A Ferroelectric Aminophosphonium Cyanoferrate with a Large Electrostrictive Coefficient as a Piezoelectric Nanogenerator

Hybrid materials possessing piezo- and ferroelectric properties emerge as excellent alternatives to conventional piezoceramics due to their merits of facile synthesis, lightweight nature, ease of fabrication and mechanical flexibility. Inspired by the structural stability of aminophosphonium compounds, here we report the first A₃BX₆ type cyanometallate [Ph₂(ⁱPrNH)₂P]₃[Fe(CN)₆] ( 1 ), which shows a ferroelectric saturation polarization (P_s) of 3.71 μC cm⁻². Compound 1 exhibits a high electrostrictive coefficient (Q₃₃) of 0.73 m⁴ C⁻², far exceeding those of piezoceramics (0.034–0.096 m⁴ C⁻²). Piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) analysis demonstrates the polarization switching and domain structure of 1 further confirming its ferroelectric nature. Furthermore, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) polymer composite films of 1 were prepared and employed as piezoelectric nanogenerators. Notably, the 15 wt % 1 -TPU device gave a maximum output voltage of 13.57 V and a power density of 6.03 μW cm⁻².     

Synthesis and Reactivity of a Cyclooctatetraene-Like Polyphosphorus Ligand Complex [Cyclo-P8]

The thermolysis of Cp′′′Ta(CO)₄ with white phosphorus (P₄) gives access to [{Cp′′′Ta}₂(μ,η^{2 : 2 : 2 : 2 : 1 : 1}-P₈)] ( A ), representing the first complex containing a cyclooctatetraene-like (COT) cyclo-P₈ ligand. While ring sizes of n >6 have remained elusive for cyclo-P_n structural motifs, the choice of the transition metal, co-ligand and reaction conditions allowed the isolation of A . Reactivity investigations reveal its versatile coordination behaviour as well as its redox properties. Oxidation leads to dimerization to afford [{Cp′′′Ta}₄(μ₄,η^{2 : 2 : 2 : 2 : 2 : 2 : 2 : 2 : 1 : 1 : 1 : 1}-P₁₆)][TEF]₂ ( 4 , TEF=[Al(OC{CF₃}₃)₄]⁻). Reduction, however, leads to the fission of one P−P bond in A followed by rapid dimerization to form [K@[2.2.2]cryptand]₂[{Cp′′′Ta}₄(μ₄,η^{2 : 2 : 2 : 2 : 2 : 2 : 2 : 2 : 1 : 1 : 1 : 1}-P₁₆)] ( 5 ), which features an unprecedented chain-type P₁₆ ligand. Lastly, A serves as a P₂ synthon, via ring contraction to the triple-decker complex [{Cp′′′Ta}₂(μ,η^{6 : 6}-P₆)] ( B ).     

Nitrogen Plasma Enhanced Low Temperature Atomic Layer Deposition of Magnesium Phosphorus Oxynitride (MgPON) Solid-State Electrolytes

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) that use solid electrolytes instead of flammable liquid electrolytes have the potential to generate higher specific capacity and offer better safety. Magnesium (Mg) based SSBs with Mg metal anodes are considered to be one of the most promising energy storage candidates, because it gives high theoretical volumetric capacities of 3830 mAh cm⁻³. Here, we demonstrate an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process with a double nitrogen plasma process that successfully produces nitrogen-incorporated magnesium phosphorus oxynitride (MgPON) solid-state electrolyte (SSE) thin films at a low deposition temperature of 125 °C. The ALD MgPON SSEs exhibit an ionic conductivity of 0.36 and 1.2 μS cm⁻¹ at 450 and 500 °C, respectively. The proposed ALD strategy shows the ability of conformal deposition nitrogen-doped SSEs on pattered substrates and is attractive for using nitride ion-conducing films as protective or wetting interlayers in solid-state Mg and Li batteries.     

