Themed collection In memory of Paul O’Brien

In this report, we explore the synthetic chemistry behind the development of mercury chalcogenide quantum dots and highlight some key optical properties. Graphical abstract shows a HgTe quantum dots. Reproduced from M. Green, G. Wakefield and P. J. Dobson, J. Mater. Chem., 2003, 13, 1076 with permission from The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Pure thin films of metal tellurides, such as CdTe, Sb₂Te₃ and In₂Te₃, can be generated from complexes of the [TePrⁱ₂PNPPrⁱ₂Te]⁻ ligand by using the technique of aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposition.

The synthesis of colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) from single-source precursors offers simplified manufacturing processes at the cost of reduced atom efficiency.

We present the use of a polymeric stabilizer which stymies the degradation of black phosphorus nanosheets in aqueous media as well as imparting superhydrophobic properties to immobilised nanosheets.

SPIONs consisting predominantly of magnetite or maghemite display distinct chemical stability in solution but equivalent imaging properties when in cells.

It has been possible to bestow significantly improved mechanical properties on a porous MOF by incorporating BN nanosheets.

In the Cr₇Co model-system the anisotropy of Co^II is effectively transferred to the whole cluster through strong and anisotropic exchange interactions.

Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) is a potentially important solar cell material. We report the first chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of Cu₂ZnSnS₄ thin films using diethyldithiocarbamato complexes of copper, zinc and tin.

Selenium and sulfur derivatives of lead(II) acylchalcogourato complexes have been used to deposit PbS_xSe_1−x thin films by AACVD.

LECs with [Ir(tppy)₂(btzpy)][PF₆] (tppy = 2-(3-(tert-butyl)phenyl)pyridine, btzpy = 2-(pyridine-2-yl)benzo[d]thiazole) in the active layer exhibit pure red emission and are very stable over 5 days of continuous operation.

A new consistent interatomic force field for In₂O₃ and SnO₂.

The first direct synthesis of pure thermochromic VO₂(M) nanoparticles with particle sizes below 50 nm by continuous hydrothermal flow synthesis (CHFS).

In crystals of donor–acceptor helicene molecules, thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) is strongly enhanced by the presence of occluded hexane molecules.

Enhanced thermoelectric performance of Cu₃SbS₄ with fine microstructure and optimized carrier concentration by Sn-doping.

A new organo tin complex has been synthesized and used as a single source precursor for the synthesis of tin selenide nanosheets and deposition of thin films.

Lanthanide based molecular probes for bioimaging rely on the antenna effect; here we start unravelling the details of sensitized lanthanide luminescence.

All solid-state batteries based on NASICON-type LiM₂(PO₄)₃ electrolyte phases are highly promising owing to their high ionic conductivities and chemical stabilities.

A family of undecanuclear Fe–Ln clusters, comprising butterfly motifs, was explored and two are found to behave as single molecule magnets.

Previously unseen coincidence of a semi-soft elastic-like load curve with a “mechanical-Fréedericksz transition” and negative liquid crystal order parameter (S).

Environmental stability is a common challenge for the commercialisation of low cost, encapsulation-free organic opto-electronic devices.

A dissymmetric, soluble, porous organic cage from a low-cost racemic precursor.

Halide perovskites offer low cost and high efficiency solar cell materials but serious issues related to air and moisture stability remain.

Compositional tuning via Al/O in the SiAlON phosphor host distorts the activator site, resulting in improved optical properties.

Porous materials can be used as sorbents for the bulk uptake (and potential deactivation) of chemical warfare agents (CWAs).

The growth of CH₃NH₃PbI₃ films is transformed using a new combined one-step and two-step deposition method which results in controlled morphology and property changes.

The heterometallic pivalate clusters have been used as single source precursors to synthesise zinc ferrite or nickel ferrite nanoparticles. The different reaction parameters, magnetic properties and XMCD were studied.

Synthesis and characterization of large pore raspberry textured phosphonate@silica nanoparticles that are readily internalized by HeLa cells and form stable BSA@particle dispersions with high BSA load and retention of native protein structure at pH 7.4.

The as-formed ethylenediamine–titanium butoxide complex was employed to synthesize mesoporous TiO_2−xN_x with enhanced visible-light-responsive photocatalytic activity owing to its developed mesoporosity and reduced oxygen vacancies.

Ultrafast transient absorption and photoemission measurements have been used to study multiple exciton generation and measure the electronic and surface properties of PbS nanoparticles.

SILnPs showed 99.9% fructose conversion with 63.0% HMF yield in the dehydration of fructose; and were very easily and efficiently recycled over seven cycles.

Phthalocyanines and porphyrins incorporated into microporous network polymers show greatly enhanced activity as heterogeneous catalysts when compared to low molar mass analogues.