Themed collection 2017 Emerging Investigators by MCF

Materials Chemistry Frontiers profiles the contributors to the “Emerging Investigators” themed collection.

This review discusses various synthetic methods of Au–Cu alloy nanoparticles and their plasmonic, catalytic and photothermal properties.

This review provides a systematic introduction to the various synthesis routes as well as some main applications for two-dimensional metallic nanosheets, aiming to contribute to the choice of fabrication methods and studies in this domain.

This review provides an in-depth understanding and introduces recent progress in the design and applications of DNA nanomaterials which possess intriguing structures and functions.

Recent developments on late transition metal catalyzed α-olefin polymerization and copolymerization with polar comonomers are reviewed.

Herein, we utilize the surface dangling bond of MOFs as anchoring sites to access single Pd sites embedded on a hollow MOF nanobox.

Through empirical determination of precursor consumption rates for growing nanorods, a comprehensive rubric for the colloidal synthesis of customizable nanorods and their heterostructures is established.

To get precise simulation for ion transport in porous nanofluidic systems, the influence of neighbouring nanopores should be seriously considered.

Calcium ions at mM concentrations promote the self-assembly of SOPC lipids into inter-connected hollow lipid tubes.

Anthraquinone derivatives with N- and O-substitution are incorporated into waterborne polyacrylates as single-component polymers with both thermally activated delayed fluorescence and two-state phosphorescence.

Band gap shifts of PbI₂ were accomplished via gel incorporation, and the mechanism of these shifts was elucidated.

A novel thermogel exhibiting unique thermally-induced gel–sol–gel multiple phase transitions was obtained by controlling the compositions of PLA/PEG copolymers.

High efficiency TCS degradation and H₂ evolution are achieved simultaneously by an electrochemical method using the Co₃O₄ NWs/CC‖CoP NWs/CC electrode pair.

The all-round small molecule donor NDTR exhibited good photovoltaic performance in both fullerene and non-fullerene systems.

Two new secondary-amine-functionalized isoreticular metal–organic frameworks exhibit selective cationic dye capture, metal-ion-dependent adsorption kinetics, and controllable dye release behaviours.

In recent years, the performance of lead halide perovskite solar cells has increased dramatically, setting a record efficiency of 22.1%; however, their sensitivity towards water limits their utility and still needs to be addressed.

A novel supramolecular tweezering system has been developed for “on-demand” photocatalysis.

Dopa and lysine are widely found in mussel foot proteins and are suggested to play synergistic roles in wet adhesion; yet, the detailed molecular mechanism remains unclear.

A new far-red emitter based on a conjugated block copolymer was developed, leading to the formation of compact Pdots for specific subcellular imaging.

Unconventional C₃-symmetric triphenylenes bearing three amide groups at the 1-, 5-, and 9-positions were synthesized. Their self-assembly behavior was investigated in detail through adjustment of the length of the alkyl chains.

Hierarchical structures of porous Cu/Zn@C materials via pyrolysis of Zn–Cu-BTC metal–organic frameworks give stable activity in the reverse water gas shift reaction, thanks to stabilization of the nanoparticles by carbon encapsulation.

The transition from 2D to 3D coffee stains was demonstrated and the 3D coffee stains enabled the construction of all-protein lasers.

A controllable Pickering emulsion was constructed via erasable synergetic regulation of CO₂ and NIR light.