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A novel multifunctional coordination polymer {[Zn(HCOO) (bcbpy)Cl]·H 2 O} n (1) with multiple colour-changing has been synthesized from Zn(NO 3) 2 ·6H 2 O, and viologen ligand 1,1′-bis-((3-carboxylatobenzyl)-4,4′-bipyridinium) dichloride (H 2 bcbpy·2Cl). In coordination polymer (CP) 1 , bcbpy ligands bridge Zn2+ cations to form a 1D wave-like chain. CP 1 exhibited photochromic properties under xenon lamp and blue light irradiation while obtaining a structurally stable light product 1T. CP 1 thermochromic properties can also be observed during heating. 1 showed photo-controlled fluorescence properties during color rendering and decolorization, and its properties were studied. Interestingly, CP 1 can be deposited in filter paper by coating it with a solution of H 2 O. The filter paper can be used as a printing medium without ink. [Display omitted] • CP 1 was synthesized using viologen ligand 1,1′-bis-((3-carboxylatobenzyl)-4,4′-bipyridinium) dichloride (H 2 bcbpy·2Cl). • CP 1 exhibited photochromic properties under xenon lamp and blue light irradiation. • CP 1 obtaining a structurally stable light product 1T after irradiation. • CP 1 can be used as a good ink-free printing medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing nanoscale coordination polymers (CPs) with different micro- or nanoscale morphologies and sizes is crucial for the functionalization of CPs-based heterogeneous catalysts. Herein, surfactant polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), surface-supported frameworks (filter paper or Ni foam), and Co-based CPs (1), [Co 2 (pdpa)(py) 4 (H 2 O)] n (H 4 pdpa ​= ​5,5'-(pentane-1,2-diyl)-bis(oxy)diisophthalic; py ​= ​pyridine)) were employed to develop highly ordered micro- or nanoscale CPs, achieving microscale 1a (without surface-supported framework) and nanoscale 1b-c (filter paper and Ni foam as surface-supported frameworks for 1b and 1c , respectively). Furthermore, the catalytic performance of nanoscale 1c with spheric particles for the tandem conversion reactions of aromatic nitriles and diamines into imidazoline or tetrahydropyrimidine frameworks was much more prominent than that of large scale 1 , microscale 1a , and nanoscale 1b because of the easily accessible catalytic active sites in the nanoscale spheric particles, which offered a functionalizable platform for the tandem reactions by minimizing the diffusion distance but did little for their activity. By introducing surfactant and surface-supported frameworks, different morphologies and particle sizes of Co-based CPs with micro- or nanoscale 1a-c were constructed and were used as efficient heterogeneous catalysts to execute tandem conversion reactions. [Display omitted] • A new Co-based CPs was constructed under solvothermal conditions. • Co-based CPs with different morphologies and particle sizes were obtained. • The catalytic performance of all the prepared particles for tandem reactions was conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A binder free electrode is fabricated by "planting" Anderson type polyoxometalate derived NiS/MoS 2 "follower" on functional carbon paper. This electrode shows excellent UOR activity. In 1 ​M KOH containing 0.4 ​M urea, it only needs 1.42 and 1.43 ​V voltage to achieve 50 and 100 ​mA ​cm−2 current. On the contrary, to reach 50 and 100 ​mA ​cm−2, OER require 1.68 and 1.75 ​V. Besides promising UOR activity, the HER property of this electrode is also attractive. In urea containing electrolyte, its η 10 and η 100 are only 128 and 283 ​mV. More importantly, it shows excellent stability in both UOR and HER. In electrolytic cell, with this electrode as cathode and anode simultaneously, only 1.42 and 1.49 ​V voltage is needed to obtain 10 and 50 ​mA ​cm−2 current in urea containing electrolyte. Without urea, the voltages increase to 1.69 and 1.75 ​V. The excellent UOR and HER properties suggest this binder free electrode is competent for low energy consumption H 2 production. NiS/MoS 2 "flower" was "planted" on functional carbon paper, which exhibits excellent UOR and HER properties in overall water splitting. Image 1 • With POM as precursor, NiS/MoS 2 was planted on functional carbon paper. • The obtained composite exhibits excellent HER and UOR activities. • In HER and UOR, the composite shows promising stability. • In water splitting, it only requires 1.42 ​V to obtain 10 ​mA ​cm−2 current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucose, as one of the most familiar biomass, can be utilized to produce hydrogen and fine chemicals. This work reports the renewable hydrogen production from glucose over Au/CdS-nanorods (Au/CdS-NRs) photocatalyst. For Au/CdS-NRs catalyst, it shows a superior H 2 evolution rate of 90.0 ​μmol ​g−1 ​h−1 under visible light irradiation. Moreover, the H 2 generation from the glucose solution on Au/CdS-NRs prepared by twice solvothermal method is much higher than Au colloid and photoreduction methods. Prepared with twice solvothermal method, Au nanoparticles are obtained from Au3+ ions on the CdS surface, as Au3+ can be reduced by photogenerated electrons. The separated hole can oxidize glucose to produce protons, and protons can be reduced by photogenerated electrons into H 2. Meanwhile, the Au/CdS-NRs can also be used to produce H 2 from other biomasses, for instance sucrose, soluble starch, celluflor, pectin and waste paper scraps. The probable mechanism is proposed and discussed in the photocatalytic process from glucose reforming. This work indicates that the process of self-reducing Au3+ to Au can drastically increase the photocatalytic efficiency of H 2 evolution from biomass, by promoting the separation and transportation of photogenerated charge carriers. Image 1 • Au/CdS nanorods was prepared by twice solvothermal method. • Au3+ can be reduced by photogenerated electrons in glucose solution. • Self-reduction of Au3+ can significantly improve the charge separation. • A photocatalytic mechanism was proposed and confirmed by several techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel cyanostilbene-modified tetraphenylethene derivatives were constructed by Williamson etherification, Suzuki coupling and Knoevenagel condensation reactions. Both compounds exhibited aggregation-induced emission and strong solid-state fluorescence behaviors with extremely high fluorescence quantum yield due to the distorted molecular conformation. Strangely, the compound without additional phenyl spacer did not show mechanochromic behavior, whereas, the compound with an additional phenyl spacer exhibited distinct mechanochromic behavior with the red-shifted emission wavelength from 480 nm to 503 nm upon grinding. The distinct differences in mechanochromic behaviors between the reported compounds could be attributed to that the additional phenyl spacer had benefits for the molecular planarization with external mechanical force. This investigation provided a method to construct mechanochromic material with aggregation-induced emission behavior and high solid-state fluorescence quantum yield and promoted the utilization in rewritable luminescent paper. Two novel AIE-active cyanostilbene-modified tetraphenylethene derivatives were prepared and the additional phenyl spacer induced distinct AIE behaviors, solid-state fluorescence and mechanochromic behaviors. [Display omitted] • Two novel AIE-active cyanostilbene-modified tetraphenylethene derivatives were obtained. • The incorporation of phenyl induced different solid-state fluorescence with high fluorescence quantum yield. • The incorporation of more phenyl induced big difference in mechanochromic behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multistimuli responsive materials based on the viologen coordination polymers have attracted much interest in the past few years due to the increasing demand for smart materials. In this paper, based on a viologen ligand 1-(3-carboxybenzyl)- 4,4′-bipyridinium chloride (Hcbbpy) and zinc(II) ion, a new crystalline complex, namely, {[Zn(cbbpy)Cl 2 ]·H 2 O} n (1) has been designed and synthesized. In complex 1 , every cbbpy ligand as a bridge links two Zn2+ ions via carboxylate O atom and pyridine N atom to extend to a 1D zigzag chain. The 1D chains are extended to 3D supramolecular structure through π···π stacking and hydrogen bonding. More importantly, 1 exhibits fast photochromic behaviors in response to UV and X-ray due to the formation of viologen radicals. Complex 1 also shows photo-modulated luminescence property in the solid state. In addition, complex 1 can be deposited on filter paper and displays the potential application as inkless print material. [Display omitted] • A new viologen