Synergistic interactions between N and F can be used to tune the band structures of N‐doped TiO2 (see scheme). Reduction potential of conduction band electron is positively shifted to weaken unwanted O2 reduction, but enhances the target reduction reaction in air. The tuning also enhances the oxidation ability of the valence band to oxidize water to O2, which makes photocatalytic reduction proceed without any organic sacrificial reagents.
Phosphorus meets carbohydrates : Dimethyl phosphite reacts with ceric(IV) ammonium nitrate (CAN) to give phosphonyl radicals that add to glycals 1 . The derivatives 2 were isolated in high yields and during a subsequent Horner–Emmons reaction underwent an interesting elimination to give 3,6‐dihydro‐2H‐pyrans 3 . The short sequence with simple precursors is applicable to the transformation of hexoses, pentoses, and disaccharides. Bn=benzyl.
Selective HCOOH decomposition to H 2 /CO 2 on Au : Au species catalyze HCOOH dehydrogenation at higher rates than on Pt, previously considered the most active metal. Dehydrogenation occurs through formate decomposition limited by H2 desorption on Au species undetectable by TEM. CO did not form (<10 ppm), making products suitable for low‐temperature fuel cells.
SERS you right: The plasmon heating of gold nanoshells is exploited to yield the local conversion of amorphous TiO2 into anatase on the surface of polymeric colloidal crystals (see scheme). The resulting Au/TiO2 spots are active substrates for surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy and allow surface reactions and processes to be followed directly on‐site.
Molecular organization : Chiral benzene tricarboxamides with methyl substituents at defined positions self‐assemble into supramolecular polymers of preferred helicity by three‐fold α‐helical‐type hydrogen bonding. The odd–even effect is operative and all derivatives are liquid crystalline showing a Colho phase (see figure).
Hot‐wired electrodes : Thin metallic wires (d=25 μm) are covered with a 3 μm layer of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs; see image) by electrophoresis from a suspension containing excess ionic surfactant. A pure SWCNT surface is achieved by heating the electrode in air. Strong differences between covered and bare metallic electrodes occur with in situ heating during electrochemical experiments.
Against the rule: Liquid crystal hosts ( 5CB and 8CB ) are doped with different thiol decorated gold nanoparticles (see figure). The “simple” hexanethiol and dodecanethiol capped nanoparticles ( Au1 and Au2 ) are more compatible to the nematic cyanobiphenyl liquid crystals than nanoparticles capped simultaneously with alkylthiols and a nematic cyanobiphenyl thiol ( Au3 and Au4 ).
Fullerene flakes : A diacetylene‐functionalized fullerene derivative self‐organizes into flakelike microparticles (see picture). Both the diacetylene and C60 moieties can be effectively cross‐linked, which leads to supramolecular materials with remarkable resistivity to solvent, heat, and mechanical stress. Moreover, the surface of the cross‐linked flakelike objects is highly durable and water‐repellent.
Nanocrystalline TiO 2 (anatase) is an essential oxide for environment and energy applications. A combination of EXAFS spectroscopy and DFT calculations on a series of dopants with quite similar ion radius, but increasing ion charge, show boundary space charge segregation of acceptor cations. The picture illustrates the Fourier‐transformed EXAFS spectrum for Sn4+‐doped TiO2.
Multifunctional nanostructures : By using 3‐aminopropyltrimethoxysilane as a linker, Au nanoparticles (NPs), Au shells, flowerlike Au/Pt hybrid NPs, and Ag or Au/Ag core/shell NPs could be supported on the surface of superparamagnetic Fe3O4 spheres to construct hybrid nanostructures that display near‐IR absorption, high catalytic activity towards an electron‐transfer reaction, or excellent surface‐enhanced Raman scattering activity. The picture shows SEM images of Fe3O4 spheres coated with Au shells (top) and with Au/Pt hybrid NPs (bottom).
On the surface : Adsorption of O2 at the surface oxygen vacancy (SOV) sites of TiO2 reconstructs the lattice oxygen (healing SOVs), resulting in a decrease of the photocatalytic activity of oxidizing CO over vacuum‐pretreated TiO2 with increasing temperature (see scheme). Adsorption of H2 produces new SOVs at the TiO2 surface and stabilizes the photocatalytic activity.
Once difficult to obtain , the title compounds can be prepared in virtually enantiomerically pure form with a bis(triorganostannyl) zinc reagent (see scheme). Subsequent diastereoselective thermal (left) and Lewis acid promoted reactions (right) illustrate the synthetic potential of these compounds.
