Shape-controlled synthesis of gold icosahedra and nanoplates using Pluronic P123 block copolymer and sodium chloride

Gold icosahedra with an average diameter of about 600 nm were easily prepared by heating an aqueous solution of the amphiphilic block copolymer, poly(ethylene oxide)₂₀-poly(propylene oxide)₇₀-poly(ethylene oxide)₂₀ (Pluronic P123), and hydrogen tetrachloroaurate(III) trihydrate (HAuCl₄·3H₂O) at 60 °C for 25 min. When sodium chloride (NaCl:HAuCl₄ molar ratio=10:1) was added to this aqueous solution, gold nanoplates were produced. The chloride ion was found to be a key component in the formation of the gold nanoplates by facilitating the growth of {111} oriented hexagonal/triangular gold nanoplates, because similar gold nanoplates were produced when LiCl or KCl was added to the aqueous solution instead of NaCl, while gold nanocrystals having irregular shapes were produced when NaBr or NaI was added.     

Two-dimensional composition diagram of the Al(OH)3-dien-HFaq.-ethanol system: Evidence of a new tetrahedral (Al4F18) polyanion

Six domains appear in the 2D composition diagram of the Al(OH)₃-dien-HF_aq.-ethanol system at 190 °C and [Al³⁺] = 1 mol L⁻¹ under microwave heating. Four organic-inorganic fluorides crystallise: [H₃dien]·(AlF₆) (P2₁/c, Z = 4), [H₃dien]₂·(AlF₅(H₂O))₃·2H₂O (P2₁/n, Z = 4), [H₃dien]·(AlF₆)·2H₂O, which was previously known, and [H₃dien]₂·(Al₄F₁₈) (C2/c, Z = 4). A new (Al₄F₁₈)⁶⁻ polyanion, which results from the tetrahedral association of four AlF₆ octahedra linked by corners, is evidenced in [H₃dien]₂·(Al₄F₁₈).     

A low-temperature synthesis of ultraviolet-light-emitting ZnO nanotubes and tubular whiskers

We have successfully synthesized single-crystal ZnO nanotubes and tubular whiskers by employing Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O, NH₃·H₂O as the starting materials in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG, M_w=2000) at ambient pressure and low temperature (70 °C). Characterizations are carried out by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM, HRTEM) and photoluminescence (PL) measurement. The results show that the as-prepared ZnO are tubular textures, which have average cross-sectional dimensions of 200-300 nm, lengths of 2-3.5 μm, and wall thickness of 80 nm. These tubular products demonstrate a sharp ultraviolet excitonic emission peak centered at 385 nm at room temperature. A possible growth mechanism and the influence of the reaction temperature on the formation of crystalline ZnO are presented.     

Designing and tuning properties of a three-dimensional porous quaternary chalcogenide built on a bimetallic tetrahedral cluster [M4Sn3S13] (M=Zn/Sn)

A multifunctional three-dimensional quaternary chalcogenide [Na₅Zn_3.5Sn_3.5S₁₃]·6H₂O has been synthesized by solvothermal reactions. [Na₅Zn_3.5Sn_3.5S₁₃]·6H₂O represents an interesting example of metal chalcogenides that combines semiconductivity, porosity, and light emission in a single structure. It crystallizes in the cubic space group Fm-3c, a=17.8630(3) Å, V=5699.85(17) Å³, Z=8. The compound decomposes at ∼450 °C. A band gap of 2.9 eV is estimated from the optical diffuse reflectance data. A strong photoluminescence peak is observed at 2.43 eV in Mn doped samples. The electronic and optical properties of this compound can be systematically tuned by substitution of metal and chalcogen elements.     

