One‐Step Exfoliation and Fluorination of Boron Nitride Nanosheets and a Study of Their Magnetic Properties

A novel, simple, and efficient method for the preparation of the fluorinated hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets (F‐BNNSs) and the corresponding magnetic properties is presented. A one‐step route is used to exfoliate and fluorinate the BNNSs by ammonium fluoride (NH₄F) from hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) powder. Through related instrument characterizations and theoretical calculations, we confirm that large‐area and few‐layer F‐BNNSs were successfully produced by this method, which can be attributed to a fluorination‐assisted exfoliation mechanism from the bulk h‐BN in NH₄F. More intriguingly, we initially verified that the as‐prepared F‐BNNSs exhibit ferromagnetic characteristics, which would have good potential applications in spintronic devices.     

Fluorinating hexagonal boron nitride into diamond-like nanofilms with tunable band gap and ferromagnetism

Cubic boron nitride (c-BN) possesses a number of extreme properties rivaling or surpassing those of diamond. Especially, owing to the high chemical stability, c-BN is desired for fabricating electronic devices that can stand up to harsh environments. However, realization of c-BN-based functional devices is still a challenging task due largely to the subtlety in the preparation of high-quality c-BN films with uniform thickness and controllable properties. Here, we present a simple synthetic strategy by surface fluorination of few-layered hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) sheets to produce thermodynamically favorable F-terminated c-BN nanofilms with an embedded N-N bond layer and strong inbuilt electric polarization. Due to these specific features, the fluorinated c-BN nanofilms have controllable band gap by thickness or inbuilt and applied electric fields. Especially, the produced nanofilms can be tuned into substantial ferromagnetism through electron doping within a reasonable level. The electron-doping-induced deformation ratio of the c-BN nanofilms is found to be 1 order of magnitude higher than those of carbon nanotubes and graphene. At sufficient high doping levels, the nanofilm can be cleaved peculiarly along the N-N bond layer into diamond-like BN films. As the proposed synthesis strategy of the fluorinated c-BN nanofilms is well within the reach of current technologies, our results represent an extremely cost-effective approach for producing high-quality c-BN nanofilms with tunable electronic, magnetic, and electromechanical properties for versatile applications.     

Atomic and electronic structures of fluorinated BN nanotubes: computational study

The atomic and electronic structures of fluorinated BN nanotubes (BNNTs) were investigated by generalized gradient approximation (GGA) density functional theory (DFT). The reaction energies of F2 with pristine single-walled BNNTs to form fluorinated BNNTs are exothermic up to 50% coverage. At lower F coverages (below 50%), fluorines prefer external attachments to boron atoms and stay as far away as possible. At 50% F coverage, fluorines favor attachment to all the boron atoms of the outer surface energetically. Such preferable fluorination patterns and highly exothermic reaction energies hold true for double-walled (and multiwalled) BNNTs when the outer tube surface is considered. Fluorination transforms BNNTs into p-type semiconductors at low F coverages, while high F coverages convert BNNTs into p-type conductors. Therefore, the electronic and transport properties of BNNTs can be engineered by fluorination, and this provides potential applications for fluorinated BNNTs in nanoelectronics.     

N-Doped Hybrid Graphene and Boron Nitride Armchair Nanoribbons As Nonmagnetic Semiconductors with Widely Tunable Electronic Properties

Russian Journal of Physical Chemistry A - The electronic and chemical properties of N-doped hybrid graphene and boron nitride armchair nanoribbons (N-doped a-GBNNRs) in comparison with graphene...     

石墨烷纳米条带阵列中的近自由电子态

Nearly free electron (NFE) state has been widely studied in low dimensional systems. Based on first-principles calculations, we identify two types of NFE states in graphane nanoribbon superlattice, similar to those of graphene nanoribbons and boron nitride nanoribbons. Effect of electron doping on the NFE states in graphane nanoribbon superlattice has been studied, and it is possible to open a vacuum transport channel via electron doping.     

Optimization of HDPE direct fluorination conditions by XPS studies

A fluorination reactor was designed and built in the laboratory. The optimal conditions of fluorination within the reactor were selected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of fluorinated surfaces of a film and a plaque of pure high-density polyethylene (HDPE). This reactor was used to post-mould fluorinate plaques and films of a range of mixtures of virgin and recycled HDPE with and without (re)introduction of additives. The ability to be fluorinated has shown no dependence on the composition virgin/recycled HDPE.Comparison of in-line and post-mould fluorinated samples showed that fluorine concentration profile in depth is thinner in the in-line fluorinated sample when compared with the post-mould fluorinated sample, though the fluorination degree in the extreme surface is larger in the in-line fluorinated sample. This is attributed to a migration of lower surface energy chain blocks towards the surface in the material at high temperatures, which is the case in the in-line fluorination, hindered in the post-mould fluorination where maximum temperature is below the melting point to keep the macroscopic shape. The additives played a minor role in the ability of the surface to be fluorinated.     

