A novel Ni/Na – Containing inorganic-organic hybrid supramolecule based on polyoxometalate and EDTA with ultraviolet-visible light photochromism

A novel Ni/Na – containing inorganic-organic hybrid supramolecule {(PW₁₂O₄₀)·[Na₂(NiH₂EDTA·H₂O)(H₄EDTA)·2H₂O]·2H₂O·H₃O}_n (short for NiEDTA-PW₁₂) has been successfully synthesized by solution method, and investigated by thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV), photoluminescence (PL), ultraviolet visible diffuse reflectance spectrum (UV-vis DRS) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD). NiEDTA-PW₁₂ exhibits intriguing infinite supramolecular structure with Na⁺ ions as linker. Furthermore, NiEDTA-PW₁₂ displays a fast-responsive reversible photochromism under ultraviolet or visible light. The photochromic property of NiEDTA-PW₁₂ has been investigated by techniques of UV-vis DRS and PL, and the impact of the O₂ on fading of the colored NiEDTA-PW₁₂ has been investigated.     

Eco-friendly solution processing of all-polymer solar cells: Recent advances and future perspective

All-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs) exhibit great potentials in commercial applications. All-PSCs have observed steady performance gains with power conversion efficiency now reaching over 17% in the open literature. However, the current processing of all-PSCs relies predominantly on toxic, chlorinated solvents in moisture-free environments, representing a significant barrier for their commercialization due to the added costs to handle and dispose of such solvents. There is thus an urgent need for safe, environmentally benign, and sustainable ink-based processing methods to produce all-PSC devices reliably and reproducibly in ambient air. In this perspective, fundamental insights on the interplay between all-polymer blend morphologies and eco-friendly solvents are provided. Also, we discuss the recent successes of the green processing methods to manipulate the photoactive morphologies for high-efficiency all-PSCs. In the end, we provide an outlook on future challenges and opportunities of eco-friendly solvents processed all-PSCs for large-scale manufacturing.     

粉末晶体(ZrO2)x(Bi2O3)1-x(x=1.0, 0.97) 晶体结构分析

为了确定ZrO2和(ZrO2)0.97(Bi2O3)0.03的晶体结构和原子热振动各向同性温度因子B，对该粉末晶体进行X射线衍射实验，建立了晶体结构模型，进行晶体结构分析。首先，采用共沉淀法和高温固相烧结法制备了纳米氧化锆ZrO2和(ZrO2)0.97(Bi2O3)0.03粉末晶体，接着，使用X射线测试仪对两种样品进行了衍射实验（XRD），利用Rietveld 精修方法的 RIETAN-2000程序对所得实验结果进行了晶体结构分析，获得了晶体结构参量和原子热振动各向同性温度因子B。通过Maximum Entropy Method（MEM）解析得到了粉末晶体(ZrO2)x(Bi2O3)1-x(x=1.0，0.97)的等高电子密度分布可视化图谱。结果表明，(ZrO2)0.97(Bi2O3)0.03的晶胞体积比ZrO2的晶胞体积大分别为140.6850 Å3和140.5637Å3；ZrO2晶体的原子热振动各向同性温度因子B(Zr)、BO(1)、BO(2)和 B（Bi）分别为0.690、0.269、 0.178 和 0 Å2，(ZrO2)0.97(Bi2O3)0.03晶体的分别为0.460 、0.583 、0.121 和0.581 Å2。 确定了(ZrO2)0.97(Bi2O3)0.03的晶体结构属于单斜晶系，实现了等高电子密度分布三维（3D）和二维（2D）的可视化，进一步确定了晶体结构和原子位置。     

Tridentate Schiff base and 4,4′-bipyridine coordinated di/polynuclear Cu (II) complexes: Synthesis,crystal structure,DNA/protein binding and catecholase activity

