An All‐Alkynyl Protected 74‐Nuclei Silver(I)–Copper(I)‐Oxo Nanocluster: Oxo‐Induced Hierarchical Bimetal Aggregation and Anisotropic Surface Ligand Orientation

The hardness of oxo ions (O^2?) means that coinage‐metal (Cu, Ag, Au) clusters supported by oxo ions (O^2?) are rare. Herein, a novel μ₄‐oxo supported all‐alkynyl‐protected silver(I)–copper(I) nanocluster [Ag_74?xCu_xO₁₂(PhC≡C)₅₀] ( NC‐1 , avg. x=37.9) is characterized. NC‐1 is the highest nuclearity silver–copper heterometallic cluster and contains an unprecedented twelve interstitial μ₄‐oxo ions. The oxo ions originate from the reduction of nitrate ions by NaBH₄. The oxo ions induce the hierarchical aggregation of Cu^I and Ag^I ions in the cluster, forming the unique regioselective distribution of two different metal ions. The anisotropic ligand coverage on the surface is caused by the jigsaw‐puzzle‐like cluster packing incorporating rare intermolecular C?H???metal agostic interactions and solvent molecules. This work not only reveals a new category of high‐nuclearity coinage‐metal clusters but shows the special clustering effect of oxo ions in the assembly of coinage‐metal clusters.     

Direct Dynamic Evidence of Charge Separation in a Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cell Obtained under Operando Conditions by Raman Spectroscopy

Interfaces play an important role in enhancing the energy conversion performance of dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The interface effects have been studied by many techniques, but most of the studies only focused on one part of a DSC, rather than on a complete solar cell. Hence, monitoring the interface evolution of a DSC is still very challenging. Here, in situ/operando resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopic analyses were carried out to monitor the dynamics of the photovoltaic conversion processes in a DSC. We observed the creation of new species (i.e., polyiodide and iodine aggregates) in the photosensitization process. We also obtained molecular‐scale dynamic evidence that the bands from the C=C and C=N bonds of 2,2′‐bipyridyl (bpy), the S=C=N bonds of the NCS ligand, and photochemical products undergo reasonably strong intensity and frequency changes, which clearly demonstrates that they are involved in charge separation. Furthermore, RR spectroscopy can also be used to quickly evaluate the performance of DSCs.     

Electrocatalytically Active Fe‐(O‐C2)4 Single‐Atom Sites for Efficient Reduction of Nitrogen to Ammonia

Single‐atom catalysts have demonstrated their superiority over other types of catalysts for various reactions. However, the reported nitrogen reduction reaction single‐atom electrocatalysts for the nitrogen reduction reaction exclusively utilize metal–nitrogen or metal–carbon coordination configurations as catalytic active sites. Here, we report a Fe single‐atom electrocatalyst supported on low‐cost, nitrogen‐free lignocellulose‐derived carbon. The extended X‐ray absorption fine structure spectra confirm that Fe atoms are anchored to the support via the Fe‐(O‐C₂)₄ coordination configuration. Density functional theory calculations identify Fe‐(O‐C₂)₄ as the active site for the nitrogen reduction reaction. An electrode consisting of the electrocatalyst loaded on carbon cloth can afford a NH₃ yield rate and faradaic efficiency of 32.1 μg h^?1 mg_cat.^?1 (5350 μg h^?1 mg_Fe^?1) and 29.3 %, respectively. An exceptional NH₃ yield rate of 307.7 μg h^?1 mg_cat.^?1 (51 283 μg h^?1 mg_Fe^?1) with a near record faradaic efficiency of 51.0 % can be achieved with the electrocatalyst immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode.     

Enantiomeric Discrimination by Surface‐Enhanced Raman Scattering–Chiral Anisotropy of Chiral Nanostructured Gold Films

A surface‐enhanced Raman scattering‐chiral anisotropy (SERS‐ChA) effect is reported that combines chiral discrimination and surface Raman scattering enhancement on chiral nanostructured Au films (CNAFs) equipped in the normal Raman scattering Spectrometer. The CNAFs provided remarkably higher enhancement factors of Raman scattering (EFs) for particular enantiomers, and the SERS intensity was proportional to the enantiomeric excesses (ee) values. Except for molecules with mesomeric species, all of the tested enantiomers exhibited high SERS‐ChA asymmetry factors (g), ranging between 1.34 and 1.99 regardless of polarities, sizes, chromophores, concentrations and ee. The effect might be attributed to selective resonance coupling between the induced electric and magnetic dipoles associated with enantiomers and chiral plasmonic modes of CNAFs.     

