@article{10806,
  abstract     = {Ligands are a fundamental part of nanocrystals. They control and direct nanocrystal syntheses and provide colloidal stability. Bound ligands also affect the nanocrystals’ chemical reactivity and electronic structure. Surface chemistry is thus crucial to understand nanocrystal properties and functionality. Here, we investigate the synthesis of metal oxide nanocrystals (CeO2-x, ZnO, and NiO) from metal nitrate precursors, in the presence of oleylamine ligands. Surprisingly, the nanocrystals are capped exclusively with a fatty acid instead of oleylamine. Analysis of the reaction mixtures with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed several reaction byproducts and intermediates that are common to the decomposition of Ce, Zn, Ni, and Zr nitrate precursors. Our evidence supports the oxidation of alkylamine and formation of a carboxylic acid, thus unraveling this counterintuitive surface chemistry.},
  author       = {Calcabrini, Mariano and Van den Eynden, Dietger and Sanchez Ribot, Sergi and Pokratath, Rohan and Llorca, Jordi and De Roo, Jonathan and Ibáñez, Maria},
  issn         = {2691-3704},
  journal      = {JACS Au},
  keywords     = {general medicine},
  number       = {11},
  pages        = {1898--1903},
  publisher    = {American Chemical Society},
  title        = {{Ligand conversion in nanocrystal synthesis: The oxidation of alkylamines to fatty acids by nitrate}},
  doi          = {10.1021/jacsau.1c00349},
  volume       = {1},
  year         = {2021},
}

@article{22207,
  abstract     = {Phase separation is a ubiquitous process and finds applications in a variety of biological, organic, and inorganic systems. Nature has evolved the ability to control phase separation to both regulate cellular processes and make composite materials with outstanding mechanical and optical properties. Striking examples of the latter are the vibrant blue and green feathers of many bird species, which are thought to result from an exquisite control of the size and spatial correlations of their phase-separated microstructures. By contrast, it is much harder for material scientists to arrest and control phase separation in synthetic materials with such a high level of precision at these length scales. In this Perspective, we briefly review some established methods to control liquid–liquid phase separation processes and then highlight the emergence of a promising arrest method based on phase separation in an elastic polymer network. Finally, we discuss upcoming challenges and opportunities for fabricating microstructured materials via mechanically controlled phase separation.},
  author       = {Fernández-Rico, Carla and Sai, Tianqi and Sicher, Alba and Style, Robert W. and Dufresne, Eric R.},
  issn         = {2691-3704},
  journal      = {JACS Au},
  keywords     = {phase separation, arrest, bird feathers, elasticity, polymer networks, microstructured materials},
  number       = {1},
  pages        = {66--73},
  publisher    = {American Chemical Society},
  title        = {{Putting the squeeze on phase separation}},
  doi          = {10.1021/jacsau.1c00443},
  volume       = {2},
  year         = {2021},
}