Themed collection 2014 Journal of Materials Chemistry C Hot Articles
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Recent twists in photoactuation and photoalignment control
The design of functional and stimuli-responsive materials is among the key goals of modern materials science.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 7155-7162
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01236D
Carbon nanotube based elastomer composites – an approach towards multifunctional materials
The current study focuses on giving a basic understanding of tubular graphene sheets or carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and points towards their role in fabricating elastomer composites.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 8446-8485
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01037J
Nitrogen heterocycle-containing materials for highly efficient phosphorescent OLEDs with low operating voltage
Recent advances in nitrogen heterocycle-containing materials used for phosphorescent OLEDs with high efficiencies and low operating voltages are reviewed.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 9565-9578
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01941E
Epitaxial growth of GaN films on unconventional oxide substrates
The unconventional oxide substrates have been used for the growth of high-quality GaN films due to their relatively small lattice and thermal expansion coefficient mismatches with GaN. This review focuses on the recent progress and discusses the perspectives of the epitaxial growth of GaN films on unconventional oxide substrates.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 9342-9358
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01655F
Fluorescent Au nanoclusters: recent progress and sensing applications
This paper reviews recent advances and challenges in the use of fluorescent Au nanoclusters for sensing applications, with an emphasis on the various mechanisms of sensing.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 8000-8011
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01489H
Optical sensing of biological, chemical and ionic species through aggregation of plasmonic nanoparticles
This feature article summarizes the progress and future directions of various optical methods (colorimetry, SERS, photoluminescence, light scattering, and chiroptical activity) for the detection of biological, chemical and ionic species based on the aggregation of plasmonic NPs.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 7460-7476
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01142B
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Carbon quantum dots: synthesis, properties and applications
Carbon quantum dots (CQDs, C-dots or CDs), which are generally small carbon nanoparticles (less than 10 nm in size) with various unique properties, have found wide use in more and more fields during the last few years. In this feature article, we describe the recent progress in the field of CQDs, focusing on their synthetic methods, size control, modification strategies, photoelectric properties, luminescent mechanism, and various applications.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 6921-6939
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC00988F
Graphene–organic composites for electronics: optical and electronic interactions in vacuum, liquids and thin solid films
Describing all the optical and electronic interactions of graphene with poly-aromatic molecules and polymers for electronic devices.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 3129-3143
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TC32153C
Polystyrene Kerr nonlinear photonic crystals for building ultrafast optical switching and logic devices
In recent years all-optical switching and logic devices have received extensive attention due to their potential applications in next generation ultrahigh-speed information processing and optical computing.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 783-800
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TC31914H
Metal ions optical sensing by semiconductor quantum dots
This feature article highlights different sensing strategies with chemically modified quantum dots (QDs) hybrid structures for the sensing of metal ions in aqueous solution or an in vivo environment, and discusses the photophysical mechanisms in the different sensor systems while comparing their detecting/sensing selectivity.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 595-613
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TC31937G
An acid-free medium growth of rutile TiO2 nanorods arrays and their application in perovskite solar cells
TiO2 nanorods hydrothermally prepared from acid-free media show potential as the building blocks of perovskite solar cells.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2015,3, 729-733
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC02249A
Hard–soft synthesis of a new series of vacancy-ordered perovskites, CaCrO3−δ
New CaCrO3−δ superstructure phases (δ = 0.33, 0.4, and 0.5) have been discovered through ‘soft’ low temperature reduction of the perovskite CaCrO3 made at ‘hard’ high pressure–temperature conditions.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 9364-9367
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01808G
Organic light emitting diodes with environmentally and thermally stable doped graphene electrodes
Metal oxides allow a strong and stable p-type doping and interface modification of graphene electrodes for highly efficient OLEDs.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 6940-6945
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01224K
Enhancement of mechanical stability in hydrogen-bonded photomobile materials with chemically modified single-walled carbon nanotubes