Enantioconvergent Reductive C(sp)−C(sp3) Cross-Coupling to Access Chiral α-Alkynyl Phosphonates Under Dual Nickel/Photoredox Catalysis

Transition-metal-catalyzed asymmetric carbon−carbon bond formation to forge phosphonates with an α-chiral carbon center through C(sp³)−C(sp³) and C(sp²)−C(sp³) couplings has been successful. However, the enantioselective C(sp)−C(sp³) coupling has not yet been disclosed. Reported herein is an unprecedented enantioconvergent cross-coupling of alkynyl bromides and α-bromo phosphonates to deliver chiral α-alkynyl phosphonates.     

On the Reactivity of Phosphaalumenes towards C−C Multiple Bonds

Heterocycles containing group 13 and 15 elements such as borazines are an integral part of organic, biomedical and materials chemistry. Surprisingly, heterocycles containing P and Al are rare. We have now utilized phosphaalumenes in reactions with alkynes, alkenes and conjugated double bond systems. With sterically demanding alkynes 1,2-phosphaalumetes were afforded, whereas the reaction with HCCH or HCCSiMe₃ gave 1,4-phosphaaluminabarrelenes. Using styrene saturated 1,2-phosphaalumates were formed, which reacted further with additional styrene to give different regio-isomers of 1,4-aluminaphosphorinanes. Using ethylene, a 1,4-aluminaphosphorinane is obtained, while with 1,3-butadiene a bicyclic system containing an aluminacyclopentane and a phosphirane unit was synthesized. The experimental work is supported by theoretical studies to shed light on the mechanism governing the formation of these heterocycles.     

Breaking Surface Atomic Monogeneity of Rh2P Nanocatalysts by Defect-Derived Phosphorus Vacancies for Efficient Alkaline Hydrogen Oxidation

Breaking atomic monogeneity of catalyst surfaces is promising for constructing synergistic active centers to cope with complex multi-step catalytic reactions. Here, we report a defect-derived strategy for creating surface phosphorous vacancies (P-vacancies) on nanometric Rh₂P electrocatalysts toward drastically boosted electrocatalysis for alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR). This strategy disrupts the monogeneity and atomic regularity of the thermodynamically stable P-terminated surfaces. Density functional theory calculations initially verify that the competitive adsorption behavior of H_ad and OH_ad on perfect P-terminated Rh₂P{200} facets (p-Rh₂P) can be bypassed on defective Rh₂P{200} surfaces (d-Rh₂P). The P-vacancies enable the exposure of sub-surface Rh atoms to act as exclusive H adsorption sites. Therein, the H_ad cooperates with the OH_ad on the peripheral P-sites to effectively accelerate the alkaline HOR. Defective Rh₂P nanowires (d-Rh₂P NWs) and perfect Rh₂P nanocubes (p-Rh₂P NCs) are then elaborately synthesized to experimentally represent the d-Rh₂P and p-Rh₂P catalytic surfaces. As expected, the P-vacancy-enriched d-Rh₂P NWs catalyst exhibits extremely high catalytic activity and outstanding CO tolerance for alkaline HOR electrocatalysis, attaining 5.7 and 14.3 times mass activity that of p-Rh₂P NCs and commercial Pt/C, respectively. This work sheds light on breaking the surface atomic monogeneity for the development of efficient heterogeneous catalysts.     