First Principle Study on Electronic and Transport Properties of Finite-Length Nanoribbons and Nanodiscs for Selected Two-Dimensional Materials

Using the density functional theory, we calculate electronic states of various nanoribbons and nanodiscs formed from selected two-dimensional materials, such as graphene, silicene, and hexagonal boron nitride. The main objective of the analysis is a search for zero-energy states in such systems, which is an important issue as their presence indicates certain topological properties associated with chirality. The analysis is also supported by calculating transport properties.     

Site selectivities in fluorination

In the synthesis of bio-active compounds, fluorinated compounds play a prominent role. However, the site-selective fluorination of organic molecules is often challenging, because activation of a reaction site using a fluorinating reagent can be difficult in a substrate possessing many functional groups. This digest introduces recent examples of site-selective fluorination reactions.     

The First Principle Study on C-doped Armchair Boron Nitride Nanoribbon Rectifier

The electronic transport properties of armchair-edged boron nitride nanoribbons(ABNNRs) devices were investigated by the first principle calculations. The calculated results show that the ABNNR device doped with carbon atoms in one of the electrodes acts as a high performance nanoribbon rectifier. It is interesting to find that there exists a particular bias-polarity-dependent matching band between two electrodes,leading to a similar current-voltage(I-V) behavior as conventional P-N diodes. The I-V behavior presents a linear positive-bias I-V characteristic,an absolutely negligible leakage current,and a stable rectifying property under a large bias region. The results suggest that C doping might be an effective way to raise ABNNRs devices' rectifying performance.     

Enantioselective organocatalytic fluorination using organofluoro nucleophiles

Synthetic fluorinated compounds are enormously useful in areas such as materials, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. While methods of electrophilic fluorination have been extensively developed to stereoselectively install fluorine atoms onto molecules, nucleophilic fluorination is a much less explored approach. Recently, several organofluoro reagents have been designed and used as nucleophiles in the asymmetric synthesis of fluorinated compounds, significantly expanding the scope of enantio-enriched fluorine-containing compounds that can be synthesised. Such organofluoro nucleophiles are particularly useful in organocatalytic transformations. In this review, recent advances in the application of organofluoro nucleophiles in organocatalysis are summarised.     

Microwave-assisted fluorination of 2-acylpyrroles: synthesis of fluorohymenidin

Treatment of mono- and nonbrominated 2-acylpyrroles with Selectfluor under microwave conditions leads to fluorination of the pyrrole ring in the 5-position. In particular, 2-trichloroacetylated pyrrole can be fluorinated. As an example, dihydrofluorohymenidin was synthesized and dehydrogenated to fluorohymenidin as the first fluorinated pyrrole-imidazole alkaloid. Introduction of the vinyl double bond was achieved by chlorination of the 2-aminoimidazole moiety, followed by dehydrochlorination at 100 °C in DMF.     

Decarboxylative Fluorination of 2-Pyridylacetates

Syntheses of substituted pyridines and fluorinated compounds, which are often pharmaceutical targets, are important objectives in organic chemistry. Herein, we found that decarboxylative fluorination of lithium 2-pyridylacetates occur under catalyst-free conditions. The phenomenon can be applied to one-pot transformation of substituted methyl 2-pyridylacetate to 2-(fluoroalkyl)pyridine by decarboxylative fluorination of the intermediate lithium 2-pyridylacetate. This method was also applied to the syntheses of 2-(difluoroalkyl)pyridines.     

Fluorination of trimethylamine over cobalt(III) fluoride : Novel cyclisation of trimethylamine to polyfluoro-1,3-dimethylimidazolidines (characterised by mass spectrometry and nmr spectroscopy); cation-radical

Trimethylamine has been fluorinated with cobalt(III) fluoride to give eleven novel highly fluorinated products including seven polyfluoro-1,3-dimethylimidazolidines. Mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy were used to assign product structures. On fluorination under comparable conditions 1,2-bisdimethylamino-ethane and bisdimethylaminomethane gave mixtures containing all the products characterised from the title fluorination. A cation-radical mechanism of fluorination is proposed.     

Syntheses and properties of fluorinated carbon materials

In this review, the more recent topics in the field of fluorinated carbon materials are given with the emphasis on the research work presented by our group. The direct fluorination and/or oxyfluorination of various carbon materials, especially of new carbon materials, i.e. nanotubes, carbon fibers, and activated carbon fibers have been described. It has been shown that fluorination can be one of the most effective methods to modify and control physico-chemical properties of carbon materials.     

Giant Stark effect in double-stranded porphyrin ladder polymers

Using the first-principles calculations, we have investigated the stability and the electronic structure of two types of recently synthesized one-dimensional nanoribbons, i.e., double-stranded zinc(II) porphyrin ladder polymer (LADDER) arrays. First, electronic structure calculations were used to show that the LADDER is a semiconductor. Most importantly, the application of a transverse electric field significantly reduces the band gap of the LADDER, ultimately converting the LADDER to a metal at a field strength of 0.1 V∕A?. The giant Stark effect in this case is almost as strong as that in boron nitride nanotubes and nanoribbons. In the presence of an electric field, hole conduction and electronic conduction will occur entirely through spatially separated strands, rendering these materials useful for nanoelectronic devices. Second, the substitution of hydrogen atoms in the porphyrin units or that of zinc ions with other kinds of chemical species is found to increase the binding strength of the LADDER and reduce the band gap.     