complex was successfully synthesized and characterized. • Complex 1 shows fast response to UV light and X-ray irradiation. • Complex 1 can be deposited on filter paper and displays as inkless print material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract As the final product of purine metabolism, uric acid (UA) existing in urine and serum plays an important role in the body's metabolism, immunity and other functions. However, it is still difficult to sense UA in practice. Herein, a new terbium metal–organic framework (Me 2 NH 2) 2 [Tb 2 (L) 2 ]·(H 2 O) 6 (ZJU-158-Tb, ZJU = Zhejiang University, L = 1-(3,5-dicarboxylatobenzyl)−3,5-pyrazole dicarboxylic acid)for luminescent sensing of UA was designed and synthesized. It exhibits highly sensitive and selective detection to UA in aqueous solutions with a quite low detection limit of 7 nM by a luminescence turn-down phenomenon. Furthermore, the practical test papers made by ZJU-158-Tb possess fast monitoring ability for abnormal UA levels in artificial urine and serum through distinct colour change, which could be even distinguished by the naked eye. Graphical abstract A terbium metal–organic framework (ZJU-158-Tb) for luminescence sensing of UA (uric acid) was successfully synthesized. ZJU-158-Tb exhibits highly sensitive and selective detection of UA in aqueous with the detection limit of 7 nM. Moreover, the test papers made by ZJU-158-Tb display fast and effective monitoring of abnormal levels of UA in artificial urine and serum through obvious luminescent colour change. fx1 Highlights • A luminescent MOF has been designed and solvothermally synthesized. • ZJU-158-Tb shows sensitive and selective detection of UA with a LOD of 7 nM. • The MOF test papers can monitor abnormal UA levels in artificial urine and serum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the crystal structure, physical properties, photoelectric conversion efficiency and large-area development of CsPbI 3 all-inorganic perovskite solar cells are comprehensively analyzed. The research results of the material in photoelectric conversion efficiency, large-area development and preparation technology are summarized. In addition, through theoretical prediction and simulation, this study simulated a CsPbI 3 all-inorganic perovskite solar cell with a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 28.29 %, which provided a theoretical basis for the preparation of high-performance devices. In this paper, the physical properties, photoelectric conversion efficiency, large area and preparation methods of CsPbI 3 all-inorganic perovskite solar cells are summarized in detail. In addition, the theoretical efficiency of the device was predicted, and the CsPbI 3 all-inorganic perovskite solar cell with a theoretical photoelectric conversion efficiency of 28.29 % was successfully obtained. [Display omitted] • CsPbI 3 all-inorganic perovskite solar cells. • Physical Properties of CsPbI 3 Materials. • Research status and preparation methods. • The theoretical efficiency of simulation prediction reaches 28.29 %. • Challenge and strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fluorescent nanoscale titanium-based metal-organic framework materials (MOF), Ti 6 (μ 3 -O) 6 (μ 2 -OH) 6 (BTCA) 2 (DMF) 2 (ZSTU-3) was synthesized, with blue fluorescence and delicate conjugated structures indicated its potential as a fluorescence sensor. In this work, we reported a rare example of Ti-MOF for highly sensitive and selective for fluorescence sensing of Fe3+ ion and nitro-aromatic compounds. The limit of detection (LOD) for Fe3+ ion reaches 70.7 ​nM and the K sv value is 2.36 ​× ​105 ​M−1, which is among one of the highest LOD values reported by MOFs as far as we known. For the detection of nitro-aromatic compounds, especially 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (PA), the LOD is calculated to be 15.90 ​μM, and the K sv value is 4.253 ​× ​104 ​M−1. In addition, we also performed a rapid detection of Fe3+ ion and nitro-aromatic compounds with fluorescent test paper by naked-eyes. The results demonstrate the superiority of Ti-MOF for detecting Fe3+ ion and nitro-aromatic compounds, which may facilitate the detection application in environmental and biological systems. A nanoscale titanium-based MOF was synthesized and exhibited highly sensitive sensing properties towards Fe3+ ion and nitro-aromatic molecules. Image 1 • A rare example of nanoscale luminescent titanium metal-organic framework ZSTU-3 nanoscale material realized the nanomolar detection of Fe3+ with the detection limit of only 70.1 ​nM. •The ZSTU-3 material is a rare example of Ti-MOFs for highly efficient sensing of nitroaromatic explosives, and realized excellent sensing properties of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol. •The detection of Fe3+ and nitroaromatic explosives was carried out in fluorescent test paper which can be used for rapid detection of these substances by nake eyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe3+ is the fourth most important transition metal ion in biological systems. Also, nitro-aromatics is a class of compounds which is highly explosive and toxic. Therefore, selective detection of Fe3+ and nitro-aromatics is of great significance for human health and environmental protection. In this work, we reported a rare example of Ti-MOF material (ZSTU-1) for highly sensitive and selective luminescent sensing of nitroaromatic explosives and nanomolar level of detection of Fe3+. To the best of our konwledge, ZSTU-1 is the first report of Ti-MOFs for highly efficient sensing of nitroaromatic explosives, and realized excellent sensing properties for PA (2,4,6-trinitrophenol) in both liquid and vapor phase. In liquid, the detection limit for PA can reach 12.3 μM (2.8 ppm) and the Ksv is calculated to be 3.586 × 104 M−1. The most important is that there have been very few MOF-based sensors reach the nanomolar level of detection Fe3+ with the detection limit calculated to be 63.8 nM (approximately 3.6 ppb) and the Ksv value of ZSTU-1 nanorod is 2.69 × 106 M−1. In addition, the detection of Fe3+ and nitroaromatic explosives was carried out in fluorescent test paper which could be used for rapid detection of these substances by naked eyes. These results demonstrate the advantages of titanium-based MOFs for the detection of Fe3+ and nitroaromatic explosives, and can contribute to develop a high performance and visible to the naked eyes fluorescent sensor for detection of specific substances that are vital in biological systems. Nanoscale titanium metal-organic framework materials realized excellent sensing properties for 2,4,6-trinitrophenol in liquid and vapor phase. Image 1 • The ZSTU-1 nanorod material exhibits a multiresponsive fluorescence sensing behavior. • It exhibited the one of the best nanomolar sensing performances for Fe3+. • It is the first report of Ti-MOFs realized excellent sensing properties of nitroaromatic explosives. • The detection of Fe3+ and nitroaromatic explosives was carried out in fluorescent test paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The encapsulation of photoactive guests into a metal-organic framework is advantageous in endowing extra functionalities such as photochromism and photoswitchable luminescence. In this paper, a host-guest MOF material, [Zn 3 (IPA) 4 ​MV] (1) (H 2 IPA ​= ​isophthalic acid, MV·2NO 3 ​= ​1,1'-dimethyl-(4,4'-bipyridine)-1,1'-diium dinitrate) has been constructed by encapsulating simplest methyl viologen guest into the anionic MOF framework. This material exhibits reversible naked-eye detectable photochromic properties varying from colorless to blue upon UV–Vis light irradiation. The MV2+ and the short O⋯N distance between the oxygen atom and pyridine ring of MV2+ play a crucial role in the photochromism of this compound. This host-guest MOF compound shows photoswitchable luminescent properties in the solid state. More interestingly, this host-guest MOF material can be deposited on filter paper and can be employed as inkless print material by controlling the UV–Vis light irradiation with the stencil. A novel MOF-based host-guest compound was prepared by incorporating the photoactive methyl viologen into the anionic framework, which exhibit photochromism upon UV–Vis light irradiation and photocontrolled luminescence. Moreover, this compound can be used as inkless and erasable print media. [Display omitted] • A host-guest compound was prepared by incorporating the viologen into the anionic MOFs. • Compound 1 exhibits fast-responsive photochromism and reversible luminescence switching upon UV–Vis light irradiation. • Compound ​ 1 ​can be employed as inkless and erasable print media by controlling