Themed collection Advanced Complex Inorganic Nanomaterials

The guest editors present the themed issue on Advanced Complex Inorganic Nanomaterials.

This review describes the elaboration of ordered mesoporous non-oxide materials such as BN and SiBCN and the subsequent fabrication of derived monoliths by spark plasma sintering using the as-prepared powders.

Thermal hysteresis loop widths can be highly dependent on scan rate, usually being wider at faster scan rates.

An overview of the recent progress in the designed synthesis, modification and multifunctional applications of mesoporous non-siliceous inorganic–organic hybrid materials including metal phosphonates, carboxylates and sulfonates is presented.

We demonstrated the ion exchange synthesis of hollow micro/nanostructured materials and their applications in energy, catalysis and biomedicine.

V-containing metal–organic frameworks are relatively rare, but have interesting and designable properties in sorption and catalysis – a critical review.

Recent highlights of the chemistry of 2,6-di(pyrazolyl)pyridine (bpp) derivatives include: multi-functional spin-crossover switches; biomedical sensors incorporating luminescent f-element centres; functional, self-assembled soft materials; and, the increased use of bpp complexes in catalysis.

MOFs with high water uptake capacity and hydrothermal stability are gaining attention for low temperature heat transformation applications such as thermally driven adsorption chillers or adsorption heat pumps.

Recent developments on the characterization of photo-induced processes in spin crossover nanoparticles are presented.

In recent years, study of nano-objects exhibiting spin-state transitions has raised new interesting questions.

We present recent advances in the synthesis and catalytic applications of Ru-based materials with spherical, one-dimensional, plate-like, and hollow nanostructures.

A new Fe^II two-step spin crossover (SCO) coordination polymer, Fe^II(ethyl nicotinate)₂[Au^I(CN)₂]₂1, with four-inflection associated with phase transitions, has been synthesized.

A three-dimensional cyano-bridged Co–W bimetal assembly shows the humidity-dependent phase transition due to desorption or absorption of water molecules.

Two chiral coordination polymers, Δ-[M^II(S-pabn)]₂[Mo^IV(CN)₈]·3H₂O (M = Cu and Co, S-pabn = (S)-N2,N2′-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diamine)), with two-dimensional network structures, were synthesized by the reaction of MCl₂·6H₂O, S-pabn and K₄[Mo(CN)₈].

Multi-faceted silver phosphate particles show improved photocatalytic activities compared to the irregular shaped particles both for water oxidation and dye degradation.

A series of magnesium pyridinecarboxylic–dicarboxylic acid complexes, synthesised as precursors to potential framework materials, show a range of metal ligand and hydrogen bonding geometries. The pyridinedicarboxylic complexes show most promise as precursors for further syntheses.

The Ti supported bimodal mesoporous catalysts prepared by route II presented the higher dispersion of tetrahedrally-coordinated titanium species and activity in the epoxidation of cyclohexene as compared with route I.

The acidity of the solution can alter the crystal's shape and structure of the coatings grown at 95 °C controlling their electrochemical performance.

Three novel octanuclear, hexanuclear and tetranuclear complexes of high-spin Fe(III) ions were obtained by the reaction of the N,N′-bis-(1R-imidazol-4-ylmethylene)-ethane-1,2-diamine ligand (R = H, CH₃) and its derivatives with Fe(ClO₄)₃·6H₂O and KSCN.

Hysteresis effects and kinetic instabilities have been characterised at the nanoscale for the hydrogenation of NO_x species far from thermodynamic equilibrium.

Ordered mesoporous titanates containing zinc have been prepared by the co-precipitation method. Upon increasing the Zn content a red-shift of the absorption edge is noted and the photoactivity decreases.

Carbon electrodes affinity for charged specious and graphene oxide increased significantly after oxygenous functionalization.

FESEM images of the EuPO₄·H₂O multimorphological nanostructured material with changes in the mole ratio of Eu³⁺ and PO₄³⁻ have been successfully synthesized using microwave assisted co-precipitation.

Mixing butanone and toluene enhances their elimination over a Pd/5%V-TiO₂ catalyst and reduces the formation of toxic reaction by-products.

ZnO nanowires were synthesized in porous alumina and ordered mesoporous silica membranes by combining the template-assisted method with three different ZnO growth approaches.

A quinoxaline-fused tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) derivative 1 has been synthesized to form a compact and planar π-conjugated donor–acceptor (D–π–A) ensemble, and its single crystal structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction.

In situ transport measurement of a single nanowire demonstrates that the H₂V₃O₈ nanowire possesses good electrical transport properties.

Tunable decoration of halloysite nanotubes with gold shells to generate plasmonic structures with photothermal response in the visible-NIR regions and gold porous nanotubes.

Hierarchical assemblies of TiO₂@polymer@Au@MnO achieved using multifunctional polymeric ligand: a toolbox for further immobilization of functional molecules (DNA, fluorophore).

The systematic study on the hydrothermal conversion of TiO₂ nanotubes obtained by anodic oxidation allowed the fabrication of ferroelectric BaTiO₃ tube-like arrays.

We show here that it is possible to post-functionalize metal simple hydroxide layers by performing in situ microwave-assisted reactions.

The performance for acetylene hydrogenation to ethylene over Au–Pd/SiO₂ was greatly promoted when the Pd atoms were isolated by Au.

The selective adsorption properties of a flexible Zn-pyrazolate-dicarboxylate framework based on the rare heptanuclear zinc clusters were described.

IL-ionogels where ionic liquid is covalently linked to a silica network have been developed as electrolytes for DSSCs.

The strengthening of acid sites in Nb–TiO₂ nanomaterials with hierarchical porosity can favour the transformation of alcohols at very low temperatures.

A new phthalazine-bis(triazole) ligand has been developed that provides a suitable binding pocket for coordinating two ruthenium(II) centers in a coaxial octahedral environment, enabling efficient Ru⋯Ru communication.

Thin mesoporous titania films prepared by surfactant templating feature some of the highest light conversion efficiencies per thickness ratios as anodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs).

A novel amphiphilic iron(II) spin transition complex with gradual spin transition crystallises in different modifications.

A green way of obtaining hierarchical flower-like Bi₂WO₆ microspheres with excellent visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance.

The appropriate structure and morphology for enhanced electrochemical properties are obtained at a low temperature of 300 °C.