4,4′-bipyridine bridged two Cu (II) complexes, [Cu₂L¹₂(4,4′-bipy)(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂ ( 1 ) and [Cu₂L²₂(4,4′-bipy)]_n·(2H₂O)_n ( 2 ) (where, HL¹ = 2-[(3-methylamino-propylimino)-methyl]-phenol, H₂L² = 3-[(2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzylidene)-amino]-propionic acid, and 4,4′-bipy = 4,4′-bipyridine) have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal structure determination, mass spectrometry, FT-IR, electronic absorption, and emission spectroscopy. Complex 1 is dinuclear cationic compound and counter balanced by perchlorate anion, whereas complex 2 possesses 1D poly-nuclear structure. Both the complexes crystallize in monoclinic system with P2₁/c space group and the copper centers possess square pyramidal geometry. H-bonding, C-H···π, π···π interactions results the formation of two dimentional supramolecular structure for both the complexes. Interactions of complexes with bovine serum albumins (BSA) and human serum albumins (HSA) have been studied by using electronic absorption and emission spectroscopic technique. The calculated values of binding constants (K_b) are (9.22 ± 0.26) × 10⁵ L mol⁻¹ ( 1 -BSA), (7.19 ± 0.16) × 10⁵ L mol⁻¹ ( 1 -HSA), (5.05 ± 0.20) × 10⁵ L mol⁻¹ ( 2 -BSA) and (3.56 ± 0.25) × 10⁵ L mol⁻¹ ( 2 -HSA). The mechanism of serum albumins-complex interactions have been investigated by fluorescence lifetime measurement. Fluorescence spectroscopic studies indicate that both the complexes interact with calf thymas-DNA. Catecholase activity of the complexes has been studied in methanol using 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (3,5-DTBC) as substrate and the result show that both the complexes are active for catalytic oxidation of 3,5-DTBC to 3,5-di-tert-butylquinone (3,5-DTBQ) in presence of molecular oxygen. Calculated values of turnover numbers are 71.81 ± 1.04 h⁻¹ and 69.45 ± 0.74 h⁻¹ for 1 and 2 , respectively.     

K10Ga3Bi6.65 – The First Compound in the Ternary A-Ga-Bi System Comprising Cyclic Tris-meta Borate-Analogous [Ga3Bi6]9– Units and Bi2 Dumbbells

K₁₀Ga₃Bi_6.65 is the first representative in the ternary system A-Ga-Bi (A = alkali metal). It contains [Ga₃Bi₆]^9– anions with planar triangular-coordinated Ga atoms as the main structural feature, accompanied by isolated Bi–Bi dumbbells. Alkali metal cations are counterbalancing the charges and fill the space between the anionic units. According to the Zintl-Klemm concept charge balance is reached if an almost equal ratio of single and double-bonded Bi₂ dumbbells are present according to (K⁺)₁₀[Ga₃Bi₆]^9–([Bi-Bi]^4–)_1/6([Bi=Bi]^2–)_1/6.     

Thermoset modified with polyethersulfone: Characterization and control of the morphology

Thermoset (TS) epoxy resins can be toughened with a thermoplastic (TP) for high-performance applications. The final structure morphology has to be controlled to achieve high mechanical properties and high impact resistance. Four polyethersulfone-modified epoxy resins are considered. They consist of different epoxy monomer structure (TGAP, triglycidyl-p-aminophenol and TGDDM, tetraglycidyl diaminodiphenylmethane) and a fixed amount of thermoplastic, and they are cured with two different amounts of curing agent. A reaction-induced phase separation occurs for all formulations generating morphologies, different in shapes and scales. The aim is to control the final morphology and in particular its dominant length scale. This morphology depends on the phase separation process, from the initiation to its final stage. The initiation relies on the relative miscibility of the components and on the stoichiometry between epoxy and curing agent. The kinetics depends on the viscosity of the systems. The different morphologies are characterized by electron microscopy or neutron scattering. Dynamic mechanical analysis allows confirming the presence of a phase separation even when it is not observable by electron microscopy. Vermicular morphologies with few hundreds nanometer width are obtained for the systems containing the TGAP as epoxy monomer. Systems formulated with TGDDM presents morphologies on much smaller scale of order a few tens of nanometers. We interpret the different sizes of the morphologies as a consequence of a larger viscosity for the TGDDM systems as compared to the TGAP ones rather than by a latter initiation of phase separation.     

