Revelation of the molecular assembly of the nanoporous metal organic framework ZIF-8

Crystalline nanoporous materials are one of the most important families of complex functional material. Many questions pertaining to the molecular assembly mechanism of the framework of these materials remain unanswered. Only recently has it become possible to answer definitively some of these questions by observation of growing nanoscopic surface features on metal organic frameworks (MOFs) through use of in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM). Here we reveal that a growth process of a MOF, zeolitic imidazolate framework ZIF-8, occurs through the nucleation and spreading of successive metastable unenclosed substeps to eventually form stable surface steps of the enclosed framework structure and that this process is reliant on the presence of nonframework species to bridge the developing pores during growth. The experiments also enable identification of some of the fundamental units in the growth process and the stable crystal surface plane. The former findings will be applicable to numerous nanoporous materials and support efforts to synthesize and design new frameworks and to control the crystal properties of these materials.     

Formation of helix-containing rods in a hybrid inorganic–organic material

The novel aluminum ethylenediphosphonate fluoride, [HN(CH₂CH₂NH₃)₃][Al₂(O₃PCH₂CH₂PO₃)₂F₂]·H₂O (1) (monoclinic, P2₁/n, a=12.145(4) Å, b=9.265(3) Å, c=20.422(6) Å, β=104.952(4)°, Z=3, R₁=0.092, wR₂=0.196) has been synthesized by solvothermal methods in the presence of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine and its structure determined using single microcrystal X-ray diffraction data. Compound 1 is a one-dimensional extended chain structure composed of well-separated anionic [Al₂(O₃PCH₂CH₂PO₃)₂F₂]⁴⁻ rods containing helical chains of corner-shared cis-AlO₄F₂ octahedra at their core. The charge-compensating tris(2-aminoethyl)ammonium cations separate the anionic [Al₂(O₃PCH₂CH₂PO₃)₂F₂]⁴⁻ rods that contain either left- or right-handed helical chains. The incorporation of the organic components into this hybrid material has aided the adoption of one-dimensionality by the compound and defined the pitch of the helical AlO₄F chain.     

Sub-Tc electron transfer at the HTSC/polymer interface

The first kinetic measurements for electron transfer (ferrocene/ferricinium reaction) at the interface between an HTSC (Tl,Pb1223) and a redox polymer (ferrocene-tagged poly-pyrrole) show that superconductivity affects electron transfer rate, which thus offers a novel probe of the superconducting state.     

Enhancement of large magnetoresistances in ruthenocuprates by Ta substitution

An unexpected enhancement of the large negative magnetoresistance (MR) observed in RuSr(2)Nd(0.95)Y(0.15)Ce(0.9)Cu(2)O(10-delta) up to -47% at 4 K and 9 T is evidenced upon dilution of the Ru magnetic order by substitution of Ta for Ru; this enhancement of -MR scales with the cell volume.     

Synthesis and characterization of two novel pyridine-containing framework gallium ethylenediphosphonates

Two novel gallium diphosphonates, (C₅H₅N)Ga₃F(O₃PC₂H₄PO₃)₂ (I) (triclinic, P-1, a=8.2880(12) Å, b=11.7197(16) Å, c=11.7601(17) Å, α=71.589(3)°, β=70.577(3)°, γ=77.313(3)°, V=1013.7(2) Å³, Z=2, R₁=0.0352, wR₂=0.0980) and (C₅H₅NH)₂[Ga₄F₂(O₃PC₂H₄PO₃)₃] (II) (triclinic, P-1, a=8.670(4) Å, b=9.742(3) Å, c=10.406(2) Å, α=81.44(3)°, β=65.83(5)°, γ=67.16(3)°, V=739.0(4) Å³, Z=2, R₁=0.0600, wR₂=0.1495) have been synthesised by solvothermal methods in the presence of pyridine and their structures determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Both compounds I and II are composed of various Ga-centered polyhedra and ethylenediphosphonate groups that link together to form framework materials with one- and two-dimensional channel systems, respectively. The two structures are formed in the presence of structure-directing pyridine molecules that are directly bound to some of the Ga atoms in I, and are protonated as pyridinium cations in II. Compounds I has a charge-neutral framework, while compound II has an anionic framework. Both materials provide rare examples of organically structure-directed framework metal diphosphonate materials.     

A Surface‐Oxide‐Rich Activation Layer (SOAL) on Ni2Mo3N for a Rapid and Durable Oxygen Evolution Reaction

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is key to renewable energy technologies such as water electrolysis and metal–air batteries. However, the multiple steps associated with proton‐coupled electron transfer result in sluggish OER kinetics and catalysts are required. Here we demonstrate that a novel nitride, Ni₂Mo₃N, is a highly active OER catalyst that outperforms the benchmark material RuO₂. Ni₂Mo₃N exhibits a current density of 10 mA cm^?2 at a nominal overpotential of 270 mV in 0.1 m KOH with outstanding catalytic cyclability and durability. Structural characterization and computational studies reveal that the excellent activity stems from the formation of a surface‐oxide‐rich activation layer (SOAL). Secondary Mo atoms on the surface act as electron pumps that stabilize oxygen‐containing species and facilitate the continuity of the reactions. This discovery will stimulate the further development of ternary nitrides with oxide surface layers as efficient OER catalysts for electrochemical energy devices.     

Microstrain sensitivity of orbital and electronic phase separation in SrCrO3

An orbital ordering transition and electronic phase coexistence have been discovered in SrCrO3. This cubic, orbitally-degenerate perovskite transforms to a tetragonal phase with partial orbital order. The tetragonal phase is antiferromagnetic below 35-40 K, whereas the cubic phase remains paramagnetic at low temperatures. The orbital ordering temperature (35-70 K) and coexistence of the two electronic phases are very sensitive to lattice strain. X-ray measurements show a preferential conversion of the most strained regions in the cubic phase. This reveals that small fluctuations in microstrain are sufficient to drive long range separation of competing electronic phases even in undoped cubic oxides.     

Synthesis and Properties of Lanthanide Ruthenium(III) Oxide Perovskites

An extensive series of new LnRuO₃ perovskites has been synthesized at high pressure. These ruthenium(III)‐based oxides are ruthenium deficient, and high‐pressure samples have compositions close to LnRu_0.9O₃. These phases stabilize ruthenium(III) which is very unusual in oxides. X‐ray and neutron powder diffraction studies show that the materials adopt orthorhombic perovskite superstructures in which the RuO₆ octahedra are tetragonally compressed. These distortions, and the Mott insulator properties of the materials, are driven by strong spin‐orbit coupling.