Two new NiII and ZnII metal–organic frameworks of glutarate and 1,4‐bis[(2‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]benzene ligands: syntheses,structures and luminescence sensing properties

Two new metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), namely, three‐dimensional poly[diaquabis{μ₂‐1,4‐bis[(2‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]benzene}bis(μ₂‐glutarato)dinickel(II)] monohydrate], {[Ni₂(C₅H₆O₄)₂(C₁₆H₁₈N₄)₂(H₂O)₂]·H₂O}_n or {[Ni₂(Glu)₂(1,4‐mbix)₂(H₂O)₂]·H₂O}_n, ( I ), and two‐dimensional poly[[{μ₂‐1,4‐bis[(2‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]benzene}(μ₂‐glutarato)zinc(II)] tetrahydrate], {[Zn(C₅H₆O₄)(C₁₆H₁₈N₄)]·4H₂O}_n or {[Zn(Glu)(1,4‐mbix)]·4H₂O}_n ( II ), have been synthesized hydrothermally using glutarate (Glu^2?) mixed with 1,4‐bis[(2‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]benzene (1,4‐mbix), and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy, powder X‐ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric and photoluminescence analyses. Ni^II MOF ( I ) shows a 4‐connected 3D framework with point symbol 6⁶, but is not a typical dia network. Zn^II MOF ( II ) displays a two‐dimensional 4⁴‐ sql network with one‐dimensional water chains penetrating the grids along the c direction. The solid‐state photoluminescence analysis of ( II ) was performed at room temperature and the MOF exhibits highly selective sensing toward Fe³⁺ and Cr₂O₇^2? ions in aqueous solution.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative Reaction of Sulfonyl Hydrazides with Alcohols: An Easy Access to Sulfinates

A Cu‐catalyzed aerobic oxidative reaction between sulfonyl hydrazides and alcohols has been developed. In this reaction, sulfonyl hydrazides act as the sulfinic acid precursors to react with alcohols, resulting in sulfinic esters with up to 72 % yield. This catalytic system tolerates a wide range of sulfonyl hydrazide substrates, and represents a new strategy for the transformation of readily available sulfonyl hydrazides.     

Fine-tuning the molecular energy levels by incorporating thiophene units onto the π-backbone of core-expanded naphthalene diimides

A series of core-expanded naphthalene diimides (NDI-DTYM) and thiophene-based derivatives (1a-c) were designed and synthesized to investigate the relationship between molecular structures and the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels but has little impact on the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy levels. The results demonstrated that increasing the number of thiophene units can gradually elevate the HOMO energy levels but had little impact on the LUMO energy levels. The n-channel organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) based on 1b and 1c have demonstrated that these almost unchanged LUMO energy levels are proper to transport electrons.     

Simplified fabrication of high areal capacitance all-solid-state micro-supercapacitors based on graphene and MnO2 nanosheets

A universal simplified strategy was developed to fabricate all-solid-state planar micro-supercapacitors with high areal capacitance (~355 mF/cm²), based on interdigital patterned films of 2D pseudocapacitive MnO₂ nanosheets and electrochemically exfoliated graphene.     

两种量热模式下物质热分解的动力学补偿效应

热分析量热仪主要包括动态、等温、恒温及绝热四种操作模式。很多学者基于动态及等温模式的测试结果,采用Arrhenius速率常数进行动力学计算,进而发现了所谓的“动力学补偿效应”。为了解绝热模式下是否也存在动力学补偿效应,分别采用绝热加速量热法(ARC)及动态差示扫描量热法(DSC)研究了过氧化二异丙苯(DCP)、40%(质量分数,下同)DCP溶液、葡萄糖、45%葡萄糖溶液的热分解特性,在此基础上基于Arrhenius公式计算了对应的表观活化能E和指前因子A,并对计算结果进行了分析。结果表明:绝热模式下,不同质量的同种样品及其溶液的最佳动力学参数,或者同一组数据采用不同的反应级数获得的lnA和E之间均存在明显的线性关系。此外,尽管由动态DSC数据计算获得的E和lnA普遍小于绝热模式的结果,但两种模式下获得的lnA和E之间仍然存在动力学补偿效应。由此可以推断,具有相同或类似反应机理的反应,虽然实验模式不同,但其E和lnA之间存在明显的动力学补偿效应。