Two types of coordination polymers based on cluster anions [Re4Q4(CN)12] (Q = S, Se) and cations of rare-earth metals Ln: Syntheses and crystal structures

The reactions of aqueous solutions of the tetrahedral cluster anions [Re₄Q₄(CN)₁₂]⁴⁻ (Q = S, Se) with lanthanide chlorides resulted in the crystallization of the formed compounds into two main structural types [{Ln(H₂O)₄(H₂O)_2/3Cl_1/3}₃{Re₄Q₄(CN)₁₂}₂]·2H₂O (Ln = La-Gd, Q = S, Se) and K_0.5(H)_0.5[{Ln(H₂O)₄}{Re₄S₄(CN)₁₂}]·nH₂O or (H)[{Ln(H₂O)₄}{Re₄Se₄(CN)₁₂}]·nH₂O (Ln = Tb-Lu). Compounds of the first type crystallize in the hexagonal crystal system (space group Р6₃/m) and they have a three-dimensional polymeric structure; compounds of the second type crystallize in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Cmcm) and they have a two-dimensional crystal structure due to the polymeric anion {[{Ln(H₂O)₄}{Re₄Q₄(CN)₁₂}]⁻}_∞∞.     

Architecture of zero-, one-, two- and three-dimensional structures based on metal ions and pyrazine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid

Six new complexes: [Ln₂(pzda)₃(H₂O)₂] · 2.5H₂O (Ln = Nd, (1); Eu, (2)), [Co(pzda) (bpe)] · 0.125(bpe) · 1.75H₂O (3), [Mn(pzda)(H₂O)_1.5] (4), [Co₂(pzda)₂(bpe)(H₂O)₄] · 0.5(CH₃OH) · H₂O (5) and [Co(pzda)(2,2′-bpy)(H₂O)] · 0.5H₂O (6) (H₂pzda = pyrazine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, bpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane, 2,2′-bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) were obtained from metal salts and H₂pzda under hydro(solvo)thermal conditions. The single crystal X-ray structural analysis reveals that the title complexes have different structures, ranging from zero- to three- dimensions, which are mainly due to the different metal ions, and especially the coordination modes of the pzda ligands. Complexes 1 and 2 have 3D metal-organic frameworks containing a 1D tri-strand array, in which the pzda ligand adopts a pentadentate mode to link lanthanide ions. Complex 3 has a 2D metal-organic framework, in which the pzda ligand acts in a tetradentate mode to connect Co(II) ions into 1D chains, which are further connected by bpe spacers into a 2D framework. While in 4, both of the two carboxylate groups of the pzda ligand adopt μ₂-O bridging modes to link Mn(II) ions into a 1D coordination polymer, which is further assembled into a 2D supramolecular network containing double-stranded hydrogen-bonded helical chains. In both 5 and 6, the pzda ligand binds metal ions as a tridentate ligand (ONO mode) to form zero dimensional structures. Complex 5 is a binuclear molecule, while 6 is a mononuclear complex, which can be attributed to the bridging ligand bpe for 5 and the terminal auxiliary ligand 2,2′-bpy for 6.     

Crystal growth of Ce2O(CO3)2·H2O in aqueous solutions: Film formation and samarium doping

Crystalline cerium oxide carbonate hydrate (Ce₂O(CO₃)₂·H₂O) was grown in aqueous solutions at a low temperature of 80 °C under ambient pressure. When cerium nitrate was used as a starting material, large Ce₂O(CO₃)₂·H₂O particles were precipitated through homogeneous nucleation and subsequent fast crystal growth. In contrast, the usage of cerium chloride was found to promote the preferential precipitation of Ce₂O(CO₃)₂·H₂O on foreign substrates through heterogeneous nucleation and slow crystal growth. This phenomenon was applied to a chemical bath deposition of Ce₂O(CO₃)₂·H₂O films. Immersion of glass substrates in the solution at 80 °C for typically 24 h resulted in formation of solid films with a unique morphology like a micrometer-scale brush. It was also found that samarium could be incorporated into Ce₂O(CO₃)₂·H₂O during the crystal growth in the solutions, as evidenced by characteristic photoluminescence of Sm³⁺ in heating products of CeO₂. These results suggest that rare-earth oxide carbonate hydrates with a variety of compositions and morphologies can be synthesized from the aqueous solutions.     

