Nickel tetrathiooxalate as a cathode material for potassium batteries

We report a nickel tetrathiooxalate (NiTTO) coordination polymer as a cathode material for potassium batteries. In a potential range of 1.3–3.6 V vs. K⁺/K, the specific capacity of the material is 209 mA h g^?1 at a current density of 0.1 A g^?1, which roughly corresponds to the two-electron reduction of polymer repeating units. The charge–discharge mechanisms of NiTTO in potassium cells were examined using operando Raman spectroscopy.     

Calcium-based coordination polymers from a solvothermal synthesis of HKUST-1 in 3D printed autoclaves

A mixed-metal 1D coordination polymer [CaCu(HBTC)₂(H2O)₈]_n (where H₃BTC – benzene-1,3,5-tric arboxylic acid) was obtained in a solvothermal synthesis of a well-known copper-containing metal–organic framework [Cu₃(BTC)₂(H₂O)₃]_n (HKUST-1) in autoclaves 3D-printed from commercial polypropylene. This material was a source of calcium ions, apparently, leaking from a colorant (calcium carbonate) promoted by glacial acetic acid as a modulator used to produce large single crystals of HKUST-1. This finding was confirmed by elemental analysis and a model experiment that resulted in a new calcium-based 1D coordination polymer [Ca(H₂BTC)₂(H₂O)₅]_n under the same solvothermal conditions with no copper or calcium salts put into a 3D-printed autoclave.     

Functional Groups Assisted Tunable Dielectric Permittivity of Guest-Free Zn-Based Coordination Polymers for Gate Dielectrics

The dielectric properties of coordination polymers has been a topic of recent interest, but the role of different functional groups on the dielectric properties of these polymers has not yet been fully addressed. Herein, the effects of electron-donating (R=NH₂) and electron-withdrawing (R=NO₂) groups on the dielectric behavior of such materials were investigated for two thermally stable and guest-free Zn-based coordination polymers, [Zn(L₁)(L₂)]_n ( 1 ) and [Zn(L₁)(L₃)]_n ( 2 ) [L₁=2-(2-pyridyl) benzimidazole (Pbim), L₂=5-aminoisophthalate (Aip), and L₃=5-nitroisophthalate (Nip)]. The results of dielectric studies of 1 revealed that it possesses a high dielectric constant (κ=65.5 at 1 kHz), while compound 2 displayed an even higher dielectric constant (κ=110.3 at 1 kHz). The electron donating and withdrawing effects of the NH₂ and NO₂ substituents induce changes in the polarity of the polymers, which is due to the inductive effect from the aryl ring for both NO₂ and NH₂. Theoretical results from density functional theory (DFT) calculations, which also support the experimental findings, show that both compounds have a distinct electronic behavior with diverse wide bandgaps. The significance of the current work is to provide information about the structure-dielectric property relationships. So, this study promises to pave the way for further research on the effects of different functional groups on coordination polymers on their dielectric properties.     

Reactivity of a N-Coordinated Germylene-Borane Complex: From Ge→B to Ge→Ga Coordination

Reactivity studies of the Ge^II→B complex L(Cl)Ge⋅BH₃ ( 1 ; L=2-Et₂NCH₂-4,6-tBu₂-C₆H₂) were performed to determine the effect on the Ge^II→B donation. N-coordinated compounds L(OtBu)Ge⋅BH₃ ( 2 ) and [LGe⋅BH₃]₂ ( 3 ) were prepared. The possible tuning of the Ge^II→B interaction was proved experimentally, yielding compounds 1-PPh₂-8-(LGe)-C₁₀H₆ ( 4 ) and L(Cl)Ge⋅GaCl₃ ( 5 ) without a Ge^II→B interaction. In 5 , an unprecedented Ge^II→Ga coordination was revealed. The experimental results were complemented by a theoretical study focusing on the bonding in 1 − 5 . The different strength of the Ge^II→E (E=B, Ga) donation was evaluated by using energy decomposition analysis. The basicity of different L(X)Ge groups through proton affinity is also assessed.     

Single-atom Fe Embedded Co3S4 for Efficient Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Constructing atomically dispersed active sites with densely exposed and dispersed double metal-S_x catalytic sites for favorable OER catalytic activity remains rare and challenging. Herein, we design and construct a Fe₁S_x@Co₃S₄ electrocatalyst with Fe single atoms epitaxially confined in Co₃S₄ nanosheets for catalyzing the sluggish alkaline oxygen evolution reaction(OER). Consequently, in ultralow concentration alkaline solutions(0.1 mol/L KOH), such a catalyst is highly active and robust for OER with low overpotentials of 300 and 333 mV at current densities of 10 and 30 mA/cm², respectively, accompanying long-term stability without significant degradation even for 350 h. In addition, Fe₁S_x@Co₃S₄ shows a turnover frequency(TOF) value of 0.18 s⁻¹, nearly three times that of Co₃S₄(0.07 s⁻¹), suggesting the higher atomic utilization of Fe single atoms. Mössbauer and in-situ Raman spectra confirm that the OER activity of Fe₁S_x@Co₃S₄ origins from a thin catalytic layer of Co(Fe)OOH that interacts with trace-level Fe species in the electrolyte, creating dynamically stable active sites. Combined with experimental characterizations, it suggests that the most active S-coordinated dual-metal site configurations are 2S-bridged (Fe-Co)S₄, in which Co-S and Fe-S moieties are shared with two S atoms, which can strongly regulate the adsorption energy of reaction intermediates, accelerating the OER reaction kinetics.     

