liquid crystalline properties at room temperature with a wide-range mesophase. These molecules can serve as potential hole transporting materials for electronic devices.

Structure and magnetic properties of LnBaFe₄O₇ oxides: Ln size effect
V. Pralong, V. Caignaert, A. Maignan and B. Raveau,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8335
DOI: 10.1039/b911611g

New compounds of LnBaFe₄O₇ formula have been synthesized, depending on the Ln³⁺ cation sizes, with either cubic or hexagonal symmetry, leading to spin-glass like magnetic behavior or ferrimagnetism, respectively.

Synthesis of type II/type I CdTe/CdS/ZnS quantum dots and their use in cellular imaging
Mark Green, Peter Williamson, Marketa Samalova, Jason Davis, Sergio Brovelli, Peter Dobson and Franco Cacialli,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8341
DOI: 10.1039/b913292a

CdTe/CdS/ZnS nanoparticle quantum dots have been prepared and used in simple labelling experiments. The optics of the system have been investigated and assigned as type II for the CdTe/CdS component and type I for the CdS/ZnS component.

Dendritic Ir(III) complexes functionalized with triphenylsilylphenyl groups: Synthesis, DFT calculation and comprehensive structure-property correlation
Jae Jin Kim, Youngmin You, Young-Seo Park, Jang-Joo Kim and Soo Young Park,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8347
DOI: 10.1039/b913122a

Novel dendritic Ir(III) complexes with varied number and position of triphenylsilylphenyl substituents were synthesized. The effect of arylsilyl dendron architecture on photophysical, electrochemical and thermal properties of the complexes was comprehensively studied.

Highly porous reticular tin–cobalt oxide composite thin film anodes for lithium ion batteries
Xian Jun Zhu, Zai Ping Guo, Peng Zhang, Guo Dong Du, Rong Zeng, Zhi Xin Chen, Sean Li and Hua Kun Liu,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8360
DOI: 10.1039/b913993a

A tin–cobalt oxide film with 3-dimensional reticular structure is prepared by electrostatic spray deposition. Such a composite film can be used as anodes for lithium ion batteries with higher energy densities.

Ordered Co₃O₄ hierarchical nanorod arrays: tunable superhydrophilicity without UV irradiation and transition to superhydrophobicity
Liang Li, Yue Li, Shuyan Gao and Naoto Koshizaki,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8366
DOI: 10.1039/b914462e

Ordered Co₃O₄ hierarchical nanorod arrays demonstrated stable superhydrophilicity without UV irradiation due to the improved surface roughness and abundant OH^- groups. Following chemical modification with a fluorosilane, the superhydrophilicity was converted directly to superhydrophobicity.

Synthesis of biomorphic zeolite honeycomb monoliths with 16000 cells per square inch
Gang Li, Ranjeet Singh, Dan Li, Chunxia Zhao, Liying Liu and Paul A. Webley,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8372
DOI: 10.1039/b912329f

Zeolite honeycomb monolith (right) with 16000 cpsi shows superior performance in an adsorption column compared to conventional zeolite beads (left) and the commercial 400 cpsi honeycomb (background) and represents an excellent upper limit of the honeycomb type materials. The sample was synthesized with a biological substrate by a novel flow coating technique.

Sn/graphene nanocomposite with 3D architecture for enhanced reversible lithium storage in lithium ion batteries
Guoxiu Wang, Bei Wang, Xianlong Wang, Jinsoo Park, Shixue Dou, Hyojun Ahn and Kiwon Kim,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8378
DOI: 10.1039/b914650d

First principles calculations show that graphene can stably store lithium on both its sides, resulting in a configuration of LiC₃ with a theoretical capacity of 744 mAh/g. Sn/graphene nanocomposite has been chemically synthesized with a 3D architecture and has demonstrated an enhanced reversible lithium storage performance in lithium ion batteries.

Smart delivery of antitumoral platinum complexes from biomimetic hydroxyapatite nanocrystals
Michele Iafisco, Barbara Palazzo, Marco Marchetti, Nicola Margiotta, Rosa Ostuni, Giovanni Natile, Margherita Morpurgo, Valentina Gandin, Cristina Marzano and Norberto Roveri,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8385
DOI: 10.1039/b914379c

A novel integrated Pt-bisphosphonate complex/nanohydroxyapatite device has been developed, which is not only able to control the adsorption and release kinetics, but also to improve the anchored drug cytotoxicity.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles coated with a folate-conjugated polymer
Quan Zhang, Chenhong Wang, Lei Qiao, Husheng Yan and Keliang Liu,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8393
DOI: 10.1039/b910439a

Folate-functionalized magnetic fluids, showing superparamagnetic behavior, were prepared by direct chemisorption of a folate-tetra(ethylene glycol)-poly(glycerol monoacrylate) (FA-TEG-PGA) conjugate on Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. This synthetic method represents a new strategy to prepare magnetic nanoparticles with a special surface functionalization.

Fabrication of titanium oxide/phthalocyanine hybrid multilayers and their application to interface control for an organic diode
Shinji Kato, Hiroshi Moriyama, Kenta Takahashi and Chyongjin Pac,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8403
DOI: 10.1039/b908907a

The present paper reports a convenient way for the layer-by-layer fabrication of titanium oxide/phthalocyanine hybrid multilayers and remarkable enhancement effects on current density of an organic diode by grafting the hybrid layer on an indium-tin-oxide (ITO) electrode.

Synthesis and characterization of highly organized mesoporous palladium-doped tin dioxide thin films for gas sensing
Shaofeng Shao, Momtchil Dimitrov, Naijia Guan and Ralf Köhn,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8411
DOI: 10.1039/b908238g

The first successful delayed humidity treatment based synthesis of a palladium-doped tin dioxide hydrogen sensor consisting of nanometre sized crystallites ordered around highly organized mesopores.

