Further Understanding of the Reactivity Control of Bisphosphonates to a Metal Source for Fabricating Highly Ordered Mesoporous Films

Mesoporous metal organophosphonates having embedded organic functions are a promising platform to hybridize organics and non-siliceous inorganic frameworks in their molecular scale. However, the reactivity between a bisphosphonate and a metal source is dramatically different for their combination and then hampers to construct ordered mesoporous structures even when using amphiphilic organic molecules. By proposing an advanced method to adjust such reactivity, we recently succeeded in fabricating ordered mesoporous aluminum organophosphonate (AOP) films with chemically designable benzene units inside their hybrid frameworks. The reactivity of the organically bridged bisphosphonates has been controlled by utilizing dissimilar reactivities of acid–base pairs like P−OH and P−OEt groups to AlCl₃. Here, we further prove our reactivity-control concept through the introduction of organic groups, such as those having symmetric thiophene, asymmetric amide, and hydrophilic ether units. Liquid-state ³¹P NMR measurements further clarified the usefulness of the control of the −OH/ −OEt ratio in the same bisphosphonate molecules for obtaining highly ordered mesostructured AOP films.     

Multienzyme Biocatalytic Cascade Systems in Porous Organic Frameworks for Biosensing

Multienzyme biocatalytic cascade systems (MBCS) have attracted widespread research in the field of biosensing due to selective substrate transformations and signal amplification function. However, the poor stability of enzymes significantly restricts their effectiveness in practical applications. The spatial organization of MBCS within porous organic frameworks (POFs), such as metal–organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks, and hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks, is regarded as a promising strategy to overcome these challenges. This advanced biotechnology sets up a POFs microenvironment for enzymes immobilization, and thus make it possible to shield the enzyme from the external stimulus by POFs-guided structural confinement. Simultaneously, the tailorable porous structure of POFs shell allows for the selective transport of substrates into interior enzymes, thereby accelerating the sensing process. Herein, we present the concept of this POFs-confined MBCS, wherein enzymes were completely encapsulated into, rather than adsorption onto, the POFs. We highlight the new strategies for MBCS spatial organization through rational POFs support, and describe how this new bio-nanosystem that integrates framework and enzymes functions can be designed as a versatile biosensing platform. In addition, the challenges and outlooks are also discussed.     

General Information to Obtain Spherical Particles with Ordered Mesoporous Structures

Conditions for the synthesis of aluminum organophosphonate (AOP) and aluminophosphate (AlPO) spheres containing periodic mesopores were optimized and demonstrated to be general morphological controls for the surfactant‐assisted synthesis of mesoporous materials. High‐quality AOP and AlPO spheres with uniform mesopores were obtained at low and high temperatures, respectively. The aerosol‐assisted synthesis of materials with uniform mesopores was categorized by using the difference in relative density of soluble AOP and AlPO oligomers that interact with ethylene oxide (EO) units in EO_nPO_mEO_n triblock copolymer (PO=propylene oxide). Then, ordered mesoporous structures are constructed with the adequate amount of species in resultant frameworks, and the number of interactive points in soluble species determines the resultant density of the frameworks after self‐assembly. Consequently, temperature‐dependent synthesis, which allows controlled infiltration of soluble species to match the density of resultant frameworks, is required for the formation of ordered mesoporous structures under morphological control.     

Framework-based design of a new all-purpose molecular simulation application: the Adun simulator

Here we present Adun, a new molecular simulator that represents a paradigm shift in the way scientific programs are developed. The traditional algorithm centric methods of scientific programming can lead to major maintainability and productivity problems when developing large complex programs. These problems have long been recognized by computer scientists; however, the ideas and techniques developed to deal with them have not achieved widespread adoption in the scientific community. Adun is the result of the application of these ideas, including pervasive polymorphism, evolutionary frameworks, and refactoring, to the molecular simulation domain. The simulator itself is underpinned by the Adun Framework, which separates the structure of the program from any underlying algorithms, thus giving a completely reusable design. The aims are twofold. The first is to provide a platform for rapid development and implementation of different simulation types and algorithms. The second is to decrease the learning barrier for new developers by providing a rigorous and well-defined structure. We present some examples on the use of Adun by performing simple free-energy simulations for the adiabatic charging of a single ion, using both free-energy perturbation and the Bennett's method. We also illustrate the power of the design by detailing the ease with which ASEP/MD, an elaborated mean field QM/MM method originally written in FORTRAN 90, was implemented into Adun.     

Alternative Integer-Linear-Programming Formulations of the Clar Problem in Hexagonal Systems

We present two alternative objective functions for the integer-linear-programming formulation of the Clar problem in hexagonal systems proposed by Hansen and Zheng [1994, J. Math. Chem. 15, 93]. Also, we note that these formulations can be solved in polynomial-time with linear programming algorithms.     