Anion effect on the construction of copper(II) coordination polymers with the twisted ligand bis(4-pyridylthio)methane

The reaction of CuSO₄ · H₂O with 4-bpytm [4-bpytm = bis(4-pyridylthio)methane] in EtOH afforded the complex [Cu(SO₄)(4-bpytm)(H₂O)₃] · H₂O (1 · H₂O) while the reaction of 4-bpytm with Cu(NO₃)₂ · 3H₂O in EtOH afforded the complex [Cu(NO₃)₂(4-bpytm)₂] · H₂O (2 · H₂O). The reaction of 4-bpytm with Cu(NO₃)₂ · 3H₂O in EtOH/dmf under microwave irradiation afforded the pseudo-polymorph [Cu(NO₃)₂(4-bpytm)₂] · Solv (2 · Solv). Compound 1 · H₂O forms helical chains while compounds 2 · H₂O and 2 · Solv are 2D coordination polymers with a (4,4) topology based on rhombic grids in 2 · H₂O and on a parquet motif in 2 · Solv. The 3D supramolecular organization through hydrogen bonding is analyzed for the three compounds and their thermal behaviour was also investigated.     

Speciation of water-soluble titanium citrate: Synthesis,structural, spectroscopic properties and biological relevance

Titanium(IV) citrate complexes with different anions Na₃[Ti(H₂cit)₂(Hcit)] · 9H₂O (1), K₄[Ti(H₂cit)(Hcit)₂] · 4H₂O (2), K₅[Ti(Hcit)₃] · 4H₂O (3) and Na₇[TiH(cit)₃] · 18H₂O (4) (H₄cit = citric acid) were isolated in pure forms from the solutions of titanate and citrate at various pH values. X-ray structural analyses revealed the presence of a monomeric tricitrato titanium unit in the four complexes. Each Ti(IV) ion is coordinated octahedrally by the three citrate ligands in different protonated forms. The citrate ligand chelates bidentately to the titanium ion through its negatively charged α-alkoxy and α-carboxy groups. This is consistent with the large downfield ¹³C NMR shifts for the carbon atoms bearing the α-alkoxy and α-carboxy groups. The very strong hydrogen-bonds existing in the protonated and deprotonated β-carboxy groups may be the key factor for the stabilization of the titanium citrate complexes. When the pH value is lower than 7.0, ¹³C NMR spectra of 1:3 Ti:citrate solutions are similar to those of the titanium citrate complexes isolated at the corresponding pH values. The dissociation of free citrate increases with the rise of pH value. However, ¹³C NMR spectra of 1:3 Ti:citrate solutions indicate that there may exist different citrate titanium species when the pH value is higher than 7.0.     

Synthesis and thermochemistry of MgO·3B2O3·3.5H2O

A new magnesium borate MgO·3B₂O₃·3.5H₂O has been synthesized by the method of phase transformation of double salt and characterized by XRD, IR and Raman spectroscopy as well as by TG. The structural formula of this compound was Mg[B₆O₉(OH)₂]·2.5H₂O. The enthalpy of solution of MgO·3B₂O₃·3.5H₂O in approximately 1 mol dm⁻³ HCl was determined. With the incorporation of the standard molar enthalpies of formation of MgO(s), H₃BO₃(s), and H₂O(l), the standard molar enthalpy of formation of −(5595.02±4.85) kJ mol⁻¹ of MgO·3B₂O₃3.5H₂O was obtained. Thermodynamic properties of this compound was also calculated by group contribution method.     

