Themed collection Materials Chemistry Frontiers HOT articles for 2018

Synthesis and characterisation of aqueous immiscible layered double hydroxides (AIM-LDHs).

We report the crystal structure, magnetic susceptibility and isothermal magnetization of inorganic frame material Gd(OH)SO₄ (1). The maximum entropy changes for 1 at high field (7 T) and low fields (smaller than 3 T) were comparable to commercial gadolinium gallium garnet Gd₃Ga₅O₁₂.

trans-C_n-Chol present smectic A phase and photo-responsive SmA–isotropic phase transition, and their organogels exhibit aggregation-induced emission and photo-responsive gel–sol transition.

Preparation of stable and lightweight hybrid foams from cellulose nanofibrils (TCNFs) and amine-rich organosilane (AS) by controlled sol–gel chemistry of the AS.

PDIPQ-C5 and PDIPQ-C6 were synthesized to study side-chain effects of PDI tetramer-based non-fullerene acceptors. OSCs based on PDIPQ-C5:P3TEA blend films with 2.5% DIO exhibited the highest PCEs (5.16%).

MLA uses two fluorescent dyes for ratiometric determination of exosomes' membrane lipids.

The first example of a pure non-aromatic organic small molecule, cyanoacetic acid (CAA), with unexpected persistent RTP behavior is reported, which possesses the RTP lifetime as long as 862 ms.

A general strategy has been developed to co-assemble polyoxometalates and polymers into core–shell hybrid nanoparticles via hydrogen bonding interaction.

High-performance field-effect transistors based on organic single crystal microribbons were fabricated by in situ annealing of organic films.

The extended π-conjugation of DF-PCNC leads to higher PCE and J_SC for the resultant OSCs.

Ultrafine MoP nanocrystals on N,P-codoped carbon matrix are fabricated by a one-step carbothermal-phosphorization strategy, exhibiting high electrocatalytic activity.

An interdigitated interface between the electron transport layer and the photoactive layer has been created and found to increase the efficiency of both fullerene and non-fullerene based solar cells.

LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ cathode derived from a novel Ni_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O_x@Ni_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1(OH)₂ hierarchical precursor exhibits improved tap density and initial coulombic efficiency, as well as excellent cycling stability and superior rate capability.

A novel lithium-ion hybrid capacitor was assembled based on an aerogel-like Ti₃C₂T_x@Fe₂O₃ anode and a 3-D dual-doped porous carbon cathode.

A non-covalent functionalized radical polymer anchored on CNTs through π–π interactions with remarkable sodium-ion battery performance as a novel cathode.

Sunlight-driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting using earth-abundant semiconductor-based materials offers one promising strategy to produce attainable and sustainable carbon free energy.

The detection of polyazoles is important for both the environmental protection and homeland security.

Highly open three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical architectures composed of two-dimensional (2D) CoS₂ nanosheets grown on carbon cloth (CoS₂ NS/CC) have been synthesized by vulcanizing well-aligned MOF-array precursors and further used as superior bifunctional electrocatalysts toward the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and overall water splitting under alkaline media.

Sharp-featured Au@Ag core/shell nanocuboids were synthesized.

A–D–A acceptors based on a heptacyclic carbon–oxygen-bridged ladder-type unit, CO_i7, can give a high fill factor in organic solar cells.

A novel A–D–A type small molecule named DTFBR was designed and synthesized. DTFBR exhibited bifunctional properties when combined with different photovoltaic materials.

In this study, a new mechanism on CO₂-responsiveness of protein microtubules constructed by dual non-covalent interactions has been demonstrated.

A tunable temperature stimuli-responsive drug release system based on phase transition polymer grafted magnetic FePt nanoparticles has been realized.

The in-plane and out-of-plane alkyl chains significantly affect the acceptors’ solubility and photovoltaic performance. NNFA[6, 6] and NNFA[12, 3] with medium solubility present suitable miscibility with the donor material, affording more favorable morphology and higher performance than other NNFAs.

AIE-based super-resolution probes are introduced for the super-resolution imaging of fibrillar amyloids with 30 nm resolution.

A folate-conjugated and pH-sensitive micellar system co-encapsulating doxorubicin and paclitaxel was developed for targeted and combination chemotherapy.

Organoboron isomers are not only rare coplanar AIEgens stemmed from excited-state double-bond reorganization, but also specifically target lipid droplets.

