Steric Mixed‐Cation 2D Perovskite as a Methylammonium Locker to Stabilize MAPbI3

The reduced dimension perovskite including 2D perovskites are one of the most promising strategies to stabilize lead halide perovskite. A mixed‐cation 2D perovskite based on a steric phenyltrimethylammonium (PTA) cation is presented. The PTA‐MA mixed‐cation 2D perovskite of PTAMAPbI₄ can be formed on the surface of MAPbI₃ (PTAI‐MAPbI₃) by controllable PTAI intercalation by either spin coating or soaking. The PTAMAPbI₄ capping layer can not only passivate PTAI‐MAPbI₃ perovskite but also act as MA⁺ locker to inhibit MAI extraction and significantly enhance the stability. The highly stable PTAI‐MAPbI₃ based perovskite solar cells exhibit a reproducible photovoltaic performance with a champion PCE of 21.16 %. Such unencapsulated devices retain 93 % of initial efficiency after 500 h continuous illumination. This steric mixed‐cation 2D perovskite as MA⁺ locker to stabilize the MAPbI₃ is a promising strategy to design stable and high‐performance hybrid lead halide perovskites.     

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.     

Visible‐Light Photocatalysis of Asymmetric [2+2] Cycloaddition in Cage‐Confined Nanospace Merging Chirality with Triplet‐State Photosensitization

Although the photodimerization of acenaphthylene (ACE) has been known for 100 years, the asymmetric cycloaddition of its 1‐substituted derivatives is unknown. Herein, we report a supramolecular photochirogenic approach in which a homochiral and photoactive Δ/Λ‐[Pd₆(RuL₃)₈]²⁸⁺ metal–organic cage (Δ/Λ‐MOC‐16) is used as a supramolecular reactor for the enantioselective exited‐state photocatalysis of 1‐Br‐ACE. Owing to preorganization of the substrates by the supramolecular cage, stereochemical control of the triplet state, and nanospace transfer of energy and chirality, the cycloaddition of ACE proceeded with high selectivity for the formation of anti over syn stereoisomers, whereas the regio‐, stereo‐, and enantioselective cycloaddition of unsymmetrical 1‐Br‐ACE showed effective enantiodifferentiation of a pair of anti head‐to‐head stereoisomers. The enzyme‐mimicking photocatalysis was verified by catalytic turnover, rate enhancement, and competing‐guest inhibition experiments.     

Controlling Metallophilic Interactions in Chiral Gold(I) Double Salts towards Excitation Wavelength‐Tunable Circularly Polarized Luminescence

Materials exhibiting excitation wavelength‐dependent photoluminescence (Ex‐De PL) in the visible region have potential applications in bioimaging, optoelectronics and anti‐counterfeiting. Two multifunctional, chiral [Au(NHC)₂][Au(CN)₂] (NHC=(4R,5R)/(4S,5S)‐1,3‐dimethyl‐4,5‐diphenyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐imidazolin‐2‐ylidene) complex double salts display Ex‐De circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) in doped polymer films and in ground powder. Emission maxima can be dynamically tuned from 440 to 530 nm by changing the excitation wavelength. The continuously tunable photoluminescence is proposed to originate from multiple emissive excited states as a result of the existence of varied Au^I???Au^I distances in ground state. The steric properties of the NHC ligand are crucial to the tuning of Au^I???Au^I distances. An anti‐counterfeiting application using these two salts is demonstrated.     

Enantioselective Catalytic Aldehyde α‐Alkylation/Semipinacol Rearrangement: Construction of α‐Quaternary‐δ‐Carbonyl Cycloketones and Total Synthesis of (+)‐Cerapicol

An enantioselective aldehyde α‐alkylation/semipinacol rearrangement was achieved through organo‐SOMO catalysis. The catalytically generated enamine radical cation serves as a carbon radical electrophile that can stereoselectively add to the alkene of an allylic alcohol and initiate ensuing ring‐expansion of cyclopropanol or cyclobutanol. This tandem reaction enables the production of a wide range of nonracemic functionalizable α‐quaternary‐δ‐carbonyl cycloketones in high yields and excellent enantioselectivity from simple aldehydes and allylic alcohols. As a key step, the intramolecular reaction was also successfully applied in the asymmetric total synthesis of (+)‐cerapicol.     

Structure Determination of Alkynyl‐Protected Gold Nanocluster Au22(tBuC≡C)18 and Its Thermochromic Luminescence

An alkynyl‐protected gold nanocluster, Au₂₂(^tBuC≡C)₁₈ ( 1 ), has been synthesized and its structure has been determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The molecular structure consists of a Au₁₃ cuboctahedron kernel and three [Au₃(^tBuC≡C)₄] trimeric staples. The cluster 1 has strong luminescence in the solid state with a 15 % quantum yield, and it displays interesting thermochromic luminescence as revealed by temperature‐dependent emission spectra. The enhanced room‐temperature emission is characterized as thermally activated delayed fluorescence.     

The Redox Coupling Effect in a Photocatalytic RuII‐PdII Cage with TTF Guest as Electron Relay Mediator for Visible‐Light Hydrogen‐Evolving Promotion

A nanocage coupling effect from a redox Ru^II‐Pd^II metal–organic cage (MOC‐16) is demonstrated for efficient photochemical H₂ production by virtue of redox–guest modulation of the photo‐induced electron transfer (PET) process. Through coupling with photoredox cycle of MOC‐16, tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) guests act as electron relay mediator to improve the overall electron transfer efficiency in the host–guest system in a long‐time scale, leading to significant promotion of visible‐light driven H₂ evolution. By contrast, the presence of larger TTF‐derivatives in bulk solution without host–guest interactions results in interference with PET process of MOC‐16, leading to inefficient H₂ evolution. Such interaction provides an example to understand the interplay between the redox‐active nanocage and guest for optimization of redox events and photocatalytic activities in a confined chemical nanoenvironment.     

Digital Simulation of Discharge of Nickel–Cadmium Batteries

Russian Journal of Electrochemistry - A computer analysis of the mathematical model for the nickel–cadmium battery discharge with different types of electrodes is presented. The model...     

Thermal hazard assessment and ranking for organic peroxides using quantitative structure–property relationship approaches

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Chemical reactivity hazards of organic peroxides are major concerns of the chemical industry due to many serious incidents every year. Thermal hazard...     

Thermal decomposition behaviour and kinetics of a mixed solution: n-propyl nitrate and nitric acid solution

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - To provide a theoretical basis for improving the thermal safety of spent acid, its decomposition behaviour was studied. A mixed solution of n-propyl...