离子型共价有机框架材料的合成及其催化性能（英文）

共价有机框架(COFs)材料是在拓扑学基础上发展起来的一类新型有机晶体多孔聚合物.由于COFs材料具有较高的比表面积、良好的热稳定性和化学稳定性、可设计的孔结构以及容易修饰改性的特点,目前广泛用作催化剂或催化剂载体.COFs的构筑单体为有机小分子,其来源广泛且种类繁多,使得构筑单体多样化,便于通过构筑单体来调控目标材料的结构和功能.近年来对COFs的研究已经引起人们广泛关注.离子框架材料在气体分子的吸附与分离领域展示了良好性能,通过简单的离子交换过程,可以容易地将具有特定尺寸和功能的反离子引入到框架结构中来调控孔的尺寸大小,从而实现混合气体的有效分离.然而,在催化领域目前尚未见将具有特定催化功能的反离子基团引入到框架之中,研究离子框架材料的催化性能.本文设计合成了一种负电荷为骨架结构的离子型COFs材料.我们首先选取一种化学结构稳定的COF作为骨架前驱体,其中的单体具有可反应的活性基团酚羟基,然后通过与1,3-丙烷磺酸内酯进行开环反应,将烷基磺酸引入到孔中,经过弱碱处理后得到阴离子型COFs(I-COFs),然后通过简单的离子交换过程将具有催化活性的Mn2+以及[Mn(bpy)2]2+配位阳离子分别引入到COFs框架中,得到具有催化功能的新材料.我们考察了两种I-COFs对烯烃氧化制环氧化合物的催化性能,发现所得离子COFs对不同的反应底物均展示了较高的环氧化催化性能.结果证实了离子I-COF催化反应为多相催化,还表现出I-COFs催化剂具有较高的稳定性以及循环使用性能.我们认为,通过简单的离子交换过程,能够赋予I-COFs材料各种不同的功能,从而实现COFs在不同领域的应用.这为多孔材料的功能化设计提供了新的化学平台.     

遗传算法与遗传编程的联用

遗传算法 ( Genetic algorithm)是一种概率搜索算法 [1] ,它的搜索过程与自然界生物进化过程相似[2 ] ,在搜索过程中不易陷入局部最优 .遗传编程 ( Genetic programming)是近年来随着程序设计自动化而产生和发展起来的一种自动编程技术 [3] .它继承了遗传算法的基本思想 ,是一种更广泛的适应系统方法 [4 ] .本文将遗传算法和遗传编程相结合 ,构造了既有广泛的搜索能力 ,又有很强的局部精化能力的 GA- GP算法 ,充分利用了遗传算法局部精化能力强、遗传编程适应面广的优点 .该算法应用范围广 ,可应用于多种非线性函数式及分式关系的建模 .1…     

Structural diversity and chemical trends in hybrid inorganic-organic framework materials

Hybrid framework compounds, including both metal-organic coordination polymers and systems that contain extended inorganic connectivity (extended inorganic hybrids), have recently developed into an important new class of solid-state materials. We examine the diversity of this complex class of materials, propose a simple but systematic classification, and explore the chemical and geometrical factors that influence their formation. We also discuss the growing evidence that many hybrid frameworks tend to form under thermodynamic rather than kinetic control when the synthesis is carried out under hydrothermal conditions. Finally, we explore the potential applications of hybrid frameworks in areas such as gas separations and storage, heterogeneous catalysis, and photoluminescence.     

Magnetic porous carbon nanocomposites derived from metal-organic frameworks as a sensing platform for DNA fluorescent detection

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as very fascinating functional materials due to their tunable nature and diverse applications. In this work, we prepared a magnetic porous carbon (MPC) nanocomposite by employing iron-containing MOFs (MIL-88A) as precursors through a one-pot thermolysis method. It was found that the MPC can absorb selectively single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) probe to form MPC/ssDNA complex and subsequently quench the labelled fluorescent dye of the ssDNA probe, which is resulted from the synergetic effect of magnetic nanoparticles and carbon matrix. Upon the addition of complementary target DNA, however, the absorbed ssDNA probe could be released from MPC surface by forming double-stranded DNA with target DNA, and accompanied by the recovery of the fluorescence of ssDNA probe. Based on these findings, a sensing platform with low background signal for DNA fluorescent detection was developed. The proposed sensing platform exhibits high sensitivity with detection limit of 1 nM and excellent selectivity to specific target DNA, even single-base mismatched nucleotide can be distinguished. We envision that the presented study would provide a new perspective on the potential applications of MOF-derived nanocomposites in biomedical fields.     

