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In response to the challenges of intermediate poisoning and the high cost of noble metal catalysts in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), we develop a Ru-doped SnO2 catalyst. This Ru–SnO2 catalyst has the characteristics of low Ru loading and a hollow structure, which endow it with good electrocatalytic activity and stability for the HER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A telluride-spinel ZnCo2Te4/NF catalyst delivered an overpotential (η) of only 370 mV to achieve a current density of 100 mA cm−2 and displayed no significant degradation of performance during 50 h of operation. By virtue of in situ synchrotron infrared spectroscopic detection, an accumulation of key OOH* intermediates over the active site was observed, suggesting that the reaction followed the efficient adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM) for water oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bilayer hexagonal wheel Sn18-oxo cluster, as the largest tin-oxo wheel to date, was successfully constructed by structural directing of organic ligands. Moreover, the ligands show important effects on the electronic structure and third-order nonlinear optical properties of the Sn18-oxo wheel, which is demonstrated by detailed theoretical calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we report double-shell Na@Sn6L6@Sn3L3 clusters and their further assembly into a 2D layer, which belongs to a rare Sn-oxo coordination cage-based extended structure. Tetrahedral citrate ligands with multiple coordination sites play key roles in such hierarchical assembly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Bi2Te3/Bi2S3@Bi nanocomposite with a network microstructure was successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal method and spark plasma sintering. This composite was constructed from Bi2Te3 nanoparticles and Bi2S3@Bi nanowires, and its network structure is beneficial for obtaining excellent thermoelectric performance. A ZT peak of 1.2 at 450 K was realized for the nanocomposite sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we report the potential energy surface between superatoms (SPES) based on first-principles theory. The calculations show that superatoms have SPES crossing behavior between different electronic states similar to an atomic potential energy surface (PES). However, unlike atoms, the relative rotation between superatoms results in new dimensions for the SPES. The rotation is divided into two types, around the direction of the line between two superatoms and perpendicular to it. At the equilibrium distance, the former rotation results in maximum energy and charge changes of 0.03 eV and 10−2 e respectively. However, the latter rotation yields changes that are 17 times and 7 times those of the former. These findings help promote the understanding of intermolecular interactions, and will contribute to the bottom-up superatomic-based assembly of novel materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report the largest organotin-oxo arsonate cluster {Sn14As16}, which is made up of a tetramer of alkyl-Sn-oxo subunits linked by four APA ligands and incorporated with a zigzag belt-like {Na6} cluster. This complex shows high water stability and finds potential application as an electrode decoration material in CO2 reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tandem multi-site cyclization triggered by Rh(III)-catalyzed C–H activation has been achieved for highly efficient synthesis of spirocycle indolin-3-one (C2-cyclization), benzo[a]carbazole (C3-cyclization) and an unusual indoxyl core (N1-cyclization). In particular, the synthesis of pseudo-indoxyl is typically completed within 10 min, and the reaction tolerates air, water and a range of solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]