Themed collection Celebrating Professor Geoffrey Ozin's 80th Birthday
Photon and phonon powered photothermal catalysis
Synergistic coupling of photons and phonons make the photothermal catalytic conversion of various important processes possible.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4EE00783B
Ultrabright fluorescent particles via physical encapsulation of fluorescent dyes in mesoporous silica: a mini-review
Harnessing the power of mesoporous silica to encapsulate organic fluorescent dyes has led to the creation of an extraordinary class of nanocomposite photonic materials.
Nanoscale, 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NR00800F
A comprehensive review on singlet oxygen generation in nanomaterials and conjugated polymers for photodynamic therapy in the treatment of cancer
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT): A minimally invasive treatment for a range of benign disorders and malignancies.
Nanoscale, 2024,16, 3243-3268
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3NR05801H
Protector-free, non-plasmonic silver quantum clusters by femtosecond pulse laser irradiation: in situ binding on nanocellulose filaments for improved catalytic activity and cycling performance
This study introduces a new, facile method to synthesize silver clusters with neither reducing nor capping agents from aqueous silver ion solution by using high intensity femtosecond pulse laser irradiation.
Nanoscale Horiz., 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NH00086B
Flexible transparent and hydrophobic SiNCs/PDMS coatings for anti-counterfeiting applications
A fluorescence aging-resistant SiNCs/PDMS antifake coating is exploited by dispersing De-SiNCs into PDMS matrix. Interestingly, encapsulation of De-SiNCs is beneficial to improving mechanical property and thermal stability of the SiNCs/PDMS coating.
Mater. Horiz., 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MH00211C
Rational ligand design for enhanced carrier mobility in self-powered SWIR photodiodes based on colloidal InSb quantum dots
This study demonstrates selective ligand engineering of InSb colloidal quantum dots (CQD) for enhancing the figure of merit of self-powered short-wave infrared (SWIR) photodiodes.
Nanoscale Horiz., 2024,9, 817-827
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NH00038B
Advancing lithium–sulfur battery efficiency: utilizing a 2D/2D g-C3N4@MXene heterostructure to enhance sulfur evolution reactions and regulate polysulfides under lean electrolyte conditions
A schematic illustration for the synthesis of g-C3N4-Mx/S nanocomposites and structure of pouch cells demonstrating arrangements of electrodes and a separator.
Mater. Horiz., 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MH00200H
Synthesis of high-entropy germanides and investigation of their formation process
High-entropy germanides (AuAgCuPdPtGe and FeCoNiCrVGe) were synthesized via a rapid thermal annealing. The formation and growth mechanisms were investigated using in situ heating XRD and TEM.
Nanoscale Horiz., 2024,9, 580-588
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NH00012A
Magnetic assembly of plasmonic chiral superstructures with dynamic chiroptical responses
A chiral magnetic field brings magnetoplasmonic nanoparticles into close proximity, enabling plasmonic coupling and imparting chirality to resulting superstructures, and consequently, dynamic tunability of plasmonic chiroptical properties.
Mater. Horiz., 2024,11, 680-687
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MH01597A
Synergistic design of g-C3N4-supported CNTs: experimental and DFT insights for enhanced electrochemical performance in flexible Li–S batteries
A schematic for the preparation of a g-C3N4-CNT/S composite cathode for lithium–sulfur batteries.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA00918E
Light concentration and electron transfer in plasmonic–photonic Ag,Au modified Mo-BiVO4 inverse opal photoelectrocatalysts
Synergy of plasmonic–photonic effects in Ag,Au modified Mo-BiVO4 inverse opal photoelectrocatalysts enhance recalcitrant pharmaceutical degradation.
Nanoscale, 2024,16, 10366-10376
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3NR06407G
Implication of surface oxidation of nanoscale molybdenum carbide on electrocatalytic activity
The surface oxidation of molybdenum carbide nanoparticles was controlled by the electrochemical method. The impact of surface oxidation on catalytic properties was studied by both spectroscopic and computational methods.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA01746C
Cyano-functionalized pyrazine: an electron-deficient unit as a solid additive enables binary organic solar cells with 19.67% efficiency
A strong electron-deficient unit CNPz as a solid additive was developed in PTQ10/m-BTP-PhC6 binary organic solar cells. A high PCE of 19.67% was achieved with a significant increase of the JSC and FF (81.8%).
