Themed collection Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers HOT articles for 2018

Metal–organic framework-derived shuttle-like V₂O₃/C is efficient for ambient electrocatalytic N₂-to-NH₃ fixation with excellent selectivity in 0.1 M Na₂SO₄.

A ligand conformation preorganization strategy was employed to design a hexacarboxylate ligand, and its corresponding copper-based MOF was constructed, exhibiting a novel topological structure and the potential for the separation and purification of acetylene and natural gas.

Phase transition from an orthorhombic superstructure to a cubic subcell structure has splendid advantages in dielectric properties of Li₂O–MgO–Nb₂O₅–TiO₂ quaternary solid solutions.

A new preparation process is developed to yield stable, yellowish and transparent organosilica ionogels, which after pyrolysis yields N-doped microporous carbon with remarkable capacity.

Carbides (Cr₃C₂ and Cr₂AlC) have been synthesized by using waste PE as a carbon source in an autoclave under mild conditions.

Two NbO-type MOFs were constructed as a platform to reveal the effect of ligand-originated MOF isomerization on selective C₂H₂/CH₄ and CO₂/CH₄ adsorption properties.

Bimetal oxide CuSnO₃ nanospheres encapsulated in carbon networks were explored as novel anode materials for sodium batteries.

A unique yolk–shell FeP@C nanobox is synthesized by an etching-in-box combined with a phosphidation-in-box approach, manifesting remarkable pseudocapacitance-boosted lithium ion storage properties.

High quantum yields and unusual luminescence characteristics were successfully achieved by regulating the organic cations in tetrahedral manganese(II) complexes.

A dual-function battery composed of a NaTi₂(PO₄)₃ anode and a Ag cathode with NaCl aqueous electrolyte has been reported for simultaneous seawater desalination and renewable energy storage.

The co-crystallization complex [EG]·[Cu(phen)₂·SO₄] undergoes a paraelectric–ferroelectric phase transition around 272 K which was confirmed by the observation of a large dielectric anomaly.

Porous Fe–N-codoped carbon microspheres act as an efficient and stable electrocatalyst for ORR.

Dense MoS₂ nanosheets are grown on hydrophobic hollow carbon spheres through a solvothermal method for enhanced capacitive storage and electrocatalytic properties.

The discharged cathode from depleted primary Zn–MnO₂ batteries can be recyclably utilized as efficient oxygen reduction/evolution electrocatalysts to build Zn–air batteries.

Unique magnetic mesoporous TiO₂ microspheres exhibit superior arsenate removal performance and high stability in acidic environments.

A 1D coordination polymer, which has optoelectronic device applications, has been synthesized by in situ ligand formation.

A novel and easy method improves the cycling performance of Li–S batteries by the facile addition of conventional lithium ion cathode materials.

Co@CoP_x core–shell nanochains were prepared via a direct-current arc-discharge method and subsequent phosphorization at 350 °C.

A thin bicomponent layer with GO and Super P enhances electroactive cathode material utilization for stable lithium organic batteries.

A phase-segregation based protocol enables the fabrication of a series of scandium fluoride–lanthanide fluoride Janus particles.

By adjusting the position of the methyl group, we found significant changes in the structural flexibility of the obtained PCPs, which also showed good gas separation ability.

First examples in the Zn–Sc–B–O system featuring a special Zn/Sc–O configuration ([Zn₂(BO₃)₆]¹⁴⁻ cluster, lowest-coordinated ScO₅ polyhedra, and coexistence of ZnO₄ and ZnO₆ units).

A concise single-pore model with a finite reservoir is sufficiently accurate to simulate osmotic energy conversion in nanoporous materials.

Di-n-propylamine (DPA) molecules induce the transformation from 4/6-MR chains to a 2D layered structure and then to 3D crystals of AlPO₄-11 molecular sieves.

The acidity of the initial mixture is the key factor promoting the enrichment of chiral polymorph A in zeolite beta.

The significantly improvement of single-molecule magnetic performance was achieved by removing or replacing the lattice solvents in dinuclear Dy₂ SMMs.

Thin-walled hollow Au–Cu nanostructures were synthesized via galvanic replacement and the Kirkendall effect between copper and gold, and they showed high efficiency for electro-reduction of CO₂ to CO.