Nitrogen diffusion in doped TiO₂ (110) single crystals: a combined XPS and SIMS study
Robert G. Palgrave, David J. Payne and Russell G. Egdell,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8418
DOI: 10.1039/b913267h

Nitrogen dopants in rutile TiO₂ single crystals show differing diffusion behaviour upon oxidation–reduction and contribute differently to band gap narrowing, which is vital for visible light photocatalysis.

Ambient temperature hydrogen desorption from LiAlH₄–LiNH₂ mediated by HMPA
Xueli Zheng, Weiliang Xu, Zhitao Xiong, Yongshen Chua, Guotao Wu, Song Qin, Hua Chen and Ping Chen,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8426
DOI: 10.1039/b915851k

5 equiv. or 8.1 wt% H can be released from the LiAlH₄–LiNH₂ system at ambient temperature mediated by HMPA. LiNH₂ induces the conversion of [AlH₄] to [AlH] species and then reacts with it to produces H₂, Al and Li₂NH.

Organic functionalization of ultradispersed nanodiamond: synthesis and applications
Wen-Wei Zheng, Yi-Han Hsieh, Yu-Chung Chiu, Sian-Jhu Cai, Chia-Liang Cheng and Chinpiao Chen,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8432
DOI: 10.1039/b904302k

Chemical modification of nanodiamond results in the enrichment of surface hydroxyl groups as evidenced by FT-IR, TGA, RGA-MS and XRD measurements. These hydroxyl groups are suitably functionalized with long chain alcohols (oxyhexanol) for easy manipulation with different functional groups.

Syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties of heterometallic coordination polymers with carboxyphosphonate linkers
Zhi-Guo Gu and Slavi C. Sevov,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8442
DOI: 10.1039/b915459k

Heterometallic coordination polymers are formed with an asymmetrical carboxyphosphonate linker between d- and f-metal centers. [Cu₂M₂(PMIDA)₂(H₂O)₆]·3H₂O (M = Mn, Co, Cd) are honeycomb-like 2D structures with double-stranded meso-helices; [Cu₂Ln₂(PMIDA)₂(C₂O₄)(H₂O)₆]·3.5H₂O (Ln = La, Nd) are 3D open-frameworks with double-layer slabs.

Speedy fabrication of free-standing layer-by-layer multilayer films by using polyelectrolyte complex particles as building blocks
Qiang Zhao, Jinwen Qian, Quanfu An and Binyang Du,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8448
DOI: 10.1039/b911386j

A novel method for fast fabrication of free-standing LbL multilayer film is proposed; the LbL growth behavior and the structure of the multilayer film were studied. No sacrificial layer is needed and nanofillers such as multiwall carbon nanotubes can be incorporated into the LbL multilayer film.

Size tuning of Au nanoparticles formed by electron beam irradiation of Au₂₅ quantum clusters anchored within and outside of dipeptide nanotubes
Perumal Ramasamy, Samit Guha, Edakkattuparambil Sidharth Shibu, Theruvakkattil S. Sreeprasad, Soumabha Bag, Arindam Banerjee and Thalappil Pradeep,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8456
DOI: 10.1039/b913405k

Electron beam irradiation of dipeptide nanotubes anchored with quantum clusters results in spatial and size controlled growth of nanoparticles.

Polyacrylate-assisted synthesis of stable copper nanoparticles and copper(I) oxide nanocubes with high catalytic efficiency
Robert Prucek, Libor Kvítek, Ale Panáek, Lenka Vanurová, Jana Soukupová, Dalibor Janík and Radek Zboil,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8463
DOI: 10.1039/b913561h

The reduction of Cu ions in the presence of sodium polyacrylate with sodium borohydride leads to 3 nm Cu nanoparticles which grow by aggregation and coalescence into Cu nanocrystals of 14 nm . The aimed aeration transform these nanocrystals into Cu(I) oxide nanocubes with average edge length of 18 nm.

Synthesis and characterization of a novel kind of near-infrared electrochromic polymers containing an anthraquinone imide group and ionic moieties
Yijun Zheng, Jia Zheng, Letian Dou, Wenqiang Qiao and Xinhua Wan,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8470
DOI: 10.1039/b915978a

A novel NIR electrochromic polyelectrolyte is synthesized, which changes color in a single film device without any additional electrolyte and shows a rapid response time of 1 s at 810 nm.

Fabrication of ice-templated macroporous TiO₂–chitosan scaffolds for photocatalytic applications
Cheewita Suwanchawalit, Avinash J. Patil, Ravinash Krishna Kumar, Sumpun Wongnawa and Stephen Mann,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8478
DOI: 10.1039/b912698h

Ice segregation induced self-assembly was employed to produce higher-ordered 3D macroporous TiO₂-functionalized chitosan scaffolds that can be exploited as reusable substrates for photocatalytic degradation.

Side chain dendritic polyurethanes with shape-memory effect
Cheng-Che Tsai, Chia-Cheng Chang, Ching-Shiang Yu, Shenghong A. Dai, Tzong-Ming Wu, Wen-Chiung Su, Chang-Nan Chen, Franklin M. C. Chen and Ru-Jong Jeng,  J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8484
DOI: 10.1039/b910614f

Thermally reversible polyurethanes with shape memory effect were developed using hydrogen bonding-rich dendritic structures with peripheral long alkyl chains to enhance physical interactions. Hydrogen bonding reinforced hard segments of side chain dendritic polyurethanes result in enhanced mechanical properties and shape memory effect.

Back cover
J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8495
DOI: 10.1039/b921962p

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