Preparation and characterization of proton-conducting sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)/phosphatoantimonic acid composite membranes

The solid proton conductor, phosphatoantimonic acid, HSbP₂O₈ · H₂O was prepared by ion exchange of the corresponding potassium salt. The composite membranes of SPEEK with up to 40 wt% of HSbP₂O₈ · H₂O were prepared by introducing the solid proton conductor from the aqueous suspension. The composite membranes were characterized using FT-IR, powder X-ray diffraction, SEM, DSC/TGA. Thermal stability of the composite membranes was slightly lower than that of SPEEK. The composite membranes had higher water uptake when compared with SPEEK and the membranes exhibited controlled swelling up to 50 °C. The proton conductivity of the membranes was measured under 100% relative humidity up to 70 °C. The composite membranes showed enhanced proton conductivity up to 20 wt% of HSbP₂O₈ · H₂O and the conductivity was reduced with further increase of HSbP₂O₈ · H₂O loading. A maximum of four-fold increase in proton conductivity at 70 °C was observed for the composite membrane with 20 wt% of solid proton conductor.     

Mononuclear,dinuclear and hydroxo-bridged tetranuclear complexes from reactions of Cu ions,mandelic acid and diimine ligands

The reaction of copper(II) hydroxocarbonate, mandelic acid (H₂MANO) and 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) in water affords [Cu(bpy)(μ₂-MANO)]₂ · 8H₂O (1), [Cu(bpy)(MANO)] · 4H₂O (2) and the opened tetranuclear hydroxo-bridged copper(II) complexes of formulae [Cu₄(μ₃-OH)₂(μ₂-MANO)₂(bpy)₄](phglyo)₂ · 8H₂O (3) (phglyo = phenylglyoxylate) or [Cu₄(μ₃-OH)₂(μ₂-OH)₂(OH₂)₂(phen)₄](Bza)₂(OH)₂ · 5H₂O (4) (Bza = benzoate), respectively. The compounds have been characterized by spectroscopic techniques and studied by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry. The formation of 3 and 4 takes place in basic media through dehydrogenation or oxidative dehydrogenation followed by in situ oxidative decarboxylation of mandelic acid to phenylglyoxylate or benzoate, respectively. These results indicate that cooperative catalysis of diimine ancillary ligands and copper(II) is essential.     

From discrete entity to three-dimensional architecture: Syntheses,crystal structures and optical properties of a series of transition metal complexes constructed from 4-carboxymethylbenzoic acid and 4,4′-bipyidine

Five new interesting transition metal coordination polymers [MnL₂(bpy)₂(H₂O)₂]_n (1) (H₂L = 4-carboxymethylbenzoic acid) (bpy = 4,4′-bipyidine), [CoL(bpy)(H₂O)₃ · H₂O]_n (2), [CdL(bpy)(H₂O)₃ · H₂O]_n (3), [Cu₂L(bpy)₂ · 3H₂O]_n (4) and [Zn₂L₂(bpy) · H₂O]_n (5) have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions and structurally characterized. This series of complexes has shown an intriguing variety of architectures, which firstly form zero- to two-dimensional frameworks by metal–ligand interactions, and secondly form three-dimensional supramolecular frameworks by intermolecular interactions such as hydrogen bonds. Compound 3 shows strong blue fluorescent emissions in the solid state upon photo-excitation at 359 nm at room temperature and may be an excellent candidate for blue-fluorescent materials. Compound 4 appears to be a good candidate for new hybrid inorganic–organic NLO materials.     

Uranyl ion complexes with long chain aminoalcoholbis(phenolate) [O,N,O,O′] donor ligands