A ferroelectric polarization protocol was demonstrated to be favorable for photoinduced charge separation in the V-doped ZnO based photoelectrochemical system.

Co₃O₄ nanosheets are readily synthesized from a nanoplate MOF precursor and showed a remarkable performance as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries.

A new strategy is explored to fabricate a sulfur vacancy-rich CdS composite photocatalyst with a nitrogen-doped 3D porous carbon matrix for VOC removal.

A reaction of porous titania monoliths in aq. H₃PO₄ provides hierarchically porous titanium phosphates with a variety of nanotextured surfaces.

Combined analyses of magnetic and luminescence measurements, with the support of theoretical calculations, help elucidate the origin of [DyTp₂Acac]'s SMM behaviour.

Aqueous Zn-ion batteries with a poly(benzoquinonyl sulfide) cathode show good electrochemical performance.

With the substitution of Bi(Zn_0.5Ti_0.5)O₃, a continuously enhanced spontaneous polarization up to 112 μC cm⁻² has been observed in (1 − x)PbTiO₃–xBi(Zn_0.5Ti_0.5)O₃.

Herein, we provide the new UV converted tunable phosphors and increase the emission intensity via a controllable energy transfer.

3D hierarchical MoSe₂/N-doped carbon microsphere composites exhibit excellent rate capacities as anode materials in lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries.

Lithium–sulfur batteries: Both the cycling stability and rate capability are adequately enhanced due to the synergistic effect of heteroatom dopings and hierarchical pores of carbon matrix, guiding the design of advanced scaffolds towards high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries.

CuS micro-flower was synthesized by dealloying and adopted as an anode in SIB with high rate and stable cycle performances.

A novel and facilitated two-photon approach was developed for efficient ascorbic acid (AA) detection.

A facile one-pot approach is utilized to construct nickel-ion–PDA complex thin coatings on MoO₃@PPy microtubes, which can be carbonized under an inert atmosphere to obtain nickel/N-doped carbon microtubes (Ni/NCMTs).

With phosphomolybdate supramolecular architecture-derived Mo₂C@NC and MoO₂@NC as cathode and anode, an efficient electrolyzer was constructed, which possessed excellent overall water splitting activity.

A sulfur–hydrazine hydrate chemistry-based method is reported here to integrate the sulfur and N-doped reduced graphene oxide to obtain S@N-rGO composite with 76% sulfur. The as-obtained S@N-rGO composite displays a good rate capability and excellent stability.

Metal sulfides with multi-shelled hollow structures are promising electrode materials for rechargeable alkaline batteries due to their abundant redox centers and electrochemically active sites.

Structures and phase transitions depending on compositions and temperature between Rc and R in Na_(2−2x)Sr_x[ ]_xZr₄(PO₄)₆ have been investigated.

Electrochemical detection of antipsychotic drug chlorpromazine based on peas-like strontium molybdate as an electrocatalyst.

The comprehensive electrochemical properties of P2-type Na–Co–Mn–O cathodes for sodium ion batteries could be significantly enhanced by optimal Cr-doping.

Monodisperse NiCo₂O₄ porous microcubes were used as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, and they exhibit outstanding rate capability and cycling stability.

MoO₂/MoC@C nanocomposite was synthesized by an ultrasonic spray pyrolysis, and the synergic effect between MoO₂ and MoC in hydrogen evolution reaction was demonstrated.

BiFe(CN)₆·4H₂O, which exhibited a layered structure of FeC₆ and BiN₆ coordination polyhedra, was synthesised and exhibited excellent visible light catalytic activity.

A simple and efficient method was explored for synthesizing efficient ferrite-based OER electrocatalysts by using reduction-engraved ultrafine ferrite nanoparticles on a conductive GO support.

Nitrogen-rich sandwich-like carbon nanosheets used as anodes for LIBs exhibited high discharge capacity and remarkable rate capability.

The aqueous processed ZnO/PCBM modified ETLs enable low-temperature processed, thermally stable and efficient perovskite solar cells showing negligible hysteresis.

A carbon dots@germanate composite has been synthesized by embedding carbon dots into a double-layered germanate in situ, which exhibits excitation-dependent and temperature-responsive photoluminescence.

A facile, efficient and universal γ-radiation strategy has been developed to incorporate surface-clean metal nanoparticles into metal–organic frameworks exhibiting remarkable catalytic activity and stability.