Energy Environ. Sci., 2024,17, 3365-3374
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4EE00764F
Optical study of Te8 ring clusters: comparison with density functional theory and a step towards materials design using nanoporous zeolite space
We report an experimental and theoretical study of a regular array of oriented Te8 rings formed in the ~1.14 nm diameter cavities of zeolite LTA.
Nanoscale, 2024,16, 9436-9446
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NR00114A
Selective oxidation of linear alcohols: the promotional effect of water and inhibiting effect of carboxylates over dilute PdAu catalysts
The promotional effect of Pd for selective alcohol oxidation over dilute Pd-in-Au bimetallic alloy catalysts strongly depends on the alkyl chain length and is characterized via a combination of reactor and in situ infrared studies.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA01383B
Spatial tuning of adsorption enthalpies by exploiting spectator group effects in organosilica carbon capture materials
Organosilica materials containing spectator groups next to amines display quasi-solvent behavior that controls CO2 affinity. When the spectator groups are assembled as a density gradient, one obtains a spatial pattern of adsorption enthalpies.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 11332-11343
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA01381F
Insights from experiment and machine learning for enhanced TiO2 coated glazing for photocatalytic NOx remediation
TiO2-coated glass for photocatalytic NOx removal was optimised. Correlations between the synthesis parameters, coating properties, and photocatalytic activity was systematically studied through experimentation and machine learning tools for the first time.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA01319K
Rapid self-healing and superior toughness in ionically crosslinked polymer ionogels and strain sensing applications
The designed ionogel comprising poly(vinyl imidazole) and polyphosphoric acid exhibits rapid self-healing with robust mechanical properties that could further be enhanced by incorporation of Ca-ions into the matrix.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 9508-9517
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3TA07277K
Screening and property targeting of thermochemical energy storage materials in concentrated solar power using thermodynamics-based insights and mathematical optimization
We propose a computational framework to systematically identify promising solid–gas reaction candidates for thermochemical energy storage (TCES) in concentrating solar power (CSP) plants.
RSC Sustain., 2024,2, 943-960
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SU00244F
Manganese oxide-based mesoporous thin-film electrodes: manganese disproportionation reaction in alkaline media
In this study, we explore the disproportionation reaction mechanism in alkaline media during the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) utilizing mesoporous electrodes, namely LiMn2O4 (m-LMO), Mn3O4 (m-Mn3O4), and Mn2P2O7 (m-MnPP).
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 6359-6375
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3TA07973B
Amine functionalized surface frustrated Lewis pairs boost CO2 photocatalysis
Replacement of the Lewis base hydroxide InOH by the stronger amine InNH2 enables the formation of robust InNH2⋯In SFLP with excellent CO2 photocatalytic performance.
EES. Catal., 2024,2, 573-584
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3EY00261F
Chemically exfoliated boron nanosheets for efficient oxidative dehydrogenation of propane
We report that boron in the form of nanosheets can be prepared feasibly by exfoliating layered MgB2 with hydrochloric acid, and can efficiently and stably catalyze oxidative dehydrogenation of propane.
Nanoscale, 2024,16, 1312-1319
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3NR05212E
Photo and redox active carbon nitride – dual functionality for energy storage
The ability to directly capture and store solar energy in an electrical form within a single structure is an intriguing concept and if feasible, could be an ideal approach to overcome the intermittency issue of solar energy.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2023,11, 20601-20607
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3TA03947A
About this collection
This special collection marks the 80th birthday of Professor Geoffrey Ozin, serving as a tribute to his outstanding contributions to materials chemistry and his lasting impact on the scientific community. Widely considered the father of nanochemistry, his work includes pioneering studies of new classes of nanomaterials, mesoporous materials, photonic crystals and nanomachines.
Guest Edited by Professor Wei Sun, Professor Le He, Professor Wendong Wang, Professor Lu Wang, Professor Georg von Freymann and Professor Bettina Lotsch, this collection aims to reflect the breadth and depth of Professor Ozin’s research interests, inspiring future generations of scientists to continue to push the boundaries of materials chemistry.