Themed collection 2016 New talent

Welcome to the 2016 New talent issue of CrystEngComm.

Two inorganic–organic hybrid solid electrolyte systems for lithium-ion batteries are described: polymer electrolytes with inorganic fillers and metal–organic framework-based solid electrolytes.

Flexible supercapacitors are attracting increasing attention due to their promising applications as storage units in smart and portable electronic devices.

The stable sizes, structural characterization and optical properties of all-thiolate-protected silver and silver-rich alloy nanoclusters with atomic precision are highlighted.

Progress and challenges in the development of photo-responsive metal organic frameworks.

Immobilization of hydrogen-bonding organocatalysts on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) provides a promising alternative to overcome the self-quenching limitations of these catalysts.

Two-dimensional group IIIA metal chalcogenides have promising potential in applications such as nano-electronics and optoelectronics as well as flexible devices.

A series of cocrystals involving theophylline and fluorobenzoic acids highlights the difficulty of predicting supramolecular interactions in molecular crystals.

Hexahydroxytriphenylene (HHTP) forms novel anion templated materials through O–H⋯anion hydrogen bonding.

Two aesthetically appealing molecules were synthesized employing pyrido[1,2-a]indole and tetraphenylethylene. The C–C coupled product showed strong emission in solution, nanoparticles and solid state compared to the weak emission exhibited by the Schiff base condensation product.

Combined XRD, STM and DFT studies reveal the details of supramolecular ordering of difuryldiketopyrrolopyrrole in monolayers and 3D crystals.

Asymmetric amplification of conglomerate crystals formed via the dehydration of initially achiral crystals was achieved using Viedma ripening.

Synthesis and green catalytic activity of a Yb-contained polyoxometalate organic hybrid framework is described.

A homogeneous solution phase reaction was employed to synthesize an azodioxy-linked porphyrin-based semiconductive covalent organic framework (COF), namely POR-COF. The iodine-doped POR-COF shows a significantly enhanced photoconductive behavior.

Biomimetic mineralization of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) exploits the use of biomolecules to control MOF crystallization processes.

New lanthanide(III) metal–organic frameworks are constructed and exhibit a good linear relationship with respect to the temperature range of 75–250 K. White light emission can be realized by varying the excitation wavelength of Eu_0.0748Tb_0.9252L.

An effective synthetic strategy for the amino-containing organic derivative of hexavanadate, TBA₂[V₆O₁₃{(OCH₂)₃CNH₂}₂], is presented.

PtPdTe ternary nanowires with controllable diameter can be constructed using tellurium nanowires as templates for methanol electrooxidation.

Two kinds of luminescent “turn-on” nanoprobes were developed for detecting Pb²⁺ ions based on luminescence resonance energy transfer between upconversion nanoparticles and single-walled carbon nanohorns or graphene oxide.

Pt-based branched nanocrystals (NCs) have attracted much attention because of their unique properties.

A study of a copper-based metal–organic framework (MOF) synthesized by an electrochemical route is presented.

A graphene oxide film was used as an interfacial template for the preferential growth of continuous HKUST-1 films on a solid substrate.

Unprecedented Janus head type lp⋯π⋯lp and S⋯F⋯S motifs were observed between tris-arylthiotriazine and hexafluorobenzene.

Mesoporous anatase titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is prepared by an easily up-scalable synthesis protocol, using relatively inexpensive precursors. Operando electrochemical X-ray diffraction and Raman studies of TiO₂/Na half-cells are presented and discussed.

Two unique 2D Zn-MOFs with high thermo-stability, solvent-stability and pH-stability can efficiently and selectively detect Cr₂O₇²⁻/CrO₄²⁻ among twenty-one anions. Importantly, they can be regenerated by a simple and rapid method in detecting Cr₂O₇²⁻/CrO₄²⁻.

The cooperative behaviour at the molecular scale of the β → α polymorphic transition of DL-norleucine is studied with different computational approaches.

Engineered silica@zeolite core–shell composites, possessing a hierarchical porosity in a shape selective manner, were synthesised by deposition of silicalite-1 nanocrystals over various mesoporous silica spheres, in either pure form or loaded with metal guest species.

Four new Zn(II)-based metal organic frameworks have been synthesized and their adsorption abilities explored towards selective CO₂ capture at different temperatures.

Ab initio calculations measure strain energy, curling and lattice misfit of single-walled chrysotile nanotubes.

By employing asymmetric Au–Al electrodes, we reported a self-powered Schottky junction photodetector based on a MAPbI₃ single crystal.

Three new bisphosphine ligands, Ph-dppd, Pr-dppb, and OMe-dppb, were synthesized to coordinate with cuprous iodide (CuI), and compared with dppb.

The incorporation of side groups into a covalent organic framework (COF) backbone can be of significant importance for developing new frameworks with enhanced properties.

Cerium-based azide- and nitro-functionalized UiO-66 MOFs have been employed as turn-on fluorescent probes towards the detection of H₂S under physiological conditions.