the UV-Vis light irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eu3+ and Tb3+ as central ions and 1,4-phthalic acid (H 2 BDC) as ligand, a dual lanthanide metal-organic framework, Eu-Tb(BDC), was synthesized by co-precipitation method. The products performed stable crystal structure and adjustable fluorescence color. Eu 0.15 Tb 2.85 (BDC) 3.0 was selected as an optimized probe to detect norfloxacin (NFX) in urine, and the fluorescence color was found to transfer from bright yellow to dark cyan and then to strong green with increasing NFX concentration. Mechanism analysis revealed that NFX with low concentration (10−6-10−3 M) stimulated light competition with BDC ligand due to internal filtration effect (IFE), resulting in the gradual fluorescence shutdown of Eu3+and Tb3+. While further increasing concentration of NFX to 10−3-10−2 M, the antibiotic molecules coordinated with lanthanide ions and transitioned their role from competitor to assistant. Where the energy transfer due to antenna effect overwhelmed IFE, the exciting light energy were retransferred to Eu3+ or Tb3+, and the probe's fluorescence restored. Generally, the Eu-Tb(BDC) probe performed fluorescence turn off-on response to norfloxacin with continuous concentration changing. Additionally, when detecting other fluoroquinolone antibiotics, the fluorescence of Eu 0.15 Tb 2.85 (BDC) 3.0 changed from bright yellow to bright blue and eventually to dark red, which was attributed to the different coordination degrees of various antibiotic molecule with Tb3+ and Eu3+. It can be used to distinguish norfloxacin from other fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Synthesis route of Eu-Tb(BDC) and its fluorescence sensing mechanism and application of test paper visualization. [Display omitted] • Europium-terbium co-doped metal-organic framework was prepared by coprecipitation method and applied to test paper. • Eu-Tb(BDC) can quantitatively sense and distinguish between norfloxacin and other fluoroquinolone antibiotics. • The phenomenon of fluoroquinolone antibiotics turning off to Turn on has been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azo dyes are difficult to degrade, dark in color and toxic in the aqueous environment, which will harm the ecological environment and human health if left untreated. Photocatalytic technology has a wide range of applications in the treatment of printing and dyeing wastewater; in the present study, nano Zr–BiOI/GO photocatalytic composites were prepared by a hydrolysis method using Bi(NO 3) 3 –5H 2 O and ZrOCl–8H 2 O as precursors and GO as carriers. The structure and properties of the samples were characterized by combining test methods such as XRD, FESEM, TEM, XPS, and UV–vis. Congo red (CR) was used as the target pollutant to assess the photocatalytic performance of the prepared materials. The results showed that the specific surface area of 10 % Zr–BiOI/GO increased from 21.98 m2/g to 152.79 m2/g, and the average particle size decreased from 21.61 nm to 17.75 nm compared with that of BiOI. Compared with BiOI, the light-absorption threshold of 10 % Zr–BiOI/GO was increased from 640.6 to 726.4 nm, and the forbidden bandwidth was decreased from 1.94 eV to 1.71 eV. In addition, the nanocomposites exhibited excellent stability and removal of organic dyes and could be used as a potential photocatalyst for water remediation under visible light. The removal of CR by 10 % Zr–BiOI/GO composite was 95.42 % at 120 min. The photocatalytic degradation process of Zr–BiOI/GO conformed to the first-order kinetic model, and the correlation coefficient of the kinetic curve of 10 % Zr–BiOI/GO was 0.9465 and the reaction rate constant was the greatest at 0.0221 min−1. Superoxide radicals [·O 2 −] play a major role in photocatalytic activity. The results indicate that nanocomposites are a promising candidate for photocatalytic degradation of water pollutants. In this paper, Zr–BiOI/GO photocatalytic composites were prepared by a simple hydrolysis method, which possessed higher specific surface area and narrower forbidden bandwidth than pure BiOI, and could remove up to 95.42 % of Congo red (CR) solution under visible light, in addition to the high stability and recycling rate of Zr–BiOI/GO. [Display omitted] • The pore structures of Zr–BiOI/GO photocatalytic materials prepared by hydrolysis method were well developed. • The maximum removal of Congo red by mesoporous Zr–BiOI/GO photocatalytic material was 96.84 %. • Paradigm of Zr–BiOI/GO resource recovery and wastewater treatment was provided. • Long-term experiments were conducted with excellent stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) not only pollute the environment, but also seriously damage human health. Studies have shown that CeO 2 doped with Cr and other metal elements can significantly improve its catalytic activity. In this paper, MIL-101 (Cr) was selected as the precursor of Cr 2 O 3 , and x wt%Cr 2 O 3 /CeO 2 catalysts (x = 5, 10, 15) with different loadings were prepared by impregnation method. The physicochemical properties of the catalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM, BET, XPS and H 2 -TPR, and their catalytic performance was evaluated by toluene catalytic combustion. The results show that 10 wt%Cr 2 O 3 /CeO 2 exhibits the best catalytic activity for toluene combustion, and the conversion of toluene can reach 90% at 263 °C. This can be attributed to the relatively high specific surface area (118 m2 g−1), the highest surface adsorbed oxygen content (O ads /O total = 0.251), oxygen vacancy content, more surface Ce3+ species and Cr6+ species, and the best low-temperature reducibility. [Display omitted] • In this paper, MIL-101 (Cr) was selected as the precursor of Cr 2 O 3 , and x wt%Cr 2 O 3 /CeO 2 catalysts (x = 5, 10, 15) with different loadings were prepared by impregnation method. • The 10 wt%Cr 2 O 3 /CeO 2 exhibits the best catalytic combustion activity of toluene, with the lowest E a value, and the conversion of toluene can reach 90% at 263 °C. • The 10 wt%Cr 2 O 3 /CeO 2 has a relatively high specific surface area (118 m2 g−1), the highest surface adsorbed oxygen content, oxygen vacancy content, more surface Ce3+ species and Cr6+ species, and the best low-temperature reducibility, so it has good catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cost-effective and efficient capture of Cs+ ions from radioactive wastewater is crucial for the sake of environmental protection and human health but full of challenges. In this paper, we present the suitability of a layered metal sulfide, namely Na 2 Sn 3 S 7 (NaTS), for the remediation of cesium by ion exchange, with the merits of facile preparation, cheap composition, high efficiency and good selectivity. The cesium adsorption behaviors including kinetic time, saturation capacity, pH values, interfering ions, dose and recyclability were explored in detail. The experimental results show that it has a fast cesium uptake kinetics (ca. 60 min), with a maximum adsorption capacity of 140.32 mg/g and a wide pH resistance of 2.2–12.6. Also, it exhibits the strong affinity for low-level Cs+ ion even in the presence of excessive Na+/Ca2+ ions, actual water environment and the dose-related researches, with the highest distribution coefficient K d value reaching 9.61 × 103 mL/g. More importantly, the cesium adsorption performances in the recycling study and the flow membrane-like filtration application are still impressive. These advantages demonstrated by NaTS render it very promising for the inexpensive and effective incarceration of aqueous cesium. Presented is the potentiality of an economically friendly and facilely synthesized layered metal sulfide for efficient removal of aqueous cesium. [Display omitted] • NaTS has the inexpensive component and the facile preparation process. • NaTS possesses a fast cesium uptake kinetics with a large capacity and wide pH resistance. • NaTS exhibits the strong affinity for the low-level Cs+ ion. • NaTS also demonstrates the potential in the flow membrane-like filtration application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vibration energy can be seen everywhere in our daily life, such as walking, noise and car engines. If all this energy could be captured and harnessed, it would be an interesting breakthrough in energy. This has been made possible by the discovery of piezoelectric materials, which can convert vibrational energy into electricity by sensing positive and negative charges. In this paper, nickel butadione oxime Ni(dmgH) 2 and strontium titanate (SrTiO 3) were successfully combined together to form the composite material of nickel butadione oxime/strontium titanate SrTiO 3 /Ni(dmgH) 2 