The reaction between uranyl nitrate hexahydrate and phenolic ligand precursor [(N,N-bis(2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzyl)-4-amino-1-butanol) · HCl], H₃L1 · HCl, leads to a uranyl complex [UO₂(H₂L1)₂] (1a) and [UO₂(H₂L1)₂] · 2CH₃CN (1b). The ligand [(N,N-bis(2-hydroxy-5-tert-butyl-3-methylbenzyl)-4-amino-1-butanol)H₃L2 · HCl], H₃L2 · HCl, yields a uranyl complex with a formula [UO₂(H₂L2)₂] · CH₃CN (2). The ligand [(N,N-bis(2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzyl)-5-amino-1-pentanol) · HCl], H₃L3 · HCl, produces a uranyl complex with a formula [UO₂(H₂L3)₂] · 2CH₃CN (3) and the ligand [(N,N-bis(2-hydroxy-5-tert-butyl-3-methylbenzyl)-5-amino-1-pentanol) · HCl], H₃L4 · HCl, leads to a uranyl complex with a formula [UO₂(H₂L4)₂] · 2CH₃CN (4). The ligand [(N,N-bis(2-hydroxy-5-tert-butyl-3-methylbenzyl)-6-amino-1-hexanol) · HCl], H₃L5 · HCl, leads to a uranyl complex with a formula [UO₂(H₂L5)₂] · 4toluene (5). The complexes 1–5 are obtained using a molar ratio of 1:2 (U to L) in the presence of a base (triethylamine). The molecular structures of 1a, 1b, 3, 4 and 5 were verified by X-ray crystallography. All complexes are neutral zwitterions and have similar centrosymmetric, mononuclear, distorted octahedral uranyl structures with the four coordinating phenoxo ligands in an equatorial plane. In uranyl ion extraction studies from water to dichloromethane with ligands H₃L1 · HCl–H₃L5 · HCl, ligands H₃L1 · HCl, H₃L4 · HCl and H₃L5 · HCl are the most effective ones.     

Influence of some reaction conditions on the obtaining of tetra- and dinuclear zinc complexes of some Schiff bases derived from 2,6-diformyl-4-alkyl-phenols

A template 2:2:4 condensation of 2,6-diformyl-4-methyl-phenol, triethylenetetramine and zinc acetate gave rise to the crystallisation of [{Zn₄(H₄L¹)(OAc)₄}{Zn(OAc)₃(H₂O)}(OAc)] · 7H₂O (1 · 7H₂O), being H₆L¹ a macrocyclic diphenolate Schiff base ligand. Changing some operation conditions, other template reactions yielded dinuclear complexes of the type Zn₂(Lⁿ)(OAc) · xH₂O, where H₃Lⁿ (n = 2, 3) are podant triphenolate Schiff base ligands derived from a 3:1 condensation of the corresponding 2,6-diformyl-4-alkyl-phenol (alkyl = Me or Bu^t, respectively) and triethylenetetramine. After recrystallisation, these two latter complexes could be X-ray characterised as Zn₂(L²)(OAc) · 1.25H₂O · 0.5MeCN (2 · 1.25H₂O · 0.5MeCN), and Zn₂(L³)(OAc) (3). Furthermore, after addition of a 3:1 molar ratio of 2-amino-4-methyl-phenol to 3, this underwent imidazolidine hydrolysis and a double imine condensation, yielding Zn₂(L⁴)(OAc)(HOAc) · 2H₂O (4 · 2H₂O), where H₃L⁴ is an acyclic pentadentate Schiff base derived from the 1:2 condensation of 2,6-diformyl-4-tert-butyl-phenol and 2-amino-4-methyl-phenol.     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of ZnFe2O4 obtained by mechanochemically assisted low-temperature annealing of mixtures of Zn and Fe oxalates

The mechanism of formation of zinc ferrite (ZnFe₂O₄) from ZnC₂O₄·1.8H₂O-2Fe^IIC₂O₄·2H₂O and ZnC₂O₄·1.8H₂O-Fe₂^III(C₂O₄)₃·6H₂O mixtures is investigated. By combination of TG and XRPD measurements it has been shown that microcrystalline ZnFe₂O₄ forms from physical mixtures after prolonged annealing at 1000 °C while nanocrystalline ZnFe₂O₄ powders are produced by mild annealing (1 h at 500 °C in air) of mechanically activated mixtures. The magnetic properties of ZnFe₂O₄ powders obtained from physical and from milled mixtures are compared.     