Two novel boron complexes were synthesized and investigated. And these two complexes showed their potential application in organic light-emitting diodes because of their deep blue emitting and excellent electron transporting properties.

L-Phenylalanine derivatives produce a variety of self-assembled architectures, and a doxorubicin entrapping hydrogel.

To shed light on the concept of nanoparticle size, spherical Zr-fum MOF nanoparticles were studied using various complementary size-determination tools.

Four Zn(II) coordination compounds were prepared solvothermally by reacting Zn²⁺ ion and mixed organic linkers.

A series of Sm(III) and Er(III) complexes of N,N-donor heterocyclic bases were studied for their crystal structures, luminescence properties, binding with biomolecules and photo-induced DNA damage activity.

A facile and cost-efficient biliquid-interface co-assembly method has been demonstrated for the synthesis of novel mesoporous siliceous vesicles with an ultrathin wall, large void, large pore size and excellent biocompatibility using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as the template.

Four 3d–4f heterometallic–organic frameworks (HMOFs) constructed from different copper halide clusters display interesting structural features.

Seven new coordination polymers have been synthesized and characterized by EA, IR, TGA, PXRD and SC-XRD. Polymorphism, SC-SC transmetallation and gas sorption properties have been studied.

We employed a combination of theoretical and experimental techniques to study the metal–organic framework (MOF)-mechanics central to the paddle-wheel Cu₃(BTC)₂ porous structure, commonly designated as HKUST-1.

Rapid, fully-reversible photo-switching is observed under near-ambient conditions for the first time in crystals of a novel palladium–nitrite linkage isomer.

A new polyazamacrocyclic ligand for the rational design of heterometallic coordination polymers through a two-step approach is presented.

Controlling the particle size of a flexible metal–organic framework demonstrates that a 2D to 3D transformation gives a kinetically-trapped, structurally-locked form.

MnO octapod–Ag heterodimers were formed through the selective growth of Ag domains on one of the high index surfaces of the MnO octapods. The MnO–Ag heterodimers exhibited multiple functions, including plasmon light scattering from the Ag domains and magnetic resonance from the MnO domains.

Geometry-based analysis, molecular simulations, and machine learning are used to rapidly identify and characterise porous organic molecular crystals in a large crystal structure database.

Core–shell CeO₂@MoS₂ nanocomposites were successfully prepared via a wet chemistry strategy and they exhibited superior performance in a symmetric supercapacitor.

Three homo-spin chain compounds constructed by pentagonal bipyramidal Co^II units and linear organic bridges of different lengths were synthesized and characterized.

Two thermally stable single-ion magnets containing a dysprosium ion with the ligand fod (1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluoro-7,7-dimethyl-4,6-octadione) and bpy (2,2′-bipyridine) or phen (1,10-phenathroline) were synthesized, named 1Dy (Dyfod₃bpy) and 2Dy (Dyfod₃phen).

A series of heterometallic 3d–4f compounds have been synthesized through the reaction of Ni²⁺, Ln³⁺ and H₄dcta ligand in the presence of different anions.

Co-doped ZnO diluted magnetic semiconductors were facilely fabricated through thermal decomposition of transition metal ion-doped metal–organic frameworks.

Using tripodal ligands with bent arms, three new porous coordination polymers with novel 3D (3,9)-connected topologies have been constructed.

HKUST-1 nano/microcrystals with controllable morphology and size were achieved by employing metal salts as additives.

A series of ZnO nanorods (NR) with different length to diameters have been synthesized. The relationship between the ratio of length to diameter and the absorption properties were also studied.

The tripeptide adopts a β-turn conformation and self-assembles to form a supramolecular tryptophan-zipper-like structure which acts as a regular proton transporter.

Two three-dimensional metal–organic frameworks 1 and 2 based on p-terphenyl-3,4′′,5-tricarboxylic acid (H₃TPT) were synthesized by controlling the solvent media. These two MOFs exhibit high efficiency for the recyclable detection of nitroaromatic compounds.

Controlled-sized crystals, from the nano to the microscale, of porous iron(III) 3,3′,5,5′-azobenzenetetracarboxylate MOF have been successfully prepared with very high space-time-yields using different synthetic routes.

We demonstrate crystal structure and gas adsorption can be tuned by the modification of macrocyclic metallic tectons through various aspects.

Two metal–organic frameworks show guest specific reversible, as well as irreversible, structural transformations leading from a 2D to 3D framework.

Hollow micro-/nanostructures have a wide range of applications in catalysis, rechargeable batteries, drug delivery, and gas sensors, as well as energy storage and conversion.

Crystal structure prediction studies of 4-aminoquinaldine monohydrate led, 80 years after its first synthesis, to the thermodynamically most stable form under conditions relevant for production and storage.

TiO_x/C composites were prepared by pyrolyzing a Zn–Ti heterometallic MOF, which exhibit excellent photocatalytic activities toward photodegradation of an organic dye.