Proposed fluorination mechanism of CB(5)H(6)(-) and CB(9)H(10)(-) with HF. Evidence of kinetic control in the formation of 2-CB(5)H(5)F(-) and 6-CB(9)H(9)F(-)

Two pathways have been considered in the fluorination of CB(5)H(6)(-) and CB(9)H(10)(-) by HF. In the ionic HF fluorination pathway, the monocarborane anion cage is first protonated in a BBB face followed by H(2) elimination and fluoride anion addition. In the covalent HF fluorination pathway, HF is first coordinated through hydrogen to the BBB face. Next, the fluorine can add to either an axial or equatorial boron atom which opens the cage to a nido structure with an endo fluoride substituent. Endo to exo rearrangement occurs with a small activation barrier followed by H(2) elimination. In both pathways, fluorination at the equatorial boron position is predicted to have smaller activation barriers even though substitution at the axial position leads to the more stable products.     

含氟卟啉的研究进展

综述了近几年国内外含氟卟啉的合成及其研究进展. 含氟卟啉合成方法分为直接氟化法和间接氟化法. 直接法主要采用无机氟化试剂直接对卟啉环进行氟化; 间接法主要采用含氟砌块法引入氟基团. 由于合成卟啉环比较复杂, 目前氟化学家主要采用间接氟化法合成含氟卟啉化合物.     

Syntheses and Synthetic Applications of Functionalized Propargylic and Allylic Fluorides

This account presents the synthesis and application of propargylic and allylic fluorides containing hydroxy or carbonyl functional groups. In particular, the Barbier-type reaction of difluoropropargyl bromides with aldehydes or chloroformates provides versatile propargylic fluorides, and the organocatalytic fluorination of dienamine intermediates has been demonstrated as an effective method to obtain allylic fluorides stereoselectively. Additionally, mechanistic insights into such reactions are discussed with the aid of density functional theory calculations. The report also describes the preparation of fluorinated 1,7-diyne or 1,7-enyne derivatives of these compounds. These propargylic and allylic fluorides can be used as building blocks for fluorinated heterocycles, such as fluorinated furans, tetrahydrofurans, and lactams. Additionally, fluorinated bi- or tri-heterocyclic compounds can be synthesized via transition-metal-catalyzed reactions with fluorinated 1,7-diyne or 1,7-enyne derivatives.     

Electronic structure of octagonal boron nitride nanotubes

The effect of an octagonal lattice configuration on a boron nitride nanotube is explored using first principle calculations. Calculations show that the formational energy of an octagonal boron nitride nanotube (o‐BNNT) is an exothermic reaction. Boron and nitrogen atoms within an o‐BNNT have an average of 2.88 electrons and 9.09 electrons, respectively, indicating ionic‐like bonding. In addition, the electronic structure of the octagonal boron nitride nanotube shows semiconductive properties, while h‐BNNT is reported to be an insulator. Additional o‐BNNTs with varying diameters are calculated where the results suggest that the diameter has an effect on the binding energy and bandgap of the o‐BNNT. The defect sites of the o‐BNNT are reactive against hydrogen where a boron defect is particularly reactive. Thus, this work suggests that physical and chemical properties of a boron nitride nanotube can be tailored and tuned by controlling the lattice configuration of the nanotube.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel fluorinated poly(oxomolybdates)

Two novel poly(oxofluoromolybdate) clusters, [Mo6O18F6]6- and [Mo7O22F3]5-, have emerged from systematic field studies on the hydrothermal fluorination of poly(oxometalates). They are accessible via the hydrothermal treatment of Mo(VI)-based precursors in the presence of MF additives (M = Li, Na, Cs, NMe4). The new fluorinated polyanions are stabilized by specific alkali-cation combinations, and their packing motifs can be tuned through the careful choice of cations and synthetic parameters. The [Mo6O18F6]6- anion can be described as a cored and fluorinated form of the Anderson-Evans cluster type. It is stabilized by the interaction of two alkali cations with the fluorinated faces of the ring-shaped anion. The partial replacement of these capping alkali cations by the bulky, organic NMe4(+) cation leads to the formation of [Mo7O22F3](5-)-based compounds. Thus, the extent of fluorination can be controlled through the polarizability of the cationic environment: in the [Mo7O22F3]5- anion, half of the fluoride atoms of the [Mo6O18F6]6- anion are replaced by a capping MoO4 tetrahedron, thereby rendering this anion a fluorinated, lacunar derivative of the alpha-[Mo8O26]4- octamolybdate anion. All compounds have been structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The templating role of the alkali cations is discussed and explained with the help of electrostatic calculations.