13C chemical shift tensors in MOF α-Mg3(HCOO)6: Which component is more sensitive to host-guest interaction?

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of important porous materials with many current and potential applications. Their applications almost always involve the interaction between host framework and guest species. Therefore, understanding of host–guest interaction in MOF systems is fundamentally important. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy is an excellent technique for investigating host–guest interaction as it provides information complementary to that obtained from X-ray diffraction. In this work, using MOF α-Mg₃(HCOO)₆ as an example, we demonstrated that ¹³C chemical shift tensor of organic linker can be utilized to probe the host–guest interaction in MOFs. Obtaining ¹³C chemical shift tensor components (δ₁₁, δ₂₂, and δ₃₃, where δ₁₁ ≥ δ₂₂ ≥ δ₃₃) in this MOF is particularly challenging as there are six coordinatively equivalent but crystallographically non-equivalent carbons in the unit cell with very similar local coordination environment. Two-dimensional magic-angle-turning experiments were employed to measure the ¹³C chemical shift tensors of each individual crystallographically non-equivalent carbon in three microporous α-Mg₃(HCOO)₆ samples with different guest species. The results indicate that the δ₂₂ component (with its direction approximately being co-planar with the formate anion and perpendicular to the C−H bond) is more sensitive to the adsorbate molecules inside the MOF channel due to the weak C−H···O hydrogen bonding or the ring current effect of benzene. The ¹³C isotropic chemical shift, on the other hand, seems much less sensitive to the subtle changes in the local environment around formate linker induced by adsorption. The approach described in this study may be used in future studies on host–guest interaction within MOFs.     

GOSs-稀土配合物紫外增强材料的光谱分析与稳定性研究

氧化石墨烯薄片(GOSs)作为一种新型的二维片状材料,具有较高的比表面积、丰富的表面含氧官能团以及良好的光热稳定性。而稀土配合物通过无机稀土元素与有机配体的结合表现出优异的荧光特性。为了将两类材料具有的物化特性结合起来应用于紫外光谱探测领域。选取了合适的有机配体啉菲罗啉(1,10-邻二氮杂菲,phen)、2’2-联嘧啶(bpm)作为桥联分子,把氧化石墨烯(GOSs)与稀土配合物通过氢键自组装作用进行复合,制备了高效稳定可调的GOSs-稀土配合物复合荧光材料GOSs-Eu(BA)3phen和GOSs-Eu(TTA)3bpm,并且制备了相应的聚乙烯醇(PVA)共混紫外增强薄膜,对其光谱特性与稳定性进行了深入的研究。采用红外光谱、扫描电镜和金相显微镜等方法,对紫外增强材料进行了性能表征。采用吸收光谱,荧光光谱等方法,对紫外增强薄膜进行了性能表征。此外,通过热重测试(TGA)表征了GOSs氢键复合前后紫外增强材料的热稳定性,通过荧光强度-紫外光照次数表征了GOSs氢键复合前后紫外增强薄膜的光稳定性。红外光谱分析发现,进行配位前后有机配体的特征峰产生了频移,表明稀土配合物中Eu 3+与配体之间存在着明显的配位作用。在进行复合之后,桥联配体的特征峰也产生了偏移,表明GOSs与稀土配合物通过桥联分子的氢键作用进行了进行复合。吸收光谱与荧光光谱测定结果表明增强薄膜吸收峰在200~400 nm,荧光主峰在612 nm左右,为Eu 3+特征红色荧光峰,且不同配体可以实现不同范围的吸收产生差异化的荧光表现。扫描电镜和金相显微镜清晰地展示了稀土配合物复合前后的微观形貌,即颗粒状稀土配合物附着在石墨烯薄片上。光稳定性测试表明经过GOSs氢键复合之后,Eu(BA)3phen和Eu(TTA)3bpm稀土配合物荧光材料在进行25次荧光强度测试后光漂白程度分别下降了4.26%和6.41%,提高了其光稳定性。热重测试也表明在经过GOSs氢键复合之后,稀土配合物的热稳定性有了很大提高。总之,得益于GOSs和稀土配合物的特性结合,所制备的紫外增强材料表现出优异的荧光特性与稳定性,必将在紫外探测方面有着广阔的应用前景。     

In Situ Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(aryleneethynylene)‐Grafted Reduced Graphene Oxide

Using highly soluble bromo‐functionalized reduced graphene oxide (RGBr) as a key graphene template for surface‐directing Sonogashira–Hagihara polymerization, a novel soluble poly(arylene‐ethynylene)‐grafted reduced graphene oxide, hereafter abbreviated as PAE‐g‐RGO, was prepared in situ. The entirely different electron distribution of LUMO and HOMO of PAE‐g‐RGO suggested the existence of a charge‐transfer (CT) state (PAE^.?–RGO^.+). The negative ΔG_CS value (?2.57 eV) indicates that the occurrence of the charge separation via ¹RGO* in o‐DCB is exothermic and favorable. Upon irradiation with 365 nm light, the light‐induced electron paramagnetic resonance (LEPR) spectrum of PAE‐g‐RGO showed a decrease in the spin‐state density owing to photoinduced intramolecular electron transfer events in this system. A sandwich‐type Al/PAE‐g‐RGO/ITO device showed representative bistable electrical switching behavior. The nonvolatile memory performance was attributed to the CT‐induced conductance changes, which was supported by molecular computation results and conductive atomic force microscopy (C‐AFM) images.     

