Fabricating and Tailoring Polyaniline (PANI) Nanofibers with High Aspect Ratio in a Low‐Acid Environment in a Magnetic Field

In a 0.010 m HCl solution, we successfully transformed irregular polyaniline (PANI) agglomerates into uniform PANI nanofibers with a diameter of 46–145 nm and a characteristic length on the order of several microns by the addition of superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ microspheres in a magnetic field. The PANI morphological evolution showed that the PANI nanofibers stemmed from the PANI coating shell synthesized on the surface of the Fe₃O₄ microsphere chains. It was found that the magnetic field could optimize the PANI nanofibers with a narrow diameter size distribution, and effectively suppressed secondary growth. When compared with other microspheres (like silica and polystyrene), only the use of superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ microspheres resulted in the appearance of PANI nanofibers. Attempts to form these high‐quality PANI nanofibers in other concentrations of HCl solution were unsuccessful. This deficiency was largely attributed to the inappropriate quantity of aniline cations.     

Nanosilver‐Decorated TiO2 Nanofibers Coated with a SiO2 Layer for Enhanced Light Scattering and Localized Surface Plasmons in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Enhanced harvesting of visible light is vital to the development of highly efficient dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Nanosilver‐decorated TiO₂ nanofibers (Ag@TiO₂ NFs) were synthesized by depositing chemically reduced Ag ions onto the surface of electrospun TiO₂ nanofibers (TiO₂ NFs). The prepared Ag@TiO₂ NFs were coated with SiO₂ (SiO₂@Ag@TiO₂ NFs) by using PVP as coupling agent for protecting corrosion of Ag nanoparticle by I^?/${{\rm I}{{- \hfill \atop 3\hfill}}}$ solution. The fabricated SiO₂@Ag@TiO₂ NFs demonstrated a synergistic effect of light scattering and surface plasmons, leading to an enhanced light absorption. Moreover, an anode consisting of SiO₂@Ag@TiO₂ NFs incorporating TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) increased light harvesting without substantially sacrificing dye attachment. The power conversion efficiency increased from 6.8 to 8.7 % for a thick film (10 μm), that is, 28 %. These results suggest that SiO₂@Ag@TiO₂ NFs are promising materials for enhanced light absorption in dye‐sensitized solar cells.     

Polytype Transformations in the SO42– Containing Layered Double Hydroxides of Zinc with Aluminum and Chromium: The Metal Hydroxide Layer as a Structural Synthon

Solid–solid inter‐polytype transformations are observed during the thermal dehydration of sulfate‐containing layered double hydroxides (LDHs). The metal hydroxide layer behaves as a “structural synthon” and the interconversion of polytypes of rhombohedral and hexagonal symmetries takes place by rigid translations of successive layers by (± 1/3, ± 2/3) relative to one another in the ab plane. These translations are selected among the many possible, as they preserve the coincidence of the symmetry elements of the individual layers and thereby conserve the threefold symmetry of the crystal across the inter‐polytype conversions. As a result, these transformations are enthalpically not expensive. These translations are facilitated at near ambient temperatures (30–60 °C) by the reversible dehydration of the LDH, which involves the deinsertion/insertion of water molecules within the restricted space of the interlayer region.     

Cellulose nanofibrils—adsorption with poly(amideamine) epichlorohydrin studied by QCM-D and application as a paper strength additive

In this paper cellulose nanofibrils were used together with a cationic polylelectrolyte, poly(amideamine) epichlorohydrin (PAE), to enhance the wet and the dry strength of paper. The adsorption of nanofibrils and PAE on cellulose model surfaces was studied using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The differences in fibril and polyelectrolyte adding strategies onto cellulose fibres were studied by comparing layer-structures and nano-aggregates formed by the nanofibrils and PAE. The results showed that when PAE was first adsorbed on the model fibre surface a uniform and viscous layer of nanofibrils could be adsorbed. When PAE and nanofibrils were adsorbed as cationic aggregates a non-uniform and more rigid layer was adsorbed. Paper sheets were prepared using both the bi-layer and nano-aggregate adding strategy of the nanofibrils and PAE. When PAE and nanofibrils were adsorbed on pulp fibres as a bi-layer system significant increase in both wet and dry tensile strength of paper could be achieved even at low added amounts of PAE. When the substances were added as nano-aggregates the improvements in paper strength properties were not as significant. Bulk and surface nitrogen content analyses of the paper samples showed that the adding strategy does not affect the total adsorbed amount of PAE but it has a strong effect on distribution of substances in the paper matrix which has a crucial effect on paper wet and dry strength development.     

