Themed collection 2014 Journal of Materials Chemistry A Hot Articles

We review the recent progress in the development of acyclic diyne metathesis polymerization (ADIMET) and ring-opening alkyne metathesis polymerization (ROAMP).

NiCo₂O₄-based materials have become a new class of energy storage materials for electrochemical supercapacitors, which manifest remarkable electrochemical performances.

This review highlights the recent advances made in the potential applications of superhydrophobic materials.

Tandem polymer solar cells can achieve significantly higher efficiencies by reducing the absorption and thermalization loss.

The structure, arrangement and composition of nanomaterials can greatly influence the performance of Li-ion batteries and emerging alternatives.

Layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) (MoS₂, MoSe₂, WS₂, WSe₂, etc.) are a chemically diverse class of compounds having remarkable electrochemical properties.

High temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells based on functionalized mesoporous silica nanocomposite membranes.

This review summarizes recent significant progress in the fabrication and applications of carbon-based anode catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells.

A new metal-free hybrid seawater fuel cell was proposed and designed, which used flowing seawater as the cathode and a hard carbon anode.

Ultrathin MoS₂ nanosheets were grown on Mo₂C-embedded N-doped carbon nanotubes through in situ solid and subsequent hydrothermal reactions, showing excellent electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution.

3D cauliflower-fungus-like graphene (CFG) with high conductivity and excellent catalytic activity is directly synthesized from CO₂. A DSSC with a 3D CFG counter electrode exhibits a high energy conversion efficiency of 8.1%, which is better than that of a Pt-based DSSC. This provides a novel approach not only to synthesize free-standing 3D graphene for solar cells, but also to control CO₂ emission.

This communication reports the development of a unique gel-based adsorbent for wastewater treatment using a new low molecular weight gelator.

The nucleating agent DMDBS is used to modulate the crystallization of solution-processed small molecule donor molecules in bulk heterojunction photovoltaic devices.

Organic/a-Si hybrid tandem solar cells with complementary absorption exhibit a PCE of 7.5% with FF of 72.3% and V_oc of 1.51 V.

Transparent, flexible and highly efficient power sources are essential components of mobile electronics and optoelectronic devices.

A supercapacitor with a tough ionogel as the integrated electrolyte and separator exhibits ideal electrochemical performance and excellent stability at high temperatures.

A high performance Pt-free cathode catalyst for polymer electrolyte fuel cells has been synthesized by the multi-step pyrolysis of polyimide fine particles with a diameter of about 100 nm.

Small-molecule donor materials can be prepared in one step using simple condensation chemistry.

A spongy polypyrrole based conductive hydrogel with chemically tunable structures and electrochemical characteristics was developed for highly flexible solid-state supercapacitors.

A composite of LLZO and LPS inherits the excellent processability of the sulfide and exceeds the conductivity of parent components.

BiFeO₃ films, grown via a novel AACVD process from a single-source precursor, are shown to be highly active photocatalysts for water oxidation under solar irradiation.

The optical constants of a CH₃NH₃PbI_3−xCl_x perovskite thin film were acquired for the first time.

The size effect of graphite on hole-conductor-free fully printable mesoscopic perovskite solar cells was studied.

The inner walls of CNTs have a significant effect on the electrocatalytic activity of supported Pt NPs for MOR/FAOR in fuel cells.

The MWCNTs dispersion was improved by grafting PVA through the Friedel–Crafts alkylation and thus the mechanical properties of the PVA/MWCNTs fibers were increased.

Fe₃O₄@3-aminophenol–formaldehyde (Fe₃O₄@APF) core–shell resin polymer magnetic nanocomposites were fabricated by the polymerization of 3-aminophenol and formaldehyde as efficient absorbants for methyl blue.

The non-metallic distorted 1T phase is the most HER active polytype in exfoliated single-layer MoS₂.

Double perovskites PrBa_1−xCo₂O_5+δ with a stable tetragonal symmetrical structure and high oxygen vacancy concentration, demonstrate a superior electrochemical performance as prospective cathode materials for IT-SOFCs.

A systematic study on how to link the synthesis temperature with the structure and electrochemical performance of P3- and P2-type Na_xNi_0.22Co_0.11Mn_0.66O₂ was conducted.

Metal-free highly N-doped mesoscopic carbons with active quaternary and pyridinic-N species show superior electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction.

We design novel symmetric supercapacitors based on nanoporous carbons (NPCs) by direct carbonization of Zn-based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs).

We demonstrate, for the first time, efficient roll-coating fabrication of flexible large area small molecule bulk heterojunction solar cells with PCE exceeding 1%.

Structurally stabilized Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C composite cathode materials by pillar ion doping exhibit high Na capacities, excellent rate properties and stable cycling performances.

Hollow Ni–Co–B nanospheres are easily achieved through a vesicle-assisted chemical reduction approach. Such a material can be used to conduct one-pot hydrogenation of 2-ethyl-2-hexenaldehyde to 2-ethyl-1-hexanol.

By means of density functional theory computations, we systematically investigated the behavior of lithium (Li) adsorption and diffusion on MoO₃ with different dimensions: including three-dimensional (3D) bulk, two-dimensional (2D) double-layer, 2D monolayer and one-dimensional (1D) nanoribbons.

We report a facile one step method for fabricating g-C₃N₄ nanosheets with enhanced photocatalytic H₂ evolution activity.

A portable, sensitive and selective colorimetric strip for naked-eye recognition of Pb²⁺ utilizing solid-phase polydiacetylene embedded electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibers.