Hydrogen-bonded photomobile liquid-crystalline polymer fibers with chemically modified single-walled carbon nanotubes were prepared and their photomobile properties were investigated.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 2313-2315
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TC32585G
A highly luminescent chameleon: fine-tuned emission trajectory and controllable energy transfer
A strategy was proposed to control the energy transfer process in a mixed-lanthanide MOF. A novel white-light emission material is thus designed, whose emission can be reversibly switched between blue, white and yellow.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 1367-1371
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TC31624F
Mechanofluorochromic behaviors of β-iminoenolate boron complexes functionalized with carbazole
New β-iminoenolate boron complexes exhibit different mechanofluorochromic properties due to the excimer and monomer transformation.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 9543-9551
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01639D
Piezoelectricity of lead-free (K, Na)NbO3 nanoscale single crystals
PFM characterization of (K, Na)NbO3 nanoscale single crystals reveals the piezoelectric composition dependence and the existence of a phase boundary.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 9091-9098
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01745E
Interplay of alternative conjugated pathways and steric interactions on the electronic and optical properties of donor–acceptor conjugated polymers
Orthogonally conjugated moieties appended to a conjugated polymer backbone are used to control solubility and packing. Here, electronic-structure calculations show how such configurations impact the polymer geometry and the electronic/optical properties.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 8873-8879
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01264J
A zigzag DyIII4 cluster exhibiting single-molecule magnet, ferroelectric and white-light emitting properties
A zigzag-shaped DyIII4 cluster, [Dy4(μ-bpt)4(μ-OH)2(NO3)6(EtOH)2]·EtOH was designed and synthesized solvothermally, which displays multiple properties of single-molecule magnets, ferroelectricity and white-light emission.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 8858-8864
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01275E
An electrodeposited lanthanide MOF thin film as a luminescent sensor for carbonate detection in aqueous solution
A luminescent lanthanide MOF-based thin film was fabricated by electrodeposition in an anhydride system and this film can be used as a highly selective sensor for CO32− in aqueous solution.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 8683-8690
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01551G
Photophysical properties of ionic liquid-assisted porphyrin nanoaggregate–nickel phthalocyanine conjugates and singlet oxygen generation
Porphyrin nanoaggregates for singlet oxygen generation.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 8691-8699
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01543F
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Revealing the origin of magnetoresistance in unipolar amorphous organic field-effect transistors
Magnetoresistance in a unipolar p-channel field-effect transistor based on low molecular weight 2,2′,7,7′-tetrakis(diphenylamino)-9,9′-spirobifluorene (Spiro-TAD) is reported.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 8569-8577
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC00702F
Photomechanical response of polymer-dispersed liquid crystals/graphene oxide nanocomposites
Recyclable, fast and visible-light responsive polymer-dispersed liquid crystal/graphene oxide nanocomposite films were fabricated by solution casting and mechanical stretching.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 8501-8506
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01097C
Fabrication of metamaterial absorber using polymer brush – gold nanoassemblies for visualizing the reversible pH-responsiveness
Metamaterial absorber is fabricated using polymer brush–gold nanoassemblies for visualizing the reversible pH-responsiveness.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 8226-8234
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01380H
Self-assembled buffer layer from conjugated diblock copolymers with ethyleneoxide side chains for high efficiency polymer solar cells
A remarkable improvement of 7.3% in the PCE is obtained through the spontaneous migration of diblock copolymers during the spin-coating process.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 8054-8064
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01388C
Phosphorescent oxygen sensors produced by spot-crazing of polyphenylenesulfide films
Phosphorescent oxygen sensors produced by localised solvent-crazing of polyphenylene sulphide films are described.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 8035-8041
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01390E
Getting real: influence of structural disorder on the performance of plasmonic hole array sensors fabricated by a bottom-up approach
Periodic hole arrays in gold films showing extraordinary transmission of light are fabricated using solely chemical methods. The degree of order of the hole arrays has a strong impact on their transmission properties, which can be utilized for a spectral quality control of the produced plasmonic sensors.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 7632-7638
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01244E
Effect of head group size on the photoswitching applications of azobenzene Disperse Red 1 analogues