by hydrothermal method. The morphology and composition of the sample were analyzed by XRD, SEM and XPS characterization methods. Strontium titanate and nickel butadione oxime were successfully combined with good crystallinity. According to the degradation results of HTC solution, the piezoelectric catalytic performance of the dye can be significantly improved in a specific time, and the degradation efficiency of HTC solution reaches about 91 %. Compared with the pure Ni(dmgH) 2 , the composite sample shows better piezoelectric catalytic activity under ultrasonic vibration. A novel SrTiO 3 /Ni(dmgH) 2 composite piezoelectric material was synthesized by hydrothermal method. The addition of SrTiO 3 promotes the separation of electrons and holes, and the piezoelectric catalytic activity is significantly improved. Compared with pure Ni(dmgH) 2 , the composite exhibited better piezoelectric catalytic activity under ultrasonic vibration. [Display omitted] • The piezoelectric catalyst SrTiO 3 /Ni(dmgH) 2 was synthesized by simple hydrothermal method. • The addition of SrTiO 3 facilitates the separation of electrons and holes. • SrTiO 3 /Ni(dmgH) 2 has excellent piezoelectric catalytic HTC performance. • SrTiO 3 /Ni(dmgH) 2 has good stability and reusability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we have presented the comprehensive characterization of red-light-emitting novel β-BaB 2 O 4 : x Sm3+ (x = 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, and 2 mol%) phosphor samples synthesized by making use of solid-state reaction method. The XRD patterns verified the successful synthesis and in-depth analyses were carried out to explore the structural, luminescence, and thermal properties. Notably, the introduction of Sm3+ through doping did not result in any substantial alterations in the crystal structure. Photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra exhibited 4 distinct peaks for 401 nm excitation. Out of these 4 peaks, the prominent peak was present at 601 nm, attributed to the magnetic dipole-allowed transition 4G 5/2 → 6H 7/2. The colorimetric analysis revealed the correlated color temperature (CCT) to be around 1700 K, accompanied by 99.9 % colour purity. The optimal doping concentration, before luminescence quenching, was identified as 1 mol%, with multipole-multipole interactions identified as the predominant quenching mechanism. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) studies on β-BaB 2 O 4 :1%Sm3+ confirmed characteristic peaks corresponding to Sm3+ transitions, revealing an ionic bonding nature between Sm3+ and the host. Also, the direct optical band gap was determined to be 5.62 eV. Furthermore, the optimized phosphor demonstrated exceptional temperature-dependent photoluminescent (TDPL) properties, exhibiting a negligible (∼5 %) decrease in emission intensity for prominent peaks even at 440 K. Overall, the phosphors displayed high activation energy, significant thermal stability, and thermal sensing properties, making them promising candidates for various optoelectronic applications. [Display omitted] • Sm3+ doped -BaB 2 O 4 phosphors have been successfully synthesized via solid-state reaction method. • XRD and FTIR revealed that the structural properties of the phosphor were not affected by the doping. • The prepared phosphor exhibited reddish-yellow emission and excellent temperature-dependent PL spectra. • Optimally optimized phosphor was thermally stable and exhibited TDPL spectra up to a temperature of 443 K. • Due these features, the phosphor is a worthy candidate for light emission, WLED, and thermal sensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new member of the carbon family, γ-graphyne is combined with SrTiO 3 for the first time in this paper, and a series of SrTiO 3 /γ-graphyne heterostructures are synthesized by a simple impregnation method. The as-prepared heterostructures are investigated by a series of characterizations, and the optimal content of γ-graphyne (γ-GY) is determined to be 1.0 wt%. After γ-GY modification, the maximum photocurrent and current density are enhanced by 30 and 5 folds, respectively, and the excitation and separation of photogenerated charges enhanced. In addition, the degradation of methylene blue by the heterostructured SrTiO 3 /γ-graphyne under visible light irradiation reached 88 % in 30 min with a photocatalytic rate of 6.277 × 10−2min−1, enhanced by 3.04 times compared with SrTiO 3. The degradation properties are also proved by Rhodamine B degradation tests. The excellent stability and recyclability of the catalysts are proved. And h+, •O 2 −, and •OH are demonstrated to play roles in the reaction process, with •OH being the main active substance. A possible photocatalytic mechanism is further suggested. This work sheds light on the design of γ-GY modified composites for photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic applications. [Display omitted] • The 2D γ-graphyne is assembled onto SrTiO 3 particles by simple wet impregnation and stable heterojunctions are formed. • The SrTiO 3 /γ-GY composites are characterized by high photoelectrocatalytic activity and exhibit excellent photocatalytic performance for MB photodegradation tests. • The successful combination of γ-GY and SrTiO 3 expands light absorption range and reduces carrier recombination. • γ-graphyne nanosheets provide fast transfer channels and electron sinks for carrier migration and separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid-state electrolytes for sodium batteries have been studied for many years, however, have not advanced much since at ambient temperature solid-state electrolytes still exhibit a magnitude huge gap in ionic conductivity than the commercial organic liquid electrolytes. In this paper, the solid-state electrolyte Na 5 YSi 4 O 12 (NYS) is synthesized employing the solution-assisted solid-state reaction (SASSR) method with the ionic conductivity (σ t) reaching up to 1.52 mS cm−1 sintered at 1050 °C for 6 h, demonstrating a significant progress improvement over the conventional solid-phase reaction method. On this basis, Y3+ is further substituted with the other Lanthanides including Yb3+, Dy3+, Gd3+, Eu3+, and Sm3+ to form the solid electrolytes Na 5 MSi 4 O 12 (M = Yb3+, Dy3+, Gd3+, Eu3+, and Sm3+). The conductivity evolution is found increasing with the increase in the ionic radius of the substituted elements. The X-ray diffractometer analysis reveals a wider sodium ion transport channel and larger ionic radius which lead to higher sodium ion concentration. However, the sintering temperature and impurity phase are reduced with an increase in ionic radius. Notably, among the six solid-state electrolytes, Na 5 SmSi 4 O 12 (NSS) exhibits the highest conductivity of 2.41 mS cm−1 and the lowest sintering temperature of 950 °C. The low sintering temperature and high ionic conductivity make NSS a fast sodium conductor that can meet industrial needs. [Display omitted] • The solution-assisted solid-state reaction was used to synthesize Na 5 YSi 4 O 12. • The conductivity of Na 5 YSi 4 O 12 can reach 1.52 mS cm−1 at room temperature. • Lanthanides Yb3+, Dy3+, Gd3+, Eu3+and Sm3+ were substituted for Y3+ in Na 5 YSi 4 O 12. • Na 5 SmSi 4 O 12 exhibits the highest conductivity of 2.41 mS cm−1. • XRD revealed that enhancing the ionic radius of Lanthanides increased the Na + transport channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformation provides a good platform for obtaining new functional coordination polymers. In this study, we demonstrate a violent and rapid structural transformation between two d10 coordination polymers (CPs). The complex 1 [Zn(3,5-thbzc) 2 (C 2 H 6 O) 2 ] transformed into the complex 2 {[Zn(3,5-thbzc) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ]·C 3 H 7 NO·2H 2 O} (where t = tbutyl, hbzc− = 2-Hydroxybenzoato) triggered by deionized water under standard temperature and pressure conditions in solid state. The transformation reaction was confirmed using single-crystal XRD, PXRD and SEM. The results showed that complex 1 adopts a bidentate chelate six-coordination mode, and complex 2 adopts a monodentate four-coordination mode. SEM clearly showed that complex 2 was in the form of random nanowire clusters, suggesting that their transformation required degradation of the entire crystal structure. UV–Vis–NIR spectra were used to calculate the band gaps of complexes 1 and 2 , which demonstrated wide-bandgap semiconductor-like materials with ∼3.2 eV band gap widths. The results of dielectric studies of complex 1 revealed that it possessed a medium dielectric constant (κ = 6.08 at 1 kHz), while complex 2 displayed an even higher dielectric constant (κ = 7.97 at 