Flapping Peryleneimide as a Fluorogenic Dye with High Photostability and Strong Visible‐Light Absorption

Flapping fluorophores (FLAP) with a flexible 8π ring are rapidly gaining attention as a versatile photofunctional system. Here we report a highly photostable “flapping peryleneimide” with an unprecedented fluorogenic mechanism based on a bent‐to‐planar conformational change in the S₁ excited state. The S₁ planarization induces an electronic configurational switch, almost quenching the inherent fluorescence (FL) of the peryleneimide moieties. However, the FL quantum yield is remarkably improved with a prolonged lifetime upon a slight environmental change. This fluorogenic function is realized by sensitive π‐conjugation design, as a more π‐expanded analogue does not show the planarization dynamics. With strong visible‐light absorption, the FL lifetime response synchronized with the flexible flapping motion is useful for the latest optical techniques such as FL lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM).     

Doublet Chirality Transfer and Reversible Helical Transition in Poly(3,5‐disubstituted phenylacetylene)s with Pyrene as a Probe Unit†

A novel doublet chirality transfer (DCT) model was demonstrated in cis poly(3,5‐disubstituted phenylacetylene)s, i.e., S‐I , R‐I , and S‐I‐NMe . The chiral message from the stereocenter of alkylamide substituent at 3‐position induced the polyene backbone to take cis‐transoid helical conformation with a predominant screw sense. And in turn the helical backbone acted as a scaffold to orient the pyrene probes, which was linked to phenyl rings through 5‐position, to array in an asymmetric manner. A combinatory analyses of ¹H NMR, Raman, FTIR, UV‐vis absorption, CD, and computer simulation suggested that the main‐chain stereostructure, solvent nature, and intramolecular hydrogen bonds played important and complex roles on DCT. High cis‐structure content and intramolecular hydrogen bonds were beneficial for the realization of DCT. Reversible helix‐helix transition was observed in S‐I by changing the nature of solvents. In DMF, S‐I adopted a relatively contracted helix, where the main chain exhibited strong optical activity, but that of pyrene was weak. In contrast, a relatively stretched helix formed in CHCl₃, in which the optical activity of pyrene was much larger, whereas that of the polyene backbone was the weakest. This helix‐helix transition was attributed to the intramolecular hydrogen bonds, which was confirmed by solution‐state FTIR spectra and computer calculations.     

Magnetic apple seed starch functionalized with 2,2′‐furil as a green host for cobalt nanoparticles: Highly active and reusable catalyst for Mizoroki–Heck and the Suzuki–Miyaura reactions

From the perspective of green chemistry, in catalytic systems, being low cost and eco‐friendly, in addition to high chemical and thermal stability, are requirements of support materials. In this regard, we used apple seed starch as an accessible, nontoxic, and cost‐effective support material. In order to take advantage of magnetic separation, the magnetite nanoparticles were chosen as an ideal pair for apple seed starch. Furthermore, during the Schiff base reaction, the magnetic apple seed starch was functionalized with 2,2′‐furil along with amine functionality to be used as a bio‐support for immobilization of cobalt. The introduction of cobalt had a significant effect on the greenness of the catalyst and reducing its price. FT‐IR, TGA, XRD, FE‐SEM, TEM, VSM, ninhydrin test, element mapping, AAS, and EDX analysis were applied to characterize the newly prepared catalyst. The effectiveness of this novel Schiff base supported catalyst was evaluated in the Mizoroki–Heck and the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions. High reactivity and selectivity were among the most prominent characteristics of the catalyst as compared to previously reported catalysts. The longevity test and hot filtration showed the ability to use the catalyst at least 5 times and negligible cobalt leaching during the reaction, respectively. This work is the first report on the usage of apple seed starch as a supporting catalyst and 2,2′‐furil as a ligand in the catalyst modifications and catalytic activity. Accordingly, this can be the beginning of an attractive way in the design and synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts.     

On Polychalcogenides of Thallium with M2 Q11 Groups as a Structural Building Block. II. Tl4Ta2Se11: Synthesis,Crystal Structure,Properties and Spectroscopic Investigations of the First Polyselenide being Composed of a Discrete [Ta2Se11]4— Anion

The new ternary compound Tl₄Ta₂Se₁₁ was prepared in a melt of thallium polyselenides applying elemental tantalum. It crystallises in the triclinic space group P1¯ with a = 7.996(1) Å, b = 9.866(1) Å, c = 13.668(2) Å, α = 73.03(1)°, β = 89.21(2)° and γ = 85.72(1)°. Tl₄Ta₂Se₁₁ is the first polyselenide with discrete complex [M₂Se₁₁]^4— anions. Every Ta atom is in a sevenfold environment of Se atoms to form a distorted pentagonal bi‐pyramid. The two TaSe₇ polyhedra have a face in common thus yielding the [Ta₂Se₁₁]^4— unit. In the structure, the anions are well separated by the Tl¹⁺ cations. An assignment of the different vibration modes in the IR and Raman spectra is given based on density functional calculations.