Themed collection SU 120: Celebrating 120 Years of Soochow University

Gaseous reactant involved liquid–solid diphase interface reactions can be significantly enhanced using rationally designed and constructed air–liquid–solid triphase systems.

Zn–air batteries are under revival.

This feature article summarizes our recent achievements in alkoxy radical-promoted C–C and C–H bond functionalization starting from free alcohols.

The recent advances in 1D and 2D metallic nanostructures for electrochemical water splitting (HER and OER) are highlighted.

Cancer immunotherapy by educating or stimulating patients’ own immune systems to attack cancer cells has demonstrated promising therapeutic responses in the clinic.

Recent works on the syntheses and applications of poly(ionic liquid)s are reviewed.

Nanomedicine approaches may bring new opportunities for tumor metastasis treatment.

Discrete Mo(W)–Cu–S clusters are used as precursors and building blocks for a diverse array of cluster-supported coordination oligomers and polymers.

This review presents recent progress in engineered tubular and planar nanomembranes for smart energy storage applications, especially related to the investigation of fundamental electrochemical kinetics.

Recent advances in optimal design of lithium–sulfur batteries with the aid of in situ optical spectroscopic techniques, including Raman, infrared and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopies, are systematically summarized.

A tutorial review of the state-of-the-art in the tailored growth of two-dimensional h-BN by virtue of CVD routes.

We studied NRR catalytic performance of metal cluster doped on the C₂N monolayer, the homonuclear metal cluster (Rh₃) and heteronuclear metal cluster (Co₂Mo) were screened out, which have excellent catalytic performance.

A two-dimensional metal–organic framework undergoes four-step single-crystal to single-crystals conversions, including a three-step DEF-induced cascade conversion to shuttle back to its original connectivity.

The solvent-induced isomerizations of Ag12 clusters with symmetry transformations were realized by changing the coordinated solvent molecules at room temperature.

X-ray excited luminescence from lanthanide–organic frameworks are reported for the first time, enabling color-tunable visualization of X-ray radiation by changing the lanthanide moiety in the crystals.

Cooperative H₂ activation can be readily achieved by combination of homoleptic rare-earth aryloxides with N-heterocyclic carbenes under mild conditions.

Highly efficient and stable Si photoanodes catalyzed by porous NiFe (oxy)hydroxide converted from NiFe oxysulfide for photoelectrochemical water splitting.

A supramolecular templating approach was employed to fabricate single-handed helical tetraphenylethylene-bridged polybissilsesquioxane nanotubes with circularly polarized luminescence activity.

The utilization of readily prepared Katritzky salts derived from abundant primary amines as radical precursors for cis-hydroalkylation of internal alkynes is described.

The detailed mechanisms of gold(I)-catalyzed annulations of propiolates with substituted and unsubstituted isoxazoles were investigated by DFT calculations.

A novel actinide endohedral fullerene with an unexpected chiral cage, Th@C₁(11)-C₈₆, was synthesized and characterized.

Controlled cationic polymerization of various vinyl ethers is achieved under light radiation, utilizing commercially available reagents, under mild conditions and the molecular weight distributions can be modulated by simply regulating the irradiation time.

Here we report two new metal-chalcogenide open frameworks (MCOFs) with large-sized supertetrahedral clusters bridged by an accessible single-cuprous ion via a multivalent mixed-metal strategy.

Push reversible transitions to the limit! Upon heating, 6–8 kinds of distinct nano-object morphologies can be achieved by H₂O/D₂O-mediated hierarchical self-assembly.

Reported herein is a new strategy for the synthesis of unsymmetric 1,8-diketones through the coupling of cyclopropanols and cyanohydrins.

A dual-electrode, photo-enhanced aqueous redox battery synergizing photo-cathode and battery-anode is constructed via directly growing vertically oriented SnS₂ on Ti mesh.

A series of novel salan-ligated rare-earth metal amide complexes were prepared and employed as initiators for the ROP of rac-β-butyrolactone (rac-BBL).

A novel pyridine-based organic conjugated molecule (NCPy) has been successfully synthesized and converted into an organic pyridinium salt (NCPy-salt). Highly oriented organic nanofibers and high-quality films were obtained by transforming the molecule to a salt form. This transformation also resulted in a unique ternary resistive switching memory behavior.

Titanium oxo clusters (TOCs) anchored with photoactive triphenylamine dyes are reported for the first time. They are unusual TOCs modified with real applied dyes. Using these TPA dye pre-anchored TOCs as organic–inorganic hybrid dyes has advantages for DSSC applications.

The enigmatic near-UV absorber, OSSO, in the yellowish atmosphere of Venus and three novel isomers have been spectroscopically characterized.

A cluster rectangle and a [2]catenane, respectively, featuring P^N-type and cuboidal cluster subunits are synthesized from cluster modular constructions.

An actuator driven by moisture gradients has been developed from a homogeneous graphene oxide film, relying on the in situ formation of a bilayer structure induced by water adsorption.

The metal- and organo-catalyzed Friedel–Crafts/aldol cascade reaction has been developed to give diastereodivergent bispirooxindoles in high yields with excellent enantioselectivity.

Two SO₃ isomers, cis-OSOO and cyclic OS(O)O, were formed in the oxidation of SO and trapped in cryogenic matrices for spectroscopic characterization.