Research Progress in Covalent Organic Frameworks for Photoluminescent Materials

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are an emerging kind of crystalline porous polymers that present the precise integration of organic building blocks into extensible structures with regular pores and periodic skeletons. The diversity of organic units and covalent linkages makes COFs a rising materials platform for the design of structure and functionality. Herein, recent research progress in developing COFs for photoluminescent materials is summarised. Structural and functional design strategies are highlighted and fundamental problems that need to be solved are identified, in conjunction with potential applications from perspectives of photoluminescent materials.     

Immobilization of AIEgens into metal‐organic frameworks: Ligand design,emission behavior,and applications

Aggregation‐induced emission (AIE), in which the luminophores are highly emissive in aggregate state, is one of the most unique photophysical phenomena and has shown interesting applications in many areas. The immobilization of AIE luminogens (AIEgens) into metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs), which are inorganic‐organic hybrid porous materials with tunable and predictable structures, has been investigated over the past few years. These well‐defined porous frameworks cannot only provide an ideal platform for studying the mechanism of AIE phenomenon in solid state, but also show potential applications from sensing to white light‐emitting diodes. In this highlight, we will summarize the recent progress of AIEgens‐based MOFs, including ligand design, emission behavior, and applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 1809–1817     

Single‐Crystal‐like Nanoporous Spinel Oxides: A Strategy for Synthesis of Nanoporous Metal Oxides Utilizing Metal‐Cyanide Hybrid Coordination Polymers

Development of a new method to synthesize nanoporous metal oxides with highly crystallized frameworks is of great interest because of their wide use in practical applications. Here we demonstrate a thermal decomposition of metal‐cyanide hybrid coordination polymers (CPs) to prepare nanoporous metal oxides. During the thermal treatment, the organic units (carbon and nitrogen) are completely removed, and only metal contents are retained to prepare nanoporous metal oxides. The original nanocube shapes are well‐retained even after the thermal treatment. When both Fe and Co atoms are contained in the precursors, nanoporous Fe?Co oxide with a highly oriented crystalline framework is obtained. On the other hand, when nanoporous Co oxide and Fe oxide are obtained from Co‐ and Fe‐contacting precursors, their frameworks are amorphous and/or poorly crystallized. Single‐crystal‐like nanoporous Fe?Co oxide shows a stable magnetic property at room temperature compared to poly‐crystalline metal oxides. We further extend this concept to prepare nanoporous metal oxides with hollow interiors. Core‐shell heterostructures consisting of different metal‐cyanide hybrid CPs are prepared first. Then the cores are dissolved by chemical etching using a hydrochloric acid solution (i.e., the cores are used as sacrificial templates), leading to the formation of hollow interiors in the nanocubes. These hollow nanocubes are also successfully converted to nanoporous metal oxides with hollow interiors by thermal treatment. The present approach is entirely different from the surfactant‐templating approaches that traditionally have been utilized for the preparation of mesoporous metal oxides. We believe the present work proves a new way to synthesize nanoporous metal oxides with controlled crystalline frameworks and architectures.     

First-Principles Study of Two Dimensional Transition Metal Phthalocyanine-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks in Kagome Lattice

Transition metal phthalocyanines (TMPc) and relevant derivatives can act as pervasive molecules for their electronic, magnetic, and optical applications. Numerous researches based on TMPc are carried out, attempting to synthesize novel two-dimensional (2D) metal-organic frameworks. Recently, some 2D poly-TMPc frameworks including FePc [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 133, 1203 (2011)], CoPc [Chem. Commun. 51, 2836 (2015)], and Ni-NiPc [J. Mater. Chem. A 6, 1188 (2018)] frameworks have been successfully synthesized experimentally. Meanwhile, potential applications in catalysis, gas storage, and spintronics were predicted by theoretical studies. Here, we propose a new kind of 2D poly-TMPc frameworks with kagome lattice (denoted as kag-TMPc) and systematically investigate their electronic and magnetic properties by employing first-principles calculations. We have demonstrated that the 2D kag-MnPc framework displays quite stable ferromagnetic ordering with Curie temperature about 125 K as indicated by Monte Carlo simulations based on Heisenberg model and prefers out-of-plane easy-magnetization axis. The 2D kag-CrPc framework is an ideal candidate for S=2 kagome antiferromagnet with RT3 magnetic order. Particularly, the investigations on optical absorption suggest that when the TMPc molecules are self-assembled into 2D kag-TMPc frameworks, their absorption wave bands are broadened, especially in visible region.     

Metal–Organic Frameworks as a Versatile Tool To Study and Model Energy Transfer Processes

Development of materials with efficient and directional energy transfer (ET) could significantly modify the existing energy and material landscape. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are a unique tool to address the upcoming challenges related to the enhancement of ET efficiency and directional energy transport. To harness MOFs as a versatile platform, mechanistic and structural aspects governing ET efficiency should be elucidated. In this context, we review ET mechanisms and structural motifs based on the recent advances achieved in MOF chemistry and also highlight the possible practical applications that are enabled by these studies.     

