Themed collection 2020 Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers Review-type Articles
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Journey to the Holy Grail of a coordination saturated buckyball
A rhombicuboctahedral C60@Cu24 core–shell structure, a giant leap toward the Holy Grail of a coordination saturated buckyball (C60) of a C60@M30 icosidodecahedron, was highlighted.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 2556-2559
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00511H
Application of MOF-derived transition metal oxides and composites as anodes for lithium-ion batteries
Research progress of MOF-derived metal oxides and composites in lithium ion batteries has been presented based on different organic linkers.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 4939-4955
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00929F
Interfaces of graphitic carbon nitride-based composite photocatalysts
This review concentrates on the interface issues of g-C3N4-based photocatalysts, including methods for constructing interfaces, techniques for identifying interfaces, and the types and roles of the as-developed interfaces.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 4754-4793
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI01026J
Usage of P–V–L bond theory in studying the structural/property regulation of microwave dielectric ceramics: a review
Combined with bond traits, such as ionicity, susceptibility and lattice energy obtained via P–V–L bond theory, and far-infrared reflectance spectroscopy, intrinsic structural effects on microwave dielectric properties can be specifically evaluated.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 4711-4753
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00907E
State of the art methods and challenges of luminescent metal–organic frameworks for antibiotic detection
This review focuses on recent developments in the design and synthesis of luminescence MOFs for monitoring antibiotics.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 4293-4319
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00955E
Research progress on the inhibition of enzymes by polyoxometalates
Polyoxometalates (POMs) are a kind of inorganic cluster metal complex with various biological activities, such as anti-Alzheimer's disease, antibacterial, anti-cancer, anti-diabetes, anti-virus and so on.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 4320-4332
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00860E
Engineering well-defined rare earth oxide-based nanostructures for catalyzing C1 chemical reactions
In this review, we summarize the nanostructural engineering and applications of rare earth oxide-based nanomaterials with well-defined compositions, crystal phases and shapes for efficiently catalyzing C1 chemical reactions.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 4256-4280
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00750A
Superactive NiFe-LDH/graphene nanocomposites as competent catalysts for water splitting reactions
Adaptable strategies for the design of superactive NiFe-LDH/graphene nanocomposites for high-performance catalytic activity towards electrocatalytic, photoelectrocatalytic, and photocatalytic water splitting have been reviewed.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 3805-3836
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00700E
Noble-metal-free nanocatalysts for hydrogen generation from boron- and nitrogen-based hydrides
We focus on the recent advances in non-noble metal catalyst design, synthesis and applications in dehydrogenation of chemical hydrides (e.g. NaBH4, NH3BH3, NH3, N2H4, N2H4BH3) due to their high hydrogen contents and CO-free H2 production.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 3837-3874
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00766H
Light interactions with supracrystals either deposited on a substrate or dispersed in water
Nanocrystals with low size distribution are able to self-assemble into a 3D crystalline structure called colloidal crystals or super/supracrystals.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 3796-3804
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00353K
Proton conductive Zr-based MOFs
The preparation strategies, structures, proton conductivity, conducting mechanism, application prospects and future research trends of zirconium-based MOFs are reviewed and highlighted.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 3765-3784
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00883D
Advances in ligand-unsupported argentophilic interactions in crystal engineering: an emerging platform for supramolecular architectures
Ligand-unsupported argentophilic interactions are described, emphasizing reticular design and recent developments in advanced synthetic strategies, and highlighting diverse interactions that are useful for the construction of unmitigated networks.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 3735-3764
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00447B
Thermo-responsive light-emitting metal complexes and related materials
This review discusses the fundamentals and design strategies for the development of thermo-responsive metal–ligand coordination materials and the applications of these materials in temperature sensing, bioimaging, information security, etc.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 3258-3281
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00779J
External stimuli modulate the magnetic relaxation of lanthanide single-molecule magnets
The magnetic relaxation of lanthanide single-molecule magnets (Ln-SMMs) can be modulated reversibly by external stimuli including light irradiation, thermal treatment, protonation/deprotonation and oxidation/reduction etc.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 3315-3326
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00785D
Low-temperature wet chemistry synthetic approaches towards ferrites
Solution chemistry allows the crystallisation of range of iron oxides, including MFe2O4 spinels, MFeO3 perovskites and hexaferrites, such as BaFe12O19, with nanoscale crystallinity and properties suitable for fields such as catalysis and electronics.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 3282-3314
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00294A
Supramolecular chemistry of substituted cucurbit[n]urils
This review covers important advances in the field of substituted cucurbit[n]urils.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 3217-3246
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00529K
High pressure: a feasible tool for the synthesis of unprecedented inorganic compounds
After a simple classification of inorganic materials synthesized at high-temperature and high-pressure, this tutorial reviews the important research results in the field of high-temperature and high-pressure inorganic synthesis in the past 5 years.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 2890-2908
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00477D
Chemical vapor transport growth of bulk black phosphorus single crystals
Recent progress in growth of bulk black phosphorus single crystal by CVT method has been briefly reviewed with the emphasis on reaction system, nucleation and growth mechanism as well as advancement in growth of doped BP bulk single crystal.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 2867-2879
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00582G
Recent advances in the shaping of metal–organic frameworks
In this review, the recent advances in the shaping of MOFs are overviewed, and some promising strategies recently developed are highlighted, including templated shaping, self-shaping, shaping on substrates, and shaping with sacrificial materials.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 2840-2866