Transition metal decorated bismuthene for ammonia synthesis: A density functional theory study

The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) for the ammonia production under ambient conditions is regarded as a sustainable alternative to the industrial Haber–Bosch process. However, the electrocatalytic systems that efficiently catalyze nitrogen reduction remain elusive. In the work, the nitrogen reduction activity of the transition metal decorated bismuthene TM@Bis is fully investigated by means of density functional theory calculations. Our results demonstrate that W@Bis delivers the best efficiency, wherein the potential-determining step is located at the last protonation step of *NH₂ + H⁺ + e^– → *NH₃ via the distal mechanism with the limiting potential U_L of 0.26 V. Furthermore, the dopants of Re and Os are also promising candidates for experimental synthesis due to its good selectivity, in despite of the slightly higher U_L of NRR with the value of 0.55 V. However, the candidates of Ti, V, Nb and Mo delivered the relative lower U_L of 0.35, 0.37, 0.41 and 0.43 V might be suffered from the side hydrogen evolution reaction. More interestingly, a volcano curve is established between U_L and valence electrons of metal elements wherein W with 4 electrons in d band located at the summit. Such phenomenon originates from the underlying acceptance-back donation mechanism. Therefore, our work provides a fundament understanding for the material design for nitrogen reduction electrocatalysis.     

A Lewis acid-catalyzed tandem reaction enabling 2-arylglycerol derivative as a versatile 1,3-biselectrophile for the synthesis of 4H-chromenes and 2-pyridinones

Acid-catalyzed tandem reactions were established by employing a novel class of 2-arylglycerol derivative,5-aryl-1,3-dioxan-5-ol, as versatile 1,3-biselectrophile. In the reactions, 5-aryl-1,3-dioxan-5-ol works like atropaldehydes or 2-aryl malondialdehydes, and can react with 2-naphthols and β-keto amides, allowing the synthesis of 4H-chromenes and 5-aryl-2-pyridinones. High yields, good functional group tolerance,broad substrate scope and simple reaction operation make this protocol attractive.     

Ethylene glycol-regulated ammonium vanadate with stable layered structure and favorable interplanar spacing as high-performance cathode for aqueous zinc ion batteries

Ammonium vanadate compounds featuring large capacity, superior rate capability and light weight are regarded as promising cathode materials for aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs). However, the controllable synthesis of desired ammonium vanadates remains a challenge. Herein, various ammonium vanadate compounds were successfully prepared by taking advantage of ethylene glycol (EG) regulated polyol-reduction strategy and solvent effect via hydrothermal reaction. The morphology and crystalline phase of resultant products show an evolution from dendritic (NH₄)₂V₆O₁₆ to rod-like NH₄V₄O₁₀ and finally to lamellar (NH₄)₂V₄O₉ as increasing the amount of EG. Specifically, the NH₄V₄O₁₀ product exhibits a high initial capacity of 427.5 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g and stable cycling with a capacity retention of 90.4% after 5000 cycles at 10 A/g. The relatively excellent electrochemical performances of NH₄V₄O₁₀ can be ascribed to the stable open-framework layered structure, favorable (001) interplanar spacing, and peculiar rod-like morphology, which are beneficial to the highly reversible Zn²⁺ storage behaviors. This work offers a unique way for the rational design of high-performance cathode materials for AZIBs.     

Synergistic Pd/Cu-catalyzed regio- and stereoselective cascade Heck cyclization/borylation/cross-coupling

A cooperative Pd/Cu-catalyzed three-component cross-coupling reaction of alkynes, B₂Pin₂ and alkene-tethered aryl halides is reported. This reaction proceeds under mild conditions and shows broad substrate scope, providing a variety of heterocycles containing tetrasubstituted alkenylboronate moieties in synthetically useful yields with excellent chemoselectivity and regioselectivity. This transformation features the catalytic generation of β-borylalkenylcopper intermediates and their use in Pd-catalyzed Heck cyclization/cross-couplings. An enantioselective cascade cyclization/cross-coupling process has also been developed for the synthesis of enantiomerically enriched oxindole bearing a tetrasubstituted alkenylboronate moiety.     

Alloying-Triggered Phase Engineering of NiFe System via Laser-Assisted Al Incorporation for Full Water Splitting

It is challenging to design one non-noble material with balanced bifunctional performance for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) for commercial sustainability at a low cost since the different electrocatalytic mechanisms are not easily matchable for each other. Herein, a self-standing hybrid system Ni₁₈Fe₁₂Al₇₀, consisting of Ni₂Al₃ and Ni₃Fe phases, was constructed by laser-assisted aluminum (Al) incorporation towards full water splitting. It was found that the incorporation of Al could effectively tune the morphologies, compositions and phases. The results indicate that Ni₁₈Fe₁₂Al₇₀ delivers an extremely low overpotential to trigger both HER (η₁₀₀=188 mV) and OER (η₁₀₀=345 mV) processes and maintains a stable overpotential for 100 h, comparable to state-of-the-art electrocatalysts. The synergistic effect of Ni₂Al₃ and Ni₃Fe alloys on the HER process is confirmed based on theoretical calculation.     

Cluster Light-Emitting Diodes Containing Copper Iodine Cube with 100 % Exciton Utilization Using Host-Cluster Synergy

Clusters combine the advantages of organic molecules and inorganic nanomaterials, which are promising alternatives for optoelectronic applications. Nonetheless, recently emerged cluster light-emitting diodes require further excited state optimization of cluster emitters, especially to reduce population of the cluster-centered triplet quenching state (³CC). Here we report that redox-active ligands enhance reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) of Cu₄I₄ cluster for triplet-to-singlet conversion, and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) host can provide an external RISC channel. It indicates that the complementarity between TADF host and cluster in RISC transitions gives rise to 100 % triplet conversion efficiency and complete singlet exciton convergence, rendering 100-fold increased singlet radiation rate constant and tenfold decreased triplet non-radiation rate constant. We achieve a photoluminescence quantum yield of 99 % and a record external quantum efficiency of 29.4 %.