1 kHz) at room temperature. Interestingly, parent complex 1 exhibited a small ladder-like dielectric anomaly at 188 °C, while progeny complex 2 did not. This paper describes a new strategy for preparing adjustable functional dielectric materials. Through solid-state transformation triggered by deionized water, the parent bidentate six-coordination complex 1 generates the progeny monodentate four-coordination complex 2. This transformation process involves the cleavage and regeneration of coordination bonds. Complex 2 has a high dielectric constant due to the substitution of water ligands. [Display omitted] • Ligand-substituted SCSC transformation between complexes 1 and 2 was triggered by deionized water. • The transformation process involves the cleavage and regeneration of coordination bonds. • The coordination number of Zn2+ changes from six-coordination to four-coordination. • The introduction of H 2 O ligands can significantly improve the dielectric constants of Zn-CPs. • Complex 1 shows a ladder-like dielectric anomaly at 188 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic Hydrogen production as one of the effective ways to solve the future energy issues has recently become a research hotspot in the field of renewable energy. However, single-component photocatalysts have poor hydrogen production efficiency due to the narrow light-absorption range, susceptibility to photo-corrosion and low catalytic activity. Herein, novel heterojunction photocatalysts of ZnIn 2 S 4 @BiYWO 6 with different mass ratios were designed and synthesized using a facile two-step hydrothermal method. Experimental results and analyses show that these heterojunction catalysts exhibit extremely excellent photocatalytic performance for hydrogen production. Especially, the hydrogen production rate of 10ZnIn 2 S 4 -BiYWO 6 is 73 times higher than that of pure ZnIn 2 S 4. Furthermore, enhanced photocatalytic mechanism and carrier transfer pathway in the heterojunction photocatalyst of ZnIn 2 S 4 @BiYWO 6 were deeply analyzed and explored in the paper, which confirmed that ZnIn 2 S 4 @BiYWO 6 is a direct Z-scheme heterojunction architecture. Within such a Z-scheme framework, the presence of a built-in electric field at the interface between ZnIn 2 S 4 and BiYWO 6 as well as the energy band bending lead to the direct recombination of electrons and holes with low redox capacity, while keeping the electrons and holes with high redox capacity in each component. Consequently, the photocatalytic activity of the Z-scheme heterojunction system has been greatly enhanced. It is believed that the present work provides valuable guidance for the design and construction of novel Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts. Z-scheme heterojunctions greatly enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production efficiency of ZnIn 2 S 4 @BiYWO 6 composites. [Display omitted] • ZnIn 2 S 4 @BiYWO 6 photocatalysts exhibit excellent hydrogen production efficiency. • Z-scheme heterostructures play a key role in enhancing photocatalytic activity. • Such Z-scheme photocatalysts are promising for photocatalytic hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the glass forming region of TeO 2 –MoO 3 –Nb 2 O 5 (TMN) tellurite glass and the luminescence properties of Er3+ doped TMN glass at 2.7 μm were studied. The effects of MoO 3 on the thermal and optical properties of the glass were analyzed. The formation region of TMN glass was predicted by thermodynamic method and verified by experiment. It can be found that the glass-forming ability, thermal and optical properties of TMN glass change significantly with the change of MoO 3 content. The addition of MoO 3 significantly improves the anti-crystallization stability, fluorescence lifetime and quantum efficiency of tellurite glass. The calculation results show that the quantum efficiency of 80TeO 2 –15MoO 3 –5Nb 2 O 5 –1Er 2 O 3 glass sample is 16 %. These results indicate that TMN glass has a broad application prospect in mid-infrared laser materials. The formation region of TMN glass was predicted and experimentally verified using thermodynamic methods. The effects of MoO 3 on the luminescence properties and quantum efficiency of the tellurite glass were analyzed. The results show that the addition of MoO 3 significantly improves the glass-forming properties and quantum efficiency of tellurite glass. [Display omitted] • The formation region of TMN tellurate glass was predicted and verified. • The prepared glasses have high quantum efficiency in 2.7 μm emission. • The prepared glasses have a large emission cross-section of 2.7 μm emission. • The modest introduction of MoO 3 will improve quantum efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure and properties of basic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) continue to exhibit low Cd(II) uptake and selectivity. Assembly of same zinc-based MOF building blocks into a dual-zinc MOF@MOF composite could offer a promising avenue for efficiently capturing Cd(II) from aqueous solutions. This paper reports a dual-zinc MOF@MOF (Zn-BTC@ZIF-8, DZM) adsorbent, which was constructed for boosting the performances of adsorption and separation. The adsorption behavior of Cd(II) onto DZM from aqueous solution is thoroughly examined at room temperature. Results indicates that the DZM demonstrates significant capability in capturing Cd(II), attributed to the synergistic effects of Zn-BTC and ZIF-8 with diverse active sites, appropriate pore sizes and shapes, stable dual zinc bonding interaction, and more. The maximum Cd(II) uptake capacity reached 150 mg/g, with rapid attainment of adsorption equilibrium within just 20 min, surpassing the performance of other reported adsorbents in the literature. The adsorption data align well with both the Freundlich and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. The process of adsorption is a process of spontaneous heat absorption and increasing degrees of freedom. Particularly noteworthy is the sustained effectiveness of DZM in capturing Cd(II) even after the fifth cycle. This research introduces a fresh approach to crafting desirable MOF@MOF configurations, thereby advancing their potential utility in Cd(II) removal from water. [Display omitted] • A new-style dual-zinc MOF@MOF (Zn-BTC@ZIF-8) adsorbent was first constructed. • The Zn-BTC@ZIF-8 composite exhibits adsorption performance toward Cd(II). • Double MOF structure is beneficial to expose more active sites and facilitate Cd(II) capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the hydrothermal method was employed to synthesize the nickel vanadate microspheres (NVO MSs), an effective catalyst for supercapacitor and water-splitting applications. Specifically, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) were used to examine the crystal structure, surface morphology, functional group identification, the stretching-bending vibration of the N–V–O group, and the specific surface area respectively. Additionally, this paper reports the electrochemical aspects of NVO MSs in various concentrations of KOH electrolyte using nickel foam (NF) as a current collector. As a result, the NVO-NF 1 electrode exhibited excellent electrochemical activity with a higher specific capacitance (C s) and capacity (C sp) of 959 F/g and 119 mAh/g at a current density of 5 mA/g respectively. Moreover, the NVO-NF 1 electrode delivers maximum energy (E d) and power density (P d) of 26 Wh/kg and 1100 W/kg and excellent stability with 90 % retention after 4000 CV cycles. In the asymmetric liquid state device (ASC), the NVO-NF acts as a cathode, and activated carbon (AC) as a anode materials respectively. Furthermore, the fabricated ASC device reveals maximum E d and P d of 47 Wh/kg and 2300 W/kg at 5 mA/g and also demonstrated superior stability over 5000 cycles. Furthermore, the significant finding of the NVO-NF 1 electrodes reveals superior electrocatalytic activities such as the lowest value of overpotential (234 mV), with the sufficient Tafel slope (73 mV/dec), as well as the maximum electrochemical active surface area (670.5 cm2) in 1 M KOH at 10 mA/cm2 respectively. As a result, better performance of the NVO-based MSs in 1 M KOH electrolyte was effectively applied to power effective electrodes for energy storage and water-splitting. Scheme: Schematic illustration for the electrochemical and electrocatalytic activities of the NVO electrodes in the aqueous KOH electrolyte. [Display omitted] • Hydrothermal method was used for preparing Ni 2 V 2 O 7 MSs for SCs and WS application. • The interconnected microsphere-like morphology was observed for NVO material. • The performance of NVO electrodes was checked using various