Thermal decomposition of HfCl4 as a function of its hydration state

The thermogravimetric behavior of HfCl₄ powders with different hydration states has been compared. Strongly hydrated powders consist of HfOCl₂·nH₂O with n>4. Partially hydrated powders consist of particles with a HfCl₄ core and a hydrated outerlayer of HfOCl₂·nH₂O with n in the range of 0-8. Hydrated powders decomposed at temperature lower than 200 °C whereas the decomposition of partially hydrated powders was completed at a temperature of around 450 °C. The observed differences in decomposition temperature is related to the structure of HfOCl₂·nH₂O, which is different if n is higher or smaller than 4 and leads to intermediate compounds, which decompose at different temperatures.     

Synthesis,structures and NLO properties of five non-centrosymmetric coordination compounds from the copper(II)/dps system (dps = 4,4′-dipyridyl sulfide)

The formation, crystal structure and properties of five copper(II) coordination compounds with the angular ligand, 4,4′-dipyridyl sulfide (dps) are described, {[Cu₃(μ-dps)₄(μ-SO₄)₂(SO₄)(H₂O)₅] · 10H₂O}_∞ (1 · 10H₂O), [Cu(dps)₄(H₂O)₂] · (ClO₄)₂ · H₂O (2 · H₂O), {[Cu(μ-dps)₂(DMF)₂](ClO₄)₂}_∞ (3), {[Cu(μ-dps)₂(H₂O)₂] · (NO₃)₂ · 2H₂O}_∞ (4 · 2H₂O) and {[Cu₃(μ-dps)₆(DMF)₂(H₂O)₄] · (NO₃)₆ · (DMF) · 6H₂O}_∞ (5 · DMF · 6H₂O). The topological architectures of all these coordination compounds are strongly dependent on the counteranions, with the aid of guest solvents, and include a chiral 3D non-interpenetrated structure for 1, an acentric mononuclear structure for 2, acentric 2D undulating networks for 3 and 5, and a chiral 1D double-stranded chain for 4. In particular, all these acentric or chiral coordination architectures are generated from an achiral ligand as a building unit, and their second-order non-linear optical (NLO) properties are also studied in this paper.     

Solid-liquid phase equilibria in the system water + methanol + MgSO4·7H2O + MnSO4·4H2O

The solubilities and complex phase equilibria for the system of MnSO₄·4H₂O + MgSO₄·7H₂O + H₂O + CH₃OH were determined at the temperatures 291.2 and 301.2 K over the methanol mole fraction range of 0.00–0.12.The solubility data were used for modelling with the modified extended electrolyte non-random two-liquid equation. The salting-out effect of MgSO₄ and methanol on the solubilities of two manganese salts (MnSO₄·H₂O and MnSO₄·4H₂O) are represented in the several thermodynamic figures as a function of temperature. The solventing-out effect was stronger than the salting-out effect, which results in a decrease of the solubilities of manganese, salts even though the solubility of MnSO₄·H₂O decreased and solubility of MgSO₄·4H₂O increased as temperature increased.     

The reaction of MgCl2·4H2O with CCl2F2

A new reaction of MgCl₂·4H₂O with CCl₂F₂ is investigated by DTA and TG from room temperature to 350 °C. It is observed that MgF₂ was obtained between 252 and 350 °C, Below the temperature, MgCl₂·4H₂O dehydrates and hydrolyzes to MgCl₂ and Mg(OH)Cl, which are the real reactants of the reaction with CCl₂F₂. The formation of MgF₂ is ascribed to the reaction of MgCl₂ and Mg(OH)Cl with HF, which forms by decomposition of CCl₂F₂ with the taking part in of H₂O released from dehydration of hydrated magnesium chloride on the surface of MgCl₂ and Mg(OH)Cl, which catalyzes the decomposition of CCl₂F₂ in this case. Consequently, the reactions are tested in the fluid-bed condition. It is found that MgF₂ formed at temperatures down to 200 °C in a fluid-bed reactor. This reaction may be used as a method of disposing of the environmentally sensitive CCl₂F₂ (rather than release into the atmosphere). It is also a method for the preparation of MgF₂.