Superparamagnetic core–shell structured mesoporous microspheres synthesized via a co-surfactant templating approach under acidic conditions for the extraction of pollutants.

The tiny variations between the two asymmetrical squaraines molecular structure dramatically affect their solid-state structure, carrier mobility and photovoltaic performance.

Monofunctional and multifunctional POSS were successfully grafted on a carbon fiber (CF) surface to enhance the interfacial strength of CF reinforced unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) composites.

A 2.9-fold increase in electrical energy storage capacity (up to 23 W h kg⁻¹) is achieved in battery/supercapacitor hybrid electrodes through non-covalent modification of binder-free, ultra-high surface area graphene macro-assemblies with redox-active anthraquinone. These hybrid electrodes demonstrate battery-like energy density, supercapacitor-like power performance, and superb long-term stability.

A carbon coated Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ nanomaterial obtained by an ionic liquid-assisted synthesis is presented as an excellent negative electrode material for high power energy storage devices.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials open up tremendous opportunities for attractive applications in next-generation flexible and transparent nanoelectronic devices.

Highway to MOF Ni ₂ (dhtp)! 1 hour in boiling water under atmospheric pressure; a cheap synthesis of the linker is also reported.

TCNQ, TCNE, TTF and BV can reduce band gap of MoS₂ monolayer, and TNCQ can enhance the infrared optical absorption.

Flower-like hierarchical mesoporous carbon superstructures (FMCS), fabricated by one-pot hydrothermal reaction, exhibit outstanding supercapacitive performances.

Introduced X to 2Mg(NH₂)₂–3LiH system, thermodynamically allowed hydrogen release temperatures at 0.1 MPa equilibrium pressure are 333, 320, 337 K.

Development of novel one-dimensional (1D) solid sensors for the highly selective and sensitive detection of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) in aqueous media has attracted considerable attention.

Flexible quantum dot-sensitized solar cells with improved efficiencies based on woven titanium wires were fabricated.

A hierarchical, branched Bi₂S₃–CNT hybrid was fabricated through a facile sonochemical approach which exhibited outstanding Li-storage capability.

P3HT degradation is shown to be suppressed when it is on conductive substrates. This ‘substrate effect’ is more significant than maintaining an inert environment.

Fe-containing MOF with a structure different from ZIFs is used as the sole precursor for ORR electrocatalyst preparation.

A high performance carbon-based ORR catalyst with ultra-high surface area and hierarchical porous structures was derived from polystyrene foam waste.

For the first time, lithiation/delithiation behavior of tellurium at room temperature was investigated using tellurium/porous carbon (Te/C) composite electrodes.

Co₃O₄ hollow dodecahedrons with controllable interiors are prepared through direct pyrolysis of ZIF-67 and exhibit high performance for Li-ion storage.

Under the mild conditions of 298 K and 10 bar, [Fe₂(BPEB)₃] adsorbs a considerable amount of CO₂, up to 40% wt.

Multiple quaternary ammonium groups on pendent side chains of poly(ether ether ketone) improve ion conductive channels and hydroxide conductivity.

Specific charge–discharge properties of Li₅FeO₄ positive electrodes with regard to bulk and surface structural changes during the first charging process analyzed by synchrotron techniques including XRD, XANES, and EXAFS.

We report the fabrication of long titanium dioxide nanotube arrays with highly c-axis preferentially oriented crystallization and a high concentration of oxygen vacancies by second anodization in ethylene glycol and annealing under poor-oxygen conditions.

A new class of shape-deformable and thermally stable solid-state electrolyte based on a plastic crystal composite polymer electrolyte for flexible/safer lithium-ion batteries is demonstrated.

Microscopic analysis reveals the dual-site occupancy character of Ga in skutterudites which results in abnormal electrical properties.

A method for rapid synthesis of 2–40 nm diameter nanocrystal dispersions of the emerging sustainable thin-film solar absorber copper zinc tin sulfide is reported: the average crystals size is controlled by varying the synthesis temperature between 150 °C and 340 °C. Films cast from larger nanocrystals, are crack-free and suitable for making thin film solar cells.

Ultralight, fire-resistant, and compressible foams as recyclable oil absorbents are facilely prepared from cheap melamine resins.

The magnetocaloric effect of orthorhombic Gd(OH)CO₃ has been experimentally studied, which exhibits −ΔS_m up to 66.4 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ (355 mJ cm⁻³ K⁻¹) for ΔH = 7 T and T = 1.8 K.

NiO–TiO₂ NTAs were synthesized using a facile ultrasound-assisted deposition technique and displayed an effectively enhanced photo-conversion efficiency and photocatalytic activity compared with TiO₂ NTAs.

PbTe as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries was studied and found to exhibit stable cycling performance at high rates. It is believed that the formation of Li₂Te is responsible for the improved rate capability.

N-Acylation of dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]pyrrole (DTP) leads to enhanced open-circuit voltages and hence higher power conversion efficiencies in polymer solar cells.

Polydopamine particles were used as fillers for constructing multifunctional composites for the first time.

Solid solutions of GeTe, AgInTe₂ and optionally AgSbTe₂ (accessible via high-pressure synthesis or by quenching, depending on the phases’ In content) exhibit remarkable thermoelectric properties that clearly reflect transitions between metastable and stable phases.

We show a strong correlation of the charge separation dynamics by electron and hole transfer with the solid-state microstructure of organic bulk heterojunction materials.