Nanowerk September 13, 2023 Nanomaterials usually fail to twist into helical crystals. Considering the irreversibility of the previously studied twisting forces, the reverse process (untwisting) and retwisting areas more difficult to achieve. Researchers in China have reported a new reciprocal effect between molecular geometry and crystal structure which triggered a twisting-untwisting-retwisting cycle for tri-cobalt salicylate hydroxide hexahydrate. The twisting force stemmed from competition between the condensation reaction and stacking process, different from the previously reported twisting mechanisms. The resulting distinct nanohelices gave rise to unusual structure elasticity, as reflected in the reversible change of crystal lattice parameters and the mutual […]
Tag Archives: Materials
Mussel-inspired dynamic poly(disulfides) ultra-strong underwater adhesives
Phys.org October 18, 2022 Researchers in China have developed a simple and robust strategy that combines natural thioctic acid and mussel-inspired iron-catechol complexes to enable ultra-strong adhesive materials that can be used underwater and simultaneously exhibit unprecedented high adhesion strength on diverse surfaces. Their experimental results showed that the robust crosslinking interaction of the iron-catechol complexes as well as high-density hydrogen bonding were responsible for the ultra-high interfacial adhesion strength. The embedding effect of the hydrophobic solvent-free network of poly(disulfides) further enhanced the water-resistance. The network also made possible the resulting materials reconfigurable, thus enabling multiple reusability via repeated heating […]
A ‘hole’ lot of sponge! New technique to create super-sponges is a game changer
EurekAlert June 10, 2020 Unlike traditional porous materials, in theory MOFs structure can be controlled through careful selection of the components of the synthesis process. But in practice, this process is challenged by the restricted synthetic conditions and high thermal and chemical sensitivity of MOFs. Researchers in South Korea introduced stable carbon-carbon bonds by converting existing carbon-hydrogen bonds using elevated temperatures and adding “electrophilic organic halides or carbonyl compounds”, allowing simultaneous introduction of the required functional groups as well as the mesoscopic holes. This technique could potentially improve the safety of workers in enclosed, gas-filled environments such as in the […]