Deciphering an Abnormal Layered-Tunnel Heterostructure Induced by Chemical Substitution for the Sodium Oxide Cathode

Demands for large-scale energy storage systems have driven the development of layered transition-metal oxide cathodes for room-temperature rechargeable sodium ion batteries (SIBs). Now, an abnormal layered-tunnel heterostructure Na_0.44Co_0.1Mn_0.9O₂ cathode material induced by chemical element substitution is reported. By virtue of beneficial synergistic effects, this layered-tunnel electrode shows outstanding electrochemical performance in sodium half-cell system and excellent compatibility with hard carbon anode in sodium full-cell system. The underlying formation process, charge compensation mechanism, phase transition, and sodium-ion storage electrochemistry are clearly articulated and confirmed through combined analyses of in situ high-energy X-ray diffraction and ex situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy as well as operando X-ray diffraction. This crystal structure engineering regulation strategy offers a future outlook into advanced cathode materials for SIBs.     

Helical Coordination Polymers Based on Keggin-type POMs and N-donor Ligand

Two new 1D helical coordination polymers based on polyoxometalate were synthesized by self-assembly of Keggin-type POMs and copper salts in the presence of triangular N-heterocyclic derivatives or long-chain N-containing carboxylate ligand, that are, (H₃O)[{Cu(H₂tpim)₂}{SiMo₁₂O₄₀}] · 0.5H₂O [Htpim = 2,4,5-tri(4-pyridyl)-imidazole] ( 1 ) and [Cu₂(Hcpp)₃(cpp)(H₂O)][PMo₁₂O₄₀] · 2H₂O [Hcpp = 1-(4-cyanobenzyl)-3–2-yl)pyrazole] ( 2 ). Their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and further characterized by elemental analyses and TG analyses. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibit (1D→2D) interdigitated architectures assembled from 1D helical chains. In compound 1 , the achiral 2D interdigitated nets containing left- and right-handed helixes are further interdigitated with each other to form a 3D supramolecular framework. In compound 2 , adjacent 2D interdigitated layers with opposite chirality are further extended by supramolecular interactions into a 3D supramolecular network, in which non-coordinating Keggin-type POMs as guests are encapsulated.     

Facile Synthesis of MOF-derived Mn3O4@N-doped Carbon with Efficient Oxygen Reduction

Integration of MnO_x into the carbon matrix proves a viable strategy to improve the electrochemical performance of MnO_x materials. Mn₃O₄ nanoparticle-decorated N-doped carbon composites (Mn₃O₄@N-doped carbon) were facilely prepared from a non-porous eight-fold interpenetrated Zn^II-based MOF, which involves first synthesis of bimetallic Mn/Zn-MOF in one-pot reaction followed by direct pyrolysis at 1000 °C. In 0.1 m KOH solution, the optimal Mn₃O₄@N-doped carbon exhibits decent oxygen reduction activity with the onset potential (E_onset) of 0.94 V (vs. RHE) and half-wave potential (E_1/2) of 0.81 V (vs. RHE), excellent methanol tolerance as well as good durability.     

Dicyclohepta[ijkl,uvwx]rubicene with Two Pentagons and Two Heptagons as a Stable and Planar Non-benzenoid Nanographene

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with hexagons/pentagons or hexagons/heptagons have been intensively investigated in recent years, but those with simultaneous presence of hexagons, pentagons and heptagons remain rare. In this paper, we report dicyclohepta[ijkl,uvwx]rubicene ( DHR ), a non-benzenoid isomer of dibenzo[bc,kl]coronene with two pentagons and two heptagons. We developed an efficient and scalable synthetic method for DHR by using Scholl reaction and dehydrogenation. Crystal structure of DHR shows that the benzenoid rings, two pentagons and two heptagons are coplanar. The bond lengths analysis and the ICSS(1)zz and LOL-π calculations indicate that the incorporation of two formal azulene moieties has an effect on the conjugated structure. The π-electrons of benzenoid and pentagon rings are more delocalized. Cyclic voltammetry studies indicate that DHR shows multiple oxidation and reduction potentials. Interestingly, DHR exhibits unusual S₀ to S₂ absorption and abnormal anti-Kasha S₂ to S₀ emission. Moreover, crystals of DHR exhibit semiconducting behaviour with hole mobility up to 0.082 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹.     

Three-dimensional Octameric Assembly of Icosahedral M13 Units in [Au8Ag57(Dppp)4(C6H11S)32Cl2]Cl and its [Au8Ag55(Dppp)4(C6H11S)34][BPh4]2 Derivative

The high-dimensional (that is, three-dimensional (3D)) assembly of nanomaterials is an effective means of improving their properties; however, achieving this assembly at the atomic level remains challenging. Herein, we obtained a novel nanocluster, [Au₈Ag₅₇(Dppp)₄(C₆H₁₁S)₃₂C_l2]Cl (Dppp=1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane) showing a 3D octameric assembly mode involving the kernel penetration of eight complete icosahedral Au@Ag₁₀Au₂ units for the first time. The atomically precise structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and further confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry measurements. Furthermore, ligand-induced transformation prompted the conversion of [Au₈Ag₅₇(Dppp)₄(C₆H₁₁S)₃₂Cl₂]Cl, with complete octameric fusion into [Au₈Ag₅₅(Dppp)₄(C₆H₁₁S)₃₄][BPh₄]₂, with incomplete octameric fusion. These observations will hopefully facilitate further research on the assembly of M₁₃ nanobuilding blocks.     