Optimization of anionic conductivity through the coexistence of ionomer cluster and backbone-backbone morphologies in anion exchange membranes

Random copolymers of poly(4-vinylpyridine) and polyisoprene were synthesized, and subsequently quaternized with 1-alkylbromides. The number of carbons on the pendant side-chain of the resultant comb-shaped polymer, n, ranged from 2–8. The comb-shaped polymers were crosslinked employing thiol-ene chemistry to give mechanically robust ion conducting membranes. Analysis by wide and medium-angle X-ray scattering show three morphology regimes that are dependent on the number of carbons on the pendant side-chains. When n = 2, ionomer cluster morphology was dominant, when n = 8 backbone-backbone morphology was dominant, and when n = 3–6, the membrane showed a coexistence of both ionomer cluster and backbone-backbone morphologies. Evaluation of the water uptake of the membranes showed a maximum water uptake per cation of 9.5 when n = 5 at 95% relative humidity (RH) and 60°C. Conductivity of the samples characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed bromide conductivity as high as 110 mS/cm when n = 3 at 95% RH and 90°C.     

Tricyanated Ferrocenes; Isolation,structure, electrochemistry and DFT calculations

1,2,3- Tricyanoferrocene and 1,3-dibromo-2,4,5-tricyanoferrocene have been synthesized via metallation and usage of dimethylmalononitrile (DMMN) as cyanating agent. They are the first compounds where three nitrile functions could be introduced into the ferrocene sceleton. Further studies on the electrophilic cyanation of lithiated haloferrocenes [Fe(C₅H_mX_4-mLi)(C₅H₅)] (X=Cl, Br; m=0–3) show the formation of complex mixtures of cyano-halo-ferrocenes [Fe{C₅H_mX_5-m-n(CN)_n}(C₅H₅)] (m=0–3, n=0–3) most likely induced by “halogen-dance” reactions. The molecular and crystal structures of [Fe{C₅H₂(CN)₃}(C₅H₅)] and [Fe(C₅Cl₄CN)(C₅H₅)] are discussed. Cyclic voltametric studies of both tricyanoferrocenes show irreversible oxidations at very high potentials (E_onset≈845 mV and 945 mV, respectively, vs FcH/FcH⁺).     

1D iron vanadate-reduced graphene oxide nanorod composite for efficient oxidative esterification of aldehydes

In this paper, we report a facile and one-pot hydrothermal synthesis of FeVO₄-rGO nanorod composite and its application as a heterogeneous catalyst in the oxidative esterification reaction of aldehydes using hydrogen peroxide oxidant. The nanomaterial is thoroughly characterized by different techniques, namely, XPS, FESEM, elemental mapping, XRD, Raman, HRTEM, etc. The as-prepared nanocatalyst shows good activity for the controlled base-free oxidative esterification of various aromatic aldehydes in alcohol solvents under refluxing conditions, achieving good yields of the desired esters. Furthermore, the substrate scope was explored over a wide array of substituted aromatic aldehydes with diverse electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups in the phenyl ring. The presence of heterogeneous interfaces-induced properties in the nanorod composite results in synergistic effects to provide good catalytic performance. Thus, binary transition metal oxide-reduced graphene oxide-based nanocomposite as a nanocatalyst can open doors for efficient and sustainable esterification of aromatic aldehydes and aliphatic alcohols under oxidative conditions.     

Investigation of 500 keV Si ion induced surface structuring of Ni and Ti for enhancement of field emission properties

The present paper reports the investigation of surface morphology, elemental composition, phase changes and field emission properties of Si ion irradiated nickel (Ni) and titanium (Ti). The Ni and Ti targets have been irradiated with 500 keV Si ions generated by Pelletron accelerator at various fluences ranging from 6.9 × 10¹³ to 77.1 × 10¹³ ions/cm². Stopping range of ions in matter analysis revealed higher values of electronic stopping and sputtering yield for Ni as compared with Ti. For both irradiated metals, electronic energy loss dominant over the nuclear stopping. The growth of induced surface structures have been analysed by using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis. In case of Ni, as the ion fluence increases from 6.9 × 10¹³ to 65.8 × 10¹³ ions/cm², the formation of spherical particulates, agglomers and sputtering is observed. Although in the case of Ti, with the increase of Si ion fluence from 11.6 × 10¹³ to 77.1 × 10¹³ ions/cm², the formation of irregular-shaped particulates along with crater and sputtered channels is observed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows that no new phase is identified. However, a significant increase in peak intensity is observed with increasing ion fluence. The variation in crystallite size and dislocation line density is also observed as a function of Si ion fluence. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis shows that no bands are formed after the Si ion irradiation. Field emission properties of ion-structured Ni and Ti are well correlated with the growth of surface structures observed by SEM and dislocation line density evaluated by XRD analysis.