Table-salt enabled interface-confined synthesis of covalent organic framework (COF) nanosheets

Two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are gaining tremendous interest for their potential applications in a diversity of fields. However, synthesis of COF nanosheets (CONs) usually suffers from tedious exfoliation processes and low yields. Herein, we present an exfoliation-free and scalable strategy to prepare few-layered CONs based on interface-confined synthesis, in which cheap and recyclable table salt (NaCl) is used as the sacrificial substrate. Salt particles are introduced into the reaction system, creating billions of solid–liquid interfaces. Oligomers formed upon the reaction between monomers are immediately adsorbed on salt surfaces, and the following polymerization leading to crystalline CONs is exclusively confined to salt surfaces. Salts can be easily removed by water washing, producing CONs with the thickness down to a few nanometers and lateral sizes up to hundreds of micrometers depending on the size of salt particles and the concentration of monomers. Four different kinds of CONs, both imine-linked and boron-containing, are synthesized from this generic method. As a demonstration, we prepare highly permeable and selective membranes using resultant CONs as building blocks. Thanks to the defect-free stacking of CONs with thin thicknesses and large lateral sizes on porous substrates, the membranes precisely separate similarly sized dyes while allowing ultrafast water permeation. This interface-confined strategy opens a new platform for the controllable and scalable synthesis of COF nanosheets and is essential for the burgeoning real-world applications of COFs in various fields.

We present an exfoliation-free and scalable strategy to prepare few-layered CONs by the interface-confined synthesis. The resultant CONs are assembled into selective layers for molecular separations.     

Electron Microscopic Study on Aerosol-Assisted Synthesis of Aluminum Organophosphonates Using Flexible Colloidal PS-b-PEO Templates

A wide variety of synthetic approaches from homogeneous precursor solutions have so far been developed for precise structural design of materials in multiscale. In organic templating approaches for porous materials design, we have recently developed a new approach to fabricate colloidal polystyrene-block-poly(oxyethylene) (PS-b-PEO) templated large pores that can be controlled in thick films of aluminum organophosphonate (AOP). In this study, we extended this approach using colloidal PS-b-PEO aggregates to aerosol-assisted synthesis for the fabrication of spherical particles. Structural variations (morphology and porous structure) depended on the synthetic conditions, which were mainly investigated by using electron microscopies (SEM and TEM). In addition to the insight on the colloidal PS-b-PEO templating of spherical pores in AOP spheres, it was found that colloidal PS-b-PEO aggregates were flexible for further design of pore shape that was strongly affected by external morphology. In this context, we proposed this method as flexible colloidal PS-b-PEO templating to fabricate unusual macroporous structures during morphological control from precursor solutions containing colloidal PS-b-PEO aggregates. The insights will be promising for precise construction of unique devices using porous materials templated by colloidal organic aggregates. In addition, we found a useful water adsorption-desorption behavior over the macroporous AOP bulky powders when the macropores were connected through large pores, which is also significant for future development of AOP-based porous materials.     

Electroactive Organic Building Blocks for the Chemical Design of Functional Porous Frameworks (MOFs and COFs) in Electronics

Electroactive organic molecules have received a lot of attention in the field of electronics because of their fascinating electronic properties, easy functionalization and potential low cost towards their implementation in electronic devices. In recent years, electroactive organic molecules have also emerged as promising building blocks for the design and construction of crystalline porous frameworks such as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent-organic frameworks (COFs) for applications in electronics. Such porous materials present certain additional advantages such as, for example, an immense structural and functional versatility, combination of porosity with multiple electronic properties and the possibility of tuning their physical properties by post-synthetic modifications. In this Review, we summarize the main electroactive organic building blocks used in the past few years for the design and construction of functional porous materials (MOFs and COFs) for electronics with special emphasis on their electronic structure and function relationships. The different building blocks have been classified based on the electronic nature and main function of the resulting porous frameworks. The design and synthesis of novel electroactive organic molecules is encouraged towards the construction of functional porous frameworks exhibiting new functions and applications in electronics.     

Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Frameworks: Structural Design and Emerging Applications

Constructing well-organized organic frameworks with tailor-made functionalities potentially boost multi-domain applications. Hydrogen bonding (H-bonding) is a category of general and weak intermolecular interactions when compared with covalent bonding or metal-ligand coordination. Porous frameworks mainly assembled by H-bonding (named hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks, HOFs) are intrinsically capable of decomposing and regenerating, a distinctive advantage to improve their processability while expanding the applicability. This paper summarizes the basic building concepts of HOFs, including feasible hydrogen bonded motifs, effective molecular structures, and their emerging applications.