V/P复合氧化物上C-H键活化的密度泛函研究

选择氧化催化剂通常为多组分复合氧化物.一般认为,高价过渡金属的端末双键氧(M=O)是烷烃活化的中心,而非金属端氧(NM=O)与烷烃活化无关.但近期的理论研究发现,复合氧化物中非金属端氧也可能参与烷烃活化.本文采用密度泛函方法(B3LYP)对比V=O和P=O的脱氢活性,并深入揭示二者的差异. H脱除反应可以视为是质子偶联电子传递的过程.对于V/P复合氧化物, V5+充当电子的受体,而V=O和P=O均可接受质子.由于P=O具有更强的质子化能力,导致PO–H键能比VO–H有利6–10 kcal/mol.对于烷烃活化, V=O和P=O脱氢的能垒均可与反应焓变很好地关联,但二者线性回归的截距相差6.2 kcal/mol,说明在相同的焓驱动下, P=O脱氢需要克服更高的能垒.根据Marcus模型,反应的能垒不仅取决去反应焓变,还与内部重组能有关.计算表明,在脱氢过程中, P=O需克服的重组能为128–140 kcal/mol,比V=O过程高出21–23 kcal/mol.这很好地解释了前面的计算结果.应该指出的是,除了反应热力学驱动和重组能外,在势能曲线相交处的电子耦合作用(?HAB?)亦对能量有一定的影响.丁烷选择氧化制顺酐可能经过2-丁烯,丁二烯,2,5-二氢呋喃和丁烯酸内酯等一系列中间体,共有8个H原子在反应过程中需要脱除.对于丁烷的脱氢, P=O的能垒仅比V=O低1.3 kcal/mol,说明初始反应时二者是竞争的.但对于2-丁烯和2,5-二氢呋喃,二者活化能的差距增加为6–7 kcal/mol,说明这时P=O脱氢将占主导.而对丁烯酸内酯活化,二者活化能的差异又缩小到2.5 kcal/mol,表明V=O又具有一定的竞争力.事实上,这种能垒的差异与端氧的亲核性密切相关.P=O更具亲核性,因此有利于被更具酸性的C–H键进攻.根据Evens的估计,烷烃C–H键的pKa为50左右,而烯丙基性C–H为43.这就很好地解释了为什么2-丁烯和2,5-二氢呋喃更容易和P=O发生反应,而丁烷脱氢二者差异不大的原因.这些理论研究可以加深我们对复合氧化物催化剂上活性位点的认识,并为催化剂的理性设计提供理论支撑.     

A co-activation strategy for enhancing the performance of hematite in photoelectrochemical water oxidation

Hematite(α-Fe_2O_3) is a promising photoanode for photoelectrochemical(PEC) water splitting.However,the severe charge recombination and sluggish water oxidation kinetics extremely limit its use in photohydrogen conversion.Herein,a co-activation strategy is proposed,namely through phosphorus(P)doping and the loading of CoAl-layered double hydroxides(CoAl-LDHs) cocatalysts.Unexpectedly,the integrated system,CoAl-LDHs/P-Fe_2O_3 photoanode,exhibits an outstanding photocurrent density of 1.56 mA/cm~2 at 1.23 V(vs.reversible hydrogen electrode,RHE),under AM 1.5 G,which is 2.6 times of pureα-Fe_2O_3.Systematic studies reveal that the remarkable PEC performance is attributed to accelerated surface OER kinetics and enhanced carrier separation efficiency.This work provides a feasible strategy to enhance the PEC performance of hematite photoanodes.     

含磷/氮/硫环交联磷腈微纳米管的合成及对环氧树脂的阻燃作用

采用原位模板法,以六氯环三磷腈(HCCP)和二羟基二苯砜(BPS)为原料合成了一种环状交联型不溶不熔的磷腈大分子——聚环三磷腈-二羟基二苯砜(PZS)微纳米管,研究了PZS对环氧树脂(EP)的阻燃作用及阻燃机理.利用红外光谱(FTIR)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)及透射电子显微镜(TEM)对PZS微纳米管进行了表征;采用热重分析(TG)考察了EP/PZS阻燃材料的热稳定性,并通过极限氧指数(LOI)和微型量热分析(MCC)测试了EP/PZS的阻燃性能.热降解实验结果表明,PZS微纳米管的加入使环氧树脂热降解温度降低,但残炭率显著提高.PZS微纳米管可以显著提高环氧树脂的阻燃性能,当阻燃剂添加量为5%时,环氧树脂的残炭率提高了46%,热释放速率峰值降低了约40%;LOI值从纯环氧树脂的26.0%提高到了30.6%.PZS微纳米管的加入还增强了环氧树脂的力学强度.阻燃性能的显著提高和力学性能的改善归因于PZS微纳米管在环氧树脂基体中的良好分散,以及燃烧炭化过程中生成的石墨化程度较高的类石墨烯结构的残炭,具有较高的抗氧化能力.研究结果表明,PZS微纳米管是一种优良、高效的具有潜在应用价值的阻燃剂.