conc. of KOH. • The ACS device (NVO–NF//AC-NF) shows better electrochemical performance. • As a result, NVO-NF 1 shows good electrochemical and electrocatalytic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a Z-type heterojunction is formed between BiOI and Ni doped MoS 2 by hydrothermal and microwave-assisted methods. The composites were characterised by a range of characterisation methods. The test results show that the formation of heterojunction can reduce the forbidden bandwidth of the material and improve the absorption of visible light, and the photocatalytic performance can be improved. The degradation efficiency of 5 % BiOI/Ni 0.05 Mo 0.95 S 2 against 150 mg/L rhodamine B was 95.08 % in 300 min. The analysis of first-principles calculations reveals that BiOI will hybridise with Ni 0.05 Mo 0.95 S 2 at the energy level, leading to a decrease in the forbidden bandwidth of the composite. The difference in the figure of merit of the two materials favours the reduction of the photogenerated carrier complexation rate, which is conducive to the enhancement of the photocatalytic performance. This research uses impurity energy levels and heterojunctions together on catalytic materials to improve their catalytic properties which has far-reaching implications for future research on environmental issues. BiOI was chosen to form heterojunctions by microwave-assisted compounding with Ni 0.05 Mo 0.95 S 2 to achieve degradation of high rhodamine B concentrations under visible light. [Display omitted] • BiOI/Ni0.05Mo0.95S2 composites were prepared by the microwave-assisted method. • In 300 min of 150 mg/L RhB, the degradation efficiency of 5% BiOI/Ni 0.05 Mo 0.95 S 2 was 95.08%, and the reaction rate constant was 1.095 times that of Ni 0.05 Mo 0.95 S 2. • Trap tests on the composites indicate that the main reactive group in the photocatalytic degradation of RhB is h+. • First-principles calculations have shown that the formation of heterostructures of BiOI and Ni 0.05 Mo 0.95 S 2 can facilitate charge transfer and favorably improve photocatalytic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A series of smart shape memory poly(ɛ-caprolactones) (PCL)/hydroxyapatite (HA) networks with different PCL arm lengths are designed and fabricated by the thiol-ene click reaction of thiol-modified HA particles with functional acrylate-terminated PCL. Compared with traditional physical blending of nanoparticles into polymer, this paper constructs a well-defined network architecture on the basis of the molecular level. Thermal and crystalline results indicate that the shape memory transition temperature (T trans) of the composites is correlated to the initial PCL diol molecular weight, the melting and crystallization temperature of the networks gradually increase with increasing PCL diol molecular weight. Meanwhile, the HA-PCL networks all exhibit good shape memory capability under thermal stimulus with good shape fixing ratio and recovery ratio irrespective of the molecular weight of PCL diol. An advantage of these network is that the intrinsic biocompatibility of HA nanoparticles as a netpoint for biodegradable PCL renders it a good prospects in the bone biomedical applications. Graphical abstract A new synthetic method to obtain shape memory poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) cross-linked by HAp via photo-initiated thiol-ene reaction is described. Compared with traditional physical blending of HA nanoparticles into polymer, this paper constructs a well-defined network architecture on the basis of the molecular level and all network exhibit desirable shape memory properties. The melting transition temperature of HA-PCL network is tuned by varying the molecular weight of the acrylate-terminated PCL. fx1 Highlights • This paper presents a novel shape memory poly(ɛ-caprolactones) (PCL)/hydroxyapatite (HA) networks via photo-initiated thiol-ene click reaction. • Compared with traditional physical blending of nanoparticles into polymer, our work constructs a well-defined network architecture on the basis of the molecular level. • Thiol-ene network features a uniform distribution of PCL chains with desirable shape memory properties. • The melting transition temperature is tuned by varying the molecular weight of the acrylate-terminated PCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper explains the crystal structure analysis of Ag(I) coordination polymers based on 4-Amino-3-halobenzonitrile ligands. Three coordination polymers of general formula [Ag(L x)]NO 3 , where X = Cl(1), I(3) and [Ag 2 (L x)][NO 3 ] 2 , where X = Br(2), were synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The effect of changing the single halogen atom of 4-Amino-3-halobenzonitrile on the crystal packing of a series of Ag(I) coordination polymers was studied. Our results revealed that N-H···O hydrogen bonds play important role in the crystal packing. Nanoparticles of these coordination polymers were also synthesized by ultrasonic irradiation of (1) , (2) and (3) , and characterized using different analytical techniques. Graphical abstract In this paper, we investigated the synthesis and characterization of three new Silver (I) coordination polymers containing 4-Amino-3- halobenzonitrile ligands with different halogen substituents. Herein, Compounds 1, 2 and 3 were synthesized by reaction of AgNO3 with LCl, LBr and LI respectively. These compounds are completely characterized by the elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray crystallography. fx1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The development of non-noble metal catalysts is considered a noteworthy topic of hydrogen production from water cracking. Electrocatalytic activity of WO 3 as a cheap and promising catalyst for HER is impacted by crystal phase structure, oxygen vacancy and surface state. The present paper designs Ag-WO 3 catalysts with core-shell structure using Ag@C as a template with ultrasonic synthesis method to improve the structure properties and increase the active sites of hydrogen adsorption. Also, atomic Ag serves as the function of hydrogen absorption channel for the shell of tungsten oxide. As the results suggest, Ag-WO 3 (0.8) CSNSs at ratio of WCl 6 : Ag@C with 0.8 shows the more effective Electrocatalytic activity towards the HER with low over potential of − 207 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, small tafel slope (52.4 mV dec−1), larger active area C dl (54.92 mF cm−2) and high exchange current density. This paper gives an effective measure for hydrogen production by using Ag-WO 3 core-shell structure as alternative catalysts to platinum catalysts. Graphical abstract The catalysts with core–shell structure have excellent HER performance. fx1 Highlights • Ag-WO 3 CSNSs catalyst with a particular core-shell structure provides more active sites for HER. • Ag-WO 3 (0.8)CSNSs have high efficient performance for hydrogen generation. • Atomic Ag serves as the function of hydrogen desorption channel for the shell of tungsten oxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper reports the preparation of Ti microparticles that are angular and spherical in shape through the combustion of a TiO 2 + αCa (where α is moles of Ca) exothermic mixture in an inert atmosphere. The relationship between the combustion parameters and the properties of the resultant Ti particles is discussed with consideration of the effect of Ca concentration. Using excess amounts of Ca in the experiment was effective in modifying the shape of the particles from angular to spherical. The Ti powder was found to be well-dispersed and the diameter of individual particles ranged from 5 µm to 50 µm. Based on the combustion parameters, the activation energy for the redox reaction was calculated as ∼ 138 kJ/mol. This paper discusses the chemistry of the reduction process and highlights the effects of combustion temperature and the amount of liquid calcium on the characteristics of the Ti particles. Graphical abstract The combustion process in TiO 2 + Ca mixture developed a maximum temperature of about 1820 °C and resulted in Ti spherical particles. fx1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With high hydrothermal stability and hydrophilicity, MIL-100(Fe) has potential applications in sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH). This paper reports the water vapor adsorption properties of MIL-100(Fe) prepared by solvent and solvent-free methods. Performance tests show that the MIL-100(Fe) prepared by solvent-free method has more advantages. To further improve the performance of the adsorbent, the composite adsorbent MgCl 2 @MIL-100(Fe) was obtained by impregnating MIL-100(Fe) with MgCl 2 