Crystal gazing : A simple Pd‐catalyzed site‐specific nanoetching method was developed to visualize the polycrystalline nature of Fe3O4 (see picture), Fe2O3, MnFe2O4, CoFe2O4, and MnO nanoparticle systems. The technique relies on the very fast etching speed of the grain interface within bi‐ or polycrystalline nanocrystals.
Copper clusters : Two high‐nuclearity copper cages, tricorne Cu21 and saddlelike cyclic Cu16 (see pictures), were synthesized. Magnetic studies and Monte Carlo calculations were also performed to show the overall antiferromagnetic properties of the two compounds.
Showing their true colors? Full emission color tuning in the visible region can be achieved with salen–aluminum complexes that are electronically modulated at C5 of the phenoxide ring in the salen moiety. Emission spectra for various substituents R5 are shown (EWG: electron‐withdrawing group, EDG: electron‐donating group).
High‐de‐hydride! A straightforward reaction between a magnesium silylamido/N‐heterocyclic carbene adduct and phenylsilane provides a {Mg4H6} cluster molecule that may be regarded as a combination of two magnesium dihydride and two magnesium monohydride moieties.
Let it shine! The impact of the anchoring group on photovoltaic performance by a series of phthalocyanine sensitisers (see figure) has been demonstrated.
Two activations are better than one : The chiral bifunctional guanidine 1 , which features an amino amide backbone, catalyzes the asymmetric Michael addition of a range of substrates and gives products with excellent stereoselectivities. The method also allows the efficient synthesis of optically pure β‐amino acid esters. Both the guanidine group and the NH proton of the amide were important for the dual activation.
Film studies : Epitaxial films of BaZrN2 (see TEM image) and BaHfN2 are grown by polymer‐assisted deposition on SrTiO3 (STO) substrates. The films are phase‐pure, allowing the intrinsic physical properties of the ternary nitrides to be studied. From 5 to 300 K, the films exhibit metallic‐like resistivity–temperature behavior, with large residual resistivity ratios.
Buckle up! The dimerization of small fluorescent guests is strongly enhanced in presence of a cyclodextrin host. The host cavity acts like a belt to assist the self‐assembly of guests (see picture). Small variations in the guest structure have significant influence on the stability and geometry of the aggregates.
Little hollow! Monodisperse ZnS hollow nanospheres (see figure) of about 200 nm in size have been fabricated on a large scale by a hydrothermal method and they show good photocatalytic activity in the decolorization of an aqueous solution of rhodamine B under UV irradiation.