A stable porous MOF with a controllable particle size can be used as an HPLC situational phase for small organic molecule separations.

A magnetic solid phase extraction strategy for the separation and enrichment of cell membrane proteins with convenience and reliability was constructed by means of pillararene-based host–guest recognition.

A Mo-triggered amorphous Ni₃S₂ electrocatalyst greatly enhances adsorption of HER targeted intermediates without sacrificing its excellent OER activity for water splitting.

Interlayer-expanded MoS₂ nanosheets directionally assembled on multi-walled carbon nanotubes represent a new class of anode materials for lithium ion batteries with superior high rate capacity.

Two novel low dielectric polysiloxanes with high thermostability and low water uptake were developed.

The 4-pyridonyl group is explored as a substituent for 1,8-naphthalimides, revealing interesting structural chemistry and photoluminescence behaviour in crystalline materials.

Benzene-bridged dendritic mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles significantly improve the catalytic activity and stability of lipase.

Hydrophilic monodisperse silver nanospheres were synthesized by digestive ripening with decoupled etching and surface stabilization using two independent chemical agents.

A phase transition from amorphous nanospheres to crystalline nanorods was achieved and monitored in situ and in real-time by fluorescence spectroscopy.

Herein, we utilize the surface dangling bond of MOFs as anchoring sites to access single Pd sites embedded on a hollow MOF nanobox.

Janus vesicles containing different fluorescent quantum dots in two hemispheres are prepared through a membrane fusion method.

Pseudo single atom Au/MOF catalysts are synthesized using a facile wet-chemistry approach on a large scale and show excellent performance in p-nitrophenol hydrogenation.

High electron mobility derived from dense molecular packing induced by the dipolar moment of azulene units.

NH₃ sensing behavior from ambiplolar bisphthalocyanines manifests the lower density carrier (hole vs. electron) with faster charge transporting speed in semiconducting layer in determining the sensing response nature.

To get precise simulation for ion transport in porous nanofluidic systems, the influence of neighbouring nanopores should be seriously considered.

Spiro-type heterasumanenes composed of two triphenylenodithiophene units and group 14 bridging atoms were synthesized by stepwise lithiations of hexaalkoxytriphenylene derivatives and treatment with heteroatom reagents.

The Au(I)–thiolate complexes inserted their chains into the shell of Au nanoclusters, forming a crystalline shell with enhanced emission.

Coumarin-based fluorophores were studied to serve as multifunctionalized solid-state fluorescent materials.

Zwitterion-functionalized aligned nanofibers integrated with a microfluidic chip can be used for highly efficient capture and rapid release of CTCs.

Folding behaviours in solution, solid-state structure, and electron mobility are clarified for newly-synthesized alternating copolymers of perylenediimide and flexible chains.

Routes to obtain pure and modified tin oxide aerogels for different applications starting with hexahydroxostannate via tin oxide sols.

Efficient ultrapure green OLEDs were demonstrated by using a platinum complex (PtN7N) and a top emitting structure.

A ladder-type unit (CO_i6) and three related acceptors were developed. FTAZ:CO_i6FIC solar cells gave a power conversion efficiency of 9.12%.

Kirigami nanofluidics is demonstrated here, where ionic transport through 2D laminar films can be manipulated by tailor-cutting the film shape.

Calcium ions at mM concentrations promote the self-assembly of SOPC lipids into inter-connected hollow lipid tubes.

A highly efficient aldol triple condensation method was developed for scalable synthesis and solution processing of conjugated porous polymer networks.

Electrochemical tuning generated grain boundaries in Co(OH)_x(CO₃)_0.5(2−x) offer numerous unparalleled active sites for highly efficient electro-oxidation of hydrazine.

Crystals of and PMMA films doped with 2,5-bis(silylmethoxy)-1,4-diaroylbenzenes exhibit efficient green phosphorescence at room temperature.

The family of conjugated polymers known as polydiacetylenes (PDAs) has been extensively utilized in designing stimuli-responsive colorimetric and fluorometric sensors.

Highly sensitive organic photodetectors were achieved by the work function reduction of transparent electrodes with AIE molecules.

A real-time, on-site, nondestructive, fluorescence imaging technique has been reported to monitor the crystal formation and transformation processes of organic luminogens.

Small molecules are used as “igniters” for the selective sorting of metallic/semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes by a gas phasing etching process.

A novel supramolecular tweezering system has been developed for “on-demand” photocatalysis.