solution. The results showed that the composite adsorbent had good adsorption performance, desorption properties, and fast adsorption rate. The equilibrium adsorption capacities of the composite adsorbent with 35% salt content were 0.533 g/g and 1.062 g/g at 25 °C with the relative humidity (RH) of 35% and 80%, respectively, which were 1.51 times and 1.74 times of the adsorption capacity of MIL-100(Fe) under the same working conditions. This showed that the solvent-free synthesized MIL-100(Fe) and its composite adsorbent have the potential for application in SAWH. This paper compares the solvent-free synthesis of MIL-100(Fe) with the hydrothermal synthesis of MIL-100(Fe) with solvent. Then, by evaluating the various properties (characterizations, adsorption performance, cycle stability, preparation cost, etc.) of materials prepared by two different methods, it is determined whether the MIL-100(Fe) prepared by the solvent-free synthesis method is more suitable for water vapor adsorption. Eventually, to further improve the adsorption performance of this material, MIL-100(Fe) was impregnated in MgCl 2 solution to develop a new composite adsorbent MgCl 2 @MIL-100(Fe) for further study. [Display omitted] • The solvent-free synthesized MIL-100(Fe) has excellent adsorption performance and cycle stability. • The composite adsorbent MgCl 2 @MIL-100(Fe) has rapid adsorption kinetics. • The adsorption capacity of the composite adsorbent with an MgCl 2 mass fraction of 35% can reach 1.062 g/g. • The composite adsorbent has good water absorption at low relative humidity, which can reach 0.533 g/g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a kind of zero valent FeNi alloy nano powder was coated on the surface of SrFe-MOF powder by a simple, efficient and pollution-free method, forming a core-shell type FeNi p @SrFe-MOF Magnetic powder (FSM). The FSM powder has a porous structure and a specific surface area of 9.16 ​m2/g. Under normal temperature and without changing the pH value of the wastewater, the FSM magnetic powder has an immediate and efficient removal effect on Congo Red (CR) dye wastewater. Furthermore, the powder has good cycling performance, with the CR removal rate remaining above 90% after five cycles. Also at room temperature and without changing the pH value of the wastewater, the FSM magnetic powder provides some immediate, efficient, and repeated use degradation of Cr(VI) wastewater. The FSM magnetic powder has good magnetic properties so that can be easily separated and recovered by magnetic field treatment, which solves the problem of efficient recovery of raw materials in wastewater treatment. FSM magnetic powder has broad application prospects for treating wastewater. In this paper, a kind of zero valent FeNi alloy nano powder was coated on the surface of SrFe-MOF powder by a simple, efficient and pollution-free method, forming a core-shell type FeNi p @SrFe-MOF Magnetic powder (FSM). Under normal temperature and without changing the pH value of the wastewater, the FSM magnetic powder has an immediate and efficient removal effect on Congo Red (CR) dye wastewater. Furthermore, the powder has good cycling performance, with the CR removal rate remaining above 90% after five cycles. Also at room temperature and without changing the pH value of the wastewater, the FSM magnetic powder provides some immediate, efficient, and repeated use degradation of Cr(VI) wastewater. The FSM magnetic powder has good magnetic properties so that can be easily separated and recovered by magnetic field treatment. [Display omitted] • FSM powder has an immediate and efficient removal effect on CR at room temperature and without changing the pH value of the wastewater. • FSM powder has some removal effect on Cr(VI) at room temperature and without changing the pH value of the wastewater. • FSM powder has good magnetic properties, which can be separated and recycled by magnetic field treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of a simple and efficient fluorescent probe for detecting hypochlorite (ClO−) is of great importance. Herein, we synthesized the hydroxyl-functionalized UiO-66 (UiO-66-(OH) 2) by the solvothermal method and its derivative aluminium ion-modified UiO-66-(OH) 2 (Al3+@UiO-66-(OH) 2) as two fluorescence probes are used for detecting ClO− in the water. The results showed that UiO-66-(OH) 2 has excellent fluorescent response ability for ClO− in water. Aluminium ion-modified UiO-66 (Al3+@UiO-66-(OH) 2) displayed its high efficiency for the fluorescence detection of ClO− with a response time of 30 ​s and extraordinary limit of detection of 1.63 ​μM in water. Moreover, the sensing of ClO− using easily portable Al3+@UiO-66-(OH) 2 -coated paper strips is also developed. Furthermore, the plausible fluorescence sensing mechanism of UiO-66-(OH) 2 for ClO− in aqueous solution was also discussed. Hydroxyl-functionalized and Al3+-modified UiO-66 for detecting ClO− are proposed.UiO-66-(OH) 2 and Al3+@ UiO-66-(OH) 2 shows superior fluorescence intensity. Moreover, Al3+@ UiO-66-(OH) 2 sensor shows highly sensitive and selective to detect ClO-. Portable Al3+@UiO-66-(OH)2-coated paper strips are developed for detecting ClO. [Display omitted] • Hydroxyl-functionalized and Al3+-modified UiO-66 for detecting ClO− are proposed. • UiO-66-(OH) 2 and Al3+@ UiO-66-(OH) 2 shows superior fluorescence intensity. • Al3+@ UiO-66-(OH) 2 sensor shows highly sensitive and selective to detect ClO-. • Portable Al3+@UiO-66-(OH) 2 -coated paper strips are developed for detecting ClO−. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paul Hagenmüller (1921−2017) is an important figure of French solid-state chemistry, who enjoyed scientific and institutional recognition. He published 796 papers and has been cited more than 16,000 times. This paper explores Hagenmüller's work using scientometric analysis to reveal the impact of his work, his main research topics and his collaborations. Although Hagenmüller was a recognized scientist, a subset of his work, now highly cited, attracted little attention at the time of publication. To understand this phenomenon, we detect and study papers with delayed recognition, also called 'Sleeping Beauties' (SBs). In scientometrics, SBs are publications that go unnoticed, or 'sleep' for a long time before suddenly attracting a lot of attention in terms of citations. We identify 7 SBs published between 1965 and 1985, and awakened between 1993 and 2010. The first SB reports the discovery of the clathrate structure of silicon. The second reports the isolation of four new phases with the formula NaxCoO2 (x < =1). The five other SBs investigate the electrochemical intercalation and deintercalation of sodium, and the structure and properties of layered oxides. Through interviews with his coworkers, we attempt to identify the reasons for the delayed recognition and the context of the renewed interest in those papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new luminescent Cd(II)-based metal-organic framework, [Cd(PAM)(4-bpdb) 1.5 ]·DMF (Cd-MOF, PAM = 4,4′-methylenebis(3-hydroxy-2-naphthalene-carboxylic acid) and 4-bpdb = 1,4-bis(4-pyridyl)-2,3-diaza-1,3-butadiene) was successfully synthesized by solvothermal synthesis method. The Cd-MOF reveals excellent luminescence property which can selectively detect Al 3+ and Fe 3+ ions among other interfering metal ions. The detection limit is 0.56 µM for Al 3+ ion in aqueous solutions, and it is obvious lower than the maximum standard of Al 3+ ion in drinking water of 7.41 µM which is defined by the WHO. More importantly, the Cd-MOF shows an obvious luminescent color change from yellow to blue under the UV lamp irradiation at 365 nm with the dropping of Al 3+ ion, which can make it apply to the visual detection. And, the detection based on the test paper was explored for the first time. In addition, the Cd-MOF can also be used for quantitative detecting Fe 3+ ion, and the LOD for Fe 3+ ion can be as low as 0.3 µM which is lower than most reported MOFs. It is worth noting that Fe 3+ and Al 3+ ions can not interfere with each other. These properties make it become an excellent luminescence sensor for the detection of Al 3+ and Fe 3+ ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glutamic acid (Glu) is a biomarker of some neuropathological diseases, whose detection is of significance in early medical diagnosis. A 3D terbium metal-organic framework (Tb-ddb) is constructed from 1,3-di(3′,5′-dicarboxylphenyl)benzene (H 4 ddb) with Tb3+, displaying the 5D 4 → 7F j (j = 6-3) transfers of Tb(Ⅲ) at 490, 543, 584, and 621 nm. Tb-ddb has a high stability in water or common organic solvents. The sensitivity test shows a linear fitting equation