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■ TRANSLATING GEL ANISOTROPY INTO CRYSTAL
FORM
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Nature often takes advantage of organic frameworks to shape
and mold mineralized tissues where anisotropy plays a big role.
Biomineralized tissues such as bone and mollusk shells are
great examples of advanced natural structural materials that
display significant direction-specific properties. However,
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attempts to mimic nature and synthesize such structures
have been challenging. Now a team of scientists led by Lara
Estroff have demonstrated how an anisotropic gel network can
physically shape the growth of calcite crystals into an
anisotropic form (DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c12326).
They precipitate calcium carbonate in an anisotropically
structured agarose gel film to create various agarose−calcite
structures. The scientists follow the growth and morphology of
the various structures using a variety of spectroscopy and
microscopy methods including nanocomputed tomography
(nanoCT). Using an agarose film with a fibrous network
results in formation of calcite crystal composite discs oriented
parallel to the fibers. In contrast, unaxially deformed agarose
gel cylinders molds rice-grain-shaped crystals. The various gels
provide a diffusion-limited environment to control crystal
growth resulting in the different morphologies. This exciting
approach to add direction-specific functionality into crystal
composites by appropriately selecting gels can result in
anisotropic structures with a variety of applications, including
in photonics and energy storage and conversion.
Dalia Yablon Ph.D.
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A NEW, HYBRID APPROACH FOR THE
BOTTOM-UP HIGH-PRECISION SYNTHESIS OF
GRAPHENE NANORIBBONS
Graphene nanoribbons (GNR) are narrow strips of graphene a
few carbon atoms wide. Depending on the precise dimensions
and the repeating shapes formed by carbon atoms along the
longitudinal edge of the nanoribbons, they can be electric
conductors or semiconductors. This exquisite control over a
GNRs’ electrical properties opens up applications in nano-
electronics. Up to now, bottom-up synthesis of GNRs was
limited to either all-on-surface or all-solution-based methods.
Each approach had unique advantages and disadvantages. All-
on-surface allows the exploration of electronic properties but
limits the control of critical structure parameters, such as the
length of the nanoribbons. All-solution-based approaches, in
contrast, overcome these structural limitations but offer limited
control over electronic properties relevant for nanotechnology.
Felix R. Fischer and co-workers get around these limitations
by developing a matrix-assisted direct (MAD) transfer process
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(DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c01355) that successfully combines the
advantages of all-on-surface and all-solution based methods.
Their approach starts by dissolving a linear polymer that serves
as the blueprint for the desired nanoribbon in an inert matrix.
A solidified sample of this polymer matrix solution can be
deposited on any desired substrate. Under reduced pressure
the molecules of the matrix are selectively evaporated, leaving
only the GNRs behind. It is a powerful combination of
techniques that promises to open up new applications for
GNR.
Alexander Hellemans
■
MULTIPURPOSE MELANIN: FROM GAS STORAGE
TO TOXIN-REMOVING FABRICS
People often talk about melanin solely in reference to
differences in skin and hair tones in humans, but there is
much more to this broad category of compounds than that.
Melanin pigments occur in almost all organisms, and while
they can affect color, melanin also provides protection from
UV radiation and oxidative stress and plays important roles in
the development of vision. Some specific subclasses of melanin
offer more exotic benefits like absorbing toxins, metal
chelation, and surviving gamma radiation.
Since melanin is hard to extract, most research has been
done on synthetic melanin, mostly on the human-based
eumelanin. Recently, Nathan Gianneschi and co-workers have
started experimenting with synthetic versions of allomelanin,
which occurs naturally as a non-nitrogen-containing melanin
found in fungi (DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c00748).
The researchers discovered that when incorporated into
nanoparticles, synthetic allomelanin has the ability to adsorb
gases and toxins. These nanoparticles mimic naturally
occurring porous fungal cells that can act like a sponge to
potentially allow nutrients through, while capturing toxins. And
it does this quite well, with the gas adsorption being
competitive with current metal−organic framework technol-
ogy. The researchers even showed that these nanoparticles can
be incorporated into breathable fabrics, which allow air flow
while adsorbing toxins. Someday soon, toxin adsorbing
mushroom clothes may be coming to a store near you!
Rebecca Yardley Ph.D.
https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.1c02995
Journal of the American Chemical Society

■
pubs.acs.org/JACS Spotlights

ZIPPERED POLYMORPHS PROMISE A NEW CLASS

OF MBenes
The discovery of graphene has spurred the innovation of an
abundance of other two-dimensional (2D) materials. Tran-
sition metal borides, or MBenes, are the newest addition to this
2D family of materials. The electron deficiency and the atomic
size of boron endow 2D boron materials with superior
electrical conductivity, high hydrophilicity, and outstanding
stability compared to other 2D analogs. However, both
experimental and theoretical investigations of MBenes remain
in their infancy, making the bulk preparation of MBenes
challenging.
Taking on this challenge, Julia Zaikina and co-workers use a
special chemical process to synthesize novel and stable
lithium−nickel borides (LiNiB) (DOI: 10.1021/
jacs.0c11397). First, they expose their starting (LiNiB)
compounds to various solvents at room temperature. This
process leads to the gradual leaching of lithium atoms from the
layered structures of LiNiB. The researchers found that after
the partial removal of the lithium, NiB layers come together
just like a zipper to form multilayer structures. A state-of-the-
art combination of experimental and theoretical character-
ization techniques shows that the resulting compound is a
sandwich of multiple NiB sheets with alternating Li layers
stacked on top of each other. This study demonstrates a vital
first step toward the synthesis of a novel class of 2D MBenes.
Pavithra Naullage Ph.D.

B https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.1c02995
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