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9QI01564G
Perovskite nanomaterials as optical and electrochemical sensors
The perovskite family is comprised of a great number of members because of the possible and flexible substitution of numerous ions in its system.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 2702-2725
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00306A
Two-dimensional material membranes for critical separations
In this review, we summarize the separation mechanisms and materials adopted for the fabrication of 2D material membranes as well as their applications in critical separations.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 2560-2581
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00307G
Cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes towards blue-emissive dopant for organic light-emitting diodes: fundamentals of photophysics and designing strategies
The fundamental photophysics of cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes and surveys design strategies for efficient blue phosphorescent Ir(III) complexes are summarised.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 2396-2422
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00001A
Intermetallic borides: structures, synthesis and applications in electrocatalysis
This review summarizes structural features and recent synthesis methods of structurally ordered intermetallic borides, and the theoretical–experimental advances in the emerging boride-catalyzed reactions.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 2248-2264
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00146E
Correlation between crystal structures and polar (ferroelectric) properties of hybrids of haloantimonates(III) and halobismuthates(III)
Halogenoantimonates(III) and halogenobismuthates(III) are a highly versatile class of organic–inorganic hybrid materials, applicable in optoelectronics and switchable dielectric devices.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 2107-2128
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00265H
Luminescent metal–organic frameworks (LMOFs) as potential probes for the recognition of cationic water pollutants
This review aims to provide an overview regarding the development of luminescent metal–organic frameworks (LMOFs) based sensory materials for the detection of cationic inorganic and organic water pollutants.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 1801-1821
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00167H
Enabling high performance n-type metal oxide semiconductors at low temperatures for thin film transistors
The review highlights low temperature activation processes for high performance n-type metal oxide semiconductors for TFTs.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 1822-1844
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00038H
Sensing organic analytes by metal–organic frameworks: a new way of considering the topic
In this review, our goal is comparison of advantageous and disadvantageous of MOFs about signal-transduction in different instrumental methods for detection of different categories of organic analytes.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 1598-1632
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9QI01617A
The synthesis and applications of chiral pyrrolidine functionalized metal–organic frameworks and covalent-organic frameworks
Proline based ligands show versatile functionality to construct chiral MOFs and COFs; meanwhile, the resulted frameworks are potential materials for enantioselective adsorption and asymmetric catalysis.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 1319-1333
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9QI01103J
Zn(II)/Cd(II) based mixed ligand coordination polymers as fluorosensors for aqueous phase detection of hazardous pollutants
The recent developments and prospects of fluorosensors with a handful of recent examples based on mixed ligand Zn(II)/Cd(II) coordination polymers for aqueous phase detection of organic as well as inorganic pollutants have been discussed.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 1082-1107
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9QI01549C
Recent advances in the synthesis and application of Yb-based fluoride upconversion nanoparticles
This review focuses on recent progress in the development of Yb-based upconversion nanoparticles and their emerging technological applications.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 1067-1081
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9QI01358J
Inorganic planar π-conjugated groups in nonlinear optical crystals: review and outlook
Nonlinear optical crystals with various inorganic planar π-conjugated groups are reviewed based on their bandgaps.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 839-852
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9QI01589B
Tungsten oxide-based visible light-driven photocatalysts: crystal and electronic structures and strategies for photocatalytic efficiency enhancement
Photocatalysis (PC) technology has received global attention due to its high potential of addressing both environmental and energy issues using only solar light as energy input.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 817-838
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9QI01516G
Recent progress on metal–organic framework-derived materials for sodium-ion battery anodes
Recent progress on MOF-derived materials, including carbon and metal oxides/sulfides/selenides/phosphides, as anode materials for sodium-ion batteries is summarized.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 567-582
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9QI01268K
Recent advances in MOF-based photocatalysis: environmental remediation under visible light
Highly photoactive MOFs can be engineered via various strategies for the purpose of extended visible light absorption, more efficient generation, separation and transfer of charge carriers, as well as good recyclability.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 300-339
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9QI01120J
Joining the journey to near infrared (NIR) imaging: the emerging role of lanthanides in the designing of molecular probes
The recent developments and prospects of near-infrared molecular probes based on luminescent lanthanide coordination complexes in bioimaging are described, which is important to emphasise the importance of lanthanide chemical biology.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 289-299
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9QI01132C
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Recent advances in the mechanisms of the hydrogen evolution reaction by non-innocent sulfur-coordinating metal complexes
This review comments on the homogeneous HER mechanisms for catalysts carrying S-non-innocent ligands in the light of experimental and computational data.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 37-71
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9QI01113G
Alterations to secondary building units of metal–organic frameworks for the development of new functions
Post-synthetic modification methods for the secondary building units in MOFs facilitate unique structures and properties that are impossible to access via direct syntheses, which can be classified as four categories.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 12-27
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9QI01119F
Recent progress in pyrolyzed carbon materials as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction
This review reports some recent advances in pyrolytic carbon as an ORR catalyst and explores its structure–activity relationship.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 28-36
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9QI00962K