Syntheses and structures of two novel fluorescent metal–organic frameworks generated from a tridentate donor–acceptor motif ligand

The tridentate organic ligand 4,4′,4′′‐(4,4,8,8,12,12‐hexamethyl‐8,12‐dihydro‐4H‐benzo[9,1]quinolizino[3,4,5,6,7‐defg]acridine‐2,6,10‐triyl)tribenzoic acid ( H₃L ) has been synthesized (as the methanol 1.25‐solvate, C₄₈H₃₉NO₆·1.25CH₃OH). As a donor–acceptor motif molecule, H₃L possess strong intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) fluorescence. Through hydrogen bonds, H₃L molecules construct a two‐dimensional (2D) network, which pack together into three‐dimensional (3D) networks with an ABC stacking pattern in the crystalline state. Based on H₃L and M(NO₃)₂ salts (M = Cd and Zn) under solvothermal conditions, two metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), namely, catena‐poly[[triaquacadmium(II)]‐μ‐10‐(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐4,4′‐(4,4,8,8,12,12‐hexamethyl‐8,12‐dihydro‐4H‐benzo[9,1]quinolizino[3,4,5,6,7‐defg]acridine‐2,6‐diyl)dibenzoato], [Cd(C₄₈H₃₇NO₆)(H₂O)₃]_n, I , and poly[[μ₃‐4,4′,4′′‐(4,4,8,8,12,12‐hexamethyl‐8,12‐dihydro‐4H‐benzo[9,1]quinolizino[3,4,5,6,7‐defg]acridine‐2,6,10‐triyl)tribenzoato](μ₃‐hydroxido)zinc(II)], [Zn₂(C₄₈H₃₆NO₆)(OH)]_n, II , were synthesized. Single‐crystal analysis revealed that both MOFs adopt a 3D structure. In I , partly deprotonated HL ^2? behaves as a bidentate ligand to link a Cd^II ion to form a one‐dimensional chain. In the solid state of I , the existence of weak interactions, such as O—H…O hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions, plays an essential role in aligning 2D nets and 3D networks with AB packing patterns for I . The deprotonated ligand L ^3? in II is utilized as a tridentate building block to bind Zn^II ions to construct 3D networks, where unusual Zn₄O₁₄ clusters act as connection nodes. As a donor–acceptor molecule, H₃L exhibits fluorescence with a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 70% in the solid state. In comparison, the PL of both MOFs is red‐shifted with even higher PLQYs of 79 and 85% for I and II , respectively.     

XPS and resistive studies on thin films of a copper(II)‐based coordination polymer deposited on functionalized interdigital electrodes

A symmetrical 2‐thiopyrimidine based molecule with an expanded π‐electron system is synthesized and used to form a self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) on gold surfaces. Utilizing chemical vapor deposition a monolayer of (3‐mercaptopropyl)triethoxysilane is formed on silicon dioxide substrates. Both of these SAM coated substrates are characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and the growth of a coordination polymer built up from 5,5′‐(ethyne‐1,2‐diyl)bis(2‐hydroxyacetophenone) and copper(II) on dual SAM coated transducers is studied. After the deposition procedure on interdigital electrodes the electrical properties of the polymer are investigated performing resistive measurements. A significant change of the resistance, which depends on the surrounding atmosphere, proves the sensing behavior of the synthesized coordination polymer. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 335–344     

Price coordination in distribution channels: A dynamic perspective

In this study, we investigate two important questions related to dynamic pricing in distribution channels: (i) Are coordinated pricing decisions efficient in a context where prices have carry-over effects on demand? (ii) Should firms practice a skimming or a penetration strategy if they choose to coordinate or to decentralize their activities? To answer these questions, we consider a differential game that takes place in a bilateral monopoly where the past retail prices paid by consumers contribute to the building of a reference price. The latter is used by consumers as a benchmark to evaluate the value of the product, and by firms to decide whether to adopt a skimming or a penetration strategy.     

Extended Open-Chain Polyenides as Versatile Delocalized Anion Ligands for Metal Chain Clusters

Although small cyclic- and open-chain unsaturated hydrocarbon anions such as cyclopentadienide and open-chain pentadienide are used as the strongly electron-donating auxiliary ligands for metal complexes, more extended π-conjugated unsaturated hydrocarbon anions have rarely been used in coordination chemistry, despite their potential ability to serve as the multiply bridging π-ligands for metal clusters. This work reports isolation of metal chain clusters bearing the multi-dentate, open-chain extended unsaturated hydrocarbon anion ligands. The extended open-chain π-conjugated polyenyl ligands could effectively stabilize oxidized palladium chains, including an unprecedented [Pd₄]⁴⁺ chain.