We investigate the effect of the increased molecular bulk in the ‘head’ group for a class of newly synthesized azobenzene chromophores and demonstrate that motifs with larger free-volume changes during isomerization drive photoinduced macromolecular phenomena.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 7505-7512
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC00996G
CrXTe3 (X = Si, Ge) nanosheets: two dimensional intrinsic ferromagnetic semiconductors
Proposal of two-dimensional CrXTe3 (X = Si, Ge) nanosheets with intrinsic ferromagnetism and half semiconductor character.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 7071-7076
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01193G
Multi-color emission evolution and energy transfer behavior of La3GaGe5O16:Tb3+,Eu3+ phosphors
Color-tunable green-red emitting La3GaGe5O16:Tb3+,Eu3+ phosphors were prepared and the energy transfer process was discussed.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 6978-6984
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01091D
Photo-switching of magnetization in iron nanoparticles
We report the theoretical study of the light-induced switching of magnetization in core–shell nanoparticles.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 6873-6878
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01238K
Electronic transition responsible for size-dependent photoluminescence of colloidal CuInS2 quantum dots
Photoluminescence of CuInS2 QDs was attributed to the recombination of electrons in the donor level of indium at copper sites or sulfur vacancies and holes in the quantized hole state.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 6867-6872
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC01144A
Os(II) metal phosphors bearing tridentate 2,6-di(pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine chelate: synthetic design, characterization and application in OLED fabrication
Os(II) complexes bearing tridentate pz2py chelate were synthesized, among which the derivative with two extra phosphine ligands is found to be an excellent yellow dopant for OLEDs.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 6269-6282
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC00865K
Molecular design for a cybotactic nematic phase
We propose two molecular designs for a cybotactic nematic (Ncyb) phase. The U-shaped compound exhibits a skewed Ncyb phase, whereas the rod-like compound possessing a terminal hydroxyl group shows a normal Ncyb phase.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 3677-3685
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC00001C
Rubicene: a molecular fragment of C70 for use in organic field-effect transistors
The field-effect hole mobility of rubicene having high ionization energy (∼5.5 eV) is 0.20 cm2 V−1 s−1 and is improved to 0.32 cm2 V−1 s−1 with PFBT SAM treatment which reduces the hole injection barrier and induces an edge-on configuration.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 3361-3366
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TC32117G
Impact of crystal orientation on the adsorption kinetics of a porous coordination polymer–quartz crystal microbalance hybrid sensor
The hybridization of porous coordination polymers (PCPs) with electronic devices is a powerful strategy for developing systems that are suitable for advanced applications, such as chemical sensing.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 3336-3344
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TC32101K
Spin crossover composite materials for electrothermomechanical actuators
A composite bilayer actuator device which uses spin crossover to convert electrical energy into motion via Joule heating is described.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 2949-2955
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC00267A
Conformal phase masks made of polyurethane acrylate with optimized elastic modulus for 3D nanopatterning
A modulus-tunable conformal mold can serve as a semi-permanently usable optical phase mask for generating three-dimensional nanostructures with high uniformity.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 2316-2322
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TC32194K
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Platinum(II) complexes with cyclometallated 5-π-delocalized-donor-1,3-di(2-pyridyl)benzene ligands as efficient phosphors for NIR-OLEDs
PtL2Cl (HL2 = 5-(p-(NPh2)styryl-1,3-di(2-pyridyl)benzene) emerges as an excellent candidate for the preparation of NIR-OLEDs.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 1791-1800
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TC32086C
Twisted intramolecular charge transfer, aggregation-induced emission, supramolecular self-assembly and the optical waveguide of barbituric acid-functionalized tetraphenylethene
A red-emissive barbituric acid-functionalized TPE luminogen with TICT, AIE, self-assembly and optical waveguiding properties was synthesized.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 1801-1807
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TC32161D
Versatile van der Waals epitaxy-like growth of crystal films using two-dimensional nanosheets as a seed layer: orientation tuning of SrTiO3 films along three important axes on glass substrates
Nanosheet seed layers of dangling bond-free nature can promote VDWE-like growth of crystal films with considerable mismatch, realizing advanced design in film deposition.
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 441-449
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TC31787K
About this collection
This on-going web collection features all the articles published in Journal of Materials Chemistry C in 2014 marked as HOT, as recommended by referees. A selection of these is posted weekly on the Journal of Materials Chemistry Blog. Congratulations to all the authors whose articles are featured!