Two-Coordinate Copper(I)/NHC Complexes: Dual Emission Properties and Ultralong Room-Temperature Phosphorescence

As a kind of photoluminescent material, Cu^I complexes have many advantages such as adjustable emission, variable structures, and low cost, attracting attention in many fields. In this work, two novel two-coordinate Cu^I-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes were synthesized, and they exhibit unique dual emission properties, fluorescence and phosphorescence. The crystal structure, packing mode, and photophysical properties under different conditions were systematically studied, proving the emissive mechanism to be the locally excited state of the carbazole group. Based on this mechanism, ultralong room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) with a lifetime of 140 ms is achieved by selective deuteration of the carbazole group. These results deepen the understanding of the luminescence mechanism and design strategy for two-coordinate Cu^I complexes, and prove their potential in applications as ultralong RTP materials.     

“Self-Lockable” Liquid Crystalline Diels–Alder Dynamic Network Actuators with Room Temperature Programmability and Solution Reprocessability

Novel main-chain liquid crystalline Diels—Alder dynamic networks (LCDANs) were prepared that exhibit unprecedented ease for actuator programming and reprocessing compared to existing liquid crystalline network (LCN) systems. Following cooling from 125 °C, LCDANs are deformed with aligned mesogens self-locked at room temperature by slowly formed Diels–Alder (DA) bonds, which allows for the formation of solid 3D actuators capable of reversible shape change, and strip walker and wheel-capable light-driven locomotion upon either thermally or optically induced order–disorder phase transition. Any actuator can readily be erased at 125 °C and reprogrammed into a new one under ambient conditions. Moreover, LCDANs can be processed directly from melt (for example, fiber drawing) and from solution (for example, casting tubular actuators), which cannot be achieved with LCNs using exchangeable covalent bonds. The combined attributes of LCDANs offer significant progress toward developing easily programmable/processable LCN actuators.     

多酸结构对纳米钛硅TS-1沸石催化氧化脱硫性能的影响

采用浸渍法合成了纳米钛硅TS-1沸石负载的钼系列多金属氧酸盐(POM)复合催化剂,采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、傅里叶红外光谱(FT-IR)、固体紫外漫反射(UV-Vis)、X-ray粉末衍射(XRD)、氮气吸附脱附(BET)、³¹P和²⁹Si魔角核磁共振(MAS-NMR)等对催化剂的结构进行表征。 研究结果表明,在低温焙烧或烘干条件下,负载后催化剂多酸的结构保持,钼酸铵高温(550 ℃)焙烧后转变为三氧化钼。 以有机硫化物噻吩(TH)、苯并噻吩(BT)和二苯并噻吩(DBT)的正辛烷溶液为模拟油品评价了催化剂的氧化脱硫性能。 实验结果表明,纳米TS-1沸石载体上不同结构多酸作为脱硫催化剂对硫化物的脱除活性顺序为:Keggin型Mo-POM＞Anderson型Mo-POM＞Dawson型Mo-POM＞Mo-金属氧化物。以上述负载的多酸为催化剂,在反应条件为:V(模拟油)=V(乙醇)=10.0 mL,m(催化剂)=0.2 g,n(H₂O₂)∶n(S)=10∶1,温度60 ℃,硫化物按照由易到难的脱除顺序为TH＞DBT＞BT,与常规的TS-1沸石或者多酸催化剂的脱除顺序存在明显差异。 这是纳米TS-1沸石对于有机硫分子氧化反应的择形效应和POM催化氧化脱硫的电子云密度影响综合作用的结果。 Keggin型Mo-POM催化剂具有良好的循环使用性能,是一类制备方法简单、催化活性高且稳定性好的绿色环保型催化剂。     

高β相聚偏氟乙烯基复合体系的制备及压电性能

为了提高聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)的压电性能,需要寻找有效的途径来提高PVDF的电活性相(β相)含量。 通过水热法成功合成了Ag、ZnO以及二者复合(Ag-ZnO)的3种类型纳米粒子,并与PVDF共混形成PVDF复合薄膜。 通过表征PVDF复合材料的形貌,结晶性能和压电性能,可以发现Ag-ZnO复合纳米粒子的协同作用可以有效提高PVDF的结晶性能和压电性能。 此外,通过单轴拉伸可以使得所有PVDF膜的β相含量得到进一步提高,其中拉伸后的PVDF/Ag-ZnO纳米颗粒(P-C)的β相物质的量分数最高,达到70.0％,最佳的压电系数(d₃₃)达到了31.0 pC/N。     

Co_2Si@C催化剂的合成及其加氢脱硫性能

采用微波法制备了Co_2Si@C催化剂并对其在加氢脱硫反应中的催化性能进行了研究.通过XRD、 XPS、 TEM和N_2-物理吸附表征分析Co_2Si@C催化剂的组成和结构. Co_2Si@C催化剂具有一致的介孔结构,高钴含量(21%)、高比表面积(116.6 m~2·g~(-1))和均匀分布的纳米粒子.由于硅原子对钴原子结构和参数的修饰、纳米粒子效应和高金属含量等因素, Co_2Si@C催化剂在温和的反应条件下(340℃和3.0 MPa)具有良好的加氢脱硫活性和对直接脱硫(DDS)反应途径的高选择性,产物联苯的选择性超过了60%.