The supramolecular fullerene liquid crystal phase and structure can be regulated by controlling the enthalpy–entropy competition by tuning the flexible chain length.

Interparticle spacing was controlled by evaporating water on 2D Au nanoparticles arrays.

Novel and efficient synthesis of eight-membered nitrogen heterocycles in one pot by copper-catalyzed oxidative ring expansion and intermolecular cyclization sequencing of indoles with amidines has been described.

A novel radical-carbene coupling reaction (RCC reaction) between aromatic amines and diazo compounds was well developed, which afforded a fundamentally different and efficient access to indoles.

An unusual porous cationic metal–organic framework based on a tetranuclear hydroxy-copper(II) cluster displays fast and highly efficient dichromate trapping through a SC–SC transformation.

A thermo- and electro-dual responsive poly(ionic liquid) electrolyte based smart window system shows both tunable transparency and electrochromic properties.

A novel cascade reaction via γ-imino carbene is developed, which provides access to pyrroles in high yield with structure diversity.

A simple and highly efficient catalyst/solvent-free iodine-mediated polymerization system for functional monomers (DMAEMA, PEGMA and GMA) was successfully developed under irradiation of visible light or sunlight.

A decorating strategy has been developed for the synthesis of important synthetic units from benzyl alcohols through C–H functionalization.

A thermally activated delayed fluorescence material 2,6-bis(9,9-diphenylacridin-10(9H)-yl)pyrazine was designed and synthesized.

By using chiral diamines a chiral 3D coordination polymer is assembled to show reversible chiroptical switching behavior by UV/microwave irradiation.

Crystalline, excitation-wavelength-dependent fluorescent and small-sized silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) are prepared by using gramineae plants as natural and accessible reaction precursors.

A novel room-temperature solution-approach is reported for the fabrication of highly crystallized TiO₂ nanotube arrays on transparent conductive substrates.

A novel method for organocatalytic oxidation through oxidative enamine catalysis was developed with excellent compatibility for the direct syntheses of enals from simple saturated alcohols.

Enhanced antibacterial activity against microbial strains is achieved by the assembly of antimicrobial peptides with a thermo-sensitive polymeric carrier.

A novel tandem method was developed to synthesize N-alkyl amines from coupling of either methylamine or nitroalkane with aldehyde.

A Pd-catalyzed highly regioselective 6-exo-dig cyclization/alkenylation reaction of ortho-ethynylanilides has been developed.

Surface immobilization of a protease through its inhibitor-derived peptide was shown to be advantageous in retaining the enzymatic activity of the protease and protecting the protease from being inhibited by its inhibitor.

Moderate dissolution of polysulfides in the electrolyte is indispensable for the high-efficiency and stable discharge/charge cycling of Li–S batteries.

An efficient approach that enables the direct creation of highly open PtCu nanoframes was developed for the first time.

Simple conjugation of a phosphate moiety to a resorufin via a self-immolative linker resulted in a novel probe for rapid and sensitive phosphatase detection and cell imaging.

Charge transfer between inter-clusters is directly observed in inorganic molecular heterojunctions.

A simple and practical approach for the regioselective heteroarylation of amides via unactivated C(sp³)–H bond functionalization is described.

Glycopolymers with specificity to template strain of E. coli were synthesised by the bacteria-sugar monomer-aptation-polymerization.

Separation of TcO₄^– by a cationic covalent organic framework is achieved for the first time, showing advantages of extremely fast sorption kinetics, ultrahigh uptake capacity, good anion-exchange selectivity, and excellent radiation resistance.

Nanoframes of cobalt–iron bimetal phosphide enhance both HER and OER activities towards efficient overall water splitting.

A hybrid CuCoO–GO matrix allows for sensitive detection of various antibiotics in combination with MALDI TOF MS.

We investigated the binding mechanism of PI(4,5)P₂ and variants on the inwardly rectifying potassium channel, Kir2.2. Our results not only demonstrated the molecular origin for their binding specificity, but also revealed the major driving forces.

Vertically aligned and well-separated single-crystal TiO₂ NW arrays with a length of up to ∼10 μm were synthesized via a simple solvothermal method. The charge transport in these NWs is over 100 times faster than that of nanoparticle films and remarkably exhibits length-independence.

Reported herein is a novel, useful, visible light-promoted ring-opening functionalization of unstrained cycloalkanols.

Organic memories fabricated on surface-engineered indium tin oxide show the highest ternary yield (82%) to date and better performance.

An efficient and practical synthesis of benzothiazine by K₂S initiated sulfur insertion reaction with enaminones via electron catalysis is developed.

An effective wet-chemistry approach is demonstrated to minimize the trap states that limit electron transport in rutile TiO2 nanowire arrays, this leads to an over 20-fold enhancement in the electron diffusion coefficient.

The first Pd-catalyzed regioselective γ-carbonylation of oxalyl amide protected aliphatic amines with carbon monoxide leading to synthesis of pyrrolidones has been developed.

A two-dimensional quantum dot molecular beacon with interconnected imaging and therapy modalities is developed for intelligent cancer theranostics.

β-Lactam derivatives are produced through donor–acceptor cyclopropene intermediates in high yield with exclusive cis-diastereoselectivity, and high enantiocontrol.