of I 0 /I = 0.00443·C Glu + 0.93563 with LOD = 1.40 μM at C Glu = 0–500 μM. The detection performance of Tb-ddb is not affected by seven interferents of amino acids. High durability is supported by the stable emission intensities at 543 nm of blank Tb-ddb and Tb-ddb/Glu suspensions in five fluorescence quenching-recovery cycles. The returned C Glu close to the set C Glu and the recoveries around 100% demonstrate Tb-ddb sensing Glu in human urine and serum is reliable. The linear relationship between green value of the Tb-ddb strip and C Glu can realize the on-site Glu detection. Tb-ddb can be regarded as a promising fluorescence turn-off sensor to Glu with high sensitivity, selectivity and durability. A turn-off fluorescence sensor of Tb-ddb exhibits a quantitative fluorescence quenching to glutamic acid in human urine and serum. [Display omitted] • Tb-ddb shows a LOD of 1.40 μM in a linear range of 0–500 μM Glu, better than or compared to most MOF-based Glu sensors. • Tb-ddb shows high accuracy and the recovery around 100% for sensing Glu in human urine and serum. • Paper-based Tb-ddb shows a possbility for the on-site Glu detection with a linear equation of the green values vs C Glu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MoS 2 and WS 2 are two promising candidates for photocatalytic hydrogen production, and pyrolysis is one of the conventional and useful methods for their preparations. However, systematic investigations about the influences of pyrolysis conditions on their photocatalytic hydrogen production performances are still unreported. Then in this paper, a series of pyrolysis products of ammonium tetrathiomolybdate (ATM) and ammonium tetrathiotungstate (ATT) were prepared by changing the pyrolysis temperature and time. Besides, detailed characterizations were conducted to find out the changes in composition, crystallinity, and morphology. Especially, to get optimal pyrolysis conditions for the preparation of high-performance MoS 2 and WS 2 , their photocatalytic hydrogen production activities were investigated. The results showed that although along with the changes in pyrolysis conditions, the overall changes in composition, crystallinity and morphology are similar for ATM and ATT products, there are significant differences in their performances. For the pyrolysis of ATM, the products obtained under lower temperatures exhibit relatively higher activity than those obtained under higher temperatures. The performance of sample ATM-400-1 (the pyrolysis product obtained under 400 °C 1 h) is the highest and those of two ATM-600 samples (obtained under 600 °C 1 h and 600 °C 2 h) are the lowest. On the contrary, for the pyrolysis of ATT, the higher-temperature products possess much higher performance than the lower-temperature ones. The activity of ATT-400-2 is the highest and those of two ATT-250 samples are the lowest. On the other hand, unconventional crystallized WS 3 was unexpectedly obtained through the pyrolysis of ATT at 300 °C for the first time. This work can offer useful information for the preparation of WS 2 and MoS 2 -based photocatalysts. The optimal conditions for preparation of MoS 2 and WS 2 by pyrolysis of ammonium tetrathiomolybdate (ATM) and ammonium tetrathiotungstate (ATT) were achieved and the reasons for performance difference of different products were elucidated. [Display omitted] • Pyrolysis products of ATM and ATT were systematically characterized. • Hydrogen production performances of pyrolysis products were detailed investigated. • Reasons for performance differences between ATM and ATT products were elucidated. • Crystalline WS 3 was achieved for the first time by the pyrolysis of ATT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely used in filed of electrochemistry. Compared with traditional inorganic porous materials, the polyvalent pyridinecarboxylic acid ligands have many advantages which contains more active sites, flexible coordination mode, adjustable structure. Therefore, it becomes good choice for constructing MOFs materials with excellent performance. In this paper, a novel MOF was synthesized by pyridine polycarboxylic acid ligand and CoCl 2 ·6H 2 O using solvothermal method. The physicochemical properties were characterized by FT-IR, powder diffraction and thermogravimetry. Single crystal X-ray diffraction reveal that MOF-1 crystallizes in monoclinic system with P 2 1 / C space group. The central Co2+ ions have a dual core structure with 5 and 6 coordination, respectively. The carboxyl groups show two kinds of coordination modes μ 2 : η1: η1 and μ 2 : η1: η2, and the pyridine N atoms also coordinate to form a three-dimensional network structure. Electrochemical experiments show that MOF-1 has a lower overpotential (339.4 mV) and Tafel slope (65.3 mV·dec−1) with higher ECSA and better OER kinetics. A large number of exposed active sites indicate that the MOF has higher potential as catalyst for oxygen evolution reaction. [Display omitted] • A Co-MOFs based on pyridine polycarboxylic acid ligand were prepared by a simple hydrothermal method. • Electrochemical test show that the MOFs has a lower overpotential and Tafel slope with higher ECSA and better OER kinetics. • MOFs exhibit a porous three-dimensional network structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxygen evolution reaction is more challenging than the hydrogen evolution reaction in overall water splitting, not only because the four-electron reaction is more complex but also because the oxidizing environment of the anode reaction is more destructive to the electrode material. Generally, such destruction results in the formation of an oxide film that hinders the transition of electrons and subsequently decelerates the succeeding reaction. This paper proposes a transition layer for self-supporting electrodes (NiFe LDH@NiCoP/NF) in which NiCoP grows between the NF and NiFe LDH. The implementation of NiCoP as a transition layer, showcasing excellent antioxidation capability and conductivity, effectively reduced overpotentials and consequently enhanced the catalytic performance. Benefiting from this transition layer, in a 1.0 M KOH, the NiFe LDH@NiCoP/NF catalyst exhibited outstanding OER and HER performance, requiring only 281 and 102 mV, respectively, to achieve 100 and 10 mA cm−2, and also exhibited a cell voltage for overall water splitting of 1.56 V at 10 mA cm−2. The NiFe LDH@NCP/NF composite was successfully synthesized by employing hydrothermal, phosphorization, and electrodeposition techniques to introduce the NCP transition layer between NiFe LDH and the NF substrate. The excellent performance in both OER and HER endows the NiFe LDH@NCP/NF composite with significant potential in the field of overall water splitting. [Display omitted] • NiFe LDH@NCP/NF was obtained by introducing a needle-like NiCoP (NCP) between the amorphous NiFe LDH and the NF substrate. • The NCP, with its excellent antioxidation capability and conductivity, enhances the OER performance of the NiFe LDH@NCP/NF. • By optimizing the electrodeposition time of NiFe LDH, the electrochemical active surface area was maximized. • During the overall water splitting, the NiFe LDH@NCP/NF electrode attains a low voltage of 1.56 V at 10 mA cm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of highly efficient and low-cost bifunctional electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is the key to the industrialization of large-scale hydrogen production, while the development of non-precious-metal catalysts that can be substituted for precious-metal materials is the current trend of research. In this paper, nickel foam (NF) self-supported CoFe layered bimetallic hydroxide (LDH)-CuCo 2 S 4 electrocatalysts were prepared using a simple hydrothermal and electrodeposition method. The prepared CuCo 2 S 4 @CoFe-LDH/NF catalysts showed good performance in alkaline water oxidation, proton reduction and overall water decomposition with an overpotential of 293 mV for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at a current density of 50 mA cm−2 and 63 mV for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. When CuCo 2 S 4 @CoFe-LDH/NF was used as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for the decomposition of water, the voltage of the 10 mA cm−2 electrolyzer was only 1.54 V, and the stability of the electrolyzer reached 60 h, which was superior to other bifunctional catalysts. [Display omitted] • CoCu-LDH grows firmly on nickel foam by a hydrothermal method. • Vulcanization at room temperature makes the experimental conditions milder and simpler. • An electrodeposition method was used to grow nanosheets on nanowires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]